CN111050661A - 一种剪切波弹性测量方法及剪切波弹性成像*** - Google Patents

一种剪切波弹性测量方法及剪切波弹性成像*** Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CN111050661A
CN111050661A CN201880056527.2A CN201880056527A CN111050661A CN 111050661 A CN111050661 A CN 111050661A CN 201880056527 A CN201880056527 A CN 201880056527A CN 111050661 A CN111050661 A CN 111050661A
Authority
CN
China
Prior art keywords
shear wave
location
shear
target region
wave
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CN201880056527.2A
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
CN111050661B (zh
Inventor
李双双
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Shenzhen Mindray Bio Medical Electronics Co Ltd
Shenzhen Mindray Scientific Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Shenzhen Mindray Bio Medical Electronics Co Ltd
Shenzhen Mindray Scientific Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Shenzhen Mindray Bio Medical Electronics Co Ltd, Shenzhen Mindray Scientific Co Ltd filed Critical Shenzhen Mindray Bio Medical Electronics Co Ltd
Priority to CN202310909370.6A priority Critical patent/CN116869567A/zh
Publication of CN111050661A publication Critical patent/CN111050661A/zh
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CN111050661B publication Critical patent/CN111050661B/zh
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/48—Diagnostic techniques
    • A61B8/485—Diagnostic techniques involving measuring strain or elastic properties
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/46—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient
    • A61B8/461—Displaying means of special interest
    • A61B8/463—Displaying means of special interest characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/46—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient
    • A61B8/467—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient characterised by special input means
    • A61B8/469—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient characterised by special input means for selection of a region of interest
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/52—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/5207—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/52—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/5215—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves involving processing of medical diagnostic data
    • A61B8/5223—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves involving processing of medical diagnostic data for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/54—Control of the diagnostic device
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
    • G01N29/04—Analysing solids
    • G01N29/043—Analysing solids in the interior, e.g. by shear waves
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
    • G01N29/04—Analysing solids
    • G01N29/06—Visualisation of the interior, e.g. acoustic microscopy
    • G01N29/0654—Imaging
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S7/00—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/52—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00
    • G01S7/52017—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00 particularly adapted to short-range imaging
    • G01S7/52019—Details of transmitters
    • G01S7/5202—Details of transmitters for pulse systems
    • G01S7/52022—Details of transmitters for pulse systems using a sequence of pulses, at least one pulse manipulating the transmissivity or reflexivity of the medium
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S7/00—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/52—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00
    • G01S7/52017—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00 particularly adapted to short-range imaging
    • G01S7/52023—Details of receivers
    • G01S7/52036—Details of receivers using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation
    • G01S7/52042—Details of receivers using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation determining elastic properties of the propagation medium or of the reflective target
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S7/00—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/52—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00
    • G01S7/52017—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00 particularly adapted to short-range imaging
    • G01S7/52085—Details related to the ultrasound signal acquisition, e.g. scan sequences
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
    • G01N2291/01—Indexing codes associated with the measuring variable
    • G01N2291/011—Velocity or travel time
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
    • G01N2291/02—Indexing codes associated with the analysed material
    • G01N2291/028—Material parameters
    • G01N2291/02827—Elastic parameters, strength or force
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
    • G01N2291/04—Wave modes and trajectories
    • G01N2291/042—Wave modes
    • G01N2291/0422—Shear waves, transverse waves, horizontally polarised waves

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Physiology (AREA)
  • Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

本实施例公开了一种剪切波弹性测量方法及剪切波弹性成像***，对于每对相应的剪切波，可以只在第三位置获取连续一段时间内的回波信号，就可以根据该连续一段时间内的回波信号来获取所述目标区域对应的弹性参数，不仅所需的用于获取回波信号的位置少，而且需要获取的回波信号的总数据量也少，并且计算方法也简单，这对***的性能要求大大降低。

Description

PCT国内申请，说明书已公开。

Claims (24)

  1. PCT国内申请，权利要求书已公开。
CN201880056527.2A 2018-05-15 2018-05-15 一种剪切波弹性测量方法及剪切波弹性成像*** Active CN111050661B (zh)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN202310909370.6A CN116869567A (zh) 2018-05-15 2018-05-15 一种剪切波弹性测量方法及剪切波弹性成像***

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CN2018/086840 WO2019218141A1 (zh) 2018-05-15 2018-05-15 一种剪切波弹性测量方法及剪切波弹性成像***

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN202310909370.6A Division CN116869567A (zh) 2018-05-15 2018-05-15 一种剪切波弹性测量方法及剪切波弹性成像***

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CN111050661A true CN111050661A (zh) 2020-04-21
CN111050661B CN111050661B (zh) 2023-08-11

Family

ID=68539253

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN202310909370.6A Pending CN116869567A (zh) 2018-05-15 2018-05-15 一种剪切波弹性测量方法及剪切波弹性成像***
CN201880056527.2A Active CN111050661B (zh) 2018-05-15 2018-05-15 一种剪切波弹性测量方法及剪切波弹性成像***

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN202310909370.6A Pending CN116869567A (zh) 2018-05-15 2018-05-15 一种剪切波弹性测量方法及剪切波弹性成像***

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US11998392B2 (zh)
CN (2) CN116869567A (zh)
WO (1) WO2019218141A1 (zh)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150119712A1 (en) * 2013-10-29 2015-04-30 Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, Llc Ultrasonic diagnostic device and control program therefor
CN104605891A (zh) * 2014-12-31 2015-05-13 中国科学院苏州生物医学工程技术研究所 检测剪切波在生物组织中传输速度的方法、检测生物组织弹性的方法及生物组织弹性成像方法
CN106456108A (zh) * 2015-08-10 2017-02-22 深圳迈瑞生物医疗电子股份有限公司 超声弹性成像***和方法
CN106999162A (zh) * 2014-12-08 2017-08-01 株式会社日立制作所 超声波诊断装置以及弹性评价方法
US20170340310A1 (en) * 2015-01-02 2017-11-30 Esaote S.P.A. Method for quantifying the elasticity of a material by ultrasounds
CN107708575A (zh) * 2015-06-01 2018-02-16 杜克大学 用于单个跟踪位置剪切波弹性成像的方法、***和计算机程序产品

Family Cites Families (40)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6558324B1 (en) * 2000-11-22 2003-05-06 Siemens Medical Solutions, Inc., Usa System and method for strain image display
US6508768B1 (en) * 2000-11-22 2003-01-21 University Of Kansas Medical Center Ultrasonic elasticity imaging
US9066679B2 (en) * 2004-08-31 2015-06-30 University Of Washington Ultrasonic technique for assessing wall vibrations in stenosed blood vessels
JP4928458B2 (ja) * 2005-09-14 2012-05-09 株式会社日立メディコ 超音波診断装置
US20090292205A1 (en) * 2006-07-18 2009-11-26 Takashi Osaka Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
US8225666B2 (en) * 2007-05-09 2012-07-24 University Of Rochester Shear modulus estimation by application of spatially modulated impulse acoustic radiation force approximation
US9339256B2 (en) * 2007-10-01 2016-05-17 Maui Imaging, Inc. Determining material stiffness using multiple aperture ultrasound
US8306293B2 (en) * 2008-05-15 2012-11-06 University Of Virginia Patent Foundation Reduction of echo decorrelation facilitating motion estimation
US9986973B2 (en) * 2010-04-23 2018-06-05 Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research Method for shear wave ultrasound vibrometry with interleaved push and detection pulses
US8469891B2 (en) * 2011-02-17 2013-06-25 Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. Viscoelasticity measurement using amplitude-phase modulated ultrasound wave
CN103857343B (zh) * 2011-08-19 2016-03-30 不列颠哥伦比亚大学 使用薄体积的超声成像的弹性成像
US20130102932A1 (en) * 2011-10-10 2013-04-25 Charles A. Cain Imaging Feedback of Histotripsy Treatments with Ultrasound Transient Elastography
US8801614B2 (en) * 2012-02-10 2014-08-12 Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. On-axis shear wave characterization with ultrasound
GB201213304D0 (en) * 2012-07-26 2012-09-05 Cancer Res Inst Royal Ultrasonic imaging
JP6025456B2 (ja) * 2012-08-28 2016-11-16 キヤノン株式会社 被検体情報取得装置、表示方法、及びプログラム
JP6021520B2 (ja) * 2012-08-28 2016-11-09 キヤノン株式会社 被検体情報取得装置、表示方法、及びプログラム
JP6253296B2 (ja) * 2012-08-28 2017-12-27 キヤノン株式会社 被検体情報取得装置、表示方法、及びプログラム
KR20140036650A (ko) * 2012-09-17 2014-03-26 삼성전자주식회사 1차원 초음파 프로브를 이용하여 조직의 탄성을 분석하는 방법, 장치 및 시스템.
JP5771758B2 (ja) * 2012-12-25 2015-09-02 日立アロカメディカル株式会社 超音波診断装置
US10743814B2 (en) * 2013-03-15 2020-08-18 Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. Fat fraction estimation using ultrasound with shear wave propagation
JP6305699B2 (ja) * 2013-07-01 2018-04-04 キヤノンメディカルシステムズ株式会社 超音波診断装置及び超音波イメージングプログラム
JP5730978B2 (ja) * 2013-11-08 2015-06-10 日立アロカメディカル株式会社 超音波診断装置、及び方法
KR20150070859A (ko) * 2013-12-17 2015-06-25 삼성전자주식회사 전단파를 이용하여 관심 영역에 대한 탄성 정보를 획득하는 방법 및 장치.
US10324065B2 (en) * 2014-01-06 2019-06-18 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, ultrasound image capturing method, and computer-readable recording medium
US20150272547A1 (en) * 2014-03-31 2015-10-01 Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. Acquisition control for elasticity ultrasound imaging
US20150320394A1 (en) * 2014-05-12 2015-11-12 University Of Washington Toric focusing for radiation force applications
JP6293578B2 (ja) * 2014-05-28 2018-03-14 ジーイー・メディカル・システムズ・グローバル・テクノロジー・カンパニー・エルエルシー 超音波診断装置及びプログラム
US10292682B2 (en) * 2014-09-29 2019-05-21 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Method and medical imaging apparatus for generating elastic image by using curved array probe
KR102406937B1 (ko) * 2014-11-07 2022-06-10 삼성메디슨 주식회사 초음파 영상장치 및 그 제어 방법
US9726647B2 (en) * 2015-03-17 2017-08-08 Hemosonics, Llc Determining mechanical properties via ultrasound-induced resonance
TWI580960B (zh) * 2015-05-08 2017-05-01 國立臺灣大學 彈性分布影像生成系統
US10582911B2 (en) * 2015-08-11 2020-03-10 Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. Adaptive motion estimation in acoustic radiation force imaging
US20180296190A1 (en) * 2015-10-08 2018-10-18 Konica Minolta, Inc. Ultrasonic diagnostic device and ultrasonic signal processing method
JP2017079977A (ja) * 2015-10-27 2017-05-18 コニカミノルタ株式会社 超音波診断装置、および、超音波信号処理方法
JP6604272B2 (ja) * 2016-06-06 2019-11-13 コニカミノルタ株式会社 超音波診断装置及び超音波信号処理方法
JP6601320B2 (ja) * 2016-06-16 2019-11-06 コニカミノルタ株式会社 超音波診断装置、及び超音波診断装置の制御方法
CN109475343B (zh) 2016-08-01 2024-04-02 深圳迈瑞生物医疗电子股份有限公司 剪切波弹性成像测量显示方法及***
JP6290336B2 (ja) * 2016-08-25 2018-03-07 株式会社日立製作所 超音波診断装置
US11672507B2 (en) * 2017-03-31 2023-06-13 Koninklijke Philips N.V. System and method for ultrasound shear wave elastography using external mechanical vibrations
EP4124302A1 (en) * 2021-07-29 2023-02-01 SuperSonic Imagine Ultrasonic method and system for estimating the nonlinear shear wave elasticity of a medium

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150119712A1 (en) * 2013-10-29 2015-04-30 Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, Llc Ultrasonic diagnostic device and control program therefor
CN106999162A (zh) * 2014-12-08 2017-08-01 株式会社日立制作所 超声波诊断装置以及弹性评价方法
CN104605891A (zh) * 2014-12-31 2015-05-13 中国科学院苏州生物医学工程技术研究所 检测剪切波在生物组织中传输速度的方法、检测生物组织弹性的方法及生物组织弹性成像方法
US20170340310A1 (en) * 2015-01-02 2017-11-30 Esaote S.P.A. Method for quantifying the elasticity of a material by ultrasounds
CN107708575A (zh) * 2015-06-01 2018-02-16 杜克大学 用于单个跟踪位置剪切波弹性成像的方法、***和计算机程序产品
CN106456108A (zh) * 2015-08-10 2017-02-22 深圳迈瑞生物医疗电子股份有限公司 超声弹性成像***和方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2019218141A1 (zh) 2019-11-21
CN116869567A (zh) 2023-10-13
US20210077072A1 (en) 2021-03-18
US11998392B2 (en) 2024-06-04
CN111050661B (zh) 2023-08-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN110573088B (zh) 一种超声弹性检测方法及其***
CN113768545B (zh) 一种超声瞬时弹性测量设备及方法
RU2641067C1 (ru) Ультразвуковая система и способ измерения с использованием сдвиговой волны
CN109303572B (zh) 超声诊断设备及控制超声诊断设备的方法
CN113229846B (zh) 超声成像方法与设备
CN110368031B (zh) 弹性测量检测方法及***
CN111655154B (zh) 一种超声成像方法以及超声成像***
CN110604598B (zh) 一种超声成像方法以及超声成像***
US11826202B2 (en) Ultrasound elasticity measurement device and method
CN111735526B (zh) 超声弹性成像装置和用于弹性测量的剪切波波速测量方法
EP2186482B1 (en) Ultrasound system and method providing acoustic radiation force impulse imaging with high frame rate
CN110573084B (zh) 一种超声弹性检测设备及剪切波弹性成像方法、装置
EP2901939A1 (en) Ultrasonic measurement apparatus and ultrasonic measurement method
CN111050661B (zh) 一种剪切波弹性测量方法及剪切波弹性成像***
WO2020019254A1 (zh) 一种剪切波成像方法及***
JP6463653B2 (ja) 超音波探傷装置および超音波プローブ移動距離検知方法
KR20190132264A (ko) 증가된 펄스 반복 인터벌을 갖는 초음파에 기반한 전단파 이미징
EP3912559A1 (en) Puncture needle, ultrasonic diagnostic device, and method for controlling ultrasonic diagnostic device
KR20160119787A (ko) 초음파 진단 장치 및 프로그램
JP2015223321A (ja) 超音波測定装置および超音波測定方法
JP2015142630A (ja) 超音波測定装置および超音波測定方法
JP2016005501A (ja) 超音波測定装置および超音波測定方法
JP2015223322A (ja) 超音波測定装置および超音波測定方法

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PB01 Publication
PB01 Publication
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
GR01 Patent grant
GR01 Patent grant