Ultrasound add-on for automated quantitative liver fat grading
This technology uses standard ultrasound equipment to measure liver fat more precisely than a doctor's visual assessment alone. It captures both the ultrasound image and the underlying radio frequency signal data simultaneously, then analyzes specific zones of the liver to extract quantitative indicators of fat content. By mapping these measurements across multiple points within a defined region, it produces a structured, numerical picture of how fatty the liver is and how severely. The result is a non-invasive, quantitative diagnostic tool that could reduce reliance on liver biopsy for detecting and staging fatty liver disease.
What you could build
A software module or firmware upgrade for existing clinical ultrasound systems that adds automated, quantitative liver fat scoring to routine abdominal scans; primary buyers would be ultrasound OEMs (GE HealthCare, Philips, Siemens Healthineers, Canon Medical) seeking to differentiate their platforms, and secondarily hospital radiology and gastroenterology departments.
Who in Virginia should care
Academic medical centers and health systems in Virginia (e.g., UVA Health, Inova, VCU Health) that operate large radiology and gastroenterology practices would be natural clinical validation partners or early adopters.
Readiness: Concept
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Dorathy Tamayo-Murillo, Claude Sirlin, Michael Andre, Aiguo Han
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed February 26, 2025
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20250268560A1
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.