US 11129591

US Patent 11129591, titled "Echocardiographic image analysis," was granted to the University of British Columbia.

• Title: Echocardiographic image analysis
• Assignee: University of British Columbia
• Inventors: Purang Abolmaesumi, Robert Rohling, Amir H. ABDI, Teresa S. M. Tsang
• Filing Date: April 21, 2017
• Issue Date: September 28, 2021
• Abstract: The patent describes a computer-implemented system for analyzing echocardiographic images. This system includes a processor configured to receive an echocardiographic image, associate it with a predetermined view category, and then determine a view-category-specific quality assessment value for that image. This value indicates the image's suitability for quantified clinical measurement of anatomical features. The system is designed to perform these steps for multiple images across different view categories. The patent also covers related systems, methods, and computer-readable media.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

The patent includes several independent claims covering different aspects of echocardiographic image analysis and neural network training:

1. Claim 1 (Computer-implemented system for image analysis): This claim describes a computer system with at least one processor. This processor is configured to receive an echocardiographic image, assign it to a specific view category (e.g., apical 2-chamber view, apical 4-chamber view), and then calculate a quality score for that image based on its view category. This score indicates how suitable the image is for making precise clinical measurements of heart structures. The system can perform this process for different images that fall into various view categories.
2. Claim 10 (Computer-implemented method of image analysis): This claim outlines a method performed by a computer. It involves receiving an echocardiographic image, linking it to a specific view category, determining a quality assessment value for the image that is tailored to its view category (reflecting its suitability for clinical measurement), and then associating this value with the image. This method is repeated for subsequent images, even if they belong to different view categories.
3. Claim 19 (Computer-readable medium for image analysis method): This claim covers a computer storage medium that contains programming instructions. When a processor executes these instructions, it performs the method described in claim 10 (and its dependent claims), which facilitates echocardiographic image analysis.
4. Claim 20 (Computer-implemented system for training neural networks): This claim details a computer system with a processor designed to train neural networks. It receives numerous echocardiographic training images, each pre-assigned to a view category. Additionally, it receives expert-provided quality assessment values for these training images, where each value indicates the image's suitability for clinical measurement. The processor then uses these images and expert values to train neural networks, determining their operational parameters. A specific part of each trained neural network is dedicated to a particular image view category.
5. Claim 29 (Computer-implemented method of training neural networks): This claim describes a computer-implemented method for training neural networks. It involves acquiring multiple echocardiographic training images, each associated with a predetermined view category. It also includes receiving expert quality assessment values (provided by a human expert) for these training images, with each value reflecting the image's suitability for quantitative clinical measurement. The method then proceeds to train neural networks using these images and expert values to establish the networks' parameters, ensuring that at least a portion of each neural network is tailored to a specific view category.
6. Claim 38 (Computer-readable medium for neural network training method): This claim protects a computer-readable medium that stores code. When a processor runs this code, it executes the neural network training method specified in claim 29 (and its dependent claims).
7. Claim 39 (System for image analysis, means-plus-function): This claim describes a system for echocardiographic image analysis in terms of its functional components. These components include means (mechanisms or modules) for receiving images, means for associating them with view categories, means for determining view-category-specific quality assessment values, and means for associating these values with the images. This applies to both a first image/view category and a second, different image/view category.
8. Claim 46 (System for training neural networks, means-plus-function): This claim describes a system for training neural networks using functional language. It includes means for receiving training images and their associated view categories, means for receiving expert quality assessment values (indicating suitability for clinical measurement), and means for training neural networks using this data to define their parameters, with parts of the networks being specific to certain view categories.

Uncertainty and Litigation Status:
As of April 26, 2026, the patent US11129591B2 is active and is set to expire on September 3, 2038.

The Google Patents record indicates that the patent family is involved in litigation. Specifically, there are US cases filed in the California Northern District Court and the Texas Northern District Court. Additionally, a PTAB case IPR2025-01066 was filed (and listed as "Not Instituted - Merits").

A search of CAFC 2026 dockets did not yield specific cases directly mentioning US11129591. The general CAFC search results provide information about patent litigation trends and decisions in 2025 and 2026, but no direct hits for this particular patent number were found within the provided snippets. This does not contradict the existence of litigation at the district court or PTAB level, which are lower tribunals. It simply means that, as of the current date and based on the conducted search, no appeal specific to this patent seems to have reached the Federal Circuit in 2026.