# How to Adjust Specific Parts of an Ultrasound Image > This patent describes a system that lets doctors brighten or change specific small areas within an ultrasound scan independently, without affecting the rest of the image. - **Patent:** US 12733899 - **Original title:** Non-uniform ultrasound image modification of targeted sub-regions - **Granted:** 2026 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** medical_devices, software, biotech, healthcare ## What it does This system images a specific body part, called a 'target area,' using ultrasound technology. It then identifies one or more 'target locations' within that area, which can be specific points of interest. The system can also track the position and angle of a medical device, like a needle, to show its path on the image. A user, such as a doctor, can adjust these target locations as needed. Crucially, the user can change a setting (an 'image parameter') for the entire target area, and also independently change a setting for just the target locations. This means a doctor could, for example, make a needle and the tissue immediately around it much brighter to see it clearly during a procedure, without making the entire ultrasound image too bright or affecting other parts of the scan. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover ultrasound systems that only allow uniform image adjustments across the entire scan. - Does not cover image modifications that are not tied to specific user-defined or device-determined target locations. - Does not cover systems where image parameters for target locations cannot be modified independently from the broader target area. - Does not cover ultrasound imaging without the ability to overlay a medical device trajectory onto the image. - Does not cover systems where the user cannot modify the identified target locations. ## The clever bit The truly novel aspect is the ability to non-uniformly modify ultrasound image parameters for specific, targeted sub-regions independently of the overall image or other sub-regions. This allows for highly localized visual optimization where it matters most, without compromising the broader context of the scan. ## Real-world examples 1. Ultrasound-guided biopsies 2. Catheter insertion procedures 3. Nerve block injections 4. Vascular access procedures 5. Minimally invasive surgeries using ultrasound guidance ## Why it matters This technology is important for medical procedures that rely on real-time ultrasound guidance, such as biopsies or catheter placements. By allowing precise, localized image adjustments, it can improve a doctor's ability to visualize critical structures or tools. This enhanced visibility can lead to greater accuracy and safety during delicate medical interventions, potentially reducing complications. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How to Adjust Specific Parts of an Ultrasound Image cover? This patent describes a system that lets doctors brighten or change specific small areas within an ultrasound scan independently, without affecting the rest of the image. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? This technology is important for medical procedures that rely on real-time ultrasound guidance, such as biopsies or catheter placements. By allowing precise, localized image adjustments, it can improve a doctor's ability to visualize critical structures or tools. This enhanced visibility can lead to greater accuracy and safety during delicate medical interventions, potentially reducing complications. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover ultrasound systems that only allow uniform image adjustments across the entire scan. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733899/non-uniform-ultrasound-image-modification-of-targeted-sub-regions **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12733899 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Medical Scanners Track Surgical Tools in Real-Time](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12357189/method-and-device-for-operating-a-medical-imaging-device-for-the-positionally-co) — This patent describes a method for medical imaging devices to accurately show the real-time 3D position of surgical tools and implants inside a patient during an operation, using a combination of initial 3D scans and live 2D X-ray images. - [Fixing Blurry Tomography Scans from Patient Movement](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10307129/apparatus-and-method-for-reconstructing-tomography-images-using-motion-informati) — This patent describes a method for creating clearer 3D medical scans by using two different X-ray scans to detect and correct for patient movement during the imaging process. - [Seeing Blood Flow Deep Inside Tissue Without Touching It](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9861319/noncontact-three-dimensional-diffuse-optical-imaging-of-deep-tissue-blood-flow-d) — This patent describes a way to create 3D images of blood flow up to 1.5 cm deep inside body tissue using near-infrared light, all without any physical contact with the skin. - [How Doctors Use CT Scans and X-rays to Check Heart Arteries](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12048575/systems-and-methods-for-registration-of-angiographic-projections-with-computed-t) — This patent describes a method for precisely evaluating blockages in heart arteries by combining a single X-ray image with a detailed 3D CT scan, then calculating blood flow. - [Removing Radio Interference from Portable MRI Scans](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12189012/eva-suit) — A method to clean up MRI images by using external sensors to detect and subtract outside radio interference, allowing portable scanners to work outside shielded rooms.