# US 10,478,072 B2 · Methods and system for characterizing an object > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,072 B2 - Document ID: US10478072B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/777,135 - Filed: 2014-03-14 - Published: 2016-02-04 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: The General Hospital Corporation - Applicants: The General Hospital Corporation - Inventors: Guillermo J. Tearney; Li Li; Balachundhar Subramaniam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478072B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/0095: {by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements} - A61B 5/0035: {adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography} - A61B 5/14552: {Details of sensors specially adapted therefor} - A61B 5/1459: invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter - A61B 5/1495: Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes - A61B 5/6861: {Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting} - A61B 5/687: {Oesophagus} - A61B 1/06: with illuminating arrangements - A61B 2505/05: Surgical care - A61B 2560/0223: of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors - A61B 2560/063: Devices specially adapted for delivering implantable medical measuring apparatus - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Exemplary system, method and computer accessible medium are provided for determining at least one characteristic of a target object located behind or within a medium. For example, it is possible to identify a reference object that is located behind or within the medium. The target object and the reference object can be irradiated via a surface of the medium using at least one electromagnetic wave. At least one acoustic signal provided from an irradiated tissue volume that is responsive to the electromagnetic wave(s) can be measured. Calibration information can be obtained from the acoustic signal measured from the reference object based on at least one known property of the reference object. Then, the characteristic(s) of the target object can be determined based on the calibration information and the acoustic signal from the target object. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for determining at least one characteristic of at least one anatomical structure, comprising: a first arrangement configured to forward at least one electromagnetic radiation having a time-varying intensity to the at least one anatomical structure and a further anatomical structure; a detector second arrangement configured to detect at least one acoustic signal provided from each of the at least one anatomical structure and the further anatomical structure in response to the at least one electromagnetic radiation impacting the structures; and a processing hardware third arrangement configured to (i) obtain calibration data from the acoustic signal from the further anatomical structure, based on at least one property of thereof; and (ii) determine the at least one characteristic of the at least one anatomical structure using the calibration data and the acoustic signal from the at least one anatomical structure; wherein the at least one anatomical structure includes at least one of a pulmonary artery or a vein, and the further anatomical structure includes at least one of an aorta or an artery. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a blood oxygen saturation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, further comprising an oximetric apparatus configured to measure the arterial oxygen saturation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, wherein the oximetric apparatus is a pulse oximeter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the second arrangement comprises at least one acoustic transducer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system according to claim 5, wherein at least a part of the acoustic transducer at least one of (i) is provided and structured to be inside an esophagus, or (ii) configured to acquire sonographic images. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a light guide which is configured to forward the at least one radiation to the pulmonary artery and the aorta through a wall of an esophagus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic signal is obtained from the aorta. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic of the pulmonary artery is a mixed venous oxygen saturation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one property of the aorta is an arterial blood oxygen saturation. ### Claim 11 A non-transitory computer-accessible medium which includes computer executable instructions for determining at least one characteristic of a target object located behind or within a medium, wherein, when a hardware processing arrangement executes the instructions, the processing arrangement is configured to execute procedures comprising: identifying a reference object that is located behind or within the medium; causing an irradiation on the target object and the reference object via a surface of the medium using at least one electromagnetic wave; measuring at least one acoustic signal provided from an irradiated tissue volume that is responsive to the at least one electromagnetic wave; obtaining a calibration information from the acoustic signal measured from the reference object on at least one known property of the reference object; and determining the at least one characteristic of the target object based on the calibration information and the acoustic signal from the target object; wherein the target object includes at least one of a pulmonary artery or a vein, and the reference object includes at least one of an aorta or an artery. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The computer-accessible medium according to claim 11, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a blood oxygen saturation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The computer-accessible medium according to claim 11, wherein the processing arrangement is configured to cause the at least one radiation to the pulmonary artery and the aorta using a light guide to be provided through a wall of an esophagus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The computer-accessible medium according to claim 11, wherein the acoustic signal is obtained from the aorta. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The computer-accessible medium according to claim 11, wherein the at least one characteristic of the pulmonary artery is a mixed venous oxygen saturation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The computer-accessible medium according to claim 11, wherein the at least one property of the aorta is an arterial blood oxygen saturation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The computer-accessible medium according to claim 11, wherein the at least one acoustic signal is measured using an acoustic transducer and at least a part of the acoustic transducer at least one of (i) is provided and structured to be inside an esophagus, or (ii) configured to acquire sonographic images. ### Claim 18 A method for determining at least one characteristic of a target object located behind or within a medium, comprising: identifying a reference object that is located behind or within the medium; irradiating the target object and the reference object via a surface of the medium using at least one electromagnetic wave; measuring acoustic signals provided from an irradiated tissue volume of the target and reference objects responsive to the at least one electromagnetic wave; obtaining a calibration information from at least one of the acoustic signals measured from the reference object based on at least one known property of the reference object; and determining the at least one characteristic of the target object based on the calibration information and the acoustic signal from the target object; wherein the target object includes at least one of a pulmonary artery or a vein, and the reference object includes at least one of an aorta or an artery.