Apparatus and method for characterization of a ductile membrane, surface and sub-surface properties
AssigneeOtoNexus Medical Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMark A. Moehring, George A. Gates, Jay Chesavage, Rahul Singh
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Abstract
An ultrasound signal processor uses an excitation generator to cause displacement of a membrane or surface while a series of ultrasound pulses are applied to the membrane or surface. Phase differences between a transmitted signal and received signal are examined to determine the movement of the membrane or surface in response to the applied excitation. An examination of the phase response of the membrane or surface provides a determination as to whether the fluid type behind the membrane or surface is one of: no fluid, serum fluid, or purulent fluid.
Claims21
A method for non-contact measurement of an elastic surface, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a non-contact force to a surface or a volume of material adjacent to the surface to be characterized using an excitation generator, wherein the non-contact force comprises a step or impulse pressure;
- and
- (b) in response to the non-contact force, forming a displacement measurement, the displacement measurement comprising:
- (i) directing a transmit burst of ultrasound energy from a transducer to the surface or the volume of material adjacent to the surface;
- (ii) receiving a reflected ultrasound energy from the surface or the volume of material adjacent to the surface with the transducer;
- (iii) setting a range gate for a first region of the reflected ultrasound energy;
- and
- (iv) distinguishing a movement or displacement of the first region from a movement or displacement of a second region based at least in part on the range gate.
A method for non-contact measurement of an elastic surface, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a non-contact force to a surface or a volume of material adjacent to the surface to be characterized using an excitation generator, wherein the non-contact force comprises a step or impulse pressure;
- (b) in response to the non-contact force, forming a displacement measurement;
- (c) forming an estimate of elasticity based at least in part on the displacement measurement;
- and
- (d) characterizing the surface or the volume of material adjacent to the surface based at least in part on the estimate of elasticity, wherein the characterizing is based at least in part on a hysteresis response of the surface or the volume of material adjacent to the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.