Method and apparatus for the noninvasive assessment of hemodynamic parameters including blood vessel location

A method of locating at least one wall of a blood vessel, comprising:

• transmitting acoustic energy into the blood vessel;
• detecting at least one region associated with the lumen in said blood vessel;
• and
• detecting the location of said at least one wall of the blood vessel relative to said lumen;
• wherein the act of detecting the location comprises analyzing A-mode data derived from said act of transmitting.

A method of locating a blood vessel in tissue, comprising:

• generating at least one beam of acoustic waves;
• transmitting said at least one beam of acoustic waves into said tissue, said beam moving with respect to said tissue so as to ensonify different portions of said tissue as a function of time;
• receiving energy backscattered by said tissue and said blood vessel;
• analyzing said backscattered energy to identify at least one artifact therein, said at least one artifact resulting from the lumen of said blood vessel;
• and
• correlating said at least one artifact to the location of said blood vessel.

A device, comprising:

• at least one transducer capable of transmitting an acoustic wave into a blood vessel and receiving a plurality of echoes therefrom, said first transducer configured to generate first signals related to said echoes;
• a processor, operatively connected to said first transducer, and configured to process said first signals to determine the location of the lumen of said blood vessel;
• a positioning device adapted to receive at least a portion of said at least one transducer, and alter the position thereof with respect to said blood vessel;
• and
• a controller, operatively connected to said positioning device, which controls said positioning device based at least in part on said location of said lumen relative to said at least one transducer.

An information storage device, comprising;

• a data storage medium;
• a plurality of data stored on said medium, said plurality of data comprising a computer program adapted to run on a data processor, said computer program being configured for:
• initiating the transmission of acoustic energy into the tissue of a subject including said blood vessel;
• evaluating reflections of said acoustic energy from said tissue, and
• identifying at least one region of reduced energy reflection within said tissue, said at least one region corresponding to a blood vessel.

A method of positioning a device with respect to a blood vessel of a subject, comprising:

• positioning an acoustic energy source with respect to said blood vessel;
• transmitting acoustic energy from said source into said blood vessel;
• receiving reflections of said acoustic energy from said blood vessel,
• determining the relative wall positions of said blood vessel based on said received reflections;
• and
• positioning said device with respect to said blood vessel based at least in part on said relative wall positions.

A method of positioning a device with respect to a blood vessel of a subject, comprising:

• positioning an acoustic energy source with respect to said blood vessel;
• transmitting acoustic energy from said source into said blood vessel;
• receiving reflections of said acoustic energy from said blood vessel,
• detecting the lumen associated with the blood vessel;
• and
• positioning said device with respect to said blood vessel based at least in part on said lumen position.

A method of locating a blood vessel disposed within surrounding tissue, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting acoustic energy into said tissue including said blood vessel to generate reflections thereof;
• receiving said reflections of said acoustic energy from said tissue and said blood vessel;
• forming at least one integrated power representation to identify at least one region of reduced energy reflection within said tissue, said at least one region corresponding to the lumen of said blood vessel;
• and
• locating said blood vessel based on the location of said lumen.

Blood vessel locating apparatus, comprising:

• transducer means adapted for transmitting an acoustic wave into a blood vessel and receiving a plurality of echoes therefrom, said transducer means configured to generate first signals related to said echoes;
• and
• means for data processing operatively connected to said first transducer and configured for processing said first signals;
• and
• computer program means adapted to run on said means for data processing, said computer program means further being adapted to determine the location of the lumen of said blood vessel based on a power profile derived at least in part from said first signals.

Blood vessel locating apparatus, comprising:

• at least one transducer capable of transmitting an acoustic wave into a blood vessel and receiving a plurality of echoes therefrom, said first transducer configured to generate first signals related to said echoes;
• at least one signal converter, operatively coupled to said at least one transducer and adapted to produce second signals from said first signals;
• at least one digital processor, operatively coupled to said analog-to-digital converter, and configured to process said second signals;
• and
• a computer program running at least in part on said digital processor, said computer program being adapted to determine a power profile based on said second signals, and to determine the location of the lumen of said blood vessel based at least in part on one or more artifacts present within said power profile.

A method of providing treatment to a living subject, comprising:

• locating at least one blood vessel of said subject, said act of locating comprising locating the lumen associated with said at least one blood vessel by identifying at least one artifact within the integrated power profile of reflected acoustic energy transmitted into said blood vessel;
• monitoring the blood pressure within said at least one blood vessel non-invasively;
• and
• providing treatment to said subject based at least in part on said act of monitoring.

A method of providing treatment to a living subject, comprising:

• locating at least one blood vessel of said subject, said act of locating comprising:
• (i) locating the lumen associated with said at least one blood vessel by identifying at least one artifact within the integrated power profile of reflected acoustic energy transmitted into said blood vessel;
• and
• (ii) locating the walls of said at least one blood vessel based at least in part on said power profile;
• positioning a blood pressure monitoring device substantially over said at least one blood vessel based on said acts of locating the lumen and walls;
• monitoring the blood pressure within said at least one blood vessel non-invasively;
• and
• providing treatment to said subject based at least in part on said act of monitoring.