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US 2014/0276047 A1Published application
Method and Apparatus for Quantifying Organization in Collagenous Tissue
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsTIMOTHY JON HALL, HELEN MARCIE FELTOVICH, LISA MCGUIRE REUSCH
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus uses a steered ultrasound beam to assess microstructure of the cervix revealed by backscatter power variation at a range of angles and depth. Analysis of a distribution of power loss at different angles and depths referenced to the structure of the cervix may be used to characterize cervical tissue.
Claims20
A method of assessing tissue structure of a cervix using ultrasound comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying an ultrasonic beam to tissue at multiple of angles to obtain backscatter power from the tissue at a variety of depths so that tissue at each depth is measured at a variety of angles;
- (b) quantify a variation in backscatter power both as a function of a tissue angle of the ultrasound beam with respect to a central axis of the cervix and a tissue depth perpendicular to the central axis for a plurality of tissue volume elements;
- (c) process the variation in backscatter power to determine a distribution among the volume elements of backscatter power loss as a function of tissue angle and tissue depth;
- and
- (d) output a diagnostic indication to an operator based on the distribution.
2 more elements
An apparatus for assessing tissue structure of a cervix using ultrasound comprising:
- an ultrasound transducer and circuit adapted to apply an ultrasonic beam to tissue at multiple of angles to obtain backscatter power from the tissue at a variety of depths so that tissue at each depth is measured at a variety of angles;
- an electronic computer executing a program stored in non-transient media to:
- (a) receive backscatter power measurements from the cervix at a variety of depths and variety of angles for each depth;
- (b) quantify a variation in backscatter power both as a function of a tissue angle of the ultrasound beam with respect to a central axis of the cervix and a tissue depth perpendicular to the central axis for a plurality of tissue volume elements;
- (c) process the backscatter power to determine a distribution among the volume elements of backscatter power loss as a function of tissue angle and tissue depth;
- and
- (d) output a diagnostic indication to an operator based on the distribution.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.