Pressure Wave Measurement of Blood Flow
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsVikram Singh Bajaj, Andrew Homyk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and devices for measuring blood flow velocity are provided. The device may include a wave source and at least two detectors positioned along a blood vessel. The wave source, which may include an ultrasound transducer or a mechanical source, is configured to induce a pressure wave in blood flowing in a blood vessel. In one example, the detectors are both positioned downstream of the wave source, with respect to the direction of blood flow. In another example, one detector is positioned upstream of the wave source, and a second detector is positioned downstream of the wave source. The difference in time it takes for the induced pressure wave to reach the first and the second detectors is indicative of the velocity of blood flow in the vessel.
Claims20
A device, comprising:
- a wave source configured to induce a pressure wave in blood flowing in a blood vessel;
- a first detector positioned along the vessel and configured to detect a pressure wave in the blood flowing in the blood vessel;
- and
- a second detector positioned along the vessel and configured to detect a pressure wave in the blood flowing in the blood vessel, wherein the second detector is positioned downstream of the first detector with respect to a direction of blood flow in the blood vessel.
A method, comprising:
- inducing a pressure wave in blood flowing in a blood vessel;
- detecting the induced pressure wave at a first detector positioned along the blood vessel;
- detecting the induced pressure wave at a second detector positioned along the blood vessel, wherein the second detector is positioned downstream of the first detector with respect to a direction of blood flow in the blood vessel;
- determining a first time at which the pressure wave is detected by the first detector and a second time at which the pressure wave is detected by the second detector;
- and
- calculating a time difference between the first time and the second time.
A method, comprising:
- inducing a pressure wave in blood flowing in a blood vessel;
- detecting the induced pressure wave at a first detector positioned along the blood vessel;
- detecting the induced pressure wave at a second detector positioned along the blood vessel, wherein the second detector is positioned downstream of the first detector with respect to a direction of blood flow in the blood vessel;
- determining a first characteristic of the pressure wave detected by the first detector and a second characteristic of the pressure wave detected by the second detector;
- and
- determining a difference between the first characteristic and the second characteristic, wherein the difference is indicative of a velocity of the blood flowing in the blood vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.