US 5,840,028 A · Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment

Abstract

This invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic equipment usable to measure small vibrations in myocardial tissues superimposed on a large amplitude vibration of heartbeat. And it comprises a large amplitude motion analyzing means for deciding the an instantaneous position of the object by using the amplitude and phase of the detected signal and tracking a large amplitude of motion of the object, and a small vibration analyzing means for detecting a small vibration superimposed on the large amplitude motion by analyzing, succeeding positions of the large amplitude motion obtained from the large amplitude motion analyzing means. By using this invention, a local elasticity of width of 1-2 mm in myocardium and arterial wall can be evaluated noninvasively.

Claims10

Dependent claims

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for measuring the position of an object having a vibratory motion of a large amplitude and having a small vibration which is superimposed on the large amplitude vibratory motion in a living body by transmitting an ultrasonic wave to the object, detecting a reflected ultrasonic wave from the object, and analyzing the reflected ultrasonic wave, the apparatus comprising:

a large amplitude motion analyzing means for deciding an instantaneous position of the object based on a detected amplitude and phase of the reflected wave, said large amplitude motion analyzing means tracking a reflected position of the object;
and
a small vibration analyzing means for measuring the small vibration of the object by calculating a changing distance of the object's position based on succeeding reflected positions of the object.

A method for measuring a position of an object having a vibratory motion of a large amplitude and having a small vibration which is superimposed on the large amplitude vibratory motion in a living body, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting an ultrasonic wave to the object;
detecting a reflected ultrasonic wave from the object;
analyzing the reflected ultrasonic wave to determine an instantaneous position of a large amplitude vibration of the object based on an amplitude and phase of the reflected ultrasonic wave;
tracking a reflecting position of the object;
measuring the small vibration by calculating a distance of the object position based on succeeding reflecting positions of the object.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment

Life of this patent

Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10