Back to results
US 6,585,649 B1Granted
Methods and devices for improving ultrasonic measurements using multiple angle interrogation
OwnerJohn D. Mendlein, Philipp Langinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides for ultrasonic methods, compositions and devices, particularly methods, compositions and devices that provide for interrogating with ultrasonic transducer(s) at multiple transmission angles in an anatomic region. The invention provides for improved interrogation devices that reduce tissue artifacts arising from heterogenous structures in tissues.
Claims20
An ultrasonic system for multiple transmission angle ultrasonic interrogation in tissues with heterogenous structures that alter ultrasonic properties, comprising:
- a) a first ultrasonic transducer with an axis of transmission in common with a second ultrasonic transducer, said axis of transmission is through a portion of a tissue,
- b) an x, y positioner that engages said first ultrasonic transducer and said second ultrasonic transducer, said x, y positioner controllably 1) positions said first ultrasonic transducer and said second ultrasonic transducer in a desired manner between at least a first and a second position while generally maintaining said axis of transmission and 2) establishes predetermined transmission angles for said first ultrasonic transducer and said second ultrasonic transducer to interrogate said portion at multiple transmission angles through heterogenous structures in said portion,
- c) a z positioner that positions at least one of said first or second ultrasonic transducers, and said z positioner changes the distance of transmission along said axis of transmission between said first ultrasonic transducer and said second ultrasonic transducer, and
- d) a computational unit designed to manage ultrasonic signal transmission and reception of said first ultrasonic transducer and said second ultrasonic transducer with either BUA or SOS or both and is designed to control movement of said x, y positioner;
- wherein said ultrasonic measurements with multiple transmission angles are improved compared to the absence of multiple transmission angles.
2 more elements
An ultrasonic system for tissue ultrasonic interrogation for broadband ultrasonic attenuation, comprising:
- a) a first ultrasonic transducer with an axis of transmission through an anatomical region to be interrogated,
- b) a second ultrasonic transducer with said axis of transmission through said anatomical region to be interrogated, wherein ultrasonic monitoring between said first ultrasonic transducer and said second ultrasonic transducer is permitted,
- c) a positioning unit to vary the transmission angle of the axis of transmission with respect to said,
- d) a computational unit designed to manage ultrasonic signal transmission of said first ultrasonic transducer, to manage ultrasonic signal reception of said second ultrasonic transducer and to control the transmission angle of the axis of transmission;
- and
- e) said first transducer and said second transducer can transmit and receive signals to change the direction of transmission between said first transducer and said second transducer to reduce ultrasonic artifacts due to variations in tissue interposed along the transmission path.
3 more elements
A computer program product on a computer readable medium, comprising:
- a) instructions for a x, y positioning unit to vary the transmission angle of a transducer or plurality of transducers at a plurality of transmission angles in an anatomical region with respect to an anatomic landmark,
- b) instructions for interrogating said anatomical region at a preselected set of coordinates in relation to said anatomic landmark with said transducer or said plurality of transducers at said plurality of transmission angles, and
- c) instructions for recording at least one ultrasonic property at said plurality of transmission angles,
- wherein instructions (a) through (c) facilitates a clinically relevant measurement and instructions (a) through (c) are stored on a computer retrievable medium.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.