Apparatus for monitoring a system in which a fluid flows

Apparatus for monitoring a system in which a fluid flows and which is characterized by a change in the system with time in space comprising:

• (a) monitoring means including a first output for monitoring a preselected place in the system for collecting data indicative of a system parameter that varies with time as a function of at least two variables related to wash-in and wash-out behavior,
• (b) first processing means including a second output and a first input for receiving the collected data from the first output and processing same,
• (c) selecting means including a third output for controlling the monitoring means, for setting parameters of data collection and for providing input to the first input, the selecting means including:
• (i) input means for receiving inputs of system parameters including said system parameter and a plurality of preselected time points correlated to a system event,
• (ii) a second processing means including:
• (1) grid means for dividing the space defined by the at least two variables, each ranging from a minimum to a maximum, into a grid,
• (2) first determining means for determining for each grid location a calculated value of intensity of the parameter being monitored for each time point,
• (3) first normalizing means for determining the maximum intensity of the grid locations and normalizing all grid locations with reference to the maximum,
• (4) first colorizing means for coloring all grid locations one of a plurality of colors based on a correlation with wash-out behavior,
• (5) arranging means for arranging all grid locations for all time points into a composite to develop a calibration map of the grid with each grid location correlated to a color hue/color intensity,
• (6) analyzing means for analyzing the calibration map to determine if the color distribution of the calibration map satisfies a predetermined condition and, if not, to implement one of the plurality of time points and a system parameter and inputting to the input means for iteration until the resultant calibration map satisfies the predetermined condition,
• (d) said first processing means receiving as further inputs the plurality of time points and the maximum of the intensity function as determined in the second processing means, and further including:
• (i) division means for spatially dividing the preselected place in the system into spatial units,
• (ii) second determining means for determining for each spatial unit a value and intensity based on the collected data for each time point,
• (iii) second normalizing means for normalizing the intensity of each spatial unit based on maximum intensity obtained from the first normalizing means,
• (iv) second colorizing means for coloring all spatial units one of a plurality of colors based on the correlation with wash-out behavior used in the first colorizing means,
• (v) arranging means for arranging all spatial units for all time points into a composite of the preselected place with each spatial unit correlated to a color hue/color intensity.

Software for use with a computer having a memory, an input device for generating device event signals and a display, the software comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon including:

• first program logic for dividing into a grid a space defined by two variables correlated to a preselected parameter of a tissue in which fluid flows-which is characterized by a change in the tissue with time in space, each variable ranging from a minimum to a maximum;
• second program logic responsive to device event signals for determining intensity of each grid location at each of a plurality of time points based on a predetermined intensity function;
• third program logic responsive to the second program logic to color all grid locations based on a predetermined color function;
• and
• fourth program logic responsive to the third program logic for developing a composite calibration map of the grid with each grid location correlated to a color hue/color intensity.

Data processing system for producing a calibration map for use with a monitored system in which a fluid flows and which is characterized by a change in the monitored system with time in space and wherein the monitoring occurs at a preselected location comprising:

• (a) computer processing means for processing data;
• (b) storage means for storing data on a storage medium;
• (c) means for initializing the storage medium;
• said computer processing means for processing data including:
• (i) processing for dividing the space defined by two variables, each ranging from a minimum to a maximum, into a grid, said variables being correlated to a preselected parameter of the monitored system;
• (ii) processing for determining for each grid location a calculated value and intensity function of the parameter at each of a plurality of time points;
• (iii) processing for determining the maximum of the intensity function of the grid locations and normalizing all grid locations with reference to the maximum;
• (iv) processing for coloring all grid locations one of a plurality of colors based on a color function correlated with monitored system behavior;
• (v) processing for arranging all grid locations for all time points into a composite to develop a calibration map of the grid with each grid location correlated to a color hue/color intensity;
• and
• (vi) processing for analyzing the calibration map to determine if the attributes of the calibration map meet a predetermined condition, and, if not, modifying the plurality of time points or variables and iterating via the second, third, fourth and fifth processing means until the attributes of the resultant calibration map meet the predetermined condition.

Data processing method for producing a calibration map for use with a monitored system in which a fluid flows and which is characterized by a change in the monitored system with time in space and wherein the monitoring occurs at a preselected location comprising the steps of:

• (a) processing data;
• (b) storing data on a storage medium;
• (c) initializing the storage medium;
• said processing data step including:
• (i) processing by dividing the space defined by two variables, each ranging from a minimum to a maximum, into a grid, said variables being correlated to a preselected parameter of the monitored system;
• (ii) processing for determining for each grid location a calculated value and intensity function of the parameter at each of a plurality of time points;
• (iii) processing for determining the maximum of the intensity function of the grid locations and normalizing all grid locations with reference to the maximum;
• (iv) processing for coloring all grid locations one of a plurality of colors based on a color function correlated with monitored system behavior;
• (v) processing for arranging all grid locations for all time points into a composite to develop a calibration map of the grid with each grid location correlated to a color hue/color intensity;
• and
• (vi) processing for analyzing the calibration map to determine if the attributes of the calibration map meet a predetermined condition, and, if not,
• (vii) modifying the plurality of time points or variables and iterating steps (e), (f), (g) and (h) until the attributes of the resultant calibration map meet the predetermined condition.

Method for monitoring tissue in which a fluid flows and which is characterized by a change in the tissue with time in space comprising the steps of:

• (a) monitoring a preselected place in the tissue for collecting data indicative of a tissue parameter that varies with time as a function of at least two variables related to wash-in and wash-out behavior;
• (b) processing collected data;
• (c) controlling the monitoring by setting parameters of data collection and selecting a plurality of time points correlated to a tissue event;
• (d) dividing the space defined by the at least two variables, each ranging from a minimum to a maximum, into a grid;
• (e) determining for each grid location a calculated value and intensity function of the parameter being monitored for each time point;
• (f) determining the maximum intensity of the grid locations and normalizing all grid locations with reference to the maximum;
• (g) coloring all grid locations one of a plurality of colors based on a color function correlated with wash-out behavior;
• (h) arranging all grid locations for all time points into a composite to develop a calibration map of the grid with each grid location correlated to a color hue/color intensity;
• (i) analyzing the calibration map to determine if the attributes of the calibration map meet a preselected condition and, if not, to implement the plurality of time points or a tissue parameter and iterating until the attributes of the resultant calibration map meet the preselected condition;
• (j) inputting the plurality of time points and the maximum of the intensity function as determined in step (f) to the processing of step (b) which further includes the steps of:
• (i) spatially dividing the preselected place in the tissue into spatial units;
• (ii) determining for each spatial unit a value and intensity function based on the collected data for each time point;
• (iii) normalizing the intensity of each spatial unit based on maximum intensity obtained from step (f);
• (iv) colorizing all spatial units one of a plurality of colors based on the color function of step (g);
• (v) arranging all spatial units for all time points into a composite of the preselected place with each spatial unit correlated to a color hue/color intensity.