Patent US3577981A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3577981A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ultrasonic method for detecting the accumulation of cholesterol and other deposits in blood vessels and the like
Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems Inc
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Filing: 1968-06-13
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Granted: 1971-05-11
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Expires: 1988-06-13
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to medical diagnosis by detecting the ultrasonic sounds that are present in humans and normally inaudible to the human ear and converting same into audible sounds for meaningful diagnostic information. In particular the invention relates to the detection of accumulated foreign deposits of material in vessels of living human beings, such as cholesterol in blood vessels, without causing any disruption or damage to the surrounding walls of the vessels, by detecting the ultrasonic vibrations as the blood flows therethrough and converting same to audible sound. The invention also relates to the introduction of ultrasonic energy waves into the body with the resultant creation of additional inaudible wave energy at a different frequency and then translating same into audible sound which the trained ear can diagnose.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur Kuris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/08; A61B8/0833
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for diagnosing the medical condition of a portion of a human in vivo, comprising the steps of: A. selecting a portion of the human to be diagnosed, B. positioning in energy transferring relation to the portion selected energy receiving means capable of detecting ultrasonic vibrations emitted therefrom, and C. converting the detected ultrasonic vibrations received by said energy receiving means into sound in the audible range, whereby this audible sound may be diagnosed to determine the condition of the selected portion of the human.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for diagnosing the medical condition of a portion of a human in vivo, comprising the steps of: A. selecting a portion of the human to be diagnosed, B. positioning in energy transferring relation to the portion selected energy receiving means capable of detecting ultrasonic vibrations emitted therefrom, and C. converting the detected ultrasonic vibrations received by said energy receiving means into sound in the audible range, whereby this audible sound may be diagnosed to determine the condition of the selected portion of the human.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 1, further including the step of transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to the selected portion which vibrations are propagated therethrough for detection by the energy receiving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 1, further including the step of recording the audible sound to have a permanent record thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1, further including the step of moving said energy receiving means relative to the human to continuously diagnose a system thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the selected portion emits its own ultrasonIc vibrations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the energy receiving means is in contact with the outer surface of the body and in energy transferring relation to the selected portion for detecting the ultrasonic vibrations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the energy receiving means is in spaced relation to the outer surface of the body and in energy transferring relation to the selected portion for detecting the ultrasonic vibrations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the energy receiving means is inserted within the body and in energy transferring relation to the selected portion for detecting the ultrasonic vibrations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the portion of the human is selected from one of the following systems, circulatory, digestive, skeletal, nervous and sensory.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the portion of the human diagnosed is in the vascular system to detect the accumulation of deposits in the blood vessels thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the portion of the human diagnosed is in the vascular system to detect the change in elasticity of the blood vessels thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the portion of the human diagnosed is in the vascular system to detect the existence of blood clots.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as in claim 5, further including the step of transmitting a beam of ultrasonic vibrations to the selected portion to create a resultant pattern of ultrasonic energy waves created by the ultrasonic vibrations normally emitted by said selected portion and said transmitted vibrations, whereby the audible sound of said resultant pattern may be analyzed.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for diagnosing the condition of a portion of a human in vivo, comprising the steps of: A. positioning in energy transferring relation to a portion of the body ultrasonic energy transmitting and receiving means, B. propagating ultrasonic energy between said transmitting and receiving means through said portion, and C. converting the ultrasonic energy received by said receiving means into sound in the audible range to permit a diagnosis of the condition of the portion through which said ultrasonic energy has propagated.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for diagnosing the condition of a portion of a human in vivo, comprising the steps of: A. positioning in energy transferring relation to a portion of the body ultrasonic energy transmitting and receiving means, B. propagating ultrasonic energy between said transmitting and receiving means through said portion, and C. converting the ultrasonic energy received by said receiving means into sound in the audible range to permit a diagnosis of the condition of the portion through which said ultrasonic energy has propagated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as in claim 14, a. wherein said portion of the human selected emits a first ultrasonic energy pattern, b. wherein said transmitting means propagates a second ultrasonic energy pattern, and c. wherein both of said patterns are combined and detected by said receiving means and converted into sound in the audible range.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 15, further including the step of filtering out ultrasonic energy at the frequency of said second ultrasonic energy pattern, whereby the resultant pattern contains ultrasonic energy at other frequencies.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 14, wherein said energy transmitting or receiving means is positioned in contact with the outer surface of the body to obtain said energy transferring relation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 14, wherein said energy transmitting or receiving means is positioned in spaced relation to the outer surface of the body to obtain said energy transferring relation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 14, wherein said energy transmitting or receiving means is inserted within the body to obtain said energy transferring relation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 14, wherein the portion of the human diagnosed is of the skeletal system and the resultant audible sound detects if any flaws exist therein.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 14, further including the step of recording the audible sound to have a permanent record thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-10 | 1974-11-09 | 1975-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-10 | 1978-11-09 | 1979-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-10 | 1982-11-09 | 1983-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |