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US4646754A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Non-invasive determination of mechanical characteristics in the body
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1985-02-19
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Granted: 1987-03-03
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Expires: 2005-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A non-invasive system and method for inducing vibrations in a selected element of the human body and detecting the nature of responses for determining mechanical characteristics of the element are provided. The method comprises the steps of: inducing multiple-frequency vibrations, including below 20 KHz, in a selected element of the body by use of a driver; determining parameters of the vibration exerted on the body by the driver; sensing variations of a dimension of the element of the body over time, including in response to the driver; correlating the variations with frequency components of operation of the driver below 20 KHz to determine corresponding frequency components of the variations; resolving the frequency components into components of vibration mode shape; and determining the mechanical characteristics of the element on the basis of the parameters of vibration exerted by the driver and of the components of vibration mode shape.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph B. Seale
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:12
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/04; A61B3/00; A61B3/10; A61B3/16; A61B5/00; A61B5/02; A61B5/021; A61B5/02133; A61B5/022; A61B5/02216; A61B5/02233; A61B5/20; A61B5/202; A61B5/205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
An non-invasive system for inducing vibrations in a selected element of the human body and detecting the nature of responses for determining mechanical characteristics of said element, said system comprising: a drive means for inducing multiple-frequency vibrations, including below 20 KHz, in a selected element of the body, means for determining parameters of the vibration exerted on the body by the driver means, means for sensing variations of a dimension of said element of the body over time, including in response to said driver means, means for correlating said variations with frequency components of operation of said driver means below 20 KHz, in order to determine corresponding frequency components of said variations. means for resolving said frequency components into components of vibration mode shape, and computer means for interpreting said parameters of vibration exerted by the driver means and said components of vibration mode shape in a manner to determine said mechanical characteristics.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
An non-invasive system for inducing vibrations in a selected element of the human body and detecting the nature of responses for determining mechanical characteristics of said element, said system comprising: a drive means for inducing multiple-frequency vibrations, including below 20 KHz, in a selected element of the body, means for determining parameters of the vibration exerted on the body by the driver means, means for sensing variations of a dimension of said element of the body over time, including in response to said driver means, means for correlating said variations with frequency components of operation of said driver means below 20 KHz, in order to determine corresponding frequency components of said variations. means for resolving said frequency components into components of vibration mode shape, and computer means for interpreting said parameters of vibration exerted by the driver means and said components of vibration mode shape in a manner to determine said mechanical characteristics.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said parameters of vibration exerted by the driver means include force.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said parameters of vibration exerted by the driver means include velocity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein one said mechanical characteristic determined is pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said system further comprises means for detecting change in said components of vibration mode shape due to pressure change of said element, said change being included by said computer indetermination of said mechanical characteristics of said element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said driver means is adapted to induce a vibration frequency that changes over time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said driver means is adapted to induce multiple vibration frequencies simultaneously.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The system of claim 1, 4 or 5 wherein said body element includes a wall, and further comprising: means for resolving said components of vibration mode shape for at least two modes, and means for comparing said determined mechanical characteristics of said elements respectively determined on the basis of said components of vibration mode shape for at least two modes in a manner to provide an indication of element wall stiffness.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1, 4 or 5 wherein said means for sensing variations of a dimension of said element of the body comprises means for emitting and receiving ultrasound signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 4 or 5 wherein a said mechanical characteristic determined is systemic arterial blood pressure and said body element is a segment of the arterial system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 or 5 wherein a said mechanical characteristic determined is the mechanical impedance of a body element and said body element is an entire organ.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 4 or 5 wherein a said mechanical characteristic determined is intraocular pressure and said body element is an eyeball.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said means for sensing variations of a dimension of said eyeball comprises a time-varying display adjustable for creating visual impressions representative of the response of the eyeball to the vibrational forces exerted by the driver means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 4 or 5 wherein a said mechanical characteristic determined is pulmonary blood pressure and said body element is a segment of the pulmonary arterial system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 comprising a further means for sensing a dimension of said element, said sensed dimension being included by said computer means in determination of said mechanical characteristics of said element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said means for sensing a dimension of said element comprises optical measuring equipment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 4 or 5 further comprising means for applying a known pressure to said element in a manner to permit calibration of the system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the pressure application means is a pressure cuff.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for sensing variations of a dimension is further adapted for sensing a dimension of said element, said sensed dimension being included by said computer means in determination of said mechanical characteristics of said element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said means for sensing a dimension of said element comprises equipment for emitting and receiving ultrasound signals.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for inducing vibrations in a selected element of the human body and detecting the nature of responses for determining mechanical characteristics of said element non-invasively, said method comprising the steps of: inducing multiple-frequency vibrations, including below 20 KHz, in a selected element of the body by use of a driver means, determining parameters of the vibration exerted on the body by the driver means, sensing variations of a dimension of said element of the body over time, including in response to said driver means, correlating said variations with frequency components of operation of said driver means below 20 KHz to determine corresponding frequency components of said variations, resolving said frequency components into components of vibration mode shape, and interpreting said parameters of vibration exerted by the driver means and said components of vibration mode shape in a manner to determine said mechanical characteristics of said element.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for inducing vibrations in a selected element of the human body and detecting the nature of responses for determining mechanical characteristics of said element non-invasively, said method comprising the steps of: inducing multiple-frequency vibrations, including below 20 KHz, in a selected element of the body by use of a driver means, determining parameters of the vibration exerted on the body by the driver means, sensing variations of a dimension of said element of the body over time, including in response to said driver means, correlating said variations with frequency components of operation of said driver means below 20 KHz to determine corresponding frequency components of said variations, resolving said frequency components into components of vibration mode shape, and interpreting said parameters of vibration exerted by the driver means and said components of vibration mode shape in a manner to determine said mechanical characteristics of said element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said determination of parameters of vibration exerted by the driver means includes determining force.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said determination of parameters of vibration exerted by the driver means includes determining velocity.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 21 wherein a mechanical characteristic determined is pressure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of detecting change in components of vibration mode shape due to pressure change of said element, said change being included in determination of said mechanical characteristics of said element.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said multiple-frequency vibrations are generated by changing the operation frequency of the driver means over time.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said multiple-frequency vibrations are generated by operation of the driver means at multiple frequencies simultaneously.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 21, 24 or 25 wherein said body element includes a wall, and further comprising the steps of: resolving said components of vibration mode shape for at least two modes, and comparing said determined mechanical characteristics of said elements respectively determined on the basis of said components of vibration mode shape for at least two modes in a manner to provide an indication of element wall stiffness.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 21, 24 or 25 comprising sensing said variations of a dimension of said element of the body by means of ultrasound echo signals.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 24 or 25 wherein a said mechanical characteristic determined is systemic arterial blood pressure and said body element is a segment of the arterial system.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 21 or 25 wherein a said mechanical characteristic determined is the mechanical impedance of a body element and said body element is an entire organ.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 24 or 25 wherein a said mechanical characteristic determined is intraocular pressure and said body element is an eyeball.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said step of sensing variations of dimension comprises sensing variations of a dimension of said eyeball, and said method further comprises incorporating user feedback in response to visual impressions of a time-varying display, said visual impressions being representative of the response of the eyeball induced by the driver means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 24 or 25 wherein a said mechanical characteristic determined is pulmonary blood pressure and said body element is a segment of the pulmonary arterial system.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 21, in addition to the step of sensing variations of a dimension of said element, said method further comprises sensing a dimension of said element, said sensed dimension being included in determination of said mechanical characteristics of said element.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said dimension of said element is sensed by interpreting ultrasound echo signals.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said dimension of said element is sensed optically.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 24 or 25 further comprising applying a known pressure to said element in a manner to permit calibration.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 38 further comprising applying said known pressure by means of a pressure cuff.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-03-02 | 1990-09-01 | 1991-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-02 | 1994-09-01 | 1995-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-02 | 1998-09-01 | 1999-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |