Soft tissue examination method and apparatus

Claim 1

In apparatus for examining soft body tissue by means of the transillumination thereof with light comprising at least two selected wavelengths, the absorbtion of light at each of the selected wavelengths being measured, signals commensurate with the measured absorption being digitized and the resulting digital data being loaded into memory means at a first rate, said apparatus further including means responsive to the data commensurate with absorption which has been loaded into the memory means for generating a visually observable display commensurate with the said stored data, the improvement comprising: ultrasound transducer means for transmitting ultrasonic energy into the tissue and receiving echos from within the tissue; means connected to said transducer means for serially providing information in digital form commensurate with the reflection of ultrasonic energy from within the tissue, said digital information being generated at a second rate which is slower than said first rate; means for serially receiving and storing a limited quantity of digitized signals from said information providing means; a frame buffer, said frame buffer being connected to said means for serially receiving and storing, said frame buffer having a storage capacity commensurate with a full frame, said frame buffer being coupled to the memory means; first address generator means for controlling the location in said frame buffer where the digitized signals are stored; means for addressing said frame buffer means at the said first rate whereby information stored therein will be transferred into the memory means and stored in the same locations as occupied by data commensurate with the absorption of light at one of the selected wavelengths; means responsive to information loaded into the memory means from said receiving and storing means for generating a television display commensurate with the stored information, said television display being an ultrasound image of the tissue being examined, said television display generating means including: a television monitor; video processor means, said processor means converting digital information received from the memory means to an analog analog input signal for said monitor; and means for selectively coupling said video processor means and the means for generating a visually observable display commensurate with the absorption of light to the memory means.