US4993427A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heart contraction monitor
Assignee: SONOTEK CORP
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Filing: 1989-11-09
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Granted: 1991-02-19
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Expires: 2009-11-09
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for determining the magnitude of heart muscle contractions has two ultrasonic transceivers, both of which are disposed in sonic alignment on selected points of the heart. A digital counter electrically interconnects the transceivers with a digital microprocessor. The counter determines a pulse transit time which corresponds to the difference in time between the transmission of a sonic pulse from the transmitter and the reception of the sonic pulse by the receiver. Immediately after determining each pulse transit time, the counter sends the transit time signal to the microprocessor, which first filters the signals to reject any signal which indicates a heart size that is unreasonably large or small. After filtering, the transit times are averaged in groups of a predetermined number and then converted to corresponding heart size measurements for storage and display.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard S. Barr
- 👤 Joe E. Deavenport
- 👤 Robert J. Schuessler
- 👤 Thomas A. Steinke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/13; A61B8/15; A61B8/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for dynamically determining the dimension of a muscle which comprises: means for transmitting a sonic or ultrasonic pulse into said muscle through a first surface of said muscle at a first time; means for receiving and signalling the emergence of said pulse from a second surface of said muscle opposite said first surface of said muscle at a second time; means for determining the difference between said first time and said second time to generate a pulse transmit time; processing means for filtering said pulse transit time and ignoring said pulse transit time when said pulse transit time is not within a predetermined range; and means for converting said pulse transit time to a distance signal for display and storage.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for dynamically determining the dimension of a muscle which comprises: means for transmitting a sonic or ultrasonic pulse into said muscle through a first surface of said muscle at a first time; means for receiving and signalling the emergence of said pulse from a second surface of said muscle opposite said first surface of said muscle at a second time; means for determining the difference between said first time and said second time to generate a pulse transmit time; processing means for filtering said pulse transit time and ignoring said pulse transit time when said pulse transit time is not within a predetermined range; and means for converting said pulse transit time to a distance signal for display and storage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus for dynamically determining the dimension of a muscle as recited in claim 1 wherein said transmitting and receiving means comprise ultrasonic transducers and associated pulse amplification and pulse shaping electronic components.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus for dynamically determining the dimension of a muscle as recited in claim 1 wherein said timing means comprises a digital counter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus for dynamically determining the dimension of a muscle as recited in claim 1 wherein said processing means comprises a digital microprocessor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus for dynamically determining the dimension of a muscle as recited in claim 1 wherein said transmitting means transmits a plurality of said pulses, said pulses being sequentially separated, each of said pulses being transmitted at a respective first time and received at a respective second time for generating respectively sequential pulse transit times.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus for dynamically determining the dimension of a muscle as recited in claim 5 wherein said predetermined range is determined to be bonded between thirty (30) percent greater and thirty (30) percent lesser than a predetermined time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus for dynamically determining the dimension of a muscle as recited in claim 6 wherein said predetermined time is determined individually for each of said pulse transit times to be the temporally precedent transit time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus for dynamically determining the dimension of a muscle as recited in claim 7, wherein said muscle is a contracting heart muscle and wherein said timing means further comprising comparison means coupled between said timing means and said receiving means for generating a digital pulsed signal to said timing means whenever said sonic pulse signal appearing at said receiving means exceeds a preselected level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus for dynamically determining the magnitude of a muscle as recited in claim 5, wherein said muscle is a contacting heart muscle and wherein said distance signals comprise the converted average of eight (8) of said pulse transit times.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for measuring the variations of a muscle's size, over time, which comprises: means for generating sonic pulses through said muscle; means for receiving and signalling the reception of said pulses after said pulses transit said muscle; timing means for determining the transit times of said pulses through said muscle; processing means for filtering said transit times and rejecting said transit times which exceed a predetermined value; means for averaging the remaining transit times; and means for converting said averaged transit times to distance signals for display and storage.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for measuring the variations of a muscle's size, over time, which comprises: means for generating sonic pulses through said muscle; means for receiving and signalling the reception of said pulses after said pulses transit said muscle; timing means for determining the transit times of said pulses through said muscle; processing means for filtering said transit times and rejecting said transit times which exceed a predetermined value; means for averaging the remaining transit times; and means for converting said averaged transit times to distance signals for display and storage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus for measuring the variations of a muscle's size, over time, as recited in claim 10 wherein said generating and said receiving means comprise ultrasonic transducers and associated pulse amplification and pulse shaping electronic components.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus for measuring the variations of a muscle's size, over time, as recited in claim 10 wherein said timing means comprises a digital counter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus for measuring the variations of a muscle's size, over time, as recited in claim 10 wherein said processing means comprises a digital microprocessor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus for measuring the variations of a muscle's size, over time, as recited in claim 10 wherein said predetermined value is determined to be thirty (30) percent greater or lesser than a predetermined time.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus for measuring the variations of a muscle's size, over time, as recited in claim 14 wherein said predetermined time is determined individually for each of said transit times to be the temporally precedent transit time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus for measuring the variations of a muscle's size, over time, as recited in claim 15 wherein said timing means further comprise comparison means coupled between said timing means and said receiving means for generating a digital pulsed signal to said timing means whenever said emergent pulse signal from said receiving means exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus for measuring the variations of a muscle's size, over time, as recited in claim 10 wherein said distance signals comprise the converted average of eight (8) of said transit times.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for measuring the variations in a muscle's size, over time, comprising the steps of: transmitting sonic pulses into said muscle; receiving said pulses; signalling the reception of said pulses after said pulses transit said muscle; determining the length of time of said pulse transit through said muscle; rejecting said transit times which exceed a predetermined value; averaging said transit times; and converting said averaged transit times to distances.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for measuring the variations in a muscle's size, over time, comprising the steps of: transmitting sonic pulses into said muscle; receiving said pulses; signalling the reception of said pulses after said pulses transit said muscle; determining the length of time of said pulse transit through said muscle; rejecting said transit times which exceed a predetermined value; averaging said transit times; and converting said averaged transit times to distances.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for measuring the variations in a muscle's size, over time, as recited in claim 18 further comprising the step of storing and displaying said distances.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method for measuring the variations in a muscle's size, over time, as recited in claim 18 wherein said predetermined value is determined to be thirty (30) per cent greater or lesser than a predetermined transit time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for measuring the variations in a muscle's size, over time, as recited in claim 20 wherein said predetermined transit time is determined individually for each of said transit times to be the temporally precedent transit time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method for measuring the variations in a muscle's size, over time, as recited in claim 18 further comprising the step of generating a digital pulsed signal for determining said transit time whenever said pulse reception signal exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for measuring the variations in a muscle's size, over time, as recited in claim 18 wherein said averaging step comprises averaging eight (8) sequential transit times.
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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) | 1994-02-18 | 1994-08-20 | 1995-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-18 | 1998-08-20 | 1999-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-18 | 2002-08-20 | 2003-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |