Decision support systems and methods for assessing vascular health
First Claim
1. A method of assessing vascular health in a human or an animal, the method of assessing vascular health comprising the steps of:
- measuring information concerning flow velocity within a subject'"'"'s blood vessels;
obtaining a mean flow velocity value for each measured vessel;
obtaining a systolic acceleration value for the vessel;
inputting the measured information into a processor containing an algorithm wherein the processor performs calculations of mean flow velocity, and systolic acceleration, and performs comparisons to analyze vascular health; and
outputting an assessment indicative of the subject'"'"'s vascular health.
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for assessing blood flow in blood vessels, for assessing vascular health, for conducting clinical trials, for screening therapeutic interventions for adverse effects, and for assessing the effects of risk factors, therapies and substances, including therapeutic substances, on blood vessels, especially cerebral blood vessels, all achieved by measuring various parameters of blood flow in one or more vessels and analyzing the results in a defined matter. The relevant parameters of blood flow include mean flow velocity, systolic acceleration, and pulsatility index. By measuring and analyzing these parameters, one can ascertain the vascular health of a particular vessel, multiple vessels and an individual. Such measurements can also determine whether a substance has an effect, either deleterious or advantageous, on vascular health. In one of many embodiments, the present invention further provides an expert system for achieving the above.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method of assessing vascular health in a human or an animal, the method of assessing vascular health comprising the steps of:
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measuring information concerning flow velocity within a subject'"'"'s blood vessels;
obtaining a mean flow velocity value for each measured vessel;
obtaining a systolic acceleration value for the vessel;
inputting the measured information into a processor containing an algorithm wherein the processor performs calculations of mean flow velocity, and systolic acceleration, and performs comparisons to analyze vascular health; and
outputting an assessment indicative of the subject'"'"'s vascular health. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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16. A method of analyzing the vascular structure of a human or an animal, the method of analyzing comprising the steps of:
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accessing transcranial Doppler data with data collected from multiple subjects, wherein the data from each subject is collected from at least one intracranial blood vessel;
analyzing said data to establish multiple references indicative of the health status of individuals;
obtaining transcranial Doppler data from an individual;
inputting the individual'"'"'s data into a processor;
comparing the individual'"'"'s data to the references; and
outputting an analysis based on such comparison.
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25. A method of analyzing the vascular structure of a human or animal, the method of analyzing comprising the steps of:
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inputting blood flow measurements of the subject sufficient to derive systolic acceleration into a processor;
applying algorithms to the subject'"'"'s blood flow measurements including calculations based on the subject'"'"'s systolic acceleration; and
outputting an analysis of the subject.
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32. A method of assessing of the vascular health of a subject through analysis of multiple vascular measurements, the method of assessing comprising the steps of:
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obtaining blood flow parameters from multiple vascular measurements;
inputting patient data and data regarding related pathologies;
accessing a system embodying the process of reasoning from blood flow parameters, patient data, and data regarding related pathologies to an assessment of vascular health; and
outputting an assessment of the subject'"'"'s vascular health. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification