Measurement of capillary related interstitial fluid using ultrasound methods and devices
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting capillary related edema in a subject, comprising:
- a) positioning an ultrasound probe on an epidermal surface of an appendage region of a subject in need of capillary related edema detection and said subject is suspected of comprised or challenged cardiac, arterial, venous, renal, hepatic function, b) applying at least one ultrasound pulse to a subcutaneous layer of said appendage region, c) recording a least one ultrasound signal with said ultrasound probe from said appendage region, and d) detecting the presence or absence of a capillary related edema layer in said subcutaneous layer of said appendage region from said at least one ultrasound signal.
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Abstract
The present invention provides for methods and devices for monitoring capillary related interstitial thickness. The invention also includes methods of measuring capillary related interstitial fluid, as well as cardiac, vascular, renal and hepatic function. Specific devices, particularly probes, are provided for such methods.
92 Citations
138 Claims
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1. A method of detecting capillary related edema in a subject, comprising:
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a) positioning an ultrasound probe on an epidermal surface of an appendage region of a subject in need of capillary related edema detection and said subject is suspected of comprised or challenged cardiac, arterial, venous, renal, hepatic function, b) applying at least one ultrasound pulse to a subcutaneous layer of said appendage region, c) recording a least one ultrasound signal with said ultrasound probe from said appendage region, and d) detecting the presence or absence of a capillary related edema layer in said subcutaneous layer of said appendage region from said at least one ultrasound signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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- 18. A dedicated ultrasound system for measuring capillary related edema, comprising an appendage ultrasound probe having a probe head and grip adapted for positioning said appendage probe on an appendage, and a computational unit.
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26. A health care kit comprising:
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a) a dedicated ultrasound system for measuring capillary related edema, comprising an appendage ultrasound probe having a probe head and grip adapted for positioning said appendage probe, and b) a computational unit; and
c) a health care product in at least one dosage;
wherein said system can monitor for a therapeutic effect of said dosage. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of measuring capillary related interstitial fluid, comprising:
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a) transmitting at least one ultrasound pulse to a tissue in a subject in need of capillary related interstitial fluid assessment, b) recording at least one ultrasound signal from said tissue, and c) determining a capillary related interstitial layer thickness from a first reflective surface to an internal reflective surface, wherein said capillary related interstitial layer thickness is an assessment of capillary related interstitial fluid. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method of assessing vascular performance, comprising:
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a) reducing or increasing blood flow to a tissue in a subject, b) monitoring a capillary related interstitial layer thickness of said tissue with an ultrasound probe after or concurrent with said step (a), c) increasing said blood flow to said tissue after said reducing in step (a) and said monitoring in step (b) or decreasing said blood flow to said tissue after said increasing in step (a) and said monitoring in step (b), and d) monitoring said capillary related interstitial layer thickness of said tissue with an ultrasound probe, after or concurrent with said step (c), wherein said reduction in blood flow controllably reduces blood flow to said tissue for a clinically relevant period of time in step (a) and said increase in blood flow controllably increases blood flow to said tissue for a clinically relevant period of time in step (c), or wherein said increase in blood flow controllably increases blood flow to said tissue for a clinically relevant period of time in step (a) and said reduction in blood flow controllably reduces blood flow to said tissue for a clinically relevant period of time in step (c). - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A method for non-invasively estimating dynamic cardiac performance in a human, comprising:
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a) monitoring interstitial fluid content with an ultrasound probe positioned on the skin of a human in need of cardiac performance evaluation and in an anatomical region suitable for monitoring changes in interstitial fluid content during a clinically relevant time period, and b) comparing said capillary related interstitial fluid content monitored in step (a) with a standard value for capillary related interstitial fluid content or with a measurement of capillary related interstitial fluid content in said human. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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80. A method of detecting rapid changes in capillary related interstitial fluid volume in a human, comprising:
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a) positioning a first ultrasound probe on a skin surface of a first anatomical region of said human in need of capillary related interstitial fluid volume detection during a clinically relevant time period, b) interrogating said first anatomical region with ultrasound pulses from said first ultrasound probe, and c) detecting a first capillary related interstitial fluid volume between an inner surface of skin and either a bone or fat surface in said first anatomical region with ultrasound signals from said ultrasound pulses, wherein said first capillary related interstitial fluid volume is an indicator of capillary related interstitial fluid volume of said first anatomical region or optionally is an indicator of systemic capillary related interstitial fluid volume. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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91. A compact ultrasound probe for in situ ultrasound measurements, comprising:
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a) at least one ultrasound crystal in acoustic communication with an acoustic coupling material, b) an ultrasound crystal holder adapted for securing said acoustic coupling material to a surface of an object or subject for in situ ultrasound measurements, and c) an electrical coupling for electrically connecting said at least one ultrasound crystal to an ultrasound output or recording system, wherein said electrical coupling is compatible with securing said ultrasound probe for in situ ultrasound measurements. - View Dependent Claims (92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102)
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- 103. A screen display comprising a predetermined set of anatomical features that appears on the screen, and at least one processed signal that appears on the screen and corresponds to at least one anatomical feature of said predetermined set of anatomical features.
- 108. An in situ probe holder comprising a holder member to hold and secure a probe to a surface, wherein said probe is an ultrasound probe, or MRI probe.
- 117. A micro-transducer comprising an acoustic surface acoustically coupled to an ultrasound source, said acoustic surface and said ultrasound source are disposed in a frame adapted for directly or indirectly securing said micro-transducer to a skin.
- 123. A multi-probe set comprising a first ultrasound probe comprising a first output port, said first ultrasound probe adapted for continuous or in situ monitoring at a first anatomical region and a second ultrasound probe comprising a second output port, said second ultrasound probe adapted for continuous or in situ monitoring at a second anatomical region.
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128. A method of multisite monitoring, comprising:
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a) transmitting an ultrasound pulse from a first ultrasound probe to a first anatomical region, b) transmitting an ultrasound pulse from a second ultrasound probe to a second anatomical region, c) recording ultrasound signals from a first ultrasound probe to a first anatomical region, d) recording ultrasound signals from a second ultrasound probe to a second anatomical region, and e) monitoring interstitial layer thickness of said first and second anatomical regions. - View Dependent Claims (129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138)
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Specification