Automatic signal-optimizing transducer assembly for blood flow measurement
First Claim
1. An auto-signal-optimizing transducer assembly for transmitting ultrasound to, and receiving ultrasound echo signals returned from, a particular blood vessel disposed in a patient'"'"'s body region in which said blood vessel is oriented at an vessel elevation angle relative to the skin surface, said auto-signal-optimizing transducer assembly comprising:
- a. a ultrasound transducer component having a front face that transmits ultrasound along a scanning plane directed away from said face and receives ultrasound echo signals returned along said scanning plane;
b. signal connection means for coupling said transducer to an ultrasound generator and processor unit that excites said transducer to transmit said ultrasound and processes said returned ultrasound echo signals received by said transducer component;
c. securing means for detachably and repeatably holding said transducer component on said skin surface and oriented in azimuth adjacent to said body region and to hold said transducer component so said scanning plane is disposed at a fixed transducer elevation angle relative to the skin surface, and is oriented in azimuth on said skin surface to optimize initial returned echo signals from said blood vessel disposed at a vessel elevation angle relative to said skin surface.
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Abstract
The invention uses a transducer and ultrasound system to form and direct ultrasound beams through the blood stream that will detect the Doppler shift in frequency between the beams and the return echo off the blood. The transducer can be secured onto the surface of the patient'"'"'s skin with a transducer housing holder. A 1-D transducer, subject to an optimized angle with respect to the blood vessel, will generate and direct ultrasound beams electronically through a blood vessel below the skin and analyze the received echo, searching for the maximum signal amplitude of the Doppler frequency shift from the blood. Furthermore, the device continuously controls the direction of the ultrasound beams to achieve maximum return signal amplitude. Then, the condition and trend of the blood flow is recorded and displayed continuously over the desired diagnostic interval the device is in use.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An auto-signal-optimizing transducer assembly for transmitting ultrasound to, and receiving ultrasound echo signals returned from, a particular blood vessel disposed in a patient'"'"'s body region in which said blood vessel is oriented at an vessel elevation angle relative to the skin surface, said auto-signal-optimizing transducer assembly comprising:
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a. a ultrasound transducer component having a front face that transmits ultrasound along a scanning plane directed away from said face and receives ultrasound echo signals returned along said scanning plane;
b. signal connection means for coupling said transducer to an ultrasound generator and processor unit that excites said transducer to transmit said ultrasound and processes said returned ultrasound echo signals received by said transducer component;
c. securing means for detachably and repeatably holding said transducer component on said skin surface and oriented in azimuth adjacent to said body region and to hold said transducer component so said scanning plane is disposed at a fixed transducer elevation angle relative to the skin surface, and is oriented in azimuth on said skin surface to optimize initial returned echo signals from said blood vessel disposed at a vessel elevation angle relative to said skin surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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11. An ultrasound transducer assembly comprising:
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a. an ultrasound transducer unit;
i. said unit presenting an outward facing ultrasound scanning array on one side;
b. a body portion attachment means comprising;
i. means for detachably securing said attachment means proximal to a skin surface portion of a body region;
ii. attachment means for detachably and repeatedly securing said transducer unit at a fixed location and fixed orientation with said scanning array disposed adjacent to and facing said skin surface portion;
c. signal connection means for connecting said array to a distal signal generating and signal processing unit for communicating ultrasound excitation signals from said processing unit to said array for transmitting ultrasound into said body region through said skin surface portion and for communicating resulting ultrasound echo signals received by said array from said body portion back to said processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification