Devices and methods for tissue analysis
First Claim
1. A method for assessing the condition of tissue, comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing sound into tissue with a sound-introducing means;
(b) detecting a portion of the sound with a sound-detecting means after it has passed through at least a portion of the tissue;
(c) determining at least one sound-propagation parameter by comparing at least one property of the introduced sound and at least one property of the detected sound;
(d) identifying a region of examination of the tissue, based in part on either at least one property of the sound-introducing means or at least one property of the sound-detecting means; and
(e) assessing the condition of the tissue in the region of examination, based in part on the sound-propagation parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods are provided for assessing the condition of tissue, in particular to diagnose the location and stage of diseases such as emphysema. In one device or method according to the invention, sound is introduced into lung tissue. A portion of the sound is detected after it has passed through a portion of the lung. A sound-propagation parameter is determined by comparing a property of the introduced sound and a property of the detected sound. A region of examination of the tissue is identified, based in part on either a property of the component that introduces the sound or a property of the component that detects the sound. The condition of the tissue is assessed in the region of examination, based in part on the sound-propagation parameter.
166 Citations
69 Claims
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1. A method for assessing the condition of tissue, comprising the steps of:
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(a) introducing sound into tissue with a sound-introducing means;
(b) detecting a portion of the sound with a sound-detecting means after it has passed through at least a portion of the tissue;
(c) determining at least one sound-propagation parameter by comparing at least one property of the introduced sound and at least one property of the detected sound;
(d) identifying a region of examination of the tissue, based in part on either at least one property of the sound-introducing means or at least one property of the sound-detecting means; and
(e) assessing the condition of the tissue in the region of examination, based in part on the sound-propagation parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A device for assessing the condition of tissue, comprising:
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(a) means for introducing sound into tissue;
(b) means for detecting a portion of the sound after it has passed through at least a portion of the tissue;
(c) means for determining at least one sound-propagation parameter by comparing at least one property of the introduced sound and at least one property of the detected sound;
(d) means for identifying a region of examination of the tissue, based in part on either at least one property of the sound-introducing means or at least one property of the sound-detecting means; and
(e) means for assessing the condition of the tissue in the region of examination, based in part on the sound-propagation parameter. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A device for assessing the condition of tissue, comprising:
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(a) a first transducer that introduces sound into tissue;
(b) a second transducer that detects a portion of the sound after it has passed through at least a portion of the tissue;
(c) a sound-propagation comparator that determines at least one sound-propagation parameter by comparing at least one property of the introduced sound and at least one property of the detected sound;
(d) an examination-region identifier that identifies a region of the tissue, based in part on either at least one property of the first transducer or at least one property of the second transducer; and
(e) a tissue-condition assessor that assesses the condition of the tissue in the region of examination, based in part on the sound-propagation parameter. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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Specification