BLOOD FLOW SENSOR
First Claim
1. A blood flow rate sensor including:
- a. a transmitter configured to emit waves into a blood vessel, wherein the propagation of the waves is affected by blood components within the blood vessel,b. a pair of receivers spaced from each other along the direction of blood flow, wherein each receiver receives waves emitted by the transmitter along a different path through the blood flow than the other receiver,c. a filter configured to;
(1) receive an output signal from each receiver, and(2) isolate a noise component therefrom,d. a processor configured to determine a time offset between the noise components.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A blood flow rate sensor has at least one transmitter for emitting waves into a blood vessel, the propagation of which is deflected by cellular blood components, and at least two receiver units for receiving waves emitted by the transmitter. The receiver units are spaced from each other in the direction of blood flow, and are situated such that each receives waves from a different path through the blood. The output signal of each receiver unit is filtered or otherwise processed to obtain a noise component, and the noise components from the receiver units are cross-correlated to determine a time offset between the output signals. The time offset is inversely proportional to the blood flow rate.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A blood flow rate sensor including:
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a. a transmitter configured to emit waves into a blood vessel, wherein the propagation of the waves is affected by blood components within the blood vessel, b. a pair of receivers spaced from each other along the direction of blood flow, wherein each receiver receives waves emitted by the transmitter along a different path through the blood flow than the other receiver, c. a filter configured to; (1) receive an output signal from each receiver, and (2) isolate a noise component therefrom, d. a processor configured to determine a time offset between the noise components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A blood flow rate sensor including:
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a. a transmitter configured to emit waves into a blood vessel, b. a pair of receivers aligned to receive waves emitted by the transmitter, wherein each receiver provides a receiver output signal dependent on the waves received by the receiver, c. a support maintaining the receivers; (1) in spaced relationship, and (2) spaced from the transmitter, d. a processor configured to provide a blood flow rate output signal dependent on differences between the receiver output signals or components thereof. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of sensing blood flow rate including the steps of:
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a. emitting waves into a blood vessel, wherein the propagation of the waves is affected by blood components within the blood vessel, b. receiving waves emitted by the transmitter at a pair of locations spaced from each other along the direction of blood flow, wherein each location receives the waves from a different path through the blood flow than the other location, c. isolating a noise component from the waves received at each location, d. determining a time offset between the noise components of the locations, and e. providing a blood flow rate output signal dependent on the time offset.
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Specification