MEDICAL APPARATUS AND METHODS INCLUDING AN ARRAY SYSTEM FOR SEGMENTING SIGNALS AND GENERATING A COMPLEX WAVEFORM AT A FOCAL POINT USINGRECOMBINATION OF SEGMENTED SIGNALS

• US 20150055734A1
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Whitaker, George
• Granted Patent: US 9,184,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/299
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/726 using Wavelet transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/22 Antenna units of the array energised non-uniformly in amplitude or phase, e.g. tapered array or binomial array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/225 Finite focus antenna arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2605 Array of radiating elements provided with a feedback control over the element weights, e.g. adaptive arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided to realize an input waveform using wavelet processing and reconstruction via separated antenna array systems having different beam paths and different frequency components which can include phased array transmitters to recreate the input waveform in medical applications. One aspect of the invention can include a wavelet function used for the examples shown herein which includes a first and second moments of a statistical function, i.e. the mean and variance used with an inverse wavelet to create rectangular pulses that lend themselves to use in the invention herein. Other embodiments of the invention can use other input waveform separation functions paired with signal separation and recombination at a focus point. A selected function can be matched to its application associated with avoidance of sending the input waveform along a single beam path, a desired a focus point, and separation of an input signal.

Claims

1. A medical system including a sensor and signal transmission system comprising:

a medical support structure operable to support a biological structure and said signal transmission system with respect to a focus point within said biological structure including a first support section and a plurality of second support sections;

an input device adapted to receive a first plurality of signals comprising an initial input waveform;

a plurality of spaced apart transmitters;

a plurality of antenna respectively coupled to said plurality of spaced apart transmitters, wherein each said plurality of antennas are adapted to operate at a different frequency than other said plurality of antennas, each of said plurality of antennas are oriented to have a different beam path through said biological structure than another said transmitter;

a Target Acquisition, Tracking, Control, and Pointing (TATCP) system adapted to control orientation and operation said plurality of transmitters and antennas, said TATCP system adapted to orient and control said plurality of transmitters and said plurality of antennas;

a first processing section adapted to read input data comprising antenna data associated with said plurality of spaced apart transmitters, transmitter data associated with said plurality of spaced apart transmitters, target location data, pointing vector data associated with each of said antennas, frequency data associated with said spaced apart transmitters, steering data associated with said transmitters, and target data including a position data of said focus point associated with said target, said processing section is further adapted to communicate said input data to said TATCP system; and

a second processing section adapted to read at least some of said input data and said initial input waveform and perform signal segmentation, said signal segmentation comprises separating out frequency components of the initial input waveform based on number of said spaced apart antennas, frequencies used by each of said antennas, and wavelet processing, said second processing section is further adapted to sort said frequency components into frequency bins associated with each of said antennas, said second processing section outputs a plurality of second signals to said plurality of spaced apart transmitters comprising said frequency bins and respective said frequency components each saved into each associated said frequency bin;

a first data storage device adapted to store said plurality of second signals and said input data;

wherein said TATCP is further adapted to operate said plurality of spaced apart transmitters and focus said plurality of antennas adapted for outputting said second signals at said focus point of said target location based on said input data, said TATCP and said second section is operable to substantially reproduce said first plurality of signals at said target location;

wherein said TATCP is further adapted to phase correct said plurality of second signals and steer said spaced apart transmitters towards said focal point determined by said TATCP system;

wherein said TATCP further comprises a third processing section adapted to determine characteristics of said second signals based on selection of second signals'"'"' energy and frequency as well as based on a plurality of predetermined biological effects data, said plurality of predetermined effects data including a plurality of potential effects data associated with said tissue or structures in said biological structure within said focus point caused from an initial or subsequent selection of one or more said second signals;

wherein said TATCP further comprises a fourth processing section adapted to adjust said second signal characteristics based on a first plurality of tissue or structures data associated with said biological structure through which each transmitter array output passes in a second configuration, said first plurality of tissue or structure data further comprising a plurality of potential damage to tissue associated with said transmitter output including energy and frequency.

2. A signal transmission system as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of transmitters and said plurality of antennas are adapted to output one of a group comprising acoustics, radio-frequency (RF), laser, or ultrasonics.

3. A signal transmission system as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of transmitters and said plurality of antennas comprises a focused wide band phased array system.

4. A method of manufacturing a medical application system including a signal transmission system comprising:

providing a medical support structure operable to support a biological form and said signal transmission system with respect to a focus point including a first support section and a plurality of second support sections;

providing an input device adapted to receive a first plurality of signals comprising an initial input waveform;

providing a plurality of spaced apart transmitters;

providing a plurality of antenna mounted to said plurality of spaced apart transmitters respectively on said plurality of second support sections, said plurality of antenna are respectively coupled to said plurality of spaced apart transmitters, wherein each said plurality of antennas are adapted to operate at a different frequency than other said plurality of antennas, each of said plurality of antennas are oriented to have a different beam path than another said transmitter;

providing a Target Acquisition, Tracking, Control, and Pointing (TATCP) system adapted to control orientation and operation said plurality of transmitters and antennas, said TATCP system adapted to orient and control said plurality of transmitters and said plurality of antennas;

providing a first processing section adapted to read input data comprising antenna data associated with said plurality of spaced apart transmitters, transmitter data associated with said plurality of spaced apart transmitters, target location data, pointing vector data associated with each of said antennas, frequency data associated with said spaced apart transmitters, steering data associated with said transmitters, and target data including a position data of said focus point associated with said target, said processing section is further adapted to communicate said input data to said TATCP system;

providing a second processing section adapted to read at least some of said input data and said initial input waveform and perform signal segmentation, said signal segmentation comprises separating out frequency components of the initial input waveform based on number of said spaced apart antennas, frequencies used by each of said antennas, and wavelet processing, said second processing section is further adapted to sort said frequency components into frequency bins associated with each of said antennas, said second processing section outputs a plurality of second signals to said plurality of spaced apart transmitters comprising said frequency bins and respective said frequency components each saved into each associated said frequency bin;

providing a first data storage device adapted to store said plurality of second signals and said input data;

wherein said TATCP is further adapted to operate said plurality of spaced apart transmitters and focus said plurality of antennas adapted for outputting said second signals at said focus point of said target location based on said input data, said TATCP and said second section is operable to substantially reproduce said first plurality of signals at said target location;

wherein said TATCP is further adapted to phase correct said plurality of second signals and steer said spaced apart transmitters towards said focus point determined by said TATCP system;

wherein said TATCP further comprises a third processing section adapted to determine characteristics of said second signals based on selection of second signals'"'"' energy and frequency based on a plurality of predetermined effects data, said plurality of predetermined effects data including a plurality of potential effects data associated with said tissue or structures in said biological structure within said focus point caused from an initial or subsequent selection of one or more said second signals;

wherein said TATCP further comprises a fourth processing section adapted to adjust said second signal characteristics based on a first plurality of tissue or structures data associated with said biological structure through which each transmitter array output passes in a second configuration, said first plurality of tissue or structure data further comprising a plurality of potential damage to tissue associated with said transmitter output including energy and frequency.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein said plurality of transmitters and said plurality of antennas are adapted to output one of a group comprising acoustics, radio-frequency (RF), laser, or ultrasonics.

6. A method as in claim 4, wherein said plurality of transmitters and said plurality of antennas comprises a focused wide band phased array system.

7. A method of controlling a transmission system associated with a medical application comprising:

providing a medical support structure operable to support a biological structure and said signal transmission system with respect to a target or focus point within said biological structure including a first support section and a plurality of second support sections;

reading a plurality of input data comprising antenna data, location data, pointing vector data, frequency data, and steering data, wherein said input data can include real time received from sensors or from memory, data can also include target type associated with said biological structure as well as data adapted to enable steering of arrays at a stationary or moving target or said focus point;

determining a wavelet order comprising number of segments used in segmentation of an input signal into frequency bins for processing and transmission, wherein the number of segments determines a number of frequency bins;

receiving said plurality of input data and a) acquiring said target at focus point;

b) steering a plurality of antennas to a correct pointing vector; and

c) tracking said target if said target is moving;

creating a buffer with 2̂

N data elements where N is the wavelet order or the number of frequency bins;

performing wavelet transform processing based on the wavelet order to create a plurality of wavelet coefficient data;

separating and associating the wavelet coefficients with the N frequency bins based on said N frequency bins and reading the wavelet coefficient data to create frequency bin separated and associated wavelet coefficient data;

storing said frequency bin separated and associated wavelet coefficient data into an interim data structure;

performing wavelet decomposition and filtering including performing wavelet decomposition said interim data structure data to produce a plurality of decomposed wavelet data;

applying filtering processing to said plurality of decomposed wavelet data associated with each frequency bin and creating a plurality of filtered decomposed wavelet data;

performing a plurality of inverse wavelet transforms of said filtered decomposed wavelet data comprising performing inverse wavelet transforms of said filtered decomposed wavelet data based on at least N frequency bin data;

performing phase adjustment processing including performing phase adjustment/time delay for a plurality of respective data streams associated with each said filtered decomposed inverse wavelet data based on antenna configuration and inputs from said ATP operable to ensure simultaneous or near simultaneous arrival of all signal transmissions from each said transmitters at said target or focus area;

performing output buffer processing including controlling each antenna or antenna element transmitting a different frequency bin data stream such that said antenna or antenna element is supplied each of the 2̂

N data elements from the respective filtered decomposed frequency bin;

determining characteristics of said signal transmissions based on said signal transmission'"'"'s energy and frequency based on a plurality of predetermined biological effects data, said plurality of predetermined effects data including a plurality of potential effects data associated with said tissue or structures in said biological structure within said target or focus area caused from an initial or subsequent selection of one or more said signal transmissions;

adjusting one or more said signal transmissions characteristics based on a first plurality of tissue or structures data associated with said biological structure through which each transmitter array output passes in a different configuration of said transmitters comprising orientations of signal transmissions output from one or more said transmitters, said first plurality of tissue or structure data further comprising a plurality of potential damage to tissue associated with said transmitter output comprising one or more said signal transmissions including energy and frequency; and

transmitting transmit data received from the output buffer processing using the transmitters and antennas so as to output said signal transmissions from said transmitters in said different configuration.

8. A signal transmission system comprising:

a processor adapted to read and execute non-transitory machine readable instructions;

an input/output section;

a display section adapted to display results from processing associated with said processor and input/output section; and

a machine readable storage medium adapted to store and read said non-transitory machine readable instructions;

wherein said non-transitory machine readable instructions include;

a first plurality instructions including a data input module adapted to receive and store an input waveform and configuration data, said configuration data comprising antenna data, location data, and pointing vector data;

a second plurality instructions adapted to receive said configuration data and said input waveform then transform input waveform into inverse wavelet transforms of N frequency bins comprising a waveform to be transmitted;

a third plurality of instructions adapted to control a plurality of 1−

N antenna elements and phase corrected outputs of said antenna elements so that individual waveforms transmitted from each antenna element would constructively combine to substantially reproduce the input waveform at the target location utilizing the configuration data;

a fourth plurality of instructions operable for determining characteristics of said individual waveforms transmitted from one or more said antenna elements based on said waveform'"'"'s energy and frequency based on a plurality of predetermined biological effects data, said plurality of predetermined effects data including a plurality of potential effects data associated with said tissue or structures in said biological structure within said target location caused from an initial or subsequent selection of one or more said individual waveforms;

adjusting one or more said signal transmissions characteristics based on a first plurality of tissue or structures data associated with said biological structure through which each transmitter array output passes in a different configuration of said transmitters comprising orientations of signal transmissions output from one or more said transmitters, said first plurality of tissue or structure data further comprising a plurality of potential damage to tissue associated with said transmitter output including energy and frequency.