Portable ultrasonic Doppler System
First Claim
1. A portable ultrasonic doppler system for sensing movement comprising:
- a handheld unit including a housing with a head end, a transmitting element mounted in said head end, means for energizing said transmitting element to emit ultrasonic energy, a receiving element mounted adjacent said transmitting element in said head end and responsive to ultrasonic energy emitted from said transmitting element and reflected to the receiving element by an object spaced therefrom, means for detecting the response of said receiving element to the reflected ultrasonic energy, radio-frequency transmitter means coupled to said detecting means for transmitting a radio-frequency signal modulated in accordance with the response of said receiving element, and an electrically conductive surface connected to the output of said radio-frequency transmitter means and situated externally of said handheld unit at said head end; and
a radio-frequency receiver unit adapted to receive the radio-frequency signal transmitted from said handheld unit and including audio output means for producing an audible signal in accordance with the response of said receiving element;
said head end adapted to be placed on the body of a living being in which movement is to be sensed with said transmitting element positioned to emit ultrasonic energy toward a moving object within said body, said receiving element positioned to receive ultrasonic energy reflecting off of said moving object, and said electrically conductive surface in contact with said body, whereby said body serves as the antenna for transmitting said radio-frequency signal to said radio-frequency receiver unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable ultrasonic Doppler System for sensing movement, e.g. fetal heartrate, within a body. A handheld unit includes a housing containing an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver. The ultrasonic receiver detects ultrasonic energy emitted from the ultrasonic transmitter and reflected off of the moving object being monitored. The handheld unit also includes a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting a carrier modulated in accordance with the response of the ultrasonic receiver. A radio frequency receiver unit, separate from the handheld unit, receives the signal broadcast by the handheld unit. The receiver unit drives a speaker or earphone to provide an audio output for listening to the moving object being monitored. Digital display and memory circuitry is also provided which can be used in conjunction with said receiver unit to store and display data indicative of the movement being monitored. In conjunction with the handheld unit, a patient being monitored becomes the radio frequency antenna and the doctor becomes an extension of the antenna ground plane, providing a highly efficient radio link between the handheld unit and the receiver unit.
167 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A portable ultrasonic doppler system for sensing movement comprising:
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a handheld unit including a housing with a head end, a transmitting element mounted in said head end, means for energizing said transmitting element to emit ultrasonic energy, a receiving element mounted adjacent said transmitting element in said head end and responsive to ultrasonic energy emitted from said transmitting element and reflected to the receiving element by an object spaced therefrom, means for detecting the response of said receiving element to the reflected ultrasonic energy, radio-frequency transmitter means coupled to said detecting means for transmitting a radio-frequency signal modulated in accordance with the response of said receiving element, and an electrically conductive surface connected to the output of said radio-frequency transmitter means and situated externally of said handheld unit at said head end; and a radio-frequency receiver unit adapted to receive the radio-frequency signal transmitted from said handheld unit and including audio output means for producing an audible signal in accordance with the response of said receiving element; said head end adapted to be placed on the body of a living being in which movement is to be sensed with said transmitting element positioned to emit ultrasonic energy toward a moving object within said body, said receiving element positioned to receive ultrasonic energy reflecting off of said moving object, and said electrically conductive surface in contact with said body, whereby said body serves as the antenna for transmitting said radio-frequency signal to said radio-frequency receiver unit. - 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 portable ultrasonic doppler system for sensing movement comprising:
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a handheld unit including a housing, a plurality of transmitting elements mounted in said housing and each adapted to emit a different ultrasonic frequency, a plurality of receiving elements mounted in said housing and each adapted to respond to the frequency emitted by a different one of said transmitting elements and reflected to the receiving element by an object spaced therefrom, means for detecting the response of said receiving elements to the reflected ultrasonic energy, and radio-frequency transmitter means coupled to said detecting means for transmitting a radio-frequency signal modulated in accordance with the response of said receiving elements; and a radio-frequency receiver unit adapted to receive the radio-frequency signal transmitted from said hand-held unit and including audio output means for producing an audible signal in accordance with the response of said receiving element. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification