Apparatus and method for non-invasively detecting urinary tract infection using ultrasound
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for detecting urinary tract infection, comprising:
- ultrasound means for transmitting an ultrasound signal into a portion of the bladder;
means for receiving a return signal from the bladder;
means for gating the received signal so that only backscatter values from urine in a sample volume in the bladder remain; and
means for comparing said sample volume backscatter values against a pre-established threshold value, wherein a backscatter value above the threshold is indicative of the presence of elements in the urine which in turn indicate a urinary tract infection.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound signal is transmitted into the center of the bladder. The received backscatter information is gated so that the data which remains is from a sample volume within the bladder and does not include information from the front or back walls and surrounding tissues of the bladder. The backscatter information is then compared with a preestablished threshold value. If the received backscatter is above a threshold value, it is indicative of a possible urinary tract infection, and an alarm is transmitted to the user.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for detecting urinary tract infection, comprising:
-
ultrasound means for transmitting an ultrasound signal into a portion of the bladder; means for receiving a return signal from the bladder; means for gating the received signal so that only backscatter values from urine in a sample volume in the bladder remain; and means for comparing said sample volume backscatter values against a pre-established threshold value, wherein a backscatter value above the threshold is indicative of the presence of elements in the urine which in turn indicate a urinary tract infection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for detecting urinary tract infection, comprising:
-
transmitting an ultrasound signal into a portion of a bladder of a person; receiving a return signal from the bladder; gating the received signal so that only backscatter values from urine in a sample volume in the bladder remain; and comparing the sample volume backscatter values against a pre-established threshold value, wherein a backscatter value above the threshold is indicative of the presence of elements in the urine which in turn indicate a urinary tract infection. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification