Hand-held, battery operated, doppler ultrasound medical diagnostic device with cordless probe
First Claim
1. Diagnostic apparatus for measuring physical phenomena occurring inside a body, comprising:
- a transmitter capable of generating acoustic waves and propagating said acoustic waves into said body, wherein said acoustic waves are capable of being altered in response to the physical phenomena occurring in said body such that said altered acoustic waves are indicative of the physical phenomena occurring in said body, and wherein said transmitter is located external of said body;
a transducer capable of detecting said altered acoustic waves, said transducer being located external of said body and capable of generating an electric receiver signal having characteristics indicative of the physical phenomena;
signal converter means connected to said transducer for converting said electric receiver signal to a frequency modulated sine wave current that is indicative of the physical phenomena;
a plurality of light emitters connected to said signal converter means, which light emitters emit light with intensity that is a linear function of amplitude of the frequency modulated sine wave current;
a light detector separated spatially from said light emitter and external of said body, which light detector is capable of producing an electric detector signal;
signal processing means connected to said light detector for extracting information about said physical phenomena from said electric detector signal; and
display means connected to said signal processing means for producing a display of said information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hand-held, battery operated, Doppler ultrasound diagnostic device for use in obstetrical applications to, for example, measure fetal heartbeat, and vascular applications to, for example, measure blood flow and pressure, includes a cordless probe, a base unit, and an electric recharging stand. The probe detects the physical response signal being monitored through Doppler ultrasound techniques. The signal is used to frequency modulate a sine wave carrier signal which is transmitted by the probe and received by the base unit. The carrier signal frequency and wave form is chosen so as not to cause interference with other medical equipment that may be nearby. The base unit demodulates the carrier signal and retrieves the human response signal. The base unit displays the human response signal visually with an LED display and audibly with built in speakers. In addition, the base unit includes an output connectors which allow the human response signal to be recorded on a tape recorder or played through earphones. Having a cordless probe enables the base unit to be placed outside the sterile field created around the patient. When not in use, the probe can be stored in a nested position in the base unit and the base unit can be attached to the recharging stand. Both the probe and the base unit are battery operated. The base unit will recharge its batteries when positioned in the recharging stand. The probe will recharge its batteries when the probe is positioned in the base unit and the base unit is positioned in the recharging stand.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. Diagnostic apparatus for measuring physical phenomena occurring inside a body, comprising:
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a transmitter capable of generating acoustic waves and propagating said acoustic waves into said body, wherein said acoustic waves are capable of being altered in response to the physical phenomena occurring in said body such that said altered acoustic waves are indicative of the physical phenomena occurring in said body, and wherein said transmitter is located external of said body; a transducer capable of detecting said altered acoustic waves, said transducer being located external of said body and capable of generating an electric receiver signal having characteristics indicative of the physical phenomena; signal converter means connected to said transducer for converting said electric receiver signal to a frequency modulated sine wave current that is indicative of the physical phenomena; a plurality of light emitters connected to said signal converter means, which light emitters emit light with intensity that is a linear function of amplitude of the frequency modulated sine wave current; a light detector separated spatially from said light emitter and external of said body, which light detector is capable of producing an electric detector signal; signal processing means connected to said light detector for extracting information about said physical phenomena from said electric detector signal; and display means connected to said signal processing means for producing a display of said information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Doppler ultrasound diagnostic apparatus for measuring physical phenomena occurring inside a body;
- comprising;
a probe containing;
(a) ultrasound transceiver means located external of said body for generating ultrasound acoustic waves and propagating said ultrasound acoustic waves within said body, for receiving echoes of said ultrasound acoustic waves, and for producing an electric receiver signal that is modulated as a function of Doppler frequency shift of the echoes;
(b) a plurality of infrared light emitters positioned to emit light in a plurality of directions; and
(c) driver circuit means connected to said ultrasound transceiver means and to said infrared light emitters for powering said infrared light emitters to produce harmonic free infrared light signals that are a function of said Doppler frequency shift of the echoes; anda base unit positioned remote from said probe, said base unit containing;
(a) plurality of photodetector means oriented in a plurality of directions and responsive to said infrared light signals for producing an electric detector signal that is a function of said infrared light signals and of said Doppler frequency shift of the echoes;
(b) signal processing means for deriving information from said electric detector signal that is indicative of said Doppler frequency shift and for producing display signals from said information for driving display equipment; and
(c) display equipment connected to said signal processing means and responsive to said display signals to produce visual, audio, or storage displays of said information. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
- comprising;
Specification