System and associated method for providing information for use in forming medical diagnosis

• US 5,666,953 A
• Filed: 08/01/1995
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WILK Patent Development Corporation
• Original Assignee: Peter J. Wilk
• Inventors: Wilk, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Application Number:
  US08/510,104
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 28/653.1, 28/660.01, 28/662.03, 28/662.04, 73/627, 73/628
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/42 Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply

Abstract

A medical diagnostic system comprises a monitoring device juxtaposable to a patient for collecting individualized medical data about the patient'"'"'s condition, and a digitizer operatively connected to the monitoring device for digitizing the data. A computer is operatively connected to the digitizer and a memory which stores medical data for a multiplicity of previously diagnosed medical conditions. The computer is operated to compare digitized data about the patient'"'"'s condition with the data stored in the memory and for deriving a diagnosis as to the patient'"'"'s condition. The computer is connected to an output device, e.g., a printer, for communicating the derived diagnosis to a user.

Claims

1. A system for providing information useful in forming a medical diagnosis, comprising:

a flexible web conformable to a patient;

at least one electroacoustic transducer attached to said web;

means for energizing said transducer with an electrical signal of a pre-established ultrasonic frequency;

a plurality of acoustoelectric transducers attached to said web in a predetermined array; and

analyzing means operatively connected to said acoustoelectric transducers for analyzing sounds detected thereby upon energization of said electroacoustic transducer, said means for analyzing including means for receiving signals from said acoustoelectric transducers in a predetermined sequence.

2. The medical diagnostic system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electroacoustic transducers attached to said web in an additional predetermined array.

3. The medical diagnostic system of claim 2 wherein said means for energizing includes means for energizing said electroacoustic transducers in a predetermined sequence.

4. A method for providing information useful in forming a medical diagnosis, comprising:

providing a flexible web carrying at least one electroacoustic transducer and a plurality of acoustoelectric transducers attached to said web in a predetermined array;

placing said web over at least a portion of a patient so that said web conforms substantially to a surface of said portion of the patient;

energizing said electroacoustic transducer with an electrical signal of a pre-established ultrasonic frequency to generate a first pressure wave transmitted to internal organs of the patient;

automatically detecting, at said acoustoelectric transducers, second pressure waves produced at said internal organs in response to said first pressure wave;

automatically operating said acoustoelectric transducers to generate electrical response signals in response to the detected second pressure waves; and

automatically analyzing said electrical response signals to produce data useful in producing medical diagnoses, the analyzing of said electrical response signals including receiving said electrical response signals from said acoustoelectric transducers in a predetermined sequence.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said web carries a plurality of electroacoustic transducers attached to said web in an additional predetermined array, further comprising energizing said electroacoustic transducers in a predetermined sequence.