Apparatus and method for automatic placement of transducer
First Claim
1. An apparatus for locating a desired blood vessel within a predetermined volume of tissue, comprising:
- a plurality of transducers operable to be positioned over the volume of tissue, wherein each said transducer when driven produces an output signal indicative of a characteristic of a blood vessel located under each said transducer; and
control means for selectively driving said transducers in order to produce a plurality of output signals and for comparing said plurality of output signals in order to determine the said output signal having the largest amplitude which corresponds to said transducer positioned over the desired blood vessel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method is disclosed for locating a desired blood vessel within a predetermined volume of tissue. The apparatus and method includes a plurality of transducers which are operable to be positioned over the tissue. Each of the transducers when driven produces an output signal indicative of a characteristic of a blood vessel located under each transducer. A control system for selectively driving the transducers in order to produce a plurality of output signals and for comparing the plurality of output signals in order to determine the output signal having the largest amplitude which corresponds to the transducer positioned over the desired blood vessel.
216 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for locating a desired blood vessel within a predetermined volume of tissue, comprising:
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a plurality of transducers operable to be positioned over the volume of tissue, wherein each said transducer when driven produces an output signal indicative of a characteristic of a blood vessel located under each said transducer; and control means for selectively driving said transducers in order to produce a plurality of output signals and for comparing said plurality of output signals in order to determine the said output signal having the largest amplitude which corresponds to said transducer positioned over the desired blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for locating a desired blood vessel within a predetermined scanning area of skin tissue, said method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a plurality of transducers over the scanning area; selectively driving said transducers in order to produce a plurality of output signals which are indicative of a characteristic of blood vessel located adjacently to said transducers; and comparing said plurality of output signals in order to determine said output signal having the largest amplitude which corresponds to said transducer positioned adjacent to the desired blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for locating a desired blood vessel within a predetermined volume of tissue, comprising:
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a plurality of transducers operable to be positioned over the volume of tissue, wherein each said transducer when driven produces an output signal indicative of a characteristic of a blood vessel located under each said transducer; and control means for selectively driving said transducers in order to produce a plurality of output signals and for comparing said plurality of output signals in order to determine the said output signal having the largest amplitude which corresponds to said transducer positioned over the desired blood vessel, wherein said control means selectively drives said transducers by continually dividing said transducers into groups of halves and then sequentially driving each of said halves.
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Specification