System and method for detecting, localizing, and characterizing occlusions, stent positioning, dissections and aneurysms in a vessel
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting, locating and characterizing changes in a tubular conduit system within a living body for transferring fluids, said apparatus comprising:
- a signal generator configured to transmit into said tubular conduit a probe signal that changes in response to encountering changes in said tubular conduit system;
a signal sensor operative to receive said probe signal following transmission into said tubular conduit system;
a processor unit operatively connected to said signal sensor;
a program for controlling the processor unit;
said processor unit operative with said program to receive said probe signal following transmission through said tubular conduit system;
identify changes in said probe signal;
detect characteristics of said tubular conduit system, said characteristics of said tubular conduit system being derived from changes in said probe signal; and
recognize and assign a value of said characteristic of said tubular conduit system.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a method and devices for detection, localization and characterization of occlusions, aneurysms, dissections stent position, dissections stent mal-position, wall characteristics and vascular bed. The invention is based on introducing an artificial pressure or flow excitation signal (a single signal or more) into the blood vessel (or in other tubular flowing fluid conduits), measurement and analysis of the pressure and or flow. The invention discloses a method and devices for detection and characterization of partial or total occlusion or aneurysm in blood vessels or in other tubular flowing fluid conduits within a body, such as urine flow in the urethra.
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Citations
71 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting, locating and characterizing changes in a tubular conduit system within a living body for transferring fluids, said apparatus comprising:
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a signal generator configured to transmit into said tubular conduit a probe signal that changes in response to encountering changes in said tubular conduit system;
a signal sensor operative to receive said probe signal following transmission into said tubular conduit system;
a processor unit operatively connected to said signal sensor;
a program for controlling the processor unit;
said processor unit operative with said program to receive said probe signal following transmission through said tubular conduit system;
identify changes in said probe signal;
detect characteristics of said tubular conduit system, said characteristics of said tubular conduit system being derived from changes in said probe signal; and
recognize and assign a value of said characteristic of said tubular conduit system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
said signal sensor is a pressure signal sensor; and
said processor unit is operative to receive a heart beat signal; and
synchronize receipt of said probe signal with said heart beat signal.
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21. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said probe signal is a plurality of discrete signals;
said processor unit is operative to sample said discrete signals and receive and calculate pressure wave velocity data.
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22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said processor unit is operative to perform a single pressure function using said discrete signals and said pressure wave velocity data.
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23. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said processor unit is adapted to characterize the distensibility and the compliance of lesioned and non-lesioned parts of blood vessels.
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24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said processor unit when performing said single pressure function is operative to calculate an allpass value and a cepstrum value from said minimum phase component;
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separate a regular part and a singular part of said cepstrum value, where said singular part and said regular part form said pressure wave;
calculate an exponential function of singular part;
evaluate a second peak time delay with respect to a forward found in said pressure signal;
evaluate a coefficient by calculation of a second peak amplitude to determine an arterial characteristic; and
evaluate a location and severity of said arterial characteristic.
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25. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said signal sensor includes two sensing transducers disposed in spaced apart relation.
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26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said processor unit is operative to receive a forward pressure wave signal from a first transducer and a probe signal represented by a plurality of discrete signals sampled overtime.
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27. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said processor unit is operative to perform a dual pressure function.
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28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said processor unit when performing said dual pressure function is operative to:
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calculate an allpass component and cepstrum component of a minimum phase component of said forward pressure wave signal received from said signal sensor;
apply an inverse filtering of said forward pressure wave signal;
apply smoothing by a B-spline function;
detect a forward peak location by a global maximum calculation;
receive a threshold value;
detect a second peak location by comparison with said threshold, where said threshold is derived from a forward peak maximum value and minimum size of a characteristic;
evaluate a second peak time delay with respect to said forward peak;
evaluate a reflection coefficient by calculating a forward and reflected peak area; and
evaluate a location and severity of said characteristic.
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29. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said processor unit is operative to calculate a pressure wave velocity from a pressure wave sensed by said first and second transducers.
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30. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said signal sensor is movable between at least two positions relative to said tubular conduit system and said processor unit is operative to calculate a pressure wave velocity from signals received from said two positions.
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31. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said processor unit includes an analog to digital convertor.
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32. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signal sensor includes a signal conditioner.
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33. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tubular conduit system is a urinary vessel system and said processor unit is operative to detect changes in urinary tract characteristics.
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34. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor unit is further operative to ascertain and assign a value corresponding to the location and size of said characteristic of said tubular conduit.
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35. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said value is representative of a location of said characterized changes.
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36. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said value is representative of a size of said characterized changes.
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37. A method for using a computer to detect, locate and characterize changes in a tubular conduit system within a living body for transferring fluids wherein said computer is operatively connected to a signal generator configured to transmit into said tubular conduit a probe signal that changes in response to encountering changes in said tubular conduit system and a signal sensor operative to receive said probe signal following transmission into said tubular conduit system, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving said probe signal following transmission through said tubular conduit system;
identifying changes in said probe signal;
detecting characteristics of said tubular conduit system, said characteristics of said tubular conduit system being derived from changes in said probe signal; and
recognizing and assigning a value of said characteristic of said tubular conduit said system. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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Specification