Apparatus for measuring hemodynamic parameters

• US 6,814,702 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2002
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neutrino Development Corporation
• Original Assignee: Neutrino Development Corporation
• Inventors: Redano, Richard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US10/134,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 927 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/439, 600/453-456, 600/459, 600/601
• US Class Current: 600/454
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4393 Sexual arousal or erectile dysfunction evaluation, e.g. tumescence evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/04 Measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 601/16 Genital area

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward an ultrasonography apparatus for measuring and/or monitoring hemodynamic activity, such as blood flow. The present invention comprises a doppler ultrasound unit, one or more transducers, and a portable body.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring and displaying one or more hemodynamic parameters, comprising:

a. a portable body sized to be handheld;

b. a doppler ultrasound unit mounted in the body;

c. a display mounted in the body, said display being capable of displaying at least one measured hemodynamic parameter;

d. a first transducer mounting assembly comprising at least one ultrasound transducer, wherein the mounting assembly is connected to the body such that the distance between the mounting assembly and the body can be adjusted by a user using only one hand; and

e. a triggering mechanism connected to the doppler ultrasound unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transducer mounting assembly comprises an array of ultrasound transducers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a. a second transducer mounting assembly comprising at least one ultrasound transducer, and mounted opposite the first transducer mounting assembly;

b. a threaded member connecting the first and second mounting assemblies; and

c. a rotatable adjusting wheel attached to the threaded member between the first and second mounting assemblies, such that the position of one of said mounting assemblies relative to the other of said mounting assemblies can be adjusted by rotating the adjusting wheel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body has left and right sides and the display is centrally mounted in the surface of the body with respect to the left and right sides of the body.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the mounting assembly is connected to the body by a wire.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the triggering mechanism is connected to the transducer by a wire.

7. An apparatus for measuring and displaying one or more hemodynamic parameters, comprising:

a. a portable body sized to be handheld;

b. a doppler ultrasound unit mounted in the body;

c. a display mounted in the body, said display being capable of displaying at least one measured hemodynamic parameter and said display further spanning the majority of the width of the body;

d. a first transducer mounting assembly comprising at least one ultrasound transducer, wherein the mounting assembly is connected to the body such that the distance between the mounting assembly and the body can be adjusted by a user using only one hand; and

e. a triggering mechanism connected to the doppler ultrasound unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the display is mounted in the top surface of the body.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the doppler ultrasound unit comprises a system capable of analyzing a measured hemodynamic parameter.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a. a second transducer mounting assembly comprising at least one ultrasound transducer, and mounted opposite the first transducer mounting assembly;

b. a threaded member connecting the first and second mounting assemblies; and

c. a rotatable adjusting wheel attached to the threaded member between the first and second mounting assemblies, such that the position of one of said mounting assemblies relative to the other of said mounting assemblies can be adjusted by rotating the adjusting wheel.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the doppler ultrasound unit is operable in a pulsed wave mode.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the doppler ultrasound unit is operable in a continuous wave mode.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the doppler ultrasound unit comprises a control device for selecting between continuous wave mode and pulsed wave mode.

14. An apparatus for a user to monitor hemodynamic parameters when the user is grasping the apparatus in one hand, comprising:

a. a portable body sized to be grasped in a user'"'"'s hand during use;

b. a doppler ultrasound unit mounted in the body;

c. a display mounted in the body, said display being capable of displaying at least one measured hemodynamic parameter;

d. a first transducer mounting assembly comprising at least one ultrasound transducer, wherein the mounting assembly is connected to the body such that the distance between the mounting assembly and the body can be adjusted by a user using only one hand to move the mounting assembly with respect to the body; and

e. a triggering mechanism connected to the doppler ultrasound unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the display spans the majority of the width of the body.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the doppler ultrasound unit comprises a system capable of transmitting measured hemodynamic data to a location that is remote from said apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the doppler ultrasound unit is operable in a pulsed wave mode.

18. The apparatus of claims 17, wherein the doppler ultrasound unit is operable in a continuous wave mode.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the body comprises left and right sides, and the display is centrally mounted in the surface of the body with respect to the left and right sides of the body.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the display is mounted in the top surface of the body.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the doppler ultrasound unit comprises a system capable of analyzing a measured hemodynamic parameter and of generating an instruction to the user.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a. a second transducer mounting assembly comprising at least one ultrasound transducer, and mounted opposite the first transducer mounting assembly;

b. a threaded member connecting the first and second mounting assemblies; and

c. a rotatable adjusting wheel attached to the threaded member between the first and second mounting assemblies, such that the position of one of said mounting assemblies relative to the other of said mounting assemblies can be adjusted by rotating the adjusting wheel.