Blood flow analysis system

• US 7,513,871 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uscom Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Uscom Pty Limited
• Inventors: Phillips, Robert Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur; Eric F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laryea; Lawrence N
• Application Number:
  US10/523,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20050234339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,083 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/443, 600/444, 600453-459, 600/439, 600/300, 600/419, 600/440, 600/441, 600504-505, 128/712, 381/17, 381/1, 381/63
• US Class Current: 600/454
• 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 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display

Abstract

A portable apparatus for conveying blood flow parameters to a user, the apparatus comprising: a transducer device for providing for Doppler monitoring of flows within a patient; a processing unit interconnected to the transducer unit and adapted to extract a blood flow signal from the operation of the transducer and process the blood flow signal so as to produce a video blood flow signal and an audio blood flow signal; a display unit interconnect to the processing unit for visualising the video blood flow signal; and at least one audio emission devices interconnected to the processing unit for emission of the audio blood flow signal to the ears of the user.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for conveying blood flow parameters to a user, the apparatus comprising:

a transducer device for providing for a Continuous Wave (CW) Doppler monitoring of blood flows within a patient;

a processing unit interconnected to said transducer unit and adapted to extract a blood flow signal from the operation of said transducer and process said blood flow signal so as to produce a video blood flow signal and an audio blood flow signal;

a display unit interconnect to said processing unit for visualising the video blood flow signal;

wherein said processing unit performs audio spatialisation of said audio blood flow signal to provide a spatialised audio blood flow signal;

wherein said audio spatialisation includes spatial separation of information in accordance with the depth of the received signal from said transducer device;

and at least two audio emission devices interconnected to said processing unit for emission of an audible form of said spatialised audio blood flow signal to the ears of said user.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said processing unit and said display unit are packaged as a handheld device.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing unit performs substantially real-time audio spatialisation of said audio blood flow signal.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

storage means for storing information associated with subjects on whom the apparatus is used.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising:

a microphone for use in recording audio commentary by the user for storage in said storage means.

6. A method of transmission of information of blood flow characteristics within a patient to a user, the method comprising the steps of

(a) providing a Continuous Wave (CW) Doppler flow signal indicative of blood flows within the body,

(b) visualising the Continuous Wave (CW) Doppler flow signal on a display device;

and

(c) simultaneously providing an audible form of a spatialised audio signal through at least one two audio emission devices to the ears of said user;

wherein said spatialised audio blood flow signal is indicative of the of the depth of blood flowing associated with said provided Continuous Wave (CW) Doppler blood flow signal received from a transducer device.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said step (c) includes providing an apparent spatialisation of said audio output to said user.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said audible form of said spatialised audio signal is substantially provided in real-time.

9. A portable apparatus for conveying blood flow parameters to a user, the apparatus comprising:

a transducer device for providing for a Continuous Wave (CW) Doppler monitoring of blood flows within a patient;

a processing unit interconnected to said transducer unit and adapted to extract a blood flow signal from the operation of said transducer, to process said blood flow signal so as to produce a video blood flow signal and an audio blood flow signal, and to perform substantially real-time audio spatialisation of said audio blood flow signal to produce a spatialised audio blood flow signal;

a display unit interconnect to said processing unit for visualising the video blood flow signal; and

at least two audio emission devices interconnected to said processing unit for emission of said spatialised audio blood flow signal to the ears of said user.

10. A method of transmission of information of blood flow characteristics within a patient to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a Continuous Wave (CW) Doppler flow signal indicative of blood flows within the body,

(b) visualising the Continuous Wave (CW) Doppler flow signal on a display device; and

(c) simultaneously providing a substantially real-time spatialised audio output to said user, wherein said audio output is indicative of the Continuous Wave (CW) Doppler blood flow signal.