System and method for grading microemboli monitored by a multi-gate doppler ultrasound system
First Claim
1. A method for grading signals from microemboli in blood flow, the blood flow monitored using a Doppler ultrasound system, the method comprising:
- for a period of monitoring and a background period, extracting Doppler shift signals from echo signals resulting from ultrasound delivered to a region in which blood flow is detected;
calculating signal-to-background data from the Doppler shift signals from the period of monitoring and the background period;
partitioning the signal-to-background data into sub-periods having corresponding portions of the signal-to-background data;
calculating correlative data from the signal-to-background data for a plurality of sub-periods; and
categorizing the signals from microemboli in blood flow into one of at least two grades based at least in part on the correlative data.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for grading signals from microemboli in blood flow monitored using a Doppler ultrasound system. Signals from microemboli in blood flow are graded by calculating a value related to a power for the signals from microemboli in blood flow and categorizing the signals into one of at least two grades based on the calculated value. Alternatively, signals can be categorized by assessing a power value for the microemboli in blood flow during a period of monitoring. In response to the power value being greater than or equal to a threshold value, the microemboli in blood flow are categorized based on the power value, and in response to the power value being less than the threshold value, a number of microemboli are counted during at least a portion of the period of monitoring and the microemboli are categorized based on the number.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for grading signals from microemboli in blood flow, the blood flow monitored using a Doppler ultrasound system, the method comprising:
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for a period of monitoring and a background period, extracting Doppler shift signals from echo signals resulting from ultrasound delivered to a region in which blood flow is detected; calculating signal-to-background data from the Doppler shift signals from the period of monitoring and the background period; partitioning the signal-to-background data into sub-periods having corresponding portions of the signal-to-background data; calculating correlative data from the signal-to-background data for a plurality of sub-periods; and categorizing the signals from microemboli in blood flow into one of at least two grades based at least in part on the correlative data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for categorizing microemboli in blood flow monitored using a Doppler ultrasound system, the method comprising:
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assessing a power value for the microemboli in the blood flow during a period of monitoring; in response to the power value being greater than or equal to a threshold value, categorizing the microemboli in the blood flow based on the power value; and in response to the power value being less than the threshold value, counting a number of microemboli during at least a portion of the period of monitoring and categorizing the microemboli based on the number. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A Doppler ultrasound system, comprising:
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a probe having an ultrasound transducer; a transmitter circuit operably coupled to the ultrasound transducer and configured to generate drive signals for driving the ultrasound transducer to deliver ultrasound; a receiver circuit operably coupled to the ultrasound transducer and configured to receive echo signals detected by the ultrasound transducer and generate in response thereto echo data representative of the echo signals; and a processing system operably coupled to the transmitter and receiver circuits and configured to control the transmit circuit in generating drive signals for the ultrasound transducer and configured to process the echo data from the receiver circuit and extract therefrom Doppler shift signals represented by Doppler shift data for a period of monitoring and a background period, the processing system further configured to process the Doppler shift data to calculate signal-to-background data, partition the signal-to-background data into sub-periods having corresponding portions of the signal-to-background data, calculate correlative data from the signal-to-background data for a plurality of sub-periods, and categorize the signals from microemboli in blood flow into one of at least two grades based at least in part on the correlative data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A processing system for a Doppler ultrasound system having a probe having an ultrasound transducer, transmit beam forming circuits, and receive beam forming circuits, the processing system comprising:
a processor configured to extract Doppler shift signals from echo signals detected by the beam forming circuits and further configured to process the Doppler shift signals to assess a power value for microemboli in blood flow monitored by the Doppler ultrasound system during a period of monitoring and categorize microemboli in blood flow based on the power value in response to the power value being greater than or equal to a threshold value, the processor further configured to count a number of microemboli in blood flow during at least a portion of the period of monitoring and categorize the microemboli in blood flow based on the number in response to the power value being less than the threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
Specification