Method and apparatus for determining conditions of biological tissues
First Claim
1. Apparatus for determining characteristics of biological tissues, the apparatus comprising:
- a sound generating device which generates a sound signal having audible frequencies;
a sound introduction means comprising a nosepiece adaptor for introduction of the generated sound into the biological tissue;
a recording device which records the sound after it has traveled from one position of the biological tissue, through the tissue and to another position of the tissue;
an analysis device which calculates the velocity and attenuation with which the sound travels through the tissue.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of determining characteristics of biological tissues in humans and animals. In particular, it relates to determining the characteristics of tissues such as the lungs and airways by introducing a sound to the tissue, and recording the sound. The invention further includes an apparatus capable of such measurement. In a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of determining characteristics of biological tissue in situ, including: introducing a sound to the tissue at first position; detecting the sound at another position spaced from the first position after it has traveled through the tissue; calculating the velocity and attenuation of sound that has traveled through the tissue from the first position to another position; and correlating the velocity and attenuation of the detected sound to characteristics of the biological tissue.
68 Citations
12 Claims
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1. Apparatus for determining characteristics of biological tissues, the apparatus comprising:
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a sound generating device which generates a sound signal having audible frequencies; a sound introduction means comprising a nosepiece adaptor for introduction of the generated sound into the biological tissue; a recording device which records the sound after it has traveled from one position of the biological tissue, through the tissue and to another position of the tissue; an analysis device which calculates the velocity and attenuation with which the sound travels through the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification