Diagnostic simulator

• US 9,730,587 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seno Medical Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seno Medical Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Herzog, Donald G., Ackerman, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Dieterle, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOR, HELENE CATHERINE
• Application Number:
  US13/842,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20130296683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0095 by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/0654 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2418 using optoacoustic interaction with the material, e.g. laser radiation, photoacoustics photoacoustic cells G01N21/1702; measuring characteristics of vibrations by using radiation-sensitive means G01H9/00; acousto-optical conversion techniques for short-range imaging G01S15/8965; sound-producing devices using laser bundle G10K15/046
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/30 Arrangements for calibrating or comparing, e.g. with standard objects

Abstract

A testing apparatus for an optoacoustic device includes a light pulse sensor operatively connected to a light output port of the optoacoustic device, the light pulse sensor being adapted to sense a pulse of light capable of generating an optoacoustic response in a subject and to distinguish between the light pulse and the at least one other light pulse on the basis of the predominant wavelength. The light pulse sensor outputs a trigger signal associated with the distinguished light pulse when such light pulse is sensed. A transducer signal simulator outputs a first plurality of electrical signals simulating those produced by a transducer array and reflective of an optoacoustic response in a subject to a light pulse at a first wavelength in response to a trigger signal from the light pulse sensor associated with a light pulse having a first wavelength. The simulator outputs a second plurality of electrical signals simulating those produced by a transducer array and reflective of an optoacoustic response in a subject to a light pulse at a second predominant wavelength in response to a trigger signal from the light pulse sensor associated with a light pulse having a second wavelength. Conductors carry the plurality of electrical signals output by the transducer signal simulator to the pins of a multi-pin connector.

Claims

1. A hardware system comprising:

an optoacoustic device comprising;

i. light source configured to create pulses of light, at least one light pulse having a first predominant wavelength and at least one other light pulse having a second predominant wavelength, each pulse of light being sufficient to generate an optoacoustic response in a subject,

ii. light output port configured to output at least a portion of the light pulses, configured to operatively connect with a light path capable of directing the light pulses to a subject,

iii. transducer array configured to receive an optoacoustic response from the subject;

iv. multi-pin connector configured to receive a plurality of electrical signals produced by the transducer array and reflective of the optoacoustic response, and

v. image processing unit configured to produce an image based upon electrical signals produced by the transducer array, and

a testing apparatus comprising;

a. light pulse sensor configured to sense a light pulse output from the light output port of the optoacoustic device, the light pulse sensor being configured to sense a pulse of light capable of generating an optoacoustic response in a subject and to distinguish between the at least one light pulse and the at least one other light pulse on the basis of the predominant wavelength, the light pulse sensor being further configured to output a trigger signal associated with the distinguished light pulse when such light pulse is sensed;

b. signal output unit configured to output a first plurality of electrical signals simulating those produced by the transducer array of the optoacoustic device and reflective of an optoacoustic response in a subject to a light pulse at a first predominant wavelength in response to a trigger signal from the light pulse sensor associated with a light pulse having a first predominant wavelength, and to output a second plurality of electrical signals simulating those produced by a transducer array and reflective of an optoacoustic response in a subject to a light pulse at a second predominant wavelength in response to a trigger signal from the light pulse sensor associated with a light pulse having a second predominant wavelength; and

c. plurality of conductors configured for carrying the plurality of electrical signals output by the signal output unit to the pins of the multi-pin connector of the optoacoustic device.

2. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a. signal set storage configured for a plurality of pre-defined data sets representing electrical signals simulating those produced by the transducer array of the optoacoustic device and reflective of an optoacoustic response in a subject to a light pulse at a first predominant wavelength and a light pulse at a second predominant wavelength; and

b. selector configured to identify one of the plurality of pre-defined data sets for use by the signal simulator.

3. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one data set of the pre-defined data sets comprises a recorded plurality of electrical signals originally produced by the transducer array of the optoacoustic device and reflective of an optoacoustic response in a subject to a light pulse at a first predominant wavelength, and a second recorded plurality of electrical signals originally produced by the transducer array of the optoacoustic device and reflective of an optoacoustic response in a subject to a light pulse at a second predominant wavelength.

4. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 2, wherein the testing apparatus further comprises a user interface wherein the selector is implemented in software with the user interface.

5. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the light pulse sensor comprises:

a. first light pulse sensor configured to sense a pulse of light having the first predominant wavelength, and configured to output a first trigger signal; and

b. second light pulse sensor configured to sense a pulse of light having the second predominant wavelength, and configured to output a second trigger signal;

c. wherein the trigger signal output by the light pulse sensor is a combination of the output of the first trigger signal and the output of the second trigger signal.

6. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

waveguide connected to the light output port, the waveguide guiding at least some of the at least a portion of the light pulses to the first light pulse sensor and at least some of the at least a portion of the light pulses to the second light pulse sensor.

7. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 1, further comprising waveguide operatively connecting the at least a portion of the light pulses being output by the light output port to the light pulse sensor.

8. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the output of the signal output unit comprises signals recorded from the transducer array of the optoacoustic device and reflective of an optoacoustic response in a subject.

9. A hardware system comprising:

an optoacoustic device comprising;

i. light source configured to create pulses of light sufficient to generate an optoacoustic response in a subject,

ii. light output port configured to output at least a portion of the light pulses, configured to connect with a light path capable of directing the light pulses to a subject,

iii. transducer array configured to receive an optoacoustic response from the subject;

iv. multi-pin connector configured to receive a plurality of electrical signals produced by the transducer array and reflective of the optoacoustic response, and

v. signal processing system configured to respond to the electrical signals received by the multi-pin connector, and

a testing apparatus comprising;

a. light pulse sensor configured to sense a light pulse output from the light output port, the light pulse sensor configured to generate a trigger when a light pulse is sensed;

b. signal output unit configured to transmits at least one of a plurality of signal sets over a plurality of conductors operatively connected to the multi-pin connector of the optoacoustic device in response to the trigger, the at least one of the plurality of signal sets including at least one diagnostic signal set and at least one signal set simulating the response of the transducer array;

c. signal set storage configured for the at least one of a plurality of signal sets; and

d. selector configured for selecting the at least one of a plurality of signal sets from the plurality of signal sets; and

wherein the signal processing system is configured to perform pre-specified diagnostics of the optoacoustic device in response to receiving one of the at least one diagnostic signal set.

10. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of signal sets includes a plurality of unique diagnostic signal sets, and wherein each of the plurality of unique diagnostic signal sets corresponds to different pre-specified diagnostics of the optoacoustic device.

11. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 9, further comprising waveguide configured for operatively connecting the light pulse sensor to the light output port.

12. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 11, wherein the waveguide comprises a fiberoptic cable, and the waveguide is configured to attach to the light output port via a removable connector.

13. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 12, wherein the plurality of conductors of the testing apparatus are operatively connected to the multi-pin connector of the optoacoustic device via a removable connector.

14. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of conductors operatively connected to the multi-pin connector are connected via a removable connector.

15. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 9, wherein the testing apparatus further comprises a user interface wherein the selector is implemented in software with the user interface.

16. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 15, wherein the light pulse sensor, the signal simulator, the signal set storage and the selector are all housed in the signal output unit.

17. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of signal sets includes at least one signal set reflective of an optoacoustic response in a subject to a light pulse.

18. The testing apparatus claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one signal set reflective of an optoacoustic response comprises at least two signal sets, at least one being reflective of an optoacoustic response in a subject to a light pulse having a first predominant wavelength, and at least one other being reflective of an optoacoustic response in a subject to a light pulse having a second predominant wavelength.