Ultrasonic method, system, and device for diagnosis of stroke
First Claim
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1. Using A method for the non-ultrasonic detection of symptoms of stroke to dynamically couple an ultrasonic transducer/receiver to a skull, comprising:
- transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from within the skull with an ultrasonic transducer/receiver;
processing received ultrasonic waves to form an image of a brain within the skull; and
modifying a diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke based on the image with data from a non-ultrasonic detection technique, in which the non-ultrasonic detection comprises at least one of the group consisting of computed tomography scanning, magnetic resonance scanning, differential spectrophotometric methods, near-infrared detection of tissue characteristics, detection of a biological material, measurement of a biological material, detection of a chemical, measurement of a chemical, detection of S100β
, measurement of S100β
, use of biological assay techniques, detection of change in blood pressure, detection of change in pressure within the eye, detection of change in blood flow in arteries serving organs other than the brain, or detection of change in blood flow in the arteries serving the eye.
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Abstract
A medical diagnostic method, system and related equipment particularly adapted to diagnose disorders of the blood circulation serving the head and neck, and especially the brain. A preferred use of the system is early, rapid, accurate, diagnosis of stroke, especially whether the stroke is due to blockage of a blood vessel or leakage from the blood vessel.
39 Citations
50 Claims
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1. Using A method for the non-ultrasonic detection of symptoms of stroke to dynamically couple an ultrasonic transducer/receiver to a skull, comprising:
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transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from within the skull with an ultrasonic transducer/receiver; processing received ultrasonic waves to form an image of a brain within the skull; and modifying a diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke based on the image with data from a non-ultrasonic detection technique, in which the non-ultrasonic detection comprises at least one of the group consisting of computed tomography scanning, magnetic resonance scanning, differential spectrophotometric methods, near-infrared detection of tissue characteristics, detection of a biological material, measurement of a biological material, detection of a chemical, measurement of a chemical, detection of S100β
, measurement of S100β
, use of biological assay techniques, detection of change in blood pressure, detection of change in pressure within the eye, detection of change in blood flow in arteries serving organs other than the brain, or detection of change in blood flow in the arteries serving the eye.
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2. For a patient having a skull containing brain tissue and blood vessels, a process for diagnosing stroke in the patient with a diagnostic imaging system, comprising:
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a) dynamically coupling at least one ultrasonic transmitter/receiver to at least one man-made opening in the skull of the patient; b) two dimensionally or three dimensionally imaging a brain tissue region within the skull of the patient with the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver; and c) at least one of;
determining presence of hemorrhagic stroke by identifying relatively diffuse blood flow within the skull of the patient;
determining presence of ischemic stroke by identifying at least one location of inadequate blood flow within the skull of the patient; and
diagnosing between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke by classifying a the region within the skull of the patient in terms of adequacy of blood flow. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An ultrasonic stroke diagnosis/therapy apparatus comprising:
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a mounting unit suitable for mounting on the head of a patient; a plurality of ultrasonic transmitter/receivers each including a plurality of transducing elements, located on the mounting unit for transmitting ultrasonic waves and receiving reflected echo signals through acoustic windows of the skull, the ultrasonic waves of each transmitter/receiver accessing a brain tissue image area inside the skull; and a separate imager, in communication with the transmitter/receivers for receiving reflected echo signals, the imager configured to produce a dynamic two-dimensional or three-dimensional ultrasonic image of the brain tissue for stroke diagnosis or therapy, the imager configured to at least one of;
determine presence of hemorrhagic stroke by identifying relatively diffuse blood flow within the skull of the patient;
determine presence of ischemic stroke by identifying at least one location of inadequate blood flow within the skull of the patient; and
diagnose between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke by classifying the region within the skull of the patient in terms of adequacy of blood flow. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A portable stroke diagnosis/treatment system suitable for use by first responders and other field medical personnel comprising:
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a head-mounted device including at least two transmitter/receivers, each transmitter/receiver including a plurality of ultrasonic transducing elements which are adapted to be coupled to an acoustic window of the skull when the device is mounted on the head of a subject; a portable power supply; and an imager, physically separate from but in communication with the transmitter/receivers, and configured to be responsive to reflected signals received by the transducing elements and configured to produce a two dimensional or three dimensional ultrasonic image of brain tissue for stroke diagnosis or therapy, the imager configured to at least one of;
determine presence of hemorrhagic stroke by identifying relatively diffuse blood flow within the skull of the patient;
determine presence of ischemic stroke by identifying at least one location of inadequate blood flow within the skull of the patient; and
diagnose between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke by classifying the region within the skull of the patient in terms of adequacy of blood flow. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A stroke treatment system comprising:
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a transducer unit comprising a two-dimensional grid of transducing elements; a head mount to which the transducer unit is mounted, the head mount being adapted to retain the transducer unit acoustically coupled to the head of a subject; and an imager, in communication with the transducer unit, the imager configured to be responsive to reflected signals received by the transducer unit for the formation of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image of an image area of brain tissue and configured to at least one of;
determine presence of hemorrhagic stroke by identifying relatively diffuse blood flow within the skull of the patient;
determine presence of ischemic stroke by identifying at least one location of inadequate blood flow within the skull of the patient; and
diagnose between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke by classifying the region within the skull of the patient in terms of adequacy of blood flow. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A stroke treatment system comprising:
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a transducer unit having a plurality of transducing elements; a head mount to which the transducer unit is mounted, the head mount being adaptable to retain the transducer unit acoustically coupled to the head of a subject; an imager, in communication with the transducer unit, the imager being adapted to be responsive to reflected signals received by the transducer unit for the creation of a two-dimensional or three dimensional harmonic ultrasonic image of brain tissue in the interior of the skull and configured to at least one of;
determine presence of hemorrhagic stroke by identifying relatively diffuse blood flow within the skull of the patient;
determine presence of ischemic stroke by identifying at least one location of inadequate blood flow within the skull of the patient; and
diagnose between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke by classifying the region within the skull of the patient in terms of adequacy of blood flow. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification