System and method for extracting physiological data using ultra-wideband radar and improved signal processing techniques
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A process employing ultra wideband radar return signals to extract physiological data from one or more bodily organs or physiological processes of a patient, said process comprising:
- generating a baseband pulse train;
transmitting an emitted signal from a first antenna as an ultra-wide band spectrum signal, wherein the emitted signal comprises a series of low voltage, short-duration pulses triggered by the baseband pulse train;
outputting a delayed version of the baseband pulse train from a delay range comprising an electronically controlled range gate;
receiving reflections of the emitted signal at a receiver connected to a second antenna, wherein the receiver is triggered by the delayed version of the baseband pulse train;
processing the reflections received by the receiver to generate a first matrix of time-sampled reflection values at various depths;
converting the first matrix of time-sampled reflection values into a second matrix and extracting physiological data from the second matrix using frequency spectrum analysis and statistical filtering.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a variant of ultra-wide band (UWB) radar known as micropower impulse radar (MIR) combined with advanced signal processing techniques to provide a new type of medical imaging technology including frequency spectrum analysis and modern statistical filtering techniques to search for, acquire, track, or interrogate physiological data. Range gate settings are controlled to depths of interest within a patient and those settings are dynamically adjusted to optimize the physiological signals desired.
67 Citations
51 Claims
-
1. A process employing ultra wideband radar return signals to extract physiological data from one or more bodily organs or physiological processes of a patient, said process comprising:
-
generating a baseband pulse train; transmitting an emitted signal from a first antenna as an ultra-wide band spectrum signal, wherein the emitted signal comprises a series of low voltage, short-duration pulses triggered by the baseband pulse train; outputting a delayed version of the baseband pulse train from a delay range comprising an electronically controlled range gate; receiving reflections of the emitted signal at a receiver connected to a second antenna, wherein the receiver is triggered by the delayed version of the baseband pulse train; processing the reflections received by the receiver to generate a first matrix of time-sampled reflection values at various depths; converting the first matrix of time-sampled reflection values into a second matrix and extracting physiological data from the second matrix using frequency spectrum analysis and statistical filtering. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An ultra wideband sensor device for extracting physiological data from a patient, said device comprising:
-
a pulse repetition frequency generator configured to generate a baseband pulse train; a transmitter connected to a first antenna, the transmitter configured to generate a series of low voltage, short-duration pulses based on the baseband pulse train for transmission as an emitted signal from the first antenna as an ultra-wide band spectrum signal; a delay range configured to output a delayed version of the baseband pulse train; a receiver connected to a second antenna, the receiver triggered by the output of the delay range wherein the receiver is configured to process reflections of the emitted signal received by the second antenna; a controller configured to emit a synchronization signal; and a signal processor including an extractor, wherein the signal process is configured to process information from the receiver and to generate a first matrix of time-sampled reflection values at various depths and sample intervals of the synchronization signal, and wherein the extractor is configured to optimize the information in the first matrix to derive a second matrix from which physiological data may be extracted, wherein the controller synchronizes the activity of the transmitter and signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A process employing ultra wideband radar return signals to extract physiological data from one or more bodily organs or physiological processes of a patient, said process comprising:
-
transmitting an emitted signal from an antenna as an ultra-wide band spectrum signal, wherein the emitted signal comprises a plurality of individual low voltage, short-duration pulses; receiving a plurality of reflections for each individual low voltage, short-duration pulses of the emitted signal at a receiver, wherein each reflection corresponds to a depth into the patient'"'"'s body based on a fixed time-delay from the emitted signal; processing the reflections received by the receiver to generate a first matrix of time-sampled reflection values at a plurality of depths for at least a subset of the plurality of individual low voltage, short-duration pulses; converting the first matrix of time-sampled reflection values into a reduced matrix; and extracting physiological data from the reduced matrix using frequency spectrum analysis and statistical filtering.
-
-
34. An ultra wideband sensor device for extracting physiological data from a patient, said device comprising:
-
a pulse repetition frequency generator configured to generate a baseband pulse train; a transmitter connected to an antenna, the transmitter configured to generate a series of low voltage, short-duration pulses triggered by the baseband pulse train for transmission as an emitted signal from the antenna as an ultra-wide band spectrum signal; a delay range configured to output a delayed version of the baseband pulse train; an ultra wideband receiver, the receiver triggered by the output of the delay range to detect reflections of the emitted signal at different depths; and a signal processor configured to process reflections of the emitted signal received by the receiver and to generate a first matrix of time-sampled reflection values at various depths and time intervals, wherein the signal processor includes an extractor that is configured to optimize the information in the first matrix to derive a second matrix from which physiological data may be extracted. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
-
Specification