Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for locating vibrating devices

US5425370A · kind A · utility

227Cited by
4References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 23, 1994
Grant dateJun 20, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 23, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B8/0833
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An ultrasonic imaging system for guiding a user in the placement of an interventional medical device within the body includes a vibrating element which transmits vibratory mechanical oscillation at a predetermined frequency of vibration to the interventional medical device. The medical device oscillates in accordance with the vibratory oscillation so that the interventional medical device completes an oscillation during each vibratory period. An imaging transducer sequentially transmits ultrasonic waves down a selected image line into the imaging region in pulses which are separated by a time interval determined as a function of the vibratory period so that they coincide with maximum displacement of a given point on the interventional device. Return signals received after each pulse are processed to eliminate static and non-static tissue components so that a bright image of the vibrating element is obtained.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.