Patent · US Expired

Measurement of body fat using ultrasound methods and devices

US5941825A · kind A · utility

45Cited by
24References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 21, 1996
Grant dateAug 24, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 21, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B8/4272
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention provides for a method of measuring layer thickness in an object comprising 1) transmitting at least a first and a second ultrasound pulse from at least a first and second position, 2) measuring at least one reflective distance from the first pulse and at least one reflective distance from the second pulse, wherein the reflective distance is from the object's external surface (or probe) to a reflective interface of at least one layer, 3) selecting the reflective distance having the shortest reflective distance to indicate the distance between the external surface (or probe surface) and the reflective interface of at least one layer, wherein the selecting of the shortest reflective distance reduces ultrasound transmission parallax of the first and second pulses relative to a plane in the object. Other ultrasound methods and devices are disclosed for measuring layer thickness in patients or subjects in need thereof, particularly subjects in need of fat or muscle measurement.

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