Thermoacoustic tissue scanner
US6104942A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 12, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 12, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/1702
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for measuring and characterizing the localized electromagnetic wave absorption properties of biologic tissues in vivo, using incident electromagnetic waves to produce resultant acoustic waves. The tissue is exposed to modulating electromagnetic radiation, to produce modulating acoustic signals. The modulating acoustic signals are detected by an acoustic sensor which is primarily sensitive to acoustic radiation at a focal point distant from said sensor. Multiple measurements from multiple different focal points can then be combined into an image, or measurements at the same focal point at different excitation frequencies can be combined to produce an absorptivity spectrum for the tissue, either of which may be used for medical diagnostic purposes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.