Patent · US Expired

Doppler ultrasound method and apparatus for monitoring blood flow and detecting emboli

US6547736B1 · kind B1 · utility

44Cited by
20References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 18, 2000
Grant dateApr 15, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 18, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B2001/6908
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A pulse Doppler ultrasound system and associated methods are described for monitoring blood flow and detecting emboli. A graphical information display includes simultaneously displayed depth-mode and spectrogram displays. The depth-mode display indicates the various positions along the ultrasound beam axis at which blood flow is detected. These positions are indicated as one or more colored regions, with the color indicating direction of blood flow and varying in intensity as a function of detected Doppler ultrasound signal amplitude or detected blood flow velocity. The depth-mode display also includes a pointer whose position may be selected by a user. The spectrogram displayed corresponds to the location identified by the pointer. Embolus detection and characterization are also provided.

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