Method and apparatus for noise tomography
US6865494B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 18, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 8, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 22, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2562/046
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The subject invention pertains to an imaging technique and apparatus which can utilize an array of RF probes to measure the non-resonant thermal noise which is produced within a sample, such as a body, and produce a non-resonant thermal noise correlation. The detected noise correlation is a function of the spatial overlap of the electromagnetic fields of the probes and the spatial distribution of the conductivity of the sample. The subject technique, which can be referred to as Noise Tomography (NT), can generate a three-dimensional map of the conductivity of the sample. Since the subject invention utilizes detection of the thermal noise generated within the body, the subject method can be non-invasive and can be implemented without requiring external power, chemicals, or radionuclides to be introduced into the body. The subject imaging method can be used as a stand along technique or can be used in conjunction with other imaging techniques.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.