Instantaneous ultrasonic echo measurement of bladder volume with a limited number of ultrasound beams
US7749165B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 13, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 6, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 3, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2207/30004
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and methods to quantify the volume of urine in a human bladder with a limited number of acoustic beams is disclosed. In a first version a plurality of narrow ultrasound beams is transmitted in different directions towards the bladder. Returning echoes are converted to digital form and stored in memory. A volume display on the apparatus allows to define the optimal apposition of the transducer assembly. Signal processing software automatically determines the bladder Depth D and Height H and computes the volume of urine. In a second version, a single wide angle ultrasound beam transducer transmits ultrasounds signals at a fundamental frequency to quantify the urine volume. Return signals originating from a depth beyond the usual position of the posterior wall depth of a filled bladder are analyzed for presence of higher harmonic signals, which in turn are related to the presence or absence of urine.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.