Needle driver for magnetic resonance elastography
US7979109B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 12, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 1, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/0019
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention is directed toward an acoustic, piezoelectric, electric, electro-mechanical or pneumatically driven surface drum driver, in mechanical engagement with a biopsy or acupuncture needle device and a method for its use for diagnosis of small e.g. 100 microns, tumors via the production of magnetic resonance elastographic images (MRE), without artifact production, in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. In a second embodiment, the invention is directed toward an acoustically, pneumatically, piezoelectrically, electrically and/or electro-mechanically driven acupuncture needle, useful for simulating manual single-needle acupuncture treatments via a non-manually manipulated acupuncture needle; and further to a device and process for determination, using twin pneumatically driven surface drivers, of organ stiffness, e.g. brain stiffness, which can be quantified so as to be useful in elucidating and quantifying brain cognitive state, e.g. normal, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's dementia (AD).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.