Ultrasound based method and apparatus to determine the size of kidney stone fragments before removal via ureteroscopy
US9414806B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 2013 |
| Grant date | Aug 16, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 10, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2090/061
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A transducer is used to send an ultrasound pulse toward a stone and to receive ultrasound reflections from the stone. The recorded time between a pulse that is reflected from the proximal surface and a pulse that is reflected either from the distal surface of the stone or from a surface supporting the stone is used to calculate the stone size. The size of the stone is a function of the time between the two pulses and the speed of sound through the stone (or through the surrounding fluid if the second pulse was reflected by the surface supporting the stone). This technique is equally applicable to measure the size of other in vivo objects, including soft tissue masses, cysts, uterine fibroids, tumors, and polyps.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.