System for estimating fractional fat content of an object
US9980677B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 4, 2018 |
| Grant date | May 29, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 4, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG16H50/30
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for estimating fractional fat content of an object of interest. An energy emitter is used to direct an energy signal toward the region of interest, wherein the region of interest has an object of interest, a reference with known properties, and a boundary area with one or more boundary locations between the object of interest and the reference. Next, a plurality of thermoacoustic or ultrasonic transducers is used to receive a plurality of thermoacoustic bipolar signals from the one or more boundary locations, wherein the thermoacoustic bipolar signals are induced by the energy signal. A machine configured to accept data from the energy emitter and the plurality of thermoacoustic or ultrasonic transducers and calculate a fat concentration that is a function of a difference between two peaks of the thermoacoustic bipolar signal at each respective boundary location and a distance or distances between each respective boundary location.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.