Method and system for analyzing discontinuities in reasonably homogeneous medium

Claim 1

A method for imaging discontinuities (D) in an otherwise reasonably homogeneous medium (1), comprising the steps of : providing at least two non-intersecting and non-parallel base lines (Fi, F 2 ) on opposite sides of the discontinuity (D) to be imaged ; transmitting signals which will pass through the medium (1) towards said discontinuity (D) from a succession of transmission points (1 1 ) along a first one (F 1 )of said base lines ; picking up signals at a succession of points (1 2 ) along a second one (F 2 ) of said base lines from each of a plurality of said transmission points (1 1 ) ; measuring transmission characteristics for said signals between each transmission point (1 1 ) and each pick-up point ( 1 2 ) ; determining characteristics of signal transmission through said homogeneous medium outside of said discontinuity (D), determining the difference between the measured signal and the calculated signal for the distance in a homogeneous medium between each pair of transmission and pick-up points (1 1 , 1 2 ), determining whether each said point-to-point transmission occurred entirely outside of or partly through said discontinuity ; determining the distance of travel (d 1-2 ) within the discontinuity for each said point-to-point transmission ; and calculating the configuration and location of said discontinuity from said measurements.

Claim 2

A method for imaging discontinuities (D) in an otherwise reasonably homogeneous medium (1), comprising the steps of : providing at least two non-intersecting and non-parallel base lines (Fi, F 2 ) on opposite sides of the discontinuity (D) to be imaged ; transmitting signals which will pass through the medium (1) towards said discontinuity (D) from a succession of transmission points (1 1 ) along a first one (F 1 )of said base lines ; picking up signals at a succession of points (1 2 ) along a second one (F 2 ) of said base lines from each of a plurality of said transmission points (1 1 ) ; measuring transmission characteristics for said signals between each transmission point (1 1 ) and each pick-up point ( 1 2 ) ; determining characteristics of signal transmission through said homogeneous medium outside of said discontinuity (D), determining the difference between the measured signal and the calculated signal for the distance in a homogeneous medium between each pair of transmission and pick-up points (1 1 , 1 2 ), determining whether each said point-to-point transmission occurred entirely outside of or partly through said discontinuity ; determining the distance of travel (d 1-2 ) within the discontinuity for each said point-to-point transmission ; and calculating the configuration and location of said discontinuity from said measurements.

Claim 6

A method as defined in claims 1 to 4 characterized by the fact that the base lines (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ) are substantially straight.

Claim 7

A method as defined in claims 1 to 5 characterized by the fact that the base lines (F 1 , F 21 F3) are boreholes and including the steps of moving a transmitter (2) along the length of one of said boreholes, and moving a receiver (5) along the length of another of said boreholes.

Claim 8

A method as defined in claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that the successive points of transmission (1 1 ) and reception (1 2 ) are obtained by moving the transmitter (2) and receiver (5) step by step along the said base lines (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ).

Claim 9

A method as defined in claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that a succession of equally spaced transducers are located along one of the base lines and are triggered in succession according to a predetermined sequence.

Claim 10

A method as defined in claims 1 to 8, including the step of initially establishing or defining the position of the base lines (F1, F 2 , F 3 ) relative to one another.

Claim 11

A method as defined in claims 1 to 9 including intermediate step of calculating the distances (d 1-2 . d 1-3 ' d2-3) through discontinuity (D) and determining the configuration of a three-dimensional surface representing said thicknesses.

Claim 12

A method as defined in claims 1 to 10, including the step of holding liquid (16) in flexible containers (14, 15) against a body (10), and transmitting signals and receiving them through said containers.

Claim 13

A method as defined in claims 1 to 11 applied to the analysis of discontinuities in a human or animal body (10), characterized by the fact that a number of transmission points (19) and receiving points (20) are moved on at least two base lines (17, 18) that do not intersect located outside the body (10) on each side thereof.

Claim 14

A system for imaging discontinuities (D) in an otherwise reasonably homogeneous medium (1), comprising : means providing at least two non-intersecting and non-parallel base lines (F 1 , F 2 ) on opposite sides of the discontinuity (D) to be imaged ; means for transmitting signals which will pass through the medium (1) toward said discontinuity (D) from a succession of transmission points (1 1 ) along a first one (F 1 ) of said base lines ; means for picking up signals at a succession of points (1 2 ) along a second one (F 2 ) of said base lines from eachof a plurality of said transmission points (1 1 ) , means for measuring transmission characteristics for said signals between each transmission point (1 1 ) and each pick-up point (1 2 ) ; means for determining characteristics of signal transmission through said homogeneous medium outside of said discontinuity (D), means for determining the difference between the measured signal and the calculated signal for the distance in a homogeneous medium between each pair of transmission and pick-up points ( 1 1 , 12) ; means for determining whether each said point-to-point transmission occurred entirely outside of or partly through said discontinuity (D) ; means for determining the distance of travel (d 1-2 ) within the discontinuity for each said point-to-point transmission ; and means for calculating the configuration and location of said discontinuity from said measurements.

Claim 15

A system for imaging discontinuities (D) in an otherwise reasonably homogeneous medium (1), comprising : means providing at least two non-intersecting and non-parallel base lines (F 1 , F 2 ) on opposite sides of the discontinuity (D) to be imaged ; means for transmitting signals which will pass through the medium (1) toward said discontinuity (D) from a succession of transmission points (1 1 ) along a first one (F 1 ) of said base lines ; means for picking up signals at a succession of points (1 2 ) along a second one (F 2 ) of said base lines from eachof a plurality of said transmission points (1 1 ) , means for measuring transmission characteristics for said signals between each transmission point (1 1 ) and each pick-up point (1 2 ) ; means for determining characteristics of signal transmission through said homogeneous medium outside of said discontinuity (D), means for determining the difference between the measured signal and the calculated signal for the distance in a homogeneous medium between each pair of transmission and pick-up points ( 1 1 , 12) ; means for determining whether each said point-to-point transmission occurred entirely outside of or partly through said discontinuity (D) ; means for determining the distance of travel (d 1-2 ) within the discontinuity for each said point-to-point transmission ; and means for calculating the configuration and location of said discontinuity from said measurements.