EP0480554A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic densitometer device and method
Assignee: GE Lunar Corp
•
Filing: 1991-02-05
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2011-02-05
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasound densitometer (10) is disclosed in which ultrasonic transducers (21) are located spaced apart in a water bath into which the heel of a person may be inserted. The transit time of an ultrasonic pulse through the water can be compared to the time for a similar pulse with a heel inserted. A novel clinical indicia for bone integrity value has been developed to provide a single numerical indication related both to the speed of sound travel in the member and the ultrasonic broadband attenuation in the member. The bone integrity value numeral based on measurements in the os calcis has been found to correlate well with conventional measurements of spinal bone mineral content.
Inventors
- 👤 Phillip J. Rossman
- 👤 Scott A. Weiner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/45; A61B5/4504; A61B5/4509; A61B8/00; A61B8/08; A61B8/0875; G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/04; G01N29/07; G01N29/11; G01N29/34; G01N29/348; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/01; G01N2291/011; G01N2291/015; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/024; G01N2291/02483; G01N2291/10; G01N2291/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for measuring the physical properties and integrity of a member in vivo comprising the steps of: (a) providing a pair of spaced ultrasonic transducers with fixed physical distance between them surrounding a receptacle sized and shaped to receive a body member therein; (b) placing a body member in the receptacle; (c) launching an ultrasonic pulse of known amplitude from one transducer to the other; (d) determining the transit time of the ultrasonic pulse from one transducer to the other; (e) determining the broadband ultrasonic attenuation from one transducer to the other; (f) calculating a value related to bone integrity using the formula value = (transit time from step (d) - T) 2 x (attenuation from step (e)/K); where T is a standard minimum time value and K is a constant; and (g) providing as an output the value thus calculated.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for measuring the physical properties and integrity of a member in vivo comprising the steps of: (a) providing a pair of spaced ultrasonic transducers with fixed physical distance between them surrounding a receptacle sized and shaped to receive a body member therein; (b) placing a body member in the receptacle; (c) launching an ultrasonic pulse of known amplitude from one transducer to the other; (d) determining the transit time of the ultrasonic pulse from one transducer to the other; (e) determining the broadband ultrasonic attenuation from one transducer to the other; (f) calculating a value related to bone integrity using the formula value = (transit time from step (d) - T) 2 x (attenuation from step (e)/K); where T is a standard minimum time value and K is a constant; and (g) providing as an output the value thus calculated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the receptacle is sized and shaped to receive a human heel therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the time value from step (d) and the value T are each divided by a standard distance value to convert them to velocity values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the standard distance value represents the width of a human heel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the standard minimum time value T is the value for the transit time of an ultrasonic pulse through water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the standard minimum time value T is a value selected to approximate the transit time of an ultrasonic pulse through an exceptionally low density human patient.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the value K is 1000.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0341969A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.