Patent US3736918A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3736918A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for in vivo measuring blood velocity in capillaries
Assignee: INST DE RECHERCHE WOOG CH
•
Filing: 1970-10-05
•
Granted: 1973-06-05
•
Expires: 1990-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A non-destructive method and apparatus for measuring blood flow for use, for example, in objectively evaluating massaging effects on skin and mucous membranes, for example the effects of a massage of the gingiva by dental devices. An area containing a blood vessel to be investigated is intravitally sensed to provide a magnified image of the area which is continuously recorded. The velocity of the blood flow in the blood vessel is quantitatively sensed from the reproduced magnified image. In a preferred embodiment, the blood vessel is sensed by the use of an intravital microscope in combination with a split opaque illuminator to provide a magnified image of the blood vessel for recording, for example, by a videotape recorder. The recorded videotape image is reproduced on a suitable screen and the velocity of blood flow is quantitatively sensed by causing a spot of light to traverse the screen at about the same rate of the blood flow appearing on the screen. The rate of the traverse of the flying spot indicates the velocity of the blood flow. By sensing the difference in the velocity of the blood flow before and after massaging of the gingiva by a dental device, the effect of the massage may be objectively determined.
Inventors
- 👤 R Mutschelknauss
- 👤 J Schumann
- 👤 M Bergman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/02; A61B5/026; A61B5/0261; A61B5/0059; A61B5/45; A61B5/4538; A61B5/4542; A61B5/4547
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A non-destructive method of measuring in vivo blood flow comprising the procedural combination of steps of: sensing an area having blood flow therethrough; providing a magnIfied image of said sensed area; recording said magnified image for a predetermined period of time; reproducing said magnified image; and quantitatively determining the velocity of said blood flow from said image while reproducing said magnified image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
A non-destructive method of measuring in vivo blood flow comprising the procedural combination of steps of: sensing an area having blood flow therethrough; providing a magnIfied image of said sensed area; recording said magnified image for a predetermined period of time; reproducing said magnified image; and quantitatively determining the velocity of said blood flow from said image while reproducing said magnified image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of quantitatively determining is further defined by the steps of: generating a spot of light which is capable of traversing the reproduced, magnified image of said blood flow; causing said spot to traverse the recorded, magnified image of said blood flow at approximately the same speed as the reproduced flow of blood thereon, and quantitatively determining the velocity at which the spot traverses the image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the step of causing the spot of light to traverse the image is further defined as including the steps of focusing said spot of light on an erythrocyte in said blood stream and causing said spot to traverse the reproduced, magnified image at about the velocity of travel of said erythrocyte in said blood flow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the step of causing the spot of light to traverse the image is further defined as including the steps of focusing said spot of light on an leukocyte in said blood stream and causing said spot to traverse the reproduced, magnified image at about the velocity of travel of said leukocyte in said blood flow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the steps of sensing, providing and recording are performed to produce a prerecorded representation of a datum velocity of said blood flow, and the steps of sensing, providing and recording are repeated wherein the step of determining further includes the step of determining the difference between the velocity of said blood flow and a prerecorded representation of a datum velocity of said blood flow, thereby to determine directly the effectiveness of massaging said area to increase blood circulation therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of sensing an area to be investigated is further defined in that said area is intravitally sensed by the use of an intravital microscope in combination with a split opaque illuminator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of recording said magnified image is further defined as recording a first magnified image and said step of recording is succeeded by the step of massaging said area with a massaging agent and repeating the steps of sensing said area, and recording said magnified image thereby to record a second magnified image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said method further includes the step of quantitatively sensing the velocity of said blood flow while reproducing said second magnified image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method as set forth in claim 8 further including the step of quantitatively determining the difference between the velocity of said blood flow of said first reproduced image and the velocity of blood flow of said second reproduced image thereby to determine a measure of the effectiveness of said massaging agent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said area is the gingiva, and the step of massaging is further defined in that said gingiva is stimulated by a dental massaging agent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the step of massaging is carried on for a period of time as required for the practical, supervised or unsupervised, use of the massaging device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
A non-destructive method of measuring in vivo blood flow from a recorded image comprising the procedural combination of steps of: reproducing a first prerecorded magnified image of an anatomical area having blood flow therethrough; and quantitatively determining the velocity of said blood flow from said magnified image while reproducing said magnified image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A non-destructive method of measuring in vivo blood flow from a recorded image comprising the procedural combination of steps of: reproducing a first prerecorded magnified image of an anatomical area having blood flow therethrough; and quantitatively determining the velocity of said blood flow from said magnified image while reproducing said magnified image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of quantitatively determining is further defined by the steps of: generatinG a spot of light which is capable of traversing the first reproduced, magnified image of said blood flow; causing said spot to traverse the first recorded, magnified image of said blood flow at approximately the same speed as the reproduced flow of blood thereon; and quantitatively determining the velocity at which the spot traverses the first image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method as defined in claim 13 wherein the step of causing the spot of light to traverse the first reproduced, magnified image is further defines as including the steps of focusing said spot of light on an erythrocyte in said blood stream and causing said spot to traverse the reproduced, magnified image at about the velocity of travel of said erythrocyte in said blood flow.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the step of causing the spot of light to traverse the first reproduced, magnified image is further defined as including the steps of focusing said spot of light on a leukocyte in said blood stream and causing said spot to traverse the reproduced, magnified image at about the velocity of travel of said leukocyte in said blood flow.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the steps of sensing, providing and recording are performed to produce a prerecorded representation of a datum velocity of said blood flow, and the steps of sensing, providing and recording are repeated wherein the step of quantitatively determining further includes the step of determining the difference between the velocity of said blood flow and a prerecorded representation of a datum velocity of said blood flow, thereby to determine directly the effectiveness of massaging said area to increase circulation therein.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 further including the steps of: reproducing a second prerecorded magnified image of said anatomical area, said second image being characterized as having been recorded following a massaging of said anatomical area, said first image being characterized as having been recorded preceding said massaging.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as set forth in claim 17 further including the step of quantitatively determining the difference between the velocity of said blood flow of said first reproduced image and the velocity of blood flow of said second reproduced image thereby to determine a measure of the effectiveness of the said massaging agent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as defined in claim 17 wherein said area is the gingiva, and the step of massaging is further defined in that said gingiva is stimulated by a dental massaging agent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus for measuring in vivo blood flow comprising: means for reproducing a first, prerecorded, magnified image of an anatomical area having blood flow therethrough to provide a first reproduced magnified image, and means for quantitatively determining the velocity of said blood flow from said first reproduced, magnified image while reproducing said image.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus for measuring in vivo blood flow comprising: means for reproducing a first, prerecorded, magnified image of an anatomical area having blood flow therethrough to provide a first reproduced magnified image, and means for quantitatively determining the velocity of said blood flow from said first reproduced, magnified image while reproducing said image.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said means for quantitatively determining the velocity of said blood flow comprises: means for generating a spot of light; means for causing said spot of light to traverse the first reproduced magnified image of said blood flow at approximately the same speed as the reproduced flow of blood in said image; and means for quantitatively determining the velocity at which said spot traverses the first reproduced, magnified image.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 further including: means for sensing an anatomical area having blood flow therethrough to provide a magnified image of said area, and means for recording said magnified image for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said sensing means includes a combination of an intravital microscope and a split opaque illuminator.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said recording means includes a videotape recorder so that said magnified image is recorded on videotape.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparAtus as set forth in claim 20 further including screen means for receiving said first reproduced magnified image thereon.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 25 wherein said determining means characterized in that the velocity of blood flow is sensed from the image reproduced on said screen means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 21 further including screen means for receiving said first reproduced, magnified image thereon and wherein said causing means causes said spot of light to traverse the screen means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |