Patent US4228804A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4228804A
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Diagnostic ultrasonography utilizing frequency spectrum analysis presented in terms of B-scan color patterns or X-Y graph displays
Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
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Filing: 1978-02-28
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Granted: 1980-10-21
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Expires: 1998-02-28
Abstract
Abstract Ultrasonographic means and method for visualizing the internal structure and composition of an in vivo soft tissue specimen as a function of its effect on the frequency spectrum of an applied complex wave pulse of short duration provided by a single wideband, shock-excited transducer utilized in the pulse-echo mode. Echo trains spatially related to the specimen structure are bandpass filtered to provide a plurality of spectrum signals indicative of the frequency content of each echo train as a function of time. In a first display mode a plurality of three spectrum signals are primary color-coded and combined to present a multicolor B-scan ultrasonogram permitting characterization of tissue specimen locations in terms of their frequency response as related to the color spectrum correlated to the frequency spectrum. In a complementary second display mode providing higher frequency resolution, a larger plurality of spectrum signals are presented in graph form in a monochrome ultrasonogram permitting detailed characterization of a single A-scan line segment of a tissue specimen as a function of its frequency response. Both display modes are enhanced by modifying the spectrum signals to represent the instantaneous power spectrum of the echo train of the applied pulse as affected by the scanned tissue specimen.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Holasek
- 👤 Wayne D. Jennings
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/52071; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52036; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/895; G01S15/8954
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for characterizing a soft tissue specimen as a function of its effect on the frequency spectrum of an applied signal comprising the steps of: applying a first ultrasonic frequency band complex wave signal to a soft tissue specimen, said applied signal having a first bandwidth and center frequency; detecting at least a portion of said applied signal as affected by said specimen; filtering said detected signal portion to provide a plurality of frequency spectrum signals indicative of the frequency content of said detected signal portion, said spectrum signals representing a respective plurality of frequency bands extending over at least a portion of said first frequency band, said frequency bands having bandwidths substantially less than said first bandwidth; processing said spectrum signals to represent the approximate instantaneous power spectrum of said detected portion; and simultaneously displaying said processed spectrum signals in a visual format for comparison of the frequency and energy magnitude of said spectrum signals relative to each other, said visual format being spatially related to the structure of said specimen as a function of the time between said applying and said detecting.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for characterizing a soft tissue specimen as a function of its effect on the frequency spectrum of an applied signal comprising the steps of: applying a first ultrasonic frequency band complex wave signal to a soft tissue specimen, said applied signal having a first bandwidth and center frequency; detecting at least a portion of said applied signal as affected by said specimen; filtering said detected signal portion to provide a plurality of frequency spectrum signals indicative of the frequency content of said detected signal portion, said spectrum signals representing a respective plurality of frequency bands extending over at least a portion of said first frequency band, said frequency bands having bandwidths substantially less than said first bandwidth; processing said spectrum signals to represent the approximate instantaneous power spectrum of said detected portion; and simultaneously displaying said processed spectrum signals in a visual format for comparison of the frequency and energy magnitude of said spectrum signals relative to each other, said visual format being spatially related to the structure of said specimen as a function of the time between said applying and said detecting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said processing includes the step of multiplying each of said spectrum signals by said detected signal portion from which each of said spectrum signals was derived via said filtering, and includes the step of delaying said detected signal portion prior to said multiplying step for a period of time approximately equal to the time required for said filtering, said delayed detected signal portion and said respective spectrum signal being in phase with each other at the time of said multiplying.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 2, including the step of utilizing only a negative portion of said multiplied spectrum signals for said displaying step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said displaying step includes color coding said processed spectrum signals, said visual format being arranged to include a two-dimensional multicolor display composed from said color coded spectrum signals, said display being spatially related to the structure of said spectrum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said displaying step includes graphically representing relative to axis X-Y lines said processed spectrum signals as a function of their frequency and as a function of the amount of time between said applying and said detecting.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
189 words
A device for characterizing the structure and composition of a soft tissue specimen as a function of its effect on the frequency spectrum of an ultrasonic signal comprising: means for generating an ultrasonic signal of first frequency band complex wave pulses having substantially identical bandwidths and center frequencies; means for applying said ultrasonic signal to a soft tissue specimen; means for detecting at least a portion of said ultrasonic signal reflected from said specimen; means for filtering at least a pulse portion of said detected signal portion to provide at least three frequency spectrum signals indicative of the frequency content of said detected signal portion, said spectrum signals having frequency bands, said frequency bands extending over said first frequency band and having bandwidths substantially less than said identical bandwidths: means for processing said spectrum signals to represent the approximate instantaneous power spectrum of said detected portion; means for color coding each of said processed spectrum signals with a respective color; and means for simultaneously displaying in a multicolor B-scan format the frequency and energy magnitude of said color coded processed spectrum signals relative to spatial locations of said specimen.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
189 words
A device for characterizing the structure and composition of a soft tissue specimen as a function of its effect on the frequency spectrum of an ultrasonic signal comprising: means for generating an ultrasonic signal of first frequency band complex wave pulses having substantially identical bandwidths and center frequencies; means for applying said ultrasonic signal to a soft tissue specimen; means for detecting at least a portion of said ultrasonic signal reflected from said specimen; means for filtering at least a pulse portion of said detected signal portion to provide at least three frequency spectrum signals indicative of the frequency content of said detected signal portion, said spectrum signals having frequency bands, said frequency bands extending over said first frequency band and having bandwidths substantially less than said identical bandwidths: means for processing said spectrum signals to represent the approximate instantaneous power spectrum of said detected portion; means for color coding each of said processed spectrum signals with a respective color; and means for simultaneously displaying in a multicolor B-scan format the frequency and energy magnitude of said color coded processed spectrum signals relative to spatial locations of said specimen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein each of said processed spectrum signals is color coded with a respective one of the primary colors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein said means for processing includes: means for multiplying each of said spectrum signals by said detected signal portion from which each of said spectrum signals was derived via said filter means; and means for delaying said detected portion prior to said multiplying for a period of time approximately equal to the time required for said filtering, said delayed detected portion and said respective spectrum signal being in phase with each other at the time of said multiplying, said spectrum signals multiplied by said delayed detected signal portion representing said approximate instantaneous power spectrum of said detected signal portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein said means for displaying includes: means for visually displaying consecutive single color B-scan formats for each of said processed spectrum signals; and means for consecutively photographing a respective one of said consecutive B-scan formats on a photosensitive surface wherein said multicolor B-scan format is composed of said consecutive B-scan formats superimposed upon said photosensitive surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 9 wherein said means for color coding includes optical color filters interposed between said consecutive B-scan formats and said photosensitive surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein said means for displaying includes: cathode ray tube means having at least one color gun means; and video processing means for applying said color coded processed spectrum signals to said color gun means to visually display on said cathode ray tube said multicolor B-scan format.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
209 words
A device for characterizing the structure and composition of a soft tissue specimen as a function of its effect on the frequency spectrum of an ultrasonic signal comprising: means for generating an ultrasonic signal of first frequency band complex wave pulses having substantially identical bandwidths and center frequencies; means for applying said ultrasonic signal to a soft tissue specimen; means for detecting at least a portion of said ultrasonic signal reflected from said specimen; means for filtering at least a pulse portion of said detected signal portion to provide a plurality of spectrum signals indicative of the frequency content of said detected signal portion, said spectrum signals having frequency bands, said frequency bands extending over said first frequency band and having bandwidths substantially less than said identical bandwidths; means for processing said spectrum signals to represent the approximate instantaneous power spectrum of said detected portion; and means for graphically displaying said processed spectrum signals as a function of their center frequencies and energy magnitudes, and as a function of the time between said applying and said detecting, said center frequencies being related to an X-axis line, said time between said applying and detecting being related to a corresponding Y-axis line, and said energy magnitude being related to a Z-axis.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
209 words
A device for characterizing the structure and composition of a soft tissue specimen as a function of its effect on the frequency spectrum of an ultrasonic signal comprising: means for generating an ultrasonic signal of first frequency band complex wave pulses having substantially identical bandwidths and center frequencies; means for applying said ultrasonic signal to a soft tissue specimen; means for detecting at least a portion of said ultrasonic signal reflected from said specimen; means for filtering at least a pulse portion of said detected signal portion to provide a plurality of spectrum signals indicative of the frequency content of said detected signal portion, said spectrum signals having frequency bands, said frequency bands extending over said first frequency band and having bandwidths substantially less than said identical bandwidths; means for processing said spectrum signals to represent the approximate instantaneous power spectrum of said detected portion; and means for graphically displaying said processed spectrum signals as a function of their center frequencies and energy magnitudes, and as a function of the time between said applying and said detecting, said center frequencies being related to an X-axis line, said time between said applying and detecting being related to a corresponding Y-axis line, and said energy magnitude being related to a Z-axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein said spectrum signals are indicative of the approximate time domain Fourier series of said detected signal portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein said means for graphically displaying includes a cathode ray tube screen illuminated by the effect of a related electron beam, said beam being intensity modulated as a function of said energy magnitude of said processed spectrum signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein said means for graphically displaying said processed spectrum signal utilizes an A-scan type format at each of said center frequencies of said spectrum signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
105 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein said means for processing includes: means for multiplying each of said spectrum signals by said detected signal portion from which each of said spectrum signals was derived via said filter means; and means for delaying said detected portion prior to said multiplying for a period of time approximately equal to the time required for said filtering, said delayed detected portion and said respective spectrum signal being in phase with each other at the time of said multiplying, said spectrum signals multiplied by said delayed detected signal portion representing said approximate instantaneous power spectrum of said detected signal portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-21 | 1984-04-21 | 1984-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-21 | 1988-04-21 | 1988-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-21 | 1992-04-21 | 1992-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |