Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of measuring fluid flow rate in a system having a conduit through which fluid flows, comprising: adding a substance which provides a plurality of bubbles of known size to said system upstream of said conduit; impelling a sonic pulse across said conduit, from a position opposite and spaced from said conduit, as said bubbles pass therethrough; measuring the degree of attenuation of a sonic signal defined by said pulse which passes across said conduit, said attenuation being due to the presence of said bubbles; and determining the fluid flow rate from the degree of attenuation of said sonic signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of measuring fluid flow rate in a system having a conduit through which fluid flows, comprising: adding a substance which provides a plurality of bubbles of known size to said system upstream of said conduit; impelling a sonic pulse across said conduit, from a position opposite and spaced from said conduit, as said bubbles pass therethrough; measuring the degree of attenuation of a sonic signal defined by said pulse which passes across said conduit, said attenuation being due to the presence of said bubbles; and determining the fluid flow rate from the degree of attenuation of said sonic signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said measuring step includes measuring a reflected sonic signal created by reflection of said pulse from a wall of said conduit proximal to said position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein said determining step includes determining a ratio of the intensities of those portions of the signal reflected from the proximal and distal walls, and determining bubble density in said conduit from said ratio.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said system is a cardiovascular system of a living being, said bubbles are microbubbles, said sonic signal is an ultrasonic signal and said fluid is blood.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as in claim 4, wherein said position whereat said pulse is generated is a respective one of adjacent a rib cage and within an esophagus of said living being, said conduit is a respective one of a heart and a pulmonary artery, and said blood flow rate is the volumetric cardiac output rate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as in claim 4, wherein said measuring step includes measuring a reflected sonic signal created by reflection of said pulse from a wall of said conduit proximal to said position and wherein said determining step includes determining a ratio of the intensities of those portions of the signal reflected from the proximal and distal walls and determining microbubble density in said conduit from said ratio.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said adding is of a bolus of said bubbles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said adding is during a selected time period.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said degree of attenuation measured is that of a selected portion only of said sonic signal.