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US4995398A
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Coronary angiography imaging system
Assignee: WILSON RUSSELL F
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Filing: 1990-04-30
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Granted: 1991-02-26
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Expires: 2010-04-30
Abstract
Abstract Thermography visually shows small temperature differences in either color or black and white. In heart by-pass operations, thermography is used to determine whether each by-pass is successful (i.e. the patency of the by-pass) and resulting flow directions and profusion during the course of the operation. The methods used include the use of scanning thermal camera, image processing, temperature differentials, and displaying images in real time.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick A. Turnidge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/01; A61B5/015; A61B5/02; A61B5/026; A61B5/029
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of thermal coronary angiography for assessing graft patency, coronary anatomy and perfusion fields in coronary by-pass surgery, which comprises: (a) positioning a thermal camera between 70° to 90° perpendicular to the exposed surface of the heart; (b) positioning the thermal camera a distance between 0.8 meters to 1.2 meters from the exposed surface of the heart; (c) setting the thermal camera to the expected temperatures such that expected temperatures are near one of the two ends of the scale; (d) injecting cold crystalloid cardioplegia into a proximal vein graft; and (e) recording and displaying images on a monitor in real time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of thermal coronary angiography for assessing graft patency, coronary anatomy and perfusion fields in coronary by-pass surgery, which comprises: (a) positioning a thermal camera between 70° to 90° perpendicular to the exposed surface of the heart; (b) positioning the thermal camera a distance between 0.8 meters to 1.2 meters from the exposed surface of the heart; (c) setting the thermal camera to the expected temperatures such that expected temperatures are near one of the two ends of the scale; (d) injecting cold crystalloid cardioplegia into a proximal vein graft; and (e) recording and displaying images on a monitor in real time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the expected temperature is 20° C.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of claim wherein the temperature of cold crystalloid cardioplegia is 8° C. to 14° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of cold crystalloid cardioplegia is 20-30 ml.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature difference between the exposed surface of the heart and the cold crystalloid cardioplegia is greater than 4° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 where temperature differences can be displayed to a depth of 4 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 additionally comprising: (f) enhancing said image by a thermal image computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said enhancement is accomplished by image scaling.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 where said enhancement is accomplished by inventing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 where said enhancement is accomplished by magnifying.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7 where said enhancement is accomplished by low pass filtering.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7 where said enhancement is accomplished by high pass filtering.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 7 where said enhancement is accomplished by image subtraction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 additionally comprising: (g) stopping an image on the monitor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 additionally comprising: (h) storing said images.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 where storing said images was on floppy diskettes.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of thermal coronary angiography for assessing graft patency, coronary anatomy and perfusion fields in coronary by-pass surgery, which comprises: (a) positioning a thermal camera between 70° to 90° perpendicular to the exposed surface of the heart; (b) positioning the thermal camera a distance between 0.8 meters to 1.2 meters from the exposed surface of the heart; (c) setting the thermal camera to the expected temperatures such that said expected temperatures are near one of the two ends of the scale; (d) releasing a bulldog clamp on the internal mammary artery; (e) reperfusing with warmer blood into the internal mammary artery; and (f) recording and displaying images on a monitor in real time.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of thermal coronary angiography for assessing graft patency, coronary anatomy and perfusion fields in coronary by-pass surgery, which comprises: (a) positioning a thermal camera between 70° to 90° perpendicular to the exposed surface of the heart; (b) positioning the thermal camera a distance between 0.8 meters to 1.2 meters from the exposed surface of the heart; (c) setting the thermal camera to the expected temperatures such that said expected temperatures are near one of the two ends of the scale; (d) releasing a bulldog clamp on the internal mammary artery; (e) reperfusing with warmer blood into the internal mammary artery; and (f) recording and displaying images on a monitor in real time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the temperature difference between the exposed surface of the heart and the warmer blood is greater than 4° C.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the temperature of warm blood is 25° C. to 30° C.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the expected temperature is 20° C.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 additionally comprising: (g) enhancing said image by a thermal image computer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said enhancement is accomplished by image scaling.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 21 where said enhancement is accomplished by inverting.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 21 where said enhancement is accomplished by magnifying.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21 where said enhancement is accomplished by low pass filtering.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21 where said enhancement is accomplished by high pass filtering.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 21 where said enhancement is accomplished by image subtraction.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17 additionally comprising: (h) stopping an image on the monitor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 17 additionally comprising: (i) storing said images.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 29 where said storing said images is on floppy diskettes.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 where temperature differences can be displayed to a depth of 4 mm.
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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) | 1994-02-25 | 1994-08-27 | 1995-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-25 | 1998-08-27 | 1999-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-08-27 | 2003-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |