US5030956A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Radar tomography
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-04-25
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Granted: 1991-07-09
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Expires: 2009-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A radar tomography method and apparatus generates a plurality of radar pulses in a transmitter and projects them with an antenna toward a patient. Radar pulses reflected from the patient are picked up by the antenna and conducted to a receiver. Predetermined radar pulses are selected from among the received pulses by a timer/gate circuit connected to the receiver. The selected radar pulses correspond to a predetermined area of interest within the patient. A representation of the predetermined area within the patient may be displayed with known display apparatus. The antenna may also be moved relative to the patient, in order to produce three-dimensional information. Synchronizing the transmitter, the time/gate device, and the movement of the antenna may be effected with a synch processor, and a matrix filter may be used to focus the emitted radar pulses and to reduce noise in the return radar pulses.
Inventors
- 👤 Quentin M. Murphy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/89; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/05; A61B5/45; A61B5/4538; A61B5/4542; A61B5/4547
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A radar tomography apparatus, comprising: antenna means for emitting a plurality of radar pulses toward an adjacent patient; transmitter means for providing the plurality of radar pulses to said antenna means; receiver means for receiving a plurality of reflected radar pulses which correspond to the emitted plurality of radar pulses reflected from subdermal features within the patient; and timer/gate means for selecting predetermined radar pulses from among the received radar pulses, the selected radar pulses corresponding to a predetermined area of interest within the patient, the selected pulses including pulses which discriminate subdermal structure from contiguous subdermal structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A radar tomography apparatus, comprising: antenna means for emitting a plurality of radar pulses toward an adjacent patient; transmitter means for providing the plurality of radar pulses to said antenna means; receiver means for receiving a plurality of reflected radar pulses which correspond to the emitted plurality of radar pulses reflected from subdermal features within the patient; and timer/gate means for selecting predetermined radar pulses from among the received radar pulses, the selected radar pulses corresponding to a predetermined area of interest within the patient, the selected pulses including pulses which discriminate subdermal structure from contiguous subdermal structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further including display means for displaying a representation of the predetermined area within the patient based on the selected radar pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said display means comprises: a video processor for converting the selected radar pulses into a video signal; and a video display for receiving the video signal and displaying the representation of the predetermined area of the patient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, further including: an analog-to-digital circuit for converting the video signal from said video processor into a digital signal; a digital processor for receiving the digital signal from said analog-to-digital circuit, processing the digital signal, and providing an output digital signal which corresponds to the predetermined area within the patient; and a digital-to-analog circuit for converting the output digital signal into an analog signal for display on said video display.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising memory means for receiving the output digital signal from said digital processor, storing the output digital signal, and providing a plurality of stored digital signals to said digital processor to cause said video display to display a plurality of predetermined areas within the predetermined.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further including a matrix filter, coupled to said antenna means, for directing both the emitted radar pulses and the reflected radar pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said antenna means comprises: a spacer head; an antenna coupled to said spacer head; an aperture control device for controlling an aperture of said antenna; and a duplexer for switching said antenna between said transmitter means and said receiver means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, further including a matrix filter, coupled to said antenna, for directing the emitted radar pulses and the reflected radar pulses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter means comprises: a transmitter for generating a plurality of generated radar pulses; a modulator for modulating the generated radar pulses to produce the plurality of radar pulses provided to said antenna means; and a synch processor for controlling the modulator to produce the plurality of radar pulses at predetermined timings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a video processor for converting the selected radar pulses into a video signal; and wherein said synch processor synchronizes operation of said modulator and said video processor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
141 words
A radar tomography apparatus comprising: an antenna for emitting a plurality of radar pulses toward an adjacent patient, and for receiving a plurality of reflected radar pulses reflected from subdermal features within the patient; a filter for guiding the emitted and reflected pulses toward and from the patient, respectively; a transmitter for providing the plurality of radar pulses to said antenna; a receiver for receiving the plurality of reflected radar pulses from said antenna; a timer/gate circuit for selecting predetermined ones of the reflected radar pulses received by said receiver, the selected radar pulses corresponding to a predetermined area of interest within the patient, the selected pulses including pulses which discriminate subdermal structure from contiguous subdermal structure; and display circuitry for receiving the selected radar pulses from said timer/gate circuit and displaying a representation of the predetermined area within the patient.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
141 words
A radar tomography apparatus comprising: an antenna for emitting a plurality of radar pulses toward an adjacent patient, and for receiving a plurality of reflected radar pulses reflected from subdermal features within the patient; a filter for guiding the emitted and reflected pulses toward and from the patient, respectively; a transmitter for providing the plurality of radar pulses to said antenna; a receiver for receiving the plurality of reflected radar pulses from said antenna; a timer/gate circuit for selecting predetermined ones of the reflected radar pulses received by said receiver, the selected radar pulses corresponding to a predetermined area of interest within the patient, the selected pulses including pulses which discriminate subdermal structure from contiguous subdermal structure; and display circuitry for receiving the selected radar pulses from said timer/gate circuit and displaying a representation of the predetermined area within the patient.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an aperture control device for controlling an aperture of said antenna.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a synch processor for synchronizing operation of said aperture control device, said transmitter, said timer/gate circuit, and said display circuitry.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said filter comprises a box-like structure having a plurality of radar-absorbing panels disposed mutually perpendicularly therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said display circuitry comprises: a video processor for receiving the selected radar pulses from said timer/gate circuit and providing a video signal corresponding thereto; and a video display for receiving the video signal from said video processor and displaying the predetermined area within the patient.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising movement means for producing relative movement between said antenna and the patient, and wherein said receiver receives a plurality of sets of reflected radar pulses, and wherein said timer/gate circuit selects radar pulses from among each set, the selected pulses corresponding to a predetermined volume within the patient.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
147 words
A radar tomography apparatus, comprising: an antenna for emitting a plurality of radar pulses toward an adjacent patient, and for receiving a plurality of reflected radar pulses reflected from subdermal features within the patient; a matrix filter, disposed between said antenna and the patient, for filtering the emitted and reflected radar pulses; a duplexer for switching said antenna between a transmit mode and a receiver mode; a transmitter for providing the radar pulses to said antenna; a receiver for receiving the reflected radar pulses from said antenna; a timer/gate circuit for controlling said receiver to cause only radar pulses reflected from a predetermined area of interest within the patient to be received, the selected pulses including pulses which discriminate subdermal structure from contiguous subdermal structure; and a processor for controlling said timer/gate circuit to cause said predetermined area to be scanned to different locations within the patient.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
147 words
A radar tomography apparatus, comprising: an antenna for emitting a plurality of radar pulses toward an adjacent patient, and for receiving a plurality of reflected radar pulses reflected from subdermal features within the patient; a matrix filter, disposed between said antenna and the patient, for filtering the emitted and reflected radar pulses; a duplexer for switching said antenna between a transmit mode and a receiver mode; a transmitter for providing the radar pulses to said antenna; a receiver for receiving the reflected radar pulses from said antenna; a timer/gate circuit for controlling said receiver to cause only radar pulses reflected from a predetermined area of interest within the patient to be received, the selected pulses including pulses which discriminate subdermal structure from contiguous subdermal structure; and a processor for controlling said timer/gate circuit to cause said predetermined area to be scanned to different locations within the patient.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising display means for receiving the radar pulses corresponding to the predetermined area from said receiver, and for displaying a representation of the predetermined area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising movement means for producing relative movement between said antenna and the patient, and wherein said transmitter provides a plurality of sets of radar pulses to said antenna, each set being emitted at a different position, and wherein said timer/gate circuit causes said receiver to receive only radar pulses reflected from a predetermined volume within the patient.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising processor means for (1) receiving the radar pulses corresponding to the predetermined volume from said receiver, (2) converting these received radar pulses to digital signals, (3) storing the digital signals, and (4) processing the stored digital signals to provide an output signal corresponding to a representation of the predetermined volume.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
93 words
A radar tomography method, comprising the steps of: emitting a plurality of radar pulses toward a patient, using an antenna adjacent the patient; providing the plurality of radar pulses to said antenna; receiving a plurality of reflected radar pulses which correspond to the emitted plurality of radar pulses reflected from subdermal features within the patient; and selecting predetermined radar pulses from among the received radar pulses, the selected radar pulses corresponding to a predetermined area of interest within the patient, the selected pulses including pulses which discriminate subdermal structure from contiguous subdermal structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
93 words
A radar tomography method, comprising the steps of: emitting a plurality of radar pulses toward a patient, using an antenna adjacent the patient; providing the plurality of radar pulses to said antenna; receiving a plurality of reflected radar pulses which correspond to the emitted plurality of radar pulses reflected from subdermal features within the patient; and selecting predetermined radar pulses from among the received radar pulses, the selected radar pulses corresponding to a predetermined area of interest within the patient, the selected pulses including pulses which discriminate subdermal structure from contiguous subdermal structure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of displaying a representation of the predetermined area within the patient based on the selected radar pulses.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein said display step comprises the steps of: converting the selected radar pulses into a video signal; and receiving the video signal and displaying the representation of the predetermined area of the patient.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of: converting the video signal into a digital signal; receiving the digital signal, processing the digital signal, and providing an output digital signal which corresponds to the predetermined area within the patient; and converting the output digital signal into an analog signal for display on a video display.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of: receiving the output digital signal; storing the output digital signal, and providing a plurality of stored digital signals to cause a plurality of predetermined areas within the patient to be displayed.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of filtering the emitted radar pulses and the reflected radar pulses with a matrix filter.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein said emitting step includes the steps of: controlling an aperture of said antenna; and further comprising the step of: switching said antenna from a receive mode to a transmit mode.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 27, further including the steps of filtering the emitted radar pulses and the reflected radar pulses with a matrix filter.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein said transmitting step comprises the steps of: generating a plurality of generated radar pulses; modulating the generated radar pulses to produce the plurality of radar pulses provided to said antenna; and controlling the modulating step to produce the plurality of radar pulses at predetermined timings.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of converting the selected radar pulses into a video signal; and wherein said controlling step synchronizes said modulating step and said converting step.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
132 words
A radar tomography method, comprising the steps of: emitting a plurality of radar pulses toward a patient, and receiving a plurality of reflected radar pulses reflected from subdermal features within the patient, using an antenna adjacent the patient; guiding the emitted and reflected pulses toward and from the patient, respectively, using a matrix filter; providing the plurality of radar pulses to said antenna; receiving the plurality of reflected radar pulses from said antenna, using a receiver; selecting predetermined ones of the reflected radar pulses received by said receiver, the selected radar pulses corresponding to a predetermined area of interest within the patient, the selected pulses including pulses which discriminate subdermal structure from contiguous subdermal structure; and displaying a representation of the predetermined area within the patient, based on the selected radar pulses.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
132 words
A radar tomography method, comprising the steps of: emitting a plurality of radar pulses toward a patient, and receiving a plurality of reflected radar pulses reflected from subdermal features within the patient, using an antenna adjacent the patient; guiding the emitted and reflected pulses toward and from the patient, respectively, using a matrix filter; providing the plurality of radar pulses to said antenna; receiving the plurality of reflected radar pulses from said antenna, using a receiver; selecting predetermined ones of the reflected radar pulses received by said receiver, the selected radar pulses corresponding to a predetermined area of interest within the patient, the selected pulses including pulses which discriminate subdermal structure from contiguous subdermal structure; and displaying a representation of the predetermined area within the patient, based on the selected radar pulses.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of controlling an aperture of said antenna.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of synchronizing said aperture control step, said emitting step, said selecting step, and said displaying step.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising the step of producing relative movement between said antenna and the patient, and wherein said receiving step includes the step of receiving a plurality of sets of reflected radar pulses, and wherein said selecting step includes the step of selecting radar pulses from among each set, the selected pulses corresponding to a predetermined volume within the patient.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
120 words
A radar tomography method, comprising the steps of: emitting a plurality of radar pulses toward a patient, and receiving a plurality of reflected radar pulses reflected from subdermal features within the patient, using an antenna adjacent the patient; filtering the emitted and reflected radar pulses; switching said antenna between a transmit mode and a receive mode; providing the radar pulses to said antenna; receiving the reflected radar pulses from said antenna, using a receiver; controlling said receiver to cause only radar pulses reflected from a predetermined area within the patient to be received, the selected pulses including pulses which discriminate subdermal structure from contiguous subdermal structure; and causing said predetermined area to be scanned to different locations within the patient.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
120 words
A radar tomography method, comprising the steps of: emitting a plurality of radar pulses toward a patient, and receiving a plurality of reflected radar pulses reflected from subdermal features within the patient, using an antenna adjacent the patient; filtering the emitted and reflected radar pulses; switching said antenna between a transmit mode and a receive mode; providing the radar pulses to said antenna; receiving the reflected radar pulses from said antenna, using a receiver; controlling said receiver to cause only radar pulses reflected from a predetermined area within the patient to be received, the selected pulses including pulses which discriminate subdermal structure from contiguous subdermal structure; and causing said predetermined area to be scanned to different locations within the patient.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 35, further comprising the step of displaying a representation of the predetermined area.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of producing relative movement between said antenna and the patient, and wherein said emitting step emits a plurality of sets of radar pulses, each set being emitted at a different position, and wherein said controlling step causes said receiver to receive only radar pulses reflected from a predetermined volume within the patient.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 37, further comprising a processing step for (1) receiving the radar pulses corresponding to the predetermined volume from said receiver, (2) converting these received radar pulses to digital signals, (3) storing the digital signals, and (4) processing the stored digital signals to provide an output signal corresponding to a representation of the predetermined volume.
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