US5040537A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for the measurement and medical treatment using an ultrasonic wave
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1988-11-21
•
Granted: 1991-08-20
•
Expires: 2008-11-21
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic measuring apparatus and method operating as an ultrasonic echocardiograph and a doppler blood flow speed meter by creating numerous microbubbles as a contrast medium or reflector only in an intended blood vessel. The apparatus comprises an injector which injects into a vein of patient an agent which is a substance encapsulated in numerous microcapsules of several micrometer or less in diameter and distributed in a carrier liquid so that it produces microbubbles through the reaction with blood, and a shock wave transmitter which emits a shock wave with the dominant positive pressure from the body surface toward a specific blood vessel such as the root of the aorta so that only microcapsules in the specific blood vessel, among all dispersed in the whole body, are broken by the shock wave and the agent is released in the blood flow.
Inventors
- 👤 Kageyoshi Katakura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/48; A61B8/481; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/316; A61B5/318; A61B5/346; A61B5/349; A61B5/352; A61B8/06; A61N; A61N7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus comprising: means for injecting into a blood vessel of a biotic body an agent including a plurality of particles having means for one of producing gas and providing medication encapsulated therein; and means for emitting a shock wave to a predetermined blood vessel in the biotic body with a pressure to effect breaking of the particles reaching the predetermined blood vessel so as to enable release of the means for one of producing gas and providing medication in the blood flowing in the predetermined blood vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus comprising: means for injecting into a blood vessel of a biotic body an agent including a plurality of particles having means for one of producing gas and providing medication encapsulated therein; and means for emitting a shock wave to a predetermined blood vessel in the biotic body with a pressure to effect breaking of the particles reaching the predetermined blood vessel so as to enable release of the means for one of producing gas and providing medication in the blood flowing in the predetermined blood vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for one of producing gas and providing medication is a gas producing means, and further comprising measuring means for emitting an ultrasonic wave to a desired position of the biotic body and for receiving waves reflected by bubbles created in the blood flow by the gas producing means in response to the breaking of the particles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the biotic body includes a heart providing a heart beat, and further comprising control means for controlling the shock wave emitting means to emit the shock wave in a predetermined phase relationship with the heart beat of the biotic body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the measuring means includes means for B-mode imaging.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the measuring means includes doppler blood flow meter means for measuring speed of the blood flow based upon the doppler shift of the relected wave.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the shock wave emitting means emits a shock wave with a dominant positive pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising cardiograph means for producing a cardiogram of the biotic body, timing control means for generating a trigger signal in a predetermined phase relationship with the cardiogram provided by the cardiograph means, and the shock wave emitting means being responsive to the timing control means for emitting the shock wave in response to the trigger signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the means for one of producing gas and providing medication is a gas producing means, and further comprising measuring means for emitting an ultrasonic wave to a desired position of the biotic body and for receiving reflected by bubbles created in the blood flow by the gas producing means in response to the breaking of the particles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the timing control means generates the trigger signal at a timing which excludes an end portion of the diastolic period of the heart.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the cardiograph means provides an electrocardiogram, and the timing control means includes means responsive to the cardiograph means for generating the trigger signal repeatedly upon expiration of a specified delay time following a specific wave on the electrocardiogram.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for varying the setting of the delay time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the cardiograph means includes means for displaying the electrocardiogram and for displaying a time point of emission of the shock wave by the shock wave emitting means in relation with the electrocardiogram in accordance with the trigger signal generated by the timing control means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the displaying means displays the time point of emission of the shock wave on the waveform of the electrocardiogram.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the timing control means controls the measuring means to inhibit measurement by the measuring means for a predetermined period.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the means for one of producing gas and providing medication is a medication providing means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
88 words
A method comprising the steps of: injecting into a blood vessel of a biotic body an agent including a plurality of particles having means for one of producing gas and providing medication encapsulated therein; and emitting a shock wave to a predetermined blood vessel in the biotic body with a pressure sufficient to effect breaking of the particles reaching the predetermined blood vessel so that the means for one of producing gas and providing medication is released from the particles in blood flowing in the predetermined blood vessel.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
88 words
A method comprising the steps of: injecting into a blood vessel of a biotic body an agent including a plurality of particles having means for one of producing gas and providing medication encapsulated therein; and emitting a shock wave to a predetermined blood vessel in the biotic body with a pressure sufficient to effect breaking of the particles reaching the predetermined blood vessel so that the means for one of producing gas and providing medication is released from the particles in blood flowing in the predetermined blood vessel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the means for one of producing gas and providing medication is a gas producing means, and further comprising the steps of emitting an ultrasonic wave to a desired position of the biotic body and receiving a wave reflected by bubbles created in the blood flow by the gas producing means in response to the breaking of the particles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein the biotic body includes a heart providing a heart beat, and further comprising the steps of controlling a shock wave emitting means to emit the shock wave in a predetermined phase relationship with the heart beat of the biotic body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of producing a cardiogram of the biotic body, generating a trigger signal in a predetermined phase relationship with the cardiogram and controlling the emission of the shock wave in accordance with the trigger signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein the means for one of producing gas and providing medication is a gas producing means, and further comprising the steps emitting an ultrasonic wave to a desired position of the biotic body and receiving reflected by bubbles created in the blood flow by the gas producing means in response to the breaking of the particles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the means for one of producing gas and providing medication is a medication providing means, and further comprising the step of treating the biotic body in accordance with the released medication.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4276885A
Cited
US4265251A
Cited
EP0052575A2
Cited
US4442843A
Cited
US4685461A
Cited
US4572203A
Cited
US4630612A
Cited
US4622978A
Cited
US4669472A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-19 | 1995-02-18 | 1995-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-19 | 1999-02-18 | 1999-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-19 | 2003-02-18 | 2003-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |