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US5535750A
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Method and apparatus for evaluating the progress of osteoporosis by ultrasonic signals
Assignee: Ishikawa Seisakusho Ltd
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Filing: 1994-09-30
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Granted: 1996-07-16
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Expires: 2014-09-30
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic signal is transmitted to a heel bone or patella of a person being examined to obtain data of velocity of transmission propagation. The data which is obtained is computerized through calculation to compute a two-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (Au) from a one-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (Eu). Then, a chart is drawn to suffice an Au for which a fractal geometry is utilized to compare the chart with an image of an Au of a healthy person who is under the same condition in sex and age. The portions different from each other are then sorted by color for evaluating the progress of osteoporosis.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuyuki Matsui
- 👤 Akio Nakahashi
- 👤 Kohji Higashi
- 👤 Fumio Nogata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/08; A61B8/0875
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for evaluating the progress of osteoporosis by utilizing ultrasonic signals comprising the steps of: transmitting an ultrasonic signal into a heel bone or patella of a person being examined to obtain a propagation velocity of transmission in the bone; computing a two-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (hereinafter called Au) from a one-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (hereinafter called Eu) based on a propagation velocity obtained according to a calculation formula stated below; and displaying an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of the bone which represents a bone condition of the person being examined based on the obtained Au ##EQU2## where, Vb: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in bone Va: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in marrow (1500 m/s) Vc: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in compact bone (3000 m/s), and Au=Eu×Eu.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for evaluating the progress of osteoporosis by utilizing ultrasonic signals comprising the steps of: transmitting an ultrasonic signal into a heel bone or patella of a person being examined to obtain a propagation velocity of transmission in the bone; computing a two-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (hereinafter called Au) from a one-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (hereinafter called Eu) based on a propagation velocity obtained according to a calculation formula stated below; and displaying an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of the bone which represents a bone condition of the person being examined based on the obtained Au ##EQU2## where, Vb: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in bone Va: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in marrow (1500 m/s) Vc: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in compact bone (3000 m/s), and Au=Eu×Eu.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said displaying step comprises drawing an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of the bone by a predetermined computer simulation program using the obtained Au.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said displaying step comprises selecting the imitative image from among a plurality of images corresponding to different values of Au stored in a computer memory and being identified by an Au, the imitative image being selected as having the same Au as the person being examined.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for evaluating the progress of osteoporosis by utilizing ultrasonic signals comprising the steps of: transmitting an ultrasonic signal into a heel bone of a person being examined to obtain a propagation velocity of transmission in the bone; computing a one-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (hereinafter called Eu) based on a propagation velocity obtained according to a calculation formula stated below; multiplying the Eu by itself to determine a two-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (hereinafter called Au); displaying an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of the bone which represents a bone condition of the person being examined based on the obtained Au; and displaying an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of a bone which represents a bone condition of a healthy person in order to compare with the imitative image of the bone of the person being examined ##EQU3## where, Vb: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in bone Va: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in marrow (1500 m/s), and Vc: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in compact bone (3000 m/s).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for evaluating the progress of osteoporosis by utilizing ultrasonic signals comprising the steps of: transmitting an ultrasonic signal into a heel bone of a person being examined to obtain a propagation velocity of transmission in the bone; computing a one-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (hereinafter called Eu) based on a propagation velocity obtained according to a calculation formula stated below; multiplying the Eu by itself to determine a two-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (hereinafter called Au); displaying an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of the bone which represents a bone condition of the person being examined based on the obtained Au; and displaying an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of a bone which represents a bone condition of a healthy person in order to compare with the imitative image of the bone of the person being examined ##EQU3## where, Vb: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in bone Va: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in marrow (1500 m/s), and Vc: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in compact bone (3000 m/s).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said step of displaying the bone condition of the person being examined comprises drawing an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of the bone by a predetermined computer simulation program using the obtained Au.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said step of displaying the bone condition of the person being examined comprises selecting the imitative image from among a plurality of images corresponding to different values of Au stored in a computer memory and being identified by an Au, the imitative image being selected as having the same Au as the person being examined.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said step of displaying an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of a bone which represents a bone condition of a healthy person comprises choosing from a plurality of images representing various conditions of the bone by age group stored in a computer memory, said choosing step using the age and sex of the person being examined.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
202 words
A method for evaluating the progress of osteoporosis by utilizing ultrasonic signals comprising the steps of: transmitting an ultrasonic signal into a patella of a person being examined in two directions, a direction substantially horizontal to the patella and a direction intersecting the horizontal direction at a right angle, so as to obtain a propagation velocity of transmission in the bone in both directions; computing a one-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (hereinafter called Eu) based on the propagation velocity obtained according to a calculation formula stated below; multiplying the Eu by itself to determine a two-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (hereinafter called Au); displaying an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of the bone which represents a bone condition of the person being examined based on the obtained Au; and displaying an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of a bone which represents a bone condition of a healthy person in order to compare with the imitative image of the bone of the person being examined ##EQU4## where, Vb: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in bone Va: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in marrow (1500 m/s), and Vc: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in compact bone (3000 m/s).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
202 words
A method for evaluating the progress of osteoporosis by utilizing ultrasonic signals comprising the steps of: transmitting an ultrasonic signal into a patella of a person being examined in two directions, a direction substantially horizontal to the patella and a direction intersecting the horizontal direction at a right angle, so as to obtain a propagation velocity of transmission in the bone in both directions; computing a one-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (hereinafter called Eu) based on the propagation velocity obtained according to a calculation formula stated below; multiplying the Eu by itself to determine a two-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (hereinafter called Au); displaying an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of the bone which represents a bone condition of the person being examined based on the obtained Au; and displaying an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of a bone which represents a bone condition of a healthy person in order to compare with the imitative image of the bone of the person being examined ##EQU4## where, Vb: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in bone Va: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in marrow (1500 m/s), and Vc: Ultrasonic propagation velocity in compact bone (3000 m/s).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said step of displaying the bone condition of the person being examined comprises drawing an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of the bone by a predetermined computer simulation program using the obtained Au.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said step of displaying the bone condition of the person being examined comprises selecting the imitative image from among a plurality of images corresponding to different values of Au stored in a computer memory and being identified by an Au, the imitative image being selected as having the same Au as the person being examined.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said step of displaying an imitative image of a cross-sectional view of a bone which represents a bone condition of a healthy person comprises choosing from a plurality of images representing various conditions of the bone by age group stored in a computer memory, said choosing step using the age and sex of the person being examined.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus or evaluating the progress of osteoporosis by utilizing ultrasonic signals, comprising: means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals to and from a heel bone or patella of a person being examined; means for computing a two-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (hereinafter called Au) based on propagation velocity information of an ultrasonic signal transmitted through the bone structure by said means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals; means for drawing an imitative image of an inner bone structure according to the obtained Au; and means for displaying the imitative image of the bone which represents a bone condition of the person being examined or of a healthy person.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus or evaluating the progress of osteoporosis by utilizing ultrasonic signals, comprising: means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals to and from a heel bone or patella of a person being examined; means for computing a two-dimensional ratio of a compact bone to a bone structure (hereinafter called Au) based on propagation velocity information of an ultrasonic signal transmitted through the bone structure by said means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals; means for drawing an imitative image of an inner bone structure according to the obtained Au; and means for displaying the imitative image of the bone which represents a bone condition of the person being examined or of a healthy person.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for diagnosing osteoporosis, comprising: a footboard for placing thereon a foot of a person being examined; a pair of ultrasonic transmitting and receiving transducers provided with probes, said transducers being attached to a base stand on which said footboard is fixed; moving means for bringing at least either one of said probes in close contact with a foot of a person being examined on the footboard; and an expandable container bag containing water and mixed solution fixed to a cassette, the bag being fixed in a manner to position a protrusion thereof in a lateral direction; and the cassette being fitted to and removed from the probe in a quick operation so as to be replaced for each patient.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for diagnosing osteoporosis, comprising: a footboard for placing thereon a foot of a person being examined; a pair of ultrasonic transmitting and receiving transducers provided with probes, said transducers being attached to a base stand on which said footboard is fixed; moving means for bringing at least either one of said probes in close contact with a foot of a person being examined on the footboard; and an expandable container bag containing water and mixed solution fixed to a cassette, the bag being fixed in a manner to position a protrusion thereof in a lateral direction; and the cassette being fitted to and removed from the probe in a quick operation so as to be replaced for each patient.
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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) | 1999-07-16 | 2000-01-15 | 2000-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-16 | 2004-01-15 | 2004-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-16 | 2008-01-15 | 2008-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |