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Doppler ultrasound method and apparatus for monitoring blood flow and detecting emboli
Assignee: Spentech Inc
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Filing: 2000-12-06
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Granted: 2003-02-25
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Expires: 2020-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A pulse Doppler ultrasound system and associated methods are described for monitoring blood flow and detecting emboli. A graphical information display includes simultaneously displayed depth-mode and spectrogram displays. The depth-mode display indicates the various positions along the ultrasound beam axis at which blood flow is detected. These positions are indicated as one or more colored regions, with the color indicating direction of blood flow and varying in intensity as a function of detected Doppler ultrasound signal amplitude or detected blood flow velocity. The depth-mode display also includes a pointer whose position may be selected by a user. The spectrogram displayed corresponds to the location identified by the pointer. Embolus detection is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark A. Moehring
- 👤 Timothy R. Myers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8979; G01S15/8988; A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/06; A61B8/46; A61B8/461; A61B8/463; G01S15/8984; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52036; G01S7/52046; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/52071; G01S7/52073; A61B8/08; A61B8/0808; A61B8/0816
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 106
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for detecting embolic events in a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam, the method comprising: compiling movement information for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity for a length of time having a plurality of time periods; and determining the occurrence of an embolic event from the compiled movement information for each of the time periods.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for detecting embolic events in a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam, the method comprising: compiling movement information for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity for a length of time having a plurality of time periods; and determining the occurrence of an embolic event from the compiled movement information for each of the time periods.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 wherein determining the occurrence of an embolic event comprises: subtracting a respective background power level from the compiled movement information for each of the plurality of locations; and performing a plurality of binary characterization tests to determine whether the resultant compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests comprises identifying from the resultant compiled movement information the position of the embolic event.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining whether the position of the embolic event occurs between a first depth and a second depth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 wherein identifying the position of the embolic event comprises locating the depth of maximum detected power along the ultrasound beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the resultant compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event having a velocity not exceeding a high-end blood flow velocity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the high-end blood flow velocity is approximately 2 meters per second.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the resultant compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event having uniform motion away from or towards the source of the ultrasound beam for a minimum number of time intervals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the resultant compiled movement information of a potential embolic event has sufficient power fluctuation from the background power level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the compiled movement information for observation by a user.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 wherein determining the occurrence of an embolic event is made visually by the user.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for detecting embolic events in a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam, the method comprising: compiling for a plurality of time periods movement information for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity; subtracting a respective background power level from the compiled movement information for each time period and each of the plurality of locations; displaying the resultant compiled movement information on a display device; and visually determining from the displayed complied movement information the occurrence of an embolic event.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for detecting embolic events in a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam, the method comprising: compiling for a plurality of time periods movement information for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity; subtracting a respective background power level from the compiled movement information for each time period and each of the plurality of locations; displaying the resultant compiled movement information on a display device; and visually determining from the displayed complied movement information the occurrence of an embolic event.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 wherein displaying the resultant compiled movement information comprises displaying the resultant compiled movement information along time, position and power axes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 wherein visually determining the occurrence of an embolic event comprises identifying the position of the embolic event.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining whether the position of the embolic event occurs between a first depth and a second depth.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 14 wherein identifying the position of the embolic event comprises locating the depth of maximum detected power along the ultrasound beam for at least one time period.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 13 wherein visually determining the occurrence of an embolic event comprises determining whether the velocity of the embolic event does not exceed a high-end blood flow velocity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the high-end blood flow velocity is approximately 2 meters per second.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 13 wherein visually determining the occurrence of an embolic event comprises determining whether the embolic event has uniform motion away from or towards the source of the ultrasound beam for a time interval.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13 wherein visually determining the occurrence of an embolic event comprises determining whether the embolic event has sufficient power fluctuation from the background power level.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for detecting embolic events in a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam, the method comprising: compiling for a plurality of time periods movement information for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity; for each time period, removing movement information having a detected velocity less than a velocity threshold from the compiled movement information; and displaying on a display device the resultant compiled movement information along time and position axes; and visually determining from the displayed resultant complied movement information the occurrence of an embolic event.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for detecting embolic events in a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam, the method comprising: compiling for a plurality of time periods movement information for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity; for each time period, removing movement information having a detected velocity less than a velocity threshold from the compiled movement information; and displaying on a display device the resultant compiled movement information along time and position axes; and visually determining from the displayed resultant complied movement information the occurrence of an embolic event.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21 wherein visually determining the occurrence of an embolic event comprises identifying the position of the embolic event.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 22 , further comprising determining whether the position of the embolic event occurs between a first depth and a second depth.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 21 wherein visually determining the occurrence of an embolic event comprises determining whether the velocity of the embolic event does not exceed a high-end blood flow velocity.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the high-end blood flow velocity is approximately 2 meters per second.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 21 wherein visually determining the occurrence of an embolic event comprises determining whether the embolic event has uniform motion away from or towards the source of the ultrasound beam for a time interval.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for detecting embolic events in a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam, the Doppler ultrasound system compiling for a plurality of time periods movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the method comprising: removing from the compiled movement information for each time period movement information having a detected velocity less than a velocity threshold; and performing for each time period a plurality of binary characterization tests to determine whether the resultant compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for detecting embolic events in a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam, the Doppler ultrasound system compiling for a plurality of time periods movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the method comprising: removing from the compiled movement information for each time period movement information having a detected velocity less than a velocity threshold; and performing for each time period a plurality of binary characterization tests to determine whether the resultant compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the velocity threshold is approximately equal to 7 cm/s.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests comprises identifying from the resultant compiled movement information the position of the embolic event.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 29 , further comprising determining whether the position of the embolic event occurs between a first depth and a second depth.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 29 wherein identifying the position of the embolic event comprises locating the maximum detected ultrasound power along the ultrasound beam.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the resultant compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event having a velocity not exceeding a high-end blood flow velocity.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the high-end blood flow velocity is approximately 2 meters per second.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the resultant compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event having uniform motion away from or towards the source of the ultrasound beam for a minimum number of time intervals.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the resultant compiled movement information of a potential embolic event has sufficient power fluctuation from the background power level.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 27 , further comprising displaying the compiled movement information for observation by a user.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 27 , further comprising reviewing the results of the binary characterization tests and rejecting false positive identification of an embolic event.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 37 , further comprising automatically incrementing a counter when it is determined that the resultant compiled movement information is consistent with the characteristics of an embolic event.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for detecting embolic events in a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam, the Doppler ultrasound system compiling for a plurality of time periods movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the method comprising: subtracting a respective background power level from the compiled movement information for each time period and each of the plurality of locations; for each time period, removing movement information having a detected velocity less than a velocity threshold from the subtracted compiled movement information; and performing a plurality of binary characterization tests for each time period to determine whether the resultant compiled movement information is consistent with the occurrence of an embolic event.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for detecting embolic events in a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam, the Doppler ultrasound system compiling for a plurality of time periods movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the method comprising: subtracting a respective background power level from the compiled movement information for each time period and each of the plurality of locations; for each time period, removing movement information having a detected velocity less than a velocity threshold from the subtracted compiled movement information; and performing a plurality of binary characterization tests for each time period to determine whether the resultant compiled movement information is consistent with the occurrence of an embolic event.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 39 wherein the velocity threshold is approximately equal to 7 cm/s.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 39 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests comprises identifying from the resultant compiled movement information the position of the embolic event.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 41 , further comprising determining whether the position of the embolic event occurs between a first depth and a second depth.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 41 wherein identifying the position of the embolic event comprises locating the maximum detected ultrasound power along the ultrasound beam.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 39 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the resultant compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event having a velocity not exceeding a high-end blood flow velocity.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 44 wherein the high-end blood flow velocity is approximately 2 meters per second.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 39 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the resultant compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event having uniform motion away from or towards the source of the ultrasound beam for a minimum number of time intervals.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 39 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the resultant compiled movement information of a potential embolic event has sufficient power fluctuation from the background power level.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 39 , further comprising displaying the compiled movement information for observation by a user.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 39 , further comprising reviewing the results of the binary characterization tests and rejecting false positive identification of an embolic event.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 39 , further comprising automatically incrementing a counter when it is determined that the resultant compiled movement information is consistent with the characteristics of an embolic event.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for detecting embolic events in a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam, the Doppler ultrasound system compiling for a plurality of time periods movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the method comprising: performing for each time period a plurality of binary characterization tests indicative of embolic events on the compiled movement information to identify the occurrence of an embolic event; and rejecting false positive embolic events.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for detecting embolic events in a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam, the Doppler ultrasound system compiling for a plurality of time periods movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the method comprising: performing for each time period a plurality of binary characterization tests indicative of embolic events on the compiled movement information to identify the occurrence of an embolic event; and rejecting false positive embolic events.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 51 wherein performing the plurality of binary characterization tests comprises identifying from the compiled movement information the position of the embolic event.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 52 , further comprising determining whether the position of the embolic event occurs between a first depth and a second depth.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 52 wherein identifying the position of the embolic event comprises locating the maximum detected ultrasound power along the ultrasound beam.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event having a velocity not exceeding a high-end blood flow velocity.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 55 wherein the high-end blood flow velocity is approximately 2 meters per second.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event having uniform motion away from or towards the source of the ultrasound beam for a minimum number of time intervals.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the compiled movement information of a potential embolic event has sufficient power fluctuation from the background power level.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 51 , further comprising displaying the compiled movement information for observation by a user.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 51 , further comprising automatically incrementing a counter when it is determined that the compiled remaining movement information is consistent with the characteristics of an embolic event.
Claim 67
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for detecting embolic events in a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam, the Doppler ultrasound system compiling for a plurality of time periods movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the method comprising: subtracting a respective background power level from the compiled movement information for each time period and each of the plurality of locations; performing for each time period a plurality of binary characterization tests indicative of embolic events on the resultant compiled movement information to identify the occurrence of an embolic event; and rejecting false positive embolic events.
Claim 68
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for detecting embolic events in a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam, the Doppler ultrasound system compiling for a plurality of time periods movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the method comprising: subtracting a respective background power level from the compiled movement information for each time period and each of the plurality of locations; performing for each time period a plurality of binary characterization tests indicative of embolic events on the resultant compiled movement information to identify the occurrence of an embolic event; and rejecting false positive embolic events.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 61 wherein performing the plurality of binary characterization tests comprises identifying from the resultant compiled movement information the position of the embolic event.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 62 , further comprising determining whether the position of the embolic event occurs between a first depth and a second depth.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 62 wherein identifying the position of the embolic event comprises locating the maximum detected ultrasound power along the ultrasound beam.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 61 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the resultant compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event having a velocity not exceeding a high-end blood flow velocity.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 65 wherein the high-end blood flow velocity is approximately 2 meters per second.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 61 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the resultant compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event having uniform motion away from or towards the source of the ultrasound beam for a minimum number of time intervals.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 61 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the resultant compiled movement information of a potential embolic event has sufficient power fluctuation from the background power level.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 61 , further comprising displaying the resultant compiled movement information for observation by a user.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 61 , further comprising automatically incrementing a counter when it is determined that the resultant compiled movement information is consistent with the characteristics of an embolic event.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
117 words
A Doppler ultrasound system for sensing motion along an ultrasound beam and detecting embolic events, the system comprising: an ultrasound transducer operable to detect ultrasound signals and responsively produce corresponding electrical signals; signal processing circuitry coupled with the transducer to receive the electrical signals and compile for a plurality of time periods movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam; and detection circuitry coupled to receive the compiled movement information from the signal processing circuitry and operable to perform a plurality of binary characterization tests for each time period to determine whether the compiled movement information is consistent with the occurrence of an embolic event.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
117 words
A Doppler ultrasound system for sensing motion along an ultrasound beam and detecting embolic events, the system comprising: an ultrasound transducer operable to detect ultrasound signals and responsively produce corresponding electrical signals; signal processing circuitry coupled with the transducer to receive the electrical signals and compile for a plurality of time periods movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam; and detection circuitry coupled to receive the compiled movement information from the signal processing circuitry and operable to perform a plurality of binary characterization tests for each time period to determine whether the compiled movement information is consistent with the occurrence of an embolic event.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
38 words
The Doppler ultrasound system of claim 71 wherein the detection circuitry is further operable to subtract a respective background power level from the compiled detected Doppler ultrasound power for each of the plurality of locations and time period.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
37 words
The Doppler ultrasound system of claim 72 wherein for each time period the detection circuitry is further operable to remove movement information having a detected velocity less than a velocity threshold from the subtracted compiled movement information.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
16 words
The Doppler ultrasound system of claim 73 wherein the velocity threshold approximately equal to 7 cm/s.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
33 words
The Doppler ultrasound system of claim 71 wherein the detection circuitry is further operable to review the results of the plurality of binary characterization tests and reject false positive identification of embolic events.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
32 words
The Doppler ultrasound system of claim 71 , further comprising a display device coupled to the signal processing circuitry and the detection circuitry to display the compiled movement information for a user.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
24 words
The Doppler ultrasound system of claim 71 wherein the detection circuitry is further operable to count the number of events determined to be embolic.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
38 words
The Doppler ultrasound system of claim 71 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests comprises identifying the position of the embolic event by locating the maximum power for each of the plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 78 wherein the plurality of binary characterizations tests further comprises determining whether the position of the embolic event occurs between a first depth and a second depth.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
37 words
The Doppler ultrasound system of claim 71 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests comprises determining whether the compiled movement information is consistent with an embolic event having a velocity not exceeding a high-end blood flow velocity.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
19 words
The Doppler ultrasound system of claim 80 wherein the high-end blood flow velocity is approximately 2 meters per second.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
44 words
The Doppler ultrasound system of claim 71 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests comprises determining whether the compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event having uniform motion away from or towards the ultrasound transducer for a minimum number of time intervals.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
35 words
The Doppler ultrasound system of claim 71 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests comprises determining whether the compiled movement information of a potential embolic event has sufficient power fluctuation from the background power level.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer-readable medium having a computer executable program for detecting embolic events, the computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam perform the steps of: compiling for a plurality of time periods movement information for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity; and performing a plurality of binary characterization tests for each time period to determine whether the compiled movement information is indicative of the occurrence of an embolic event.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer-readable medium having a computer executable program for detecting embolic events, the computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by a Doppler ultrasound system sensing motion along an ultrasound beam perform the steps of: compiling for a plurality of time periods movement information for a plurality of locations along the ultrasound beam, the movement information including detected Doppler shift signal power and associated velocity; and performing a plurality of binary characterization tests for each time period to determine whether the compiled movement information is indicative of the occurrence of an embolic event.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer readable medium of claim 84 , further comprising subtracting a respective background power level from the compiled detected Doppler ultrasound power for each of the plurality of locations and time periods.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer readable medium of claim 85 , further comprising removing movement information having a detected velocity less than a velocity threshold from the subtracted compiled movement information for each time period.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer readable medium of claim 86 wherein the velocity threshold approximately equal to 7 cm/s.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer readable medium of claim 84 , further comprising reviewing the results of the binary characterization tests and rejecting false positive identification of embolic events.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer readable medium of claim 84 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests comprises identifying from the compiled movement information the position of the embolic event.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer readable medium of claim 89 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests further comprises determining whether the position of the embolic event occurs between a first depth and a second depth.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer readable medium of claim 89 wherein identifying the position of the embolic event comprises locating the depth of maximum detected power along the ultrasound beam for a plurality of time segments.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer readable medium of claim 84 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the compiled movement information is consistent with an embolic event having a velocity not exceeding a high-end blood flow velocity.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer readable medium of claim 92 wherein the high-end blood flow velocity comprises approximately 2 meters per second.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
47 words
The computer readable medium of claim 84 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the compiled movement information is indicative of an embolic event having uniform motion away from or towards the source of the ultrasound beam for a minimum number of time intervals.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer readable medium of claim 84 wherein the plurality of binary characterization tests includes determining whether the compiled movement information of a potential embolic event has sufficient power fluctuation from the background power level.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer readable medium of claim 84 , further comprising displaying the compiled movement information for observation by a user.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer readable medium of claim 84 , further comprising automatically incrementing a counter when it is determined that the compiled movement information is indicative of the occurrence of an embolic event.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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