Verathon Inc.

Du-med B.v.

Endosonics Corporation

Jomed Gmbh

Verathon Medical (europe) B.v.

Nicolaas Bom

Gerald J McMorrow

Charles Theodoor Lancee

Henri Baartmans

Charles T Lancee

Charles Theodoor Lance&eacute;

Eduardo Ignacio Cespedes

Wenguang Li

Vikram Chalana

Jongtae Yuk

Antonius Franciscus Wilhelmus Van Der Steen

Antonius Franciscus Wilhemus Van Der Steen

Egon J W Merks

Gerald James Mcmorrow

Gerald Mcmorrow

Egon J Merks

Charles Theodor Lancee

An apparatus and methods to quantify the volume of urine in a human bladder with a limited number of acoustic beams is disclosed. In a first version a plurality of narrow ultrasound beams is transmitted in different directions towards the bladder. Returning echoes are converted to digital form and stored in memory. A volume display on the apparatus allows to define the optimal apposition of the transducer assembly. Signal processing software automatically determines the bladder Depth D and Height H and computes the volume of urine. In a second version, a single wide angle ultrasound beam transducer transmits ultrasounds signals at a fundamental frequency to quantify the urine volume. Return signals originating from a depth beyond the usual position of the posterior wall depth of a filled bladder are analyzed for presence of higher harmonic signals, which in turn are related to the presence or absence of urine.

Instantaneous ultrasonic echo measurement of bladder volume with a limited number of ultrasound beams

An apparatus and methods to quantify the volume of urine in a human bladder with a limited number of acoustic beams is disclosed. In a first version the apparatus is composed of a transducers assembly that transmits a plurality of narrow ultrasound beams in different directions towards the bladder and receives the returning ultrasound signals; a receiver detector for processing the returned signals; an analog-to-digital converter; a memory to store the digitized data and a volume display allowing to define the optimal position of the transducer assembly. The apparatus also includes a signal processing software that automatically determines the bladder Depth D and Height H and computes the volume of urine using an empirical formula corrected by specific, empirically measured, filling dependant correction factors. In a second version a single wide angle ultrasound beam transducer transmitting ultrasound signals at fundamental frequency is used to quantify the urine volume. Return signals originating from a depth beyond the usual position of the posterior wall depth of a filled bladder are analyzed for presence of higher harmonic signals which in turn are related to presence or absence of urine. Both methods or a combination thereof can be used us a simple warning device for presence of residual urine after voiding or indicate the presence of a critical bladder urine filling level.

Instantaneous ultrasonic measurement of bladder volume

Ultrasound imaging systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasonography method includes creating a database that is representative of a tissue, a fluid, or a cavity of a body, and transmitting ultrasound pulses into a region-of-interest in a patient. Echoes are received from the region of interest, and based upon the received echoes, compiling an ultrasonic pattern of the region-of-interest is compiled. The pattern is processed by comparing the region-of-interest patterns to the pattern information stored in the database. A composition within the region-of-interest of the patient is then determined.

Systems and methods for quantification and classification of fluids in human cavities in ultrasound images

A method to measure spatial fluid flow components and their velocity profiles in a number of locations in a cross-sectional area of a lumen or other body cavity by using ultrasound in which the cross-sectional area is interrogated by a plurality of ultrasonic beams; the estimation of the spatial flow components is obtained from a combination of estimations of axial, lateral and total flow; the estimation of one or more flow components is obtained through any combination of time-shift and decorrelation analysis of two or more beam-signals of the interrogating ultrasound transducer; and the estimation accuracy is further improved by the use of a reference decorrelation curve obtained from experiments or beam-theory or both.

Measurement of volumetric fluid flow and its velocity profile

A method to measure spatial fluid flow components and their velocity profiles in a number of locations in a cross-sectional area of a lumen or other body cavity by using ultrasound in which the cross-sectional area is interrogated by a plurality of ultrasonic beams; the estimation of the spatial flow components is obtained from a combination of estimations of axial, lateral and total flow; the estimation of one or more flow components is obtained through any combination of time-shift and decorrelation analysis of two or more beam-signals of the interrogating ultrasound transducer, and the estimation accuracy is further improved by the use of a reference decorrelation curve.

The disposable intra-luminal ultrasonic instrument comprises: a catheter having an elongate axis and a hollow distal end portion; an acoustical mirror face; structure for mounting the acoustical mirror face for rotation in the distal end portion of the catheter with the acoustical mirror face arranged at an angle to the elongate axis of the catheter; a transducer; structure for mounting the transducer in the distal end portion of the catheter in a position to propagate acoustic waves toward the acoustical mirror face; a micromotor having a length no greater than approximately 6 millimeters and a diameter no greater than approximately 2.4 millimeters; structure for mounting the micromotor in the distal end portion of the catheter; structure for connecting the micromotor to the acoustical mirror face; conductors for connecting the micromotor to a source of energy for energizing the micromotor to rotate the acoustical mirror face; and, conductors for connecting the transducer to a source of energy for energizing the transducer to produce and supply sound waves to the rotatable acoustical mirror face.

Ultrasonic instrument with a micro motor

The disposable intra-luminal ultrasonic instrument for the examination and/or treatment of blood vessels and similar lumina has a small transverse cross-section. The instrument includes a catheter comprising a body and a tip having a distal end and a distal portion adapted to be introduced into a lumen and a proximal portion. The catheter has a diameter no greater than 3 millimeters, a rotatable member in the tip, a micro motor in the tip and coupled to the rotatable member for rotating the rotatable member at a selected rpm, the motor having flat stator coils mounted on a flexible circuit board, and means for generating and supplying sound waves to the rotatable member.

Ultrasonic instrument with a micro motor having stator coils on a

The disposable intra-luminal ultrasonic instrument for the examination and/or treatment of blood vessels and similar lumina has a small transverse cross-section. The instrument includes a catheter comprising a body and a tip having a distal end and a distal portion adapted to be introduced into a lumen and a proximal portion. The catheter has a diameter no greater than 3 millimeters, a rotatable member in the tip, a small motor in the tip and coupled to the rotatable member for rotating the rotatable member at a selected rpm, and means for generating and supplying sound waves to, the rotatable member at a frequency no greater than 60 megahertz.

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Berkenwoude, Netherlands

Nicolaas Bom