Phonoflow Medical, LLC

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Health

Norman Lee Owsley

Ralph Walter Zaorski

Andrew J Hull

Roger Paul Norris

Richard K Knutson

Mark S Peloquin

Robert D Vanasse

Stephen A Austin

Stephen Paul Ebner

Roger C Norris

John F Law

An apparatus for locating a source of vibrational cardiac energy within a human, includes a data processing system configured to accept vibrational cardiac data collected by at least three transducers during a plurality of heart cycles. A computer readable medium containing executable computer program instructions which, when executed by the data processing system, cause the data processing system to perform steps that include, performing a time-to-frequency transformation on the vibrational cardiac data acquired within at least a portion of the heart cycles. The time-to-frequency transformation is applied to the vibrational cardiac data acquired synchronously from each transducer to obtain a plurality of complex frequency spectra. The steps include identifying a vernier band (VB) of frequency associated with a feature derived from the plurality of complex frequency spectra. The vibrational cardiac data are processed over the VB of frequency to obtain a first vibrational cardiac energy level for a first location within the human's chest. The first location corresponds to a source of the first vibrational cardiac energy level.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for locating blood flow turbulence in the cardiovascular system

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed to establish sensor locations on a human's body. A reference plane structure establishes a measurement datum. A plurality of fixtures is provided. Each fixture of the plurality contains at least one sensor and provides a tensile preload to the at least one sensor. A first fixture of the plurality is supported by the reference plane structure. A location on the human's body is associated with each sensor. Each location on the human's body is established using the measurement datum and a contact point of each sensor. The plurality is articulated together to conform to a shape of the human's body such that, when in use, each sensor is in contact with the human's body, and each location is defined by the measurement datum and a contact point of each sensor.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for establishing sensor positions on a human's body with an articulated conformal array

A method of locating a source of vibrational cardiac energy within a human, includes acquiring time synchronized vibrational cardiac data noninvasively from a surface of the human's body with at least three transducer channels. A time-to-frequency transformation is performed on the vibrational cardiac data to obtain a sequence of heart cycle ensemble averaged power spectral density (PSD) estimates. A feature is identified in the PSD estimates. A vernier band (VB) in frequency is established for the feature. The VB portion of the PSI) estimates that correspond to the feature are processed to obtain a vibrational energy intensity level estimate at a spatial location within the human's body. A metric of clinical significance is obtained from the strength of the estimated vibration intensity within a VB and at a location relative to a background noise level.

Method and apparatuses are described to evaluate a state of health of a coronary artery. Vibrational cardiac data from a transducer is received from a first location. The transducer measures vibration of a surface of a human's body non-invasively. The vibrational cardiac data is processed in a second location to create processed vibrational cardiac data. The processing includes separating an unwanted coronary event from the vibrational cardiac data. The processing further includes performing a time-to-frequency transformation on the vibrational cardiac data from a portion of a diastolic interval within a heart cycle to obtain a vibrational frequency power spectrum estimate. The processing includes evaluating a state of health of the coronary artery using the processed vibrational cardiac data.

System and method for evaluating a state of health of a coronary artery

Methods and apparatuses are described to obtain cardiac data, which includes acquiring vibrational field cardiac data from a transducer wherein the transducer measures vibration over a surface of a human's body. An unwanted coronary event is separated from vibrational cardiac data. A transient event is extracted from the vibrational cardiac heart cycle data. The transient event occurs during a diastolic interval within a heart cycle. The transient event is evaluated for a condition of coronary artery blood flow turbulence and a condition of health of a coronary artery is assessed from a feature in the vibrational frequency power spectrum estimate.

Spectrum analysis of coronary artery turbulent blood flow

A method includes acquiring vibrational cardiac data from an array of N transducers wherein the transducers are coupled to a human. A master replica is selected from a segment of the vibrational cardiac data. The master replica is correlated with the segment to obtain a plurality of local maxima. Vibrational cardiac data that were emitted during a diastolic interval are extracted from each heart cycle with the aid of the plurality of local maxima. A two-dimensional space-time frequency power spectrum is processed for Equivalent Rectangular Bandwidth, which provides estimates of the energy produced by turbulent blood flow through a coronary stenosis.

In accordance with the present invention, a device for acquiring contoured human body surface vibration signals is provided. The device comprises a first component for sensing the displacements of a skin surface as a function of time at multiple points on the human body, with the first component having a plurality of sensing elements, a second component for measuring time average displacements of the skin surface at nominal locations of the sensing elements in the first component; and a third component for correcting for the effect of positional error from a set of nominal displacement sensor locations.

Device for the acquisition of contoured human body surface vibration signals

A device for noninvasively measuring energy emissions in the human chest. This device includes first and second spaced longitudinal flexible supports. At least one transverse support means extends between the said first and second spaced longitudinal supports. A plurality of sensor means positioned in a spaced transverse array on the transverse support. This device is an array based measurement system that minimizes the effect of rib interaction on the space-time field of the human thorax. This array-based measurement system is noninvasive so there is almost no patient risk.

Reconfigurable array for positioning medical sensors

A method and apparatus for the diagnosis of pathological turbulent arterial lood flow in a patient includes energy wave detectors for sensing at a plurality of spaced positions on the patient forces generated by turbulent arterial blood flow. The detectors generate a plurality of space time signals that are arranged in a vectorized data structure. A processor converts the vectorized data structures into an output that indicates the form of the waves propagated from the site of the turbulent arterial blood flow, the location and spatial configuration of that site.

Method and apparatus for non-invasive detection and analysis of

A method and apparatus for locating artery stenoses in blood vessels incls providing an array of sensors on skin surface to acquire data for detecting, locating and analyzing energy emissions in three-dimensional objects. The array detects momentum transfer that exists in the object in the form of wave energy, and the detection is designed to occur on the surface of the object, thereby providing a non-intrusive method for locating artery stenoses, with localization of the artery stenoses being achieved through array signal processing by information detected on the surface of the skin with the plurality or array of sensors.

Device and method for locating flow blockage in a three-dimensional

A lateral force device for displacing a towed underwater acoustic cable piding displacement in the horizontal and vertical directions having a spool and a rotationally mounted winged fuselage. The hollow spool is mounted on a cable with cable elements passing therethrough. The winged fuselage is made with the top half relatively positively buoyant and the bottom half relatively negatively buoyant. The winged fuselage is mounted about the hollow spool with clearance to allow rotation of the fuselage. The difference in buoyancy between the upper and lower fuselage maintains the device in the correct operating position. The wings are angled to provide lift in the desired direction as the fuselage is towed through the water.

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Gales Ferry, CT, United States of America

Norman Lee Owsley