Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc.

Spacelabs, Inc.

Spacelabs Medical, Inc.

Paul H Jones

Paul Donald Freiburger

Christian Deforge

Craig B Robinson

Stephen P Czenszak

Wei-Min Wang

Methods and systems for measuring transducer movement are provided. For example, free-hand scanning for three-dimensional imaging is provided. An optical sensor within the transducer measures motion along the skin surface similar to measuring movement of a personal computer mouse with an optical sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the transducer is tilted at an angle other than perpendicular to the skin surface generally towards or away from the direction in which the transducer is translated. The transducer is then translated while maintaining the angle. Motion to or from the transducer is measured, and a component of the motion measured while the transducer is maintained at an angle is parallel to the direction of translation. The component of motion is angle corrected and used to determine a distance of travel.

Measuring transducer movement methods and systems for multi-dimensional ultrasound imaging

A method and apparatus for determining arterial blood pressures using a photoplethysmograph is provided. In the inventive method the photoplethysmograph output is calibrated to the patient using an auxiliary blood pressure determining instrument, a constant k particular to the patient's arterial blood pressure-volume relationship is determined and is stored for later use; at the time of measurement information is obtained from the photoplethysmograph output; and a computer determines the patient's systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

Method of measuring blood pressure with a plethysmograph

An apparatus for photo-optically detecting transducer motion using a photodetector resiliently suspended inside the transducer housing and photo-optically coupled to a light source. During movement the inertia effect of the photodetector along with the resilient suspension system causes the changes in the photo-optical coupling between the photodetector and the light source. The inertia effect of the photodetector is enhanced by adding a mass to the photodetector. Either the magnitude or the phase of the photodetector output is monitored to detect movement. In another embodiment, a light emitter is resiliently suspended so that movement induced changes in the position of the light emitter alter the coupling of light to one or more light detectors.

Method and apparatus for detecting movement of an electro-optical

A method and apparatus for increasing the blood flow in a patient's tissue by warming the tissue with heat generated by a semiconductor device mounted in a sensor. The amount of heat generated is controlled by varying either the magnitude or the duty cycle of the current that flows through the semiconductor device, with the amount of heat required determined by either the temperature of the sensor's contact surface or the operating performance of the apparatus.

Apparatus for heating tissue with a photoplethysmograph sensor

A method and apparatus for determining arterial blood pressures using a photoplethysmograph is provided. In the inventive method the photoplethysmograph output is calibrated to the patient using an auxiliary blood pressure determining instrument, a constant k particular to the patient's arterial blood pressure-volume relationship is determined and is stored for later use; at the time of measurement information is obtained from the photoplethysmograph output; and a computer determines the patient's systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Method of measuring blood pressure with a photoplethysmograph

An apparatus for photo-optically detecting transducer motion in a transducer using a photodetector elastically suspended inside the transducer housing and photo-optically coupled to a light source. During movement the inertia effect of the photodetector along with the elastic suspension system causes the changes in the photo-optical coupling between the photodetector and the light source. The inertia effect of the photodetector is enhanced by adding a mass to the photodetector. Either the magnitude or the phase of the photodetector output is monitored to detect movement.

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Mercer Island, WA, United States of America

Paul H Jones