The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 05, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 27, 1997
Michael Victor Klibanov, Charlotte, NC (US);
Thomas Ramsey Lucas, Charlotte, NC (US);
University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC (US);
Abstract
The detection method and apparatus detects abnormalities having a first signal propagation property within a host medium having a second signal propagation property based upon signals which have been reflected, scattered and/or absorbed by the host medium and any abnormalities therein. The detection apparatus includes a signal source for introducing a signal into the host medium which varies with respect to a predetermined signal parameter, such as time, frequency or source location. The detection apparatus also includes a plurality of detectors disposed along some or all of the boundary of the host medium for detecting the signal following propagation through the host medium and any abnormalities within the host medium. The detection apparatus further includes a signal processor for constructing at least one partial differential equation to describe the propagation of a regularized signal through a medium having the same shape as the host medium. The signal processor eliminates at least one term which includes a perturbation function based, at least in part, upon the signal propagation properties of the abnormality. The signal processor can then determine the solution of the at least one partial differential equation and can, in turn, recover the perturbation function. As a result, the detection apparatus can detect abnormalities within the host medium in an accurate, efficient, fast and cost effective manner.