Low Frequency Ultrasonic Non-Imaging Diagnostic System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasonic diagnostic systems are limited by high-frequency requirements for imaging, which restrict their application to areas that can be penetrated by higher frequency signals above 1 MHz, preventing effective diagnostic testing in tissues with high ultrasonic attenuation, such as lungs and bones, and do not utilize bi-static configurations or non-contact transducers.
Innovation Solution
Employing low-frequency ultrasonic signals (25 kHz to 1 MHz) for non-imaging diagnostic purposes with bi-static or mono-static configurations, using large aperture transmitting transducers and smaller aperture receiving transducers, and advanced signal processing to extract clinically significant features from the modified ultrasonic signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-frequency ultrasonic signals (>1 MHz) are used for imaging, then imaging resolution is improved, but tissue penetration capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the frequency parameter from high-frequency (>1 MHz) to low-frequency (25 kHz to 1 MHz) ultrasonic signals. This parameter change allows the ultrasonic waves to penetrate highly attenuating tissues such as lungs and bones that are inaccessible to conventional high-frequency imaging, while accepting reduced spatial resolution in exchange for deeper tissue penetration capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If low-frequency ultrasonic signals (25 kHz to 1 MHz) are used, then tissue penetration capability is improved, but imaging resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the imaging function from the ultrasonic diagnostic system. Instead of attempting to form images with low-frequency signals, the system processes ultrasonic signals to extract clinically significant features and diagnostic information from the modified waveforms, creating a non-imaging diagnostic approach that leverages the penetration advantages of low-frequency signals.
3Device complexity
If conventional mono-static configurations are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but diagnostic capability in high-attenuation tissues deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ultrasonic diagnostic system into separate transmitting and receiving transducer components arranged in bi-static configurations. This segmentation allows independent optimization of transmit and receive functions, enabling the system to achieve adequate signal levels from highly attenuating tissues by separating the high-power transmit function from the sensitive receive function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables deeper tissue penetration and broader access to high-attenuation tissues, allowing for the detection of medical conditions in areas inaccessible with high-frequency imaging, such as lungs and bones, while reducing manual interpretation and improving diagnostic accuracy through automated data analysis.
Implementation Method 1
Ultrasonic wave propagation, signal attenuation and signal interface loss in the human body are a function of frequency
Implementation Method 2
receiving the propagated low frequency ultrasonic signals passed through the test object using one or more receiving transducers
Implementation Method 3
processing the received low frequency ultrasonic signals to extract clinically significant changes in the received ultrasonic signals; and correlating, using a processor, the processed signals to medically significant features of the test object
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are non-imaging low frequency ultrasound apparatus and methods that extend the range of ultrasonic applications to medical testing and diagnostics. More particularly, apparatus and methods for generating, transmitting and receiving low frequency ultrasound through a test body can be used to generate non-imaging medical mapping of ultrasound signals and medical diagnostics. Typically frequencies below 1 MHz are generated by a low frequency non-imaging wide aperture transmitting transducer and received by multiple low frequency small aperture receiving transducers and processed via improved signal processing to evaluate and map the ultrasound interactions for detecting and characterizing clinical conditions in test objects.