Patent ID: 6306090
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: A61B,G01S,G16H,G16Z

Abstract:
A medical system, comprising:a carrier disposable in pressure-wave transmitting contact with a portion of a patient's body surface;at least one electroacoustic transducer attached to said carrier sot hat said transducer remains substantially stationary relative to said portion of the patient's body surface upon disposition of said carrier in pressure-wave transmitting contact with said portion of the patient's body surface;first connection means operatively connected to said electroacoustic transducer for operatively connecting said electroacoustic transducer to an a-c current generator, whereby said electroacoustic transducer may be energized with an electrical signal of a pre-established ultrasonic frequency to produce a first pressure wave;at least one acoustoelectric transducer attached to said carrier so that said acoustoelectric transducer remains substantially stationary relative to said portion of the patient's body surface upon disposition of said carrier in pressure-wave transmitting contact with said portion of the patient's body surface; andan electronic analyzer operatively connectable to said acoustoelectric transducer for determining three-dimensional shapes of internal tissues of the patient by analyzing signals generated by said acoustoelectric transducer in response to second pressure waves produced at internal tissues of the patient in response to said first pressure wave.