Patent ID: 6595928
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of detecting the presence of a gas cavity in a desired region of a body comprising the steps of:positioning a source of low frequency vibro-acoustic waves at a first location on the body; positioning a detector at a second location of the body; transmitting low frequency vibro-acoustic waves into the first location of the body; detecting the transmitted low frequency vibro-acoustic waves at the second location on the body; generating a signal representative of the frequency response of the body resulting from the presence of any gas cavity therein; analyzing the frequency response signal by calculating a transfer function of the frequency response signal and examining the transfer function morphology, wherein calculating the transfer function includes calculating the spectrum of the source of low frequency vibro-acoustic waves (Sin) and calculating the spectrum of the detected low frequency vibro-acoustic waves (Sout) wherein the transfer function is equal to the ration of Sin to Sout; and detecting the presence of peaks in the response signal indicative of resonance waves and detecting the presence of dips in the response signal indicative of anti-resonance waves.