Patent ID: 6023632
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: A61B,G01S,G16H,G16Z

Abstract:
A medical system, comprising:a container assembly defining a fluid-filled chamber and including a substantially rigid panel defining an outer wall of said chamber, said container assembly having a flexible wall conformable to a patient;at least one electroacoustic transducer in operative contact with said container assembly for generating pressure waves in fluid disposed in said chamber;an a-c current generator operatively connected to said transducer for energizing said transducer with an electrical signal of a pre-established ultrasonic frequency to produce a first pressure wave in said fluid in said chamber;at least one acoustoelectric transducer in operative contact with said container assembly for receiving and sensing pressure waves traveling in said fluid in said chamber, at least one of said electroacoustic transducer and said acoustoelectric transducer being mounted to said substantially rigid panel; andanalyzing means operatively connected 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 and transmitted through said fluid in said chamber to said acoustoelectric transducer.