Patent ID: 6068597
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising:audio transducer(s) operable to transmit into a medium or body an audio-frequency vibrational tone, and wherein said audio transducer(s) cause embedded structures in said medium or body to vibrate at a plurality of resonant audio frequencies;an ultrasound transducer attached to said audio transducer(s) operable to transmit into said medium or body, a focused ultrasonic-frequency beam, and wherein said ultrasound transducer is further operable to receive from said medium or body reflected ultrasonic waves;a variable-frequency tone generator and amplifier coupled to said audio transducer(s) operable to sequentially generate a plurality of waveforms at incrementally higher frequencies within a range of audio frequencies;a frame processor coupled to said ultrasound transducer through the imaging pathway of said ultrasonic imaging apparatus, operable to buffer ultrasound image frames, assign colors and/or brightness to each pixel, and to overlay graphics;a spectrum processor coupled to said frame processor operable to estimate the vibrational resonance spectrum and/or vibrational resonance image of areas within said medium or body; anda system controller coupled to said variable-frequency tone generator, said amplifier, said frame processor, and said spectrum processor, operable to synchronize their functions to generate said vibrational resonance spectrum or said vibrational resonance image.