Abstract: The microwave hemorrhagic stroke detector includes a low power pulsed microwave transmitter with a broad-band antenna for producing a directional beam of microwaves, an index of refraction matching cap placed over the patients head, and an array of broad-band microwave receivers with collection antennae. The system of microwave transmitter and receivers are scanned around, and can also be positioned up and down the axis of the patients head. The microwave hemorrhagic stroke detector is a completely non-invasive device designed to detect and localize blood pooling and clots or to measure blood flow within the head or body. The device is based on low power pulsed microwave technology combined with specialized antennas and tomographic methods. The system can be used for rapid, non-invasive detection of blood pooling such as occurs with hemorrhagic stroke in human or animal patients as well as for the detection of hemorrhage within a patient's body.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 23, 1999
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2002
Assignee:
The Regents of the University of California
Abstract: A microwave tomographic device including a single frequency three dimensional microwave tomographic system in cooperation with a single frequency three dimensional electrical impedance capable of imaging a full scale biological object is disclosed. The device includes a code division software which cooperates with a microwave patch system to, inter alia, enable superficial imaging of biological systems. A cluster of antennas and transceivers are used to provide MWT and EIT integrated in a single 3 dimensional microwave tomographic system for examining the biological from a number of views in real-time.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 27, 2001
Publication date:
May 30, 2002
Inventors:
Robert H. Svenson, Serguei Y. Semenov, Vladimir Y. Baranov
Abstract: A system calibrates a user's brain region (e.g., the primary visual cortex or V1 region) to actual sensory information (e.g., the visual field), and enables imagined sensory information (e.g.; dynamic mental imagery) to be interpreted as computer input. The system includes a configuration engine and an input device control engine. The configuration engine includes a test pattern; a functional information gatherer for presenting the test pattern to a user; a brain-scanning device interface for obtaining functional information from a region in the user's brain that provides a physiological response to the test pattern and that receives feedback corresponding to imagined sensory information; and a mapping engine for using the functional information to map the user's brain region to the test pattern.
Abstract: The invention is a system and method for non-invasive tomographic spectroscopy of tissue using a plurality of microwave emitter-receivers spatially oriented to the tissue, an interface medium placed between the emitter-receivers, and a control subsystem operably coupled to the plurality of emitter-receivers for selectively controlling power to the plurality of emitter-receivers and for receiving signals from the plurality of emitter-receivers so that multiple frequency radiation is emitted from a selected plurality of emitter-receivers and received by a selected plurality of emitter-receivers after interacting with and passing through the tissue, and a computational subsystem operably connected to the control subsystem for computing a tomographic spectroscopic image of the tissue from the microwave signals received from the selected plurality of emitter-receivers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 19, 1999
Date of Patent:
December 18, 2001
Assignee:
The Carolinas Heart Institute
Inventors:
Robert H. Svenson, Serguei Y. Semenov, Vladimir Baranov
Abstract: The Microwave Hematoma Detector is a non-invasive device designed to detect and localize blood pooling and clots near the outer surface of the body. While being geared towards finding sub-dural and epi-dural hematomas, the device can be used to detect blood pooling anywhere near the surface of the body. Modified versions of the device can also detect pneumothorax, organ hemorrhage, atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid arteries, evaluate perfusion (blood flow) at or near the body surface, body tissue damage at or near the surface (especially for burn assessment) and be used in a number of NDE applications. The device is based on low power pulsed microwave technology combined with a specialized antenna, signal processing/recognition algorithms and a disposable cap worn by the patient which will facilitate accurate mapping of the brain and proper function of the instrument.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 15, 1998
Date of Patent:
May 15, 2001
Assignee:
The Regents of the University of California
Inventors:
Waleed S. Haddad, James E. Trebes, Dennis L. Matthews
Abstract: In an apparatus for examining living tissue by means of X-rays and by electric impedance measurement, a control device optionally activates an X-ray source and a radiation receiver, and/or for applying current or voltage signals to the tissue to be examined and a unit for measuring induced potentials or currents. This allows an X-ray image to be produced and induced potentials and currents to be measured either simultaneously or sequentially. It is also possible to fuse the respective images produced in these ways.
Abstract: A system for and method of electromagnetically detecting an embedded dielectric region within a target object are provided. The method includes the steps of: (i) selecting a target object including a plurality of discrete scattering mediums, wherein the plurality of discrete scattering mediums include the embedded dielectric region and an adjacent dielectric region, and wherein the plurality of discrete scattering mediums define at least one dielectric interface between the embedded dielectric region and the adjacent dielectric region; (ii) directing electromagnetic radiation at the target object, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is characterized by a diagnostic frequency that is varied incrementally over a diagnostic frequency band; (iii) detecting electromagnetic radiation reflected by the target object over the predetermined frequency band such that there are M measurements of a reflected electromagnetic signal at frequencies f.sub.1, f.sub.2, . . . , f.sub.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 28, 1998
Date of Patent:
May 16, 2000
Assignee:
Spectra Research, Inc.
Inventors:
Ronald George Riechers, Krishna Murthy Pasala
Abstract: A microwave antenna for use in a system for detecting an incipient tumor in living tissue such as that of a human breast in accordance with differences in relative dielectric characteristics. In the system a generator produces a non-ionizing electromagnetic input wave of preselected frequency, usually exceeding three gigahertz, and that input wave is used to irradiate a discrete volume in the living tissue with a non-ionizing electromagnetic wave. The illumination location is shifted in a predetermined scanning pattern. Scattered signal returns from the living tissue are collected and processed to segregate skin tissue scatter and to develop a segregated backscatter or return wave signal; that segregated signal, in turn, is employed to detect any anomaly indicative of the presence of a tumor or other abnormality in the scanned living tissue.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 9, 1997
Date of Patent:
May 9, 2000
Assignee:
Interstitial, Inc.
Inventors:
Jack E. Bridges, Allen Taflov, Susan C. Hagness, Alan Sahakian
Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and methods for determining electric field properties of an inhomogeneous target. The electric property distribution on a coarse mesh discretization of the target is first estimated; and then the electric field on a fine mesh discretization of the target is computed. The fine mesh has finer discretization than the coarse mesh and is overlapping with the coarse mesh. The electric field is then measured at preselected measurement sites within a homogeneous region external to the target. A Jacobian matrix is also calculated which represents a sensitivity calculation relative to a change in the electric field at selected measurement sites due to a perturbation in the electric property distribution on the coarse mesh. A difference vector is formed between the computed electric field and the measured electric field, and an update vector is added to the electrical property distribution as a function of the difference vector and the Jacobian matrix.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 11, 1997
Date of Patent:
November 24, 1998
Assignee:
Microwave Imaging System Technologies, Inc.
Abstract: A method for detecting an incipient tumor in living tissue such as that of a human breast in accordance with differences in relative dielectric characteristics. A generator produces a non-ionizing electromagnetic input wave of preselected frequency, usually exceeding three gigahertz, and that input wave is used to illuminate the living tissue, being effectively focused into a small, discrete volume within the tissue to develop a non-ionizing electromagnetic wave at that position. The illumination location is moved over a portion of the living tissue in a predetermined scanning pattern. Scattered signal returns collected from the living tissue are collected to develop a scatter return signal. The scatter return signal is employed to detect any anomaly, caused by differences in relative dielectric characteristics, that maybe indicative of the presence of a tumor in the scanned living tissue.