IP Library › Patent Application 12793444
Patent Application
App. No. 12/793,444

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR THE DETECTION OF CARDIOPULMONARY DEFECTS

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/793,444
Abstract

A diagnostic system for detecting a right-to-left cardiopulmonary shunt in a patient. The system includes at least one Doppler ultrasound transducer, a transducer housing, a transducer housing placement device to affix the Doppler ultrasound transducer housing over a peripheral blood vessel, and a control system configured to receive and process the echoes and transform the echoes into data indicative of the presence or absence of a bubbles within the peripheral blood vessel, thereby determining whether or not the patient has a right-to-left cardiopulmonary shunt. A method of detecting a right-to-left cardiopulmonary shunt in a patient is also provided.

Claims (11)

1 . A diagnostic system for detecting a right-to-left cardiopulmonary shunt in a patient, comprising:

at least one Doppler ultrasound transducer;

a transducer housing;

a transducer housing placement device to affix said Doppler ultrasound transducer housing over a peripheral blood vessel so that said at least one Doppler ultrasound transducer can remain stationary over said blood vessel during transmission of ultrasound and receipt of ultrasonic echoes; and

a control system configured to receive and process said echoes and transform said echoes into data indicative of the presence or absence of a bubbles within the peripheral blood vessel, thereby determining whether or not the patient has a right-to-left cardiopulmonary shunt.

2 . The diagnostic system of claim 1 , wherein said placement device is configured to affix said housing over an artery in a patient's wrist.

3 . A method of detecting a right-to-left cardiopulmonary shunt in a patient, comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a Doppler ultrasound transducer over a peripheral artery in the patient;

(b) collecting Doppler ultrasound data comprising Doppler echoes from the patient's peripheral artery;

(c) injecting microbubbles into a vein in the patient while continuing to collect said Doppler ultrasound data; and

(d) determining the presence of right-to-left cardiopulmonary shunt in the patient by comparing collected data from before and after the injecting step.