IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,067,543
Granted Patent B2
US 11,067,543 · App. 16/592,132 · Granted Jul 20, 2021

Method and system for determining a parameter of a material of interest

Inventor: Jang Hwan Cho (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: ENDRA Life Sciences Inc.
G01N29/2431G01N29/30G01N29/4436
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,067,543
App. No.
16/592,132
Granted
Jul 20, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for determining a parameter of a material of interest which includes: directing, using a radio frequency (RF) source, RF energy into a region of interest, the region of interest comprising the material, a known reference and a boundary between the material and the known reference; detecting, using an acoustic receiver, at least one thermoacoustic multi-polar signal generated in response to the RF energy; and determining, by the one or more processors, a parameter of the material as a function of the at least one thermoacoustic multi-polar signal and a transmitted power correction factor, wherein the transmitted power correction factor is based on an estimated thickness of the known reference and an attenuation coefficient of the known reference.

Claims (11)

1. A method for determining a parameter of a material, the method comprising:

directing, using a radio frequency (RF) source, RF energy into a region of interest, the region of interest comprising the material, a known reference, and a boundary between the material and the known reference;

detecting, using an acoustic receiver, at least one thermoacoustic multi-polar signal generated in response to the RF energy; and

determining, by one or more processors, a parameter of the material as a function of the at least one thermoacoustic multi-polar signal and a transmitted power correction factor, wherein the transmitted power correction factor is based on an estimated thickness of the known reference and an attenuation coefficient of the known reference, further wherein the parameter of the material is selected from the group consisting of Grüneisen parameter and conductivity.

2. A system for determining a parameter of a material, the system comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) source configured to direct RF energy into a region of interest, wherein the region of interest comprises the material, a known reference, and a boundary between the material and the known reference;

at least one thermoacoustic or ultrasonic transducer configured to receive at least one thermoacoustic multi-polar signal generated in response to the RF energy signal; and

one or more processors configured to determine a parameter of the material as a function of the at least one thermoacoustic multi-polar signal and a transmitted power correction factor, wherein the transmitted power correction factor is determined based on an estimated thickness of the known reference and an attenuation coefficient of the known reference, further wherein the parameter of the material is selected from the group consisting of Grüneisen parameter and conductivity.

3. A system for determining a parameter of a material, the system comprising:

a thermoacoustic imaging system comprising a radio frequency (RF) applicator configured to emit RF energy pulses into a region of interest, the region of interest comprising the material and a known reference separated by at least one boundary and an acoustic receiver configured to receive at least one thermoacoustic multi-polar signal induced in the region of interest in response to the RF energy pulses; and

one or more processors configured to determine a parameter of the material as a function of the at least one thermoacoustic multi-polar signal and a transmitted power correction factor, wherein the transmitted power correction factor is determined based on an estimated thickness of the known reference and an attenuation coefficient of the known reference, further wherein the parameter of the material is selected from the group consisting of Grüneisen parameter and conductivity.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2020
From: CHO, JANG HWAN
To: ENDRA LIFE SCIENCES INC.
Reel/Frame 051684/0734 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210102921A1 · Apr 8, 2021