Measurement of Brain Activity Using an Ultrasonic Measure of Localized Blood Flow

Description

A new type of two-dimensional, real time, color ultrasonic scanner able to measure and display brain metabolism by monitoring amplitudes of localized changes of intracranial interfaces. A real time image is obtained with a flexible array of transducers which eliminates the strong reflection from the skull due to a shape mismatch and reduces the topological mislocations in the image. This new technique of motion detection based on image subtraction features high accuracy and gives the scanner the unique capability to detect multi-directional motion of the intracranial interfaces and to display the amplitude of the motion in real time. Monitoring the image synchronously with the heart beat and the external stimulus presence gives clinicians the unique opportunity of visualization of detailed structure and function in normal human brains and studying the pathophysiology of brain abnormalities by demonstrating structural, metabolic and neurochemical abnormalities.

Advantages

• High accuracy motion detection based on image subtraction
• Capability to detect multi-directional motion of the intracranial interfaces and to display the amplitude of the motion in real time
• Does not require radio active tracers
• Lower cost than MRI, SPEC Scan, or PET Scan
• Output is real time rather than requiring an exposure time

Potential Applications

• Medical diagnosis in neurology, echo cardiology, and gynecology
• Sonar, nondestructive testing of materials, or precision motion sensing

(c) Florida Atlantic University All rights reserved.
Updated August 10, 2008

Inventor
Dr. William E. Glenn
Imaging Technology Center

Dr. Petko Dinev
Former engineer in the
Imaging Technology Center

IP Status
U.S. Patent 6,302,847
issued 10/16/2001

U.S. Patent 6,066,097
issued 4/23/2000

Contact Information
Office of Technology Transfer
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton, FL 33431-0991

Kurt R. Moore
Assistant V.P. & Director
Ph: 561-297-1165
Fax: 561-297-2141
kmoore34@fau.edu

Michelle Webb
Assistant Director
Ph: 561-297-0673
Fax: 561-297-2141
mwebb18@fau.edu

Case Number
1996-02