Determining mechanical properties via ultrasound-induced resonance

Inventors

Walker, William F. • Corey, F. Scott • Homyk, Andrew • Higgins, Tim • Viola, Francesco • Regan, Frank • Ferrante, Elisa

Assignees

Hemosonics LLC

Abstract

A device for estimating a mechanical property of a sample is disclosed herein. The device may include a chamber configured to hold the sample; a transmitter configured to transmit a plurality of waveforms, including at least one forcing waveform; and a transducer assembly operatively connected to the transmitter and configured to transform the transmit waveforms into ultrasound waveforms. The transducer assembly can also transmit and receive ultrasound waveforms into and out of the chamber, as well as transform at least two received ultrasound waveforms into received electrical waveforms. The device also includes a data processor that can receive the received electrical waveforms; estimate a difference in the received electrical waveforms that results at least partially from movement of the sample; and estimate a mechanical property of the sample by comparing at least one feature of the estimated difference to at least one predicted feature, wherein the at least one predicted feature is based on a model of an effect of the chamber wall. Finally, the device can also include a controller configured to control the timing of the ultrasound transmitter and data processor.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to an acoustic interrogation system and a device and system configured to measure at least one viscoelastic property of a test sample of blood for evaluation of hemostasis. The approach uses a plurality of test chambers, each with a resonant portion, to hold a test sample of blood combined with a reagent or combination of reagent, and the resonant portion generates resonance from a forcing waveform comprising one or more acoustic pulses directed into the test chamber.

The generated resonance from each resonant portion is interrogated by one or more sensing waveforms to estimate a modulus of a clot formed of the sample in the test chamber. In the system form, a cartridge having a plurality of resonant chambers is received by a housing, and a transmitter transmits at least one forcing waveform and at least one sensing waveform. A transducer assembly transforms transmit waveforms into ultrasound waveforms and transmits and receives the ultrasound waveforms into and out of the resonant chambers.

A data processor receives received electrical waveforms transformed from received sensing waveforms, estimates a resonance of the test sample, and determines a modulus value associated with stiffness of a clot formed of the resonant sample based on the estimated resonance. Timing of the transmitter and data processor is controlled by a controller, and resonant behavior is used as a measurement basis for viscoelastic parameters related to clot modulus and stiffness.

Claims Coverage

Two independent claims are present: a device claim for hemostasis evaluation by resonant test chambers using forcing and sensing waveforms, and a system claim for characterizing clot stiffness by estimating resonance and determining a modulus value. Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on resonant chamber generation from forcing acoustic pulses, interrogation with sensing waveforms, and determination of clot modulus from estimated resonance.

The claim set provides layered coverage for using resonant chambers driven by forcing acoustic pulses, interrogating the resulting resonance with sensing waveforms, estimating resonance from received sensing signals, and determining clot modulus and stiffness from the estimated resonance.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found