摘要 |
<p>An ultrasound probe is placed on the head of a patient, and is used to generate an ultrasound pulse which propagates through the skull and brain of the patient, and is reflected off of the skull and soft tissue lying in a path perpendicular to the ultrasound probe. The reflected signals are received by the ultrasound probe, and then processed in a known manner to generate an echo encephalogram (Echo EG) signal, which is plotted as a function of amplitude vs. distance. A portion of the Echo EG signal is then selected, and the Echo EG signal is integrated over the selected portion to generate an echo pulsograph (EPG) signal. An electrocardiograph (ECG) signal for the patient is also generated in a known manner. Using the ECG signal as a reference, the EPG signal is used to provide information regarding the physiological state of the tissue at a depth from the ultrasound probe corresponding to the selected portion of the Echo EG signal. In addition, the ultrasound probe is preferably a probe having a concave shaped transmitting and receiving surface.</p> |