Soft tissue diagnostic apparatus and method

Abstract

A soft tissue diagnostic apparatus for diagnosis of stress and injury in anatomical soft tissue by detecting the response of the soft tissue to acoustic energy and a method of detecting soft tissue damage or stress and treating the tissue. An acoustic transmitter transmits excitation acoustic energy toward a target area of soft tissue of a subject. An acoustic receiver receives responsive acoustic energy generated by the soft tissue in response to the excitation acoustic energy transmitted by the acoustic transmitter and generates an output signal representative of the response of the soft tissue to the excitation acoustic energy. An analyzer receives the output signal of the acoustic receiver and provides an indication of at least one of stress and injury in the soft tissue based on the output signal. Areas of stress are inhibited to find the origin of soft tissue pain.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A soft tissue diagnostic apparatus for detecting abnormalities in anatomical soft tissue by detecting the response of the soft tissue to acoustic energy comprising: 
 an acoustic transmitter configured to transmit excitation acoustic energy toward a target area of soft tissue of a subject;    an acoustic receiver configured to receive responsive acoustic energy generated by the soft tissue in response to the excitation acoustic energy transmitted by said acoustic transmitter, said acoustic receiver generating an output signal representative of the response of the soft tissue to the excitation acoustic energy transmitted by said acoustic transmitter;    an analyzer coupled to said acoustic receiver to receive the output signal of said acoustic receiver and to provide an indication signal of at least one of stress and injury in said soft tissue based on said output signal of said acoustic receiver; and    a pressure device configured to apply pressure to areas of the soft tissue having a maximum response of the soft tissue to the excitation acoustic energy of transmitted by said acoustic transmitter.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said transmitter comprises a first transducer said receiver comprises a second transducer and wherein said first transducer and said second transducer are integrated with said pressure device.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said pressure device is a weight that is separate from said transmitter and said receiver.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said receiver further comprises a third transducer integrated with said pressure and operative to receive background acoustic energy, and wherein said analyzer is operative to subtract a signal from said third transducer from a signal from said second transducer to correct at least one of background noise and minimize other instrumental artifacts.  
     
     
         5 . A method of detecting abnormalities in anatomical soft tissue by detecting the response of the soft tissue to acoustic energy, said method comprising: 
 (a) determining an area of soft tissue having a localized characteristic acoustic response;    (b) applying pressure to the area of localized characteristic acoustic response to inhibit acoustic response of the area while simultaneously transmitting excitation acoustic energy toward the area and receiving responsive acoustic energy generated by the area;    (c) repeating said steps (a) and (b) for each of the plural areas while applying pressure to all previously detected areas;    (d) when all responses have been inhibited by application of pressure, identifying a treatment location of characteristic acoustic response that is not responsive to efforts to inhibit it.    
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said step (a) comprises transmitting excitation acoustic energy toward an area of soft tissue of a subject, receiving responsive acoustic energy generated by the soft tissue in response to the acoustic excitation energy, and determining an area of soft tissue having a localized maximum responsive acoustic energy.  
     
     
         7 . A device for detecting abnormalities in soft tissue comprising: 
 a housing;    an acoustic transmitter disposed in said housing and configured to transmit excitation acoustic energy toward a target area of soft tissue of a subject;    an acoustic receiver disposed in said housing and configured to receive responsive acoustic energy generated by the soft tissue in response to the excitation acoustic energy transmitted by said acoustic transmitter, said acoustic receiver generating an output signal representative of the response of the soft tissue to the excitation acoustic energy transmitted by said acoustic transmitter; and    a pressure device operatively coupled to said housing and configured to apply pressure to areas of the soft tissue having a maximum response of the soft tissue to the excitation acoustic energy of transmitted by said acoustic transmitter.    
     
     
         8 . A device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said pressure device is a mass disposed in said housing to impart substantial weight to the device.  
     
     
         9 . A device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said receiver further comprising a background acoustic receiver disposed in said housing and operative to receive at least one of background acoustic energy and instrumental artifacts.