Ronald Earl Goans

US Patent:

40809609, Mar 28, 1978

Filed:

Nov 4, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/738982

Inventors:

Ronald E. Goans - Knoxville TN
John H. Cantrell - Knoxville TN
F. Bradford Meyers - East Alton IL
Harry D. Stambaugh - Louisville KY

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61B 1000

US Classification:

128 2V

Abstract:

This invention, a method for ultrasonically determining the depth of a skin burn, is based on the finding that the acoustical impedance of burned tissue differs sufficiently from that of live tissue to permit ultrasonic detection of the interface between the burn and the underlying unburned tissue. The method is simple, rapid, and accurate. As compared with conventional practice, it provides the important advantage of permitting much earlier determination of whether a burn is of the first, second, or third degree. In the case of severe burns, the usual two - to three-week delay before surgery may be reduced to about 3 days or less.