US3695252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-08-31
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Granted: 1972-10-03
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Expires: 1990-08-31
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to diagnostic apparatus capable of giving an easily-interpreted indication differentiating normal lung tissue from abnormal tissue. Periodic pulses of ultrasonic energy are transmitted by means of a probe and reflected pulses are rectified and smoothed. Rectangular pulses are produced from the smoothed signals and further pulses are derived from the trailing edge of each of said rectangular signals. A bistable trigger circuit is set by each of the transmitted pulses and unset by each of said further pulses so that the on/off ratio of the bistable trigger circuit depends on the length of time for which the reflected signals remain above a predetermined level. Additional reflections received after the first fall below said predetermined level are ignored. The bistable circuit controls a current-measuring device through an integrator.
Inventors
- 👤 George Andrew Douglas Gordon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
Diagnostic apparatus for distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy internal body tissue, comprising in combination: probe means for transmitting ultrasonic energy toward internal body tissue and for receiving reflected pulses of said energy; means for energizing said probe means periodically to transmit pulses of said ultrasonic energy, the periodicity of which transmitted pulses is such that energy reflected from healthy tissue due to each transmitted pulse constitutes at least one discrete burst of reflected energy made up of a number of pulses which add vectorially in a generally random manner and which burst decays substantially to zero prior to the next transmitted pulse; means connected to said probe means for rectifying the pulses of said burst of reflected energy and for smoothing such rectified pulses to produce a diagnostic signal conforming generally to the amplitude envelope of said rectified pulses; and indicating means responsive to said diagnostic signal for indicating the relative duration thereof with respect to the period of said transmitted pulses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
Diagnostic apparatus for distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy internal body tissue, comprising in combination: probe means for transmitting ultrasonic energy toward internal body tissue and for receiving reflected pulses of said energy; means for energizing said probe means periodically to transmit pulses of said ultrasonic energy, the periodicity of which transmitted pulses is such that energy reflected from healthy tissue due to each transmitted pulse constitutes at least one discrete burst of reflected energy made up of a number of pulses which add vectorially in a generally random manner and which burst decays substantially to zero prior to the next transmitted pulse; means connected to said probe means for rectifying the pulses of said burst of reflected energy and for smoothing such rectified pulses to produce a diagnostic signal conforming generally to the amplitude envelope of said rectified pulses; and indicating means responsive to said diagnostic signal for indicating the relative duration thereof with respect to the period of said transmitted pulses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
Diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said indicating means includes bistable means connected to said means for energizing for producing one output state in response to initiation of each pulse transmission, and means connected to said bistable means for producing the other output state thereof in response to decay of said diagnostic signal below a selected level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said indicating means also includes means for integrating said one output state of said bistable means aNd a voltmeter driven by such integrated output.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
Diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said indicating means also includes level detector means receiving said diagnostic signal for producing a rectangular wave output during the time said diagnostic signal exceeds said selected level, and means connected to said rectangular wave output and to said bistable means for producing the other output state of the latter in response to the trailing edge of said rectangular wave output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
Diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said indicating means also includes level detector means receiving said diagnostic signal for producing a rectangular wave output during the time said diagnostic signal exceeds said selected level, and means connected to said rectangular wave output and to said bistable means for producing the other output state of the latter in response to the trailing edge of said rectangular wave output.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-03 | 1976-04-03 | 1976-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-03 | 1980-04-03 | 1980-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-03 | 1984-04-03 | 1984-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |