US4455872A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotating ultrasonic scanner
Assignee: Department of Health and Aged Care
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Filing: 1983-04-25
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Granted: 1984-06-26
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Expires: 2003-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A rotating scanner for use in ultrasonic echoscopy has a linearly scanned transducer arrangement, for transmitting beams of ultrasonic energy into an object (and receiving reflected ultrasonic echoes from the object). The transducer arrangement is rotated about an axis passing through the center or one end of the linear scan. The linear scanning may be mechanical scanning, or by electronic switching of an array of transducer elements.
Inventors
- 👤 George Kossoff
- 👤 Jack Jellins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:18
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/35; G10K11/352; A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/08; A61B8/0825; A61B8/40; A61B8/406; A61B8/42; A61B8/4209; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/04; G01N29/06; G01N29/0609; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/915
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for obtaining a series of sectional ultrasonic scans of an object, said scans extending radially from a substantially central reference point on the object and being angularly displaced relative to each other, said apparatus comprising: (a) a transducer for transmitting pulses of ultrasonic energy into said object in a predetermined direction relative to said transducer and for receiving echoes of said pulses of energy that are reflected by acoustic impedance discontinuities within said object; (b) means for changing the spatial location of the pulses of ultrasonic energy along a linear path relative to said reference point, to thereby establish a plurality of beams along which said pulses are transmitted; and (c) means for sweeping said linear path about an axis passing through the central reference point and center or one end of said linear scan, at a rate which is substantially slower than the rate of changing the spatial location of said pulses along the linear path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for obtaining a series of sectional ultrasonic scans of an object, said scans extending radially from a substantially central reference point on the object and being angularly displaced relative to each other, said apparatus comprising: (a) a transducer for transmitting pulses of ultrasonic energy into said object in a predetermined direction relative to said transducer and for receiving echoes of said pulses of energy that are reflected by acoustic impedance discontinuities within said object; (b) means for changing the spatial location of the pulses of ultrasonic energy along a linear path relative to said reference point, to thereby establish a plurality of beams along which said pulses are transmitted; and (c) means for sweeping said linear path about an axis passing through the central reference point and center or one end of said linear scan, at a rate which is substantially slower than the rate of changing the spatial location of said pulses along the linear path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said transducer transmits beams in a fixed direction and is mounted on a carriage for reciprocal linear movement therealong to effect the changing spatial location of said pulses along the linear path, and said means for sweeping comprises means for rotating said carriage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said transducer is a fixed focused transducer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said transducer is an annular array focused transducer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a housing adapted to be filled with a liquid coupling medium, said transducer being contained within said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said housing has a substantially horizontal upper surface, an aperture in said surface, and a flexible coupling membrane covering said aperture in a liquid-tight seal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means for tilting said carriage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, which said transducer is a linear array transducer which generates linearly scanned beams of ultrasonic energy by electronic switching, and said means for sweeping comprises means for mechanically rotating said linear array transducer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said transducer comprises a two-dimensional array of transducer elements which generate linearly scanned beams of ultrasonic energy by electronic switching and said means for sweeping comprises additional electronic switching means associated with said transducer.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of obtaining a series of sectional ultrasonic scans of an object, said scans extending radially from a substantially central reference point on the object and being angularly displaced relative to each other, said method comprising the steps of: (a) directing beams of ultrasonic energy into said object and receiving echoes of said ultrasonic energy from acoustic impedance discontinuities in said object; (b) changing the spatial location of said beams along a linear path; and (c) rotating said linear path about an axis passing through the central reference point and the center of the path or at one end of the path at a rate which is substantially slower than the rate of changing the spatial location of said beams along the linear path.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of obtaining a series of sectional ultrasonic scans of an object, said scans extending radially from a substantially central reference point on the object and being angularly displaced relative to each other, said method comprising the steps of: (a) directing beams of ultrasonic energy into said object and receiving echoes of said ultrasonic energy from acoustic impedance discontinuities in said object; (b) changing the spatial location of said beams along a linear path; and (c) rotating said linear path about an axis passing through the central reference point and the center of the path or at one end of the path at a rate which is substantially slower than the rate of changing the spatial location of said beams along the linear path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-06-26 | 1987-12-26 | 1988-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-06-26 | 1991-12-26 | 1992-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-06-26 | 1995-12-26 | 1996-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |