US4674514A — Ultrasonic compound scan with an oscillating tran…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 158 words

A method of producing an ultrasound cross-sectional image of a body, in which at least two different and partially overlapping sector scans of the body are carried out in one scanning plane by the pulse echo method utilizing a single ultrasound transducer unit, said method comprising the steps of: (a) oscillating a pivotable transducer unit between two end positions about an axis of oscillation perpendicular to the scanning plane, said unit including a rigid array of adjacent transducer elements, said axis of oscillation being spaced from said transducer elements, (b) actuating during the oscillations at least two different sets of transducer elements to provide said at least two different and partially overlapping sector scans of the body in one scanning plane, each set being used for both the emission of ultrasound pulses and for the reception of echo waves, and (c) during the scans, maintaining unchanged the position of the axis of oscillation with respect to the body.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 158 words

A method of producing an ultrasound cross-sectional image of a body, in which at least two different and partially overlapping sector scans of the body are carried out in one scanning plane by the pulse echo method utilizing a single ultrasound transducer unit, said method comprising the steps of: (a) oscillating a pivotable transducer unit between two end positions about an axis of oscillation perpendicular to the scanning plane, said unit including a rigid array of adjacent transducer elements, said axis of oscillation being spaced from said transducer elements, (b) actuating during the oscillations at least two different sets of transducer elements to provide said at least two different and partially overlapping sector scans of the body in one scanning plane, each set being used for both the emission of ultrasound pulses and for the reception of echo waves, and (c) during the scans, maintaining unchanged the position of the axis of oscillation with respect to the body.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 50 words

A method according to claim 1, in which said sets of transducer elements are of equal widths, each set comprises at least two adjacent transducer elements, and the distance between the centers of the emission surfaces of said actuated sets is approximately equal to half the width of the set.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 57 words

A method according to claim 1, in which the emission surfaces of said sets of transducer elements are constructed in symmetrical configurations and controlled such that the axes of symmetry of said emission surfaces are situated either in the gaps between two adjacent transducer elements or at the center of the emission surface of a transducer element.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 76 words

A method according to claim 3, in which the sets of transducer elements are so selected and controlled that at least once during an entire scan cycle and with respect to at least those transducer elements not at the boundaries of the transducer unit, the axes of symmetry of the emission surfaces of the selected sets occupy each possible position in the gaps between two adjacent transducer elements or at the center of a transducer element.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 94 words

A method according to claim 1, in which during the entire period of the oscillatory movement of the transducer unit in a first direction at least one first set of transducer elements is used both for the emission of ultrasound pulses and for the reception of echo waves, and during the entire period of the oscillatory movement of the transducer in a second opposite direction, at least one second set of transducer elements differing from the first set is used both for the emission of ultrasound pulses and for the reception of echo waves.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 92 words

A method according to claim 1, in which during the oscillatory movement of the transducer unit in a first direction sets of transducer elements different from one another are used alternately both for the emission of ultrasound pulses and for the reception of echo waves, and during the oscillatory movement of the transducer in a second opposite direction sets of transducer elements different from one another and from the sets used in the first direction are used alternately both for the emission of ultrasound pulses and for the reception of echo waves.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method according to claim 1, in which each of said actuated sets of transducer elements is used only in one specific direction of the oscillatory movement of the transducer.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 159 words

An ultrasound imaging apparatus for producing cross-sectional pictures of a body by carrying out at least two different and partially overlapping sector scans of the body in one scanning plane by the pulse echo method, comprising: (a) a single ultrasound transducer unit comprising a rigid array of transducer elements, said array being pivotable about an axis of oscillation which is spaced from the transducer elements and which is perpendicular to the scanning plane; (b) a drive mechanism by means of which an oscillatory movement of the transducer unit can be effected about the axis of oscillation and between two end positions; (c) a transceiver system; (d) an element selector system connected between the transducer unit and the transceiver unit to select at least two different sets of transducer elements to provide said at least two different and partially overlapping sector scans of the body in one scanning plane and to electrically connect each selected set to the transceiver unit.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 159 words

An ultrasound imaging apparatus for producing cross-sectional pictures of a body by carrying out at least two different and partially overlapping sector scans of the body in one scanning plane by the pulse echo method, comprising: (a) a single ultrasound transducer unit comprising a rigid array of transducer elements, said array being pivotable about an axis of oscillation which is spaced from the transducer elements and which is perpendicular to the scanning plane; (b) a drive mechanism by means of which an oscillatory movement of the transducer unit can be effected about the axis of oscillation and between two end positions; (c) a transceiver system; (d) an element selector system connected between the transducer unit and the transceiver unit to select at least two different sets of transducer elements to provide said at least two different and partially overlapping sector scans of the body in one scanning plane and to electrically connect each selected set to the transceiver unit.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus according to claim 8, in which said transducer unit has an emission surface which is spherical, cylindrical or flat.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus according to claim 8, in which said transducer sets include an emission surface formed of segments of circular surfaces.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 61 words

Apparatus according to claim 8, in which said sets of transducer elements are of equal widths, each set comprises at least two adjacent transducer elements, and the element selector system is configured to select said sets such that the distance between the centers of the emission surfaces of the different sets is approximately equal to half the width of each set.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 58 words

Apparatus according to claim 8, in which said element selector system is configured to select the sets of transducer elements such that the axis of symmetry of the emission surfaces of the selected sets come to lie either in the gaps between two adjacent transducer elements or at the center of the emission surface of a transducer element.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 78 words

Apparatus according to claim 12, in which said element selector system is configured to select the sets of transducer elements such that with respect to at least those transducer elements not at the boundary of the transducer unit, at least once during an entire scan cycle the axes of symmetry of the emission surfaces of the selected sets occupy each possible position in the gaps between two adjacent transducer elements or at the center of a transducer element.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 79 words

Apparatus according to claim 8, in which during the entire period of the oscillatory movement of the transducer unit in a first direction the element selector system connects at least one first set of transducer elements to the transceiver unit and during the entire period of the oscillatory movement of the transducer in a second opposite direction the element selector system connects at least one second set of transducer elements differing from the first set, to the transceiver unit.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 88 words

Apparatus according to claim 8, in which during the oscillatory movement of the tranducer unit in a first direction the element selector system alternately connects at least one first pair of sets of transducer elements differing from one another to the transceiver unit and during the oscillatory movement of the transducer in a second opposite direction the element selector system alternately connects at least one second pair of sets of transducer elements differing from one another and from the sets of the first pair, to the transceiver unit.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

Apparatus according to claim 8, in which the element selector system is configured such that each of the different sets of transducer elements selected by said system can be used solely in one specific direction of the oscillatory movement of the transducer unit.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus according to claim 8, in which said sets of transducer elements include an emission surface made up of rectangular surfaces.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus according to claim 8, in which said sets of transducer elements include an emission surface made up of segments of circular surfaces and of rectangular surfaces.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-06-22	1990-12-22	1991-06-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-06-22	1994-12-22	1995-06-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-06-22	1998-12-22	1999-06-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ultrasonic compound scan with an oscillating transducer

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