US4917096A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable ultrasonic probe
Assignee: Laboratory Equipment Corp
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Filing: 1987-11-25
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Granted: 1990-04-17
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Expires: 2007-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A hand-held portable ultrasonic scanning probe for use with energizing and receiving means for imaging sections of a body includes a fluid-filled enclosure coupled to a handle portion which houses a DC drive motor. The output shaft of the drive motor is directly coupled to a level wind drive screw. A holder assembly incorporating a pawl which coacts with the drive screw and a plano-concave transducer moves back and forth across the drive screw as a result of the DC motor output shaft rotation. The linear travel of the transducer creates a linear scan thereby eliminating the diagnostic imaging problems of sector scans.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore M. Englehart
- 👤 Richard F. Morris
- 👤 Narendra T. Sanghvi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/4461; A61B8/08; A61B8/0825; A61B8/0858; A61B8/4427; G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/35; G10K11/352; A61B8/42; A61B8/4209
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A portable, hand-held, ultrasonic scanning probe for use with energizing and receiving means for imaging sections of a body by transmitting ultrasonic energy into the body and receiving image-representative signals from the body, comprising: a fluid-tight enclosure; fluid contained within said enclosure; transducer means disposed within said enclosure and operable in response to said energizing and receiving means to generate an ultrasound beam into the body and receive image-representative signals back; and linear drive means for moving said transducer means back and forth on a common axis in a linear path, said linear drive means including a level wind drive screw and a cooperating holder, said transducer means being secured to the said holder, said holder remaining static relative to said transducer means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A portable, hand-held, ultrasonic scanning probe for use with energizing and receiving means for imaging sections of a body by transmitting ultrasonic energy into the body and receiving image-representative signals from the body, comprising: a fluid-tight enclosure; fluid contained within said enclosure; transducer means disposed within said enclosure and operable in response to said energizing and receiving means to generate an ultrasound beam into the body and receive image-representative signals back; and linear drive means for moving said transducer means back and forth on a common axis in a linear path, said linear drive means including a level wind drive screw and a cooperating holder, said transducer means being secured to the said holder, said holder remaining static relative to said transducer means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The scanning probe of claim 1 which further includes a one-directional, rotary drive motor coupled to said level wind drive screw.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The scanning probe of claim 2 which further includes magnetic field sensors, one at each end of said path, and a cooperating magnet carried by said holder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The scanning probe of claim 3 wherein said transducer means includes a transducer of a plano-concave, focusing configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scanning probe of claim 4 wherein said fluid-tight enclosure includes a tapered portion through which said ultrasonic energy and received signals pass.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for imaging sections of a body, comprising: energizing and receiving circuitry means for generating and receiving electrical signals; data presentation means electrically coupled to said energizing and receiving circuitry means for receiving data and presenting it in a preciptible form; and a portable, hand-held, scanning probe electrically coupled to said energizing and receiving circuitry means and comprising: a fluid-tight enclosure; fluid contained within said enclosure; transducer means disposed within said enclosure and operable in response to said energizing and receiving circuitry means to generate an ultrasound beam into the body and receive image-representative signals back; and linear drive means for moving said transducer means back and forth on a common axis in a linear path, said linear drive means including a level wind drive screw and a cooperating holder, said transducer means being secured to said holder, said holder remaining static relative to said transducer means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for imaging sections of a body, comprising: energizing and receiving circuitry means for generating and receiving electrical signals; data presentation means electrically coupled to said energizing and receiving circuitry means for receiving data and presenting it in a preciptible form; and a portable, hand-held, scanning probe electrically coupled to said energizing and receiving circuitry means and comprising: a fluid-tight enclosure; fluid contained within said enclosure; transducer means disposed within said enclosure and operable in response to said energizing and receiving circuitry means to generate an ultrasound beam into the body and receive image-representative signals back; and linear drive means for moving said transducer means back and forth on a common axis in a linear path, said linear drive means including a level wind drive screw and a cooperating holder, said transducer means being secured to said holder, said holder remaining static relative to said transducer means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 6 which further includes a one-directional, rotary drive motor coupled to said level wind drive screw.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 7 which further includes magnetic field sensors, one at each end of said path, and a cooperating magnet carried by said holder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said transducer means includes a transducer of a plano-concave, focusing configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
A portable, hand-held, ultrasonic imaging probe for use in transmitting ultrasound into a body and receiving ultrasound echoes back from the body, comprising: a transducer suitably arranged with drive circuitry to generate an ultrasound beam and convert received echoes into image-representative electrical signals; and linear drive means for moving said transducer back and forth in a linear path, said linear drive means including a DC motor coupled to a level wind drive screw.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
A portable, hand-held, ultrasonic imaging probe for use in transmitting ultrasound into a body and receiving ultrasound echoes back from the body, comprising: a transducer suitably arranged with drive circuitry to generate an ultrasound beam and convert received echoes into image-representative electrical signals; and linear drive means for moving said transducer back and forth in a linear path, said linear drive means including a DC motor coupled to a level wind drive screw.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
173 words
A portable ultrasonic scanning probe for use with energizing and receiving means for imaging sections of a body by transmitting ultrasonic energy into the body and receiving image-representative signals from the body, comprising: a fluid-tight enclosure; fluid contained within said enclosure; transducer means disposed within said enclosure and operable in response to said energizing and receiving means to generate an ultrasound beam into the body and receive image-representative signals back; drive means for moving said transducer means back and forth on a common axis in a linear path, said drive means including a level wind drive screw and a cooperating holder, said transducer means being secured to said holder, said drive means further including a one-directional, rotary drive motor coupled to said level wind drive screw; and a pair of oppositely disposed magnetic field sensors, one of each end of said linear path, which remain stationary relative to the movement of said transducer and a cooperating trigger carried by said holder so as to define the edges of each frame of image data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
173 words
A portable ultrasonic scanning probe for use with energizing and receiving means for imaging sections of a body by transmitting ultrasonic energy into the body and receiving image-representative signals from the body, comprising: a fluid-tight enclosure; fluid contained within said enclosure; transducer means disposed within said enclosure and operable in response to said energizing and receiving means to generate an ultrasound beam into the body and receive image-representative signals back; drive means for moving said transducer means back and forth on a common axis in a linear path, said drive means including a level wind drive screw and a cooperating holder, said transducer means being secured to said holder, said drive means further including a one-directional, rotary drive motor coupled to said level wind drive screw; and a pair of oppositely disposed magnetic field sensors, one of each end of said linear path, which remain stationary relative to the movement of said transducer and a cooperating trigger carried by said holder so as to define the edges of each frame of image data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
An ultrasonic imaging probe for use in transmitting ultrasound into a body and receiving ultrasound echoes back from the body, comprising: a transducer suitably arranged with drive circuitry to generate an ultrasound beam and convert received echoes into image-representative electrical signals; and drive means for moving said transducer back and forth in a linear path, said drive means including a unidirectional motor coupled to a level wind drive screw.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
An ultrasonic imaging probe for use in transmitting ultrasound into a body and receiving ultrasound echoes back from the body, comprising: a transducer suitably arranged with drive circuitry to generate an ultrasound beam and convert received echoes into image-representative electrical signals; and drive means for moving said transducer back and forth in a linear path, said drive means including a unidirectional motor coupled to a level wind drive screw.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-16 | 1993-10-16 | 1994-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-16 | 1997-10-16 | 1998-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-16 | 2001-10-16 | 2002-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |