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US5217018A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Acoustic transmission through cladded core waveguide

Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1989-05-16
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Granted: 1993-06-08
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Expires: 2009-05-16
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Abstract

Abstract An Ultrasonic Catheter Guidance System which overcomes the inadequacies, dangers, and difficulties encountered by previously available medical guiding apparatus is disclosed. The present invention utilizes a novel technique for coupling ultrasonic energy into an optical fiber that can be used within a blood vessel of patient's body. The present invention includes a transducer [44] which is precisely located on a thin slab of piezoelectric material [10] that generates ultrasonic acoustic surface waves [62] that propagate on the surface [13] or within the bulk of the slab [10]. The transducer [44] may be selected from a set of the many novel alternative configurations that are disclosed in the specification and illustrated by the drawings. The operating power and frequency of the present invention can be predetermined by altering the configuration of the transducers [44]. One or more optical fibers [32] are affixed to the thin slab [10] to ensure the maximum transfer of acoustic energy into the optical fibers [32] . Any number of transducers [44] may be assembled to form an array of transducers [70, 80] that can provide customized input of sound waves to one or more fibers [32]. The present invention also includes a novel acoustic window [93] formed at the remote end of the optical fiber [32]. These acoustic windows [93] facilitate precise directional control and efficient transmission of energy from the end of the fiber which will be situated within the patient. The Ultrasonic Catheter Guidance System described and claimed in this patent application provides a powerful tool which will enable surgeons and medical technicians to place a catheter inside the body with great accuracy. This invention will enable physicians to recognize infirmities, to treat illnesses, and to perform risk-free surgery with previously unavailable precision and effectiveness. The Ultrasonic Catheter Guidance System constitutes an important step forward for the medical profession.

Inventors

  • 👤 J. Fleming Dias

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 00:54
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03H; H03H9/00; H03H9/02; H03H9/125; H03H9/145; H03H9/14544; H03H9/14561; A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/08; A61B8/0833; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/24; H03H9/14547; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/22004; A61B17/22012; A61B2017/22014; A61B2017/22015; A61B2017/22017; A61B34/00; A61B34/20; A61B2034/2046; A61B2034/2063; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3925

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 72 words
An acoustic system comprising: an acoustic waveguide comprising a longitudinally extending core and a longitudinally extending cladding about said core; a transducer, said transducer having a piezoelectric substrate with opposing first and second surfaces, said transducer having a first electrode and a second electrode on said first surface; a signal generator for applying an alternating voltage differential between said electrodes; and coupling means for acoustically coupling said transducer with said acoustic waveguide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 72 words
An acoustic system comprising: an acoustic waveguide comprising a longitudinally extending core and a longitudinally extending cladding about said core; a transducer, said transducer having a piezoelectric substrate with opposing first and second surfaces, said transducer having a first electrode and a second electrode on said first surface; a signal generator for applying an alternating voltage differential between said electrodes; and coupling means for acoustically coupling said transducer with said acoustic waveguide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 37 words
An acoustic system as recited in claim 1 wherein said transducer is configured to generate quasi-Rayleigh waves that penetrate obliquely into said substrate, and wherein said coupling means physically attaches said acoustic waveguide to said second surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
An acoustic system as recited in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes a fluid through which said acoustic wavefront is coupled from said first surface to said acoustic waveguide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
An acoustic system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first electrode includes a first electrode segment and said second electrode includes a second electrode segment substantially parallel to said first electrode segment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
An acoustic system as recited in claim 4 wherein said first electrode segment and said second electrode segment are arcuate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
An acoustic system as recited in claim 1 wherein said acoustic waveguide has a proximal end and a distal end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 34 words
An acoustic system as recited in claim 6 wherein said coupling means couples said transducer to said acoustic waveguide so that acoustic energy from said transducer enters said acoustic waveguide through said proximal end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 46 words
An acoustic system as recited in claim 6 further comprising an acoustic detector arranged remotely from said distal end so as to be able to detect acoustic energy emanating therefrom, whereby the location of said distal end can be determined from the output of said detector.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 87 words
A method of coupling acoustic energy into an acoustic waveguide having a core and a cladding about said core, said method comprising the steps of: generating an alternating voltage differential; applying said alternating voltage differential to a pair of electrodes on the surface of a piezoelectric substrate so as to generate acoustic energy in the form quasi-Rayleigh waves that transmit obliquely through said substrate; and coupling said acoustic energy into said acoustic waveguide so that it takes the form of longitudinal acoustic waves within said acoustic waveguide.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 87 words
A method of coupling acoustic energy into an acoustic waveguide having a core and a cladding about said core, said method comprising the steps of: generating an alternating voltage differential; applying said alternating voltage differential to a pair of electrodes on the surface of a piezoelectric substrate so as to generate acoustic energy in the form quasi-Rayleigh waves that transmit obliquely through said substrate; and coupling said acoustic energy into said acoustic waveguide so that it takes the form of longitudinal acoustic waves within said acoustic waveguide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 51 words
A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising: conveying said acoustic energy to a distal end of said acoustic waveguide so that it is transmitted into a body therefrom; detecting said acoustic energy using a detector outside said body; and determining from said detection the location of said distal end.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3654574A Cited
US4063198A Cited
EP0083973A1 Cited
WO1986001269A1 Cited
US4743870A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-06-07 1996-12-07 1997-06-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-06-07 2000-12-07 2001-06-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-06-07 2004-12-07 2005-06-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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