US5271402A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Turbine drive mechanism for steering ultrasound signals
Assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1992-06-02
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Granted: 1993-12-21
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Expires: 2012-06-02
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound emitter and a turbine. In one embodiment, the ultrasound emitter is a reflective surface which reflects ultrasound signals generated by a transmitter. The reflective surface reflects the ultrasound signals so that reflected ultrasound signals exit the ultrasound probe. The turbine is connected to the reflecting means. Fluid flowing through the turbine causes the turbine to rotate the reflecting means so that the reflected ultrasound signals sweep an area surrounding the ultrasound probe.
Inventors
- 👤 King-Wah W. Yeung
- 👤 J. Fleming Dias
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:15
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/445; A61B8/4461
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
An ultrasound probe comprising: emission means, located within the ultrasound probe in an ultrasound signal path, the emission means emitting ultrasound signals so that emitted ultrasound signals exit the ultrasound probe; and, a turbine, coupled to the emission means, wherein fluid flowing through the turbine causes the turbine to rotate the emission means so that the emitted ultrasound signals sweep an area surrounding the ultrasound probe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
An ultrasound probe comprising: emission means, located within the ultrasound probe in an ultrasound signal path, the emission means emitting ultrasound signals so that emitted ultrasound signals exit the ultrasound probe; and, a turbine, coupled to the emission means, wherein fluid flowing through the turbine causes the turbine to rotate the emission means so that the emitted ultrasound signals sweep an area surrounding the ultrasound probe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 1 wherein the fluid flowing through the turbine is resident within a probed vessel within which the ultrasound probe is situated, the fluid entering the ultrasound probe through holes in a head of the ultrasound probe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 1, additionally comprising: fluid vibrating means for vibrating fluid within the ultrasound probe to cause the fluid to pass through the turbine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 3 wherein the fluid vibrating means comprises a piezoelectric transducer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 4 wherein the piezoelectric transducer generates standing acoustic waves within the ultrasound probe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 4 additionally comprising: control means, coupled to the turbine, for allowing the turbine to rotate only in a single direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 3 wherein the fluid vibrating means comprises externally provided fluid transported between the ultrasound probe and an external source via a tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 7 additionally comprising: control means, coupled to the turbine, for allowing the turbine to rotate only in a single direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 3, wherein the fluid comprises air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 1, additionally comprises: fluid provision means for transporting the fluid to the ultrasound probe from an external source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 10 wherein the fluid provision means comprises: an inflow tube for transporting the fluid from the external source to the ultrasound probe; and, an outflow tube for transporting the fluid from the ultrasound probe to the external source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 1 wherein the ultrasound probe additionally comprises: transducing means for generating the ultrasound signals emitted by the emission means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 12 wherein the emission means comprises: reflecting means, coupled to the turbine and rotated by the turbine, for reflecting the ultrasound signals generated by the transducing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 1, additionally comprising: an acoustic waveguide which transports the acoustic signals to the emission means; wherein the emission means comprises reflecting means, coupled to the turbine and rotated by the turbine, for reflecting the ultrasound signals transported by the acoustic waveguide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 1 wherein the emission means comprises: transducing means, coupled to the turbine and rotated by the turbine, for generating the ultrasound signals emitted by the emission means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ultrasound probe as in claim 1 additionally comprising: electrical heating means for generating vapor bubbles in a drive fluid which drive the turbine.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for providing ultrasound signals which sweep around an ultrasound probe, the method comprising the steps of: (a) emitting the ultrasound signals by an emission means so that ultrasound signals exit the ultrasound probe; and, (b) driving a turbine, connected to the emission means rotating the emission means, the turbine being driven by fluid flowing through the turbine.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for providing ultrasound signals which sweep around an ultrasound probe, the method comprising the steps of: (a) emitting the ultrasound signals by an emission means so that ultrasound signals exit the ultrasound probe; and, (b) driving a turbine, connected to the emission means rotating the emission means, the turbine being driven by fluid flowing through the turbine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 17 wherein step (b) includes providing the fluid from a probed vessel within which the ultrasound probe is situated by allowing the fluid to enter the ultrasound probe through holes in a head of the ultrasound probe.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 17 wherein step (b) comprises the substep of: (b.1) vibrating fluid within the ultrasound probe to cause the fluid to pass through the turbine.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 19 wherein step (b.1) includes vibrating the fluid using a piezoelectric transducer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 19 wherein step (b.1) includes vibrating the fluid using a piezoelectric transducer to produce standing acoustic waves within the ultrasound probe.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 19 wherein step (b.1) includes vibrating the fluid using externally provided fluid transported between the ultrasound probe and an external source via a tube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 19 wherein in step (b) the fluid comprises air.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 17, wherein step (b) comprises the following substep: (b.1) transporting the fluid to the ultrasound probe from an external source.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 24 wherein substep (b.1) includes the following substeps: transporting the fluid from the external source to the ultrasound probe via an inflow tube; and, transporting the fluid from the ultrasound probe to the external source via an outflow tube.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 17 additionally comprising the step of: (c) generating, within the ultrasound probe, the ultrasound signals emitted by the emission means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 26 wherein step (a) includes: reflecting the ultrasound signals generated with a reflecting surface rotated by the turbine.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 17, additionally comprising the step of: (c) transporting the acoustic signals to the emission means via an acoustic waveguide; wherein step (a) includes reflecting the ultrasound signals transported in step (c) with a reflecting surface rotated by the turbine.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 17 wherein step (a) includes: generating the ultrasound signals emitted by the emission means by a transducer which is coupled to the turbine and rotated by the turbine.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 17 wherein step (b) includes vaporizing a drive fluid to drive the turbine.
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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) | 1996-12-20 | 1997-06-21 | 1997-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-12-20 | 2001-06-21 | 2001-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-12-20 | 2005-06-21 | 2005-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |