US5305752A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustic imaging device
Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc
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Filing: 1992-06-01
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Granted: 1994-04-26
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Expires: 2012-06-01
Abstract
Abstract An acoustic imaging device is disclosed which utilizes mathematical inversion of scattered acoustic wave information to produce an image. A preferred embodiment of the device consists of a ring of acoustic transducers which encircle a medium to be imaged. The medium is sequentially insonified by each transducer with subsequent reception of the scattered waves by the remaining transducers. Explicit mathematical inversion of the scattered wave data using a remap algorithm results in a two-dimensional map of the scattering potential of the medium. Sound speed and density maps can be obtained from a map of the scattering potential. This device is utilizable for imaging of human tissue in vivo and in vitro, and for nondestructive evaluation of materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Brett A. Spivey
- 👤 Peter J. Martin
- 👤 Douglas A. Palmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/46; A61B8/461; A61B8/463; A61B8/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
An acoustic imaging device for providing an image of at least a portion of a medium comprising: a. an acoustic broadcasting means for broadcasting into said medium an acoustic signal from a plurality of at least seven locations partially surrounding said medium, one location at a time said signal being at least one frequency and continuous for a period of time at least equal to twice the travel time of said acoustic signal across said medium, b. an acoustic signal detection means for detecting, at a plurality of closely spaced locations at least partially surrounding said medium, acoustic signals broadcast by said broadcasting means; c. a data collection and comparison means for comparing signals broadcast to signals received in order to provide with respect to each of said at least seven locations a set of data representing the phases and amplitudes of acoustic signals received at said at least seven locations relative to the phase and amplitude of the signals broadcast from at least seven locations, and d. a computing means including means for effecting a remap algorithm for mathematically constructing an image of at least a portion of said medium utilizing said set of phase and amplitude data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
An acoustic imaging device for providing an image of at least a portion of a medium comprising: a. an acoustic broadcasting means for broadcasting into said medium an acoustic signal from a plurality of at least seven locations partially surrounding said medium, one location at a time said signal being at least one frequency and continuous for a period of time at least equal to twice the travel time of said acoustic signal across said medium, b. an acoustic signal detection means for detecting, at a plurality of closely spaced locations at least partially surrounding said medium, acoustic signals broadcast by said broadcasting means; c. a data collection and comparison means for comparing signals broadcast to signals received in order to provide with respect to each of said at least seven locations a set of data representing the phases and amplitudes of acoustic signals received at said at least seven locations relative to the phase and amplitude of the signals broadcast from at least seven locations, and d. a computing means including means for effecting a remap algorithm for mathematically constructing an image of at least a portion of said medium utilizing said set of phase and amplitude data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
An acoustic imaging device as in claim 1 wherein the locations of said broadcasting means and detection means are in a single plane generally defining an image plane and said constructed image of at least a portion of said medium is an image of a cross section of said medium in said plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An acoustic imaging device as in claim 2 wherein said computing means comprise a matrix manipulation digital computer programmed to perform inverse Fourier transforms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An acoustic imaging device as in claim 1 wherein said said means for effecting implements said algorithm based on a plane wave expansion of a cylindrical wave.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An acoustic image device as in claim 1 wherein said set of data representing said phases and amplitudes is also a two-dimensional matrix representing the Fourier transform of the acoustic scattering potential of the medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An acoustic imaging device as in claim 1 wherein said broadcasting means comprise at least eight transducers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An acoustic image device as in claim 6 wherein said detection means comprise the same at least eight transducers comprised in said broadcasting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as in claim 7 wherein said transducers are constructed from piezoelectric zirconate titanate,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 7 wherein said transducers are constructed from a piezoelectric film (PVDF) or co-polymers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as in claim 7 wherein the transducers are constructed from a piezoelectric composite.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as in claim 7 wherein the dimensions of the device and number of transducers and their arrangement and the wavelength of the acoustic signals broadcasted are such that the spacing of the acoustic transducers is less such than half such wavelength of the acoustic signals in the medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as in claim 6, wherein said transducers are arranged in parallel lines on opposite sides of said medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said broadcasting means comprises a transmitter of acoustic waves which is mechanically rotated to simulate a ring of transmitter locations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
An acoustic imaging device as in claim 1 wherein said means for effecting a remap algorithm includes means for providing a plane wave expansion of a spherical wave.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said at least one frequency is a plurality of frequencies and said computing means includes means for using said plurality of frequencies detected by said detection means for the mathematical construction of the image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4594662A
Cited
US4598366A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-04-25 | 1997-10-25 | 1998-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-25 | 2001-10-25 | 2002-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-25 | 2005-10-25 | 2006-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |