US5673697A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-resolution three, dimensional ultrasound imaging device
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1996-04-24
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Granted: 1997-10-07
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Expires: 2016-04-24
Abstract
Abstract An acoustic imaging device for providing an image of a body in a medium, includes a plurality of acoustic transmit elements and a plurality of acoustic receive elements, an apparatus for activating one of the transmit elements to generate an ultrasonic signal, an apparatus to selectively receive and record from each of the receive elements a set of data representing a phase, amplitude and transit time of the ultrasonic signal, a first computing apparatus for calculating a velocity map of propagation velocity values in each of a plurality of volume elements including the body and the medium using the data set, and a second computing apparatus for calculating a reflectance map, including a coherent sum of reflectance values at selected points in the plurality of volume elements using the data set.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A. Bryan
- 👤 Brian E. Holtz
- 👤 Gilbert F. Perleberg
- 👤 Francis P. Diani
- 👤 George S. Hardie
- 👤 James C. Robertson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/48; A61B8/483; A61B8/13; A61B8/14; G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8993; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
An acoustic imaging device for providing an image of a body in a medium, comprising: a plurality of acoustic transmit elements and a plurality of acoustic receive elements; means for activating one of said transmit elements to generate an ultrasonic signal; means to selectively receive and record from each of said receive elements a set of data representing a phase, amplitude and transit time of said ultrasonic signal; a first computing means for calculating a velocity map of propagation velocity values in each of a plurality of volume elements comprising said body and said medium using said data set; a second computing means for calculating a reflectance map comprising a coherent sum of reflectance values at selected points in said plurality of volume elements using said data set.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
An acoustic imaging device for providing an image of a body in a medium, comprising: a plurality of acoustic transmit elements and a plurality of acoustic receive elements; means for activating one of said transmit elements to generate an ultrasonic signal; means to selectively receive and record from each of said receive elements a set of data representing a phase, amplitude and transit time of said ultrasonic signal; a first computing means for calculating a velocity map of propagation velocity values in each of a plurality of volume elements comprising said body and said medium using said data set; a second computing means for calculating a reflectance map comprising a coherent sum of reflectance values at selected points in said plurality of volume elements using said data set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The acoustic imaging device of claim 1 wherein said first computing means comprises: a computer having stored in a memory, in respect of each said transmit element and each said receive element, a set of distances in each of said volume elements, along a ray connecting said transmit and receive elements, and said transit times, said computer being programmed for calculating propagation velocities in each of said volume elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The acoustic imaging device of claim 2 wherein said second computing means comprises: said computer having stored in said memory said velocity map, said computer being further programmed for selecting sets of valid pairs of said transmit and said receive elements for points of interest, and for computing propagation times and phases for ultrasonic signals connecting said points of interest and said valid pairs, and for computing coherent sums of reflectance values for said points of interest.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The acoustic imaging device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of acoustic transmit elements comprises the same plurality of transducers comprised in said plurality of acoustic receive elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The acoustic imaging device of claim 4 wherein said plurality of transducers are comprised of a piezoelectric film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The acoustic imaging device of claim 4 wherein said plurality of transducers are comprised of a piezoelectric composite.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
149 words
The acoustic imaging device of claim 1 wherein said activating means comprises: a switch having plural input nodes and plural output nodes, plural ones of which are connected to said plurality of acoustic transmit elements and acoustic receive elements; a frequency generator connected to one of said input nodes of said switch and having plural input nodes; a sychronizer for controlling a pulse duration of said ultrasonic signal and connected to one of said input nodes of said generator and plural input and output nodes; a controller connected to an input and output node of said sychronizer for turning on said ultrasonic signal, and connected to another one of said input nodes of said switch for selecting one of said acoustic transmit elements for connection to said signal; a clock connected to another of said input nodes of said generator, another input node of said sychronizer, and said controller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
185 words
The acoustic imaging device of claim 1 wherein said selective reception and recording means comprises: a switch having plural input nodes and plural output nodes, plural ones of which are connected to said plurality of acoustic transmit elements and acoustic receive elements; a coherent receiver connected to one of said output nodes of said switch for receiving said ultrasonic signal and said frequency generator for receiving a coherent reference signal, and having plural output nodes; a data acquisition circuit connected to said output nodes of said coherent receiver for converting said ultrasonic signals to digital signals and storing said digital signals and having input nodes and an output node; a controller connected to said output node of said data acquisition circuit for sensing and storing received signals, and connected to another one of said input nodes of said switch for selecting said acoustic receive elements for connection to said coherent receiver, and having an output connected to said first computing means and an input node; a clock connected to another of said input nodes of said data acquisition circuit and said node of said controller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The acoustic imaging device of claim 1 wherein said medium comprises water.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for providing an image of a body in a medium comprising the steps of immersing the body in the medium; transmitting an ultrasonic signal from one of a plurality of acoustic transmit elements; sensing a set of data comprising a phase, amplitude and transit time of the ultrasonic signal at each of a plurality of acoustic receive elements; and calculating a velocity map of propagation velocity values in each of a plurality of volume elements comprising said body and said medium using said data set; and calculating a reflectance map comprising a coherent sum of reflectance values at selected points in said plurality of volume elements using said data set.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for providing an image of a body in a medium comprising the steps of immersing the body in the medium; transmitting an ultrasonic signal from one of a plurality of acoustic transmit elements; sensing a set of data comprising a phase, amplitude and transit time of the ultrasonic signal at each of a plurality of acoustic receive elements; and calculating a velocity map of propagation velocity values in each of a plurality of volume elements comprising said body and said medium using said data set; and calculating a reflectance map comprising a coherent sum of reflectance values at selected points in said plurality of volume elements using said data set.
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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) | 2000-10-06 | 2001-04-07 | 2001-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-06 | 2005-04-07 | 2005-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-06 | 2009-04-07 | 2009-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |