VisualSonics Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120316404 | INTEGRATED MULTI-RAIL IMAGING SYSTEM - An imaging system includes a plurality of elongated rails, a scanhead assembly, and a small animal mount assembly. The scanhead assembly is mounted to be moveable in a linear bidirectional manner along a longitudinal axis of the first rail. The small-animal mount assembly is mounted to be moveable in a linear bidirectional manner along a longitudinal axis of the second rail. The second rail is mounted relative to the first rail so the longitudinal axis of the second rail is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the first rail. The imaging system may also comprise a needle injection assembly that is mounted to be moveable in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the third rail. The third rail is mounted such that a longitudinal axis of the third rail is substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the first rail. | 12-13-2012 |
20110057545 | HIGH FREQUENCY ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER AND MATCHING LAYER COMPRISING CYANOACRYLATE - In one aspect, matching layers for an ultrasonic transducer stack having a matching layer comprising a matrix material loaded with a plurality of micron-sized and nano-sized particles. In another aspect, the matrix material is loaded with a plurality of heavy and light particles. In another aspect, an ultrasound transducer stack comprises a piezoelectric layer and at least one matching layer. In one aspect, the matching layer comprises a composite material comprising a matrix material loaded with a plurality of micron-sized and nano-sized particles. In a further aspect, the composite material can also comprise a matrix material loaded with a plurality of heavy and light particles. In a further aspect, a matching layer can also comprise cyanoacrylate. | 03-10-2011 |
20110054321 | METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZATION OF BREATHING SIGNAL WITH THE CAPTURE OF ULTRASOUND DATA - A method for producing an ultrasound image comprises monitoring the subject's respiration cycle or waveform, acquiring ultrasound data from the subject, producing an ultrasound image from the received ultrasound data received during the time when the subject's motion due to breathing had substantially stopped. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054292 | SYSTEM FOR PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING AND RELATED METHODS - Photoacoustic imaging systems and methods that allow for the creation of three-dimensional (3D) images of a subject are described herein. The systems include one or more optical fibers attached to an ultrasound transducer. Ultrasonic waves are generated by laser light emitted from the optical fiber(s) and detected by the ultrasound transducer. 3D images are acquired by ultrasound signals from a series of adjacent scan planes or frames that are then stacked together to create 3D volume data. | 03-03-2011 |
20100298709 | METHOD FOR NONLINEAR IMAGING OF ULTRASOUND CONTRAST AGENTS AT HIGH FREQUENCIES - This invention employs multiple ultrasound pulse firings of either alternating phase and/or amplitude to detect nonlinear fundamental and subharmonic signals from microbubble contrast agents within living tissue, at high frequencies (≧15 MHz), e.g., with a linear array transducer. It can be shown that the contrast-to-tissue ratio (CTR) decreases with increasing ultrasound frequency because of nonlinear ultrasound propagation in tissue. However, using the subharmonic signal in addition to the nonlinear fundamental harmonic component, rather than the conventional second harmonic used at lower frequencies, provides appreciable signal strength to overcome the limitations of nonlinear tissue propagation. Additionally, the method provides for the ability to switch, at some desired frequency above 20 MHz, into a purely alternating phase inversion acquisition, in combination with bandpass filtering of the subharmonic frequency band, minimizing the losses in CTR as the frequency increases. This maintains contrast sensitivity for more limited fields of view, as penetration depth will be limited at higher frequencies. Thus, within the same micro-ultrasound imaging system, many applications of microbubble detection can be achieved with a wide range of frequencies that covers both resolution and sensitivity requirements. | 11-25-2010 |
20090108710 | High Frequency Piezocomposite And Methods For Manufacturing Same - A transducer with triangular cross-sectional shaped pillars is described for suppressing lateral modes within a composite, and a method for producing the same. According to one aspect of the present application, a plurality of triangular cross-sectional shaped pillars extends outwardly from a substrate and form an array of pillars. The resulting array of pillars is configured to suppress the lateral modes of the transducer at higher operating frequencies, such as, at or above 15 MHz, at or above 20 MHz, or at or above 30 MHz. | 04-30-2009 |