Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
600472000 | With beam directing or shaping means in the wave path (e.g., lens, reflector) | 36 |
20080200816 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ENDOSCOPE AND ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the present invention includes a cap, and an ultrasound transducer which includes a lens provided in a piezoelectric element, is rotatable and swingable and is provided in a cap, and the lens focuses ultrasound transmitted from the piezoelectric element and includes a shape in which a first focal length of a first lens surface on a section parallel with a rotational center axis including a center of a sound beam axis of the ultrasound is shorter than a second focal length of a second lens surface on a section orthogonal to the rotational center axis including the center of the sound beam axis. | 08-21-2008 |
20090005690 | Fetal Monitoring Transducer Aligning Device - To better position an ultrasonic transducer typically used in non-invasive fetal monitoring during labor, the present invention consists of a transducer-aligning device having a plurality of selectively fillable chambers, each chamber having a resiliently deformable side-wall. A fluid, such as air, can be selectively pumped or released into any combination of the chambers. When coupled to an ultrasonic transducer, the selective use of air pressure in the bladder more precisely aligns and positions the fetal monitor transducer to improve imaging. In a second embodiment, the present invention includes a solid wedge-shaped protrusion extending below the bottom surface of the housing and adapted to rotate about 360-degrees to enable a care-giver to selectively position the wedge and thus align the associated transducer for optimal readings of fetal heart rate. | 01-01-2009 |
20090018450 | MULTI STAGE BEAMFORMING - Beamforming for N elements in performed in log(N) steps of complexity O(N). The signals measured at each element are treated as a receive beam formed by that element with a beam width equal to the element pattern or the width of the transmit illumination. In each of multiple stages, the number of elements is halved by effectively doubling the pitch. The number of beams formed by each element is doubled by narrowing the beam width by a factor of 2 in sin(θ). Since steering and focusing are separated, a single set of delays are applied to each element signal individually prior to the multi-stage beam forming for each finite depth. The data is in a sector format, but by using two beamforming steps, data in a Vector® format is provided. | 01-15-2009 |
20110060226 | FRESNEL-BASED BEAMFORMING FOR ULTRASONIC ARRAYS - An ultrasonic beamformer may include an input signal line for each ultrasonic transducer element configured to carry a broadband pulse from the ultrasonic element. The ultrasonic beamformer may include a number of signal shifters that is substantially less than the number of transducer elements. Each signal shifter may be configured to shift a broadband pulse in a way that is different from the way the other signal shifters are configured to shift a broadband pulse. For each of the input signal lines, a multiplexer may be configured to electrically connect the broadband pulse received on the input signal line to a selected one of the signal shifters. A multiplexer controller may be configured to generate the control signal for each of the multiplexers in a fashion that causes the ultrasonic beamformer to substantially compensate for the differences in the distances. A comparable configuration may be used for transmission. | 03-10-2011 |
20110319768 | ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER, ULTRASONIC PROBE, AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - Provided are an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic probe, and an ultrasonic diagnostic device which enable an ultrasonic beam in the depth direction of diagnosis to be narrowly focused in a wide region, thereby obtaining a high-resolution diagnostic image. An ultrasonic transducer ( | 12-29-2011 |
20120123274 | ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - An ultrasonic transducer which can attenuate ultrasonic waves emitted toward the rear without increasing a thickness of a backing layer includes: a piezoelectric transducer which emits and receives ultrasonic waves; and the backing layer which is provided in contact with the rear of the piezoelectric transducer and which attenuates the ultrasonic waves emitted in a rear direction from the piezoelectric transducer. The backing layer includes a plurality of acoustic tubes formed in the rear direction from a plane of the backing layer that is in contact with the piezoelectric transducer. Each of the acoustic tubes has a different length based on a principle of superposition of acoustic waves. The acoustic tubes include an acoustic tube which has (i) a portion of the length formed in a direction perpendicular to the rear direction and (ii) the remaining portion of the length formed in a direction parallel to the rear direction. | 05-17-2012 |
20120143063 | ULTRASOUND PROBE WITH LARGE FIELD OF VIEW AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING SUCH ULTRASOUND PROBE - An ultrasound transducer matrix array for an ultrasound probe having a large field of view both in azimuth and elevation direction is proposed. The ultrasound transducer matrix array ( | 06-07-2012 |
20120232401 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC ADAPTER, ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic adapter used when diagnosing a subject using an ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound waves, the ultrasound diagnostic adapter includes: a pad which has (i) a main surface that is a surface on a side where the ultrasound probe is disposed, and (ii) a back surface that is a surface which is opposite to the main surface and is on a side where the subject is disposed; and a first reflective member which is disposed inside the pad and made from a material having a different acoustic impedance than a material included in the pad, wherein the first reflective member is disposed such that at least one of (i) a distance between the first reflective member and the main surface and (ii) a width of the first reflective member viewed from the side of the main surface varies depending on a position in the main surface. | 09-13-2012 |
20130072802 | Lens for Ultrasonic Diagnosis Apparatus and Probe for Ultrasonic Diagnosis Apparatus - This invention provides a lens for ultrasonic diagnosis apparatuses having requisite acoustic characteristics concerning sonic velocity, acoustic impedance and acoustic attenuation and exhibiting high abrasion resistance; the lens including a base formed from a silicone rubber composition, and a urethane coat layer placed on an outer surface of the base, wherein the urethane coat layer includes 100 parts by mass of a urethane resin and 3-7 parts by mass of silica. This invention also provides a probe therefor having the same characteristics, including a case having at least one open end; the lens arranged so that a tip thereof is exposed at the end; a piezoelectric element housed in the case; an acoustic matching layer placed between the lens and the element; and a backing layer disposed opposite the acoustic matching layer with the element in between. | 03-21-2013 |
20130085396 | ULTRASONIC PROBE AND ULTRASONIC DISPLAY DEVICE - An ultrasonic probe is provided. The ultrasonic probe includes a reflection layer between an ultrasonic transducer and a backing layer, the reflection layer configured to reflect an ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the backing layer includes a backing material, and wherein a thermally-conductive layer of material having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the backing material is formed over a surface of the backing layer. | 04-04-2013 |
20130116571 | Ruggedized Ultrasound Hydrogel Insert - A ruggedized hydrogel product that is formulated to withstand the effects of high-energy sterilization procedures, such as gamma beam and electron beam sterilization, without significant structural degradation is disclosed. This enables the hydrogel product to be suitable for use in medical applications where sterile components are required. In one embodiment a ruggedized hydrogel product is disclosed and comprises a gel component, water for hydrating the gel component, and at least one free radical absorber component that is capable of absorbing free radicals produced when the hydrogel product is sterilized via a high-energy sterilization procedure. The free radical absorber component in one embodiment includes potassium metabisulfite and ascorbic acid. The ruggedized hydrogel product can be included with an ultrasound probe to provide an acoustically transparent interface between the probe and the skin of a patient. | 05-09-2013 |
20130150725 | PROBE FOR ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - A probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which is used for performing a test upon a subject is provided. The probe includes a case which forms an exterior of the probe, a piezoelectric object which is provided on an inside of the case and which generates an ultrasonic wave, a sound absorbing layer which is provided at a rear surface of the piezoelectric object and which prevents the ultrasonic wave from being delivered to a rear portion of the piezoelectric object, an acoustic matching layer which delivers the generated ultrasonic wave to a subject by matching a sound impedance of the piezoelectric object with a sound impedance of the subject, and a sound lens which concentrates the generated ultrasonic wave and radiates the concentrated ultrasonic wave toward the subject. | 06-13-2013 |
20130158411 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - Measuring is performed by bringing a gel pad GP which is an acoustic coupling medium into contact with a measuring portion which has concavities and convexities and by sending and receiving ultrasound from a probe via the gel pad GP. At this time, the contact pressure of the probe and the gel pad GP is detected using pressure sensors which are provided in the probe (first pressure sensor and second pressure sensor). Then, ultrasound focusing is performed using the detected pressure of the pressure sensors. | 06-20-2013 |
20130190627 | PROBE FOR ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a case, a piezoelectric member provided inside the case, at least one acoustic matching layer disposed at a front of the piezoelectric member, an acoustic lens disposed at a front of the acoustic matching layer, and a backing member disposed at a rear of the piezoelectric member and provided with a plurality of pores to reduce sound waves transmitted to the rear of the piezoelectric member and to allow to adjust an acoustic impedance. A method of manufacturing the probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes the operations of preparing a fluid to form a backing layer, pouring the fluid into a mold, hardening the fluid and removing the mold. | 07-25-2013 |
20130245453 | ULTRASONIC PROBE - An ultrasonic probe includes: a plurality of piezoelectric elements separated from each other by a gap; and an acoustic matching layer formed of a rubber elastic material on a surface of each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. An acoustic impedance of the rubber elastic material is smaller than an acoustic impedance of the piezoelectric elements and larger than an acoustic impedance of a subject. The acoustic velocity of the rubber elastic material has a value of 1650 msec or less. | 09-19-2013 |
20140058270 | MATRIX ULTRASOUND PROBE WITH PASSIVE HEAT DISSIPATION - A matrix array ultrasound probe passively dissipates heat developed by the matrix array transducer and beamformer ASIC away from the distal end of the probe. The heat developed in the transducer stack is coupled to a metallic frame inside the handle of probe. A metallic heatspreader is thermally coupled to the probe frame to convey heat away from the frame. The heatspreader surrounds the inside of the probe handle and has an outer surface which is thermally coupled to the inner surface of the probe housing. Heat is thereby coupled evenly from the heatspreader into the housing without the development of hotspots in the housing which could be uncomfortable to the hand of the sonographer. | 02-27-2014 |
20140073929 | NOSEPIECE CONFIGURED FOR USE WITH ULTRASOUND PROBES - A system for producing an ultrasound image comprises a scan head having a transducer capable of generating ultrasound energy at a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz), and a processor for receiving ultrasound energy and for generating an ultrasound image at a frame rate of at least 15 frames per second (fps). | 03-13-2014 |
20140316276 | BACKING ELEMENT AND ULTRASOUND PROBE INCLUDING SAME - The present disclosure in some embodiment provides a backing member for an ultrasonic probe that is disposed on a rear surface of a piezoelectric element constituting the ultrasonic probe to attenuate ultrasonic waves radiated from the rear surface of the piezoelectric element, the backing member including a mixture of a base member and a filler, wherein the base member is a polyurethane resin and the filler is manganese powder, whereby the backing member has appropriate sound absorption function and excellent dicing processability and provides an ultrasonic probe including the backing member. | 10-23-2014 |
20140330128 | SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - The present disclosure relates to a signal processing apparatus and a signal processing method for increasing the precision of probe movement calculations. | 11-06-2014 |
20140358008 | ULTRASOUND PROBE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed herein is an ultrasound probe which may adjust curvature of an acoustic lens using a shape memory alloy. The ultrasound probe includes an acoustic lens, a focus adjusting unit installed on the acoustic lens and deforming the shape of the acoustic lens to adjust the focus of ultrasonic waves radiated through the acoustic lens, and a current applying unit applying current to the focus adjusting unit to contract or expand the focus adjusting unit. | 12-04-2014 |
20150025390 | Ultrasound Transducer Connector - A reversible transducer connector allows the connector to be inserted within the receptacle in more than one orientation. The electrical connections between the receptacle and connector are reprogrammed based on the orientation. The connector is inserted in two or more stages, such as using zero-insertion or magnetic retention in a first stage to identify the connector and using an automated engagement to engage remaining channel connections in a second stage for use. Doors for protecting the connector and/or receptacle may be opened and/or closed magnetically. | 01-22-2015 |
20150073280 | PROBE, SUBJECT INFORMATION ACQUISITION APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE PROBE - A probe capable of reducing positional displacement of an acoustic lens from a capacitive transducer is provided. The probe includes a transducer having elements and extraction electrodes of the elements, flexible wiring boards having wiring electrically connected to the extraction electrodes, and an acoustic lens having stepped portions which is provided on the elements. The acoustic lens is butted against end portions of the flexible wiring boards at the stepped portions and fixed. | 03-12-2015 |
20150080737 | PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND PROBE THEREWITH - Probe includes a transducer, a PCB having a pattern part contacting the transducer via face-to-face contact, and a bonding member bonding the transducer to the pattern part of the PCB. The bonding part of the PCB is provided with the pattern part to increase a bonding area of the bonding part and to allow the bonding member to contact not only a metal layer of the bonding part but also an electrical insulation part thereof, thereby improving a bonding force between the transducer and the PCB. As a result, the transducer can be reliably bonded to the PCB, so that performance of the transducer can be prevented from being deteriorated due to defective connection between the PCB and the transducer. | 03-19-2015 |
20150094596 | ULTRASONIC DEVICE, ULTRASONIC PROBE, ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DEVICE - An ultrasonic device includes a base, a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements, an acoustic adjustment layer, and a wall part. The ultrasonic transducer elements are arranged in an array form on the base, each of the ultrasonic transducer elements having a vibration film. The acoustic adjustment layer is disposed on each of the ultrasonic transducer elements. The wall part is arranged between adjacent ones of the ultrasonic transducer elements when viewed in a plan view along a thickness direction of the base such that the acoustic adjustment layer on the adjacent ones of the ultrasonic transducer elements are separated by the wall part in a range of at least a portion of a height of the acoustic adjustment layer measured from the base. The wall part has an acoustic impedance that is higher than an acoustic impedance of the acoustic adjustment layer. | 04-02-2015 |
20150112201 | ULTRASONIC DEVICE, ULTRASONIC PROBE HEAD, ULTRASONIC PROBE, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ULTRASONIC DEVICE - Provided is an ultrasonic device including: an ultrasonic element array substrate having a plurality of ultrasonic elements configured to perform at least one of transmission and reception of ultrasound; an acoustic lens configured to focus the ultrasound; an acoustic matching unit formed using resin, the acoustic matching unit being arranged between the ultrasonic element array substrate and the acoustic lens; and a plurality of spherical spacing members arranged between the ultrasonic element array substrate and the acoustic lens so as to be in contact with the ultrasonic element array substrate and the acoustic lens. | 04-23-2015 |
20160007959 | CAPACITIVE MICROMACHINED ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER PROBE USING WIRE-BONDING | 01-14-2016 |
20160015361 | ULTRASOUND PROBE FOR PUNCTURE NEEDLE AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE USING SAME - An ultrasound probe for a puncture needle and an ultrasound diagnostic device using the same are disclosed. The ultrasound probe for the puncture needle transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject from a transducer array which is arranged so as to be tilted at a predetermined array angle of inclination with respect to a subject contact surface, in a direction in which an angle of an ultrasonic wave transmission/reception surface with respect to a puncturing direction of the puncture needle punctured from a puncture position toward the front of the subject contact surface decreases, receives ultrasonic echoes, forms sound ray signals which are tilted to a side of the puncture needle, and generates a B mode image of a deep region of the subject from the sound ray signals. | 01-21-2016 |
20160031128 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ACOUSTIC COUPLING MEMBER - A first mold has a recessed surface portion. A second mold that has a protruding surface portion and a flat surface portion is laid on top of the first mold, thereby forming a first cavity between the recessed surface portion and the protruding surface portion and a second cavity between the first mold and the flat surface portion. The first cavity and the second cavity are filled with a first resin material. A third mold having a flat inner wall surface is laid on top of the first mold and the first resin, thereby forming a space between the inner wall surface and the first resin so as to correspond to the protruding surface portion. This space is filled with a second resin material, and thus an acoustic coupling member is molded. | 02-04-2016 |
20160051228 | COMPOSITION FOR ACOUSTIC-WAVE PROBE, AND SILICONE RESIN FOR ACOUSTIC-WAVE PROBE, ACOUSTIC-WAVE PROBE AND ULTRASONIC PROBE USING THE SAME, AS WELL AS DEVICE FOR MEASURING ACOUSTIC WAVE, ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS DEVICE, DEVICE FOR MEASURING PHOTO ACOUSTIC WAVE AND ULTRASONIC ENDOSCOPE - A composition for an acoustic-wave probe, containing a polysiloxane mixture, in which the polysiloxane mixture contains: a polysiloxane having a vinyl group; a polysiloxane having at least two Si—H groups in the molecular chain thereof; and silica particles having an average primary particle size of less than 12 nm. | 02-25-2016 |
20160058417 | ULTRASONIC DEVICE, METHOD FOR PRODUCING ULTRASONIC DEVICE, ULTRASONIC PROBE, ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT APPARATUS, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic device includes an element substrate and a wiring substrate. The element substrate includes an ultrasonic element and an element interconnect terminal connected to the ultrasonic element. The wiring substrate includes a wiring terminal and an opening portion that defines an opening extending through the wiring substrate. The element interconnect terminal and the wiring terminal are connected so as to oppose each other. The opening portion encloses the ultrasonic element in plan view as seen from a thickness direction of the wiring substrate. | 03-03-2016 |
20160089110 | Conformal interface for medical diagnostic ultrasound volume imaging - An ultrasound imaging standoff has a stiffer portion for contact with a volume transducer and a flexible portion filled with viscous fluid for conforming to the patient, resulting in fewer or no air gaps. Pressure is applied through the standoff to cause the connective tissue to flatten, resulting in less shadowing artifact. | 03-31-2016 |
20160100822 | BEAMFORMING APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A beamforming apparatus configured to beamform ultrasound waves transmitted through an ultrasound transducer having a two-dimensional transducer array includes a transmitter configured to output transmission pulses configured to drive elements constituting the transducer array, and a transmission switch configured to select at least two elements among the elements to form an aperture such that the transmission pulses drive the elements forming the aperture. | 04-14-2016 |
20160128670 | LOCKING MECHANISM FOR ULTRASOUND CONDUCTIVE MEDIUM - Embodiments associated with a gel locking mechanism for ultrasound devices are described. The locking mechanism is formed as an attached adaptor or as part of an ultrasound device. In one embodiment, an adaptor device includes a housing formed with a mounting end and a gel receiving end; wherein the gel receiving end includes a side wall formed from the housing that defines a gel cavity for receiving a solidified gel. The adaptor device includes a cap formed with a frame and having a central opening defined therethrough, wherein the frame is configured to lock to and unlock from the gel receiving end of the housing. | 05-12-2016 |
20160143619 | ULTRASONIC PROBE HAVING A PLURALITY OF ARRAYS CONNECTED IN PARALLEL STRUCTURE AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DIAGNOSING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - An ultrasonic probe having a plurality of arrays connected in a parallel structure and an ultrasonic image diagnosing apparatus including the same are disclosed. The ultrasonic probe according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a first array; a second array connected in parallel to the first array in the elevation direction of the first array and having a focal distance different from that of the first array by having width different from that of the first array in the elevation direction; and a switch or a multiplexer for selecting an array to be activated. | 05-26-2016 |
20160151044 | ULTRASONIC PROBE | 06-02-2016 |
20160183916 | PROBE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - A probe includes: a piezoelectric layer to generate ultrasonic waves, a backing layer to absorb ultrasonic waves generated at the piezoelectric layer and proceeding toward a rear, a reflective layer occupying an area smaller than an area of the piezoelectric layer and provided in between the piezoelectric layer and the backing layer to amplify the ultrasonic waves generated at the piezoelectric layer, and a lens layer to focus the ultrasonic waves proceeding toward a front of the piezoelectric layer at a certain point. | 06-30-2016 |