Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080269613 | Versatile Breast Ultrasound Scanning - Versatile ultrasound scanning of a breast is described using an apparatus ( | 10-30-2008 |
20090024039 | HANDHELD VOLUMETRIC ULTRASOUND SCANNING DEVICE - An apparatus and related methods for ultrasonically scanning a tissue volume are described, the apparatus being particularly advantageous in the context of freehand ultrasound assisted biopsy of the breast although readily applied to non-biopsy contexts and other body parts. The apparatus comprises a casing configured and dimensioned for single-handed manipulation relative to a surface of the tissue, and a texturably couplant-porous material sheet extending across an opening of the casing. The texturably couplant-porous material sheet has an outer side and an inner side relative to the casing, the outer side for compressively contacting the tissue surface. The apparatus further comprises an ultrasound transducer positioned against the inner side of the texturably couplant-porous material sheet and being mechanically translatable thereacross for volumetrically scanning the tissue volume therethrough. | 01-22-2009 |
20100174185 | ULTRASOUND SCANNING AND ULTRASOUND-ASSISTED BIOPSY - An apparatus and related methods for ultrasonically scanning a tissue sample are described, the apparatus comprising an ultrasound transducer and a membranous sheet, the membranous sheet compressing the tissue sample, the ultrasound transducer contacting the membranous sheet and ultrasonically scanning the tissue sample therethrough, wherein the membranous sheet has a generally arcuate shape and the ultrasound transducer is movable in a generally arcuate trajectory therealong during the ultrasonic scan. Also described is an apparatus for facilitating a medical procedure, comprising a membranous sheet compressing a tissue sample, an ultrasound transducer contacting the membranous sheet to ultrasonically scan the tissue sample therethrough, and a biopsy guide operably coupled to the ultrasound transducer for maintaining a biopsy instrument in a scan plane of the ultrasound transducer to facilitate a percutaneous biopsy of a lesion located in the scan plane. | 07-08-2010 |
20100280375 | Breast Ultrasound Examination Including Scanning Through Chestwardly Compressing Membrane And Processing And Displaying Acquired Ultrasound Image Information - Navigation among breast ultrasound volumes derived from different volumetric ultrasonic scans of a same breast is described. On a display of a breast ultrasound workstation, a first image derived from a first ultrasonic volume is displayed. A user election of a source region of interest (ROI) in the first image is received. A destination ROI within a second ultrasonic volume is identified that at least roughly corresponds to a same locality of tissue in the breast as the source ROI. A second image derived from the second ultrasonic volume and including the destination ROI is displayed, the destination ROI being highlighted. | 11-04-2010 |
20120089026 | BREAST ULTRASOUND SCANNING TEMPLATE - Apparatus and related methods for facilitating volumetric ultrasonic scanning of a breast are described. In one preferred embodiment, a generally cone-shaped radial scanning template having a vertex and a wide opening angle is provided, the radial scanning template having a slot-like opening extending outward from the vertex through which an ultrasound transducer scans the breast as the radial scanning template is rotated. In another preferred embodiment, a flexible membrane for compressing a skin surface of the breast is provided, the flexible membrane being mounted on a mechanical assembly such as a roller assembly to form a slot-like opening through which an ultrasound transducer directly contacts the skin surface, the flexible membrane rising and falling relative to the skin surface but not moving laterally as the slot-like opening and ultrasound transducer move laterally across the compressed breast, whereby stabilization of the breast and direct transducer-skin contact are concurrently achieved. | 04-12-2012 |
20120130241 | HANDHELD VOLUMETRIC ULTRASOUND SCANNING DEVICE - An apparatus and related methods for ultrasonically scanning a tissue volume are described, the apparatus being particularly advantageous in the context of freehand ultrasound assisted biopsy of the breast although readily applied to non-biopsy contexts and other body parts. The apparatus comprises a casing configured and dimensioned for single-handed manipulation relative to a surface of the tissue, and a texturably couplant-porous material sheet extending across an opening of the casing. The texturably couplant-porous material sheet has an outer side and an inner side relative to the casing, the outer side for compressively contacting the tissue surface. The apparatus further comprises an ultrasound transducer positioned against the inner side of the texturably couplant-porous material sheet and being mechanically translatable thereacross for volumetrically scanning the tissue volume therethrough. | 05-24-2012 |
20140058265 | BREAST ULTRASOUND SCANNING DEVICE - An apparatus and a method are disclosed for obtaining ultrasound images of a patient's breast that is chestwardly compressed with a template that is essentially planar and rotates relative to the breast while one or more ultrasound transducers moving with the template take 2D images of the breast through one or more respective radially oriented slots in the template, preferably through a membrane that is porous to a gel. The 2D images are processed into slice images representing breast slices of desired thicknesses and orientation that are displayed alone or with some of the 2D images, preferably pairs of orthogonally disposed 2D images. | 02-27-2014 |
20140066771 | VERSATILE BREAST ULTRASOUND SCANNING - Versatile ultrasound scanning of a breast is described using an apparatus ( | 03-06-2014 |
20140121520 | MEDICAL ULTRASOUND SCANNING WITH CONTROL OVER PRESSURE/FORCE EXERTED BY AN ULTRASOUND PROBE AND/OR A COMPRESSION/SCANNING ASSEMBLY - A system and a method related to improving ultrasound examination of a patient, specifically of a patient's breast by sensing and controlling the pressure/force that an ultrasound probe and/or a compression/scanning assembly housing the probe exert on the breast and/or the chest wall of the patient. | 05-01-2014 |
20140323866 | BREAST ULTRASOUND SCANNING DEVICE - Apparatus and related methods for facilitating volumetric ultrasonic scanning of a breast are described. In one preferred embodiment, a generally cone-shaped radial scanning template having a vertex and a wide opening angle is provided, the radial scanning template having a slot-like opening extending outward from the vertex through which an ultrasound transducer scans the breast as the radial scanning template is rotated. In another preferred embodiment, a flexible membrane for compressing a skin surface of the breast is provided, the flexible membrane being mounted on a mechanical assembly such as a roller assembly to form a slot-like opening through which an ultrasound transducer directly contacts the skin surface, the flexible membrane rising and falling relative to the skin surface but not moving laterally as the slot-like opening and ultrasound transducer move laterally across the compressed breast, whereby stabilization of the breast and direct transducer-skin contact are concurrently achieved. | 10-30-2014 |
20150094587 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR A MODULAR TRANSDUCER SYSTEM OF AN AUTOMATED BREAST ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Various methods and systems are provided for ultrasonically scanning a tissue sample using a modular transducer system. In one example, a system for ultrasonically scanning a tissue sample comprises: an adjustable arm; a scanning assembly attached to the adjustable arm, the scanning assembly including a housing configured to remain stationary during scanning and a module receiver that is configured to translate with respect to the housing during scanning; and a transducer module comprising a transducer array of transducer elements, wherein the transducer module is configured to be removably coupled with the module receiver in order to establish both a mechanical connection and an electrical connection between the module receiver and the transducer module. | 04-02-2015 |
20150094588 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR WEIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF AN AUTOMATED BREAST ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Various methods and systems are provided for imaging a tissue. In one example, a system comprises an adjustable arm, a scanning assembly attached to a first end of the adjustable arm, a counterweight coupled to a second end of the adjustable arm, and a weight adjustment system coupled to the counterweight and configured to modify an effective weight of the scanning assembly. | 04-02-2015 |
20150094589 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR A REMOVABLE TRANSDUCER WITH MEMORY OF AN AUTOMATED BREAST ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Various methods and systems are provided for a removable transducer module having memory. In one example, a transducer module for an ultrasound imaging system comprises a casing configured to fit into a module receiver of the ultrasound imaging system, an array of transducer elements, and a non-transitory memory configured to store at least one of usage data and specification data for the transducer module. | 04-02-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080250785 | Micromechanical device with gold alloy contacts and method of manufacture - A MEMS switch device is made using a gold alloy as the switch contact material. The increased mechanical hardness of the alloy compared to the pure gold prevents the contacts of the switch from welding together. A scrubbing action which occurs when the switch closes may allow the contact surfaces to come to rest where their surfaces are complementary, thus resulting in higher contact area and low contact resistance, despite the higher sheet resistance of the gold alloy material relative to the pure gold material. | 10-16-2008 |
20080318349 | Wafer level hermetic bond using metal alloy - Systems and methods for forming an encapsulated MEMS device include a hermetic seal which seals an insulating gas between two substrates, one of which supports the MEMS device. The hermetic seal may be formed by heating at least two metal materials, in order to melt at least one of the metal materials. The first melted metal material flows into and forms an alloy with a second metal material, forming a hermetic seal which encapsulates the MEMS device. | 12-25-2008 |
20090001537 | Gettering material for encapsulated microdevices and method of manufacture - A method for providing improved gettering in a vacuum encapsulated microdevice is described. The method includes designing a getter alloy to more closely approximate the coefficient of thermal expansion of a substrate upon which the getter alloy is deposited. Such a getter alloy may have a weight percentage of less than about 8% iron (Fe) and greater than about 50% zirconium, with the balance being vanadium and titanium, which may better match the coefficient of thermal expansion of a silicon substrate. In one exemplary embodiment, the improved getter alloy is deposited on a silicon substrate prepared with a plurality of indentation features, which increase the surface area of the substrate exposed to the vacuum. Such a getter alloy is less likely to delaminate from the indented surface of the substrate material during heat-activated steps, such as activating the getter material and bonding a lid wafer to the device wafer supporting the microdevice. | 01-01-2009 |
20090053855 | Indented lid for encapsulated devices and method of manufacture - A method for providing improved gettering in a vacuum encapsulated device is described. The method includes forming a plurality of small indentation features in a device cavity formed in a lid wafer. The gettering material is then deposited over the indentation features. The indentation features increase the surface area of the getter material, thereby increasing the volume of gas that the getter material can absorb. This may improve the vacuum maintained within the vacuum cavity over the lifetime of the vacuum encapsulated device. | 02-26-2009 |
20100003772 | Wafer level hermetic bond using metal alloy with raised feature - Systems and methods for forming an encapsulated device include a hermetic seal which seals an insulating environment between two substrates, one of which supports the device. The hermetic seal is formed by an alloy of two metal layers, one deposited on a first substrate and the other deposited on the second substrate, along with a raised feature formed on the first or the second substrate. At least one of the metal layers may be deposited conformally over the raised feature. The raised feature penetrates the molten material of the first or the second metal layers during formation of the alloy, and produces a spectrum of stoichiometries for the formation of the desired alloy, as a function of the distance from the raised feature. At some distance from the raised feature, the proper ratio of the first metal to the second metal exists to form an alloy of the preferred stoichiometry. | 01-07-2010 |
20110250092 | Inlaid optical material and method of manufacture - An optical material is inlaid into a supporting substrate, with the top surface of the optical material flush with the top surface of the substrate, wherein the optical element is used to shape a beam of light travelling substantially parallel to the top surface of the substrate, but with the central axis of the beam below the top surface of the substrate. The optical elements serve to shape the beam of light for delivery to or from a microfabricated structure within the device. | 10-13-2011 |
20120068300 | Inductive getter activation for high vacuum packaging - An approach to activating a getter within a sealed vacuum cavity is disclosed. The approach uses inductive coupling from an external coil to a magnetically permeable material deposited in the vacuum cavity. The getter material is formed over this magnetically permeable material, and heated specifically thereby, leaving the rest of the device cavity and microdevice relatively cool. Using this inductive coupling technique, the getter material can be activated after encapsulation, and delicate structures and low temperature wafer bonding mechanisms may be used. | 03-22-2012 |
20120080762 | Plating process and apparatus for through wafer features - A method for forming through features in a substrate uses a seed layer deposited over a first substrate, and a second substrate bonded to the seed layer. The features may be formed in the first substrate, by plating a conductive filler material onto the seed layer. The first substrate and the second substrate may then be bonded to a third substrate, and the second substrate is removed, leaving through features and first substrate adhered to the third substrate. The through features may provide at least one of electrical access and motion to a plurality of devices formed on the third substrate, or may impart movement to a moveable feature on the first substrate, wherein the third substrate supports the first substrate after removal of the second substrate. | 04-05-2012 |
20120132522 | Deposition/bonding chamber for encapsulated microdevices and method of use - A method for depositing a getter for encapsulation in a device cavity containing a microdevice comprises depositing the getter material while the device wafer and lid wafer are enclosed in a bonding chamber. A plasma sputtering process may be used, wherein by applying a large negative voltage to the lid wafer, a plasma is formed in the low pressure environment within the bonding chamber. The plasma then sputters the getter material from a getter target, and this getter material is directly thereafter sealed within the device cavity of the microdevice, all within the deposition/bonding chamber. | 05-31-2012 |
20130199730 | Wafer bonding chamber with dissimilar wafer temperatures - A wafer bonding chamber is disclosed, which maintains two wafers to be bonded together at two substantially different temperatures. A lid wafer may be held at a higher temperature than a device wafer, as the device wafer may have delicate structures formed thereon, which cannot withstand higher temperatures. The lid wafer may have an adhesive bonding material formed thereon, which is melted or cured at the higher temperature. The temperature differential may be maintained by applying at least one of a heating mechanism and a cooling mechanism preferentially to one of the wafers to be bonded in the wafer bonding chamber. | 08-08-2013 |
20150183200 | METHOD USING GLASS SUBSTRATE ANODIC BONDING - A bonding technology is disclosed that can form an anodic, conductive bond between two optically transparent substrates. The anodic bond may be accompanied by a metal alloy, solder, eutectic and polymer bond. The first anodic bond may provide one attribute such as hermeticity, whereas the second bond may provide another attribute, such as electrical conductivity. | 07-02-2015 |
20150183630 | DEVICE USING GLASS SUBSTRATE ANODIC BONDING - A bonding technology is disclosed that can form an anodic, conductive bond between two optically transparent substrates. The anodic bond may be accompanied by a metal alloy, solder, eutectic and polymer bond. The first anodic bond may provide one attribute such as hermeticity, whereas the second bond may provide another attribute, such as electrical conductivity. | 07-02-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090050144 | ADHESIVE NASAL RESPIRATORY DEVICES - Whole-nose nasal respiratory devices and methods of making and using whole-nose nasal respiratory devices are described and illustrated herein. These devices are typically configured to be adhesively secured to a subject so that they engage both of the subject's nostrils and allow airflow from both nostrils to communicate with an airflow resistor. The airflow resistor is configured so that it inhibits exhalation through the nostrils more than it inhibits inhalation through the nostrils. | 02-26-2009 |
20090241965 | NASAL DEVICES WITH NOISE-REDUCTION AND METHODS OF USE - Described herein are nose-reduced nasal devices configured to reduce or eliminate the unwanted noises associated with use of a nasal device. These noise-reduced nasal devices include a flap-valve airflow resistor and a noise-reduction feature that is a noise-reduction element, a noise-reduction flap valve, or both. The noise-reduction feature typically prevents the flap valve from oscillating or vibrating and producing an audible sound during use, particularly during inhalation through the device. The method and devices described herein may prevent the flap, and particularly the edge region of the flap face or tip of the flap, from oscillating during inhalation. | 10-01-2009 |
20120055488 | ADHESIVE NASAL RESPIRATORY DEVICES - Whole-nose nasal respiratory devices and methods of making and using whole-nose nasal respiratory devices are described and illustrated herein. These devices are typically configured to be adhesively secured to a subject so that they engage both of the subject's nostrils and allow airflow from both nostrils to communicate with an airflow resistor. The airflow resistor is configured so that it inhibits exhalation through the nostrils more than it inhibits inhalation through the nostrils. | 03-08-2012 |
20120285470 | NASAL DEVICES WITH NOISE-REDUCTION AND METHODS OF USE - Described herein are nose-reduced nasal devices configured to reduce or eliminate the unwanted noises associated with use of a nasal device. These noise-reduced nasal devices include a flap-valve airflow resistor and a noise-reduction feature that is a noise-reduction element, a noise-reduction flap valve, or both. The noise-reduction feature typically prevents the flap valve from oscillating or vibrating and producing an audible sound during use, particularly during inhalation through the device. The method and devices described herein may prevent the flap, and particularly the edge region of the flap face or tip of the flap, from oscillating during inhalation. | 11-15-2012 |