US3585847A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic imaging techniques and mammograph equipment
Assignee: Holotron Corp
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Filing: 1968-05-20
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Granted: 1971-06-22
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Expires: 1988-05-20
Abstract
Abstract An improved ultrasonic imaging system specially adapted for examination of a female breast utilizing direct imaging (twodimensional) or holographic imaging (three-dimensional) techniques. Improvements in both types of ultrasonic imaging are described which utilize an improved fluid-filled lens for imaging an ultrasonic field passing through the breast or other object under investigation onto an area detector from which object information may be read out by light. Use of an ultrasonic lens in the reference beam of a holographic imaging system is also disclosed. A technique for holographic imaging wherein viewing optics are focused on the area detector directly instead of upon a focused image in space is also described with improved results under certain circumstances.
Inventors
- 👤 Byron B Brenden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/04; G01N29/06; G01N29/0654; G01N29/0663; A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/08; A61B8/0825; A61B8/40; A61B8/406; A61B8/42; A61B8/4209; G01N29/22; G01N29/221; G03; G03H; G03H3/00; G03H5/00; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/30; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90; Y10S359/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of producing images from an ultrasonic hologram which displays an interference pattern resulting from the intersection of two mutually coherent ultrasonic energy beams at a finite angle with each other, one of said beams being modified by an object, comprising the steps of: illuminating the ultrasonic hologram with light radiation to produce various diffracted orders of said radiation including at least one object-image-carrying order, and simultaneously viewing in said at least one object-imagecarrying order an image of the object by focusing viewing optics upon the ultrasonic hologram.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of producing images from an ultrasonic hologram which displays an interference pattern resulting from the intersection of two mutually coherent ultrasonic energy beams at a finite angle with each other, one of said beams being modified by an object, comprising the steps of: illuminating the ultrasonic hologram with light radiation to produce various diffracted orders of said radiation including at least one object-image-carrying order, and simultaneously viewing in said at least one object-imagecarrying order an image of the object by focusing viewing optics upon the ultrasonic hologram.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of rendering an image of an object under investigation, comprising the steps of: directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy toward the object and thence to a hologram detecting surface responsive to an uLtrasonic energy interference pattern in a manner that light is diffracted thereby, simultaneously directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy to the hologram detecting surface to intersect the first beam at a finite angle therewith, said first and second beams being mutually coherent, illuminating the hologram surface with light radiation in a manner to diffract the radiation into various diffracted orders, and viewing an image of the object in one of the diffracted orders by focusing viewing optics upon the hologram detecting surface.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of rendering an image of an object under investigation, comprising the steps of: directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy toward the object and thence to a hologram detecting surface responsive to an uLtrasonic energy interference pattern in a manner that light is diffracted thereby, simultaneously directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy to the hologram detecting surface to intersect the first beam at a finite angle therewith, said first and second beams being mutually coherent, illuminating the hologram surface with light radiation in a manner to diffract the radiation into various diffracted orders, and viewing an image of the object in one of the diffracted orders by focusing viewing optics upon the hologram detecting surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein the step of directing a first beam additionally includes imaging an ultrasonic field that exists at the object as a result of the first beam striking the object onto the hologram detecting surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for producing an image from an ultrasonic hologram which displays an interference pattern resulting from the intersection of two mutually coherent ultrasonic energy beams at a finite angle with each other, one of said beams being modified by an object, comprising: means for illuminating said ultrasonic hologram with light radiation whereby said radiation is diffracted by said ultrasonic hologram into various diffracted orders including at least one object-image-carrying order, and optical viewing means positioned in the path of said at least one object-image-carrying order and focused upon said ultrasonic hologram for viewing an image of said object carried thereby.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for producing an image from an ultrasonic hologram which displays an interference pattern resulting from the intersection of two mutually coherent ultrasonic energy beams at a finite angle with each other, one of said beams being modified by an object, comprising: means for illuminating said ultrasonic hologram with light radiation whereby said radiation is diffracted by said ultrasonic hologram into various diffracted orders including at least one object-image-carrying order, and optical viewing means positioned in the path of said at least one object-image-carrying order and focused upon said ultrasonic hologram for viewing an image of said object carried thereby.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for producing an image of an object under investigation, comprising: means for producing an ultrasonic hologram at an area detecting surface characterized by responding to an ultrasonic energy interference pattern in a manner that light is diffracted thereby, said last-named means including, means for directing a first ultrasonic beam to said object and thence to said detecting surface, and means for directing a second ultrasonic beam to said detecting surface to intersect said first beam at a finite angle therewith, thereby producing an ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams being mutually coherent, means for illuminating said ultrasonic hologram with light radiation in a manner to diffract said radiation into various diffracted orders, and viewing optics positioned in a first diffracted order of said beam and focused upon said ultrasonic hologram.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for producing an image of an object under investigation, comprising: means for producing an ultrasonic hologram at an area detecting surface characterized by responding to an ultrasonic energy interference pattern in a manner that light is diffracted thereby, said last-named means including, means for directing a first ultrasonic beam to said object and thence to said detecting surface, and means for directing a second ultrasonic beam to said detecting surface to intersect said first beam at a finite angle therewith, thereby producing an ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams being mutually coherent, means for illuminating said ultrasonic hologram with light radiation in a manner to diffract said radiation into various diffracted orders, and viewing optics positioned in a first diffracted order of said beam and focused upon said ultrasonic hologram.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 and including an ultrasonic lens positioned in the path of said first ultrasonic beam between said object and said detecting surface for imaging an ultrasonic field which exists at said object onto said detecting surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a method of holographic imaging including the steps of directing an object beam of ultrasonic energy toward an object and thence to an area detector responsive to ultrasonic energy and simultaneously directing a reference beam to the area detector for interference with the object beam to produce an interference pattern on the area detector, said object and reference beams being mutually coherent and intersecting at a finite angle with each other, the improvement comprising the step of: imaging the ultrasonic field at the object onto the area detector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a method of holographic imaging including the steps of directing an object beam of ultrasonic energy toward an object and thence to an area detector responsive to ultrasonic energy and simultaneously directing a reference beam to the area detector for interference with the object beam to produce an interference pattern on the area detector, said object and reference beams being mutually coherent and intersecting at a finite angle with each other, the improvement comprising the step of: imaging the ultrasonic field at the object onto the area detector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the imaging step includes placing a lens between said object and said area detector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a method of holographic imaging including the steps of directing an object beam of ultrasonic energy toward an object and thence to an area detector responsive to ultrasonic energy and simultaneously positioning an ultrasonic generator to direct a reference beam of ultrasonic energy mutually coherent with the object beam to the area detector to intersect the object beam at a finite angle to produce an interference pattern on the area detector, the improvement comprising the step of: imaging the ultrasonic field at the reference beam generator onto the area detector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a method of holographic imaging including the steps of directing an object beam of ultrasonic energy toward an object and thence to an area detector responsive to ultrasonic energy and simultaneously positioning an ultrasonic generator to direct a reference beam of ultrasonic energy mutually coherent with the object beam to the area detector to intersect the object beam at a finite angle to produce an interference pattern on the area detector, the improvement comprising the step of: imaging the ultrasonic field at the reference beam generator onto the area detector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the imaging step includes placing a lens between the ultrasonic generator and the area detector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved method according to claim 9 which includes the additional step of imaging the ultrasonic field at the object onto the area detector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a method of holographic imaging including the steps of directing an object beam of ultrasonic energy toward an object and thence to an area detector responsive to ultrasonic energy and simultaneously positioning an ultrasonic generator to direct a reference beam of ultrasonic energy mutually coherent with the object beam to the area detector to intersect the object beam as a finite angle to produce an interference pattern on the area detector, the improvement comprising the steps of: placing an ultrasonic lens between the ultrasonic generator and the area detector, and positioning a pinhole filter relative to the lens so that a point image of the generator is passed through the filter, thereby resulting in a regular spherical reference beam wave front striking the area detector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a method of holographic imaging including the steps of directing an object beam of ultrasonic energy toward an object and thence to an area detector responsive to ultrasonic energy and simultaneously positioning an ultrasonic generator to direct a reference beam of ultrasonic energy mutually coherent with the object beam to the area detector to intersect the object beam as a finite angle to produce an interference pattern on the area detector, the improvement comprising the steps of: placing an ultrasonic lens between the ultrasonic generator and the area detector, and positioning a pinhole filter relative to the lens so that a point image of the generator is passed through the filter, thereby resulting in a regular spherical reference beam wave front striking the area detector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improved method according to claim 12 which includes the further step of placing an ultrasonic lens between the object and the area detector to image the ultrasonic field at some surface within the object onto the area detector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for producing an ultrasonic hologram, comprising, means for generating and directing ultrasonic energy at an object and thence as object modified energy to an area detector responsive to ultrasonic energy, means for generating reference ultrasonic energy mutually coherent with the object-illuminating ultrasonic energy and for directing said reference energy to intersect the object modified ultrasonic energy at a finite angle therewith at the area detector, and means for imaging said reference-ultrasonic-energy-generating means onto said area detector.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for producing an ultrasonic hologram, comprising, means for generating and directing ultrasonic energy at an object and thence as object modified energy to an area detector responsive to ultrasonic energy, means for generating reference ultrasonic energy mutually coherent with the object-illuminating ultrasonic energy and for directing said reference energy to intersect the object modified ultrasonic energy at a finite angle therewith at the area detector, and means for imaging said reference-ultrasonic-energy-generating means onto said area detector.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said reference-ultrasonic-energy-generating means includes a substantially flat transducer and wherein imaging means includes an ultrasonic lens placed between said generating means and said area detector.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus for producing an ultrasonic hologram, comprising: means for generating ultrasonic energy directed at an object and thence object modified energy to an area detector responsive to ultrasonic energy, a reference-ultrasonic-energy-generating transducer placed to direct the ultrasonic energy to intersect the object modified ultrasonic energy at a finite angle therewith at the area detector, said object illuminating and reference ultrasonic energy being mutually coherent, an ultrasonic lens placed between said reference energy transducer and said area detector, and a pinhole filter placed between said lens and said area detector.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus for producing an ultrasonic hologram, comprising: means for generating ultrasonic energy directed at an object and thence object modified energy to an area detector responsive to ultrasonic energy, a reference-ultrasonic-energy-generating transducer placed to direct the ultrasonic energy to intersect the object modified ultrasonic energy at a finite angle therewith at the area detector, said object illuminating and reference ultrasonic energy being mutually coherent, an ultrasonic lens placed between said reference energy transducer and said area detector, and a pinhole filter placed between said lens and said area detector.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said reference-ultrasonic-energy-generating transducer includes a substantially flat quartz transducer and wherein said pinhole filter is placed in the focal plane of said lens.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said pinhole filter is placed so that an apparent point source of said transducer is imaged at its pinhole.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3400363A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |