Patent US3765403A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3765403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ultrasonic imaging techniques and mammograph equipment
Assignee: Holotron Corp
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Filing: 1971-03-11
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1991-03-11
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
- 👤 B Brenden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:53
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; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/915
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of internal ultrasonic imaging of a female breast, comprising the steps of: placing the breast into an ultrasonic energy beam between the source of ultrasonic energy and an area detector, and imaging an ultrasonic field passing all the way through the breast onto the area detector which detects the transmitted energy, whereby an optical image of an internal structure of the breast may be viewed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of internal ultrasonic imaging of a female breast, comprising the steps of: placing the breast into an ultrasonic energy beam between the source of ultrasonic energy and an area detector, and imaging an ultrasonic field passing all the way through the breast onto the area detector which detects the transmitted energy, whereby an optical image of an internal structure of the breast may be viewed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of placing the breast into an ultrasonic energy beam includes extending the breast from the female chest cavity into the ultrasonic energy beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of placing the breast into an ultrasonic energy beam comprises the steps of: compressing the breast at the female chest cavity to extend said breast away from the cavity, and flattening the breast to reduce its maximum thickness.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the steps of compressing and flattening the breast comprise the step of drawing two stretched polymeric membranes that are substantially transparent to ultrasound against the breast from opposite sides thereof and at an angle with each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of placing the breast into an ultrasonic energy beam includes drawing two membranes together from opposite sides of the breast with an angle therebetween to compress first a breast portion near the female chest cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the step of placing the breast into an ultrasonic energy beam further includes orienting the breast compressed by said membranes in a manner to hold the breast immobilized in a position where the ultrasonic energy beam passes through both membranes as well as the breast.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 1 comprising the additional step of placing the female in a prone position over a bath of ultrasonic transmitting liquid medium and wherein the step of placing the breast into an ultrasonic energy beam includes extending the breast into the ultrasonic transmitting liquid medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of extending the breast into the ultrasonic transmitting liquid includes drawing two membranes together from opposite sides of the breast with an angle therebetween to compress first a breast portion near the female chest cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the ultrasonic energy beam is propagated immediately below the liquid surface and approximately parallel thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein said ultrasonic energy beam is substantially collimated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of imaging an ultrasonic field passing through the breast onto an area detector includes placing an ultrasonic lens between the breast and the area detector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to Claim 11 which includes the additional steps of illuminating said area detector with light radiation and viewing an image of an internal structure of the breast.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of imaging an ultrasonic field includes placing between the breast and area detector an ultrasound refracting liquid contained by thin shells of a thickness related to the wavelength of ultrasound.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of imaging an ultrasonic field passing through the breast onto an area detector includes placing an ultrasonic lens having a volume of liquid ultrasound refracting material held between two stretched elastic polymeric membranes with a large radius of curvature relative to the lens diameter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the step of imaging an ultrasonic field passing through the breast onto an area detector further includes changing the volume of said liquid ultrasound refracting material to adjust the focal length of the lens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 15 which includes the additional steps of illuminating said area detector with light radiation and viewing an image of an internal structure of the breast.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 1 which includes the additional step of directing a reference beam of ultrasonic energy toward said area detector at a predetermined finite angle with said imaged ultrasonic field passing through the breast to form an interference pattern therewith upon said area detector, whereby a three-dimensional optical image of the internal structure of the breast may be viewed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 17 which further includes the steps of: illuminating said area detector with light radiation, and placing viewing optics in at least one first order diffracted beam of said light radiation, whereby an image of an internal structure of the breast may be viewed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 18 which includes an additional step of focusing the viewing optics directly upon the area detector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the step of placing the breast into an ultrasonic energy beam includes the steps of: compressing the breast at the female chest cavity to extend the breast away from said cavity, and flattening the breast to reduce its maximum thickness.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the step of placing the breast into an ultrasonic energy beam includes drawing two membranes together from opposite sides of the breast with an angle therebetween to compress first a breast portion near the female chest cavity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the step of directing a reference beam toward said area detector comprises: positioning a flat transducer to produce the desired reference beam, and imaging said transducer onto the area detector.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the step of directing a reference beam toward said area detector comprises: positioning an ultrasonic generator in a position to give the desired reference beam, and placing an ultrasonic lens between the generator and the area detector.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 23 wherein the step of directing a reference beam toward the area detector further includes placing a pinhole filter between the lens and the area detector.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the step of imaging an ultrasonic field passing through the breast onto an area detector includes placing an ultrasonic lens between the breast and the area detector.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 25 which further includes the steps of: illuminating said area detector with light radiation, placing viewing optics in at least one first order diffracted beam of said light radiation, and focusing the viewing optics on the area detector, whereby an image of an internal structure of the breast may be viewed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the step of imaging an ultrasonic field pasSing through the breast onto an area detector includes placing between the breast and the area detector an ultrasound refracting liquid contained by thin shells of a thickness related to the wavelength of ultrasound in the shell.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 which includes the additional steps of illuminating said area detector with light radiation and viewing an image of an internal structure of the breast.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of internal ultrasonic imaging of a female breast, comprising the steps of: generating only one beam of ultrasonic energy, placing the breast in the path of said beam, locating an ultrasonic lens to image the ultrasonic beam onto an area detector after passing through the breast, illuminating the area detector with light, and viewing an image of an internal structure of the breast.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of internal ultrasonic imaging of a female breast, comprising the steps of: generating only one beam of ultrasonic energy, placing the breast in the path of said beam, locating an ultrasonic lens to image the ultrasonic beam onto an area detector after passing through the breast, illuminating the area detector with light, and viewing an image of an internal structure of the breast.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 29 wherein the step of placing the breast into an ultrasonic energy beam includes drawing two membranes together from opposite sides of the breast with an angle therebetween to compress first a breast portion near the female chest.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of ultrasonic imaging of a fleshy portion of a living body, comprising the steps of: extending from the body and substantially flattening the fleshy portion, immersing the extended and flattened fleshy portion into ultrasonic transmitting fluid in the path of an ultrasonic energy beam, and locating an ultrasonic lens to image the ultrasonic energy beam after passing through the fleshy portion onto an area detector, whereby an optical image of an internal structure of the fleshy portion may be viewed.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of ultrasonic imaging of a fleshy portion of a living body, comprising the steps of: extending from the body and substantially flattening the fleshy portion, immersing the extended and flattened fleshy portion into ultrasonic transmitting fluid in the path of an ultrasonic energy beam, and locating an ultrasonic lens to image the ultrasonic energy beam after passing through the fleshy portion onto an area detector, whereby an optical image of an internal structure of the fleshy portion may be viewed.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 31 wherein said step of locating a lens includes placing between the fleshy portion and the area detector an ultrasound refracting liquid contained by thin shells of a thickness related to the wavelength of ultrasound in the shell between the fleshy portion and the area detector.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
64 words
An ultrasonic mammograph, comprising: a source of ultrasonic energy for producing a beam of ultrasonic energy, means for holding a female breast immobilized in the path of the ultrasonic energy beam between said source of ultrasonic energy and an area detector, and means for imaging the ultrasonic beam onto the area detector after it has passed through at least a portion of the breast.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
64 words
An ultrasonic mammograph, comprising: a source of ultrasonic energy for producing a beam of ultrasonic energy, means for holding a female breast immobilized in the path of the ultrasonic energy beam between said source of ultrasonic energy and an area detector, and means for imaging the ultrasonic beam onto the area detector after it has passed through at least a portion of the breast.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
38 words
An ultrasonic mammograph according to claim 33 wherein said means for holding a female breast immobilized further includes means for extending the breast from the female body and means for flattening the breast to reduce its maximum thickness.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
47 words
An ultrasonic mammograph according to claim 33 wherein said means for holding a female breast immobilized includes two membranes that are substantially transparent to ultrasound mounted at an angle with each other to compress the breast placed therebetween first near the female chest cavity when drawn together.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ultrasonic mammograph according to claim 33 wherein said means for imaging includes an ultrasonic lens placed between the breast and said area detector.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
43 words
An ultrasonic mammograph according to claim 36 wherein said ultrasonic lens comprises: two thin shells defining a cavity therebetween, the thickness of said shells being related to the wavelength of ultrasound in the shell material, and a sound refracting liquid in said cavity.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
An ultrasonic mammograph according to claim 37 wherein said shells comprise stretched polymeric films held in a desired surface shape by said sound refracting liquid under pressure.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
95 words
An ultrasonic mammograph, comprising: a liquid ultrasonic transmitting medium contained by a tank, a surface over said tank for supporting a woman in a substantially prone position and having an opening for a breast of the woman inserted therethrough into said liquid, means placed within said liquid medium for generating a substantially collimated beam of ultrasonic energy substantially parallel with and very near to the upper liquid surface for passage through the breast, and an area detector positioned to receive said beam after passing through the breast for giving a visual image of said beam.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
95 words
An ultrasonic mammograph, comprising: a liquid ultrasonic transmitting medium contained by a tank, a surface over said tank for supporting a woman in a substantially prone position and having an opening for a breast of the woman inserted therethrough into said liquid, means placed within said liquid medium for generating a substantially collimated beam of ultrasonic energy substantially parallel with and very near to the upper liquid surface for passage through the breast, and an area detector positioned to receive said beam after passing through the breast for giving a visual image of said beam.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
An ultrasonic mammograph according to claim 39 wherein said liquid ultrasonic transmitting medium includes water.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ultrasonic mammograph according to claim 39 which additionally comprises means surrounding said opening in the supporting surface for holding said breast immobilized.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
49 words
An ultrasonic mammograph according to claim 41 wherein said means for holding said breast immobilized comprises two membranes substantially transparent to ultrasound mounted at an angle with respect to each other to compress the breast placed therebetween first near the female chest cavity when the membranes are drawn together.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
45 words
An ultrasonic mammograph according to claim 39 which additionally includes an ultrasonic lens placed between the breast and said area detector to image said beam of ultrasonic energy onto said area detector after the beam has passed through at least a portion of the breast.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
52 words
An ultrasonic mammograph according to claim 43 wherein said ultrasonic lens includes two stretched polymeric membranes forming a cavity therebetween which is filled with an ultrasonic refracting liquid of sufficient volume to cause said membranes to take on a desired curved surface to result in a lens of a desired focal length.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |