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Patent US4475376A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4475376A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for testing ultrasonic transducers
Assignee: Advanced Technology Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1982-12-01
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Granted: 1984-10-09
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Expires: 2002-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A probe for testing ultrasound transducers is described. The probe is made of a body of material which absorbs ultrasound. There is a conical opening in the body, and a spherical transducer is mounted in the wider opening at the base of the conical opening. When the probe is used as a surface probe, a transducer undergoing tests is placed at the opening at the apex of the cone. Typically the conical opening is filled with a fluid which simulates the absorption qualities of the material with which the tested transducer will ultimately be used. For example, the transducer undergoing the test will be used with human body tissue, so a fluid such as water or light mineral oil would typically fill the cone-shaped opening. The present invention can also be used as a hydrophone, because of the manner in which it generates, or senses, pressure waves at a point in space.
Inventors
- 👤 George W. Keilman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:01
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/22; G01; G01H; G01H3/00; G01H3/005; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A probe for testing ultrasonic transducers comprising: (a) a body of material having a cone-shaped cavity formed therein, said cone-shaped cavity having a wide opening adjacent one end of said body and a narrow opening adjacent the other end of said body; (b) an ultrasound transducer having a spherical surface, said ultrasound transducer being mounted in the wider one of said openings and oriented to transmit, or receive, ultrasound waves toward, or from said narrow opening, said narrow opening being substantially at the apex of said spherical surface and the walls of said cone-shaped cavity connecting said wide opening to said narrow opening; and (c) a fluid medium within said cone-shaped opening, said fluid medium being capable of passing ultrasound waves therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A probe for testing ultrasonic transducers comprising: (a) a body of material having a cone-shaped cavity formed therein, said cone-shaped cavity having a wide opening adjacent one end of said body and a narrow opening adjacent the other end of said body; (b) an ultrasound transducer having a spherical surface, said ultrasound transducer being mounted in the wider one of said openings and oriented to transmit, or receive, ultrasound waves toward, or from said narrow opening, said narrow opening being substantially at the apex of said spherical surface and the walls of said cone-shaped cavity connecting said wide opening to said narrow opening; and (c) a fluid medium within said cone-shaped opening, said fluid medium being capable of passing ultrasound waves therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The probe of claim 1 wherein said body is comprised of a material which is absorbent to ultrasonic energy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The probe of claim 1 wherein said fluid medium is contained within said cavity by said spherical ultrasound transducer at one end and by a covering over said narrow opening at the other end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The probe of claim 1 wherein the end of said body which is adjacent to said narrow opening of said cavity is formed to have a surface with a shape that complements the shape of the transducer which is to be tested.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The probe of claim 4 wherein said surface of said body which complements the shape of the transducer which is to be tested is covered by a low friction material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The probe of claim 5 wherein said low friction material is a fluoroelastomer such as Teflon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The probe of claim 1 wherein said body is made of a material which has an acoustic impedance substantially equal to that of the material which with the tested transducer will ultimately be used.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The probe of claim 7 wherein said body is made of a urethane material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The probe of claim 7 wherein said tested transducer will be used with human tissue and said fluid medium is selected to have an acoustic impedance substantially equal to that of human tissue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
the probe of claim 9 wherein said fluid medium is selected from the group consisting of air, water, and mineral oil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The probe of claim 1 wherein said body is made of a material which has an acoustic impedance higher than that of said fluid medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The probe of claim 9 wherein said body is made of a metal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB732083A
Cited
US3529465A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-09 | 1988-04-09 | 1988-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-09 | 1992-04-09 | 1992-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-09 | 1996-04-09 | 1996-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |