Patent US4475397A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4475397A
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Method and means for attaining ultrasonic attenuation by vector sample averaging
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1982-07-19
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Granted: 1984-10-09
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Expires: 2002-07-19
Abstract
Abstract The ultrasonic wave attenuation of tissue undergoing examination is determined by directing a plurality of ultrasonic signals into the tissue, receiving and detecting a measure (e.g. zero crossings) of the frequencies of ultrasonic signals reflected from various depths in said tissue, and averaging the measures of the frequencies for each of the various depths. Attenuation of the tissue between a first depth and a second depth is determined from a comparison of the averaged measure at the first depth and the averaged measure at the second depth.
Inventors
- 👤 James K. Riley
- 👤 Stephen W. Flax
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 04:16
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01H; G01H3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of determining ultrasonic wave attenuation of tissue comprising the steps of transmitting a plurality of ultrasonic waves into said tissue along a plurality of vectors, receiving reflected ultrasonic waves from the tissue, detecting and counting zero crossings of said reflected ultrasonic waves as reflected from various depths in said tissue, averaging said zero crossings from said reflected waves reflected from the same depths in said tissue along said vectors, and determining tissue attenuation from the averaged zero crossings from said vectors.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of determining ultrasonic wave attenuation of tissue comprising the steps of transmitting a plurality of ultrasonic waves into said tissue along a plurality of vectors, receiving reflected ultrasonic waves from the tissue, detecting and counting zero crossings of said reflected ultrasonic waves as reflected from various depths in said tissue, averaging said zero crossings from said reflected waves reflected from the same depths in said tissue along said vectors, and determining tissue attenuation from the averaged zero crossings from said vectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as defined by claim 1 wherein said step of determining tissue attenuation includes comparing the averaged zero crossing density at a first depth to the averaged zero crossing density at a second depth to determine the ultrasonic attenuation between said first depth and said second depth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
An ultrasonic scanning system for determining ultrasonic wave attenuation in tissue under examination comprising transducer means for transmitting ultrasonic waves into said tissue, detector means for receiving reflected ultrasonic waves and identifying a repetitive feature of said reflected waves, counting means for counting said repetitive feature of ultrasonic waves reflected from various depths in said tissue and obtaining an average thereof, and display means for displaying an image controlled by the averaged frequencies at said various depths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
An ultrasonic scanning system for determining ultrasonic wave attenuation in tissue under examination comprising transducer means for transmitting ultrasonic waves into said tissue, detector means for receiving reflected ultrasonic waves and identifying a repetitive feature of said reflected waves, counting means for counting said repetitive feature of ultrasonic waves reflected from various depths in said tissue and obtaining an average thereof, and display means for displaying an image controlled by the averaged frequencies at said various depths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 2 wherein said means for identifying a repetitive feature comprises a zero crossing detector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein said counting means comprises a plurality of memory bins for accumulating measures of said detected frequencies, each memory bin corresponding to a depth in said tissue, and divider means for dividing the accumulated measures in said memory bins by the number of transmitted ultrasonic waves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
For use in an ultrasonic scanning system for determining ultrasonic wave attenuation in tissue under examination, apparatus comprising detector means for receiving reflected ultrasonic waves and identifying a repetitive feature of said reflected waves, and counting means for counting said repetitive feature of ultrasonic waves reflected from various depths in said tissue and obtaining an average thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
For use in an ultrasonic scanning system for determining ultrasonic wave attenuation in tissue under examination, apparatus comprising detector means for receiving reflected ultrasonic waves and identifying a repetitive feature of said reflected waves, and counting means for counting said repetitive feature of ultrasonic waves reflected from various depths in said tissue and obtaining an average thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 6 wherein said means for identifying a repetitive feature comprises a zero crossing detector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 6 or 7 wherein said counting means comprises a plurality of memory bins for accumulating measures of said detected frequencies, each memory bin corresponding to a depth in said tissue, and divider means for dividing the accumulated measures in said memory bins by the number of transmitted ultrasonic waves.
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) | 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 |