Patent US4644214A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4644214A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Probe for electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1986-06-26
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Granted: 1987-02-17
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Expires: 2006-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A probe for an electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which a plurality of real transducers and one or more pseudo-transducers are arranged in a row on a supporting plate. In order to equalize the ultrasonic directivity characteristics of each of the real transducers, the pseudo-transducers are arranged adjacent to the real transducers which are located at the ends of the row, and have approximately the same shape and dimensions as the real transducers.
Inventors
- 👤 Kinya Takamizawa
- 👤 Isao Uchiumi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0607; B06B1/0622; B82; B82Y; B82Y15/00; G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8909; G01S15/8915; G01S15/8918
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A probe for an electric scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a supporting plate; a linear array of electro-accoustic transducers arranged in a row on said supporting plate and having equal intervals between consecutive transducers, each transducer having electrical connections for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; a pair of electrically passive pseudo-transducers arranged on the supporting plate, with one pseudo-transducer at each end of the row of transducers, said pseudo-transducers being made of the same material and being of the same shape and dimensions as the transducers, the interval between the pseudo-transducer and the end transducer in the row being the same interval as between consecutive transducers in the row; whereby the ultrasonic directivity characteristics of the end transducers are made similar to those of the other transducers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A probe for an electric scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a supporting plate; a linear array of electro-accoustic transducers arranged in a row on said supporting plate and having equal intervals between consecutive transducers, each transducer having electrical connections for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; a pair of electrically passive pseudo-transducers arranged on the supporting plate, with one pseudo-transducer at each end of the row of transducers, said pseudo-transducers being made of the same material and being of the same shape and dimensions as the transducers, the interval between the pseudo-transducer and the end transducer in the row being the same interval as between consecutive transducers in the row; whereby the ultrasonic directivity characteristics of the end transducers are made similar to those of the other transducers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A probe for electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the pseudo-transducers has a pair of electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A probe for electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 1, wherein one or more electrically passive end pieces are provided adjacent to each of the pseudo-transducers, on the side thereof distant from the transducers, said end pieces being wider than the pseudo-transducers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A probe for electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the end pieces has a pair of electrodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A probe for electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 1, wherein an acoustic lens for concentrating transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is superimposed on the transducers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A probe for electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the acoustic lens extends over both the transducers and the pseudo-transducers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A probe for electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an acoustic lens for concentrating transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is superimposed on the transducers, the pseudo-transducers and the end pieces.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-02-16 | 1990-08-18 | 1991-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-16 | 1994-08-18 | 1995-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-16 | 1998-08-18 | 1999-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |