US4860758A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple diagnosable distance range ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1987-08-14
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Granted: 1989-08-29
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Expires: 2007-08-14
Abstract
Abstract First and second ultrasonic transducers are provided at the distal end portion of a flexible insertion portion (to serve as a probe) of an endoscope. During diagnosis, the distal end portion of insertion portion is fixed in a tubular organ by a balloon which is filled with water. Ultrasonic lenses having different focal distances are mounted on the transducers. The resonance frequencies of the transducers differ from each other. The transducers are rotated about a shaft of the insertion portion by a motor, in order to mechanically radial-scan an object to be examined. A relay box for supplying a drive signal to the transducers is connected to the endoscope, and a diagnositc device with a display is connected to the relay box. The relay box includes first and second transmitting circuits, and output drive pulses therefrom are supplied to the transducers. The relay box also comprises a switch and a switching circuit connected to the transmitting circuits for selecting one of the transmitting circuits by operating the switch. Therefore, only a selected one of the transmitting circuits supplies the drive pulse to the transducer. An ultrasonic echo signal received by the transducer is supplied to the diagnostic device to display a tomographic image.
Inventors
- 👤 Yutaka Yanagawa
- 👤 Akira Taniguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/44; A61B8/4483; A61B8/4488; G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/5206; A61B8/4444; A61B8/445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a plurality of transducer means scanned in a predetermined cycle and having different resonance frequencies; drive pulse generating means for periodically generating a drive pulse having a constant pulse width in synchronism with scanning of said ultrasonic transducer means; pulse width adjusting means for adjusting a pulse width of the drive pulse in accordance with a resonance frequency of a selected one of said ultrasonic transducer means, to apply it to said selected one of said ultrasonic transducer means; means for amplifying an echo signal from said transducer means; means for A/D converting the amplified echo signal and writing the converted signal in a memory provided in a diagnostic device; means for reading out data from the memory in accordance with an operation of display means; and means for D/A converting and displaying the readout data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a plurality of transducer means scanned in a predetermined cycle and having different resonance frequencies; drive pulse generating means for periodically generating a drive pulse having a constant pulse width in synchronism with scanning of said ultrasonic transducer means; pulse width adjusting means for adjusting a pulse width of the drive pulse in accordance with a resonance frequency of a selected one of said ultrasonic transducer means, to apply it to said selected one of said ultrasonic transducer means; means for amplifying an echo signal from said transducer means; means for A/D converting the amplified echo signal and writing the converted signal in a memory provided in a diagnostic device; means for reading out data from the memory in accordance with an operation of display means; and means for D/A converting and displaying the readout data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said pulse width adjusting means comprises a differential circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said pulse width adjusting means comprises a monostable multivibrator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
138 words
An ultrasonic endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope having an endoscope main body including an insertion portion and a hand operating portion, and a plurality of ultrasonic transducer means provided at the distal end of said insertion portion and having different resonant frequencies; scanning means for changing directions of ultrasonic waves transmitted from said plurality of ultrasonic transducer means; selecting means for selecting one of said plurality of ultrasonic transducer means; and signal processing means for applying a drive signal corresponding to the resonant frequency of a selected one of said ultrasonic transducer means to only said selected one of said ultrasonic transducer means and for processing a received signal from only said selected one of said ultrasonic transducer means; means for generating a signal representing a reference position to display an image upon selection of said transducer means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
138 words
An ultrasonic endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope having an endoscope main body including an insertion portion and a hand operating portion, and a plurality of ultrasonic transducer means provided at the distal end of said insertion portion and having different resonant frequencies; scanning means for changing directions of ultrasonic waves transmitted from said plurality of ultrasonic transducer means; selecting means for selecting one of said plurality of ultrasonic transducer means; and signal processing means for applying a drive signal corresponding to the resonant frequency of a selected one of said ultrasonic transducer means to only said selected one of said ultrasonic transducer means and for processing a received signal from only said selected one of said ultrasonic transducer means; means for generating a signal representing a reference position to display an image upon selection of said transducer means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
159 words
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a plurality of ultrasonic transducer means (14,16) having different resonant frequencies; transmitting means (24), connected to said ultrasonic transducer means, for supplying a drive signal to only a selected one of said ultrasonic transducer means, said transmitting means including means for generating a rate pulse, a plurality of drive pulse generating means (26, 28) respectively connected to said ultrasonic transducer means, for applying drive pulses to said ultrasonic transducer means, in accordance with the rate pulse, the drive pulses corresponding to the resonant frequency of the plurality of ultrasonic transducer means, respectively and switching means for supplying the rate pulse to one of said plurality of drive pulse generating means; receiving means (76, 78), connected to said ultrasonic transducer means, for processing a received signal from only said selected one of said ultrasonic transducer means, to generate an image signal; and reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal for displaying an image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
159 words
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a plurality of ultrasonic transducer means (14,16) having different resonant frequencies; transmitting means (24), connected to said ultrasonic transducer means, for supplying a drive signal to only a selected one of said ultrasonic transducer means, said transmitting means including means for generating a rate pulse, a plurality of drive pulse generating means (26, 28) respectively connected to said ultrasonic transducer means, for applying drive pulses to said ultrasonic transducer means, in accordance with the rate pulse, the drive pulses corresponding to the resonant frequency of the plurality of ultrasonic transducer means, respectively and switching means for supplying the rate pulse to one of said plurality of drive pulse generating means; receiving means (76, 78), connected to said ultrasonic transducer means, for processing a received signal from only said selected one of said ultrasonic transducer means, to generate an image signal; and reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal for displaying an image.
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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) | 1992-08-28 | 1993-02-27 | 1993-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-28 | 1997-02-27 | 1997-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-28 | 2001-02-27 | 2001-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |