US4932414A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System of therapeutic ultrasound and real-time ultrasonic scanning
Assignee: RIVERSIDE RESEARCH INSTITUTE 330 WEST 42ND STREET NEW YORK NEW YORK 10036
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Filing: 1987-11-02
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Granted: 1990-06-12
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Expires: 2007-11-02
Abstract
Abstract A system is described for obtaining in real-time cross-sectional and 3-dimensional images of a body under study using ultrasonic energy. A piezoelectric transducer is positioned to emit ultrasonic energy and receive echo pulses. The transducer is electronically swept or physically rotated to produce a series of sectored scan planes which are separated by a known angular distance. The echo pulses are processed to produce an ultrasonic image in pseudo 3-dimensional display. By using data from one scan plane, processed as a B-scan image, cross-sectional data can be obtained. Such is combined in a display with an overlay to visually portray the object and positioning information or comparative data. The system is combined with a computer for data analysis and a therapeutic transducer for treatment.
Inventors
- 👤 D. Jackson Coleman
- 👤 Frederic L. Lizzi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:57
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/13; A61B8/14; A61N; A61N7/00; A61N7/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A system for obtaining 3-dimensional ultrasonic images of an object under study comprising: an ultrasonic transducer assembly, said transducer assembly producing ultrasonic pulses directed toward said object and producing 2-dimensional data from a radio frequency output in response to ultrasonic echo pulses received, means to generate 2-dimensional data in sequential scan planes separated from each other by an angular increment, means to determine the angular increment between said sequential scan planes and produce output position signals and, signal processing means receiving said 2-dimensional data from said ultrasonic transducer assembly and the output position signals from said means to determine the angular increment and generating 3-dimensional cross-sectional data of said object, wherein said means to generate sequential scan planes comprises a handle coupled to said transducer assembly, said handle manually movable to rotate said ultrasonic transducer assembly about an axis perpendicular to said scan plane.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A system for obtaining 3-dimensional ultrasonic images of an object under study comprising: an ultrasonic transducer assembly, said transducer assembly producing ultrasonic pulses directed toward said object and producing 2-dimensional data from a radio frequency output in response to ultrasonic echo pulses received, means to generate 2-dimensional data in sequential scan planes separated from each other by an angular increment, means to determine the angular increment between said sequential scan planes and produce output position signals and, signal processing means receiving said 2-dimensional data from said ultrasonic transducer assembly and the output position signals from said means to determine the angular increment and generating 3-dimensional cross-sectional data of said object, wherein said means to generate sequential scan planes comprises a handle coupled to said transducer assembly, said handle manually movable to rotate said ultrasonic transducer assembly about an axis perpendicular to said scan plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means to generate sequential scan planes comprises an electrical motor coupled to said transducer assembly to rotate said ultrasonic transducer assembly about an axis perpendicular to said scan plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said motor is a stepper motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said means to determine the angular increment comprises means to provide a predetermined input voltage to said stepper motor wherein said predetermined input voltage causes a known rotation of said motor to produce a known angular rotation in said transducer assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said means to generate sequential scan planes comprises a handle coupled to said transducer assembly and manually moved to rotate said ultrasonic transducer assembly about an axis perpendicular to said scan plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means to determine the angular position comprises an optical encoder mounted to said transducer to sense rotation thereof and generate said output position signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means to determine the angular position comprises a position encoding potentiometer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said transducer comprises piezoelectric array and said means to generate sequential scan planes of ultrasonic echo pulses comprises means for controlling excitation pulses to each element in said array.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said means to determine the angular increment between said sequential scan planes comprises control means to determine the order of excitation pulses to each element in said array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a therapeutic transducer assembly coupled to said ultrasonic transducer assembly, said therapeutic transducer including means producing a high energy ultasonic beam focused to converge at a focal point and wherein said scan planes of said ultrasonic transducer overlap said high energy ultasonic beam and said focal point.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 10 further comprising means to excite said therapeutic transducer assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic transducer assembly comprises a piezoelectric transducer, and further comprising a real-time B-scan module to excite said piezoelectric transducer and to process said radio frequency output signals and a beam display module to produce a B-scan output.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 12 further comprising computer means to receive the B-scan output for analysis of the object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 12 further comprising display means receiving said B-scan output from one of said scan planes in real-time, said display means having an overlay representing positioning data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said overlay contains an outline of a therapeutic beam and its focal point.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 12 further comprising means to rotate said piezoelectric transducer about an axis perpendicular to a scan plane, whereby a scan sector in said scan plane is shifted.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a therapeutic transducer, means defining a feedback path from said signal processing means to said therapeutic transducer to vary the output thereof in real-time based on analysis of tissue by said signal processing means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said ultrasonic transducer is a B-scan device and said signal processing means receives said radio frequency output of said B-scan device for tissue analysis based on predetermined operational parameters.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of therapeutic transducers positioned at spaced locations, means to move any one of said plurality of therapeutic transducers to a new position while another of said plurality of therapeutic transducers is excited to produce a therapeutic beam.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising means to determine the volume of said object based on said 3-dimensional cross-sectional data.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
113 words
A system for obtaining 3-dimensional ultrasonic images of an object under study comprising: an ultrasonic transducer assembly, said transducer assembly producing ultrasonic pulses directed toward said object and producing 2-dimensional data from a radio frequency output in response to ultrasonic echo pulses received, means to generate 2-dimensional data in sequential scan planes separated from each other by an angular increment, position encoding potentiometer means to determine the angular increment between said sequential scan planes and produce output position signals and, signal processing means receiving said 2-dimensional data from said ultrasonic transducer assembly and the output position signals from said means to determine the angular increment and generating 3-dimensional cross-sectional data of said object.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
113 words
A system for obtaining 3-dimensional ultrasonic images of an object under study comprising: an ultrasonic transducer assembly, said transducer assembly producing ultrasonic pulses directed toward said object and producing 2-dimensional data from a radio frequency output in response to ultrasonic echo pulses received, means to generate 2-dimensional data in sequential scan planes separated from each other by an angular increment, position encoding potentiometer means to determine the angular increment between said sequential scan planes and produce output position signals and, signal processing means receiving said 2-dimensional data from said ultrasonic transducer assembly and the output position signals from said means to determine the angular increment and generating 3-dimensional cross-sectional data of said object.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for obtaining 3-dimensional ultrasonic images of an object under study comprising: an ultrasonic transducer assembly, said transducer assembly producing ultrasonic pulses directed toward said object and producing 2-dimensional data from a radio frequency output in response to ultrasonic echo pulses received, means to generate 2-dimensional data in sequential scan planes separated from each other by an angular increment, means to determine the angular increment between said sequential scan planes and produce output position signals, signal processing means receiving said 2-dimensional data from said ultrasonic transducer assembly and the output position signal from said means to determine the angular increment and generating 3-dimensional cross-sectional data of said object, a plurality of therapeutic transducers positioned at spaced locations, and means to move any one of said plurality of therapeutic transducers to a new position while another of said plurality of therapeutic transducers is excited to produce a therapeutic beam.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for obtaining 3-dimensional ultrasonic images of an object under study comprising: an ultrasonic transducer assembly, said transducer assembly producing ultrasonic pulses directed toward said object and producing 2-dimensional data from a radio frequency output in response to ultrasonic echo pulses received, means to generate 2-dimensional data in sequential scan planes separated from each other by an angular increment, means to determine the angular increment between said sequential scan planes and produce output position signals, signal processing means receiving said 2-dimensional data from said ultrasonic transducer assembly and the output position signal from said means to determine the angular increment and generating 3-dimensional cross-sectional data of said object, a plurality of therapeutic transducers positioned at spaced locations, and means to move any one of said plurality of therapeutic transducers to a new position while another of said plurality of therapeutic transducers is excited to produce a therapeutic beam.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for obtaining 3-dimensional ultrasonic images of an object under study comprising: a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer assembly, said transducer assembly producing ultrasonic pulses directed toward said object and producing 2-dimensional data from a radio frequency output in response to ultrasonic echo pulses received, means to generate 2-dimensional data in sequential scan planes separated from each other by an angular increment, means to determine the angular increment between said sequential scan planes and produce output position signals, signal processing means receiving said 2-dimensional data from said ultrasonic transducer assembly and the output position signals from said means to determine the angular increment and generating 3-dimensional cross-sectional data of said object, a real-time B-scan module to excite said piezoelectric transducer and to process said radio frequency output signals, a beam display module to produce a B-scan output, and display means receiving said B-scan output from one of said scan planes in real-time, said display means having an overlay representing positioning data.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for obtaining 3-dimensional ultrasonic images of an object under study comprising: a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer assembly, said transducer assembly producing ultrasonic pulses directed toward said object and producing 2-dimensional data from a radio frequency output in response to ultrasonic echo pulses received, means to generate 2-dimensional data in sequential scan planes separated from each other by an angular increment, means to determine the angular increment between said sequential scan planes and produce output position signals, signal processing means receiving said 2-dimensional data from said ultrasonic transducer assembly and the output position signals from said means to determine the angular increment and generating 3-dimensional cross-sectional data of said object, a real-time B-scan module to excite said piezoelectric transducer and to process said radio frequency output signals, a beam display module to produce a B-scan output, and display means receiving said B-scan output from one of said scan planes in real-time, said display means having an overlay representing positioning data.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for obtaining 3-dimensional ultrasonic images of an object under study comprising: a rotatable ultrasonic transducer assembly, said transducer assembly producing ultrasonic pulses directed toward said object and producing 2-dimensional data from a radio frequency output in response to ultrasonic echo pulses received, means to generate 2-dimensional data in sequential scan planes separated from each other by an angular increment, optical encoder means mounted to said transducer assembly to determine the angular increment between said sequential scan planes and produce output position signals by sensing rotation of said assembly and, signal processing means receiving said 2-dimensional data from said ultrasonic transducer assembly and the output position signals from said means to determine the angular increment and generating 3-dimensional cross-sectional data of said object.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for obtaining 3-dimensional ultrasonic images of an object under study comprising: a rotatable ultrasonic transducer assembly, said transducer assembly producing ultrasonic pulses directed toward said object and producing 2-dimensional data from a radio frequency output in response to ultrasonic echo pulses received, means to generate 2-dimensional data in sequential scan planes separated from each other by an angular increment, optical encoder means mounted to said transducer assembly to determine the angular increment between said sequential scan planes and produce output position signals by sensing rotation of said assembly and, signal processing means receiving said 2-dimensional data from said ultrasonic transducer assembly and the output position signals from said means to determine the angular increment and generating 3-dimensional cross-sectional data of said object.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 24, wherein said means to generate sequential scan planes comprises a handle coupled to said transducer assembly which is manually movable to rotate said ultrasonic transducer assembly about an axis perpendicular to said scan plane.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 23 further comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers for diagnostic application.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said means to determine the angular position comprises an optical encoder mounted to said transducer to sense rotation thereof and generate said output position signals.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said means to determine the angular position comprises a position encoding potentiometer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said means to generate sequential scan planes comprises an electrical motor coupled to said transducer assembly to rotate said ultrasonic transducer assembly about an axis perpendicular to said scan plane.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 29 wherein said motor is a stepper motor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 30 wherein said means to determine the angular increment comprises means to provide a predetermined input voltage to said stepper motor wherein said predetermined input voltage causes a known rotation of said motor to produce a known angular rotation in said transducer assembly.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said transducer comprises piezoelectric array and said means to generate sequential scan planes of ultrasonic echo pulses comprises means for controlling excitation pulses to each element in said array.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 32 wherein said means to determine the angular increment between said sequential scan planes comprises control means to determine the order of excitation pulses to each element in said array.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 21 further comprising a therapeutic transducer assembly coupled to said ultrasonic transducer assembly, said therapeutic transducer including means producing a high energy ultrasonic beam focused to converge at a focal point and wherein said scan planes of said ultrasonic transducer overlap said high energy ultrasonic beam and said focal point.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 34 further comprising means to excite said therapeutic transducer assembly.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said ultrasonic transducer assembly comprises a piezoelectric transducer, and further comprising a real-time B-scan module to excite said piezoelectric transducer and to process said radio frequency output signals and a beam display module to produce a B-scan output.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 36 further comprising computer means to receive the B-scan output for analysis of the object.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 36 further comprising display means receiving said B-scan output from one of said scan planes in real-time, said display means having an overlay representing positioning data.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 38 wherein said overlay contains an outline of a therapeutic beam and its focal point.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 36 further comprising means to rotate said piezoelectric transducer about an axis perpendicular to a scan plane, whereby a scan sector in said scan plane is shifted.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 21 further comprising a therapeutic transducer, means defining a feedback path from said signal processing means to said therapeutic transducer to vary the output thereof in real-time based on tissue analysis of said signal processing means.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 41 wherein said ultrasonic transducer is a B-scan device and said signal processing means receives said radio frequency output of said B-scan device for tissue analysis based on predetermined operational parameters.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 21 further comprising a plurality of therapeutic transducers positioned at spaced locations, means to move any one of said plurality of therapeutic transducers to a new position while another of said plurality of therapeutic transducers is excited to produce a therapeutic beam.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 21 further comprising means to determine the volume of said object based on said 3-dimensional cross-sectional data.
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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) | 1993-06-11 | 1993-12-11 | 1994-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-11 | 1997-12-11 | 1998-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-11 | 2001-12-11 | 2002-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |