US5226422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transesophageal echocardiography scanner with rotating image plane
Assignee: Advanced Technology Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1992-05-08
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Granted: 1993-07-13
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Expires: 2012-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A transesophageal echocardiographic scanner includes a rotatable transducer for rotating the image plane of the scanner. The transducer is a circular shaped array of parallel oriented elements which may be operated as a phased or linear array. The transducer is mounted on a bell-shaped backing box with a conical interior surface that directs reverberations from the back of the transducer into damping material which fills the box. The transducer is located in a fluid compartment which is divided by a cover member into an ultrasonic transmission region between the emitting surface of the transducer and the cover, and an adjacent bubble trap region into which bubbles may pass and preferentially remain.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald E. McKeighen
- 👤 Frank B. Oaks
- 👤 Donald S. Lyle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:12
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/445; A61B8/4461
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
An ultrasonic scanner for scanning the body from within the body comprising: a circular shaped ultrasonic transducer comprising a plurality of elongated, parallel oriented, independently operable transducer elements, each of said elements having a substantially constant width along its length; a distal end on which said circular shaped ultrasonic transducer is rotatably mounted; a control unit including means for controlling the rotation of said ultrasonic transducer; and means, coupled between said distal end and said control unit, including means for operationally coupling said controlling means to said distal end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
An ultrasonic scanner for scanning the body from within the body comprising: a circular shaped ultrasonic transducer comprising a plurality of elongated, parallel oriented, independently operable transducer elements, each of said elements having a substantially constant width along its length; a distal end on which said circular shaped ultrasonic transducer is rotatably mounted; a control unit including means for controlling the rotation of said ultrasonic transducer; and means, coupled between said distal end and said control unit, including means for operationally coupling said controlling means to said distal end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 1, wherein said circular shaped ultrasonic transducer further comprises crescent shaped elements at opposite sides of said transducer between which said parallel oriented transducer elements are located.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 2, wherein said crescent shaped elements are inactive during actuation of said parallel oriented transducer elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 1, wherein said circular shaped ultrasonic transducer further comprises a matching layer formed on one surface of said transducer, said matching layer having a circumference which is less than that of said circular shaped ultrasonic transducer so as to leave an exposed periphery about said transducer; and a grounding conductor extending about said exposed periphery and making electrical contact with said parallel oriented transducer elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 1, further comprising a rotatable backing box having a first end on which said circular shaped ultrasonic transducer is mounted and a second end coupled to said operationally coupling means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
134 words
An ultrasonic scanner for scanning the body from within the body comprising: an ultrasonic transducer; a rotatable transducer mount filled with ultrasonic damping material for mounting said ultrasonic transducer with a back surface of said transducer opposing said damping material, said mount having an angled inner surface with respect to said transducer back surface, wherein reverberations travelling normal to said back surface toward said angled inner surface are generally reflected by said angled inner surface toward the center of said ultrasonic damping material; a distal end on which said ultrasonic transducer and rotatable transducer mount are located; a control unit including means for controlling the rotation of said rotatable transducer mount; and means, coupled between said distal end and said control unit, including means for operationally coupling said controlling means to said distal end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
134 words
An ultrasonic scanner for scanning the body from within the body comprising: an ultrasonic transducer; a rotatable transducer mount filled with ultrasonic damping material for mounting said ultrasonic transducer with a back surface of said transducer opposing said damping material, said mount having an angled inner surface with respect to said transducer back surface, wherein reverberations travelling normal to said back surface toward said angled inner surface are generally reflected by said angled inner surface toward the center of said ultrasonic damping material; a distal end on which said ultrasonic transducer and rotatable transducer mount are located; a control unit including means for controlling the rotation of said rotatable transducer mount; and means, coupled between said distal end and said control unit, including means for operationally coupling said controlling means to said distal end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 6, wherein said rotatable transducer mount has a conical inner surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 6, wherein said rotatable transducer mount has a larger open end on which said ultrasonic transducer is mounted and a smaller, opposing open end through which electrical connections to said transducer pass.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 8, wherein said operationally coupling means is coupled to said smaller end of said rotatable transducer mount.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
138 words
An ultrasonic scanner for scanning the body from within the body comprising: an ultrasonic transducer having an ultrasonic wave emitting surface; a distal end on which said ultrasonic transducer is rotatably mounted with its emitting surface facing outwardly; a control unit including means for controlling the rotation of said rotatable transducer mount; and means, coupled between said distal end and said control unit, including means for operationally coupling said controlling means to said distal end; and an ultrasonically transmissive cover overlaying said transducer so as to define an ultrasonic window opposing said transducer emitting surface; and a bubble trap region adjacent said ultrasonic window and extending in the plane of the region between said ultrasonic window and said transducer emitting surface, into which bubbles between said ultrasonic window and said transducer emitting surface will travel and preferentially remain.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
An ultrasonic scanner for scanning the body from within the body comprising: an ultrasonic transducer having an ultrasonic wave emitting surface; a distal end on which said ultrasonic transducer is rotatably mounted with its emitting surface facing outwardly; a control unit including means for controlling the rotation of said rotatable transducer mount; and means, coupled between said distal end and said control unit, including means for operationally coupling said controlling means to said distal end; and an ultrasonically transmissive cover overlaying said transducer so as to define an ultrasonic window opposing said transducer emitting surface; and a bubble trap region adjacent said ultrasonic window and extending in the plane of the region between said ultrasonic window and said transducer emitting surface, into which bubbles between said ultrasonic window and said transducer emitting surface will travel and preferentially remain.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 10, wherein said cover overlays both said transducer and said bubble trap region, said cover further including means for causing bubbles to preferentially remain in said bubble trap region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 11, wherein said means for causing comprises first and second extensions defining a bubble passageway therebetween and angled toward said bubble trap region.
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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) | 1996-07-12 | 1997-01-11 | 1997-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-12 | 2001-01-11 | 2001-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-12 | 2005-01-11 | 2005-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |