US5371483A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High intensity guided ultrasound source
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-12-20
•
Granted: 1994-12-06
•
Expires: 2013-12-20
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasound source for transmitting ultrasound along a fiber or rod comprises a thin piezoelectric element having two closely spaced apart concave and convex surfaces and an acoustic intensifier abutting the concave surface. The acoustic intensifier tapers from the concave surface to a narrow cross section. A cylindrical fiber or rod extends from the acoustic intensifier at the narrow cross section.
Inventors
- 👤 Mahesh C. Bhardwaj
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:28
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/24; B; B06; B06B; B06B3/00; B06B3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
An ultrasound source for transmitting ultrasound vibrations along a fiber or rod comprising: a thin piezoelectric element having two closely spaced apart surfaces and having electrodes on each face, one of said faces forming a concave surface and the other a convex surface; a damping substrate abutting the convex surface; an acoustic intensifier abutting the concave surface, said acoustic intensifier tapering from the concave surface to a narrow cross section; and a cylindrical fiber or rod extending from said acoustic intensifier at the narrow cross section, the smallest distance across any section of the cylindrical fiber or rod being greater than one and less than five wavelengths of the ultrasound vibrations generated by the piezoelectric element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
An ultrasound source for transmitting ultrasound vibrations along a fiber or rod comprising: a thin piezoelectric element having two closely spaced apart surfaces and having electrodes on each face, one of said faces forming a concave surface and the other a convex surface; a damping substrate abutting the convex surface; an acoustic intensifier abutting the concave surface, said acoustic intensifier tapering from the concave surface to a narrow cross section; and a cylindrical fiber or rod extending from said acoustic intensifier at the narrow cross section, the smallest distance across any section of the cylindrical fiber or rod being greater than one and less than five wavelengths of the ultrasound vibrations generated by the piezoelectric element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasound source according to claim 1 in which the intensifier and cylindrical fiber or rod meet in the vicinity where the ultrasound vibrations are focused.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The ultrasound source according to claim 2 in which the focal length of the piezoelectric element and intensifier is between about R and about D 2 /4λ where R is the radius of curvature of the concave surface of the piezoelectric element near its geometric center, D is the average length cord across the concave surface of the piezoelectric element and λ is the wavelength of the ultrasound vibrations generated by the piezoelectric element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ultrasound source according to claim 3 wherein the concave surface has a circular edge and a radius of curvature that does not vary more than about 20 percent over the entire surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The ultrasound source according to claim 4 wherein the acoustical intensifier has a conical surface tapering from the circular edge of the concave surface to the narrow cross section, the cylindrical rod or fiber being a circular cylindrical rod or fiber extending from said cross section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultrasound source according to claim 5 wherein the diameter of the circular cylindrical fiber or rod is between one and three wavelengths of the ultrasound vibrations generated by the piezoelectric element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasound source according to claim 1 in which the intensifier occupies a solid angle between π and π/2 steradians.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ultrasound source according to claim 1 in which the maximum angle between a line on the tapered surface of the intensifier and the axis of the cylindrical fiber or rod is between π/3 and π/6 radians.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The ultrasound source according to claim 1 in which the concave surface of the piezoelectric element is substantially spherical and has a substantially circular edge, and in which the acoustical intensifier has a conical surface tapering from the circular edge to the narrow cross section from which a circular cylindrical fiber or rod extends.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasound source according to claim 1, said acoustical intensifier and the fiber or rod having a sound reflective coating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasound source according to claim 1 in which the concave surface is spherical or parabolic.
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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) | 1997-12-05 | 1998-06-06 | 1998-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-05 | 2002-06-06 | 2002-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-05 | 2006-06-06 | 2006-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |