US5964709A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable ultrasound imaging system
Assignee: TeraTech Corp
•
Filing: 1996-06-28
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Granted: 1999-10-12
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Expires: 2016-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A portable ultrasound imaging system (10) includes a scan head (12) coupled by a cable (16) to a portable battery-powered data processor (14) and display unit. The scan head enclosure (12) houses an array of ultrasonic transducers and the circuitry associated therewith, including pulse synchronizer circuitry used in the transmit mode for transmission of ultrasonic pulses and beam forming circuitry used in the receive mode to dynamically focus reflected ultrasonic signals returning from the region of interest being imaged.
Inventors
- 👤 Alice M. Chiang
- 👤 Steven R. Broadstone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/44; A61B8/4427; A61B8/46; A61B8/461; A61B8/463; A61B8/42; A61B8/4209; A61B8/4236; G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8909; G01S15/8915; G01S15/8934; G01S15/8979; G01S7/00; G01S7/003; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/5206; G01S7/52063; G01S7/52073; G01S7/52079; G01S7/5208; A61B2560/00; A61B2560/04; A61B2560/0443; A61B2560/045; A61B7/00; A61B7/02; A61B7/04; A61B8/12; A61B8/4444; A61B8/4455; A61B8/4472; A61B8/4483; A61B8/4488; A61B8/56; G01S15/899; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52025; G01S7/52026; G01S7/52046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of scanning a region of interest with ultrasound energy to image the region of interest comprising: providing a portable ultrasound imaging system including a transducer array and a beamforming circuit within a handheld probe, a data processing system, and a wireless interface that connects the handheld probe to the data processing system; delivering ultrasound energy to the region of interest; collecting ultrasound energy returning to the transducer array from the region of interest; and transmitting data from the probe to the data processing system with the wireless interface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of scanning a region of interest with ultrasound energy to image the region of interest comprising: providing a portable ultrasound imaging system including a transducer array and a beamforming circuit within a handheld probe, a data processing system, and a wireless interface that connects the handheld probe to the data processing system; delivering ultrasound energy to the region of interest; collecting ultrasound energy returning to the transducer array from the region of interest; and transmitting data from the probe to the data processing system with the wireless interface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising generating an image of an object within the region of interest.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising generating a colored image of the object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a beamforming circuit including a plurality of programmable tapped delay lines.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a hand-held probe having a circuit board on which circuit elements are mounted, the circuit elements including a charged coupled device integrated circuit connected to an analog to digital converter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a data processing system further comprises providing a battery powered portable computer having a graphical user interface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the image in one of a plurality of windows of a display connected to the data processing system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A portable ultrasound system for scanning a region of interest with ultrasound energy to image the region of interest comprising: a hand-held probe housing in which a transducer array and a beamforming circuit are mounted; a data processing system that forms an electronic representation of the region of interest; and a wireless interface that connects the handheld probe to the processing system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A portable ultrasound system for scanning a region of interest with ultrasound energy to image the region of interest comprising: a hand-held probe housing in which a transducer array and a beamforming circuit are mounted; a data processing system that forms an electronic representation of the region of interest; and a wireless interface that connects the handheld probe to the processing system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 8 further comprising a flat panel display that displays an image of the region of interest.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the beamforming circuit comprises a plurality of programmable tapped delay lines.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 8 further comprising a circuit board within the probe housing, the circuit board having a beamforming integrated circuit mounted thereon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 8 further comprising a display and a battery in the probe housing such that the battery provides power to the portable computer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 8 further comprising an interface unit between the probe housing and the processing system.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of scanning a region of interest with ultrasound energy to image the region of interest comprising: providing a portable ultrasound imaging system including a transducer array and a beamforming circuit within a handheld probe, a data processing system, and a wireless interface that connects the handheld probe to the data processing system; delivering ultrasound energy to material within the region of interest; collecting ultrasound energy returning to the transducer array from the material; and generating an image of the material from the ultrasound energy detected by the transducer array.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of scanning a region of interest with ultrasound energy to image the region of interest comprising: providing a portable ultrasound imaging system including a transducer array and a beamforming circuit within a handheld probe, a data processing system, and a wireless interface that connects the handheld probe to the data processing system; delivering ultrasound energy to material within the region of interest; collecting ultrasound energy returning to the transducer array from the material; and generating an image of the material from the ultrasound energy detected by the transducer array.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising generating an image of an object moving within the region of interest.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising performing beamforming on an electronic representation of the region of interest; processing the electronic representation; and performing scan conversion on the doppler processed representation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising performing a beamforming operation using a plurality of programmable tapped delay lines.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising connecting the handheld probe to the data processing system, the data processing system comprising a portable computer with a flat panel display.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising performing a digital to analog conversion on the beamformed representation in the handheld probe.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a control circuit formed on an integrated circuit with the beamforming circuit.
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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) | 2002-10-11 | 2003-04-12 | 2003-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-11 | 2007-04-12 | 2007-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-11 | 2011-04-12 | 2011-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |