Universal ultrasound device and related apparatus and methods

US10856840B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Butterfly Network, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jonathan M. Rothberg · Paradise, US
• Susan A. Alie · Stoneham, US
• Nevada J. Sanchez · Guilford, US
• Tyler S. Ralston · Clinton, US
• Christopher Thomas McNulty · Guilford, US
• Jaime Scott Zahorian · Guilford, US
• Paul Francis Cristman · Stanford, US
• Matthew de Jonge · Burlington, US
• Keith G. Fife · Palo Alto, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 25, 2017
• Grant date: Dec 8, 2020
• Expiry date: Jan 25, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N2007/0078
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A universal ultrasound device having an ultrasound includes a semiconductor die; a plurality of ultrasonic transducers integrated on the semiconductor die, the plurality of ultrasonic transducers configured to operate a first mode associated with a first frequency range and a second mode associated with a second frequency range, wherein the first frequency range is at least partially non-overlapping with the second frequency range; and control circuitry configured to: control the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to generate and/or detect ultrasound signals having frequencies in the first frequency range, in response to receiving an indication to operate the ultrasound probe in the first mode; and control the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to generate and/or detect ultrasound signals having frequencies in the second frequency range, in response to receiving an indication to operate the ultrasound probe in the second mode.