Coupling apparatus for ultrasonic medical diagnostic system

US4130112A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventor

• Robert E. Frazer · Tustin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 15, 1976
• Grant date: Dec 19, 1978
• Expiry date: Nov 15, 1996

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S128/915
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Apparatus for the ultrasonic scanning of a breast or other tissue, including a cavity for receiving the breast, a vacuum for drawing the breast into intimate contact with the walls of the cavity, and transducers coupled through a fluid to the cavity to transmit sound waves through the breast. Each transducer lies at the end of a tapered chamber which has flexible walls and which is filled with fluid, so that the transducer can be moved in a raster pattern while the chamber walls flex accordingly, with sound transmission always occurring through the fluid.