Compact ultrasound apparatus for medical examination
US4433690A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 20, 1981 |
| Grant date | Feb 28, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 20, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S128/915
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The apparatus incorporates an ultrasonic wave-generating transducer for providing ultrasonic waves, a first and a second ultrasound window, a first guiding device for guiding the ultrasonic waves to the first window, an ultrasonic receiving transducer for transforming an acoustic image field received from the second window into electrical signals, and a second guiding device for guiding ultrasound transmitted through the second window to the receiving transducer. The ultrasound windows define an examination gap for insonifying a patient's organ positioned therein. The apparatus further incorporates a lens for focusing the acoustic image field received from the gap onto the receiving transducer. A mirror device, preferably a plane mirror, is associated with the second guiding device. This mirror deflects ultrasound energy that passes through the gap in a direction which is different from the main insonification direction in the gap. The second guiding device may comprise a compact scanning means for sweeping the acoustic image field across the receiving transducer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.