Ultrasound apparatus for medical examinations
US4434799A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 2, 1982 |
| Grant date | Mar 6, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2002 |
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 curved mirror for focusing the acoustic image field received from the gap onto the receiving transducer. The mirror is attached to a rocking device. Thus, the curved mirror is also used for scanning or sweeping the acoustic image field across the receiving transducer. Thus, an image of the object plane under examination is obtained. Preferably, the curved mirror may be filled with a substance having a low velocity of ultrasound as compared to the adjacent fluid medium contained in the second guiding device. This design eliminates the need for a large number of refractive and reflective…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.