Patent · US Expired

Ultrasonic compound scan with rotating transducer

US4649926A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
11References
41Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 23, 1985
Grant dateMar 17, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 23, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG10K11/355
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A real time method and apparatus is disclosed for scanning large body areas to produce an ultrasound cross-sectional picture of a body in which method at least two different and partially overlapping sector scans of the body are carried out in one scanning plane by the pulse-echo method utilizing single ultrasound array. The array is rotatable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the scanning plane and comprises at least a first and a second transducer, disposed in spaced relationship along a circle which is situated in the scanning plane and which is concentric with the axis of rotation. Out of at least two different scans, one is performed with the first transducer and the other with the second, each transducer being used both for the emission of ultrasound pulses and for the reception of echo waves and the position of the axis of rotation with respect to the body remaining unchanged during all the scans.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.