Self diagnostic ultrasonic imaging systems
US5517994A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 1994 |
| Grant date | May 21, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S15/8979
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus are described for testing the integrity of an ultrasonic transducer probe or the ultrasound system connected to the probe. The elements of the transducer are pulsed at a time when the probe is not in contact with a patient and the surface of the probe lens is exposed to the open air. The channel electronics receives the echo signal returned from the lens-air interface and reverberations between this interface and the transducer. These signals are analyzed by a diagnostic processor coupled to the channel electronics for characteristics such as amplitude, time of echo reception, group delay, and other characteristics to determine the possible existence of problems such as faulty transducer elements or connections and problems in the system receive electronics. The diagnostic processor can adaptively adjust an operating characteristic of the system electronics such as gain or time delay to compensate for a detected out of tolerance condition.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.