Confocal ultrasonic imaging system
US5535751A · kind A · utility
14Cited by
3References
8Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jul 16, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S128/916
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ultrasonic imaging system incorporates an imaging device utilizing confocal acoustic focusing of ultrasonic transducers together with apparatus for moving points of focus of the transducers to scan a volume to be imaged and gather data as to the acoustic reflectivity of matter within the volume, the gathered data being used to construct an image of the volume. In a preferred arrangement the point of focus of each transducer is moved in three dimensions. Use of confocal techniques can permit enhanced resolution to be obtained compared with conventional ultrasonic imaging techniques.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.