Apparatus and methods for controlling sensitivity of transducers
US5585546A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 17, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R17/08
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for controlling electrostrictive transducer sensitivity in a pulse-echo medical ultrasound system. Certain characteristics of each transducer element are tested after manufacture and recorded on a storage medium. The stored data is then used, along with certain model relations, for monitoring certain operational parameters of the transducer during use, and feedback compensation applied for maintaining the transducer sensitivity substantailly constant. The parameters to be monitored may include the temperature, acoustic pressure, input power, and a figure of merit determined from the dielectric constant and coupling coefficient.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.