Ultrasonograph
US8292817B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 2008 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 29, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/726
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ultrasonograph contains a probe provided with a transmitting/receiving ultrasonic transducer at the center thereof, and the probe has a transmitting ultrasonic transducer and a receiving ultrasonic transducer which are symmetrically movable with respect to the transmitting/receiving ultrasonic transducer. Contacting the probe with the skin of a diagnosis area, a direction of the probe is adjusted to be perpendicular to the diagnosis object using echo signals of the transducer. Then the echo signals of the transmitting ultrasonic transducer and the transmitting/receiving ultrasonic transducer, and a distance between the ultrasonic transducers are processed to obtain a signal intensity. Results are displayed on a display to indicate the thickness, hardness of an articular cartilage, and a surface condition thereof visually so that it is possible to diagnose the articular cartilage without inserting a probe into the cavitas articulare.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.