# US 10,481,260 B2 · Ultrasound imaging probe for imaging a temporary change in an environment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,260 B2 - Document ID: US10481260B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/092,699 - Filed: 2007-08-03 - Published: 2009-06-11 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2006-08-22 - Assignees: Super Sonic Imagine - Applicants: Jérémy Bercoff; Claude Cohen-Bacrie; Jacques Souquet - Inventors: Jérémy Bercoff; Claude Cohen-Bacrie; Jacques Souquet - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481260B2 ## CPC - G01S 15/8918: {the array being linear} - A61B 5/0053: {by applying pressure, e.g. compression, indentation, palpation, grasping, gauging} - A61B 8/08: Clinical applications (A61B8/02, A61B8/04, A61B8/06 take precedence) - A61B 8/4281: {characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue} - A61B 8/485: {involving measuring strain or elastic properties} - G01S 7/52022: {using a sequence of pulses, at least one pulse manipulating the transmissivity or reflexivity of the medium} - G01S 7/52042: {determining elastic properties of the propagation medium or of the reflective target (diagnostic techniques involving the measurement of strain A61B8/485)} - G01S 15/8952: {using discrete, multiple frequencies} - G01S 7/52036: {using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation} - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging probe for imaging a medium (10), comprising two types of transducers, characterized in that the first type of transducer(s) (1) is dedicated to ultrasonic imaging of the medium (10), and the second type of transducer(s) (2) is dedicated to generating a stress producing at least one transient modification of the imaged medium (10), both types of transducer(s) (1, 2) being able to operate at least in a so-called coupled mode where the first type of transducer(s) (1) operates in a synchronized way with the second type of transducer(s) (2) so as to image the time course of the transient modification of the medium (10). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasonic imaging probe for imaging a medium, comprising: a first type of ultrasonic transducers configured to perform an ultrasonic imaging of the medium, having a first focus in the medium and a first resonance frequency, and a second type of ultrasonic transducers configured to generate a stress producing transient movements of the imaged medium, having a second focus in the medium and a second resonance frequency, wherein the second focus generates said stress producing transient movements as deep as depth of ultrasonic imaging obtained with the first focus, and the second resonance frequency is lower than the first resonance frequency, the first and the second types of ultrasonic transducers having different focuses so that field of said stress producing transient movements is larger than field of said ultrasonic imaging while maintaining said probe in a fixed position relative to said medium, the first and the second types being configured to operate at least in a coupled mode wherein the first and the second types are synchronized so as to image the medium during progression of the transient movements to obtain images of progression of transient modification of the medium. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The probe according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second types of transducers have distinct geometrical and acoustic characteristics. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The probe according to claim 1, wherein the stress is propagative, the second type of transducers being synchronized while taking into account characteristics of a propagation of the stress. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The probe according to claim 3, wherein the stress producing transient movements is a mechanical stress by ultrasonic radiation pressure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The probe according to claim 1, wherein the transducers of the first type are positioned linearly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The probe according to claim 1, wherein the transducers of the second type are distributed in two lines positioned on either side of the transducers of the first type. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The probe according to claim 1, wherein both the first and the second types of transducers are provided with independent elevational focusing lenses. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The probe according to claim 1, wherein both types of transducers are controlled via independent electronic routes and arranged to be controlled synchronously. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The probe according to claim 1, wherein the transient movements include shearing movements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The probe according to claim 1, wherein the transient modification includes transient movements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An ultrasonic imaging probe according to claim 1, wherein at least the first type or the second type of ultrasonic transducers has a lens in front thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the second type of ultrasonic transducers are configured to generate the stress producing transient movements at more than 40 mm into the imaged medium. ### Claim 13 An ultrasonic imaging probe for imaging a medium, comprising: a first type of ultrasonic transducers configured to perform an ultrasonic imaging of the medium, having a first focus in the medium and a first resonance frequency, and a second type of ultrasonic transducers configured to generate a stress producing a transient movements of the imaged medium, having a second focus in the medium and a second resonance frequency, wherein the second focus generates said stress producing transient movements as deep as depth of ultrasonic imaging obtained with the first focus, and the second resonance frequency is lower than first resonance frequency, the first and second types of ultrasonic transducer having different focuses so that field of said stress producing transient movements is larger than field of said ultrasonic imaging while maintaining said probe in a fixed position relative to said medium, the first and the second types being configured to operate at least in a coupled mode wherein the first and the second types are synchronized so as to image the medium during progression of the transient movements to obtain images of progression of transient modification of the medium, and the second type of ultrasonic transducers have a focus in the medium deeper than a further focus of the first type of ultrasonic transducers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An ultrasonic probe according to claim 13, wherein at least the first type or the second type of ultrasonic transducers has a lens in front thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) An ultrasonic probe according to claim 13, wherein the second type of ultrasonic transducers are configured to generate the stress producing transient movements at more than 40 mm into the imaged medium.