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US 4,137,777 AGranted
Ultrasonic body scanner and method
AssigneeMediscan, Inc.
InventorsRonald A. Haverl, Milton Stoller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Non-destructive testing with ultrasonic energy is performed by scanning a focused ultrasound beam until a region of interest is detected and rescanning this region with the beam focused at a plurality of depths. Apparatus for ultrasonic body scanning for medical purposes may include an actively driven transducer crystal which may be dynamically focused. A beam of energy produced by the transducer will be coupled to the patient by a liquid path and a movable mirror may be interposed along the liquid path to cause scanning of the beam.
Claims36
A method of non-destructive and non-invasive testing comprising the steps of:
- energizing an ultrasound transducer in such a manner as to cause an intermittent beam of ultrasonic energy having a preselected focal length to be generated;
- directing the generated ultrasonic energy beam to an object to be tested, the focal point of the beam being within the object;
- scanning the beam at a first rate of speed so as to move the beam focus point along a line whereby a sector of the object is tested;
- receiving echoes from the boundries of regions within the object which are characterized by different impedances to the passage of ultrasonic energy;
- displaying the received echoes;
- rescanning the beam along the line at a second rate of speed which is slower than said first rate of speed when an area of interest within the object is observed from the displayed echoes;
- and
- refocusing the beam to a plurality of different focal lengths during the rescanning thereof.
5 more elements
Apparatus for use in the non-destructive and non-invasive testing of objects comprising:
- transducer means, said transducer means including a piezoelectric crystal having disposed on at least one surface thereof an array of coaxial annular electrodes, said transducer means generating a focused beam of ultrasonic energy in response to the application of electrical signals to said electrodes;
- housing means, said housing means supporting said transducer means and having an exit opening for the beam of ultrasonic energy generated by said transducer means, said housing means defining a nonlinear path between said transducer means and said exit opening;
- first flexible means for coupling said housing means exit opening to a test object;
- a liquid disposed in said housing means, said liquid defining the transmission path for the beam of ultrasonic energy from said transducer means to said first flexible member;
- an acoustical mirror disposed in said housing means between said transducer means and said housing means exit opening, said acoustical mirror redirecting the beam of ultrasonic energy generated by transducer means to said exit opening;
- receiver means, said receiver means being electrically connected to said transducer means and being responsive to electrical signals produced by said crystal upon interception by said transducer means of ultrasonic energy returned from within the body by reflection from boundaries between regions characterized by different ultrasound transmission characteristics, said receiver means processing said electrical signals to provide an information containing output signal;
- means connected to said receiver means and responsive to the output of said receiver means for providing a reviewable record of a region of the object being tested;
- driving signal generating means;
- and
- means for coupling driving signals provided by said driving signal generating means to said transducer means annular electrodes.
7 more elements
Apparatus for use in the non-destructive and non-invasive testing of objects comprising:
- transducer means, said transducer means including a piezoelectric crystal and generating a beam of ultrasonic energy in response to electrical stimulation of said crystal;
- means for supporting said transducer means whereby the generated ultrasonic energy will be coupled to a body to be tested;
- receiver means, said receiver means being electrically connected to said transducer means and being responsive to electrical signals produced by said transducer means upon interception by said transducer means of ultrasonic energy returned from within the body by reflection from boundaries between regions characterized by different ultrasound transmission characteristics, said receiver means processing said electrical signals to provide an information containing output signal;
- variable frequency oscillator means for providing periodic output signals in response to gating signals;
- modulator means responsive to the output signals of said oscillator means for producing amplitude modulated signals which increase gradually from a minimum to a maximum level and thereafter decrease gradually to the minimum level;
- means for coupling said amplitude modulated signals to said transducer means to actively drive said transducer means;
- means for generating gating control signals for said oscillator means;
- and
- means for varying the focus of said transducer means.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.