Ultrasonic imaging with catalytic elements
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorJoe E. Maskasky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process is disclosed for producing an ultrasonographic image using an element containing a catalyst and a diffusion barrier. When the element is placed into contact with a solution containing a catalyst poison and ultrasound is imagewise applied, the catalyst is selectively poisoned in ultrasonically exposed areas. Thereafter the unpoisoned catalyst remaining is employed to form a viewable image. The catalyst can be electrically biased to avoid poisoning during extended contact with the catalyst poisoning solution in the absence of ultrasound. In one form the catalyst can be generated using a photographic silver halide emulsion.
Claims15
A process of producing an ultrasonographic image comprising
- bringing into contact a transport liquid containing a catalyst poison and an element comprising a support coated with an imaging catalyst and barrier means, the barrier means being interposed between the catalyst poison containing transport liquid and the imaging catalyst to impede diffusion of the catalyst poison,
- exposing the element to ultrasound in an image pattern to accelerate diffusion of the catalyst poison through the barrier means in exposed areas of the element and
- catalyzing an image-forming reaction by the imaging catalyst which remains unpoisoned, so that an image pattern is produced which corresponds to the pattern of ultrasonic exposure.
A process of producing an ultrasonographic image comprising
- bringing into contact a transport liquid containing a silver halide stabilizer as a catalyst poison and an element comprising a support coated with a silver catalyst and a hydrophilic colloid, the latter interposed between the transport liquid and the silver catalyst,
- exposing the element to ultrasound in an image pattern to accelerate diffusion of the silver halide stabilizer through the hydrophilic colloid to the silver catalyst and
- physically developing the element to produce an image pattern which corresponds to the image pattern of ultrasonic exposure.
A process of producing an ultrasonographic image comprising
- bringing into contact an aqueous iodide solution and an element comprising a support coated with a silver catalyst and a hydrophilic colloid, the latter being interposed between the iodide solution and the silver catalyst,
- exposing the element to ultrasound in an image pattern to accelerate diffusion of the iodide through the hydrophilic colloid to the silver catalyst and
- physically developing the element to produce an image pattern which corresponds to the image pattern of ultrasonic exposure.
A process of producing an ultrasonographic image comprising
- bringing into contact a transport liquid containing a catalyst poison and an element comprising a support coated with a silver catalyst and a hydrophilic colloid, the latter being interposed between the silver catalyst and the catalyst poison,
- exposing the element to ultrasound in an image pattern to accelerate diffusion of the catalyst poison through the hydrophilic colloid to the silver catalyst and
- selectively reacting a dye-image-generating reducing agent and an oxidizing agent at the surface of the silver catalyst which remains unpoisoned, the oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent being chosen to be substantially less reactive in the absence of an unpoisoned catalyst surface, so that an image pattern is produced which corresponds to the image pattern of ultrasonic exposure.
A process of producing an ultrasonographic image comprising
- bringing a solution containing a transport liquid and a catalyst poison into contact with an element comprising a conductive portion presenting a catalyst surface and a barrier layer overlying the catalyst surface for impeding diffusion of the catalyst poison,
- electrically biasing the conductive portion to a positive potential in excess of the oxidation potential of the catalyst to inhibit poisoning of the catalyst surface,
- removing the electrical bias and exposing the element to ultrasound in an image pattern to accelerate diffusion of the catalyst poison through the barrier layer to the catalyst surface in ultrasound exposed areas and
- catalyzing an image-forming reaction at the catalyst surface in areas which remain unpoisoned, so that an image pattern is produced which corresponds to the pattern of ultrasonic exposure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.