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4406153 Ultrasonic beam characterization device
New Patents
IV
invention enables quantitative determination to be made of the relative acoustic parameters (absorption coefficient, body density) as a function of the location.
4408492 SIGNAL PROCESSING EQUIPMENT FOR ULTRASONIC VISUALIZATION George Kossoff, David E Robinson, Northbridge, Australia assigned to The Commonwealth of Australia
p .-... f
In an exemplary embodiment, the processing techniques of computerized x-ray tomography are applied to improve resolution transverse to the depth direction, for example with the use of compound ultrasonic scanning. In this way, an improved preliminary image for representing non-directionally scattering image points is attained. The ultrasonic echo signals are also processed to provide a preliminary image based predominantly or exclusively on directionally reflecting image points. The respective preliminary images for each image point or point region are then suitably combined to provide a stored ultrasonic image capable of display of the scanned region of improved accuracy, resolution, and freedom from noise.
4406153 In megahertz ultrasonic echoscopy of objects, echoscopes having a time gain compensation facility are often used. To ensure that a uniform ultrasonic echo signal is obtained at a predetermined depth (5) within an object, the present invention varies the sensitivity of the time gain compensation for each pulse of ultrasonic energy (8) used to obtain an echogram of the object. The present invention may include means to vary the slope of the time gain compensation so that at other predetermined depths (6) within the object, echo signals of respective intensities are received, thus overcoming problems due to shadowing by ultrasonically highly absorbing regions of the object. The main application of the invention is in medical diagnosis.
4407163 METHOD FOR PROCESSING ULTRASONIC ECHO SIGNALS OF BOTH DIRECTIONALLY REFLECTING AS WELL AS NON-DIRECTIONALLY SCATTERING OBJECTS, PARTICULARLY FOR ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING IN THE FIELD OF SUBSTANCE OR TISSUE INVESTIGATION Eckart Hundt, Elmar Trautenberg, Haar, Federal Republic Of Germany assigned to Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
ULTRASONIC BEAM CHARACTERIZATION DEVICE Jonatha Ophir, Nabil F Maklad, Paul M Jaeger assigned to Acoustic Standards Corporation
An ultrasound beam charcterization device is provided which may be employed during manufacture of diagnostic ultrasound equipment or during use thereof in the field in order to determine the beam profile of the ultrasonic transducer. The device includes a substantially air tight enclosure or box, having therein a thin element characterized by the properties of substantially uniform acoustic scattering and a different back scatter coefficient than the surrounding filler medium. The element is preferably oriented along or parallel to the axis of radiation of the transducer, and is advantageously in the form of a synthetic resin cellular foam material having a relatively high scattering level, which may be embedded in a different foam of lower scattering level. A reticulated cellular foam and salt solution fill the remaining volume of the preferred device, thereby permitting the imaging of transducer beam profiles in a tissue equivalent material.
IV
invention enables quantitative determination to be made of the relative acoustic parameters (absorption coefficient, body density) as a function of the location.
4408492 SIGNAL PROCESSING EQUIPMENT FOR ULTRASONIC VISUALIZATION George Kossoff, David E Robinson, Northbridge, Australia assigned to The Commonwealth of Australia
p .-... f
In an exemplary embodiment, the processing techniques of computerized x-ray tomography are applied to improve resolution transverse to the depth direction, for example with the use of compound ultrasonic scanning. In this way, an improved preliminary image for representing non-directionally scattering image points is attained. The ultrasonic echo signals are also processed to provide a preliminary image based predominantly or exclusively on directionally reflecting image points. The respective preliminary images for each image point or point region are then suitably combined to provide a stored ultrasonic image capable of display of the scanned region of improved accuracy, resolution, and freedom from noise.
4406153 In megahertz ultrasonic echoscopy of objects, echoscopes having a time gain compensation facility are often used. To ensure that a uniform ultrasonic echo signal is obtained at a predetermined depth (5) within an object, the present invention varies the sensitivity of the time gain compensation for each pulse of ultrasonic energy (8) used to obtain an echogram of the object. The present invention may include means to vary the slope of the time gain compensation so that at other predetermined depths (6) within the object, echo signals of respective intensities are received, thus overcoming problems due to shadowing by ultrasonically highly absorbing regions of the object. The main application of the invention is in medical diagnosis.
4407163 METHOD FOR PROCESSING ULTRASONIC ECHO SIGNALS OF BOTH DIRECTIONALLY REFLECTING AS WELL AS NON-DIRECTIONALLY SCATTERING OBJECTS, PARTICULARLY FOR ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING IN THE FIELD OF SUBSTANCE OR TISSUE INVESTIGATION Eckart Hundt, Elmar Trautenberg, Haar, Federal Republic Of Germany assigned to Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
ULTRASONIC BEAM CHARACTERIZATION DEVICE Jonatha Ophir, Nabil F Maklad, Paul M Jaeger assigned to Acoustic Standards Corporation
An ultrasound beam charcterization device is provided which may be employed during manufacture of diagnostic ultrasound equipment or during use thereof in the field in order to determine the beam profile of the ultrasonic transducer. The device includes a substantially air tight enclosure or box, having therein a thin element characterized by the properties of substantially uniform acoustic scattering and a different back scatter coefficient than the surrounding filler medium. The element is preferably oriented along or parallel to the axis of radiation of the transducer, and is advantageously in the form of a synthetic resin cellular foam material having a relatively high scattering level, which may be embedded in a different foam of lower scattering level. A reticulated cellular foam and salt solution fill the remaining volume of the preferred device, thereby permitting the imaging of transducer beam profiles in a tissue equivalent material.