Ultrasound imaging method and apparatus
Patent 5070879 Issued on December 10, 1991. Estimated Expiration Date: 
January 19, 2010. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
January 19, 2010. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 3398422 Ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus Ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus Ultrasonic diagnostic method and apparatus Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus Three-dimensional imaging system Biplane probe including centerline highlighting System of therapeutic ultrasound and real-time ultrasonic scanning Patent #: 4932414 InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 467335 filed on 01/19/1990US Classes:600/444, With mechanical and electronic scanning73/626, Switched600/463With acoustical or display imagingExaminersPrimary: Jaworski, Francis J.Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassA61B 008/00AbstractUltrasound imaging apparatus has a probe disposed on a longitudinal axis. A linear array of ultrasound transducer elements is arranged along the axis of the probe. The array is alternatively held stationary and oscillated relative to the probe about the axis between limits to define a sector. In a first mode, the transducer elements are actuated successively while the array is held stationary to generate a longitudinal rectilinear scan. In a second mode, some of the transducer elements are actuated repeatedly while the array is oscillated to generate a transverse sector scan orthogonal to the longitudinal scan. The echoes received by the transducer elements in the first and second modes are displayed as images of respective orthogonal planes. In either case, the user selects the position of the scan plane within the field of view of the array while the probe is held in a stationary position against the skin of the patient. | |
