Hoffmann-la Roche Inc.

Kontron Holding Ag

Kontron Instruments Holdings Nv

Kontron Instruments Holding Nv

Christoph B Burckhardt

Pierre-Andre Grandchamp

Heinz Hoffmann

Peter Krummenacher

Rainer Fehr

Claude Schlaepfer

John G Abbott

Bruno M Dousse

Pierre-Andre Grandechamp

For reducing speckle in echo signals derived from reflections of pulsed coherent waves, the echo signals are subjected to amplitude and phase/frequency demodulation and the resultant amplitude and phase/frequency data are multiplied to generate an image signal. Selective control of the multiplication process may be provided in accordance with signal amplitude and/or signal-to-noise ratio.

Production of images

Doppler Flow Velocity Meter for the irradiation of a fluid with pulses of ultrasonic waves which are fed at a predetermined pulse repetition frequency, and for the reception of echo waves reflected by fluid particles and to emit corresponding echo signals; and having receiver connected to an ultrasonic transducer for the reception and processing of echo signals which correspond to at least two different echo waves, which are reflected by the particles in a fixed point of the flow path in response to a first and a second wave pulse emitted, in which the adjacent but separate frequency bands of the echo signal are each processed in a separate signal processing channel;

Doppler flow velocity meter

A real-time method and appartus is disclosed for scanning large body areas to produce an ultrasound cross-sectional picture of the area in which at least two different and partially overlapping sector scans of the body are carried out in one scanning plane by the pulse-echo method utilizing an ultrasound transducer unit having a rigid transducer which is pivotable about an axis of oscillation perpendicular to the scanning plane, which performs an oscillatory movement about the axis of oscillation and between two end positions on each scan, and which is segmented into adjacent transducer elements. In performing the scans, at least two different transducer sets are used, each containing one or more transducer elements, each transducer set being used both for the emission of the ultrasound pulses and for the reception of echo waves. In all the scans the position of the axis of oscillation remains unchanged with respect to the body.

Ultrasonic compound scan with an oscillating transducer

A real time method and apparatus is disclosed for scanning large body areas to produce an ultrasound cross-sectional picture of a body in which method at least two different and partially overlapping sector scans of the body are carried out in one scanning plane by the pulse-echo method utilizing single ultrasound array. The array is rotatable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the scanning plane and comprises at least a first and a second transducer, disposed in spaced relationship along a circle which is situated in the scanning plane and which is concentric with the axis of rotation. Out of at least two different scans, one is performed with the first transducer and the other with the second, each transducer being used both for the emission of ultrasound pulses and for the reception of echo waves and the position of the axis of rotation with respect to the body remaining unchanged during all the scans.

Ultrasonic compound scan with rotating transducer

An ultrasonic imaging apparatus for operation in either or both linear and sector scan modes is disclosed which employs a common array of transducers. Circuitry is provided for controlling the order and timing of pulse echo transmission and reception, which further include control circuitry to operate variable delay and switching circuitry to generate transmission signals to be applied to the transducers, and to direct echo signals received by the transducers for processing to provide the image of the structures being inspected. Suitable interconnection/switching circuitry is provided so as to minimize prior art requirements for use of different elements for the separate scanning modes, with concomitant expenses associated with the larger number of components being reduced.

Ultrasonic imaging device

A method for producing cross-sectional images using an ultrasonic imaging unit operating on the pulse-echo principle, which unit includes a transducer system having a stationary elongated array of adjacent transducer elements with transverse electrode segments adjacent one another on one side of the array. Successively and cyclically selected groups of adjacent elements are energized to produce an ultrasonic beam as a result of pulsed signals being applied to the corresponding electrode segments. Focussing of the ultrasonic beam produced by each group of the transducers is effected by having the transmitter signals applied to the electrode segments or subgroups thereof, and/or the echo-signals derived by the electrode segments from the reflected energy, time shifted relative to one another, in which each transmitter or echo-signal has a time shift associated thereto which is a function of the distance between the corresponding electrode segments (or subgroups of segments) and the center of the group of transducers.

Method and apparatus for producing cross-sectional images using

An ultrasonic echo sounding technique for reducing unwanted echoes from reflectors outside the focal line of a focused ultrasonic field is disclosed. In this technique at least two pulse-defined ultrasonic waves are successively transmitted. The amplitudes of the said waves are functions of an angle .phi. which is generated about the axis of the source of ultrasound. Echoes from the reflected waves are received from reflectors both on and outside the focal line and multiplied by an amplitude factor which is a function of the above mentioned angle .phi.. Echo signals associated with echoes having the same transit time are then added together.

Echo sounding technique

An improved method and apparatus for reducing the echoes from reflectors disposed outside the focal line in an echo-sounding process using an ultrasonic field focusing in a focal line. A pulsed ultrasonic wave is transmitted having a cross-sectional area corresponding to one or more annularly arranged transducer segments having a total azimuth angle of less than 360.degree.. Echoes of the transmitted wave are received from the spatial region corresponding to at least a part of other annular transducer segments, which complement the annular segments of the cross-sectional area of the transmitted ultrasonic pulse to form a complete ring. The radiation or receiving surfaces of the transducer segments forming the transducer ring are inclined toward the axis of the ring.

Suppression of out-of-focus echoes in ultrasonic scanning

An apparatus for focusing ultrasonic waves in a focal line by an ultrasonic optical system having at least one rotation-symmetrical, non-spherical acoustical reflection surface which together with an ultrasonic transducer element transmits an at least partially convergent ultrasonic field having an annular cross-section.

Growing community of inventors

Muttenz, Switzerland

Christoph B Burckhardt