Picker International, Inc.

Picker Corporation

Darwin P Adams

Phillipp J Quedens

Peter J Dutko, Jr

James Dockendorff

Arpad Molnar

Kiven Plesset

An improved ultrasonic mechanical sector scanning transducer assembly is disclosed. An ultrasonic transducer is disposed for movement within a generally tubular housing. A drive element extends longitudinally within the housing and is coupled for transmitting motion to the transducer. Power means produces oscillatory rotative movement of the drive element and transducer. A diaphragm seal, comprising a resilient tubular membrane, provides a liquid tight seal between longitudinally displaced interior sections of the housing. The tubular membrane has one relatively narrow end and flares along its length to a wider opposite end. The narrow end is bonded about the drive element. The wider end is affixed about the periphery of the housing. A coaxial cable is coupled to the transducer and extends to the exterior of the housing. The cable is wrapped within a spiral groove extending about the outer surface of a spool or reel mounted for movement in unison with the transducer.

Ultrasonic mechanical sector scanning transducer probe assembly

An improved ultrasonic mechanical sector scanning transducer assembly is disclosed. An ultrasonic transducer is disposed for movement within a generally tubular housing. A drive element extends longitudinally within the housing and is coupled for transmitting motion to the transducer. Power drive apparatus produces oscillatory rotative movement of the drive element and transducer. A diaphragm seal, comprising a resilient tubular membrane, provides a liquid tight seal between longitudinally displaced interior sections of the housing. The tubular membrane has one relatively narrow end and flares along its length to a wider opposite end. The narrow end is bonded about the drive element. The wider end is affixed about the periphery of the housing. A coaxial cable is coupled to the transducer and extends to the exterior of the housing. The cable is wrapped within a spiral groove extending about the outer surface of a spool or reel mounted for movement in unison with the transducer.

An ultrasonic transducer probe assembly. The assembly includes a multiple segment transducer truncated along opposed edges to define an elongated transducer shape which is pivoted about a pivot axis coincident with the transducer. The resulting pivoting movement of the transducer allows a smaller dimension probe assembly housing with only limited diminution of control over ultrasonic depth of field and resolution. A multiconductor cable routes energizing and monitoring signals to and from the transducer array. The multiple conductors needed to carry these signals are arranged in a geometric configuration to enhance the signal carrying characteristics of the cable.

Probe array for ultrasonic imaging

An electronically step scanned real time ultrasonic imaging system and method is disclosed. The system includes a transducer assembly having an unequally spaced array of elements, each with an axis of transmission along which it transmits its main ultrasonic energy when electrically stimulated. The elements are disposed in a curvilinear array, wherein their axes of transmission are approximately co-planar, but divergent in the common plane. In the preferred embodiment, the axes of transmission diverge from one another by unequal angles, such that the tangent functions of each of the angles varies in equal increments along the array. Scan conversion techniques are used for displaying purposes, operating in the Y .theta. and Y tan .theta. formats.

Ultrasonic step scanning utilizing unequally spaced curvilinear

An electronically step scanned real time ultrasonic imaging system and method is disclosed. The system includes a transducer assembly having an array of elements, each with an axis of transmission along which it transmits its main ultrasonic energy when electrically stimulated. The elements are disposed in a curvilinear array, wherein their axes of transmission are approximately coplanar, but divergent in the common plane. This configuration provides a relatively large scanned area without need for either electronic or mechanical sector scanning techniques to steer the incident ultrasonic energy over a large angle.

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Guilford, CT, United States of America

Darwin P Adams