Advanced Imaging Systems, Inc.

Advanced Imaging Technologies, Inc.

Advanced Diagnostics Systems, Inc.

Holographic Engineering LLC

Advanced Imaging Technologies, Ii LLC

George F Garlick

Jerod O Shelby

Todd F Garlick

Victor I Neeley

Ronald L Shelby

Glen C Dunham

Barbara A Fecht

An acoustical holographic imaging method and apparatus for introducing a reference wave into a hologram surface such that the reference wave does not interfere with an object placed adjacent to or in close proximity to the hologram surface. More particularly, the ultrasonic holographic imaging system may use a reference wave introduced on the side of a thin (3 element) detector that acts as a wave guide; to introduce the reference wave to a liquid-to-gas interface or alternatively, from the topside of the detecting surface through a liquid-to-liquid interface. The system eliminates the acoustic lens system, thereby reducing the size and cost of the system. Further, an object may be placed at the detecting surface, increasing the depth of field of the resultant image and reducing the energy needed from the object source. The system may additionally utilize multiple reference sources.

System, method and apparatus for direct imaging in ultrasonic holography

There is disclosed an improved ultrasonic hologram or other ultrasonic imaging process that accurately forms phase and amplitude information of the hologram in a manner that renders the unit relatively insensitive to environment vibrations, and provides long maintenance free functioning lifetime. Specifically, there is disclosed an improved ultrasonic hologram detector component that forms an ultrasonic hologram on the surface of a detection deformable detector material, resulting from the deformation of the surface. The surface deformation is due to the reflection of an ultrasound (ultrasonic) energy profile of the combination of an &ldquo;object wave&rdquo; that passes through an object and that of a &ldquo;reference wave&rdquo; that is directed to the surface at an off axis angle from the &ldquo;object wave&rdquo;.

Ultrasonic holography detector

A method and apparatus for generating an acoustic holographic image having a plurality of pulses with different characteristic parameters from each other. More particularly, a sequence contains a plurality of pulses which have different characteristic parameters from each other. An image is created for each sequence and the effect of each pulse in creating the image is varied based on the variation of the characteristic parameter for each pulse. A selectively enhanced acoustic image is thereby obtained.

Apparatus and process modifications in ultrasonic holography to improve image quality

An acoustically generated image includes only selected acoustical components. When an original acoustic signal interacts with an object, the resultant acoustic signal comprises a diffracted component and an undiffracted component. The acoustical images of the present invention are generated with either the diffracted component only or the undiffracted component only. In an alternative embodiment, the acoustically generated image may comprise selected frequency component(s) from the diffracted component of the acoustic signal.

Acoustically generated images having selected components

There is disclosed a series of process and apparatus modifications to ultrasonic holography imaging systems that each or together function to enhance image quality of ultrasonic holography images. Specifically, there is disclosed a process and apparatus for generating multiple exposure ultrasonic holography images generated from selected orientations, each of which insures multiple images, multiple intensities (amplitudes) and multiple frequencies from each orientation. The inventive process and apparatus for providing multiple view, multiple angle, and multiple frequency or intensity transmissive ultrasound imaging of the internal structures of an object provides an object sound intensity of equal or near equal intensity across the entire field of the object, such as a human breast.

An imaging system and method provides for the automatic leveling of a hologram detector system. A detector system must be precisely oriented in a proper predetermined orientation. The present invention senses the orientation of a plate to which the detector system is mounted and adjusts driver motors to maintain the detector system at a desired predetermined orientation. In an exemplary embodiment, orientation sensors form a feedback loop to a servo controller to control the position of the motors and thus maintain the detector system at the predetermined orientation. In another aspect of the invention, the patient table may be repositioned with respect to the imaging system. The patient is positioned on a table and imaging performed. If an object of interest is detected, the patient table may be independently repositioned in three orthogonal directions such that the object of interest coincides with an axis of rotation of the patient table. In this manner, the object of interest stays within a predetermined focal plane as the patient is rotated such that the object may be viewed from various angles.

System and method for diagnostic imaging

There is disclosed an apparatus and a process for enhancing images of subtle structures, such as tumor tissue within a soft tissue matrix. Specifically, the process and apparatus provides a transmissive ultrasonic holography imaging system having an acoustical opaque small element variably placed so as to block from being transmitted into an image plane that portion of the transmitted sound that is not scattered by the object. Alternately, the process and apparatus provides for an acoustical opaque plane with an opening variably placed so as to block from being transmitted into an image plane that portion of the transmitted sound that is scattered by the object. Alternately, the process and apparatus provide for an acoustically opaque element in the shape of a plane with an circular openings variably placed so as allow passage only that portion of the transmitted sound that is scattered by the object at a selected location within the focal plane of the lens means. The inventive process provides for improved imaging visualization of subtle structures within objects (e.g., breast cancer within breast tissue) due to sound scatter from subtle structures within objects because only ultrasound waves that interfere with the object are transmitted to an image plane. More specifically, there is disclosed a process to selectively use and display only that portion of imaging sound that diffracts, refracts or scatters from the internal structure of the object. Further, there is disclosed a process to separately use only specific portions of the transmitted sound wave to make separate images of the object and utilize a combination of such images to provide greater detailed information about subtle structures within the object.

Apparatus and process for enhancing imaging of subtle structures

There is disclosed an improved ultrasonic hologram or other ultrasonic imaging process that accurately forms phase and amplitude information of the hologram in a manner that renders the unit relatively insensitive to environment vibrations, and provides long maintenance free functioning lifetime. Specifically, there is disclosed an improved ultrasonic hologram detector component that forms an ultrasonic hologram on the surface of a detection fluid, resulting from the deformation of the surface. The surface deformation is due to the reflection of an ultrasound (ultrasonic) energy profile of the combination of an &ldquo;object wave&rdquo; that passes through an object and that of a &ldquo;reference wave&rdquo; that is directed to the surface at an off axis angle from the &ldquo;object wave&rdquo;.

Detector in ultrasonic holography

A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 4 showing an offset and tilted object transducer 50 being rotated about a system axis 51 to sequentially insonify the object from various acute incident angles .theta. to the system axis to provide images of the out-of-focus structures at spaced locations at the hologram detection surface 18 at different spaced times. If the pulse rate of the object transducer is greater than the fusion of the eye, the eye is able to average two or more images into a single perceived image. Likewise, video equipment that receives images at a rate greater than 30 Hertz will average two or more images and display the image at a rate of approximately 30 Hertz. Additionally, external video processing may be utilized to electronically average two or more images electronically to obtain an averaged image at any time constant desired by the operator. Such a system effectively neutralizes or blends the out-of-focus structure of an object spaced from a selected focus plane 27 while maintaining the structure within the plane in sharp consistent contrast to provide consistent, quality images of the internal structure of an object 12.

Ultrasonic holography imaging method and apparatus

The description details a preferred embodiment of an improved large area ultrasonic transducer 70 capable of reducing the generation of adverse 'edge effect' waves. The transducer has a thin piezoelectric wafer 72 that has a high area-to-thickness ratio of preferably between 30 and 300. A front electrode coating 84 is deposited on the front surface 74, over the front edge 77, along the side surface 82 and over the back edge 78 and onto a border of the back surface 76 to minimize the application of a voltage potential along the side surface. A voltage modifying layer 92 is placed on the back surface 76 along the back edge 78 for further minimizing the generation of 'edge effect' waves. The layer 92 varies in thickness to progressively decrease the voltage applied to the back surface 76 from a large central area 79(a) to the back edge 78. The layer 92 is preferably composed of a non-piezoelectric dielectric material.

Large area ultrasonic transducer

A preferred embodiment of a large diameter solid ultrasonic imaging transducer is illustrated in FIG. 5 with alternate embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6-9. The large diameter solid ultrasonic imaging lens 100 has a diameter preferably greater than six inches with a focal length-to-diameter ratio of between 1 and 2. The lens 100 has concave surfaces 108 and 110, and is composed of a homogenous material that has an ultrasonic impedance of less than twice that of water and has a density less than the water. Preferably, the velocity of the ultrasonic sound through homogenous plastic material is less than twice that of water. One or both of the concave surfaces 108 and 110 have surfaces that are without a constant radius and curvature, but however are composed of separate radius of curvatures for each small increment of lens surface to properly focus the ultrasound at a desired focal length 'L'. An alternate embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 6 which has two exterior solid rigid lens elements that are of a concaval-convex nature forming a liquid lens 126 therebetween that has a double convex arrangement for accurately focusing the ultrasound rays to the desired focal length. Preferably, the solid lens surfaces are coated with a one-quarter wave length reflection reduction layer for reducing even further any ultrasonic reflection or energy loss.

Solid ultrasonic lens

The preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 2 showing an ultrasonic holographic imaging apparatus 50 having a multiple lens system 52 that is capable of providing both zoom and focus capability. The system 52 includes lens 54 and 56 that are independently mounted on lead screws 62 and 64 for movement relative to each other along an optical axis 57. The movement of the system is controlled by drive system 66 and 68 that have encoders 72 and 74 for accurately positioning the lens 54 and 56 relative to each other in response to signals from a microcontroller 76. The microcontroller 76 is operator controlled through control device 78 and 80 to provide both zoom capability and a focus capability.

Ultrasonic holographic imaging apparatus having zoom feature

A preferred embodiment of the optical reconstruction assembly 50 in which the assembly 50 includes an assembly housing 52 that is a unitary unit for supporting a spatial filter 72 and a light source 74 in a single plane at the optical length 'L' from a collimating lens 86. A liquid container 88 is mounted to the assembly housing 52 containing the holographic liquid 90. The light source 74 and the spatial filter 72 are spaced a fixed distance 'A' which is less than the optical diameter 'D' of the collimating lens 86.

Growing community of inventors

Richland, WA, United States of America

George F Garlick