Sri International

Stanford Research Institute

Diasonics, Inc.

Joe R Suarez

Philip S Green

Louis F Schaefer

Paul Douglas Corl

Jon C Taenzer

Hugh F Frohbach

Henry L Schwartz

Anthony J Rossetti

S David Ramsey, Jr

John F Holzemer

An ultrasound imaging apparatus is described. The hand-held device includes a first oscillating transducer for providing a B-scan display and an offset second transducer which is manually positioned for providing Doppler data. The transducer pulses are interlaced and Doppler transmissions are inhibited to permit B-scan transmissions. However, circuits provide a continuous signal representing a Doppler signal when the Doppler transmissions are inhibited.

Ultrasound imaging apparatus for providing simultaneous B-scan and

Pulsed real-time B-scan ultrasonic method and apparatus are disclosed together with pulsed Doppler Ulrasonic method and apparatus. The B-scan apparatus includes a pulse operated transmitter and receiver operating at a first frequency, and the Doppler apparatus includes a pulse operated transmitter and receiver operating at a second frequency sufficiently far removed from the B-scan frequency to avoid interference therebetween. A synchronous pulse operation of the B-scan and Doppler systems is provided. The sysem includes a visual display means to which the receiver outputs are connected through a multiplexer operated to pass the B-scan receiver output to the visual display means whenever such B-scan output is present. The Doppler apparatus includes means for temporarily storing the Doppler receiver output, which stored Doppler signals subsequently are read out through the multiplexer to the visual display means between select lines of B-scan display. A simultaneous display of the B-scan image and a Doppler profile is provided when desired. A control stick unit, under one-hand control of the operator, is used to select the position of the line along which the Doppler profile is obtained and displayed. A cursor generator, under control stick control, is used to generate a cursor signal for display of a cursor along which the Doppler profile is displayed. The B-scan apparatus is operable with a normal or magnified display of a section of the object under investigation. Also, a reticle signal generator is included for t

Real-time ultrasonic B-scan imaging and Doppler profile display system

A lens converter ultrasonic camera method and system are shown for producing a visible representation in real time and true perspective of inhomogeneities in an opaque subject or specimen and especially suitable for imaging organs of living organisms. An ultrasonic wave generating transducer means is coupled to the specimen for insonification thereof, and focused perspective images using either transmitted or reflected ultrasonic waves are produced and directed upon an array of acoustic to electrical transducer elements. Scanning means are employed to expose the transducer elements to the entire acoustic image to generate electrical signals representative of the acoustic image. Amplified electrical signals representative of at least a portion of the acoustic image (such as a line thereof) are stored in individual electrical storage elements, which storage elements subsequently are connected, as by commutation means, to a utilization circuit, such as the control grid of a cathode ray tube, for intensity control of the indicating spot on the screen of the tube. The storage elements then are discharged, signals representative of another portion of the acoustic image are stored therein, and the cycle is repeated. The acoustic image scanning and recurrent wave generating and wave receiving operations may be performed at a periodically increasing and decreasing rate.

Ultrasonic camera system and method

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Joe R Suarez