Ultrasonic Arrays, Inc.

Liposonix, Inc.

Martin J Kenney

Blake W Little

Gregory T Wing

John K Billings

Richard L Fix

William L Lowry

A medical ultrasound system. A base unit is included having system electronics, a user interface and ultrasound control electronics. An ultrasound therapy head is in electronic communication with the base unit. The therapy head includes a replaceable, sealed transducer cartridge with a coupling fluid therein. A cooling system is provided for cooling the coupling fluid. A plurality of guide indicators are positioned around the therapy head to align with crossed lines on a patient so as to properly align the therapy head prior to use. The therapy head can provide variable treatments to an area while the therapy head is in contact with a patient.

Medical ultrasound device with liquid dispensing device coupled to a therapy head

An acoustic sensing system to measure an interior characteristic of an object, for example, density, the presence of defects, or bond integrity (of a laminated object). The system includes a first set of acoustic transducers acting as transmitters for transmitting acoustic wave energy at a single frequency, which acoustic wave energy interacts with the object in a sensing region to provide transmitted, scattered, and reflected wave energy. A transmitter mounting mechanism allows the transmitters to be positioned in such a way that acoustic energy reflected from the object sets up a reverberation between the transmitter and the object. A second set of acoustic transducers acting as receivers of acoustic wave energy is positioned opposite the transmitters in such a way that acoustic waves passing through the object are coupled to the receivers. A second mounting mechanism allows the receivers to be similarly positioned such that acoustic energy passing through the object sets up a reverberation between the receiver and the object. A processor is connected to generate electrical control signals to the transmitter and to receive electrical signals from the receiver. The processor is operable to adjust the frequency of the electrical control signals to the transmitter in order to maintain a maximum of reverberation, and therefore a maximum of received signal at the receiver.

Method and apparatus for acoustic sensing

A scanning system for monitoring the thickness, profile or other data from a moving product which includes a frame for mounting scanning transducers. The product is carried on a conveyor or the like through the frame and the transducers are mounted for transverse scanning motion across the top and bottom surfaces of the product at right angles to its direction of travel. Reference wires are connected between the side members of the frame and maintained at a constant tension independent of ambient temperatures. Reference wires are located between the transducers and both the top and bottom surfaces of the product. The wires provide a constant reference to detect distortion of the frame due to thermal or other stress and to provide correction data which is used to compensate for frame irregularities.

Reference wire compensation method and apparatus

A capacitive transducer including a back plate and a tensioned dielectric diaphragm with a conductive layer is operated as a sonic energy emitter and receiver. The polarity of the dc bias applied to the transducer is periodically reversed to prevent charging and polarization of the dielectric diaphragm due to the applied electrostatic field. The bias voltage polarity is controlled in timed sequence with the application of a fluctuating voltage to generate sonic energy with optimum efficiency. Electrical signals resulting from received sonic energy are selectively inverted and provided with compensation for differences resulting from differences in bias polarities.

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Startup, WA, United States of America

Martin J Kenney