Duke University

Novason Corporation

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Richard E Davidsen

William F Walker

Stephen W Smith

Wojtek Sudol

Gregg E Trahey

Cynthia A Toth

Richard L Goldberg

Samuel R Peters

Johannus W Weekamp

Soft tissue examination apparatus and method employ an ultrasonic transducer system for generating a series of ultrasound pulses, at least one of which is of sufficiently high intensity to induce physical displacement of the soft tissue. The transducer receives a series of ultrasonic echo pulses and responsively generates a series of data signals indicative of such tissue displacement. A data processor receives the data signals and determines the magnitude of the displacement. In such a manner, the present invention assists in the evaluation and/or diagnosis of biological tissue. Preferably, the apparatus and method of this invention is employed to examine the properties of a subject's vitreous body and thus may be used in the evaluation and/or diagnosis of ocular disorders, such as vitreous traction.

Kinetic acoustic ocular examination apparatus and method

An ultrasonic transducer assembly is disclosed having both transmit and receive circuitry integral to the transducer assembly for generating and receiving ultrasonic pulses. The ultrasonic transducer array which is integral with the transducer assembly preferably includes multi-layer transducer elements as transmit elements of the array and may include single layer transducer elements as receive elements. Also disclosed is an ultrasonic scanner utilizing the transducer assembly with integral transmit and receive circuitry to reduce the amount and complexity of interconnections between the transducer assembly and a scanner rack.

Ultrasound transducer array with transmitter/receiver integrated

Growing community of inventors

Durham, NC, United States of America

Richard E Davidsen