Lunar Corporation

General Electric Company

Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC

Ge-lunar Corporation

Stryker Corporation

Richard Franklin Morris

Bruce D Henniges

Steven Taylor Morris

Richard B Mazess

Scott A Wiener

Duane Anthony Kaufman

David R Strait

David L Ergun

William L Hassler, Jr

Wynn Keith Wacker

David Jeng

Robert Warren Childers

A phantom for a quantitative ultrasound device is provided. The phantom includes a hollow casing, a first acoustic element disposed within the hollow casing, the first acoustic element simulating a broadband ultrasonic attenuation (BUA) of an exemplary bone; and a second acoustic element disposed within the hollow casing, the second acoustic element altering a speed of an ultrasonic signal transmitted through the phantom, the second acoustic element being disposed in-line with the first acoustic element. The phantom also includes a third acoustic element disposed within the hollow casing, the third acoustic element forming an acoustic coupling agent between the first acoustic element and the second acoustic element. A method of fabricating a phantom is also described herein.

Phantom for a quantitative ultrasound device

An electronic phantom and method for electronically controlling a phantom for a quantitative ultrasound device are provided. The electronic phantom includes a housing, a first transducer element within the housing configured to receive an ultrasonic signal from a quantitative ultrasound device and a second transducer element within the housing connected to the first transducer element. The second transducer element is configured to transmit a modified ultrasonic sound wave to the quantitative ultrasound device based on the received ultrasonic signal. The first and second transducer elements are positioned in a back to back configuration within the housing.

Electronic phantom and method for electronically controlling a phantom for a quantitative ultrasound device

A thin film piezoelectric material employs an array of metallic backer plates to provide high output, non-resonant ultrasonic transmission and reception suitable for ultrasonic measurement and/or imaging.

Thin film ultrasonic transmitter/receiver

A multi-use examination table provides x-ray imaging thereby conserving examination room space and to speed patient examination while retaining standard examination table features such as table extensions, foot end drawers, trays and stirrups, and a step for access to the high examination table surface. A repositionable imaging boom allows the table to remain unobstructed when x-ray imaging is not required.

Examination table providing x-ray imaging

Alcohol is used as a coupling medium between an ultrasonic transducer and patient skin providing rapid settling of quantitative measurements.

Method for rapid stabilization of quantitative ultrasonic measurements

An ultrasonic transmission unit for an imaging/quantitative ultrasound device provides for coaxial transducer crystals which may be operated independently with a first crystal operated alone for quantitative measurement and the first and second crystal operated together to provide a broad illumination for imaging of structure.

Multi-zone transmitter for quantitative ultrasound and image measurement

A contained water ultrasonic densitometer employs pre-inflated bladders holding coupling fluid about ultrasonic transducers. The bladders in a relaxed state define a cavity smaller than the human heel so that when the heel is inserted, the bladders conform to the heel in a wiping action removing entrapped air.

Ultrasonic densitometer with pre-inflated fluid coupling membranes

A scanning ultrasonic apparatus provides measurements of a bone at a number of spatially separated locations. These measurements may produce an image or may be used to automatically identify a measurement region of interest or to align a series of measurements with each other despite possible shifting in the bony member in between measurements.

Ultrasonic densitometer with opposed single transducer and transducer array

An ultrasonic instrument employs a digital architecture to provide improved stability to sound speed measurements of human bone in vivo. A digitization of the received ultrasonic signal allows numerical analyses to be applied in determining precise arrival time of the waveform. The microprocessor may initiate the ultrasonic signal transmission and detect its arrival and may control the strength of the transmitted signal and the amplification of the received signal to optimize the signal path.

Digital ultrasonic densitometer

A connector assembly for a thin film acoustic receiver array provides a spring support block having a plurality of holes each aligning one helical compression spring which serves as a conduit between a rear surface of the piezoelectrict film and a circuit card. The front surface of the film is supported against the force of the springs using an acoustically transparent material that may also provide matching between water and the piezoelectric film

Electrical connection system for ultrasonic receiver array

An ultrasonic densitometer has opposed ultrasonic transducers with inflatable bladders containing a coupling fluid. The bladders are affixed to a housing with a simple mounting. The densitometer sizes the bladder diameter so as to be moved into contact to the patient with inflation only. The densitometer further controls the geometry of the inflated bladders so as to provide improved immobilization of the patient. The coupling fluid allows the bladder also to couple the ultrasonic energy to the patient member.

Stabilizing acoustic coupler for limb densitometry

Contact digital ultrasonic densitometer

An acoustic array of independently sensitive detecting elements is produced by locating a pattern of electrodes on a piezoelectric polymer film. Sensitivity of the film and a spaced away supporting structure are used to reduce artifacts caused by acoustic reflection in the supporting structure.

Method of making a thin film acoustic array

An ultrasonometer having opposed ultrasonic transducers with bladders containing a coupling fluid, controls the geometry of the bladder so as to provide immobilization of the patient as well as coupling of the ultrasound to the patient member. The coupling fluid may be hermetically enclosed in sealed chambers slideable toward the patient member or may be fixed in position and use a collar distending the membrane outward by compressing other portions of the membrane inward. A rolling diaphragm-type pump allows inflation of the membranes in an alternative embodiment without exposure of the acoustic coupling liquid to outside contamination. Temperature sensors and heaters communicating with the acoustic coupling fluid to reduce error caused by changes in the fluid's temperature.

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Stoughton, WI, United States of America

Richard Franklin Morris