Lunar Corporation

Cameca Instruments, Inc.

Lunar Radiation, Inc.

Scott A Wiener

Richard B Mazess

Phillip J Rossman

Richard Franklin Morris

Thomas F Kelly

James G Deluhery

Joseph Hale Bunton

Daniel Robert Lenz

An atom probe includes a detector which registers the time of flight of ions evaporated from a specimen, as well as the positions on the detector at which the ions impact and the kinetic energies of the ions. The detected position allows the original locations of the ions on the specimen to be mapped, and the times of flight and kinetic energies can be spectrally analyzed (e.g., binned into sets of like values) to determine the elemental identities of the ions. The use of kinetic energy data as well as time of flight data can allow more accurate identification of composition than where time of flight data are used alone, as in traditional atom probes.

Methods and devices for improving atom probe detector performance

The present invention relates generally to atom probes, atom probe specimens, and associated methods. For example, certain aspects are directed toward methods for analyzing a portion of a specimen that includes selecting a region of interest and moving a portion of material in a border region proximate to the region of interest so that at least a portion of the region of interest protrudes relative to at least a portion of the border region. The method further includes analyzing a portion of the region of interest. Other aspects of the invention are directed toward a method for applying photonic energy in an atom probe process by passing photonic energy through a lens system separated from a photonic device and spaced apart from the photonic device. Yet other aspects of the invention are directed toward a method for reflecting photonic energy off an outer surface of an electrode onto a specimen.

Atom probes, atom probe specimens, and associated methods

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

Contact digital ultrasonic densitometer

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.

Ultrasonometer employing distensible membranes

Imaging ultrasonic densitometer

An ultrasound densitometer is disclosed in which ultrasonic transducers are located spaced apart in a water bath into which the heel of a person may be inserted. Attenuation and time of flight of an ultrasonic pulse are determined and combined to reduce the effect of heel width on the measurement without physically measuring the heel width. Bladders with selected coupling gels may be used to adjust the region at which the heel width effects are most reduced. A C-brace used to hold the transducers independent of the water bath permits their removal for servicing without upsetting their alignment and separation when reinstalled.

Ultrasonic densitometer with width compensation

An ultrasound densitometer is disclosed in which ultrasonic transducers are located spaced apart in a water bath into which the heel of a person may be inserted. The transit time of an ultrasonic pulse through the water and heel and the attenuation of the pulse may be measured to evaluate the physical properties of the bone in the heel. A central controller coordinates the ultrasonic measurement with the automatic filling and draining of the water bath to ensure hygienic and repeatable operation. The water may be preheated to reduce patient discomfort and to improve the reduced by preheating water in a separate pre-fill chamber during the previous scan. Gravity feed of the water reduces the complexity of the water handling and provides extremely quiet operation. A toe peg in the water bath, which fits between the patient's toes, and a calf support help to reduce patient motion during the measuring.

Ultrasonic densitometer device and method

An ultrasound densitometer is disclosed in which ultrasonic transducers are located spaced apart in a water bath into which the heel of a person may be inserted. The transit time of an ultrasonic pulse through the water and heel and the attenuation of the pulse may be measured to evaluate the physical properties of the bone in the heel. A central controller coordinates the ultrasonic measurement with the automatic filling and draining of the water bath to ensure hygienic and repeatable operation. The water may be preheated to reduce patient discomfort and to improve the consistency of the result. The delay of preheating is reduced by preheating water in a separate pre-fill chamber during the previous scan. Gravity feed of the water reduces the complexity of the water handling and provides extremely quiet operation. A toe peg in the water bath, which fits between the patient's toes, and a calf support help to reduce patient motion during the measuring.

An ultrasound densitometer for measuring the physical properties and integrity of a member in vivo includes a transmit transducer from which acoustic signals are transmitted, and a receive transducer which receives the acoustic signals after they have been transmitted through the member and/or a material with known acoustic properties. The densitometer allows the physical properties of a member to be measured without having to determine the distance between the transducers. The densitometer is able to measure the physical properties and integrity of the member from the transit time of acoustic signals through the member and/or by determining the absolute attenuation of at least one specific frequency component of acoustic signals transmitted through the member.

An ultrasound densitometer is disclosed in which ultrasonic transducers are located spaced apart in a water bath into which the heel of a person may be inserted. The transit time of an ultrasonic pulse through the water can be compared to the time for a similar pulse with a heel inserted. A novel clinical indicia for bone integrity value has been developed to provide a single numerical indication related both to the speed of sound travel in the member and the ultrasonic broadband attenuation in the member. The bone integrity value numeral based on measurements in the os calcis has been found to correlate well with conventional measurements of spinal bone mineral content.

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Mount Horeb, WI, United States of America

Scott A Wiener