The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 14, 1996
Filed:
Oct. 27, 1994
J Fleming Dias, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for providing efficient transmission of a beam of acoustic wave between an ultrasonic transducer and a remotely located body under examination by the beam. The apparatus includes a housing having an interior arranged so that the ultrasonic transducer is disposed therein. A prism is acoustically coupled with the transducer and with an acoustic waveguide having a longitudinal dimension extending outwardly from the interior of the housing. The acoustic prism is fixedly coupled with a proximate portion of the waveguide so as to provide efficient transmission of the beam of acoustic waves between the prism and the waveguide. Accordingly, The beam of acoustic waves is transmitted from the transducer, through the prism, and along the longitudinal dimension of the waveguide, to a distal portion of the waveguide. The distal portion of the waveguide is inserted into a remotely located patient's body under examination. The distal portion of the waveguide emits the ultrasonic beam, scanning the tissue of interest.