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:
Oct. 15, 1996
Filed:
Nov. 29, 1995
William E Engeler, Scotia, NY (US);
Matthew O'Donnell, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Sharbet E Noujaim, Wauwatosa, WI (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
An optical communication system for ultrasound imaging systems employs a light source and photodetector array in the imaging console. The light source and photodetector array are coupled to each other through an optical fiber passing through the probe. Information from the probe is communicated to the console by an optical modulator, situated in the optical path from source to detector. The ultrasound signals are converted into electrical signals by probe electronics, and these electrical signals serve to alter either the phase or amplitude of optical signals passing through the modulator. Since the light source and photodetectors reside in the imaging console, very little power is dissipated in the probe.