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:
Nov. 26, 1996
Filed:
Oct. 30, 1995
J Fleming Dias, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Hewlett Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
An ultrasonic probe, such as a catheter, includes an array of electroacoustic transducer elements arranged about a central region, with each element having a radiating surface directed to define a first acoustic energy path having a component of direction that is toward the central region. That is, the elements are inwardly directed. Within the central region is an acoustic reflector that reflects the acoustic energy along a second path to an object to be imaged. In another embodiment, the transducer elements are directed to project acoustic energy generally parallel to the axis of the ultrasonic probe, with the acoustic reflector providing reflection for defining an interrogation beam.