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:
Jul. 25, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 31, 1997
Paul E Chandler, Santa Cruz, CA (US);
John W Sliwa, Los Altos, CA (US);
Joan C Main, Mountain View, CA (US);
Worth B Walters, Cupertino, CA (US);
Acuson Corporation, Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
An ultrasonic imaging device for imaging the middle and inner ear is here described. It includes a thin, flattened shaft, a deformable support structure, a mounting surface, and an ultrasonic imaging array. Imaging is effected by the introduction of an acoustically conductive fluid into the middle ear space. Access to the tympanum through the external auditory canal and adjacent to the probe shaft for the purpose of injecting fluid into the middle ear space both before and during the exam is permitted by the flattened probe shaft. The deformable probe shaft may be bent or angulated to best fit a particular patients ear thus permitting optimal access for imaging through the tympanum and around the manubrium of the malleus attached down the midline of the tympanum. High resolution imaging of all structures within the middle and inner ear is achievable.