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:
Feb. 11, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 08, 2000
George F. Garlick, Richland, WA (US);
Advanced Diagnostics Systems, Inc., Richland, WA (US);
Abstract
There is disclosed an apparatus and a process for enhancing images of subtle structures, such as tumor tissue within a soft tissue matrix. Specifically, the process and apparatus provides a transmissive ultrasonic holography imaging system having an acoustical opaque small element variably placed so as to block from being transmitted into an image plane that portion of the transmitted sound that is not scattered by the object. Alternately, the process and apparatus provides for an acoustical opaque plane with an opening variably placed so as to block from being transmitted into an image plane that portion of the transmitted sound that is scattered by the object. Alternately, the process and apparatus provide for an acoustically opaque element in the shape of a plane with an circular openings variably placed so as allow passage only that portion of the transmitted sound that is scattered by the object at a selected location within the focal plane of the lens means. The inventive process provides for improved imaging visualization of subtle structures within objects (e.g., breast cancer within breast tissue) due to sound scatter from subtle structures within objects because only ultrasound waves that interfere with the object are transmitted to an image plane. More specifically, there is disclosed a process to selectively use and display only that portion of imaging sound that diffracts, refracts or scatters from the internal structure of the object. Further, there is disclosed a process to separately use only specific portions of the transmitted sound wave to make separate images of the object and utilize a combination of such images to provide greater detailed information about subtle structures within the object.