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:
Aug. 26, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 27, 2000
Charles D. Emery, Renton, WA (US);
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., Malvern, PA (US);
Abstract
A method and system for controlling probe heating in an ultrasound system is disclosed. The method and system comprises electrically exciting a transducer within the probe; and detecting at least one pulse characteristic from the excited transducer. The method and system further includes analyzing at least one pulse characteristic to determine if the probe is coupling into a reflecting medium such as air or into tissue. Accordingly, a system and method in accordance with the present invention detects when an ultrasound transducer is coupling energy into a patient or into a reflecting medium such as air. In so doing, the thermal performance of the transducer improves by allowing an increase in the duration and level of the transducer excitation voltage.