Patents Assigned to TeraTech Corporation
  • Patent number: 6106472
    Abstract: A portable ultrasound imaging system includes a scan head coupled by a cable to a portable battery-powered data processor and display unit. The scan head enclosure houses an array of ultrasonic transducers and the circuitry associated therewith, including pulse synchronizer circuitry used in the transmit mode for transmission of ultrasonic pulses and beam forming circuitry used in the receive mode to dynamically focus reflected ultrasonic signals returning from the region of interest being imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Teratech Corporation
    Inventors: Alice M. Chiang, Steven R. Broadstone
  • Patent number: 5964709
    Abstract: A portable ultrasound imaging system (10) includes a scan head (12) coupled by a cable (16) to a portable battery-powered data processor (14) and display unit. The scan head enclosure (12) houses an array of ultrasonic transducers and the circuitry associated therewith, including pulse synchronizer circuitry used in the transmit mode for transmission of ultrasonic pulses and beam forming circuitry used in the receive mode to dynamically focus reflected ultrasonic signals returning from the region of interest being imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: TeraTech Corporation
    Inventors: Alice M. Chiang, Steven R. Broadstone
  • Patent number: 5957846
    Abstract: A portable ultrasound imaging system includes a scan head coupled by a cable to a portable battery-powered data processor and display unit. The scan head enclosure houses an array of ultrasonic transducers and the circuitry associated therewith, including pulse synchronizer circuitry used in the transmit mode for transmission of ultrasonic pulses and beam forming circuitry used in the receive mode to dynamically focus reflected ultrasonic signals returning from the region of interest being imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: TeraTech Corporation
    Inventors: Alice M. Chiang, Steven R. Broadstone
  • Patent number: 5904652
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a scan conversion process for converting ultrasound data into a standard display format conversion and can be performed on a personal computer by programming the computer to convert data from polar coordinates to Cartesian coordinates suitable for display on a computer monitor. The data is provided from scan head enclosure that houses an array of ultrasonic transducers and the circuitry associated therewith, including pulse synchronizer circuitry used in the transmit mode for transmission of ultrasonic pulses and beam forming circuitry used in the receive mode to dynamically focus reflected ultrasonic signals returning from the region of interest being imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: TeraTech Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Gilbert, Alice M. Chiang, Steven R. Broadstone
  • Patent number: 5839442
    Abstract: A portable ultrasound imaging system includes a hand-held scan head coupled by a cable to a portable battery-powered data processor and display unit, preferably in the form of a lap-top computer. The scan head enclosure houses an array of ultrasonic transducers and the circuitry associated therewith, including pulse synchronizer circuitry used in the transmit mode to time transmission of ultrasonic pulses and beam forming circuitry used in the receive mode to dynamically focus reflected ultrasonic signals returning from the region of interest being imaged. Because the pulse synchronizer and beam forming circuits are integrated on small chips, they can be included in the scan head, resulting in a portable low-power system. Also, since the beam forming and summation functions are performed in the scan head in proximity to the transducer elements, signal loss is substantially reduced, resulting in much higher image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: TeraTech Corporation
    Inventors: Alice M. Chiang, Steven R. Broadstone
  • Patent number: 5690114
    Abstract: A portable ultrasound imaging system includes a hand-held scan head coupled by a cable to a portable battery-powered data processor and display unit, preferably in the form of a lap-top computer. The scan head enclosure houses an array of ultrasonic transducers and the circuitry associated therewith, including pulse synchronizer circuitry used in the transmit mode to time transmission of ultrasonic pulses and beam forming circuitry used in the receive mode to dynamically focus reflected ultrasonic signals returning from the region of interest being imaged. Because the pulse synchronizer and beam forming circuits are integrated on small chips, they can be included in the scan head, resulting in a portable low-power system. Also, since the beam forming and summation functions are performed in the scan head in proximity to the transducer elements, signal loss is substantially reduced, resulting in much higher image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: TeraTech Corporation
    Inventors: Alice M. Chiang, Steven R. Broadstone
  • Patent number: 5590658
    Abstract: A portable ultrasound imaging system includes a handheld scan head coupled by a cable to a portable battery-powered data processor and display unit, preferably in the form of a lap-top computer. The scan head enclosure houses an array of ultrasonic transducers and the circuitry associated therewith, including pulse synchronizer circuitry used in the transmit mode to time transmission of ultrasonic pulses and beam forming circuitry used in the receive mode to dynamically focus reflected ultrasonic signals returning from the region of interest being imaged. Because the pulse synchronizer and beam forming circuits are integrated on small chips, they can be included in the scan head, resulting in a portable low-power system. Also, since the beam forming and summation functions are performed in the scan head in proximity to the transducer elements, signal loss is substantially reduced, resulting in much higher image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: TeraTech Corporation
    Inventors: Alice M. Chiang, Steven R. Broadstone