Patents by Inventor Walter Hetz

Walter Hetz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4869258
    Abstract: A first ultrasound transducer (24) is mounted in the interior of an examination head (4), which is rotatable around an axis (26) by means of first and second gears (52, 56) and by means of a drive shaft (22) which is driven by an electric motor (106) for scanning a first examination surface. The axis (26) is aligned perpendicular to the distal end of the drive shaft (22). The two gears (52, 56) are preferably fashioned as bevel gears. The second gear (56) is secured to the end of the drive shaft (22) and has a depression (60) into which the first ultrasound transducer (24) passes when it turns. A compact structure is achieved in this way. A second ultrasound transducer (90) is secured to the second bevel gear (56), which turns around the drive shaft (22) and thereby scans a second examination surface having the shape of an envelope of a cone which is positioned not entirely perpendicular relative to the first examination plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Hetz
  • Patent number: 4561446
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment includes a probe tube at which an ultrasonic array is disposed. The aim of the disclosure is to construct an ultrasonic probe which, given an optimally small overall diameter, can particularly be employed for bladder endoscopy of male patients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Hetz
  • Patent number: 4545386
    Abstract: An ultrasound applicator designed for scanning tissues and organs located in cavities of the human body. A transducer head operated by an examining person is provided with a connection cable adapted to be connected to an image signal processing device. The transducer head is designed for firm placement of a guiding organ, especially the finger of an examining person. Preferably the top surface of the housing bears a recess forming a mold for the finger. Additionally, a flexible yoke may be arranged as a support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: Siemens AG
    Inventors: Walter Hetz, Peter Weber
  • Patent number: 4535781
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is pivotally attached to one end of an elongated handle which is divided into first and second half shells. The transducer can be freed to rotate or locked in position by moving the half shells apart or together, respectively. The resulting ultrasound applicator is useful for intra-operative scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Hetz
  • Patent number: 4530362
    Abstract: An ultrasound device for sector scanning which includes an ultrasound transmitting/receiving system. The system is housed in a compact cylindrical applicator housing which contains ultrasound transducer heads and associated ultrasound transducer elements at both ends of the applicator housing. Each of the two ultrasound transducer heads is rotatable within the applicator housing for performing sector scanning. A single drive mechanism rotates or swivels reciprocally both transducer heads so that undesirable inertial forces are cancelled or compensated. A guiding element pivotally supports the applicator housing so that the housing can be rotated and one or the other of the two ultrasound transducer heads be used. The guiding element also provides the enclosure for the electronics associated with the ultrasound applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Hetz
  • Patent number: 4385521
    Abstract: In the exemplary embodiments, the apparatus comprises: an ultrasonic transducer arrangement; a drive arranged to pivotably displace the transducer arrangement within a predetermined angular range; an actual-value generator for supplying a signal (F.sub.I (.rho.) dependent upon the angular position of the transducer arrangement within the said range; a desired-value generator for supplying a signal (F.sub.S (.rho.)) representing a desired angular position of the transducer arrangement within the said range; and a control for controlling the drive in dependence upon such signals from the actual-value and desired-value generators. The actual-value and desired-value generators are adapted to supply respective signals having the same or similar forms over a relatively large signal range within the said range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1983
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jurgen Hagen, Walter Hetz, Gert Hetzel, Dirk Schroeder
  • Patent number: 4291578
    Abstract: An ultrasonic-scan head is mounted by means of an articulated arm assembly; a swivel extension arm supports the assembly for rotation about a vertical central axis. Such vertical central axis is the isocenter for body sections to be scanned by the ultrasonic scan head. The construction of such an apparatus is desired which is particularly simple to handle during sectional plane selection. In particular, the apparatus mass to be moved is to be small so that a rotation of the entire scan system can also be conducted directly at the working location by the examining individual without requiring an assistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1981
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Hetz, Walter Derndinger
  • Patent number: 4110723
    Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus for medical diagnosis operating in accordance with the impulse-echo method, which includes a cylindrical parabola reflector and at least one ultrasonic transducer rotatably positioned in the focal line thereof for the transmission and receipt of ultrasonic signals, the latter of which being so constructed that the ultrasonic beam transmitted thereby after reflection at the reflector, is displaced during its rotation in a plane parallel in the sense of a line-by-line image build-up, and wherein the current receiving direction coincides with the transmission direction. The reflector, in conjunction with the ultrasonic transducer, is supported so as to be pivotable about a transverse axis, which is so oriented that by means of tilting or inclining of the reflector there may be scanned various object section planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Inventors: Walter Hetz, Richard Soldner
  • Patent number: RE30648
    Abstract: A chair for dental patients has a lower portion and an upper portion including a swingable back and a seat movable when the back is swung. The seat is connected at its rear end by a hinge with the lower end of the back. The invention is particularly characterized in that the seat is mounted upon the lower portion so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the chair, while the back is guided over a rigid guide which is connected with the lower portion and the back. Means are provided in the part of the seat free from the hinge between it and the lower portion which are operable when the back is swung to tip the seat about a horizontal axis toward the back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1981
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Ohlrogge, Walter Hetz