Patents Assigned to ACUSON
  • Patent number: 6057632
    Abstract: A wideband ultrasound transducer having a plurality of transducer elements sequentially arranged in an azimuth direction. Each transducer element is spaced from adjacent transducer elements in the azimuth direction and each transducer element extends from a first end to a second end in an elevation direction. Each transducer element has a thickness in a range direction that increases from the first end to the second end wherein each transducer element is thinnest at the first end and thickest at the second end. The spacing of the transducer elements increases from the first end to the second end so that the spacing is at a minimum at the first end and a maximum at the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventor: Kutay F. Ustuner
  • Patent number: 6050944
    Abstract: A method and system for acquiring data in an ultrasound system are provided. A transducer is operatively connected to a transmit beamformer and a receive beamformer. The receive beamformer is configured to obtain a first value associated with a fundamental frequency interleaved with a second value associated with a harmonic frequency. A first transmit signal is transmitted at a first frequency. A first echo signal is received in response to the first transmit signal. At least the first value associated with the first frequency is obtained from the first echo signal. An interleaved second transmit signal is transmitted at the first frequency or a second frequency. A second echo signal is received in response to the second transmit signal. At least the second value associated with a third frequency is obtained from the second echo signal. Images are generated and displayed based on the at least one first value and the at least one second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory L. Holley, Paul E. Chandler
  • Patent number: 6048316
    Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system and method acquire fundamental mode and harmonic mode ultrasonic image signals with a transducer from a subject under examination. These image signals are then combined to form a composite image. This composite image includes two lateral edgefield image regions modulated primarily as a function of the fundamental mode ultrasonic image signals, and a centerfield image region modulated primarily as a function of the harmonic mode image signals. In this way, improved image quality can be obtained throughout the imaged field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Danhua Zhao, Patrick Phillips
  • Patent number: 6045508
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe that includes at least two ultrasonic arrays and allows three dimensional images to be constructed of the region examined by the probe in a precise and facile manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Hossack, John W. Eaton
  • Patent number: 6045506
    Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system adjusts transmitted power level as a function of steering angle to provide a substantially constant insonification intensity index at a given range over a number of scan lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Hossack
  • Patent number: 6045505
    Abstract: A method and system for acquiring data in an ultrasound system are provided. A transducer is operatively connected to a transmit beamformer and a receive beamformer. The receive beamformer is configured to obtain a first value associated with a fundamental frequency interleaved with a second value associated with a harmonic frequency. A first transmit signal is transmitted at a first frequency. A first echo signal is received in response to the first transmit signal. At least the first value associated with the first frequency is obtained from the first echo signal. An interleaved second transmit signal is transmitted at the first frequency or a second frequency. A second echo signal is received in response to the second transmit signal. At least the second value associated with a third frequency is obtained from the second echo signal. Images are generated and displayed based on the at least one first value and the at least one second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory L. Holley, Paul E. Chandler
  • Patent number: 6043589
    Abstract: A two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array and the method of manufacturing thereof is provided in which the transducer array is formed by a plurality of transducer elements sequentially arranged in the azimuth direction and each transducer element has a non-uniform thickness and each transducer is divided into a left and a right half which can be independently excited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventor: Amin M. Hanafy
  • Patent number: 6042547
    Abstract: The present invention includes a fully programmable plurality of multi-channel receivers, each receiver having a digital multi-channel receive processor and a local processor control. Each receive processor includes a first decimator, time delay memory, second decimator, and complex multiplier. The receive beamformer is a computationally efficient system which is programmable to allow processing mode trade-offs among receive frequency, receive spatial range resolution, and number of simultaneous beams received. Each local control receives focusing data from a central control computer and provides final calculation of per-channel dynamic focus delay, phase, apodization, and calibration values for each receiver signal sample. Further, this invention includes a baseband multi-beam processor which has a phase aligner and a baseband filter for making post-beamformation coherent phase adjustments and signal shaping, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: J. Nelson Wright, Christopher R. Cole, Albert Gee
  • Patent number: 6042545
    Abstract: The preferred embodiment includes a method and system for processing ultrasound data during or after compression. Various compression algorithms, such as JPEG compression, are used to transfer ultrasound data. The ultrasound data may include image (i.e. video data) or data obtained prior to scan conversion, such as detected acoustic line data or data complex in form. Compression algorithms typically include a plurality of steps to transform and quantize the ultrasound data. Various processes in addition to compression may be performed as part of one or more of the compression steps. Furthermore, various ultrasound system processes typically performed on uncompressed ultrasound data may be performed using compressed or partially compressed ultrasound data. Operation on compressed or partially compressed data may more efficiently provide processed data for generation of an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Hossack, Samuel H. Maslak
  • Patent number: 6039690
    Abstract: A method and system for acquiring data in an ultrasound system are provided. A transducer is operatively connected to a transmit beamformer and a receive beamformer. The receive beamformer is configured to obtain a first value associated with a fundamental frequency interleaved with a second value associated with a harmonic frequency. A first transmit signal is transmitted at a first frequency. A first echo signal is received in response to the first transmit signal. At least the first value associated with the first frequency is obtained from the first echo signal. An interleaved second transmit signal is transmitted at the first frequency or a second frequency. A second echo signal is received in response to the second transmit signal. At least the second value associated with a third frequency is obtained from the second echo signal. Images are generated and displayed based on the at least one first value and the at least one second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory L. Holley, Paul E. Chandler
  • Patent number: 6039047
    Abstract: A system and method are provided to allow a user to control the appearance of a control region displayed along with a medical image on a medical device. In one preferred embodiment, when the user positions a pointer over a control region, the appearance of the control region ensures readability by a user. When the user positions the pointer away from the control region, the appearance of the control region changes to a less distracting form. In this way, control regions are made easy to read when a user is using the controls and are made less distracting when a user is viewing displayed medical images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Rock, Paul Schmitter, David Castelnuovo, Clement James Goebel, III
  • Patent number: 6030344
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for quantifying and displaying ultrasound signals in an ultrasonic system are provided. A first signal value for each of at least one spatial location in a region of interest is acquired at a first time, and the signal values are summed to obtain a first surface integral value. A second signal value for each of said at least one spatial location in said region of interest is acquired at a second time, and the second signal values are summed to obtain a second surface integral value. The first surface integral value is summed with the second surface integral value to obtain a time based integral. The time based integral is displayed. Other quantities based on any of various ultrasound parameters, such as Doppler energy, Doppler velocity and B-mode intensity, are calculated and displayed as quantities or as waveforms as a function of time. Furthermore, various comparisons of quantities and waveforms are provided. Image plane data or other ultrasound data are used in the calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
  • Patent number: 6031439
    Abstract: A control device for converting a manual input into an electrical signal is provided. The control device includes a control button, a first magnet having a first predetermined polarity, a second magnet having a second predetermined polarity, and a hall-effect sensor located adjacent to the control button. The control button is mounted for pivotal displacement about a neutral position in accordance with the manual input. The first magnet and the second magnet are mounted to the control button. The polarity of the second magnet is opposite the polarity of the first magnet. The hall-effect sensor has an electrical input and an electrical output. The electrical signal produced by the control device may, for example, be used to control the velocity of a motor, which rotates an ultrasound transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: David V. Adams, Thomas G. Cooper, Alan W. Petersen, Karl Konecny
  • Patent number: 6030345
    Abstract: A method and system for generating data for a spectral Doppler strip in an ultrasound system includes a beamformer that provides Doppler data to a signal processor. The signal processor applies an autoregressive model and determines autoregressive parameters responsive to the Doppler data. Information responsive to the autoregressive parameters is generated, and a window function is applied to the information. At least one spectrum responsive to the autoregressive parameter is estimated with a Fourier transform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventor: John S. Wang
  • Patent number: 6032120
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for accessing stored ultrasound images and other digital medical images. A client application sends a request comprising information identifying a unique medical study to a server application. The information identifying a particular study can be in the form of a patient accession number and can be provided to the client application with a keyboard or an automatic information reader, such as a bar-code reader, a camera, or a voice recognition device. Upon receiving the request, the server application automatically sends the client application a digital medical image associated with the study. The client application then displays the digital medical image to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Rock, Jeffrey S. Hastings
  • Patent number: 6027448
    Abstract: A method and system for ultrasonically imaging a target during an imaging session. The method includes the steps of transmitting ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency into the target from a plurality of transducer elements wherein each transducer element has a non-planar surface and shape that either focuses different frequency components at different focal points along a focal line or focuses common frequency components at different focal points along a focal line; and selectively receiving reflected ultrasonic echo information in the vicinity of a harmonic frequency while filtering out ultrasonic echo information at the fundamental frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Hossack, Christopher R. Cole, Jian-Hua Mo
  • Patent number: 6029116
    Abstract: This invention presents a multi-beam baseband processor for making post-beamformation adjustments to the complex (in-phase/quadrature) pre-detection scan line samples acquired from a receive beamformer of an ultrasound imaging system. Specifically, the invention includes a programmable finite impulse response (FIR) filter and a programmable complex multiplier. The programmable filter performs signal shaping and sample-rate conversion. The signal shaping capability may be used to compensate for transducer and analog signal path responses, to increase signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by rejecting out-of-band noise frequencies, to operate as a matched filter to the transmitted waveform shape, and to act as both a smoothing and anti-aliasing filter during rate-conversion operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: J. Nelson Wright, Christopher R. Cole, Albert Gee
  • Patent number: 6028484
    Abstract: A method and system for amplifying an ultrasonic transmit signal is provided. A first amplifier stage has a first supply voltage input and receives transmit signals. A second amplifier stage has a second supply voltage input and receives transmit signals in parallel with the first amplifier stage. Amplified transmit signals are output from one of the first and second amplifier stages. The supply voltage inputs are supplied with fixed voltages. The first amplifier stage is associated with PW operation and a higher supply voltage than the second amplifier stage. The second amplifier stage is associated with CW operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher R. Cole, Laurence J. Newell
  • Patent number: 6023977
    Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system including an aberration correction system uses a harmonic component of the fundamental transmitted frequency for imaging, or for aberration correction, or both. By properly selecting the frequency pass bands of filters used in the image signal path and in the aberration correction signal path operating advantages are provided. The aberration correction values may be calculated concurrently with image formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Donald R. Langdon, Gregory L. Holley, John A. Hossack, Pai-Chi Li
  • Patent number: 6015384
    Abstract: A method of imaging to aid tissue viability determinations is provided. Tissue motion is detected for at least region of tissue. Perfusion is estimated as a function of intensity data and time for the region of tissue. An image responsive to the detected tissue motion and the estimated perfusion is displayed. A combination of tissue motion imaging and perfusion estimation provides an assessment of tissue viability. If tissue exhibits perfusion and motion, then the tissue is likely normal. Any other perfusion and motion characteristic combination indicates abnormal tissue viability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Bhaskar S. Ramamurthy, Joan C. Main