Patents Assigned to SonoWise, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8726734
    Abstract: In one aspect the invention relates to a shear wave generator. The shear wave generator includes a first piezoelectric element having a first polarity in electrical communication with a first electrode; a second piezoelectric element having a second polarity in electrical communication with a second electrode, wherein the second polarity is an inverse of the first polarity; a boundary layer disposed behind both the first piezoelectric element and the second piezoelectric element; and an excitation signal generator in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first piezoelectric element vibrates in a first direction and the second piezoelectric element vibrates in a second direction in response to an excitation signal. In one embodiment, the piezoelectric elements are disposed within an ultrasound imaging probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Sonowise, Inc.
    Inventor: Shengtz Lin
  • Patent number: 8690777
    Abstract: An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object includes a container for containing a coupling medium for transmitting an ultrasonic signal to the organic object disposed therein whereby a simultaneous multiple direction scanning process may be carried out without physically contacting the organic object. The ultrasonic image scanning system further includes ultrasound transducers for transmitting the ultrasonic signal to the organic object through the coupling medium without asserting an image deforming pressure to the organic object. These transducers distributed substantially around a two-dimensional perimeter of the container and substantially at symmetrical angular positions at approximately equal divisions of 360 degrees over a two-dimensional perimeter of the container. The transducers are further movable over a vertical direction alone sidewalls of the container for a real time three dimensional (3D) image data acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sonowise, Inc.
    Inventor: Shengtz Lin
  • Patent number: 8317707
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, there is an ultrasound processing system that communicates images over a single asynchronous serial channel according to a scheme that does not require an isochronous serial channel and that switches among ultrasound imaging modes robustly. For example, the system is configured to packetize ultrasound image data of at least one ultrasound imaging mode into a stream of data frames and to convey the stream of data frames via the asynchronous channel. Each data frame includes indication of the ultrasound imaging mode and includes ultrasound-imaging-mode-specific imaging parameters. Other embodiments exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sonowise, Inc.
    Inventors: Shengtz Lin, Tony Wu
  • Patent number: 8287455
    Abstract: An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object by projecting ultrasound signals with a transmit carrier frequency. The ultrasonic image scanning system includes a switching mode power supply operated with a programmable clock in synchronization with the transmit carrier frequency. The switching mode power supply further provided with circuits for generating a low voltage and a high voltage. The ultrasonic image scanning system further includes transducers for projecting ultrasound signals wherein the transducers are connected to and electrically excited by the high voltage generated by the switching mode power supply. The switching mode power supply further includes a DC-to-DC switcher having an external clock input for clock synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sonowise, Inc.
    Inventor: Hue Phung
  • Patent number: 8016758
    Abstract: An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object that includes a display system for displaying a scanned image of the organic object in a plurality of display modes wherein the display system further includes a user input device sensor for sensing a motion of a user input device in at least one of display modes to automatically switch from one display mode to a different display mode. Furthermore, the display system further counts a length of time the user input device staying idle in at least one of the display modes for switching the display mode back to a last display mode at a predefined idle time limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: SonoWise, Inc.
    Inventor: Tony Wu
  • Patent number: 7771355
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, there is an ultrasound processing system that communicates images over a single asynchronous serial channel according to a scheme that does not require an isochronous serial channel and that switches among ultrasound imaging modes robustly. For example, the system is configured to packetize ultrasound image data of at least one ultrasound imaging mode into a stream of data frames and to convey the stream of data frames via the asynchronous channel. Each data frame includes indication of the ultrasound imaging mode and includes ultrasound-imaging-mode-specific imaging parameters. Other embodiments exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Sonowise, Inc.
    Inventors: Shengtz Lin, Tony Wu
  • Patent number: 7708691
    Abstract: An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object includes a container for containing a coupling medium for transmitting an ultrasonic signal to the organic object disposed therein whereby a simultaneous multiple direction scanning process may be carried out without physically contacting the organic object. The ultrasonic image scanning system further includes ultrasound transducers for transmitting the ultrasonic signal to the organic object through the coupling medium without asserting an image deforming pressure to the organic object. These transducers distributed substantially around a two-dimensional perimeter of the container and substantially at symmetrical angular positions at approximately equal divisions of 360 degrees over a two-dimensional perimeter of the container. The transducers are further movable over a vertical direction alone sidewalls of the container for a real time three dimensional (3D) image data acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: SonoWise, Inc.
    Inventor: Shengtz Lin