Abstract: The invention is directed to an ultrasonic apparatus for imaging sections of a body, including a reflective scanner. Two transducers are employed, one for transmitting and the other for receiving. The transducer used for transmitting is mounted in conjunction with the reflective scanner, and is closer to the body being examined than is the transducer used for receiving ultrasound reflected from the body being examined.

Abstract: A reflector is disclosed, suitable for use in an apparatus for sending and/or receiving ultrasonic energy through a propagating fluid. A thin layer of ultrasonically transmissive material is disposed on a supportive substrate having an optically rough surface. A single gaseous layer is trapped between the ultrasonically transmissive layer and the substrate, the gaseous layer being contained in the asperities of the substrate layer. The substrate is preferably a metal having a roughness in the range of 1 to 10 microns.

Abstract: The invention is utilized in an apparatus for imaging sections of a body by transmitting ultrasonic energy into the body and determining the characteristics of the ultrasonic energy reflected therefrom. Such an apparatus typically includes a timer for generating timing signals, an energizing/receiving device alternately operative in response to the timing signals, and a display/record device, synchronized by the timing signals, for displaying and/or receiving image-representative electronic signals from the energizing/receiving device. In accordance with the invention there is provided a portable scanning module, suitable for being hand held, which comprises fluid-tight enclosure having a scanning window formed of a flexible material. A transducer is provided for converting energy from the energizing/receiving device to periodic ultrasonic energy and for converting reflected ultrasonic energy to electrical signals, the transducer having a plurality of defined segments.

Abstract: For use in ultrasonic pulse-echo apparatus including an ultrasonic wave transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an object to be examined and for producing an electric signal corresponding to echo pulses reflected by the object, an improved signal processing circuit for compensating for attenuation effects caused by ultrasound absorption, diffraction, reflection and scattering. Compensation for these image-degrading effects assures simple, reliable and repeatable equipment performance, and contributes to reliable detection of very weak echoes.

Abstract: For use in ultrasound pulse-echo imaging and neurosurgery systems, a plano-concave lens of elliptical shape is positioned in front of a transducer for producing an extremely narrow ultrasonic beam, and at the same time provides a large aperture to maximize the ultrasound power output from the transducer and the capture angle of reflected echoes. The lens is preferably formed of plastic, selected from a wide variety of available plastics in accordance with desired acoustical properties for a given application, and is preferably bonded to a flat, disc-shaped transducer. By proper selection of the material used to construct the lens it is possible to produce the correct amount of transducer apodization.