Patents by Inventor John J. Merlo

John J. Merlo 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).

  • Method and apparatus for cooling a contacting surface of an ultrasound probe
    Patent number: 7052463
    Abstract: A cooling system for an ultrasonic imaging system is provided, the ultrasonic imaging system having a probe for transmitting and receiving acoustic signals through a tip of the probe to and from biological tissue contacting the tip at an outer surface of the tip. The cooling system includes a conduit for circulating cooling medium therein, and a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the circulating cooling medium and having means for removing heat from the circulating cooling medium, wherein at least a portion the conduit is in proximity to or contacts the outer surface of the probe tip. In a first embodiment the conduit includes an inlet fluid line extending from the heat exchanger to the tip of the probe for providing the circulating cooling medium from the heat exchanger to the probe tip, and an outlet cooling line extending from the tip of the probe to the heat exchanger for providing circulating cooling medium from the probe tip to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Michael Peszynski, John J. Merlo, Matthew Robert Rielly
  • Method and apparatus for cooling a contacting surface of an ultrasound probe
    Publication number: 20040059226
    Abstract: A cooling system for an ultrasonic imaging system is provided, the ultrasonic imaging system having a probe for transmitting and receiving acoustic signals through a tip of the probe to and from biological tissue contacting the tip at an outer surface of the tip. The cooling system includes a conduit for circulating cooling medium therein, and a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the circulating cooling medium and having means for removing heat from the circulating cooling medium, wherein at least a portion the conduit is in proximity to or contacts the outer surface of the probe tip. In a first embodiment the conduit includes an inlet fluid line extending from the heat exchanger to the tip of the probe for providing the circulating cooling medium from the heat exchanger to the probe tip, and an outlet cooling line extending from the tip of the probe to the heat exchanger for providing circulating cooling medium from the probe tip to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Michael Peszynski, John J. Merlo, Matthew Robert Rielly