Patents by Inventor N. Chris Chaggares

N. Chris Chaggares 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: 10770058
    Abstract: Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Wei Li, Paul Dunham, Chak-Yoon Aw, N. Chris Chaggares
  • Patent number: 10130338
    Abstract: A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: N. Chris Chaggares, Eric Michael Rieder
  • Publication number: 20180286380
    Abstract: Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Wei Li, Paul Dunham, Chak-Yoon Aw, N. Chris Chaggares
  • Patent number: 10013969
    Abstract: Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Sonosite, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Li, Paul Dunham, Chak-Yoon Aw, N. Chris Chaggares
  • Publication number: 20180125453
    Abstract: A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: N. Chris Chaggares, Eric Michael Rieder
  • Publication number: 20170252005
    Abstract: A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: N. Chris Chaggares, Eric Michael Rieder
  • Patent number: 9655591
    Abstract: A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: N. Chris Chaggares, Eric Michael Rieder
  • Publication number: 20170133004
    Abstract: Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Wei Li, Paul Dunham, Chak-Yoon Aw, N. Chris Chaggares
  • Patent number: 9502023
    Abstract: Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Li, Paul Dunham, Chak-Yoon Aw, N. Chris Chaggares
  • Publication number: 20160038118
    Abstract: A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: N. Chris Chaggares, Eric Michael Rieder
  • Patent number: 9113825
    Abstract: A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: N. Chris Chaggares, Eric Michael Rieder
  • Publication number: 20140265728
    Abstract: Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Wei Li, Paul Dunham, Chak-Yoon Aw, N. Chris Chaggares
  • Publication number: 20140018667
    Abstract: A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: N. Chris Chaggares
  • Patent number: 8343289
    Abstract: In one aspect, matching layers for an ultrasonic transducer stack having a matching layer comprising a matrix material loaded with a plurality of micron-sized and nano-sized particles. In another aspect, the matrix material is loaded with a plurality of heavy and light particles. In another aspect, an ultrasound transducer stack comprises a piezoelectric layer and at least one matching layer. In one aspect, the matching layer comprises a composite material comprising a matrix material loaded with a plurality of micron-sized and nano-sized particles. In a further aspect, the composite material can also comprise a matrix material loaded with a plurality of heavy and light particles. In a further aspect, a matching layer can also comprise cyanoacrylate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: VisualSonics Inc.
    Inventors: N. Chris Chaggares, James Mehi, Desmond Hirson
  • Publication number: 20110057545
    Abstract: In one aspect, matching layers for an ultrasonic transducer stack having a matching layer comprising a matrix material loaded with a plurality of micron-sized and nano-sized particles. In another aspect, the matrix material is loaded with a plurality of heavy and light particles. In another aspect, an ultrasound transducer stack comprises a piezoelectric layer and at least one matching layer. In one aspect, the matching layer comprises a composite material comprising a matrix material loaded with a plurality of micron-sized and nano-sized particles. In a further aspect, the composite material can also comprise a matrix material loaded with a plurality of heavy and light particles. In a further aspect, a matching layer can also comprise cyanoacrylate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: VisualSonics Inc.
    Inventors: N. Chris Chaggares, James Mehi, Desmond Hirson
  • Patent number: 7808156
    Abstract: In one aspect, matching layers for an ultrasonic transducer stack having a matching layer comprising a matrix material loaded with a plurality of micron-sized and nano-sized particles. In another aspect, the matrix material is loaded with a plurality of heavy and light particles. In another aspect, an ultrasound transducer stack comprises a piezoelectric layer and at least one matching layer. In one aspect, the matching layer comprises a composite material comprising a matrix material loaded with a plurality of micron-sized and nano-sized particles. In a further aspect, the composite material can also comprise a matrix material loaded with a plurality of heavy and light particles. In a further aspect, a matching layer can also comprise cyanoacrylate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: VisualSonics Inc.
    Inventors: N. Chris Chaggares, James Mehi, Desmond Hirson
  • Patent number: 7750536
    Abstract: In one aspect, matching layers for an ultrasonic transducer stack having a matching layer comprising a matrix material loaded with a plurality of micron-sized and nano-sized particles. In another aspect, the matrix material is loaded with a plurality of heavy and light particles. In another aspect, an ultrasound transducer stack comprises a piezoelectric layer and at least one matching layer. In one aspect, the matching layer comprises a composite material comprising a matrix material loaded with a plurality of micron-sized and nano-sized particles. In a further aspect, the composite material can also comprise a matrix material loaded with a plurality of heavy and light particles. In a further aspect, a matching layer can also comprise cyanoacrylate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Visualsonics Inc.
    Inventors: N. Chris Chaggares, James Mehi, Desmond Hirson
  • Patent number: D520140
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: VisualSonics Inc.
    Inventor: N. Chris Chaggares
  • Patent number: D525363
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Visual Sonics
    Inventor: N. Chris Chaggares
  • Patent number: D531316
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Visual Sonics
    Inventor: N. Chris Chaggares