Abstract: A medical diagnostic ultrasonic imaging system acquires receive beams from spatially distinct transmit beams. The receive beams alternate in type between at least first and second types across the region being imaged. The first and second types of receive beams differ in at least one scan parameter other than transmit and receive line geometry, and can for example differ in transmit phase, transmit or receive aperture, system frequency, transmit focus, complex phase angle, transmit code or transmit gain. Receive beams associated with spatially distinct ones of the transmit beams (including at least one beam of the first type and at least one beam of the second type) are then combined. In this way, many two-pulse techniques, including, for example, phase inversion techniques, synthetic aperture techniques, synthetic frequency techniques, and synthetic focus techniques, can be used while substantially reducing the frame rate penalty normally associated with such techniques.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic ultrasonic imaging system acquires receive beams from spatially distinct transmit beams. The receive beams alternate in type between at least first and second types across the region being imaged. The first and second types of receive beams differ in at least one scan parameter other than transmit and receive line geometry, and can for example differ in transmit phase, transmit or receive aperture, system frequency, transmit focus, complex phase angle, transmit code or transmit gain. Receive beams associated with spatially distinct ones of the transmit beams (including at least one beam of the first type and at least one beam of the second type) are then combined. In this way, many two-pulse techniques, including, for example, phase inversion techniques, synthetic aperture techniques, synthetic frequency techniques, and synthetic focus techniques, can be used while substantially reducing the frame rate penalty normally associated with such techniques.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging method fires a sequence of pulses into a body and then receives, beamforms, weights and sums the resulting echo signals to suppress first order echoes. The sequence of pulses includes at least two pulses that differ in amplitude and phase. In one form, no two pulses of the sequence have the same amplitude and opposite phase. In another form, only linear echoes are suppressed. In a third form, second and third order echoes are preserved while linear echoes are suppressed.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic ultrasonic imaging system acquires receive beams from spatially distinct transmit beams. The receive beams alternate in type between at least first and second types across the region being imaged. The first and second types of receive beams differ in at least one scan parameter other than transmit and receive line geometry, and can for example differ in transmit phase, transmit or receive aperture, system frequency, transmit focus, complex phase angle, transmit code or transmit gain. Receive beams associated with spatially distinct ones of the transmit beams (including at least one beam of the first type and at least one beam of the second type) are then combined. In this way, many two-pulse techniques, including, for example, phase inversion techniques, synthetic aperture techniques, synthetic frequency techniques, and synthetic focus techniques, can be used while substantially reducing the frame rate penalty normally associated with such techniques.

Abstract: A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging method and apparatus uses a phased array transducer probe to transmit a fundamental coded ultrasonic pulse into a tissue. This pulse has a time-bandwidth product that is greater than 1 but less than 100. A receiver is coupled to the probe to receive an Nth harmonic echo signal from the tissue, and a compression filter compresses the harmonic echo signal with a compression function having a phase that varies about N times as fast as the fundamental coded ultrasonic pulse. In this way, the SNR of the resulting image is increased. The disclosed method and apparatus are particularly well adapted for use with tissue harmonic imaging, because of the typically low SNR characteristic of such imaging. Other aspects are well-suited for imaging with non-linear contrast agents.

Abstract: Coded transmit signals are used in medical diagnostic ultrasonic imaging systems. In one mode, first and second ultrasonic beams are launched into a body along first and second spatially distinct transmit beam directions and used with B-mode or motion detection processing. The two beams are coded with unique, preferably orthogonal, spatially invariant, nonlinear phase modulation codes and the second beam is launched before the first beam has left the tissue. The first and second transmit beams may be included in a single transmit event. Frame rates are improved. Multiple spectral Doppler images from independent gates are generated. In another mode, first and second uniquely coded ultrasonic beams are launched into a body to focus at substantially the same point such that the two beams sample motion at different times. Unconventionally high velocity parameters are estimated and other motion parameters, including velocity parameters, may be estimated with improved accuracy.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method (400) and antenna (100) for providing an omnidirectional pattern. The antenna (100) is smaller than prior art omnidirectional antennas with the same bandwidth. The smaller size is made possible by the use of at least one capacitive element (104) at a discontinuity in the loop (102). The pattern is balanced and therefore the omnidirectionality is maintained by the current maximum (110 and 112) that are created by the capacitive element (104).

Abstract: A rotary drum filter having a reduced amount of fluff in the enclosure during operation. The volume of the enclosure and the mass flow rate of fluff coming into the enclosure are taken into account when determining a proper speed for the rotary drum so that fluff build up on the filter medium is reduced. By properly balancing these three items, fluff may be removed from the filter enclosure at a rate which is equal to or greater than the rate at which the fluff enters the enclosure. The structure of the rotary drum enclosure provides a high velocity, smooth air flow at the bottom of the filter enclosure. The incoming air and fluff are distributed over the entire length of the floor, so that turbulence is created along the length of the floor. In addition, the floor is curved so that there are no joining positions along the floor where dust can accumulate, and so all fluff entering the enclosure is blown to the top of the enclosure.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the controlled incineration of hazardous wastes comprising a two stage combustion of the waste into gases. The gases are thereafter cooled and cleaned by passing through primary and secondary scrubbers for cleaning. The invention also concerns an apparatus for the incineration of hazardous waste. The system cleans the gases produced by the incineration process so that hazardous materials are completely incinerated and converted into environmentally safe products at the site of their production.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for treating photographic film to recover silver and the plastic base layer for re-use. A wash tank containing warm water at about neutral pH contains at least one enzyme from the following group: protease, amylase, lipase. The water in the wash tank is agitated and the enzymes attack the adhesive and organic layers on the plastic base, in order to loosen and remove these materials. The film is then placed in a rinse tank containing either a weak aqueous glycol solution or a weak caustic solution which is agitated. Finally the film is removed from the rinse tank and dried. Liquid is removed from the wash tank and treated to remove silver therefrom.