Patents by Inventor Remi Dufait
Remi Dufait 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).
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Patent number: 10987524Abstract: An interstitial ultrasound thermal ablation applicator for conformal treatment of an inhomogeneous tumor lesion includes: a body having a longitudinal axis; and a plurality of array transducers mounted on the body, arranged side by side and having azimuth directions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, and having outer faces disposed in a polygonal arrangement; the plurality of array transducers having predetermined elevation dimensions defined for directing emitted ultrasonic energy to obtain a conformal volume treatment of the tumor lesions. An electronic driving method for driving an applicator having multiple independent transducer elements arranged in rows and columns includes: controlling focal parameters of each row and column of transducer elements; and controlling a contribution of each row and column of transducer elements in a manner to provide a conformal ablated volume.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2017Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Inventors: Alexandre Carpentier, An Nguyen-Dinh, Jean-Yves Chapelon, Rémi Dufait, Christophe Notard, Françoise Chavrier, Cyril Lafon, Michael Canney, William Apoutou N'Djin
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Publication number: 20180036558Abstract: An interstitial ultrasound thermal ablation applicator for conformal treatment of an inhomogeneous tumor lesion includes: a body having a longitudinal axis; and a plurality of array transducers mounted on the body, arranged side by side and having azimuth directions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, and having outer faces disposed in a polygonal arrangement; the plurality of array transducers having predetermined elevation dimensions defined for directing emitted ultrasonic energy to obtain a conformal volume treatment of the tumor lesions. An electronic driving method for driving an applicator having multiple independent transducer elements arranged in rows and columns includes: controlling focal parameters of each row and column of transducer elements; and controlling a contribution of each row and column of transducer elements in a manner to provide a conformal ablated volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2017Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventors: Alexandre CARPENTIER, An NGUYEN-DINH, Jean-Yves CHAPELON, Rémi DUFAIT, Christophe NOTARD, Françoise CHAVRIER, Cyril LAFON, Michael CANNEY, William Apoutou N'DJIN
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Publication number: 20140257262Abstract: An interstitial ultrasound thermal ablation applicator for conformal treatment of inhomogeneous tumor lesions includes: a body having a longitudinal axis, the body defining a hollow central channel along the longitudinal axis; and a plurality of CMUT array transducers mounted on the body, arranged side by side to form a cylindrical shape, having azimuth plans parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body, each of the plurality of CMUT array transducers having elevation dimensions predetermined to steer emitted ultrasonic waves to obtain a conformal volume treatment of the tumor lesions. An electronic driving method for driving an applicator having multiple independent transducer elements arranged in rows and columns includes: controlling focal parameters of each row and column of transducer elements; and controlling a contribution of each row and column of transducer elements in a manner to provide a conformal ablated volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Inventors: Alexandre CARPENTIER, An NGUYEN-DINH, Jean-Yves CHAPELON, Rémi DUFAIT, Christophe NOTARD, Françoise CHAVRIER, Cyril LAFON, Michael CANNEY, William Apoutou N'DJIN
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Patent number: 8456958Abstract: A capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) array includes an improved elementary aperture for imaging operations. The transducer can be of a linear, curved linear, annular, matrix or even single surface configuration. The elementary apertures thereof are formed by a specific arrangement of capacitive micromachined membranes (CMM) so as to exhibit ideal acoustical and electrical behavior when operated with imaging systems. The CMM arrangements can be either conventional where the element transducers of the array are uniformly shaped by predefined CMMs in a manner such as to exhibit acoustic behavior similar to a piezoelectric transducer, or can be more sophisticated, wherein each element transducer is formed by a specific combination of different CMMs (i.e., of a different size and/or shape) so as to provide the transducer with built-in acoustic apodization that can be implemented in the azimuth and/or elevation dimension of the device.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2006Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Vermon S.A.Inventors: Nicolas Felix, Aimé Flesch, Remi Dufait, An Nguyen-Dinh
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Patent number: 7588540Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging probe is provided which is capable of capturing “on-the-fly” scanning planes in successive positions of the probe so as to form a volumetric image representation at a real time frame rate. The probe includes a flexible sealing membrane for a coupling fluid. Laterally extending folding portions of the flexible membrane provide fluid isolation and cancellation of parasitic constraining forces normally generated during probe movement.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2005Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: VermonInventors: An Nguyen-Dinh, Aimé Flesch, Rémi Dufait, Philippe Auclair
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Publication number: 20070193354Abstract: A capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) array includes an improved elementary aperture for imaging operations. The transducer can be of a linear, curved linear, annular, matrix or even single surface configuration. The elementary apertures thereof are formed by a specific arrangement of capacitive micromachined membranes (CMM) so as to exhibit ideal acoustical and electrical behavior when operated with imaging systems. The CMM arrangements can be either conventional where the element transducers of the array are uniformly shaped by predefined CMMs in a manner such as to exhibit acoustic behavior similar to a piezoelectric transducer, or can be more sophisticated, wherein each element transducer is formed by a specific combination of different CMMs (i.e., of a different size and/or shape) so as to provide the transducer with built-in acoustic apodization that can be implemented in the azimuth and/or elevation dimension of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2006Publication date: August 23, 2007Inventors: Nicolas Felix, Aime Flesch, Remi Dufait, An Nguyen-Dinh
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Publication number: 20060241453Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging probe is provided which is capable of capturing “on-the-fly” scanning planes in successive positions of the probe so as to form a volumetric image representation at a real time frame rate. The probe includes a flexible sealing membrane for a coupling fluid. Laterally extending folding portions of the flexible membrane provide fluid isolation and cancellation of parasitic constraining forces normally generated during probe movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2005Publication date: October 26, 2006Inventors: An Nguyen-Dinh, Aime Flesch, Remi Dufait, Philippe Auclair
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Patent number: 6915696Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing crossing/intersecting transducer arrays including first and second ultrasonic transducer arrays which intersect centrally of one another. Each transducer operates independently without any decrease in acoustic performance. The first and second arrays have their own independent signal electrodes, respectively disposed on the front and rear surfaces of the device. Because the arrays are built on a unique piezoelectric member, a portion of signal electrode of each array is adapted to be connected to ground in a manner permitting proper operation of the entire array. A method of forming matching layer sets incorporating electrical interconnections is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2003Date of Patent: July 12, 2005Assignee: VermonInventors: Rémi Dufait, An Nguyen-Dinh, Philippe Auclair, Christophe Notard, Aimé Flesch
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Patent number: 6859984Abstract: A method is provided for producing a matrix array ultrasonic transducer having an integrated interconnection assembly. A piezoelectric member, formed by a plurality of individual elemental transducers arranged in M×N matrix configuration, is provided and an interconnect interface device is joined to the rear face of the piezoelectric member. A plurality of printed circuits are then attached to the interconnect device so as to enable the resultant transducer array to be electrically connected to an external cable. The interconnect device is formed by an insulator member having dimensions in accordance with those of the piezoelectric member. A drilling operation is performed on the insulator member to form a corresponding array of through holes. The insulator member is then metallized and a resin used to provide filling of the through holes. Grooves are formed in at least one face of the insulator for receiving the printed circuits.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2002Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: VermonInventors: Dominique Dinet, Leong Ratsimandresy, Rémi Dufait, An Nguyen-Dinh, Aimé Flesch
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Publication number: 20040168517Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing crossing/intersecting transducer arrays including first and second ultrasonic transducer arrays which intersect centrally of one another. Each transducer operates independently without any decrease in acoustic performance. The first and second arrays have their own independent signal electrodes, respectively disposed on the front and rear surfaces of the device. Because the arrays are built on a unique piezoelectric member, a portion of signal electrode of each array is adapted to be connected to ground in a manner permitting proper operation of the entire array. A method of forming matching layer sets incorporating electrical interconnections is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2003Publication date: September 2, 2004Inventors: Remi Dufait, An Nguyen-Dinh, Philippe Auclair, Christophe Notard, Aime Flesch
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Patent number: 6709396Abstract: A catheter-based ultrasonic transducer array is provided which includes a piezoelectric member sandwiched between matching layers and a backing member. A flexible stiffening element or elements is embedded in the backing member. The element is opaque to radio frequencies and integrated along the azimuthal axis of the array so as to enable a user to view the element in an image of the array derived from the array output and thus determine the angular position of the array. A flexible interconnection assembly provides an electrical connection between the electrodes of the piezoelectric member and external cabling. Different methods are provided for adding a surrounding protective cover to the array.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2002Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: VermonInventors: Aimé Flesch, Elisabeth Lacaze, An Nguyen-Dinh, Philippe Auclair, Rémi Dufait, Pascal Mauchamp
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Publication number: 20040048470Abstract: A method is provided for producing a matrix array ultrasonic transducer having an integrated interconnection assembly. A piezoelectric member, formed by a plurality of individual elemental transducers arranged in M×N matrix configuration, is provided and an interconnect interface device is joined to the rear face of the piezoelectric member. A plurality of printed circuits are then attached to the interconnect device so as to enable the resultant transducer array to be electrically connected to an external cable. The interconnect device is formed by an insulator member having dimensions in accordance with those of the piezoelectric member. A drilling operation is performed on the insulator member to form a corresponding array of through holes. The insulator member is then metallized and a resin used to provide filling of the through holes. Grooves are formed in at least one face of the insulator for receiving the printed circuits.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2002Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventors: Dominique Dinet, Leong Ratsimandresy, Remi Dufait, An Nguyen-Dinh, Aime Flesch
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Publication number: 20040015084Abstract: A catheter-based ultrasonic transducer array is provided which includes a piezoelectric member sandwiched between matching layers and a backing member. A flexible stiffening element or elements is embedded in the backing member. The element is opaque to radio frequencies and integrated along the azimuthal axis of the array so as to enable a user to view the element in an image of the array derived from the array output and thus determine the angular position of the array. A flexible interconnection assembly provides an electrical connection between the electrodes of the piezoelectric member and external cabling. Different methods are provided for adding a surrounding protective cover to the array.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2002Publication date: January 22, 2004Inventors: Aime Flesch, Elisabeth Lacaze, An Nguyen-Dinh, Philippe Auclair, Remi Dufait, Pascal Mauchamp