Patents by Inventor William Easterbrook

William Easterbrook 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: 12207970
    Abstract: Systems are provided for the arrangement of decoupled electric and acoustic modules for a transducer array of an ultrasound probe. In one embodiment, the decoupled modules are independently coupled to a flex interconnect, apart from one another, allowing for electric communication between all modules through the flex interconnect. As one example, an ultrasound transducer array for an ultrasound probe comprises an acoustic backing, a flex interconnect coupled to the backing at a first surface of the flex interconnect, a matrix acoustic array coupled to a second surface of the flex interconnect, the second surface opposite the first surface, and an electric module coupled to the second surface of the flex interconnect at a location spaced away from where the matrix acoustic array is coupled to the flex interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, David A. Chartrand, Thomas Rittenschober, Scott William Easterbrook, Manuel Schoenauer, Andreas Kremsl
  • Publication number: 20210113189
    Abstract: Systems are provided for the arrangement of decoupled electric and acoustic modules for a transducer array of an ultrasound probe. In one embodiment, the decoupled modules are independently coupled to a flex interconnect, apart from one another, allowing for electric communication between all modules through the flex interconnect. As one example, an ultrasound transducer array for an ultrasound probe comprises an acoustic backing, a flex interconnect coupled to the backing at a first surface of the flex interconnect, a matrix acoustic array coupled to a second surface of the flex interconnect, the second surface opposite the first surface, and an electric module coupled to the second surface of the flex interconnect at a location spaced away from where the matrix acoustic array is coupled to the flex interconnect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, David A. Chartrand, Thomas Rittenschober, Scott William Easterbrook, Manuel Schoenauer, Andreas Kremsl
  • Patent number: 10905398
    Abstract: Systems are provided for the arrangement of decoupled electric and acoustic modules for a transducer array of an ultrasound probe. In one embodiment, the decoupled modules are independently coupled to a flex interconnect, apart from one another, allowing for electric communication between all modules through the flex interconnect. As one example, an ultrasound transducer array for an ultrasound probe comprises an acoustic backing, a flex interconnect coupled to the backing at a first surface of the flex interconnect, a matrix acoustic array coupled to a second surface of the flex interconnect, the second surface opposite the first surface, and an electric module coupled to the second surface of the flex interconnect at a location spaced away from where the matrix acoustic array is coupled to the flex interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, David A. Chartrand, Thomas Rittenschober, Scott William Easterbrook, Manuel Schoenauer, Andreas Kremsl
  • Patent number: 10809233
    Abstract: A backing component configured to receive and attenuate transmitted acoustic signals from a transducer element in an ultrasound probe is disclosed. The backing component has a unitary structure of a first material and a second material, and a variation in packing density of the first material across at least a portion of a thickness of the backing component. Further, a method of making a backing component for a transducer element in an ultrasound probe is disclosed. The method includes performing an additive manufacturing technique using a first material and a second material to form the backing component that has a unitary structure of the first material and the second material. Performing the additive manufacturing technique involves varying a packing density of the first material across at least a portion of thickness of the backing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jessica Lynn Abraham, Jimmie Autrey Beacham, Scott William Easterbrook
  • Publication number: 20190178849
    Abstract: A backing component configured to receive and attenuate transmitted acoustic signals from a transducer element in an ultrasound probe is disclosed. The backing component has a unitary structure of a first material and a second material, and a variation in packing density of the first material across at least a portion of a thickness of the backing component. Further, a method of making a backing component for a transducer element in an ultrasound probe is disclosed. The method includes performing an additive manufacturing technique using a first material and a second material to form the backing component that has a unitary structure of the first material and the second material. Performing the additive manufacturing technique involves varying a packing density of the first material across at least a portion of thickness of the backing component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Jessica Lynn Abraham, Jimmie Autrey Beacham, Scott William Easterbrook
  • Publication number: 20180098750
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for ultrasound transducers with variable pitch. In one embodiment, an ultrasound probe comprises a plurality of transducer elements arranged in an array, wherein a pitch between adjacent transducer elements increases from a first pitch in a center of the array to a second pitch at an edge of the array, and wherein the pitch gradually varies between the first pitch and second pitch for transducer elements positioned between the center and the edge. In this way, an ultrasound probe can be operated in multiple modes while avoiding image artifacts caused by an abrupt change in pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Bruno Hans Haider, David Martin Mills, Scott William Easterbrook, Todor Sheljaskow
  • Publication number: 20180073502
    Abstract: A reciprocating piston pump may include a pump chamber, a piston seal, a monolithic partially fluorinated polymer piston with a fluid engaging end, a seating end, and a longitudinal outer piston surface extending between the fluid engaging end and the seating end. The reciprocating piston pump may further include a drive assembly coupled to the seating end of the monolithic partially fluorinated polymer piston. The drive assembly operates to reciprocate the monolithic partially fluorinated polymer piston within the pump chamber between full aspirate and full dispense positions. The piston seal forms an interface between the longitudinal outer piston surface of the piston and the pump chamber. The monolithic partially fluorinated polymer piston and the drive assembly are configured such that the piston seal interfaces with the longitudinal outer piston surface over a full stroke length of the drive assembly between the full aspirate and full dispense positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: Bio-Chem Fluidics, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Huang, Razvan Bulugioiu, William Easterbrook
  • Publication number: 20170188995
    Abstract: Systems are provided for the arrangement of decoupled electric and acoustic modules for a transducer array of an ultrasound probe. In one embodiment, the decoupled modules are independently coupled to a flex interconnect, apart from one another, allowing for electric communication between all modules through the flex interconnect. As one example, an ultrasound transducer array for an ultrasound probe comprises an acoustic backing, a flex interconnect coupled to the backing at a first surface of the flex interconnect, a matrix acoustic array coupled to a second surface of the flex interconnect, the second surface opposite the first surface, and an electric module coupled to the second surface of the flex interconnect at a location spaced away from where the matrix acoustic array is coupled to the flex interconnect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, David A. Chartrand, Thomas Rittenschober, Scott William Easterbrook, Manuel Schoenauer, Andreas Kremsl
  • Publication number: 20170135673
    Abstract: A transducer probe is presented. The transducer probe includes a housing having at least one curved surface at a first end. Further, the transducer probe includes a transducer unit including a plurality of electro-acoustic modules and configured to emit ultrasound signals towards a target volume. Also, the transducer probe includes at least one interconnect configured to electrically couple the transducer unit to a probe cable. Furthermore, the transducer probe includes an acoustic standoff positioned between the transducer unit and the curved surface of the housing and configured to propagate the ultrasound signals with minimal attenuation, minimal refraction, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, Stefan Denk, Scott William Easterbrook, Scott Daniel Cogan, Charles Edward Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 9486581
    Abstract: An injectable substance delivery device comprising a pen device body, a cartridge, a plunger, a drive mechanism, and at least one of a lock-out mechanism and a rate-limiting mechanism. The lock-out mechanism is provided through a ratchet engagement between the body and the plunger to restrict plunger movement and to ensure that the required needle puncture depth is realized prior to injection by locking out the injection mechanism from advancing until a specified force is applied to the skin. A rate-limiting mechanism is also provided through a user compressed plunger drive spring to ensure that a specific rate of injection is realized during the injection of a medicament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: John Lovell, Robert E. West, Todd M. Chelak, William Easterbrook, Mark A. Follman, Edward P. Browka
  • Publication number: 20060229570
    Abstract: An injectable substance delivery device comprising a pen device body, a cartridge, a plunger, a drive mechanism, and at least one of a lock-out mechanism and a rate-limiting mechanism. The lock-out mechanism is provided through a ratchet engagement between the body and the plunger to restrict plunger movement and to ensure that the required needle puncture depth is realized prior to injection by locking out the injection mechanism from advancing until a specified force is applied to the skin. A rate-limiting mechanism is also provided through a user compressed plunger drive spring to ensure that a specific rate of injection is realized during the injection of a medicament.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Inventors: John Lovell, Robert West, Todd Chelak, William Easterbrook, Mark Follman, Edward Browka