Thomas F Charlebois

US Patent:

52303390, Jul 27, 1993

Filed:

Jun 13, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/714497

Inventors:

Thomas F. Charlebois - Cleveland OH

Assignee:

Array Tech, Inc. - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

A61B 800
G01N 2900

US Classification:

12866001

Abstract:

A test system is disclosed for facilitating analysis and evaluation of medical performance of ultrasonic examination equipment, including ultrasonic imaging systems, Doppler ultrasonic systems and ultrasonic color flow mapping systems. The test system is employed while the ultrasonic examination system is operating. A test transducer apparatus is positioned at a location at which it receives incident ultrasonic energy from the examination system. Receiver and analyzer circuitry senses and identifies characteristics of the incident ultrasonic energy being produced by the examination system, and electronically produces signals representing these sensed characteristics. A storage device is provided to preserve representations of these characteristics. Synthesizer apparatus and circuitry utilizes the stored characteristic information to actuate the test transducer apparatus to propagate back to the transducer of the examination system apparent return echoes resembling ultrasonic echoes which would have been produced by the incidence of incident ultrasonic energy upon an acoustic image, had such an acoustic image been located within the examination system's field of view. The monitored characteristics of the incident ultrasound include wave shape, frequency, phase, signal duration, pulse duration and pulse rate.

US Patent:

52751660, Jan 4, 1994

Filed:

Nov 16, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/977087

Inventors:

Jeffrey J. Vaitekunas - West Chester OH
Thomas F. Charlebois - Cleveland OH

Assignee:

Ethicon, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

A61B 812

US Classification:

12866003

Abstract:

Ultrasonic sensing systems are incorporated into surgical instruments to monitor operational fields defined by distal ends of the instruments. The instruments include proximal ends for their activation typically including one or a pair of handles which a surgeon grasps and operates, for example by squeezing the handles together or by pivotally moving a trigger portion of the handle relative to a fixed portion of the handle. Circuitry for performing ultrasonic sensing preferably is enclosed in housings defined within the handles of the proximal ends of the instruments. Wiring, preferably running through the instruments, connects the circuitry to transducers formed in or mounted on the distal ends of the surgical instruments. The transducers direct ultrasonic energy to the operational fields defined by the distal ends of the instruments and receive ultrasonic energy reflected from the operational fields. The direction for transmission and receipt of ultrasonic energy is determined by acoustic lenses, angularly oriented transducer mounts or a combination of the two.