Andrew T Robinson

US Patent:

6419633, Jul 16, 2002

Filed:

Sep 15, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/663557

Inventors:

Andrew L. Robinson - Kirkland WA
Brent Stephen Robinson - Kirkland WA
Paul Detmer - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

International Classification:

A61B 800

US Classification:

600443, 600447, 600460

Abstract:

An ultrasonic 2D array has elements extending in two dimensions which can be individually controlled and operated to form a 2D array for scanning a volumetric region in three dimensions. Individual ones of the elements can also be selected and operated together to form a 1D array for scanning a planar region in two dimensions. An ultrasonic probe containing the inventive array can be quickly switched between two and three dimensional imaging modes to produce both a three dimensional image and a two dimensional image in real time.

US Patent:

6440073, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

Oct 24, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/695188

Inventors:

Andrew L. Robinson - Kirkland WA
Paul Wittrock - Carnation WA
Kenneth R. Linkhart - Seattle WA
Lars Jonas Olsson - Woodinville WA

Assignee:

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

International Classification:

A61B 800

US Classification:

600437

Abstract:

An ultrasound system is described which will automatically turn on at predetermined times and condition itself for a specific scanning procedure. The system can also respond to remote queries even when not in service. Such an ultrasound system can be turned off at night, respond to external queries during the night, and be ready for use at a desired time the next day, without operator intervention, thereby conserving energy while maintaining efficiency.

US Patent:

6450958, Sep 17, 2002

Filed:

Oct 24, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/695615

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Linkhart - Seattle WA
Paul Wittrock - Carnation WA
Andrew L. Robinson - Kirkland WA
Lars Jonas Olsson - Woodinville WA
Boyd Edmondson - Bothell WA

Assignee:

Koninklikje Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

International Classification:

A61B 800

US Classification:

600437

Abstract:

An ultrasound system is described which can be turned off quickly and restarted to be ready for scanning in a matter of seconds. This is accomplished by allowing a processor and/or memory within the system to remain active even when the system is âturned off. â When the system is turned off the state of the system is minimally preserved in either volatile or nonvolatile memory so that the system can quickly restart without having to sequence through an entire bootup procedure.

US Patent:

6527719, Mar 4, 2003

Filed:

Oct 24, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/695644

Inventors:

Lars Jonas Olsson - Woodinville WA
Paul Wittrock - Carnation WA
Andrew L. Robinson - Kirkland WA
Kenneth R. Linkhart - Seattle WA
Boyd Edmondson - Bothell WA

Assignee:

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

International Classification:

A61B 800

US Classification:

600443, 600437, 73321, 73324, 395750

Abstract:

An ultrasound system is described which exhibits reduced power consumption and improved reliability. When the ultrasound system is idle for a period of time it automatically invokes a sequence of energy-saving procedures, including readying the system for use at a predetermined time. The use of periodically invoked low power states, even if only for seconds at a time, will over the long term save energy including the cost of air conditioning the site of the ultrasound system. Such low power states also reduce the heat dissipation and exposure of components to heat, one of the major causes of component failure. Thus an embodiment of the present invention can improve ultrasound system reliability and long term effectiveness and cost.

US Patent:

6527721, Mar 4, 2003

Filed:

Oct 24, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/695191

Inventors:

Paul Wittrock - Carnation WA
Kenneth R. Linkhart - Seattle WA
Andrew L. Robinson - Kirkland WA
Lars Jonas Olsson - Woodinville WA

Assignee:

Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. - Eindhoven

International Classification:

A61B 800

US Classification:

600446

Abstract:

An ultrasound system is described which can be turned off quickly by an operator command or in response to an interruption of a. c. power to the system. When a. c. power is cut off, the system switches to battery backup while a processor executes an orderly shutdown sequence. The system can completely shut down, or the state of the system can be minimally preserved by battery backup in either volatile or nonvolatile memory so that the system can restart without having to sequence through an entire bootup procedure. This enables the system to remain active even when the ultrasound system is unplugged and being moved.

US Patent:

6544177, Apr 8, 2003

Filed:

Sep 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/657767

Inventors:

Andrew L. Robinson - Bellevue WA

Assignee:

ATL Ultrasound, Inc. - Bothell WA

International Classification:

A61B 800

US Classification:

600443

Abstract:

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method uses harmonic imaging to acquire a plurality of images at a variety of look angles. The number of acquired ultrasonic images that are compounded to form a spatially compounded image is varied in response to changes in system operating parameters initiated directly or indirectly by the system user.

US Patent:

6582367, Jun 24, 2003

Filed:

Sep 15, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/663558

Inventors:

Andrew L. Robinson - Kirkland WA
David N. Roundhill - Bothell WA
Brent Stephen Robinson - Kirkland WA
Paul Detmer - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

International Classification:

A61B 800

US Classification:

600443, 600459, 73626

Abstract:

An ultrasonic 2D array has elements extending in two dimensions which can be individually controlled and operated to form a 2D array for scanning a volumetric region in three dimensions. Individual ones of the elements can also be selected and operated together to form a 1D array for scanning a planar region in two dimensions. The array transmits scanlines to scan the volumetric region and the planar region in a time interleaved manner with the frame rate of the planar region be higher than that of the volumetric region. A spectral display may also be produced of a sample volume located in the planar region.

US Patent:

6612987, Sep 2, 2003

Filed:

Dec 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/011160

Inventors:

Ahmed Morsy - Bellevue WA
Andrew Robinson - Bellevue WA

Assignee:

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.

International Classification:

A61B 800

US Classification:

600437

Abstract:

The invention is directed towards an apparatus and method for selectively optimizing piezoelectric elements in an ultrasound transducer assembly for a given imaging mode. In one embodiment, a variable impedance network is interposed between an ultrasound processor and a transducer assembly and may be coupled to the transducer assembly to form either a series or a parallel connection with the transducer assembly. The network may be controlled by the processor to selectively alter the characteristics of the network. In another embodiment, the variable impedance network includes a pair of serially coupled inductors and a switch that permits one of the inductors to be controllably bypassed. In still another embodiment, the network includes a tapped inductor and a switch to permit the inductor tap to be controllably selected. In still another aspect, the inductor includes a tapped inductor having multiple taps, each tap selectable by a switch to optimize the network.