Jonathan T Snyder

US Patent:

61204498, Sep 19, 2000

Filed:

Nov 25, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/200077

Inventors:

Jonathan E. Snyder - Whitefish Bay WI

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

A61B 800

US Classification:

600447

Abstract:

A method and an apparatus for compensating for fully or partially inoperative elements in an ultrasonic transducer array. The inoperative elements are compensated for by "bridging" or "shorting" them to fully operative elements. This compensation technique can be applied to one-dimensional or multi-dimensional transducer arrays. A bridge between a fully or partially inoperative element and an adjacent fully operative element can be achieved by physically shorting the elements somewhere in the signal chain or by electrically connecting the elements via switches, e. g. , of a multiplexer. The state of the multiplexer switches (i. e. , open or closed) is controlled by loading MUX State control data into a flash memory located on-board the probe. This MUX State control data includes switch settings for connecting a defective element to an adjacent fully functional element in the transducer array.

US Patent:

55775071, Nov 26, 1996

Filed:

Nov 21, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/343078

Inventors:

Jonathan E. Snyder - Whitefish Bay WI
Leslie J. Keres - Waukesha WI
Gregg W. Frey - East Wenatchee WA

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

A61B 800

US Classification:

12866301

Abstract:

A compound lens for focusing ultrasound emitted from an ultrasound probe having an array of piezoelectric transducer elements. The compound lens has an inner lens part with a convex cylindrical front face and a rear face which is acoustically coupled to the front face of the transducer array, and an outer lens part with a concave cylindrical rear face which is acoustically coupled to the convex cylindrical front face of the inner lens part. The inner lens part may be in the form of a conventional silicone rubber focusing lens. The outer lens part is made of an acoustic medium having a higher acoustic velocity and greater durability than silicone rubber, e. g. , polymethylpentene, nylon and high-density polyethylene. Also the outer lens part has greater chemical resistance than silicone rubber.

US Patent:

56156782, Apr 1, 1997

Filed:

Nov 25, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/344920

Inventors:

Thomas R. Kirkham - Dousman WI
Kirsten N. Laconte - Waukesha WI
Michael L. Hall - Pewaukee WI
Jonathan E. Snyder - Whitefish Bay WI
Edward S. Wallace - Tempe AZ
William H. Phillips - Issaquah WA
Robert L. Petersen - Lake Zurich IL

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

A61B 800

US Classification:

12866001

Abstract:

An integral yoke/transducer connector has built-in probe switches for detecting when a transducer probe has been removed from its yoke. Based on the status of the probe switch and other feedback information, a system controller activates the out-of-holder probe if it has priority. In this manner, a probe can be automatically activated when it is lifted out of its yoke, thereby eliminating the need to trace a desired probe to its connector/port via the cable. Once a probe/port is auto-selected, it remains the only active probe/port until the probe is placed back in the yoke (or its transducer connector is disconnected from the port on the imaging unit). Placement of the probe in its corresponding yoke opens the probe switch which is built into the yoke/connector assembly. The imaging system can be provided with a plurality of interchangeable probe assemblies, each probe assembly consisting of a transducer probe, a coaxial cable, a transducer connector and a yoke, all four components being integrally attached to each other for installation and removal as an integral unit.

US Patent:

57214638, Feb 24, 1998

Filed:

Dec 29, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/580564

Inventors:

Jonathan E. Snyder - Whitefish Bay WI

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

H01L 4108

US Classification:

310334

Abstract:

A device for improving thermal transfer inside an ultrasound probe and reducing heat build-up near the transducer face. The cable components are used as heat conductors which conduct heat out of the probe handle. These heat pipes are coupled to an internal heat conductor which is in heat conductive relationship with the transducer pallet. Thus, heat generated by the transducer array can be transferred, via the internal heat conductor plate and the cable heat conductors, away from the probe surface which contacts the patient. A heat conductive structure can be embedded in the overall shield braid of the cable. Suitable heat conductive structures include thread or wire made of material having a high coefficient of thermal conductivity, as well as narrow tubing filled with heat conductive fluid. Alternatively, inlet and return flow paths for cooling fluid are incorporated in the cable. The inlet and return flow paths inside the cable are respectively connected to the inlet and outlet of a flow path which is in heat conductive relationship with an internal heat conductor in the probe handle.

US Patent:

55201873, May 28, 1996

Filed:

Nov 25, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/344918

Inventors:

Jonathan E. Snyder - Whitefish Bay WI

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

A61B 800

US Classification:

128661010

Abstract:

A programmable probe multiplexer which can be reconfigured for use with multiple imaging systems having different channel counts. The probe uses a system code that informs the multiplexer of the number of channels on the system to which it is connected. The multiplexer hardware in turn adjusts the program or channel map to reconfigure the probe to accommodate the system. In particular, the probe can sense the presence of a system type and then reconfigure and optimize performance automatically, or the probe can be reprogrammed by the system, allowing great flexibility in the design and optimization of imaging parameters. The probe supports this concept through the use of a series of programmable switches and the appropriate logic to assign input channels to output channels.

US Patent:

54935415, Feb 20, 1996

Filed:

Dec 30, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/367408

Inventors:

Jonathan E. Snyder - Whitefish Bay WI

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

H04R 1700
H01L 4104

US Classification:

367155

Abstract:

A system and process for electrically connecting all elements in a transducer array from one side. A flat block of piezoelectric ceramic material is patterned and drilled with a high-powered laser. The drilling is precisely controlled to define a series of vias which penetrate the ceramic block in the thickness direction. These vias facilitate electrical connection from one side of the ceramic block to the other side when the vias are sputtered or plated with electrically conductive material. In this way the electrodes on the front face of the transducer elements can be electrically connected from the rear to common ground or a signal source.