Kenneth W Erikson

US Patent:

42815509, Aug 4, 1981

Filed:

Dec 17, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/104528

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Erikson - South Laguna CA

Assignee:

North American Philips Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

G01N 2900

US Classification:

73626

Abstract:

An array of ultrasound transducers for pulsed sector-scan operation includes a plurality of transducer elements disposed on an arc of a circle and oriented to emit and receive ultrasound radiation in the direction of the center of the arc. A group of adjacent transducers within the array is active for each ultrasound pulse. The position of the group in the array is incrementally shifted along the arc, one transducer at a time, to effect scanning. The inherent focussing effect of a curved group of transducers is compensated with time delays or a negative lens to provide a parallel, sector-scanned radiation beam.

US Patent:

62002694, Mar 13, 2001

Filed:

May 28, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/087463

Inventors:

Gregory Sharat Lin - Fremont CA
Kenneth R. Erikson - Los Gatos CA

Assignee:

Diasonics, Ultrasound, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61B 812

US Classification:

600466

Abstract:

A forward-scanning ultrasound catheter probe. An ultrasound catheter probe includes a forward-scanning transducer positioned at the tip of the probe. As such, the forward-scanning transducer may provide images of structures that may lie ahead of the tip of the probe. Furthermore, the forward-scanning transducer is repositioned by a drive mechanism coupled to the front-scanning transducer to provide a sector scan. In one embodiment, a bimorph piezoelectric drive is utilized to sweep the forward-scanning transducer across an arc to provide an imaging area associated with a sector scan.

US Patent:

53016742, Apr 12, 1994

Filed:

Mar 27, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/859069

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Erikson - Los Gatos CA
Syed O. Ishrak - Los Gatos CA
Wilbur A. Reckwerdt - Campbell CA
Ray S. Spratt - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Diasonics, Inc. - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

A61B 800
G01N 2900

US Classification:

12866101

Abstract:

An ultrasound imaging system for performing dynamic focusing of ultrasonic waves during transmit and receive. The present invention includes a method and a means for transmitting ultrasonic waves to a multiple depths within a body. The present invention optimizes the transmit frequency for each of the multiple depths to localize the energy of the ultrasonic waves. The present invention also includes a method and means for performing dynamic receive focusing of the reflected ultrasonic waves produced by discontinuities in the body, such that it is focused to receive ultrasonic waves from the depth at which the transmitted ultrasonic waves are focused.

US Patent:

39902960, Nov 9, 1976

Filed:

Jan 8, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/539316

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Erikson - South Laguna CA

Assignee:

Actron, a Division of McDonnell Douglas Corporation - Monrovia CA

International Classification:

G01N 2904

US Classification:

73 675H

Abstract:

An acoustical imaging system wherein an acoustic beam projected through a transmission medium is modified (scattered) by a subject therein and impinges upon one side of an acousto-optic interface. The other side of this interface is made concave and mirror-surfaced to reflect an illuminating laser beam. The acousto-optic interface is "composite," being fabricated from an epoxy matrix with a multitude of tiny spherular capsules, or "microballons" distributed therein to thereby match the acoustic impedance of this interface to that of the transmission medium.