Olaf T Ramm

US Patent:

20100168583, Jul 1, 2010

Filed:

Nov 3, 2006

Appl. No.:

12/447915

Inventors:

David Dausch - Raleigh NC, US
Olaf Von Ramm - Efland NC, US
John Castellucci - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

Research Triangle Institute - Research Triangle Park NC

International Classification:

A61B 8/14

US Classification:

600466

Abstract:

A method of generating an enhanced receive signal from a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer is described. The method comprises providing a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer comprising a piezoelectric element operable in flexural mode, receiving a acoustic signal by the piezoelectric element, applying a DC bias to the piezoelectric element prior to receiving the acoustic signal and/or concurrently with receiving the acoustic signal, and generating an enhanced receive signal from the piezoelectric element as a result of receiving the acoustic signal by the piezoelectric element. pMUT-based imaging probes using the above method are also described.

US Patent:

6500123, Dec 31, 2002

Filed:

Nov 6, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/707238

Inventors:

Richard Holloway - Chapel Hill NC
John J. Stefanski - Raleigh NC
Donald K. McAlister - Apex NC
Olaf von Ramm - Durham NC
David W. Smith - Raleigh NC
Stephen Michael Grenon - Hillborough NC

Assignee:

Volumetrics Medical Imaging - Durham NC

International Classification:

A61B 800

US Classification:

600443

Abstract:

A first ultrasound dataset that represents an object in a first coordinate system can be acquired at a first time. Three landmarks of the object can be located in the first ultrasound dataset to define a second coordinate system. A first transform from the first to the second coordinate system can be determined for the first ultrasound dataset. A second ultrasound dataset that represents the object in the first coordinate system can be acquired at a second time. The same three landmarks in the second ultrasound dataset can be located to define a third coordinate system. A second transform from the first to the third coordinate systems can be determined for the second ultrasound dataset.