Andrew P Proudian

41855019, Jan 29, 1980

Feb 13, 1978

5/876989

Andrew P. Proudian - Chatsworth CA
Arthur E. Nagy - Santa Monica CA

Second Foundation - Woodland Hills CA

G01N 2900

73641

An ultrasonic sector scanner for producing a sector scan in an object to be examined in which one or more ultrasonic transducers are positioned to direct ultrasonic waves toward the surface of one or more movable reflectors. The movable reflectors traverse an arcuate path with respect to a stationary reflector which is positioned to receive the ultrasonic waves scanning the surface of the stationary reflector from each of the movable reflectors and converge such waves at a point in front of the stationary reflector.

43154352, Feb 16, 1982

Jun 30, 1980

6/164316

Andrew Proudian - Chatsworth CA

Second Foundation - Chatsworth CA

G01N 2904

73628

An ultrasonic scanner for use in medical diagnosis which produces two different types of scans. The scanner includes a housing carrying one or more ultrasonic transducers which traverse an arcuate path. A first reflector is positioned within the arcuate path to intercept ultrasonic waves and converge them at a point beneath the scanner in order to produce a skin centered sector scan, which is useful for viewing through small acoustic windows such as intercostal regions. A pair of reflectors, one of which is positioned horizontally with respect to the first reflector and the transducers, are utilized to form a wide aperture sector scan which diverges upon exiting the scanner housing. The wide aperture scan is useful for scanning spaces such as the abdomen which include relatively few obstructions.

43985394, Aug 16, 1983

Jun 30, 1980

6/164830

Andrew Proudian - Chatsworth CA

Second Foundation - Rancho Cordova CA

A61B 1000

128660

An ultrasound multi-electrode transducer together with electrical control means in which a central circular section and at least one annular peripheral section are successively electrically connected during transmit and receive functions so as to provide an increased focal zone.

41435540, Mar 13, 1979

Sep 14, 1977

5/833244

Art Nagy - Santa Monica CA
Andrew P. Proudian - Chatsworth CA

Second Foundation - Woodland Hills CA

G01N 7904

73641

An ultrasonic scanner for producing a sector scan in an object to be examined in which one or more ultrasonic transducers traverse an arcuate path with respect to a reflector which is positioned to receive the ultrasonic waves scanning the surface of the reflector from each of the transducers and converge such waves at a point of a preselected distance in front of the reflector. In general, the ultrasonic waves are converged at a point outside the scanner and inside the object to produce a sector scan in the object having its center at the convergence point. In one embodiment of the scanner the reflector only partially reflects the ultrasonic waves and an additional stationary transducer is provided which is positioned to produce ultrasonic waves which radiate through the reflector and coincide with one of the lines of the sector scan, thus permitting simultaneous M-mode or pulse Doppler echo information to be obtained in perfect registration with the sector scan lines. Attenuation, absorption and anti-reflection means are provided to suppress echo artifacts.

41945107, Mar 25, 1980

Jun 15, 1978

5/915783

Andrew P. Proudian - Chatsworth CA

Second Foundation, Inc. - Woodland Hills CA

A61B 1000

128660

A system for dynamically focusing ultrasonic waves consisting of a housing filled with a liquid media, an ultrasonic transducer, a reflector, and a control device. The ultrasonic transducer, located within the housing, emits ultrasonic waves and detects echoes of the ultrasonic waves as they return from the object being scanned. The reflector is also located within the housing and is positioned so as to intercept and redirect the ultrasonic waves and the resulting echoes. The reflector consists of a flexible reflective membrane which is stretched across an air filled enclosure. The control device is located adjacent the housing and consists of a member adapted to variably compress the liquid media contained in the housing so as to provide pressure variations to the reflective membrane. These pressure variations periodically deform the reflective membrane so that the ultrasonic waves from the transducer are reflected to converge at a point a preselected distance beyond the reflector and the echoes returning from a preselected range within the scanned object are in focus approximately at the ultrasonic transducer surface.