HANDHELD ULTRASOUND DETECTION APPARATUS HAVING A FLEXIBLE TUBE

• US 20110023585A1
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Discovery Sound Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: DST Holdings Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Izikoff, Myles
• Granted Patent: US 8,495,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/40.5A
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations by using a detector in a fluid G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/243 for pipes

Abstract

A handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of the present disclosure has a housing comprising a display device and a flexible tube attached at its distal end to the housing, the flexible tube housing an ultrasound receiver for receiving ultrasound energy and converting the ultrasound energy into an electronic signal. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus further has logic configured to receive the electronic signal and convert the electronic signal to digital data, the logic further configured to display data indicative of the digital data to the display device.

Claims

1. A handheld ultrasound detection apparatus, comprising:

a housing comprising a display device;

a flexible tube attached at its distal end to the housing, the flexible tube housing an ultrasound receiver for receiving ultrasound energy and converting the ultrasound energy into an electronic signal; and

logic configured to receive the electronic signal and convert the electronic signal to digital data, the logic further configured to display data indicative of the digital data to the display device.

2. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound receiver is coupled to the distal end of the flexible probe such that the ultrasound signal travels through the flexible tube to the receiver.

3. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 2, wherein the base coupled to the flexible tube is located on a front end of the housing.

4. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 3, further comprising one or more visible lights located on the front end of the housing.

5. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a laser located adjacent to the base.

6. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a detector located adjacent the laser.

7. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 6, wherein the logic is further configured to calculate the distance between the housing and an object at which the laser is pointed based upon light transmitted by the laser, reflected from the object, and received by the detector.

8. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 7, wherein the logic is further configured to display the distance of the object to the display device.

9. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound receiver is coupled to a proximal end of the flexible tube and at least one wire travels through the flexible tube to a printed circuit board within the housing.

10. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one visible light is located on the proximal end of the flexible tube and connected to a printed circuit board within the housing by one or more wires traveling through the flexible tube.

11. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 9, wherein a laser is located on the proximal end of the flexible tube and connected to a printed circuit board within the housing by one or more wires traveling through the flexible tube.

12. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 11, wherein a detector is located adjacent the laser on the proximal end of the flexible tube.

13. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 12, wherein the logic is further configured to calculate the distance between the housing and an object at which the laser is pointed based upon a laser pulse transmitted by the laser and light reflected from the object and received by the detector.

14. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 13, wherein the logic is further configured to display the distance of the object to the display device.

15. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a threaded opening.

16. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 15, wherein the flexible tube comprises a threaded protrusion.

17. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 16, wherein the threaded protrusion of the flexible tube is threadedly coupled to the threaded opening of the base.

18. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible tube is welded to the base.