Acoustic imaging apparatus
First Claim
1. Acoustic imaging apparatus which comprisesmeans for generating an acoustic wave beam along a predetermined path,means supporting an object to be imaged in said acoustic beam path,a plurality of visible particles suspended throughout a fluid medium for displacement in the beam path beyond the object in proportion to the intensity of radiation pressure resultant from the acoustic energy,said particles being suspended in a thin layer of liquid disposed between enclosing layers of material whose optical indices of refraction are less than that of the suspending liquid, to define an optical waveguide andmeans for directing light through said liquid layer between said enclosing material layers,whereby essentially only light reflected from said particles will form an optical image of said object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Acoustic imaging apparatus wherein a beam of high frequency acoustic energy is directed to the object to be imaged to create variations in the transmitted acoustic energy which variations are then detected by a plurality of small particles suspended in the beam path for motion in response to radiation pressure produced by the incident acoustic energy, thus providing a visible image with high contrast sensitivity and excellent image resolution.
18 Citations
1 Claim
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1. Acoustic imaging apparatus which comprises
means for generating an acoustic wave beam along a predetermined path, means supporting an object to be imaged in said acoustic beam path, a plurality of visible particles suspended throughout a fluid medium for displacement in the beam path beyond the object in proportion to the intensity of radiation pressure resultant from the acoustic energy, said particles being suspended in a thin layer of liquid disposed between enclosing layers of material whose optical indices of refraction are less than that of the suspending liquid, to define an optical waveguide and means for directing light through said liquid layer between said enclosing material layers, whereby essentially only light reflected from said particles will form an optical image of said object.
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeBoard of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
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Original AssigneeBoard of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
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InventorsQuate, Calvin F., Cunningham, James A.
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Primary Examiner(s)Wilbur, Maynard R.
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Assistant Examiner(s)Blum, T. M.
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Application NumberUS05/441,802Time in Patent Office1,085 DaysField of Search340/5 MP, 340/5 H, 340/15, 73/67.5 H, 250/365, 250/372, 250/373, 250/461, 250/484US Class Current367/7CPC Class CodesG01H 9/002 for representing acoustic f...G01N 29/06 Visualisation of the interi...
