Handheld ultrasound detection apparatus having a flexible tube
First Claim
1. A handheld ultrasound detection apparatus, comprising:
- a housing comprising a display device;
a flexible tube having a first end attached to the housing, the flexible tube housing an ultrasound receiver for receiving ultrasound energy and converting the ultrasound energy into an electronic signal;
a gain/active filter comprising a plurality of amplifiers each having an associated gain range; and
logic configured toreceive the electronic signal from the ultrasound receiver,based on a size of the electronic signal, to direct the electronic signal along a linear scale through one or more of the plurality of amplifiers and apply an appropriate gain to the signal,generate a percentage value corresponding to the gain and with respect to the linear scale, andenable user selection of a manual mode or an automatic mode of operation,wherein during the manual mode of operation the logic generates display data corresponding to a particular gain range and a percentage value from 0-100% with respect to the particular gain range, andwherein during the automatic mode of operation the logic generates display data corresponding to a percentage value from 0-(x times
100)% with respect to a collective gain range defined by the plurality (x) of amplifiers.
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Abstract
A handheld ultrasound detection apparatus includes a portable housing with a flexible tube that extends from the housing and includes a sound cup and an ultrasound receiver for converting received ultrasound energy into an electronic signal. A gain/active filter includes four amplifiers each having an associated gain range. The apparatus is programmed based on a size of the electronic signal, to direct the electronic signal along a linear scale through one or more amplifiers and apply an appropriate gain to the signal, and to generate a percentage value corresponding to the gain and with respect to the linear scale. In a manual mode, data is generated corresponding to a particular gain range and a percentage value from 0-100% with respect to the particular gain range, while during an automatic mode data is generated corresponding to a percentage value from 0-400% with respect to a collective gain range.
25 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A handheld ultrasound detection apparatus, comprising:
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a housing comprising a display device; a flexible tube having a first end attached to the housing, the flexible tube housing an ultrasound receiver for receiving ultrasound energy and converting the ultrasound energy into an electronic signal; a gain/active filter comprising a plurality of amplifiers each having an associated gain range; and logic configured to receive the electronic signal from the ultrasound receiver, based on a size of the electronic signal, to direct the electronic signal along a linear scale through one or more of the plurality of amplifiers and apply an appropriate gain to the signal, generate a percentage value corresponding to the gain and with respect to the linear scale, and enable user selection of a manual mode or an automatic mode of operation, wherein during the manual mode of operation the logic generates display data corresponding to a particular gain range and a percentage value from 0-100% with respect to the particular gain range, and wherein during the automatic mode of operation the logic generates display data corresponding to a percentage value from 0-(x times
100)% with respect to a collective gain range defined by the plurality (x) of amplifiers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A handheld ultrasound detection apparatus, comprising:
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a first housing comprising a display device; a flexible tube attached at a first end to the first housing; an ultrasound receiver disposed within the flexible tube, said receiver for receiving ultrasound energy and converting the ultrasound energy into an electronic signal; a second housing functionally linked to the first housing and further comprising a plurality of amplifiers each having an associated gain range, and logic configured to receive the electronic signal from the ultrasound receiver, based on a size of the electronic signal, to direct the electronic signal along a linear scale through one or more of the plurality of amplifiers and apply an appropriate gain to the signal, generate a percentage value corresponding to the gain and with respect to the linear scale, and enable user selection of a manual mode or an automatic mode of operation, wherein during the manual mode of operation the logic generates display data corresponding to a particular gain range and a percentage value from 0-100% with respect to the particular gain range, wherein during the automatic mode of operation the logic generates display data corresponding to a percentage value from 0-(x times
100)% with respect to a collective gain range defined by the plurality (x) of amplifiers. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An ultrasound detection system comprising:
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a first and a second handheld ultrasound detection apparatus, each apparatus further comprising a housing comprising a display device; a flexible tube having a first end attached to the housing, the flexible tube housing an ultrasound receiver for receiving ultrasound energy and converting the ultrasound energy into an electronic signal according to a calibration factor; a gain/active filter comprising a plurality of amplifiers each having an associated gain range; and logic configured to receive the electronic signal from the ultrasound receiver, based on a size of the electronic signal, to direct the electronic signal along a linear scale through one or more of the plurality of amplifiers and apply an appropriate gain to the signal, generate a percentage value corresponding to the gain and with respect to the linear scale, and enable user selection of a manual mode or an automatic mode of operation, wherein during the manual mode of operation the logic generates display data corresponding to a particular gain range and a percentage value from 0-100% with respect to the particular gain range, wherein during the automatic mode of operation the logic generates display data corresponding to a percentage value from 0-(x times
100)% with respect to a collective gain range defined by the plurality (x) of amplifiers, andwherein each of the first and second apparatus comprises a common calibration factor and disables user adjustment of the calibration factor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification