530 results about "Ultrasound test" patented technology

An ultrasound inspection apparatus detachably connected to an endoscope comprises an ultrasonic scanning portion in the front-end side having an ultrasound transducer for performing ultrasonic scanning by arranging a number of transducer chips in a rectangular arrangement. The ultrasonic scanning portion is detachably attached to a distal end portion of an insertion unit in the endoscope so as to protrude ahead the distal end portion by a predetermined length. In order to hold the ultrasonic scanning portion in a fixed state, an endoscope-placing portion for placing the distal end portion is connected to the base end of the ultrasonic scanning portion, and an endoscope-fixing portion for detachably fixing the distal end portion thereto is arranged with the endoscope-placing portion. A predetermined number of wires connected to each transducer chip is inserted into a signal cable from a base end position of the endoscope-placing portion so as to bundle the wires.

An ultrasonic image 105, 106 is captured by an ultrasonic probe 104. A reference image 111 is obtained by extracting a tomographic image corresponding to the scan plane of the ultrasonic image from volume image data that is pre-obtained by a diagnostic imaging apparatus 102 and that is stored in a volume-data storing unit 107. The ultrasonic image and the reference image 111 are displayed on the same screen 114. In this case, of the reference image, a portion corresponding to the view area of the ultrasonic image is extracted and the resulting reference image having the same region as the ultrasonic image is displayed as a fan-shaped image.

Method and apparatus for ultrasonic inspection of an object. A tire is mounted for rolling along the surface of the object. It contains a liquid and a transducer assembly. The transducer assembly is positioned in the tire adjacent a portion of the surface of the tire in contact with the object. The liquid and the surface of the tire in contact with the object provide an acoustic bridge between the transducer assembly and the object. An electric signal processing system is connected to the transducer assembly. It generates electric signals which are converted to acoustic signals in the transducer assembly to place acoustic signals in the object. Acoustic signals returned from the object are converted to electric signals by the transducer assembly, and are processed in the electric signal processing system to indicate flaws in the object.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for inspecting a structure are provided which permit inspection of uniquely shaped structures such as fuselage frames and shear ties. Probes may be constructed from rapid prototyping. Inspection may be performed manually and may use a portable function support system for delivering fluid couplant, controlling transmit and receive functions of the inspection sensors, and delivering immediate visual analysis for an operator. Integrated ultrasonic inspection apparatus, systems, and methods facilitate fast and efficient custom inspection devices and inspecting otherwise difficult-to-inspect structures.

The present invention is a non-destructive method of inspecting a bond, particularly a braze bond, in a hermetic package. The invention involves a unique hermetic package design adapted for ultrasonic inspection and a method of inspecting the package. This package and non-destructive inspection process are particularly useful in implantable neural stimulators such as visual prostheses.

A method of simultaneously reconstructing and testing a straddle-mount turbine blade hub with the turbine blades in place. The method employs a sector scan ultrasonic phased array mounted on one face of the hub to inspect the opposite face.

An ultrasonic pulse echo inspection apparatus and method for detecting structural failures. A focus lens is coupled to the transducer to focus the ultrasonic signal on an area to be inspected and a stop is placed in the focus lens to block selected ultrasonic waves. Other waves are not blocked and are transmitted through the structure to arrive at interfaces therein concurrently to produce an echo response with significantly less distortion.

Improved methods, systems, and apparatus for inspecting a structure using angle beam shear wave through-transmission ultrasonic signals involves positioning transducers at offset positions on opposing sides of the structure and permits inspection of the inside of the structure beneath surface defects and features. Magnetic coupling can be used for supporting a pair of leader-follower probes and defining offset positions between angle beam shear wave transducers carried by the probes. Inspection data can be collected for supporting real-time generation of three-dimensional image representations of the structure and of internal defects and features of the structure. Image generation and resolution using inspection data from angle beam shear wave ultrasonic signals can be supplemented using pulse-echo ultrasonic inspection data.

An electronic stethoscope head includes a head member having a contact surface for contact with a patient's body, a transducer in the head member, and an adhesive on the contact surface. A processing system for an electronic stethoscope includes a conditioning circuit configured to receive a transducer signal from a transducer and to be capable of amplifying and / or filtering the transducer signal, to yield a conditioned signal. There is also a signal processor system configured to subject the conditioned signal to an audio editing process. Bodily sounds are detected by applying an electronic stethoscope head a patient's body; generating a patient sonograph of the patient's bodily sounds; and comparing the patient sonograph to a reference sonograph. An electronic stethoscope system may include an accessory device and control circuitry to control the accessory device when abnormal bowel sounds are detected or no bowel sounds are detected for a predetermined interval.

An external focused ultrasonic beam, non-destructive, open-air, inspection method of sheet metal spot and seam weldments using a probe in combination with motion measurement of the probe over the weldments during inspection without immersion of the material. Reflected ultrasonic waves are received and signals produced and processed or displayed as A-scan, B-scan and C-scan images that are easily recognized. An A-Scan is based on the time-of-flight difference between the outer surface, the weldment and inner and opposite surfaces of the component. B-scan and C-scan indicate the degree of weld fusion and provide data relative to fused thickness and defects sheet metal or welds. A special purpose scanner that enables ultrasonic examination welds. Scanner is pencil like ultrasonic probe with bearing face and position sensing device disposed adjacent a weld position. Scanner collects data for method to determine various characteristics of welded items.

An optical localization fiber 20 is provided suitable for preoperative localization of soft tissue lesions by x-ray mammography, CT, MRI, ultrasonography, or nuclear medicine. A hook 28 is carried by the optical fiber for retaining the fiber in soft tissue. The tip 26 of the optical fiber is visible through the soft tissue when the proximal end of the optical fiber is attached to a light source 170. Other embodiments include clad or coated 42 optical fibers, bundled optical fibers 156, hooks which are metallic 82, braided 66, and multiple 128, and a helix 162.

Changes in tissue stiffness have long been associated with disease. Systems and methods for determining the stiffness of tissues using ultrasonography may include a device for inducing a propagating shear wave in tissue and tracking the speed of propagation, which is directly related to tissue stiffness and density. The speed of a propagating shear wave may be detected by imaging a tissue at a high frame rate and detecting the propagating wave as a perturbance in successive image frames relative to a baseline image of the tissue in an undisturbed state. In some embodiments, sufficiently high frame rates may be achieved by using a ping-based ultrasound imaging technique in which unfocused omni-directional pings are transmitted (in an imaging plane or in a hemisphere) into a region of interest. Receiving echoes of the omnidirectional pings with multiple receive apertures allows for substantially improved lateral resolution.

Embodiments of the present invention describe methods of determining the occlusion of body lumens and apparatuses for doing so. In one particular embodiment, the occlusion of the fallopian tubes by an intrafallopian contraceptive device may be confirmed by contrast enhanced ultrasonography (also known as stimulated acoustic emission hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography). In these embodiments a contrast agent containing microbubbles is used.

The invention discloses a method for manufacturing a high-strength (X 80) steel spiral weld pipe. The weld pipe adopts a parent metal of X 80 rolled steel plate, and the chemical compositions of weld pipe are: 0.02 to 0.09 percent of C, 0.10 to 0.42 percent of Si, 1.50 to 1.85 percent of Mn, less than or equal to 0.022 percent of P, less than or equal to 0.005 percent of S, less than or equal to 0.45 percent of Cr, less than or equal to 0.50 percent of Ni, less than or equal to 0.30 percent of Cu, less than or equal to 0.35 percent of Mo, less than or equal to 0.025 percent of Ti, less than or equal to 0.11 percent of Nb, less than or equal to 0.06 percent of V, less than or equal to 0.06 percent of Al, less than or equal to 0.008 percent of N, less than or equal to 0.0005 percent of B, and less than or equal to 0.23 percent of Pcm. The manufacturing procedures includes: decoiling, leveling, edge milling, prebending, molding, internal welding, external welding, pipe end expending, hierarchical ultrasonic examination of parent metal, X-ray examination of welded seam, hydraulic pressure test, ultrasonic examination of welded seam, pipe end chamfering, finished product examination, etc. The (X 80) steel spiral weld pipe( ID: 1219mm, thickness:18.4mm) manufactured by the invention successfully solves the problem of poor stability and unsatisfactory welded seam performance, etc. in the manufacturing process of the high-strength (X 80) steel spiral weld pipe, thereby greatly improving the pass-rate and working efficiency.

In a method of inspecting a structure, a two-dimensional array of sensors is disposed onto a surface, ultrasonic pulses are sent into the surface, and echo signals are received. An image of damage within the structure is graphically displayed, a determination of whether the damage satisfies a predetermined criterion is made, and a mode of returning the structure to usage or service is selected. The predetermined criterion may define a length, a depth, and an area. A-scan, B-scan, and C-scan images of the damage may be displayed. Threshold images may be displayed wherein each pixel of a matrix of pixels is colored one of only two colors.

In the ultrasonic inspection method and equipment, a high-resolution and high-S / N-ratio inspection image can be speedily acquired with ease-of-operability. Inspection of the inside of the inspection target is performed by changing incident angle of the ultrasonic wave oscillated from the array-probe ultrasonic sensor. Then, while performing the inspection, the array-probe ultrasonic sensor is sequentially displaced from the position to the position via the position by using the displacement member. This displacement allows acquisition of inspection images on each position basis. Finally, the inspection images thus acquired are visualized as a processed image by adding or averaging the inspection images by shifting the images by displacement quantity of the array-probe ultrasonic sensor.

The present invention comprises methods and devices for providing contrast medium for sonography of structures such as ducts and cavities. The invention provides for creation of detectable acoustic variations between two generated phases of a gas and a liquid to make a contrast medium. Sonography is the primary means of imaging but other conventional detection means may also be employed with the present invention.

Ultrasound imaging systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasonography method includes creating a database that is representative of a tissue, a fluid, or a cavity of a body, and transmitting ultrasound pulses into a region-of-interest in a patient. Echoes are received from the region of interest, and based upon the received echoes, compiling an ultrasonic pattern of the region-of-interest is compiled. The pattern is processed by comparing the region-of-interest patterns to the pattern information stored in the database. A composition within the region-of-interest of the patient is then determined.

The invention discloses a method for producing a JCOE longitudinal submerged arc welded pipe of an X80 pipeline steel. The invention is used for producing an oil and gas conveying tube with high intensity and high tenacity. The method includes using an HTP X80 controlled rolling steel pipe with a chemical composition of 0.03 to 0.05 percent of C, 0.20 to 0.30 percent of Si, 1.65 to 1.75 percent of Mn, less than or equal to 0.01 percent of P, less than or equal to 0.005 percent of S, 0.10 to 0.15 percent of Nb plus Ti and 0.5 to 0.7 percent of Ni plus Cr plus Cu. A steel plate is made into the oil and gas conveying tube with high intensity and high tenacity through the working procedures like edge milling, edge bending, a 'JCO' forming technique under multi-pass pressing, gas protection prewelding, inside welding, outside welding, diameter enlarging, ultrasonic checking, x-ray checking, hydraulic pressure testing, tube end to arris, ultrasonic checking and X-ray checking, etc. The inside welding and the outside welding of a steel tube adopt four-wire serial union melt welding and control the technical parameters of welding through selecting a suitable welding wire and a welding fluid; thereby controlling the components and organizations of a weld joint to lead the performance of the weld joint to reach the performance requirements of X80.

An ultrasonic testing assembly structured to examine a test object, wherein the test object has a surface, and the examination examines the structure of the test object under the surface as well as the profile of the surface. The ultrasonic testing assembly includes a sled assembly structured to support a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, the sled assembly including at least one support member having a lower surface, at least one surface ultrasonic transducer coupled to the sled assembly and structured to extend below the support member lower surface and further structured to engage the test object surface, the surface ultrasonic transducer structured to examine internal structure of the test object and provide a first output, at least one profiling device coupled to the sled assembly, the profiling device structured to measure the profile of the test object surface and provide a second output, and a control device structured to correlate the first output and the second output and to calculate a corrected output.

An inspection system is provided to examine internal structures of a target material. This inspection system combines an ultrasonic inspection system and a thermographic inspection system. The thermographic inspection system is attached to ultrasonic inspection and modified to enable thermographic inspection of target materials at distances compatible with laser ultrasonic inspection. Quantitative information is obtained using depth infrared (IR) imaging on the target material. The IR imaging and laser-ultrasound results are combined and projected on a 3D projection of complex shape composites. The thermographic results complement the laser-ultrasound results and yield information about the target material's internal structure that is more complete and more reliable, especially when the target materials are thin composite parts.

There is provided an ultrasonic inspection apparatus which detects various deviations with respect to an ideal scanning position and achieves, with high accuracy, an ultrasound flaw inspection by autonomously adjusting the deviations. The ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to the present invention is provided with an integrated type ultrasound transducer including an ultrasonic transducer, an integral type ultrasound transducer control unit, an actuator for distance adjustment, an actuator for tilt control, and a distance measuring sensor. The integrated type ultrasound transducer calculates a deviation between a scanning position based on a preliminarily generated scanning path information and an ideal scanning position, and performs a deviation correction processing by autonomously controlling a distance and a tilt between an opening surface of the ultrasound transducer and an inspection region of an object to be inspected in accordance with this deviation.

An ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation (NDE) system operable to inspect target materials is provided. This ultrasonic NDE system includes an articulated robot, an ultrasound inspection head, a processing module, and a control module. The ultrasound inspection head couples to or mounts on the articulated robot. The ultrasound inspection head is operable to deliver a generation laser beam, a detection laser beam, and collect phase modulated light scattered by the target materials. The processing module processes the phase modulated light and produces information about the internal structure of the target materials. The control module directs the articulated robot to position the ultrasound inspection head according to a pre-determined scan plan.

An ultrasonograph, an ultrasonic transducer, an inspection device, and an ultrasonic imaging device enabling easy and quick inspection and high-resolution or high-speed processing are provided. Barium titanate (BaTiO3) or lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is used for a piezoelectric material constituting the ultrasonic transducer, and the thickness thereof is 0.1 μm to 100 μm. Included therein are a drive section capable of driving an arbitrary one of piezoelectric layers, a detecting section detecting electrical signals generated by the plural piezoelectric layers based on echoes from an inspection object, the echoes being originated from an ultrasonic wave generated by the driven piezoelectric layer, and a processing section performing processing for visualizing a state of the inspection object based on the detected electrical signals.

Improved methods, systems, and apparatus for inspecting a structure using angle beam shear wave through-transmission ultrasonic signals involves positioning transducers at offset positions on opposing sides of the structure and permits inspection of the inside of the structure beneath surface defects and features. Magnetic coupling can be used for supporting a pair of leader-follower probes and defining offset positions between angle beam shear wave transducers carried by the probes. Inspection data can be collected for supporting real-time generation of three-dimensional image representations of the structure and of internal defects and features of the structure. Image generation and resolution using inspection data from angle beam shear wave ultrasonic signals can be supplemented using pulse-echo ultrasonic inspection data.

An ultrasound test apparatus for polymeric materials (e.g., plastic pipes) includes a low-absorption housing that at least partially encloses an ultrasound transducer, wherein the transducer emits a low frequency wide angle ultrasound beam with a narrow bandwidth. In especially preferred configurations and methods, the apparatus will detect flaws in polymeric pipes, and especially in welds or stressed zones of such pipes, wherein defects of less than 4% of the wall thickness (up to 4 inches) are detected. Further disclosed are configurations and methods for nondestructive detection of lack-of-fusion defects in polymeric pipes.