Patent•
Apparatus for simulating inspection equipment
10 Dec 1987-
TL;DR: In this paper, an approach for simulating inspection equipment, such as ultrasonic NDT equipment or ultrasonic medical diagnostics equipment, comprises a test body, a simulated probe for scanning over the body, probe position monitor, inspection data storage, a display and a central processor for correlating display of the inspection data with scanning movement of the probe.
Abstract: Apparatus for simulating inspection equipment, e.g. ultrasonic NDT equipment or ultrasonic medical diagnostics equipment, comprises a test body, a simulated probe for scanning over the body, a probe position monitor, inspection data storage, a display and a central processor for correlating display of the inspection data with scanning movement of the probe. The inspection data is derived from non-simulated scanning of for example a structure containing defects and the ultrasonic waveforms obtained during such non-simulated scanning may be stored in memory for providing a realistic display during simulated scanning of the test body. The simulated probe may incorporate an ultrasonic device for the purpose of sensing the degree of coupling between the simulated transducer and the test body and the output of the device may be used to modify the inspection data to provide a displayed signal which is dependent on the coupling achieved by the operator.
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: In this paper, a medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided which is capable of being accessed over data communication networks such as the Internet, making the ultrasonic images, diagnostic reports, and ultrasound system diagnostics information and operation accessible to a conventional personal computer using commercially available software at virtually any remote location.
Abstract: A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided which is capable of being accessed over data communication networks such as the Internet, making the ultrasonic images, diagnostic reports, and ultrasound system diagnostics information and operation accessible to a conventional personal computer using commercially available software at virtually any remote location. In one embodiment, the ultrasound system can be remotely operated from the personal computer. The inventive apparatus and techniques make it possible for physicians to remotely access, control, and perform diagnoses using their ultrasound systems over a network such as the World Wide Web with no special hardware requirements.
528 citations
Patent•
09 Sep 2003
TL;DR: In this article, an interface device and method for interfacing instruments to a medical procedure simulation system serve to interface peripherals in the form of mock medical instruments to the simulation system computer to enable simulation of medical procedures.
Abstract: An interface device and method for interfacing instruments to a medical procedure simulation system serve to interface peripherals in the form of mock medical instruments to the medical procedure simulation system computer to enable simulation of medical procedures. The interface device includes a housing having a mock bodily region of interest to facilitate insertion of a mock instrument, such as an endoscope tube, into the interface device. The mock bodily region of interest may be pivotable to simulate various patient orientations. The instrument is engaged by a capture mechanism in order to measure rotational and translational motion of the instrument. An actuator is disposed within the interface device to provide force feedback to the instrument. The measured motion is provided to the computer system to reflect instrument motion on the display during the simulation. Alternatively, the interface device may be configured to accommodate instrument assemblies having a plurality of nested instruments (e.g., sheath, catheter and wire), whereby the interface device individually grasps, measures manipulation of and provides force feedback to the nested instruments. In addition, the interface device may be configured to simultaneously accommodate a plurality of independently inserted instruments.
215 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a remotely upgradeable medical diagnostic ultrasound system is described which is upgradeable with a new transducer probe by means of air shipment of the upgrade hardware and remote transmission of upgrade data which controls operation of the probe.
Abstract: A remotely upgradeable medical diagnostic ultrasound system is described which is upgradeable with a new transducer probe by means of air shipment of the upgrade hardware and remote transmission of upgrade data which controls operation of the probe. The ultrasound system includes a data communicator such as a network link or modem for receiving upgrade data from a remote location. A process for upgrading the system is provided whereby a communications link is established over a common carrier communications medium between the ultrasound system and a remote terminal, which transmits upgrade program data to the ultrasound system. The program data portion of an upgrade is provided via the communications link while the hardware portion of the upgrade is shipped by air freight to the user. In this way, an ultrasound upgrade can be provided to a user from a remote location in a matter of hours.
176 citations
Patent•
20 Aug 2009
TL;DR: In this article, a real-time virtual reality welding system including a programmable processor-based subsystem, a spatial tracker operatively connected to the PLC, at least one mock welding tool capable of being spatially tracked by the spatial tracker, and at least a display device operating on the programmable PLC.
Abstract: A real-time virtual reality welding system including a programmable processor- based subsystem, a spatial tracker operatively connected to the programmable processor- based subsystem, at least one mock welding tool capable of being spatially tracked by the spatial tracker, and at least one display device operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem. The system is capable of simulating, in virtual reality space, a weld puddle having real-time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics. The system is further capable of displaying the simulated weld puddle on the display device in real-time.
126 citations
Patent•
08 Mar 2010
TL;DR: In this article, a system and a method for tracking and analyzing welding activity is presented, where dynamic spatial properties of a welding tool are sensed during a welding process producing a weld.
Abstract: A system and a method for tracking and analyzing welding activity. Dynamic spatial properties of a welding tool are sensed during a welding process producing a weld. The sensed dynamic spatial properties are tracked over time and the tracked dynamic spatial properties are captured as tracked data during the welding process. The tracked data is analyzed to determine performance characteristics of a welder performing the welding process and quality characteristics of a weld produced by the welding process. The performance characteristics and the quality characteristics may be subsequently reviewed.
122 citations
References
More filters
Patent•
02 Jul 1981TL;DR: In this paper, a computer controlled interactive instruction system for teaching an individual comprising a peripheral having at least one sensor for producing a signal representing a function which has been or is to be manually performed by the individual, a first device for storing a sequence of signals representing instructions relating to the correct manner of performing the function, a display coupled to the storing device for displaying the instructions, a second device for encoding video and associated audio signals representing both pictorial and oral representations of the correct way of performing a function, and a second display for displaying pictorial representation.
Abstract: A computer controlled interactive instruction system for teaching an individual comprising a peripheral having at least one sensor for producing a signal representing a function which has been or is to be manually performed by the individual, a first device for storing a sequence of signals representing instructions relating to the correct manner of performing the function, a first display coupled to the storing device for displaying the instructions, a second device for storing video and associated audio signals representing both pictorial and oral representations of the correct manner of performing the function, a second display for displaying the pictorial representation, and a computer coupled to the peripheral, the first and second storage devices and the first and second displays for causing an ordered sequence of the instruction signals in the first signal storage device to be displayed by the first display whereby the individual may learn to recognize and to perform the function, for receiving the signals from the peripheral and detecting correct or incorrect performance of the function by the individual and for causing appropriate ones of the stored video signals to be displayed by the second display and the associated audio signals to be produced to illustrate the correct performance of the function if incorrectly performed by the individual whereby telling, showing and coaching of the individual in the recognition and performance of the function may be accomplished.
273 citations
Patent•
01 Jun 1982TL;DR: In this paper, a multi-channel automatic on-line ultrasonic inspection system for real-time high-speed pulse echo testing is done across the width of a hot moving workpiece, such as steel plates and the like.
Abstract: Multi-channel automatic on-line ultrasonic inspection system for real time high-speed pulse echo testing is done across the width of a hot moving workpiece, such as steel plates and the like. In addition to a multiplexed transducer array search unit, the system includes an adjustable ultrasound fluid couplant, a main ultrasonic instrument modified with a digital multi-channel R.F. attenuation controller and a digital automatic flaw gate controller combined as on-line calibration means. The calibration means automatically corrects echo pulses for attenuation errors due to effects of variations in workpiece alloy or composition and temperature, and timing errors due to effects of variations in thickness and transducer gap, respectively. System further includes an ultrasonic data buffer/controller (UDBC) for digitizing, encoding and storing corrected or uncorrected flaw area data passed by the flaw gate during workpiece movement. The UDBC, together with a process control minicomputer, a display terminal and printer, provides computer-aided flaw area detection and reconstruction with printouts of an encoded flaw map and an A.S.T.M. flaw evaluation.
32 citations
Patent•
30 Aug 1985TL;DR: In this article, a non-biological material is formed into the shape of a breast, and a slot is formed in the phantom into which targets for simulating breast masses, fibers and calcifications can be placed.
Abstract: A phantom formed of a non-biological material into the shape of a breast, said material having radiation characteristics of breast tissue, for use by medical personnel while in training to interpret mammographs, and as a tool to assess the quality of a radiological imaging system. The phantom material comprises one epoxy resin based tissue substitute which simulates the breast tissue, and another which simulates the skin tissue. A slot is formed in the phantom into which targets for simulating breast masses, fibers and calcifications can be placed.
25 citations
Patent•
26 Dec 1984
TL;DR: In this article, an internal signal checking means configured in a combined use with signal processing and display means commonly furnished to an ultrasound diagnostic equipment stores various internal signals and in said equipment by selectively inputting them through a multiplexer into a video memory also used for receive echo signal storage.
Abstract: The equipment in this invention provided with an internal signal checking means configured in a combined use with signal processing and display means commonly furnished to an ultrasound diagnostic equipment stores various internal signals and in said equipment by selectively inputting them through a multiplexer into a video memory also used for receive echo signal storage, and said internal signals stored are displayed on a screen of a display means of said equipment as an image or they are evaluated by a processor in said equipment to perform internal signal checking.
16 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an ultrasonic pulse Doppler blood flow meter with a rate pulse generator, a pulser receiving the rate pulse for outputting a drive pulse, and a transducer excited by the drive pulse was described.
Abstract: An ultrasonic pulse Doppler blood flow meter which has: a rate pulse generator for outputting a rate pulse, a pulser receiving the rate pulse for outputting a drive pulse, a transducer excited by the drive pulse for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into an object to be detected and receiving the echoes thereof for converting the echoes into an electrical signal, a range gate circuit for outputting a sampling pulse after a predetermined time from the output of the rate pulse, a sample and hold circuit for sampling and holding the echo signals from the transducer in accordance with the sampling pulse, a converter for Fourier-converting the sampled echo signals, and a monitor for indicating in a intensity the converted echo signals advantageously further comprising: shifting circuit for shifting said predetermined time between the rate pulse and the range gate pulse at the individual periods of the rate pulse, and a switch circuit for selectively connecting the rate pulse generator and the shifting circuit to the drive pulse generator.
9 citations