DENNIS RAYMOND DIETZ
Pilots at Louthan Cir, Littleton, CO

7908721, Mar 22, 2011

Jun 11, 2007

11/761248

Michael Joseph Zipparo - Parker CO, US
Monica Page Johnson - Greenwood Village CO, US
Clyde Gerald Oakley - Centennial CO, US
Dennis Raymond Dietz - Littleton CO, US
Michael Robert LaBree - Centennial CO, US
Mark Nathaniel Donhowe - Newark DE, US

Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc. - Newark DE

H04R 17/00

29 2535, 29594, 29847, 29412, 29417, 310334, 310348

An improved ultrasound transducer assembly, e. g. a thickness-mode transducer assembly includes a plurality of elements comprising piezoelectric material, and a backing material disposed adjacent to a back surface of the plurality of elements. The piezoelectric material and backing material define at least a portion of a side surface, wherein an electrically conductive material is disposed upon and in contact with at least a portion of the side surface. The elements may comprise one or a plurality of front electrodes, and one or a plurality of back electrodes, wherein the front electrode(s) is electrically interconnected to the electrically conductive material disposed on the side surface portion. In a mass processing method, a plurality of thickness-mode ultrasound probe transducer assemblies may be produced, wherein a plurality of interconnected transducer subassemblies comprising a mass backing are processed in tandem.

5269307, Dec 14, 1993

Jan 31, 1992

7/830433

Michael J. Fife - Denver CO
Dennis R. Dietz - Littleton CO
William M. Glenn - Evergreen CO
Richard W. Denny - Littleton CO

Tetrad Corporation - Englewood CO

A61B 800, G01N 2900

12866101

The present invention provides a medical ultrasonic imaging device with dynamic focusing that is capable of operating at high frequencies and providing high resolution. One embodiment of the device includes a plurality of transducers, arranged in either a linear or curved array, for converting an ultrasonic signal received by the device into a plurality of electrical signals. This embodiment of the device also includes a plurality of vector modulators for phase-shifting the plurality of electrical signals to achieve fine focusing. A delay line array is further included in the device that allows each of the phase-shifted electrical signals to be delayed by a selected amount to achieve coarse focusing of the electrical signals. Further included in the device is a summer of summing the time delayed and phase-shifted electrical signals to provide focused image data.

4537074, Aug 27, 1985

Sep 12, 1983

6/530687

Dennis R. Dietz - Littleton CO

Technicare Corporation - Solon OH

G01N 2900

73625

An annular array ultrasonic transducer is provided which comprises a plurality of concentric rings of piezoelectric material having widths chosen for operation at different depths of focus. The total aperture of the transducer is divided into a plurality of contiguous focal depths. In the near field only the inner element or elements are activated, and rings of increasing radius are added as the depth of focus is increased. The widths of the rings are chosen to keep phase errors across each ring within acceptable limits over the depth of field for which they are energized. The transition depths at which the aperture is changed are chosen to allow rings of manufacturable widths to be employed while maintaining aperture transitions which prevent banding in the ultrasonic image.

4534221, Aug 13, 1985

Dec 20, 1982

6/451313

Michael J. Fife - Denver CO
Paul T. Diaz - Englewood CO
Dennis R. Dietz - Littleton CO

Technicare Corporation - Solon OH

G01N 2900

73626

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described in which a multi-element transducer array transmits a focused beam of energy from the transducer elements. As the depth of focus is varied between near and far field focusing under operator control, the nominal frequency of the transmitted ultrasound energy is varied correspondingly by the system, from relatively high frequency transmission in the near field to relatively low frequency transmission in the far field.

5931787, Aug 3, 1999

Feb 11, 1997

8/798633

Dennis R. Dietz - Littleton CO
Joseph V. Ranalletta - Englewood CO
Eckehart Zimmermann - Palmer Lake CO

Tetrad Corporation - Englewood CO

A61B 812

600461

A sheath for receiving an ultrasonic probe and for defining the relative position of the probe with respect to a biopsy gun or a rigid needle is used for precise placement of the biopsy gun or needle tip in a structure. The sheath may comprise a keyhole-shaped slot for placement of a rigid needle through a puncture separate from a surgical port through which the sheath itself and the probe are introduced. A flexible catheter can thus be placed in a structure, using the ultrasonic probe to monitor its placement, followed by removal of the probe sheath and surgical port, leaving the catheter in place.

7888847, Feb 15, 2011

Nov 7, 2006

11/594553

Dennis Raymond Dietz - Littleton CO, US
Clyde Gerald Oakley - Centennial CO, US
Duane Morgan - Aurora CO, US
Daidipya Patwa - Denver CO, US

H01L 41/08

310334, 181176, 600457, 600459

An improved acoustic lens and an improved ultrasonic transducer system comprising an improved acoustic lens and related methods are provided. The improved acoustic lens may have a uniform loss along an elevation axis or may have a loss along the elevation axis that provides for an apodization of an acoustic signal. The improved acoustic lens may be a multi-component lens. In a two-component lens embodiment, the inner lens component, for interfacing with a transducer, may have a concave outer surface and the outer lens component may have a flat or convex outer surface. In a three-component lens embodiment, the inner lens component, for interfacing with a transducer, may have a concave outer surface, the middle lens component may have a concave outer surface and the outer lens component may have a flat or convex outer surface.

5469853, Nov 28, 1995

Jun 22, 1994

8/264016

Wing K. Law - Denver CO
Joseph V. Ranalletta - Englewood CO
Clyde G. Oakley - Englewood CO
Stephen J. Douglas - Parker CO
Dennis R. Dietz - Littleton CO

Tetrad Corporation - Englewood CO

A61B 812

12866206

A bendable ultrasonic probe useful in endosurgical operations is provided having a therapy channel with a shape that is substantially unaffected by bending of the probe. The probe can be used to convey substantially nonbendable tools to the vicinity of an ultrasonic device that has been repositioned by bending the probe. A sheath is provided having a rigid, self-supporting body portion that may be used with the bendable ultrasonic probe. The sheath may have a therapy channel for conveying surgical tools. Also, the sheath may have a flexible balloon on one end for accommodating the bendable portion of the probe, which is disposed in the flexible balloon.

2009029, Nov 26, 2009

Dec 31, 2008

12/347637

Paul A. Bielewicz - Newark DE, US
Richard W. Denny - Castle Rock CO, US
Dennis R. Dietz - Littleton CO, US
Michael J. Fife - Littleton CO, US
Joseph A. Huppenthal - Flagstaff AZ, US
David J. Messick - Flagstaff AZ, US
Craig T. Nordhausen - Parker CO, US
Clyde G. Oakley - Centennial CO, US
Ryan C. Patterson - North Salt Lake City UT, US
Jim H. Polenske - Bellemont AZ, US

W.L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC. - Newark DE

A61B 8/12

600424, 600459

An improved catheter is provided. The catheter may include a deflectable member located at a distal end of the catheter. The deflectable member may comprise an ultrasound transducer array. The catheter may include a lumen extending from a proximal end of the catheter to the distal end. The lumen may be used to deliver an interventional device to a point distal to the distal end of the catheter. The deflectable member may be selectively deflectable in a pivot-like manner through an arc of at least 90 degrees. In embodiments where the deflectable member includes an ultrasound transducer array, the ultrasound transducer array may be operable to image both when aligned with the catheter and when pivoted relative to the catheter. When pivoted relative to the catheter, the ultrasound transducer array may have a field of view distal to the distal end of the catheter.

2010028, Nov 4, 2010

Jan 7, 2010

12/684083

Dennis R. Dietz - Littleton CO, US
Curtis J. Franklin - Flagstaff AZ, US
John L. Loewen - West Jordan UT, US
David J. Messick - Flagstaff AZ, US
Craig T. Nordhausen - Pariler CO, US
Clyde G. Oakley - Centennial CO, US
Ryan C. Patterson - Farmington UT, US
Jim H. Polenske - Bellemont AZ, US
Shawn D. Quick - Flagstaff AZ, US
Daniel H. Todd - Flagstaff AZ, US
Thomas L. Tolt - Centennial CO, US
David W. Wilson - Erie CO, US

A61M 25/00, A61M 25/092, A61B 1/04, B32B 37/12

600109, 604528, 604 9505, 600101, 156 87

An improved catheter is provided. The catheter may include a deflectable member located at a distal end of a catheter body. The deflectable member may comprise an ultrasound transducer array. The deflectable member may be interconnected to the catheter body by a live hinge. The catheter may include a lumen extending from a proximal end of the catheter body to the distal end. The lumen may be used to deliver an interventional device to a point distal to the distal end of the catheter body. The deflectable member may be selectively deflectable in a pivot-like manner through an arc of at least 90 degrees. In embodiments where the deflectable member includes an ultrasound transducer array, the ultrasound transducer array may be operable to image both when aligned with the catheter body and when pivoted relative to the catheter body.

2011016, Jul 7, 2011

Jan 7, 2010

12/684079

Edward H. Cully - Flagstaff AZ, US
Dennis R. Dietz - Littleton CO, US
Curtis J. Franklin - Flagstaff AZ, US
Craig T. Nordhausen - Parker CO, US
Clyde G. Oakley - Centennial CO, US
Ryan C. Patterson - Farmington UT, US
Jim H. Polenske - Bellemont AZ, US
Thomas W. Shilling - Lakewood CO, US
Thomas L. Tolt - Centennial CO, US

A61B 8/14

600463

An improved catheter is provided. The catheter may include a deflectable member located at a distal end of the catheter. The deflectable member may comprise an ultrasound transducer array. In embodiments where the deflectable member includes an ultrasound transducer array, the ultrasound transducer array may be operable to image both when aligned with the catheter and when pivoted relative to the catheter. When pivoted relative to the catheter, the ultrasound transducer array may have a field of view distal to the distal end of the catheter. The ultrasound array may be interconnected to a motor to effectuate pivotal reciprocal motion of the ultrasound transducer array such that the catheter may be operable to produce real-time or near real-time three dimensional images.