STEPHEN RICHARD SMITH, M.D.
Osteopathic Medicine at Erwin Rd, Durham, NC

6572551, Jun 3, 2003

Apr 11, 2000

09/546721

Stephen W. Smith - Durham NC
Edward D. Light - Durham NC
Jason O. Fiering - Durham NC

Duke University - Durham NC

A61B 800

600459

A real time three dimensional ultrasound imaging probe apparatus is configured to be placed inside a body. The apparatus comprises an elongated body having proximal and distal ends with an ultrasonic transducer phased array connected to and positioned on the distal end of the elongated body. The ultrasonic transducer phased array is positioned to emit and receive ultrasonic energy for volumetric forward scanning from the distal end of the elongated body. The ultrasonic transducer phased array includes a plurality of sites occupied by ultrasonic transducer elements. At least one ultrasonic transducer element is absent from at least one of the sites, thereby defining an interstitial site. A tool is positioned at the interstitial site. In particular, the tool can be a fiber optic lead, a suction tool, a guide wire, an electrophysiological electrode, or an ablation electrode. Related systems are also discussed.

2009028, Nov 19, 2009

Jul 11, 2007

12/307628

Eric Pua - Durham NC, US
Edward D. Light - Durham NC, US
Daniel Von Allmen - Chapel Hill NC, US
Stephen W. Smith - Durham NC, US

A61B 19/00, A61B 8/00, A61B 5/05

606130, 600443, 600426

Laparoscopic ultrasound has seen increased use as a surgical aide in general, gynecological, and urological procedures. The application of real-time three-dimensional (RT3D) ultrasound to these laparoscopic procedures may increase information available to the surgeon and serve as an additional intraoperative guidance tool. The integration of RT3D with recent advances in robotic surgery can also increase automation and ease of use. In one non-limiting exemplary implementation, a 1 cm diameter probe for RT3D has been used laparoscopically for in vivo imaging of a canine. The probe, which operates at 5 MHz, was used to image the spleen, liver, and gall bladder as well as to guide surgical instruments. Furthermore, the 3D measurement system of the volumetric scanner used with this probe was tested as a guidance mechanism for a robotic linear motion system in order to simulate the feasibility of RT3D/robotic surgery integration. Using images acquired with the 3D laparoscopic ultrasound device, coordinates were acquired by the scanner and used to direct a robotically controlled needle towards desired in vitro targets as well as targets in a post-mortem canine. The RMS error for these measurements was 1.34 mm using optical alignment and 0.76 mm using ultrasound alignment.

2005011, May 26, 2005

Oct 4, 2004

10/958046

Stephen Smith - Durham NC, US
Warren Lee - Clifton Park NY, US
J. Angle - Charlottesville VA, US
Edward Light - Durham NC, US

A61B008/00, A61B017/00

600439000, 600459000

A kit for use in ultrasound imaging can include a deployment device configured for partial insertion in vivo, a 3-D imaging catheter, moveably coupled to the deployment device including a 2D ultrasound transducer phased array mounted thereon and configured to provide 3-D images, and a deployable tool coupled to the 3-D imaging catheter and configured to move in vivo in response to guidance thereof via the deployment device using the 3-D images.

5744898, Apr 28, 1998

Nov 19, 1996

8/752433

Stephen W. Smith - Durham NC
Gregg E. Trahey - Hillsborough NC
Richard L. Goldberg - Durham NC
Richard E. Davidsen - Durham NC

Duke University - Durham NC

H01L 4108

310334

An ultrasonic transducer assembly is disclosed having both transmit and receive circuitry integral to the transducer assembly for generating and receiving ultrasonic pulses. The ultrasonic transducer array which is integral with the transducer assembly preferably includes multi-layer transducer elements as transmit elements of the array and may include single layer transducer elements as receive elements. Also disclosed is an ultrasonic scanner utilizing the transducer assembly with integral transmit and receive circuitry to reduce the amount and complexity of interconnections between the transducer assembly and a scanner rack.

7706039, Apr 27, 2010

Jul 10, 2008

12/170828

Stephen W. Smith - Durham NC, US
Kenneth L. Gentry - Durham NC, US
Jason Zara - Vienna VA, US
Stephen M. Bobbio - Wake Forest NC, US

Duke University - Durham NC
University of North Carolina at Charlotte - Charlotte NC

G02B 26/08

3591981, 3591992, 3592081

A disclosed scanner apparatus includes a member having spaced apart proximal and distal portions. An electromagnetic radiation device is configured to direct electromagnetic radiation therefrom and is movably coupled to the distal portion of the member. The electromagnetic radiation device is configured to move in a first plane of movement to a first position to direct the electromagnetic radiation along a first path and configured to move in the plane of movement to a second position to direct the electromagnetic radiation along a second path. A MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) actuator is coupled to the electromagnetic radiation device, wherein the MEMS actuator is configured to move in a first direction to move the electromagnetic radiation device to the first position and configured to move in a second direction to move the electromagnetic radiation device to the second position. Other scanning and robotic structure devices are disclosed.

5331964, Jul 26, 1994

May 14, 1993

8/062060

Gregg E. Trahey - Hillsborough NC
Paul D. Freiburger - Dubuque IA
Stephen W. Smith - Durham NC
Stewart S. Worrell - Lexington VA

Duke University - Durham NC

A61B 800

12866101

Disclosed is an ultrasonic phased array imaging system which includes a normal mode and an adaptive mode of operation. The adaptive mode adjusts the delay associated with each element in the transducer such that the average image brightness of the region of interest is maximized. Also disclosed is a method of correcting for phase aberration using selected elements of an ultrasonic array specific to each element of the array to correct each element of the array. It is further disclosed that the use of corrected elements to correct subsequent elements in the array results in more accurate phase aberration correction. In a preferred embodiment, the determination of the maximum average image brightness is performed more accurately through the use of selectable transducer array elements and previously corrected data during adaptive processing.

5605154, Feb 25, 1997

Jun 6, 1995

8/467003

Loriann L. Ries - Durham NC
Stephen W. Smith - Durham NC
Gregg E. Trahey - Hillsborough NC

Duke University - Durham NC

A61B 800

12866008

A medical ultrasound array transducer assembly for achieving two-dimensional phase correction of an aberrated ultrasound beam is disclosed. The array transducer assembly comprises a plurality of transducer elements and is configured for insertion in or contacting to the human body. The two-dimensional phase correction comprises mechanically correcting ultrasound beam phase errors in a first dimension, and electronically correcting ultrasound beam phase errors in a second dimension. The transducer array assembly requires significantly fewer channels than a standard array which used for two-dimensional phase correction.

5311095, May 10, 1994

May 14, 1992

7/883006

Stephen W. Smith - Durham NC
Olaf T. von Ramm - Efland NC
Paul J. Roeder - Pittsboro NC
Thomas R. Poulin - Cary NC

Duke University - Durham NC

H01L 4108

310334

Disclosed is a ultrasonic transducer array comprising a ceramic connector having an array of connector pads, a mismatching layer of electrically conducting material connected to the upper surface of the ceramic connector, a piezoelectric transducer chip connected to the mismatching layer, separation means for dividing the piezoelectric chip into a plurality of transducer elements positioned in a two-dimensional array, wherein each one of the plurality of transducer elements is selectively connected to a corresponding one of the connector pads. Also disclosed in a two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array and transducer array for ultrasound imaging.

6849910, Feb 1, 2005

May 20, 2003

10/441540

Bruce J Oberhardt - Raleigh NC, US
Stephen W. Smith - Durham NC, US
Jason Michael Zara - Vienna VA, US

H01L 2714, H01L 2982, H01L 2984

257414, 257419, 257420

Microelectromechanical (MEMS) oscillatory devices are placed adjacent a face of a microelectronic sensor platform and configured to oscillate to improve transport to the sensor of substances to be detected. The MEMS oscillatory devices can be configured to oscillate to disrupt the boundary layer that is formed adjacent the face of the microelectronic sensor platform, which may improve sensor performance. MEMS oscillatory devices may be far less susceptible to wear and breakdown than MEMS rotary devices, such as fans.