US 12,167,936 B2
Apparatus and method for characterization of a ductile membrane, surface and sub-surface properties
Mark A. Moehring, Seattle, WA (US); George A. Gates, Boerne, TX (US); Jay Chesavage, Palo Alto, CA (US); and Rahul Singh, Carlsbad, CA (US)
Assigned to OtoNexus Medical Technologies, Inc., Bellevue, WA (US)
Filed by OtoNexus Medical Technologies, Inc., Bellevue, WA (US)
Filed on Apr. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/298,136.
Application 18/298,136 is a continuation of application No. 16/788,379, filed on Feb. 12, 2020, granted, now 11,660,074.
Application 16/788,379 is a continuation of application No. 15/173,615, filed on Jun. 4, 2016, granted, now 10,675,001, issued on Jun. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0041433 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61B 8/10 (2006.01); B06B 1/02 (2006.01); A61B 3/16 (2006.01); B06B 1/06 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 8/485 (2013.01) [A61B 8/10 (2013.01); A61B 8/488 (2013.01); A61B 8/5223 (2013.01); A61B 8/5292 (2013.01); B06B 1/0207 (2013.01); A61B 3/165 (2013.01); A61B 2503/40 (2013.01); B06B 1/0292 (2013.01); B06B 1/0644 (2013.01); B06B 2201/76 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A non-contact material characterization system comprising:
an excitation generator, wherein the excitation generator is configured to generate a non-contact displacement force directed to an elastic surface or to a volume of material adjacent to the elastic surface, wherein the non-contact displacement force is directed along a direction to move the elastic surface or the volume in the direction;
an ultrasound transducer, wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to direct a transmit ultrasound signal to the elastic surface or to the volume, wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to receive a reflected ultrasound signal from the elastic surface or the volume; and
a processor coupled to the ultrasound transducer, wherein the processor is configured to determine a movement characteristic of the elastic surface or the volume based at least in part on the reflected ultrasound signal, wherein the processor is configured to distinguish movement in the direction from movement opposite the direction.