Patent ID: 8295025
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
1. A controller for driving an excitation current through an excitation coil of a magnetostrictive ultrasonic device, the controller comprising: A source of a periodic signal having a controllable frequency; a driver responsive to said periodic signal and configured to cause an excitation current to flow through the excitation coil commensurate with said periodic signal; a current sensor in series with the excitation coil, operative to output a current-sense signal proportional to the current flowing through the excitation coil; A high pass filter, receptive to said current sense signal and operative to output a high-pass filtered version thereof; a first peak detector, receptive to said current sense signal and operative to output a first peak signal, proportional to the periodic peak value thereof; a second peak detector, receptive to said high-pass filtered version and operative to output a second peak signal, proportional to the periodic peak value thereof; and a digital processor, operative—