Patent ID: 9155517
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: A61B,G01H,G01S

Abstract:
1. An opto-electrical ultrasound sensor for use in medical diagnostics comprising: at least one light source; at least one photo detector illuminated by the light source and capable of producing an electrical signal indicative of intensity of light incident on the photo detector; and at least one optical ultrasound detector located in an optical path between the light source and the photo detector and capable of modulating, in response to an ultrasound signal, the intensity of at least part of the light incident on the photo detector from the light source; and an intensity adjustment for adjusting the intensity of the light signal incident on the photo detector via the optical ultrasound detector; wherein the intensity adjustment is functionally connected to the photo detector and is adapted to adjust the intensity of the light as a predetermined function of time to perform a time gain control, thereby at least partially compensating for attenuation of the ultrasound signal as it emanates from increasingly greater depth in tissue being examined by said opto-electrical ultrasound sensor.