In April 2005, Tetrad Corporation was acquired by WL Gore & Associates.Tetrad manufactures medical ultrasound probes and imaging systems for end users and original equipment manufacturers. The firm began as a contract engineering firm specializing in medical ultrasound providing design services to most of the major ultrasound companies. Tetrad built several generations of Doppler modules and imaging front ends introducing the first rigid laparoscopic ultrasound probe in 1992. Tetrad launched internal transducer development and manufacturing operations in 1993 and introduced the first "point and shoot" ultrasound system for surgery. They then pioneered several innovative probe concepts such as articulated rotating laparoscopic probes, integrated laparoscopic biopsy, and miniature 5mm laparoscopic probes along with the concept of fully sealed ultrasound probes, including the connector, for compatibility with Steris® and other sterilization methods. The firm's personnel are currently working on state-of-the-art developments in composite transducers, 1.5D probes, integrated miniature multiplexers, single crystal relaxor piezoelectric materials, and embedded ultrasound systems, offering the industry advanced design and manufacturing capabilities in standard probes, laparoscopic and open surgery probes, 1.5D probes with integrated electronics, and embedded ultrasound systems
