Acoustically isolated thermoacoustic imaging probe and process of manufacture
US10996163B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 12, 2021 |
| Grant date | May 4, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 12, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/101
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A thermoacoustic probe with an electromagnetic (EM) energy applicator, a thermoacoustic transducer, and a housing containing the applicator and thermoacoustic transducer and enabling an EM exit window and a transducer front face to be held flush with respect to each other. A first acoustic absorbing material is placed between the EM applicator and the transducer, between the EM applicator and the housing, and between the transducer and the housing as spacers; and a second acoustic absorbing material is injected between the EM applicator and the transducer, between the EM applicator and the housing, and between the transducer and the housing in the spaced gaps, wherein the first acoustic absorbing material and the second acoustic absorbing material are combined to form a sleeve covering the applicator sides and the transducer sides. The acoustic absorbing materials mitigate sound artifacts and noise resulting in cleaner signal data. In a preferred embodiment the applicator is a radio-frequency applicator, the transducer is a piezoelectric transducer, and the probe is utilizable for tissue imaging.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.