Optical waveguide for generating ultrasonic waves

US11896347B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Healthcare Limited · DE

Inventors

• Stephan Kellnberger · Norwood, US
• Oliver Schmidt · Erlangen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 31, 2021
• Grant date: Feb 13, 2024
• Expiry date: Aug 31, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B2006/12138
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical waveguide-transmitter apparatus, an ultrasonic transceiver apparatus, an ultrasonic imaging apparatus and an associated production method are disclosed. The optical waveguide-transmitter apparatus includes a substrate made of a semiconductor material; a carrier layer arranged on the substrate; and at least one transmitter-optical waveguide made of a semiconductor material with a refractive index greater than a refractive index of the carrier layer. At least one side of the waveguide is at least partially surrounded by the carrier layer. The waveguide is configured at an end facing toward the examination region for a decoupling of the light beams into the examination region for generating the ultrasonic waves in the examination region by way of the decoupled light beams for an optoacoustic imaging and/or has, on the end facing toward the examination region, an optical absorption layer for such a conversion of the light beams.