Patent · US Expired

Ultrasonic transducer

US3958559A · kind A · utility

67Cited by
8References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 16, 1974
Grant dateMay 25, 1976
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 16, 1994

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S367/905
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

For use in ultrasound pulse-echo imaging and neurosurgery systems, a plano-concave lens of elliptical shape is positioned in front of a transducer for producing an extremely narrow ultrasonic beam, and at the same time provides a large aperture to maximize the ultrasound power output from the transducer and the capture angle of reflected echoes. The lens is preferably formed of plastic, selected from a wide variety of available plastics in accordance with desired acoustical properties for a given application, and is preferably bonded to a flat, disc-shaped transducer. By proper selection of the material used to construct the lens it is possible to produce the correct amount of transducer apodization.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.