Patent · US Expired

Ultrasonic transducer coupling member

US4459854A · kind A · utility

150Cited by
6References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 19, 1982
Grant dateJul 17, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 19, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG10K11/02
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An ultrasonic transducer is improved, particularly for use in perivascular blood flow measurement, by the provision of a coupling member made of a hydrogel. The hydrogel is suitably acrylic based; has a water content in the range from 75 to 90% by weight and preferably about 85%; and has acoustic attenuation of less than 2 dBcm.sup.-1 at 5 MHz, with longitudinal velocity of sound and acoustic impedance of similar order to those for tissue. The crystals of the transducer are preferably sealed from the coupling member by a water resistant coating, the member suitably has an exposed face of part cylindrical shape to accommodate a vascular vessel, and the member is preferably releasably mounted to allow size interchange for different vessels.

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