Ultrasonic transducer
US4676106A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 1985 |
| Grant date | Jun 30, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 6, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B8/4494
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A phased-array ultrasonic transducer for an ultrasonograph is provided in which electrical signals are supplied to ultrasonic transducer elements to generate ultrasonic beams for diagnostic scanning. The ultrasonic transducer comprises a number of ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in the form of an array, a signal electrode plate coupled to the signal-supply side of the transducer elements and connected to a transmitter-receiver circuit by means of signal wires, and an earth electrode plate connected to the earth side of the transducer elements. The earth electrode plate is divided into a plurality of split earth electrode plates corresponding to ultrasonic transducer groups each including a plurality of adjacent transducer elements so that the split earth electrode plates are grounded independently. Thus, clearer and more accurate ultrasonic images can be obtained without undesired signals attributed to any other transducer elements than the transducer element in operation being produced or artifact appearing on the ultrasonic image.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.