Solid ultrasonic lens
US5235553A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 22, 1991 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 22, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10K11/30
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A preferred embodiment of a large diameter solid ultrasonic imaging transducer is illustrated in FIG. 5 with alternate embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6-9. The large diameter solid ultrasonic imaging lens 100 has a diameter preferably greater than six inches with a focal length-to-diameter ratio of between 1 and 2. The lens 100 has concave surfaces 108 and 110, and is composed of a homogenous material that has an ultrasonic impedance of less than twice that of water and has a density less than the water. Preferably, the velocity of the ultrasonic sound through homogenous plastic material is less than twice that of water. One or both of the concave surfaces 108 and 110 have surfaces that are without a constant radius and curvature, but however are composed of separate radius of curvatures for each small increment of lens surface to properly focus the ultrasound at a desired focal length "L". An alternate embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 6 which has two exterior solid rigid lens elements that are of a concaval-convex nature forming a liquid lens 126 therebetween that has a double convex arrangement for accurately focusing the ultrasound rays to the desired focal length. Preferably,…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.