Patent · US Active

CMUT assembly with acoustic window

US9662679B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
6References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 18, 2015
Grant dateMay 30, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 18, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03H3/0072
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In some examples, a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) apparatus includes one or more CMUTs formed on a CMUT substrate to have an operational direction facing away from the CMUT substrate. As one example, the one or more CMUTs may include a plurality of CMUT cells arranged in groups to form CMUT elements, and a plurality of the CMUT elements may be configured as an array on the CMUT substrate. An acoustic window is disposed over the one or more CMUTs and may contact an external medium. For instance, the acoustic window may be positioned to pass acoustic energy to or from the one or more CMUTs in the operational direction. A coupling medium may be disposed between the CMUTs and the acoustic window to couple acoustic energy between the one or more CMUTs and the acoustic window.

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