Ultrasound transducer assembly and method for manufacturing an ultrasound transducer assembly

A method for manufacturing an ultrasound transducer assembly for intravascular ultrasound systems, comprising the steps of:

• providing a silicon substrate having a substrate element portion including at least one ultrasound transducer element for transmitting and receiving ultrasound waves and including electrical connectors for electrically connecting the transducer element,
• forming a trench in the silicon substrate laterally separating the substrate element portion from an intermediate substrate portion surrounding the substrate element portion,
• filling the trench with an isolating material different from the silicon substrate material to form a side layer connecting a top layer and a bottom layer of the substrate element portion to each other, and
• removing the intermediate substrate portion surrounding the side layer to separate the substrate element portion from the silicon substrate so that the isolating material electrically isolates the substrate elements from each other.