Acoustic lens for micromachined ultrasound transducers
AssigneeFujifilm Sonosite, Inc.
InventorsWei Li, Paul Dunham, Chak-Yoon Aw, N. Chris Chaggares
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Abstract
Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.
Claims19
An ultrasonic transducer stack comprising:
- a first matching layer having a first top surface and a first bottom surface, wherein the first matching layer comprises a compliant material, and wherein the first matching layer has a first thickness and a first acoustic impedance;
- a lens layer having a second bottom surface comprising a polymethylpentene or a thermoset cross-linked styrene copolymer material that is textured overlying the first top surface, and a second top surface, wherein the lens layer has a second thickness and a second acoustic impedance;
- and
- a transducer layer having a third top surface underlying the first bottom surface and the second bottom surface, wherein the transducer layer includes a micromachined ultrasound transducer configured to generate ultrasound at a center frequency, and wherein the third top surface comprises an upper membrane of the transducer.
An ultrasound transducer stack for external use, the ultrasound transducer stack comprising:
- a first matching layer having a first top surface and a first bottom surface, wherein the first matching layer includes a first compliant material and wherein the first matching layer has a first acoustic impedance;
- a lens layer having a second bottom surface comprising a polymethylpentene or a thermoset cross-linked styrene copolymer material that is textured with a plurality of ridges and a plurality grooves therebetween overlying the first top surface and a second top configured to be placed against a subject's skin, wherein the lens layer has a second acoustic impedance different from the first acoustic impedance;
- and
- a third layer having a third top surface underlying the first bottom surface and the second bottom surface, wherein the third layer includes a micromachines ultrasound transducer configured to generate ultrasound.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.