# US 12,178,647 B2 · Surface compliant ultrasound transducer array

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- Number: US 12,178,647 B2
- Document ID: US12178647B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/321,562
- Filed: 2017-07-21
- Published: 2019-05-30
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-02
- Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Inventors: Ramon Quido Erkamp; Shyam Bharat; Man Nguyen; Jun Seob Shin; Jean-Luc Francois Robert
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178647B2

## CPC

- A61B 8/4483: {characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer}
- A61B 8/06: Measuring blood flow
- A61B 8/4254: {using sensors mounted on the probe}
- A61B 8/4272: {involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue}
- A61B 8/488: {involving Doppler signals}
- A61N 7/00: Ultrasound therapy (lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 {; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092})
- A61N 7/02: Localised ultrasound hyperthermia
- B06B 1/02: making use of electrical energy (B06B1/18, B06B1/20 take precedence)
- B06B 1/0622: {on one surface}
- G01S 7/52079: {Constructional features (constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44)}
- G01S 15/8925: {the array being a two-dimensional transducer configuration, i.e. matrix or orthogonal linear arrays}
- G01S 15/8929: {using a three-dimensional transducer configuration}
- G10K 11/004: {Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device (mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00)}
- G10K 11/352: {by moving the transducer}
- A61B 2090/061: {for measuring dimensions, e.g. length}
- A61B 2562/0204: Acoustic sensors
- A61N 2007/0078: {with multiple treatment transducers}
- A61N 2007/0086: {Beam steering}
- A61N 2007/0091: {with moving parts, e.g. transducers, lenses, reflectors}
- B06B 1/0292: {Electrostatic transducers, e.g. electret-type}
- B06B 2201/76: Medical, dental
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An ultrasound transducer array includes an array of elongate support members that are displaceable and/or deformable relative to each other in the elongation direction of the elongate support members, each elongate support member having a patient facing surface carrying an ultrasound transducer tile; and multiple sensors, each adapted to detect the relative displacement and/or deformation of one of the elongate support members. The ultrasound transducer array may be included in an ultrasound system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ultrasound transducer array comprising:
a plurality of elongate support members displaceable and/or deformable relative to each other in an elongation direction of the plurality of elongate support members, to establish conformal contact between end surfaces of the plurality of elongate support members and a surface of a subject;
a plurality of ultrasound transducer tiles mounted to the end surfaces of the plurality of elongate support transducer tile members, respectively; and
a plurality of sensors mounted to the plurality of elongate support members, respectively, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect relative displacement and/or deformation of the elongate support member to which the sensor is mounted in relation to an adjacent elongate support member of the plurality of elongate support members.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound transducer array of claim 1, wherein each elongate support member comprises at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound transducer array of claim 1, wherein each sensor is an optical sensor facing a surface along the elongation direction of the adjacent elongate support member, the surface of the adjacent elongate support member carrying an optical pattern, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect the relative displacement and/or deformation of the adjacent elongate support member based on detection of the optical pattern by the optical sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The ultrasound transducer array of claim 3, wherein the optical pattern comprises a location-unique coding pattern.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound transducer array of claim 1, further comprising:
a locking mechanism for locking the plurality of elongate support members in the relative displacement and/or deformation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The ultrasound transducer array of claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an adjustable strap or clamp surrounding the plurality of elongate support members.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound transducer array of claim 1, wherein each elongate support member of the plurality of elongate support members has a polygonal cross-section normal to the elongation direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound transducer array of claim 1, wherein at least one elongate support member of the plurality of elongate support members is removable.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound transducer array of claim 1, wherein the end surfaces of the plurality of clongate support members define a contoured surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The ultrasound transducer array of claim 9, wherein each end surface comprises a conformable coupling layer configured to achieve desired conformal coupling between the ultrasound transducer array 100 and the surface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound transducer array of claim 1, wherein each ultrasound transducer tile plurality of ultrasound transducer tiles comprises an array of ultrasound transducer elements.

### Claim 12

An ultrasound system, comprising:
an ultrasound transducer array, comprising:
a plurality of clongate support members displaceable and/or deformable relative to each other in an elongation direction of the plurality of elongate support members to establish conformal contact between end surfaces of the plurality of elongate support members and a surface of a subject;
a plurality of ultrasound transducer tiles mounted to the end surfaces of the plurality of elongate support members, respectively; and
a plurality of sensors mounted to the plurality of elongate support members. respectively, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect relative displacement and/or deformation of the elongate support member to which the sensor is mounted in relation to an adjacent elongate support member of the plurality of elongate support members; and
a control unit configured to operate the plurality of ultrasound transducer tiles in response to sensor data provided by the plurality of sensors.

### Claim 13

A method of operating an ultrasound system comprising an ultrasound transducer array that includes a plurality of elongate support members displaceable and/or deformable relative to each other in an elongation direction of the plurality of elongate support members, a plurality of ultrasound transducer tiles mounted to end surfaces of the plurality of elongate support members, respectively; and a plurality of sensors mounted to the plurality of elongate support members, respectively, the method comprising:
positioning the ultrasound transducer array on a surface of a subject;
receiving sensor data from the plurality of sensors indicative of respective relative displacements and/or deformations of the plurality of elongate support members caused by the positioning in relation to adjacent elongate support members of the plurality of clongate support members, respectively; and
determining the respective relative displacements and/or deformations of the elongate support members from the received sensor data.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
locking the plurality of elongate support members upon positioning the ultrasound transducer array on the surface of the subject to maintain the respective relative displacements and/or deformations of the elongate support members.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
excluding from ultrasound beam forming an ultrasound transducer tile suffering from interference due an elongate support member to which the ultrasound transducer tile is mounted having a displacement relative to an adjacent elongate support member exceeding a defined threshold.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The ultrasound system of claim 12, wherein the ultrasound system is an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound transducer array of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors are mounted on elongate side surfaces of the plurality of elongate support members, respectively, facing elongate side surfaces of the adjacent an elongate support members, wherein the side surfaces are perpendicular to the respective end surfaces.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound transducer array of claim 1, further comprising:
guide members and guide channels, configured to receive the guide members, extending along respective elongate side surfaces of the plurality of elongate support members, wherein the guide members and the guide channels are configured to provide friction sufficient to retain the relative displacement and/or deformation of the elongate support members in relation to the respective adjacent elongate support members up to a predetermined force in the elongate direction.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound transducer array of claim 1, further comprising:
a mounting frame comprising a plurality of apertures configured to receive the plurality of elongate support members, respectively, wherein the plurality of apertures provide friction sufficient to retain the relative displacement and/or deformation of the elongate support members in relation to the respective adjacent elongate support members up to a predetermined force in the elongate direction.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The ultrasound system of claim 12, wherein each sensor of the ultrasound transducer array comprises optical sensor facing a surface along the elongation direction of the adjacent elongate support member, the surface of the adjacent elongate support member carrying an optical pattern, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect the relative displacement and/or deformation of the adjacent elongate support member based on detection of the optical pattern by the optical sensor.