Ultrasound transducer acoustic coupling
AssigneeXiver Mems Foundry B.V.
InventorsDhilan Skukunan Devadasan, Franciscus Johannes Gerardus Hakkens, Lucas Johannes Anna Maria Beckers, Edward Theodoros Maria Berben
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Abstract
An acoustic coupling layer (20) is disclosed for acoustically coupling an ultrasound transducer (30, 60) to a body region (1), the acoustic coupling layer comprising a polar liquid absorbent polymer (24) embedded in an elastomer (22). Also disclosed are an ultrasound transducer, wearable patch and interface patch including such an acoustic coupling layer.
Claims19
A patch for acoustically coupling an ultrasound transducer to a body region, the patch comprising:
- a holder for the ultrasound transducer;
- and
- an acoustic coupling layer for acoustically coupling the ultrasound transducer to the body region, the acoustic coupling layer providing an interface layer between the ultrasound transducer and the body region when the ultrasound transducer is mounted in the holder,
- wherein the acoustic coupling layer comprises a polar liquid absorbent polymer embedded in an elastomer in a form of a plurality of particles dispersed or dissolved within the elastomer, wherein each particle of the plurality of particles has a diameter of less than 10% of any acoustic wavelength produced by the ultrasound transducer.
An ultrasound transducer comprising:
- a major surface for contacting a body region;
- and
- an acoustic coupling layer covering the major surface, wherein the acoustic coupling layer comprises a polar liquid absorbent polymer embedded in an elastomer in a form of a plurality of particles dispersed or dissolved within the elastomer, wherein each particle of the plurality of particles has a diameter of less than 10% of any acoustic wavelength produced by the ultrasound transducer.
A patch for acoustically coupling an ultrasound transducer to a body region, the patch comprising:
- a holder configured to receive the ultrasound transducer;
- and
- an acoustic coupling layer configured to acoustically couple the ultrasound transducer to the body region, the acoustic coupling layer providing an interface layer between the ultrasound transducer and the body region,
- wherein the acoustic coupling layer comprises an elastomer and a polar liquid absorbent polymer configured to store a polar liquid for wetting and rewetting an external surface of the acoustic coupling layer, wherein the polar liquid absorbent polymer comprises a plurality of particles dispersed or dissolved within the elastomer, wherein each particle of the plurality of particles is small enough to avoid reflections of ultrasound waves produced by the ultrasound transducer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.