Multi-pillar piezoelectric stack ultrasound transducer and methods for using same
OwnerXiaoning Jiang, Howuk Kiminventors
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Abstract
A multi-pillar piezoelectric stack (MPPS) ultrasound transducer includes N pillars, each formed of a stack of M piezoelectric elements, N and M being integers of at least two. The ultrasound transducer further includes a bonding layer between each pair of the M piezoelectric elements. The pillars are laterally spaced from each other to form an inter-pillar gap. The transducer further includes at least one electrical interconnect for connecting the ultrasound transducer to a signal source. Through the MPPS design, the therapeutic range and the transducer sensitivity are increased over the conventional single pillar piezoelectric stack (SPPS) transducer design.
Claims20
A multi-pillar piezoelectric stack ultrasound transducer, the ultrasound transducer comprising:
- N pillars, each formed of a stack of M piezoelectric elements, N and M being integers of at least two;
- a bonding layer between each pair of the M piezoelectric elements;
- wherein the pillars are laterally spaced from each other to form an inter-pillar gap;
- and
- at least one electrical interconnect for connecting the ultrasound transducer to a signal source.
A system for delivering ultrasound energy within a body of a subject, the system comprising:
- a multi-pillar piezoelectric stack ultrasound transducer including:
- N pillars, each formed of stacks of M piezoelectric elements, N and M being integers of at least two;
- a bonding layer between each pair of the M piezoelectric elements;
- wherein the N pillars are laterally spaced from each other to form an inter-pillar gap;
- and
- at least one electrical interconnect for connecting the ultrasound transducer to a signal source;
- and
- a catheter insertable into the body of the subject, wherein the ultrasound transducer is deployable from within the catheter to deliver ultrasound energy from within the body of the subject.
A method for delivering ultrasound energy from within a body of a subject, the method comprising:
- inserting, within the body of the subject, a multi-pillar piezoelectric stack ultrasound transducer including:
- N pillars, each formed of stacks of M piezoelectric elements, N and M being integers of at least two;
- a bonding layer between each pair of the M piezoelectric elements, wherein the pillars are laterally spaced from each other to form an inter-pillar gap;
- and at least one electrical interconnect for connecting the ultrasound transducer to a signal source;
- and
- applying an electrical signal to the multi-pillar piezoelectric stack ultrasound transducer via the at least one electrical interconnect, which causes the pillars to vibrate and deliver ultrasound energy from within the body of the subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.