US 5,882,557 AGranted

Method of fabricating ultrasonic coupler

AssigneeFujitsu Limited

InventorsKenichi Hayakawa, Kazuhiro Watanabe, Kiyoto Matsui, Shiro Takeda

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Abstract

A method of fabricating an ultrasonic coupler to a specified configuration such that the ultrasonic coupler is fabricated by freezing and defrosting an aqueous solution containing a polymer. A surface of the fabricated ultrasonic coupler is made to be smooth. The ultrasonic coupler is fabricated using an ultrasonic coupler fabricating die including members each made of silicone rubber which varies in compliance with the expansion and the contraction of the aqueous solution. To fabricate the ultrasonic coupler, the aqueous solution containing a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is poured into the die. Then, the die is subjected to the process of cooling to below the freezing point and the process of recovery to room temperature so as to progress a bridging of the PVA, thereby progressing a gelling of the aqueous solution.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of fabricating an ultrasonic coupler, comprising the steps of:

preparing a die, wherein at least part of the die is provided with an elastic body with expanding and contracting properties, said step of preparing a die including
forming a first die for forming a junction plane of the ultrasonic coupler and an ultrasonic probe to be contacted by the ultrasonic coupler as a part of a configuration of the ultrasonic coupler, the first die being adapted to detachably mount a connection member for connecting the ultrasonic coupler with the ultrasonic probe, and thereby allowing a simultaneous connection of the ultrasonic coupler to the connection member during formation of the ultrasonic coupler, and
forming a second die, used in conjunction with the first die, for forming the configuration of the ultrasonic coupler except for the junction plane;
pouring an aqueous solution containing a polymer into the prepared die;
and
freezing and defrosting the poured aqueous solution to form the ultrasonic coupler having the connection member connected thereto.

3 more elements

A method of fabricating an ultrasonic coupler, comprising the steps of:

preparing a die, wherein at least part of the die is provided with a flexible body with expanding and contracting properties, said step of preparing a die including
forming a first die for forming a junction plane of the ultrasonic coupler and an ultrasonic probe to be contacted by the ultrasonic coupler as a part of a configuration of the ultrasonic coupler, the first die being adapted to detachably mount a connection member for connecting the ultrasonic coupler with the ultrasonic probe, and thereby allowing a simultaneous connection of the ultrasonic coupler to the connection member during formation of the ultrasonic coupler, and
forming a second die, used in conjunction with the first die, for forming the configuration of the ultrasonic coupler except for the junction plane;
pouring an aqueous solution containing a polymer into the prepared die;
and
freezing and defrosting the poured aqueous solution to form the ultrasonic coupler having the connection member connected thereto.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/675,841Filed 5 Jul 1996 · continuation
Priority: JP 4-33475215 Dec 1992
Granted: 16 Mar 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B29C 39/40
Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations: compensating volume change, e.g. retraction
B29C 39/006
Characterised by the choice of material: monomers or prepolymers
B29C 39/18
For making articles of indefinite length: incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. casting around inserts or for coating articles
B29C 39/38
Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations: heating or cooling