Composite transducer with connective backing block
AssigneeATL Ultrasound, Inc.
InventorJames Michael Gilmore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A backing block for an ultrasonic array transducer comprises a flex circuit embedded in a body of acoustic backing material, with conductive traces on the flex circuit terminating at the surface of the body at which an array transducer is mounted and extending out from the rear of the body for connection to electrical circuitry. The array transducer is formed of a composite material in which the pattern of the composite material is oriented at an oblique angle to the kerfs of the transducer.
Claims11
A prefabricated backing block for subsequent attachment to an ultrasonic array transducer comprising a flexible circuit board having a plurality of conductive traces formed thereon in a pattern corresponding to a predetermined array element spacing which is embedded in a body of acoustic backing material, said conductive traces extending to a distal, array contacting side of said body at which said traces are immobilized and aligned for making electrical connection with elements of an array transducer at the surface of said array transducer which is affixed to said array contacting side of said body, and said conductive traces extending out from a second, proximal side of said body for connection to electrical circuitry.
A prefabricated backing block for subsequent attachment to an ultrasonic array transducer comprising a flexible circuit board having a plurality of conductive traces formed thereon which is embedded in a body of acoustic backing material, said conductive traces extending to a distal, array contacting side of said body for making electrical connection with the elements of said array transducer, and extending to a second, proximal side of said body for connection to electrical circuitry,
- wherein said distal, array contacting side of said body is convexly curved.
A prefabricated backing block for subsequent attachment to an ultrasonic array transducer comprising a flexible circuit board having a plurality of conductive traces formed thereon which is embedded in a body of acoustic backing material, said conductive traces extending to a distal, array contacting side of said body for making electrical connection with the elements of said array transducer, and extending to a second, proximal side of said body for connection to electrical circuitry,
- wherein said distal, array contacting side is coated with a conductive electrode material, and
- wherein said distal side is formed into a central depression with opposing shoulders into which depression said array transducer is mounted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.