Optically controlled ultrasonic sensor
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsLowell Scott Smith, Anil Raj Duggal
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Abstract
An ultrasonic probe optically coupled to an electronic console comprises a multiplicity of transducer elements. Each transducer element is capable of transmitting and detecting ultrasound waves. Each transducer element constitutes a piezocomposite structure comprising mutually parallel rods of two types embedded in a passive polymer matrix: piezoelectric rods and micro-cavity laser rods. The piezoelectric rods are optically activated to generate an acoustic compression wave transmitted from the front face of the piezocomposite structure. The micro-cavity lasers produce a frequency-modulated optical signal having a frequency shift which is a function of a strain produced in the lasing medium by a returning acoustic wave impinging on the piezocomposite structure.
Claims22
A transducer comprising a polymer matrix, a rod of piezoelectric material embedded in said polymer matrix, and an acousto-optical converter embedded in said polymer matrix.
An ultrasonic probe comprising a multiplicity of transducers and a multiplicity of optical fibers respectively optically coupled to said transducers, wherein each of said transducers comprises a polymer matrix, a rod of piezoelectric material embedded in said polymer matrix, and an acousto-optical converter embedded in said polymer matrix.
A system comprising an ultrasonic probe, a console, and means for optically coupling said probe to said console, wherein said probe comprises a multiplicity of transducers optically coupled to the optical coupling means, each of said transducers comprising a polymer matrix, a rod of piezoelectric material embedded in said polymer matrix, and an acousto-optical converter embedded in said polymer matrix.
An ultrasound imaging system comprising an ultrasonic probe, a console, and a multiplicity of optical fibers for optically coupling said probe to said console, wherein said probe comprises a multiplicity of transducers optically coupled to said multiplicity of optical fibers, each of said transducers comprising a polymer matrix, a rod of piezoelectric material embedded in said polymer matrix, and an acousto-optical converter embedded in said polymer matrix, each of the acousto-optical converters being respectively optically coupled to a respective optical fiber of said multiplicity of optical fibers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.