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US 6,492,762 B1Granted
Ultrasonic transducer, transducer array, and fabrication method
AssigneeTransurgical, Inc.
InventorsBharat B. Pant, Emad S. Ebbini, David E. Acker, Edward Paul Harhen, Todd Fjield
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-layer piezoelectric transducer includes a first polymeric layer of piezoelectric material having spaced apart first and second surfaces and a second polymeric layer of piezoelectric material having spaced apart first and second surfaces. A first ground layer overlies the first surface of the first polymeric layer and a second ground layer overlies the first surface of the second polymeric layer. A signal layer is sandwiched between the second surfaces of the first and second polymeric layers.
Claims44
A multi-layer piezoelectric transducer, comprising:
- a first polymeric layer of piezoelectric material having spaced apart first and second surfaces;
- a second polymeric layer of piezoelectric material having spaced apart first and second surfaces;
- a first ground layer overlying the first surface of the first polymeric layer;
- a second ground layer overlying the first surface of the second polymeric layer;
- and
- a signal layer sandwiched between the second surfaces of the first and second polymeric layers, the signal layer comprising a plurality of separated signal electrodes forming a signal layer array, each signal electrode being capable of separate excitation,
- wherein at least one of the first and second polymeric layers comprises a plurality of separate polymeric piezoelectric segments forming an array in substantial alignment with the signal layer array.
4 more elements
A multi-layer piezoelectric transducer, comprising:
- a first polymeric layer of piezoelectric material having spaced apart first and second surfaces;
- a second polymeric layer of piezoelectric material having spaced apart first and second surfaces;
- a first ground layer overlying the first surface of the first polymeric layer;
- a second ground layer overlying the first surface of the second polymeric layer;
- a signal layer sandwiched between the second surfaces of the first and second polymeric layers;
- and
- a backing material overlying one of the first and second ground layers wherein the backing material is operable to receive a cooling fluid to remove heat from the backing material.
4 more elements
A multi-layer piezoelectric transducer, comprising:
- a first polymeric layer of piezoelectric material having spaced apart first and second surfaces;
- a second polymeric layer of piezoelectric material having spaced apart first and second surfaces;
- a first ground layer overlying the first surface of the first polymeric layer;
- a second ground layer overlying the first surface of the second polymeric layer;
- a signal layer sandwiched between the second surfaces of the first and second polymeric layers;
- and
- a plurality of curved strips disposed adjacent to one another to form at least a partial cylinder, wherein:
- the first and second polymeric layers, the first and second ground layers, and the signal layer form at least one of the curved strips having an ultrasonic emission side and a rear side;
- and
- one of the first and second ground layers is located at the emission side and the other of the first and second ground layers is located at the rear side.
7 more elements
A piezoelectric transducer, comprising:
- a polymeric layer of piezoelectric material having spaced apart first and second surfaces;
- a ground layer overlying the first surface of the polymeric layer;
- a backing material overlying the ground layer wherein the backing material is operable to receive a cooling fluid to remove heat from the backing material;
- and
- a signal layer overlying the second surface of the polymeric layer, wherein
- the polymeric layer, the ground layer, and the signal layer form a curved shape having an ultrasonic emission side and a rear side portion, and
- the ground layer is disposed at the rear side of the curved shape.
4 more elements
A multi-layer piezoelectric transducer, comprising:
- a first polymeric layer of piezoelectric material having spaced apart first and second surfaces;
- a second polymeric layer of piezoelectric material having spaced apart first and second surfaces;
- a first ground layer overlying the first surface of the first polymeric layer;
- a second ground layer overlying the first surface of the second polymeric layer;
- a signal layer sandwiched between the second surfaces of the first and second polymeric layers, the signal layer comprising a plurality of separated signal electrodes forming a signal layer array, each signal electrode being capable of separate excitation;
- wherein the first and second polymeric layers, the first and second ground layers, and the signal layer form a dome having an ultrasonic emission side and a rearward portion,
- one of the first and second ground layers is located at the rearward portion of the dome and the transducer further includes a backing material overlying the one of the first and second ground layers, and the backing material is operable to receive a cooling fluid to remove heat from the backing material.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.