Ultrasound transducers for imaging and therapy

A flexible ultrasound transducer comprising:

• (a) a thermally and electrically conductive layer;
• (b) a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements supported by the thermally and electrically conductive layer, in a spaced-apart array, adjacent ultrasound transducer elements in the array being separated by a kerf that is filled with a deformable material that readily expands and contracts without being damaged during bending of the array;
• (c) an outer impedance matching layer disposed over an outer surface of the thermally and electrically conductive layer;
• and
• (d) a plurality of electrodes disposed on an opposite end of each of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements from that supported by the thermally and electrically conductive layer, said plurality of ultrasound transducer elements being energized by a signal applied between the plurality of electrodes and the thermally and electrically conductive layer, said flexible ultrasound transducer being bendable to a desired radius of curvature to achieve a desired focal point for the flexible transducer.

A method for selectively controlling at least one of a direction in which an ultrasound beam is emitted by an ultrasound transducer and a focus point of the ultrasound transducer, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a flexible transducer array that includes a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements supported on a flexible layer;
• (b) energizing the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements so that they emit an ultrasound beam;
• and
• (c) enabling a user to selectively cause the flexible transducer array to bend so that the flexible transducer array assumes a curvature that achieves at least one of a desired direction and a desired focal point for the ultrasound beam emitted by the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements.

A method of mechanically controlling at least one of a desired direction and at a desired focal point of an ultrasound beam emitted by a plurality of separate ultrasound transducer elements, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of separate ultrasound transducer elements that are pivotally mounted to rotate when actuated by a linkage;
• (b) actuating the plurality of separate ultrasound transducer elements so that each emit an ultrasound signal;
• and
• (c) selectively rotating the plurality of separate ultrasound transducer elements about their respective axes so that the ultrasound signals they produce are combined in an ultrasound beam that is directed in at least one of a desired direction and at a desired focus.