Ultrasonic probe and method for the optical detection of ultrasonic waves
AssigneeFraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
InventorsUwe D. Zeitner, Sicco I. Schets, Eliseo V. Sobrino
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ultrasonic probe for optical detection of ultrasonic waves includes a membrane integrated into the probe for contact with a body, the membrane being excited to vibration by reflected ultrasonic waves, leading to a change in optical path length of a beam of light directed at the membrane, which change is determined interferometrically.
Claims37
An ultrasonic probe for optical detection of ultrasonic waves reflected from an object or body, comprising at least one membrane that is exposed to a source of light and is mechanically sensitive to ultrasonic waves inducing a modification of the optical path length of the light due to vibration of the membrane by at least one ultrasonic signal transmitter, multiple channels each with one interferometric detection unit configured to determine the change in the optical path length according to the Mirau method, at least one lens for focusing the light on the membrane, and a transparent panel connected to the at least one membrane, the panel having a thickness d determining the optical path length of the light approaching the membrane.
A method for optical detection of ultrasonic waves by means of an ultrasonic probe with which ultrasonic waves transmitted by an ultrasonic signal transmitter are reflected from an object or body and the reflected ultrasonic waves are registered by multiple optical detector units, the method comprising:
- integrating a membrane into the ultrasonic probe, providing a transparent panel in the optical path and connecting the panel to the membrane, contacting the object or body with the ultrasonic probe so that the membrane is excited to vibration by the reflected ultrasonic waves, and so that the optical path length of at least one beam of light directed in a spot at the membrane is altered, and determining this change in the optical path length interferometrically according to the Mirau method.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.