US 8,556,030 B2 · Ultrasonic attenuation materials

Abstract

Improved acoustic attenuation materials and applications are provided. An improved acoustic attenuation material may include a woven layer of fibers made of porous polymers, such as porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), that include interstitial space. An improved acoustic attenuation material may include sheets of porous polymers interleaved with layers of epoxy. The sheets of porous polymers may include through holes. An embodiment of an ultrasonic transducer that includes a backing with woven layers of porous PTFE fibers is provided. The ultrasonic transducer that includes a backing with woven layers of porous PTFE fibers may be used in a three-dimensional ultrasound imaging apparatus. An embodiment of an ultrasonic transducer that includes a plurality of sheets of porous PTFE interleaved with layers of epoxy is provided. The ultrasonic transducer that includes a plurality of sheets of porous PTFE may be used in an ultrasonic imaging catheter.

Claims21

Dependent claims

Acoustic attenuation material comprising:

a first side;
a second side oppositely disposed from said first side;
a polymer having a porosity, said polymer comprising at least one of a woven layer having a porosity and a non-woven membrane having a porosity;
and
a reinforcing material, wherein acoustic attenuation of said polymer is at least twice that of said reinforcing material, wherein said reinforcing material has a flexural modulus greater than that of the polymer having a porosity, and wherein said polymer and said reinforcing material are configured such that a sound beam traveling from said first side to said second side must pass through at least a portion of said polymer.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ultrasonic attenuation materials

Life of this patent

Ultrasonic attenuation materials

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21