Ultrasound probe and manufacturing method thereof
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsOh Soo Kwon, Jeong Pyo Kim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ultrasound probe and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. More particularly, a one-dimensional or two-dimensional ultrasound probe having a multi-element-type piezoelectric material is easily manufactured by inserting a flat wire in a backing material, wherein the flat wire is used as a signal cable to supply electrical signals, enabling easy and simple arrangement of piezoelectric units as well as the signal cable.
Claims22
An ultrasound probe comprising:
- a piezoelectric material;
- a matching layer which is disposed on a front side of the piezoelectric material;
- an acoustic lens which is disposed on a front side of the matching layer;
- backing material which is disposed on a rear side of the piezoelectric material, the backing material comprising:
- a front side,
- a rear side opposite the front side,
- a lateral side between the front side and the rear side,
- individual grooves extending in a direction from the front side to the rear side, and
- a plurality of flat wires formed in corresponding individual grooves of the backing material and exposed at the lateral side and the rear side;
- and
- a signal supply part which is provided proximate to at least one of the lateral side and the rear side of the backing material and is electrically connected to the plurality of flat wires exposed on the backing material, to supply electrical signals to the backing material.
A method for manufacturing an ultrasound probe comprising a piezoelectric material, a matching layer which is disposed on a front side of the piezoelectric material, an acoustic lens which is disposed on a front side of the matching layer, backing material which is disposed on a rear side of the piezoelectric material, the backing material comprising a front side, a rear side opposite the front side, a lateral side between the front side and the rear side, individual grooves extending in a direction from the front side to the rear side, and a plurality of flat wires formed in corresponding individual grooves of the backing material and exposed at the lateral side and the rear side, and a signal supply part which is provided proximate to at least one of the lateral side and the rear side of the backing material and is electrically connected to the plurality of flat wires exposed on the backing material, to supply electrical signals to the backing material, the method comprising:
- preparing a jig having a plurality of grooves which are evenly spaced;
- positioning the plurality of flat wires in the plurality of grooves of the jig;
- embedding the jig in a molding material and removing the jig from the molding material to form the backing material having the plurality of flat wires disposed therein;
- and
- processing a surface of the backing material to expose a portion of each of the plurality of flat wires at the processed surface of the backing material.
A method for manufacturing an ultrasound probe comprising a piezoelectric material, a matching layer which is disposed on a front side of the piezoelectric material, an acoustic lens which is disposed on a front side of the matching layer, backing material which is disposed on a rear side of the piezoelectric material, the backing material comprising a front side, a rear side opposite the front side, a lateral side between the front side and the rear side, individual grooves extending in a direction from the front side to the rear side, and a plurality of flat wires formed in corresponding individual grooves of the backing material and exposed at the lateral side and the rear side, and a signal supply part which is provided proximate to at least one of the lateral side and the rear side of the backing material and is electrically connected to the plurality of flat wires exposed on the backing material, to supply electrical signals to the backing material, the method comprising:
- preparing a plurality of jigs, each of the plurality of jigs having evenly spaced grooves;
- positioning the plurality of flat wires in the grooves of each of the jigs;
- charging a molding material between the jigs to embed the jigs in the molding material, and removing the jigs to form the backing material having the plurality of flat wires disposed therein;
- processing a surface of the backing material to expose a portion of each of the plurality of flat wires at the processed surface of the backing material;
- mounting the piezoelectric material on the front side of the backing material;
- mounting the matching layer on the piezoelectric material;
- dividing the piezoelectric material and the matching layer into multiple units, each divided unit having a constant area;
- providing the acoustic lens on the front side of the matching layer;
- and
- providing the signal supply part on the rear side of the backing material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.