US4992989A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasound probe for medical imaging system
Assignee: Fukuda Denshi Co Ltd
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Filing: 1989-05-02
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Granted: 1991-02-12
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Expires: 2009-05-02
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasound probe for a medical imaging system, comprising an ultrasound absorber and a piezoelectric vibrator mounted on the ultrasound absorber, cut in the direction from the surface of the piezoelectric vibrator to the ultrasound absorber into an array by a plurality of cutting grooves. The cutting depth d of each cutting groove in the ultrasound absorber is determined as an integer multiple of a quarter of a wave length λ corresponding to a center frequency f 0 of ultrasound waves radiated from the piezoelectric vibrator. Consequently, symmetrical electro-acoustic conversion characteristics of the ultrasound probe can be obtained in the frequency domain.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuhiro Watanabe
- 👤 Atsuo Iida
- 👤 Fumihiro Namiki
- 👤 Kenji Kawabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:05
CPC Classifications
B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0607; B06B1/0622
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
An ultrasound probe for a medical imaging system having an ultrasound absorber and a piezoelectric vibrator mounted on said ultrasound absorber, said ultrasound probe being cut by a plurality of cutting grooves, extending in the direction from the surface of said piezoelectric vibrator to said ultrasound absorber, into an array the cutting depth d of each said cutting groove in said ultrasound absorber being determined by the following equation: d=n·(λ/4) where, reference λ is the wave length corresponding to the center frequency f 0 of the ultrasound waves radiated from said piezoelectric vibrator, and the coefficient n is a natural number.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
An ultrasound probe for a medical imaging system having an ultrasound absorber and a piezoelectric vibrator mounted on said ultrasound absorber, said ultrasound probe being cut by a plurality of cutting grooves, extending in the direction from the surface of said piezoelectric vibrator to said ultrasound absorber, into an array the cutting depth d of each said cutting groove in said ultrasound absorber being determined by the following equation: d=n·(λ/4) where, reference λ is the wave length corresponding to the center frequency f 0 of the ultrasound waves radiated from said piezoelectric vibrator, and the coefficient n is a natural number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ultrasound probe for a medical imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said coefficient n is determined to be an odd number.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ultrasound probe for a medical imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said coefficient n is determined to be an even number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
151 words
An ultrasound probe for a medical imaging system comprises: an ultrasound absorber for absorbing unnecessary ultrasound waves; a first electrode, mounted on said ultrasound absorber; a piezoelectric vibrator, mounted on said first electrode, for radiating an ultrasound wave; a second electrode, mounted on said piezoelectric vibrator, for driving said piezoelectric vibrator together with said first electrode; an acoustic matching layer, mounted on said second electrode, for matching the ultrasound wave; and said ultrasound probe being cut by a plurality of cutting groves, extending in the direction from the surface of said acoustic matching layer to said ultrasound absorber, into an array, the cutting depth d of each said cutting groove in said ultrasound absorber being determined by the following equation: d=n·(λ/4) where, reference λ is the wave length corresponding to the center frequency f 0 of ultrasound waves radiated from said piezoelectric vibrator, and the coefficient n is a natural number.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
151 words
An ultrasound probe for a medical imaging system comprises: an ultrasound absorber for absorbing unnecessary ultrasound waves; a first electrode, mounted on said ultrasound absorber; a piezoelectric vibrator, mounted on said first electrode, for radiating an ultrasound wave; a second electrode, mounted on said piezoelectric vibrator, for driving said piezoelectric vibrator together with said first electrode; an acoustic matching layer, mounted on said second electrode, for matching the ultrasound wave; and said ultrasound probe being cut by a plurality of cutting groves, extending in the direction from the surface of said acoustic matching layer to said ultrasound absorber, into an array, the cutting depth d of each said cutting groove in said ultrasound absorber being determined by the following equation: d=n·(λ/4) where, reference λ is the wave length corresponding to the center frequency f 0 of ultrasound waves radiated from said piezoelectric vibrator, and the coefficient n is a natural number.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ultrasound probe for a medical imaging system according to claim 4, wherein said coefficient n is determined to be an even number.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ultrasound probe for a medical imaging system according to claim 4, wherein said coefficient n is determined to be an odd number.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-11 | 1994-08-13 | 1995-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-11 | 1998-08-13 | 1999-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-11 | 2002-08-13 | 2003-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |