358 results about "Ultrasonic transducer array" patented technology

This invention relates to an ultrasonic transducer array for non-destructive imaging and inspection of materials, suitable for applications such as bio-medical imaging. According to the invention, the transducer has at least one electrode comprising an array of electrode elements, wherein the elements are not separated by a grooves or kerfs. The grooveless transducer design simplifies transducer construction and permits very high operating frequencies, and hence very high resolution. In one embodiment suitable for producing real-time high resolution 3-dimension images, the invention provides a hybrid transducer comprising two opposed electrodes, one electrode being a grooveless linear array and the second electrode being a grooved linear phased array.

A micromachined ultrasonic transducer array comprising a multiplicity of cMUT cells built on a substrate. Each cMUT cell comprises a compliant support structure built on the substrate, a membrane supported over a cavity by the compliant support structure, a first electrode supported by the membrane, and a second electrode that forms a capacitor with the first electrode, the cavity being disposed between the first and second electrodes. The compliant support structure uncouples the non-membrane outer surface of each cMUT cell from the supporting substrate.

An integrated circuit is fabricated by micromachining a hexagonal array of cMUT elements on top of a substrate comprising a hexagonal array of CMOS cells. Each cMUT element overlies a respective CMOS cell in one-to-one correspondence. During layout of the mask for micromachining the cMUT layer, either the hexagonal pattern or the alignment key is rotated until an axis of symmetry of the hexagonal pattern is aligned with an axis of the alignment key. Later, when the mask is superimposed on the CMOS substrate, the alignment key on the mask is aligned with an alignment key on the substrate. This ensures that the cMUT elements formed by optical lithography will be matched to the CMOS cells.

The invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging system for elasticity measurement. The ultrasonic imaging system comprises a probe, an ultrasonic imaging device, a controlling and processing device and a display device, wherein the probe comprises a low-frequency oscillation driving device for generating oscillation and forming a shearing wave propagating from human body surface to tissues, and an ultrasonic transducer array for sending an ultrasonic signal to the tissues and receiving an ultrasonic echo signal; the ultrasonic imaging device is used for driving the ultrasonic transducer array to send the ultrasonic signal and receive and process the ultrasonic echo signal according to loaded imaging parameters; the controlling and processing device is used for controlling the low-frequency oscillation driving device and the ultrasonic imaging device to process the ultrasonic echo signal so as to obtain a two-dimensional ultrasonic image and elasticity information of the tissues; and the display device is used for displaying the two-dimensional ultrasonic image and the elasticity information. The system and elasticity measuring method can simultaneously obtain the two-dimensional ultrasonic image and the elasticity information of the tissues, thereby improving clinical diagnosis accuracy; and the probe can realize precise positioning under the guiding of the two-dimensional ultrasonic image without considering displacement compensation, thereby improving convenience and accuracy of tissue elasticity measurement.

An ultrasound oral hygiene and therapeutic device comprises an array of ultrasonic transducers, a power generator, and a filling element. The ultrasonic transducer array, with optional radiation plates and reflection plates, produce uniform ultrasound radiation on each surface desirable to be treated by ultrasound radiation. The soft and resilient filling element snugly fits into a user's oral cavity, confines cleaning solution and the ultrasound action within a limited ultrasound action zone surrounding the surfaces desirable to be treated, and protects all other parts of the oral cavity from ultrasound radiation. The device provides superior, uniform, and consistent cleaning results in a short time. In particular, it cleans the entire dental surface, including the inter-dental and gingival areas. It is extremely easy to use, quiet, durable, energy efficient, and inexpensive in long run.

Apparatus and methods to form high efficiency and uniform Fresnel lens arrays for ultrasonic liquid manipulation are provided. An ultrasonic transducer array may be fabricated by forming top and bottom electrodes on top and bottom surfaces of a sensor plate. The ultrasonic transducer array may generate ultrasonic energy to manipulate one or more samples. Each of the top and bottom electrodes may be coupled to a radio frequency source and arranged to form one of a solid shape or a pattern. Additional apparatus and methods are disclosed.

An ultrasonic transducer device comprising: an ultrasonic transducer array micromachined on a substrate; flexible electrical connections connected to the transducer array; and a body of acoustically attenuative material that supports the substrate and the flexible electrical connections. The acoustic backing material may contain additional features, such as tabs or notches, for use in positioning the transducer on fixtures during manufacturing or positioning the transducer within a housing during final assembly. Tabs or other features that are used only during manufacturing may be subsequently removed from the device. The MUT device itself may also be thinned so as to provide flexibility as desired. The backing material is preferably matched in acoustic impedance to the silicon wafer so as to prevent reflection at the interface of any acoustic energy propagating rearward, i.e., in the direction away from the device front surface. The backing material may also possess a high thermal conductivity to assist in removal of heat from the device.

An ultrasonic therapeutic device capable of multipoint transmitting includes a substrate (5), on which an ultrasonic transducer array is arranged. Wherein, each of the ultrasonic transducers in the ultrasonic transducer array can independently focus. The device of the present invention has a simple structure and a good focusing performance. There is no interference among the ultrasonic transducers. Therefore, the energy of ultrasonic wave is transmitted by predetermined route with high utilization ratio.

A curved sensor device, such as an ultrasonic transducer array, is fabricated from a flat micromachined sensor (such as cMUT or pMUT) array constructed using micromachined electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) techniques. The device comprises: a support structure comprising a spine having a profile that is generally curved and a multiplicity of teeth extending from one side of the curved spine; and a multiplicity of sensors built on the support structure. The spine can be bent forward or backward and attached to a curved front face of a support member, thereby causing the sensors to adopt a curved array.

The embodiments of the present invention provide a CMUT array and method of fabricating the same. The CMUT array has CMUT elements individually or respectively addressable from a backside of a substrate on which the CMUT array is fabricated. In one embodiment, a CMUT array is formed on a front side of a very high conductivity silicon substrate. Through wafer trenches are etched into the substrate from the backside of the substrate to electrically isolate individual CMUT elements formed on the front side of the substrate. Electrodes are formed on the backside of the substrate to individually address the CMUT elements through the substrate.

Improved apparatus, systems, and methods for inspecting a structure are provided that use a probe having two ultrasonic transducer arrays. This enables simultaneous testing using two different test frequencies. The probe uses pulse echo ultrasonic signals at different frequencies to inspect the structure. The probe includes a support body having a fluid conduit formed therein. The fluid conduit provides flow paths for a couplant (such as water) that is used to couple the ultrasonic signals between the structure under test and the arrays. The fluid conduit is configured to quickly eject couplant and bubbles contained in the couplant.

The present invention relates to a device for the ultrasonic stimulation of a neural tissue. A control and data communication unit receives a control command to generate a pulse parameter and a beam-forming parameter. The ultrasonic echo radio frequency data outputted by an echo receiving unit is received and is transmitted to a control and ultrasonic imaging unit. A pulse excitation unit generates a high voltage pulse sequence according to the pulse parameter. The echo receiving unit composes ultrasonic echo radio frequency data according to the beam-forming parameter by using ultrasonic echo. The control and ultrasonic imaging unit emits a control command according to a user operation. The ultrasonic imaging of a target neural tissue scanning area is carried out according to the ultrasonic echo radio frequency data. An ultrasonic transducer array is controlled to be in a neural simulation state or an ultrasonic imaging state according to the high voltage pulse sequence. According to the technical scheme of the utility model, a method of sharing the ultrasonic transducer array by ultrasonic stimulation and ultrasonic imaging is employed, the real-time visualization of an ultrasonic neural stimulation process is realized, and the dynamic adjustment of stimulation target position and stimulation effect evaluation is helped.