US 11,938,514 B2
Curved shape piezoelectric transducer and method for manufacturing the same
Francesco Bertocci, Santa Maria a Monte (IT); and Ramona De Luca, Florence (IT)
Assigned to Esaote S.p.A., Genoa (IT)
Filed by Esaote S.p.A., Genoa (IT)
Filed on Apr. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/226,946.
Claims priority of application No. 20169260 (EP), filed on Apr. 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0152653 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. B06B 1/06 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01); G10K 11/32 (2006.01); H04R 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC B06B 1/0622 (2013.01) [G10K 11/32 (2013.01); H04R 17/005 (2013.01); A61B 8/4494 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Kit comprising a curved backing layer having a predetermined curvature and a plurality of piezoelectric subassemblies in respective ones of transducer assemblies, the plurality of piezoelectric subassemblies having the same dimensions but different central part/lateral part area ratio as each other to implement different elevation focusing within transducer assemblies of the same dimensions, the plurality of peizoelectric subassemblies each being configured according to a piezoelectric subassembly comprised in a corresponding one of the transducer assemblies that is operable to transmit ultrasonic energy in a desired direction towards a zone adapted to be acoustically coupled to an object or area of interest,
wherein the piezoelectric subassembly matches a curved support layer disposed behind the piezoelectric subassembly with respect to the desired direction,
wherein the piezoelectric subassembly comprises piezoelectric elements and metal connections, wherein the piezoelectric elements are disposed along a first direction, so-called azimuth direction (A), to form a number of parallel curved segments of piezoelectric elements extending in a second direction, so-called elevation direction (E), each piezoelectric segment being in contact with a corresponding metal connection extending in the elevation direction for transmitting/receiving electric signals to/from each piezoelectric segment,
wherein the piezoelectric subassembly comprises a central part and a lateral part extending from the central part, wherein the central part comprises piezoelectric material and the lateral part comprises a resin material incorporating the metal connections so that each curved segment results substantially in a sequence of resin/piezoelectric/resin materials disposed along the elevation direction (E) with the extension and curvature of the piezoelectric material disposed in the central part of the subassembly defining the elevation focussing of the transducer assembly, wherein the relation between area covered by the central part and area covered by the lateral part is a function of an aperture of the transducer assembly in the elevation direction.
 
2. Kit comprising a curved backing layer having a predetermined curvature and a plurality of peizoelectric subassemblies in respective ones of transducer assemblies, the plurality of piezoelectric subassemblies having the same dimensions but different central part/lateral part area ratio as each other to implement different elevation focussing within the respective transducer assemblies of the same dimensions, the plurality of piezoelectric subassemblies each being configured according to a piezoelectric subassembly comprised in a corresponding one of the transducer assemblies that is operable to transmit ultrasonic energy in a desired direction towards a zone adapted to be acoustically coupled to an object or area of interest,
wherein the piezoelectric subassembly matches a curved support layer disposed behind the piezoelectric subassembly with respect to the desired direction,
wherein the piezoelectric subassembly comprises piezoelectric elements and metal connections, wherein the piezoelectric elements are disposed along a first direction, so-called azimuth direction (A), to form a number of parallel curved segments of piezoelectric elements extending in a second direction, so-called elevation direction (E), each piezoelectric segment being in contact with a corresponding metal connection extending in the elevation direction for transmitting/receiving electric signals to/from each piezoelectric segment,
wherein the piezoelectric subassembly comprises a central part and a lateral part extending from the central part, wherein the central part comprises piezoelectric material and the lateral part comprises a resin material incorporating the metal connections so that each curved segment results substantially in a sequence of resin/piezoelectric/resin materials disposed along the elevation direction (E) with the extension and curvature of the piezoelectric material disposed in the central part of the subassembly defining the elevation focussing of the corresponding transducer assembly.