CPC A61B 8/4494 (2013.01) [A61B 8/4488 (2013.01); B06B 1/0622 (2013.01); G10K 11/30 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
1. A phased-array ultrasound transducer, comprising:
a sheet of piezoelectric material having a coefficient of thermal expansion;
a frame surrounding an outer perimeter of the sheet of piezoelectric material, where the frame has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is similar to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the piezoelectric material;
a filling material between the frame and an outer perimeter of the sheet of piezoelectric material,
wherein the sheet of piezoelectric material includes a number of kerf cuts that define a number of individual transducer elements; and
a lens made from a first material secured to the sheet of piezoelectric material through one or more matching layers, wherein the lens and the one or more matching layers include filled kerf cuts that are filled with a second material, wherein the first material has a speed of sound that is substantially greater than the second material, the filled kerf cuts being aligned with the kerf cuts in the piezoelectric material to define a plurality of mini-waveguides configured to limit energy spreading laterally in the lens such that a speed of sound in the lens in a direction normal to a front surface of the lens is greater than the speed of sound in the lens in a direction parallel with the front surface of the lens.
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