US 11,744,547 B2
Phased array transducer with coupling layer for suppression of grating lobes
Kullervo Henrik Hynynen, Toronto (CA)
Assigned to SUNNYBROOK RESEARCH INSTITUTE, Toronto (CA)
Appl. No. 16/66,865
Filed by SUNNYBROOK RESEARCH INSTITUTE, Toronto (CA)
PCT Filed Feb. 23, 2017, PCT No. PCT/CA2017/050229
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 28, 2018,
PCT Pub. No. WO2017/143443, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 31, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/298,850, filed on Feb. 23, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2019/0000416 A1, Jan. 3, 2019
Int. Cl. A61B 8/00 (2006.01); B06B 3/00 (2006.01); G01S 7/52 (2006.01); G01S 15/89 (2006.01); A61N 7/00 (2006.01); G10K 11/26 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 8/4281 (2013.01) [A61B 8/4488 (2013.01); A61N 7/00 (2013.01); B06B 3/00 (2013.01); G01S 7/52077 (2013.01); G01S 7/52079 (2013.01); G01S 15/8915 (2013.01); G10K 11/26 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0078 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A phased array ultrasound transducer comprising:
an array of ultrasound transducer elements configured for emitting a phased-array ultrasound beam therefrom, wherein each ultrasound transducer element has an associated ultrasound emission wavelength in soft tissue, wherein a lateral extent of each transducer element is larger than half of the ultrasound wavelength in soft tissue; and
a coupling layer contacting said array of ultrasound transducer elements, said coupling layer having a speed of sound greater than a speed of sound of soft tissue and a thickness sufficient for generation of a wavefront therein, thereby reducing or suppressing generation of grating lobes;
wherein the thickness of said coupling layer exceeds an ultrasound wavelength in said coupling layer.