US 12,190,858 B2
Systems and methods for controlling directional properties of ultrasound transducers via biphasic actuation
Samuel Pichardo, Calgary (CA); Laura Curiel, Calgary (CA); and Sagid Alberto Delgado Amparano, Calgary (CA)
Assigned to NOVUSTX DEVICES INC., Calgary (CA)
Appl. No. 17/791,406
Filed by NOVUSTX DEVICES INC., Calgary (CA)
PCT Filed Jan. 8, 2021, PCT No. PCT/CA2021/050014
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 7, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/138745, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 15, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/959,616, filed on Jan. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0033799 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. G10K 11/34 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01); B06B 1/02 (2006.01); B06B 1/06 (2006.01); G01N 29/22 (2006.01); G01N 29/26 (2006.01); G01N 29/34 (2006.01); G01S 7/52 (2006.01); G10K 9/125 (2006.01)
CPC G10K 11/346 (2013.01) [A61B 8/4483 (2013.01); A61B 8/4488 (2013.01); A61B 8/4494 (2013.01); B06B 1/0207 (2013.01); B06B 1/0607 (2013.01); B06B 1/0662 (2013.01); B06B 1/0674 (2013.01); G01N 29/221 (2013.01); G01N 29/225 (2013.01); G01N 29/26 (2013.01); G01N 29/346 (2013.01); G01N 29/348 (2013.01); G01S 7/5202 (2013.01); G10K 9/125 (2013.01); G10K 11/343 (2013.01); G10K 11/348 (2013.01); B06B 2201/76 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of directionally controlling an ultrasound transducer element, the ultrasound transducer element comprising a piezoelectric material and further comprising a pair of propagation electrodes respectively contacting first opposing surfaces that are perpendicular to a first direction and a pair of lateral electrodes respectively contacting second opposing surfaces that are perpendicular to the first opposing surfaces, the method comprising:
actuating the ultrasound transducer element according to a first driving waveform and a second driving waveform, the first driving waveform and the second driving waveform having a common frequency, such that the first driving waveform is applied to the propagation electrodes and the second driving waveform is applied to the lateral electrodes; and
employing at least one of (i) a phase difference between the first driving waveform and the second driving waveform and (ii) an amplitude ratio between the first driving waveform and the second driving waveform, to control a directional property of ultrasound energy emitted by the ultrasound transducer element.