US 12,343,209 B2
Transducer arrays with air kerfs for intraluminal imaging
Wojtek Sudol, Andover, MA (US); Anjali Saini, Sudbury, MA (US); Junho Song, North Andover, MA (US); Hyunggyun Lee, Woburn, MA (US); and Mike Lavy, Stoneham, MA (US)
Assigned to KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Filed by KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Filed on Nov. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/991,444.
Application 17/991,444 is a continuation of application No. 16/338,788, granted, now 11,504,091, previously published as PCT/EP2017/075057, filed on Oct. 3, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/434,568, filed on Dec. 15, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/403,267, filed on Oct. 3, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0077944 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 8/12 (2006.01); B06B 1/06 (2006.01); H01L 41/293 (2013.01); H01L 41/311 (2013.01); H10N 30/063 (2023.01); H10N 30/071 (2023.01)
CPC A61B 8/4488 (2013.01) [A61B 8/12 (2013.01); A61B 8/445 (2013.01); B06B 1/0622 (2013.01); H10N 30/063 (2023.02); H10N 30/071 (2023.02)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
an intraluminal device comprising:
a flexible elongate member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion;
an electrical cable extending along the flexible elongate member between the proximal portion and the distal portion; and
an ultrasound transducer array disposed at the distal portion, wherein the ultrasound transducer array comprises:
an underfill material;
a first stack of layers and a second stack of layers positioned over the underfill material, wherein the first stack of layers comprises an ultrasound transducer element and a first top surface positioned over the ultrasound transducer element, wherein the second stack of layers comprises a second top surface; and
a ground plane positioned over and extending between the first top surface of the first stack of layers and the second top surface of the second stack of layers such that the ground plane is positioned over the ultrasound transducer element,
wherein the underfill material, the first stack of layers, the second stack of layers, and the ground plane define a volume comprising only air,
wherein the electrical cable is configured to carry power and signals associated with the ultrasound transducer array such that the electrical cable and the ultrasound transducer array are distinct from one another.