Ultrasound transducer for diagnostic and therapeutic use
First Claim
1. An ultrasound transducer arrangement for diagnostic and therapeutic use for selectively generating ultrasound waves of different wavelengths respectively in a diagnostics mode and in a therapy mode, comprising:
- an ultrasound transducer structure which emits ultrasound at different wavelengths in a diagnostics mode and in a therapy mode, the wavelength of the ultrasound in the diagnostics mode being shorter than the wavelength of the ultrasound in the therapy mode;
an n×
λ
/4 matching layer adjoining said ultrasound transducer structure for matching said transducer structure to a propagation medium, n being an odd number and λ
being the wavelength of the ultrasound emitted by said ultrasound transducer structure;
said ultrasound transducer structure comprising a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer element, a first electrode for said piezoelectric ultrasound element disposed between said matching layer and said piezoelectric ultrasound transducer element, a second electrode for said piezoelectric ultrasound transducer element disposed at a side of said piezoelectric ultrasound transducer element opposite said matching layer, and a third electrode dividing said piezoelectric ultrasound transducer element into a first region disposed at a first side of said third electrode, between said matching layer and said third electrode, and into second region disposed at a second, opposite side of said third electrode, said third electrode comprising a common ground contact for said first and second regions; and
control means connected to said first, second and third electrodes for applying respectively different electrical control signals across said first and second regions respectively in a diagnostics mode and in a therapy mode, said matching layer comprising means for matching the respective wavelengths of the ultrasound in the diagnostics mode and in the therapy mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound transducer for diagnostic and therapeutic generates ultrasound waves of different wavelengths in diagnostics mode or therapy mode. The ultrasound transducer has an n×λ/4 matching layer for a propagation medium adjoining the ultrasound transducer, and a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer element with a first electrode located between the matching layer and the ultrasound transducer element, a second electrode attached at the opposite side of the ultrasound transducer element, and a third electrode that divides the ultrasound transducer element into two regions. Ultrasound waves can be generated for the diagnostics mode and for the therapy mode dependent on the division of the ultrasound transducer element. The n×λ/4 matching layer is effective for the wavelength of the ultrasound waves in diagnostics mode as well as in therapy mode.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ultrasound transducer arrangement for diagnostic and therapeutic use for selectively generating ultrasound waves of different wavelengths respectively in a diagnostics mode and in a therapy mode, comprising:
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an ultrasound transducer structure which emits ultrasound at different wavelengths in a diagnostics mode and in a therapy mode, the wavelength of the ultrasound in the diagnostics mode being shorter than the wavelength of the ultrasound in the therapy mode; an n×
λ
/4 matching layer adjoining said ultrasound transducer structure for matching said transducer structure to a propagation medium, n being an odd number and λ
being the wavelength of the ultrasound emitted by said ultrasound transducer structure;said ultrasound transducer structure comprising a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer element, a first electrode for said piezoelectric ultrasound element disposed between said matching layer and said piezoelectric ultrasound transducer element, a second electrode for said piezoelectric ultrasound transducer element disposed at a side of said piezoelectric ultrasound transducer element opposite said matching layer, and a third electrode dividing said piezoelectric ultrasound transducer element into a first region disposed at a first side of said third electrode, between said matching layer and said third electrode, and into second region disposed at a second, opposite side of said third electrode, said third electrode comprising a common ground contact for said first and second regions; and control means connected to said first, second and third electrodes for applying respectively different electrical control signals across said first and second regions respectively in a diagnostics mode and in a therapy mode, said matching layer comprising means for matching the respective wavelengths of the ultrasound in the diagnostics mode and in the therapy mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification