Electro-dynamic phased array lens for controlling acoustic wave propagation
First Claim
1. A lens for controlling a characteristic of an acoustic wave passing through the lens, comprising:
- an array of cells disposed in a plane, each cell coupled to a respective electrical connection; and
a voltage-sensitive medium disposed in each cell, the medium having an effect on the acoustic wave that varies with a voltage applied across the medium through the respective electrical connection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electro-dynamic phased array acoustic lens having an array of cells, each of which may be separately controlled to alter characteristics of an incident acoustic wave. Because each cell of the acoustic lens controls the delay and amplitude of the acoustic wave passing through that cell, such an acoustic lens may be used in combination with a single-element transducer to control the characteristics of acoustic waves with a similar degree of control, or more, as that provided by a phased multi-element transducer array. The acoustic lens may also be used in combination with a multi-element transducer, such that all elements of the transducer may be fired at the same phase and amplitude. In other words, an ultrasonic wave that passes through a given cell of the acoustic lens is phase offset as determined by that cell. The acoustic lens may be used in an ultrasonic ablation system to control the ultrasonic waves used to ablate the tissue.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A lens for controlling a characteristic of an acoustic wave passing through the lens, comprising:
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an array of cells disposed in a plane, each cell coupled to a respective electrical connection; and
a voltage-sensitive medium disposed in each cell, the medium having an effect on the acoustic wave that varies with a voltage applied across the medium through the respective electrical connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A lens for controlling one or more characteristics of an acoustic wave passing through the lens, comprising:
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a first cell containing a first voltage-sensitive medium and second cell containing a second voltage-sensitive medium, the first and second cells separated by a substrate to isolate the first and second cells from one another;
a first electrode coupled across the first cell; and
a second electrode coupled across the second cell;
wherein the first and second voltage-sensitive media have an effect on the acoustic wave characteristic that varies with a voltage applied across the first and second electrodes, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for ablating tissue, comprising:
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a transducer having one or more transducer elements configured for transmitting acoustic waves; and
a lens positioned adjacent the transducer such that the acoustic waves transmitted by the transducer elements pass through the lens, the lens comprising;
an array of cells disposed adjacent one another such that an incident acoustic wave from the transducer elements passes through multiple cells of the array, each cell coupled to a respective electrical circuit, and a voltage-sensitive medium disposed in each cell, the medium having an effect on the acoustic wave that varies with a voltage applied across the medium through the respective electrical circuit. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A lens for controlling a characteristic of an acoustic wave passing through the lens, comprising:
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an array of cells disposed in a plane, the array of cells comprising a substrate positioned between adjacent cells to isolate the adjacent cells from one another, each cell coupled to a respective electrical connection; and
a voltage-sensitive medium disposed in each cell, the medium having an effect on an acoustic wave passing vertically through each respective cell that varies with a voltage applied across the medium through the respective electrical connection. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A system for focusing acoustic energy, comprising:
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a transducer configured for transmitting acoustic waves towards a focal zone; and
a lens comprising an array of cells positioned between the transducer and the focal zone, the array of cells disposed transversely with respect to the acoustic waves such that an incident acoustic wave passes through multiple cells of the array, each cell being coupled to a respective electrical circuit and including a voltage-sensitive medium therein, the medium having an effect on a portion of the acoustic wave passing through a respective cell that varies with a voltage applied across the medium through a respective electrical connection.
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Specification