Ultrasound transducer with non-uniform elements
First Claim
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1. An ultrasound transducer, comprising:
- a two-dimensional array comprising a plurality of transducer elements, each transducer element (i) comprising a grouping of piezoelectric members, (ii) wherein elements in each grouping receive the same input signal and (iii) having a geometric center, such that the grouped piezoelectric members form a single energy transmitting surface of the respective transducer element, and wherein the geometric centers are arranged in an irregular formation.
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Abstract
An ultrasound transducer comprises a multiplicity of piezoelectric transducer elements attached to a backing layer and forming a two-dimensional array, the transducer elements each comprising one or more piezoelectric members that collectively form an energy transmitting surface of the respective transducer element, the energy transmitting surface having a geometric center, wherein the respective transducer element geometric centers are in an irregular formation.
102 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An ultrasound transducer, comprising:
a two-dimensional array comprising a plurality of transducer elements, each transducer element (i) comprising a grouping of piezoelectric members, (ii) wherein elements in each grouping receive the same input signal and (iii) having a geometric center, such that the grouped piezoelectric members form a single energy transmitting surface of the respective transducer element, and wherein the geometric centers are arranged in an irregular formation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An ultrasound transducer, comprising:
a two-dimensional array of non-uniformly shaped transducer elements, each transducer element comprising a grouping of substantially uniform piezoelectric members coupled to a single input signal and which collectively form a single energy transmitting surface of the respective transducer element. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19)
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18. A high density ultrasound transducer configured for delivering therapeutic energy for heating body tissue, the transducer comprising:
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a two-dimensional array comprising a plurality of transducer elements, each transducer element (i) comprising a grouping of piezoelectric members, (ii) wherein the elements in each grouping receive the same a single input signal and (iii) having a geometric center, the piezoelectric members forming a single energy transmitting surface of the respective transducer element, wherein; the transducer elements of the array have irregularly shaped energy transmitting surfaces such that the geometric centers are arranged in an irregular formation, and the transducer elements of the array are arranged in an interlocking configuration.
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Specification