ACOUSTIC SIGNAL TRANSMISSION COUPLANTS AND COUPLING MEDIUMS

摘要

Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for use in tomographic ultrasound imaging, large aperture ultrasound imaging and therapeutic ultrasound that provide for coupling acoustic signal transducers to body structures for transmitting and receiving acoustic signals. The acoustic signal transmission couplants can conform to the receiving medium (e.g., skin) of the subject such that there is an acoustic impedance matching between the receiving medium and the transducer. In one aspect, an acoustic coupling medium includes a hydrogel including polymerizable material that form a network structured to entrap an aqueous fluid inside the hydrogel. The hydrogel is structured to conform to the receiving body, and the acoustic coupling medium is operable to conduct acoustic signals between acoustic signal transducer elements and a receiving medium when the hydrogel is in contact with the receiving body such that there is an acoustic impedance matching between the receiving medium and the acoustic signal transducer elements.

主权项

1. A couplant device for transmission of acoustic energy between transducers and a target, comprising:
an array of transducer elements to transmit acoustic signals toward a target volume and to receive returned acoustic signals that return from at least part of the target volume; a housing body including a curved section on which the array of transducer elements are arranged; and an acoustic coupling component including a hydrogel material, the acoustic coupling component operable to conduct the acoustic signals between a transducer element disposed in the housing body and a receiving medium in contact with the acoustic coupling component to propagate the acoustic signals toward the target volume, wherein the acoustic coupling component is capable to conform to the receiving medium and the transducer element such that there is an acoustic impedance matching between the receiving medium and the transducer element.