DUAL-MODE PIEZOCOMPOSITE ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER

摘要

A compact, high power, dual mode, emitting and receiving ultrasound transducer and method for applying ultrasonic energy within a living subject and for monitoring the effects it induces in tissue comprises a set of piezoelectric polymeric transducer elements and a set of piezoelectric ceramic elements, bonded together. The polymeric transducer elements have electrodes enabling their use for low power diagnostic imaging interrogation of the tissue and the ceramic transducer elements have electrodes enabling their use for high power therapy applications.

主权项

1. An ultrasonic transducer device comprising a plurality of first transducer elements all of a first type and at least one second transducer element of a second type different from said first type, said first type being one of an imaging transducer made of a piezoelectric polymeric material and a therapeutic transducer made of a piezoelectric ceramic material, said second type being the other of said imaging transducer and said therapeutic transducer, said first transducer elements and said second therapeutic transducer element being connected to one another, said first transducer elements having different geometrical configurations taken from the group consisting of different sizes and shapes.