ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER

摘要

An ultrasound transducer and methods of fabricating and using the ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound transducer includes a composite layer having a first surface and comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements separated by isolating material filled kerfs. The composite layer is configured so that the first surface includes an exposed face of each element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. The transducer further includes a plurality of electrodes defined on the first surface, the electrodes having boundaries configured so that none of the exposed faces are in contact with more than one of the plurality of electrodes. The electrodes may be defined in a conductive layer deposited on the first surface of the composite body by forming a channel in the conductive layer that is aligned vertically with the dielectric kerfs. The transducer may be used to scan a treatment region with both HIFU and imaging ultrasound signals.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a composite layer having a first surface and a second surface generally parallel to the first surface, the composite layer including an isolating material and a plurality of piezoelectric elements, each piezoelectric element being suspended in the isolating material and having a first face exposed on the first surface of the composite layer; and a plurality of electrodes on the first surface of the composite layer, each electrode being directly coupled to the first face of at least one of the piezoelectric elements, and each electrode shaped such that the first face of each piezoelectric element is directly coupled to no more than one electrode.