Acoustic coupling with a fluid bath

摘要

An apparatus examines the internal structure of an object disposed substantially in a medium such as air. The apparatus has an acoustic transducer assembly that emits and receives acoustic signals and an acoustic coupler that acoustically couples the acoustic transducer assembly to the object. The acoustic coupler is adapted to essentially retain a body of fluid such as water between a section of the surface of the object and the acoustic transducer assembly for carrying acoustic signals between the acoustic transducer assembly and the object.