A LOW PROFILE TRANSDUCER FOR INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND IMAGING AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING

摘要

An ultrasonic transducer (10) includes a transducer element (12) having a backing element (22) bonded thereto. The thickness of the backing element (22) is selected to be less than or equal to half the length of an ultrasonic pulse, expressed in wavelengths of the center frequency of the pulse, so that the first reflection from the back side (22B) of the backing element (22) is received by the transducer element (12) before the primary pulse rings down. A method for mounting the transducer (10) that reduces the formation of air bubbles includes the steps of forming a peaked mound (70) and continually lowering the transducer (10) to flatten the mound (70) against the underside of the transducer (10).