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EP0305519A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Ultrasonic transducer

Assignee: GE Healthcare Japan Corp
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Filing: 1987-04-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-04-24
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Abstract

Abstract An ultrasonic transducer which constitutes with good reproducibility an acoustic impedance matching member in which the acoustic impedance gradually changes is characterized in that the acoustic impedance matching member (2) is constituted by laminating a number of unit layers (21, 22, 23, -, 2n) each having a thickness much smaller than one fourth of the wavelength of ultrasonic waves, that each unit layer consists of a laminate of a heavy metal layer (52) and a plastic layer (51), and that the ratio of the thickness of the heavy metal layer to the thickness of the plastic layer gradually changes from the unit layer of the side that comes into contact with the ultrasonic vibrator towards the unit layer of the side that comes into contact with a material to be inspected.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yasuhito Takeuchi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 13:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/42; A61B8/4272; A61B8/4281; G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 92 words
An ultrasonic transducer consisting of an ultrasonic oscillator(l), and an acoustic impedance matching member(2) installed on the ultrasonic wave radiation surface, characterized by . An acoustic impedance matching member(2) configured with multiple unit layers (21, 22, 23, ...2n), each being thinner than a quarter-wavelength of an ultrasonic wave, and . each unit layer having a laminated structure make up of heavy metal(52) and plastic(51) layers with a thickness ratio set between them that gradually changes from the unit layer close to the ultrasonic oscillator to the unit layer close to the subject.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 92 words
An ultrasonic transducer consisting of an ultrasonic oscillator(l), and an acoustic impedance matching member(2) installed on the ultrasonic wave radiation surface, characterized by . An acoustic impedance matching member(2) configured with multiple unit layers (21, 22, 23, ...2n), each being thinner than a quarter-wavelength of an ultrasonic wave, and . each unit layer having a laminated structure make up of heavy metal(52) and plastic(51) layers with a thickness ratio set between them that gradually changes from the unit layer close to the ultrasonic oscillator to the unit layer close to the subject.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 146 words
An ultrasonic transducer as noted in claim 1, wherein the individual unit layers of the acoustic impedance matching member have a thickness ratio set between the heavy metal layer and plastic layer that decreases gradually from the unit layer close to the ultrasonic oscillator toward the unit layer close to the subject. 3. An ultrasonic transducer as noted in claim 1, wherein the individual unit layers of the acoustic impedance matching member have a thickness ratio set between the heavy metal layer and plastic layer'that increases gradually from the unit layer close to the ultrasonic oscillator toward the unit layer close to the subject. 4. An ultrasonic transducer as noted in claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic oscillator consists of a one-dimensional array of multiple oscillators. 5. An ultrasonic transducer as noted in claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic oscillator consists of a two-dimensional array of multiple oscillators.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
An ultrasonic transducer as noted in claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic oscillator has an acoustic damper installed on the opposite side of the acoustic impedance matching member.

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