EP0590176B1 - Transducteur ultrasonore muni d'une couche d'adaptation acoustique - Google Patents

Transducteur ultrasonore muni d'une couche d'adaptation acoustique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0590176B1
EP0590176B1 EP92116561A EP92116561A EP0590176B1 EP 0590176 B1 EP0590176 B1 EP 0590176B1 EP 92116561 A EP92116561 A EP 92116561A EP 92116561 A EP92116561 A EP 92116561A EP 0590176 B1 EP0590176 B1 EP 0590176B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
particles
matching layer
acoustic
transducer arrangement
ultrasound transducer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP92116561A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0590176A1 (fr
Inventor
Clemens Dr.-Ing. Fiebiger
Erhard Ing.Grad. Schmidt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Siemens AG
Siemens Corp
Original Assignee
Siemens AG
Siemens Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens AG, Siemens Corp filed Critical Siemens AG
Priority to AT92116561T priority Critical patent/ATE174445T1/de
Priority to DE59209589T priority patent/DE59209589D1/de
Priority to EP92116561A priority patent/EP0590176B1/fr
Priority to US08/120,339 priority patent/US5418759A/en
Priority to JP26314393A priority patent/JP3478857B2/ja
Publication of EP0590176A1 publication Critical patent/EP0590176A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0590176B1 publication Critical patent/EP0590176B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10K11/00—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
    • G10K11/02—Mechanical acoustic impedances; Impedance matching, e.g. by horns; Acoustic resonators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B06—GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL
    • B06B—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, e.g. FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL
    • B06B1/00—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
    • B06B1/02—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy
    • B06B1/06—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction
    • B06B1/0644—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction using a single piezoelectric element
    • B06B1/0662—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction using a single piezoelectric element with an electrode on the sensitive surface
    • B06B1/067—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction using a single piezoelectric element with an electrode on the sensitive surface which is used as, or combined with, an impedance matching layer

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a medical ultrasound transducer arrangement with an electroacoustic transducer part and with is assigned to at least one acoustic adaptation layer to adjust an acoustic impedance of the electro-acoustic Transducer part to an acoustic impedance of a study area of a patient.
  • Matching layers are used in ultrasound technology, around reflections outside of an object Interfaces of two materials with different impedance to reduce or, if possible, lossless the ultrasonic energy from the transducer part to the object under examination and back transferred to.
  • at least one adjustment layer arranged between the two materials.
  • Adjustment layers for acoustic adjustment an electroacoustic transducer part to an object under examination used.
  • an acoustic Swamp or damping body with at least one adaptation layer be adapted to the converter part.
  • a porous sintered metal body is known from EP-A 0 031 049, which is designed as a lead section to an electro-acoustic Coupling the transducer acoustically to a workpiece.
  • the porosity reduces the speed of sound, whereby the total pore volume is decisive. If the pore dimensions chosen smaller than the ultrasonic wavelengths becomes the sound attenuation caused by scattering small compared to the material-related sound attenuation.
  • the Pore volume can be practically determined by the grain size of the metal powder to adjust.
  • the invention is based on the object, a simple constructed ultrasound transducer arrangement with an acoustic specify homogeneous adaptation layer, its function determining Properties can be set in a wide range can.
  • the acoustic adaptation layer an electrically conductive scaffold made of sintered Metal powder particles with interconnected spaces involves the size of the particles being smaller than the wavelength of an acoustic wave in the matching layer is and that the spaces with a curable Potting material are filled.
  • the electrically conductive scaffold simplifies the structure of the ultrasonic transducer arrangement in that that over the matching layer of the electroacoustic Converter part can be contacted or shielded.
  • the sintering makes it stable and electrically conductive Connection of the particles in the scaffold ensured. over the choice of material and the size of the particles can be acoustic Impedance can be set in a wide range, so that a wide variety of acoustic adjustment problems are solved can.
  • the size of the particles depends on the one used Ultrasound frequency. The lower the frequency, the more the particles may be larger without any disturbing scatter to cause the ultrasonic wave. The smallness of the particles also provides a homogeneous distribution of acoustic impedance for sure.
  • volume fraction of the particles in the matching layer is between 5% and 95%. With low volumes the hardenable potting material guarantees sufficient mechanical Stability. It has also been found that with a volume fraction of the particles of 95% the spaces remain connected to each other, so that also adaptation layers with a high volume fraction of the particles without Air pockets can be created.
  • the volume fraction is the particles between 10% and 60%. Adjustment layers, where the volume fraction of the particles in this Range, can be done without complex manufacturing measures produce.
  • the particles are similar, whereby a particularly high homogeneity is achieved becomes.
  • the particles are dendritic shaped, creating matching layers with a small volume fraction of the particles are produced can.
  • the particles are spherically shaped, which means medium and high volume fractions can be realized.
  • the Particles of copper are easy to sinter under protective gas and in various particle shapes, such as B. spherical or dendritic forms.
  • the potting material a curable synthetic resin. So that the gaps can at normal ambient temperature with the sealing compound be filled.
  • the adaptation layer borders directly to a surface of the transducer part.
  • the adaptation layer thus fulfills on the one hand Function of the acoustic adjustment and on the other hand also the Function of the electrical contact on the electroacoustic Converter part.
  • the ultrasonic transducer arrangement 2 comprises as electroacoustic transducer part 4 a transducer array for Transmission of ultrasound waves into the examination area 3 and for receiving echo signals therefrom.
  • the electro-acoustic Transducer arrangement or the transducer array 4 exists from a variety of similar, side by side arranged elementary transducers 6, e.g. there is a for Sector scan phased array of 64 and one intended for the creation of rectangular sectional images Linear array of 192 elementary converters 6.
  • Each Elemental converter 6 is made of a polarized piezoelectric Ceramic cuboid built, the one on two opposite Sides with one electrode 8 and 10 respectively is provided.
  • the polarized piezoceramic of the elementary transducer 6 has a relatively high acoustic impedance of the order of magnitude out of 35 MRayl while the study area Body tissue has an acoustic impedance of the order of magnitude of 1.5 MRayl.
  • acoustic Matching layer 12 By a between the investigation area 3 and the electroacoustic transducer part 4 arranged acoustic Matching layer 12 becomes reflections and signal losses decreased.
  • the adaptation layer 12 has a thickness of about a quarter of the wavelength of an acoustic Wave in the adaptation layer 12. For acoustic adjustment the adaptation layer 12 must then be acoustic Have impedance on the order of 5 to 10 MRayl.
  • the adaptation layer 12 borders as the only adaptation layer directly to a surface of the transducer array 4, it is conductively bonded to the electrodes 8.
  • the adaptation layer 16 with a common one Potential 13 connected so that for the electrodes 8 of Element converter 6 no further electrical contact must be provided.
  • the electrodes 10 are each electrically connected to a signal channel (not in FIG. 1 shown), the intended for control and / or focusing Delay elements included.
  • a thin protective layer 14 made of a plastic is the adaptation layer 12 upstream.
  • the acoustic properties the protective layer 14 are adapted to those of the body tissue, so that the protective layer 14 the acoustic sound waves not affected.
  • the structure of the acoustic Adaptation layer 12 described. 2 shows the micrograph the surface of the acoustic matching layer 12 in 200x magnification. To illustrate the orders of magnitude a scale 18 is also shown.
  • the acoustic Adaptation layer 12 consists of an electrical conductive scaffold 20 with interconnected spaces 22.
  • the conductive touching the surface Framework 20 appears bright in the micrograph, while that with a curable potting material, e.g. an epoxy resin, filled spaces 22 appear dark.
  • the Scaffold 20 consists of sintering under protective gas interconnected similar copper particles, the size of the particles being smaller than the wavelength an acoustic wave in the adaptation layer 12. The particles here are smaller than a tenth of the wavelength, so that practically no more scatter occurs.
  • the acoustic impedance can be exceeded within wide limits the material of the particles used and above all adjust via the volume fraction.
  • the volume fraction of the Particles can in turn be shaped and shaped Affect particles. Particularly high volume fractions of the Particles can be obtained by additionally pressing the unsintered ones Achieve particles. You can also use the Set the sintering conditions for the volume fraction of the particles.
  • the following table shows for copper the dependence of the parameters important for adaptation layers such as acoustic damping and acoustic impedance on the particle shape, particle size, sintering temperature and sintering time.
  • TF TG ⁇ m ST ° C Bedroom min AD db / MHz mm AI
  • MRayl dendritic 32 710 30th 1.6 4.7 dendritic 50 950 20th 0.76 7.3 spherical 32 720 20th 0.12 15.2
  • the abbreviations mean here TF particle shape TG particle size ST sintering temperature SZ sintering time AD acoustic damping AI acoustic impedance.
  • Spaces 22 are interconnected so that they can be filled with potting material without air pockets can.
  • the particles used are dendritic in shape and have a size of 30 to 40 microns. Without Pressing and with pressure-free sintering is the volume fraction about 18 to 25%.
  • the acoustic impedance of the matching layer vary further and to the acoustic requirements to adjust.
  • Matching layers 12 also for acoustic Adaptation of single converters can be used. Of these adaptation layers 12 can also be used for therapeutic ultrasound transducer arrangements used will.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Agencement de transducteur ultrasonore (2) médical comprenant une pièce de transducteur électroacoustique (4) et au moins une couche dadaptation acoustique (12), caractérisé en ce que la couche dadaptation acoustique (12) comprend une structure de base (20) électriquement conductrice en particules de poudre métallique frittées présentant des espaces intermédiaires (22) reliés entre-eux, en ce que la grosseur des particules est inférieure à la longueur donde dune onde acoustique dans la couche dadaptation (12), et en ce que les espaces intermédiaires (22) sont remplis par un matériau de remplissage à couler, durcissable.
  2. Agencement de transducteur ultrasonore médical selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la part en volume des particules dans la couche dadaptation (12), se situe entre 5% et 95%.
  3. Agencement de transducteur ultrasonore médical selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la part en volume des particules se situe entre 10% et 60%.
  4. Agencement de transducteur ultrasonore médical selon lune des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que les particules sont de même type.
  5. Agencement de transducteur ultrasonore médical selon lune des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que les particules sont de forme dendritique.
  6. Agencement de transducteur ultrasonore médical selon lune des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que les particules sont de forme sphérique.
  7. Agencement de transducteur ultrasonore médical selon lune des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce que les particules renferment du cuivre.
  8. Agencement de transducteur ultrasonore médical selon lune des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisé en ce que le matériau de remplissage à couler est une résine synthétique durcissable.
  9. Agencement de transducteur ultrasonore médical selon lune des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisé en ce que la couche dadaptation (12) est directement adjacente à une surface (8) de la pièce de transducteur (4).
EP92116561A 1992-09-28 1992-09-28 Transducteur ultrasonore muni d'une couche d'adaptation acoustique Expired - Lifetime EP0590176B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT92116561T ATE174445T1 (de) 1992-09-28 1992-09-28 Ultraschall-wandleranordnung mit einer akustischen anpassungsschicht
DE59209589T DE59209589D1 (de) 1992-09-28 1992-09-28 Ultraschall-Wandleranordnung mit einer akustischen Anpassungsschicht
EP92116561A EP0590176B1 (fr) 1992-09-28 1992-09-28 Transducteur ultrasonore muni d'une couche d'adaptation acoustique
US08/120,339 US5418759A (en) 1992-09-28 1993-09-14 Ultrasound transducer arrangement having an acoustic matching layer
JP26314393A JP3478857B2 (ja) 1992-09-28 1993-09-28 超音波変成装置

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP92116561A EP0590176B1 (fr) 1992-09-28 1992-09-28 Transducteur ultrasonore muni d'une couche d'adaptation acoustique

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0590176A1 EP0590176A1 (fr) 1994-04-06
EP0590176B1 true EP0590176B1 (fr) 1998-12-09

Family

ID=8210066

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92116561A Expired - Lifetime EP0590176B1 (fr) 1992-09-28 1992-09-28 Transducteur ultrasonore muni d'une couche d'adaptation acoustique

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US5418759A (fr)
EP (1) EP0590176B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP3478857B2 (fr)
AT (1) ATE174445T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE59209589D1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7368852B2 (en) 2003-08-22 2008-05-06 Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. Electrically conductive matching layers and methods

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4418887C1 (de) * 1994-05-30 1995-04-06 Siemens Ag Verfahren zum Herstellen einer Ultraschall-Wandleranordnung
FR2722358B1 (fr) * 1994-07-08 1996-08-14 Thomson Csf Transducteur acoustique multifrequences a larges bandes
US5511550A (en) * 1994-10-14 1996-04-30 Parallel Design, Inc. Ultrasonic transducer array with apodized elevation focus
DE19523974B4 (de) * 1995-06-30 2005-03-24 Siemens Ag Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Anpaß- oder Dämpfungsschicht oder einer akustischen Linse für eine Ultraschall-Wandleranordnung
DE59510158D1 (de) * 1995-09-28 2002-05-16 Endress Hauser Gmbh Co Ultraschallwandler
JP4723732B2 (ja) * 2000-07-12 2011-07-13 セイコーインスツル株式会社 脈検出装置及び超音波診断装置
US20050039323A1 (en) * 2003-08-22 2005-02-24 Simens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. Transducers with electically conductive matching layers and methods of manufacture
US8792307B2 (en) * 2010-02-22 2014-07-29 Baker Hughes Incorporated Acoustic transducer with a backing containing unidirectional fibers and methods of making and using same
US10602289B2 (en) * 2010-03-09 2020-03-24 Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc Acoustic transducer with a liquid-filled porous medium backing and methods of making and using same
KR20160086709A (ko) * 2015-01-12 2016-07-20 삼성메디슨 주식회사 정합 부재 및 이를 포함한 초음파 프로브
EP3585526B1 (fr) 2017-02-24 2024-10-09 Sensus Spectrum, LLC Dispositifs à ultrasons comprenant en leur sein des régions à adaptation acoustique
EP4025351A1 (fr) * 2019-09-10 2022-07-13 Surf Technology AS Transducteur ultrasonore et procédé de fabrication

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3968055A (en) * 1974-10-25 1976-07-06 Combustion Engineering, Inc. Method of preparing conductive room temperature vulcanizing material
DE2951075C2 (de) * 1979-12-19 1982-04-15 Interatom Internationale Atomreaktorbau Gmbh, 5060 Bergisch Gladbach Akustischer Wandler mit piezoelektrischem Element
DE3219447A1 (de) * 1982-05-24 1983-11-24 Interatom Internationale Atomreaktorbau Gmbh, 5060 Bergisch Gladbach Koppelmedium zur akustischen ankopplung bei hohen temperaturen und verfahren zu seiner anwendung
DE8611844U1 (de) * 1986-04-30 1986-08-07 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Ultraschall-Applikator mit einer Anpassungsschicht

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7368852B2 (en) 2003-08-22 2008-05-06 Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. Electrically conductive matching layers and methods
DE102004040474B4 (de) * 2003-08-22 2011-02-24 Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. Elektrisch leitfähige Anpassschichten und Verfahren

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP3478857B2 (ja) 2003-12-15
ATE174445T1 (de) 1998-12-15
JPH06217394A (ja) 1994-08-05
EP0590176A1 (fr) 1994-04-06
DE59209589D1 (de) 1999-01-21
US5418759A (en) 1995-05-23

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