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Acoustic lens composition, ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

a technology of ultrasonic probes and compositions, applied in the field of ultrasonic probes and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, can solve the problems of difficult incorporation of this amount of silica powder into silicone rubber, affecting the image quality, and affecting the performance of the acoustic lens

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-03-31
KK TOSHIBA
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an acoustic lens composition that includes a silicone rubber and a zinc oxide powder, which can improve the performance of ultrasonic probes. The acoustic lens composition can be used in an ultrasonic probe, and can help to improve the image quality and penetration depth of ultrasonic waves. The invention also provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that includes the acoustic lens composition and a screen for better visualization of ultrasonic images. The technical effects of the invention include improved image quality and penetration depth of ultrasonic waves, as well as improved visualization of ultrasonic images.

Problems solved by technology

(6) When in use, the acoustic lens is pushed against a living body with a considerable pressure.
If the rubber hardness of the acoustic lens is insufficient, the acoustic lens deforms to shift the focal point, and the image quality degrades.
This not only makes incorporation of this amount of the silica powder into silicone rubber difficult, but also makes deaeration after the incorporation difficult.
In addition, since the flowability of silicone rubber lowers during molding of the acoustic lens, cracks and pores easily form.
Consequently, even if the attenuation ratio of the acoustic lens is low, the thickness cannot be decreased.
As a consequence, these acoustic lenses not only increase the attenuation ratio described in (2), but also deteriorate the molding properties described in (4).
This causes swell upon use of olive oil or castor oil as an acoustic coupling material, and lowers the long-term reliability.

Method used

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  • Acoustic lens composition, ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
  • Acoustic lens composition, ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
  • Acoustic lens composition, ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

first embodiment

[0056] An acoustic lens composition according to the first embodiment comprises 40 wt % or more of silicone rubber and 15 to 60 wt % of zinc oxide (ZnO).

[0057] The silicone rubber is a material having a siloxane bond, which is an Si—O bond, as a molecular skeleton. For example, as the silicone rubber, a material containing dimethylpolysiloxane as a main component, or the like can be used. The silicone rubber is roughly classified into liquid silicone rubber having a polymerization degree of 100 to 2,000, and millable silicone rubber having a polymerization degree of 3,000 to 10,000.

[0058] The content of the silicone rubber in the acoustic lens composition is 40 wt % or more. If the silicone rubber content is less than 40 wt %, not only the molding properties may deteriorate, but also the attenuation ratio of an ultrasonic wave may increase. In an acoustic lens having the composition, it may also become impossible to obtain a necessary sound velocity or acoustic impedance. The cont...

second embodiment

[0083] An acoustic lens composition according to the second embodiment comprises 40 wt % or more of silicone rubber, and 10 to 52 wt % of at least one platinum-based powder selected from a platinum powder, a platinum powder having platinum oxide on at least the surface, and a platinum oxide powder.

[0084] The silicone rubber is the same as that explained in the first embodiment and also has the same functions as in the first embodiment.

[0085] The content of the platinum-based powder in the acoustic lens composition is 10 to 52 wt %. If the content of the platinum-based powder is less than 10 wt %, it may become difficult to well achieve the effect of lowering the sound velocity of an acoustic lens having the composition, and no appropriate FOM may be obtained. Also, since the density cannot be well increased, it is difficult to set the acoustic lens at a necessary acoustic impedance of about 1.3 to 1.7 MRayls. If the content of the platinum-based powder exceeds 52 wt %, not only th...

third embodiment

[0099] An acoustic lens composition according to the third embodiment comprises 40 wt % or more of silicone rubber, and 12 to 56 wt % of a ytterbium oxide (Yb2O3) powder.

[0100] The silicone rubber is the same as that explained in the first embodiment and also has the same functions as in the first embodiment.

[0101] The content of the ytterbium oxide powder in the acoustic lens composition is 12 to 56 wt %. If the content of the ytterbium oxide powder is less than 12 wt %, it may become difficult to well achieve the effect of lowering the sound velocity of an acoustic lens having the composition, and no appropriate FOM may be obtained. Also, since the density cannot be well increased, it is difficult to set the acoustic lens at a necessary acoustic impedance of about 1.3 to 1.7 MRayls. If the content of the ytterbium oxide powder exceeds 56 wt %, not only the acoustic impedance of the acoustic lens may increase too much, but also the attenuation ratio of an ultrasonic wave may incr...

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Abstract

Provided is an acoustic lens composition which comprises 40 wt % or more of silicone rubber and 15 to 60 wt % of a zinc oxide powder, suppresses ultrasonic attenuation, and has superior molding properties.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2003-338564, filed Sep. 29, 2003; and No. 2004-186427, filed Jun. 24, 2004, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to an acoustic lens composition, ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Ultrasonic probes are used in, e.g., fish detectors and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses for diagnosing living bodies. These ultrasonic probes use an acoustic lens to increase the resolution by focusing an ultrasonic beam. [0006] In particular, an acoustic lens incorporated into an ultrasonic probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for diagnosing a living body, i.e., a medical diagnostic apparatus, is desired to have a convex shape in order to imp...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A61B8/00A61B8/14G01N29/24C08K3/22C08L83/00G10K11/30H04R17/00
CPCG10K11/30A61B8/4281
Inventor YAMASHITA, YOHACHIHOSONO, YASUHARUSHIKATA, HIROYUKITAKEUCHI, TAKASHIMAKITA, YASUHISA
Owner KK TOSHIBA
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