Acoustic Matching Layer Material for High Impedance Without Velocity Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acoustic matching layers using tungsten carbide particles to increase acoustic impedance suffer from decreased acoustic velocity and variations in acoustic characteristics, which hinder efficient ultrasonic wave propagation into the body.
Innovation Solution
A material for acoustic matching layers comprising epoxy resin, a curing agent, and surface-treated tungsten carbide particles with specific surface treatment agents such as aminosilane, mercaptosilane, isocyanatosilane, aluminum alkoxide, zirconium alkoxide, or titanium alkoxide compounds is used to suppress the decrease in acoustic velocity and reduce variations in acoustic characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tungsten carbide particles are used to increase acoustic impedance, then acoustic impedance increases, but acoustic velocity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the surface properties of tungsten carbide particles through specific surface treatments (silane coupling agents, oxidation treatments) to alter how these particles interact with the resin matrix. This treatment changes the effective acoustic parameters of the composite material, allowing simultaneous improvement in acoustic impedance and maintenance of acoustic velocity by optimizing the interface between filler particles and matrix material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining tungsten carbide particles with specific resin matrices (epoxy, polyester, polyurethane) and adding surface treatment agents. This creates a multi-component composite system where the synergistic interaction between the treated filler particles and the matrix material achieves both high acoustic impedance and maintained acoustic velocity, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
2Reliability
If tungsten carbide particles are used to increase acoustic impedance, then acoustic impedance increases, but variations in acoustic characteristics increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the surface treatment parameters of tungsten carbide particles, including the type of coupling agent, treatment time, and particle size distribution. These parameter optimizations ensure uniform dispersion and consistent acoustic properties throughout the acoustic matching layer, reducing variations in acoustic characteristics while maintaining high acoustic impedance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves homogeneity by ensuring uniform distribution of surface-treated tungsten carbide particles throughout the resin matrix. The surface treatments (silane coupling, oxidation) create consistent surface properties on all filler particles, which promotes uniform dispersion and reduces local variations in acoustic characteristics, resulting in a homogeneous acoustic matching layer with stable performance.
3Reliability
If acoustic impedance is increased to improve wave transmission, then wave transmission improves, but material complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials to achieve high acoustic impedance through a carefully formulated mixture of tungsten carbide particles and resin matrix. This composite approach allows tuning of acoustic impedance to match biological tissues while maintaining a relatively simple two-phase structure (filler + matrix), avoiding the need for complex multi-layer structures or exotic materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the acoustic impedance enhancement function in the acoustic matching layer, which is a localized component between the piezoelectric element and the lens. This allows the rest of the probe structure to remain simple, with the complexity confined to a specific functional zone where it is most needed for improving wave transmission efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively increases acoustic impedance while maintaining acoustic velocity and reducing variations in the acoustic matching sheet, enhancing the efficiency of ultrasonic wave propagation into the body.
Implementation Method 1
surface-treated tungsten carbide particles subjected to a surface treatment with a surface treatment agent including at least one of an aminosilane compound, a mercaptosilane compound, an isocyanatosilane compound, a thiocyanatosilane compound, an aluminum alkoxide compound, a zirconium alkoxide compound, or a titanium alkoxide compound
Implementation Method 2
the acoustic wave probe is provided with an acoustic matching layer... The acoustic impedance of the acoustic matching layer takes a value between the acoustic impedance of the living body or the acoustic lens and the acoustic impedance of the piezoelectric element, which leads to improved propagation efficiency of an ultrasonic wave from the piezoelectric element to the living body
Implementation Method 3
an ultrasound probe includes a piezoelectric element that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave
Implementation Method 4
an acoustic lens which comes into contact with a living body, in which an acoustic matching layer is disposed between the piezoelectric element and the acoustic lens. An ultrasonic wave oscillated from the piezoelectric element is incident on the living body after being transmitted through the acoustic matching layer, further being transmitted through the acoustic lens
Data Source
AI summary
A material for an acoustic matching layer contains the following components (A), (B), and (C):(A) an epoxy resin;(B) a curing agent; and(C) surface-treated tungsten carbide particles subjected to a surface treatment with a surface treatment agent including at least one of an aminosilane compound, a mercaptosilane compound, an isocyanatosilane compound, a thiocyanatosilane compound, an aluminum alkoxide compound, a zirconium alkoxide compound, or a titanium alkoxide compound.