Acoustic Matching Sheet with Submicron Particles for Impedance Gradient
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acoustic matching sheets struggle to achieve a balance between low acoustic velocity, sufficient heat resistance, and high acoustic wave sensitivity, which are essential for efficient ultrasonic wave propagation and imaging in acoustic wave measurement apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
The development of an acoustic matching sheet comprising a resin or rubber base material with resin or rubber particles having a lower acoustic velocity and a specific number average particle diameter, which reduces acoustic velocity while maintaining heat resistance and sensitivity, and optionally includes metal particles for enhanced density and impedance adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the acoustic velocity of the acoustic matching sheet is reduced to achieve a gentle acoustic impedance gradient, then the ultrasonic wave propagation efficiency is improved, but the heat resistance and acoustic wave sensitivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material consisting of a rubber base material containing resin particles. The rubber matrix provides low acoustic velocity and flexibility, while the dispersed resin particles contribute to heat resistance and acoustic wave sensitivity. This composite structure allows the acoustic matching sheet to achieve a gentle acoustic impedance gradient (low acoustic velocity) while maintaining sufficient heat resistance and acoustic wave sensitivity through the synergistic combination of different materials.
2Reliability
If the acoustic impedance of the acoustic lens is matched to the living body to reduce reflection, then the incident efficiency of ultrasonic wave is improved, but the difference in acoustic impedance between the piezoelectric element and the acoustic lens increases, causing reflection at the piezoelectric element interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an acoustic matching sheet as an intermediary layer between the piezoelectric element and the acoustic lens. This intermediate layer has acoustic impedance values that are intermediate between the piezoelectric element and the acoustic lens, creating a gradual transition in acoustic impedance. This mediator layer reduces the reflection loss at the piezoelectric element interface while allowing the acoustic lens to maintain its impedance matching with the living body for efficient ultrasonic wave transmission.
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 proposed solution achieves a gentle acoustic impedance gradient, improving ultrasonic wave propagation efficiency and maintaining high sensitivity and heat resistance, thus enhancing the performance of acoustic wave probes and measurement apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
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. In addition, in recent years, the development of an acoustic matching layer with more efficient propagation of an ultrasonic wave has been underway by providing a gradient in acoustic impedance from the piezoelectric element side to the acoustic lens side
Implementation Method 2
the acoustic wave probe is required to match the acoustic impedance with the test object (typically a human body). To satisfy this requirement, the acoustic wave probe is provided with an acoustic matching layer
Implementation Method 3
The ultrasound probe includes a piezoelectric element that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave
Implementation Method 4
An ultrasonic wave oscillated from the piezoelectric element is incident on a living body after being transmitted through the acoustic matching layer, further being transmitted through the acoustic lens
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an acoustic matching sheet containing the following component (B) in the following component (A), a composition for an acoustic matching layer, an acoustic wave probe, an acoustic wave measurement apparatus, and a method for manufacturing an acoustic wave probe. (A) is at least one of a resin or a rubber; and (B) is at least one of a resin particle or a rubber particle having an acoustic velocity lower than an acoustic velocity of the component (A) and having a number average particle diameter of 1.0 μm or less.