Ultrasound Transducer Matching Layer Texture for Broadband Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasonic transducers for medical imaging face a trade-off between depth of penetration and spatial resolution, with higher frequencies offering better resolution but reduced penetration, and lower frequencies providing deeper penetration at the expense of resolution, making it challenging to achieve broadband imaging performance, especially in small, single-use devices like intravascular ultrasound catheters, which are also costly and difficult to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
The development of an ultrasonic transducer structure featuring a matching element with a non-homogeneous texture and material composition, including regions with different thicknesses and materials, formed through techniques like laser ablation and micro-abrasive blasting, to enhance the transducer's ability to operate across a broad range of frequencies, improving both spatial resolution and depth of penetration while being cost-effective and easy to manufacture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If higher ultrasound imaging frequencies are used, then spatial resolution is improved, but depth of penetration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the matching layer's physical properties - specifically creating non-homogeneous regions with varying thicknesses and material compositions through laser ablation. This alters the acoustic impedance matching characteristics across different frequencies, enabling the single transducer to achieve broadband performance and operate effectively at higher frequencies while maintaining depth penetration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by creating spatially varying regions within the matching layer. Different areas of the matching layer have distinct thicknesses and material compositions (e.g., regions with different piezoelectric material concentrations), allowing the transducer to optimize performance across multiple frequency bands simultaneously, thus resolving the trade-off between resolution and penetration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If broadband imaging performance is achieved through multiple transducers or devices, then frequency range is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple frequency-tuned matching regions into a single matching layer structure. Instead of using separate transducers or devices for different frequency bands, the invention integrates multiple functional regions (with different thicknesses and material compositions) into one unified matching layer, achieving broadband performance while simplifying the overall device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves universality by designing a single matching layer that performs multiple functions - it simultaneously optimizes acoustic impedance matching across a broad frequency range. The non-homogeneous structure with varied thicknesses and material compositions enables the same transducer to effectively operate at multiple frequencies, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If broadband imaging performance is achieved through multiple matching layers, then frequency range is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the matching layer into distinct non-homogeneous regions with different thicknesses and material compositions. These segmented regions are created through laser ablation processes that selectively modify specific areas of the matching layer, enabling broadband performance while maintaining a single-layer structure that is simpler to manufacture than multiple separate matching layers.
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
This solution enables improved imaging performance across a broader range of frequencies, balancing spatial resolution and depth of penetration, and simplifies the manufacturing process, making it more economical and efficient for small, high-frequency ultrasound devices.
Implementation Method 1
a matching element overlying the active element. The matching element having an inner surface that contacts the active element and an outer surface with a non-homogenous texture and/or material composition
Implementation Method 2
The first and second textures may be formed by ablation
Implementation Method 3
an active element overlying the backing element
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic transducer includes a backing element, an active element overlying the backing layer, and a matching element overlying the active element, the matching element having an inner surface that contacts the active element and an outer surface with a non-homogeneous texture and/or material composition. The matching element may be formed by subtractive or deposition techniques.