Vermon

Philippe Auclair

An Nguyen-Dinh

Aim&eacute; Flesch

Pascal Mauchamp

Aimé Flesch

Rémi Dufait

Christophe Notard

R&eacute;mi Dufait

Elisabeth Lacaze

Aime Flesch

Remi Dufait

An ultrasonic imaging probe is provided which is capable of capturing 'on-the-fly' scanning planes in successive positions of the probe so as to form a volumetric image representation at a real time frame rate. The probe includes a flexible sealing membrane for a coupling fluid. Laterally extending folding portions of the flexible membrane provide fluid isolation and cancellation of parasitic constraining forces normally generated during probe movement.

Ultrasonic probe for scanning a volume

A method is provided for manufacturing crossing/intersecting transducer arrays including first and second ultrasonic transducer arrays which intersect centrally of one another. Each transducer operates independently without any decrease in acoustic performance. The first and second arrays have their own independent signal electrodes, respectively disposed on the front and rear surfaces of the device. Because the arrays are built on a unique piezoelectric member, a portion of signal electrode of each array is adapted to be connected to ground in a manner permitting proper operation of the entire array. A method of forming matching layer sets incorporating electrical interconnections is also provided.

Intersecting ultrasonic transducer arrays

An ultrasonic transducer particularly useful in medical imaging includes a transducer comprising a transducer body having a major front surface for radiating ultrasonic energy to a propagation medium responsive to mechanical vibration of the transducer. The transducer includes a piezoelectric member having a curved shape including a curved front surface. The curved shape is produced by deforming a planar piezoelectric composite member to produce the desired curvature and returning the curvature using suction forces. A graded frequency region is created by grinding the curved front surface of the piezoelectric element along a grinding plane. This region is defined by the area of intersection of the grinding plane and the front surface of the curved piezoelectric member and in different implementations, covers all or less than all of the total front surface.

Ultrasonic transducer apparatus

A catheter-based ultrasonic transducer array is provided which includes a piezoelectric member sandwiched between matching layers and a backing member. A flexible stiffening element or elements is embedded in the backing member. The element is opaque to radio frequencies and integrated along the azimuthal axis of the array so as to enable a user to view the element in an image of the array derived from the array output and thus determine the angular position of the array. A flexible interconnection assembly provides an electrical connection between the electrodes of the piezoelectric member and external cabling. Different methods are provided for adding a surrounding protective cover to the array.

Ultrasound array transducer for catheter use

A method is provided for making an ultrasonic transducer particularly useful in medical imaging. The transducer includes a transducer body having a major front surface for radiating ultrasonic energy to a propagation medium and is formed by a piezoelectric member having a curved shape including a curved front surface. The curved shape is produced by deforming a planar piezoelectric composite member to produce the desired curvature and retaining the curvature using suction forces. A graded frequency region is created by grinding the curved front surface of the piezoelectric element along a grinding plane. This region is defined by the area of intersection of the grinding plane and the front surface of the curved piezoelectric member and in different implementations of the method, covers all or less than all of the total front surface.

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Tours, France

Philippe Auclair