The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 13, 1997
Filed:
Feb. 15, 1995
Wojtek Sudol, Burlington, MA (US);
Francis E Gurrie, Ipswich, MA (US);
Larry A Ladd, Lawrence, MA (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
An acoustic transducer includes a support structure which holds an acoustic pulse generator having both a front application face and a rear face. An acoustic absorber is attached to the rear face of the pulse generator. An acoustic isolator is positioned between the acoustic absorber and a support structure/heat sink. A preferred embodiment of the acoustic isolator includes at least a first material layer exhibiting a first acoustic impedance value, and a second material layer exhibiting a second acoustic impedance value. The second acoustic impedance value is substantially different from the first acoustic impedance value. A boundary between the first material layer and the second material layer causes multiple acoustic reflections of an acoustic pulse emanating from the rear face of the pulse generator. The first material layer and second material layer both exhibit substantial heat transfer capabilities. The acoustic isolator acts as a multiple reflective layer and prevents a substantial percentage of rear propagated acoustic energy from entering and being reflected by the support structure, thereby greatly reducing ultrasound display artifacts. A further embodiment of the acoustic isolator includes a single acoustic isolator layer and employs the support structure as a second layer.