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:
Dec. 13, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 30, 2010
F. Levent Degertekin, Decatur, GA (US);
F. Levent Degertekin, Decatur, GA (US);
Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Atlanta, GA (US);
Abstract
Multiple electrode element capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer ('cMUT') devices and fabrication methods are provided. Some embodiments can include a forward or side looking catheter device having a plurality of cMUT arrays for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic energy. The forward or side looking intravascular device can generally comprise a plurality of cMUT arrays being disposed on a substrate in a spaced apart arrangement. The plurality of cMUT arrays can each comprise a plurality of cMUT elements. At least a portion of the plurality of cMUT elements can comprise a flexible membrane disposed above the substrate and a multiple element electrode. The multiple element electrode can comprise a plurality of electrode elements shaped and sized to have a width less than the width of the membrane, and be further configured to operatively shape the membrane in a reception state to receive ultrasonic energy and a transmission state to transmit ultrasonic energy.