Ultrasonic wave generation device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12453532-B2
Application number	US-202318495163-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2023
Priority date	Oct 28, 2022
Publication date	Oct 28, 2025
Grant date	Oct 28, 2025

Abstract

An ultrasonic wave generation device including: an ultrasonic wave generation source; an ultrasonic wave condensation part; and a waveguide. The ultrasonic wave condensation part has a first reflection surface opposed to the ultrasonic wave generation source and a second reflection surface opposed to the first reflection surface. The first reflection surface reflects the ultrasonic wave, generated from the ultrasonic wave generation source, toward the second reflection surface. The second reflection surface reflects the ultrasonic wave, which has been reflected by the first reflection surface, toward the waveguide so as to introduce the ultrasonic wave into the waveguide. The waveguide protrudes from the first reflection surface to a side opposite the second reflection surface. A recessed portion is formed from the first reflection surface to the second reflection surface side along an outer circumferential surface of the waveguide.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ultrasonic wave generation device comprising:
an ultrasonic wave generation source configured to generate an ultrasonic wave;
an ultrasonic wave condensation part configured to condense the ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic wave generation source; and
a waveguide configured to allow transmission therethrough of the ultrasonic wave condensed by the ultrasonic wave condensation part, wherein
the ultrasonic wave condensation part has a first reflection surface located to be opposed to the ultrasonic wave generation source and a second reflection surface located to be opposed to the first reflection surface,
the first reflection surface reflects the ultrasonic wave, which has been generated from the ultrasonic wave generation source, toward the second reflection surface,
the second reflection surface reflects the ultrasonic wave, which has been reflected by the first reflection surface, toward the waveguide so as to introduce the ultrasonic wave into the waveguide,
the waveguide protrudes from the first reflection surface to a side opposite to the second reflection surface, and
a recessed portion is formed to be recessed from the first reflection surface to the second reflection surface side along an outer circumferential surface of the waveguide.

2. The ultrasonic wave generation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the recessed portion is an air gap.

3. The ultrasonic wave generation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the recessed portion is filled with a filler, and
an acoustic impedance of the filler differs from each of an acoustic impedance of the ultrasonic wave condensation part and an acoustic impedance of the waveguide.

4. The ultrasonic wave generation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the waveguide and the ultrasonic wave condensation part are formed from a same material so as to be integrated with each other.

5. The ultrasonic wave generation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the waveguide and the ultrasonic wave condensation part are formed as separate members and joined to each other, and
the recessed portion is formed between the waveguide and the ultrasonic wave condensation part which are joined to each other.

6. The ultrasonic wave generation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the ultrasonic wave generation source has such a shape as to enclose a circumference of the second reflection surface, in a radial direction orthogonal to an opposition direction in which the ultrasonic wave generation source and the first reflection surface are opposed to each other, and
the recessed portion is located in a region on an inner circumferential side relative to a first region obtained by extending an inner circumferential edge of the ultrasonic wave generation source in the opposition direction.

Assignees

• Niterra Co Ltd
• Univ Tokyo

Inventors

• Suzuki Satoshi
• Yokoyama Kota
• Suzuki Ryo
• Itoh Shinsuke
• Kasashima Takashi
• Morita Takeshi
• Ieiri Shoki

Classifications

• A61B8/4483

  characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer · CPC title

• B06B3/04

  involving focusing or reflecting · CPC title

• G10K11/28

  using reflection, e.g. parabolic reflectors · CPC title

• G01S7/521

  Constructional features · CPC title

• A61B8/4461

  Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe · CPC title