Acoustic Array with a Shape Alloy for Medical Ultrasound

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016151047-A1
Application number	US-201615015091-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 3, 2016
Priority date	Nov 28, 2006
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A memory alloy is used during manufacture of a transducer. The memory of the alloy may correct for deviations or bending during manufacture, such as a superelastic alloy returning an array to a flat state after being twisted during handling. The memory of the alloy may cause a desired change in array geometry during manufacture, such as a shape memory alloy twisting an array into a curved or helix due to applied heat. The array may be fixed in place by the memory alloy or bonding after positioning by the memory alloy, preventing further substantial alteration.

First claim

1 . A method for manufacturing an acoustic array, the method comprising the acts of:
connecting a plurality of ultrasound elements of the array with a memory alloy; and altering a geometry of the array with the memory alloy during manufacture of a transducer probe including the array.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising fixing the geometry of the array after the altering for all subsequent use.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the transducer probe comprises a catheter and the array is within the catheter, and where fixing comprises fixing prior to insertion within a patient.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein altering comprises altering prior to or during enclosing the array within a housing.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the memory alloy comprises a superelastic alloy, further comprising deforming the geometry of the array during manufacture, and wherein altering comprises altering the array back with the superelastic alloy.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the memory alloy comprises a shape-memory alloy, wherein altering comprises heating the shape memory alloy.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the memory alloy has a substantially planar shape prior to altering and wherein altering comprises altering to a curved shape.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the memory alloy has a substantially planar shape prior to altering and wherein altering comprises altering to a helical shape.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein altering comprises applying heat externally to the transducer probe.

10 . A transducer for medical ultrasound, the transducer comprising:
a plurality of elements defining an emitting face of an array, the elements spaced at least along an azimuth axis; and a memory alloy connected with the array, the memory alloy being stacked with the array along a range dimension, the range dimension being substantially orthogonal to the emitting face.

11 . The transducer of claim 10 wherein the elements are rotated about the azimuth axis in a helical pattern, wherein the emitting face is twisted based on the rotation, and wherein a memory position of the memory alloy corresponds to the helical pattern.

12 . The transducer of claim 10 wherein the memory alloy comprises a shape-memory alloy.

13 . The transducer of claim 10 wherein the memory alloy comprises a superelastic alloy.

14 . The transducer of claim 10 wherein the plurality includes at least fifty elements along the azimuth axis, each of the elements rotated relative to at least one adjacent element.

15 . The transducer of claim 10 wherein the memory alloy comprises a sheet of memory alloy having a substantially same azimuth and elevation extent as the array.

16 . The transducer of claim 10 wherein the memory alloy is operable to establish, during manufacture, a fixed geometry of the array.

17 . The transducer of claim 10 further comprising:
a catheter;
wherein the array is positioned within the catheter.

18 . A transducer for medical ultrasound, the transducer comprising:
a plurality of elements defining an emitting face of an array, the elements spaced at least along an azimuth axis; and a memory alloy connected with the array, the memory alloy operable to establish, during manufacture, a fixed geometry of the array.

19 . The transducer of claim 18 wherein the memory alloy is operable to establish the fixed geometry such that the fixed geometry does not change after the manufacture.

20 . The transducer of claim 18 wherein the memory alloy comprises a superelastic alloy operable to return the emitting face of the array to the fixed geometry after any distortion.

21 . The transducer of claim 18 wherein the memory alloy comprises a shape memory metal operable to alter the emitting face from a substantially planar geometry to the fixed geometry, the fixed geometry being non-planar.

22 . The transducer of claim 21 wherein the shape memory metal has a transition temperature above a bonding temperature and below a plastic welding temperature.

23 . The transducer of claim 18 wherein the memory alloy is stacked with the array and extends along at least one side of the stack.

Assignees

• Siemens Medical Solutions

Inventors

• Garbini Lex J
• Wilser Walter T
• Barnes Stephen R

Classifications

• A61B8/12 Primary

  in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters · CPC title

• G01S15/8929

  using a three-dimensional transducer configuration · CPC title

• A61B8/4494 Primary

  characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements · CPC title

• B06B1/0622

  on one surface · CPC title

• A61B2562/12

  Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements · CPC title