Acoustic lens, method for producing same, ultrasound probe, and ultrasound imaging apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016338666-A1
Application number	US-201615152718-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 12, 2016
Priority date	May 21, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An acoustic lens contains silicone rubber and metal oxide particles. The metal oxide particles are added into the silicone rubber. The metal oxide particles have a number-average particle diameter of 30 to 2,000 nm, a specific gravity of 3.5 g/cm 3 or more, a content of 30 to 150 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the silicone rubber, and an oil absorption amount of 20 mL or less per 100 g.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An acoustic lens for an ultrasound probe, the acoustic lens comprising a vulcanized molded rubber composition containing silicone rubber and metal oxide particles dispersed in the silicone rubber, wherein
the metal oxide particles have: a number-average particle diameter of 30 to 2,000 nm; a specific gravity of 3.5 g/cm 3 or more; a content of 30 to 150 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the silicone rubber; and an oil absorption amount of 20 mL or less per 100 g.

2 . The acoustic lens according to claim 1 , wherein a surface of the metal oxide particles is basic.

3 . The acoustic lens according to claim 2 , wherein the vulcanized molded rubber composition further contains aluminum oxide supported on the surface of the metal oxide particles.

4 . The acoustic lens according to claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide particles are titanium oxide particles or barium sulfate particles.

5 . A method for producing an acoustic lens for an ultrasound probe, the method comprising:
kneading silicone rubber with metal oxide particles to produce a rubber composition; and vulcanizing and molding the rubber composition, wherein metal oxide particles having a number-average particle diameter of 30 to 2,000 nm, a specific gravity of 3.5 g/cm 3 or more, a content of 30 to 150 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the silicone rubber, and an oil absorption amount of 20 mL or less per 100 g are used as the metal oxide particles.

6 . The method for producing an acoustic lens according to claim 5 , wherein metal oxide particles whose surface is basic are used as the metal oxide particles.

7 . The method for producing an acoustic lens according to claim 6 , wherein the metal oxide particles having aluminum oxide being supported on the surface thereof are used.

8 . The method for producing an acoustic lens according to claim 5 , wherein titanium oxide particles or barium sulfate particles are used as the metal oxide particles.

9 . An ultrasound probe comprising the acoustic lens according to claim 1 .

10 . An ultrasound imaging apparatus comprising the ultrasound probe according to claim 9 .

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Morita Kiyokazu

Classifications

• A61B8/4281 Primary

  characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue · CPC title

• G10K11/30

  using refraction, e.g. acoustic lenses · CPC title

• B06B1/0644

  using a single piezoelectric element (B06B1/0688 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B8/461

  Displaying means of special interest · CPC title

• A61B8/4444

  related to the probe · CPC title