Ultrasound probe and manufacturing method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9254119-B2
Application number	US-201414161401-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2014
Priority date	May 30, 2013
Publication date	Feb 9, 2016
Grant date	Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an ultrasound probe which may adjust curvature of an acoustic lens using a shape memory alloy. The ultrasound probe includes an acoustic lens, a focus adjusting unit installed on the acoustic lens and deforming the shape of the acoustic lens to adjust the focus of ultrasonic waves radiated through the acoustic lens, and a current applying unit applying current to the focus adjusting unit to contract or expand the focus adjusting unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ultrasound probe comprising:
an acoustic lens;
a focus adjusting unit installed on the acoustic lens and deforming the shape of the acoustic lens to adjust the focus of ultrasonic waves radiated through the acoustic lens; and
a current applying unit applying current to the focus adjusting unit to contract or expand the focus adjusting unit.

2. The ultrasound probe according to claim 1 , wherein the focus adjusting unit includes at least one wire formed of a shape memory alloy.

3. The ultrasound probe according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one wire is attached to or inserted into the acoustic lens in the azimuthal direction.

4. The ultrasound probe according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one wire is attached to or inserted into the acoustic lens along the boundary of the acoustic lens.

5. The ultrasound probe according to claim 2 , wherein the current applying unit applies current to the at least one wire to contract or expand the at least one wire.

6. The ultrasound probe according to claim 1 , wherein the focus adjusting unit deforms the shape of the acoustic lens to change curvature of the acoustic lens.

7. The ultrasound probe according to claim 1 , wherein, when current is applied to the focus adjusting unit from the current applying unit, the focus adjusting unit contracts and increases curvature of the acoustic lens.

8. The ultrasound probe according to claim 1 , further comprising a current adjusting unit allowing a user to adjust current applied to the focus adjusting unit through the current applying unit.

9. A manufacturing method of an ultrasound probe comprising:
installing a focus adjusting unit, deforming the shape of an acoustic lens to adjust the focus of ultrasonic waves radiated through the acoustic lens, on the acoustic lens; and
installing the acoustic lens provided with the focus adjusting unit on the front surface of a matching layer.

10. The manufacturing method according to claim 9 , wherein the focus adjusting unit includes at least one wire formed of a shape memory alloy.

11. The manufacturing method according to claim 10 , wherein the installation of the focus adjusting unit includes attaching or inserting the at least one wire to or into the acoustic lens in the azimuthal direction.

12. The manufacturing method according to claim 10 , wherein the installation of the focus adjusting unit includes attaching or inserting the at least one wire to or into the acoustic lens along the boundary of the acoustic lens.

13. A control method of an ultrasound probe comprising:
receiving a signal output from a current adjusting unit of the ultrasound probe corresponding to user operation;
outputting a current applying signal corresponding to the signal output from the current adjusting unit to a current applying unit of the ultrasound probe; and
causing the current applying unit to apply current to a focus adjusting unit of the ultrasound probe according to the current applying signal.

Assignees

• Samsung Medison Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoo Beom Keun

Classifications

• A61B8/4444 Primary

  related to the probe · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• G10K11/30

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

• A61B8/4281

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

• A61B8/54 Primary

  Control of the diagnostic device · CPC title