New Design of the Kerfs of an Ultrasonic Two-Dimensional Array Transducer to Minimize Cross-Talk

Abstract

The transducer under consideration is a planar two-dimensional (2D) array transducer working at 3.5 MHz. The transducer is composed of 17 Â 17 piezoelectric elements separated by major and minor kerfs. Through finite element analyses (FEA), the performance of the 2D array transducer was investigated in relation to the acoustic impedance and structure of the kerfs. Based on the analysis results, three new types of kerfs were proposed to reduce the cross-talk. Detailed material properties and structures of the new kerfs were determined to provide the lowest cross-talk level and highest pulse-echo sensitivity while preserving a desired acceptance angle at the center frequency of 3.5 MHz. The results in this work can contribute to developing a 2D array transducer which would result in having a higher signal-to-noise level, which in turn will lead to better ultrasonic imaging. #

Study of the sound speed of components in a medical ultrasonic one-dimensional array transducer

“…Epoxy was applied as a kerf material to increase the mechanical rigidity of the transducer and to increase transducer performance through inter-element interference. 22) In order to facilitate adhesion between the matching layer and the acoustic lens, an adhesive layer (FL5) with a thickness of 70 μm was placed using an epoxy adhesive as the kerf material. Information about the transducer components is shown in Table VII.…”

Ultrasonic transducers for medical diagnostic imaging

“…The crosstalk seriously degrades the transducer performance. Therefore, various shapes and materials of the kerf have been developed to decrease the crosstalk [16,17].…”

A study on the reduction of crosstalk in a two-dimensional planar array of underwater acoustic transducers

“…향을 미치는 상호간섭을 저감하기 위하여 1차원 배 열 압전 초음파 변환기 내 커프의 영향을 분석한 연 구 결과가 발표된 바 있다. [6,7] 또한 상호간섭 저감을 위해 일부 선행 연구자들은 평면배열 pMUT(piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer) 내 트랜스듀서의 구조를 변경하였고, [8] 1차원 배열 트랜스듀서 내 인 가전압을 다르게 하여 상호간섭의 정도를 분석하 였고, [9] 의료용 초음파 배열 트랜스듀서 내 주 커프와 부 커프 충진재 물질 변화를 통해 상호간섭을 분석 하였고, [10] 평면배열 cMUT(capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer) 내 송신부와 수신부 사이 벽 또 는 홈을 통해 상호간섭을 저감하고자 하였다. …”