Work

Design and fabrication of broadband graded ultrasonic transducers with rectangular kerfs

Year: 2005

Type: article

Abstract: Broadband ultrasound imaging is capable of achieving superior resolution in clinical applications. An effective and easy way of manufacturing broadband transducers is desired for these applications. In this work, a graded material in which the piezoelectric plate is mechanically graded with rectangular grooves is introduced. Finite element analysis (FEA) demonstrated that the graded piezoelectric material could achieve a broadband, time-domain response resulting from multiple resonant modes. Experimental tests were carried out to validate these theoretical results. Based upon the FEA designs, several single-element transducers were fabricated using either a nondiced ceramic or a diced, graded ceramics. A superior bandwidth of 92% was achieved by the graded transducer when compared to a bandwidth of 56% produced by the nondiced ceramic transducer at the expense of a reduced sensitivity.

Source: IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control

DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2005.1561680

Authors: Hongkai Guo, J.M. Cannata, Qifa Zhou, K.K. Shung

Institutions: University of Southern California, National Institutes of Health

Language: English

Topic: Ultrasonics and Acoustic Wave Propagation

Subfield: Mechanics of Materials

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering

Award: A Resource on Medical Ultrasonic Transducer Technology