Ultrasonic transducer assembly

Abstract

An ultrasound transducer assembly includes an acoustic focusing lens and a therapy transducer mounted to a holder member so that the lens is movable relative to the transducer. The lens and the transducer are mounted to the holder member so that the lens is spaced a predetermined distance from the transducer element. A liquid layer having a thickness of the predetermined distance is provided between the lens and the transducer element. A solid backing member is disposed on a side of the transducer element opposite the lens. The backing member is spaced by an additional liquid layer of a predetermined thickness from the transducer element. The focusing depth of the lens—transducer assembly is controllable by transducer operating frequency.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . An ultrasonic diagnostic and treatment probe comprising:
 a casing provided at a distal end with a sidewall having a window;   at least one high-intensity or high-power therapeutic transducer element made of a piezoelectric ceramic and disposed inside said casing in juxtaposition to said window; and   an acoustic focusing lens mounted at least indirectly to said casing adjacent to said window.   
     
     
         28 . The probe defined in  claim 27  wherein said lens is mounted to said casing so that said lens is movable relative to said transducer element, thereby enabling a change in the location of a focal locus relative to said casing. 
     
     
         29 . The probe defined in  claim 28  wherein said lens is shiftable parallel to a longitudinal axis of said casing. 
     
     
         30 . The probe defined in  claim 28  wherein said lens is rotatable about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of said casing, thereby enabling a relocating of said focal locus along a radial direction for achieving different focal depths. 
     
     
         31 . The probe defined in  claim 28  wherein said lens is a probe casing. 
     
     
         32 . The probe defined in  claim 28  wherein said transducer element has a shape taken from the group consisting of planar and cylindrical, said lens having a form taken from the group consisting of cylindrical and spherical. 
     
     
         33 . A surgical method comprising:
 providing a high-intensity ultrasound device having a transducer element and a focusing lens;   placing said transducer device in effective wave-transmitting contact with a patient; and   energizing said transducer element with a frequency preselected in accordance with the location of a target tissue mass so that said lens focuses onto said target tissue mass ultrasonic pressure vibrations produced by said transducer element.   
     
     
         34 . The method defined in  claim 33  wherein said frequency is a first frequency and said tissue mass is at a first depth in the patient, further comprising energizing said transducer element with a second frequency different from said first frequency and preselected in accordance with the location of an additional target tissue mass at a second depth in the patient so that said lens focuses onto said additional target tissue mass ultrasonic pressure vibrations produced by said transducer element. 
     
     
         35 . A surgical method comprising:
 providing a high-intensity ultrasound device having a probe carrying a transducer element and further having a set of interchangeable focusing lenses having respective focal lengths and alternately attachable to said probe in an effective focusing position relative to said transducer element;   determining a depth of a target tissue mass inside a patient;   selecting one of said set of interchangeable focusing lenses in accordance with the determined depth;   attaching the selected lens to said probe in the effective focusing position;   subsequently placing said transducer device in effective wave-transmitting contact with the patient; and   energizing said transducer element so that said lens focuses onto said target tissue mass ultrasonic pressure vibrations produced by said transducer element.   
     
     
         36 . The method defined in  claim 35 , further comprising:
 determining a depth of another target tissue mass inside a patient;   selecting another one of said set of interchangeable focusing lenses in accordance with the determined depth of said another target tissue mass;   attaching said another one of said set of interchangeable focusing lenses to said probe in a respective effective focusing position;   subsequently placing said transducer device in effective wave-transmitting contact with the patient; and   energizing said transducer element so that said another one of said set of interchangeable focusing lenses focuses onto said another target tissue mass ultrasonic pressure vibrations produced by said transducer element.   
     
     
         37 . An imaging apparatus comprising
 an ultrasound device having a probe carrying a multiple frequency imaging transducer element and a focusing lens having a respective focal lengths and transducer frequency window chosen to improve the sensitivity of deep tissue imaging by having the lens preferentially focus the higher frequency signals scattered from deeper targets, while lower frequency signals are preferentially focused from shallower targets.   
     
     
         38 . An ultrasonic transducer device generating an ultrasound waveform of wavelength λ, comprising:
 at least one high-intensity ultrasound transducer element made of a piezoelectric ceramic material; 
 an acoustic focusing lens; 
 a holder assembly, said lens and said module being mounted to said holder assembly so that said lens is spaced from said transducer element, a liquid layer having a thickness of said predetermined distance being provided between said lens and said transducer element; and 
 at least one imaging transducer movable through said liquid layer between said at least one high-intensity ultrasound transducer element and said lens.