Ultrasound transducer assembly, probe, system and method of manufacture

Abstract

The invention provides an ultrasonic transducer assembly for ultrasonic/opto-acoustic dual-mode imaging of an endoscope, which comprises an ultrasonic transducer and a micro-glue lens integrated in the ultrasonic transducer, the micro-glue lens is used for collimating or focusing a light beam, the microgel lens is integrated in the ultrasonic transducer in a manner that the microgel lens is accommodated in the aperture of the ultrasonic transducer. A probe/catheter including the ultrasound transducer assembly, a system including the probe/catheter, and a method of manufacturing the ultrasound transducer assembly are also provided. According to the invention, the problems of light supply and device size (rigid length and diameter) are solved by manufacturing the micro-glue lens in the ultrasonic transducer in a manner of using the photocuring glue and the mold and adopting coaxial arrangement of the devices, and the manufacturing process of the intravascular photoacoustic probe/catheter is simplified. 本申请提供了用于内窥镜的超声/光声双模成像的超声换能器组件，包括超声换能器和整合在超声换能器中的微胶透镜，该微胶透镜用于对光束进行准直或聚焦，其中，微胶透镜以容纳在所述超声换能器的孔口中的方式整合在超声换能器中。还提供了包括该超声换能器组件的探头/导管、包括该探头/导管的系统以及制造超声换能器组件的方法。本申请特别地通过使用光固化胶和模具的方式制造位于超声换能器中的微胶透镜并采用器件的同轴布置而解决了光提供和器件尺寸(刚性长度、直径)的问题，并且简化了血管内光声探头/导管的制造工艺。