Patent ID: 11890140
Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  B  G  H | IPC A  B  G  H

Claim 0:
1. An ultrasound transducer assembly, comprising:
a piezoelectric layer comprising a plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements configured emit ultrasound energy;
a plurality of matching layers overlaying the piezoelectric layer, wherein a Z-axis extends through the plurality of matching layers and the piezoelectric layer;
a plurality of first kerfs and a plurality of second kerfs extending into at least the plurality of matching layers, wherein the first kerfs have a first depth with respect to the Z-axis, wherein the second kerfs have a second depth with respect to the Z-axis, wherein the second depth is greater than the first depth, and wherein the kerfs are at least partially filled with a composite filler material comprising two or more materials, wherein the piezoelectric layer and the plurality of matching layers have a length extending along an azimuthal axis, and
a groove formed into the composite filler material, wherein the first and second kerfs have a first width relative to the azimuthal axis, and wherein the groove has a second width relative to the azimuthal axis less than the first width.