Patent ID: 8446071
Filing Date: 2013-05-21
Classification: A61N,B06B

Abstract:
1. A high intensity focused ultrasound transducer for transmitting ultrasound toward a front medium along a first dimension, the ultrasound having a first frequency of greater than 100 KHz and less than 10 MHz, the ultrasound of the first frequency having a first wavelength, the transducer comprising: a rear medium configured to substantially reflect ultrasound waves; a rear electrode layer; a rear high thermal conductivity layer between the rear medium and the rear electrode layer, the rear high thermal conductivity layer having a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W/mC, the rear high thermal conductivity layer further having a thickness from 10 to 100 times the rear electrode layer; a piezoelectric element configured to generate the ultrasound of at least 100 KHz; a front electrode layer coupled with the piezoelectric element to power the piezoelectric element; and a front high thermal conductivity section having at least one member having a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W/mC, the front high thermal conductivity section having a thickness of at least ten times the front electrode layer to one hundred times the front electrode layer thickness, with the rear medium, the rear high thermal conductivity layer, the piezoelectric element, and the front high thermal conductivity section in juxtaposition along the first dimension, wherein the piezoelectric element is located between the rear electrode layer and the front electrode layer and a portion of the ultrasound is reflected off the rear medium and transmitted toward a front medium and a portion of the ultrasound is transmitted from the piezoelectric element toward the front medium.