Patent ID: 8372680
Filing Date: 2013-02-12
Classification: A61B,B06B,B81B,B81C,G01S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating an array of ultrasonic transducers for a medical imaging device, the method comprising: forming an array of ultrasonic transducer elements such that forming each transducer element includes forming a first layer of semiconductor thin film on said dielectric layers, said first layer of semiconductor thin film and said substrate sandwiching said plurality of dielectric layers; forming a second layer of semiconductor thin film having a portion in contact with said first layer of semiconductor thin film and a portion separated from said first layer of semiconductor thin film, said second layer having at least on hold therethrough such that said first layer of semiconductor thin film and said substrate sandwiching said plurality of dielectric layers, and said second layer of semiconductor thin film are disposed directly about said doped surface; forming a vacuum cavity between said first and second layers of semiconductor thin film, said first and second layers of semiconductor thin film comprising opposing walls of said vacuum cavity; and forming a silicon nitride film on said second layer of semiconductor thin film, said silicon nitride film extending through said hole in the second layer and into said vacuum cavity so as to prevent portions of the second layer from collapsing said vacuum cavity and contacting said first layer of the array of ultrasonic transducer elements.