Patent ID: 8656578
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: A61B,B06B,G10K,H01L,H04R,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for manufacturing an ultrasound imaging transducer assembly comprising: applying electrically conductive traces to at least one surface of a rigid printed circuit board (PCB); forming a backing block with the PCB secured to the backing block; sputtering an electrically conductive layer onto a distal, non-recessed, planar contact surface of the backing block and a top edge of the PCB; mounting an electro-acoustic material on the contact surface of the backing block; mounting at least one matching layer on the electro-acoustic material; and dicing the at least one matching layer, the electro-acoustic material, and the electrically conductive layer into an array of electrically separated portions, each portion of the electro-acoustic material thereby forming a separate electro-acoustic element and each portion of the electrically conductive layer thereby forming an electrode connecting the electro-acoustic element to at least one of the traces, wherein the electrode and the at least one of the traces form a solder-free electrical signal path through the at least one trace to the electro-acoustic element.