Patent ID: 8836203

Claim:
An ultrasonic transducer comprising: a rear layer including a flex circuit layer; a piezoelectric element coupled on a first side to the flex circuit layer; a front impedance matching layer including a front metal layer comprising a connection region portion at a distal end of the ultrasonic transducer and a signal return portion electrically coupled to the connection region portion and extending from the distal end to a proximal end of the ultrasonic transducer; and wherein the front impedance matching layer is coupled to a second side of the piezoelectric element, thereby causing the connection region portion of the front metal layer to make electrical contact with the piezoelectric element; and wherein a proximal end of the signal return portion of the front metal layer is electrically coupled to a signal return conductor of the flex circuit layer at the proximal end of the ultrasonic transducer, thereby completing a return circuit.