Patent ID: 8237335

Claim:
A method for transmitting high intensity focused ultrasound toward a front medium along a first dimension, the method comprising: producing the high intensity focused ultrasound with a piezoelectric element, the ultrasound having at least a first frequency of greater than 100 KHz and less than 10 MHz, the ultrasound of the first frequency having a wavelength; transmitting a first portion of the ultrasound along the first dimension through a rear electrode layer and a rear high thermal conductivity layer toward a rear medium, wherein the rear high thermal conductivity layer has a thickness from 10 to 100 times the rear electrode layer and further having a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W/mC; reflecting a reflected portion of the first portion of the ultrasound off of the rear medium back along the first dimension; passing the reflected portion through the rear high thermal conductivity layer along the first dimension; passing the reflected portion through the piezoelectric element along the first dimension; passing the reflected portion through an electrode layer; and passing the reflected portion through a front high thermal conductivity section having a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W/mC and a thickness from 10 to 100 times the electrode layer along the first dimension.