Patent ID: 7104132

Claim:
An apparatus for examining the internal structure of an object by reflection mode scanning acoustic microscopy, the apparatus comprising: a fluid bath having a closed side wall and a top wall, the closed side wall defining a closed perimeter and including an upper portion and a bottom portion, the upper portion having the top wall attached thereto, the closed side wall and top wall defining a generally hollow interior of the fluid bath, the top wall substantially covering the interior of the fluid bath and defining a acoustic transducer assembly opening that extends through the top wall, wherein the closed side wall and the top wall are made from a material that is essentially impermeable to the fluid; and an acoustic transducer assembly having a first end extending at least partially through the acoustic transducer assembly opening of the top wall, the first end adapted to emit an acoustic signal and receive acoustic signals; and a scanning means for scanning the acoustic transducer over a given area of a surface of an object, wherein the given area is enclosed by the closed side wall of the fluid bath, and wherein the scanning means is adapted to provide the acoustic transducer assembly with at least three degrees of freedom.