Patent ID: 7100449

Claim:
A method for coupling ultrasound between an ultrasonic transducer and an object, the method comprising: positioning an upper chamber and the object in close proximity to each other, so that a planar region of a lower wall of the upper chamber is substantially parallel to an upper surface of the object; positioning an ultrasound emitting surface of the ultrasonic transducer in a fluid cavity of the upper chamber, the fluid cavity having a lower aperture in the planar region of the lower wall; moving the ultrasonic transducer relative to the upper chamber to adjust the focus of the ultrasound; supplying a coupling fluid to the fluid cavity so that coupling fluid flows through the lower aperture of the fluid cavity onto the object and forms a thin film of coupling fluid between the planar region of the lower wall and the upper surface of the object; and insonifying the object with ultrasound from the ultrasonic transducer.