Patent ID: 8322221

Claim:
A non-contact near field high resolution acoustic imaging system for investigating a sample, the system including: an acoustic wave generator for generating a plurality of acoustic waves; an ultrasonic horn for directing the waves to impinge on the sample, whereby on contact between the waves and the sample energy will be transmitted to the sample, and longitudinal displacements and surface acoustic wave displacements in the sample are created; an adjustable separation distance between the sample and the ultrasonic horn, the distance adjustable for maximizing the transmitted energy, and the distance being greater than the maximum displacement of the ultrasonic horn; a surface displacement detector for detecting the longitudinal wave displacements or surface acoustic wave displacements, the surface displacement detector having a tip with a tip diameter between about 0.2 mm and about 8 mm; and, a computer for digitizing and storing successively detected longitudinal displacements or surface acoustic wave displacements, whereby the longitudinal displacements or surface acoustic wave displacements can be analyzed to create a raster scan image of at least a portion of the sample, the image having a resolution equal to the tip diameter.