An ultrasound transducer array for coupling sonic energy into a liquid includes a plurality of transducer pairs, where each transducer pair includes an inverted ultrasound transducer and a non-inverted ultrasound transducer electrically coupled in series. A method for coupling sonic energy into a liquid includes (a) driving a first transducer pair with a first electrical signal, where the first transducer pair includes a first inverted ultrasound transducer and a first non-inverted ultrasound transducer electrically coupled in series and (b) driving a second transducer pair with the first electrical signal, where the second transducer pair is electrically coupled in parallel with the first transducer pair, and where the second transducer pair includes a second inverted ultrasound transducer and a second non-inverted ultrasound transducer electrically coupled in series.

Some embodiments of the invention relate to an applicator for applying ultrasound energy to a tissue volume, comprising: an array comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducers, the transducers arranged side by side, the transducers configured to emit unfocused ultrasound energy suitable to thermally damage at least a portion of the tissue volume, each of the transducers comprising a coating thin enough so as not to substantially affect heat transfer via the coating to the tissue; and a cooling module configured to apply cooling via the transducers to prevent overheating of a surface of the tissue volume being contacted by the transducers.

An ultrasonic transducer and a method for producing an ultrasonic transducer are disclosed wherein the ultrasonic transducer has outstanding media resistance and a simpler construction by reducing the number of individual parts, so that the ultrasonic transducer can be produced in a fully-automated production process. The ultrasonic transducer, particularly for measurement of fluid volumes, can include a housing in which a contact element and a piezoceramic are arranged, wherein the piezoceramic includes two electrodes of differing polarity which are attached to different sides of the piezoceramic, wherein contact areas of the two electrodes for making electrical contact are disposed on a same side of the piezoceramic and the contact element includes at least two contact sections of differing polarity which are in electrically conducting contact with the contact areas of the two electrodes of corresponding polarity.

Methods for improving the electromechanical coupling coefficient and bandwidth of micromachined ultrasonic transducers, or MUTs, are presented as well as methods of manufacture of the MUTs improved by the presented methods.

Some embodiments of the invention relate to an applicator for applying ultrasound energy to a tissue volume, comprising: an array comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducers, the transducers arranged side by side, the transducers configured to emit unfocused ultrasound energy suitable to thermally damage at least a portion of the tissue volume, each of the transducers comprising a coating thin enough so as not to substantially affect heat transfer via the coating to the tissue; and a cooling module configured to apply cooling via the transducers to prevent overheating of a surface of the tissue volume being contacted by the transducers.

An ultrasonic transducer module including: a plurality of piezoelectric elements, each being aligned in the same direction that is a longitudinal direction thereof; an electrode formed on a surface of each of the piezoelectric elements; a wiring member configured to be joined with the electrode and electrically connected with the electrode; and a dematching layer provided on a surface of each of the piezoelectric elements, the surface being opposite to another surface of the corresponding piezoelectric element on which the electrode and the wiring member are joined.

Some embodiments of the invention relate to an applicator for applying ultrasound energy to a tissue volume, comprising: an array comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducers, the transducers arranged side by side, the transducers configured to emit unfocused ultrasound energy suitable to thermally damage at least a portion of the tissue volume, each of the transducers comprising a coating thin enough so as not to substantially affect heat transfer via the coating to the tissue; and a cooling module configured to apply cooling via the transducers to prevent overheating of a surface of the tissue volume being contacted by the transducers.

According to one embodiment, a transducer includes first structure sections and second structure sections. The first structure sections are spaced from each other in a first direction. Part of each of the first structure sections is fixed. The each of the first structure sections includes a first membrane part, a first piezoelectric part, a first conductive part, and a first electrode. The second structure sections are spaced from each other in the first direction. Part of each of the second structure sections is fixed. The each of the second structure sections includes a second membrane part, a second piezoelectric part, a second conductive part, and a second electrode. The second structure sections are spaced from the first structure sections in the first direction. Pitch along the first direction of the second structure sections is shorter than pitch along the first direction of the first structure sections.

According to some embodiments, a method of depositing at least one electrode on a base member of an ultrasound transducer comprises at least partially etching a surface of the base member using a first etching agent, catalyzing the surface of the base member using a first catalyst, plating copper on the surface of the base member using an electroless plating process, inspecting the copper plated on the surface of the base member, at least partially etching a surface of the copper-plated surface using a second etching agent, catalyzing the copper-plated surface using a second catalyst, plating nickel on the copper-plated surface using an electroless plating process and depositing at least one layer of gold on the nickel-plated surface.

An elastic wave device includes a substrate including a piezoelectric material layer and an IDT electrode on the piezoelectric material layer. The IDT electrode includes a Pt film, a Ti film on the Pt film, and an Al-based metal film on the Ti film. The Ti film is quasi-single-crystalline.