CN211534501U

CN211534501U - Universal ultrasonic transducer

Info

Publication number: CN211534501U
Application number: CN201921537485.2U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈林
Original assignee: Shenzhen Suonuorui Technology Co ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen Suonuorui Technology Co ltd
Priority date: 2019-09-12
Filing date: 2019-09-12
Publication date: 2020-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2029-09-12

Abstract

The utility model discloses a general type ultrasonic transducer, include: the piezoelectric layer, the matching layer stacked on the negative electrode surface of the piezoelectric layer, the backing layer arranged below the piezoelectric layer and used for supporting and absorbing sound of the piezoelectric layer and the lens layer covered on the matching layer and used for realizing focusing; the piezoelectric layer includes: the piezoelectric transducer comprises a first piezoelectric layer used for emitting high-frequency ultrasonic signals and a second piezoelectric layer which is arranged in parallel with the first piezoelectric layer and used for emitting low-frequency ultrasonic signals, wherein the thickness of the first piezoelectric layer is smaller than that of the second piezoelectric layer. The utility model discloses an ultrasonic transducer has the function of sending two kinds of signals of high frequency and low frequency concurrently, has replaced the mode that three probes such as traditional belly convex array probe, body surface linear array probe, heart phased array probe could realize, avoids too much plug operation and influences life's the condition, facilitates the use, richenes the use scene of ultrasonic equipment.

Description

Universal ultrasonic transducer

Technical Field

The utility model relates to an ultrasonic equipment technical field especially relates to a general type ultrasonic transducer.

Background

The B-type ultrasonic diagnostic equipment is a diagnostic tool commonly used in modern medical treatment and brings convenience to doctors in clinical use. At present, when an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used, a doctor needs to select different ultrasonic probes for detection according to the part or organ of a diagnosed person, so that a B ultrasonic mainframe needs to carry at least a low-frequency abdominal convex array probe, a high-frequency body surface linear array probe, a low-frequency cardiac phased array probe and the like applied to a plurality of probes of different parts or organs to meet clinical requirements.

The existing ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus consists of an ultrasonic host and a pluggable ultrasonic probe. Ultrasonic probe is by ultrasonic transducer, part components such as cable conductor and plug, pluggable probe is in order to satisfy the demand of different health positions or organs during clinical diagnosis, the probe of joining in marriage of present mainstream ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus generally has belly convex array probe (low frequency ultrasonic signal), body surface linear array probe (high frequency ultrasonic signal), heart phased array probe (low frequency ultrasonic signal), gynaecology and obstetrics intracavity probe (high frequency ultrasonic signal) and so on, the probe that the machine probably carried is used to the general branch of academic or vocational study more, it needs a plurality of probe interfaces to mean the color ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, thereby lead to the volume of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus very huge. However, with the popularization of the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment, the demands of outdoor first aid, basic level screening, remote mountain area diagnosis and the like on the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus are increased, and according to the characteristics of the application scenes, particularly, the miniaturized and portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is needed, and the uncertainty of the application scenes needs to be equipped with probes applied to a plurality of parts or organs, such as an abdominal convex array probe, a body surface linear array probe, a heart phased array probe and the like, so that the general clinical diagnosis and the unknown emergency condition can be met.

Although the miniaturization of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is solved by the pluggable handheld wireless or wired ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in the prior art, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers still need to be carried, the ultrasonic transducers are switched by plugging and unplugging continuously according to actual diagnosis, and the service life of the ultrasonic transducers is influenced by plugging and unplugging for many times, so that the operation is complex and the use is inconvenient.

Thus, there is still a need for improvement and development of the prior art.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The to-be-solved technical problem of the utility model lies in, to the above-mentioned defect of prior art, a general type ultrasonic transducer is provided, can launch the ultrasonic wave of two kinds of central frequencies of high frequency and low frequency respectively, form two kinds of signals of high frequency and low frequency and handle for ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, thereby replace traditional belly convex array probe, body surface linear array probe, the mode that three probes such as heart phased array probe could be realized, but the plug that adopts among the solution prior art is wireless or wired ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus influences life because of many times plug, and the complicated awkward problem of operation.

The utility model provides a technical scheme that technical problem adopted as follows:

a universal ultrasonic transducer, wherein the universal ultrasonic transducer comprises: the piezoelectric layer, the matching layer is stacked on the negative electrode surface of the piezoelectric layer, the backing layer is arranged below the piezoelectric layer and used for supporting and absorbing sound of the piezoelectric layer, and the lens layer is covered on the matching layer and used for realizing focusing;

the piezoelectric layer includes: the piezoelectric transducer comprises a first piezoelectric layer used for emitting high-frequency ultrasonic signals and a second piezoelectric layer which is arranged in parallel with the first piezoelectric layer and used for emitting low-frequency ultrasonic signals, wherein the thickness of the first piezoelectric layer is smaller than that of the second piezoelectric layer.

In one embodiment, the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer are an integrated structure or a split structure, and this embodiment is preferably an integrated structure.

In one embodiment, the first piezoelectric layer is located at an arbitrary position on one side of the second piezoelectric layer.

In one embodiment, the first piezoelectric layer includes a first positive face and a first negative face; the second piezoelectric layer comprises a second positive electrode surface and a second negative electrode surface; the first positive electrode face, the first negative electrode face, the second positive electrode face and the second negative electrode face are coated with conductive materials.

In one embodiment, when the piezoelectric layer is an integrated structure, the first negative electrode surface of the first piezoelectric layer and the second negative electrode surface of the second piezoelectric layer are disposed in a coplanar manner, so that the first negative electrode surface and the second negative electrode surface are in conduction.

In one embodiment, a stepped structure is formed between the first positive electrode surface of the first piezoelectric layer and the second positive electrode surface of the second piezoelectric layer, and the stepped structure is used for separating conductive materials on the first positive electrode surface and the second positive electrode surface so as to realize control of the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer to independently transmit and receive ultrasonic signals.

In one embodiment, a support layer is disposed on the first positive electrode side of the first piezoelectric layer for supporting the first piezoelectric layer.

In one embodiment, a lower surface of the support layer is coplanar with the second positive plane of the second piezoelectric layer.

In one embodiment, the matching layer comprises: the first matching layer and the second matching layer on the first negative pole face are sequentially overlapped, and the third matching layer and the fourth matching layer on the second negative pole face are sequentially overlapped.

In one embodiment, the lens layer includes a first acoustic lens disposed on the second matching layer and a second acoustic lens disposed on the fourth matching layer, and a depth of focus of the first acoustic lens is shallower than a depth of focus of the second acoustic lens.

The utility model has the advantages that: the utility model discloses a set up the piezoelectric layer of different thickness, come the ultrasonic signal of two kinds of central frequencies of transmission high frequency and low frequency respectively, form an ultrasonic transducer and have the function of sending two kinds of signals of high frequency and low frequency concurrently from this, replaced the mode that three probes such as traditional belly convex array probe, body surface linear array probe, heart phased array probe could realize, avoid too much plug operation and influence life's the condition, facilitate the use, richen the use scene of ultrasonic equipment.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of a general ultrasonic transducer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a piezoelectric layer in a general purpose ultrasonic transducer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a piezoelectric layer with a support layer and a matching layer in a general ultrasonic transducer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a general ultrasonic transducer according to an embodiment of the present invention after longitudinal cutting.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer and clearer, the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

Although the miniaturization of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is solved by the pluggable handheld wireless or wired ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in the prior art, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers still need to be carried, and the ultrasonic transducers are switched by plugging and unplugging continuously according to actual diagnosis.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a general ultrasonic transducer, which is connected to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus during use. The ultrasonic transducer in the embodiment is provided with two piezoelectric layers 1 with different thicknesses, the piezoelectric layers 1 are used for electro-acoustic conversion and are key parts of the ultrasonic transducer, electric signals excited by an ultrasonic system are converted into ultrasonic waves, the ultrasonic waves reflected at different tissue boundaries after entering a human body are converted into the electric signals by the piezoelectric layers 1 and are provided for an ultrasonic host to process. The piezoelectric layer 1 in this embodiment is provided with two thicknesses, wherein a thin piezoelectric layer (the first piezoelectric layer 11 in fig. 1) is used for emitting high-frequency ultrasonic signals, and a thick piezoelectric layer (the second piezoelectric layer 12 in fig. 1) is used for emitting low-frequency ultrasonic signals. Because probes such as current convex array probe, body surface linear array probe, heart phased array probe all come to corresponding position through transmission high frequency ultrasonic wave or low frequency ultrasonic wave and act on, and ultrasonic transducer in this embodiment has high frequency ultrasonic signal and low frequency ultrasonic signal concurrently, consequently can replace traditional probe, improves ultrasonic transducer's commonality for need many times plug to change the probe after chooseing for use required probe among the prior art, the ultrasonic transducer of this embodiment can directly use, need not to change, avoids the problem because of the influence life that many times plug caused, and convenient to use, has richened ultrasonic equipment's use scene.

As shown particularly in fig. 1 and 4, the universal transducer in the present embodiment includes: the piezoelectric layer 1, a matching layer stacked on the negative electrode surface (including the first negative electrode surface 112 and the second negative electrode surface 122) of the piezoelectric layer 1. Preferably, the piezoelectric layer 1 in this embodiment includes a first piezoelectric layer 11 and a second piezoelectric layer 12 with different thicknesses, and according to the acoustic matching principle of the ultrasonic transducer, at least one matching layer needs to be disposed on each piezoelectric layer, so in this embodiment, it is preferable that two matching layers are disposed on each of the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12, specifically, as shown in fig. 1, the first matching layer 4, the second matching layer 3, the third matching layer 6, and the fourth matching layer 5, and the first matching layer 4 and the second matching layer 3 are sequentially stacked on the first piezoelectric layer 11 for matching with the first piezoelectric layer 11 to achieve acoustic matching. The third matching layer 6 and the fourth matching layer 5 are sequentially stacked on the second piezoelectric layer 12 and are used for matching with the second piezoelectric layer 12 to realize acoustic matching. Further, a backing layer 9 for supporting and absorbing sound of the piezoelectric layer 1 and a lens layer 2 covering the matching layer for focusing are further disposed below the piezoelectric layer 1 of the present embodiment, so as to form a complete ultrasonic transducer.

Further, the first piezoelectric layer 11 is juxtaposed to the second piezoelectric layer 12, that is, as shown in fig. 1, the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 are disposed left-right, the thickness of the first piezoelectric layer 11 is smaller than that of the second piezoelectric layer 12, and according to the standing wave theory, the relationship between the thickness h of the piezoelectric layer and the center frequency f is: h ═ C/2f, where C is the wave velocity of the longitudinal wave in the piezoelectric layer, so that the thickness of the piezoelectric layer is inversely proportional to the center frequency, so that

The first piezoelectric layer 11 (i.e., the thin piezoelectric layer) is used to emit high frequency ultrasonic signals, and the second piezoelectric layer 12 (i.e., the thick piezoelectric layer) is used to emit low frequency ultrasonic signals.

Therefore, in the general-purpose ultrasonic transducer of the present embodiment, the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 can respectively emit a high-frequency ultrasonic signal and a low-frequency ultrasonic signal, and in a specific application, the general-purpose ultrasonic transducer can be connected to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus through the printed circuit board PCB or the flexible printed circuit board FPC 7(8), so that two signals of high frequency and low frequency are formed and transmitted to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for processing. Because three probes such as traditional belly convex array probe, body surface linear array probe, heart phased array probe, etc. act on corresponding position through transmitting low frequency or high frequency ultrasonic signal respectively, and the general type ultrasonic transducer of this embodiment can have the ultrasonic signal of two kinds of frequency channels concurrently to replace three probes such as belly convex array probe, body surface linear array probe, heart phased array probe, etc. really realize ultrasonic diagnostic equipment's miniaturization and portable, richened ultrasonic equipment's use scene.

Further, in specific implementation, the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 in this embodiment are preferably made of piezoelectric ceramics, and not only can emit an ultrasonic signal, but also can convert the reflected ultrasonic signal into an electric signal, and the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 can be an integrated structure or a split structure, and in specific arrangement, the first piezoelectric layer 11 can be arranged at any position on one side surface of the second piezoelectric layer 12. When the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 are of an integrated structure, the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 form an integrated structure, i.e. a single piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer includes two thicknesses, that is, the thicknesses of the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 are different, and the first negative electrode surface 112 of the first piezoelectric layer 11 is coplanar with the second negative electrode surface 122 of the second piezoelectric layer 12. The piezoelectric layer has two thicknesses, so that ultrasonic signals of two frequency bands are provided. And when the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 are of a split structure, the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 are two independent piezoelectric layers, and similarly, the thicknesses of the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 are different and are respectively used for transmitting ultrasonic signals of different frequency bands.

Preferably, in this embodiment, the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 are an integrated structure, the first piezoelectric layer 11 is disposed on a left side surface of the second piezoelectric layer 12, and the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 are disposed side by side, as shown in fig. 2. In fig. 2, the first piezoelectric layer 11 includes a first positive electrode face 111 and a first negative electrode face 112; the second piezoelectric layer 12 includes a second positive electrode face 121 and a second negative electrode face 122; the first positive electrode surface 111, the first negative electrode surface 112, the second positive electrode surface 121, and the second negative electrode surface 122 are coated with a conductive material.

Because the thicknesses of the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 are different, in a specific arrangement, in this embodiment, the first negative electrode surface 112 of the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second negative electrode surface 122 of the second piezoelectric layer 12 are coplanar (that is, the first negative electrode surface 112 and the second negative electrode surface 122 are on the same horizontal plane), so that the first negative electrode surface 112 and the second negative electrode surface 122 are conducted, and thus a complete conductive layer is formed.

Further, referring to fig. 2 again, since the thicknesses of the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 in this embodiment are different, when the first negative electrode surface 112 of the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second negative electrode surface 122 of the second piezoelectric layer 12 are disposed in a coplanar manner, a stepped structure is formed between the first positive electrode surface 111 of the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second positive electrode surface 122 of the second piezoelectric layer 12, and the stepped structure is used to separate the conductive materials on the first positive electrode surface 111 and the second positive electrode surface 121, so that the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 can be controlled to independently transmit and receive ultrasonic signals.

Further, according to the basic principle of the ultrasonic transducer, in order to implement acoustic matching, at least one matching layer is included, and since the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 which emit ultrasonic signals of different frequency bands exist in this embodiment, correspondingly, two matching layers with different acoustic impedances are provided in this embodiment, specifically as shown in fig. 3, the matching layer in this embodiment includes: the first matching layer 4 and the second matching layer 3 on the first negative electrode surface 112 are sequentially stacked, and the third matching layer 6 and the fourth matching layer 5 on the second negative electrode surface 122 are sequentially stacked.

In specific implementation, since the piezoelectric layer 1 is brittle, for the mounting process of the matching layer, the embodiment adopts a pouring manner to avoid the piezoelectric layer 1 from being broken, and in the process of pouring the matching layer, in order to protect the thin first piezoelectric layer 11, in this embodiment, a support layer 10 is fixed at the positive electrode surface 111 of the first piezoelectric layer 11, and the support layer 10 is disposed on the first positive electrode surface 111 of the first piezoelectric layer 11. Preferably, the lower surface of the support layer 10 is coplanar with the second positive plane 122 of the second piezoelectric layer 12, in order to better support the first piezoelectric layer 11.

The supporting layer 10 in this embodiment may be temporarily disposed, the supporting layer 10 is removed, and after the supporting layer is divided into a plurality of array elements, signals of the array elements of the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 are respectively led out, so as to implement independent transmission of high-frequency and low-frequency signals.

In specific application, in this embodiment, first, matching layers are poured on the first negative electrode surface 112 on the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second negative electrode surface 122 of the second piezoelectric layer 12, the matching layer in the area corresponding to the first negative electrode surface 112 is ground to a required thickness to form a first matching layer 4, and the matching layer in the area corresponding to the second negative electrode surface 122 is ground to a required thickness to form a third matching layer 6. And then, casting a second matching layer on the surfaces of the first matching layer 4 and the third matching layer 6, grinding the second matching layer in the area corresponding to the first matching layer 4 to the required thickness to form a second matching layer 3, and grinding the second matching layer in the area corresponding to the third matching layer 6 to the required thickness to form a third matching layer 6. In this embodiment, the thicknesses of the first matching layer 4, the second matching layer 3, the third matching layer 6 and the fourth matching layer 5 are all one fourth of the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave in the propagation medium. According to the calculation formula λ ═ V/f, where V is the sound velocity of the ultrasonic wave and f is the frequency of the ultrasonic wave. In the case of the same sound velocity, the higher the frequency f, the smaller the wavelength λ, i.e., the smaller the thickness of the matching layer. Therefore, the thickness of the matching layer is different between the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12, and the larger the center frequency difference is, the larger the thickness difference of the matching layer is.

Further, the backing layer 9 in this embodiment is mounted under the positive electrode faces (the first positive electrode face 111 and the second positive electrode face 121 as shown in fig. 2) of the piezoelectric layer 1. Since the positive electrode faces of the first piezoelectric layer 11 and the second piezoelectric layer 12 (such as the first positive electrode face 111 and the second positive electrode face 121 shown in fig. 2) are not in a horizontal plane (i.e. not coplanar), in order to protect the piezoelectric layers 1, in the present embodiment, the mounting process of the backing layer 9 is preferably performed by pouring a backing so that the piezoelectric layers 1 with two thicknesses are fixed on the same backing layer 9, thereby increasing reliability.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 1 and 4, the lens layer 2 in this embodiment is mounted on the outer surfaces of the second matching layer 3 and the fourth matching layer 5, and the lens layer 2 is provided as a whole and includes a first acoustic lens 21 and a second acoustic lens 22. According to the focusing principle of the acoustic lens, in this embodiment, the focusing depth of the first acoustic lens 21 in the region corresponding to the second matching layer 3 is set to be shallow, and the focusing depth of the second acoustic lens 22 in the region corresponding to the fourth matching layer 5 is set to be deep, so that the focusing effect of the ultrasonic signals in two different frequency bands is better achieved.

It should be noted that, if directional indications (such as upper, lower, left, right, front and rear … …) are involved in the embodiment of the present invention, the directional indications are only used to explain the relative position relationship between the components, the motion situation, etc. in a specific posture (as shown in the drawings), and if the specific posture is changed, the directional indications are changed accordingly.

In addition, if there is a description relating to "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the present invention, the description of "first", "second", etc. is for descriptive purposes only and is not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In addition, the technical solutions in the embodiments may be combined with each other, but it must be based on the realization of those skilled in the art, and when the technical solutions are contradictory or cannot be realized, the combination of the technical solutions should not be considered to exist, and is not within the protection scope of the present invention.

To sum up, the utility model provides a pair of general type ultrasonic transducer, include: the piezoelectric layer, the matching layer stacked on the negative electrode surface of the piezoelectric layer, the backing layer arranged below the piezoelectric layer and used for supporting and absorbing sound of the piezoelectric layer and the lens layer covered on the matching layer and used for realizing focusing; the piezoelectric layer includes: the piezoelectric transducer comprises a first piezoelectric layer used for emitting high-frequency ultrasonic signals and a second piezoelectric layer which is arranged in parallel with the first piezoelectric layer and used for emitting low-frequency ultrasonic signals, wherein the thickness of the first piezoelectric layer is smaller than that of the second piezoelectric layer. The utility model discloses a set up the piezoelectric layer of different thickness, come the ultrasonic signal of two kinds of central frequencies of transmission high frequency and low frequency respectively, form two kinds of signals of high frequency and low frequency and handle for ultrasonic diagnosis appearance, replaced the mode that three probes such as traditional belly convex array probe, body surface linear array probe, heart phased array probe could realize, really realize ultrasonic diagnosis appearance miniaturized and portable, richened ultrasonic equipment's use scene.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and that modifications and variations may be made by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings, and all such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A universal ultrasonic transducer, comprising: the piezoelectric layer, the matching layer stacked on the negative electrode surface of the piezoelectric layer, the backing layer arranged below the piezoelectric layer and used for supporting and absorbing sound of the piezoelectric layer and the lens layer covered on the matching layer and used for realizing focusing;

2. The universal ultrasonic transducer of claim 1, wherein the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer are of a unitary or split structure.

3. The universal ultrasound transducer according to claim 2, wherein the first piezoelectric layer is located at any position on one side of the second piezoelectric layer.

4. The universal ultrasonic transducer of claim 1 wherein the first piezoelectric layer comprises a first positive face and a first negative face; the second piezoelectric layer comprises a second positive electrode surface and a second negative electrode surface; the first positive electrode face, the first negative electrode face, the second positive electrode face and the second negative electrode face are coated with conductive materials.

5. The universal ultrasonic transducer according to claim 4 wherein the first negative electrode surface of the first piezoelectric layer and the second negative electrode surface of the second piezoelectric layer are disposed in a coplanar manner when in a unitary structure, such that the first negative electrode surface is in electrical communication with the second negative electrode surface.

6. The universal ultrasonic transducer according to claim 4, wherein a stepped structure is formed between the first positive electrode face of the first piezoelectric layer and the second positive electrode face of the second piezoelectric layer, and the stepped structure is used for separating the conductive materials on the first positive electrode face and the second positive electrode face so as to control the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer to independently transmit and receive ultrasonic signals.

7. The universal ultrasonic transducer according to claim 4 wherein a support layer is disposed on the first positive face of the first piezoelectric layer for supporting the first piezoelectric layer.

8. The universal ultrasonic transducer of claim 7, wherein a lower surface of the support layer is coplanar with the second positive face of the second piezoelectric layer.

9. The universal ultrasound transducer according to claim 4, wherein the matching layer comprises: the first matching layer and the second matching layer on the first negative pole face are sequentially overlapped, and the third matching layer and the fourth matching layer on the second negative pole face are sequentially overlapped.

10. The universal ultrasound transducer according to claim 9, wherein the lens layer comprises a first acoustic lens disposed on the second matching layer and a second acoustic lens disposed on the fourth matching layer, the first acoustic lens having a shallower depth of focus than the second acoustic lens.