A Ring Array Probe using a Transmitter with a Convex Surface

Abstract

This paper describes a newly developed ultrasound ring array probe. The probe has one ceramic ultrasound transducer with a convex surface to transmit ultrasound wave with low directivity and eight polymer hydro-phones surrounding the transducer to receive reflected wave with high sensitivity. Firstly, we measured acoustic pressure distribution of a ceramic transducer and confirmed that the transducer can transmit ultrasound with low directivity. Secondly, we performed experiments to reconstruct a 3D image of a metal ball using this probe. The experimental results indicated that this probe enable to present the image with higher resolution.