Sub-10 nm Ytterbium Oxide Nanopowder-doped Silicone Rubber Acoustic Lens Material for Medical Echo Array Probe

概要

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The effects of 8-nm-Yb2O3-nanopowders dopant, on the physical and acoustical properties of high-temperature-vulcanization (HTV) silicone (Q) rubber have been investigated, to develop a low acoustic attenuation ($\alpha$) lens material for medical array probes. A 35 wt % (6 vol %) Yb2O3-doped HTV Q rubber showed a sound velocity $(c) = 867$ m/s, an acoustic impedance $(Z) = 1.36\times 10^{6}$ kg$\cdot$m-2$\cdot$s-1, an acoustic attenuation $\alpha = 0.66$ dB$\cdot$mm-1$\cdot$MHz-1, and an $\alpha$-figure of merits (FOM) $(\alpha\times c) = 574$ at 37 °C. The $\alpha$-FOM value with $Z = 1.36\times 10^{6}$ kg$\cdot$m-2$\cdot$s-1 for a Q rubber lens material is the lowest attenuation ever reported. Microstructure observation revealed that the low-$\alpha$ rubber showed a uniform Yb2O3 nanopowder distribution in the rubber matrix.
2007-09-25