ISOLATOR BAR FOR ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS USED IN DOWNHOLE FORMATIONS

An isolator bar of acoustic instruments used in downhole applications is mad e of a substantially cylindrical tube of metal of the type from which downhole instrument housing is usually made. A plurality of slots are placed in the tube at angl es which are between 10 to 80 .degree. angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the tub e. The isolator bar is equipped with traditional mechanical means with which it is incorporated in the acoustic instrument, placed between an acoustic transducer and an acoustic sensor or sensors utilized in the instrument. The angled slots cause sound waves traveling through the isolator bar to travel through multiple and extended path to the acoustic sensor, without significantly weakening the structural strength of the isolator bar.