ACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER INCORPORATING ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE SHIELDING AS PART OF MATCHING LAYER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic probe that has an electromagnetic shield and improves heat management, and to provide a method for forming the probe.SOLUTION: Certain probes include an acoustic stack including an active layer, a protection face plate or lens, and a matching layer. The matching layer includes a mass layer and a spring layer. The probe further includes a cable configured to communicate a signal to and from the ultrasound probe. The probe further includes an electromagnetic radiation shield including the mass layer. The shield encompasses the active layer and the cable, and is grounded via an electrode. The shield is configured to inhibit external electromagnetic radiation from interfering with the signals communicated to and from the ultrasound probe via the cable. Certain probes are configured such that the mass layer is thermally connected to a thermal drain or a heat sink such that heat is conducted away from the protection face plate or lens.