Large-area flexible-array piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite transducer for bone healing acceleration

The processing, electromechanical and acoustical properties of large-area flexible-array composite transducers that generate pulsed and low intensity ultrasonic vibrations for accelerating the healing of bone fractures is presented. The device is composed of a PZT/polymer piezoelectric array, matching layer, and housing. The array is made of several single composite elements arranged in a matrix form. Each element has a minimum flexibility of 2 mm deflection. The flexibility of the entire device permits it to conform to the natural contours of the human body. The piezoelectric elements were processed by two different routes: dice and fill and woven fibers. A ceramic volume fraction and resonance frequency of 30% and 1 MHz was maintained.