1. An ultrasound imaging device, comprising:
a first probe housing section comprising a first transducer array aligned to transmit and receive ultrasound pulses in an imaging plane extending into an object to be imaged;
a second probe housing section comprising a second transducer array aligned to transmit and receive ultrasound pulses in the imaging plane; and
an adjustment mechanism that attaches the first probe housing to the second probe housing, the adjustment mechanism being configured to adjust a distance between the first transducer array and the second transducer array in a plane perpendicular to the imaging plane while maintaining alignment of the first transducer array and the second transducer array within the imaging plane.
2. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a thumb wheel.
3. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 1, further comprising an electronic controller configured to control the first and second transducer arrays.
4. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 3, further comprising a sensor configured to communicate mechanical position information of the first and second transducer arrays to the electronic controller.
5. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 1, wherein the first and second transducer arrays each comprise one-dimensional piezoelectric arrays.
6. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 1, wherein the first transducer array and the second transducer array lie in a common plane
7. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 1, wherein the first transducer array and the second transducer array are angled towards one another at an angle.
8. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 7, wherein the angle is about 12.5 degrees.
9. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 1, wherein the first and second transducer arrays each comprise two-dimensional piezoelectric arrays.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An elastomeric blend comprising an elastomeric composition and carbon black, the above elastomeric composition consisting of:
(i) one or more elastomers (A) selected from ethylene-propylene (EPM) copolymers and ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) terpolymers;
(ii) one or more elastomers (B) selected from ethylene-propylene (EPM) copolymers and ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) terpolymers and relative mixtures, the above one or more elastomers (B) having been previously treated with at least one hydroperoxide at a process temperature ranging from 100\xb0 C. to 250\xb0 C., with the proviso that said hydroperoxide has a halving time, at the process temperature, not lower than 5 times the process time:
the weight ratio between the elastomers (i) and (ii), having a sum of 100, being from 0100% to 9010.
2. The elastomeric blend according to claim 1, wherein
the weight ratio between the elastomers (i) and (ii), having a sum of 100, ranges from 0100% to 7525%.
3. The elastomeric blend according to claim 1, wherein the ethylene-propylene (EPM) copolymer of the elastomer (i) has a weight content of ethylene ranging from 85% to 40%.
4. The elastomeric blend according to claim 3, wherein the ethylene-propylene (EPM) copolymer has a weight content of ethylene ranging from 76% to 45%.
5. The elastomeric blend according to claim 1, wherein the ethylene-propylene-non-conjugated diene (EPDM) terpolymer of the elastomer (i) has an ethylene content ranging from 85% to 40% and a maximum diene content of 12% by weight, the complement to 100 consisting of propylene.
6. The elastomeric blend according to claim 5, wherein the ethylene-propylene-non-conjugated diene (EPDM) terpolymer has an ethylene content ranging from 85% to 40% and a maximum diene content of 5% by weight, the complement to 100 consisting of propylene.
7. The elastomeric blend according to claim 1, wherein the polymer (A) has the following properties:
Weight average molecular weight (Mw) ranging from 70,000 to 500,000;
Polydispersity expressed as MwMn lower than 5;
Ratio between the Melt Flow Index at a weight of 21.6 kg and the Melt Flow Index at a weight of 2.16 kg, both effected at a temperature of 230\xb0 C., ranging from 18 to 60.
8. The elastomeric blend according to claim 7, wherein the polymer (A) has the following properties:
Weight average molecular weight (Mw) ranging from 90,000 to 450,000;
Polydispersity expressed as MwMn ranging from 1.8 to 4.9;
Ratio between the Melt Flow Index at a weight of 21.6 kg and the Melt Flow Index at a weight of 2.16 kg, both effected at a temperature of 230\xb0 C., ranging from 20 to 40.
9. The elastomeric blend according to claim 1, wherein the polymer (B) has the following characteristics:
weight average molecular weight from 50,000 to 300,000;
polydispersity expressed as MwMn lower than 6;
Ratio between the Melt Flow Index at a weight of 21.6 kg and the Melt Flow Index at a weight of 2.16 kg, both effected at a temperature of 230\xb0 C., ranging from 35 to 110.
10. The elastomeric blend according to claim 9, wherein the polymer (B) has the following characteristics:
weight average molecular weight from 70,000 to 200,000;
polydispersity expressed as MwMn ranging from 1.8 to 5;
ratio between the Melt Flow Index at a weight of 21.6 kg and the Melt Flow Index at a weight of 2.16 kg, both effected at a temperature of 230\xb0 C., ranging from 45 to 90.
11. The elastomeric blend according to claim 10, wherein the polymer (B) has a ratio between the Melt Flow Index at a weight of 21.6 kg and the Melt Flow Index at a weight of 2.16 kg, both effected at a temperature of 230\xb0 C., at least 40% higher with respect to polymer (A).
12. The elastomeric blend according to claim 1, wherein the total of the elastomeric components (A+B) corresponding to 100 parts, the remaining parts of the blend are thus composed:
from 20 to 350 parts of carbon black;
from 0 to 200 parts of mineral filler;
from 0 to 160 parts of plasticizer;
from 0 to 5 parts of process coadjuvant additive;
from 0 to 5 parts of antioxidant;
from 0 to 5 parts of Zinc or Lead oxide.
13. The elastomeric blend according to claim 12, wherein the total of the elastomeric components (A+B) corresponding to 100 parts, the remaining parts of the blend are thus composed:
from 50 to 200 parts of carbon black;
from 0 to 50 parts of mineral filler, selected from calcium carbonate, kaolin, silica and talc;
from 25 to 120 parts of plasticizer, selected from mineral oil and paraffinic wax;
from 0 to 5 parts of process coadjuvant additive, selected from stearic acid and polyethylene glycol;
from 0 to 5 parts of antioxidant;
from 0 to 5 parts of Zinc or Lead oxide.