Request for revocation: Lead in single crystal piezoelectric materials for ultrasonic transducers (Annex IV n. 14)

This exemption covers transducers used in medical ultrasound imaging. Medical ultrasound imaging is used to produce images of the interior of the human body. It is also used in minor surgery, for example to guide hypodermic needles to the required sites. The previous evaluation concluded that substitution or elimination of lead for this application is not yet scientifically and technically practical. However, it was also found that there were promising new technologies based on cMUT ( capacitative micromachined ultrasonic transducers) and pMUT (piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers). Therefore, the latest evaluation also recommended to prolong the exemption for only four years, instead of seven years as requested by the applicant.

 

Documents of Applicant

> Original exemption request (Butterfly Network, Inc.)


Results from previous evaluations

> Excerpt 1 (PDF)

Questionnaire

> Consult Questionnaire (PDF)

 

Contributions to the consultation 

Will be updated