Ultrasonic endoscope

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a curvilinear ultrasound transducer comprising, providing a piezoelectric block, providing a first acoustic matching layer, cutting the piezoelectric block at a plurality of predetermined positions forming a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements separated by a plurality of gaps, allowing the plurality of gaps to be filed with a first gas resulting in a plurality of gas-filled gaps, arranging the first acoustic matching layer above the piezoelectric block, optionally after the piezoelectric block has been cut, providing a support structure having a curvilinear upper surface, arranging the piezoelectric block with the first acoustic matching layer above the curvilinear upper surface of the support structure, optionally after the piezoelectric block has been cut, providing a pressure element having a concave surface, and moving the support structure and the pressure element together to shape the piezoelectric block and first acoustic matching layer curvilinear.