Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using the same
US6299580A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 18, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 9, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 18, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N29/0609
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ultrasonic probe which improves the directivity of the ultrasonic transmission beam by reducing the grating lobes at the time of transmitting ultrasonic waves. An ultrasonic probe 1 comprising a plurality of transducers 2 for transmitting ultrasonic waves and for receiving the reflected echoes thereof, and having a backing member 3 formed on the back surfaces of said transducers 2 as well as an acoustic matching layer and an acoustic lens formed on the front surfaces of said transducers, wherein the transducers 2 are formed in the shape of a predetermined small block and are arranged in many number in a spherical shape on the front surface of the backing member 3 formed in a spherical surface protruding in a semicircular manner. By applying the transmission signals which are in phase to the number of the transducers 2 to drive them, the sound pressure of the transmitted ultrasonic waves uniformly propagate in all directions, establishing a transmission from a point source of sound. By reducing the grating lobes at the time of transmitting ultrasonic waves, furthermore, the directivity of the ultrasonic transmission beam is improved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.