Ultrasonic endoscope and ultrasonic endoscopic apparatus
US7632233B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 18, 2005 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 24, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S15/8979
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In an ultrasonic endoscope capable of being inserted into a body of a patient and imaging ultrasonic tomographic images, a frame rate in electronic radial scanning operation is improved. The ultrasonic endoscope includes: an ultrasonic transducer unit including plural ultrasonic transducers, each having a first electrode and a second electrode, for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; a plurality of first interconnections each connected to the first electrodes of predetermined ultrasonic transducers; and a plurality of second interconnections each connected to the second electrodes of ultrasonic transducers having the first electrodes not connected to each other; wherein the ultrasonic transducer unit performs scanning operation by simultaneously transmitting the same number of ultrasonic beams in each of plural angle regions when selectively supplied with drive signals via the plurality of first interconnections and the plurality of second interconnections.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.