# US 10,502,713 B2 · Ultrasound probe and information acquisition device including ultrasound probe > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,713 B2 - Document ID: US10502713B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/950,187 - Filed: 2015-11-24 - Published: 2016-06-02 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-28 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Atsushi Kandori - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502713B2 ## CPC - G01N 29/2406: {Electrostatic or capacitive probes, e.g. electret or cMUT-probes} - A61B 5/0095: {by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements} - G01N 29/2418: {using optoacoustic interaction with the material, e.g. laser radiation, photoacoustics (photoacoustic cells G01N21/1702; measuring characteristics of vibrations by using radiation-sensitive means G01H9/00; acousto-optical conversion techniques for short-range imaging G01S15/8965; sound-producing devices using laser bundle G10K15/046)} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An ultrasound probe to detect photoacoustic waves (ultrasound waves) over a wide frequency band with excellent sensitivity by providing electrostatic capacitance type transducers having a characteristic of being able to receive photoacoustic waves (ultrasound waves) over a wide frequency range in a plurality of flat surface parts on an inner wall surface of a supporting member having a spherical surface. The ultrasound probe includes electrostatic capacitance type transducers with each transducer including a vibration film which includes a first electrode and a second electrode which is provided with a space between the vibration film and the second electrode, and a supporting member that has a curved surface on which the plurality of transducers are provided. An inner wall surface of the supporting member includes a plurality of flat surface parts, and the transducers are provided on the flat surface parts with plate-like substrates therebetween. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasound probe comprising: electrostatic capacitance type transducers, each including a vibration film which includes a first electrode and a second electrode which is provided with a space between the vibration film and the second electrode; a supporting member that has a curved surface on which a plurality of transducers are provided; a reception circuit that receives current output by a change in an electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and that converts the current into voltage; and wiring configured to electrically connect the transducer and the reception circuit and provided inside the supporting member, wherein an inner wall surface of the supporting member includes a plurality of recessed flat surface parts, and the transducers are provided on the recessed flat surface parts with plate-like substrates therebetween, and wherein the reception circuit is provided on an opposite side of a side where the transducers are provided and outside the supporting member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, wherein perpendicular lines for the plurality of recessed flat surface parts of the supporting member cross each other on an inner side of the supporting member, and normal lines for reception surfaces of the plurality of transducers cross each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, wherein an insulating film which covers the transducers is provided on the inner wall surface of the supporting member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, wherein wiring which penetrates through the supporting member is provided. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The ultrasound probe according to claim 4, wherein wiring which penetrates through a plate-like substrate and wiring which is arranged on the inner wall surface of the supporting member are connected by a bump which is arranged on a rear face of the plate-like substrate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, wherein one transducer from the plurality of transducers and the reception circuit are connected via a flexible print board. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ultrasound probe according to claim 6, wherein the one transducer and the flexible print board are connected via an anisotropic conductive resin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The ultrasound probe according to claim 6, wherein the one transducer and the flexible print board are connected via wiring which penetrates through a plate-like substrate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, wherein the reception circuit is provided on a circuit board, and the circuit board is arranged in a direction perpendicular to a depth direction of a hemisphere of the supporting member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, wherein the reception circuit is provided on a circuit board, and the circuit board is arranged in a direction parallel to a depth direction of a hemisphere of the supporting member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasound probe with a hemispherical surface shape is configured by combining a plurality of ultrasound probe units. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, further comprising adjusting means for adjusting DC voltage to be applied to the first electrode or the second electrode through a voltage-dividing resistor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode and the reception circuit are connected by a connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The ultrasound probe according to claim 13, wherein a voltage-dividing resistor is provided between the second electrode and the connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of transducers are provided on the plate-like substrates, and wherein at least one of the plurality of transducers is a transducer that is able to receive an ultrasound wave and at least one of the plurality of transducers is a transducer that is able to transmit an ultrasound wave. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, wherein at least one electrostatic capacitance type transducer that performs transmission and reception of an ultrasound wave is provided on a plate-like substrate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of transducers are provided on the plate-like substrates, and wherein the ultrasound probe further comprises causing a number of transducers to be used for transmitting of ultrasound waves to be different from a number of transducers to be used for reception of ultrasound waves. ### Claim 18 An ultrasound probe comprising: electrostatic capacitance type transducers with each transducer comprising: a vibration film which includes a first electrode; and a second electrode which is provided with a space between the vibration film and the second electrode; and a supporting member that has a curved surface on which a plurality of transducers are provided; a reception circuit that receives current output by a change in an electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode and that converts the current into voltage; and wiring configured to electrically connect the transducer and the reception circuit and provided inside the supporting member, wherein an inner wall surface of the supporting member includes a plurality of recessed flat surface parts, and the transducers are provided on the recessed flat surface parts with plate-like substrates therebetween, wherein perpendicular lines for the plurality of recessed flat surface parts of the supporting member cross each other at a single point on an inner side of the supporting member, and normal lines for reception surfaces of the plurality of transducers cross each other at the single point, and wherein the reception circuit is provided on an opposite side of a side where the transducers are provided and outside the supporting member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An information acquisition device comprising: the ultrasound probe according to claim 1; and a light source that applies light to a test object, wherein ultrasound waves which are generated from the test object irradiated by the light source due to photoacoustic effects are received using the ultrasound probe. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the inner wall surface of the supporting member between two recessed flat surface parts is raised relative to a portion of the inner wall surface of the two recessed flat surface parts. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The ultrasound probe according to claim 18, wherein a portion of the inner wall surface of the supporting member between two recessed flat surface parts is raised relative to a portion of the inner wall surface of the two recessed flat surface parts.