# US 2021/0330291 A1 · Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic apparatus

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- Number: US 2021/0330291 A1
- Document ID: US20210330291A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/239,920
- Filed: 2021-04-26
- Published: 2021-10-28
- Earliest claimed: 2020-04-28
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Applicants: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Yasuo Yoshikawa; Mitsuhiro Nozaki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210330291A1

## CPC

- A61B 8/4444: {related to the probe}
- A61B 8/4494: {characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Various ultrasonic probes and ultrasonic apparatuses are provided in which the size of an area of contact with a patient is reduced while maintaining the strength of a housing of the ultrasonic probe. In an exemplary aspect, the ultrasonic probe includes a housing for housing an array of transducer elements and an acoustic lens disposed in an end portion of said housing. The housing includes a first portion in which an acoustic lens is disposed and a second portion. The first portion is constructed, at least in part, from a first material having a Young's modulus of 40 GPa or higher and also having electrical insulation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ultrasonic probe comprising:
a housing for housing an array of transducer elements; and
an acoustic lens disposed in an end portion of said housing, wherein
said end portion is constructed, at least in part, from a first material having a Young's modulus of 40 GPa or higher and also having electrical insulation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic probe as recited in claim 1, wherein said first material is a ceramic or a metal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic probe as recited in claim 1, wherein said first material has an electrical insulation of 7.5 kV/mm or higher.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic probe as recited in claim 1, wherein said end portion comprises a first end portion constructed from the first material and a second end portion disposed on an outer surface of said first end portion and constructed from a second material having an elongation higher than that of said first material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The ultrasonic probe as recited in claim 4, wherein said second material has an elongation of 2% or higher.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The ultrasonic probe as recited in claim 5, wherein said second material is a thermoplastic resin or a silicone rubber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic probe as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a first housing portion constituting said end portion, and a second housing portion coupled with said first portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic probe as recited in claim 1, wherein said end portion defines an opening portion in which said acoustic lens is disposed.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic probe as recited in claim 1, wherein said end portion is a portion covering said array of transducer elements.

### Claim 10

An ultrasonic apparatus comprising an ultrasonic probe, the ultrasonic probe comprising:
a housing for housing an array of transducer elements; and
an acoustic lens disposed in an end portion of said housing, wherein
said end portion of said housing is constructed, at least in part, from a first material having a Young's modulus of 40 GPa or higher and also having electrical insulation.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The ultrasonic apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said first material is a ceramic or a metal having a Young's modulus of 40 GPa or higher and also having electrical insulation.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The ultrasonic apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said first material has an electrical insulation of 7.5 kV/mm or higher.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The ultrasonic apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said end portion comprises a first end portion constructed from the first material and a second end portion disposed on an outer surface of the first end portion and constructed from a second material having an elongation higher than that of said first material.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The ultrasonic apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said second material has an elongation of 2% or higher.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The ultrasonic apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said second material is a thermoplastic resin or a silicone rubber.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The ultrasonic apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said housing includes a first housing portion constituting said end portion, and a second housing portion coupled with said first portion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The ultrasonic apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said end portion defines an opening portion in which said acoustic lens is disposed.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The ultrasonic apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said end portion is a portion covering said array of transducer elements.