Ultrasonic probe having a piezoelectrical element

An ultrasonic probe for insertion into a part of a patient body, comprising:

• a housing;
• a plurality of piezoelectric elements radially disposed in said housing in a plane substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the ultrasonic probe is inserted into said part of said patient body;
• electrical means for carrying electricity to said piezoelectric elements to thereby cause said piezoelectric elements to emit ultrasonic waves and for carrying, to an external device, electrical signals generated from said ultrasonic waves reflected by said patient body and received by said piezoelectric elements;
• and
• acoustic lenses respectively provided on said piezoelectric elements, said acoustic lenses focusing ultrasonic waves emitted from said piezoelectric elements.

An ultrasonic probe for insertion into a part of a patient body, comprising:

• a housing;
• a plurality of piezoelectric elements radially disposed in said housing in a plane substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the ultrasonic probe is inserted into said part of said patient body;
• electrical means for carrying electricity to said piezoelectric elements to thereby cause said piezoelectric elements to emit ultrasonic waves and for carrying, to an external device, electrical signals generated from said ultrasonic waves reflected by said patient body and received by said piezoelectric elements;
• and
• wherein said piezoelectric elements include concave wave emitting surfaces which cause ultrasonic waves emitted therefrom to be focused.

An ultrasonic probe for insertion into a part of a patient body, comprising:

• a housing;
• a plurality of piezoelectric elements radially disposed in said housing in a plane substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the ultrasonic probe is inserted into said part of said patient body;
• electrical means for carrying electricity to said piezoelectric elements to thereby cause said piezoelectric elements to emit ultrasonic waves and for carrying, to an external device, electrical signals generated from said ultrasonic waves reflected by said patient body and received by said piezoelectric elements;
• a shaft provided in said housing and supporting said piezoelectric elements;
• and
• rotating means for rotating said shaft so that said piezoelectric elements are integrally rotated;
• wherein said electrical means comprises:
• first coils respectively connected to said piezoelectric elements and rotating together with said piezoelectric elements;
• and
• a second coil located so that said second coil faces said first coils while said piezoelectric elements are being rotated by said rotating means,
• wherein said electricity is supplied to said second coil, and said piezoelectric elements receive said electricity from said second coil through said first coils, so that said piezoelectric elements are driven to emit the ultrasonic waves.

An ultrasonic probe for insertion into a part of a patient body, comprising:

• a housing;
• a plurality of piezoelectric elements radially disposed in said housing in a plane substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the ultrasonic probe is inserted into said part of said patient body;
• electrical means for carrying electricity to said piezoelectric elements to thereby cause said piezoelectric elements to emit ultrasonic waves and for carrying, to an external device, electrical signals generated from said ultrasonic waves reflected by said patient body and received by said piezoelectric elements;
• a shaft provided in said housing and supporting said piezoelectric elements;
• and rotating means for rotating said shaft so that said piezoelectric elements are integrally rotated;
• wherein said ultrasonic probe further comprises an acoustic impedance matching layer provided on said piezoelectric elements.

An ultrasonic probe for insertion into a part of a patient body, comprising:

• a housing;
• a piezoelectric element disposed in said housing, and having a wave emitting surface contained in a plane substantially perpendicular to a direction in which said ultrasonic probe is inserted into said patient body, said wave emitting surface facing toward a distal end of said housing, directing an ultrasonic wave in said direction in which said probe is inserted;
• electrical means for carrying electricity to said piezoelectric elements to thereby cause said piezoelectric element to emit said ultrasonic wave and for carrying, to an external device, an electrical signal generated from said ultrasonic wave reflected by said patient body and received by said piezoelectric element;
• and
• rotating means for rotating said piezoelectric element in said plane so that said piezoelectric element moves in a circular locus in said plane.