Ultrasonic probe
AssigneeSchott Glaswerke
InventorKurt Nattermann
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Abstract
An ultrasonic probe is disclosed wherein the sonic energy is transmitted by sonic waveguides from ultrasonic transducers at the proximal end of the probe to the ultrasonic directional elements at the distal end. The sonic waveguides are designed so that the sound waves are transmitted in a pure mode fashion and show low transmission losses and low dispersion. The ultrasonic probe is suitable especially for medical endosonography.
Claims22
An ultrasonic probe having proximal and distal ends, comprising at least one ultrasonic directional element in the probe head at the distal end of the probe, at least one ultrasonic transducer located in the operating unit at the proximal end of the probe, and at least one ultrasonic waveguide means capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves in torsional or axial modes having a carrier frequency f.sub.0 between 450 kHz and 28 MHz disposed between the ultrasonic transducer and ultrasonic directional element, wherein the sonic waveguide has a cross-section with a diameter ranging between 20 .mu.m and 1000 .mu.m and wherein the maximum value of the product D.multidot.f.sub.0 of the diameter D and the carrier frequency f.sub.0 of the ultrasonic waves is less than 5100 m/s for torsional waves and less than 4200 m/s for axial waves in the waveguide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.