Ultrasonic probe, having transducer array capable of turning around its aperture axis and having a convex lens comprising a viscous resin

An ultrasonic probe comprising:

• a case of a substantially cylinder shape having a first axis along longitudinal direction thereof, said case having a thin convex wall in the vicinity of a closed end of said case, said convex wall being acoustically transparent for an ultrasonic signal to radiate from the ultrasonic probe;
• a support cylinder having a second axis rotatably mounted in said case, said support cylinder and said convex wall being coaxial to said second axis;
• an ultrasonic transducer of phased-array type and including a plurality of transducer elements, said ultrasonic transducer being fixed on a base of said support cylinder;
• and
• a viscous resin filled in a space between said convex wall and said ultrasonic transducer so that a convex lens coaxial to said second axis is formed by said convex wall and said viscous resin, said viscous resin also filling a gap between a case wall and said support cylinder for rotatably supporting said support cylinder in said case.