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US 6,647,792 B2Granted
Ultrasonic probe, ultrasonic receiver and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
AssigneeFuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
InventorEiji Ogawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ultrasonic probe which does not require electric wiring to a large number of microcomponents and does not induce increase of crosstalk and electric impedance. This ultrasonic probe comprises an optical transmission path array incorporating a plurality of optical transmission paths on which light is incident at first ends thereof; and a plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements which are formed on these optical transmission at the second ends thereof and adapted to reflect the light incident through the respective fibers based on ultrasonic waves applied thereon.
Claims36
An ultrasonic probe comprising:
- an optical transmission path array including a plurality of optical transmission paths on which light is incident at first ends thereof;
- and
- a plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements, formed at second ends of said plurality of optical transmission paths, for selectively reflecting light incident through the respective transmission paths, each of said plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements including an ultrasonic sensing part having an optical reflectance which changes in accordance with an applied ultrasonic wave such that a change of the optical reflectance is detected as amplitude modulation of light reflected from said ultrasonic sensing part.
An ultrasonic receiver comprising:
- a plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements, arrayed in a two-dimensional arrangement, for selectively reflecting light, each of said plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements including an ultrasonic sensing part having an optical reflectance which changes in accordance with an applied ultrasonic wave;
- and
- a photodetector for detecting a change of the optical reflectance as amplitude modulation of light reflected from said ultrasonic sensing part.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:
- a drive signal generating circuit for generating a drive signal;
- an ultrasonic transmission unit for transmitting ultrasonic waves to an object in accordance with the drive signal supplied from said drive signal generating circuit;
- an ultrasonic detection unit including a plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements for selectively reflecting light, each of said plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements including an ultrasonic sensing part having an optical reflectance which changes in accordance with an applied ultrasonic wave;
- a photodetector for detecting a change of the optical reflectance as amplitude modulation of light reflected from said ultrasonic sensing part to generate a detection signal;
- and
- signal processing means for processing the detection signal output from said photodetector.
3 more elements
An ultrasonic probe for medical diagnosis comprising:
- a body,
- an optical transmission path array within said body, said array comprising a plurality of optical transmission paths, each path having a first end and a second opposite end, said first end being adapted to receive incident laser light;
- and
- a plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements, each integrally formed at a respective one of the second ends of said plurality of optical transmission paths, for selectively reflecting light incident through the respective transmission paths, each of said plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements including an ultrasonic sensing part having an optical reflectance which changes in accordance with an applied ultrasonic wave such that a change of the optical reflectance is detected as amplitude modulation of light reflected from said ultrasonic sensing part.
1 more element
An ultrasonic receiver comprising:
- a plurality of parallel optical transmission paths, each having a first end and a second end, at said first end of each path, incident light being applied thereto and reflected light also exiting therefrom;
- an array of a plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements, integrally formed at said second end of each path and operative to selectively reflecting light, each of said plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements including an ultrasonic sensing part having an optical reflectance which changes in accordance with an applied ultrasonic wave;
- and
- a photodetector for detecting a change of the optical reflectance as amplitude modulation of light reflected from said ultrasonic sensing part.
1 more element
An ultrasonic medical diagnostic apparatus comprising:
- a drive signal generating circuit for generating a drive signal for transmission of ultrasonic waves;
- an ultrasonic transmission unit for directing ultrasonic waves onto an object in response to the drive signal supplied from said drive signal generating circuit;
- an ultrasonic detection unit comprising a source of light, a plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements for selectively reflecting light, each of said plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements including an ultrasonic sensing part having an optical reflectance which changes in accordance with an applied ultrasonic wave;
- a photodetector for detecting a change of the optical reflectance as amplitude modulation of light reflected from said ultrasonic sensing part to generate a detection signal;
- and
- a signal processor operative to process the detection signal supplied from said photodetector.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.