Ultrasonic probe, ultrasonic imaging apparatus and ultrasonic imaging method

An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising:

• (a) an ultrasonic probe comprising a piezoelectric material, an acoustic matching layer provided on an ultrasonic radiation side of the piezoelectric material, and backing material provided on a rear side of the piezoelectric material, wherein the concentration of magnetic molecules of a magnetic susceptibility of 0.1 or more contained in the piezoelectric material, the acoustic matching layer and the backing material is 3×10−7mol/cm3 or less;
• (b) a digital signal processing unit comprising a transmit beam former controlling a transmit focal point of an ultrasonic wave inside the body of a subject, and a receive beam former controlling a receive focal point of an ultrasonic wave inside the body of the subject;
• (c) an analog signal processing unit comprising a transmit/receive switch which switches between connecting a transmit electric signal from the transmit beam former to the ultrasonic probe or connecting a receive electric signal from the ultrasonic probe to the receive beam former;
• and
• (d) a switch means which, electrically disconnects the digital signal processing unit, including a ground wire, from the analog signal processing unit.