Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

An ultrasonic probe comprising:

• a transducer unit which transmits and receives ultrasonic waves with an object to be examined;
• an electronic circuit unit which is connected to the transducer unit and performs electrical signal processing;
• a heat transfer member which is made of a material having a heat transfer coefficient higher than that of the electronic circuit unit, and transfers heat of the electronic circuit unit to a housing surface;
• and
• a fixing portion which fixes, to a housing, a heat absorbing unit which cools the heat transfer member by circulating a coolant, by bringing the heat absorbing unit in tight contact with a portion to which heat is transferred by the heat transfer member, wherein the fixing portion having a predetermined number of elements for detachably engaging the heat absorbing unit to the housing at a predetermine location, at least one of the elements being movable for locking the heat absorbing unit on the housing.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

• a probe unit obtained by arranging, in a housing, a transducer unit which transmits and receives ultrasonic waves with an object to be examined, an electronic circuit unit which is connected to the transducer unit and performs electrical signal processing, and a heat transfer member which is made of a material having a heat transfer coefficient higher than that of the electronic circuit unit, and transfers heat of the electronic circuit unit to a housing surface;
• a cooling unit which is detachably mounted on the housing of the probe unit, and cools the heat transfer member by passing a coolant in a channel formed inside the cooling unit;
• a fixing member located on the housing and the cooling unit having a predetermined number of elements for engaging the cooling unit to the housing at a predetermine location, at least one of the elements being movable for locking the cooling unit on the housing;
• a temperature sensor which senses a temperature of the probe unit;
• a detection unit which detects a connection state of the cooling unit with respect to the probe unit;
• and
• a control unit which operates the probe unit by prescribed power when the detection unit detects connection of the cooling unit, and operates the probe unit by power corresponding to the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor when the detection unit does not detect connection of the cooling unit.