Ultrasonic probe
AssigneeKonica Minolta, Inc.
InventorKoetsu Saito
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ultrasonic probe includes: a plurality of piezoelectric elements separated from each other by a gap; and an acoustic matching layer formed of a rubber elastic material on a surface of each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. An acoustic impedance of the rubber elastic material is smaller than an acoustic impedance of the piezoelectric elements and larger than an acoustic impedance of a subject. The acoustic velocity of the rubber elastic material has a value of 1650 msec or less.
Claims33
An ultrasonic probe, comprising:
- a plurality of piezoelectric elements which are separated from each other by a gap;
- and
- an acoustic matching layer which extends as a continuous, undivided single layer over a surface of each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements,
- wherein an acoustic impedance of the acoustic matching layer is smaller than an acoustic impedance of the plurality of piezoelectric elements and larger than an acoustic impedance of a subject, and
- wherein an acoustic velocity of the acoustic matching layer has a value of 1650 m/sec or less.
An ultrasonic probe, comprising:
- a plurality of piezoelectric elements which are spaced apart from each other;
- a third acoustic matching layer which extends as a continuous, undivided single layer over a surface of each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements and has an acoustic impedance in a range of 1.8 to 2.2 MRayls and an acoustic velocity of 1650 m/sec or less;
- and
- first and second acoustic matching layers each of which is divided to be individually arranged correspondingly to the respective plurality of piezoelectric elements and which are provided between the third acoustic matching layer and the plurality of piezoelectric elements.
An ultrasonic probe, comprising:
- a plurality of piezoelectric elements which are spaced apart from each other;
- second and third acoustic matching layers, each of which extends as a continuous, undivided single layer over a surface of all of the plurality of piezoelectric elements and has an acoustic velocity of 1650 m/sec or less;
- and
- a first acoustic matching layer provided between Ill the second and third acoustic matching layers and al the plurality of piezoelectric elements.
An ultrasonic probe, comprising:
- a plurality of piezoelectric elements which are spaced apart from each other;
- a fourth acoustic matching layer which extends as a continuous, undivided single layer across a surface of each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements and has an acoustic velocity of 1650 m/sec or less;
- and
- first, second and third acoustic matching layers provided between the fourth acoustic matching layer and the plurality of piezoelectric elements.
An ultrasonic probe, comprising:
- a plurality of piezoelectric elements which are separated from each other by a gap;
- a first acoustic matching layer which extends as a continuous, undivided single layer over a surface of the plurality of piezoelectric elements;
- a second acoustic matching layer provided between the first acoustic matching layer and the plurality of piezoelectric elements and which is divided to be individually arranged correspondingly to the respective plurality of piezoelectric elements;
- and
- a film having an electric terminal provided between the first acoustic matching layer and the second acoustic matching layer and which is divided to be individually arranged correspondingly to the respective plurality of piezoelectric elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.