ULTRASONIC PROBE AND PROBE HEAD FOR ULTRASONIC PROBE

• US 20190307422A1
• Filed: 06/20/2019
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: MAKITA, Yasuhisa, OKADA, Kengo
• Granted Patent: US 11,707,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0622 on one surface
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/30 using refraction, e.g. acoustic lenses

Abstract

The ultrasonic probe according to a present embodiment includes a piezoelectric vibrator and an acoustic lens. The piezoelectric vibrator is configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave. The acoustic lens is provided on an ultrasonic-wave transmission/reception side. The acoustic lens is formed in such a manner that a surface shape of each of end regions located on both sides of a central region of a surface of the acoustic lens is formed to have a curvature different from a curvature of a surface shape of the central region of the surface of the acoustic lens.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic probe comprising:

a piezoelectric vibrator configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave;

an acoustic lens provided on an ultrasonic-wave transmission/reception side, wherein

the acoustic lens is formed in such a manner that a surface shape of each of end regions located on both sides of a central region of a surface of the acoustic lens is formed to have a curvature different from a curvature of a surface shape of the central region of the surface of the acoustic lens.

2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein

the each of end regions is provided with a stepped portion configured to retain an echo jelly.

3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein

a part of a surface of the each of end regions is formed into a shape that has a curvature smaller than the curvature of a surface shape of the central region, and

the part of a surface of the each of end regions is configured to be continuous to a surface of the central region.

4. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 3, wherein

the part of a surface of the each of end regions has an inflection point on an opposite side with respect to a side, which is continuous to the surface of the central region, in a longitudinal cross-section of the ultrasonic probe.

5. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein

the central region of the acoustic lens is configured as an acoustically effective portion determined by a transmission/reception region of the ultrasonic wave, and

the each of end regions of the acoustic lens is configured as an acoustically ineffective portion determined by the transmission/reception region.

6. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 5, wherein

the acoustically effective portion provides a convex portion of the acoustic lens, and

each of the acoustically ineffective portions has a portion that is formed to be lower toward the piezoelectric vibrator than an extended line of a lens front-end surface of the acoustic lens.

7. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 6, wherein

each of the acoustically ineffective portions includes a concave portion that has an arbitrary curvature in a portion formed to be lower than an extended line of the lens front-end surface.

8. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 6, wherein

the acoustically effective portion has a flat portion that is substantially parallel to a transmission/reception surface of the ultrasonic wave, the surface being on the piezoelectric vibrator, and

each of the acoustically ineffective portions has a portion formed to be substantially parallel to the flat portion.

9. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 6, wherein

each of the acoustically ineffective portions has a portion formed to be lower than an extended line of the lens front-end surface by 0.2 mm or more.

10. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 6, wherein

the portion formed to lower than an extended line of the lens front-end surface is provided along at least one of a lens direction and an array direction.

11. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein

a material of the central region and the end regions is any one of polymethylpentene, silicone rubber, and butadiene rubber.

12. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein

the central region and the end regions are formed of a material that has a contact angle with respect to water of 60°

or more.

13. A probe head for an ultrasonic probe comprising:

an acoustic lens provided on an ultrasonic-wave transmission/reception side, wherein

the acoustic lens is formed in such a manner that a surface shape of each of end regions located on both sides of a central region among surfaces of the acoustic lens is formed to have a curvature different from a curvature of a surface shape of the central region.

14. The probe head according to claim 13, further comprising:

a piezoelectric vibrator configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave.