Ultrasonic sensor, method of fabricating same, and ultrasonic diagnostic device using an ultrasonic sensor
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic diagnostic device comprising:
- An ultrasonic sensor having a substrate, a piezoelectric element mounted on the substrate for generating an ultrasonic wave to be transmitted into a living body in accordance with an input drive signal, and an intimate contact layer having a first main surface for undergoing sliding contact with the piezoelectric element and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface for contacting a part of the living body, the intimate contact layer being formed of a flexible material such that the second main surface of the intimate contact layer is brought into close contact with the part of the living body so that no air gaps exist between the second main surface of the intimate contact layer and the part of the living body while the first main surface of the intimate contact layer is in sliding contact with the piezoelectric element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic diagnostic device has an ultrasonic sensor having a substrate, a piezoelectric element mounted on the substrate for generating an ultrasonic wave to be transmitted into a living body in accordance with an input drive signal, and an intimate contact layer having a first main surface disposed in contact with the piezoelectric element and a second main surface opposite the first main surface for contacting a part of the living body. The intimate contact layer is formed of a flexible material such that the second main surface of the intimate contact layer is brought into close contact with the part of the living body so that no air gaps exist between the second main surface of the intimate contact layer and the part of the living body. A driver circuit generates an input drive signal to drive the piezoelectric element. A biological information detection portion detects biological information relating to the interior of the living body in accordance with the ultrasonic wave transmitted into the living body and an ultrasonic wave reflected from the interior of the living body. A display portion displays the biological information detected by the biological information detection portion.
46 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic diagnostic device comprising:
An ultrasonic sensor having a substrate, a piezoelectric element mounted on the substrate for generating an ultrasonic wave to be transmitted into a living body in accordance with an input drive signal, and an intimate contact layer having a first main surface for undergoing sliding contact with the piezoelectric element and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface for contacting a part of the living body, the intimate contact layer being formed of a flexible material such that the second main surface of the intimate contact layer is brought into close contact with the part of the living body so that no air gaps exist between the second main surface of the intimate contact layer and the part of the living body while the first main surface of the intimate contact layer is in sliding contact with the piezoelectric element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An ultrasonic diagnostic device comprising:
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An ultrasonic sensor having a substrate, a first piezoelectric element mounted on the substrate for generating an ultrasonic wave to be transmitted into an interior of a living body, and a second piezoelectric element for receiving an ultrasonic wave reflected from the interior of the living body;
An intimate contact layer having a first main surface for undergoing sliding contact with the first and second piezoelectric elements of the ultrasonic sensor and a second main surface disposed opposite the first main surface for contacting a part of the living body, the intimate contact layer being formed of a flexible material such that the second main surface of the intimate contact layer is brought into close contact with the part of the living body so that no air gaps exist between the second main surface of the intimate contact layer and the part of the living body while the first main surface of the intimate contact layer is in sliding contact with the piezoelectric element. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An ultrasonic diagnostic device comprising:
An ultrasonic sensor having a substrate, a first piezoelectric element mounted on the substrate for generating an ultrasonic wave and for transmitting the ultrasonic wave into a part of a living body so that the ultrasonic wave is reflected by blood flowing through an artery in the part of the living body, a second piezoelectric element mounted on the substrate for receding the reflected ultrasonic wave, and a contact layer for undergoing sliding contact with the portion of the substrate over the first and second piezoelectric elements and for direct contact with the part of the living body, the contact layer being made of a material which adheres to the living body when in direct contact therewith so that no air gaps exist between the contact layer and the part of the living body while the contact layer is in sliding contact with the portion of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An ultrasonic diagnostic device comprising:
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an ultrasonic sensor having a substrate, a first piezoelectric element mounted on the substrate for generating an ultrasonic wave and for transmitting the ultrasonic wave into a part of a living body so that the ultrasonic wave is reflected by blood flowing through an artery in the part of the living body, and a second piezoelectric element mounted on the substrate for receiving the reflected ultrasonic wave;
a contact layer integrally connected to the substrate and having a first main surface disposed over the first and second piezoelectric elements and a second surface for direct contact with the part of the living body;
connecting means for integrally connecting the contact layer to the substrate so that no air gaps exist between the second surface of the contact layer and the part of the living body when the second surface of the contact layer is in direct contact with the part of the living body, a driver circuit for generating an input drive signal to drive the piezoelectric element to generate the ultrasonic wave; and
a biological information detection portion for detecting biological information corresponding to the living body by comparing a frequency of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the first piezoelectric element with a frequency of the reflected ultrasonic wave received by the second ultrasonic element. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification