Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus using the same

• US 7,207,940 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2003
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Satoh, Tomoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski; Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US10/670,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20040220463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/443, 600/447, 600/456, 600/458, 73625-626, 128/916
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4438 Means for identifying the diagnostic device, e.g. barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8925 the array being a two-dimensional transducer configuration, i.e. matrix or orthogonal linear arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52046 Techniques for image enhancement involving transmitter or receiver image enhancement by image data processing G06T5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5205 Means for monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

An ultrasonic probe in which transducer array including ultrasonic transducers out of the specifications can be used so that the yield in the manufacture of transducer arrays is improved. The ultrasonic probe to be used when connected to an external apparatus main body includes: a transducer array including plural ultrasonic transducers; a connecting portion for connecting ultrasonic transducers selected from among the plural ultrasonic transducers to the external apparatus main body; and an identification information holding portion for holding identification information on the ultrasonic probe which information is associated with arrangement information and/or characteristic information on the selected ultrasonic transducers within the transducer array.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic probe to be used when connected to an external apparatus main body, said probe comprising:

a transducer array having a first number of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a two-dimensional matrix form, said first number of ultrasonic transducers including ultrasonic transducers in an original pattern that are previously determined to be working and ultrasonic transducers outside of said original pattern;

connecting means for connecting a second number of ultrasonic transducers selected from among said first number of ultrasonic transducers to said external apparatus main body, said second number being less than said first number and said second number of ultrasonic transducers including (i) ultrasonic transducers in said original pattern except for at least one defective ultrasonic transducer and (ii) at least one additional ultrasonic transducer outside of said original pattern in place of said at least one defective ultrasonic transducer; and

identification information holding means for holding identification information on said ultrasonic probe, said identification information being associated with arrangement information and/or characteristic information on said selected second number of ultrasonic transducers within said transducer array.

2. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means includes wiring and electrodes for supplying the identification information on said ultrasonic probe held

by said identification information holding means to said external apparatus main body.

3. An ultrasonic probe to be used when connected to an external apparatus main body, said probe comprising:

a transducer array having a first number of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a two-dimensional matrix form, said first number of ultrasonic transducers including ultrasonic transducers in an original pattern that are previously determined to be working and ultrasonic transducers outside of said original pattern; and

a connector, having plural electrodes, for connecting a second number of ultrasonic transducers selected from among said first number of ultrasonic transducers to said external apparatus main body, said second number being less than said first number and said second number of ultrasonic transducers including (i) ultrasonic transducers in said original pattern except for at least one defective ultrasonic transducer and (ii) at least one additional ultrasonic transducer outside of said original pattern in place of said at least one defective ultrasonic transducer, wherein at least two kinds of connecting relationships between said selected ultrasonic transducers and said plural electrodes are set up in regard to plural ultrasonic probes.

4. An ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus to be used when connected to an ultrasonic probe including a transducer array having a first number of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a two-dimensional matrix form, said first number of ultrasonic transducers including ultrasonic transducers in an original pattern that are previously determined to be working and ultrasonic transducers outside of said original pattern connecting means for connecting a second number of ultrasonic transducers selected from among said first number of ultrasonic transducers to an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus main body, said second number being less than said first number and said second number of ultrasonic transducers including (i) ultrasonic transducers in said original pattern except for at least one defective ultrasonic transducer and (ii) at least one additional ultrasonic transducer outside of said original pattern in place of said at least one defective ultrasonic transducer, and identification information holding means for holding identification information, said apparatus comprising:

plural transmitting circuits for respectively generating plural driving signals to be supplied to said ultrasonic probe so as to transmit an ultrasonic beam;

plural receiving circuits for respectively processing plural detection signals outputted from said ultrasonic probe which has received an ultrasonic echo; and

control means for controlling delay amounts of the plural driving signals in said plural transmitting circuits and/or delay amounts of the plural detection signals in said plural receiving circuits in correspondence with the ultrasonic probe identified on the basis of the identification information such that said at least one additional ultrasonic transducer works in place of said at least one defective ultrasonic transducer.

5. An ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said control means calculates delay amounts on the basis of arrangement information and/or characteristic information on said selected second number of ultrasonic transducers with regard to plural ultrasonic probes in advance, and controls recording means to record delay amount tables in correspondence with the identification information on the respective ultrasonic probes.

6. An ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control means controls said recording means to read out a delay amount table corresponding to the identification information supplied by said connecting means.

7. An ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus to be used when connected to an ultrasonic probe including a transducer array having a first number of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a two-dimensional matrix form, said first number of ultrasonic transducers including ultrasonic transducers in an original pattern that are previously determined to be working and ultrasonic transducers outside of said original pattern, connecting means for connecting a second number of ultrasonic transducers selected from among said first number of ultrasonic transducers to an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus main body, said second number being less than said first number and said second number of ultrasonic transducers including (i) ultrasonic transducers in said original pattern except for at least one defective ultrasonic transducer and (ii) at least one additional ultrasonic transducer outside of said original pattern in place of said at least one defective ultrasonic transducer, and identification information holding means for holding identification information, said apparatus comprising:

plural transmitting circuits for respectively generating plural driving signals to be supplied to said ultrasonic probe so as to transmit an ultrasonic beam;

plural receiving circuits for respectively processing plural detection signals outputted from said ultrasonic probe which has received an ultrasonic echo; and

control means for controlling amplitudes and/or waveforms of the plural driving signals in said plural transmitting circuits in correspondence with the ultrasonic probe identified on the basis of the identification information such that said at least one additional ultrasonic transducer works in place of said at least one defective ultrasonic transducer.

8. An ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus to be used when connected to an ultrasonic probe including a transducer array having a first number of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a two-dimensional matrix form, said first number of ultrasonic transducers including ultrasonic transducers in an original pattern that are previously determined to be working and ultrasonic transducers outside of said original pattern, connecting means for connecting a second number of ultrasonic transducers selected from among said first number of ultrasonic transducers to an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus main body, said second number being less than said first number and said second number of ultrasonic transducers including (i) ultrasonic transducers in said original pattern except for at least one defective ultrasonic transducer and (ii) at least one additional ultrasonic transducer outside of said original pattern in place of said at least one defective ultrasonic transducer, and identification information holding means for holding identification information, said apparatus comprising:

plural transmitting circuits for respectively generating plural driving signals to be supplied to said ultrasonic probe so as to transmit an ultrasonic beam;

plural receiving circuits for respectively processing plural detection signals outputted from said ultrasonic probe which has received an ultrasonic echo; and

control means for controlling gains and/or bandwidths in said plural receiving circuits in correspondence with the ultrasonic probe identified on the basis of the identification information such that said at least one additional ultrasonic transducer works in place of said at least one defective ultrasonic transducer.