Patent ID: 6344024
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An ultrasonic probe, in particular for uses in the area of medical diagnostics by means of ultrasonic sonography, comprising an ultrasonic. Sensor (10: 10a, 10b, A, B) which is adapted to produce an ultrasonic transmission signal as a reaction to an electrical stimulation and to receive a reception signal reflected at an observation medium and which is held in a carrier arrangement (12) and which is provided with coupling and transmission means (14) for coupling the transmission signal into the observation medium, characterised in that the transmission signal is a multifrequency signal comprising at least two individual signals which are spaced from each other in the frequency range and having two carrier frequencies which are in a non-harmonic relationship to each other and focused into a common point in the observation medium by a common lens, and there are provided means for evaluation of the reflected reception signal in dependence on the individual signals, wherein the ultrasonic sensor has a single crystal (10) for signal production, which is simultaneously and synchronisedly acted upon with the multifrequency signal with a plurality of carrier frequencies in the proximity of its resonance frequency and is provided on a rearward surface remote from the observation medium with an adaptation element (20) of metal or glass for influencing the band width and/or the resonance frequency in a predeterminable manner.