Patent ID: 7431697
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: A61B,G01D,G01S,G10K,H03M

Abstract:
1. An ultrasonic probe comprising: an ultrasonic element unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; an oscillation mechanism for causing oscillation to the ultrasonic element unit; and a detector for detecting oscillation of the ultrasonic element unit, wherein the detector detects an oscillation angle and an oscillation origin of the ultrasonic element unit, and in a state where an oscillation range of the ultrasonic element unit is divided at the oscillation origin into two regions of a positive region and a negative region, the detector outputs an origin-return signal that shows different logic levels depending on whether the ultrasonic element unit is located in the positive region or the negative region, and a control to return the ultrasonic element unit to the oscillation origin on the basis of the origin-return signal.