Patent ID: 7794401
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An ultrasonic probe for intra-cavity diagnosis comprising an ultrasonic transducer array disposed at a tip of said probe, said ultrasonic transducer array comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in an array, and an electric circuit including at least some of necessary electric elements for activating said ultrasonic transducers, said electric circuit being formed as a layer laid under said ultrasonic transducers in a direction where an ultrasonic wave is emitted, wherein said ultrasonic transducers are piezoelectric elements; wherein said ultrasonic transducer array has a layered structure having at least a flexible substrate, said electric circuit, a backing material, an array of said piezoelectric elements and an acoustic impedance matching layer, which are formed atop another on a rigid supporting member, and wherein said electric circuit and said piezoelectric elements are connected electrically through wires which are disposed in said backing material; and wherein the acoustic impedance matching layer is disposed directly on the array of said piezoelectric elements, the array of said piezoelectric elements is disposed directly on the backing material, the backing material is disposed directly on the electric circuit, and the electric circuit is disposed directly on the flexible substrate.