Patent Description:
An ultrasound probe including an ultrasound transducer is used as a transmitter and receiver of ultrasound in a medical ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. Recently, an ultrasound diagnosis is performed in a state where an ultrasound probe is loaded into a catheter, and the catheter is inserted into a body.

PTL <NUM> discloses an ultrasound probe including an active transducer element having a top main surface and a bottom main surface, a top electrode that is formed on the top main surface, a bottom electrode that is formed on the bottom main surface, a conductive backing element that covers the bottom electrode, a first lead that is electrically connected to the top electrode, and a second lead that is electrically connected to the conductive backing element. PTL <NUM>-<NUM> disclose further ultrasound transducer.

A demand for downsizing an ultrasound probe to be loaded into a catheter is high in order to reduce patient burden and to enhance the insertability to a body-cavity having a smaller diameter, such as a deep blood vessel.

The downsizing of the ultrasound probe can be implemented by downsizing an ultrasound transducer including a piezoelectric element that includes piezoelectric body and a pair of electrodes. However, when the ultrasound transducer is downsized, the piezoelectric element also becomes small. Therefore, the electrodes in the piezoelectric element also become small, so that work of connecting an electric signal line that connects the piezoelectric element to an external power supply to the electrode of the piezoelectric element becomes difficult.

The disclosure aims to provide an ultrasound transducer having a configuration that achieves easy connection of an electric signal line to a piezoelectric element.

An ultrasound transducer as a first aspect of the disclosure includes: a piezoelectric element; and a support member that supports the piezoelectric element, in which: the piezoelectric element includes a flat piezoelectric body, a first electrode that is laminated on at least one side of the piezoelectric body in a thickness direction, and a second electrode that is laminated on at least the other side of the piezoelectric body in the thickness direction; the support member includes a first terminal that is connected to the first electrode of the piezoelectric element, and a second terminal that is connected to the second electrode of the piezoelectric element; and the first terminal and the second terminal respectively include portions that do not overlap the piezoelectric element in the thickness direction.

According to the invention, the support member includes a support main body portion that is laminated on the piezoelectric element at the other side in the thickness direction, and extends externally further than the piezoelectric element in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction, and the first terminal and the second terminal are supported by the support main body portion.

As one embodiment of the disclosure, the first electrode of the piezoelectric element includes a surface electrode layer that is positioned at the one side in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric body, a rear surface electrode layer that is positioned at the other side in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric body, and an interlock conductive portion that interlocks the surface electrode layer and the rear surface electrode layer to each other.

As one embodiment of the disclosure, the first terminal is connected to the rear surface electrode layer of the first electrode between the piezoelectric element and the support main body portion.

As one embodiment of the disclosure, the second terminal is connected to the second electrode between the piezoelectric element and the support main body portion.

According to the invention, the piezoelectric element includes a first portion including a portion overlapping the first terminal and a portion overlapping the second terminal, in the thickness direction, and a second portion excluding the first portion, and a whole region at the other side in the thickness direction of the second portion is covered by the support main body portion.

According to the disclosure, it is possible to provide an ultrasound transducer having a configuration that achieves easy connection of an electric signal line to a piezoelectric element.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an ultrasound transducer according to the disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Members and sites common in the respective drawings are denoted with the same reference numerals.

Firstly, one example of a diagnostic imaging apparatus to which an ultrasound transducer according to the disclosure can be applied will be described. <FIG> is a view illustrating a diagnostic imaging apparatus <NUM> that is provided with an ultrasound transducer <NUM> as one embodiment.

The diagnostic imaging apparatus <NUM> is provided with a diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM> and an external device <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a state where the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM> is connected to the external device <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section parallel to a longitudinal direction A in a distal end portion of the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM>. <FIG> is a view illustrating the ultrasound transducer <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates positions of electric signal lines <NUM> that are connected to the ultrasound transducer <NUM> by chain double-dashed lines, for convenience of explanation. <FIG> is a view illustrating a rear surface of a piezoelectric element <NUM> in the ultrasound transducer <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the ultrasound transducer <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. <FIG> also illustrates the positions of the electric signal lines <NUM> that are connected to the ultrasound transducer <NUM> by chain double-dashed lines, for convenience of explanation. Moreover, for convenience of explanation, <FIG> illustrates a position of a rear surface electrode layer 5b of a first electrode <NUM> and a position of a second electrode <NUM>, of the piezoelectric element <NUM>, by dashed lines. <FIG> is a view illustrating a region where the piezoelectric element <NUM> and a support member <NUM> overlap each other in a thickness direction B, in the ultrasound transducer <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>.

The diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM> is applied to Intravascular Ultrasound (abbreviated to "IVUS"). As illustrated in <FIG>, the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM> is connected to the external device <NUM>, and is thus driven. More specifically, the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM> in the embodiment is connected to a drive unit 120a of the external device <NUM>.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, in the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM>, a side that is inserted into a living body in the longitudinal direction A of the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM> is described as a "distal end side", and an opposite side thereof is described as a "proximal end side". Moreover, a direction from the proximal end side toward the distal end side of the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM> is simply described as an "insertion direction A1" in some cases. Moreover, a direction from the distal end side toward the proximal end side of the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM> is simply described as an "extraction direction A2" in some cases.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM> is provided with an insertion portion 110a and an operation portion 110b. The insertion portion 110a is a site in the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM> that is inserted into the living body and used therein. The operation portion 110b is a site in the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM> that is operated outside the living body in the state where the insertion portion 110a is inserted into the living body. In the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM> in the embodiment, a portion at a further distal end side than a distal end side connector <NUM> (see <FIG>), which is described later, is the insertion portion 110a, and a portion at a further proximal end side than the distal end side connector <NUM> is the operation portion 110b.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the insertion portion 110a is provided with an ultrasound probe <NUM> and a sheath <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the operation portion 110b is provided with an inner tube member <NUM> and an outer tube member <NUM>. The inner tube member <NUM> holds an end portion at a proximal end side of the ultrasound probe <NUM>. The outer tube member <NUM> holds an end portion at a proximal end side of the sheath <NUM>. Although details will be described later, the inner tube member <NUM> moves in a central axis direction inside the outer tube member <NUM> to enable the ultrasound probe <NUM> to move in the longitudinal direction A inside the sheath <NUM>. Moreover, although details will be described later, a drive shaft <NUM> and the electric signal lines <NUM>, which are parts of the ultrasound probe <NUM>, extend through insides of the inner tube member <NUM> and the outer tube member <NUM> over not only a region of the insertion portion 110a but also a region of the operation portion 110b, in the longitudinal direction A. In other words, a part of the operation portion 110b in the embodiment includes, in addition to the inner tube member <NUM> and the outer tube member <NUM>, the ultrasound probe <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the ultrasound probe <NUM> is provided with the ultrasound transducer <NUM>, a housing <NUM>, the drive shaft <NUM>, and the electric signal lines <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the ultrasound transducer <NUM> is provided with the piezoelectric element <NUM>, the support member <NUM>, and an acoustic matching member <NUM>. Specifically, the piezoelectric element <NUM> includes a flat piezoelectric body <NUM>, the first electrode <NUM> that is laminated on at least one side of the piezoelectric body <NUM> in the thickness direction B, and the second electrode <NUM> that is laminated on at least the other side of the piezoelectric body <NUM> in the thickness direction B. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, one side of the piezoelectric body <NUM> in the thickness direction B to which at least a part of the first electrode <NUM> is provided is described as a "surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>". Moreover, for convenience of explanation, the other side of the piezoelectric body <NUM> in the thickness direction B to which at least a part of the second electrode <NUM> is provided is described as a "rear surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>". The surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM> is a side at which transmission and reception of ultrasound are performed. Moreover, the rear surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM> is an opposite side to the side at which transmission and reception of ultrasound is performed.

The piezoelectric body <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM> includes, for example, a piezoelectric ceramic sheet. Examples of the materials for the piezoelectric ceramic sheet can include piezoelectric ceramic materials such as lead titanate zirconate (PZT) and lithium niobate. The piezoelectric body <NUM> may be formed of crystal, rather than the piezoelectric ceramic material.

The first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM> are formed by being laminated as electrode layers respectively on the both surfaces of the piezoelectric body <NUM> in the thickness direction B, for example, by an ion plating method using a mask material, a vapor deposition method, and a sputtering method. Examples of the materials for the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> can include metals such as silver, chromium, copper, nickel, and gold, and a laminated body of these metals.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the second electrode <NUM> in the embodiment is formed only on the rear surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>.

In contrast, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first electrode <NUM> in the embodiment includes a folded electrode. Specifically, the first electrode <NUM> in the embodiment is provided with a surface electrode layer 5a, the rear surface electrode layer 5b, and an interlock conductive portion 5c. The surface electrode layer 5a is positioned at the surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. The rear surface electrode layer 5b is positioned at the rear surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. The interlock conductive portion 5c interlocks the surface electrode layer 5a and the rear surface electrode layer 5b to each other. In other words, the first electrode <NUM> in the embodiment is formed from the surface side over the rear surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. The first electrode <NUM> is a folded electrode, so that the rear surface electrode layer 5b of the first electrode <NUM>, and the second electrode <NUM> can be disposed together on the rear surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. Accordingly, compared with a case where the first electrode and the second electrode are respectively disposed only on the different surfaces of the piezoelectric element, connection work of the electric signal lines <NUM> to the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> can be performed only at one surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>.

Moreover, as illustrated in <FIG>, the piezoelectric element <NUM> is provided with a first portion 1a including a portion overlapping a first terminal <NUM> and a portion overlapping a second terminal <NUM> of the support member <NUM>, which is described later, in the thickness direction B, and a second portion 1b excluding the first portion 1a, in the thickness direction B. Details of this will be described later.

Moreover, as illustrated in <FIG>, in a plan view in which the ultrasound transducer <NUM> is seen in the thickness direction B, an outer shape of the piezoelectric element <NUM> may preferably be square as in the embodiment, rather than being rectangular. In this manner, the straightness of ultrasound can be enhanced. Accordingly, as illustrated in <FIG>, vertical (up-and-down direction in <FIG>) and transverse (right-and-left direction in <FIG>) lengths of the piezoelectric element <NUM> are preferably approximately the same. In addition, in a case of the compact ultrasound transducer <NUM> that is used inside a blood vessel, it is preferable to increase the output of ultrasound. Therefore, it is preferable to largely secure the second portion 1b, which is a portion of the piezoelectric element <NUM> that mainly vibrates. As in the foregoing, the piezoelectric element <NUM> preferably has a square outer shape in a plan view illustrated in <FIG>, and an area in the second portion 1b of the piezoelectric element <NUM> is preferably larger than an area in the first portion 1a of the piezoelectric element <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the support member <NUM> supports the piezoelectric element <NUM>. Moreover, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the support member <NUM> is provided with the first terminal <NUM> that is connected to the first electrode <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM>, and the second terminal <NUM> that is connected to the second electrode <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. Moreover, as illustrated in <FIG>, the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> are respectively provided with portions that do not overlap the piezoelectric element <NUM> in the thickness direction B. Such the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> are provided to enable an electric contact between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM> to be drawn out to an outer side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. Therefore, for example, in a case where the electric signal lines <NUM> are difficult to be directly connected to the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM>, such as the downsized piezoelectric element <NUM>, the use of the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> mentioned above makes it easy to electrically connect the electric signal lines <NUM> to the piezoelectric element <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the support member <NUM> in the embodiment supports the piezoelectric element <NUM> from the rear surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. In other words, the support member <NUM> is laminated on the rear surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM> so as to cover the rear surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>.

Examples of the materials for the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> can include metals such as silver, chromium, copper, nickel, and gold, and a laminated body of these metals.

More specifically, the support member <NUM> in the embodiment is provided with a support main body portion <NUM> that is laminated on the rear surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. The support main body portion <NUM> covers at least the whole region on the rear surface side of the piezoelectric body <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. The support main body portion <NUM> in the embodiment covers the whole region on the rear surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. More specifically, the support main body portion <NUM> in the embodiment extends externally further than the piezoelectric element <NUM> in a direction C (hereinafter, described as "in-plane direction C". ) orthogonal to the thickness direction B of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. The first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> in the embodiment are supported by the support main body portion <NUM>.

The support main body portion <NUM> of the support member <NUM> is a sound-absorbing body including rubber and epoxy resin in which metal powder such as tungsten powder is dispersed, for example. The support main body portion <NUM> of the support member <NUM> can absorb ultrasound as noise from the piezoelectric element <NUM>. In other words, the support member <NUM> in the embodiment configures a sound absorbing layer that absorbs ultrasound of the piezoelectric element <NUM>.

The sound absorbing layer as the support member <NUM> can be formed by a method in which the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> are disposed in advance on a sheet material forming the support main body portion <NUM>, and this sheet material is bonded to the piezoelectric element <NUM>, or other methods. The first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> may be formed by being laminated on the sheet material forming the support main body portion <NUM>, for example, by an ion plating method using a mask material, a vapor deposition method, and a sputtering method, and production methods thereof are not specially limited. Terminal members forming the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> may be joined to the support main body portion <NUM> by bonding or the like.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first terminal <NUM> in the embodiment is connected to the rear surface electrode layer 5b of the first electrode <NUM> between the piezoelectric element <NUM> and the support main body portion <NUM>. In other words, the piezoelectric element <NUM> and the support member <NUM> in the embodiment are laminated such that the rear surface electrode layer 5b of the first electrode <NUM> and the first terminal <NUM> are opposed to each other. Moreover, the first terminal <NUM> in the embodiment extends externally further than the piezoelectric element <NUM> in the in-plane direction C from a position between the piezoelectric element <NUM> and the support main body portion <NUM>. In other words, the first terminal <NUM> is drawn out on a surface at the side of the piezoelectric element <NUM> in the thickness direction B of the support main body portion <NUM> (hereinafter, described as a "top surface of the support main body portion <NUM> "), to a position that does not overlap the piezoelectric element <NUM> in the thickness direction B.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the second terminal <NUM> in the embodiment is connected to the second electrode <NUM> between the piezoelectric element <NUM> and the support main body portion <NUM>. In other words, the piezoelectric element <NUM> and the support member <NUM> in the embodiment is laminated such that the second electrode <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> are opposed to each other. Moreover, the second terminal <NUM> in the embodiment extends externally further than the piezoelectric element <NUM> in the in-plane direction C from the position between the piezoelectric element <NUM> and the support main body portion <NUM>. In other words, the second terminal <NUM> is drawn out on the top surface of the support main body portion <NUM>, to a position that does not overlap the piezoelectric element <NUM> in the thickness direction B.

In this manner, the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM> are respectively connected to the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> of the support member <NUM>, at the rear surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. Therefore, connection locations for the electric signal lines <NUM> do not need to be secured at the surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM> on which transmission and reception of ultrasound are performed, so that it is possible to suppress breakage of a portion in the ultrasound transducer <NUM> at the surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM> on which transmission and reception of ultrasound are performed, in the connection of the electric signal lines <NUM>. Moreover, the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> are externally extended further than the piezoelectric element <NUM> in the in-plane direction C from the position between the piezoelectric element <NUM> and the support main body portion <NUM>, so that the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> are in a state capable of being visually identified from the surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to execute the work of connecting the electric signal lines <NUM> to the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> while monitoring the connection locations by visual observation or the like. This can suppress generation of a defective piece due to a connection failure.

Moreover, the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> in the embodiment are drawn out from a position overlapping the piezoelectric element <NUM> in the thickness direction B toward a proximal end side of the longitudinal direction A, in the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM>. Therefore, in the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> in the embodiment, a portion that does not overlap the piezoelectric element <NUM> in the thickness direction B is provided at the proximal end side relative to the piezoelectric element <NUM>. Accordingly, as illustrated in <FIG>, the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> in the embodiment can be easily connected to distal end portions 14a of the electric signal lines <NUM> that extend from a distal end of the drive shaft <NUM> into the housing <NUM>.

In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> in the embodiment extend to a circumferential edge in the in-plane direction C of the support member <NUM>. More specifically, the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> in the embodiment extend to positions flush with an end surface in the in-plane direction C of the support main body portion <NUM>. In this manner, it is possible to more easily connect the electric signal lines <NUM> to the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> from an outside of the ultrasound transducer <NUM>.

Moreover, in the support member <NUM> in the embodiment, two grooves 9a are sectioned on the top surface of the support main body portion <NUM> opposed to the rear surface of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. A transverse cross section of the groove 9a in the embodiment is a rectangular shape, and may be another transverse cross-sectional shape such as a V-character shape or a circular shape, for example. The first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> in the embodiment are disposed inside the grooves 9a of the support main body portion <NUM>. Moreover, a top surface of the first terminal <NUM> and a top surface of the second terminal <NUM> opposing to the rear surface of the piezoelectric element <NUM> are disposed so as to be flush with the top surface of the support main body portion <NUM>. Accordingly, the piezoelectric element <NUM> and the support member <NUM> are laminated on each other, so that the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM> can be respectively come into contact with the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> of the support member <NUM>, and the position stability on the support member <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM> can be improved. The first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM> are respectively connected to the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> of the support member <NUM>, using a conductive adhesive or the like.

Note that, the top surface of the first terminal <NUM> and the top surface of the second terminal <NUM> opposing to the rear surface of the piezoelectric element <NUM> may be respectively disposed inside the grooves 9a without protruding from the top surface of the support main body portion <NUM>. In such a case, portions between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM> and the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> of the support member <NUM>, may be filled with a conductive material such as the abovementioned conductive adhesive. In this manner, an effect similar to the abovementioned effect by making the top surface of the first terminal <NUM>, the top surface of the second terminal <NUM>, and the top surface of the support main body portion <NUM> flush with one another can be obtained.

In addition, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a groove 7a that houses the electric signal line <NUM> is sectioned in the first terminal <NUM> in the embodiment. Such the groove 7a is sectioned in the first terminal <NUM>, so that it is possible to connect the electric signal line <NUM> to the first terminal <NUM> in a state where the electric signal line <NUM> is positioned inside the groove 7a. Therefore, the efficiency of the connection work between the electric signal line <NUM> and the first terminal <NUM> is improved.

Moreover, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a groove 8a that houses the electric signal line <NUM> is also sectioned in the second terminal <NUM> in the embodiment. Such the groove 8a is sectioned in the second terminal <NUM>, so that it is possible to connect the electric signal line <NUM> to the second terminal <NUM> in a state where the electric signal line <NUM> is positioned inside the groove 8a. Therefore, the efficiency of the connection work between the electric signal line <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> is improved.

In this manner, the grooves (the grooves 7a and 8a in the embodiment) are respectively provided in the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> to make it easy to connect the electric signal lines <NUM> to the respective terminals (the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> in the embodiment). Although each of transverse cross-sectional shapes of the groove 7a and the groove 8a in the embodiment is a rectangular shape, each groove may have another transverse cross-sectional shape such as a V-character shape or a circular shape, for example. Moreover, the groove 7a and the groove 8a may also preferably extend to positions that are flush with the end surface in the in-plane direction C of the support main body portion <NUM>. In this manner, the electric signal lines <NUM> are more easily to be positioned.

Herein, one example of a method of connecting the electric signal line <NUM> to the first terminal <NUM> will be described. <FIG> is a view illustrating an overview of a process of connecting the electric signal line <NUM> to the first terminal <NUM>. Firstly, a connection portion 14a including a conductive wire from which a coating material is removed is formed on an end portion of the electric signal line <NUM>. Moreover, the groove 7a of the first terminal <NUM> is filled with a solder paste <NUM>. The groove 7a may be filled with a preliminary solder in place of the solder paste <NUM>. In this state, the connection portion 14a of the electric signal line <NUM> is disposed on the solder paste <NUM> that is filled in the groove 7a of the first terminal <NUM>. The connection portion 14a of the electric signal line <NUM> may be buried in the solder paste <NUM> that is filled in the groove 7a. A preliminary solder or a solder paste may be further applied so as to sandwich the connection portion 14a with the solder paste <NUM>. Next, the solder paste <NUM> and the preliminary solder are heated with hot air to be melted, and the connection portion 14a is connected to the first terminal <NUM> inside the groove 7a. In this manner, the electric signal line <NUM> can be connected to the first terminal <NUM>.

Although the connection method between the electric signal line <NUM> and the first terminal <NUM> is indicated herein, the same applies to a connection method between the electric signal line <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM>.

Moreover, as described above, the piezoelectric element <NUM> is provided with the first portion 1a including the portion overlapping the first terminal <NUM> and the portion overlapping the second terminal <NUM> in the thickness direction B, and the second portion 1b excluding the first portion 1a (see <FIG>). As illustrated in <FIG>, according to the invention, the whole region on the rear surface side of the second portion 1b of the piezoelectric element <NUM> is covered with the support main body portion <NUM>. With such a configuration, the support main body portion <NUM> is disposed to the whole rear surface of the second portion 1b that is a portion in which the piezoelectric element <NUM> mainly vibrates. Therefore, ultrasound as noise from the piezoelectric element <NUM> can be more reliably absorbed by the support main body portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the acoustic matching member <NUM> is laminated so as to cover a part of the surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. More specifically, the acoustic matching member <NUM> in the embodiment is laminated so as to cover a greater part (for example, <NUM>% or more) of the surface side of the second portion 1b of the piezoelectric element <NUM>, but is not limited to this configuration, and may be laminated so as to cover the whole region of the surface side of the second portion 1b of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. Moreover, the acoustic matching member <NUM> may be laminated so as to cover the surface sides of both of the first portion 1a and the second portion 1b of the piezoelectric element <NUM>, or may be laminated so as to cover the whole region of the surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>.

The acoustic matching member <NUM> is provided to make it possible to enhance the propagation efficiency of ultrasound to a subject. In other words, the acoustic matching member <NUM> in the embodiment configures an acoustic matching layer that enhance the propagation efficiency of ultrasound.

The acoustic matching layer as the acoustic matching member <NUM> can be formed by a method of bonding a sheet material forming the acoustic matching layer to the piezoelectric element <NUM>, a method in which a liquid acoustic integrity material forming the acoustic matching layer is applied and cured, or the like. Examples of the materials for the acoustic matching member <NUM> can include a resin material such as epoxy resin. Moreover, the acoustic matching member <NUM> may include a laminated body of a resin layer including a resin material.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the housing <NUM> houses the ultrasound transducer <NUM> an inside thereof. A proximal end side of the housing <NUM> is connected to the drive shaft <NUM>. The housing <NUM> has a shape in which an opening portion 12a is provided to a part of a circumferential wall of a cylindrical metal pipe with both end portions in an axis direction being closed, and is formed by shaving off a metal lump, metallic powder injection molding (MIM), or the like.

More specifically, the housing <NUM> in the embodiment is provided with a distal end wall portion 12b that is positioned at a further distal end side than the above-mentioned opening portion 12a, and a proximal end wall portion 12c that is positioned at a further proximal end side than the above-mentioned opening portion 12a. Both end portions in the axis direction of an internal space of the housing <NUM> in the embodiment are respectively closed by the distal end wall portion 12b and the proximal end wall portion 12c. The housing <NUM> is closed at the distal end side and the proximal end side of the ultrasound transducer <NUM> to make it possible to suppress the false detection of ultrasound, and to improve the accuracy of an image diagnosis. As illustrated in <FIG>, the electric signal lines <NUM> that extend inside the drive shaft <NUM> penetrate through the proximal end wall portion 12c and extend into the housing <NUM>.

The drive shaft <NUM> includes a tubular body having flexibility. In an inside of the drive shaft <NUM>, the electric signal lines <NUM> to be connected to the ultrasound transducer <NUM> are disposed. The drive shaft <NUM> includes, for example, a multilayer coil in which winding directions around the axis are different from each other. Examples of the materials for the coil can include stainless steel and a nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) alloy. Even when the two electric signal lines <NUM> include a double spiral twisted pair cable, such the drive shaft <NUM> is employed to make it possible to enhance the shield property and reduce an influence by noise generated from the electric signal lines <NUM>.

The drive shaft <NUM> extends through insides of the inner tube member <NUM> and the outer tube member <NUM> to a hub <NUM>, which is described later, that is positioned at a proximal end portion of the inner tube member <NUM>. In other words, in the longitudinal direction A, the drive shaft <NUM> extends from a distal end portion of the insertion portion 110a to a proximal end portion of the operation portion 110b.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the electric signal line <NUM> extends inside the drive shaft <NUM>, and is electrically connected to the ultrasound transducer <NUM> and the external device <NUM>. In other words, similar to the drive shaft <NUM>, in the longitudinal direction A, the electric signal line <NUM> extends from the distal end portion of the insertion portion 110a to the proximal end portion of the operation portion 110b. The plurality (two in the embodiment) of the electric signal lines <NUM> are provided, each of the electric signal lines <NUM> is connected via the first terminal <NUM> or the second terminal <NUM> of the above-mentioned support member <NUM> to the first electrode <NUM> or the second electrode <NUM> of the above-mentioned piezoelectric element <NUM>. The plurality of the electric signal lines <NUM> include, for example, a twisted pair cable in which the two electric signal lines <NUM> are twisted to each other. Each of the electric signal lines <NUM> can be a flexible fine line member having an outer diameter larger than <NUM> and equal to or smaller than <NUM> and having flexibility. Each of the electric signal lines <NUM> can include, for example, a conductive wire having an outer diameter larger than <NUM> and equal to or smaller than <NUM>, and a coating material that is formed of an insulating material and covers the surrounding of the conductive wire. In such the electric signal line <NUM>, the connection portion 14a (see <FIG>, <FIG>) including an exposed conductive wire from which the coating material is removed is connected to the piezoelectric element <NUM>.

In the embodiment, the connection portions 14a of the two electric signal lines <NUM> are respectively connected to the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> of the support member <NUM> using soldering, a conductive adhesive, or the like (see <FIG>). Accordingly, the two electric signal lines <NUM> are respectively electrically connected to the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM> via the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> of the support member <NUM>. More specifically, the two electric signal lines <NUM> are respectively connected to the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> of the support member <NUM> at the further distal end side than the proximal end wall portion 12c of the housing <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the sheath <NUM>, a first hollow portion 21a and a second hollow portion 21b are sectioned. The ultrasound probe <NUM> is housed in the first hollow portion 21a. The ultrasound probe <NUM> can move forwardly and rearwardly in the longitudinal direction A inside the first hollow portion 21a. The second hollow portion 21b allows a guide wire W to be inserted therethrough. In the embodiment, a tubular guide wire insertion portion 20b that sections the second hollow portion 21b is positioned in a state of being parallel to a distal end portion of a tubular main body portion 20a that sections the first hollow portion 21a. The main body portion 20a and the guide wire insertion portion 20b can be formed by joining tubular members different from each other by heat-welding or the like, but the embodiment is not limited to such the formation method.

In the main body portion 20a, markers <NUM> that are formed of an X-ray impermeable material having an X-ray contrast property are provided. Moreover, in the guide wire insertion portion 20b as well, a marker <NUM> having an X-ray contrast property is provided. The markers <NUM> and <NUM> can include, for example, a metal coil having a high X-ray impermeability, such as platinum, gold, iridium, and tungsten.

In a range in which the ultrasound transducer <NUM> moves in the longitudinal direction A of the sheath <NUM>, a window portion <NUM> in which the permeability of ultrasound is set higher than that in other sites is formed. More specifically, the window portion <NUM> in the embodiment is formed in the main body portion 20a in the sheath <NUM>.

The window portion <NUM> and the guide wire insertion portion 20b of the main body portion 20a are formed of a material having flexibility, and the material is not specially limited. Examples of the constituent materials can include various kinds of thermoplastic elastomers such as polyethylene, styrene, polyolefin, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polyimide, polybutadiene, trans polyisoprene, fluorine rubber, and chlorinated polyethylene, and a polymer alloy, a polymer blend, a laminated body, and the like in which one type or two or more types among these constituent materials are combined can be also used.

At the further proximal end side than the window portion <NUM> of the main body portion 20a, a reinforcing portion that is reinforced by a material having rigidity higher than that of the window portion <NUM> is included. The reinforcing portion is formed, for example, in such a manner that a reinforcing material in which a metal wire made of stainless steel or the like is braided in a mesh shape is disposed to a tubular member such as resin having flexibility. The abovementioned tubular member is formed of a material similar to that of the window portion <NUM>.

A hydrophilic lubricant coating layer indicating lubricity when being wet is preferably disposed to an outer surface of the sheath <NUM>.

In a distal end portion of the main body portion 20a of the sheath <NUM>, a communication hole <NUM> that communicates an inside and an outside of the first hollow portion 21a with each other is formed. In priming, gas inside the main body portion 20a can be ejected through the communication hole <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the inner tube member <NUM> is provided with an inner tube <NUM> and the hub <NUM> The inner tube <NUM> is inserted into the outer tube member <NUM> so as to be capable of moving forwardly and rearwardly The hub <NUM> is provided on a proximal end side of the inner tube <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the outer tube member <NUM> is provided with an outer tube <NUM>, the distal end side connector <NUM>, and a proximal end side connector <NUM>. The outer tube <NUM> is positioned at an radially outer side of the inner tube <NUM>, and the inner tube <NUM> moves forwardly and rearwardly inside the outer tube <NUM>. The distal end side connector <NUM> connects a proximal end portion of the main body portion 20a of the sheath <NUM> to a distal end portion of the outer tube <NUM>. The proximal end side connector <NUM> is provided to a proximal end portion of the outer tube <NUM>, and is configured to receive the inner tube <NUM> in the outer tube <NUM>.

The drive shaft <NUM> and the electric signal lines <NUM> of the above-mentioned ultrasound probe <NUM> extend to the main body portion 20a of the sheath <NUM>, the outer tube member <NUM> that is connected to the proximal end side of the main body portion 20a, and the hub <NUM> that is positioned at a proximal end portion of the inner tube member <NUM> a part of which is inserted into the outer tube member <NUM>.

The ultrasound probe <NUM> and the inner tube member <NUM> mentioned above are connected to each other so as to respectively and integrally move forwardly and rearwardly in the longitudinal direction A. Therefore, for example, when an operation of pushing the inner tube member <NUM> toward the insertion direction A1 is performed, the inner tube member <NUM> is pushed down into the outer tube member <NUM> toward the insertion direction A1. When the inner tube member <NUM> is pushed down into the outer tube member <NUM> toward the insertion direction A1, the ultrasound probe <NUM> connected to the inner tube member <NUM> moves in the insertion direction A1 inside the main body portion 20a of the sheath <NUM>. Conversely, an operation of drawing out the inner tube member <NUM> toward the extraction direction A2 is performed, the inner tube member <NUM> is drawn out from the inside of the outer tube member <NUM> toward the extraction direction A2. When the inner tube member <NUM> is drawn out from the inside of the outer tube member <NUM> toward the extraction direction A2, the ultrasound probe <NUM> connected to the inner tube member <NUM> moves in the extraction direction A2 inside the main body portion 20a of the sheath <NUM>.

When the inner tube member <NUM> is most pushed down in the insertion direction A1, a distal end portion of the inner tube member <NUM> reaches the vicinity of the distal end side connector <NUM> of the outer tube member <NUM>. At this time, the ultrasound transducer <NUM> of the ultrasound probe <NUM> is positioned in the vicinity of a distal end of the main body portion 20a of the sheath <NUM>.

At the distal end portion of the inner tube member <NUM>, a stopper portion that prevents the inner tube member <NUM> from protruding to a further distal end side than the outer tube member <NUM> and prevents the outer tube member <NUM> from slip off to the proximal end side when the inner tube member <NUM> is pulled to the most proximal end side, is provided. The stopper portion is not specially limited as long as it has a configuration that can implement the abovementioned functions, and may include a wall portion that collides against the outer tube member <NUM> in the longitudinal direction A, at a prescribed position, for example.

At a proximal end of the hub <NUM> of the inner tube member <NUM>, a connector portion that is mechanically and electrically connected to the external device <NUM> is provided. In other words, the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM> is mechanically and electrically connected to the external device <NUM> by the connector portion that is provided to the hub <NUM> of the inner tube member <NUM>. More specifically, the electric signal lines <NUM> of the ultrasound probe <NUM> extend from the ultrasound transducer <NUM> to the connector portion of the hub <NUM>, and the connector portion of the hub <NUM> in a state of being connected to the external device <NUM> electrically connects the ultrasound transducer <NUM> and the external device <NUM> to each other. A reception signal in the ultrasound transducer <NUM> is transmitted to the external device <NUM> via the connector portion of the hub <NUM>, and is displayed as an image after being subjected to prescribed processing.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the external device <NUM> includes a motor <NUM> that is a driving power source for rotating the drive shaft <NUM>, and a motor <NUM> that is a driving power source for moving the drive shaft <NUM> in the longitudinal direction A. The rotation movement of the motor <NUM> is converted into axial movement by a ball screw <NUM> connected to the motor <NUM>.

More specifically, the external device <NUM> in the embodiment is provided with the drive unit 120a, a controller 120b that is electrically connected to the drive unit 120a in a wired or wireless manner, and a monitor 120c that can display an image generated by the controller 120b on the basis of the reception signal received from the diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM>. The motor <NUM>, the motor <NUM>, and the ball screw <NUM> in the embodiment mentioned above are provided to the drive unit 120a. A motion of the drive unit 120a is controlled by the controller 120b. The controller 120b can be configured by a processor including a CPU and a memory.

The configuration of the external device <NUM> is not limited to that indicated in the embodiment, and may be, for example, a configuration of further including an external input unit such as a key board.

The configuration of the ultrasound transducer according to the disclosure is not limited to the specific configuration specified in the above-mentioned embodiment, but various modifications and changes are possible without deviating from the scope of the claims. In the ultrasound transducer <NUM> in the embodiment, the first electrode <NUM> includes a folded electrode, however, a configuration in which neither the first electrode <NUM> nor the second electrode <NUM> is a folded electrode but each of the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> is laminated only on one surface may be employed. Moreover, in place of the first electrode <NUM>, the second electrode <NUM> may include a folded electrode. Note that, when the first electrode <NUM> is configured as a folded electrode as in the embodiment, the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM> are respectively connected to the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> of the support member <NUM>, at the rear surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM>. Therefore, as described above, connection locations for the electric signal lines <NUM> do not need to be secured at the surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM> on which transmission and reception of ultrasound are performed, so that it is possible to suppress breakage of a portion in the ultrasound transducer <NUM> at the surface side of the piezoelectric element <NUM> on which transmission and reception of ultrasound are performed, in the connection of the electric signal lines <NUM>.

Moreover, also as for the ultrasound probe to which the ultrasound transducer according to the disclosure can be applied, the configuration is not limited to the configuration of the ultrasound probe <NUM> indicated in the above-mentioned embodiment. The ultrasound probe <NUM> in the above-mentioned embodiment has a configuration in which only the ultrasound transducer <NUM> is provided as an imaging core that allows an intravascular ultrasound diagnosis, however, the configuration is not limited to this configuration but a configuration in which an optical transmitter and receiver that allows optical coherence tomography (abbreviated to "OCT") is further included may be employed, for example. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a part of a diagnostic imaging catheter <NUM> that is provided with an ultrasound probe <NUM> including the ultrasound transducer <NUM> and an optical transmitter and receiver <NUM>. The ultrasound probe <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is different from the abovementioned ultrasound probe <NUM> in that a configuration that allows the optical coherence tomography is added.

Specifically, in the ultrasound probe <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, in addition to the ultrasound transducer <NUM>, the optical transmitter and receiver <NUM> is disposed inside the housing <NUM>. The optical transmitter and receiver <NUM> continuously transmits light (measurement light) to be transferred from an optical fiber cable as a light signal line <NUM> extending in the drive shaft <NUM>, into a biological lumen, and continuously receives reflected light from a biological tissue in the biological lumen. The optical transmitter and receiver <NUM> transmits the received reflected light to the external device <NUM> through the light signal line <NUM> (see <FIG>). The controller 120b (see <FIG>) of the external device <NUM> causes the reflected light obtained by the measurement and the reference light obtained by separating the light from the light source to interfere with each other to generate interference light data. Moreover, the controller 120b of the external device <NUM> generates a light tomographic image on the basis of the generated interference light data, and causes the monitor 120c (see <FIG>) to display the light tomographic image.

As illustrated in <FIG>, inside the drive shaft <NUM>, the plurality of the electric signal lines <NUM> are wound around the light signal line <NUM> in a spiral shape, and the plurality of the electric signal lines <NUM> extend parallel to one another. More specifically, the two electric signal lines <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> extend double helically in the surrounding of the optical fiber cable as the light signal line <NUM> that extends in the longitudinal direction A.

Claim 1:
An ultrasound transducer (<NUM>) comprising: a piezoelectric element (<NUM>); and a support member (<NUM>) that supports the piezoelectric element (<NUM>), wherein:
the piezoelectric element (<NUM>) includes
a flat piezoelectric body (<NUM>),
a first electrode, and
a second electrode;
the support member (<NUM>) includes
a first terminal (<NUM>) that is connected to the first electrode (<NUM>) of the piezoelectric element (<NUM>),
and
a second terminal (<NUM>) that is connected to the second electrode (<NUM>) of the piezoelectric element (<NUM>); and
the first terminal (<NUM>) and the second terminal (<NUM>) respectively include portions that do not overlap the piezoelectric element (<NUM>) in the thickness direction,
the support member (<NUM>) includes a support main body portion (<NUM>, 20a) that is laminated on the piezoelectric element (<NUM>) at the other side in the thickness direction, and extends externally further than the piezoelectric element (<NUM>) in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction, and
the first terminal (<NUM>) and the second terminal (<NUM>) are supported by the support main body portion (<NUM>, 20a),
characterized in that
said first electrode is laminated on at least one side of the piezoelectric body in a thickness direction, and
said second electrode is laminated on at least the other side of the piezoelectric body in the thickness direction;
the piezoelectric element (<NUM>) includes
a first portion (1a) including a portion overlapping the first terminal (<NUM>) and a portion overlapping the second terminal (<NUM>), in the thickness direction, and
a second portion (1b) excluding the first portion (1a), and
a whole region at the other side in the thickness direction of the second portion (1b) is covered by the support main body portion (<NUM>, 20a).