Patent ID: 7400079

Claim:
An ultrasonic probe for an endoscope comprising an ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer comprising, by sequential lamination: an acoustic lens; an acoustic matching layer; a piezoelectric element; a backing member that attenuates ultrasonic waves and comprises a synthetic rubber having a mixture including acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), ethylene-propylene terpolymer (EPDM), and at least inorganic fine powders, and displays: 1) a hardness property of between 80 and 100 degrees in an A scale in conformity with JISK6253, and 2) an ultrasonic absorbing coefficient of 10 [dB/mm] or more at a frequency of 5 MHz; and an exterior cap sealably covers the ultrasonic transducer and contains an acoustic medium comprising an aqueous solution that immerses the ultrasonic transducer and imposes a low attenuation on ultrasonic waves arriving at a surface of the ultrasonic transducer, which aqueous solution is obtained by adding an additive to the water, or oil that displays a low attenuation to ultrasonic waves, wherein upon immersion of the ultrasonic transducer in the aqueous solution, the backing member displays: 1) a percentage of absorption that is 2.5% or less and 2) an acoustic impedance that is within a range of 1×10 6 to 8×10 6 [kg/(m 2 ·s)].