Patent ID: 7914456

Claim:
An intra-corporeal ultrasound probe which obtains an elasticity image, comprising: an insertion part which is inserted into a subject so as to at least face an inner surface of an elasticity image target of an inside of the subject; an ultrasound wave transmit/receive section provided on only one portion of a surface of the insertion part so as to transmit an ultrasound wave toward the inner surface of the elasticity image target of the subject and to receive an ultrasound wave of the elasticity image target reflected from the subject; and a pressing mechanism which comprises a bag disposed only with respect to the only one portion of the surface of the insertion part for supplying liquid between the inside of the subject and the insertion part, the pressing mechanism expanding and shrinking the bag with respect to the only one portion of the surface of the insertion part utilizing the liquid so as to only apply a pressure to a contact surface at the inner surface of the elasticity image target of the subject in a direction substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the elasticity image target and to enable the ultrasound wave transmit/receive section to obtain a high-quality elasticity image of the elasticity image target of the subject, the bag being provided outside of the insertion part of an existing transrectal ultrasound probe and fixed to the insertion part with fixing belts provided on opposite sides of the ultrasound wave transmit/receive section along an axial direction of the probe and covering corresponding opposite side portions of the bag.