Patent ID: 7625342

Claim:
An ultrasonic probe for insertion into an endocavity of a specimen in order to examine the specimen, comprising: a holding portion including a first housing portion; an insertion member configured to move along the first housing portion in a longitudinal direction, the insertion member having at least one end for insertion into the endocavity of the specimen wherein said insertion member includes a plurality of projections extending along an outer surface of the insertion member and in the longitudinal direction, said holding portion including a clasp configured to engage and disengage with said plurality of projections, and an area of said holding portion including the clasp also including a first thread profile; an a fixer configured to move along said holding portion in the longitudinal direction so as to surround the clasp and the plurality of projections, the fixer including a second thread profile and the fixer being further configured to engage with the area of said holding portion including the first thread profile by coupling the second thread profile with the first thread profile; and an ultrasonic generator provided at the one end of the insertion member and configured to transmit an ultrasound pulse to the specimen and collect an echo signal resulting from the transmitted ultrasound pulse.