Patent ID: 8469894

Claim:
An ultrasonic probe comprising: at least one transmission element layer for transmitting ultrasonic waves; at least one reception element layer for receiving ultrasonic waves, wherein an electrode is provided on each of both surfaces opposed in a direction of a thickness of the reception element layer; and at least one matching layer for matching acoustic impedance; wherein the transmission element layer, the reception element layer, and the matching layer are arranged in this order in a direction of transmitting the ultrasonic waves, wherein an upper layer and a lower layer sandwiching the electrodes formed on both surfaces of the reception element layer are each provided with a projecting portion projecting from the reception element layer in a direction of elevation, wherein one of the electrodes formed on the reception element layer is formed so as to extend onto a surface of one of the projecting portions opposed to the upper layer, wherein the other of the electrodes formed on the reception element layer is formed so as to extend onto a surface of the other of the projecting portions opposed to the lower layer, and wherein the ultrasonic probe further comprises: a circuit substrate including conductive sections formed on each of both surfaces of a substrate member of the circuit substrate, wherein the surfaces are perpendicular to a direction of a thickness of the substrate member, and a concave portion surrounded by: (i) the electrode formed on the surface of the projecting portion of the upper layer, (ii) an end face of the reception element layer, and (iii) the electrode formed on the surface of the projecting portion of the lower layer, wherein at least a part of the circuit substrate is inserted into the concave portion; and wherein a first one of the conductive sections formed on one surface of the substrate member is connected to the electrode formed on the projecting portion of the upper layer, and a second one of the conductive sections formed on the other surface of the substrate member is connected to the electrode formed on the projecting portion of the lower layer.