Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic probe, in which a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators are arrayed in both of an azimuth direction and an elevation direction, includes a piezoelectric body configured to have a piezoelectric effect; and a matching layer configured to be laminated in an ultrasonic radiation direction of the piezoelectric body. The matching layer is divided in the azimuth direction without being divided in the elevation direction. The piezoelectric body is divided into plural parts in both of the azimuth direction and the elevation direction in such a manner that each of the plural parts of the piezoelectric body forms each of the plurality of piezoelectric vibrators.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements, a substrate, an intermediate layer and a backing member. A plurality of piezoelectric elements are arranged at a predetermined pitch. A substrate is arranged on a back surface of the plurality of piezoelectric elements and includes signal lines for signal transmission with the plurality of piezoelectric elements and a wiring pattern for extracting a signal outside of the probe. An intermediate layer is arranged on a back surface of the substrate and in which a plurality of layer members are arranged in an array direction of the piezoelectric elements at the predetermined pitch. A backing member is arranged on a back surface of the intermediate layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic probe, in which a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators are arrayed in both of an azimuth direction and an elevation direction, includes a piezoelectric body configured to have a piezoelectric effect; and a matching layer configured to be laminated in an ultrasonic radiation direction of the piezoelectric body. The matching layer is divided in the azimuth direction without being divided in the elevation direction. The piezoelectric body is divided into plural parts in both of the azimuth direction and the elevation direction in such a manner that each of the plural parts of the piezoelectric body forms each of the plurality of piezoelectric vibrators.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe including a piezoelectric vibrator and a layer, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. The layer is connected to a rear surface of a side opposite a side receiving and sending ultrasonic waves from the piezoelectric vibrator and has an acoustic impedance and Young's modulus larger than that of the piezoelectric vibrator, and includes a plurality of grooves arranged such that the rear surface of the piezoelectric vibrator faces the grooves opening, wherein the plurality of grooves are shaped such that groove capacity occupying the layer volume is increased in a direction along a center to an end of the rear surface of the piezoelectric vibrator.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a medical acoustic coupler detachably is provided on an ultrasonic wave radiation surface of an ultrasonic probe. The medical acoustic coupler includes an elastic body. The elastic body has an adhesive force. The elastic body adheres to the ultrasonic wave radiation surface with the adhesive force. The elastic body includes a middle portion, end portions, and groove portions. The middle portion has a size corresponding to the ultrasonic wave radiation surface. The end portions adheres to two opposite side surfaces of the ultrasonic probe. The groove portions are provided between each of the end portions and the middle portion. The groove portions are thinner than the middle portion and the end portions.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic probe has a laminated structure of an acoustic matching layer, transducer layer with arrayed transducers, and backing layer. A transmission/reception unit transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from an object via the transducers. A control unit controls the transmission/reception unit to synchronize ultrasonic-wave generation by a specific transducer of the transducers with ultrasonic-wave reception by a different transducer. A phase shift detection unit detects a phase shift between an output signal from the transmission/reception unit and a reference signal, the output signal corresponding to synchronization between the ultrasonic-wave generation and the ultrasonic-wave reception.

Abstract: The ultrasound probe insertable into a body cavity of a subject has a clamped member including a plurality of pairs of clamped surfaces capable of being clamped by a forcep. The clamped member is formed so as to protrude from a surface which is the opposite side of the surface from where ultrasound waves are emitted, among the surfaces of the probe head.

Abstract: The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus is provided capable of preventing visibility of the ultrasound image from being impaired when piercing a puncture needle. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the embodiments includes an image processor and a display controller. The image processor generates an ultrasound image based on echo signals received by the ultrasound probe. The display controller causes a display unit to display, along with the ultrasound image, a marker which indicates allowable change range for the orientation of the puncture needle defined by the guide mechanism for guiding the puncture needle to the puncture target part.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe is provided that may improves specific desensitization of the frequency observed in the frequency characteristics and/or directional characteristics. The ultrasound probe related to this embodiment comprises an ultrasound transducer 10 and a plurality of acoustic matching layers 20 arranged in layers in the direction of irradiation irradiated from the ultrasound transducer 10, wherein, the plurality of acoustic matching layers 20 form a film and each of the adjacent acoustic impedance of longitudinal waves is substantially the same and has a different Poisson's ratio.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe including a piezoelectric vibrator and a layer, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. The layer is connected to a rear surface of a side opposite a side receiving and sending ultrasonic waves from the piezoelectric vibrator and has an acoustic impedance and Young's modulus larger than that of the piezoelectric vibrator, and includes a plurality of grooves arranged such that the rear surface of the piezoelectric vibrator faces the grooves opening, wherein the plurality of grooves are shaped such that groove capacity occupying the layer volume is increased in a direction along a center to an end of the rear surface of the piezoelectric vibrator.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe is provided that may improves specific desensitization of the frequency observed in the frequency characteristics and/or directional characteristics. The ultrasound probe related to this embodiment comprises an ultrasound transducer 10 and a plurality of acoustic matching layers 20 arranged in layers in the direction of irradiation irradiated from the ultrasound transducer 10, wherein, the plurality of acoustic matching layers 20 form a film and each of the adjacent acoustic impedance of longitudinal waves is substantially the same and has a different poisson's ratio.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic probe has a laminated structure of an acoustic matching layer, transducer layer with arrayed transducers, and backing layer. A transmission/reception unit transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from an object via the transducers. A control unit controls the transmission/reception unit to synchronize ultrasonic-wave generation by a specific transducer of the transducers with ultrasonic-wave reception by a different transducer. A phase shift detection unit detects a phase shift between an output signal from the transmission/reception unit and a reference signal, the output signal corresponding to synchronization between the ultrasonic-wave generation and the ultrasonic-wave reception.

Abstract: The ultrasound probe according to the present embodiment comprises ultrasound oscillators configured to transmit and receive ultrasound waves, an intermediate layer configured to have greater acoustic impedance than the ultrasound oscillators, a backing material configured to support the ultrasound oscillators, and a buffer layer. The ultrasound oscillators, the intermediate layer and the backing material are disposed in that order of the ultrasound oscillator, the intermediate layer and the backing material. The buffer layer, which has smaller acoustic impedance than the intermediate layer and the backing material, is disposed between the intermediate layer and the backing material.

Abstract: A base has a plurality of projections or recesses. Each of the projections or recesses corresponds to one channel of vibration elements. Each of the vibration elements has a plurality of MUT elements. Each of the MUT elements transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. A plurality of MUT elements are arranged in each of the projections or recesses. Consequently, each of the vibration elements can transmit and receive ultrasonic waves having radiation surfaces curved along the surfaces of the projections or recesses.

Abstract: In an ultrasound probe including first and second acoustic matching layers between an acoustic lens and a piezoelectric oscillator, an electrode is arranged on a surface of a laminate element made of the first and second acoustic matching layers, the laminate element is interposed between the acoustic lens and the piezoelectric oscillator, and the piezoelectric oscillator and the electrode are electrically connected.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe including a piezoelectric vibrator configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, an acoustic lens configured to focus the ultrasonic waves and an acoustic matching layer arranged between the piezoelectric vibrator and the acoustic lens and configured to modify acoustic impedance from the piezoelectric vibrator to the acoustic lens. The acoustic matching layer includes a first region arranged at center areas along a direction of transmitting and receiving of the ultrasonic waves, a second region arranged between the first region and the piezoelectric vibrator and having a rate of change of acoustic impedance which is less than rate of change of acoustic impedance of the first region and a third region arranged between the first region and the acoustic lens, and having a rate of change of acoustic impedance which is less than a rate of change of acoustic impedance of the first region.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe is provided which includes a piezoelectric vibrator having an earth electrode and a signal electrode on a rear surface, an acoustic matching layer disposed on a front surface side of the piezoelectric vibrator, a packing material disposed on the rear surface of the piezoelectric vibrator, and a flexible printed circuit that is interposed between the piezoelectric vibrator and the packing material to cover the entire rear surface of the piezoelectric vibrator and has an earth wiring layer and a signal wiring layer. The earth wiring layer and the signal wiring layer are exposed from a surface facing the piezoelectric vibrator of the flexible printed circuit so as to be electrically connected to the earth electrode and the signal electrode through an exposed surface of the earth wiring layer and an exposed surface of the signal wiring layer, respectively.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe and an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus that can acquire 3-D ultrasound image data of a wide viewing scope including both a diagnosis portion and peripheral portions of the diagnosis portion by swinging a transducer unit in an orthogonal direction to an array of a plurality transducers in the transducer unit without sacrificing the operability of the ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe includes a transducer unit having a plurality of transducers, an arm for holding one edge of the transducer unit so as to be extendable in a longitudinal direction, a rail body for holding the other edge of the transducer unit and a driving unit for driving the transducer unit along the rail body. The rail body is comprised of a main rail member having a first curvature in order to form a main track and at least one sub-rail member having a second curvature being larger than the first curvature for forming at least one sub-track.

Abstract: A base has a plurality of projections or recesses. Each of the projections or recesses corresponds to one channel of vibration elements. Each of the vibration elements has a plurality of MUT elements. Each of the MUT elements transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. A plurality of MUT elements are arranged in each of the projections or recesses. Consequently, each of the vibration elements can transmit and receive ultrasonic waves having radiation surfaces curved along the surfaces of the projections or recesses.