Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a transmit/receive circuit having a plurality of transmit channels for enabling a drive pulse to a corresponding ultrasonic oscillation element and a plurality of receive channels for receiving an ultrasonic signal echoed back from a subject and an ultrasonic probe having a plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements smaller in number than the number of channels in the transmit/receive circuit. The apparatus further includes a connector for selectively connecting a plurality of transmit channel output terminals in a parallel connection unit to a corresponding ultrasonic oscillation element to drive ultrasonic oscillation elements in parallel fashion or a plurality of receive channel input terminals in parallel connection unit to a corresponding ultrasonic oscillation element in the ultrasonic probe to receive an echo signal via the corresponding plurality of receive channels for processing.

Abstract: A mechanical type ultrasonic scanner has a housing which includes an insertion hole and a window member. The window member possesses ultrasonic transmission properties. The housing is filled with an acoustic liquid medium. A vibrator and a scanning mechanism are also accommodated in the housing. The vibrator generates ultrasonic waves. The scanning mechanism mechanically moves the vibrator, to scan the ultrasonic waves generated thereby. A rotating shaft is inserted in the housing, through the insertion hole. The rotating shaft transmits the driving force of a motor to a scanning mechanism. A seal member is inserted between the housing and the rotating shaft in the insertion hole. A partition wall is formed in the housing, to partition it into a first liquid medium chamber and an adjacent second liquid medium chamber. The first liquid medium chamber accommodates the vibrator and the scanning mechanism.

Abstract: A phased-array ultrasonic transducer for an ultrasonograph is provided in which electrical signals are supplied to ultrasonic transducer elements to generate ultrasonic beams for diagnostic scanning. The ultrasonic transducer comprises a number of ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in the form of an array, a signal electrode plate coupled to the signal-supply side of the transducer elements and connected to a transmitter-receiver circuit by means of signal wires, and an earth electrode plate connected to the earth side of the transducer elements. The earth electrode plate is divided into a plurality of split earth electrode plates corresponding to ultrasonic transducer groups each including a plurality of adjacent transducer elements so that the split earth electrode plates are grounded independently.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer comprising piezoelectric resonators, a matching layer formed on the ultrasonic oscillation surfaces of the resonators, and a backing material adhered on the opposite surface to the ultrasonic oscillation surface, wherein a cylindrical case is fixed to the circumference of the resonators and the backing material is formed by being cast into the case. A method for manufacturing the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the piezoelectric ceramic is temporarily fixed on a metal support and divided into a predetermined shape and a backing material is formed as such that lead wires are allowed to extend through the backing material.

Abstract: A probe for an ultrasonic-echo planigraphic imaging apparatus, which comprises a support whose bottom wall brought into contact with a human body is provided with a plurality of transducer elements egnidistantly arranged at least in one row lengthwise of the support, and which has a cavity extending partly across the support from one lengthwise lateral wall thereof; and a member which is detachably inserted into the cavity to define an opening for insertion of a puncturing cannula.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus for use in the imaging or characterization of biological tissue, including an ultrasonic probe, a gate circuit, a spectrum analysis device, a computation device and a display. The ultrasonic probe emits ultrasonic beams and receives the reflected echo signals from tissue interfaces. The reflected signals are sampled by the gate circuit and are Fourier-analyzed by the spectrum analysis device, and then the computation device derives frequency-dependant ultrasonic attenuation properties therefrom. The results of the computation device are displayed by the display to indicate the state of the tissue.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for receiving therethrough a puncturing cannula, the probe comprising a support member having at least one substantially planar surface and including a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in at least one row of the one planar surface, a pyramid-shaped space formed in the member, the space having a V-shaped cross section, the apex of the V comprising a first slot between converging walls of the space and lying substantially at the center of the row of transducer elements, the space opening through a wall of the support member substantially perpendicular to the one planar surface; and an auxiliary member substantially complementary in shape to the space and having a pair of tapering walls conforming to the converging walls, the inner edges of the tapering walls forming a second slot lying substantially in the plane of the planar surface and overlying the edges of the converging walls forming the first slot, the side edges of the tapering walls conforming on one side to the o

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe having structure for receiving a puncturing cannula therethrough, the probe including a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped support member, the height of the member being relatively much less than the length and width, a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in at least one row closely adjacent to one edge of the bottom surface of the support member, cable structure for individually connecting said transducer elements to an external processing unit, and a slot for guiding the puncturing cannula, the slot opening into a first face of the parallelepiped-shaped member perpendicular to the bottom surface and adjoining said row of transducer elements, and said slot being centrally positioned relative to the row of transducer elements. Preferably the depth of the slot is only slightly greater than the diameter of the cannula and the width of the slot permits substantially no lateral movement of the cannula parallel to the row.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic transducer probe for extracting tissues or body fluids from internal body organs for diagnostic purposes, in which a cannula guide slot portion is formed separately from a carrier body on which transducer elements are arranged, whereby the cannula guide slot portion may be sterilized independently and fitted in the carrier body as required for use.