Abstract: A body cavity probe which scans an object with ultrasonic waves includes a probe main body, and a linear array constituted by a plurality of piezoelectric elements and a convex array constituted by a plurality of piezoelectric elements, which are provided in the probe main body to transmit ultrasonic waves to the object and receive an echo signal from the object. The linear array and the convex array have different array shapes. The respective array surfaces are included in the same plane.

Abstract: An image processing/displaying apparatus comprises a data storage unit configured to store 3-dimensional volume data, a cross section information generation unit configured to generate cross section information by reconstructing the 3-dimensional volume data stored in the data storage unit, an image display unit configured to display a cross section image of a subject in accordance with the cross section information generated by the cross section information generation unit, a locking unit configured to designate an affected part in the cross section image as a rotation center and a control unit configured to control image rotation on the image display unit so that the affected part is contained in the cross section image, when operation for rotating cross section is performed by an operator.

Abstract: An ultrasonically guided puncturing needle stabbed in a subject being irradiated with an ultrasonic wave, the needle includes a cylindrical needle-like member having concaves and convexes formed on a peripheral surface of the needle-like member to reflect the ultrasonic wave, and a film formed on the peripheral surface on which the concaves and convexes are formed.

Abstract: A puncture adapter is provided for being mounted on an ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic probe to be mounted comprises a rod-like insertion portion that is insertable into a subject and has a search unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves at the tip end of the insertion portion, and in which a guide channel for guiding a puncture needle is formed on a side surface of the insertion portion. This puncture adapter has a first tubular component on which a gap is provided on a side surface along the length direction, which gap is from one end to the other side of the side surface. The first tubular component is mounted so as to contact the outside of the insertion portion and cover the guide channel, and is turnable in the circumferential direction thereof.

Abstract: A body cavity probe which scans an object with ultrasonic waves includes a probe main body, and a linear array constituted by a plurality of piezoelectric elements and a convex array constituted by a plurality of piezoelectric elements, which are provided in the probe main body to transmit ultrasonic waves to the object and receive an echo signal from the object. The linear array and the convex array have different array shapes. The respective array surfaces are included in the same plane.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer for sending and receiving an ultrasonic wave and an FPC for applying current to the piezoelectric transducer is provided, the FPC is arranged oppositely to a side face of the piezoelectric transducer, and a soldering material for electrically connecting the piezoelectric transducer to the FPC is arranged in a corner portion formed by the piezoelectric transducer and the FPC.

Abstract: A puncture adapter is provided for being mounted on an ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic probe to be mounted comprises a rod-like insertion portion that is insertable into a subject and has a search unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves at the tip end of the insertion portion, and in which a guide channel for guiding a puncture needle is formed on a side surface of the insertion portion. This puncture adapter has a first tubular component on which a gap is provided on a side surface along the length direction, which gap is from one end to the other side of the side surface. The first tubular component is mounted so as to contact the outside of the insertion portion and cover the guide channel, and is turnable in the circumferential direction thereof.

Abstract: An ultrasonically guided puncturing needle stabbed in a subject being irradiated with an ultrasonic wave, the needle includes a cylindrical needle-like member having concaves and convexes formed on a peripheral surface of the needle-like member to reflect the ultrasonic wave, and a film formed on the peripheral surface on which the concaves and convexes are formed.

Abstract: An image processing/displaying apparatus comprises a data storage unit configured to store 3-dimensional volume data, a cross section information generation unit configured to generate cross section information by reconstructing the 3-dimensional volume data stored in the data storage unit, an image display unit configured to display a cross section image of a subject in accordance with the cross section information generated by the cross section information generation unit, a locking unit configured to designate an affected part in the cross section image as a rotation center and a control unit configured to control image rotation on the image display unit so that the affected part is contained in the cross section image, when operation for rotating cross section is performed by an operator.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer for sending and receiving an ultrasonic wave and an FPC for applying current to the piezoelectric transducer is provided, the FPC is arranged oppositely to a side face of the piezoelectric transducer, and a soldering material for electrically connecting the piezoelectric transducer to the FPC is arranged in a corner portion formed by the piezoelectric transducer and the FPC.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe with a needle guide passage for a puncture needle, the ultrasound probe having an ultrasound transducer mounted on a girder portion of a rigid fore end section at the distal end of a flexible insert section of a catheter member to be introduced into an intracavitary portion, and a needle passage provided axially within the catheter member for launching the puncture needle therethrough. The needle passage is turned toward an exit opened on a lateral side portion of the rigid fore end section at a position on the near side of the ultrasound transducer. The rigid fore end section of the catheter member is provided with a bent portion which is turned off the axis of the catheter member through a predetermined angle in a direction away from a needle launching direction of the needle passage at a position on the near side of the exit opening of the needle passage.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and a probe therefor for a body cavity of a patient are disclosed. The probe comprises a transducer which rotates to obtain sectional ultrasound images along various angles. The apparatus comprises a means for indicating the rotation angle of the transducer. A mark for indicating the angle is provided on a surface of the transducer. The rotation angle is detected electrically to be displayed on a CRT screen. For more precise detection, slack removers for removing slacks of rotation wires are provided. A rotation angle indicator for indicating the rotation angle of a rotation knob which represents the rotation angle of the transducer is provided on the operation portion.

Abstract: A catheter type ultrasound probe having an ultrasound transducer mounted on a rigid fore end section at the tip end of a soft and flexible body section of a catheter member to be introduced into an intracavitary portion. The catheter member includes an articular joint section which is connected between the rigid fore end section and the flexible body section, the articular joint section having front and rear joint members pivotally connected with each other for angular flexing movements in directions forward and rearward of an active face (a signal transmission and reception surface) of the ultrasound transducer on the rigid fore end section of the catheter member. A biasing mechanism is mounted on the articular joint section to urge a front joint member constantly rearward of the active face of the ultrasound transducer into a bent position off the axis of the catheter member along with the rigid fore end section.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe has a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in a row. A plurality of signal electrodes are provided at one side of the transducer elements. An earth electrode is provided at the other side of the transducer elements. Each of a plurality of signal conductive members is connected to a corresponding signal electrode. An earth conductive member is connected to the earth electrode. The signal conductive members are located close enough to the earth conductive member to sufficiently reduce a mutual inductance generated between said signal conductive members. Therefore, an amount of crosstalk generated between the signal conductive members is reduced.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe device has an ultrasonic transducer unit including a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements electrically isolated from one another. A backing member for mechanically damping the ultrasonic transducer unit is arranged on the ultrasonic transducer unit. A plurality of signal lines is connected to the transducer elements, respectively, and extends on the backing member. The backing member is molded from a composition containing rubber material and a metal oxide which is unreducible by the heat applied during a molding process of the backing member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe like a biplane probe having two ultrasonic transducers, a switch for selecting one of the ultrasonic transducers, a transmitting-receiving system for driving an ultrasonic transducer selected by the switch to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, a B-mode image producing means responsive to a receive signal from the ultrasonic transducer driven by the transmitting-receiving system for producing an ultrasonic cross-sectional image, a scanning-plane mark generator for generating a scanning-plane mark indicating the positional relationship between the ultrasonic scanning plane formed by the ultrasonic transducer selected by the switch and the other ultrasonic scanning plane formed by the other ultrasonic transducer and a TV monitor for displaying a superimposition image in which the scanning-plane mark generated by the scanning-plane mark generator is superimposed on the ultrasonic cross-sectional image produced by the B-mode image producing system

Abstract: A pencil type ultrasonic probe to which a finger grip adapter is attached is fixed to a cable connected to an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus. Operator's fingers are hooked on the adapter attached to the probe to allow the probe to be held by an operator's hand, thereby keeping the probe at a predetermined position of an organic body. The adapter comprises: a body having a through-hole in which the probe is inserted; and a finger grip portion extending from the body and allowing the operator's fingers to be hooked on. The body has a guide slit for allowing the cable to pass therethrough. Thus, the cable is guided into the through-hole through the guide slit, and the probe is inserted into the through-hole to be attached to the adapter. When the probe is pulled out from the through-hole of the body, the cable is located in the through-hole. Thereafter, the cable is taken out from the through-hole through the guide slit, so that the adapter can be quickly and easily detached from the cable.