Ultrasonic probe

Abstract

An electronic radial ultrasonic probe comprising an electronic radial array which comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers being continuously arrayed circularly around an insertion axis as center and also for which a transmission/reception of an ultrasonic wave is controlled by electronically selecting the plurality of ultrasonic transducer, comprises: a support member equipped on the electronic radial array; a lock member featured with a cavity in which the support member is inserted and with a lock groove for locking a balloon which is mounted in a manner to cover the electronic radial array and in which an ultrasonic medium is filled; and a filler member which is constituted by an adhesive material converting from a fluid state to a solid state, and is filled in the cavity.

1 . An ultrasonic probe, comprising an ultrasonic transducer array which comprises an acoustic lens equipped externally to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers that are continuously lined up and a balloon lock member for locking an end of a balloon, wherein an ultrasonic transducer selected from among the plurality thereof transmits or receives an ultrasonic wave, wherein
 an outer diameter of the balloon lock member at a part connecting to the acoustic lens is larger than that of the acoustic lens at a part connecting to the balloon lock member, and also the acoustic lens is connected to the balloon lock member by way of a connection band for smoothing out steps of the respective connection parts.   
   
   
       2 . An ultrasonic probe, comprising an ultrasonic transducer array which comprises an acoustic lens equipped externally to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers that are continuously lined up, wherein an ultrasonic transducer selected from among the plurality thereof transmits or receives an ultrasonic wave, and comprising a scope unit that comprises a photographing function, wherein
 an outer diameter of the scope unit at a part connecting to the acoustic lens is larger than that of the acoustic lens at a part connecting to the scope unit, and also the acoustic lens is connected to the scope unit by way of a connection band for smoothing out steps of the respective connection parts.   
   
   
       3 . An ultrasonic probe, comprising an ultrasonic transducer array which comprises an acoustic lens equipped externally to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers that are continuously lined up and a scope connection member equipped in between a scope unit that has a photographing function and the acoustic lens, wherein an ultrasonic transducer selected from among the plurality thereof transmits or receives an ultrasonic wave, wherein
 an outer diameter of the scope connection member at a part connecting to the acoustic lens is larger than that of the acoustic lens at a part connecting to the scope connection member, and also the acoustic lens is connected to the scope connection member by way of a connection band for smoothing out steps of the respective connection parts.   
   
   
       4 . An ultrasonic probe, comprising an ultrasonic transducer array which comprises an acoustic lens equipped externally to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers that are continuously lined up and a balloon lock member for locking an end of a balloon, wherein an ultrasonic transducer selected from among the plurality thereof transmits or receives an ultrasonic wave, and comprising a scope unit having a photographing function, wherein
 an outer diameter of the balloon lock member at a member connection part that is a part connecting to the acoustic lens is larger than that of the acoustic lens at a first lens connection part that is a part connecting to the balloon lock member, and also the acoustic lens is connected to the balloon lock member by way of a first connection part for smoothing out steps at the first lens connection part and member connection part, and   an outer diameter of the scope unit at a scope connection part that is a part connecting to the acoustic lens is larger than that of the acoustic lens at a second lens connection part that is a part connecting to the scope unit, and also the acoustic lens is connected to the scope unit by way of a second connection band for smoothing out steps at the second lens connection part and the scope connection part.   
   
   
       5 . An ultrasonic probe comprising an ultrasonic transducer array which comprises an acoustic lens equipped externally to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers that are continuously lined up, a balloon lock member for locking an end of a balloon and a scope connection member that is equipped in between a scope unit having a photographing function and the acoustic lens, and in which an ultrasonic transducer selected from among the plurality thereof transmits or receives an ultrasonic wave, wherein
 an outer diameter of the balloon lock member at a first member connection part that is a part connecting to the acoustic lens is larger than that of the acoustic lens at a first lens connection part that is a part connecting to the balloon lock member, and also the acoustic lens is connected to the balloon lock member by way of a first connection band for smoothing out steps at the first lens connection part and the first member connection part, and   an outer diameter of the scope connection member at a second connection part that is a part connecting to the acoustic member is larger than that of the acoustic lens at a second lens connection part that is a part connecting to the scope connection member, and also the acoustic lens is connected to the scope connection member by way of a second connection band for smoothing out steps at the second lens connection part and the second member connection part.   
   
   
       6 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said acoustic lens is featured with a flat part on at least one side of the both ends.   
   
   
       7 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said acoustic lens is featured with a flat part on at least one side of the both ends.   
   
   
       8 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 3 , wherein
 said acoustic lens is featured with a flat part on at least one side of the both ends.   
   
   
       9 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 4 , wherein
 said acoustic lens is featured with a flat part on at least one side of the both ends.   
   
   
       10 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 5 , wherein
 said acoustic lens is featured with a flat part on at least one side of the both ends.   
   
   
       11 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said acoustic lens is not featured with a flat part on the both ends.   
   
   
       12 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said acoustic lens is not featured with a flat part on the both ends.   
   
   
       13 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 3 , wherein
 said acoustic lens is not featured with a flat part on the both ends.   
   
   
       14 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 4 , wherein
 said acoustic lens is not featured with a flat part on the both ends.   
   
   
       15 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 5 , wherein
 said acoustic lens is not featured with a flat part on the both ends.   
   
   
       16 . An ultrasonic endoscope apparatus comprising an ultrasonic probe noted in  claim 1 . 
   
   
       17 . An ultrasonic endoscope apparatus comprising an ultrasonic probe noted in  claim 2 . 
   
   
       18 . An ultrasonic endoscope apparatus comprising an ultrasonic probe noted in  claim 3 . 
   
   
       19 . An ultrasonic endoscope apparatus comprising an ultrasonic probe noted in  claim 4 . 
   
   
       20 . An ultrasonic endoscope apparatus comprising an ultrasonic probe noted in  claim 5 . 
   
   
       21 . An ultrasonic transducer array, comprising an acoustic lens equipped external to a plurality of ultrasonic transducer that is continuously lined up and a balloon lock member for locking an end of a balloon, wherein an ultrasonic transducer selected from among a plurality thereof transmits or receives an ultrasonic wave, wherein
 an outer diameter of the balloon lock member at a part connecting to the acoustic lens is larger than that of the acoustic lens at a part connecting to the balloon lock member, and also the acoustic lens is connected to the balloon lock member by way of a connection band for smoothing out steps at the respective connection parts.