Ultrasonic probe

Abstract

The ultrasonic probe has an element part which transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, a relay cable connected to the element part, which transmits a signal to the element part, a frame and a window constituting a housing part in which the element part and the relay cable are housed, and an oscillation mechanism which oscillates the element part. The oscillation mechanism has a rotation axis configured to provide oscillation movement of the element part. The relay cable has an S-shape or a reversed S-shape with two arc-shaped parts. One end of the relay cable is connected to a cable connecting surface of the element part and, when the element part is positioned at a middle of a scanning range, in a connected portion with the element part, the relay cable is drawn from a point connected to the element part in a direction substantially parallel to the cable connecting surface. The frame is placed on an opposite side of the rotation axis from the element part. The relay cable is electrically connected to an outer portion of the housing part.

1 . An ultrasonic probe comprising:
 an element part which transmits and receives ultrasonic waves;   a relay cable connected to the element part, which transmits a signal to the element part;   a frame and a window constituting a housing part in which the element part and the relay cable are housed; and   an oscillation mechanism which oscillates the element part,   wherein the oscillation mechanism has a rotation axis configured to provide oscillation movement of the element part,   the relay cable has a S-shape or a reversed S-shape with two arc-shaped parts,   one end of the relay cable is connected to a cable connecting surface of the element part and, when the element part is positioned at a middle of a scanning range, in a connected portion with the element part, the relay cable is drawn from a point connected to the element part in a direction substantially parallel to the cable connecting surface,   the frame is placed on an opposite side of the rotation axis from the element part, and   the relay cable is electrically connected to an outer portion of the housing part.   
     
     
         2 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the other end of the relay cable is fixed to the frame in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotation axis is located to be covered by at least one of the arc-shaped parts. 
     
     
         4 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 1 , wherein a part of the rotation axis is located to be covered by the arc-shaped parts closer to the element part. 
     
     
         5 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the relay cable is structured as a laminate of plural flexible printed boards or plural flexible flat cables. 
     
     
         6 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 5 , wherein the plural flexible printed boards or the plural flexible flat cables are laminated in a state being in contact with each other but not fixed. 
     
     
         7 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the relay cable has signal lines and ground lines. 
     
     
         8 . The ultrasonic probe according to  claim 5 , wherein the element part includes an array element formed by arraying plural oscillators, and the flexible printed boards or the flexible flat cable have plural signal lines corresponding respectively to the oscillators.