JPH0510880B2 - - Google Patents
Info
- Publication number
- JPH0510880B2 JPH0510880B2 JP59024034A JP2403484A JPH0510880B2 JP H0510880 B2 JPH0510880 B2 JP H0510880B2 JP 59024034 A JP59024034 A JP 59024034A JP 2403484 A JP2403484 A JP 2403484A JP H0510880 B2 JPH0510880 B2 JP H0510880B2
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- ultrasonic probe
- ultrasonic
- transducer
- aperture synthesis
- wide
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 claims description 19
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000002604 ultrasonography Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000003786 synthesis reaction Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G10K11/00—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
- G10K11/18—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound
- G10K11/26—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning
- G10K11/32—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning characterised by the shape of the source
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
- Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
Description
【発明の詳細な説明】
(イ) 産業上の利用分野
本発明は主として開口合成用の超音波探触子に
関する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention mainly relates to an ultrasonic probe for aperture synthesis.
(ロ) 従来技術
従来のリニア走査形の超音波探触子には第１図
に示すものがある。この超音波探触子ａはアレー
状に配列された複数個の振動子ｂを備えるととも
に、振動子ｂの一方面には被検体とのインピーダ
ンスマツチング用の整合層ｃが、他方面には超音
波吸収用のバツキング層ｄがそれぞれ設けられて
いる。そして、各振動子ｂは全体が直方体状をな
し、圧電体b1の対向面上にそれぞれ電極b2，b3を
形成して構成される。ところで、従来のこのよう
な超音波探触子ａでは、各振動子ｂがある程度の
幅l1を有しているので、これからの放射される超
音波ビームは第２図に示すように指向性が狭い角
度範囲（同図中、θ1の範囲）に限られ、これより
も広いところではサイドローブが表われる。この
ため方位分解能が未だ不充分である。近年、方位
分解能を向上するため開口合成技術の超音波診断
装置への適用が検討されている。この開口合成に
おいては、指向性の広い音源から超音波ビームを
被検体に向けて放射し、広域の情報を集めてこれ
らを位相合成することにより高解像度の診断画像
を得るものである。このように開口合成技術を超
音波診断装置に適用するには超音波探触子として
広い指向性が要求される。指向性を広げるには、
音源を小さくするのが一つの手段である。従つて
従来の開口合成用の超音波探触子には、その振動
子ｆとして第３図に示すように、圧電体ｇの主表
面上に所定の幅l2だけこの圧電体ｇを挟んで相対
向するようにした部分電極h1，h2を形成し、これ
によつて圧電体ｇの一部を駆動するようにしたも
のが提案されている。ところが、これでは指向性
が広くなるものの超音波ビームを放射する実効面
積が小さいのでビームの強度が小さく従つて、
Ｓ／Ｎ比が劣化するという問題がある。(b) Prior Art A conventional linear scanning type ultrasonic probe is shown in FIG. This ultrasonic probe a includes a plurality of transducers b arranged in an array, and a matching layer c for impedance matching with the subject on one side of the transducer b, and a matching layer c on the other side for impedance matching with the subject. A backing layer d for absorbing ultrasonic waves is provided respectively. Each vibrator b has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and is constructed by forming electrodes b 2 and b 3 on opposing surfaces of a piezoelectric body b 1, respectively. By the way, in such a conventional ultrasonic probe a, each transducer b has a certain width l1 , so the ultrasonic beam emitted from this has a directivity as shown in Figure 2. is limited to a narrow angle range (the range of θ 1 in the figure), and side lobes appear in areas wider than this. For this reason, the azimuth resolution is still insufficient. In recent years, the application of aperture synthesis technology to ultrasonic diagnostic equipment has been considered in order to improve lateral resolution. In this aperture synthesis, a high-resolution diagnostic image is obtained by emitting an ultrasonic beam toward a subject from a sound source with wide directivity, collecting information over a wide area, and performing phase synthesis. In this way, in order to apply the aperture synthesis technique to an ultrasonic diagnostic device, the ultrasonic probe is required to have wide directivity. To expand your direction,
One way is to make the sound source smaller. Therefore, in the conventional ultrasonic probe for aperture synthesis, as shown in FIG . It has been proposed that partial electrodes h 1 and h 2 are formed to face each other, and a part of the piezoelectric body g is thereby driven. However, although this increases the directivity, the effective area for emitting the ultrasonic beam is small, so the beam intensity is low.
There is a problem that the S/N ratio deteriorates.
(ハ) 目的
本発明は従来のかかる問題点を解消し、広い指
向性とともに、強度の大きい超音波ビームを放射
できる開口合成用の超音波探触子を得ることを目
的とする。(c) Purpose It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to obtain an ultrasonic probe for aperture synthesis that can emit an ultrasonic beam with wide directivity and high intensity.
(ニ) 構成
本発明は上記の目的を達成するため、アレー状
に配列された複数の各振動子を超音波放射方向に
開口する断面湾曲台形状に形成している。(d) Configuration In order to achieve the above object, the present invention forms a plurality of transducers arranged in an array to have a curved trapezoidal cross section opening in the ultrasonic radiation direction.
(ホ) 実施例
以下、本発明を第４図ないし第６図に示す一実
施例に基づいて詳細に説明する。第４図はこの実
施例の超音波探触子の一部を示す斜視図、第５図
は第４図の−線に沿う断面図である。この実
施例の超音波探触子１はアレー状に配列された複
数個の振動子２を備え、この各振動子２は一部が
超音波吸収用のバツキング層４に埋設されてい
る。また、各振動子２は、全体が超音波放射方向
（図において上方）に90°以上の角度θ2をもつて開
口する断面湾曲台形状をなし、圧電体６の対向面
上に電極８，１０を、この一方の電極８面上にバ
ツキング層４より露出する被検体とのインピーダ
ンスマツチング用の整合層１２をそれぞれ形成し
て構成される。(e) Embodiment The present invention will be described in detail below based on an embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the ultrasonic probe of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 4. The ultrasonic probe 1 of this embodiment includes a plurality of transducers 2 arranged in an array, each of which is partially embedded in a backing layer 4 for absorbing ultrasonic waves. Furthermore, each vibrator 2 has a curved trapezoidal cross section that opens at an angle θ 2 of 90° or more in the ultrasonic emission direction (upward in the figure), and has an electrode 8 on the opposite surface of the piezoelectric body 6. 10, and a matching layer 12 for impedance matching with the subject exposed from the backing layer 4 is formed on the surface of the one electrode 8.
従つて、この超音波探触子１の各振動子２から
放射される超音波ビームは第６図に示すように広
い角度θ2範囲をもち、かつ、音源としての実効面
積が広いのでビーム強度が従来よりも大きくなり
サイドローブの発生も抑えられる。 Therefore, the ultrasonic beam emitted from each transducer 2 of this ultrasonic probe 1 has a wide angle θ 2 range as shown in FIG. 6, and the effective area as a sound source is wide, so the beam intensity is low. is larger than before, and the generation of side lobes can also be suppressed.
(ヘ) 効果
以上のように、本発明によれば超音波探触子を
構成する各振動子を超音波放射方向に開口する断
面湾曲台形状に形成したので、開口合成用として
必要な広い指向性とともに充分な強度をもつた超
音波ビームを放射できるようになるという優れた
効果が発揮される。(F) Effect As described above, according to the present invention, each transducer constituting the ultrasonic probe is formed into a curved trapezoidal cross section with an opening in the ultrasonic radiation direction, so that a wide pointing direction necessary for aperture synthesis can be achieved. It has the excellent effect of being able to emit an ultrasonic beam with sufficient strength and strength.
第１図ないし第３図は従来例を、第４図ないし
第６図は本発明の実施例をそれぞれ示すもので、
第１図は超音波探触子の一部の斜視図、第２図は
第１図の超音波探触子の指向特性図、第３図は開
口合成用の振動子の斜視図、第４図は超音波探触
子の一部を示す斜視図、第５図は第４図の−
線に沿う断面図、第６図は第４図の超音波探触子
の指向特性図である。
１……超音波探触子、２……振動子。
FIGS. 1 to 3 show the conventional example, and FIGS. 4 to 6 show the embodiment of the present invention, respectively.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a part of the ultrasonic probe, Fig. 2 is a directional characteristic diagram of the ultrasonic probe shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a transducer for aperture synthesis, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the ultrasonic probe. The figure is a perspective view showing a part of the ultrasonic probe, and Figure 5 is the same as Figure 4.
6 is a directional characteristic diagram of the ultrasonic probe of FIG. 4, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line. 1... Ultrasonic probe, 2... Vibrator.
Claims (1)
た超音波探触子において、前記各振動子は超音波
放射方向に開口する断面湾曲台形状に形成されて
いることを特徴とする超音波探触子。1. An ultrasonic probe equipped with a plurality of transducers arranged in an array, wherein each transducer has a curved trapezoidal cross section opening in the ultrasound radiation direction. probe.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP59024034A JPS60167598A (en) | 1984-02-09 | 1984-02-09 | ultrasonic probe |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP59024034A JPS60167598A (en) | 1984-02-09 | 1984-02-09 | ultrasonic probe |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPS60167598A JPS60167598A (en) | 1985-08-30 |
| JPH0510880B2 true JPH0510880B2 (en) | 1993-02-10 |
Family
ID=12127223
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP59024034A Granted JPS60167598A (en) | 1984-02-09 | 1984-02-09 | ultrasonic probe |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS60167598A (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE10323493B3 (en) * | 2003-05-23 | 2004-07-15 | Atlas Elektronik Gmbh | Underwater antenna for acoustic monitoring of sea region e.g. for ship, using electroacoustic transducers embedded in acoustically transparent material |
| JP4799091B2 (en) * | 2005-09-09 | 2011-10-19 | パナソニック株式会社 | Ultrasonic probe |
| JP2007075130A (en) * | 2005-09-09 | 2007-03-29 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Ultrasonic probe |
| JP5438983B2 (en) * | 2008-02-08 | 2014-03-12 | 株式会社東芝 | Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
| WO2012112540A2 (en) * | 2011-02-15 | 2012-08-23 | Fujifilm Dimatix, Inc. | Piezoelectric transducers using micro-dome arrays |
-
1984
- 1984-02-09 JP JP59024034A patent/JPS60167598A/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS60167598A (en) | 1985-08-30 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4692654A (en) | Ultrasonic transducer of monolithic array type | |
| US4242912A (en) | Method and apparatus for producing cross-sectional images using ultrasound | |
| US4880012A (en) | Ultrasonic probe | |
| EP0342874B1 (en) | Ultrasound probe for medical imaging system | |
| RU2533336C2 (en) | Ultrasonic sensor with wide field of view, and manufacturing method of such ultrasonic sensor | |
| EP0376567A3 (en) | Array of ultrasonic transducer | |
| CN1043742C (en) | Vertically Focused Ultrasonic Sensor Array with Apodization | |
| JPS63121749A (en) | Ultrasonic signal transmitter and receiver | |
| JPS58135977A (en) | Ultrasonic linear array transducer with collimator | |
| JP4017934B2 (en) | Ultrasonic probe | |
| JPH0510880B2 (en) | ||
| JP3468678B2 (en) | Ultrasonic probe | |
| JPH0226189B2 (en) | ||
| JPS60260847A (en) | Ultrasonic probe | |
| JPS60165949A (en) | Ultrasonic probe | |
| JPH0620452B2 (en) | Ultrasonic probe | |
| JPH0520079Y2 (en) | ||
| JP3354195B2 (en) | Ultrasonic probe device | |
| JPH0215446Y2 (en) | ||
| JPH0866395A (en) | Converter array for ultrasonic wave diagnosis,of which focuspoint in height direction is adjustable | |
| JP2002152890A (en) | Ultrasonic wave probe | |
| JP3263158B2 (en) | Ultrasonic probe | |
| JP3325305B2 (en) | Ultrasonic probe | |
| JPH06292665A (en) | Ultrasonic probe | |
| JPS63128900A (en) | Ultrasonic probe |