Aloka Co., Ltd.

Shohei Sato

A method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe including the steps of forming a plurality of first slits on a layered assembly having a first imner electrode member and a second inner electrode member through a top surface of the layered assembly and forming a plurality of second slits through a bottom surface of the layered assembly, forming a first vertical electrode layer on each side surface within each of the first slits, forming a second vertical electrode layer on each side surface within each one of the second slits and forming a plurality of separating slits on the layered assembly to divide the layered assembly into a plurality of transducer elements.

Method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe

An ultrasonic probe for use in an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus for a living body comprises an array transducer made up of a plurality of layered transducer elements. A specified structure (face-to-face structure) is created across two adjacent transducer elements. In each transducer element, a first vertical electrode layer for ground is connected with a top electrode layer and an inner electrode layer, and a second vertical electrode layer for signal is connected with a bottom electrode layer and an inner electrode layer. When creating the specified structure, steps including formation of slits in a layered assembly and filling of the slits or the like are repeated. By finally forming a plurality of separating slits, the layered assembly is divided into a plurality of transducer elements. On the other hand, each transducer element is compounded in the horizontal direction. The compounding is performed at any stage of before, during or after formation of the specified structure.

Ultrasonic probe and manufacturing method thereof

An ultrasonic probe which is used for ultrasonic diagnosis comprises a transducer element, a sonic speed control element, and an acoustic matching layer. The sonic speed control element has a function to control the sonic speed of the ultrasonic waves traveling therethrough, and has an inclined characteristic in the sonic speed control effect in which the sonic speed control effect changes continuously along the direction of travel of the ultrasonic waves (thickness direction). The specific acoustic impedance of the sonic speed control element at the end near the living body corresponds to the specific acoustic impedance of the acoustic matching layer at the end away from the living body. The acoustic matching layer is preferably formed by layering or or more overlapped members. The boundary between two adjacent members has a shape with a plurality of hills and valleys. The crossing angle between the direction of travel of the ultrasonic waves and the boundary is set so that a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Growing community of inventors

Mitaka, Japan

Shohei Sato