Ultrasonic probe and method of producing same

Abstract

Herein disclosed is an ultrasonic probe comprising a housing, a driven shaft rotatably supported by the housing, a transducer supported by the driven shaft to be swingable on one side of the driven shaft and operative to transduce an electric signal to and from an ultrasound, a drive shaft rotatably supported by the housing spaced apart from and in parallel relationship with the driven shaft in the predetermined direction; a drive motor supported on the housing and drivably connected to the drive shaft; and a drive belt passed on the driven shaft and the drive shaft to transmit the rotation from the drive motor to the transducer. The transducer has the ultrasound emitted therefrom and reflected thereto through the housing in a predetermined direction. The ultrasonic probe thus constructed makes it possible to reduce the rotation radius of the transducer independently of the size of the electric motor by spacing the rotation axes of the drive motor and the transducer in order to provide an ultrasonic probe smaller in size. The rotation of the drive motor transferred into the rotational motion of the transducer without causing a backlash prevents the accuracy of the ultrasonic probe from deteriorating.