The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 18, 2004
Filed:
Jul. 10, 2002
Shuzo Sano, Kashiwa, JP;
Yutaka Sato, Kashiwa, JP;
Jun Kubota, Nagareyama, JP;
Shinji Kishimoto, Mitsukaido, JP;
Ryuichi Shinomura, Higashimatsuyama, JP;
Satoshi Tamano, Kashiwa, JP;
Takaya Osawa, Sugito-machi, JP;
Yuichi Miwa, Kokubunnji, JP;
Hiroshi Masuzawa, Kokubunnji, JP;
Hitachi Medical Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An ultrasonic probe in which two-dimensional array transducer elements are arrayed convexly both in one direction of the two-dimensional array and in the direction perpendicular to the former direction relative to the direction where an ultrasonic wave is transmitted. By switching a transducer element selecting switch circuit provided near the transducer elements, the shape of the diameter of the probe for transmitting and receiving of ultrasound and the position of the diameter are arbitrarily determined. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which a fresnel ring is formed as an diameter by a control signal to a transducer element selecting switch circuit, the number of cables for connection between the probe and the main body is decreased by bundling the transducer elements in one ring and effecting the connection, the fresnel ring is moved every ultrasonic transmission/reception cycle by the control signal to the transducer element selection switching circuit, and an object is three-dimensionally scanned with an ultrasonic beam.