Ultrasonic search unit and method for producing the same

Abstract

An ultrasonic search unit includes a piezoelectric element for transmitting/receiving an ultrasonic wave, and an acoustic matching layer for transmitting the ultrasonic wave transmitted/received by the piezoelectric element to a subject to be measured, wherein the acoustic matching layer is formed of a cured layer obtained by irradiating a resin for optical forming with laser light. It also may be possible that the acoustic matching layer is formed of a plurality of stacked layers, and different fillers are mixed in the respective layers, whereby the acoustic impedance of the respective layers is changed. A liquid resin for optical forming is supplied to a tank, and is cured to a predetermined shape by irradiation with laser light. Accordingly, an ultrasonic search unit and a method for producing the same are provided, in which an acoustic matching layer with a required thickness is formed with good precision without being bonded, whereby a variation in thickness of adhesive layers, a variation in characteristics caused by air bubbles, and degradation are unlikely to occur.