Ultrasonic probe and inspection apparatus equipped with the ultrasonic probe

摘要

An ultrasonic probe includes a light irradiating portion configured to radiate light for generating ultrasonic waves from a light absorber, an ultrasonic transducing portion configured to transduce the ultrasonic waves to an electric signal, and a light guide member configured to introduce light from a light source to the light irradiating portion. A light irradiating region of the light irradiating portion is included within an ultrasonic receiving region of the ultrasonic transducing portion.

主权项

1. An ultrasonic probe comprising:
a transducer array having a plurality of acoustic transducers each of which has a receiving surface so as to transduce an ultrasonic wave into an electrical signal; a light source; and a light diffusion member connected to said light source so as to diffuse light emitted from said light source into an inspection subject, wherein said light diffusion member has a propagating surface through which the ultrasonic wave is propagated from said light diffusion member to said transducer array, wherein said propagating surface is connected to said receiving surface, wherein said light diffusion member has a light irradiating surface located in opposition to said propagating surface, and wherein said light diffusion member extends along an extending direction from a first end to a second end, and wherein said light source is located next to one of said first end and said second end of said light diffusion member.