ULTRASONIC PROBE AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic probe for adequately obtaining the temperature of a contact part, and also to provide ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. SOLUTION: An ultrasonic probe arranged in the ultrasonic diagnostic equipment includes: a vibrator array constituted of one or more vibration elements; and an acoustic lens arranged at the opposite position of the vibration array so as to function as a contact member contacting or approximating a subject in ultrasonic diagnosis. A thermochromic material with an optical characteristic to be reversibly changed in response to temperature change is mixed in the acoustic lens. The whole part of the acoustic lens functions as a temperature indication part where the optical characteristic is changed in response to the temperature. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT