| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an excellent image by eliminating unnecessary ultrasonic waves from an acoustic lens by forming gaps between a piezoelectric element and the acoustic lens as ultrasonic wave shielding sections by providing inclined surfaces on both end sides of the element. SOLUTION: An array type probe is constituted by arranging a piezoelectric element 2 in the longitudinal direction on a packing material 1 and providing an acoustic matching layer 3 (3a and 3b) on the element 2, and then, covering the layer 3, element 2, and part of the material 1 with an acoustic lens 4. Gaps 5 are provided between the element 2 and lens 4 by forming the upper end sections on both end sides of the layer 3 in inclined surfaces. The gaps 5 are formed in mere air layers. When the gaps 5 are formed in the air layers, the gaps 5 become ultrasonic wave shielding sections by scattering or absorbing ultrasonic waves. Therefore, the ultrasonic waves radiated from the corner sections of the element 2 are absorbed by the shielding sections and only ultrasonic waves P which are perpendicular to the element 2 are radiated. Since the leakage of ultrasonic waves from both surfaces of the lens 4 can be suppressed in such a way, the formation of a defective picture can be prevented. |
