Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic device

Abstract

To manufacture an acoustic element by a dicing process easily.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic probe includes at least one transducer element including a plurality of arranged single elements, and performs electronic scanning. The plurality of single elements are electrically independent respectively. The single element is of a rhombic shape in which opposed angles formed by one set of adjacent sides of the angles formed by one set of adjacent two sides are larger than 90°, and the other opposed angles formed by one set of adjacent sides are less than 90°.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The embodiments disclosed in the present specification and drawings relate to an ultrasound probe and an ultrasound diagnostic device. [Background technology]

[0002] The transmission frequency of the two-dimensional transducer array in the ultrasonic probe is adjusted to, for example, about 1 to 5 MHz. For this reason, the two-dimensional transducer array is configured by arranging a plurality of acoustic elements in a lattice shape at intervals of, for example, 0.75 mm to 0.15 mm.

[0003] In an ultrasonic probe, when the distance between adjacent acoustic elements is more than half the wavelength of the transmission frequency, a grating lobe may appear in the opposite direction to any ultrasonic transmission angle (deflection angle) due to spherical wave interference of the minute acoustic elements. When acoustic elements are arranged in a lattice pattern, the distance between adjacent acoustic elements in a diagonal direction is twice the distance between adjacent acoustic elements above, below, left, and right. 1 / 2 Therefore, the distance between adjacent acoustic elements diagonally is greater than the distance between adjacent acoustic elements vertically and horizontally. For this reason, when performing acoustic imaging using an ultrasonic probe, if the plane angle of a biplane image is 45°, a virtual image due to artifacts is likely to appear.

[0004] To address this problem, for example, by arranging the acoustic elements to align with the center and six vertices of a regular hexagon, the distance between adjacent acoustic elements in the vertical and horizontal directions as well as the distance between adjacent acoustic elements in the diagonal direction can be made constant. In order to arrange the acoustic elements to align with the center and six vertices of a regular hexagon, for example, square acoustic elements of the same size can be arranged in a staggered pattern. From the standpoint of cost and effort, it is desirable to manufacture the acoustic elements by a dicing process. However, it is difficult to manufacture acoustic elements arranged in a staggered pattern by a dicing process. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2003-520526 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the embodiments disclosed in this specification and the drawings is to make it possible to easily manufacture an acoustic element by dicing. However, the problem to be solved by the embodiments disclosed in this specification and the drawings is not limited to the above problem. Problems corresponding to the effects of each configuration shown in the embodiments described later can also be positioned as other problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The ultrasonic probe according to the embodiment includes at least one transducer element including a plurality of single elements arranged to perform electronic scanning. The plurality of single elements are electrically independent from each other. The shape of the single elements is a rhombus, and among the angles formed by a pair of adjacent two sides, the angle formed by one pair of opposing sides is greater than 90°, and the angle formed by the other pair of opposing sides is less than 90°. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing an arrangement of acoustic elements 15 in a portion of a transmitting / receiving section 12 of an ultrasonic probe 10. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining acoustic elements 15 that are driven simultaneously. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a scan plane formed by the transmitting and receiving unit 12. [Diagram 5] 2 is a diagram for explaining the movement of an acoustic element unit when performing phase scanning with an ultrasonic probe 10. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram conceptually showing an arrangement of acoustic elements 18 in a part of a transmitting / receiving section 12 of an ultrasonic probe 10 according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining acoustic elements 15 that are driven simultaneously. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] An ultrasound probe and an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (First embodiment) 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an ultrasound diagnostic device 1 according to the first embodiment. The ultrasound diagnostic device 1 includes, for example, an ultrasound probe 10, a display 20, an input interface 30, and an ultrasound image processing device 100. The ultrasound probe 10 is brought into contact with, for example, the body surface of a subject P, and transmits and receives ultrasound to and from the subject P. The ultrasound probe 10 is, for example, a 2D array probe in which a plurality of acoustic elements are arranged two-dimensionally.

[0011] The ultrasonic probe 10 includes, for example, a grip portion 11 and a transmission / reception portion 12. The grip portion 11 has a shape that is easy for an operator, such as a doctor or an engineer, to hold, and is the portion that the operator holds during examination or diagnosis. The transmission / reception portion 12 is provided at the tip of the grip portion 11. A cable L is connected to the rear end of the grip portion 11. The ultrasonic probe 10 is connected to an ultrasonic image processing device 100 via the cable L, and transmits and receives signals between the ultrasonic image processing device 100.

[0012] 2 is a diagram conceptually showing an arrangement of acoustic elements 15 in a part of the transmitting / receiving unit 12 of the ultrasonic probe 10. The transmitting / receiving unit 12 includes a plurality of acoustic elements 15. The plurality of acoustic elements 15 are electrically independent from each other. The plurality of acoustic elements 15 can be driven individually. The acoustic elements 15 are, for example, piezoelectric elements (transducers) having a piezoelectric effect that converts between an electrical signal (pulse voltage) and mechanical vibration (sound vibration). The acoustic elements are arranged by dicing the base material of the transmitting / receiving unit 12.

[0013] The ultrasonic probe 10 includes at least one transceiver unit 12. In the first embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 10 includes one transceiver unit 12, but the ultrasonic probe 10 may include multiple transceivers. The transceiver unit 12 is an example of a transducer element. The acoustic element 15 is an example of a single element.

[0014] Acoustic element 15 is rhombic, and among the angles formed by a pair of two adjacent sides, the angle formed by one pair of opposing sides (hereinafter, the first angle) is greater than 90°, and the angle formed by the other pair of opposing sides (hereinafter, the second angle) is less than 90°. In the first embodiment, for example, the first angle of acoustic element 15 is 120°, and the second angle is 60°. The first angle and the second angle may be other angles. Acoustic elements 15 are the same size as each other. Acoustic elements 15 may be different sizes.

[0015] In the transmitting / receiving unit 12, the acoustic elements 15 are arranged along the elevation direction and the azimuth direction. The acoustic elements 15 adjacent to each other in the elevation direction are inserted between the acoustic elements 15 adjacent to each other in the azimuth direction. In the following description, each of the acoustic elements 15 arranged in the elevation direction and the azimuth direction is assigned a sub-number with the order of the elevation direction as the first digit and the order of the azimuth direction as the second digit. For example, the acoustic element 15 in the first row in the elevation direction and the first row in the azimuth direction shown in FIG. 2 is called acoustic element 15-11. The elevation direction is the direction along the diagonal line on the long side of the acoustic element 15, and the azimuth direction is the direction along the diagonal line on the short side of the acoustic element 15.

[0016] Additionally, the acoustic element 15 in the second row in the elevation direction and the first row in the azimuth direction is referred to as acoustic element 15-12, the acoustic element 15 in the third row in the elevation direction and the first row in the azimuth direction is referred to as acoustic element 15-13, ... The acoustic element 15 in the first row in the elevation direction and the second row in the azimuth direction is referred to as acoustic element 15-21, and the acoustic element 15 in the first row in the elevation direction and the third row in the azimuth direction is referred to as acoustic element 15-31, ...

[0017] In the acoustic element 15, the angle R (R>90°) between one pair of adjacent two sides is 120°, and the angle between another pair of adjacent two sides is 60°. Furthermore, among the adjacent acoustic elements 15, the ratio of the distance L1 between the centers of the acoustic elements 15 (e.g., acoustic element 15-24) adjacent in the direction along the shorter diagonal of the diagonal of the acoustic element 15 (e.g., acoustic element 15-14) to the distance L2 between the centers of the acoustic elements 15 (e.g., acoustic element 15-13) adjacent in the direction along the side of the acoustic element 15 (e.g., acoustic element 15-14) is 1:1.

[0018] The transmitting / receiving unit 12 generates ultrasonic waves based on a drive signal (electrical signal) supplied by the ultrasonic image processing device 100. The generated ultrasonic waves are reflected by an acoustic impedance mismatch surface in the subject P and received by the acoustic element as a reflected wave signal (electrical signal) including components scattered by scatterers in the tissue. The ultrasonic probe 10 transmits the received reflected wave signal to the ultrasonic image processing device 100.

[0019] The display 20 displays various information. For example, the display 20 displays medical images (ultrasound images) generated by the ultrasound image processing device 100, GUI (Graphical User Interface) images that accept various operations by a user, and the like. The ultrasound images may be two-dimensional ultrasound images or three-dimensional ultrasound images.

[0020] The display 20 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display, etc. The display 20 may be a desktop type, or may be a display device (for example, a tablet terminal) capable of wireless communication with the main body of the ultrasound image processing device 100.

[0021] The input interface 30 accepts various input operations by a user and outputs an electrical signal indicating the content of the accepted input operation to the ultrasonic image processing device 100. For example, the input interface 30 is realized by a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, a drag ball, a switch, a button, a joystick, a camera, an infrared sensor, a microphone, or the like. The input interface 30 may be provided in a housing. Moreover, the input interface 30 may be realized by a display device (e.g., a tablet terminal) capable of wireless communication with the main body of the ultrasonic image processing device 100.

[0022] In this specification, the input interface is not limited to an interface having physical operation parts such as a mouse, a keyboard, etc. For example, an example of the input interface also includes an electrical signal processing circuit that receives an electrical signal corresponding to an input operation from an external input device provided separately from the device and outputs the electrical signal to a control circuit.

[0023] The ultrasound image processing device 100 includes, for example, a transmission / reception circuit 110, a control circuit 120, a memory 130, and an image processing circuit 140. The transmission / reception circuit 110, the control circuit 120, the memory 130, and the image processing circuit 140 are connected to each other via a bus so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0024] The transmission / reception circuit 110 includes, for example, a drive circuit that vibrates a transducer in the transmission / reception unit 12 of the ultrasonic probe 10. The transmission / reception circuit 110 outputs a drive signal to the ultrasonic probe 10 via the cable L in accordance with the transmission / reception conditions transmitted by the control circuit 120, and drives the multiple acoustic elements 15. The drive signal output by the transmission / reception circuit 110 includes information that identifies the acoustic element 15 that outputs ultrasonic waves. In the ultrasonic probe 10, the acoustic element 15 identified by the drive signal is driven. The transmission / reception circuit 110 drives, for example, a predetermined number of the multiple acoustic elements 15, for example, seven, as an acoustic element unit.

[0025] The transmission / reception circuit 110 acquires a reflected wave signal output by the ultrasonic probe 10. The transmission / reception circuit 110 converts the acquired reflected wave signal into a digital signal. The transmission / reception circuit 110 outputs the digital reflected wave signal to the control circuit 120. The ultrasonic image processing device 100 including the transmission / reception circuit 110 is an example of a driving device.

[0026] The control circuit 120 controls the overall processing of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1. The control circuit 120 is realized, for example, by a hardware processor (computer) executing a program (software) stored in the memory 130. The hardware processor refers to circuitry such as a CPU, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (for example, a Simple Programmable Logic Device (SPLD) or a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)). Instead of storing the program in the memory 130, the program may be directly incorporated into the circuitry of the hardware processor.

[0027] In this case, the hardware processor realizes the functions by reading and executing the program embedded in the circuit. The hardware processor is not limited to being configured as a single circuit, but may be configured as one hardware processor by combining multiple independent circuits to realize each function. Also, multiple components may be integrated into one hardware processor to realize each function. Each component of the image processing circuit 140 may be distributed and realized by multiple hardware.

[0028] Specifically, the control circuit 120 controls the transmission / reception circuit 110 based on various setting requests input via the input interface 30 and various control programs and various data read from the memory 130. The control circuit 120 further performs generation processing of an acoustic image and various image processing for the ultrasonic image.

[0029] The control circuit 120 generates an image of an imaging section of the subject P based on the reflected wave signal output by the transmission / reception circuit 110. The reflected wave signal is determined according to the movement of the transmission / reception unit 12 in the ultrasonic probe 10, and for example, a plane perpendicular to a plane including the direction in which the ultrasonic probe 10 moves (a plane assumed to be the surface of the subject P) and along the direction in which the opening in the transmission / reception unit 12 moves becomes the imaging section.

[0030] The memory 130 is realized by, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a semiconductor memory element such as a flash memory, a hard disk, an optical disk, etc. Data such as a program for driving the transmission / reception circuit 110 is stored. The data may be stored in an external memory that is external to the ultrasonic image processing device 100 or that can communicate with the ultrasonic image processing device 100 instead of (or in addition to) the memory 130. The memory 130 does not need to be built in the ultrasonic image processing device 100 as long as the ultrasonic image processing device 100 can access the memory 130 over a network.

[0031] Next, a description will be given of the acoustic element 15 of the transmission / reception unit 12 that is driven to transmit ultrasonic waves in the ultrasonic probe 10. In the ultrasonic probe 10, the acoustic element 15 specified based on the drive signal transmitted by the transmission / reception circuit 110 in the ultrasonic image processing device 100 is driven.

[0032] 3 is a diagram illustrating acoustic elements 15 that are driven simultaneously. The transmission / reception circuit 110 specifies the acoustic element 15 to be driven by treating an acoustic element unit consisting of, for example, six acoustic elements 15 that form a regular hexagon by connecting the centers of the acoustic elements 15 and one acoustic element 15 surrounded by these acoustic elements, totaling seven acoustic elements 15, as one unit. In the ultrasound probe 10, a polygonal opening, a regular hexagon in this case, is formed by connecting the centers of the acoustic elements 15 that form the acoustic element unit. The opening formed here is an example of a transducer opening.

[0033] The transmission / reception circuit 110 outputs a drive signal so that the acoustic element unit formed by the driven acoustic element 15 moves to the adjacent acoustic element unit. In the ultrasonic probe 10, the acoustic element unit that opens moves sequentially to the adjacent acoustic element unit to drive the acoustic element 15, thereby scanning the subject P.

[0034] For example, the first acoustic element unit G11 includes seven acoustic elements: acoustic elements 15-11, 15-12, 15-21, 15-22, 15-23, 15-32, and 15-33. The second acoustic element unit G21 includes seven acoustic elements: acoustic elements 15-31, 15-32, 15-41, 15-42, 15-43, 15-52, and 15-53. The third acoustic element unit G12 includes seven acoustic elements: acoustic elements 15-13, 15-14, 15-23, 15-24, 15-15, 15-34, and 15-25.

[0035] Fig. 4 is a diagram explaining the scan plane formed by the transmitting / receiving unit 12. For example, as shown in the right diagram of Fig. 4, in the transmitting / receiving unit 12 in which the acoustic element or the acoustic element unit composed of acoustic elements is a square as in the conventional case, only two planes, the first scan plane SS1 and the second scan plane SS2, which are perpendicular to each other, can be provided.

[0036] The first scan plane SS1 is provided by driving the acoustic elements so that the acoustic element units including the acoustic elements to be driven are in the order of acoustic element units GA2, GA1, GA3, and GA4. The second scan plane SS2 is provided by driving the acoustic elements so that the acoustic element units including the acoustic elements to be driven are in the order of acoustic element units GB3, GB2, GB1, GB4, GB5, and GB6.

[0037] In contrast to this, in the transmission / reception unit 12 of the ultrasound probe 10 of the first embodiment, the acoustic elements 15 are driven for each acoustic element unit that forms a regular hexagon by connecting the centers of the acoustic elements 15, as shown in the left diagram of Fig. 4. For this reason, it is possible to provide three scan planes, a first scan plane SS1 to a third scan plane SS3, which correspond to three imaging cross sections that form the same angle with each other.

[0038] The first scan plane SS1 is provided, for example, by driving the acoustic element 15 so that the acoustic element units including the acoustic elements to be driven are acoustic element units GA3, GA2, GA1, GA4, GA5, and GA6 in this order. The second scan plane SS2 is provided, for example, by driving the acoustic element 15 so that the acoustic element units including the acoustic elements to be driven are acoustic element units GB2, GB1, GB3, and GB4 in this order. The third scan plane SS3 is provided, for example, by driving the acoustic element 15 so that the acoustic element units including the acoustic elements to be driven are acoustic element units GC2, GC1, GC3, and GC4 in this order.

[0039] Here, each acoustic element unit formed by seven acoustic elements 15 is formed so that the outer diameter becomes a regular hexagon by connecting the centers. Therefore, the first scan plane SS1 to the third scan plane SS3 can be equally spaced apart from each other by 60°. Therefore, in the ultrasonic probe 10 of the first embodiment, three scan planes can be provided at equal intervals of 60°.

[0040] 5 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the acoustic element units when performing phase scanning with the ultrasonic probe 10. When performing phase manipulation with the ultrasonic probe 10, the pitch between the acoustic element units at 0° in the elevation direction is 3 times that of the pitch between the acoustic element units at 0° in the azimuth direction. 1 / 2 For this reason, for example, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 5, if phase scanning is performed while moving the acoustic element unit in the elevation direction of 0°, for example, acoustic element unit GA1 to acoustic element unit GA3 instead of acoustic element unit GA2, the phase will be shifted.

[0041] In contrast, as shown in the right diagram of Figure 5, phase shifts can be suppressed by moving the acoustic element units in a direction tilted +30° from the elevation direction, for example, by moving the first acoustic element unit GA1 to the second acoustic element unit GA2, then the third acoustic element unit GA3, in that order. Similarly, phase shifts can also be suppressed by moving the acoustic element units in a direction tilted -30° from the elevation direction, for example, by moving the first acoustic element unit GA1 to the fourth acoustic element unit GA4, then the fifth acoustic element unit GA5, in that order.

[0042] In the transmitting / receiving section 12 of the ultrasonic probe 10 of the first embodiment, the distance between adjacent acoustic element units is constant. Specifically, for example, the distance between the first acoustic element unit G11 and the second acoustic element unit G21 and the distance between the first acoustic element unit G11 and the third acoustic element unit G12 are constant. This makes it possible to suppress the appearance of a virtual image when performing acoustic imaging using an ultrasonic probe.

[0043] In the first embodiment, the acoustic element units include acoustic element units adjacent to each other along the azimuth direction and acoustic element units adjacent to each other along a direction tilted by ±60° from the elevation direction. For example, the first acoustic element unit G11 and the second acoustic element unit G21 are adjacent to each other along the azimuth direction, and the first acoustic element unit G11 and the third acoustic element unit G12 are adjacent to each other along a direction tilted by 60° from the elevation direction. Therefore, when moving an acoustic element unit that opens, it is possible to suppress the appearance of a virtual image by moving the acoustic element unit that opens in the azimuth direction or in a direction tilted by ±60° from the elevation direction without moving it along the elevation direction.

[0044] Moreover, the acoustic element 15 is shaped like a diamond. Therefore, one side of the acoustic element 15 can be arranged on an extension line of one side of the adjacent acoustic element 15. Therefore, by dicing the base material of the transmitting / receiving unit 12, a plurality of acoustic elements 15 can be arranged. Therefore, the acoustic element 15 that can easily suppress the appearance of a virtual image due to an artifact can be manufactured by dicing.

[0045] In addition, since the acoustic element is diamond-shaped, it is not necessary to arrange the acoustic elements in a staggered manner or to group them in a staggered manner, which allows the elements to be made smaller. Furthermore, since sub-dices are not required to achieve staggered grouping, it is possible to reduce the number of cuts in the dicing process and ensure the area of ​​the acoustic element equivalent to the width of the sub-die scarf. Furthermore, by arranging the acoustic element units in a hexagon, the element pitch can be minimized, making it effective for the required high frequency 2DA.

[0046] Second embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. The ultrasonic diagnostic device of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment mainly in the shape of the transmitting / receiving unit 12 in the ultrasonic probe 10, particularly the acoustic element 18, but has other features in common. The second embodiment will be described below, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an arrangement of acoustic elements 18 in a part of the transmitting / receiving unit 12 of an ultrasonic probe 10 of the second embodiment. While the acoustic element 15 of the first embodiment has a diamond shape, the acoustic element 18 of the second embodiment includes two isosceles triangular acoustic element division bodies obtained by cutting the acoustic element 15 of the first embodiment along the short axis. The cutting along the short axis is performed, for example, by dicing. The base of the isosceles triangle is disposed on a straight line along a direction (azimuth direction) perpendicular to the elevation direction. The acoustic element division body is an example of a division body.

[0048] All of the acoustic element divisions are the same size. The acoustic element divisions may be different sizes. In the second embodiment, the angle of the apex of the acoustic element division is 60°, so that the acoustic element divisions are equilateral triangles. The acoustic element divisions may not be divisions, but may each be an electrically independent acoustic element. In this case, the acoustic element itself may be an isosceles triangle.

[0049] The acoustic elements 18 are arranged along the elevation and azimuth directions, similar to the first embodiment. The acoustic elements 18 adjacent to each other in the elevation direction are sandwiched between the acoustic elements 18 adjacent to each other in the azimuth direction. In the following description, similar to the first embodiment, sub-numbers are assigned to the multiple acoustic elements 18 arranged in the elevation and azimuth directions.

[0050] For example, the acoustic elements 18 in the first row in the elevation direction and the first row in the azimuth direction shown in Fig. 6 are acoustic elements 18-11, one of which is acoustic element divided body 18-11A and the other is acoustic element divided body 18-11B. Furthermore, one of the acoustic elements 18 in the second row in the elevation direction and the first row in the azimuth direction is acoustic element divided body 18-12A and the other is acoustic element divided body 18-12B, and similarly, the divided bodies of the acoustic elements 18 in the third row in the elevation direction and the first row in the azimuth direction are acoustic element divided body 18-13A, acoustic element divided body 18-13B, etc. In addition, one of the acoustic elements 18 in the first row in the elevation direction and the second row in the azimuth direction is acoustic element divided body 18-21A, and the other is acoustic element divided body 18-21B, and similarly, the divided bodies of the acoustic elements 18 in the first row in the elevation direction and the third row in the azimuth direction are acoustic element divided bodies 18-31A, 18-31B, ...

[0051] 7 is a diagram for explaining the acoustic elements 15 that are driven simultaneously. As in the first embodiment, the transmission / reception circuit 110 outputs a drive signal so that the acoustic element unit formed by the acoustic elements 18 to be driven moves to the adjacent acoustic element unit. In the ultrasonic probe 10, the acoustic element unit that opens moves sequentially to the adjacent acoustic element unit to drive the acoustic elements 18, thereby scanning the subject P.

[0052] For example, the first acoustic element unit G11 includes six acoustic elements, namely acoustic element divisions 18-11B, 18-12A, 18-12B, 18-23A, 18-22B, and 18-22A. The second acoustic element unit G21 includes six acoustic elements, namely acoustic element divisions 18-21B, 18-22A, 18-22B, 18-23A, 18-22B, and 18-32A. The third acoustic element unit G12 includes six acoustic elements, namely acoustic element divisions 18-32B, 18-33A, 18-33B, 18-44A, 18-43B, and 18-43A.

[0053] In the ultrasonic probe 10 of the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the acoustic elements 18 form acoustic element units that form a regular hexagon by connecting the centers, and output driving signals. In addition, the acoustic element units that output driving signals move sequentially to the adjacent acoustic element units. In this way, the subject P is scanned.

[0054] In the ultrasonic probe 10 of the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the acoustic element units that form a regular hexagon by connecting their centers are driven simultaneously, and the driven acoustic element units are moved sequentially. Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, three scan planes can be provided.

[0055] In the ultrasonic probe 10 of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when imaging a cross section along the elevation direction, the acoustic element unit is moved along a direction tilted by ±30° from the elevation direction. By moving the acoustic element unit to be driven in this manner, it is possible to suppress a phase shift when imaging a cross section along the elevation direction.

[0056] Moreover, the shape of the acoustic element division in the second embodiment is an isosceles triangle obtained by dividing a rhombus along its short axis. Therefore, one side of an adjacent acoustic element 18 is arranged on an extension line of one side of the acoustic element 18, and the acoustic element division can be arranged along the same straight line (the short axis of the rhombus). Therefore, by dicing the base material of the transmitting / receiving unit 12, a plurality of acoustic elements 18 can be arranged. Therefore, the acoustic element 15 that can easily suppress the appearance of a virtual image due to artifacts can be manufactured by dicing.

[0057] According to at least one of the embodiments described above, an ultrasonic probe that includes at least one transducer element including a plurality of single elements arranged in an array and performs electronic scanning, wherein the plurality of single elements are electrically independent of each other, the shape of the single elements is a rhombus, and among the angles formed by a pair of two adjacent sides, the angle formed by one opposing pair is greater than 90° and the angle formed by the other opposing pair is less than 90°, thereby making it possible to easily manufacture the acoustic element by a dicing process.

[0058] Although some embodiments have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as described in the claims, as well as in the scope and spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment 10 Ultrasound probe 11 Gripping part 12 Transmitter / receiver 15 Acoustic element 18 Acoustic element 20 Display 30 Input Interface 100 Ultrasound image processing device 110 Transmitting and receiving circuit 120 Control circuit 130 Memory 140 Image processing circuit G11 1st acoustic element unit L Cable P Subject

Claims

1. 1. An ultrasonic probe for electronic scanning, comprising at least one transducer element including a plurality of single elements arranged in an array, The plurality of single elements are electrically independent from each other, The shape of the single element is a rhombus, and among angles formed by a pair of adjacent two sides, an angle formed by one pair of opposing sides is greater than 90°, and an angle formed by the other pair of opposing sides is less than 90°. Ultrasound probe.

2. The single elements are arranged by dicing a base material of the transducer element. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 .

3. The plurality of single elements are each individually drivable by a driving device; The driving device drives a predetermined number of the single elements as an acoustic element unit, The opening of the transducer element is formed into a polygon by connecting the centers of the single elements that form the acoustic element unit. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 .

4. The angle between a pair of adjacent two sides of the single element is 120°, Among the adjacent single elements, the ratio of the distance between the centers of the single elements adjacent in a direction along the side of the single element to the distance between the centers of the single elements adjacent in a direction along a diagonal on the shorter side of the diagonals of the single elements is 1:

1. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 .

5. the polygon is a hexagon, As the imaging sections, three imaging sections are formed at the same angle to each other. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 3 .

6. The plurality of single elements are each individually drivable by a driving device; The driving device scans the transducer element in a direction of +30° and a direction of −30° with respect to the imaging section when imaging a section along a diagonal line on the long side of the single element. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 .

7. The single element includes two isosceles triangular segments obtained by cutting along a minor axis, Each of the divided bodies is electrically independent. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 .

8. 1. An ultrasonic probe for electronic scanning, comprising at least one transducer element including a plurality of single elements arranged in an array, The plurality of single elements are electrically independent from each other, The shape of the single element is an isosceles triangle. Ultrasound probe.

9. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the single elements are arranged by dicing along a short diagonal of the single elements.

9. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 8.

10. The plurality of single elements are each individually drivable by a driving device; the driving device drives a predetermined number of the plurality of single elements as an acoustic element unit, The centers of the single elements forming the acoustic element unit are connected to form a polygonal opening of the transducer element.

9. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 8.

11. The single element is an equilateral triangle.

9. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 8.

12. the polygon is a hexagon, As the imaging sections, three imaging sections are formed at the same angle to each other. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 10.

13. The plurality of single elements are each individually drivable by a driving device; the driving device scans the transducer elements in a +30° direction and a −30° direction with respect to the cross section when imaging a cross section along a straight line perpendicular to the base of the isosceles triangle; 9. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 8.

14. An ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 13; A driving device that drives the plurality of single elements. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment.

Images