EP0239999A2 — Ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic propagation…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 72 words

An ultrasonic probe comprising: an array of transducer elements for transmission of ultrasonic waves into an examined body and for reception of echo waves returning from said examined body; and an ultrasonic propagation medium provided between said transducer element array and said examined body, said ultrasonic prpagation medium being made of a synthetic rubber having an acoustic impedance close to that of said examined body and having a low acoustic attenuation coefficient.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 72 words

An ultrasonic probe comprising: an array of transducer elements for transmission of ultrasonic waves into an examined body and for reception of echo waves returning from said examined body; and an ultrasonic propagation medium provided between said transducer element array and said examined body, said ultrasonic prpagation medium being made of a synthetic rubber having an acoustic impedance close to that of said examined body and having a low acoustic attenuation coefficient.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

An ultrasonic probe as claimed in claim l, wherein said synthetic rubber is one of butadiene rubber, butadiene-styrene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, and acrylic rubber.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

An ultrasonic probe as claimed in claim l, wherein said synthetic rubber contains sulfur, vulcanization accelerator, zinc sulfide, and stearic acid, or one of vulcanizing agent, carbon, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, magnesium oxide, and magnesium carbonate.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

An ultrasonic probe as claimed in claim l, further comprising an acoustic lens which is provided between said transducer element array and said ultrasonic propagation medium, said ultrasonic propagation medium being arranged to come into contact with said examined body.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

An ultrasonic probe as claimed in claim l, further comprising an acoustic lens which is provided on the other surface of said ultrasonic propagation medium opposite to the surface facing said transducer element array so that said acoustic lens comes into contact with said examined body.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 161 words

An ultrasonic probe comprising: first transducer means including an array of transducer elements for transmission of ultrasonic waves into an examined body and for reception of echo waves returning from said examined body; second transducer means including a transducing member for transmission of ultrasonic waves into said examined body and for reception of echo waves returning from said examined body, said second transducer means being disposed such that the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving surface thereof is inclined to make an angle with respect to the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving surface of said transducer element array; and an ultrasonic propagation medium provided in front of at least said second transducer means and having an acoustic impedance close to that of said examined body and having a low acoustic attenuation coefficient, wherein the contact surface of said ultrasonic propagation medium with said examined body and the contact surface of said first transducer means with said examined body are substantially on the same plane.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 161 words

An ultrasonic probe comprising: first transducer means including an array of transducer elements for transmission of ultrasonic waves into an examined body and for reception of echo waves returning from said examined body; second transducer means including a transducing member for transmission of ultrasonic waves into said examined body and for reception of echo waves returning from said examined body, said second transducer means being disposed such that the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving surface thereof is inclined to make an angle with respect to the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving surface of said transducer element array; and an ultrasonic propagation medium provided in front of at least said second transducer means and having an acoustic impedance close to that of said examined body and having a low acoustic attenuation coefficient, wherein the contact surface of said ultrasonic propagation medium with said examined body and the contact surface of said first transducer means with said examined body are substantially on the same plane.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

An ultrasonic probe as claimed in claim 6, wherein said ultrasonic propagation medium is made of one of synthetic rubber, poly methyl pentene, polyethylene, thermoplastic elastomer.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

An ultrasonic probe as claimed in claim 7, wherein said synthetic rubber is one of butadiene rubber, butadiene-styrene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, acrylic rubber and silicon rubber.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 42 words

An ultrasonic probe as claimed in claim 7, wherein said ultrasonic propagation medium comprises a butagiene rubber and contains sulfur, vulcanization accelerator, zinc sulfide and stearic acid, or one of vulcanizing agent, carbon, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, magnesium oxide, and magnesium carbonate.

Ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic propagation medium

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