Abstract At the bottom of a receptacle for medical examinations which is filled with warm water, there is an ultrasonic probe swinging along the bottom face for sector-shaped mechanical scanning and also for electronic scanning in a longitudinal direction at right angles to the mechanical scanning direction. Immersed in the warm water, an ultrasonic-wave transmitting flexible membrane is stretched across the receptacle above the ultrasonic probe. This membrane is provided with a plurality of pores through which the warm water passes. A breast to be examined is pressed against the membrane while it is immersed in the warm water, and a sectional image of the breast is displayed on a display unit by means of the ultrasonic probe.
An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus comprising: a receptacle containing a liquid; an ultrasonic-wave transmitting flexible membrane stretched across said receptacle under the surface of the liquid and having a passage portion through which the liquid passes freely; an ultrasonic probe disposed in the liquid in said receptacle; and a means for displaying and recording sectional information on a patient provided by said ultrasonic probe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus comprising: a receptacle containing a liquid; an ultrasonic-wave transmitting flexible membrane stretched across said receptacle under the surface of the liquid and having a passage portion through which the liquid passes freely; an ultrasonic probe disposed in the liquid in said receptacle; and a means for displaying and recording sectional information on a patient provided by said ultrasonic probe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said liquid passage portion consists of notches formed at the four corners of said membrane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said liquid passage portion consists of a number of pores formed in said membrane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said membrane is a net.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid in said receptacle is warm water and including means for compulsively circulating said water through a constant-temperature water bath.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said membrane is formed of one of vinyl chloride, rubber and polyethylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic probe has its end supported by a rotating shaft penetrating through the bottom of said receptacle, and is formed of a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in a straight line in parallel with the bottom of said receptacle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said membrane is transparent to visible light.