Ultrasonic probe
View Patent ↗An ultrasonic probe has a probe proper, a connector and a cable for electrically connecting between the probe proper and the connector. The probe proper includes a transducer that converts between ultrasonic wave and electricity, and a phase change member having a property to cause a phase change of from solid to liquid at a particular temperature reached in an operation time period of the transducer and a phase change of from liquid to solid at lower than the particular temperature.
1. An ultrasonic probe having a probe proper, a connector and a cable for electrically connecting between the probe proper and the connector, the ultrasonic probe wherein the probe proper comprises:
a transducer that converts between ultrasonic wave and electricity; and
a phase change member having a property to cause a phase change of from solid to liquid at a particular temperature reached in an operation time period of the transducer and a phase change of from liquid to solid at lower than the particular temperature,
wherein the probe proper further has a probe housing accommodating the transducer, the phase change member having a removality from the probe housing.
2. An ultrasonic probe having a probe proper, a connector and a cable for electrically connecting between the probe proper and the connector, the ultrasonic probe wherein the probe proper comprises:
a transducer that converts between ultrasonic wave and electricity; and
a phase change member having a property to cause a phase change of from solid to liquid at a particular temperature reached in an operation time period of the transducer and a phase change of from liquid to solid at lower than the particular temperature,
wherein the probe proper further has a probe housing accommodating the transducer,
the phase change member being received in a recess formed in a side surface of the probe housing.
3. An ultrasonic probe having a probe proper, a connector and a cable for electrically connecting between the probe proper and the connector, the ultrasonic probe wherein the probe proper comprises:
a transducer that converts between ultrasonic wave and electricity; and
a phase change member having a property to cause a phase change of from solid to liquid at a particular temperature reached in an operation time period of the transducer and a phase change of from liquid to solid at lower than the particular temperature,
wherein the phase change member is connected to the transducer through a heat pipe.
4. An ultrasonic probe having a probe proper, a connector and a cable for electrically connecting between the probe proper and the connector, the ultrasonic probe wherein the probe proper comprises:
a transducer that converts between ultrasonic wave and electricity; and
a phase change member having a property to cause a phase change of from solid to liquid at a particular temperature reached in an operation time period of the transducer and a phase change of from liquid to solid at lower than the particular temperature,
wherein the probe proper further has a probe housing accommodating the transducer and a magnetic-shield member formed on an inner surface of the probe housing,
the phase change member being connected to the transducer through the magnetic-shield member.
5. An ultrasonic probe having a probe proper, a connector and a cable for electrically connecting between the probe proper and the connector, the ultrasonic probe wherein the probe proper comprises:
a transducer that converts between ultrasonic wave and electricity; and
a phase change member having a property to cause a phase change of from solid to liquid at a particular temperature reached in an operation time period of the transducer and a phase change of from liquid to solid at lower than the particular temperature,
wherein the probe proper further has a probe housing accommodating the transducer and a cooler arranged in the probe housing,
the phase change member being placed in contact with a heat dissipation surface of the cooler.
6. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 5 , wherein the cooler has a Peltier device.
7. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 5 , wherein the cooler is a heat exchanger of a cooling mechanism of a coolant-circulation type.