General Electric Company
MULTILAYER STRUCTURE OF ULTRASONIC PROBE, ULTRASONIC PROBE, AND ULTRASONIC APPARATUS

Abstract:

Object: To provide a multilayer structure of an ultrasonic probe, the multilayer structure being capable of achieving more appropriate acoustic characteristics in accordance with a site from which an ultrasonic image is acquired, a target whose ultrasonic image is to be observed, an object of observing the ultrasonic image, and the like. Solution: A multilayer structure 2 of an ultrasonic probe includes: a piezoelectric layer 4 from which an ultrasonic wave is emitted to a subject; and a back layer 5 disposed on the piezoelectric layer 4 and opposite the subject across the piezoelectric layer 4, the back layer 5 having an acoustic impedance that is different from an acoustic impedance of the piezoelectric layer 4 within a range from -20% to +20%. The back layer 5 is made of a material including a piezoelectric material or brass. A backing layer 6 is disposed on the back layer 5 and opposite the piezoelectric layer 4 across the back layer 5.