Probe for ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The probe includes a backing layer, a piezoelectric layer disposed on one side of the backing layer, a matching layer disposed on one side of the piezoelectric layer, a signal connector disposed inside the backing layer to transfer a signal to the piezoelectric layer, and a ground connector disposed outside the signal connector. The backing layer, the piezoelectric layer and the matching layer are sequentially disposed and the signal connector is electrically connected to the piezoelectric layer at the other side of the piezoelectric layer. The probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a stack of the backing layer, the piezoelectric layer and the matching layer, in which the piezoelectric layer is formed to have a certain curvature, thereby achieving performance improvement through minimization of interference from a signal connector and a ground connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
 a backing layer;   a piezoelectric layer disposed on one side of the backing layer;   a matching layer disposed on one side of the piezoelectric layer;   a signal connector disposed inside the backing layer to transfer a signal to the piezoelectric layer; and   a ground connector disposed outside the signal connector, wherein the backing layer, the piezoelectric layer and the matching layer are sequentially disposed and the signal connector is electrically connected to the piezoelectric layer at the other side of the piezoelectric layer,   wherein the backing layer is provided with backing layer electrodes including first and second backing layer electrodes, the piezoelectric layer is provided with a piezoelectric layer electrode contacting the first backing layer electrodes, the matching layer is provided with a matching layer electrode contacting the piezoelectric layer electrode and the second backing layer electrode, and an insulator is provided between the backing layer electrodes to divide the backing layer electrodes into the first and second backing layer electrodes,   wherein the signal connector and the ground connector are connected to the first and second backing layer electrodes, respectively, the signal connector and the ground connector being disposed inside the backing layer and extending in a different direction than a direction of the piezoelectric layer.   
     
     
       2. The probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric layer comprises a convex piezoelectric portion convexly formed towards the piezoelectric layer. 
     
     
       3. The probe according to  claim 2 , wherein the matching layer comprises a convex matching portion convexly formed corresponding to a shape of the convex piezoelectric portion. 
     
     
       4. The probe according to  claim 3 , further comprising: a lens disposed outside the matching layer and formed at one side thereof with a lens convex portion convexly formed corresponding to a shape of the convex matching portion. 
     
     
       5. The probe according to  claim 4 , wherein the other side of the lens opposite the lens convex portion is a planar surface. 
     
     
       6. The probe according to  claim 4 , wherein the other side of the lens opposite the lens convex portion is convex in a different direction from the lens convex portion. 
     
     
       7. The probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal connector and the ground connector are disposed only inside the backing layer. 
     
     
       8. A probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
 a backing layer;   a first backing layer electrode facing the backing layer;   a second backing layer electrode facing the backing layer;   an insulator disposed between the first backing layer electrode and the second backing layer electrode to separate the first backing layer electrode from the second backing layer electrode;   a piezoelectric layer disposed on one side of the backing layer;   a first piezoelectric layer electrode and a second piezoelectric layer electrode disposed on opposite sides of the piezoelectric layer respectively;   the first piezoelectric layer electrode contacting the first backing layer electrode;   a matching layer disposed on one side of the piezoelectric layer;   a matching layer electrode contacting the second piezoelectric layer electrode and the second backing layer electrode;   a signal connector disposed inside the backing layer to transfer a signal to the piezoelectric layer, wherein the signal connector is connected to the first backing layer electrode; and   a ground connector disposed outside the signal connector, wherein the ground connector is connected to the second backing layer electrode,   wherein the backing layer, the piezoelectric layer and the matching layer are sequentially disposed and the signal connector is electrically connected to the piezoelectric layer at the other side of the piezoelectric layer, and   the signal connector and the ground connector are disposed inside the backing layer and extending in a different direction than a direction of the piezoelectric layer.   
     
     
       9. The probe according to claim 8, wherein the piezoelectric layer comprises a convex piezoelectric portion convexly formed towards the backing layer. 
     
     
       10. The probe according to claim 9, wherein the matching layer comprises a convex matching portion convexly formed corresponding to a shape of the convex piezoelectric portion. 
     
     
       11. The probe according to claim 10, further comprising: a lens disposed outside the matching layer and formed at one side of the lens with a lens convex portion convexly formed corresponding to a shape of the convex matching portion. 
     
     
       12. The probe according to claim 11, wherein the other side of the lens opposite the lens convex portion is a planar surface. 
     
     
       13. The probe according to claim 11, wherein the other side of the lens opposite the lens convex portion is convex in a different direction from the lens convex portion. 
     
     
       14. The probe according to claim 8, wherein the signal connector and the ground connector are disposed only inside the backing layer. 
     
     
       15. The probe according to claim 8, wherein the backing layer suppresses vibration of the piezoelectric layer to reduce a pulse width of ultrasound waves and blocks the ultrasound waves from traveling in a rearward direction of the piezoelectric layer to prevent image distortion. 
     
     
       16. The probe according to claim 15, wherein the piezoelectric layer generates ultrasound waves using a resonance phenomenon. 
     
     
       17. The probe according to claim 10, wherein the piezoelectric convex portion has the same width as that of the backing layer or a smaller width than the backing layer. 
     
     
       18. The probe according to claim 8, wherein the signal connector and the ground connector include printed circuit boards for supplying a signal or electric power. 
     
     
       19. The probe according to claim 8, wherein the insulator consist of insulator members separated from each other to separate the first backing layer electrode connected to the signal connector and the second backing layer electrode connected to the ground connector. 
     
     
       20. The probe according to claim 8, wherein the piezoelectric layer electrode surrounds piezoelectric layer.