PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic probe which is inexpensive and is weighted in a highly reliable manner.SOLUTION: The ultrasound probe has a piezoelectric vibrator and a layer the piezoelectric vibrator sends and receives ultrasonic waves. The layer is bonded to the back surface of the piezoelectric vibrator on the side opposite to the surface on the side where ultrasonic waves are sent and received, has a greater acoustic impedance and Youngs modulus than the piezoelectric vibrator, and has a plurality of grooves disposed so that the groove openings thereof may be directed toward the back surface of the piezoelectric vibrator. The plurality of grooves are formed so that the proportion of the volume of the layer occupied by the capacity of the grooves may increase in the direction from the central part of the back surface of the piezoelectric vibrator toward the end part.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】安価でかつ高い信頼性で重み付けがされた超音波プローブを提供する。【解決手段】実施形態の超音波プローブは、圧電振動子及び層を有し、圧電振動子は超音波を送受信する。層は、圧電振動子の超音波を送受信する側の面とは反対側の背面に接合され、圧電振動子よりも大きな音響インピーダンス及びヤング率を有し、圧電振動子の背面にその溝口を向けるように配置された複数の溝を有し、複数の溝は、溝の容積が層の体積に対して占める割合を圧電振動子の背面の中央部から端部に沿う方向に増加させるように形成される。【選択図】図1
