PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic probe acquiring high receiving sensitivity by highly efficiently exiting vibration in a thickness mode of an organic piezoelectric layer, and to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic transmission/reception unit 5 in an ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of sheet-like vibrating portions 6a-6d disposed into an array shape. Each vibrating portion 6a-6d is provided with: a membrane 82 formed in a front face side of a substrate 8 and configured that, because of a recessed portion 81a, the thickness becomes thinner than those of other areas in the substrate 8 an inorganic piezoelectric layer 62 having an inorganic piezoelectric material and an organic piezoelectric layer 72 having an organic piezoelectric material. The inorganic piezoelectric layer 62 is formed on the front face of the membrane 82, and the organic piezoelectric layer 72 is formed on the front face of the inorganic piezoelectric layer 62.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】本発明は、有機圧電層の厚さモードの振動が効率よく励起され、高い受信感度が得られる超音波探触子及び超音波診断装置の提供を目的とする。【解決手段】本発明の超音波探触子における超音波送受信部5は、アレイ状に配列された複数のシート状の振動部6a~6dを有する。各振動部6a~6dは、基板8の前面側に、凹部81aによって厚さが基板8における他の領域より薄くなるように形成されたメンブレン82と、無機圧電材料を有する無機圧電層62と、有機圧電材料を有する有機圧電層72とを備える。無機圧電層62は、メンブレン82の前面に形成され、有機圧電層72は、無機圧電層62の前面に形成されている。【選択図】図5
