PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasound probe which enables the precise detection of the maximum temperature of the entire transducers in a short time by a minimal number of thermal sensors.SOLUTION: The ultrasound probe 1 is equipped with: a plurality of transducers 2 which are arrayed one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally and have one end face forming an ultrasound generating surface a backing 3 integrally mounted on the back side of the transducers to attenuate ultrasound a thermal conduction layer 4 which is formed of a material with thermal conductivity higher than that of the backing and into a reed shape and is set inside the backing in a manner that one side end part makes contact with each transducer arrayed one-dimensionally and that the other side end part is exposed to the back side of the backing or is protruded and the thermal sensor 5 mounted on the other side end part of the thermal conduction layer. An ultrasonograph is equipped with the ultrasound probe and a main body 8 of the ultrasonograph.COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT【課題】最小数の熱センサで、全振動子中の最大温度を短時間で精度良く、検出することができる超音波探触子及びこれを用いた超音波診断装置を提供する。【解決手段】超音波探触子1は、1次元又は2次元に配列され、一方の端面が超音波発生面を形成する複数の振動子2と、これらの振動子の背面側に一体的に装着されて超音波を減衰させるバッキング3と、このバッキングよりも熱伝導率の大きい材料により短冊形に形成され、その一方の側端部が1次元に配列された振動子のそれぞれに接触し、他方の側端部がバッキングの背面側に露呈するか、又は、突出するようにバッキングに貫装された熱伝導層4と、この熱伝導層の他方の側端部に装着された熱センサ5とを備える。超音波診断装置は超音波探触子と超音波診断装置本体8とを備える。【選択図】図1
