1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an ultrasound probe for generating images of the inside of a subject using ultrasonic waves.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ultrasound diagnostic system includes a noninvasive apparatus that irradiates an ultrasound signal to a body surface at a target organ in the body and obtains cross-sectional images of, for example, soft tissue and blood flow.
Compared to other imaging diagnostic systems such as X-ray diagnostic systems, computed tomography (CT) scanners, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and diagnostic systems for nuclear medicine, the ultrasound diagnostic system may have a compact size and low price, display images in real time, and provide a high level of safety by eliminating exposure to radiation. For at least these reasons, an ultrasound diagnostic system has been widely used for diagnosis in, for example, cardiac medicine, abdominal imaging, urology, obstetrics and gynecology.
The ultrasound diagnostic system includes an ultrasound probe which transmits an ultrasound signal to a subject and receives an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the subject to obtain an ultrasound image of the subject.
The ultrasound probe includes a piezoelectric layer of piezoelectric materials which convert electric signals into sound signals (e.g., acoustic), and vice versa, through vibration of the piezoelectric materials, a matching layer to reduce a difference in acoustic impedance between the piezoelectric layer and the subject to allow ultrasonic waves transmitted from the piezoelectric layer to be transferred to the subject as much as possible, and a lens to focus the ultrasonic waves traveling from the front of the piezoelectric layer on a specific point, and a backing layer to block the ultrasonic waves from traveling in an opposite direction from the rear of the piezoelectric layer to prevent image distortion.