COMPOSITE PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL, ULTRASONIC PROBE, ULTRASONIC ENDOSCOPE AND ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a composite piezoelectric material capable of reducing the peak temperature of a vibrator array used for transmitting or receiving ultrasonic waves in ultrasonic imaging, and an ultrasonic probe or the like using it. SOLUTION: The composite piezoelectric material comprises a plurality of piezoelectric bodies arranged along a plane or a curved surface, and an anisotropic heat conductive body arranged between the plurality of piezoelectric bodies and/or on the outer peripheral part of the plurality of piezoelectric bodies and provided with a high heat conductive rate in at least one direction. Also, the ultrasonic probe comprises the vibrator array including the composite piezoelectric material, an acoustic matching layer and/or an acoustic lens arranged on the first surface of the vibrator array, and a backing material arranged on a second surface opposing the first surface of the vibrator array. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT