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Abstract

By providing an ultrasonic irradiation apparatus for generating acoustic cavitation efficiently, it is intended to realize an ultrasonic therapeutic apparatus for generating the action of cavitation on a living body suitable for medical treatment of malignant tumors and medical treatment of thrombi and calculi, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for generating cavitation for emphasizing an ultrasonic echo image such as a blood flow and utilizing the reflection capability of the cavitation, an ultrasonic chemical reaction accelerating apparatus, an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus or an ultrasonic sterilizing apparatus. Irradiation focus/code signals for defining irradiated acoustic fields of a fundamental wave and a second harmonic wave as well as focus positions/acoustic pressure distribution forms of the respective waves are applied from an irradiation unit main control circuit to drive phase generating circuits. Generated drive phases are applied to drive signal generating circuits, generated drive signals are applied to element drive circuits and a group of fundamental frequency elements and a group of second harmonic elements are driven. The drive phases are controlled such that the fundamental wave and second harmonic wave are superimposed on each other in a medium near a focal point, thus generating acoustic caviation locally and efficiently.

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First Claim