JP2012228413A - Probe protector and ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a probe protector capable of surely protecting a probe acoustic surface of an ultrasonic probe.SOLUTION: A protector body 6 which has a cylindrical shape and to which a part of a probe casing 3 of the ultrasonic probe 2 is inserted is advanced and retracted between a probe protecting position where the probe acoustic surface 4 is retracted inside the cylinder and a probe using position where the probe acoustic surface 4 is exposed outside the cylinder, along an outer peripheral surface of the casing 3 of the ultrasonic probe 2, and a locking mechanism 7 selectively locks the protector body 6 to the probe protecting position and the probe using position with respect to the casing 3 of the ultrasonic probe 2.

Description

  The present invention relates to a probe protector and an ultrasonic probe, and more particularly to a probe protector that protects a probe acoustic surface of an ultrasonic probe.

  Conventionally, in the medical field, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using an ultrasonic image has been put into practical use. In general, this type of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has an ultrasonic probe with a built-in transducer array and an apparatus main body connected to the ultrasonic probe, and is directed from the ultrasonic probe into the subject. An ultrasonic image is generated by transmitting an ultrasonic beam, receiving an ultrasonic echo from the subject with an ultrasonic probe, and electrically processing the received signal with the apparatus main body.

  A probe acoustic surface is disposed in front of the transducer array built in the ultrasonic probe. The probe acoustic surface is disposed so as to be exposed on the surface of the housing of the ultrasonic probe so as to be in contact with the subject, and is likely to come into contact when the ultrasonic probe is moved. Further, the probe acoustic surface is formed of a fragile material, and there is a possibility that the probe acoustic surface is damaged by a contact impact or the transducer array installed inside is damaged. Therefore, a probe protector that protects the probe acoustic surface of the ultrasonic probe has been developed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a probe protector in which a tip portion of a probe acoustic surface is opened and another probe acoustic surface is coated and fixed to an ultrasonic probe.

JP 2009-34212 A

  Since the probe protector of patent document 1 is closely_contact | adhered to the front-end | tip of an ultrasonic probe, it can relieve the impact in the case of contact. However, since the tip portion of the probe acoustic surface is always open, there is a possibility that the probe acoustic surface may be damaged due to direct contact with the tip portion.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and provides a probe protector capable of reliably protecting the probe acoustic surface of an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic probe including the probe protector. With the goal.

  A probe protector according to the present invention is a probe protector that protects a probe acoustic surface of an ultrasonic probe in which a transducer array for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject is disposed, and includes a housing for the ultrasonic probe. The probe has a cylindrical shape into which a part of the body is inserted and the probe acoustic position is retracted to the inside of the cylinder, and the probe use position exposes the probe acoustic surface to the outside of the cylinder. A protector body capable of advancing and retreating along the outer peripheral surface of the housing of the acoustic probe, and a lock mechanism for selectively locking the protector body to the probe protection position and the probe use position with respect to the housing of the ultrasonic probe. Is provided.

Here, the locking mechanism may be provided on at least one of both side portions facing the arrangement direction of the transducer array.
Further, the lock mechanism is positioned between the ultrasonic probe and the protector body, is fixed to the housing of the ultrasonic probe, and has a lock auxiliary member having a projecting surface extending in the advance / retreat direction of the protector body, A contact member that is supported by the inner surface of the protector body and contacts the projection surface; and a contact member that is movable between the protector body and the contact member in a forward / backward direction of the protector body; A locking member having a concave portion and a convex portion formed on a surface in contact with each other, and the abutting member is moved to a position where the convex portion of the locking member and the abutting member face each other. The locked state in which the forward / backward movement of the protector body is locked by pressing the projection surface, and the lock member is moved to a position where the concave portion of the lock member and the contact member face each other. It is preferable that the pressing of the projection surface by the abutment member is released is switched to the released state to be able to advance and retreat the protector body.

In addition, the projection surface of the lock assisting member has a first recess and a second recess that are spaced apart from each other in the advancing / retreating direction of the protector body, and the contact member is in the first recess. Preferably, the protector body is positioned at the probe use position when contacted, and the protector body is positioned at the probe protection position when the contact member is contacted with the second recess.
The contact member includes a support rod biased toward the projection surface, and a disk portion attached to the support rod and abutted against the projection surface, wherein the disk portion is It is preferable that the biasing force of the support rod engages with the first recess at the probe use position and engages with the second recess at the probe protection position.

The protector body is formed with a long hole extending in the advancing / retreating direction of the protector body, and the lock member is connected to a lock lever penetrating the long hole, and the lock lever is connected to one end of the long hole. It is preferable that the locked state or the released state is switched by moving to the side or the other end side.
The concave portion and the convex portion of the lock member can be arranged side by side in the advance / retreat direction of the protector body.

The lock mechanism may include a lock member that locks the advancement / retraction of the protector body by frictional engagement with a housing of the ultrasonic probe.
In addition, the lock mechanism is configured to move the protector body forward and backward by elastically engaging a recess formed on one of the protector body and the housing of the ultrasonic probe with a protrusion formed on the other. You may lock it.

  An ultrasonic probe according to the present invention includes any one of the probe protectors described above.

  According to the present invention, the protector body is selectively locked at the probe protection position and the probe use position, so that the probe acoustic surface of the ultrasonic probe can be reliably protected.

The ultrasonic probe provided with the probe protector which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is shown, (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view. The principal part of a probe protector is shown, (A) is front sectional drawing, (B) is side sectional drawing. The ultrasonic probe in Embodiment 1 is shown, (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view. It is a side view which shows the lock | rock auxiliary member attached to the ultrasonic probe. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the probe protector locked in the probe protection position. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the probe protector retracted | retreated with respect to an ultrasonic probe. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the probe protector located in a probe use position. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the probe protector locked in the probe use position. The probe protector which concerns on Embodiment 2 is shown, (A) is front fragmentary sectional drawing of the probe protector locked in the probe protection position, (B) is front fragmentary sectional drawing of the probe protector locked in the probe use position. . The probe protector which concerns on Embodiment 3 is shown, (A) is a front fragmentary sectional view of the probe protector locked in the probe protection position, (B) is a front fragmentary sectional view of the probe protector locked in the probe use position. .

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
1A and 1B show a configuration of an ultrasonic probe 2 provided with a probe protector 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The ultrasonic probe 2 includes a housing 3 and a probe acoustic surface 4 at the tip of the housing 3. A transducer array 5 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is arranged inside the probe acoustic surface 4.

  The probe protector 1 has a cylindrical shape into which a part of the casing 3 of the ultrasonic probe 2 is inserted, and a protector main body 6 that can advance and retreat along the outer peripheral surface of the casing 3 of the ultrasonic probe 2. And a lock mechanism 7 that locks the protector body 6 forward and backward. Long holes 8 extending in the advancing / retreating direction of the protector body 6 are formed on both side surfaces of the protector body 6 facing the arrangement direction of the transducer array 5, and the locking lever 9 of the lock mechanism 7 is externally provided from each of the long holes 8. Protruding.

  The lock mechanism 7 is configured so that the advance / retreat of the protector body 6 is locked with respect to the ultrasonic probe 2 by operating the lock lever 9, as shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B). The ultrasonic probe 2 is provided on the side surface 21 facing the arrangement direction of the transducer array 5. The lock mechanism 7 is positioned between the ultrasonic probe 2 and the protector main body 6 and is fixed to the housing 3 of the ultrasonic probe 2. The lock mechanism 7 is supported by the inner surface of the protector main body 6 and lock assist. It has the contact member 11 which contact | abuts the member 10, and the lock member 12 located so that a movement in the advancing / retreating direction of the protector main body 6 is possible between the protector main body 6 and the contact member 11.

  The lock assisting member 10 is fixed to the housing 3 of the ultrasonic probe 2, and the side surface of the lock assisting member 10 is disposed so as to extend in the advancing / retreating direction of the protector body 6 along the side surface 21 of the housing 3. A protruding surface 13 protruding from the body 3 is formed. In addition, recesses 14 a and 14 b are formed on the projection surface 13 of the lock assisting member 10 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the forward / backward direction of the protector body 6.

The contact member 11 is supported by the protector body 6 and is urged toward the projection surface 13 of the lock auxiliary member 10. The contact member 11 is rotatably attached to the tip of the support rod 16 and is attached to the projection surface 13. And a disk portion 17 to be abutted.
The lock member 12 has a concave portion 18 and a convex portion 19 formed on the surface of the contact member 11 facing the disc portion 17. The concave portion 18 and the convex portion 19 are arranged side by side in the forward / backward direction of the protector body 6. Further, a locking lever 9 is connected to the locking member 12, and the locking member 9 is moved in the advancing and retreating direction of the protector body 6 by operating the locking lever 9 penetrating the elongated hole 8 along the elongated hole 8. Moved.

Further, a back pressing plate 20 for stabilizing the movement of the lock member 12 is disposed between the housing 3 of the ultrasonic probe 2 and the lock member 12.
2 shows the locking mechanism 7 provided on one side surface 21 of the side surfaces 21 facing the arrangement direction of the transducer array 5 of the ultrasonic probe 2, the other side surface 21 is also shown. A lock mechanism 7 configured similarly is provided.

Next, an operation for attaching the probe protector 1 to the ultrasonic probe 2 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, side projections 22 are formed on both side surfaces 21 of the casing 3 of the ultrasonic probe 2. By fitting the side projection 22 into the engagement hole of the lock assisting member 10 of the lock mechanism 7, the lock assisting member 10 is fixed to the housing 3 of the ultrasonic probe 2 as shown in FIG. 4. Thereby, the protrusion surface 13 extended in the advancing / retreating direction of the protector main body 6 along the both side surfaces 22 of the housing 3 is formed.
Subsequently, by inserting the ultrasonic probe 2 into the cylinder of the protector body 6, the disk portion 17 of the contact member 11 is also moved in the advancing / retreating direction of the protector body 6 along the projection surface 13, as shown in FIG. As shown, the probe protector 1 is attached to the ultrasonic probe 2.

Next, the operation of the probe protector 1 attached to the ultrasonic probe 2 will be described.
When protecting the probe acoustic surface 4 of the ultrasonic probe 2, as shown in FIG. 2, the disk portion 17 of the contact member 11 contacts the recess 14 b formed on the projection surface 13 of the lock assisting member 10. Thus, the protector body 6 is moved relative to the ultrasonic probe 2. As a result, the protector body 6 is positioned at the probe protection position where the probe acoustic surface 4 of the ultrasonic probe 2 is retracted inside the tube of the protector body 6. In this state, the operator moves the locking lever 9 to one end side of the long hole 8, so that the convex portion 19 of the locking member 12 and the disc portion 17 of the abutting member 11 face each other as shown in FIG. When the lock member 12 is moved, the convex portion 19 presses the disc portion 17, and accordingly, the disc portion 17 is engaged with the recess 14 b of the projection surface 13 of the lock assisting member 10 and the protector main body 6. It will be in the locked state where advance and retreat are locked.

  This locked state is released by the operator moving the locking lever 9 to the other end side of the long hole 8 and moving the locking member 12 to a position where the concave portion 18 of the locking member 12 and the disc portion 17 face each other. Is done. That is, when the locking member 12 is moved to a position where the concave portion 18 and the disk portion 17 face each other, the pressure on the disk portion 17 by the locking member 12 is released, and accordingly, the lock assisting member by the disk portion 17 is released. The engagement of the ten projection surfaces 13 with respect to the recess 14b is also released, so that the protector body 6 can be moved forward and backward.

Subsequently, when the ultrasonic probe 2 is used, as shown in FIG. 6, the protector body 6 is retracted along the outer peripheral surface of the casing 3 of the ultrasonic probe 2 in the released state. As the protector body 6 moves backward with respect to the ultrasonic probe 2, the disk portion 17 of the contact member 11 also moves backward while contacting the projection surface 13. At this time, the support rod 16 of the contact member 11 is inclined in the direction of the lock member 12 against the urging force. As shown in FIG. 7, when the disc portion 17 reaches the position of the depression 14a formed in the projection surface 13, the support rod 16 is moved in the direction of the projection surface 13 by the urging force, and the disc portion 17 is moved to the depression 14a. Is engaged. By the engagement between the two, the protector body 6 is positioned at a probe use position where the probe acoustic surface 4 of the ultrasonic probe 2 is exposed to the outside of the tube of the protector body 6.
In this manner, the depressions 14 a and 14 b corresponding to the probe use position and the probe protection position of the protector body 6 are formed on the projection surface 13, and the abutting member 11 is biased so as to abut on the projection surface 13. Therefore, a click feeling is obtained when the protector body 6 is located at each position, and the operator can accurately sense the position of the protector body 6 without relying on vision.

When the lock lever 9 is moved to one end side of the long hole 8 after the protector body 6 is positioned at the probe use position, as shown in FIG. 8, the convex portion 19 of the lock member 12 and the disc of the contact member 11 The lock member 12 is moved so that the portion 17 faces, and the locked state is obtained.
In this way, the protector body 6 is advanced and retracted between the probe use position and the probe protection position, and the lock mechanism 7 selectively locks the protector body 6 with respect to the housing 3 of the ultrasonic probe 2 at each position. Therefore, for example, the protector body 6 can be prevented from being locked at an incorrect position, for example, the position where the probe acoustic surface 4 of the ultrasonic probe 2 is exposed is set as a probe protection position. Further, since the protector body 6 can be locked at a position where the probe acoustic surface 4 of the ultrasonic probe 2 is exposed, the ultrasonic probe 2 can be used for ultrasonic diagnosis with the probe protector 1 attached. Furthermore, by installing the lock mechanism 7 on the side surface 21 of the ultrasonic probe 2, the thickness of the probe protector 1 can be reduced in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the transducer array 5. The operator often observes the subject from the arrangement direction of the transducer array 5 of the ultrasonic probe 2, and can inhibit the operator's visual field from being obstructed by the thickness of the probe protector 1.

  The lock mechanism 7 may be installed only on one side surface 21 of the side surfaces 21 of the ultrasonic probe 2 as long as the position of the protector body 6 can be locked with respect to the ultrasonic probe 2.

Embodiment 2
9A and 9B show a configuration of an ultrasonic probe 32 including the probe protector 31 according to the second embodiment. This ultrasonic probe 32 is obtained by removing the side protrusion 22 from the ultrasonic probe 2 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The probe protector 31 includes a protector main body 34 in which a tapered lock groove 33 is formed on the inner surface facing the side surface 21 of the ultrasonic probe 32, and the protector main body 34 by frictional engagement with the housing 3 of the ultrasonic probe 32. And a lock mechanism 35 for locking the advance and retreat.
The lock groove 33 of the protector body 34 is connected to the long hole 8. The lock mechanism 35 includes a lock member 36 whose surface facing the protector body 34 is inclined according to the lock groove 33 and whose surface facing the ultrasonic probe 32 extends along the housing 3. And a locking lever 9 which is connected and protrudes from the long hole 8 to the outside.

When protecting the probe acoustic surface 4 of the ultrasonic probe 32, as shown in FIG. 9A, the locking lever 9 is moved to one end side of the long hole 8, and the locking member 36 is moved to the locking groove accordingly. The side surface 21 of the ultrasonic probe 32 is pressed by the lock member 36 after being moved to a shallow position 33. As described above, the protector body 34 is locked at the probe protection position by the frictional engagement of the lock member 36 with the ultrasonic probe 32.
In this locked state, when the locking lever 9 is moved to the other end side of the long hole 8, the locking member 36 is moved to a deep position in the locking groove 33, and the pressing of the ultrasonic probe 32 by the locking member 36 is removed. It is canceled by this.
Subsequently, when using the ultrasonic probe 32, as shown in FIG. 9B, the protector main body is located at the probe use position where the probe acoustic surface 4 of the ultrasonic probe 32 is exposed outside the cylinder of the protector main body 34. Similarly, the position of the protector main body 34 is locked by moving the locking lever 9 to one end side of the long hole 8.

Thus, since the position of the protector body 34 is locked by frictional engagement with the ultrasonic probe 32, the probe protector 31 can be attached even if the ultrasonic probe 32 does not have the side protrusions 22. Further, by installing the lock mechanism 35 on the side surface 21 of the ultrasonic probe 32, the thickness of the probe protector 31 can be reduced in the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the ultrasonic transducer array 5.
The surface of the lock member 36 facing the ultrasonic probe 32 is preferably subjected to a treatment that improves the frictional force such as roughening.

Embodiment 3
FIGS. 10A and 10B show the configuration of an ultrasonic probe 42 provided with the probe protector 41 according to the third embodiment. This ultrasonic probe 42 is a convex portion in which the side surface protrusion 22 is removed and the side surface 21 of the housing 3 is urged outward by a spring 47 in the ultrasonic probe 2 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. A member 43 is provided. The probe protector 41 includes a protector main body 45 having recesses 44a and 44b formed on the inner surface facing the side surface 21 of the ultrasonic probe 42 so as to be separated from each other. The convex member 43 of the ultrasonic probe 42 locks the advance / retreat of the protector main body 34 by elastically engaging with the concave portion 44 a or 44 b of the protector main body 45. The convex member 43 and the concave portions 44a and 44b constitute the lock mechanism 46 in the present embodiment.

When protecting the probe acoustic surface 4 of the ultrasonic probe 42, as shown in FIG. 10A, the ultrasonic probe so that the concave portion 44 a of the protector body 45 and the convex portion member 43 of the ultrasonic probe 42 face each other. The protector main body 45 is moved with respect to 42 and the concave portion 44a and the convex portion member 43 are elastically engaged with each other, whereby the protector main body 45 is locked at the probe protection position.
This locked state is released by moving the protector body 45 forward and backward with respect to the ultrasonic probe 42 so as to press the convex member 43 on the inner surface of the protector body 45.
Subsequently, when the ultrasonic probe 42 is used, as shown in FIG. 10B, the ultrasonic probe 42 is placed so that the concave portion 44b of the protector body 45 and the convex member 43 of the ultrasonic probe 42 face each other. On the other hand, the protector main body 45 is moved, and the protector main body 45 is locked at the probe use position by elastically engaging the concave portion 44b and the convex portion member 43.

In this way, by installing the lock mechanism 46 on the side surface 21 of the ultrasonic probe 42, the thickness of the probe protector 41 can be reduced in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the ultrasonic transducer array 5.
The lock mechanism 46 is urged toward the ultrasonic probe 42 by two springs formed on the side surface 21 of the housing 3 of the ultrasonic probe 42 so as to be separated from each other, and the inner surface of the protector main body 45 by a spring. You may comprise by the convex part member.

  1, 31, 41 Probe protector, 2, 32, 42 transducer probe, 3 housing, 4 probe acoustic surface, 5 transducer array, 6, 34, 45 protector body, 7, 35, 46 lock mechanism, 8 long hole , 9 Lock lever, 10 Lock auxiliary member, 11 Contact member, 12, 36 Lock member, 13 Projection surface, 14a, 14b Recess, 16 Support rod, 17 Disc part, 18 Concave part, 19 Convex part, 20 Back presser Plate, 21 side, 22 side protrusion, 33 lock groove, 43 convex member, 44a, 44b concave, 47 spring.

Claims (10)

A probe protector that protects the probe acoustic surface of an ultrasonic probe in which a transducer array for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject is disposed,
A probe protection position that has a cylindrical shape into which a part of the housing of the ultrasonic probe is inserted and that retracts the probe acoustic surface to the inside of the cylinder, and a probe use position that exposes the probe acoustic surface to the outside of the cylinder A protector main body capable of moving forward and backward along the outer peripheral surface of the housing of the ultrasonic probe,
A probe protector comprising: a lock mechanism that selectively locks the protector body to the probe protection position and the probe use position with respect to the housing of the ultrasonic probe.   The probe protector according to claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is provided on at least one of both side portions facing the arrangement direction of the transducer array. The locking mechanism is
A lock assisting member that is positioned between the ultrasonic probe and the protector body and is fixed to the housing of the ultrasonic probe and has a protruding surface extending in the advancing and retracting direction of the protector body;
An abutting member supported by the inner surface of the protector body and abutting against the protruding surface;
A lock member that is positioned so as to be movable in the advancing and retreating direction of the protector body between the protector body and the contact member, and that has a recess and a protrusion formed on a surface that contacts the contact member;
A locked state where the locking member is moved to a position where the convex portion of the locking member and the contact member face each other, so that the contact member presses the projection surface and the advance / retreat of the protector body is locked; The lock member is moved to a position where the concave portion of the lock member and the contact member face each other, so that the pressing of the projection surface by the contact member is released and the protector body can be moved forward and backward. The probe protector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the probe protector is switched.   The projecting surface of the lock assisting member has a first recess and a second recess that are spaced apart from each other in the advancing / retreating direction of the protector body, and the contact member abuts on the first recess. The probe according to claim 3, wherein the protector body is positioned at the probe use position, and the protector body is positioned at the probe protection position when the contact member is contacted with the second recess. Protector. The contact member includes a support rod biased toward the projection surface, and a disc portion that is attached to the support rod and contacts the projection surface,
5. The disk portion according to claim 4, wherein the disk portion is engaged with the first recess at the probe use position and is engaged with the second recess at the probe protection position by the biasing force of the support rod. Probe protector.   The protector body is formed with a long hole extending in the advancing / retreating direction of the protector body, and the lock member is connected to a lock lever penetrating the long hole, and the lock lever is connected to one end side of the long hole or The probe protector according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the locked state or the released state is switched by being moved to the other end side.   The probe protector according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the concave portion and the convex portion of the lock member are arranged side by side in a forward / backward direction of the protector body.   The probe protector according to claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism includes a lock member that locks the advance / retreat of the protector main body by frictional engagement with a housing of the ultrasonic probe.   The lock mechanism locks the advance / retreat of the protector body by elastically engaging a recess formed on one of the protector body and the housing of the ultrasonic probe with a protrusion formed on the other. The probe protector according to claim 1 or 2.   The ultrasonic probe provided with the probe protector as described in any one of Claims 1-9.

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