JP3851743B2 - Electronic scanning ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe comprising an ultrasonic transducer formed by arranging a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and a coaxial cable in which ultrafine core wires connected to these piezoelectric elements are grouped together.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the medical field, the ultrasonic pulse is repeatedly transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer into the living tissue, and the echo of the ultrasonic pulse reflected from the living tissue is received by the ultrasonic transducer provided in the same or separate body, Various ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses that display information collected from a plurality of directions in a living body as ultrasonic tomographic images of visible images by gradually shifting the direction in which the ultrasonic pulses are transmitted and received have been proposed.
[0003]
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is configured to send and receive ultrasonic pulses by connecting an ultrasonic probe equipped with an ultrasonic transducer to the apparatus body. An acoustic probe, an in-body ultrasonic probe inserted into a body cavity, and the like are widely used.
[0004]
In order to obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image with the ultrasonic probe, it is necessary to scan an area to be observed and synthesize ultrasonic signals at many positions. There are two types of ultrasonic scanning methods. One is an electronic scanning method in which a plurality of minute piezoelectric elements constituting an ultrasonic transducer are switched by an electronic circuit and sequentially driven, and the other is It is a mechanical scanning type that drives while moving one ultrasonic transducer mechanically.
In the electronic scanning type, for example, 96 or 128 micro piezoelectric elements are arranged to form an ultrasonic vibrator, and a signal line is connected to each piezoelectric element.
[0005]
For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-9613 discloses a plurality of transducers arranged in a convex shape and emitting ultrasonic beams for the purpose of shortening the wiring work time and reducing the probe size, and connected to these transducers. In an ultrasonic probe provided with a multi-core cable, a land having a wiring pattern connected to a vibrator is provided on one surface, and the other surface is electrically isolated from the peripheral portion of the through hole of the land. An ultrasonic probe is disclosed in which a connection board provided with a conductor portion is prepared, a core wire is connected to the land, and a shield wire is connected to the conductor portion.
[0006]
In addition, in Japanese Patent No. 2517331, a plurality of piezoelectric pieces having electrodes formed on both main surfaces and one main surface of the piezoelectric pieces are attached in order to enable small and high-density array mounting. A backing material to be arranged, a first flexible board having a conductive path connected to an electrode on one main surface of the piezoelectric piece, and the piezoelectric piece connected to the conductive path of the first flexible board for each block. An ultrasonic probe comprising a plurality of second flexible substrates that are overlapped and extended in the direction in which they are arranged is shown.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the ultrasonic probe disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-9613, a land is provided on one surface and a conductor portion is provided on the other surface. Therefore, when connecting the core wire to the land, the shield wire is used as a conductor. Since the surface of the connection board must be changed each time when connecting, work efficiency and soldering reliability were poor.
[0008]
In the ultrasonic probe disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2517331, since the terminal area of the first flexible substrate and the terminal area of the second flexible substrate are arranged in the same direction, the terminal areas are electrically connected to each other. In order to do so, the electrical connection had to be made through the hole provided in the terminal region of the second flexible substrate, so the reliability of the electrical connection fixing was poor. In addition, by overlapping the second flexible substrate, the distance in the height direction between the second flexible substrate and the first flexible substrate that are arranged in an overlapping manner gradually increases, so that the terminal regions The electrical connection becomes difficult, and the electrical reliability may be reduced.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is easy to connect the piezoelectric element constituting the ultrasonic transducer and the core wire of each coaxial cable constituting the signal cable, and electronic scanning with high electrical reliability. It aims to provide a type ultrasonic probe.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The electronic scanning ultrasonic probe of the present invention has a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged side by side.Formed by arrangingAn ultrasonic transducer and a signal cable that is electrically connected to each of the piezoelectric elements, and that is formed of a group of ultra-fine coaxial cables that transmit transmission pulses and transmit reception pulses of reflected echoes from the subject;,The ultrasonic transducerAn oscillator connection substrate having a hard portion that comes into contact with at least the ultrasonic transducer and is arranged so as to be in contact with the ultrasonic transducer along the arrangement direction of the plurality of piezoelectric elements in the An element connecting portion that can be electrically connected to each piezoelectric element, and a plurality of electrode connecting portions arranged on both side surfaces of the hard portion in the arrangement direction of the piezoelectric elements.A vibrator connection board;Arranged on both sides of the vibrator connection substrate,A signal line connecting portion to which a core wire and a shielded wire included in the coaxial cable of the signal cable are connected is provided on one side.A cable connection board comprising a plurality of electrode portions protruding from the cable connection board so as to be connectable to the plurality of electrode connection parts.Cable connection board andIt is characterized by comprising.
[0011]
According to this configuration, each piezoelectric element is electrically connected to the transducer connection board connected to each piezoelectric element and the cable connection board to which the core wire and the shield line of the coaxial cable included in the signal cable are connected. The electrical connection between the element and each coaxial cable can be performed reliably and easily.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a transducer connection board connected to an ultrasonic transducer, and FIG. 2 shows a cable connection substrate and a signal cable connected to the transducer connection substrate. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an ultrasonic transducer and a cable core are connected via a cable connection board, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an ultrasonic transducer, a cable connection board, and a signal cable in a housing. It is a figure which shows the state arrange | positioned. 1A is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a flexible printed circuit board constituting the transducer connecting board, and FIG. 1B is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the transducer connecting board electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer. FIG. 2A is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the cable connection board, FIG. 2B is a diagram for explaining the state of the coaxial line of the signal cable that has been cut in advance, and FIG. 3A is an ultrasonic vibration. The figure which looked at the state which connected the child and the core wire of the cable via the cable connection substrate from the side, FIG. 3B is a front view of the state where the ultrasonic transducer and the core wire of the cable are connected via the cable connection substrate It is the figure seen from.
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the ultrasonic transducer 1 of this embodiment is formed by collecting a plurality of piezoelectric elements 1a,..., 1a formed in a predetermined thickness and arranging them linearly. For example, the ultrasonic transducer 1 is formed of a pair of flexible printed boards 2a and 2b and a reinforcing plate 3 formed of a phenolic resin laminated board or an epoxy resin laminated board. The vibrator connection substrate 4 is connected.
[0014]
The pair of flexible printed boards 2a and 2b are element connection portions (hereinafter referred to as first pads) that form conductive joints with the piezoelectric elements 1a arranged at odd numbers from one end side of the ultrasonic transducer 1. And a second flexible print having an element connection portion (not shown) electrically connected to the even numbered piezoelectric elements 1a counted from one end side. The reinforcing plate 3 is bonded and fixed between the first flexible printed circuit board 2a and the second flexible printed circuit board 2b and at the end on the ultrasonic transducer 1 side.
[0015]
On the lower end of one side of the first flexible printed board 2a, the first pads 5,... Are opposed to the respective piezoelectric elements 1a that are arranged oddly from the one end side that constitutes the ultrasonic transducer 1. , 5 are provided at an equal pitch, and provided at the upper end of one side surface at the same pitch as the first pads 5,..., 5 on a cable connection board formed of, for example, a flexible printed board having flexibility described later. Electrode connection parts (hereinafter referred to as second pads) 6,..., 6 are provided as conductive joints to which the electrodes (FIG. 2 (a) reference numeral 11) are connected. The first pads 5,..., 5 and the second pads 6,..., 6 facing each other are electrically connected via connection lines 7,.
[0016]
The second flexible printed circuit board 2b has the same pitch as the first flexible printed circuit board 2a, with the first pads 5,..., 5 and the second pads 6,. Is provided. However, the pads 5 and 6 face the piezoelectric elements 1a,..., 1a arranged evenly from one end side.
[0017]
Reference numeral 3a denotes a protrusion protruding from the reinforcing plate 3, and each piezoelectric element 1a and the flexible printed circuit board 2a forming the ultrasonic vibrator 1 in a state where the protrusion 3a is fixed to a mounting jig. , 2b are connected to the first pads 5,... 5 via wires 8, and are electrically bonded and fixed by a conductive bonding member such as solder.
[0018]
A cutting means such as a perforation 3b is formed around the rising portion of the convex portion 3a, and the convex portion 3a can be excised from the reinforcing plate 3 after the joining and fixing of the piezoelectric element 1a and the first pad 5 are completed. It is like that.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 2 (a), from one end face of the flexible cable connection board 10, it is electrically joined and fixed to the second pads 6,..., 6 provided on the flexible printed boards 2a, 2b. , 11 are projected. The electrodes 11,..., 11 are arranged at the same pitch as the second pads 6,.
[0020]
Further, on one surface side of the cable connection board 10, a core wire mounting portion 12, which is a signal line connection portion to which a core wire and a shield wire of a thin coaxial cable inserted in a signal cable described later are electrically connected, , 12 and shield wire mounting portions 13,..., 13 are arranged, and the core wire mounting portions 12,..., 12 and the electrodes 11,. It is connected to the.
[0021]
The core wire mounting portion 12 is divided into a plurality of groups in consideration of the width dimension (W) of the cable connection board 10 and the total number of the electrodes 11,. A plurality of core wire mounting portions 12,..., 12 and one shield wire mounting portion 13 are arranged in the group.
[0022]
And the pitch of the said core wire mounting parts 12 and 12 is set as wide as possible in the range which the said width dimension W accept | permits. At this time, it is preferable to make the width wider than the pitch of the electrodes 11 in consideration of workability. The shield wire mounting portion 13 is located on the signal cable placement side with respect to the core wire mounting portion 12.
[0023]
For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2B, the plurality of coaxial cables 21,..., 21 extending from the cable end inserted through the signal cable 20 arranged on the cable connection board 10 are provided for each group. A plurality of coaxial cables corresponding to each group have a predetermined length by using, for example, a core wire processing jig or the like in advance so that the core wire mounting portions 12,..., 12 and the shield wire mounting portion 13 can be respectively joined. The core wire 21a and the shield wire 21b are cut into a connected state.
[0024]
Here, the electrical connection between each piezoelectric element 1a constituting the ultrasonic transducer 1 and each coaxial cable 21 of the signal cable 20 will be described.
First, as a first step, the convex portion 3a of the reinforcing plate 3 constituting the vibrator connection substrate 4 is fixed to a mounting jig, and the piezoelectric elements 1a and the flexible printed boards 2a and 2b forming the ultrasonic vibrator 1 are attached to the mounting jig. The provided first pads 5,... 5 are connected by wires 8 and then electrically joined by solder. At this time, since the reinforcing plate 3 is disposed in the portion of the flexible printed circuit board 2a, 2b where the first pads 5,..., 5 are provided, the wire 8 between the piezoelectric element 1a and the first pad 5 is interposed. All electrical connections can be performed reliably and quickly. Thereafter, the flexible printed circuit boards 2a and 2b are turned, and the convex portion 3a is cut out from the reinforcing plate 3.
[0025]
On the other hand, as a second step, one set of the signal cable 20 provided with the processed coaxial cables 21,..., 21 shown in FIG. The core wire 21 a and the shield wire 21 b of the cable 21 are soldered to the core wire mounting portion 12 and the shield wire mounting portion 13 provided on the one surface side of the cable connection substrate 10. At this time, since the core wire mounting portion 12 and the shield wire mounting portion 13 are provided on one surface side of the cable connection board 10, the soldering work of the core wire 21a and the shield wire 21b can be performed quickly. Further, the pitch between the core wire mounting portions 12,..., 12 is set wider than the pitch between the electrodes 11, so that the solder between the thin wire 21 a and the core wire mounting portion 12 provided on the flexible cable connection substrate 10. Installation can be done easily and quickly.
[0026]
And as a 3rd process, as shown to Fig.3 (a), (b), it is provided in the said 2nd pad 6, ..., 6 provided in the said flexible printed circuit boards 2a and 2b, and the said cable connection board | substrate 10. FIG. After the positions of the electrodes 11,..., 11 are matched, the second pad 6 and the electrode 11 are joined and fixed by soldering.
[0027]
As a result, the piezoelectric element 1a, the wire 8, the element connecting portion 5, the connecting line 7, the electrode connecting portion 6, the electrode 11, the signal line 14, the core wire mounting portion 12, and the core wire 21a are connected, and the ultrasonic vibrator 1 is connected. The electrical connection between each piezoelectric element 1a and each coaxial cable 21 of the signal cable 20 is completed. Thereafter, an acoustic lens 31 and the ultrasonic transducer 1Backing material32, and this acoustic lens 31 andBacking materialThe ultrasonic transducer 1 provided with 32 is housed in a housing 33 as shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in the drawing, the cable connection board 10 is made into a small rounded state and accommodated in the housing 33 to constitute the vibrator unit 30.
[0028]
As described above, the step of electrically connecting each piezoelectric element and the first pad provided on the flexible printed circuit board via a wire to integrally provide the ultrasonic transducer on the transducer connection board, the core wire mounting portion, Joining the signal cable core wire and shield wire to the shield wire mounting portion and integrally joining the signal connection cable to the cable connection board; and joining the electrode of the cable connection board to the second pad of the flexible printed circuit board. By providing, joint workability and electrical reliability in each process are greatly improved, and electrical connection with more reliable electrical connection between a plurality of piezoelectric elements and a plurality of core wires, It can be carried out easily and in a short time.
[0029]
Further, by joining the core wire and the shield wire of the signal cable to the flexible cable connection board, the flexible printed board of the vibrator connection board and the cable connection board are rolled into the housing, and the acoustic lens andBacking materialIt is possible to reduce the size of the vibrator unit by accommodating the ultrasonic vibrator provided with the.
[0030]
The electrical connection between the piezoelectric element 1a constituting the ultrasonic transducer 1 and each coaxial cable 21 of the signal cable 20 is performed by bonding the coaxial cable 21 of the signal cable 20 to the cable connection substrate 10 as described above. Even if the cable connection board 10 is joined to the flexible printed boards 2a and 2b constituting the vibrator connection board 4 after being in the state, the cable connection board 10 is flexible to constitute the vibrator connection board 4. The coaxial cable 21 of the signal cable 20 may be bonded to the flexible printed boards 2a and 2b after being bonded to the printed boards 2a and 2b, respectively. That is, the first step, the second step, and the third step do not indicate the work order.
[0031]
Further, by joining the cable connecting board 10 and the flexible printed boards 2 a and 2 b and joining the coaxial cable 21 to the cable connecting board 10, the piezoelectric element 1 a constituting the ultrasonic vibrator 1 and each coaxial cable 21 are connected. The convex portion may be cut after completing the electrical connection.
[0032]
Furthermore, the positional relationship between the electrode 11 provided on the cable connection board 10, the core wire mounting portion 12, and the shield wire mounting portion 13 is not limited to the positional relationship shown in FIG. Thus, the positional relationship between the core wire mounting portion 12 and the shield wire mounting portion 13 may be maintained, and the positional relationship between the electrode 11 and the core wire mounting portion 12 and the shield wire mounting portion 13 may be arranged upside down. Thus, the cable connection board 10a and the flexible printed boards 2a and 2b are joined in the positional relationship shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, and the cable connection board 10a is joined as shown in FIG. You may make it house in the housing 33 in the state rounded small.
[0033]
Further, reference numeral 15 shown in FIG. 5 denotes a notch groove. When the notch groove 15 is provided, when the core wire 21a and the shield wire 21b are soldered to the core wire mounting portion 12 and the shield wire mounting portion 13, heat is generated. It is possible to improve the soldering workability by preventing heat radiation to the outside. You may make it form this notch groove 15 in the cable connection board | substrate 10 of the said Fig.2 (a).
[0034]
FIGS. 7 to 9 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 illustrates the configuration of the transducer connection board connected to the ultrasonic transducer and the cable connection substrate connected to the transducer connection substrate. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining connection between the vibrator connection board and the cable connection board, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which three cable connection boards are connected to the vibrator connection board and arranged in the housing. . 7A is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the vibrator connection board, and FIGS. 7B, 7C, and 7D are respectively three divided cable connection boards that are connected to the vibrator connection board. FIG. 8A is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the vibrator connection board and the cable connection board, and FIG. 8B is a state in which one cable connection board is joined to the vibrator connection board. FIG. 8C is a diagram showing a state in which three cable connection substrates are joined to the transducer connection substrate, and FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a state in which the three cable connection substrates are rolled in the counterclockwise direction. FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a state in which the three cable connection boards are rolled up in the clockwise direction.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 7A, the vibrator connection substrate 4A of the present embodiment is formed with one hard non-conductive member in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the first pad 5, the second pad 6 and the connection line on both side surfaces thereof. , 9 is also arranged and configured. The mounting portion 9 has piezoelectric elements 1a,..., 1a whose one side faces the piezoelectric elements 1a,..., 1a arranged oddly from one end and whose other side is arranged even from the one end. Are provided at the same pitch.
[0036]
FIG.As shown in (b), (c), and (d), the cable connection boards 41, 42, and 43 of this embodiment are formed of flexible printed boards having flexibility similar to the cable connection boards 10 and 10a. . And the opening part 44 of the same shape in which the said vibrator | oscillator connection board | substrate 4A is penetrated is formed in the center part of each cable connection board | substrate 41,42,43.
[0037]
Further, on the outer longitudinal direction side portion of the opening 44 of each cable connection board 41, 42, 43, the mounting portions 9,..., 9 arranged on the side surface of the vibrator connection board 4A are connected to the cable connection board 41, The electrode 45 is divided by the number of 42 and 43 (three in the present embodiment), and the electrode 45 facing the mounting portions 9,.
[0038]
Further, a core wire mounting portion 12 and a shield wire mounting portion 13 are provided on the signal cable arrangement side on one surface side of each cable connection board 41, 42, 43. At this time, the shielded wire mounting portion 13 is located closer to the signal cable placement side than the core wire mounting portion 12. The core wire mounting portions 12 and 12 are arranged so as to have a pitch as wide as possible within a range allowed by a half of the width W.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, the arrangement positions of the core wire mounting portion 12 and the shield wire mounting portion 13 provided on the cable connection boards 41, 42, and 43 are the same. For this reason, a plurality of coaxial cables 21,..., 21 that are inserted into the signal cable 20 arranged on the cable connection boards 41, 42, 43 and extended from the cable end are preliminarily formed by, for example, a core processing jig or the like. The core wire 21a and the shield wire 21b are processed in a connected state so that they are all cut to the same predetermined length and can be connected to the core wire mounting portions 12,..., 12 and the shield wire mounting portion 13, respectively.
[0040]
Here, the electrical connection between each piezoelectric element 1a constituting the ultrasonic transducer 1 and each coaxial cable 21 of the signal cable 20 will be described.
First, as a first step, the mounting portions 9,..., 9 of the transducer connection substrate 4A and the piezoelectric elements 1a forming the ultrasonic transducer 1 are connected by wires 8 and then electrically joined by soldering. At this time, since the vibrator connection substrate 4A is formed of a hard member, the electrical connection work between the piezoelectric element 1a and the mounting portion 9 via the wire 8 can be performed reliably and quickly.
[0041]
On the other hand, as a second process, a signal cable 20 including the processed coaxial cables 21,..., 21 and cable connection boards 41, 42, 43 are prepared, and the core wire 21 a and shield of each coaxial cable 21 of the signal cable 20. The wire 21b is soldered to the core wire mounting portion 12 and the shield wire mounting portion 13 provided on one surface side of each cable connection board 41, 42, 43.
[0042]
Then, as a third step, as shown in FIG. 8A, after the positions of the opening 44 provided in the cable connection board 41 and the vibrator connection board 4A are aligned as shown in FIG. The cable connection board 41 is arranged on the lower end side, which is the ultrasonic transducer side of the transducer connection board 4A, and the mounting portion 9 provided on the transducer connection board 4A and the cable connection board 41 are provided. The mounting portion 9 and the electrode 45 are joined and fixed by soldering with the position of the electrode 45 being soldered.
[0043]
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8C, similarly to the cable connection board 41, the cable connection board 42 and the cable connection board 43 are arranged on the intermediate portion and the upper end side of the vibrator connection board 4A, and the vibrator connection is made. After aligning the positions of the mounting portion 9 provided on the substrate 4A and the electrodes 45 provided on the cable connection substrates 42 and 43, the mounting portions 9 and the electrodes 45 are joined and fixed by soldering.
[0044]
Thus, the electrical connection between each piezoelectric element 1a constituting the ultrasonic transducer 1 and each coaxial cable 21 of the signal cable 20 is completed. Thereafter, an acoustic lens 31 and the ultrasonic transducer 1Backing material32, and this acoustic lens 31 andBacking materialAs shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the ultrasonic transducer 1 provided with 32 is housed in the housing 33 with the cable connection boards 41, 42 and 43 being slightly rounded counterclockwise or clockwise. Thus, the vibrator unit 30 is configured.
[0045]
In this way, each piezoelectric element and the mounting portion are electrically bonded and fixed via wires to integrally provide the ultrasonic transducer and the transducer connection substrate, and the core wire mounting portion and the shield wire mounting portion. By providing a signal cable integrally on a plurality of cable connection boards by joining core wires and shield wires, and a process of joining electrodes of a plurality of cable connection boards to the mounting portion of the vibrator connection board, Bonding workability and electrical reliability in each process are greatly improved, and electrical connection with more reliable electrical connection between the plurality of piezoelectric elements and the plurality of core wires can be performed.
[0046]
In addition, by providing the core wire mounting portion and shield wire mounting portion to which the core wire and shield wire of the signal cable are joined at the same position on the plurality of cable connection boards, all the coaxial cables inserted into the signal cable have the same length. Since cutting is sufficient, cutting work and joining workability can be greatly improved. Other operations and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
[0047]
In the above-described embodiment, the cable connection board is composed of three pieces, but the cable connection board is not limited to three pieces, and depends on the number of piezoelectric elements and the size of the housing constituting the vibrator portion. The number of sheets is set as appropriate.
[0048]
Further, instead of providing the electrode 45 on the outer longitudinal side of the opening 44 shown in FIGS. 7B, 7C and 7D, FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C are used. As shown, an electrode 46 may be provided on the inner longitudinal side of the opening 44. The electrode 46 provided on the inner longitudinal side is separated at the center, and the opening 44 of the cable connection board 41 is inserted through the vibrator connection board 4A as shown in FIG. At this time, the electrode 46 is turned up and brought into electrical contact with the mounting portion 9 as shown in FIG. Thereafter, each mounting portion 9 and the electrode 46 are bonded and fixed by solder.
[0049]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0050]
[Appendix]
According to the embodiment of the present invention as described above in detail, the following configuration can be obtained.
[0051]
(1) An ultrasonic vibrator formed by arranging a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged in a housing, and electrically connected to each piezoelectric element to transmit a transmission pulse and a reception pulse of a reflected echo from a subject. In an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe having a signal cable formed by collectively forming a fine coaxial cable to be performed,
Connected to each piezoelectric element of the ultrasonic transducer, and at least the vicinity of the connection portion is a rigid transducer connection substrate, and
A flexible cable connection board provided on one side with a signal line connection portion to which a core wire and a shield wire of the coaxial cable are respectively connected;
An electronic scanning ultrasonic probe, wherein the transducer connection board and the cable connection board are electrically connected within the housing.
[0052]
(2) An element connection portion serving as a conductive joint portion with the piezoelectric element constituting the ultrasonic transducer is provided on one end side of the transducer connection substrate, and the other end side is arranged at the same pitch as the element connection portion. The electronic scanning ultrasonic probe according to supplementary note 1, wherein an electrode connection portion serving as a conductive joint portion with the cable connection substrate is provided.
[0053]
(3) Additional note 2 in which the vibrator connecting board is configured by a pair of flexible printed boards having the element connecting portion and the electrode connecting portion provided on one surface side, and a hard member disposed between the flexible printed boards. The electronic scanning ultrasonic probe as described.
[0054]
(4) The electronic scanning ultrasonic probe according to appendix 3, wherein the hard member has a severable projection.
[0055]
(5) The cable connection board is a single flexible printed board, and the flexible printed board is provided with an electrode serving as a conductive joint with an element connecting portion provided on the vibrator connection board. Electronic scanning ultrasonic probe.
[0056]
(6) The electronic scanning ultrasonic probe according to appendix 5, wherein the electrodes have the same pitch as element connection portions provided on the transducer connection substrate.
[0057]
(7) The electronic scanning ultrasonic probe according to appendix 5, wherein the cable connection board has a notch.
[0058]
(8) The electronic scanning ultrasonic probe according to appendix 2, wherein the transducer connecting substrate is a block-shaped member, and mounting portions serving as the element connecting portion and the electrode connecting portion are provided on both side surfaces of the block-shaped member. Tentacles.
[0059]
(9) The cable connection board is a flexible printed circuit board, and has an opening at the center of the flexible printed circuit board, and a mounting portion provided on the vibrator connection board on the outer longitudinal side of the opening. 9. An electronic scanning ultrasonic probe according to appendix 8, in which an electrode serving as a conductive joint is provided.
[0060]
(10) The electronic scanning ultrasonic probe according to appendix 9, wherein the electrodes have the same pitch as a mounting portion provided on the transducer connection substrate.
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is easy to connect the piezoelectric element constituting the ultrasonic transducer and the core wire of each coaxial cable constituting the signal cable, and the electronic scanning ultrasonic wave having high electrical reliability. A probe can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
Transducer connection board connected to ultrasonic transducer
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a cable connection board and a signal cable connected to a vibrator connection board.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an ultrasonic transducer and a signal cable are connected via a cable connection board.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which an ultrasonic transducer, a cable connection board, and a signal cable are arranged in a housing.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining another configuration of the cable connection board.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a connection state between an ultrasonic transducer and a signal cable and an arrangement state in a housing.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the vibrator connection board and the cable connection board.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating attachment of a cable connection board to a vibrator connection board
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state where the cable connection board is rolled up and stored in the housing.
FIGS. 10 and 12 are diagrams for explaining another configuration example of the cable connection board according to an application example of the second embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating attachment of the cable connection board to the vibrator connection board
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Ultrasonic vibrator
1a: Piezoelectric element
2a ... Flexible printed circuit board
5 ... Element connection (first pad)
6 ... Electrode connection (second pad)
10 ... Cable connection board
11 ... Electrode
12 ... Core wire mounting part
13 ... Shielded wire mounting part
14 ... Signal line
20 ... Signal cable
21 ... Coaxial cable

Claims (1)

An ultrasonic transducer formed by arranging a plurality of piezoelectric elements side by side;
A signal cable that is electrically connected to each of the piezoelectric elements, and that is formed of a group of ultra-fine coaxial cables that perform transmission of transmission pulses and transmission of reception pulses of reflected echoes from the subject ;
A transducer connection board having at least a hard portion that comes into contact with the ultrasonic transducer and is arranged so as to be capable of contacting the ultrasonic transducer along an arrangement direction of a plurality of piezoelectric elements in the ultrasonic transducer. And a plurality of electrode connection portions arranged on both side surfaces of the hard portion in the arrangement direction of the piezoelectric elements. A vibrator connection board,
A flexible cable connection board provided on one side with a signal line connection part to be connected to a core wire and a shield line of the coaxial cable of the signal cable disposed on both sides of the vibrator connection board. A cable connection board comprising a plurality of electrode portions protruding from the cable connection board so as to be connectable to the plurality of electrode connection parts ;
An electronic scanning ultrasonic probe characterized by comprising:

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