JP2006051115A - Ultrasound probe - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasound probe where members constituting a casing for housing is fixed firmly, miniaturization is possible without exposure of a joint member to the surfaces of the casings or increase of the whole size, and a time for assembling is reduced. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasound probe has a structure of being combined and integrated with the casings of the ultrasound probe consisting of the plurality of members 100 and 101, an interposed shrink-fit pin 103, and a pin-receiving hole arranged inside of the casings. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe that improves assembly workability so that it can be more easily and firmly joined when assembling a casing (outer casing) surrounding a piezoelectric element that receives and transmits ultrasonic waves. .

Conventionally, as this type of ultrasonic probe, there is one described in Patent Document 1 below. That is, a configuration as shown in FIG. 6 is known. In FIG. 6, the case 41 and the case 42 facing each other are integrally fixed by a set screw 43, and the upper ends of the case 41 and the case 42 are fixed by a sleeve 45 through which a cable 44 passes.
JP-A-10-155789 (FIG. 4)

  However, in the conventional ultrasonic probe described above, a fastening part such as a set screw is separately required for joining and fixing the two case members (cases 41 and 42 in FIG. 6) to each other. Due to the restrictions, the size is increased and the usage is restricted, and the operability is further deteriorated. In addition, by using a metal part called a set screw, there is a problem in that the fastening part is exposed on the surface of the case, the appearance is impaired, and the commercial value is lowered.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and can firmly fix the case, and it is attractive and compact without exposing the fastening parts to the case surface or increasing the overall size. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe capable of reducing the assembly time.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe casing (housing) composed of a plurality of pieces, an interference fit pin interposed therebetween, and means for coupling and integration with a pin receiving hole disposed inside the casing; It has a structure provided with.
With this configuration, it is possible to improve the workability at the time of assembling, to shorten the time, and to provide an ultrasonic probe that has a good appearance and high commercial value without appearance of a screw head on the outside. it can.

  With the configuration as described above, the ultrasonic probe of the present invention can obtain a strong connection that is difficult to come off because the pin receiving hole of the pin and the casing are in a close-fitting relationship. It is valid. In addition, according to the present invention, the screw head is not seen on the surface of the ultrasonic probe, and there is no extra hole, so that it is possible to provide an ultrasonic probe having a good appearance.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A perspective view of the ultrasonic probe according to the first embodiment of the present invention before joining the casing is shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, the ultrasonic probe 1 includes an ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving element 106, a first member 100 and a second member 101 constituting a casing, a sleeve 104, and a cable 105. The first member 100 and the second member 101 constituting the casing are provided with holes for receiving the pins 103, respectively. The pin 103 is an interference fit pin, that is, the outer diameter of the portion inserted into the pin receiving hole is made larger than the inner diameter of the pin receiving hole, and due to the elastic deformation of the pin 103 and the pin receiving hole, The pin 103 is housed and fixed in the pin receiving hole. The pin receiving hole is provided in the receiving hole boss 102. The ultrasonic probe 1 transmits and receives signals to and from a main body (not shown) via a connector (not shown) via a cable 105. The signal is processed by a circuit (not shown) and displayed as a tomogram on a display screen (not shown).

  When the first member 100 and the second member 101 constituting the casing are made of a synthetic resin, the pin 103 bites into the casing as a material having a hardness higher than that of the synthetic resin, and is difficult to come off. Note that the pin 103 can be fixedly provided in advance in one of the first member 100 and the second member 101 constituting the casing by integral molding or filling. Further, the pin holes and the number of pins provided in the first member 100 and the second member 101 constituting the casing are appropriate for the size and required strength of the ultrasonic probe, and are not limited to one. It is also possible to install more than one.

  The operation of the ultrasonic probe configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the ultrasonic probe according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a pin shape according to the first embodiment. 1 and 2, the ultrasonic transducer element 106 is housed in the casing in a state where it is connected to the cable 105 inserted into the sleeve 104 by wiring not shown. 3 is used as a bridge for connecting and fixing the first member 100 and the second member 101 constituting the casing during the storage.

  The pin 103 has a plug shape, and the outer diameter of each of the front end portion and the rear end portion thereof is φd. That is, in this case, the pin outer diameter φd and the pin receiving hole inner diameter φD have a relationship of φd> φD. 4 shows the cross section of FIG. 3, and the relationship between the angle α formed by the contact surface and the pin central axis on the inner wall of the pin receiving hole and the angle β forming the hook is 90 ° ≧ α and 90 °> β. It consists of. Here, the cable 105 connected to the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving element 106 described above is included, and the pin 103 is inserted into the first member 100 and the receiving hole boss 102 of the second member 101 constituting the casing. The pin 103 goes into the back, and the two members 100 and 101 constituting the casing are fixed to each other by the pin 103. The edges of the first member 100 and the second member 101 constituting the casing are further sealed by filling a sealing agent or the like on the boundary surface between the members 100 and 101 and the ultrasonic transducer 106 to form a sealed state. Function is obtained. It is also possible to place the pin 103 in advance on the first member 100 and the second member 101 and press them together. Furthermore, in order to improve the uniting function of the first member 100 and the second member 101, the first member 100 and the second member 101 can be provided with grooves and ribs or holes and protrusions.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the wedge 103 (arrowhead shape) pin 103 and the tip of the pin 103, that is, the receptacle having the hole portion into which the arrowhead portion is inserted, are used for the first member 100 and the second member 101. By constructing the joining / fixing means, these are firmly joined, and the appearance can be improved, which is useful for adding higher commercial value.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, an ultrasonic probe according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the shape of the pins used is different from that of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a pin used in the second embodiment. The interference fit pin 103A is a hollow elongated pin, and has a slit 103B extending in the axial direction at a part of the circumference so as to have a C-shaped radial cross section. The pin 103A has an elastic force in the radial direction, and the relationship between the outer diameter φg of the pin 103A and the inner diameter φD of the pin receiving hole satisfies φg> φD. By using this pin 103A instead of the pin 103 shown in FIG. 1 and inserting it into the holes in the receiving hole bosses 102 of the first member 100 and the second member 101 and pressing from the outside, the pin 103A is inserted all the way into the hole. This strengthens the coupling between the first member 100 and the second member 101. At this time, a waterproof structure can be obtained by applying a filler to the edge of the casing member in the same manner as described above.

  The ultrasonic probe having the above configuration can be easily assembled by pressing the two members constituting the casing against each other, and is difficult to remove after installation, and is effective for efficiently proceeding with the assembly work. is there. In addition, according to the present invention, remarkable unevenness on the surface of the ultrasonic probe can be avoided, and there is also an effect that an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be provided with less adhesion of dirt and entry into the gap, which facilitates cleaning. Therefore, the present invention is useful for manufacturing an ultrasonic probe having a casing for accommodating an ultrasonic piezoelectric element.

The perspective view of the ultrasonic probe before the casing joining in the 1st Embodiment of this invention Sectional drawing of the principal part of the ultrasonic probe in the 1st Embodiment of this invention The perspective view which shows the pin shape in the 1st Embodiment of this invention Sectional drawing which shows the pin shape in the 1st Embodiment of this invention The perspective view of the pin in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention A perspective view showing a conventional ultrasonic probe

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic probe 100 The 1st member which comprises a casing 101 The 2nd member which comprises a casing 102 Receiving hole boss | hub 103, 103A Pin (interference fitting pin)
103B Slit 104 Sleeve 105 Cable 106 Ultrasonic transducer

Claims (8)

  An ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic piezoelectric element and a casing in which the ultrasonic piezoelectric element is housed, the casing having first and second members facing each other, the first and second members An ultrasonic probe in which both the first member and the second member are joined to each other by an interference fit pin in which both of the members have pin receiving holes, and the front end and the rear end are respectively inserted into the pin receiving holes.   2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of a portion inserted into the pin receiving hole at the front end and the rear end of the interference fit pin is set larger than an inner diameter of the corresponding pin receiving hole. Tentacles.   2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein an axial cross section of a portion inserted into the pin receiving hole at the front end and the rear end of the interference fit pin has a check wedge shape.   The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the interference fit pin is hollow and has a slit extending in the axial direction at a part of a circumference so as to have a C-shaped radial cross section.   An ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic piezoelectric element and a casing in which the ultrasonic piezoelectric element is housed, the casing having first and second members facing each other, wherein the first member is An ultrasonic probe having a pin receiving hole, fixed to the second member, and having a tip inserted into the pin receiving hole, wherein the first and second members are joined by an interference fit pin.   The ultrasonic probe according to claim 5, wherein an outer diameter of a portion inserted into the pin receiving hole at the tip of the interference fit pin is set larger than an inner diameter of the pin receiving hole.   The ultrasonic probe according to claim 5, wherein an axial cross section of a portion inserted into the pin receiving hole at the tip of the interference fit pin has a check wedge shape.   6. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 5, wherein the interference fit pin is hollow and has a slit extending in the axial direction at a part of a circumference so that the radial cross section is C-shaped.