JP2006212287A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve adhesion with the surface of a subject without damaging safety against breakage in falling, to prevent the entire ultrasonic probe from being enlarged by a reservoir tank and to achieve miniaturization. <P>SOLUTION: An ultrasonic element and an acoustic coupling medium 2 are arranged inside a window 1, the reservoir tank 3a formed of rubber or the like is provided on the surface (subject side) of the window as the reservoir tank for pressurizing the acoustic coupling medium in the window, also the reservoir tank 3b is provided inside the window, and the reservoir tanks 3a and 3b are connected so that the acoustic coupling medium can flow. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  In the present invention, an ultrasonic element is arranged in a window, an acoustic coupling liquid is arranged in the window, and a two-dimensional or three-dimensional ultrasonic image is obtained by swinging or rotating the ultrasonic element in the acoustic coupling liquid. The present invention relates to an acquired ultrasound probe.

  In general, the material of the window of the ultrasonic probe is a material that is hard to some extent (for example, in order to improve safety so that the swing mechanism of the ultrasonic element in the window and the window is not damaged when it falls on the floor or the like) Resin).

On the other hand, in order to transmit the ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic element to the human body and to receive the reflected signal from the human body by the ultrasonic element, the acoustic impedance of the transmission path between the ultrasonic element and the human body is matched (hereinafter, Acoustic coupling), the first of the things that interferes with acoustic coupling is air. For this reason, the ultrasonic element is arranged in the window and the acoustic coupling liquid is arranged in the window so that air does not exist in the transmission path, and the acoustic impedance of both the window and the acoustic coupling liquid is that of the human body (approximately 1. A material approximating 530 Mrayl) is selected. Further, in order to prevent bubbles from being generated in the acoustic coupling liquid, a reservoir tank 3 for pressurizing the acoustic coupling medium 2 in the window 1 is provided in the window 1 as shown in FIG. 4 (for example, See Patent Document 1 below).
JP-A-9-289968 (abstract)

  However, when a material that is hard to some extent is used as the window material, there is a problem in that the peripheral portion of the window is difficult to contact the surface of the subject, particularly when a pregnant woman is diagnosed. Note that in the region that is not in close contact with the surface of the subject, the above-mentioned “acoustic coupling” cannot be obtained, and an image cannot be acquired. In order to prevent this, if a material soft to some extent (for example, silicon rubber) is used as the window material, the above-described safety is impaired. On the other hand, when a reservoir tank for pressurizing the acoustic coupling liquid is provided in the window, there is a problem that the entire ultrasonic probe is enlarged.

  In view of the problems of the conventional example described above, the present invention can improve the adhesion to the surface of the subject without impairing the safety against breakage at the time of dropping, and the reservoir probe makes the entire ultrasonic probe large-sized. The ultrasonic probe can improve the safety by preventing the internal acoustic coupling liquid from leaking to the outside even if the window is broken. The purpose is to provide tentacles.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ultrasonic probe in which an ultrasonic element is disposed in a window and an acoustic coupling liquid is disposed in the window.
A reservoir tank for pressurizing the acoustic coupling liquid is provided on the surface of the window.
The material of the reservoir tank is an elastic body.
The elastic body may be any one of silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, chloroprene rubber, and fluororubber.

  With this configuration, since the reservoir tank is provided on the surface of the window, it is possible to improve the adhesion to the surface of the subject without impairing the safety against breakage at the time of dropping, and the ultrasound probe is provided by the reservoir tank. The size can be reduced by preventing the whole from increasing in size, and even if the window is broken, the internal acoustic coupling liquid can be prevented from leaking to the outside and safety can be improved. . Furthermore, since the reservoir tank is flexible, the reservoir tank becomes a damper when dropped, and damage to the window can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the adhesion to the surface of the subject without impairing the safety against breakage at the time of dropping, and to prevent the entire ultrasonic probe from being enlarged by the reservoir tank. Further, the size can be reduced, and even if the window is broken, the internal acoustic coupling liquid can be prevented from leaking to the outside, and safety can be improved.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic probe according to the present invention, FIG. 1B is a schematic enlarged view of a connecting portion, and FIG. 2 is an ultrasonic probe of FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the material of the reservoir tank of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a comparison of the contact area between the conventional ultrasonic probe and the surface of the subject.

  In FIG. 1, an ultrasonic element (not shown) and an acoustic coupling medium (liquid) 2 are disposed in a window 1, and a rubber tank or the like as a reservoir tank for pressurizing the acoustic coupling medium 2 in the window 1. A reservoir tank 3a made of a flexible material is provided on the surface (subject side) of the window 1, a reservoir tank 3b is provided in the window 1, and the acoustic coupling medium 2 flows through the reservoir tanks 3a and 3b. Connected as possible. As the material of the window 1, a material (for example, resin) that is hard to some extent is used in order to enhance safety so that the window 1 and the swinging mechanism of the ultrasonic element in the window 1 are not damaged when dropped on the floor or the like. . The acoustic coupling medium 2 in the reservoir tanks 3a and 3b is injected through an injection port 3c provided on the reservoir tank 3b side, and the injection port 3c is sealed after the injection.

  Here, for example, when there is no reservoir tank 3a, if a material hard to some extent is used as the material of the window 1 and is made to adhere to the surface of the subject, the convex curved surface of the abdomen and the window 1 Since the convex curved surface comes into contact with both convex portions, the peripheral portion of the window 1 is difficult to come into contact with the surface of the subject as shown in FIG. 2, but the contact area A is small, but a flexible material such as rubber Is provided on the outer surface of the window 1, so that when the reservoir tank 3a is brought into close contact with the surface of the subject, the reservoir tank 3a is deformed along the surface of the subject, Like the contact area B, the contact area can be increased.

  FIG. 3 shows materials candidates for the reservoir tank 3a provided on the outer surface of the window 1. (1) (indicated by circled numbers in FIG. 3, the same applies hereinafter) Natural rubber, (2) Silicone rubber, (3) Fluorosilicone Each of rubber, (4) nitrile rubber, (5) chloroprene rubber, and (6) fluororubber exhibits heat resistance, cold resistance, acoustic impedance, weather resistance, oil resistance, solvent resistance, and chemical resistance. Heat resistance and cold resistance are all suitable, but considering that of the human body (approximately 1.530 Mrayl), the acoustic impedance Z is preferably Z = 1.3 to 1.6 Mrayl. (4) Nitrile rubber is not suitable. Is appropriate. Furthermore, in consideration of weather resistance, oil resistance, solvent resistance, and chemical resistance, (1) natural rubber and (4) nitrile rubber are inappropriate. For this reason, (2) silicone rubber, (3) fluorosilicone rubber, (5) chloroprene rubber, and (6) fluororubber are suitable as materials for the reservoir tank 3a. Note that the material of the reservoir tank 3b provided in the window 1 is the same material and is located in the casing, and (4) nitrile rubber may be used.

  As described above, since the reservoir tank 3a is provided on the surface of the window 1, it is possible to improve the adhesion to the surface of the subject without impairing the safety against damage at the time of dropping, and the reservoir tanks 3a and 3b. The entire ultrasonic probe can be prevented from becoming large, and downsizing can be realized. Further, even if the window 1 is broken, the reservoir tank 3a covers the window 1, so that the internal acoustic coupling is achieved. It is possible to improve the safety by preventing the medium 2 from leaking to the outside. Furthermore, since the reservoir tank 3a is flexible, the reservoir tank 3a becomes a damper when dropped, and damage to the window 1 can be prevented.

  The present invention can improve the adhesion to the surface of the subject without impairing the safety against breakage at the time of dropping, and prevents the entire ultrasonic probe from becoming large due to the reservoir tank. Furthermore, even if the window is broken, the internal acoustic coupling medium can be prevented from leaking to the outside and the safety can be improved. It can be used for ultrasonic equipment.

(A) Schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic probe according to the present invention (b) Schematic enlarged view of a connecting portion Explanatory drawing which compares and shows the contact area of the ultrasonic probe of FIG. 1 and the surface of the subject of the conventional ultrasonic probe Explanatory drawing which shows the material of the reservoir tank of FIG. Configuration diagram showing a conventional ultrasonic probe

Explanation of symbols

1 window 2 acoustic coupling medium 3a, 3b reservoir tank 3c inlet

Claims (3)

In the ultrasonic probe in which the ultrasonic element is disposed in the window and the acoustic coupling liquid is disposed in the window,
An ultrasonic probe, wherein a reservoir tank for pressurizing the acoustic coupling liquid is provided on a surface of the window.   The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the material of the reservoir tank is an elastic body. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, wherein the elastic body is any one of silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, chloroprene rubber, and fluororubber.