JP2006247017A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a worked ultrasonic probe used for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic probe is antibacterial-finished by applying an antibacterial agent comprising silver-intercalated zirconium phosphate together with UV-cured resin. As a result, it is confirmed that the number of bacteria is reduced by at least two digits even in an initially worked article after a sustainability test by the impregnation of 70% ethanol, so that the antibacterial-finished article with high sustainability can be provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to improvement of the surface of an ultrasonic probe.

  On the other hand, some ultrasonic probe cap grips have an antibacterial agent applied to the surface or included in the cap grip (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, there is a cover that uses an antibacterial member for a cover that accommodates an ultrasonic probe (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic probe 41 accommodates a function (not shown) including a piezoelectric vibrator and a cable (not shown) connected thereto in a resin housing 43, and a potting agent in the internal space of the resin housing 43. (Not shown), and the resin housing 43 is covered with an elastic member grip cap 42. The elastic member grip cap 42 is obtained by impregnating paper / woven fabric with vulcanized rubber, cellular rubber, elastomer, compounded rubber, etc. having hardness of about 30 ° or less and having elasticity that can be easily deformed by finger force, silicon polymer Etc. are made by impregnating cellular rubber or the like. It is disclosed that an antibacterial agent is applied to the elastic member grip cap 42 or kneaded into the elastic member, and it is disclosed that it becomes hygienic by providing antibacterial properties.
JP-A-9-276267 JP-A-8-112284

  However, since the antibacterial agent is applied to the surface or contained in the cap grip in the conventional configuration, it is disclosed that the antibacterial agent is applied or kneaded into the cap grip. There is no disclosure of antibacterial agents or processing means for performing antibacterial processing on the parts of the toucher that come into contact with the human body.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic probe subjected to antibacterial processing.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the portion that contacts the ultrasonic probe and the human body has at least a silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent on the surface.

  According to the ultrasonic probe of the present invention, by processing a silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent into the acoustic lens portion of the ultrasonic probe, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic probe having a high antimicrobial effect. it can.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows an ultrasonic probe subjected to the antibacterial processing of the present invention. There is a probe 11 and skin (human body) 12, and there is a surface 13 between the probe 11 and skin 12 where the skin and the probe come into contact. Antibacterial processing was performed on a portion 13 that contacts the human body between the probe 11 and the skin 12. In addition, the probe 11 has a signal cable 14.

  The probe 11 moves in the direction of the arrow. In addition, the signal obtained by the probe 11 is transferred to the main body via a line at the top of the probe. The main body is omitted in FIG. Further, the signal transfer mechanism is also omitted.

(Embodiment 2)
An antibacterial processing method on the surface 13 where the skin and the probe are in contact between the probe 11 and the skin 12 will be described.

  The antibacterial processing was carried out by putting an antibacterial agent in the paint and coating the paint containing the antibacterial agent on the part that contacts the human body. In the present embodiment, antibacterial processing is performed on the acoustic lens 21 in FIG.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of an ultrasonic probe. The acoustic lens 21 is at the tip of the probe cover 22, and ultrasonic waves enter and exit through the acoustic cover 21. The acoustic cover 21 is directly joined to the probe cover 22.

  FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view when antibacterial processing is performed on the operation panel of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, there is a coating surface 33 containing a silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent 32 on the outer side of the operation panel cross section 31, and the silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent 32 is scattered on the coating surface 33.

  The acoustic lens used here was silicon rubber, and the silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent was obtained by intercalating silver phosphate with silver phosphate (manufactured by Novalon (registered trademark) Toa Gosei). Although various silver-based inorganic antibacterial agents are commercially available, since the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is a medical device, it is an antibacterial agent that exhibits an ion-eluting antibacterial effect, that is, it can be used as a base material by ionic bonding or substitution of silver ions. Absorbed and occluded substances were excluded from the selection, and an antibacterial agent that exerts an antibacterial effect by the catalytic action of silver was selected. In the embodiment, the result of study using silicon rubber will be described. However, the resin used for the acoustic lens operation panel of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is not limited to silicon rubber.

  The antibacterial effect was evaluated according to JIS Z 2801 antibacterial processed product-antibacterial test method / antibacterial effect. In addition, as an index for evaluating sustainability, antibacterial evaluation was performed on the above-described silicon rubber leached in 70% ethanol (70 ° C.) for 360 hours (sustainability evaluation test). 10 pieces of the above-mentioned 5 cm square silicon rubber were put in a bottle containing a 70% ethanol solution that could be sealed and placed under the above conditions. A gap was secured between the resins. Simultaneously with the antibacterial evaluation, the color change of the test piece was confirmed.

(Embodiment 3)
A method for processing the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The probe cover 31 has a painted surface 33, and the painted surface 33 is dotted with antibacterial agents 32.

  The painted surface 33 was prepared by mixing 0.1 to 1.5 wt% of an antibacterial agent with an acrylic paint, and each of the probe covers was painted to obtain a painted surface 33. Further, the above-described processing was similarly performed on a test piece obtained by molding the silicon rubber used in Embodiment 1 into a 5 cm square. The coated silicone rubber and probe cover were cured by irradiating with ultraviolet rays.

  The antibacterial agent described in Embodiment 2 was used. Since the acrylic resin requires ethanol resistance and gel resistance for ultrasonic diagnosis, a 4-t-butylcatechol type resin having high chemical resistance was used.

  The coating thickness was 0.6 to 1.2 μm. Since the particle size of the antibacterial agent was 0.5 μm, the antibacterial agent was held on the paint surface, and a part of the antibacterial agent was exposed from the painted surface.

(Embodiment 4)
The results of antibacterial evaluation of the test pieces obtained in the above embodiment are shown in (Table 1). Table 1 shows the antibacterial evaluation results after the initial and sustainability tests. If the initial number of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus has decreased by two or more digits, it is determined that there is an antibacterial effect. Furthermore, it evaluated using the same reference | standard also about the test piece which performed the sustainability evaluation test. The initial number of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus dripped is 10 ⁵ CFU / ml.

  The test value of the antibacterial agent with 0% antibacterial additive was 0% for the number of bacteria and ± 0 for Staphylococcus aureus, confirming that the evaluation test was carried out normally. did.

  The result of painting the control panel with antibacterial agent mixed in the paint will be explained. It is an antibacterial evaluation result shown in (Table 1). The increase or decrease in the initial number of E. coli and S. aureus was within the specified range. Antibacterial effect is guaranteed when 1.3% or more of the antibacterial agent is added, but it was excluded from the appropriate range because turbidity occurred on the painted surface. Therefore, in Embodiment 3, the antibacterial effect is guaranteed to be added in an amount of 0.3 to 1.0 wt%. More preferably, 0.5 to 1.0 wt% antibacterial agent is added (when the index value is reduced by 3 digits or more). In addition, even if it implemented the sustainability evaluation test, what the color tone of a test piece changed was not recognized.

  As described above, by adding an antibacterial agent or coating the surface of the ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic probe having excellent antibacterial properties can be provided. In addition, the antibacterial effect is not instantaneous but is persistent.

  In addition, since the silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent added in this application is processed into an operation panel that does not affect the sound wave generated from the transducer of the ultrasonic probe, it does not affect the function of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Absent.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, since the ultrasonic probe has at least a silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent inside or on the surface, it can have a continuous antibacterial effect, and is transmitted / received by a vibrator. It is useful as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for obtaining the information.

External view of an ultrasonic probe subjected to antibacterial processing in an embodiment of the present invention Schematic diagram of an ultrasonic probe subjected to antibacterial processing in another embodiment of the present invention Sectional drawing of the antibacterial processed surface of the ultrasonic probe which performed the antibacterial process in another embodiment of this invention External view of conventional ultrasonic diagnostic equipment

Explanation of symbols

11, 23, 41 Probe (Ultrasonic probe)
12 Skin (human body)
13 Contact surface between skin and probe 14 Signal cable 21 Acoustic lens 22, 31 Probe cover 32 Antibacterial agent 33 Acrylic resin (painted surface)
42 Elastic member grip cap 43 Resin housing

Claims (4)

An ultrasonic probe characterized in that an antibacterial process is performed on a portion that comes into contact with a human body. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein a portion that contacts the human body is an acoustic lens portion, and the acoustic lens portion has a silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent on a surface thereof. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the acoustic lens portion is coated with a silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent on the surface of the acoustic lens portion. The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent is contained at a ratio of 0.3 to 1.0 wt% with respect to the paint.

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