JP2011110227A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a probe head of a ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a shape that is easy to hold and operate. <P>SOLUTION: The probe head 10 includes an almost columnar shape. A ultrasonic vibrator 12 is arranged on one end face and a cable 14 is arranged on the other end face of the probe head. Concave parts 18 for receiving the fingertips of an operator are formed on the side face of the columnar shape. The index finger, middle finger, and the base of the two fingers at the palm are abutted on the end face on the cable side. The index finger, the middle finger and the thumb are then directed toward the distal end along the side face of the probe head, and the fingertips are received within the concave parts 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to its outer shape.

  2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to a subject such as a living body and obtains a tomographic image or the like based on a received signal is known. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is normally provided with an ultrasonic probe that comes in contact with a subject and transmits / receives ultrasonic waves, detachably provided on a main body that performs control of ultrasonic transmission / reception, signal processing, image display, etc. An ultrasonic probe having a shape, function, etc. suitable for the diagnostic object is selected and used.

  The ultrasonic probe contains an ultrasonic transducer that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, a probe head that contacts the subject, a connector for detachably connecting to the main body of the device, and a connection between the probe head and the connector Including cables to be used. The operator holds the probe head with his hand and brings it into contact with the subject. At this time, an operation of changing the angle with respect to the subject or pressing the subject into the subject so as to obtain an appropriate image is performed. The following Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose examples of the head shape of an ultrasonic probe.

JP 2003-334190 A Design registration No. 1128812

  The operator holds the probe head with his / her hand to perform the operation, and it is desirable that the probe head has a shape that is easy to hold. If the operator is, for example, an inspection engineer, a large number of subjects may be inspected continuously, and a probe head that is easy to hold for reducing fatigue is desired.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a probe head that is easy to hold and operate.

  The ultrasonic probe of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention has a substantially columnar shape, and has at least three depressions that can accept the operator's fingertips, which are recessed in a substantially columnar cross section perpendicular to the axis. A probe head provided with a section; An ultrasonic transducer is disposed on one end surface of the columnar shape of the probe head, and on the other end surface, a cable for connecting the probe head to the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus via a connector. The ends are arranged.

  In this probe head, a palm is placed on the end face side where the end of the cable is arranged, and three fingers, for example, a thumb, an index finger, and a middle finger are extended along the side of the column shape, and the tip of each finger is extended. It can be held against the recess. It is possible to easily turn the probe head around the axis by twisting the probe head with the fingertip.

  The substantially columnar shape can be a substantially hexagonal columnar shape, and can be provided with depressions on each of the six side surfaces.

  The hollow portion is also recessed in the axial cross section, and the tip on the end face side where the ultrasonic transducer is disposed can be tapered.

  The end surface on which the end of the cable is arranged can have a shoulder portion on both sides of the cable with which the operator's finger abuts.

  The probe head can be easily held and operated.

It is a general-view perspective view of the probe head of this embodiment. It is a side view of the probe head of this embodiment. It is a front view of the probe head of this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the use condition of the probe head of this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a probe head 10 of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view, and FIG. 3 is a front view. The probe head 10 has a substantially columnar shape, the ultrasonic transducer 12 is disposed on one end surface of the columnar shape, and the cable 14 is disposed on the other end. In the following description, the side on which the ultrasonic transducer 12 is disposed is referred to as the distal end, and the side on which the cable 14 is disposed is referred to as the proximal end. The ultrasonic transducer | vibrator 12 is incorporated in the front-end | tip part, and cannot be seen directly from the outside. The ultrasonic transducer 12 is formed by arranging a plurality of vibrating elements in a row, and as shown in FIG. 3, when viewed from the front, the ultrasonic transducer 12 has an elongated rectangular shape as a whole. The arrangement direction of the vibration elements defines a scanning plane that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. At the proximal end portion, a boot 16 surrounding the cable 14 is provided to protect this.

  The probe head 10 is roughly divided into a distal end portion 20 having a recessed portion 18 on a side surface, and a proximal end portion 22 having an outer diameter equal to or larger than the distal end portion 20 and continuing to the boot 16. In the probe head 10, the side surface of the base end portion 22 is not provided with a recess and is flat. As shown by the reference numerals 20a and 22a in FIG. 3, the outer shapes of the distal end portion 20 and the base end portion 22 are regular hexagons with rounded corners, and the probe head 10 has a hexagonal prism shape as a schematic shape. Become.

  The tip portion 20 further includes a columnar portion 24 and a frustum-shaped portion 26 provided at the tip of the columnar portion 24. The frustum-shaped portion 26 has a tapered tip, and the diameter of the distal end surface substantially matches the dimension in the arrangement direction of the ultrasonic transducers 12. The diameter of the columnar portion 24 is determined based on ease of holding by hand, and the diameter of the distal end surface of the frustum-shaped portion is the contact property of the probe head 10 to the subject, for example, between bone and bone. It is determined in consideration of operability such as pushing the tip of the probe head into a narrow area between them. By providing the frustum-shaped portion 26, both the operability of the probe head and the ease of holding can be achieved.

  The hollow portion 18 is provided on the side surface of the columnar portion 24 and has a substantially oval shape that is long in the axial direction. In particular, the front end side of the substantially oval is tapered. As shown in FIG. 4, the thumb, the index finger, and the middle finger are extended from the base end portion 22 toward the tip, and the tip of the finger is put into the recess 18 to hold the probe head 10. The probe head 10 can be rotated around the axis of the column by turning the fingertip to twist. The hollow portion 18 has a shape that assists this rotational movement. That is, by providing the depression 18, irregularities are formed in the cross section orthogonal to the axis, and the fingertip is applied here, so that the rotational force by the fingertip can be efficiently transmitted to the probe head 10. For this function, the depression 18 may be any one that forms irregularities in the columnar circumferential direction, and does not need to be concave in the axial cross section.

  In the probe head 10, the recess 18 has a substantially oval shape as described above, and also has a concave shape in the axial orthogonal cross section. With this shape, a force with which the probe head 10 presses the subject can be applied by the fingertip so that the tip of the depression 18 is applied to the tip. In particular, the tip end side of the hollow portion 18 is tapered, the fingertip is easily hooked, the force is efficiently transmitted to the probe head 10, and the fingertip is prevented from slipping.

  The base end portion 22 includes a columnar portion 28 and a frustum-shaped portion 30 that smoothly connects the boot portion 16 and the columnar portion 28. The columnar portion 28 has an axial orthogonal cross-sectional shape similar to that of the columnar portion 24 at the tip, and the probe head 10 has a regular hexagonal shape with rounded corners. The diameter is slightly larger than the columnar portion 24 at the tip. The frustum-shaped portion 30 has a truncated cone shape in the probe head 10, and the boot 16 is coaxially arranged. The cable 14 extends into the boot 16, and the wiring in the cable 14 is in electrical contact with the ultrasonic transducer 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the side surface of the frustum-shaped portion 30 and the side surface of the columnar portion 28 form a shoulder shape, and a part of the finger and palm are brought into contact with the side surface of the frustum-shaped portion 30. .

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a usage state of the probe head 10. A fingertip is inserted into the depression 18 provided on the side surface of the probe head 10 for operation. In the state shown in the figure, the fingertips of the index finger 32 and the middle finger 34 are put in the recess 18, and the thumb 36 is attached to the ridge between the recesses. The thumb 36 can be put in the recess 18, and a ring finger (not shown) can also be put in the recess 18 on the back side. The boot 16 is sandwiched between the index finger 32 and the middle finger 34. In particular, by arranging them at the crotch portion of these fingers, the portion corresponding to the proximal phalanx of the two fingers and the base portion of these two fingers of the palm are shaped like a frustum at the base end. It abuts against the portion 30. When the probe head 10 is pressed against the subject, the force can be reliably transmitted to the probe head 10 by pressing the frustum-shaped portion 30 with the crotch portion of the two fingers. When rotating the scanning surface of the ultrasonic wave, the probe head 10 is rotated around its axis line by twisting the three fingers of the index finger 32, the middle finger 34, and the thumb 36.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the index finger 32 and the middle finger 34, the portion corresponding to the middle phalanx abuts the side surface of the columnar portion 28 at the proximal end, and the fingertip is directed into the recess 18 from here. . Since the recessed portion 18 is recessed from the side surface of the base end columnar portion 28, the index finger 32 and the middle finger 34 are curved to the same extent as when the hand is lightly gripped, and have a natural shape. As a result, fatigue due to long-time operation can be reduced.

  In order to make it easy for the operator to recognize the position of the ultrasonic scanning surface, a strip protruding from the bottom surface may be provided on the bottom surface of one depression 18 through which the scanning surface passes. Other shapes that can be sensed by touch, such as grooves, protrusions, and holes, can be provided instead of the strips. In addition, a similar tactile mark or a visual mark such as a mark can be provided on the frustum-shaped portion 30 at the base end.

  The probe head of the present embodiment has a substantially hexagonal column shape, but may have another prismatic shape or a cylindrical shape.

  When using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the surface of the probe head that comes into contact with the subject is coated with jelly as an acoustic matching agent, which may stick to the side surface of the probe head, etc. Become. In the probe head 10 of the present embodiment, the boot 16 of the cable 14 is sandwiched between the crotch of the index finger and the middle finger, and the thumb, index finger, and middle finger are extended along the columnar side surface from the proximal end side to the distal end side. And retained. Thereby, it can hold | maintain so that a probe head may be wrapped, and fall prevention is achieved. Moreover, a fingertip is applied to the depression 18 provided on the side surface, and the rotational force can be reliably transmitted to the probe head. In addition, the fingertip abuts on the tapered portion at the end of the recess 18 on the tip side, and the force for pressing the probe head 10 against the subject can be reliably transmitted. Further, the probe head 10 can be reliably pressed against the subject by pressing the proximal end surface of the probe head with the crotch portion of the two fingers sandwiching the boot 16.

  10 probe head, 12 ultrasonic transducer, 14 cable, 16 boot, 18 indentation.

Claims (4)

An ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound to and from a subject of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus,
It has a probe head that houses an ultrasonic transducer that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves,
The probe head has a substantially columnar shape in which an ultrasonic transducer is arranged on one end surface, and an end of a cable for connecting to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body is arranged on the other end surface. At least three depressions that are recessed in a substantially columnar axis orthogonal cross section and that can accept the operator's fingertips are provided,
Ultrasonic probe.   The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the probe head has a substantially hexagonal column shape, and the depressions are respectively provided on each of the six side surfaces of the substantially hexagonal column. Tentacles.   3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the recess is recessed in an axial cross section, and an end on an end surface side where the ultrasonic transducer is disposed has a tapered shape. There is an ultrasonic probe.   The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the end surface on which the end of the cable is arranged has shoulder portions on both sides of the cable, on which the operator's finger contacts. Has an ultrasonic probe.

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