JP2011110228A - 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: A grip section 14 of the probe head 10, which is a part to be held by an operator, has a stepped shape with a large diameter section 18 and a small diameter section 20. The small diameter section 20 has a flange section 24 on the proximal side and is tapered toward the distal section from the flange section. The probe head is prevented from being dropped by gripping the small diameter section by the thumb, the index finger and the middle finger and thus gripping the flange section 24 and the tapered section extending from the flange section by the thumb and the index finger. In addition, force to press the probe head to the subject is easily transmitted to the head by pressing a shoulder section 22 formed by a step at a boundary between the large diameter section and the small diameter section with the middle finger and the thenar. <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.

  The probe head of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention has a distal end portion that accommodates an ultrasonic transducer at the distal end and a grip portion that is gripped by an operator's hand. The provided distal end side is thick, the proximal end opposite to the distal end side is thin, and the boundary between the large diameter portion which is the thick portion on the distal end side and the small diameter portion which is the thin portion on the proximal end side is provided with a step. A shoulder portion is formed, and a proximal end of the small diameter portion has a shape extending outward.

  The proximal end side of the small-diameter portion may have a tapered shape that narrows toward the distal end portion.

  The base end side of the large-diameter portion can have a tapered shape that narrows toward the distal end portion.

  The shape of the cross section of the large diameter portion perpendicular to the axis can be an ellipse.

  The probe head of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention has a tip portion that accommodates an ultrasonic transducer at the tip, and a grip portion that is gripped by an operator's hand. At the boundary between the large diameter portion which is a thick portion on the distal end side and the small diameter portion which is a thin portion on the proximal end side, the distal end side provided with the distal end portion is thick, the proximal end side opposite to the distal end side is thin. A shoulder is formed with a step. The probe head can be held by holding the small-diameter portion with the thumb, index finger, and middle finger, and attaching the ring finger and the small finger to the large-diameter portion at this time. When gripped as described above, a portion extending outward is provided on the side of the proximal end of the thumb and index finger of the small diameter portion, the middle finger is in contact with or close to the shoulder, and the mother The finger ball comes into contact.

  The thickness of the small-diameter portion can be set to such a thickness that the fingertips of the thumb and index finger overlap when gripped as described above.

  The portion of the small-diameter portion that is gripped by the thumb and the index finger when gripped as described above can have a tapered shape that narrows toward the tip.

  The portion of the large-diameter portion to which the ring finger and the little finger are attached when gripped as described above can have a tapered shape that narrows toward the tip.

  The probe head can be held in a state close to the natural shape of the hand.

It is the perspective view seen from the front end side of the probe head of this embodiment. It is the perspective view seen from the base end side of the probe head of this embodiment. It is a top view of the probe head of this embodiment. It is a side view of the probe head of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the probe head of this embodiment by the AA line shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the use condition of the probe head of this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the position of each finger at the time of using the probe head of this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a probe head 10 of the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is a plan view, and FIG. 4 is a side view. The probe head 10 includes a distal end portion 12 that houses an ultrasonic transducer at the distal end, and a grip portion 14 that is a portion gripped by an operator. A cable 16 for electrically connecting the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body is disposed at the rear end of the grip portion 14. In the following description, the side on which the distal end portion 12 is provided is referred to as the distal end, and the side opposite to the distal end and where the cable 16 is disposed is referred to as the proximal end. The probe head 10 of this embodiment is of a convex type, and the ultrasonic transducer is formed of vibration elements arranged in an arc shape. The distal end portion 12 that accommodates the ultrasonic transducer has a fan shape in accordance with the shape of the ultrasonic transducer. The shape of the distal end portion 12 is not limited to a sector shape, but is determined according to the form of another ultrasonic transducer, for example, linear or sector.

  The grip portion 14 is thick at the distal end side and thin at the proximal end side, and a step is formed at the boundary as shown in FIGS. A thick portion on the distal end side is referred to as a large diameter portion 18, and a thin portion on the proximal end side is referred to as a small diameter portion 20. As described above, a step is formed at the boundary between the large diameter portion 18 and the small diameter portion 20, and this portion is referred to as a shoulder portion 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the large-diameter portion 18 has a frustum shape having a substantially elliptical cross section and a thin tip on the tip side of the probe head. The term “substantially elliptical shape” is used to include a shape obtained by elongating a circle in addition to an ellipse defined mathematically. The connecting portion between the large diameter portion 18 and the tip portion 12 has a shape such that the fan-shaped tip portion 12 bites into the frustum-shaped large diameter portion 18. As shown in FIG. 4, the dimension of the large-diameter portion 18 in the minor axis direction of the substantial ellipse is larger than the dimension in the thickness direction of the tip portion 12 even at the tip of the large-diameter portion. The tip 12 is raised.

  The small-diameter portion 20 has a columnar shape with a square cross section as well shown in FIG. The square shape of the cross section is a rectangle with rounded corners in the probe head 10, and each side of the rectangle is curved so as to slightly bulge outward as shown in the AA cross section of FIG. Yes. The direction of the long side of the rectangle coincides with the direction of the major axis of the substantially ellipse of the large diameter portion 18. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the thickness of the columnar shape of the small diameter portion 20 changes in the axial direction. Specifically, the base end side is the thickest and has a shape spreading outward. This portion is referred to as a collar portion 24. It is tapered from the proximal end toward the distal end, and becomes slightly thicker again in the vicinity of the boundary with the large diameter portion 18.

  Since the shoulder portion 22 is the boundary portion between the large-diameter portion 18 and the small-diameter portion 20 as described above, the outer shape thereof is the shape of the bottom surface of the large-diameter portion 18, that is, a substantially elliptical shape. Further, the shoulder portion 22 is in a plane substantially orthogonal to the columnar axis of the small diameter portion 20 and the axis of the frustum of the large diameter portion 18, and as shown in FIG. Slightly curved shape. The length of the shoulder portion 22 in the radial direction varies depending on the radial direction. Specifically, the shoulder 22a in the major axis direction shown in FIG. 3 is long, and the length of the shoulder 22b in the minor axis direction shown in FIG. 4 is short.

  6 and 7 are diagrams showing a state where the probe head 10 is grasped by a hand. FIG. 6 is a perspective view, and FIG. 7 is a diagram in which the finger position when grasped as shown in FIG. 6 is added to the plan view similar to FIG. The small-diameter portion 20 is gripped by the three fingers of the thumb 30, the indicating finger 32, and the middle finger 34 so that the ring finger 36 and the small finger 38 are along the side surface of the large-diameter portion 18. When gripped in this manner, the vicinity of the base of the thumb of the palm (the thumb ball 40) abuts the shoulder 22, and the vicinity of the base of the little finger (the little ball 42) abuts the side surface of the large-diameter portion 18.

  The small-diameter portion 20 has an axial dimension that is slightly longer than the width (the vertical dimension in FIG. 7) when the index finger 32 and the middle finger 34 that hold it are aligned. As a result, the collar portion 24 is positioned close to the side of the index finger 32, and the shoulder portion 22 is positioned close to the side of the middle finger 34. The probe head 10 is used by grasping the small-diameter portion 20 with the thumb 30, the indicating finger 32, and the middle finger 34, and the interaction between these fingers and the collar portion 24 and the shoulder portion 22 at both ends of the small-diameter portion. The movement in the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 6 and 7) is restricted. Even if the hand is not squeezed strongly, the collar part 24 is hooked on the thumb 30 and the index finger 32, the drop of the probe head 10 is prevented, and the muscle load is reduced.

  Further, a tapered portion continuing from the collar portion 24 is provided on the proximal end side of the small diameter portion 20. The length in the long side direction of the collar portion 24 is about 39 mm, and the length in the long side direction of the narrowest portion of the small diameter portion 20 is about 30 mm, and a tapered shape is formed therebetween. Also in the short side direction, a tapered portion is provided from the collar portion 24 toward the tip. As shown well in FIG. 7, the tapered portion corresponds to a portion where the thumb 30 and the indicating finger 32 abut when the probe head 10 is held. This tapered shape also prevents the probe head 10 from falling. Further, when the small finger 20 is gripped and operated by the two fingers of the thumb 30 and the index finger 32, the tapered shape prevents the two fingers from falling even if they are not in contact with the collar 24. The

  The thickness of the small-diameter portion 20 is such that when the thumb 30 and the index finger 32 or the thumb 30 and the middle finger 34 hold the small-diameter portion, the fingertips or the parts corresponding to the distal phalanx of each finger can be gripped. It is desirable that By holding the tip of the index finger or the middle finger with the thumb, a ring is formed with the thumb and the index finger or the thumb and the middle finger, and the small diameter portion 20 is more reliably held.

  The ring finger 36 and the little finger 38 support or support the large diameter portion 18 together with the little finger ball 42. Since the part from the ring finger 36 and the little finger 38 to the little finger ball 42 supports the side surface of the large diameter portion 18 as a whole, the direction of the probe head 10 can be controlled more reliably. Further, since the cross section of the large-diameter portion 18 has a substantially elliptical shape, the entire portion from the ring finger 36 and the small finger 38 to the small finger ball 42 can be easily brought into contact with the side surface of the large-diameter portion. The large-diameter portion 18 also has a tapered portion, and holding this portion with the ring finger 36, the little finger 38 and the little finger ball 42 contributes to the prevention of the probe head 10 from falling.

  In the diagnosis by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, it may be necessary to press the probe head 10 against the subject with a strong force. Also in the application of such force, the shoulder 22 functions effectively in the probe head 10 of this embodiment. As shown well in FIG. 6, the portion corresponding to the middle phalanx of the middle finger 34 abuts on the shoulder 22a in the long axis direction, and the thumb ball 40 is placed on the opposite long shoulder 22a. It is in contact. When pushing the probe head 10 toward the subject, the shoulder portion 22, particularly the shoulder portion 22 a in the long axis direction is pushed by the middle finger 34 and the thumb ball 40 to apply force. Since the shoulder portion 22 is a surface that is substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the grip portion 14, force can be easily transmitted. Further, the shoulder portion 22b in the short axis direction fits into a slightly depressed portion in the center of the palm, so that the probe head 10 is well adapted to the hand.

  When the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used, jelly is used as an acoustic matching agent. However, this sometimes remains on the grip portion of the probe head, and is slippery and difficult to hold. In the probe head 10 of the present embodiment, the tapered shape of the flange portion 24, the small diameter portion 20 and the large diameter portion 18 of the small diameter portion 20 is prevented from slipping and falling. Further, the shoulder 22 at the boundary between the large-diameter portion 18 and the small-diameter portion 20 can efficiently transmit to the probe head 10 the force pressing against the subject. In addition, the natural state of the hand is a state where each finger loses its force and is gently curved. As shown in FIG. 6, the state in which the probe head 10 of this embodiment is held is close to the natural state of the hand, is not unreasonable, and does not accumulate fatigue due to long-time operation.

  10 probe head, 12 tip, 14 grip, 18 large diameter, 20 small diameter, 22 shoulder, 24 collar.

Claims (8)

An ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound to and from a subject of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus,
An ultrasonic transducer that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, including a probe head held by an operator,
The probe head has a tip portion that accommodates an ultrasonic transducer at the tip, and a grip portion that is gripped by an operator's hand,
The grip portion is thick at the distal end side where the distal end portion is provided, thin at the proximal end opposite to the distal end side, a large diameter portion which is a thick portion at the distal end side, and a small diameter portion which is a narrow portion at the proximal end side A step is provided at the boundary to form a shoulder,
The proximal end of the small diameter portion is a shape that spreads outward,
Ultrasonic probe.   2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein a proximal end side of the small-diameter portion has a tapered shape that narrows toward a distal end portion. 3.   3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein a proximal end side of the large-diameter portion has a tapered shape that narrows toward a distal end portion. 4.   The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shape of the cross section of the large-diameter portion perpendicular to the axis is an ellipse. An ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound to and from a subject of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus,
An ultrasonic transducer that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, including a probe head held by an operator,
The probe head has a tip portion that accommodates an ultrasonic transducer at the tip, and a grip portion that is gripped by an operator's hand,
The grip portion is thick at the distal end side where the distal end portion is provided, thin at the proximal end opposite to the distal end side, a large diameter portion which is a thick portion at the distal end side, and a small diameter portion which is a narrow portion at the proximal end side A step is provided at the boundary to form a shoulder,
The small diameter part can be grasped with a thumb, an index finger and a middle finger, and at this time, a ring finger and a small finger can be attached to the large diameter part,
When grasped as above,
On the proximal side of the small-diameter portion of the thumb and index finger, a portion extending outward is provided,
The middle finger abuts or approaches the shoulder, and the thumb ball abuts.
Ultrasonic probe.   6. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 5, wherein the thickness of the small-diameter portion is such that the fingertips of the thumb and index finger overlap when gripped as described above. Child.   The ultrasonic probe according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a portion of the small-diameter portion that is gripped by the thumb and the index finger when gripped as described above has a tapered shape that narrows toward the tip. There is an ultrasonic probe.   The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein a portion of the large-diameter portion to which a ring finger and a little finger are attached when being gripped as described above is directed to a tip portion. Ultrasonic probe that has a tapered shape that becomes thinner.

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