JP2017104203A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic probe capable of reducing a surface temperature by highly efficiently radiating heat from a piezoelectric vibrator provided inside a probe body of an ultrasonic probe to the outside of the ultrasonic probe.SOLUTION: A first tape 11 composed of a material having high thermal conductivity is connected to outer side faces of a backing material 7 and a backing base 8 provided inside an ultrasonic probe body, and outer side faces of a base 9 composed of a material having high thermal conductivity. Further, a second tape 13 composed of a material having high thermal conductivity is bonded to outer side faces of an erected flexible printed circuit board 12 and an epoxy resin layer 10 and is extended to the outside of the probe body. The first tape 11, the base 9, and the second tape 13 are connected together so as to be functioned as a frame ground in the inside and outside of the probe body, and heat from a piezoelectric vibrator 4 is radiated to the outside of the probe body so as to reduce the surface temperature of the ultrasonic probe.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention performs ultrasonic transmission / reception with respect to a subject (living body) from a piezoelectric vibrator, which is an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit, and scans the piezoelectric vibrator in a linear direction for ultrasonic diagnosis of the subject. This invention relates to a linear scanning ultrasonic probe that takes in dimensional data, and in particular, an ultrasonic probe that efficiently releases heat generated by a piezoelectric transducer to the outside of the ultrasonic probe. About.

  In the conventional ultrasonic probe, when the ultrasonic probe is used, in order to efficiently cool the heat generated from the piezoelectric vibrator, an outer wall is formed around the heat generation source, and the outer wall and the heat generation source are also used. The inner wall is provided between the inner wall and the flow space surrounded by the outer wall and the inner wall contains a heat conducting medium for conducting and radiating heat generated from the heat generation source (Patent Document). 1).

  Further, in an ultrasonic probe having an electronic circuit together with a 2D array transducer in the probe head, as a relay substrate between the 2D array transducer and the electronic circuit in order to effectively dissipate heat generated in the electronic circuit. A functioning interposer is provided, and this interposer has a via array for signal connection and a heat diffusion layer extending in the horizontal direction, and radiates heat by heat conduction from each via to the heat diffusion layer (see Patent Document 2). ).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in order to propagate and dissipate heat generated when the ultrasonic probe is driven, the ultrasonic probe is led to the common electrode 22a and the flexible printed circuit board 23 on both main surfaces. A piezoelectric vibrator 21 for generating ultrasonic waves on which a signal electrode 22b is formed, an acoustic matching layer 24 formed on one main surface side of the piezoelectric vibrator 21, and the other main surface side of the piezoelectric vibrator 21 A backing material 25 attached to the metal base, a metal heat radiation base 26 for holding the backing material 25, and a conductive material for connecting the heat radiation base 26 and an electrode on one main surface side of the piezoelectric vibrator 21. The probe main body 20 is composed of a thin film 27 and a case 29 that houses the piezoelectric vibrator 21, and a heat conducting member 30 is connected to the heat radiating base 26 via the case 29 and the fixing base 28. The probe body 2 through the heat conducting member 30 There from the case 29 to be stored, via the heating wire 31 and the conductive cable 32, was supposed to be radiated to the outside of the probe body 20 (see Patent Document 3).

JP 2012-55688 A JP 2014-57136 A JP-A-5-244690

  However, although the conventional ultrasonic probe heat dissipation structure as described above is configured to radiate heat from the back surface of the piezoelectric vibrator, a heat radiating member is connected to the piezoelectric vibrator to directly radiate heat. It is not configured, but is indirectly connected to the heat conducting member via a metal heat radiating base, and is radiated to the outside of the ultrasonic probe by a heat transfer wire and a conductive cable. For this reason, since heat is indirectly radiated from the piezoelectric vibrator, sufficient heat is not radiated, which causes an increase in the surface temperature of the piezoelectric vibrator.

  The ultrasonic probe of the present invention was made in order to solve the problems of such a conventional ultrasonic probe, and is provided with a backing material, a backing table, and a base provided inside the probe body. A material having a high thermal conductivity in which a first tape made of a material having a high thermal conductivity is connected to an outer side surface portion of a base made of a material having a high thermal conductivity, and the first tape is provided inside the base. A second tape made of a material having high thermal conductivity is attached to the outer side surface portion of the epoxy resin layer formed on the outer side surface portion of the flexible printed board standing on the base. Then, the first tape, the base and the second tape are sequentially connected so as to extend to the outside of the probe body and function as a frame ground between the inside and outside of the probe body. From the piezoelectric vibrator The then radiated to the outside of the probe body, characterized in that to reduce the surface temperature of the ultrasonic probe.

  In the ultrasonic probe of the present invention, the first and second tapes made of the material having high thermal conductivity are copper tapes, respectively.

  Furthermore, the ultrasonic probe of the present invention is characterized in that the base is made of an aluminum material.

  Furthermore, in the ultrasonic probe of the present invention, the first tape is attached to the outer side surface of the base. Thereby, electrical conduction and a heat dissipation path in the ultrasonic probe are ensured.

  Furthermore, the ultrasonic probe of the present invention is characterized in that the first tape is attached to an outer side surface portion of the epoxy resin layer. Thereby, electrical conduction and a heat dissipation path in the ultrasonic probe are ensured.

  In the ultrasonic probe of the present invention, the second tape of the first sheet is attached to the outer side surface portion of the epoxy resin layer, and the second copper tape of the first sheet is further bonded. The second tape is affixed to the surface in the direction of the side surface of the probe case.

  Furthermore, in the ultrasonic probe of the present invention, the upper end of the second tape attached to the outer side surface of the epoxy resin layer is focused on a conductive cable provided at the upper end of the ultrasonic probe. It is characterized by being connected.

  In the ultrasonic probe of the present invention, the signal electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator is formed on the surface of the flexible printed circuit board by a signal foil and a silver wire, and the ground electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator is connected to the silver wire by the silver wire. Thus, electrical conduction is ensured and soldered to the back surface of the flexible printed circuit board.

  By radiating the heat from the piezoelectric vibrator provided inside the probe body of the ultrasonic probe to the outside of the ultrasonic probe, the surface temperature of the ultrasonic probe is efficiently improved, and It can be greatly reduced.

It is the perspective view which exposed and showed a part of probe main body of the ultrasonic probe of this invention provided with the thermal radiation structure which escapes the heat source which generate | occur | produces from a piezoelectric vibrator to the exterior of an ultrasonic probe efficiently. . 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a portion viewed from the arrow B in FIG. 2 (c) is a further enlarged view of the enlarged view shown in FIG. 2 (b). It is a partial exploded perspective view of an ultrasonic probe provided with a heat dissipation structure for releasing heat from a conventional piezoelectric vibrator to the outside of the ultrasonic probe.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an ultrasonic probe of the present invention used as a probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic probe 1 of the present invention is configured by housing a probe main body 2 in a probe case 3 indicated by a virtual line.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the probe body 2 of the ultrasonic probe 1 is made of piezoelectric ceramic, for example, lead zirconate (PZT), and a ground electrode and a signal electrode are formed on the main surface thereof. An acoustic matching layer 5 made of, for example, an epoxy resin, which effectively propagates the ultrasonic wave into the living body in the living body, and the other piezoelectric piezoelectric element 4 that generates the generated ultrasonic wave; A backing material 7 made of a rubber material that more effectively controls the vibration generated from the piezoelectric vibrator 4 side is provided on the main surface, a backing table 8 made of a rubber material on the back surface of the backing material 7, and a backing table 8 A base 9 made of a metal material, for example, aluminum, is sequentially joined to the back surface of the substrate (see the enlarged view of FIG. 2B). Further, an acoustic lens 6 made of, for example, silicone rubber is provided at the tip of the acoustic matching layer 5 to focus the ultrasonic beam in the slice direction.

  A pair of flexible printed circuit boards (FPC) 12 having conductive paths are provided on both side surfaces of the backing material 7, the backing table 8 and the base 9, and the flexible printed circuit board 12 is formed from one end side of the piezoelectric vibrator 4. The signal electrode is led out, and the ground electrode is led out from the other end side of the piezoelectric vibrator 4 by the other flexible printed circuit board 12.

  Here, by using the flexible printed circuit board 12 for derivation of the signal electrode and the ground electrode from the piezoelectric vibrator 4, the flexible printed circuit board 12 is deformed due to the flexibility of the flexible printed circuit board 12 and the possibility of repeated deformation. Even in this case, the electrical characteristics can be sufficiently maintained.

  Further, a backing table 8 made of a rubber material is mounted on the back surface of the backing material 7, and a base plate 9 made of an aluminum material is mounted on the back surface of the backing table 8.

  In particular, in the ultrasonic probe 1 of the present invention, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 2B, a backing material 7 made of a rubber material, both side surfaces of the backing table 8, and an inner surface of the side surface portion 3a of the case 3. In between, the epoxy resin layer 10 is filled and solidified to integrate these components.

  Further, between the back surface of the flexible printed circuit board 12 and the side portions of the backing material 7, the backing table 8, and the base 9, a member made of a material having high thermal conductivity, for example, a first thin tape, For example, the copper tape 11 is inserted, and the copper tape 11 is connected to a position close to the piezoelectric vibrator 4 that is a heat source.

  Here, as shown in a further enlarged view of FIG. 2C when the case 2 a is omitted, the signal electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator 4 is formed on the surface of the flexible printed circuit board 12 by the signal foil 16 and the silver wire 17. The ground electrodes of the piezoelectric vibrator 4 are connected to each other by sharing a plurality of ground electrodes with silver wires 18 and soldering them to the back surface of the flexible printed circuit board 12.

  Further, the first sheet is placed between the both side surface portions of the epoxy resin layer 10 of the probe body 2 and the inner side surface portion of the side surface portion 3a of the case 3 on the outer periphery of the base 9 and the epoxy resin layer 10. Two tapes 13a, for example, copper tapes, are inserted and thermally connected to the base 9 made of an aluminum material so as to function as a frame ground inside and outside the ultrasonic probe 1.

  Further, the second second tape 13b is placed in the direction of the side surface of the case 3 at a position shown in a frame surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1C on the outside of the first second tape 13a. Solder and connect to the top.

  Furthermore, the 1st 2nd tape 13a is affixed on the base 9 in the position shown in the frame enclosed with the dashed-two dotted line of D arrow of FIG.

  And the 2nd tape 13a extended upwards. 13b is thermally connected to the offset shield 14 of the conductive cable 15 formed at the upper end of the probe case 3 via the lead wire 14a.

  The upper ends of the pair of flexible printed circuit boards 12 provided so as to extend in the vertical direction are thermally connected to the offset shield 14 of the conductive cable 15 via the coaxial line 14b.

  In this way, the piezoelectric vibrator 4 is thermally transferred to the first tape (copper tape) 11, the aluminum base 9, and the first first sheet provided on both side portions of the epoxy resin layer 10. Since the second tape 13a and the second second tape 13b are directly connected to the offset shield 14 in a heat dissipating manner, the heat generated in the piezoelectric vibrator 4 can be efficiently and efficiently applied to the first tape 11. The base 9 made of an aluminum material, and the first second tape 13a and the second second tape provided on the surface of the pair of flexible printed circuit boards 12, are transmitted to the offset shield 14. Heated to dissipate heat to the outside of the ultrasound probe 1, and a significant reduction in the surface temperature of the ultrasound probe is achieved.

  As a result, inconvenience when operating the ultrasonic probe due to the surface temperature of the ultrasonic probe and generation of noise from the ultrasonic probe are suppressed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic probe 2 Probe main body 3 Probe case 3a Case side surface 3b Case end surface 4 Piezoelectric vibrator 5 Acoustic matching layer 6 Acoustic lens 7 Backing material 8 Backing base 9 Base 10 Epoxy resin layer 11 First Tape 12 Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPC)
13 Second tape 13a First second tape 13b Second second tape 14 Offset shield 15 Conductive cable 16 Signal foil 17 Silver wire 18 Silver wire

Claims (8)

  A first tape made of a material having a high thermal conductivity is connected to an outer side surface portion of a backing material provided in the probe body, a backing table and a base made of a material having a high thermal conductivity; A second tape made of a material having high thermal conductivity is connected to the outer side surface portion of the epoxy resin layer formed on the outer side surface portion of the flexible printed circuit board erected on the base, and is extended to the outside of the probe body. And connecting the first tape, the base, and the second tape in order to function as a frame ground inside and outside the probe body, and heat from the piezoelectric vibrator is connected to the probe. An ultrasonic probe characterized in that the surface temperature of the ultrasonic probe is reduced by releasing heat to the outside of the main body.   The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the first and second tapes made of a material having high thermal conductivity are copper tapes.   The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the base is made of an aluminum material.   The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first copper tape is attached to an outer side surface portion of the base.   The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second copper tape is attached to an outer side surface portion of the epoxy resin layer.   A first second copper tape is attached to the outer side surface portion of the epoxy resin layer, and a second second copper tape is attached to the surface of the first copper tape. The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the probe is attached in a stacked manner in a direction of a side surface of the probe case.   The upper end of the second copper tape attached to the outer side surface of the epoxy resin layer is converged and connected to a conductive cable provided at the upper end of the ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The signal electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator is secured to the surface of the flexible printed circuit board by a signal foil and a silver wire, and the ground electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator ensures electrical continuity of the ground electrode by a silver wire, The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe is connected to a back surface of the flexible printed board by soldering.