JP5520204B2 - Probe cover mounting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a probe cover mounting apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for mounting a cover on a probe head used in ultrasonic diagnosis.

  In the medical field, a probe (ultrasonic probe) is used when performing ultrasonic diagnosis. The probe has a probe head with a built-in ultrasonic transducer. The wave transmitting / receiving surface or acoustic lens surface of the probe head is brought into contact with the surface of the living body. Probes that are inserted into body cavities are also known. Usually, jelly is applied to the transmission / reception surface of the probe before the ultrasonic diagnosis of the subject. As a result, the acoustic propagation can be improved by excluding the air layer between the transmission / reception surface and the living body surface during ultrasonic diagnosis. After the ultrasonic diagnosis, the jelly attached to the probe is removed with a towel or paper. Prior to the ultrasonic diagnosis of the next subject, the jelly is again applied on the transmission / reception surface of the probe. Processing such as cleaning or sterilizing the probe for each subject is not usually performed.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for attaching a protective sheet peeled off from a sheet built in a probe to a wave transmitting / receiving surface. This is a cover that protects only the transmission / reception surface and does not wrap the entire probe head (or the entire portion that touches the living body).

Japanese Patent No. 3236645

  In the situation where the same probe is repeatedly used for a plurality of subjects, the necessity of preventing infection (nosocomial infection) between subjects has been pointed out. However, it is very complicated to disinfect and sterilize the probe for each ultrasonic diagnosis. Although it is conceivable to attach a special cover having the same shape as that of the probe head to the probe head, the work burden and cost for that purpose are problematic. There also arises a problem that a cover must be prepared for each probe head having a different shape. If sound propagation is hindered by the cover being attached, there arises a problem of image quality degradation. In some cases, the attachment of the membrane member may be required for other purposes, and in such a case, it is required to simply perform the attachment operation.

  An object of the present invention is to allow a membrane member to be easily attached to a probe head. Alternatively, it is an object of the present invention to realize a method for mounting a film-like member that can easily attach a cover even if the shape of the probe head is different and that does not inadvertently fall off after mounting.

  The apparatus according to the present invention includes a stretchable film having a cutout portion for a cover, and a holding mechanism for holding the periphery of the cutout portion in the film in a state where the cutout portion is stretched. The holding mechanism holds the periphery of the cut portion until the cut portion is deformed while extending along the probe head shape by pressing the probe head against the cut portion, and further, the cut portion is separated from the film body. It is characterized by that.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to attach a cover or a cap to the probe head by covering at least the transmission / reception part (preferably the living body contact part beyond the transmission / reception part) of the probe head by the cut part cut out from the film. It becomes. The film has elasticity, and when the probe head is pressed, the cut portion is deformed and stretched according to the shape of the film. Therefore, by performing lapping or laminating using such properties, the film has various shapes. The cut portion can be easily adhered to the probe head. For the purpose of living body contact, the probe head protrudes from the probe body toward the living body, and in general, the wave transmitting / receiving surface has a gently rounded or curved shape in the electronic scanning direction and the direction orthogonal thereto, so There is basically no air layer in between. In order to improve the acoustic propagation property, it is also possible to introduce an acoustic propagation medium (jelly, etc.) between them. When using the probe, such a medium may be applied to the outside (biological contact surface) of the film. The introduction or application of the medium is carried out manually or automatically.

  The probe can be pressed against the film manually or by an automatic mechanism, and the holding force can be generated artificially or using a drive source. It is desirable to ensure that the film is held until the cut portion is detached from the film body, i.e., the peripheral portion of the cut portion. The holding portion in the holding mechanism may be configured to exhibit a cutting action (cutting action), or may be configured so that a cutting line is set inside the holding portion. In order to form a good laminate state free of wrinkles at least on the transmission / reception surface, it is desirable that the cut-out portion is held with substantially equal tension around it, so that the cut-out portion is circular and the holding portion is A ring shape is desirable.

  The film has stretchability, and is preferably made of a material that is thin but has high physical strength, transparency, and biosafety. It is desirable that the film is made of a material having an acoustic impedance close to that of a living body. Desirably, the cut-out portion is discarded after the cut-out portion is used as a cover of the probe, that is, after the ultrasonic diagnosis of the subject. If the cut portion is a disposable member, contamination between subjects can be prevented. In any case, at the time of ultrasonic diagnosis, the probe comes into contact with the surface of the living body through the film, and even in that case, the film is in close contact with the probe head, so that the subject feels uncomfortable. Does not occur. After discarding the cut-out portion, a new cut-out portion or cover is attached to the probe before performing the diagnosis of the next subject.

  In a state in which the cut-out portion is mounted, the mounted state is generally maintained as it is without stopping the cut-out portion with a band or the like due to its own stretchability. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform a special fixing operation after the mounting operation. If the film is attached up to the point where the enlarged portion of the probe head is wrapped, that is, the constricted portion of the probe main body, it can be prevented from falling off. Of course, it is possible to attach the film up to the grip portion of the probe body.

  Preferably, the cut-out portion has a size exceeding the wave transmitting / receiving surface of the probe head in a close contact state where the cut-out portion covers the probe head. According to this configuration, the hygiene functionality can be enhanced by widely covering the living body contact side while ensuring good ultrasonic wave propagation.

  Preferably, the holding mechanism is provided on one side of the film, provided with a first holding member including a first opening that allows passage of the probe head, and provided on the other side of the film, And a second holding member having a second opening that allows passage of the probe head and the cut-out portion. In holding the film, the film is preferably sandwiched from both sides. In that case, two holding members are used. They are provided with a first opening and a second opening to allow probe approach to the cut-out portion and probe movement after pressing. These openings may be circular or square openings, or may be U-shaped openings. You may make it hold | maintain each right side and left side linearly on both sides of a cutting part in a film feed direction. In that case, for example, a holding member extended in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction is used. In that case, the opening is open in two directions.

  Preferably, the film has an annular perforation having a shape surrounding the cut portion, and the perforation functions as a separation line that defines the cut portion. If a perforation is formed in advance or immediately before separation, the shape of the separation line can be manipulated. By adjusting the interval, size, and the like of the holes constituting the perforation, it is possible to manipulate the degree of tension for separation. But you may make it achieve isolation | separation of a cut-off part using mechanisms, such as local heating and mechanical cutting | disconnection. In order to easily attach the cover manually, it is desirable to perform perforation or processing corresponding thereto in advance.

  Preferably, a plurality of annular perforations are formed in the film in the feeding direction of the film, whereby a plurality of cut portions are set in the feeding direction in the film. According to this configuration, the cut portions can be sequentially generated while the film is fed out. The film feeding may be automated or manually performed. Desirably, the holding mechanism holds the position of the annular perforation in the film or the outside thereof. From the viewpoint of reducing the amount of waste, it is desirable that the distance between the two perforations is as small as possible as long as the film can be retained. The cut portion may be rectangular and the entire portion from both sides of the film may be used as the cut portion.

  The method according to the present invention includes a step of bringing a stretchable film into a stretched state, and a step of pressing a probe head against the stretched film to partially release the film, A cut-out portion generated by partial detachment is in close contact with the probe head and functions as a cover thereof. Preferably, the method further includes the step of introducing an acoustic propagation medium into at least the first surface of the film in the stretched state, and the first surface of the film and the wave transmitting / receiving surface of the probe head in the pressing process of the probe head The acoustic propagation medium develops between the two.

  According to the present invention, the membrane member can be easily attached to the probe head. Alternatively, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily attach the cover even if the probe head has a different shape, and it is possible to realize a method of attaching a film-like member that does not inadvertently fall off after attachment.

It is a top view of the cover mounting apparatus for probes which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing of the cover mounting apparatus for probes. It is sectional drawing which shows the state holding the film. It is sectional drawing which shows the state by which the probe was pushed in with respect to the film. It is a figure which shows the state with which the cover was mounted | worn with respect to the probe.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a probe cover mounting apparatus 10 according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a top view thereof. The probe is detachably attached to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body. The probe has a probe head, and an array transducer is built in the probe head. The array transducer includes a plurality of transducer elements, and an ultrasonic beam is formed by the array transducer, and the ultrasonic beam is electronically scanned. Known array transducers include 1D array transducers and 2D array transducers. The probe cover mounting apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus for mounting a cover so as to wrap a probe head in a probe.

  The film 12 serves as a base material for cutting out a cover attached to the probe. The film 12 is made of a material having elasticity, and preferably made of a physically strong material having transparency. In order to improve the ultrasonic wave propagation, it is desirable to use a material having a small thickness, and it is desirable to use a material having an acoustic impedance equivalent to that of a living body. An example of such a material is a polyethylene film. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 14 denotes a feed roll, and the film 12 is sent out in the feed direction X from the feed roll 14. In the initial state, the feed roll 14 has a film 12 having a length of several hundred meters, for example. Reference numeral 16 denotes a take-up roll, and a film portion sent out after a cover mounting operation described in detail below is taken up by the take-up roll 16. Or what was wound up in that way is the winding roll 16.

  In the present embodiment, the film 12 has a plurality of perforations 18 formed therein. Each of the plurality of perforations 18 has a circular shape, and they are aligned along the feed direction X. The interval between the adjacent perforations 18 is desirably set as small as possible as long as the holding operation described later can be performed. The perforation 18 defines the shape of the cut portion. In this embodiment, the cut portion 20 has a circular shape. The periphery of the cut-out portion 20 is a peripheral portion 22 that forms the film body when viewed from the cut-out portion 20. In the take-up roll 16, after the cut portion 20 is removed, the portion becomes the missing portion 21, and the periphery thereof is the remaining portion 22A. Reference numeral 18A denotes a broken line, which corresponds to the perforation 18 described above.

  The feed roll 14 has a roll shaft 24, and the roll shaft 24 is rotatably held by two bearings 26. The winding roll 16 has a roll shaft 28, one end of the roll shaft 28 is rotatably held by a bearing 30, and the other end of the roll shaft 28 is connected to a drive shaft 32. The drive shaft 32 is a shaft that is rotationally driven by a drive source 34, and the drive source 34 includes a motor, a gear, and the like. The bearing 26, the bearing 30, the drive source 34, and the like constitute the transport mechanism 23. Of course, the illustrated mechanism is an example, and in any case, various mechanisms can be employed as long as the film 12 can be stretched.

  The probe cover mounting apparatus 10 has a cutting mechanism 36. In FIG. 1, an upper plate 38 provided on the upper side of the cutting mechanism 36 is shown. A lower plate is provided below the upper plate 38 with the film 12 interposed therebetween. The two plates sandwich the film at the required timing, i.e. the film is held by the two plates around the cut-out portion 20. Four guide pins 40 are provided to guide the vertical movement of the upper plate 38 relative to the lower plate. In the present embodiment, these guide pins 40 are fixed to the lower plate. The four guide pins 40 are provided at positions beyond the width direction of the film 12. The upper plate 38 has a circular opening at the center. Reference numeral 38A denotes the opening edge. The opening coincides with the cut-out portion when the film is properly positioned, and more specifically, the center point of the cut-out portion coincides with the center point of the opening. In the present embodiment, the diameter of the opening is slightly smaller than the diameter of the cutout portion 20.

  The probe cover mounting device 10 shown in FIG. 1 may be mounted on the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Although the film feeding is automated in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the film feeding may be performed manually. As will be described later, the cut portion may be defined using local heating or mechanical cutting without forming the perforation 18.

  FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the probe cover mounting apparatus 10. In FIG. 2, only the main configuration is shown. As described above, the cutting mechanism 36 includes the upper plate 38 and the lower plate 42. The film 12 is inserted between the two in an extended state. In other words, the film 12 can be stretched by applying a pulling force in the left-right direction to the film 12 by the action of the two rolls 14 and 16. The extended state may be formed after the holding operation.

  Each of the upper plate 38 and the lower plate 42 constitutes a holding member, and both constitute a holding mechanism. A projecting portion 44 having a circular shape is formed on the upper surface side of the lower plate 42. The projecting portion 44 has a shape pointed upward. On the other hand, the lower surface side of the upper plate 38 is configured as a flat surface.

  The upper plate 38 has an opening 39 and the lower plate 42 has an opening 43. Both the opening 39 and the opening 43 have the same size. The shoulder 42A of the lower plate 42 is rounded in the present embodiment.

  Reference numeral 18B indicates a position where the perforation is formed, and reference numeral 44A indicates a position where the protruding portion 44 is formed. As indicated by reference numeral 45, the two positions 18B and 44A are different from each other, that is, the perforation having a circular shape is positioned inside the protruding portion 44 having a circular shape. However, the two positions may coincide as long as the cut-out portion can be generated smoothly.

  Reference numeral 45 indicates a medium introduction path, and reference numeral 46 indicates an acoustic matching medium (jelly) discharged on the film 12. Such a medium is discharged to the central portion of the cutout portion 20 by a member such as a tube. In the present embodiment, the medium 46 is ejected to the surface that is in close contact with the probe head, but the medium may be introduced to the surface on the opposite side. According to such a configuration, it is possible to omit the step of applying the medium to the outside of the cut portion, that is, the living body contact side after the cut portion is attached to the probe head.

  The lower plate 42 is connected to the base 46. An intermediate plate 48 is provided inside the base 46, and a push-back mechanism 50 is mounted on the intermediate plate 48. The push-back mechanism 50 is a mechanism for pushing the probe back upward after the probe is pushed upward and the cut-out portion is attached to the probe head. The push-back mechanism 50 includes a pedestal 52 with which the probe abuts, a shaft 54 that supports the pedestal 52, and a spring 56 that biases the shaft 54 upward. Note that the lower side of the intermediate plate 48 in the shaft 54 is enlarged, and the portion 58 defines the upper end of the shaft 54.

  Next, the operation of the above-described probe cover mounting apparatus will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 3, in the state where the film 12 is pulled, the upper plate 38 is pressed downward (see reference numeral 59), and thereby the film 12 is sandwiched between the upper plate 38 and the lower plate 42. That is, a state is formed in which the periphery of the cut portion, that is, the outside is held in the film 12. Specifically, the holding is achieved by sandwiching the film 12 between the protruding portion 44 having a protruding shape and the flat lower surface of the upper plate 38. Thus, it is possible to prohibit the movement of the film in the horizontal direction by sandwiching the film. Before or after that, the acoustic matching medium is applied to the center of the cut-out portion. Then, as indicated by reference numeral 62, the probe 60 is pressed from above toward the center of the cut portion of the film 12 from above.

  This state is shown in FIG. When the film 60 is held by the two plates 38 and 42, when the probe 60 moves downward from above, that is, when the probe head is pressed against the cut portion, the cut portion is indicated by reference numeral 20A. It will stretch and deform along the shape of the probe head. At the same time, the cut-out part is in close contact with the probe head partially or entirely.

  FIG. 4 shows a state immediately before the cut portion is cut. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the pedestal 52 is pushed downward in the push-back mechanism 50, whereby the spring 56 is in a contracted state. When the predetermined tension is reached after the state shown in FIG. 4, the perforation 18 breaks, and the cut portion 20A is self-contracted and the cut portion 20A is completely in close contact with the probe head. Become. Thereafter, by weakening the force pressing the probe 60, the return action of the spring 56 works, and the probe 60 is naturally lifted upward. If the probe cable gets in the way in such a process, the hook may be used to hold it.

  In the aspect shown in FIG. 4, the probe 60 is pressed downward from above, but the direction is not limited to the illustrated one. However, it is desirable to adopt an attitude that prevents the acoustic matching medium from flowing out carelessly. The openings formed in the upper plate 38 and the lower plate 42 are openings through which the probe 60 passes as shown in FIG. 4, and need to be formed with a shape larger than the outer diameter of the probe 60. Even when the cut-out portion is extended as indicated by reference numeral 20A, the shoulder portion of the lower plate 42 is rounded, so that the problem of tearing at an unexpected point is prevented. That is, it is possible to form a clean cut line along the perforation 18.

  FIG. 5 shows the probe 60 after the cover is mounted. The cover is constituted by a cut-out portion 20B, which functions as a cap. The cut-out portion 20B does not easily fall off due to self-contraction, and it is completely in close contact with the probe head 60A. There is no air layer between the wave transmitting / receiving surface 60B and the inner surface of the cut portion 20B, and an acoustic matching medium is present in the gap. Even if an air layer is present in that portion, such a bubble can be easily visually recognized from the outside because the film is made of a transparent member. Due to the elasticity of the film, the film can be closely adhered over a wide range of the probe head including the wave transmitting / receiving surface 60B. After performing ultrasonic diagnosis on the subject using the probe 60 having the mode as shown in FIG. 5, the cutout portion 20B is discarded. Then, a new cut portion is attached to the probe head 60 </ b> A of the probe 60. According to such a configuration, problems such as contamination or infection between subjects can be effectively prevented. Further, since the cut portion 20B is used as a disposable type, a complicated process such as cleaning of the cover or the cap is not necessary.

  In the embodiment described above, perforations are used, that is, the cut-out portion is defined in advance. According to such a configuration, a necessary portion can be used as a cover simply by pressing the probe. Such a pressing force can be exhibited automatically, but it is desirable to perform such pressing manually as in this embodiment. However, the cut portion may be cut using a method such as mechanical cutting or local heating without forming a perforation. Even when such a configuration is adopted, it is only necessary to securely hold the periphery of the portion to be cut out and then press the probe against the portion to cut a necessary portion in that state. According to such a configuration, it is possible to attach the cover without any wrinkles as in the above embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, the push-back mechanism is employed, but such a mechanism may be provided as necessary. The probe was pulled upward after the probe was pressed, but the probe was taken out by pushing the probe downward and letting it move horizontally by bringing the cutout part closer to the side of the film. It is also possible to do. In the embodiment described above, the material cost per mounting of the cover is about 1 yen, for example, so that it is possible to obtain both low cost and hygiene advantages at the same time.

  10 Probe cover mounting device, 12 film, 14 feed roll, 16 take-up roll, 18 perforation, 20 cut portion, 23 transport mechanism, 36 cutting mechanism, 38 upper plate, 42 lower plate, 50 push-back mechanism.

Claims (9)

A stretchable film with a cutout for the cover;
A holding mechanism for holding the periphery of the cut portion of the film in a state where the cut portion is stretched;
Including
The holding mechanism holds the periphery of the cut portion until the cut portion is deformed while extending along the shape of the probe head by pressing the probe head against the cut portion, and further, the cut portion is separated from the film body. A probe cover mounting apparatus characterized by the above. The apparatus of claim 1.
The probe cover mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the cut portion has a size that exceeds a wave transmitting / receiving surface of the probe head in a close contact state where the cut portion covers the probe head. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The holding mechanism is
A first holding member that is provided on one side of the film and includes a first opening that allows passage of the probe head;
A second holding member provided on the other surface side of the film and holding the film together with the first holding member, the second holding member including a second opening allowing passage of the probe head and the cut portion When,
A cover mounting device for a probe, comprising: The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An annular perforation having a shape surrounding the cut portion is formed in the film,
The probe cover mounting device, wherein the perforation functions as a separation line that defines the cut-out portion. The apparatus of claim 4.
The probe cover mounting device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of annular perforations are formed in the film in the feeding direction, whereby a plurality of cut portions are set in the feeding direction in the film. The device according to claim 4 or 5,
The probe cover mounting apparatus, wherein the holding mechanism holds the position of the annular perforation in the film or the outside thereof.   The film used in the probe cover mounting apparatus according to claim 1. A process for making a stretchable film stretched;
Pressing the probe head against the stretched film and partially releasing the film;
Including
A probe cover mounting method, wherein a cut-out portion generated by the partial detachment is in close contact with the probe head and functions as a cover thereof. The method of claim 8, wherein
Introducing a sound propagation medium into at least the first surface of the stretched film;
A probe cover mounting method, wherein the acoustic propagation medium is developed between a first surface of the film and a wave transmitting / receiving surface of the probe head in a pressing process of the probe head.

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