JPH0257424B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe applicator (also simply referred to as an applicator) that can be attached to and detached from an ultrasonic probe.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems] Among ultrasound probes, electronic scanning type ultrasonic probes have transducers arranged in a row fixed by backing material, and coated with coating material and acoustic impedance matching on the surface of the transducers. Members and the like are arranged, and the surface that contacts the subject, that is, the ultrasonic wave transmission and reception surface, is formed into a hard and flat surface.

Therefore, if there are irregularities on the body surface of the subject due to the presence of bones, etc., the wave transmitting/receiving surface of the ultrasound probe cannot be brought into close contact with the subject, and the propagation efficiency of ultrasound to the subject becomes extremely low. may become worse.

Furthermore, in order to obtain ultrasound images of organs, etc. during laparotomy, a small intraoperative micro ultrasound probe is sometimes used, but like the general ultrasound probe mentioned above, this small ultrasound probe also has a transmitting and receiving wave surface. Since it is formed on a hard and flat surface, it is extremely dangerous to bring it into direct contact with organs, etc.

Conventionally, therefore, a method has been adopted in which a so-called water bag is interposed between the wave transmitting/receiving surface of the ultrasonic probe and the subject.

However, since the water bag is attached to the ultrasonic probe using a snap lock or the like, there is a problem in that the attachment is complicated. Particularly in the case of small ultrasonic probes for use during micro-surgery, there is a problem in that the attachment of a water bag hinders miniaturization for intra-surgical use and reduces operability. Further, the water bag requires deaerated water, and there are also problems such as the risk of water leakage due to damage to the water bag. Further, although specific embodiments for use during micro-surgery (finger type) have been considered, a locking method for the linear type has not been disclosed.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to bring the wave transmitting/receiving surface of an ultrasonic probe into good contact with a subject, and it is easy to attach and detach from the ultrasonic probe. Another object of the present invention is to provide an applicator for an ultrasonic probe that does not reduce the operability of the ultrasonic probe and is free from water leakage accidents due to damage or the like.

[Summary of the Invention] The outline of the present invention for achieving the above object is that the present invention is capable of being detachably attached to an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a subject; The case includes a flexibly solidified elastic acoustic medium having a wide portion and a narrow portion interposed therebetween, and a case capable of fixing the acoustic medium to the wave transmitting/receiving surface of the ultrasonic probe, and the case has a cross section U. The case has an opening that supports the wide part of the acoustic medium at the bottom and causes the narrow part to protrude downward, and has a locking part that can be locked to the wall surface of the probe at the top. It is characterized in that it is configured to be freely rotatable around a connecting engagement portion provided in a portion and to be freely disassembled and assembled.

[Embodiments of the Invention] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment. 1 is a probe,
It has a cable 1c at the top, a shoulder 1b in the middle, and an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving surface 1a at the tip. Reference numeral 2 denotes a flexible solidified acoustic medium, such as Reston (trade name of 3M Corporation), in which an upper wide part 2a and a lower narrow part 2b are arranged at different levels. Reference numeral 3 denotes a case, which has a U-shaped cross section as a whole, and has two pairs of opposing bent pieces 3a, 3a formed at an interval at the upper end, a bottom surface 3b, and both side walls 3c, 3c. , has a rectangular opening 3d on the bottom surface 3b. This case 3 can be divided into left and right parts symmetrically in a longitudinal section, and has a connecting engagement part 30 provided on the bottom surface.
It is configured to be rotatable, disassembled and assembled freely via a connecting locking part 31 attached so as to intersect with the wall side. This case is made entirely of synthetic resin.

Next, the detailed shape of the case will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4.

2A is a partially cutaway plan view of the case, FIG. 2B is a front view, FIG. 2C is a bottom view, and FIG. 2D is a side view. A pair of opposing bent pieces 3a, 3a at the upper end are shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
b. Side wall 3c of case 3
At the center of the upper end, a recess 3e as shown in FIG. It is becoming more and more like this. The rectangular opening 3d is opened as shown in FIG. As shown in Fig. 2d, the side shape of this case is U-shaped, slightly expanding from the bottom to the top, and a protrusion 3f is formed in the middle of the side wall 3c. A connecting locking portion 31 is formed at the top of 3f, and a connecting engaging portion 30 is formed at the bottom.
This case is constructed so that it can be divided and connected at the center via the above-mentioned connecting parts.

As shown in FIG. 3, which is a plan view of the main part, the connecting locking portion 31 formed on the side surface has a locking convex portion 31.
The locking piece 31b is connected to the side wall 3c.The locking piece 31b has a locking piece 31b having a locking recess 31c, and the locking piece 31d has a locking recess 31c. Therefore, by utilizing the elasticity of the synthetic resin, both can be reliably locked or separated by external force.
Note that 31e is a wavy surface that is designed to be easily gripped.

The connecting engagement portion 30 provided on the bottom surface is an engagement piece 30 having an engagement convex portion 30a as shown in FIG.
b and the engagement concave portion 3 that can engage this engagement convex portion 30a.
0c and an engaging piece 30d having a
It is connected to b. Therefore, by applying an external force to both engaging pieces, the elasticity of the synthetic resin can be utilized to easily connect and separate the engaging pieces. In the illustrated example, since the engaging convex portion is spherical, it is possible to rotate both the engaging pieces 30b and 30d around the engaging concave portion into which the spherical convex portion is fitted. It becomes possible.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained.

Case 3 assembled as shown in Figure 1
When an external force is applied to the connecting locking piece 31 on the side surface of the case to release the lock, the case can be separated. At this time, since the connecting engagement portion 30 on the bottom surface can be rotated, the case 3 is opened so that the upper part thereof is expanded. In this way, with the upper part of the case open, the acoustic medium 2 is first placed so that the lower narrow part 2b of the acoustic medium 2 is inserted into the rectangular opening 3d. Thereafter, the probe 1 is placed on the acoustic medium, and the case 3 is returned to its original assembled state. Then,
Two pairs of bent locking pieces 3a, 3a at the upper end of the case are locked so as to cover both shoulders 1b of the probe 1, respectively. When the side connection locking portion 31 is locked, the applicator can be reliably attached to the probe.

After completing a predetermined probe operation, when removing a contaminated acoustic medium for cleaning or disinfecting, apply external force to the connected state of both the side connecting portion 31 and the bottom connecting portion 30 of the case 3. This can be easily done by canceling it. Usually the acoustic medium is soft;
Adhesiveness to other members The acoustic medium used in the present invention has elasticity that is flexibly solidified, so it is difficult to remove it if it has a general indivisible structure. If it has a structure that can be divided, it can be removed extremely easily.

In the above embodiment, the case where the applicator is attached to a linear electronic scan probe has been described, but it goes without saying that the present invention can also be easily applied to a single probe, a sector probe, etc. by simply changing the shape.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, the wave transmitting/receiving surface of the ultrasonic probe can be brought into good contact with the subject, and it is easy to attach and detach the ultrasonic probe. It is possible to provide an applicator for an ultrasound probe that does not reduce the operability of the ultrasound probe and does not cause water leakage accidents due to damage or the like. Furthermore, the water invasion method is convenient for diagnosis near the body surface.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2a is a plan view of the main parts of the case, Figure b is a front view of the case, Figure c is a bottom view of the case, Figure 2d is a side view of the case, and Figure 3 is the main part of the connection locking part. The plan view and FIG. 4 are front views of main parts of the connecting and engaging portion. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Probe body, 1a... Ultrasonic wave transmission/reception wave surface, 2... Acoustic medium, 3... Case, 3a... Locking part, 30... Connection engagement part, 31... Connection engagement part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A device that is detachably attached to an ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound waves to and from a subject, and that is interposed between the wave transmitting and receiving surface of the ultrasound probe and the subject, and that has a wide portion and a narrow portion. and a case capable of fixing the acoustic medium to the wave transmitting/receiving surface of the ultrasonic probe, the case has a U-shaped cross section, and has the acoustic medium on the bottom surface. The case has an opening that supports the wide part of the probe and causes the narrow part to protrude downward, and a locking part that can be locked to the wall surface of the probe at the upper end. An applicator for an ultrasonic probe characterized by being configured to be rotatable around the center and to be disassembled and assembled. 2. The ultrasonic probe applicator according to claim 1, wherein the flexibly solidified acoustic medium is a gel-like substance. 3. The ultrasonic probe applicator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ultrasonic probe is a linear electronic scan probe.