JPH03158141A - Connector for ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To bring connection structure of a signal line into a reliable state by a method wherein a connection pin is fixed by a pin fixing housing, and a rigid base plate for electrical wiring is connected directly to the tip part of a connection pin. CONSTITUTION:A fixing housing 14 on the male side is mounted to the outer side of an outer housing 6 by means of a fastening screw 18 and fixes the intermediate part of a connection pin 8 on the male side held by inner and outer housings 7 and 6. A fixing housing 15 on the female side is mounted to the outer side of an outer housing 13 by means of a fastening screw 19, and fixes the intermediate part of a connection pin 8' on the female side held an outer housing 13. A rigid base plate 16 connects the connection pins 8... of a connector part 4a on the male side to a signal line on the ultrasonic probe 1 side. Holes are formed in the same arrangement as that of a pin in a plate surface, the tip parts of the connection pins 8... are inserted into respective holes, and connected thereto by a soldering. The rigid base plate 17 connects the connection pins 8... of a connector part 4b on the female side to a signal line on the picture extracting device 2 side in a similar manner described above.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an ultrasound probe connector for connecting an ultrasound probe to an image rendering device in an ultrasound diagnostic device, and particularly relates to an ultrasound probe connector that connects an ultrasound probe to an image rendering device in an ultrasound diagnostic device. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe connector that enables connection of an ultrasonic probe with a larger number of elements than in the past, resulting in a multi-channel design and a reliable structure for connecting a large number of signal lines to a large number of connection pins.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6, an ultrasound probe 1 that transmits and receives ultrasound waves to and from a subject is connected via a connector to an image rendering device 2 that displays ultrasound images. are doing. At this time, for example, at the end of the signal cable 3 extending from the ultrasound probe 1, a male connector part 4a is attached.
A female side connector part 4b is provided in a part of the image rendering device 2.
@: was provided and connected by fitting both connector parts 4a and 4b together. As a result, the ultrasonic probe 1
Signals are exchanged between the image rendering device 2 and the image rendering device 2,
Ultrasonic images are displayed on the screen of a television monitor 5 provided in the image rendering device 2.

Here, in the male connector part 4a and the female connector part 4b constituting the conventional connector, the number of connection pins is 156 pins at most. In addition, the connection of the signal wire to each of the connection pins is performed by inserting the tip of the signal wire into a cylindrical portion formed at the base end of the connection pin and caulking the signal wire, thereby connecting the signal wire by caulking.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in such conventional ultrasound probe connectors, the maximum number of connection pins is only 156 pins. In multi-element, for example, 1
However, it is not possible to transmit multi-channel ultrasonic signals such as 92.224.240. In addition, in the male and female connector parts 4a and 4b, each connection pin and signal line were connected by caulking, so the signal line had to be inserted and caulked each time, which resulted in poor workability and The connection was not reliable, and the reliability of signal transmission was sometimes reduced. Therefore, the clinical value of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as a whole cannot be increased very much.

Therefore, the present invention solves these problems by increasing the number of connection pins to a greater number of channels than before so that ultrasonic probes with multiple elements can be connected, and by connecting a large number of signal lines to a large number of connection pins. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector for an ultrasonic probe that has a reliable structure for connection.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasound probe connector according to the present invention has a male side connector part provided with a large number of connection pins, and a female side connector part also provided with a large number of connection pins, By fitting these two connector parts together and rotating the cam mechanism provided in either connector part to bring the connecting pins of the two connector parts into contact with each other, the ultrasonic probe can be connected to the image rendering device. In the ultrasonic probe connector for connecting the two connectors, the male connector section and the female connector section shall have connection pins for 256 channels or more, and the connection pins on the opposite side of the mating surface of both connector sections shall be equal to or more than 256 channels. A pin fixing housing is provided to fix each of the connection pins, and a hard board for electrical wiring is directly connected to the tips of these connection pins.

In addition, the arrangement of the connection pins of the male connector part and the female connector part is such that the vertical and horizontal arrangement ratio of the number of pins is 10:13 on the left and right sides of the cam mechanism provided in either connector part. It is effective to divide it into two blocks.

Further, the hard board for electrical wiring has a notch for operation to remove the pin fixing housing provided on the side opposite to the fitting surface of both connector parts.

[For production]

In the ultrasonic probe connector configured in this way, the number of connection pins in the male side connector part and the female side connector part is 2.
For example, 256 channels can be used for more than 56 channels.
Even a multi-element ultrasound probe that transmits and receives channel ultrasound signals can be connected to the image rendering device.

In addition, by fixing the connection pins in a pin fixing housing and directly connecting a hard board for electrical wiring to the tips of these connection pins, a large number of signal lines can be connected to each connection pin through the hard board. Since the signal line can be connected, the connection structure of the signal line can be ensured.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional front view showing an embodiment of an ultrasound probe connector according to the present invention. This ultrasound probe connector connects an ultrasound probe to an image rendering device in an ultrasound diagnostic device.

As shown in FIG. 1, a male connector part 4a and a female connector part 4b are connected.

The male connector part 4a is connected to the ultrasonic probe 1 side, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, and is connected to the external housing 6.
and an inner housing 7 with a number of connecting pins 8, 8 . ...
is held. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the internal housing 7 has a large number of mounting holes formed in, for example, a grid shape, and each of the connecting pins 8 is inserted and held in each of these mounting holes. The inner housing 7 is positioned inside the frame-shaped outer housing 6 and held so as to be movable left and right. A cam mechanism is provided at the center of the male connector portion 4a.

This cam mechanism brings the connecting pins 8.8' and insteps of the two connector parts 4a and 4b into contact with each other when the two connector parts 4a and 4b are fitted into each other. The cam 9 is comprised of a rotation shaft 10 attached to the lower end thereof, and a handle 11 for rotating the cam 9 via the rotation shaft 10. Note that reference numeral 12 is a leaf spring for returning the inner housing 7.

On the other hand, the female side connector part 4b is connected to the image rendering device 2 side as shown in FIG. 6, for example, and holds a large number of connection pins 8'8', . . The connection pins 8', 8, . Connecting pins 8' are inserted and held respectively.

To connect the male connector part 4a and the female connector part 4b, first, the male connector part 4a is fitted into the female connector part 4b as shown in FIG.

At this time, as shown in FIG.
The tips of each of the connecting pins 8 held in the female connector section 4b are inserted into the mounting holes formed in a lattice shape in the external housing 13 of the female connector part 4b, and are located near one side of each of the female connecting pins 8'. do. Next, the handle 11 shown in FIG.
06 Rotate the cam 9 at its lower end via the rotation shaft 10
is rotated 90''. Then, the longer diameter side of the oval cam 9 pushes out the side of the inner housing 7 in the male connector part a outward as shown by arrow A, and the inner housing 7 is rotated. For example, it is moved to the left in Fig. 2. At this time, since the outer housing 13 of the female connector part 4b is fixed, the tip of each male connecting pin 8 is moved by the movement of the inner housing 7. They are brought into contact with the tips of the corresponding female connection pins 8', thereby mechanically and electrically connecting the male connector portion 4a and the female connector portion 4b.

Next, in order to separate the male connector part 4a and the female connector part 4b that have been connected as described above, the handle 11 shown in FIG. All you have to do is rotate it 90 degrees.

Then, in FIG. 2, until now the male connector part 4a
Since the pressing force of the cam 9 that was pushing the side surface of the inner housing 7 outward is released, the inner housing 7
is returned inward by the elastic force of the temporary spring 12. As a result, the contact between the tip of the male connecting pin 8 and the tip of the female connecting pin 8' is released, and the male connector part 4a and the female connector part 4b are mechanically and electrically connected. The connection is also broken. In this state, the male connector section 4
a can be removed from the female connector portion 4b. This method of coupling and detachment using a cam mechanism requires almost no operating force to couple and detach the male connector part 4a and the female connector part 4b, and is called a ZIF type connector.

Here, in the present invention, the male connector portion 4a
The connecting pins 8° 8' of the female connector portion 4b each have a number of pins equal to or more than 256 channels, for example, 260 pins. Due to the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic device, the number of ultrasonic signals transmitted is a multiple of 16 (54, 96, 128
, 192, 224, 256, etc.) and the signal cable drawn out from the connector (number 3 in Figure 6).
Since there are certain limits due to the operability of (see), the arrangement of the transducer elements of the ultrasonic probe, and the ease of drawing out the electrodes from the elements, "256" is considered to be the highest practical level. This is because it will be done. In addition to this, we added pins for the ground terminal and signal wire for probe identification, making the total number of pins 260.

The arrangement of the 260 connecting pins 8 and 8' is as follows:
As shown in FIG.
Centered on , the vertical and horizontal arrangement ratio of the number of pins is a; b on the left and right sides.
It is divided into two blocks with a ratio of 10:13. In Figure 3, the above two blocks are
130 connecting pins 8, 8. are inserted and held in the left inner housing 7 located on both sides of the cam 9, respectively.・・・
. and 130 connecting pins 8, 8 . It corresponds to the group of... In addition, the female side connector part 4b is also divided into two blocks and connected with the same vertical and horizontal arrangement ratio a:b=10:13, corresponding to the pin arrangement of the male side connector part 4a shown in FIG. A pin 8' is arranged.

In this way, the 260 connecting pins 8 and 8' are arranged in two blocks, left and right, by operating one cam 9 and one handle 11 to connect the connecting pins 8 on the male side and the female side. This allows easy connection with the connecting pin 8'.

Furthermore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, pin fixing housings 14 and 15 are provided on the sides opposite to the mating surfaces of the male connector part 4a and the female connector part 4b, and Connection hinge 8,8. . . and the female side connection pins 8/, 9/, . . . are directly connected to hard substrates 16 and 17 for electrical wiring, respectively. That is, the male side pin fixed housing 14 is attached to the outer surface of the outer housing 6 at two corners with tightening screws 18, and the male side pin fixed housing 14 held by the inner housing 7 and the outer housing 6 is The middle part of the connecting pin 8 is fixed.

Further, the female side pin fixing housing 15 is attached to the outer surface of the external housing 13 at two corners, for example, with tightening screws 19, and the female side connecting pin 8 held by the external housing 13 is attached. The middle part of ′ is fixed. Further, the hard substrate 16 is connected to the male connector portion 4.
This is for connecting the connecting pins 8゜8, . Through-holes or holes are formed in the arrangement, and the connection pins 8, 8 . Insert the tip of ... and connect with solder. In addition, the other hard substrate 17 is
Connection pin B T of female side connector part 4b, 81.・
... to the signal line on the image rendering device 2 side shown in FIG. The tips of the respective connection pins B l , 8 J, . . . are inserted and connected with equal soldering. Thereby, the male side and female side connection pins 8, 8' are easily and reliably connected to the respective corresponding signal lines.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the hard substrate 16, 17 has cutouts 20', for example, circular holes or rectangular cutouts, at two diagonal corners thereof. is formed.

These notches 20, 20', as shown in FIG.
A pin fixing housing 1 is provided on the opposite side of the mating surface between the male connector part 4a and the female connector part 4b.
This is where you insert the tool to remove 4.15. Therefore, by inserting a tool such as a screwdriver from the outside of each hard board 16.17 through the notch 20 or 20' and loosening the tightening screws 18.19, each pin fixing housing 14.15 can be easily removed. Can be removed. This allows the connection pin 8 on the male side to be
,8. ...or female side connection pin 8'8',...
can be replaced.

[Effects of the Invention] Since the present invention is configured as described above, by setting the number of connection pins 8, 8' of the male side connector part 4a and the female side connector part 4b to 256 channels or more, for example, 256 channels can be connected. Even a multi-element ultrasound probe 1 that transmits and receives ultrasound signals can be connected to the image rendering device I2. Therefore.

It is possible to respond to recent performance improvements in ultrasound diagnostic equipment, and to obtain high-definition ultrasound images. Moreover, the pin fixed housing 14. Connecting pin 8.8' with li5
At the same time, by directly connecting a hard board 16.17 for electrical wiring to the tips of these connection pins 8, 8', a large number of signal lines can be connected to each other via the hard board 16.17. Since the signal line can be connected to the pins 8 and 8', the connection structure of the signal line can be ensured. Therefore.

It is possible to improve the workability of the signal line connection and to improve the reliability of signal transmission. For these reasons, the clinical value of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be improved as a whole.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional front view showing an embodiment of the ultrasonic probe connector according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of essential parts showing the fitted state of the male connector part and the female connector part. , Fig. 3 is an explanatory plan view showing the pin arrangement of the connecting pins in the male connector part, Figs. 4 and S are explanatory plan views showing the shape of the hard board, and Fig. 6 is a general ultrasonic diagnostic device. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the connection relationship between an ultrasound probe and an image rendering device in FIG. 1... Ultrasonic probe, 2... Image drawing device,
3.Signal cable, 4a...Male side connector part, 4
b... Female side connector part, 8, 8'... Connection pin, 9... Cam, 10... Rotating shaft, 11...
handle. 14.15...Pin fixed housing, 16.17
...Hard board, 18.19...Tightening screw,
20°20'...Notch. Figure 2 Figure □b --- □ --- Figure Old (19) 8 (191

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) It has a male side connector part equipped with a large number of connection pins and a female side connector part equipped with a large number of connection pins, and these two connector parts are fitted into each other and installed in either connector part. In an ultrasound probe connector for connecting an ultrasound probe to an image rendering device by rotating the cam mechanism and bringing the connection pins of both connector parts into contact with each other, the male connector is connected to the ultrasound probe. The connecting pins of the female side connector and the female connector have a number of pins equivalent to 256 channels or more, and a pin fixing housing is provided on the opposite side of the mating surface of both connectors to fix each of the connecting pins. An ultrasonic probe connector characterized in that a hard board for electrical wiring is directly connected to the tip of the connecting pin. (2) The arrangement of the connection pins of the male connector part and the female connector part is such that the vertical and horizontal arrangement ratio of the number of pins is 10:13 on the left and right sides of the cam mechanism provided in either connector part. 2. The ultrasonic probe connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is divided into two blocks. (3) The above-mentioned rigid board for electrical wiring is characterized in that a notch is formed for operation to remove the pin fixing housing provided on the opposite side of the fitting surface of both connector parts. 2. The ultrasonic probe connector according to 1 or 2.