JPH0436817Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and particularly to an ultrasonic probe for puncturing suitable for sterilization.

[Prior art]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have been used for puncturing as well as observing internal organs due to their ease of handling in real time, and ultrasonic probes and their accessories have been developed for this purpose.

Conventionally, attempts were made to make a safe and reliable puncture by making a puncture hole in the center of the ultrasound probe and checking the position of the tip of the puncture needle inserted into the puncture hole using the ultrasound image as a monitor. It has been done since. Especially since real-time images have become widely available.
Applications in this field have become so widespread that the term ultrasonic puncture was coined. Previously, puncture positions had to be determined blindly or intuitively, but with the visual aid of ultrasound images, it has become easier to control the needle tip, making it safer and more reliable to puncture smaller areas.

It is also possible to insert a puncture needle from the side of the ultrasound probe by using the image of a regular linear array ultrasound probe, mechanical sector ultrasound probe, or electronic sector ultrasound probe as a monitor. be. For example, the 6th
As shown in FIGS. 9 to 9, a metal guide adapter 2 for guiding the puncture needle into the ultrasound beam is removably provided on the side surface of a plastic cover 1A that covers the ultrasound probe body 1. There is an ultrasonic probe for puncture in which a puncture needle 3 is inserted into a guide adapter 2.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of an electronic linear ultrasound probe with a guide adapter 2 attached with a puncture needle 3 inserted into the ultrasound probe body 1, and FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively show the guide adapter 2. FIG. 2 is a top view and a side view of FIG. FIG. 9 shows an ultrasound probe for puncture, in which an electronic sector type ultrasound probe 4 is attached to a guide adapter 2 into which a puncture needle 3 is inserted.

In this way, in order to reliably visualize the needle tip echo of the puncture needle 3, it is also common practice to guide the puncture needle into the ultrasound beam.

However, this method uses an ultrasound probe used for general examinations, so when puncturing,
It is necessary to prevent the spread of various diseases by sterilizing the ultrasound probe itself or by covering it with a sterilized bag. In this sense, there are limits to the use of ordinary ultrasound probes for ultrasound puncture.

Therefore, for the purpose of ultrasonic puncture, an ultrasonic probe exclusively for puncturing, which has a guide hole for puncturing in the center of an electronic linear probe, has been commercialized. The most important thing with this ultrasonic probe for puncture is the injection of X-ray contrast agent, drainage, or drug injection.
There is a lot of work with the puncture needle alone, and the ultrasound probe used to guide the puncture needle may actually get in the way. It is possible to leave.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in order to perform puncturing using the ultrasonic probes shown in these conventional examples, it is necessary to sterilize the ultrasonic probes. When sterilizing the ultrasonic probe, place it in a depressurized container.
In addition, during the process of exposing the product to a high-temperature sterilization gas atmosphere, thermal expansion of various parts caused peeling and cracking of silicone rubber, adhesives, electronic components, etc., reducing reliability. .

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a technology that can prevent the reliability of an ultrasonic probe from decreasing during sterilization. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique that eliminates the need to sterilize the ultrasonic probe itself.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be explained by the following description of the specification and the accompanying drawings.

[Means for solving problems]

A brief overview of typical devices among the devices disclosed in this application is as follows.

That is, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus equipped with an ultrasonic probe and a puncture needle, a case made of a material that is resistant to decompression and heating and is resistant to chemicals surrounds the main body of the ultrasonic probe. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is characterized in that a needle is detachably attached to the case, and a puncture guide section for guiding a puncture needle into an ultrasonic beam is provided in the case.

[Effect]

According to the above-mentioned means, by removing the case detachably surrounding the ultrasound probe body from the ultrasound probe body, the case can be depressurized and heated to be sterilized. Since there is no need to reduce the pressure or heat the probe itself, it is possible to prevent a decrease in reliability of the ultrasonic probe.

[Example of idea]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In addition, in all the figures for explaining the examples,
Components having the same function are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations thereof will be omitted.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a case of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration.

The ultrasonic probe of this embodiment has a case 10 in which a cover portion 10A of an electronic linear type ultrasonic probe body 1 and a puncture guide attachment portion 10B are integrally formed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 3, it is attached to the ultrasonic probe main body 1 so as to be removably covered therewith.

The case 10 is used by being attached to the ultrasound probe body 1 as shown in FIG. It is necessary to insert jelly or coupler into the gap between.

The shape of the case 10 can be modified in various ways depending on the shape of the ultrasonic probe used. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the shape can be applied to an electronic curved linear type ultrasound probe and an electronic sector type ultrasound probe.

A fixing member 11 such as a screw for attaching the case 10 to the ultrasound probe body 1 is provided at a predetermined position of the cover portion 10A. Further, the puncture guide mounting portion 10B is provided with a fixing member 14 such as a screw for fixing a rod-shaped puncture guide member 13 provided with a vertical groove 13A for guiding the puncture needle 12.

The case 10 serves as a cover for the ultrasonic probe, and is made of, for example, polymethylpentene, which has excellent mechanical strength, heat resistance, chemical resistance, and moldability, and has an acoustic impedance close to that of a living body.

By configuring the ultrasound probe in this way, the case 10 surrounding the ultrasound probe body 1 can be removed from the ultrasound probe body 1, and the case 10, the puncture needle 12, and the puncture guide member 13 can be removed from the ultrasound probe body 1. By depressurizing and heating only the ultrasonic probe to sterilize it, there is no need to depressurize and heat the ultrasonic probe itself, so it is possible to prevent a decrease in the reliability of the ultrasonic probe.

Furthermore, unlike the conventional case where a sterilized bag is placed over the ultrasonic probe, the case 10 has the advantage that it is easy to operate and there is less risk of the sterilized bag being torn during use. There is also.

Although the present invention has been specifically explained above based on examples, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. .

For example, the method of fixing the ultrasonic probe main body and the case is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but any method may be used as long as the case can be detachably fixed to the ultrasonic probe main body. good.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

A case made of a material that is resistant to depressurization and heating and is resistant to chemicals is detachably attached to the main body of the ultrasonic probe, and a puncture needle is guided into the ultrasonic beam in this case. By providing a puncture guide part, the case surrounding it can be removed from the ultrasound probe body, and only the case, puncture needle, and puncture guide member can be sterilized by depressurizing and heating. Since there is no need to reduce the pressure or heat the ultrasonic probe itself, it is possible to prevent the reliability of the ultrasonic probe from decreasing.

Further, unlike the conventional case in which a sterilized bag is placed over an ultrasound probe, the case has good operability and there is less risk of the sterilized bag being torn during use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a case of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an ultrasonic probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. 4 and 5 are side views showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the child.
The figure is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure for explaining. In the figure, 1...Ultrasonic probe body, 10...Case, 10A...Cover part, 10B...Puncture guide attachment part, 11, 14...Fixing member, 12...Puncture needle, 13... It is a guide member for puncturing.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an ultrasonic diagnostic device equipped with an ultrasonic probe and a puncture needle, a case made of a chemical-resistant material that is resistant to depressurization and heating and surrounds the main body of the ultrasonic probe is attached and detached. 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic device, which is freely attached to the case and is provided with a puncture guide section for guiding a puncture needle into an ultrasonic beam.