JPH0465689B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an ultrasound probe used in a medical ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, ultrasonic diagnostic devices have become widespread in the medical field. Ultrasonic probes used in this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus have been developed to have various functions depending on clinical purposes.

Conventionally, ultrasonic probes are broadly classified into electronic scanning type and mechanical scanning type. The mechanical scanning probe will be explained below with reference to FIG. In Figure 3,
101 is a housing; 102 is a chassis installed in the housing 101; 103, 104, and 105 are motors, rotary encoders, and transducer units each installed in the chassis 102; 106, 107, and 108 are each a motor 103; Timing pulleys are attached to the main shafts of the rotary encoder 104 and the transducer unit 105, 109 and 110 are timing belts that are hung around the timing pulleys 106 and 107, 107 and 108, and 111 is a cable that transmits electrical signals from the diagnostic device. .

When the motor 103 is rotated and the timing pulley 106 is rotated, the timing belts 109, 110 and the timing pulley 107,
Rotary encoder 104 and a transducer (not shown) in transducer unit 105 rotate via 108 . As a result, a plurality of transducers built into the transducer unit 105 transmit and receive sound waves within a fixed rotation angle range to form an image. Rotary encoder 1 is used to determine this rotation angle.
04 detects the rotational position and controls the rotation of the motor 103. This makes it possible to always obtain a constant image.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional configuration as described above, rotation noise and control noise generated by the motor 103 due to rotation control are generated as a side effect, and this reaches 55 to 60 horns, causing medical institutions to This was causing a deterioration of the quiet clinical environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to provide an ultrasonic probe that can reduce noise and maintain a quiet environment in a clinical setting. It is something.

Means for Solving the Problems The technical means of the present invention for solving the above problems is to form an uneven surface on the inner wall of the casing, and to adhere a noise absorbing material to this uneven surface. .

Effects According to the present invention, with the above configuration, noise generated by the rotating mechanism system and the control signal system can be absorbed by the absorbent material inside the casing.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. FIG. 1a is a plan view of the casing, FIG. 1b is a sectional view, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing a noise absorbing material fixed to the inner wall of the casing. As shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the casing 1 has a concavo-convex surface with a large number of semicircular recesses 2 intersecting with each other on its inner wall. As shown in Fig. 2, this uneven surface is coated with a noise (vibration) absorbing material 3 that has an adhesive effect and is made of urethane rubber with a rubber hardness of 30 to 50 mixed with 20 to 40% glass hollow bodies. There is. As the urethane rubber hardens, this noise absorber 3 adheres to the uneven surface and forms the housing 1.
It is possible to obtain polymerized layers of different materials. This housing 1 has a motor, like the conventional mechanical scanning type.
It is equipped with a rotary encoder, a transducer unit, a rotation transmission mechanism (not shown), etc. That is, the housing 1 is designed to enclose the noise source (vibration source).

Therefore, noise having various wavelengths is diffusely reflected by the glass hollow body in the absorber 3 and absorbed by the urethane rubber. Further, the wavelength that reaches the wall of the housing 1 hits the uneven surface, undergoes diffuse reflection, and is absorbed by the urethane rubber.

According to the above example, the noise of 55 to 60 horns is 42
It became ~45 horns, which was a reduction of more than 10 horns.

In the above embodiment, the recess 2 in the inner wall of the housing 1 is formed in a semicircular shape, but it may be formed in a V-shape. The same effect can also be obtained by using a plastic hollow body instead of a glass hollow body. Further, foamable urethane rubber may be used, and silicone rubber may be used instead of urethane rubber.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, an uneven surface is formed on the inner wall of the housing, and a noise absorbing material is fixed to this uneven surface, thereby reducing noise during mechanical scanning. can provide a quiet clinical environment.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1a and 2b show an embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention, and Figure 1a is a plan view of the casing;
FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a state in which a noise absorbing material is fixed to the housing, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional mechanical ultrasonic probe. 1... Housing, 2... Recess, 3... Noise absorbing material.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An ultrasonic probe characterized in that an uneven surface is formed on the inner wall of the casing, and a noise absorbing material is fixed to the uneven surface. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the noise absorbing material is a silicone rubber or urethane rubber elastic adhesive mixed with a glass hollow body or a plastic hollow body.