JPH0475642A - Acoustic element unit for ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving part of an ultrasonic probe which does not peel off from the outside peripheral part side by forming an annular groove on the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving side end face of a cylindrical case provided with an ultrasonic vibrator, a back load machine and a first and a second acoustic matching layers in the inside, and also, providing a convex spherical acoustic lens. CONSTITUTION:In an acoustic element unit main body 1, an ultrasonic vibrator 3 consisting of a piezoelectric vibrator is contained in a cylindrical case 2 having a collar 2a in one end side, and on the back side of this ultrasonic vibrator 3, a back load machine 4 is provided so as to close up an opening part of the other end side of the case 2. Also, on the front side of the ultrasonic vibrator 3, a first acoustic matching layer 5 and a second acoustic matching layer 6 are laminated, and the upper face of a second acoustic matching layer 6 and the end face of the case 2 become the same plane. On the other hand, an acoustic lens 7 is formed in a convex spherical shape by silicone rubber, and at the time of forming, a part of the silicone rubber flows into an annular groove 2b formed on the end face of one end side of the case 2, and in the outside peripheral part of the acoustic lens 7, a thick wall part 7a which becomes one body with the acoustic lens 7 is formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an acoustic element unit of a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe used in medical diagnostic equipment and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional mechanical scanning ultrasound probes used in conventional medical diagnostic equipment include an ultrasound oscillation element such as a piezoelectric element that oscillates an ultrasound beam, and a An acoustic element unit having an acoustic lens that focuses the ultrasound beam is provided.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the acoustic element unit described above is
A piezoelectric vibrator is housed in a cylindrical case a, and a back load device C is provided on the back side of the ultrasonic vibrator so as to close an opening at one end of the case a.

Further, a first acoustic matching layer d and a second acoustic matching layer e are matched to the front side of the ultrasonic transducer, and further, the front side of the second acoustic matching layer e covers the opening on the other end side of the case a. An acoustic lens f is provided as shown in FIG.

The acoustic lens f is formed of silicone rubber into a convex spherical shape, and its flat side is formed over the second acoustic matching layer e and the end surface of the case a.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the above-mentioned ultrasonic probe, in order to increase the degree of coupling of the acoustic lens f, a liquid couplant is applied to the subject.
It is often used while applying rotational motion for a long time.

For this reason, a conventional acoustic lens f having a structure in which the thin outer peripheral edge is closely attached to the end face of the case a has the disadvantage that the outer peripheral part of the acoustic lens f tends to peel off during use.

The present invention was made to improve the above problems, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving section of an ultrasonic probe in which an acoustic lens does not peel off from the outer peripheral side.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving side end surface of a cylindrical case in which an ultrasonic oscillator, a back load device, and first and second acoustic matching layers are provided. An annular groove is formed in the annular groove, and a convex spherical acoustic lens is provided so that the outer peripheral portion thereof fits into the annular groove.

As a result, a thick wall portion into which the annular groove fits is formed on the outer periphery of the acoustic lens, so even if a liquid couplant is applied and the lens is used with rotational motion for a long period of time, the outer periphery of the acoustic lens will remain intact. It can prevent peeling from the sides.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawing shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an acoustic element unit main body 1 provided in an ultrasonic probe (not shown).

The acoustic element unit main body 1 includes an ultrasonic transducer 3 made of a piezoelectric transducer inside a cylindrical case 2 having a flange 2a at one end.
is housed, and on the back side of this ultrasonic transducer 3,
The rear load machine 4 is inserted so as to close the opening on the other end of the case 2.
is provided.

Further, a first acoustic matching layer 5 is provided on the front side of the ultrasonic transducer 3.
and a second acoustic matching layer 6 are laminated, and the upper surface of the second acoustic matching layer 6 and the end surface of the case 2 are on the same plane.

On the other hand, numeral 7 in the figure is an acoustic lens molded with silicone rubber into a convex spherical shape. During molding, a part of the silicone rubber flows into the annular groove 2b formed on the end face of one end of the case 2, causing the acoustic lens to become A thick portion 7a that is integrated with the acoustic lens 7 is formed on the outer periphery of the lens 7.

When molding the acoustic lens 7, a primer is applied as a pretreatment, but since the boundary between the reference surface 2C and the jig molding surface when molding the acoustic lens 7 is clear, unnecessary It is possible to prevent the primer from adhering to the part, and there is no inclination between the case 2 and the lens molding jig due to variations in the thickness of the primer, so the acoustic lens 7 can be molded with high precision. can.

Further, the outer peripheral edge of the acoustic lens 7 is formed to be in the center of the groove width of the annular groove 2b, and unnecessary portions after forming can be easily removed for the same reason as above.

In the above embodiment, the groove width of the annular groove 2b is thicker than the depth (although, of course, the depth may be made larger than the groove width).

Effects of the Invention As described in detail above, the present invention provides an annular groove in the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving side end face of the upper case in which the ultrasonic oscillator, the back load device, and the first and second acoustic matching layers are provided. Along with forming
Since a convex spherical acoustic lens is formed so that the outer periphery of the acoustic lens fits inside this annular groove, a thick part that fits into the annular groove is formed on the outer periphery of the acoustic lens, so that liquid contact is achieved. Even if a medium is applied and used while being subjected to rotational motion for a long time, it is possible to prevent the acoustic lens from peeling off from the outer peripheral side.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an acoustic element unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a conventional acoustic element unit. 2... Case, 2b... Annular groove, 3... Ultrasonic vibrator, 4... Back load machine, 5... First acoustic matching layer,
6... Second acoustic matching layer, 7... Acoustic lens.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An annular groove is formed on the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving side end surface of a cylindrical case in which an ultrasonic transmitter, a back load device, and first and second acoustic matching layers are provided, and an outer peripheral portion is fitted into the annular groove. The acoustic element unit of an ultrasound probe is equipped with a convex spherical acoustic lens.