JPH0591613U - Ultrasonic coupler holder - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] It is disinfectable and easy to handle. The holder 1 has a bottom wall portion 5a and a side wall portion 5b formed continuously with the bottom wall portion 5a, and a holding portion 5 made of silicon rubber for holding the ultrasonic coupler 2, The ultrasonic coupler 2 housed in the housing part 5 is an ultrasonic probe 3.
And a holding portion 6 for holding the housing portion 5 on the ultrasonic probe 3 so as to be in close contact with.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an ultrasonic coupler holder for attaching an ultrasonic coupler to an ultrasonic probe.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 In the medical field, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have been conventionally used for observing tissues and organs inside a living body. In this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic probe for obtaining biological information is connected to the diagnostic apparatus main body. At the time of ultrasonic diagnosis, the probe is brought into contact with the surface of the living body, an ultrasonic beam is transmitted from the probe into the living body, and an ultrasonic echo from the living body is received by the probe, and this echo signal is sent to a diagnostic device. Inspection is performed by processing on the body side.

If an air layer is present between the probe and the surface of the living body during ultrasonic diagnosis, the ultrasonic beam is attenuated in this air layer portion, and a sufficient inspection cannot be performed. Therefore, an ultrasonic coupler is interposed between the body surface and the probe for the purpose of improving the contact property between the body surface and the probe. At this time, the ultrasonic coupler is placed on the surface of the living body, for example, fixed with one hand, and the diagnosis is performed by operating the probe placed on this ultrasonic coupler with the other hand.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the operator has to fix the ultrasonic coupler on the surface of the living body with one hand while performing the diagnosis, so that the handling is not easy. On the other hand, the applicant of the present application has already applied for an ultrasonic coupler holder in which an ultrasonic coupler is housed in the coupler holder and held by the ultrasonic probe (Japanese Patent Application No. 2-405477). By using such a holder, the probe and the ultrasonic coupler can be handled integrally, and thus the operability is improved. However, since paper is used as a coupler holder to facilitate replacement, it cannot be sterilized and cannot be used for surgery or the like.

An object of the present invention is to facilitate the handling of the ultrasonic coupler and the probe and to enable disinfection to be used in a wide range.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 An ultrasonic coupler holder according to the present invention is for holding an ultrasonic coupler on an ultrasonic probe, and includes a housing portion and a holding portion. The accommodating portion has a bottom wall portion and a side wall portion formed continuously with the bottom wall portion, and is made of silicone rubber for accommodating the ultrasonic coupler. The holding part is for holding the housing part in the ultrasonic probe so that the ultrasonic coupler housed in the housing part is in close contact with the ultrasonic probe.

[0007]

[Action]

 In the ultrasonic coupler holder of the present invention, the ultrasonic coupler is housed in the silicone rubber containing portion composed of the bottom wall portion and the side wall portion. Then, the accommodating portion is held by the ultrasonic probe so that the ultrasonic coupler inside is in close contact with the ultrasonic probe. For this reason, the ultrasonic coupler and the ultrasonic probe are integrated, and the handling becomes easy. In addition, the container is made of silicone rubber and can be disinfected.

[0008]

【Example】

 1 and 2 show an ultrasonic coupler holder according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the holder 1 is a bag-shaped member for accommodating the ultrasonic coupler 2 and the ultrasonic probe 3 therein, and mainly has an accommodating portion 5 and a retaining portion 6. The accommodating portion 5 is for accommodating the ultrasonic coupler 2 inside, and is made of silicone rubber. Further, the housing portion 5 is composed of a bottom wall portion 5a and a side wall portion 5b. The bottom wall portion 5a has a thickness of 0.1 to 0.2 mm. The side wall portion 5b is integrally formed continuously with the bottom wall portion 5a and has a thickness of 2 to 3 mm.

The holding part 6 is for holding the housing part 5 in the ultrasonic probe 3, and has a band part 6 a and a projection part 6 b which are integrally formed with the housing part 5. The band portion 6a is formed so as to project upward in the drawing from the upper end portion of the side wall portion 5b, and has the same thickness as the side wall portion 5b. The protruding portion 6b is formed by protruding left and right at the end portion of the band portion 6a.

A hook portion 7 for engaging the protrusion 6 b of the holding portion 6 to hold the housing portion 5 on the ultrasonic probe 3 is integrally formed on the outer surface of the side wall portion 5 b of the housing portion 5. Has been done. The ultrasonic coupler 2 is provided between the surface of the living body and the ultrasonic probe 3 to remove the air layer and improve the contact property. The ultrasonic coupler 2 is made of, for example, a paraffin-based compound in which an appropriate amount of isoprene rubber is mixed, or a water bag for the purpose of having an appropriate elasticity for maintaining the shape.

Next, a method of using the holder 1 described above will be described with reference to FIG. When attaching the ultrasonic coupler 2 to the ultrasonic probe 3, first, the ultrasonic coupler 2 is placed on the bottom wall portion 5 a of the holder 1. At this time, the lower portion of the ultrasonic coupler 2 contacts the bottom wall portion 5a. Next, the ultrasonic probe 3 is inserted into the upper portion of the ultrasonic coupler 2 up to a position where the transmitting / receiving section 3a at the tip of the ultrasonic probe 3 contacts. From this state, the band 6a is wound around the upper surface of the ultrasonic probe 3, and the protrusions 6b formed on the left and right of the band 6 are engaged with the hooks 7. In this way, the holding unit 6 can bring the ultrasonic coupler 2 and the probe 3 into close contact with each other, and can transmit and receive ultrasonic waves into the living body with a small attenuation rate.

At the time of ultrasonic diagnosis, the ultrasonic probe 3 irradiates the inside of the living body with an ultrasonic beam with the bottom wall 5 a of the holder 1 in contact with the body surface of the living body, and reflects the reflected light. The inspection is performed by receiving the echo again by the ultrasonic probe 3. In this case, since the thickness of the silicon rubber of the bottom wall portion 5a is made thin to about 0.1 to 0.2 mm, the attenuation of ultrasonic waves can be suppressed to a small level. Further, since the holder 1 is made of silicon rubber, it can be sterilized by gas or the like. Therefore, it can be used in surgery.

In such an embodiment, since the ultrasonic coupler 2 and the probe 3 can be operated integrally, the handling becomes easy. Further, the holder 1 alone or the holder 1 mounted on the probe 3 can be sterilized by a disinfecting solution or gas, and the holder 1 can be used multiple times.

[0014]

[Effect of the device]

 The ultrasonic coupler holder according to the present invention comprises a housing portion made of silicone rubber for housing the ultrasonic coupler, and a holding portion for holding the housing portion on the ultrasonic probe. Therefore, the ultrasonic coupler can be held at the tip of the ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic coupler can be easily handled. In addition, it can be disinfected and can be used in a wide range.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a holder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of attachment of an ultrasonic coupler and an ultrasonic probe to a holder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Holder 2 Ultrasonic Coupler 3 Ultrasonic Probe 5 Housing 5a Bottom Wall 5b Side Wall 6 Holding 7 Hook

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An ultrasonic coupler holder for holding an ultrasonic coupler on an ultrasonic probe, comprising: a bottom wall portion and a side wall portion continuously formed on the bottom wall portion. An accommodating portion made of silicon rubber for accommodating the coupler, and a retaining portion for retaining the accommodating portion in the ultrasonic probe so that the ultrasonic coupler accommodated in the accommodating portion is in close contact with the ultrasonic probe. , An ultrasonic coupler holder equipped with.