JPH105227A - Ultrasonic body cavity probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic body cavity probe with excellent productivity and durability in performance keeping and capable of preventing intrusion of corroding factors without special technique by fitting a vibrator in the inside of the tip of a bar and covering the vibrator by a film impermeable to a sulfur component in the bar. SOLUTION: Tow case parts 23 and 25 are fit into an inserting part 11 of this ultrasonic body cavity probe an bonded and joined by a silicone adhesive to form a hollow bar. A window is formed on the tip end of the inserting part 11 to fit an acoustic lens 19 in. A film 33 is covered on integrally bonded vibrator 27, sound absorbing material 29, and inner structure 31, and inserted into the inside of the inserting part 11 so that the vibrator 27 is positioned at the rear side of the acoustic lens 19 via the film 33, and bonded with a silicone adhesive 35. The film 33 is to be a high molecular compound with properties impermeable to corroding factors, represented by a sulfur component (sulfur molecule) and steam (water molecule), to corrode electric parts.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an intracavity ultrasonic probe to be used by inserting it into a body cavity of a subject.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic probe in a body cavity is formed as a hollow rod-like body (cylindrical body) by fitting two elongated case parts having a semicircular cross section and bonding them with an adhesive. Transducer and its lead wire group (flexible printed circuit board)
And other electrical components are accommodated.

[0003] For this reason, it is easy for corrosion factors such as water and sulfur molecules to penetrate into the interior from the fitting portion and corrode the silver electrodes and lead wires of the vibrator. In order to prevent this, the following various structural devices have been devised.

(1) Corrosion factors penetrate mainly into the fitting portion between two case parts. For this reason, a hollow rod-like body necessary for integral formation is formed by shaving out the resin mass. (2) The two case parts are joined by a local heating method or an ultrasonic fusion method without using an adhesive or in combination with the adhesive.

(3) The whole intracavity ultrasonic probe is coated with a thin film of a polymer compound. However, such various contrivances have the following problems. The problem (1) is that the production cost is too high and the production efficiency is low as compared with the case where two case parts are fitted, and a more complicated internal structure cannot be cut out. Since the shape and size of the internal parts are significantly restricted in terms of assemblability, the performance and function of the ultrasonic probe may be reduced.

[0006] The above (2) requires a special bonding device, although the production efficiency is relatively good as compared with (1). In addition, a special shape is required for the joining surface, and a thick case is required for the case parts, which leads to an increase in the size of the intracavity ultrasonic probe. Further, a manufacturing process for removing burrs of the dissolved resin is required.

[0007] The above (3) has good manufacturability and excellent performance of preventing the invasion of corrosion factors, but requires equipment and special techniques for coating. Further, with repeated use, the thin film gradually wears, and the performance is significantly reduced.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent manufacturability, a special technique as much as possible, an excellent ability to prevent the invasion of corrosion factors, and an excellent durability for maintaining the performance. Is to provide an intrabody cavity ultrasound probe.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides at least two
A hollow rod-like body is formed by fitting parts, and in a body cavity ultrasonic probe in which a vibrator is housed inside the tip of the rod-like body, a film having a sulfur component impermeability inside the rod-like body is used. It is characterized by covering the vibrator.

According to the present invention, a hollow rod is formed by fitting at least two parts, and a vibrator and a lead wire group of electrodes formed on the vibrator are accommodated in the rod. In the ultrasonic probe for body cavity, an electrical component including the vibrator and the lead wire group is covered with a film having a sulfur component impermeability inside the rod-shaped body.

[0011] Since the vibrator or the electrical components including the lead wire group and the vibrator are covered with a film having a sulfur component impermeability inside the rod-like body, the penetration of corrosion factors represented by the sulfur component is prevented. And the performance can be maintained semi-permanently in accordance with the rate of performance degradation of the film. Further, even when the rod-shaped body is cracked or broken, the above-mentioned performance is secured and the vibrator or the electric parts are protected from corrosion, so that only the damaged case parts need to be replaced. Furthermore, since it has a simple structure in which a vibrator or an electric component is covered with a film, it is excellent in manufacturability and does not require a special technique.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the intracavity ultrasonic probe according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the intracorporeal ultrasonic probe according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1B shows a view of the intracavity ultrasonic probe according to the present embodiment viewed from the insertion direction. FIG. 1C shows a side view of the ultrasonic probe in the body cavity according to the present embodiment. The insertion portion 11 inserted into the body cavity of the subject at the time of use is joined via a joint portion 12 to the tip of a grip 13 that holds the probe by the operator.
A cable 15 is provided behind the grip 13.

The insertion portion 11 is formed by fitting two elongated case parts 23 and 25 each having a semicircular cross section to each other, bonding them with a silicone adhesive, and forming a hollow rod. Insertion part 11
A window 17 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is opened at the tip of the lens, and an acoustic lens 19 made of, for example, silicone rubber is fitted therein.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1C, that is, a cross-sectional view near the root of the insertion portion 11. The vibrator 27 has a structure in which a plurality of piezoelectric elements are arranged. A sound absorbing material (backing material) 29 is adhered behind the vibrator 27. Further, behind the sound absorbing material 29, an internal structure 31 is bonded.

An individual silver electrode is formed on the front surface of each piezoelectric element of the vibrator 27, and a common electrode is formed on the back surface.
Lead wires from these electrodes are printed on a flexible printed board (not shown). The flexible printed circuit board is divided into one or more lead wires, bundled, and molded with resin as the internal structure 31.

The vibrator 27, the sound absorbing material 29, and the internal structure 31 which are integrally bonded are covered with a film 33, and the vibrator 27 is
Is inserted into the inside of the insertion portion 11 so as to be located behind, and is bonded with the silicone adhesive 35.

The gap inside the insertion portion 11 is filled with a resin mold material such as urethane to improve the strength of the insertion portion 11 itself and stabilize the internal components of the insertion portion 11. The film 33 is a thin film sheet made of, for example, polyimide as a polymer compound having a property of not penetrating corrosion factors that corrode electrical components typified by sulfur components (sulfur molecules) and water vapor (water molecules). It is formed to a thickness of 5 μm.

The film 33 includes at least the vibrator 27,
Preferably, all of the electrical components of the internal structure 31 including the vibrator 27, the electrodes of the vibrator 27, and the lead wires are covered, and the skirt thereof reaches the grip portion 13 beyond the joint portion 12 with the grip portion 13. It has the size of. The film 33
Has a size enough to cover the fitting portion 21 inside.

As shown in FIG. 3, the case parts 23, 25
Are formed stepwise so as to fit each other. The case components 23 and 25 are bonded at their fitting portions 21 with a silicone adhesive, or joined by a local heating method or an ultrasonic fusion method.

Such a structure has the following effects. Corrosion factors represented by sulfur components and water vapor
There is a high possibility that the intrusion will occur through the connection portion 7 or the fitting portion 21. Corrosion factors stop at the film 33. Electric parts such as silver electrodes and lead wires of the vibrator 27 may be corroded. Since these electrical components are covered with the film 33, they are not eroded by corrosion factors.

Also, for some reason, the case parts 2
Even if the cracks 3 and 25 are broken or damaged, the invasion of the corrosion factor stops at the film 33 and does not reach the electrical parts. In such a case, only the cracked or damaged case parts 23 and 25 need to be replaced.

Further, the rate of deterioration of the impermeability of the film 33 is remarkably slow, partly due to the fact that the film 33 is housed inside the insertion portion 11 as well as its own properties. It is believed that the impermeability can be maintained semi-permanently.

Further, the vibrator 27 and the like have a simple structure of being covered with a film 33, and the film 33 is
The simple manufacturing procedure of inserting the cover into the inside of the insertion portion 11 is excellent in manufacturability and does not require a special technique.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented with various modifications.

[0024]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic probe in a body cavity in which at least two parts are fitted to each other to form a hollow rod-like body, and a vibrator is housed inside a tip of the rod-like body. Wherein the vibrator is covered with a film having a sulfur component impermeability.

Further, according to the present invention, a hollow rod-like body is formed by fitting at least two parts, and a vibrator and a lead wire group of electrodes formed on the vibrator are accommodated in the rod-like body. In the ultrasonic probe for body cavity, an electrical component including the vibrator and the lead wire group is covered with a film having a sulfur component impermeability inside the rod-shaped body.

Since the vibrator or the electrical components including the lead wire group and the vibrator are covered with a film having a sulfur component impermeability inside the rod-like body, the penetration of corrosion factors represented by the sulfur component is prevented. And the performance can be maintained semi-permanently in accordance with the rate of performance degradation of the film. Further, even when the rod-shaped body is cracked or broken, the above-mentioned performance is secured and the vibrator or the electric parts are protected from corrosion, so that only the damaged case parts need to be replaced. Furthermore, since it has a simple structure in which a vibrator or an electric component is covered with a film, it is excellent in manufacturability and does not require a special technique.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a body cavity ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal structure of the intracavity ultrasonic probe of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the internal structure of the intracavity ultrasonic probe of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... insertion part, 13 ... grip part, 15 ... cable, 17 ... window, 19 ... acoustic lens, 21 ... fitting part, 23 ... case parts, 25 ... case parts, 27 ... vibrator, 29 ... sound absorbing material (backing) 31) Internal structure, 33: Film, 35: Silicone adhesive, 37: Resin molding material.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An intracavity ultrasonic probe in which at least two parts are fitted to form a hollow rod-like body, and a vibrator is housed inside a tip of the rod-like body, wherein a sulfur component is contained inside the rod-like body. An ultrasonic probe in a body cavity, wherein the transducer is covered with an impermeable film. 2. A body cavity in which at least two parts are fitted to form a hollow rod-like body, and a vibrator and a group of electrodes of electrodes formed on the vibrator are accommodated in the rod-like body. An ultrasonic probe in a body cavity, wherein an electrical component including the vibrator and the lead wire group is covered with a film having a sulfur component impermeability inside the rod-shaped body. 3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the film is a polyimide film. 4. The intracavity ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the film is provided inside a fitting portion of the two parts. 5. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein a conductive layer is formed on the film.