JPH11146878A - Ultrasonic wave probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the strip of a boundary part and the occurrence of a gap owing to stress generated in a joining boundary part at the time of bending a cable in the case body of an ultrasonic vibrator transducer which is constituted by the combination of a rigid case body part for containing the ultrasonic transducer and a bush for protecting a cable drawing-out part. SOLUTION: A stress absorbing layer 10a consisting of an elastic adhesive resin with 0.5 mm-5 mm width is formed in the joining part of an ultrasonic transducer case body constituted by the combination of a rigid case body 3a for containing the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the bush 6a for protecting the cable drawing-out part. Stress generated in the joining boundary part is absorbed and mitigated by the elastic force of the stress absorbing layer 10a. Even when excessive bending is executed in a cable 4 or the bush 6a, the strip of the joining boundary part and the occurrence of the gap are prevented and water proof property is reinforced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe, and more particularly, to an ultrasonic probe constituted by a combination of an ultrasonic transducer, a rigid housing for accommodating signal lines, and a bush for protecting a cable lead portion. About the tentacles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic probe applies an ultrasonic transducer to a human body, receives ultrasonic waves reflected inside the human body by the ultrasonic transducer, and generates an ultrasonic image of the inside of the human body. Used to generate. The ultrasonic probe has a structure in which an ultrasonic transducer and a signal line are housed in a rigid housing, and a bush that protects a lead portion of a cable that bundles the signal lines is combined with the rigid housing. . As an example of the configuration of a housing of a conventional ultrasonic probe, one described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-109607 is known. FIG. 5 shows a front view of a longitudinal section of a housing configuration of a conventional ultrasonic probe. The configuration of the housing of the conventional ultrasonic probe will be described with reference to FIG.

[0003] The housing of the ultrasonic probe comprises a combination of a rigid housing 3 made of a plastic material and a bush 6 made of a rubber material. The rigid housing 3 seals the ultrasonic vibrator 1 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and the signal line 2 and protects the internal ultrasonic vibrator 1 and the signal line 2 from external shocks and disinfectants. The cable 4 protects the plurality of signal lines 2 with an insulating material. As shown in FIG. 6, when the cable 4 is bent, the bending load concentrates on the end 5 of the cable outlet of the rigid housing 3. The bush 6 prevents the signal line 2 from breaking from a bending load caused by the bending of the cable 4. Another purpose of the bush 6 is to improve operability. The rigid housing 3 and the bush 6 are fixed by combining the fixing groove 7 of the bush 6 and the bush fixing projection 8 of the rigid housing 3. Further, there is a housing having a structure of bonding with a silicone adhesive.

[0004]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional ultrasonic probe housing, as shown in FIG. 6, the bush 6 or the cable portion 4 pulled out from the bush 6 is used.
In the case where bending or pulling occurs due to excessive force, stress is applied to the bush 6 in the cable pull-out direction. Bush 6
Is an elastic body, this stress is applied to the joint 5 between the rigid housing 3 and the bush 6 via the bush 6. On the other hand, since the rigid casing 3 is an inelastic material, the stress applied to the joint 5 due to the elongation of the rigid casing material cannot be reduced, and the stress concentrates on the joint 5 between the rigid casing 3 and the bush 6. I do. At this time, since the adhesive layer of the silicone-based adhesive used for bonding the rigid housing 3 and the bush 6 is as thin as about several tens of μm, almost no stress is absorbed in the joint 5 due to the extension of the adhesive layer. When the stress on the joint 5 caused by the bending or pulling of the cable 4 greatly exceeds the elasticity and the adhesive force of the adhesive layer, the rigid casing 3 and the bush 6 on the cable lead-out side are provided.
Peeling or a gap may occur at the joint 5 of the above. There is a problem that the waterproofness to the inside of the housing and the appearance are impaired by the gap between the joints 5 generated by these excessive operations.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. Even if a cable or a bush is bent or pulled by an excessive force, no separation or gap occurs at the joint between the rigid housing and the bush. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe excellent in waterproofness.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an ultrasonic probe comprises a rigid housing for accommodating an ultrasonic transducer and a signal line, and a bush for protecting a cable lead-out portion. And a stress absorbing layer made of an elastic adhesive is provided in a gap at the boundary between the joints of the rigid housing and the bush. With this configuration, even if the cable or the bush is bent or pulled with an excessive force, no peeling or gap occurs at the joint between the rigid housing and the bush, and the ultrasonic probe is excellent in waterproofness. Is obtained.

Further, the ultrasonic probe is composed of a combination of an ultrasonic transducer, a rigid housing for accommodating a signal line and a bush having a notch on the outer peripheral portion of an end portion, and a stress absorbing layer of an elastic adhesive is provided on the notch. This is a configuration formed. With this configuration, even if the cable or the bush is bent or pulled with an excessive force, no peeling or gap occurs at the joint between the rigid housing and the bush, and the ultrasonic probe is excellent in waterproofness. Is obtained.

Further, the ultrasonic probe has a structure in which a rigid casing having a notch in the outer peripheral portion of the end and a bush are combined, and a stress absorbing layer of an elastic adhesive is formed in the notch. With this configuration, even if the cable or the bush is bent or pulled with an excessive force, no peeling or gap occurs at the joint between the rigid housing and the bush, and the ultrasonic probe is excellent in waterproofness. Is obtained.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In an ultrasonic probe in which a rigid housing accommodating an ultrasonic transducer and a signal line, and a bush made of a flexible material for protecting a lead portion of a cable that bundles the signal line,
A stress absorbing layer of an elastic adhesive is formed at a joint between the rigid housing and the bush, and the elastic force of the stress absorbing layer absorbs, reduces, and reduces the stress caused by the bending of the bush. Have.

The second aspect of the present invention is the first aspect.
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein a cutout portion is provided in an outer peripheral portion of an end portion of the bush, and a stress absorption layer of an elastic adhesive is formed in the cutout portion of a joint between the rigid housing and the bush. In addition, the elastic force of the stress absorbing layer has an effect of absorbing and reducing or reducing the stress caused by the bending of the bush.

The third aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the present invention.
In the ultrasonic probe described above, a cutout portion is provided in an outer peripheral portion of an end portion of the rigid housing, and a stress absorbing layer of an elastic adhesive is formed in the cutout portion of a joint between the rigid housing and the bush. This has the effect that the stress caused by the bending of the bush is absorbed, relaxed and reduced by the elastic force of the stress absorbing layer.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention is an ultrasonic probe in which a stress absorbing layer made of an elastic adhesive is formed at a joint between a rigid housing and a bush.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic probe according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasonic vibrator 1 is a piezoelectric element that radiates an ultrasonic wave by converting an electric signal into a mechanical vibration, and receives an ultrasonic wave and converts it into an electric signal. The signal line 2 is a line that transmits these electric signals from the signal processing circuit to the piezoelectric element, and transmits the electric signals from the piezoelectric element to the signal processing circuit. The cable 4 is obtained by protecting a bundle of a plurality of signal lines with a sheath made of an insulating material. The rigid housing 3a
It protects the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the signal line 2 from the external environment and impact and protects the patient from electricity, and is formed by molding an insulating plastic material.

The bush 6a is made of an elastic material such as polyvinyl chloride, a silicone resin or a rubber to which a filler is added, in order to relieve a sudden bending stress generated at the corner of the rigid housing 3a when the cable 4 is bent. It is a hollow cylinder molded from a material with a property. The cable 4 is passed through the hole of the bush 6a and combined with the rigid housing 3a. When combined, the rigid housing 3a and the bush 6a are bonded with a pre-applied adhesive. After the combination, the stress absorbing layer 10a is formed by applying and curing an elastic adhesive at the boundary between the rigid housing 3a and the bush 6a.

Silicone rubber, urethane rubber, or cyanoacrylate instant adhesive is used as the adhesive for the combined portion of the rigid housing 3a and the bush 6a and the elastic adhesive filled in the joint.

The operation and effect of the ultrasonic probe configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. When the cable 4 and the bush 6a are bent by an excessive force and the rigid housing portion is strongly held by hand or mechanically fixed, the stress caused by the bending of the bush 6a causes the rigid housing 3a and the bush 6a to be bent. It acts on a stress absorbing layer 10a formed of an elastic adhesive at the end. Since the stress absorbing layer 10a has a higher elastic force than the bush 6a, it absorbs and relaxes the stress.

Also, the adhesion between the bottom surface of the joint and the rigid housing 3a improves the tensile strength. By reducing the stress acting on the bonding interface between the rigid housing 3a and the bush 6a in the direction perpendicular to the cable 4, the mechanical strength against bending and pulling is increased, and the bonding boundary between the rigid housing 3a and the bush 6a. Separation and generation of a gap can be prevented.

For the above reasons, the wider the filling width of the elastic adhesive is, the more effective it is. However, as the width becomes wider, it becomes difficult to form a uniform thickness and the appearance finish becomes difficult.
If the filling width is large, the material of the elastic adhesive is likely to be broken by bending stress, so the width of the stress absorbing layer is 0.5 mm
~ 5 mm is desirable.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, by forming the stress absorbing layer by the elastic adhesive at the end of the bush, the rigid housing and the bush can be formed by bending the cable. Gaps are less likely to be formed at the boundary of, and the waterproofness can be improved.

(Second Embodiment) In a second embodiment of the present invention, a notch is provided in the outer peripheral portion of the end of the bush,
This is an ultrasonic probe in which a stress absorbing layer made of an elastic adhesive is formed in a notch at a joint between a rigid housing and a bush. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that a notch is provided in the outer peripheral portion of the end of the bush.

FIG. 3 is a partially longitudinal front view showing a combined portion of a rigid housing 3a and a bush 6b of an ultrasonic probe according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a rigid housing 3a and a bush 6b having a notch
Is filled with an elastic adhesive and cured to form a stress absorbing layer 10b. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

When the cable 4 is bent with an excessive force, the bush 6b surrounding the cable 4 is bent in the same direction as the cable 4 because of the elastic body. At this time, if the rigid housing portion is strongly held by hand or mechanically fixed, the stress due to the bending of the bush 6b is applied to the stress absorbing layer 10b provided at the joint between the rigid housing 3a and the bush 6b. Especially works.
Due to the elastic force of the stress absorbing layer 10b, the rigid casing 3
a and the bush 6b act to absorb and reduce the stress applied to the joint between the rigid housing 3a and the bush 6b.
To reduce the stress applied to the portion having the weakest peel strength of the joint portion with the substrate. The rigid housing 3a and the bush 6b have increased strength against bending and pulling, and the rigid housing 3a and the bush 6b
No peeling or gaps occur at the joints, and the waterproofness is enhanced.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the notch is provided at the outer peripheral portion of the end of the bush of the ultrasonic probe, and the notch at the joint between the rigid housing and the bush is provided. Since the stress absorbing layer of elastic adhesive is formed in the part, the bonding area between the stress absorbing layer and the bush is expanded, the stress applied to the bush is efficiently transmitted to the stress absorbing layer, and the gap due to the bending of the cable is less likely to occur, Water resistance can be improved.

(Third Embodiment) In a third embodiment of the present invention, a notch is provided at an outer peripheral portion of an end of a rigid housing,
This is an ultrasonic probe in which a stress absorbing layer made of an elastic adhesive is formed in a notch at a joint between a rigid housing and a bush. The third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that a notch is provided in the outer peripheral portion of the end of the rigid housing.

FIG. 4 is a partially longitudinal front view showing a combined portion of a rigid housing and a bush of an ultrasonic probe according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a rigid housing 3b provided with a notch 11 on the outer periphery of the end and a bush 6c are combined, and the notch 11 is filled with an elastic adhesive and hardened to reduce the stress. An absorption layer 10c is formed. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the notch is provided in the outer peripheral portion of the end of the rigid housing of the ultrasonic probe, and the joint between the rigid housing and the bush is provided. The stress absorption layer of the elastic adhesive is formed in the notch in the above, so the adhesion area between the stress absorption layer and the bush is expanded, and the stress applied to the bush is efficiently transmitted to the stress absorption layer, and it is difficult for gaps due to cable bending to occur And increase the waterproofness. Further, the provision of the cutout portion in the rigid housing has an advantage of facilitating the manufacture of a bush that is difficult to form a complicated shape.

In the description of the second and third embodiments, an example has been described in which a bush or a rigid housing having a cutout at the outer periphery of the end is used. A stress absorbing layer made of an elastic adhesive was formed by combining a bush with a notch in a part thereof, a rigid housing having a notch in a part of an outer peripheral portion of an end portion, or a rigid housing and a bush of these configurations. The same can be applied to the case.

In each of the above embodiments, one stress absorbing layer has been described. A plurality of stress absorbing layers are formed on the rigid housing side and the bush side by sandwiching a ring made of rubber or plastic material in the notch. By doing so, it is also possible to increase the force of absorbing stress due to bending.

As the elastic adhesive filling the cutouts in the above embodiments, for example, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, or cyanoacrylate-based instantaneous adhesive is used. KE-48W manufactured by Dow Corning Corporation or XE11-A5133 manufactured by Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd. In the case of cyanoacrylate-based adhesives, Alon Alpha # 900 manufactured by Toa Gosei Co., Ltd. There is a series. In these cases, the width of the stress absorbing layer is desirably about 0.5 mm to 3 mm.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the case of the ultrasonic vibrator housing constituted by the combination of the rigid housing for accommodating the ultrasonic vibrator and the bush for protecting the cable lead-out portion, Since the stress absorption layer made of an elastic adhesive is formed at the joint between the body and the bush, it is possible to absorb and relieve the stress at the joint boundary that occurs when the cable or bush is excessively bent, and The effect that the generation of the gap can be prevented and the waterproofness can be improved can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a longitudinal section of a housing configuration of an ultrasonic probe according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially longitudinal front view showing a joint portion between a rigid housing and a bush when a cable lead-out portion is bent in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partially longitudinal front view showing a joint portion between a rigid housing and a bush according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partially longitudinal front view showing a joint between a rigid housing and a bush having a housing configuration of an ultrasonic probe according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partially longitudinal front view showing a housing configuration of a conventional ultrasonic probe,

FIG. 6 is a partially longitudinal front view showing a joint portion between a rigid housing and a bush when a cable lead-out portion in a housing configuration of a conventional ultrasonic probe is bent.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic transducer 2 Signal line 3, 3a, 3b Rigid housing 4 Cable 5 Joint of rigid housing and bush 6, 6a, 6b, 6c Bush 7 Fixing groove 8 Fixing projection 9 Bush cutout 10a, 10b, 10c Stress absorption layer 11 Notch of rigid housing

Claims (3)

[Claims] An ultrasonic probe in which a rigid housing accommodating an ultrasonic transducer and a signal line and a bush made of a flexible material for protecting a lead portion of a cable that bundles the signal line are provided. An ultrasonic probe, wherein a stress absorbing layer made of an elastic adhesive is formed at a joint between the rigid housing and the bush. 2. A notch portion is provided at an outer peripheral portion of an end portion of the bush, and a stress absorbing layer made of an elastic adhesive is formed at the notch portion at a joint between the rigid housing and the bush. Item 7. An ultrasonic probe according to Item 1. 3. A notch portion is provided at an outer peripheral portion of an end portion of the rigid housing, and a stress absorbing layer made of an elastic adhesive is formed at the notch portion at a joint between the rigid housing and the bush. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein