JPH1128206A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave without the necessity of use of a gel by forming the acoustic open surface in the contact surface of an ultrasonic probe in such a manner as to have hydrophilic property. SOLUTION: An acoustic open surface 3 where an ultrasonic wave is transmitted and received in the contact surface 2 of an ultrasonic probe 1 is formed in such a manner as to have hydrophilic property. At the time of use, with water contained in the acoustic open surface 3 of the ultrasonic probe 1, the contact surface 2 is brought into contact with a subject to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave. The water is thus contained in the acoustic open surface 3, whereby an ultrasonic wave is transmitted and received efficiently, without adhesion of a gel. To let the acoustic open surface 3 of the ultrasonic probe 1 have the hydrophilic property, a material made of acrylic resin is used for the contact surface 2 of the ultrasonic probe 1, a liquid layer of thin ammonia is formed on the acoustic open surface 3 by utilizing a capillary phenomenon, and argon fluoride excimer laser is irradiated thereto.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe having an acoustic opening surface made hydrophilic.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to efficiently transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to and from a subject, conventionally, a gel is attached to the contact surface of the ultrasonic probe (the surface where the ultrasonic probe contacts the subject) to transmit and receive the ultrasonic waves. Was.

[0003]

However, in this conventional method, a gel is indispensable. Also, after applying the gel, do not clean the ultrasonic probe (do not wipe the gel)
When left unattended, there is a problem that the gel attached to the ultrasonic probe feels unsanitary.

The present invention has been made to solve this problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe capable of efficiently transmitting or receiving ultrasonic waves without using a gel. That is.

[0005]

The invention for solving the problem is an ultrasonic probe characterized in that the acoustic opening surface at the contact surface of the ultrasonic probe is hydrophilic. According to the present invention, since the acoustic aperture surface of the ultrasonic probe is hydrophilic, if the acoustic aperture surface is attached to water and the acoustic aperture surface contains water, efficient transmission or reception of ultrasonic waves is achieved. Waves become possible. Also, even if the ultrasonic probe is left after use,
The water contained in the sound opening surface only evaporates, which is sanitary.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an ultrasonic probe according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of the ultrasonic probe, reference numeral 2 denotes a contact surface where the ultrasonic probe 1 comes into contact with a subject, and reference numeral 3 denotes an acoustic aperture surface through which ultrasonic waves are transmitted or received.

Next, how to use the ultrasonic probe 1 will be described. The acoustic opening surface 3 of the ultrasonic probe 1 is immersed in water so that the acoustic opening surface 3 contains water. In this state, the contact surface 2 of the ultrasonic probe 1 is brought into contact with the subject to transmit or receive ultrasonic waves. Since the acoustic opening surface 3 contains water, efficient transmission or reception of ultrasonic waves can be performed without attaching a gel.

In order to make the acoustic aperture surface 3 of the ultrasonic probe 1 hydrophilic, the following is performed. That is, an acrylic resin material called polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is used for the contact surface 2 of the ultrasonic probe 1, and a thin ammonia liquid layer is formed on the acoustic opening surface 3 of the contact surface 2 by utilizing the capillary phenomenon. An argon fluoride excimer laser is irradiated there. Ammonia is decomposed by laser light to generate hydrogen. The hydrogen abstracts a hydrogen atom on the resin surface, and an amino group that is easily compatible with water is bonded. In this way, the acoustic aperture surface 3 becomes hydrophilic. On the other hand, the contact surface 2 made of the acrylic resin except the acoustic opening surface 3 repels water (it is not hydrophilic).

[0010]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Efficient transmission or reception of ultrasonic waves is possible without using a gel.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an ultrasonic probe according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ultrasonic probe 2 Contact surface 3 Acoustic aperture surface

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic probe, wherein an acoustic opening surface at a contact surface of the ultrasonic probe is hydrophilic.