JPS58165833A - Low pressure head fluid sump - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a low pressure head fluid reservoir. Ultrasonic imaging devices for scanning, for example the human body, are known in the prior art. A typical device of this type uses a fluid-filled chamber to transmit the ultrasound beam and its reflected beam to the transducer and the body being scanned. The presence of air bubbles within the fluid-filled chamber obstructs the propagation of the ultrasound beam and distorts the reflected beam image. therefore,
When filling the chamber with fluid, care must be taken not to leave air bubbles in the chamber. However, since most seals leak at least a little, the chamber's fluid seal also leaks and bubbles form outside of operating hours. It is thought that the pressure in the room decreases due to fluid leakage, and as a result, the air contained in the fluid in the room becomes bubbles. As the pressure decreases further, air-filled voids form. Therefore, constant monitoring for bubble formation and refilling of the filling chamber with fluid must be carried out, and such monitoring and refilling can severely limit the scanning time of the device.

The present invention provides a fluid-filled chamber chamber for an ultrasonic propagation device whose effective volume can be adjusted to maintain a low pressure head within the chamber and to prevent bubble formation within the chamber. Volume of fluid filling chamber Y r! If direct adjustment is not desired, an additional fluid reservoir may be connected to the chamber and the volume of the additional fluid reservoir may be varied to adjust the effective volume and pressure of the fluid-filled chamber. The additional fluid reservoir may be contained entirely within the housing of the ultrasound device, or may be separable from the housing, and may include additional parts to conventional devices. The fluid reservoir is
A fluid reservoir within an existing system may include means for adjusting fluid pressure fluctuations within the chamber in response to changes in, for example, atmospheric pressure. Since the volume of the fluid reservoir is adjustable, the chamber can be refilled with fluid without interfering with the use of the device. If the fluid reservoir is permanently contained within the housing of the device, the fluid reservoir preferably has a diameter of 281-3501/Cm.
It is also possible to consist of a bladder or a tortuous diaphragm that is pressurized. A spring attached to the housing constantly applies pressure to the diaphragm with a piston biasing the diaphragm. The volume of the fluid reservoir housed within the housing, as well as the volume of the fluid reservoir separably attached to the fluid-filled chamber, can be varied by operator adjustment means. The operator adjustment means may include a rotating screw that biases the piston against the fluid reservoir. The use of the pressurized additional fluid reservoir substantially increases the amount of time the ultrasonic scanning device can be used before the fluid-filled chamber or fluid reservoir is refilled with fluid. The fluid-filled chamber is initially filled with fluid,
The chamber can be refilled with fluid by acoustically refilling the fluid reservoir via a beak-shaped check valve. Due to this.

It becomes possible to precisely pressurize the chamber. Furthermore, the filling chamber may be provided with a fluid stopper for discharging fluid, and air bubbles in the chamber may be discharged via the stopper.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. In the figure, the ultrasonic device is indicated at 10. The device includes a fluid-filled chamber 14
12, a transducer 16, and a reflecting means 18 mounted within the chamber. The device further includes a transducer and selective reflection means for transmitting and receiving the ultrasound beam through the fluid-filled chamber 14. In this embodiment, the fluid-filled chamber 14 is connected by a flow path 20 to a fluid reservoir 22 containing additional fluid. The fluid reservoir 22 is a bent diaphragm 2
4 and is pressurized by a piston 26 which biases the diaphragm by a spring 28 attached to the housing. Alternatively, fluid reservoir 22 may be constituted by a piston, or a bladder, or a liquid accumulator or other structure that changes volume in response to changes in pressure. moreover,
Operator adjustment means, such as a preloaded screw, may be provided to bias the piston against the diaphragm.

During use of the device, the fluid in the fluid reservoir 22 replenishes the fluid in the main chamber 14 and maintains a low pressure head to prevent bubble formation and compensate for voids created by leaks. The initial filling and subsequent refilling of the chamber 14 with fluid takes place via a one-way valve, for example a bird's beak check valve 30.

An opening 32 in the chamber 14 with a sealing screw 64 or other removable elastomer seal allows air bubbles within the chamber to be removed. Further, the ultrasonic device is provided with an opening 66 having a removable elastic seal 68 in the flow path 20, so that air can be excluded during filling with fluid.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the invention. Here, an additional fluid reservoir is provided in a second chamber 100 that is disconnectably connected to the fluid-filled chamber of a conventional ultrasound device. The ultrasound device, indicated at 101, includes a housing 102 and a fluid-filled chamber 104. As shown, the chamber 104 has a transducer means 10 therein.
6 and a reflecting means 108 disposed within the nuclear chamber 104. The ultrasonic device also has conventional fluid reservoirs, such as bellows 110, 112, and can adjust fluid pressure in response to atmospheric pressure. Once the bellows 110, 112 are filled with fluid, the buttons 111, 115 become visible. When the buttons 111, 115 are no longer visible, the chamber 104 must be filled with fluid. 100 is connected to the chamber. The volume of the reservoir 100 is regulated by a piston 122 that biases the reservoir. Adjustment of piston 122 is preferably maintained until buttons 111, 113 become visible again. Many means known to those skilled in the art are available for actuating piston 122 relative to reservoir 100. The screw cap 124 shown in FIG. 2 is one of these known means.

The fluid-filled bellows 110, 112 connect the main chamber 104 to the flow path 1.
14.116'. This embodiment includes utilizing fluid within the bellows 110, 112 with an additional fluid reservoir 100 to maintain fluid within the main body 104, thereby increasing the effective volume of the second chamber 100. In order to ensure that the fluid within the bellows 110, 112 is free of air bubbles as a result of the fluid filling operation, a removable elastomeric seal 118 is provided to exclude air within the bellows during the filling operation.
120 are arranged. Additionally, an opening 126 in the main chamber 104 with a sealing screw 128 or other removable elastomer seal eliminates air bubbles within the chamber.

When the additional fluid in reservoir 100 is empty, reservoir 10
Just refill it to 0. After loosening seal 128, screw cap 124 is loosened and piston 122 is withdrawn from reservoir 100, allowing fluid to directly refill reservoir 100. As another method, the piston 122
may be reset in reservoir 100, screw cap 124 refastened, and fluid refilled chamber 104 and reservoir 100 via opening 126 or bird's beak valve 60 shown in FIG.

The foregoing description of the drawings is by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. Accordingly, other variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. 10... Ultrasonic device, 12... Housing, 14...
... Fluid filling chamber, 16... Transducer, 18... Reflection means, 20... Channel, 22... Fluid reservoir, 24...
Bent diaphragm, 26... piston, 28... spring, 3011. Bird beak check valve, 62... opening, 64...
...Seal screw, 56...Opening, 68...Removable elastic seal, 1DO...Second chamber (additional fluid reservoir)
, 101... Ultrasonic device. 102...Housing, 104...Fluid filling g, 1
06...Converter, 108...Reflection means, 110...
・Bellows, 111... Button, 112... Bellows, 115... Button, 114... Channel, 116...
... Channel, 118 ... Removable elastic seal, 120
...removable elastic seal, 122...piston,
124...Screw cap, 126...Opening, 128
...Seal screw.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an ultrasonic beam propagation system, a main fluid-filled chamber containing at least a portion of an ultrasonic transmission device and a fluid-filled housing connected to the chamber for maintaining a low pressure head within the main fluid-filled chamber and a fluid-filled housing connected to the chamber; 2. A fluid-filled housing for an ultrasonic propagation device comprising an adjustable volume fluid reservoir and a one-way check valve disposed within a wall of the housing for pressurizing the housing with fluid. The ultrasonic device according to claim 1, comprising a second chamber disconnectably connected to the main chamber. 3. Claim 1, wherein the pressure head is about 281 to 350 II/crIL. or the ultrasonic device according to claim 2. 4. The ultrasonic device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a pressurized fluid-filled bent diaphragm. 5. A piston in contact with the outer surface of the bent diaphragm. 6. The ultrasonic device according to claim 4, wherein the diaphragm is constantly pressurized by the piston and the diaphragm is controlled by a spring attached to the housing.6. and a piston, the rotary screw knob advancing the piston onto the outer surface of the diaphragm.The ultrasonic device of claim 4.7. The main fluid filling chamber and the fluid reservoir. Claim 2 further comprising an existing fluid reservoir connected to the fluid reservoir for increasing the effective volume of the fluid reservoir above the effective volume of the second chamber.
Ultrasonic device as described in Section. 8. A method for preventing bubble formation in an ultrasound beam propagation fluid-filled chamber, the method comprising maintaining a low pressure head within the chamber. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the low pressure head is maintained by adjusting the effective volume of the fluid-filled chamber. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the low pressure head is maintained by adjusting the volume of an additional fluid reservoir connected to the chamber. 11. The method of claim 9, comprising connecting an existing fluid reservoir to the chamber and the fluid reservoir. 12. The improved ultrasound beam propagating fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 further comprising means connected to said housing for excluding air bubbles from said chamber, said means being removable to said chamber. said chamber consisting of an opening with a seal;