JPS6158650A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION To Industrial Application Field 2-1 The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe used in an ultrasonic inspection apparatus that inspects the inside of a human body by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals.

Configuration of conventional examples and their problems There are few conventional ultrasonic probes that can be used particularly in the oral cavity. The present applicant has previously proposed an ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 1 for intraoral use.

In FIG. 1, an ultrasonic transducer 1 is housed in an ultrasonic cell 3 filled with a sound wave propagation medium 2, and the ultrasonic transducer 1 is connected to a motion transmission shaft 6 coupled to a driver 4. 4 to perform fan-shaped scanning. Reference numeral 6 indicates a sealing material that seals the sound wave propagation medium 2. A signal line is connected to a transmitter/receiver (not shown) from the ultrasound transducer 1 through the inside of the motion transmission shaft 5, and the ultrasound is transmitted through the acoustic window 7 on the front side of the ultrasound cell 3 into the subject 8. A sound wave 9 is transmitted, a reflected signal from inside the subject 8 is received again by the ultrasound transducer 1, and after the signal is processed by the receiving section, an ultrasound tomographic image is displayed and the subject 8 is examined. . Such an oral ultrasound probe can be used for subject 8.
When inspecting the inside of the oral cavity 31, it is necessary to disinfect and clean the outer periphery of the mouth. Furthermore, since the acoustic window 7 is equipped with a thin membrane 10, it may be damaged and damaged. Furthermore, it is necessary to replace the ultrasound cell 3 depending on the position and shape of the subject 8. However, in such a case, it is necessary to attach and detach the ultrasonic cell 3, but the conventional method has the drawback that it is necessary to remove the drive unit cover 11, cut the signal line, and disassemble the attachment part of the motion transmission shaft 5. , which cannot be easily replaced and is very inconvenient for the user. Furthermore, when injecting the sound wave propagation medium 2 into the ultrasonic cell 3, it is necessary to provide an injection port 12 and an air vent 13, which increases the size and size, making it difficult to inspect narrow spaces such as the oral cavity. It is difficult to do so. Furthermore, unless the membrane 1o is made to protrude beyond the acoustic window 7, it cannot be reliably applied to the subject. In this case, the volume of the protrusion is determined by the injection amount of the sound wave propagation medium 2, but it is difficult to make this amount constant.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides an ultrasonic probe that can attach and detach an ultrasonic cell with a simple operation when replacing and attaching an ultrasonic cell. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe in which the amount of a sound wave propagation medium enclosed can be made constant.

Structure of the Invention In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; Contains an ultrasonic vibrator.

An ultrasonic cell equipped with an acoustic window equipped with a membrane that houses a sound wave propagation medium and transmits ultrasonic waves emitted from an ultrasonic transducer, a drive unit that mechanically scans the ultrasonic transducer, and a drive unit that includes The present invention provides an ultrasonic probe characterized in that it is equipped with a enclosing drive section cover, and an ultrasonic cell is detachably connected to the drive section cover and the ultrasonic transducer.

Description of examples Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing an ultrasonic probe in an embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasonic transducer 1 is installed 5 in an ultrasonic cell 3 filled with a sound wave propagation medium 2, and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves 9 into a subject 8. Ultrasonic waves 9 transmitted by the ultrasound transducer 1 are transmitted into the subject 8 via a stretchable membrane 1o provided with an acoustic waveguide 7K. 4 is a driver, and 5 is a motion transmission shaft. A protrusion 14 is formed at one end of the ultrasonic cell 3 , and a recess 15 is formed at one end of the drive cover 11 . The ultrasonic cell 3 is removably coupled to the drive unit cover 11. Further, a seal 6' is installed at the tip of the drive section cover 11, and the seal 6' protrudes from the recess 16 into the ultrasonic cell 3 by a volume A. As a result, when the ultrasonic cell 3 is attached, the ultrasonic cell 3 is filled with the sound wave propagation medium 2,
By inserting the drive unit cover 11, the excess sound wave propagation medium 2 is removed before the seal 6' contacts the ultrasonic cell 3, and when the drive unit cover 11 is inserted thereafter, the volume A exceeds the membrane 1o. It is made to protrude from the sound wave cell 3.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the ultrasonic cell 3 is connected to the drive unit cover 11 and the ultrasonic transducer 1 with the concave and convex portions.

To 6-7 14, 15 makes it easy to attach and detach, and membrane 1
When replacing the ultrasonic cell 3 when it is damaged, etc., only the ultrasonic cell 3 can be replaced. Furthermore, since the amount of protrusion of the membrane 1o can be defined by the volume A when the ultrasonic cell 3 is attached, it is possible to always keep the adhesion of the membrane 10 to the subject 8 in an optimal state.

Furthermore, although the present embodiment has been described using the uneven portions 14 and 15, screws or bands may be used instead of the uneven portions.

Effects of the Invention In short, the present invention consists of an ultrasonic transducer that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, a motion transmission shaft that drives the ultrasonic transducer, a drive section cover, and an ultrasonic cell that encloses a sound wave propagation medium. A portion of the ultrasonic cell is inserted into the ultrasonic cell, and the structure is such that it can be attached and removed via a protrusion provided on the drive unit cover. It is easy to replace only the cell, and there is no need to provide an inlet for the sound wave propagation medium, so it can be applied to narrow spaces such as the oral cavity.Also, since the amount of protrusion of the menslen can be kept constant, it is suitable for the subject.

This made it possible to always maintain the same adhesion.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a conventional ultrasound probe, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of an ultrasound probe according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1... Ultrasonic vibrator, 2... Sonic propagation medium, 3... Ultrasonic cell, 4... Driver, 5...・Motion transmission axis, 6, 6'...
Seal, 7... Acoustic window, 8... Subject,
9...Ultrasonic wave, 1o...Membrane, 1
1...Drive unit cover, 14...Protrusion, 1
5... Concavity. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
Figure 2

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An acoustic window equipped with an ultrasonic transducer that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, and a membrane that encloses the ultrasonic transducer, houses a sound wave propagation medium, and transmits the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic transducer. an ultrasonic cell, a drive section that mechanically scans the ultrasonic transducer, and a drive section cover that encloses the drive section, and the ultrasonic cell is attached to and detached from the drive section cover and the ultrasonic transducer. An ultrasonic probe characterized in that: (2) The acoustic window is covered with a stretchable membrane, and the membrane is filled with a sound wave propagation medium by liquid-tightly inserting one end of the drive unit cover into the ultrasonic cell. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: