WO2015115686A1

WO2015115686A1 - Ultrasound probe

Info

Publication number: WO2015115686A1
Application number: PCT/KR2014/000869
Authority: WO
Inventors: 우정동; 이수성; 이형근; 신은희; 손건호
Original assignee: 알피니언메디칼시스템 주식회사
Priority date: 2014-01-29
Filing date: 2014-01-29
Publication date: 2015-08-06
Also published as: KR20160102243A

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention relates to an ultrasound probe and, more specifically, to a 3D ultrasound probe using an elastic member, instead of a motor, as a power source. The ultrasound probe according to one embodiment of the present invention can be used in low-priced equipment since the ultrasound probe enables a wobbling movement of an array housing by using an elastic means, instead of an existing step motor.

Description

Ultrasonic probe

An embodiment of the present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe, and more particularly, to a 3D ultrasonic probe using an elastic member instead of a motor as a power source.

The contents described in this section merely provide background information on the embodiments of the present invention and do not constitute a prior art.

Ultrasonic probes are a medical device for acquiring an image inside a subject. Recently, research and development of ultrasonic probes for implementing 3D images have been activated.

Conventional methods for realizing 3D images are classified into a manual scanning method using only a 1D probe, a method using a wobbler to mechanically drive the 1D probe using a step motor as a power source, and a method using a 2D probe. . The manual scanning method is the simplest method, but there is a problem in controlling the moving speed and the interval of the diagnoser and thus has a disadvantage in that it cannot have accurate diagnostic information.

In addition, the method using the wobbler can obtain an accurate 3D image as compared to the manual scanning method, but a series of controller systems are required for controlling the stepper motor.

Finally, the method using 2D probes can obtain the most accurate 3D image, but it is difficult to manufacture 2D probes separated into many individual devices and to implement a system that processes signals of these devices in real time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a wobbler probe having an intermediate difficulty between the manual scanning method and the wobbler method, which are the easiest to implement, among the three methods for implementing the above-described 3D image. In other words, it is possible to provide a method-level 3D image acquisition using a wobbler, but it is more easy to implement a manual wobbler than a wobbler using a stepper motor.

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is not limited to the technical problem mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned above may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. will be.

One embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is a housing; An array installed inside the housing and irradiating ultrasonic waves for acquiring a 3D image related to a subject; A driving unit including an elastic member and providing a rotational force for rotating the array using the elastic member; A power transmission unit connected to the driving unit to receive the rotational force to rotate the array; A rotation position sensor for sensing a first rotation position and a second rotation position of the array; And rotation limiting means for limiting the rotation at the rotation start position when the driving unit is rotated in one direction.

In addition, another embodiment of the present invention is a method for rotating the array that is rotatably installed in the housing of the ultrasonic probe and irradiating ultrasonic waves to obtain a 3D image, the elastic means is built in the drum is rotated in one direction Storing the rotational force in the; Rotating the drum in the opposite direction to the one direction using the stored rotational force; And rotating the array while the power transmission unit connected to the drum rotates with the drum.

As described above, according to the ultrasonic probe according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since the wobbling movement of the array housing is possible as an elastic means instead of the conventional step motor, the ultrasonic probe provides an effect that can be used in low-cost equipment.

In addition, it is possible to provide a 3D ultrasonic probe that is light, inexpensive, and does not have a heating problem by a motor.

In addition, the effect of the present invention has a variety of effects, such as having excellent durability according to the embodiment, such effects can be clearly seen in the description of the embodiments described later.

1 shows the appearance of an ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows the inside of the ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 (a) is a perspective view and Fig. 2 (b) is a side view. 2 is a view showing a part of the housing is removed to show the inside of the ultrasonic probe.

3 is a front view showing the inside of the ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 shows a cap installed in an array housing of an ultrasonic probe.

5 shows an elastic member installed in the drum of the present invention.

6 shows a sealing member installed between the drum and the housing and a membrane installed on the shaft.

7 shows the operation of the power transmission unit.

FIG. 8 shows a rotation position sensor having Hall sensors respectively installed at the first rotational position and the second rotational position.

9 shows a membrane installed between the locking member and the housing.

10 shows the operation of the rotation limiting means.

11 illustrates a method of rotating an array according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail through exemplary drawings. However, this is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

In adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as much as possible even though they are shown in different drawings. In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related well-known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, the size or shape of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of description. In addition, terms that are specifically defined in consideration of the configuration and operation of the present invention are only for describing the embodiments of the present invention, and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows the inside of the ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 (a) is a perspective view and Fig. 2 (b) is a side view. 3 is a front view showing the inside of the ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 and 3 illustrate a part of the housing removed to show the inside of the ultrasonic probe.

Ultrasonic probe 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is to obtain a 3D image inside the subject to obtain a plurality of image frames through the uniform rotation of the array during the time interval between the start and end points, The 3D image may be obtained by combining the obtained plurality of image frames.

First, the configuration of the ultrasonic probe 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Ultrasonic probe 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing 10, an array, a drive unit 20, a power transmission unit 30, a rotation position sensor 40 and a rotation limiting means 50 Can be.

The housing 10 is installed to surround the outer surface of the ultrasonic probe 1 and may be composed of one or a plurality of pieces. The driving unit 20, the power transmission unit 30, the rotation position sensor 40, and the rotation limiting means 50 may be installed in the housing 10. Here, the driving unit 20 and the rotation limiting means 50 may be installed so that a part thereof protrudes out of the housing 10.

The array may serve to irradiate ultrasonic waves inside the subject to convert the feedback into an electrical signal in order to acquire a 3D image related to the subject. The array can usually include transducers capable of converting electrical energy into mechanical energy and vice versa, and can comprise materials having a piezoelectric effect. The general structure of such an array is well known in the art and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Herein, the subject may refer to tissues, organs, or fetuses inside the skin of the human body or animal that can be observed through the ultrasonic probe 1 according to the present embodiment, but is not limited thereto. It should be noted that any object can be included.

4 shows a cap installed in an array housing of an ultrasonic probe.

The embodiment may include a cap 11 disposed surrounding the array. Since the array is installed in the array housing 36 to be described later, it can be seen that the cap 11 is disposed surrounding the array housing 36. The inner surface of the array may be formed while maintaining a distance from the array 11a so that the medium of ultrasonic waves can be located. The gap 11a between the array and the cap 11 can usually be filled with oil or water.

The outer surface of the cap 11 may be formed to be smoothly curved to be in direct contact with the subject. When the user uses the ultrasonic probe 1, the outer surface of the cap 11 may directly contact the skin of the subject, so that the skin may be swept and wounded. Therefore, the cap 11 needs to maintain a smooth surface, and it is curved, and can protect the skin of a subject.

5 shows an elastic member installed in the drum of the present invention.

The driving unit 20 may include a drum and an elastic member 21. The drum may mean a cylindrical member, and may serve to provide a rotational force for rotating the array using the elastic member 21. One end of the drum may be connected to the power transmission unit 30. According to the embodiment, the elastic member 21 may be installed inside or on the side of the drum, but it does not necessarily need to be installed at that position. If the drum can be rotated in one direction to store the elastic force in the elastic member 21, and can rotate in the opposite direction by the stored elastic force, it may be installed in any position.

In this embodiment, the drum may include an installation space in which the elastic member 21 may be installed, and the elastic member 21 may be inserted into and installed in the installation space.

The elastic member 21 may include a spiral spring according to the embodiment.

One end of the elastic member 21 may be connected to the power transmission unit 30, the other end of the elastic member 21 may be connected to the drum.

The power transmission unit 30 may include a frame 32. The drum described above may be rotatably connected to one side of the frame 32. That is, the first rotation shaft 31a may be formed at one side of the frame 32 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ultrasonic probe 1, and the drum may be fitted to the first rotation shaft 31a. The drum can rotate about this axis of rotation. The elastic member 21 installed in the drum may have one end connected to the frame 32 and the other end connected to the drum. According to the exemplary embodiment, one end of the elastic member 21 may be connected to the first rotation shaft 31a included in the frame 32.

By this structure, the elastic member 21 can store the elastic force when the drum is rotated in one direction, and the elastic force stored by the elastic member 21 can generate the rotational force by rotating the drum in the opposite direction.

The other end 20a of the drum may be exposed out of the housing 10 so as to receive rotational force from the outside. The user of the ultrasonic probe 1 may provide rotational force by holding the other end of the drum exposed to the outside and manually rotating it in one direction. The other end 20a of the drum exposed to the outside of the housing 10 may be formed in an ergonomic design to facilitate the user to provide rotational force.

The sealing member 22 may be installed between the other end 20a of the drum and the housing 10. The sealing member 22 may have a cylindrical shape. The sealing member 22 may be installed such that an inner surface surrounds the other end 20a of the drum and the outer surface is attached to the housing 10. A gap may be formed between the other end 20a of the drum exposed to the outside of the housing 10 and the housing 10, and foreign matter such as liquid may be introduced into the gap. The foreign matter thus introduced may corrode the inside of the ultrasonic probe 1 or cause a malfunction of the machine operation. Sealing member 22 to block the inflow of foreign substances to improve the durability of the product.

The power transmission unit 30 may serve to transfer the rotational force generated by the driving unit 20 to the array. The power transmission unit 30 may include a frame 32, a first gear 31, a second gear 33, a sliding bush, a shaft 34, and an array housing 36 according to an embodiment. .

The frame 32 may be fixedly installed in the housing 10.

The first gear 31 may serve to transmit the rotational force generated by the driving unit 20 to the second gear 33. The first gear 31 may be connected to the driving unit 20. The first gear 31 may be connected to the drum of the driving unit 20. According to an embodiment, the first gear 31 may be integrally formed with the drum. In this case, the diameter of the first gear 31 may be larger than the diameter of the drum. In this case, the first gear 31 and the drum may be formed coaxially. That is, the first gear 31 may be formed at one end of the drum, and the center of the first gear 31 and the center of the drum may be disposed on the same axis. The first gear 31 and the drum may be fitted together on the first rotation shaft 31a of the frame 32. When the drum rotates about the first rotation shaft 31a, the first gear 31 may be formed. It can rotate with the drum about the one rotating shaft 31a.

The structure in which the drum and the first gear 31 are integrally formed improves durability in the structure in which the first gear 31 directly receives the rotational force of the drum, and helps the first gear 31 to rotate precisely with the drum. Gives.

The second gear 33 may serve to transmit the rotational force transmitted from the first gear 31 to the sliding bush 35. The second gear 33 may be rotatably connected to the rotating shaft on the frame 32 and may be engaged with the first gear 31. The second rotation shaft 33a may be formed in the frame 32, and the second gear 33 may be fitted to the second rotation shaft 33a on the frame 32 to rotate about the second rotation shaft 33a. can do.

The sliding bush 35 may be rotatably connected to one surface of the second gear 33. The second gear 33 may be provided with a hole in which the second rotation shaft 33a is fitted at the center thereof, and the third rotation shaft may be rotatably installed on one surface of the second gear 33. 35a can be formed. According to the exemplary embodiment, a hole may be formed on one surface of the second gear 33 so that the third rotation shaft 35a may be fitted. The sliding bush 35 may be fitted to the third rotation shaft 35a and rotate about the third rotation shaft 35a.

The sliding bush 35 may have a shaft through hole 35b connecting one end and the other end of the sliding bush 35 to allow the shaft 34 to pass therethrough. A hole may be formed in the outer circumferential surface of the sliding bush 35 so that the third rotation shaft 35a may be inserted. The sliding bush 35 may be installed by inserting the third rotary shaft 35a into the hole. According to the exemplary embodiment, the third rotation shaft 35a may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the sliding bush 35.

The shaft 34 serves to allow the sliding bush 35 to fit and slide on the shaft 34. One end of the shaft 34 may be installed in the array housing 36, and the other end may slide into the sliding bush 35.

The array housing 36 may be rotatably connected to the bottom of the frame 32. The array housing 36 may be connected to be rotatable at a predetermined angle with respect to the fourth rotating shaft 36a at the lower end of the frame 32. In the present embodiment, two hinge connectors are formed at the upper ends, and the hinge connectors are rotatably connected to the frame 32, respectively. Here, the fourth rotation shaft 36a may mean a hinge shaft of two hinge connecting portions.

A mounting space 36c is formed at the bottom of the array housing 36 to allow the array to be seated, and the array may be seated in the seating space 36c. A shaft installation hole 36b is formed outside the seating space 36c of the array housing 36, and the shaft 34 may be fitted into the shaft installation hole 36b. By having such a structure, the shaft 34 may be installed in the array housing 36, and when the shaft 34 rotates, the array housing 36 may also rotate.

Referring to FIG. 6, a membrane 34a may be installed between the outer surface of the shaft 34 and the housing 10 to prevent foreign matter from flowing into the housing 10. One end of the membrane 34a may be attached to the outer surface of the shaft 34, and the other end thereof may be attached to the housing 10 or the frame 32.

In the present embodiment, the array housing 36 may be disposed opposite the first gear 31 with the second gear 33 interposed therebetween.

7 shows the operation of the power transmission unit. Fig. 7 (a) shows the state of the first power transmission unit, and Fig. 7 (f) shows the state of the last power transmission unit. 7 (b) to 7 (e), the first gear is turned counterclockwise, the second gear is turned clockwise, and the sliding bush is turned clockwise with the second gear to show the shaft and the array housing. When looking at it, it shows how to make a wobble movement from right to left.

The operation of the power transmission unit 30 will be described. When the first gear 31 rotates, the second gear 33 meshed with the first gear 31 rotates accordingly. When the second gear 33 rotates, the sliding bush 35 rotatably connected to one surface of the second gear 33 rotates together. The sliding bush 35 rotates along the second gear 33 to hold the shaft 34 and rotate together with the shaft 34. When the sliding bush 35 rotates by being inserted into the shaft through hole 35b formed inside the sliding bush 35, the shaft 34 performs a wobbling motion. The array housing 36 is wobbled together as the shaft 34 wobbles. As a result, the array seated in the seating space 36c of the array housing 36 is also wobbled together.

FIG. 8 shows a rotation position sensor having Hall sensors respectively installed at the first rotational position and the second rotational position. FIG. 8 (a) shows a state where the array housing is located in the first rotational position, and FIG. 8 (b) shows a state where the array housing is located in the second rotational position.

The rotation position sensor 40 may serve to sense the first rotation position and the second rotation position of the array. The rotation position sensor 40 may include a magnet 41 and a hall sensor 42 electromagnetically connected to the magnet 41 according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, the magnet 41 may be installed on the outer peripheral surface of the sliding bush of the power transmission unit 30, the Hall sensor 42 may be installed in the housing 10 or the frame 32.

The first rotational position may be the rotational position of the array (see FIG. 8 (a)) at the start time of acquiring the image frame by irradiating ultrasonic waves to obtain a 3D image, and the second rotational position may acquire the image frame. May be a rotational position of the array at the end time (see FIG. 8B). That is, the first rotational position and the second rotational position are positions determined by a start time and an end time of obtaining an image frame, and may not mean a range up to a maximum angle at which the array can rotate. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, FIG. 8A may correspond to FIG. 7B, and FIG. 8B may correspond to FIG. 7E, and in the first rotational position. The position of obtaining the image frame up to the second rotational position may be from FIG. 7B to FIG. 7E.

The array may acquire information related to the inside of the subject while rotating between the first rotational position and the second rotational position through the measurement value of the rotational position sensor 40. Here, the information related to the inside of the subject may mean, for example, an image frame related to an internal organ, etc. when the subject is a human body.

The rotation limiting means 50 may serve to limit the rotation at the rotation start position when the driving unit 20 is rotated in one direction by the user. The rotation limiting means 50 may include the first catching portion 25 and the catching member according to the embodiment. The first catching part 25 may be formed in the driving part 20. According to an embodiment may include a locking surface formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drum. According to an embodiment, the first catching part 25 may include a groove formed on an outer surface of the drum. The locking member may act to engage with the first locking portion 25 to limit the rotation of the driving unit 20 at the rotation start position.

According to the exemplary embodiment, one end of the locking member may be provided with a second locking portion 51 that is caught by the first locking portion 25. The second locking portion 51 may be formed by bending one end of the locking member according to the embodiment. The second locking portion 51 may be in the shape of a rod.

The other end 50a of the locking member may be exposed to the outside of the housing 10 to receive an input from the outside. A connection portion 52 may be formed between the one end of the locking member and the other end 50a of the locking member so as to be rotatably connected to the power transmission unit 30. According to an embodiment, the connection part 52 may be connected to the upper end of the frame 32 of the power transmission part 30.

9 shows a membrane installed between the locking member and the housing.

The other end 50a of the locking member exposed to the outside of the housing 10 may surround the membrane 55 to prevent foreign substances from entering. According to the exemplary embodiment, one end of the membrane 55 may be attached to the other end 50a of the locking member, and the other end thereof may be attached to the housing 10.

10 shows the operation of the rotation limiting means. 10 (a) to 10 (e) illustrate a process in which the user rotates the drum clockwise to release the hook and stores the elastic force in the elastic member while the second catch is caught in the first catch. In this process, the drum receives a force that is rotated counterclockwise by the elastic force of the elastic member. 10 (a) and 10 (b) show how the locking member is automatically released to release the locking state when the user rotates the drum. FIG. 10 (e) shows a state in which the user rotates the drum 360 degrees so that the first catching portion and the second catching portion are locked again. That is, Fig. 10 (e) shows a state in which the rotation limiting means restricts the rotation of the drum in the counterclockwise direction.

The operation of the rotation limiting means 50 will be described. In the state where the second catching portion 51 of the catching member is first caught by the first catching portion 25 of the drum, when the user grasps the other end 20a of the drum protruding out of the housing 10 and turns it clockwise, it naturally occurs. While the locked state is released, the elastic force is stored in the elastic member 21. When the user rotates the drum 360 degrees, the first catching portion 25 rotates one turn to be in the original rotation position. This rotational position may mean the rotation start position.

The drum is locked to the second catching part 51 at the rotation start position in the state where the elastic force is stored in the elastic member 21, so that the rotation is restricted. In this state, when the user presses the other end 50a of the locking member exposed to the outside of the housing 10, a second locking part formed at one end of the locking member based on the fifth rotating shaft 50a of the connecting portion 52 by the lever principle. The 51 is lifted and the jam state is released. Then, the drum is rotated in the counterclockwise direction by the elastic force of the elastic member 21, the first gear 31 formed integrally with the drum is rotated, the array can perform the wobbling movement.

A method of rotating an array according to another embodiment of the present invention is a method of rotating an array that is rotatably installed in a housing of an ultrasonic probe and irradiates ultrasonic waves to obtain a 3D image. Rotating force storage step (S100) is the rotational force is stored in the elastic means while being rotated;

A rotation force providing step of rotating the drum in the opposite direction to the one direction by using the stored rotation force (S200); And

And an array rotation step (S300) for rotating the array while the power transmission unit connected to the drum rotates with the drum.

The rotational force storage step (S100) may include a step (S100a) is released between the locking portion and the locking member formed on the drum by rotating the drum in one direction.

The rotation force providing step (S200) may include a rotation limiting step (S200a) in which the locking member is caught by a locking portion formed in the drum to limit the opposite rotation of the drum.

In addition, the rotation force providing step (S200) may include a step (S200b) of rotating the drum in the opposite direction by the release of the locking member after the rotation restriction step (S200a).

That is, in the method of rotating the array according to another embodiment of the present invention, when the user rotates one end of the drum in one direction while the locking member is locked to the locking portion formed on the outer surface of the drum, the locking member is automatically locked from the locking portion. This is released, the rotational force can be stored in the elastic means built in the drum. When the drum is rotated 360 degrees again to its original rotational position, the locking member may be locked to the locking portion of the drum to limit the rotation of the drum in the opposite direction.

When the user presses the locking member to release the locking portion of the locking member and the drum, the drum may rotate in the opposite direction due to the elastic force stored in the elastic member. As the drum rotates, the power train connected to the drum can rotate with the drum, and the array connected to the power train can rotate with the power train.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various modifications and changes without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention but to describe the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent scope should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

(Explanation of the sign)

1: ultrasonic probe 10: housing

11: cap 11a: spacing

20: drive unit 20a: the other end of the drum

21: elastic member 22: sealing member

25: first catching portion 30: power transmission portion

31: first gear 31a: first rotating shaft

32: frame 33: second gear

33a: second rotating shaft 34: shaft

34a: membrane mounted on the shaft 35: sliding part

36: array housing 36a: fourth rotating shaft

40: rotation position sensor 41: magnet

42: Hall sensor 50: rotation limit means

50a: other end of locking member 51: second locking portion

52: connecting portion 55: membrane installed on the locking member

Claims

housing;

An array installed inside the housing and irradiating ultrasonic waves for obtaining an image related to a subject;

A driving unit including an elastic member and providing a rotational force for rotating the array using the elastic member;

A power transmission unit connected to the driving unit to receive the rotational force to rotate the array; And

Rotation limiting means for limiting the rotation at the rotation start position when the drive unit is rotated in one direction;

Ultrasonic probe comprising a.
The method of claim 1,

The elastic member is an ultrasonic probe, characterized in that it comprises a spiral spring.
The method of claim 1,

One end of the driving unit is connected to the power transmission unit, the ultrasonic probe, characterized in that it comprises a drum in which the elastic member is installed.
The method of claim 3,

The elastic member has an ultrasonic probe, characterized in that one end is connected to the power transmission portion and the other end is connected to the drum.
The method of claim 3,

The other end of the drum is exposed to the outside of the housing to receive a rotational force from the outside of the ultrasonic probe.
The method of claim 5,

And a sealing member installed between the other end of the drum and the housing, the inner surface of which surrounds the other end of the drum, and the outer surface of which is attached to the housing.
The method of claim 1,

The power transmission unit,

A frame fixedly installed in the housing;

A first gear connected to the driving unit;

A second gear rotatably connected to the rotating shaft on the frame and engaged with the first gear;

A sliding bush rotatably connected to the second gear;

A shaft on which the sliding bush is slid; And

An array housing coupled to one side of the shaft, rotatably connected to the frame, and having the array seated thereon;

Ultrasonic probe comprising a.
The method of claim 7, wherein

The driving unit includes a drum, and the first gear is an ultrasonic probe, characterized in that formed integrally with the drum.
The method of claim 8,

The diameter of the first gear is ultrasonic probe, characterized in that larger than the diameter of the drum.
The method of claim 8,

And the first gear is formed coaxially with the drum.
The method of claim 7, wherein

And the array housing is disposed opposite the first gear with the second gear therebetween.
The method of claim 1,

The rotation limiting means includes a first locking portion formed on the driving portion and a locking member for limiting rotation of the driving portion at the rotation starting position by engaging with the first locking portion formed in the driving portion for limiting rotation at the rotation starting position. Ultrasonic probe, characterized in that.
The method of claim 12,

One end of the locking member is formed with a second locking portion to be locked to the first locking portion, and the other end is exposed to the outside of the housing to receive an input from the outside, between the one end and the other end of the power transmission unit Ultrasonic probe characterized in that the connection portion is formed to be rotatably connected.
The method of claim 12,

And the first catching part comprises a groove formed on an outer surface of the driving part.
In the method of rotating the array that is rotatably installed in the housing of the ultrasonic probe and irradiating ultrasonic waves to obtain a 3D image,

A rotational force storage step of storing a rotational force in the elastic means while the drum having the elastic means rotated in one direction;

A rotation force providing step of rotating the drum in the opposite direction to the one direction by using the stored rotation force; And

An array rotation step of rotating the array while the power transmission unit connected to the drum rotates together with the drum;

A method of rotating an array comprising.
The method of claim 15,

The rotational force storing step includes the step of releasing the locking between the engaging portion and the locking member formed on the drum by rotating the drum in the one direction.
The method of claim 15,

The rotational force providing step includes a rotation limiting step in which the locking member is caught in the engaging portion formed in the drum to limit the opposite rotation of the drum.
The method of claim 17,

And after the rotation limiting step, the locking of the locking member is released to rotate the drum in the opposite direction.
The method of claim 1,

And a rotational position sensor for sensing the first rotational position and the second rotational position of the array.
The method of claim 19,

And the array acquires information related to the inside of the subject while rotating between the first rotational position and the second rotational position through the measured value of the rotational position sensor.