WO2020062273A1

WO2020062273A1 - Ultrasonic probe

Info

Publication number: WO2020062273A1
Application number: PCT/CN2018/109174
Authority: WO
Inventors: 王金池; 吴飞; 白乐云
Original assignee: 深圳迈瑞生物医疗电子股份有限公司; 深圳迈瑞科技有限公司
Priority date: 2018-09-30
Filing date: 2018-09-30
Publication date: 2020-04-02

Abstract

An ultrasonic probe comprises an acoustic window (5), a matching layer (6), a piezoelectric layer (7), a backing block (8) and a probe housing (1). The matching layer (6), the piezoelectric layer (7), and the backing block (8) are sequentially bonded to a rear end of the acoustic window (5). At least some of the acoustic window (5), the matching layer (6), the piezoelectric layer (7) and backing block (8) are provided inside the probe housing (1). The probe housing (1) is made of a resilient ceramic material. The resilient ceramic material has high rigidity, strength and resilience, and is resistant to chemical corrosion. The resilient ceramic material has a higher thermal conductivity coefficient and more substance than plastic materials, and allows wireless signals to penetrate more effectively, thereby greatly enhancing product performance, and improving user experience.

Description

Ultrasound probe

Technical field

The present application relates to the technical field of medical devices, and in particular, to an ultrasonic probe.

Background technique

Ultrasound probes are an important part of ultrasound diagnostic imaging equipment. Currently, plastic is used as the probe housing material. Because the ultrasonic probe often needs to be coated with couplant during use, and often needs to be sterilized, etc., the plastic shell is in such an environment for a long time, which is prone to aging, yellowing, cracking, etc., which affects the appearance and use of the probe.

At the same time, the working principle of the ultrasound probe is to use the piezoelectric effect to convert the excitation electric pulse signal of the entire ultrasound machine into an ultrasound signal and enter the patient's body, and then convert the ultrasound echo signal reflected by the tissue into an electrical signal, thereby achieving tissue detection. During the conversion of electro-acoustic signals, the working ultrasonic probe will generate a large amount of heat, which will cause the temperature of the probe to rise. The thermal conductivity of plastic is generally low, which is not conducive to the heat dissipation of the ultrasonic probe.

Moreover, with the popularity of wireless ultrasonic probes, the housing material of ultrasonic probes is required to have good permeability to wireless signals, but the performance of plastic housings is average. In addition, with the user's pursuit of higher probe product appearance and texture, plastic materials are increasingly difficult to meet the user's needs for product texture and aesthetics.

Summary of the Invention

In one embodiment, an ultrasound probe is provided, which includes a sound window, a matching layer, a piezoelectric layer, a backing block, and a probe housing. The matching layer, the piezoelectric layer, and the backing block are sequentially connected to a rear end of the sound window, and At least a part of the sound window, the matching layer, the piezoelectric layer, and the backing block is disposed inside the probe housing, and the probe housing includes a tough ceramic layer.

In one embodiment, the tough ceramic is a zirconia ceramic.

In one embodiment, the probe housing further includes a reinforcing layer, and the reinforcing layer is disposed on an inner surface of the ceramic layer.

In one embodiment, the probe housing further includes a thermally conductive layer, and the thermally conductive layer is disposed on an inner surface of the ceramic layer.

In one embodiment, the probe housing further includes a reinforcing layer and a thermally conductive layer, and the reinforcing layer and the thermally conductive layer are both disposed on an inner surface of the ceramic layer.

In one embodiment, one side of the reinforcement layer is attached to the inner surface of the ceramic shell, and the other side of the reinforcement layer is attached to the thermally conductive layer.

In one embodiment, the probe housing further includes a reinforcing layer and a thermally conductive layer. The reinforcing layer is disposed on an outer surface of the ceramic layer, and the thermally conductive layer is disposed on an inner surface of the ceramic layer.

In one embodiment, one side of the reinforcing layer is bonded to an outer surface of the ceramic layer, and one side of the thermally conductive layer is bonded to an inner surface of the ceramic layer.

In one embodiment, the reinforcing layer is one or more fiber composite materials.

In one embodiment, the fiber composite material is a carbon fiber composite material.

In one embodiment, the thermally conductive layer is one or more metal sheets or flexible graphite films.

In one embodiment, the tough ceramic layer is made of tough ceramic reinforced with reinforcing fibers.

In one embodiment, the reinforcing fibers are carbon fibers or glass fibers.

According to the ultrasonic probe of the above embodiment, a tough ceramic material is used as the probe housing, which has a high fracture toughness. At the same time, the tough ceramic material has very excellent chemical resistance and other characteristics, and is not easy to be damaged in harsh environments such as coupling agents, disinfection and sterilization agents, and ultraviolet light for a long time. The tough ceramic material also has a higher thermal conductivity than plastic, which is beneficial to the heat dissipation of the ultrasonic probe. The tough ceramic material also has better wireless signal penetration than plastic, which is beneficial to the transmission of wireless probe signals. In addition, the use of the ceramic shell with a warm and smooth texture can improve the user's experience when holding the probe, and improve the overall grade of the probe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an ultrasonic probe in an embodiment; FIG.

2 is a partial cross-sectional view of an ultrasound probe in an embodiment;

3 is a partial cross-sectional view of an ultrasound probe in an embodiment;

4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic probe in an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic probe in an embodiment.

detailed description

In the following, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, but not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Since known functions and constructs are vaguely described in unnecessary detail, they will not be described in detail. In addition, the two elements “connected” in this article can be directly connected or indirectly connected, that is, one or more other intermediate elements can exist between the two.

An embodiment of the present invention provides an ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic probe housing includes a tough ceramic layer, and the tough ceramic material has excellent characteristics such as high hardness, high strength, high toughness, and chemical resistance. At the same time, the tough ceramic material also has a higher thermal conductivity than plastic, which is beneficial to the heat dissipation of the ultrasonic probe. The tough ceramic material also has better wireless signal penetration than plastic, which is beneficial to the transmission of wireless probe signals. In addition, the ceramic case has a good texture, which can improve the user's experience when holding the probe, and improve the overall grade of the probe.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic probe of this embodiment mainly includes an acoustic window 5, a matching layer 6, a piezoelectric layer 7, a backing block 8, and a probe housing 1. The matching layer 6, piezoelectric The layer 7 and the backing block 8 are sequentially connected at the rear end of the sound window, and at least some of the sound window, the matching layer, the piezoelectric layer, and the backing block are disposed inside the probe housing. As shown in FIG. 2, the probe housing 1 includes a tough ceramic layer 2. The tough ceramic may be a zirconia ceramic, and of course, other suitable tough ceramics may also be selected.

The ceramic layer 2 can be prepared by the following methods: raw materials are made into a green body through a stamping molding or an injection molding process, and then debonding, sintering, shaping processing, and polishing the outer surface to prepare the ceramic layer 2. In addition, it can be prepared by other methods.

In one embodiment, the shape, size, etc. of the sound window can be designed according to actual conditions. In some embodiments, the acoustic window can also play a role of focusing ultrasound waves, which can be called an acoustic lens at this time.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasound probe housing 1 may further include a reinforcing layer 3, which is disposed on the inner surface of the ceramic layer 2; in addition, other reinforcing structures may be provided. The reinforcing layer may be one or more fiber composite materials, and of course, other suitable materials having a reinforcing effect may be selected; the fiber composite materials may be carbon fiber composite materials. This can further increase the strength of the ultrasound probe housing and improve its performance.

A specific preparation method may be as follows: a compression-enhancing layer 3 is poured into the inner surface of the ceramic casing 2. In addition, it can be prepared by other methods.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the ultrasound probe housing 1 may further include a thermally conductive layer 4 disposed on the inner surface of the ceramic layer 2; in addition, other thermally conductive structures may be provided. . Wherein, the thermally conductive layer 4 is a metal sheet or a flexible graphite film, preferably a flexible graphite film. This can improve the heat dissipation performance of the ceramic casing.

A specific preparation method may be as follows: an inner surface of the ceramic casing 2 is bonded with a heat conductive layer by glue. In addition, it can be prepared by other methods.

In one embodiment, the probe housing may further include a reinforcing layer 3 and a thermally conductive layer 4, and the reinforcing layer 3 and the thermally conductive layer 4 are simultaneously provided on the inner surface of the ceramic layer 2. As shown in FIG. 5, one side of the reinforcing layer 3 may be attached to the inner surface of the ceramic casing 2, and the other side of the reinforcing layer 3 may be attached to the thermally conductive layer 4. The shape, number of layers, and size (such as thickness) of the reinforcing layer and the thermally conductive layer can be adjusted according to the actual application. This can further increase the strength of the probe housing and improve its heat dissipation performance.

A specific preparation method may be as follows: a pressure-reinforced reinforcing layer 3 is poured into the inner surface of the ceramic casing 2, and then the heat-conducting layer 4 is glued on the inner surface of the reinforcing layer 3 by glue. In addition, it can be prepared by other methods.

In one embodiment, the probe housing 1 may further include a reinforcing layer and a thermally conductive layer. The reinforcing layer is disposed on the outer surface of the ceramic layer, and the thermally conductive layer is disposed on the inner surface of the ceramic layer. One side of the reinforcing layer may be attached to the outer surface of the ceramic layer, and one side of the thermally conductive layer may be attached to the inner surface of the ceramic layer. This can further increase the strength of the probe housing and improve its heat dissipation performance.

In other embodiments, the tough ceramic layer may be made of tough ceramic reinforced with reinforcing fibers. The reinforcing fibers may be carbon fibers or glass fibers. This can further improve the strength of the probe housing.

The above uses specific examples to illustrate the present invention, but is only used to help understand the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, changes can be made to the above specific implementations.

Claims

An ultrasonic probe is characterized in that it comprises a sound window, a matching layer, a piezoelectric layer, a backing block and a probe shell. The matching layer, the piezoelectric layer and the backing block are sequentially attached to the back of the sound window, and At least a part of the sound window, the matching layer, the piezoelectric layer, and the backing block is disposed inside the probe housing, and the probe housing includes a tough ceramic layer.
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the ductile ceramic is a zirconia ceramic.
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the probe housing further comprises a reinforcing layer, and the reinforcing layer is disposed on an inner surface of the ceramic layer.
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the probe housing further comprises a heat conducting layer, and the heat conducting layer is disposed on an inner surface of the ceramic layer.
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the probe housing further comprises a reinforcing layer and a thermally conductive layer, and the reinforcing layer and the thermally conductive layer are both disposed on an inner surface of the ceramic layer.
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 5, wherein one side of the reinforcing layer is bonded to an inner surface of the ceramic housing, and the other side of the reinforcing layer is bonded to the thermally conductive layer.
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the probe housing further comprises a reinforcing layer and a thermally conductive layer, the reinforcing layer is disposed on an outer surface of the ceramic layer, and the thermally conductive layer is disposed on an inner surface of the ceramic layer .
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 7, wherein one side of the reinforcing layer is bonded to an outer surface of the ceramic layer, and one side of the thermally conductive layer is bonded to an inner surface of the ceramic layer. together.
The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 3, 5-8, wherein the reinforcing layer is one or more fiber composite materials.
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 9, wherein the fiber composite material is a carbon fiber composite material.
The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the thermally conductive layer is one or more metal sheets or flexible graphite films.
The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein the tough ceramic layer is made of tough ceramic reinforced with reinforcing fibers.
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 12, wherein the reinforcing fiber is a carbon fiber or a glass fiber.