CN101301209A - Infusion method of couplant inside four-dimensional ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for pouring a couplant inside a four-dimensional ultrasonic probe, comprising the following steps in turn: (1) Assembling the ultrasonic probe so that there is a gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core, and a coupling connected to the gap is left on the base or the shell. (2) put the ultrasonic probe into the vacuum tank, and connect the couplant filling port with the couplant supply device; (3) extract the gas in the couplant in the couplant supply device, and Evacuate the gas in the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core, so that the gap is in a vacuum state; (4) pour the couplant into the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core from the couplant filling port until the couplant fills the gap ; (5) Seal the coupling agent filling port and air outlet. The method provided by the invention can make the coupling agent completely fill the gap between the core and the shell of the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe, and there is no air bubble in the coupling agent, which can ensure the normal ultrasonic diagnosis of the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe.

Description

Infusion method of couplant inside four-dimensional ultrasonic probe

technical field

The invention relates to an ultrasonic probe, in particular to a method for pouring a couplant inside a four-dimensional ultrasonic probe.

Background technique

The four-dimensional ultrasonic probe is used to generate a real-time three-dimensional moving image (that is, a four-dimensional image), which includes a base, a core (the core is provided with a transducer that can convert acoustic energy and electric energy), a driving mechanism and a casing; the driving mechanism is installed It is installed on the base and connected with the core by transmission, which can drive the core to rotate; the shell is set on the periphery of the core to protect the core; the core is in the cavity surrounded by the shell and the base, and the inner wall of the shell and the core There must be some clearance between the parts to ensure that the core can rotate freely within the housing. When in use, the shell directly touches the object to be diagnosed, and the core rotates in the shell while scanning the object to be diagnosed to generate an image.

If there is a certain amount of air in the gap between the core and the shell, it will cause strong sound attenuation, so that normal ultrasonic diagnosis cannot be performed, so the gap between the core and the shell (that is, inside the probe) must be filled with couplant (The coupling agent can be a mixture of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, wherein the weight ratio of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol is 1:2) to reduce the strong attenuation of sound; and the coupling agent must completely fill the above-mentioned gaps, and there are no air bubbles in the coupling agent. This prevents loss of incident beam energy and/or false false information, thus ensuring good diagnostic performance.

Contents of the invention

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for pouring the couplant inside the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe. By using this method, the couplant can be poured into the gap between the core and the shell of the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe, so that the couplant is completely filled with the core. The gap between the head and the shell, and there are no air bubbles in the coupling agent. The technical scheme adopted is as follows:

A method for perfusion of a couplant inside a four-dimensional ultrasonic probe, characterized in that it includes the following steps in sequence:

(1) Assemble the ultrasonic probe so that the core is in the cavity surrounded by the shell and the base, and there is a gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core, and a couplant injection port and an air outlet are left on the base or the shell. Both the filling port and the gas outlet communicate with the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core;

(2) Put the ultrasonic probe into the vacuum tank, and connect the couplant filling port with the couplant supply device;

(3) extract the gas in the couplant in the couplant supply device, and extract the gas in the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core, so that the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core is in a vacuum state;

(4) pouring the couplant in the couplant supply device from the couplant filling port into the gap between the inner wall of the casing and the core until the couplant fills the gap;

(5) Seal the couplant injection port and air outlet to complete the couplant injection.

The coupling agent can be a mixture of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, wherein the weight ratio of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol is 1:2.

The gas outlet on the above-mentioned ultrasonic probe is not only the outlet of the gas when the gas is extracted in the step (3), but also the overflow port of the couplant when the couplant is poured in the step (4) (that is, after the couplant fills the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core). can escape from the air outlet).

In the preferred version, step (2) includes the following steps: (2.1) The coupling agent supply device includes a vacuum oil storage tank, the coupling agent is stored in the vacuum oil storage tank, and the vacuum oil storage tank is provided with an oil outlet, and the ultrasonic Put the probe into the vacuum tank, and connect the couplant injection port with the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank through the oil inlet pipe; (2.2) Connect the oil outlet pipe at the air outlet, and make the oil outlet pipe in a suitable position in the vacuum tank The maximum height that the couplant liquid level in the oil outlet pipe can reach is above the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core; step (4) makes the couplant in the vacuum oil storage tank flow out from the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank, And enter the gap between the inner wall of the casing and the core until the couplant overflows from the oil outlet pipe; when the couplant overflows from the oil outlet pipe, it can be determined that the couplant is filled with the gap between the inner wall of the casing and the core. More preferably, step (2.3) is added after step (2.2), and an oil container is provided in the vacuum tank, and the rear end of the oil outlet pipe is placed in the oil container, and the oil container can accept the coupling agent overflowing from the oil outlet pipe, so that Keep the inside of the vacuum tank clean; Step (4) Make the couplant in the vacuum oil storage tank flow out from the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank and enter the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core until the couplant overflows from the oil outlet pipe And flow into the oil container; when the couplant overflows from the oil outlet pipe and flows into the oil container, it can be determined that the couplant fills the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core.

In a more preferred solution, step (2) includes the following steps: (2.1') install a section of connecting pipe at the couplant injection port, and install an oil storage component at the air outlet; (2.2') The couplant supply device includes Vacuum oil storage tank, the coupling agent is stored in the vacuum oil storage tank, the vacuum oil storage tank is provided with an oil outlet, put the ultrasonic probe into the vacuum tank, and connect the front end of the connecting pipe through the oil inlet pipe and the vacuum oil storage tank The oil outlet is connected; (2.3′) Connect the oil outlet pipe at the rear end of the oil storage part, and make the oil storage part and the oil outlet pipe in a suitable position in the vacuum tank, so that the oil outlet pipe composed of the oil storage part and the oil outlet pipe The maximum height that the couplant liquid level can reach is above the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core; step (4) makes the couplant in the vacuum oil storage tank flow out from the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank and enter the shell In the gap between the inner wall and the core, until the couplant overflows from the oil outlet pipe; when the couplant overflows from the oil outlet pipe, it can be determined that the couplant fills the gap between the inner wall of the casing and the core. More preferably step (2.4') is added after step (2.3'), an oil container is provided in the vacuum tank, the rear end of the oil outlet pipe is placed in the oil container, and the oil container can accept the coupling agent overflowing from the oil outlet pipe , keep the inside of the vacuum tank clean; step (4) make the coupling agent in the vacuum oil storage tank flow out from the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank, and enter the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core until the coupling agent flows out from the outlet The oil pipe overflows and flows into the oil container; when the couplant overflows from the oil outlet pipe and flows into the oil container, it can be determined that the couplant is filled with the space between the inner wall of the casing and the core. In the preferred step (5), after the oil pipe is pulled out, the rear end of the oil storage part is sealed so that the oil storage part remains on the ultrasonic probe. Since the oil storage part is full of couplant, during the use of the ultrasonic probe, the oil storage part The couplant in the part replenishes the space between the inner wall of the housing and the core to ensure good diagnostic performance. The above-mentioned front end and rear end are defined according to the flow direction of the couplant during the perfusion process.

Since the connecting pipe and the oil storage part are provided, when sealing in step (5), it is possible to prevent the coupling agent from being unable to fill the above-mentioned gap due to the coupling agent overflowing from the coupling agent filling port or the air outlet. The above-mentioned oil storage component may be an oil storage bag or a section of oil storage pipe. In order to prevent the inner wall of the oil storage bag from sticking together during the vacuuming process in step (3), causing the gas in the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core to not be completely exhausted, it is preferable to carry out the inner wall of the oil storage bag A section of oil guide pipe is installed at the oil port and the oil outlet, and a part of the two sections of oil guide pipe is in the bag body, and the part of the oil guide pipe in the bag body supports the inner wall of the bag body; more preferably, the above two sections of oil guide pipe are in the bag body. The parts within the bag are aligned with each other.

Preferably, a probe placement seat is provided in the vacuum tank, and the ultrasonic probe is placed on the probe placement seat; in the above step (2.1), the couplant injection port and the air outlet are made to face upward, so that it is easy to ensure that the couplant liquid level in the oil outlet pipe The maximum height that can be achieved is above the gap between the inner wall of the casing and the core; or in the above step (2.2'), the connecting pipe and the oil storage part are both above the gap between the inner wall of the casing and the core, so that It can ensure that the maximum height of the couplant liquid level in the above-mentioned oil outlet pipeline (the oil outlet pipeline is composed of the oil storage part and the oil outlet pipeline) is above the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core.

Preferably, the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank is provided with a valve; when step (3) is removing gas, the valve is closed, and the gas is removed from the couplant in the vacuum oil storage tank and the space between the shell inner wall and the core; Step (4) When pouring the couplant, open the valve so that the couplant in the vacuum oil storage tank flows out from the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank.

Preferably, in the above step (4), air is introduced into the vacuum oil storage tank, and the couplant is automatically flowed out from the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank by using the air pressure difference, and then the couplant enters between the inner wall of the shell and the core through the couplant filling port in the gap between.

The method provided by the present invention can pour coupling agent into the gap between the core and the shell of the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe, so that the coupling agent can completely fill the gap between the core and the shell, and there are no air bubbles in the coupling agent, so it can be realized in the diagnosis Acoustic coupling between the core of the ultrasonic probe and the site to be diagnosed reduces the impact of strong sound attenuation on diagnostic performance, and avoids misdiagnosis caused by air bubbles in the coupling agent, ensuring that the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe can perform normal Ultrasonic diagnosis has good diagnostic performance.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the structural representation of the ultrasonic probe assembled into preferred embodiment step (1) of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic structural view of the ultrasonic probe to be poured after completing the step (2.1') in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural view of the perfusion device used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and a schematic diagram of the connection relationship between the perfusion device and the ultrasonic probe to be perfused in step (2);

Fig. 4 is a structural schematic diagram of an oil storage bag.

Detailed ways

The perfusion method of the couplant inside the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe includes the following steps in sequence:

(1) Assemble the ultrasonic probe 1: install the shell 11 on the base 12, the joint between the shell 11 and the base 12 is sealed, the core 13 is in the cavity surrounded by the shell 11 and the base 12, the inner wall of the shell 11 and the core 13 There is a gap 14 between them; a coupling agent filling port 15 and an air outlet 16 are left on the base 12, and both the coupling agent filling port 15 and the air outlet 16 communicate with the gap 14; the driving mechanism 17 is installed on the base 12 and drives with the core 13 Connect, the structure of the assembled ultrasonic probe 1 is as shown in Figure 1;

(2) Specifically include:

(2.1') As shown in Figure 2, a section of connecting pipe 2 is installed at the coupling agent filling port 15, and an oil storage bag 3 is installed at the air outlet 16; as shown in Figure 4, the oil storage bag 3 includes a bag body 31, The bag body 31 is provided with an oil inlet 32 and an oil outlet 33, the oil inlet 32 is equipped with a section of oil guide pipe 34 (the oil guide pipe 34 is connected with the air outlet 16), and the oil outlet 33 is equipped with a section of oil guide pipe 35. Parts of the oil pipe 34 and the oil guide pipe 35 are respectively located in the bag body 31, and the parts of the oil guide pipe 34 and the oil guide pipe 35 in the bag body 31 are aligned with each other;

(2.2') As shown in Figure 3, a probe placement seat 9 is provided in the vacuum tank 4, and the ultrasonic probe 1 is placed on the probe placement seat 9, and the connecting pipe 2 and the oil storage bag 3 are both above the gap 14 The front end of the connecting pipe 2 is communicated with the oil outlet 61 (the oil outlet 61 is located at the bottom of the vacuum oil storage tank 6) of the vacuum oil storage tank 6 with coupling agent through the oil inlet pipe 5; the vacuum oil storage tank 6 A valve 62 is provided at the oil outlet 61; an exhaust port 64 is provided on the top of the vacuum oil storage tank 6, and the exhaust port 64 is connected to an air outlet pipe 63, and one end of the air outlet pipe 63 communicates with the cavity of the vacuum oil storage tank 6, and the air outlet pipe The other end of 63 is equipped with a three-way valve 20, and the three ports of the three-way valve 20 are respectively connected with the air outlet pipe 63, the vacuum pumping device 10 and the air input pipe 30;

(2.3′) Connect the oil outlet pipe 7 at the rear end of the oil storage bag 3 (i.e. the oil guide pipe 35), and the oil outlet pipe 7 is in the vacuum tank 4, as shown in Figure 3;

(2.4') An oil container 8 is provided in the vacuum tank 4, and the rear end of the oil outlet pipe 7 is placed in the oil container 8, as shown in Figure 3;

(3) close the valve 62, and switch the three-way valve 20, so that the air outlet pipe 63 is communicated with the vacuum pumping device 10; open the vacuum pumping device, and remove the gas in the coupling agent in the vacuum oil storage tank 6 (in the coupling agent The gas is discharged from the gas outlet pipe 63) and the gas in the space 14 (the gas in the oil inlet pipe 5, the space 14, the oil storage bag 3, the oil outlet pipe 7 and the vacuum tank 4 is discharged from the gas outlet pipe 41; the gas outlet pipe 41 is located in the vacuum tank 4, one end of the air outlet pipe 41 is communicated with the cavity of the vacuum tank 4, and the other end is connected with the vacuum pumping device 10), and now the vacuum oil storage tank 6 and the inside of the vacuum tank 4 are in a vacuum state;

(4) Inject couplant in a vacuum environment: open the valve 62, and switch the three-way valve 20, so that the air outlet pipe 63 communicates with the air inlet pipe 30; the air enters the vacuum through the air inlet pipe 30, the three-way valve 20 and the air outlet pipe 63 In the oil storage tank 6, the coupling agent in the vacuum oil storage tank 6 flows out from the oil outlet 61 by using the air pressure difference, and enters the gap 14 through the oil inlet pipe 5, the connecting pipe 2, and the coupling agent filling port 15, until the coupling agent flows out of the oil storage tank 6. The oil outlet pipe 7 overflows and flows into the oil container 8, at this time the coupling agent has filled the space 14 and the oil storage bag 3;

(5) Pull out the oil inlet pipe 5 and the oil outlet pipe 7, seal the front end of the connecting pipe 2, and seal the rear end of the oil storage bag 3 at the same time to complete the pouring of the couplant.

The above-mentioned front end and rear end are defined according to the flow direction of the couplant during the perfusion process.

After the perfusion is completed, the oil storage bag 3 remains on the ultrasonic probe 1, and the oil storage bag 3 is filled with couplant. During the use of the ultrasonic probe 1, the couplant in the oil storage bag 3 can be replenished into the gap 14 to ensure Good diagnostic performance.

In other embodiments, the coupling agent filling port and air outlet can also be provided on the housing.

Claims (10)

1, a kind of perfusion method of couplant inside four-dimensional ultrasonic probe, it is characterized in that comprising the following steps successively: (1) Assemble the ultrasonic probe so that the core is in the cavity surrounded by the shell and the base, and there is a gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core, and a couplant injection port and an air outlet are left on the base or the shell. Both the filling port and the gas outlet communicate with the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core; (2) Put the ultrasonic probe into the vacuum tank, and connect the couplant filling port with the couplant supply device; (3) extract the gas in the couplant in the couplant supply device, and extract the gas in the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core, so that the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core is in a vacuum state; (4) pouring the couplant in the couplant supply device from the couplant filling port into the gap between the inner wall of the casing and the core until the couplant fills the gap; (5) Seal the couplant injection port and air outlet to complete the couplant injection. 2. The perfusion method of the couplant inside the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: step (2) includes the following steps: (2.1) the couplant supply device includes a vacuum oil storage tank, and the couplant is stored in a vacuum In the oil storage tank, there is an oil outlet on the vacuum oil storage tank, put the ultrasonic probe into the vacuum tank, and connect the coupling agent filling port to the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank through the oil inlet pipe; (2.2) The air port is connected to the oil outlet pipe, and the oil outlet pipe is in a suitable position in the vacuum tank, so that the maximum height that the couplant liquid level in the oil outlet pipe can reach is above the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core. 3. The pouring method of the couplant inside the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, characterized in that: step (2.3) is added after step (2.2), an oil container is provided in the vacuum tank, and the rear end of the oil outlet pipe is Place in an oil container. 4. The perfusion method of the couplant inside the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: step (2) includes the following steps: (2.1') Install a section of connecting pipe at the couplant injection port, and install a connecting pipe at the gas outlet Install an oil storage part; (2.2′) The couplant supply device includes a vacuum oil storage tank in which the couplant is stored. There is an oil outlet on the vacuum oil storage tank. Put the ultrasonic probe into the vacuum tank , and connect the front end of the connecting pipe with the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank through the oil inlet pipe; (2.3') connect the oil outlet pipe at the rear end of the oil storage part, and make the oil storage part and the oil outlet pipe in a suitable place in the vacuum tank Position, so that the maximum height of the couplant liquid level in the oil outlet pipeline formed by the oil storage component and the oil outlet pipe is above the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core. 5. The pouring method of the couplant inside the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe according to claim 4, characterized in that: step (2.4') is added after step (2.3'), an oil container is provided in the vacuum tank, and the oil outlet pipe The rear end is placed in an oil container. 6. The method for pouring the couplant inside the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe according to claim 2 or 4, characterized in that in step (4), the couplant in the vacuum oil storage tank flows out from the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank, and Enter the gap between the inner wall of the casing and the core until the couplant overflows from the oil outlet pipe; when the couplant overflows from the oil outlet pipe, it can be determined that the couplant is filled with the gap between the inner wall of the casing and the core. 7. The method for pouring the couplant inside the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe according to claim 3 or 5, characterized in that in step (4), the couplant in the vacuum oil storage tank flows out from the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank, and Enter the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core until the couplant overflows from the oil outlet pipe and flows into the oil container; when the couplant overflows from the oil outlet pipe and flows into the oil container, it can be determined that the couplant is full of the inner wall of the shell and the core gap between parts. 8. The method for pouring the couplant inside the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: in step (2.2′), a probe placement seat is provided in the vacuum tank, and the ultrasonic probe is placed on the probe placement seat , and make the connecting pipe and the oil storage part above the gap between the inner wall of the housing and the core. 9. The method for pouring the couplant inside the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that: a valve is provided at the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank; step (3) extracting gas When filling the couplant, the valve is closed, and the gas is removed from the couplant in the vacuum oil storage tank and the gap between the inner wall of the shell and the core; in step (4), when the couplant is poured, the valve is opened to make the couplant in the vacuum oil storage tank Flow out from the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank. 10. The method for pouring the couplant inside the four-dimensional ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that: in step (4), air is introduced into the vacuum oil storage tank, and the couplant is automatically charged by using the air pressure difference. Flow out from the oil outlet of the vacuum oil storage tank.

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