JPS6312440B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, in which an acoustic lens is bonded to an ultrasonic transducer.

In general, acoustic lenses are widely known for preventing the divergence of ultrasound waves and converging ultrasound waves in a certain area, so ultrasound probes with an acoustic lens bonded to an ultrasound transducer are also commonly used in ultrasound diagnostic equipment. has been done. However, in order to make an accurate diagnosis with an ultrasound diagnostic device, an acoustic lens attached to an ultrasound probe must be brought into contact with the patient. Because it is necessary to use a material with a propagation velocity slower than the velocity of Examples of conventionally used ultrasonic probes of this type include those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 1 consists of an ultrasonic transducer 2 provided on an ultrasonic probe body 1 and an acoustic lens 3 simply bonded with an adhesive. In addition, in the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 2, an acoustic lens body 4 in which an acoustic lens 4a is provided with a flange portion 4b and a frame portion 4c is fitted to the ultrasonic probe body 1 in order to prevent non-uniform bonding positions of the acoustic lens. They are joined together with adhesive.

However, in the case of the ultrasonic probe shown in Figure 1, it is extremely difficult to position and bond the acoustic lens to the center of the ultrasonic transducer, and if the bonding position shifts, the acoustic beam may bend, causing the ultrasonic wave to The disadvantage was that it degraded the performance of the probe. In addition, although the positioning of the acoustic lens in the ultrasonic probe shown in Figure 2 is accurate to some extent, it is difficult to position the acoustic lens under the constraint that silicone rubber, which has poor impact resistance, must be used for the acoustic lens body. The problem was that the fitting part with the sonic probe body was prone to cracking, which significantly reduced the durability of the product.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and is capable of bonding an acoustic lens to a predetermined position of an ultrasonic transducer, preventing damage to the acoustic lens body, and having a relatively simple structure. The object is to provide a simple and highly reliable ultrasonic probe.

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an assembled sectional view of the same.
This is generally called a linear array type, and a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 11 are provided on a rectangular ultrasonic probe body 10 having a cable 10a, and the ultrasonic waves generated from the ultrasonic transducers 11 are Although the light is electronically focused in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3, it must be focused in the direction of arrow B by an acoustic lens. To this end, the acoustic lens body 12 is made of silicone rubber and has a convex acoustic lens 12a and a flange 12b having a gap dimension 12d and having a curvature determined by the required focal point and propagation velocity specific to the material of the acoustic lens. . Then, this acoustic lens body 12 is connected to the ultrasonic transducer 11.
Holding member 1 for bonding with adhesive in a predetermined position
There are 3. This holding member 13 has a hole 13a that projects the acoustic convex lens 12a, and a hole 13a that projects the acoustic convex lens 12a, and the collar 12.
an engaging portion 13b that engages with b;
It is constructed as a hollow rectangular member consisting of a frame 13c having a bottom surface of a recessed portion. These plurality of ultrasonic transducers 11, acoustic lens body 12, and holding member 1
3 is a part that is joined together with an adhesive as shown in FIG.
The acoustic convex lens 12a is fitted into the hole 13a of the holding member 13 through the hole 13a of the holding member 13 to project to the side without the frame, and the frame 13c of the holding member 13 is fitted to the ultrasound probe main body 10.
2a can be coupled to a predetermined position of the ultrasonic transducer 11. By making the gap dimension 12d of the acoustic lens body 12 approximately equal to the wall thickness dimension 13d of the engaging portion 13b of the support member 13, the entire surface of the acoustic convex lens 12a can be effectively brought into contact with the patient.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention. This is generally called a single probe, and a disk-shaped ultrasonic transducer 21 is provided on a cylindrical ultrasonic probe body 20 having a cable 20a, and the ultrasonic waves generated from this ultrasonic transducer 21 are Acoustic convex lens 22a and collar 22 having a predetermined curvature for convergence
b has an acoustic lens body 22 integrally molded from silicone rubber with a gap dimension 22d. Then, this acoustic lens body 22 is connected to the ultrasonic transducer 2.
It has a holding member 23 for bonding to a predetermined position of 1 with an adhesive. This holding member 23 has a hollow cylindrical shape and includes a hole 23a through which the acoustic convex lens 22a projects, an engaging portion 23b that engages with the collar 22b, and a frame 23c that uses the engaging portion 23b as the bottom surface of a recessed portion. It is. These ultrasonic transducers 2
1, the acoustic lens body 22, and the holding member 23 are bonded together with an adhesive as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the acoustic lens can be bonded to a predetermined position of the ultrasonic transducer, and the holding member acts as a reinforcing member for the acoustic lens body, thereby preventing damage to the acoustic lens body. Moreover, it has a relatively simple configuration and has excellent effects such as being able to provide a highly reliable ultrasonic probe.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are cross-sectional views schematically showing a conventional ultrasonic probe, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an assembled cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic probe. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention. 1... Ultrasonic probe body, 2... Ultrasonic transducer,
3... Acoustic lens, 4... Acoustic lens body, 10... Ultrasonic probe body, 11... Ultrasonic transducer, 12... Acoustic lens body, 13... Holding member, 20... Ultrasonic probe body, 21... Ultrasonic transducer, 22... Acoustic lens body, 23... Holding member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. an acoustic lens body having a gap part with a predetermined thickness, an acoustic convex lens on one side and a flange on the other side;
A holder having a hole through which the acoustic convex lens projects, an engaging portion having a wall thickness that substantially matches the predetermined thickness of the gap portion and fitting into the flange, and a frame such that the engaging portion serves as a bottom surface of the recess. a member, and an ultrasonic probe body having at least an ultrasonic transducer,
An ultrasonic probe characterized in that an acoustic lens is fitted into a hole of the holding member through the engaging portion of the holding member, and a frame of the holding member is fitted to the ultrasonic probe main body to fix each of them.