JP4571284B2 - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a head that abuts on a living body and transmits an ultrasonic wave corresponding to a given electric signal to the living body or receives an ultrasonic wave to generate an electric signal, and the head is provided. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe comprising a grip gripped by an operator.
[0002]
[Prior art]
First, a diagnostic method using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
In the figure, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 15 is placed on the right side of the bed 13 on which the subject 11 is placed, and the operator 7 operates the ultrasonic probe 1 with the right hand regardless of the dominant hand.
[0003]
Next, an example of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 6, where FIG. 6 (a) is a top view and FIG. 6 (b) is a front view. In the figure, an ultrasonic probe 1 is in contact with a living body and transmits an ultrasonic wave corresponding to a given electric signal to the living body or receives an ultrasonic wave to generate an electric signal. The grip 5 is provided on the top of the head 1 and is held by the operator 7.
[0004]
Then, the operator 7 grips the front surface 5 a and the back surface 5 b of the grip 5 from the side of the ultrasonic probe 1.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the ultrasonic probe 1 having the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. 6A, the grip 5 has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, so that there is a problem that it is difficult to grip and the operability is not good.
[0006]
Further, the side surface of the head 3 and the side surface of the grip 5 are parallel, that is, in the configuration shown in FIG. 6, the front surface 5a of the grip, which is the surface against which the belly of the thumb of the operator 7 abuts, the index finger, middle finger, ring finger Since the back surface 5b, which is the surface against which the abdomen comes into contact, and the front surface 3a, the back surface 3b, which are the side surfaces of the head 3, are parallel to each other, as shown in FIG. There is a problem that it must be gripped and the operability is not good.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic probe with good operability.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1, which solves the above-described problem, is a head that abuts on a living body and transmits an ultrasonic wave corresponding to a given electric signal to the living body or receives an ultrasonic wave to generate an electric signal. An ultrasonic probe comprising a grip provided on the head and gripped by an operator, wherein the grip is provided with a recess so that the hand of the gripping operator is along the grip. It is a tentacle.
[0009]
By providing a recess in the grip so that the operator's hand holding the grip is along, the grip is easy to grip and the operability is improved.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head that abuts on a living body and transmits an ultrasonic wave corresponding to a given electric signal to the living body or receives an ultrasonic wave to generate an electric signal; An ultrasonic probe comprising a grip provided by an operator, wherein the side surface of the head and the side surface of the grip are non-parallel.
[0010]
Since the side surface of the head and the side surface of the grip are not parallel, the grip does not have to be gripped with the wrist folded, and the operability is improved.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head that abuts on a living body and transmits an ultrasonic wave corresponding to a given electric signal to the living body or receives an ultrasonic wave to generate an electric signal; The ultrasonic probe comprising a grip provided by an operator, wherein the grip is rotatable on the head.
[0011]
Since the grip can be rotated on the head, it is not necessary to hold the grip with the wrist folded, and the operability is improved.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic probe characterized in that a depression is provided in the grip according to the second or third aspect of the present invention so that the operator's hand to be gripped is along.
[0012]
Since the grip of the invention according to claim 2 or 3 is provided with a dent so that the hand of the operator holding it is along, it becomes easier to grip the grip than the invention of claim 2 or 3, and the operability is improved. improves.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(1) First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the outer shape of an ultrasonic probe according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a front view and FIG. 1 (b) is a left side. (C) is a right side view, (d) is a rear view, and (e) is a top view.
[0014]
In the figure, the ultrasonic probe 31 is composed of a head 33 that comes into contact with a living body and a grip 35 that is provided on the head 33 and is gripped by an operator.
Next, an example of the configuration of the electroacoustic transducer provided in the head 33 will be described with reference to FIG. One surface of the strip-shaped piezoelectric vibrators 121 arranged in a row is bonded to the rear braking member 123, and the first acoustic matching layer 125 and the second acoustic matching layer 127 are laminated on the other surface, An acoustic lens (lens) 129 is stacked on the second acoustic matching layer 127.
[0015]
When an electric signal is applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 121 via the electrode 131, the piezoelectric vibrator 121 generates an ultrasonic wave corresponding to the electric signal, and the first and second acoustic matching layers 125 and 127 generate an ultrasonic wave. The acoustic lens 129 squeezes the ultrasonic wave into a thin beam and transmits it to the living body.
[0016]
The ultrasonic wave returned from the living body is transmitted to the piezoelectric vibrator 121 through the acoustic lens 129, the second and first acoustic matching layers 127, 125, and is converted into an electric signal here.
[0017]
Returning to FIG. 1, the grip 35 is formed with a recess 21 so that the gripping operator's hand is along.
According to the above configuration, the depression 21 is provided in the grip 35 so that the operator's hand to be gripped is along, so that it is easy to grip and the operability is improved.
[0018]
As described with reference to FIG. 5, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the operator is operating the ultrasonic probe 31 with the right hand, regardless of the dominant hand. Therefore, in this embodiment, the recess 21 provided in the grip 35 has a shape along the right hand of the operator.
[0019]
The head 33 is a type that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, but may be a transmission-only head or a reception-only head.
(2) Second Embodiment FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the outer shape of an ultrasonic probe according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a front view and (b) is a top view. FIG.
[0020]
In the figure, an ultrasonic probe 51 includes a head 53 that comes into contact with a living body, and a grip 55 that is provided on the head 53 and is gripped by an operator.
Note that the configuration inside the head 53 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0021]
Further, the positional relationship between the head 53 and the grip 55 is the front surface 55a of the grip 55, which is the surface on which the belly of the thumb 57a of the operator 57 contacts, the back surface 55b, which is the surface on which the index finger 57b, middle finger, and ring finger contact. The front surface 53a and the back surface 53b which are the side surfaces of the head 55 are made non-parallel.
[0022]
According to the above configuration, the front surface 55a of the grip 55 with which the belly of the thumb 57a of the operator 57 abuts, the back surface 55b of the grip 55 with which the abdomen of the index finger 57b, middle finger, and ring finger abut, and the front surface 53a and the back surface 53b of the head 53 are provided. Since it is non-parallel, it is not necessary to hold the grip with the wrist folded, and the operability is improved.
[0023]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the grip 55 is fixed with respect to the head 53, but the grip 55 may be rotatable with respect to the head 53 using a configuration as shown in FIG.
[0024]
In the figure, a hole 63 through which the shaft member 65 of the grip 55 is inserted is formed in the upper portion of the head 53.
A plurality of lock grooves 65 a are formed on the circumferential surface of the shaft member 65 along the circumferential direction.
[0025]
On the other hand, a bearing member 67 that covers the peripheral surface of the shaft member 65 and rotatably supports the shaft member 65 (grip 55) is provided inside the head 53.
Further, a collar 66 is formed at the lower end of the shaft member 65 to prevent it from coming off.
[0026]
In the bearing member 67, there is provided a positioning mechanism including a positioning ball 71 that can be engaged and disengaged with the lock groove 65a of the shaft member 65, and a spring 73 that urges the ball 71 in the direction of the lock groove 65a.
[0027]
That is, normally, the ball 71 biased by the spring 73 is engaged with the lock groove 65 a of the shaft member 65, whereby the rotation of the grip 55 with respect to the head 53 is prohibited. Here, when the grip 55 is rotated with respect to the head 53 at a desired angle, the ball 71 is detached from the lock groove 65 a and engages with the lock groove 65 a facing the desired angle. Thus, the grip 55 can be held at a desired angle.
[0028]
Further, by forming a recess along the hand of the operator as in the first embodiment in the grip 55, it becomes easier to grip the grip 55 and the operability is improved.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an ultrasonic probe that is easy to grip and has improved operability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outer shape of an ultrasonic probe according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an electroacoustic transducer provided in the head of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outer shape of an ultrasonic probe according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outer shape of an ultrasonic probe according to another embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a diagnostic method using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 5. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
21 Indentation 31 Ultrasonic probe 33 Head 35 Grip

Claims (3)

A head that abuts on a living body and transmits an ultrasonic wave corresponding to a given electric signal to the living body or receives an ultrasonic wave to generate an electric signal, and is provided on an upper portion of the head. In an ultrasound probe consisting of a grip to grip,
An ultrasonic probe characterized in that a side surface of the grip, which is long and has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, is inclined in a direction around an axis of the grip with respect to a side surface of the head . A head that abuts on a living body and transmits an ultrasonic wave corresponding to a given electric signal to the living body or receives an ultrasonic wave to generate an electric signal, and is provided on an upper portion of the head. In an ultrasound probe consisting of a grip to grip,
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the grip is rotatable about the axis of the grip on the head. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 , wherein a depression is provided in the grip so that a hand of an operator who holds the grip follows the grip .

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