JP5484801B2 - Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to and from a subject.

  The ultrasonic probe has a head portion having an ultrasonic transmission / reception surface and a grip portion gripped by an operator, and a probe cable connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body is connected to the grip portion. Then, an ultrasonic signal is transmitted to the piezoelectric vibrator provided in the probe main body by applying a voltage from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body via the probe cable, and an echo signal received by the piezoelectric vibrator. Is input to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body via the probe cable.

  By the way, the operator transmits and receives ultrasonic waves while tilting or rotating the ultrasonic probe while pressing the ultrasonic probe against the body surface. Here, the probe cable has a relatively high rigidity and a relatively long length of 2 to 3 m. Therefore, when the ultrasonic probe is tilted or rotated, an operator may feel that the ultrasonic probe is pulled by the probe cable, and the operability of the ultrasonic probe may become a problem. In particular, in the case of a small and light ultrasonic probe, such as an intraoperative probe used during surgery, the difference in weight with the probe cable becomes large, and the operability is significantly deteriorated.

  Therefore, in order to improve the operability of the ultrasonic probe, Patent Document 1 discloses an ultrasonic probe in which a collar having a spherical portion is provided on a probe cable and a spherical receiving portion is provided on the probe case side as a receiving port for this collar. Yes. In this ultrasonic probe, when the ultrasonic probe is tilted or rotated, the spherical portion is inclined and rotated with respect to the probe case having the grip portion. Thereby, the probe case can be moved independently from the probe cable, and the feeling of being pulled by the probe cable is reduced.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-155854

  In the ultrasonic probe described in Patent Document 1, the probe cable is linearly inserted into the collar having the spherical portion. Here, the probe cable drawn from the ultrasonic probe extends in the horizontal direction toward the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body. Accordingly, since the ultrasonic probe is used in a state where the grip portion is raised with respect to the subject, the collar is inclined with respect to the probe case when the ultrasonic probe is tilted or rotated in this state. It will rotate in the state. When the collar is tilted, the probe cable also moves in the probe case according to the tilt. However, since the space in the probe case is limited, the movement of the collar is restricted. Further, when the collar is rotated in a tilted state, the weight of the probe cable is applied to the collar, and the collar may be in point contact with the probe case-side protrusion, Friction between the collar and the probe case is large, and it is difficult to smoothly rotate the collar. Therefore, the operability of the ultrasonic probe described in Patent Document 1 is still poor.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and a problem to be solved is to further improve the operability of the ultrasonic probe.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the invention according to the first aspect includes a probe main body having a head portion on which an ultrasonic transmission / reception surface is formed and a grip portion gripped by an operator. A rotating member provided on the grip portion of the probe main body, the rotating member being rotatably fitted to the grip portion, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body And a cable connecting portion to which a probe cable to be connected is connected, and the cable connecting portion is connected so that the probe cable has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the grip portion. It is an ultrasonic probe.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the probe main body includes a housing having the head portion and the grip portion, and the fitting portion includes a housing inner peripheral surface of the grip portion. It is an ultrasonic probe characterized by being fitted to and pivotable about an axis.

  A third aspect of the invention is the ultrasonic probe according to the second aspect of the invention, wherein the fitting portion is liquid-tightly fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the casing.

  The invention according to a fourth aspect is the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the predetermined inclination angle of the probe cable with respect to the grip portion is an angle at which the probe cable is parallel to the transmission / reception surface, or The ultrasonic probe is set to an angle that is directed to the direction opposite to the transmitting / receiving surface side than the angle.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the rotating member is formed such that the fitting portion and the cable connecting portion are integrally formed, and the probe cable penetrates. It is the ultrasonic probe characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the probe cable is formed by covering a plurality of coaxial cables connected to a substrate in the probe body with a sheath, and the sheath is rotated. The ultrasonic probe is fixed to a member and rotates together with the rotating member in the probe main body, while the coaxial cable is independent of the rotation of the sheath.

  The invention according to a seventh aspect is the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the rotating member has a connector structure in the cable connection portion, and the cable connection portion having the connector structure includes An ultrasonic probe characterized in that a cable side connector provided on a probe cable is detachably connected.

  The invention of an eighth aspect is the invention of any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the rotating member is detachably connected to the first connector constituting the fitting portion and the first connector. An ultrasonic probe comprising a second connector constituting the cable connecting portion.

  A ninth aspect of the invention is the ultrasonic probe according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, further comprising a rotation restricting mechanism for restricting a rotation range of the fitting portion.

  A tenth aspect of the invention is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including the ultrasonic probe according to any one of the first to ninth aspects.

  According to the present invention, when the operator tilts or rotates the grip body of the probe body, the rotating member is pulled by the probe cable and rotates. Accordingly, the probe body can be moved independently of the probe cable. Here, since the probe cable is connected to the cable connecting portion of the rotating member so as to have a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the grip portion, the rotating member does not incline the cylindrical shape. It rotates in the fitting part. Accordingly, since the rotating member rotates smoothly when pulled by the probe cable, the operability of the ultrasonic probe can be further improved.

  Further, the predetermined inclination angle of the probe cable with respect to the grip portion is set to an angle at which the probe cable is parallel to the transmission / reception surface or an angle that faces the direction opposite to the transmission / reception surface side than this angle. Thus, the probe cable can be prevented from coming into contact with the operator's hand holding the grip portion, and the operability can be improved.

  In the probe cable, the sheath is fixed to the rotating member and rotates together with the rotating member, while the coaxial cable is independent of the rotation of the sheath. It is possible to prevent the probe cable from being twisted.

  Furthermore, the probe cable can be prevented from being twisted by providing a rotation restricting mechanism for restricting the rotation range of the fitting portion.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the ultrasonic probe in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a right side view of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a front view of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 2. It is the AA line expanded sectional view of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the rotation member in the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 2 rotated. It is sectional drawing of the same position as FIG. 5 in the modification of 1st embodiment. FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 7. It is sectional drawing of the same position as FIG. 5 in 2nd embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the same position as FIG. 5 in 3rd embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 of this example includes an ultrasonic probe 1 and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 3 to which the ultrasonic probe 1 is connected via a probe cable 2. The

  The ultrasonic probe 1 transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from the subject. The echo signal obtained by the ultrasonic probe 1 is input to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 3 to create an ultrasonic image and displayed on the display unit 3a.

  The ultrasonic probe 1 is an intraoperative probe mainly used during surgery, and includes a probe main body 4 and a rotating member 5. The probe cable 2 is connected to the rotating member 5. The probe main body 4 and the rotating member 5 are examples of embodiments of the probe main body and the rotating member in the present invention, respectively. The probe cable 2 is an example of an embodiment of the probe cable in the present invention.

  The probe body 4 includes a housing 6 including a pair of halves 4a and 4b. In the housing 6, there are provided a substrate to which a later-described coaxial cable 21 of the probe cable 2 is connected and a piezoelectric vibrator (not shown) for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The housing 6 includes a head portion 8 on which an ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 7 is formed, and a grip portion 9 held by an operator. The case 6 is an example of an embodiment of the case in the present invention. The head portion 8 and the grip portion 9 are examples of embodiments of the head portion and the grip portion in the present invention, respectively.

  The grip member 9 is provided with the rotating member 5. The rotating member 5 also includes a pair of halves 5a and 5b. As shown in FIG. 5, the rotating member 5 is formed by integrally forming a cylindrical fitting portion 10 and a cable connecting portion 11. The fitting part 10 and the cable connecting part 11 are examples of embodiments of the fitting part and the cable connecting part in the present invention, respectively.

  The fitting part 10 is fitted to the end inner peripheral surface 9 a of the grip part 9. This end inner peripheral surface 9a is an example of the embodiment of the inner peripheral surface of the housing in the present invention. The fitting portion 10 is rotatable about its axis while being fitted to the inner circumferential surface 9a.

  Grooves 12 are formed in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion 10. An O-ring 13 is provided in the groove 12. The O-ring 13 seals between the fitting portion 10 and the end inner peripheral surface 9a, and the fitting portion 10 is fitted in the end inner peripheral surface 9a in a liquid-tight state.

  A first collar 14 and a second collar 15 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting part 10. Each of the flange portions 14 and 15 is fitted in a first guide groove 16 and a second guide groove 17 formed on the inner peripheral surface 9a of the end portion, respectively. As a result, the fitting portion 10 is configured to rotate around the axial center with the guide grooves 16 and 17 serving as guides.

  The cable connecting portion 11 is provided in the fitting portion 10 so as to have a predetermined inclination angle θ1 with respect to the fitting portion 10. Therefore, the cable connection portion 11 has the inclination angle θ <b> 1 with respect to the grip portion 9 in a state where the fitting portion 10 is fitted to the grip portion 9.

  The probe cable 2 is connected to an end portion 11 a of the cable connection portion 11. The probe cable 2 connected to the end portion 11 a of the cable connection portion 11 has the inclination angle θ <b> 1 with respect to the grip portion 9.

  Here, the inclination angle θ1 is an angle at which the probe cable 2 is parallel to the transmitting / receiving surface 7 in this example (see FIG. 3). However, in this invention, it is not restricted to such an angle, The direction (the upper direction in FIG. 3) on the opposite side to the said transmission / reception surface 7 side rather than the angle which the said probe cable 2 becomes parallel to the said transmission / reception surface 7 It suffices if the angle is set to face. As a result, the probe cable 2 can be prevented from coming into contact with the hand of the operator holding the grip portion 9, and the operability can be improved.

  A connection structure of the probe cable 2 in the cable connection portion 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the probe cable 2 is connected to a bushing 18 provided at an end 11 a of the cable connection portion 11. More specifically, the bushing 18 is formed in a cylindrical shape, one end side 18 a is inserted into the cable connection portion 11, and the other end side 18 b protrudes outside the cable connection portion 11.

  A fitting groove 19 is formed in the circumferential direction on one end side 18 a of the bushing 18. Then, the bushing 18 is fitted into a fixing flange 20 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cable connection portion 11 in the fitting groove 19, whereby the bushing 18 is fixed to the cable connection portion 11. ing.

  The probe cable 2 is inserted into the bushing 18 and fixed at the bushing 18. The probe cable 2 inserted into the bushing 18 is inserted into the probe main body 4 through the cable connecting portion 11 and the rotating member 5. Accordingly, the probe cable 2 passes through the rotating member 5.

  Here, the structure of the probe cable 2 will be described. The probe cable 2 includes a plurality of coaxial cables 21 and a sheath 22 that collectively covers the plurality of coaxial cables 21. The sheath 22 is peeled off in the cable body 4, and the coaxial cables 21 are connected to the substrate provided in the cable body 4.

  The probe cable 2 is configured such that the sheath 22 is fixed to the fitting portion 10 and rotates together with the fitting portion 10. However, each coaxial cable 21 connected to the substrate is independent of the rotation of the sheath 22 and does not rotate. Thereby, the twist of the probe cable 2 can be prevented.

  Incidentally, the sheath 22 is peeled up to a portion in the vicinity of the fitting portion 10. Thereby, it is possible to reduce friction between the sheath 22 that rotates together with the fitting portion 10 and the coaxial cables 21 that are independent of the rotation of the sheath, and the sheath 22 and the fitting portion. 10 rotates more smoothly.

  When using the ultrasonic probe 1 of the present example configured as described above, the user holds the grip portion 9 and presses the transmission / reception surface 7 of the head portion 8 against the body surface of the subject to transmit ultrasonic waves. Send and receive. At this time, when the operator tilts or rotates the grip portion 9, the rotating member is pulled by the probe cable 2 and rotated as shown in FIG. Thereby, the probe main body 4 can be moved independently of the probe cable 2, and there is almost no sense of being pulled by the probe cable 2, so that the operability is improved.

  And since the probe cable 2 is connected to the cable connecting portion 11 of the rotating member 5 so as to have an inclination angle θ1 with respect to the grip portion 9, the rotating member 5 is not inclined. The fitting portion 10 rotates while maintaining its axis. Therefore, when the fitting part 10 rotates, the probe cable 2 can maintain a state in which it matches the axial direction of the fitting part 10. Further, the fitting portion 10 rotates in a state of being in surface contact with the end inner peripheral surface 9 a of the grip portion 9. As described above, the rotating member 5 can be smoothly rotated, whereby the operability of the ultrasonic probe 1 can be further improved.

  Next, a modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 8, the probe cable 2 is not shown.

  In this modification, the fitting portion 10 is configured to have a small diameter cylindrical portion 30 and a large diameter cylindrical portion 31. The end inner peripheral surface 9 a has a small diameter portion 32 and a large diameter portion 33, the small diameter cylindrical portion 30 is located in the small diameter portion 32, and the large diameter cylindrical portion is positioned in the large diameter portion 33. 31 is located.

  The cable connecting portion 11 is provided in the small diameter cylindrical portion 30. Further, the first flange portion 14 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter cylindrical portion 30, and the first flange portion 14 is fitted in the first guide groove 16 provided in the small diameter portion 32. Further, a projection 34 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter cylindrical portion 30 as shown in FIG.

  The small diameter portion 32 includes curved surface portions 35 and 36 and flat surface portions 37 and 38 formed concentrically with the small diameter cylindrical portion 30. The flat portions 37 and 38 are provided so as to face each other, and the curved surface portions 35 and 36 are provided between the flat portions 37 and 38.

  The projection 34 comes into contact with the curved surface portion 35, and the projection 34 slides with respect to the curved surface portion 35 as the fitting portion 10 rotates. The projection 34 rotates the portion of the curved surface portion 35 between the flat surface portions 37 and 38. By contacting the flat surface portions 37 and 38, the protrusion 34 rotates at an angle θ2. Regulated to range. Therefore, the protrusion 34 and the flat portions 37 and 38 restrict the rotation of the fitting portion 10 within the range of the angle θ2. The protrusion 34 and the flat portions 37 and 38 are an example of an embodiment of a rotation restricting mechanism in the present invention.

  Incidentally, the angle θ2 can be adjusted by changing the position and number of the protrusions 34 or the position and number of the flat portions 37 and 38.

  The large diameter cylindrical portion 31 is provided with the groove 12 and the O-ring 13 as shown in FIG. The second flange 15 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 31, and the second flange 15 is fitted into the second guide groove 17 provided in the large-diameter portion 33. Yes.

  Incidentally, although not particularly shown in the figure, in this example, the probe cable 2 is folded back around the sheath 22 in the vicinity of the substrate (not shown) to expose the coaxial cables 21, and the coaxial cables 21 are connected to the substrate. Connect to. The folded portion of the sheath 22 is caulked with the coaxial cable 21. Accordingly, the coaxial cable 21 and the sheath 22 rotate together as the fitting portion 10 rotates, and the probe cable 2 is twisted. However, since the rotation range of the fitting portion 10 is restricted as described above, the probe cable 2 is not twisted excessively, and disconnection or the like can be prevented.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described based on FIG. Hereinafter, a configuration different from the first embodiment will be described.

  In the rotating member 40 of this example, the cable connecting portion 11 has a connector structure. And the cable side connector 41 provided in the said probe cable 2 is detachably connected to the edge part 11a of the cable connection part 11 which has this connector structure. Thereby, the probe cable 2 is connected to the cable connection portion 11 so as to have an inclination angle θ1 with respect to the grip portion 9.

  Although the connector structure is not shown in the figure, it is a known connector structure. Then, although not particularly shown, a cable extends from the fitting portion 10 side and is connected to the substrate (not shown). Incidentally, in order to prevent twisting of the cable accompanying the rotation of the fitting portion 10, the rotation restricting mechanism described in the modification of the first embodiment may be provided.

  Also in this example, the operability of the ultrasonic probe 1 can be improved as in the first embodiment. In this example, since the probe cable 2 is detachably attached to the cable connecting portion 11 by the cable side connector 41, the cable body connector 41 is detached from the cable connecting portion 11 and the probe main body 4 is attached. Can be exchanged. Further, the cable connector 41 is removed from the cable connection portion 11 and a waterproof cap (not shown) is fitted to the cable connection portion 11 so that only the probe body 4 is immersed in a cleaning solution or a disinfecting solution for cleaning and disinfection. Work can be facilitated.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described based on FIG. Hereinafter, configurations different from the first and second embodiments will be described.

  In this example, the rotation member 50 provided in the grip portion 9 includes a first connector 51 and a second connector 52 that is detachably connected to the first connector 51. The first connector 51 is a female connector, while the second connector 52 is a male connector. However, the internal structure of each of the connectors 51 and 52 is not shown.

  The first connector 51 has a housing 51a formed in a cylindrical shape, and is fitted to the inner circumferential surface 9a so as to be rotatable. The housing 51a has the same configuration as the fitting portion 10 of the first embodiment, and is provided with the groove 12, the O-ring 13, and the flange portions 14 and 15. Said 1st connector 51 is an example of embodiment of the fitting part in this invention.

  Incidentally, the first connector 51 is connected to a cable connected to the substrate (not shown) in the probe main body 4 although not particularly shown. In order to prevent the cable from being twisted with the rotation of the first connector 51, the cable may have the rotation restricting mechanism described in the modification of the first embodiment.

  The second connector 52 is connected to the first connector 51 so as to have a predetermined inclination angle θ1 with respect to the first connector 51. The probe cable 2 is connected to the second connector 52. Said 2nd connector 52 is an example of embodiment of the cable connection part in this invention. By connecting the second connector 52 to the first connector 51, the probe cable 2 has an inclination angle θ 1 with respect to the grip portion 9.

  Also in this example, the rotating member 50 moves in the same manner as the rotating member 5 of the first embodiment, and the operability of the ultrasonic probe 1 can be improved. In this example, since the second connector 52 is detachably connected to the first connector 51, the probe main body 4 can be replaced by removing the second connector 52 from the first connector 51. . Further, the second connector 52 is removed from the first connector 51, a waterproof cap (not shown) is fitted to the end of the grip portion 9, and only the probe body 4 is immersed in a cleaning solution or a disinfecting solution for cleaning. Since it can be sterilized, the operation becomes easy.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by each said embodiment, of course, this invention can be variously implemented in the range which does not change the main point. For example, the cable connection portion 11 is provided so as to have a predetermined inclination angle θ1 with respect to the fitting portion 10, but does not have such an inclination angle θ1 and is linear from the fitting portion 10. The cable connection portion 11 may be provided in the fitting portion 10 so as to extend in the direction (in the axial direction of the fitting portion 10). However, even in this case, the probe cable 2 is configured to be connected to the cable connection portion 11 so as to have the inclination angle θ1 with respect to the grip portion 9.

  In the above-described embodiment, an intraoperative probe has been described as an example of the ultrasonic probe 1, but the present invention is not limited to this.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic probe 2 Probe cable 3 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 4 Probe main body 5, 40, 50 Rotating member 6 Case 7 Transmission / reception surface 8 Head portion 9 Grip portion 9a End inner peripheral surface (housing inner peripheral surface)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fitting part 11 Cable connection part 21 Coaxial cable 22 Sheath 41 Cable side connector 51 1st connector 52 2nd connector

Claims (9)

A probe body having a head portion on which an ultrasonic transmission / reception surface is formed, and a grip portion gripped by an operator;
A rotating member provided in the grip portion in the probe body,
The rotating member includes a cylindrical fitting portion that is rotatably fitted to the grip portion, and a cable connection portion to which a probe cable connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body is connected.
The cable connecting portion is connected so that the probe cable has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the grip portion,
The fitting portion has a small diameter cylindrical portion provided with a protrusion on the outer peripheral surface, and a large diameter cylindrical portion,
While the projection rotates on the curved surface portion formed between the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter cylindrical portion and the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter cylindrical portion, the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter cylindrical portion and the inner diameter of the large diameter cylindrical portion An ultrasonic probe characterized in that the rotation range of the fitting portion is restricted by restricting the rotation of the protrusion at a flat portion formed between the peripheral surface and the peripheral surface. The probe body comprises a housing having the head portion and the grip portion,
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the fitting portion is fitted to an inner peripheral surface of the housing of the grip portion and is rotatable about an axis.   The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, wherein the fitting portion is liquid-tightly fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the casing.   The predetermined inclination angle of the probe cable with respect to the grip portion is set to an angle at which the probe cable is parallel to the transmission / reception surface or an angle that faces a direction opposite to the transmission / reception surface side from the angle. The ultrasonic probe as described in any one of 1-3.   The ultrasonic wave according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the rotating member, the fitting portion and the cable connecting portion are integrally formed, and the probe cable passes therethrough. probe. The probe cable is formed by covering a plurality of coaxial cables connected to a substrate in the probe body with a sheath,
The sheath is fixed to the rotating member and rotates together with the rotating member in the probe body,
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 5, wherein the coaxial cable is independent of the rotation of the sheath.   The rotating member has a connector structure in the cable connection portion, and a cable side connector provided in the probe cable is detachably connected to the cable connection portion having the connector structure. Item 5. The ultrasonic probe according to any one of Items 1 to 4.   The said rotation member consists of the 1st connector which comprises the said fitting part, and the 2nd connector which is detachably connected with this 1st connector and comprises the said cable connection part. The ultrasonic probe as described in any one of -4.   An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising the ultrasonic probe according to claim 1.

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