Ultrasonic probe, ultrasonic imaging device and ultrasonic detection imaging method

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of ultrasonic imaging technology, and discloses an ultrasonic probe, ultrasonic imaging equipment and ultrasonic detection imaging method, wherein the ultrasonic probe comprises: a bearing part, the bearing part comprises n support plates and n-1 curling shafts, the n support plates are arranged along a first direction, and each two adjacent support plates are connected by a curling shaft to be relatively rotatable, and n is an integer greater than or equal to 2; a transmitting transducer, the transmitting transducer comprises a plurality of sound wave transmitting units distributed in an array on one side of the n support plates; a receiving transducer, the receiving transducer comprises a plurality of sound wave receiving units distributed in an array on the other side of the n support plates; and an angle detection component, the angle detection component is used to detect the relative rotation angle between each two adjacent support plates. The ultrasonic probe can increase the effective detection range and size, thereby improving the quality of ultrasonic imaging.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of ultrasonic imaging, and in particular to an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic imaging device and an ultrasonic detection imaging method. Background Art

[0002] The ultrasonic probes of existing ultrasonic imaging equipment are mostly convex arrays, concave arrays, linear arrays or planar arrays, and their geometric dimensions are fixed. Therefore, during ultrasonic testing, it is necessary to apply a certain amount of pressure to the object to be tested and use ultrasonic coupling agents to perform testing. For human body monitoring, if the probe size is too large, it is difficult to make all array elements work effectively, and it is even more difficult to receive signals within the maximum range. Therefore, the probe size used will not exceed 10 cm, so that the probe will affect the image quality of ultrasonic imaging during ultrasonic testing. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention provides an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic imaging device and an ultrasonic detection imaging method. The ultrasonic probe can increase the effective detection range and size, thereby improving the quality of ultrasonic imaging.

[0004] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0005] An ultrasonic probe, comprising:

[0006] A bearing portion, the bearing portion comprising n support plates and n-1 curling shafts, the n support plates are arranged along a first direction, and every two adjacent support plates are connected to each other so as to be relatively rotatable via one of the curling shafts, and n is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

[0007] A transmitting transducer, the transmitting transducer comprising a plurality of sound wave transmitting units distributed in an array on one side of the n supporting plates;

[0008] A receiving transducer, the receiving transducer comprising a plurality of sound wave receiving units distributed in an array on the other side of the support plate;

[0009] An angle detection component is used to detect the relative rotation angle between every two adjacent support plates.

[0010] The ultrasonic probe of the above invention includes a bearing part, a transmitting transducer, a receiving transducer and an angle detection component. The bearing part includes n support plates and n-1 curling shafts. Since the n support plates are arranged along a first direction, each two adjacent support plates are connected to each other in a relatively rotatable manner via a curling shaft. The sound wave transmitting units distributed in an array in the transmitting transducer are arranged on one side of the n support plates, and the sound wave receiving units distributed in an array in the receiving transducer are arranged on the other side of the n support plates. In the process of using the ultrasonic probe for detection, the side of the support plate provided with the receiving transducer can be directed toward the object to be detected, and the angle detection component can be adjusted according to the angle of the object to be detected. The actual size and shape of the ultrasonic probe can be gradually bent by the rotation of each support plate to realize the foldable function of the ultrasonic probe, so that the ultrasonic probe can be attached to the object to be detected at multiple angles, and the positions of each sound wave transmitting unit and the sound wave receiving unit can be obtained through the detection of the angle detection component. In this way, the multiple sound wave transmitting units of the ultrasonic probe can scan the object to be detected at multiple angles, and the receiving transducer can receive the echo signal in two dimensions at the same time, which can maximize the reception of the echo reflected by the target object in the object to be detected, and can increase the effective detection range and size of the ultrasonic probe, thereby improving the quality of ultrasonic imaging.

[0011] Optionally, the bearing portion further comprises two end parts, an outer wall of one end part is connected to a side of the support plate at the head end of the bearing portion away from the side of the curling shaft connected thereto, and an outer wall of the other end part is connected to a side of the support plate at the tail end of the bearing portion away from the side of the curling shaft connected thereto;

[0012] The curling shaft and the end member are located on one side of the plurality of support plates where the transmitting transducers are disposed;

[0013] The ultrasonic probe further comprises a flexible shell, which covers the side of the curling shaft and the end member away from the support plate, and the surface of the flexible shell is connected to each of the curling shafts and each of the end members.

[0014] Optionally, the end piece has the same structure as the crimping shaft.

[0015] Optionally, a gap between the bearing portion and the flexible shell is filled with a flexible sound-absorbing lining.

[0016] Optionally, the curling axis includes a first axis body and a second axis body arranged along a second direction and coaxially arranged, the second direction being the extension direction of two adjacent side edges of two adjacent support plates, the first axis body being rotatable circumferentially along its own axial center line relative to the second axis body, and of the two adjacent support plates, one support plate is connected to the outer wall of the first axis body, and the other support plate is connected to the outer wall of the second axis body.

[0017] Optionally, the support plate located between the support plate at the head end and the support plate at the tail end of the bearing portion is a middle support plate, and each middle support plate includes two connecting side edges arranged and opposite to each other along the first direction, one of the connecting side edges is connected to the first axis of the curling shaft, and the other connecting side edge is connected to the second axis of the curling shaft.

[0018] Optionally, the first shaft body includes a connecting through hole coaxial with the first shaft body;

[0019] The second shaft body comprises a coaxial main shaft body and a shell surrounding the side wall of the main shaft body, and one end of the main shaft body adjacent to the first shaft body has a rotating shaft that is matched and connected to the connecting through hole, and the main shaft body can rotate relative to the shell under the drive of the first shaft body;

[0020] Of the two adjacent support plates, one support plate is connected to the outer wall of the first shaft body, and the other support plate is connected to the outer shell of the second shaft body.

[0021] Optionally, there is an installation space between the main shaft body of the second shaft body and the shell, and the angle detection component includes an angle sensor corresponding to the second shaft body of the curling shaft, and the angle sensor is arranged in the installation space corresponding to the second shaft body.

[0022] Optionally, the angle sensor includes multiple stator coils and multiple rotor coils corresponding to the stator coils one by one, the multiple stator coils are fixed on the inner wall of the outer shell of the second shaft body, and the multiple rotor coils are fixed on the outer wall of the main shaft body of the second shaft body.

[0023] Optionally, each of the sound wave emitting units includes a backing and a piezoelectric element which are stacked in sequence, and a side of the piezoelectric element away from the backing is connected to the surface of the support plate.

[0024] Optionally, the material of the piezoelectric element is piezoelectric ceramic.

[0025] Optionally, each of the sound wave receiving units includes a flexible substrate, a signal sensing unit, a first electrode, an insulating layer, a piezoelectric receiving layer and a second electrode stacked in sequence, the signal sensing unit includes a switching thin film transistor, the drain of the switching thin film transistor is connected to the first electrode, the second electrode is grounded, and the flexible substrate is connected to the surface of the support plate.

[0026] Optionally, the material of the piezoelectric receiving layer is a piezoelectric polymer material.

[0027] Optionally, the flexible substrate, the insulating layer, the piezoelectric receiving layer and the second electrode are arranged as a whole layer on the supporting part.

[0028] Optionally, the orthographic projection of each of the sound wave transmitting units on the support plate covers the orthographic projections of multiple sound wave receiving units on the support plate.

[0029] Optionally, the distance between the centers of every two adjacent sound wave receiving units is less than half the wavelength of the sound wave.

[0030] The present invention also provides an ultrasonic imaging device, comprising any one of the ultrasonic probes provided in the above technical solutions.

[0031] The present invention also provides an ultrasonic detection imaging method, using any one of the ultrasonic imaging devices provided in the above technical solutions, comprising:

[0032] Obtaining the relative rotation angle between every two adjacent support plates, and determining the rotation angle of each support plate relative to the reference position;

[0033] Determine the coordinate position of each sound wave transmitting unit and the coordinate position of each sound wave receiving unit according to the rotation angle of each support plate relative to the reference position;

[0034] According to the coordinate position of each sound wave emitting unit, each sound wave emitting unit is controlled to emit sound waves toward the area to be detected;

[0035] The echo signals detected by each sound wave receiving unit are obtained and an image is generated through an algorithm. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an ultrasonic probe provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 2 A state of an ultrasound probe provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 3 Another state of an ultrasound probe provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 4a , Figure 4b , Figure 4c A state of a bearing portion provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a connection structure between a curling shaft and a support plate provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of a curling shaft provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure of a second shaft provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the structure of an angle sensor provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Fig. 9 A schematic structural diagram of a sound wave emitting unit and a sound wave structural unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Fig.10 A flowchart of an ultrasonic detection imaging method provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Fig.11 A schematic diagram of the coordinate position of an ultrasound probe provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Fig.12 A schematic diagram of the coordinate position of another ultrasonic probe provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Fig.13 A state diagram of a transmitting transducer transmitting sound waves provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Fig.14 A state diagram of a receiving transducer receiving an echo provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] icon:

[0051] 100 - ultrasonic probe; 200 - object to be detected; 201 - target object;

[0052] 1-bearing part; 11-support plate; 12-curling axis; 121-first axis; 1211-connecting through hole; 122-second axis; 1221-main axis; 1222-housing; 1223-rotating axis; 2-transmitting transducer; 21-sound wave transmitting unit; 211-backing; 212-piezoelectric element; 3-receiving transducer; 31-sound wave receiving unit; 311-flexible substrate; 312-signal sensing unit; 313-first electrode; 314-insulating layer; 315-piezoelectric receiving layer; 316-second electrode; 4-flexible shell; 51-stator coil; 52-rotor coil; 6-end component; 7-flexible sound-absorbing lining. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0054] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the present invention provides an ultrasonic probe, comprising:

[0055] The bearing part 1 includes n support plates 11 and n-1 curling shafts 12, wherein the n support plates 11 are arranged along a first direction, and each two adjacent support plates 11 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other via a curling shaft 12, and n is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

[0056] A transmitting transducer 2, the transmitting transducer 2 comprising a plurality of sound wave transmitting units 21 distributed in an array on one side of the n supporting plates 11;

[0057] A receiving transducer 3, the receiving transducer 3 includes a plurality of sound wave receiving units 31 distributed in an array on the other side of the n supporting plate 11;

[0058] Angle detection component, the angle detection component is used to detect the relative rotation angle between every two adjacent support plates 11.

[0059] The ultrasonic probe provided by the above-mentioned embodiment of the invention includes a bearing part 1, a transmitting transducer 2, a receiving transducer 3 and an angle detection component. The bearing part 1 includes n support plates 11 and n-1 curling shafts 12. Since the n support plates 11 are arranged along the first direction, each two adjacent support plates 11 are connected to each other for relative rotation through a curling shaft 12. The array-distributed sound wave transmitting units 21 in the transmitting transducer 2 are arranged on one side of the n support plates 11, and the array-distributed sound wave receiving units 31 in the receiving transducer 3 are arranged on the other side of the n support plates 11. During the detection process using the ultrasonic probe 100, the side of the support plate where the receiving transducer 3 is provided can be directed toward the object to be detected 200. According to the actual size and shape of the object to be detected 200, the ultrasonic probe can be gradually bent through the rotation action of each support plate 11 to realize the foldable function of the ultrasonic probe, so that the ultrasonic probe can be attached to the object to be detected 200 at multiple angles, such as Figures 2 to 3 During the bending process, the positions of the sound wave transmitting units 21 and the sound wave receiving units 31 are obtained through the detection of the angle detection component, so that the multiple sound wave transmitting units 21 of the ultrasonic probe can scan the object to be detected 200 at multiple angles, and at the same time, the receiving transducer 3 receives the echo signal in two dimensions, which can receive the echo reflected by the target object 201 in the object to be detected 200 to the maximum extent, and can increase the effective detection range and size of the ultrasonic probe, thereby improving the quality of ultrasonic imaging.

[0060] Specifically, in the process of using the above-mentioned ultrasonic probe, the bending shape of the ultrasonic probe 100 depends on the shape of the object 200 to be detected, and the relative rotation state between two adjacent support plates 11 of the ultrasonic probe can be as follows: Figure 4a-4c As shown, Figure 4aThere is no relative rotation angle between two adjacent support plates 11. Figure 4b One support plate 11 can rotate counterclockwise relative to the other support plate 11, and Figure 4c One of the support plates 11 can rotate clockwise relative to the other support plate 11 . The rotation of each support plate 11 can make the ultrasonic probe fit more closely to the object 200 to be detected.

[0061] The n support plates 11 may be identical support plates, for example, the support plate 11 may be rectangular, and the first direction is the short side direction of the support plate 11. Specifically, the shape of the support plate 11 may be other shapes, which are not limited here and can be selected according to actual conditions.

[0062] Specifically, the number of the sound wave transmitting units 21 disposed on each support plate 11 may be the same, and the number of the sound wave receiving units 31 disposed on each support plate 11 may also be the same, which can increase the detection range of the ultrasonic probe.

[0063] In the ultrasonic probe provided in the above embodiment, Figure 1 As shown, the bearing part 1 may also include two end parts 6, the outer wall of one end part 6 is connected to the side of the support plate at the head end of the bearing part 1 away from the side of the curling shaft 12 connected thereto, and the outer wall of the other end part 6 is connected to the side of the support plate at the tail end of the bearing part 1 away from the side of the curling shaft 12 connected thereto, the curling shaft 12 and the end part 6 are located on the side of the plurality of support plates 11 provided with the transmitting transducer 2, and the ultrasonic probe may also include a flexible shell 4, the flexible shell 4 covers the side of the curling shaft 12 and the end part 6 away from the support plate 11, and the surface of the flexible shell 4 is connected to each curling shaft 12 and each end part 6. The ultrasonic probe can be encapsulated and protected by the flexible shell 4. Moreover, since the surface of the flexible shell 4 is connected to each curling shaft 12 and each end part 6, the flexible shell 4 can be used to restore the original position after the ultrasonic probe is straightened, thereby preventing the curling shaft 12 and the end part 6 from shifting after the ultrasonic probe is bent.

[0064] Specifically, the structure of the end member 6 is the same as that of the curling shaft 12, which can simplify the manufacturing process and reduce the manufacturing cost. The structure of the end member 6 can also be different from that of the curling shaft 12, which is not limited here and depends on the actual situation.

[0065] In the ultrasonic probe provided in the above embodiment, Figure 1 As shown, the gap between the bearing portion 1 and the flexible shell 4 can be filled with a flexible sound-absorbing lining 7. The flexible sound-absorbing lining 7 can absorb the sound waves emitted by the sound wave emitting unit 21 toward the flexible shell 4, so that the sound wave emitting unit 21 emits sound waves in the direction of receiving and transmitting, thereby preventing the sound waves in the direction of the flexible shell 4 from interfering with the echo received by the sound wave receiving unit 31.

[0066] In the ultrasonic probe provided in the above embodiment, Figure 5 As shown, the curling shaft 12 may include a first shaft body 121 and a second shaft body 122 arranged along a second direction and coaxially arranged, the second direction being the extension direction of two adjacent side edges of two adjacent support plates 11, the first shaft body 121 being rotatable circumferentially along its own axial center line relative to the second shaft body 122, and of the two adjacent support plates 11, one support plate 11 is connected to the outer wall of the first shaft body 121, and the other support plate 11 is connected to the outer wall of the second shaft body 122, and through the structural design of the curling shaft 12, the two adjacent support plates 11 can rotate relative to each other.

[0067] Specifically, the support plate between the support plate at the head end and the support plate at the tail end of the above-mentioned bearing part 1 is a middle support plate, and each middle support plate includes two connecting side edges arranged and opposite to each other along the first direction, one of the connecting side edges is connected to the first axis body 121 of the curling shaft 12, and the other connecting side edge is connected to the second axis body 122 of the curling shaft 12, which can ensure that two adjacent support plates 11 can rotate relative to each other.

[0068] In the ultrasonic probe provided in the above embodiment, Figure 6 As shown, the first shaft body 121 may include a connecting through hole 1211 coaxial with the first shaft body 121; Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the second shaft body 122 may include a coaxial main shaft body 1221 and a shell 1222 surrounding the side wall of the main shaft body 1221. The end of the main shaft body 1221 adjacent to the first shaft body 121 has a rotating shaft 1223 that cooperates with the connecting through hole 1211. The main shaft body 1221 can rotate relative to the shell 1222 under the drive of the first shaft body 121; among the two adjacent support plates 11, one support plate 11 is connected to the outer wall of the first shaft body 121, and the other support plate 11 is connected to the shell 1222 of the second shaft body 122, so that the two adjacent support plates 11 can be connected to each other so that they can rotate relative to each other.

[0069] In the ultrasonic probe provided in the above embodiment, there may be an installation space between the main shaft body 1221 of the second shaft body 122 and the housing 1222, and the angle detection assembly includes an angle sensor corresponding to the second shaft body 122 of the curling shaft 12, and the angle sensor is arranged in the installation space of the corresponding second shaft body 122. The angle sensor is arranged in the curling shaft 12 to measure the angle between two adjacent support plates 11 in real time, and the angle between the support plates 11 detected by the angle sensor can be used to locate multiple sound wave transmitting units 21 and multiple sound wave receiving units 31, thereby improving the effectiveness of ultrasonic imaging technology.

[0070] Specifically, Figure 8As shown, the angle sensor may include a plurality of stator coils 51 and a plurality of rotor coils 52 corresponding to the stator coils 51. The plurality of stator coils 51 are fixed on the inner wall of the housing 1222 of the second shaft body 122, and the plurality of rotor coils 52 are fixed on the outer wall of the main shaft body 1221 of the second shaft body 122. After alternating current is applied to each stator winding, an induced voltage is generated in the rotor winding due to the change of the cross-linked magnetic flux. The coupling coefficient associated with the induced voltage and the excitation voltage changes with the rotation angle of the rotor winding. The rotation angle of the support plate 11 can be determined based on the measured output voltage.

[0071] In the ultrasonic probe provided in the above embodiment, Fig. 9 As shown, each sound wave emitting unit 21 may include a backing 211 and a piezoelectric element 212 stacked in sequence, and the side of the piezoelectric element 212 away from the backing 211 is connected to the surface of the support plate. The piezoelectric effect of the piezoelectric element converts the electrical signal into mechanical vibration, and then the sound wave can be radiated outside the ultrasound probe.

[0072] Specifically, the material of the piezoelectric element may be piezoelectric ceramics, for example, ZPT or PMN-PT piezoelectric ceramics.

[0073] In the ultrasonic probe provided in the above embodiment, Fig. 9 As shown, each sound wave receiving unit 31 includes a flexible substrate 311, a signal sensing unit 312, a first electrode 313, an insulating layer 314, a piezoelectric receiving layer 315 and a second electrode 316 which are stacked in sequence. The signal sensing unit includes a switch thin film transistor, the drain of the switch thin film transistor is connected to the first electrode, the second electrode is grounded, and the flexible substrate 311 is connected to the surface of the support plate. When the piezoelectric receiving layer receives the echo reflected by the target object 201, different regions generate different charge signals corresponding to the peaks and troughs of the echo. Each signal sensing unit selectively samples the different charge signals on the piezoelectric receiving layer and transmits them to the signal processing mechanism of the ultrasonic imaging device.

[0074] Specifically, the material of the piezoelectric receiving layer may be a piezoelectric polymer material, such as PVDF or PVDF-TrFE piezoelectric polymer material, which has a wide-band receiving function.

[0075] Specifically, Fig. 9 As shown, the above-mentioned flexible substrate 311, insulating layer 314, piezoelectric receiving layer 315 and second electrode 316 are arranged as a whole layer on the carrier part, and the receiving transducer 3 can be arranged as a whole flexible layer located on one side of the carrier part 1, so as to realize the flexibility of the receiving transducer 3 and facilitate the fitting of the ultrasonic probe 100 and the object 200 to be detected.

[0076] In the ultrasonic probe provided in the above embodiment, Fig. 9As shown, the orthographic projection of each sound wave emitting unit 21 on the support plate 11 can cover the orthographic projections of multiple sound wave receiving units 31 on the support plate 11, so that the radiation area of ​​the sound wave emitting unit 21 is much larger than that of the sound wave receiving unit 31, and the radiation range and depth of the sound wave emitting unit 21 can be increased.

[0077] Among them, the acoustic wave transmitting units 21 distributed in an array in the transmitting transducer 2 can form a linear array structure, which can realize phased beam synthesis; the acoustic wave transmitting units 21 on each support plate 11 plane of the ultrasonic probe can form a sub-transmitting transducer 2 with a linear array structure. Each sub-transmitting transducer 2 has a phased transmission function, and lateral and axial acoustic beam scanning can be realized through beam synthesis.

[0078] In the ultrasonic probe provided in the above embodiment, Fig. 9 As shown, the distance between the centers of every two adjacent sound wave receiving units 31 can be set to be less than half the wavelength of the sound wave, which can prevent the signal sensing unit from missing the charge signal when selecting sampling, and can improve the imaging quality.

[0079] The present invention also provides an ultrasonic imaging device, comprising any one of the ultrasonic probes provided in the above technical solutions.

[0080] The present invention also provides an ultrasonic detection imaging method, using any one of the ultrasonic imaging devices provided in the above technical solutions, such as Fig.10 As shown, the specific steps may be:

[0081] S101: Acquire the relative rotation angle between every two adjacent support plates, and determine the rotation angle of each support plate relative to a reference position;

[0082] Specifically, when detecting an object to be detected, it is necessary to select a suitable ultrasonic probe according to the shape and size of the object to be detected, mainly considering the size of the required receiving transducer and the folding condition of the ultrasonic probe. When detecting, the ultrasonic probe is bent, and when the ultrasonic cover is squeezed by the object to be detected to form a slight deformation, the ultrasonic probe can be fully in contact with the target to be detected. The state of the ultrasonic probe in the initial state can be as follows: Figure 2 As shown, the state of the ultrasound probe after bonding can be as follows Figure 3 As shown. The coordinate position of the ultrasound probe in the initial state can be Fig.11 As shown, the coordinate position of the ultrasound probe after bonding can be as follows Fig.12As shown, the relative rotation angle between adjacent support plates can be measured by the angle sensor in the ultrasonic probe, and the rotation angle of each support plate relative to the basic position can be obtained by further conversion. For example, one side of the support plate connecting end component at the head end of the bearing part can be set as the reference position, or other reference positions can be selected, which is not limited here.

[0083] S102: determining the coordinate position of each sound wave transmitting unit and the coordinate position of each sound wave receiving unit according to the rotation angle of each support plate relative to the reference position;

[0084] Specifically, according to the rotation angle of each support plate relative to the reference position, the coordinate position (X, Y, Z) of each sound wave emitting unit and the coordinate position (x, y, z) of each sound wave receiving unit can be calculated through coordinate conversion.

[0085] S103: According to the coordinate position of each sound wave emitting unit, control each sound wave emitting unit to emit sound waves toward the position to be detected;

[0086] Specifically, phased transmission can be achieved through the transmitting transducer of the ultrasonic probe, that is, according to the coordinate position (X, Y, Z) of the sound wave transmitting unit, a beam forming algorithm is used to enable different sound wave transmitting units to radiate sound waves respectively, and synchronize the focus of the radiated sound waves to the position to be detected p (x0, y0, z0), such as Fig.13 As shown, the ultrasonic probe can radiate sound waves into the object 200 to be detected from different directions, which will be helpful in obtaining more structural information of the target object 201.

[0087] S104: Acquire the echo signals detected by each sound wave receiving unit, and generate an image through an algorithm.

[0088] Specifically, after the focused beam encounters the target object 201, the sound wave will be reflected by the target object 201. The strength and direction of the reflected sound wave are related to the material, shape and size of the target object. The echo wavefront of a spherical target object is basically in the form of a spherical wave. When encountering an irregular target object, the echo distribution will be uneven. Using a bendable receiving transducer, echo signals can be received from multiple directions, such as Fig.14 As shown, the amount of information and signal strength are greatly improved, which is beneficial to improving the imaging quality.

[0089] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present invention fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalents, the present invention is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic probe, characterized in that: include: A bearing portion, the bearing portion comprising n support plates and n-1 curling shafts, the n support plates are arranged along a first direction, and every two adjacent support plates are connected to each other so as to be relatively rotatable via one of the curling shafts, and n is an integer greater than or equal to 2; A transmitting transducer, the transmitting transducer comprising a plurality of sound wave transmitting units distributed in an array on one side of the n supporting plates; A receiving transducer, the receiving transducer comprising a plurality of sound wave receiving units distributed in an array on the other side of the n supporting plates; An angle detection component, the angle detection component is used to detect the relative rotation angle between every two adjacent support plates; The curling shaft comprises a first shaft body and a second shaft body which are arranged along a second direction and are coaxially arranged, the second direction being the extension direction of two adjacent side edges of two adjacent support plates, the first shaft body being rotatable relative to the second shaft body along its own axis, and one of the two adjacent support plates being connected to the outer wall of the first shaft body, and the other being connected to the outer wall of the second shaft body; The support plate between the support plate at the head end and the support plate at the tail end of the bearing portion is a middle support plate, and each middle support plate includes two connecting side edges arranged in a first direction and opposite to each other, one connecting side edge is connected to the first shaft body of the curling shaft, and the other connecting side edge is connected to the second shaft body of the curling shaft; The first shaft body comprises a connecting through hole coaxial with the first shaft body; The second shaft body comprises a coaxial main shaft body and a shell surrounding the side wall of the main shaft body, and one end of the main shaft body adjacent to the first shaft body has a rotating shaft that is matched and connected to the connecting through hole, and the main shaft body can rotate relative to the shell under the drive of the first shaft body; Of the two adjacent support plates, one support plate is connected to the outer wall of the first shaft body, and the other support plate is connected to the outer shell of the second shaft body; An installation space is provided between the main shaft of the second shaft and the housing. The angle detection assembly includes angle sensors corresponding to the second shafts of the curling shaft. The angle sensors are arranged in the installation space corresponding to the second shafts.

2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bearing part further comprises two end parts, the outer wall of one end part is connected to the side of the supporting plate at the head end of the bearing part away from the side of the curling shaft connected thereto, and the outer wall of the other end part is connected to the side of the supporting plate at the tail end of the bearing part away from the side of the curling shaft connected thereto; The curling shaft and the end member are located on a side of the support plate where the transmitting transducer is disposed; The ultrasonic probe further comprises a flexible shell, which covers the side of the curling shaft and the end member away from the support plate, and the surface of the flexible shell is connected to each of the curling shafts and each of the end members.

3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, characterized in that: The end piece has the same structure as the crimping shaft.

4. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, characterized in that: A flexible sound-absorbing lining is filled in the gap between the bearing portion and the flexible shell.

5. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The angle sensor includes a plurality of stator coils and a plurality of rotor coils corresponding to the stator coils one by one. The plurality of stator coils are fixed on the inner wall of the outer shell of the second shaft body, and the plurality of rotor coils are fixed on the outer wall of the main shaft body of the second shaft body.

6. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the sound wave emitting units comprises a backing and a piezoelectric element which are stacked in sequence, and a side of the piezoelectric element away from the backing is connected to the surface of the support plate.

7. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 6, characterized in that: The material of the piezoelectric element is piezoelectric ceramics.

8. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the sound wave receiving units includes a flexible substrate, a signal sensing unit, a first electrode, an insulating layer, a piezoelectric receiving layer and a second electrode which are stacked in sequence. The signal sensing unit includes a switching thin film transistor, the drain of the switching thin film transistor is connected to the first electrode, the second electrode is grounded, and the flexible substrate is connected to the surface of the support plate.

9. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 8, characterized in that: The material of the piezoelectric receiving layer is a piezoelectric polymer material.

10. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 8, characterized in that: The flexible substrate, the insulating layer, the piezoelectric receiving layer and the second electrode are integrally arranged on the supporting portion.

11. The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The orthographic projection of each of the sound wave transmitting units on the support plate covers the orthographic projections of multiple sound wave receiving units on the support plate.

12. The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The distance between the centers of every two adjacent sound wave receiving units is less than half the wavelength of the sound wave.

13. An ultrasonic imaging device, characterized in that: Comprising the ultrasound probe according to any one of claims 1-12.

14. An ultrasonic detection imaging method, characterized in that: The ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 13 comprises: Obtaining the relative rotation angle between every two adjacent support plates, and determining the rotation angle of each support plate relative to the reference position; Determine the coordinate position of each sound wave transmitting unit and the coordinate position of each sound wave receiving unit according to the rotation angle of each support plate relative to the reference position; According to the coordinate position of each sound wave emitting unit, each sound wave emitting unit is controlled to emit sound waves toward the area to be detected; The echo signals detected by each sound wave receiving unit are obtained and an image is generated through an algorithm.

Images