A probe angle adjustable wearable ultrasonic transducer

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of ultrasound imaging, and in particular to a wearable ultrasound transducer with adjustable detection angle. The transducer includes a transducer housing, a connecting ball within the housing, and multiple elastic clamping members arranged horizontally around the connecting ball. The connecting ball has an upper connecting rod at its upper part and a lower connecting rod at its lower part, with an ultrasound transducer at the end of the lower connecting rod. An upper and lower isolation membrane are located in the lower part of the transducer housing, with the upper isolation membrane positioned between the connecting ball and the ultrasound transducer. Gaps exist between the ultrasound transducer and both the upper and lower isolation membranes, and these gaps are filled with a medium whose acoustic impedance coefficient is close to that of human tissue. When worn, the ultrasound transducer structure of this invention allows for manual adjustment of the imaging angle with internal human tissue, enabling continuous monitoring of a specific tissue section and avoiding the monitoring interruption problem of traditional wearable ultrasound transducers due to human movement and changes in body position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ultrasound imaging, and in particular to a wearable ultrasound transducer with adjustable detection angle. Background Technology

[0002] Ultrasound imaging is a non-invasive medical imaging technology with the advantage of real-time imaging. However, due to the large size of ultrasound transducers, traditional ultrasound transducers are only suitable for short-term detection and not for long-term continuous monitoring. In recent years, the invention of patch-type wearable ultrasound transducers has solved the problem of traditional ultrasound transducers not being wearable, enabling ultrasound imaging to develop from short-term detection to long-term continuous monitoring.

[0003] The biggest obstacle to the widespread clinical application of wearable ultrasound is the inability to acquire accurate tissue cross-sections. Ultrasound imaging typically only acquires two-dimensional cross-sectional images of tissue. Therefore, acquiring accurate, clinically valuable tissue cross-sections requires adjusting the transducer's detection angle. This is relatively easy with traditional ultrasound transducers. However, with wearable patch-type ultrasound transducers, even if an accurate tissue cross-section is found initially and the transducer is fixed to the skin surface, the relative position between the tissue and the transducer changes with body movement and position, making it impossible to continue acquiring correct cross-sectional images. Therefore, while wearable ultrasound transducers solve the problem of continuous monitoring in traditional ultrasound imaging systems, the fixed and non-adjustable imaging angle significantly reduces the value of wearable ultrasound systems in practical clinical applications. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problem that after the existing wearable ultrasonic transducers have been initially adjusted and fixed, the relative position between the transducer and human tissue changes due to the movement and position of the human body, making it impossible to continue to acquire correct cross-sectional images. Therefore, this invention proposes a wearable ultrasonic transducer with adjustable detection angle.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A wearable ultrasonic transducer with adjustable detection angle includes a transducer housing, a connecting ball inside the transducer housing, and multiple elastic clamping members arranged circumferentially around the connecting ball, wherein the multiple elastic clamping members together clamp the connecting ball and suspend it in the transducer housing.

[0007] The upper part of the connecting ball has an upper connecting rod, which passes through a through hole in the upper part of the transducer housing. The lower part of the connecting ball has a lower connecting rod, and an ultrasonic transducer is provided at the end of the lower connecting rod.

[0008] The lower part of the transducer housing is provided with an upper isolation membrane and a lower isolation membrane. The upper isolation membrane is located between the connecting ball and the ultrasonic transducer, and the lower connecting rod passes through the upper isolation membrane. The bottom of the transducer housing is provided with an acoustic window, and the lower isolation membrane is located on the acoustic window. The ultrasonic transducer transmits sound waves through the acoustic window.

[0009] There are gaps between the ultrasonic transducer and the upper and lower isolation membranes, and the gaps between the upper and lower isolation membranes are filled with a medium with an acoustic impedance coefficient close to that of human tissue.

[0010] As a further preferred embodiment, the elastic clamping component includes a spring base, a spring, and a support base; the support base is a sleeve structure with one end open, and the closed end of the support base is attached to the connecting ball; the spring base is a tubular structure, with one end fixed to the inner layer of the transducer housing and the other end partially inserted into the open end of the support base; the spring is located between the spring base and the support base.

[0011] As a further preferred option, the closed end of the support is an arc-shaped concave surface corresponding to the connecting ball.

[0012] As a further preferred embodiment, in the initial state, the multiple elastic clamping members exert the same thrust on the connecting ball.

[0013] As a further preferred embodiment, the edge of the upper isolation membrane is connected to the inner layer of the transducer housing and is sealed thereon; the connection between the upper isolation membrane and the lower connecting rod is also sealed thereon; the edge of the lower isolation membrane is connected to the inner layer of the transducer housing and is sealed thereon.

[0014] As a further preferred option, the upper separator film is in a wrinkled state.

[0015] As a further preferred option, the medium is glycerol.

[0016] As a further preferred embodiment, the end of the upper connecting rod that passes through the through hole in the transducer housing is provided with a control ball for control.

[0017] As a further preferred option, the transducer housing is a hollow cylindrical structure.

[0018] As a further preferred option, the control ball has a built-in inertial sensor, which is connected to an external ultrasonic signal control and data acquisition and processing system via inertial sensor wires.

[0019] Beneficial effects: The wearable ultrasound transducer of the present invention can conveniently adjust the monitoring angle according to needs and maintain monitoring in that angular direction. Even if the monitoring angle is affected by external interference during use, the imaging plane of the ultrasound transducer can be quickly and easily adjusted and reset. This solves the problem of traditional wearable ultrasound transducers being non-adjustable during use and improves the value of wearable ultrasound systems in actual clinical applications. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the angle-adjustable wearable ultrasonic transducer of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the angle-adjustable wearable ultrasonic transducer of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a diagram of the internal wiring and system of the angle-adjustable wearable ultrasonic transducer of the present invention.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1. Manipulating ball; 2. Upper connecting rod; 3. Connecting ball; 4. Lower connecting rod; 5. Upper isolation membrane; 6. Ultrasonic transducer; 7. Lower isolation membrane; 8. Spring base; 9. Spring; 10. Support base; 11. Outer layer; 12. Inner layer; 13. Through hole; 14. Acoustic window; 15. Inertial sensor; 16. Inertial sensor wire; 17. Ultrasonic transducer wire; 18. Ultrasonic signal control and data acquisition and processing system; 19. Image display interface; 20. Feedback guidance interface. Detailed Implementation

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. The shapes of the various parts of the present invention presented in the drawings are only for explaining the present invention, and the actual shape of the present invention is not limited by the drawings.

[0025] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "length," "width," "inner," "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0026] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0027] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the wearable ultrasonic transducer with adjustable angle in this embodiment includes a manipulator ball 1, an upper connecting rod 2, a connecting ball 3, a lower connecting rod 4, an upper isolation membrane 5, an ultrasonic transducer 6, a lower isolation membrane 7, an elastic clamping component, a transducer shell, an outer layer 11, an inner layer 12, a through hole 13, an acoustic window 14, an inertial sensor 15, an inertial sensor wire 16, an ultrasonic transducer wire 17, an ultrasonic signal control and data acquisition and processing system 18, an image display interface 19, and a feedback guidance interface 20.

[0028] The transducer housing is preferably a hollow cylindrical structure, with a through hole 13 at the upper center and an acoustic window 14 at the lower center.

[0029] The transducer housing contains a connecting ball 3 and multiple elastic clamping members arranged horizontally around the connecting ball 3. The multiple elastic clamping members together clamp the connecting ball 3 and suspend it in the center position of the transducer housing. In the initial state, the multiple elastic clamping members exert the same thrust on the connecting ball 3.

[0030] In this patent, four elastic clamping members are equidistantly arranged around the connecting ball 3. One end of each elastic clamping member is fixed to the inner layer 12 of the transducer housing, and the other end acts on the connecting ball 3. The lateral thrust of the four elastic clamping members acts together on the connecting ball 3 to provide support and ensure that the connecting ball 3 is suspended. Compared with the fixed clamping members, the elastic clamping members can always maintain a certain clamping force on the connecting ball 3. After the connecting ball 3 rotates, it can maintain its rotation state under the action of this clamping force, that is, maintain the imaging angle and is not easily affected by vibration and changes in body position to cause angular deviation.

[0031] Preferably, the elastic clamping component includes a spring base 8, a spring 9, and a support base 10; the support base 10 is a sleeve structure with one open end, and the closed end of the support base 10 is attached to the connecting ball 3; the spring base 8 is a tubular structure, one end of which is fixed to the inner layer 12 of the transducer housing, and the other end is partially inserted into the open end of the support base 10; the spring 9 is located between the spring base 8 and the support base 10. The spring 9 is located inside the spring base 8, with one end of the spring 9 contacting the closed end of the support base 10 and the other end contacting the inner layer 12 inside the support base 10.

[0032] The diameter of spring 9 is the same as that of spring base 8 to prevent spring vibration. Spring base 8 is partially inserted into the open end of support base 10. Support base 10 and spring base 8 do not contact each other, thus leaving sliding space.

[0033] To improve the clamping effect of the clamping force, the closed end of the support base 10 is an arc-shaped concave surface corresponding to the connecting ball 3. This achieves a larger contact area between the support base 10 and the connecting ball 3, increases the friction, and further improves the stability of clamping the connecting ball 3.

[0034] In this patent, the upper part of the connecting ball 3 is fixedly connected to the upper connecting rod 2. The upper connecting rod 2 passes through the through hole 13 opened in the upper part of the transducer housing. The operating ball 1 is located at the end of the upper connecting rod 2 and outside the transducer housing, which is convenient for the operator to use.

[0035] The lower part of the connecting ball 3 is fixedly connected to the lower connecting rod 4, and the lower part of the lower connecting rod 4 is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic transducer 6.

[0036] The upper connecting rod 2 and the lower connecting rod 4 are on a straight line. The lower connecting rod 4 is connected to the center of the ultrasonic transducer 6, and the ultrasonic transducer 6 is a sheet-like structure that is perpendicular to the lower connecting rod 4. In the initial state, the ultrasonic transducer 6 is parallel to the bottom surface of the transducer housing.

[0037] The friction and support force between the support base 10 and the connecting ball 3 keep the position of the connecting ball 3 stable. Therefore, since the position of the connecting ball 3 is stable, the operator can change the angle of the lower part (lower connecting rod 4) of the connecting ball 3 by changing the deflection angle of the upper part (upper connecting rod 2), thereby changing the incident angle of the sound waves emitted by the ultrasonic transducer.

[0038] In this patent, the lower part of the transducer housing is provided with an upper isolation membrane 5 and a lower isolation membrane 7. The upper isolation membrane 5 is located between the connecting ball 3 and the ultrasonic transducer 6, and the lower connecting rod 4 passes through the upper isolation membrane 5. The lower isolation membrane 7 is located on the acoustic window 14. The ultrasonic transducer 6 transmits sound waves through the acoustic window 14.

[0039] Furthermore, the edge of the upper isolation membrane 5 is connected to the inner layer 12 of the transducer housing and is sealed, and the connection between the upper isolation membrane 5 and the lower connecting rod 4 is sealed; the edge of the lower isolation membrane 7 is connected to the inner layer 12 of the transducer housing and is sealed, that is, the upper isolation membrane 5 and the lower isolation membrane 7 form a sealed space, and the ultrasonic transducer 6 is located inside it.

[0040] Because the ultrasonic transducer 6 needs to deflect at a certain angle, it cannot be guaranteed that the ultrasonic transducer 6 and the biological tissue will always be in contact. Therefore, a portion of space is reserved in the upper and lower spaces of the ultrasonic transducer 6 for the movement of the ultrasonic transducer, that is, there are gaps between the ultrasonic transducer 6 and the upper isolation membrane 5 and the lower isolation membrane 7 respectively.

[0041] Considering that acoustic impedance greatly affects the propagation of sound waves, the sealed space formed by the upper isolation membrane 5 and the lower isolation membrane 7 is filled with a medium whose acoustic impedance coefficient is close to that of human tissue. This medium is preferably glycerol.

[0042] In this patent, when the upper connecting rod 2 is operated manually, the rotation is almost centered on the connecting ball 3. The lower connecting rod 4 will move within a certain range and will pull the upper isolation membrane 5. Therefore, the upper isolation membrane 5 is set in a pleated state to ensure that the upper isolation membrane 5 has a stretching space.

[0043] The wearable ultrasound transducer described in this patent is mainly designed for clinical scenarios where the ultrasound imaging section deviates during the monitoring of human organs and vascular tissues such as the heart, brain, kidneys, and abdominal aorta. Based on the ultrasound image output displayed by the ultrasound imaging system, the transducer can adjust the detection angle of the ultrasound transducer in real time to correct the imaging section when human activity causes deviation in the detection angle.

[0044] During use, the operator moves the manipulating ball 1, which simultaneously moves the upper connecting rod 2, thus subjecting the connecting ball 3 to force. The connecting ball 3 distributes the force to the elastic clamping components (including the spring base 8, spring 9, and support seat 10). After the operator finishes operating, because the concave ball portion of the support seat 10 and the arc surface of the connecting ball 3 have the same curvature, under the friction of the arc surface and the clamping force of multiple elastic clamping components, the connecting ball 3 will not return to its original angular state, but will maintain the angular state at the end of the operator's last operation. At this time, since the four elastic clamping components are identical, the pressure generated by the compressed spring and the tension generated by the extended spring are the same, and since they are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction, the center of the connecting ball 3 will move to its original position while the angular state after the operation remains unchanged. The angular state of the connecting ball 3 will change the position of the lower connecting rod 4 and the ultrasonic transducer 6. At this time, the pleated upper isolation membrane 5 will change with the position of the lower connecting rod 4, ensuring that the lower connecting rod 4 can move while also ensuring that the filling medium located between the upper isolation membrane 5 and the lower isolation membrane 7 will not leak.

[0045] like Figure 3As shown, in actual use, the ultrasonic signal control and data acquisition and processing system 18 drives the ultrasonic transducer 6 through the ultrasonic transducer wire 17 and transmits and receives echo signals. It acquires inertial data from the inertial sensor 15 through the inertial sensor wire 16, thereby indirectly obtaining the position data of the ultrasonic transducer 6. The ultrasonic signal control and data acquisition and processing system 18 generates and updates the image display interface 19 based on the received echo signals. The operator moves the operating ball 1 according to the image display content, and the feedback guidance interface 20 immediately displays the direction of movement of the operating ball to help the operator find a suitable ultrasonic incident angle. When human activity causes a slight deviation in the ultrasonic incident angle, it can also be observed in time on the image display interface 19, allowing for timely adjustment and reset.

[0046] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wearable ultrasonic transducer with adjustable detection angle, characterized in that: Includes a transducer housing, a connecting ball (3) is built into the transducer housing, and multiple elastic clamping members arranged circumferentially on the connecting ball (3), the multiple elastic clamping members together clamp the connecting ball (3) and suspend it in the transducer housing; The upper part of the connecting ball (3) has an upper connecting rod (2), which passes through the through hole (13) opened in the upper part of the transducer housing. The lower part of the connecting ball (3) has a lower connecting rod (4), and an ultrasonic transducer (6) is provided at the end of the lower connecting rod (4). The lower part of the transducer housing is provided with an upper isolation membrane (5) and a lower isolation membrane (7). The upper isolation membrane (5) is located between the connecting ball (3) and the ultrasonic transducer (6). The lower connecting rod (4) passes through the upper isolation membrane (5). The bottom of the transducer housing is provided with a sound window (14). The lower isolation membrane (7) is located on the sound window (14). The ultrasonic transducer (6) transmits sound waves through the sound window (14). The ultrasonic transducer (6) has gaps between itself and the upper isolation membrane (5) and the lower isolation membrane (7), and the space between the upper isolation membrane (5) and the lower isolation membrane (7) is filled with a medium with an acoustic impedance coefficient close to that of human tissue.

2. The wearable ultrasonic transducer with adjustable detection angle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic clamping component includes a spring base (8), a spring (9), and a support base (10); the support base (10) is a sleeve structure with one end open, and the closed end of the support base (10) is attached to the connecting ball (3); the spring base (8) is a tubular structure, one end of which is fixed to the inner layer (12) of the transducer housing, and the other end is partially inserted into the open end of the support base (10); the spring (9) is located between the spring base (8) and the support base (10).

3. The wearable ultrasonic transducer with adjustable detection angle according to claim 2, characterized in that: The closed end of the support base (10) is an arc-shaped concave surface corresponding to the connecting ball (3).

4. The wearable ultrasonic transducer with adjustable detection angle according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the initial state, the multiple elastic clamping members exert the same thrust on the connecting ball (3).

5. A wearable ultrasonic transducer with adjustable detection angle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The edge of the upper isolation membrane (5) is connected to the inner layer (12) of the transducer housing and is sealed thereon. The connection between the upper isolation membrane (5) and the lower connecting rod (4) is sealed thereon. The edge of the lower isolation membrane (7) is connected to the inner layer (12) of the transducer housing and is sealed thereon.

6. A wearable ultrasonic transducer with adjustable detection angle according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: The upper isolation membrane (5) is in a wrinkled state.

7. A wearable ultrasonic transducer with adjustable detection angle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The medium is glycerol.

8. A wearable ultrasonic transducer with adjustable detection angle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper connecting rod (2) has a control ball (1) at its end, which passes through the through hole (13) of the transducer housing.

9. A wearable ultrasonic transducer with adjustable detection angle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transducer housing is a hollow cylindrical structure.

10. A wearable ultrasonic transducer with adjustable detection angle according to claim 8, characterized in that: The control ball (1) has a built-in inertial sensor (15), and the inertial sensor (15) is connected to an external ultrasonic signal control and data acquisition and processing system (18) through an inertial sensor wire (16).

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