Medical ultrasonic probe circular connector with partition arrangement structure and equipment

Abstract

The application discloses a medical ultrasonic probe circular connector with a partition arrangement structure and ultrasonic detection equipment, and belongs to the technical field of medical connectors. The application aims to solve the problems of the existing medical ultrasonic probe circular connector, such as limited channel carrying capacity, insufficient signal crosstalk suppression ability and high operation and maintenance cost under the constraint of miniaturization outer diameter. The connector is provided with a circular insulating base in the plug and the socket, a plurality of groups of long strip insulating components arranged in chord parallel mode are arranged in the base to carry ultrasonic imaging signals, auxiliary electrical contact hole groups are arranged in partitions on the base, and the long strip insulating components and the auxiliary electrical contact hole groups are arranged in isolation. The plug is provided with elastic locking clamps and tail locking caps to form a double locking structure. The application synchronously improves the channel density, signal transmission stability and operation and maintenance convenience without increasing the connector installation size, and adapts to the application requirements of multi-element miniaturized ultrasonic probes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electrical connector technology, and more particularly to a circular connector for a medical ultrasound probe with a partitioned arrangement structure. Background Technology

[0002] Ultrasound diagnosis is one of the core methods of clinical medical imaging examination, and its diagnostic accuracy is directly related to the patient's treatment plan and health. As the core functional component of ultrasound diagnostic equipment, the number of piezoelectric elements inside the ultrasound probe directly determines the imaging resolution, frame rate, and scanning range, thus affecting the detection rate of small lesions. For example, in the examination of carotid atherosclerosis, early probes with dozens of channels could only identify larger plaque morphologies, while high-definition probes with hundreds of channels can clearly distinguish the thickness of the fibrous cap, the size of the lipid core, and small ulcers within the plaque, directly assisting clinicians in assessing plaque vulnerability and stroke risk. With the continuous increase in clinical demand for high-definition imaging and bedside portable ultrasound, ultrasound probes are rapidly developing towards multi-element, miniaturized, and lightweight designs: the imaging channels of a single probe have gradually upgraded from dozens to hundreds, or even millions, to achieve more refined tissue imaging and richer diagnostic functions; at the same time, the probe housing needs to be adapted to clinical holding and operating habits, and the overall outer diameter and weight are strictly limited. Under this trend, in addition to transmitting massive amounts of ultrasonic echo analog signals, a single probe also needs to integrate auxiliary electrical circuits such as array element drive power supply and temperature sensing, which puts forward increasingly stringent requirements on the channel density, signal transmission quality and installation size constraints of the connection interface between the probe and the host.

[0003] Circular connectors are the mainstream connection interface between medical ultrasound probes and main equipment. Their structure naturally adapts to the cylindrical holding shell of the probe, facilitating circumferential sealing and insertion / removal guidance. They possess unique advantages such as reliable connection, easy protection, and adaptability to rotational operation, making them an irreplaceable interface type in the field of medical probes. Unlike general industrial circular connectors, ultrasound probe-specific circular connectors face multiple constraints: First, the connector's outer diameter is strictly limited by the probe shell size, making it impossible to increase the number of channels by unlimited enlargement of the shell size; second, the core signal transmitted is a millivolt-level analog ultrasound echo signal, which is extremely sensitive to electromagnetic crosstalk, and signal interference directly degrades image quality and affects diagnostic accuracy; third, they need to adapt to clinical usage scenarios involving frequent insertion / removal, surface disinfection, and long-term stable operation, placing higher standards on connection reliability, ease of operation, and service life, making it impossible to directly apply the design solutions of general industrial connectors.

[0004] Existing circular connectors for medical ultrasound probes mostly adopt a traditional integrated layout. For example, the handheld B-ultrasound miniature connector disclosed in Chinese utility model patent CN202840087U uses an integrated insulating base with a ring-shaped arrangement of sockets. From a spatial geometry perspective, the effective area of ​​the circular base decreases non-linearly with decreasing radius. The number of terminals that can be arranged in the inner ring is very limited, and the outer arc-shaped edge area is also difficult to utilize efficiently, resulting in an inherent structural bottleneck in overall space utilization. Under the constraint of the probe's fixed outer diameter, this type of structure cannot support high-density imaging channels of more than 100 channels. This directly leads to the current high-end multi-element probes being forced to reduce the number of elements or increase the probe's grip diameter during design—the former sacrifices clinical diagnostic accuracy, and the latter reduces operational comfort and scanning flexibility, both of which run counter to core clinical needs.

[0005] From the perspective of signal transmission principles, as channel density increases and terminal spacing decreases, the electromagnetic coupling effect between adjacent circuits significantly strengthens, and the signal crosstalk level increases with the number of channels. The structure of an integral insulating base makes it difficult to achieve effective electromagnetic isolation within a limited circular space through structural optimization, and it cannot suppress the increased crosstalk caused by high-density arrangement. Since the amplitude of ultrasonic echo signals is only at the millivolt level, noise introduced by crosstalk can easily overwhelm the effective signal, leading to image artifacts or blurring, which can adversely affect imaging quality and increase the potential risk of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

[0006] From a technological and clinical operation perspective, the high-density terminals of the integrated base are difficult to assemble and have a low production yield. During use, damage to a single terminal necessitates replacing the entire connector set, resulting in high equipment maintenance costs. More importantly, the space constraints of the miniaturized housing severely limit the design space of existing locking mechanisms, limiting them to a single locking method: while threaded locking offers reliable connections, it requires multiple rotations each time the probe is changed during clinical scanning, leading to lengthy operations and hindering rapid probe changes and treatment in emergency bedside settings; while quick-lock structures are convenient to operate, their resistance to accidental pulling and vibration is weak, posing a risk of loosening during intraoperative or bedside movement and interrupting the scanning process, directly impacting the continuity and safety of the treatment workflow. A single locking method cannot simultaneously achieve both clinical operational efficiency and connection reliability.

[0007] In summary, existing circular connectors for medical ultrasound probes, limited by their structural principles and dimensions, cannot simultaneously meet the comprehensive requirements of high-density channels, low signal crosstalk, high connection reliability, and low maintenance costs while adapting to the miniaturized installation requirements of the probes. This has become one of the important technical bottlenecks restricting the development of high-performance miniaturized ultrasound probes and affecting the improvement of clinical accuracy in diagnosis. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of this invention is to provide a circular connector and device for a medical ultrasound probe with a partitioned arrangement structure, which aims to solve the problems of limited channel load-bearing capacity and electromagnetic interference caused by the mixed arrangement of signal and auxiliary circuits in existing circular connectors for medical ultrasound probes under the constraint of a given outer diameter, and to improve channel density and signal transmission stability without increasing the connector installation size.

[0009] The technical solution of this invention is as follows: A multi-channel circular connector for a medical ultrasound probe includes a plug and a socket that are interlocked. Both the plug and the socket have a circular insulating base. Multiple sets of parallel, chordally arranged elongated insulating components are arranged within the circular insulating base. These elongated insulating components carry ultrasound imaging signals. The circular insulating base also has auxiliary electrical contact hole groups arranged in sections. The elongated insulating components and the auxiliary electrical contact hole groups are arranged in a mutually isolated manner within the circular insulating base.

[0010] The effect of the above solution is: 1. Improve space utilization based on geometric layout principles and break through the bottleneck of channel quantity under small outer diameter. From the perspective of geometric rules of planar arrangement, the holes in the traditional concentric ring arrangement are evenly distributed along the circumference. The number of holes in a single ring is proportional to the circumference of the location. The closer to the center of the circle, the fewer holes can be arranged. At the same time, the holes on the outer arc edge need to be adapted to the arc surface to adjust the spacing. The corner areas cannot be densely arranged, and a large amount of effective area is left idle.

[0011] This solution concentrates the signal holes within multiple sets of parallel chordal insulating components. The holes are densely arranged at equal intervals along a straight line, without being constrained by the radial circumference. The multiple sets of long strip components are arranged in parallel along the effective width of the circular base, which can make full use of the rectangular effective area of ​​the circular center region, fundamentally avoiding the geometric defects of "sudden reduction in the inner circle and waste in the outer circle" in the ring arrangement.

[0012] Under the condition of the same circular base outer diameter, the number of signal contact holes that can be arranged is significantly increased compared with the traditional ring arrangement. It can support more than 100 ultrasonic imaging channels without increasing the overall size of the connector, matching the miniaturization design requirements of multi-element ultrasonic probes.

[0013] 2. Functional partition isolation is achieved based on the principle of electromagnetic coupling, reducing crosstalk in weak signal transmission. From the basic principles of electromagnetic compatibility, the intensity of spatial electromagnetic crosstalk between different electrical circuits is negatively correlated with the physical distance between the circuits. The greater the distance, the greater the attenuation of the coupling interference. At the same time, power supply auxiliary circuits have current fluctuations, which are typical sources of interference. Ultrasonic imaging signals are millivolt-level analog signals, which are sensitive circuits. When the two are arranged in close proximity, the crosstalk effect is most significant.

[0014] This design centrally arranges the long, insulating components carrying the ultrasonic imaging signal into an independent signal zone, while the auxiliary electrical contact hole groups are independently partitioned at the base edge. The two zones are isolated from each other within the base. Firstly, the partitioned layout increases the physical distance between the interference source and the sensitive circuit, naturally attenuating the electromagnetic coupling strength through spatial distance. Secondly, the insulating isolation structure between the signal zone and the auxiliary zone further blocks the propagation path of electromagnetic radiation. No additional shielding materials or filtering devices are required; simply optimizing the structural layout effectively reduces electromagnetic crosstalk from the auxiliary circuit to the imaging signal, improves the transmission signal-to-noise ratio of the ultrasonic echo signal, and reduces the adverse effects of crosstalk noise on imaging clarity.

[0015] 3. Optimize processability based on modular decomposition principle to reduce production and maintenance costs. From the perspective of connector processing and assembly technology, the integral insulating base requires precision machining of all holes and assembly of contacts on a single part. If any hole is not machined properly or the contact assembly is incorrect, the entire base will be scrapped. The production yield is low under high-density hole positions. During product use, damage to a single area channel also requires replacement of the entire base, resulting in high maintenance costs.

[0016] This solution employs an independent, long, insulating component architecture. Each component can be individually machined, pre-assembled with contacts, and tested for continuity. After passing inspection, they are then uniformly assembled onto the main base. If a single component has a machining or assembly defect, only the corresponding component needs to be replaced, preventing the entire base from being scrapped. After the product is put into use, if a single channel malfunctions, the corresponding component can be independently disassembled and replaced without disassembling and replacing the entire insulating base. This effectively reduces the production and assembly difficulty and scrap rate of high-density circular connectors, while simplifying the subsequent maintenance process and material costs, and meeting the requirements for long-term stable operation of medical equipment.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment, the long strip insulation assembly is provided in multiple sets, and each set of the long strip insulation assembly has several contact holes. The long strip insulation assemblies of each set have the same structure and can be interchanged.

[0018] The effectiveness of the above solution lies in the following: based on the engineering principles of interchangeable production and modular maintenance, standardized and interchangeable structural units enable unified processes at the production end and rapid replacement at the maintenance end.

[0019] The existing integral insulating base is a single non-standard part. Each base needs to complete all hole machining and contact assembly separately, resulting in poor process consistency. A single defect can lead to the scrapping of the entire base. When the product is partially damaged during use, the entire base needs to be replaced, which results in high material and labor costs.

[0020] In this solution, the structures of each long strip insulation component are completely identical, and they are universally interchangeable: on the production side, mold opening, pre-installation of contacts, and continuity testing can be unified, resulting in higher process consistency and lower mass production costs; on the maintenance side, when a single component fails, only the corresponding single component needs to be replaced, without disassembling and replacing the entire insulation base.

[0021] Ultimately, this can improve the standardization of production, reduce manufacturing costs and scrap rates, while simplifying subsequent operation and maintenance and shortening equipment downtime for repairs.

[0022] In a further preferred embodiment, the contact holes in each group of the long strip insulating components are arranged according to the rule of alternating grounding holes and signal holes, and grounding isolation holes are provided between adjacent signal holes.

[0023] The above solution is effective because, based on the electromagnetic compatibility principle of electric field coupling crosstalk suppression, capacitive coupling between adjacent signal circuits is the main source of crosstalk for high-speed / weak signals. Inserting a grounding conductor between signal circuits can provide a low-impedance discharge path for the coupled electric field and block the direct coupling channel between adjacent signals.

[0024] When existing connectors are arranged in a high density, the signal holes are mostly arranged in a continuous and adjacent manner. The coupling capacitance between adjacent signal circuits is large, and the crosstalk intensity increases rapidly as the spacing decreases. However, the ultrasonic imaging signal is a millivolt-level analog weak signal, and even slight crosstalk can cause signal distortion.

[0025] This solution uses an alternating arrangement of grounding holes and signal holes within each group of long insulating components. A grounding isolation hole is set between any two adjacent signal holes, which is equivalent to inserting a grounding shield between every two signals, shunting the coupled electric field, reducing capacitive crosstalk, and at the same time, the grounding holes can be uniformly connected to the shielding ground to form a continuous equipotential shielding surface.

[0026] Ultimately, this can significantly reduce electromagnetic crosstalk between adjacent imaging signal loops, improve the signal-to-noise ratio and integrity of signal transmission, and meet the high-precision transmission requirements of weak signals in medical ultrasound.

[0027] In a further preferred embodiment, the auxiliary electrical contact hole group is divided into a side power contact area and a corner reserved contact area, and an insulating isolation structure is provided between the signal area where the long strip insulating component is located and the auxiliary electrical contact hole group.

[0028] The effectiveness of the above scheme is as follows: Based on the principle of electromagnetic compatibility zoning protection, the interference source and sensitive circuit are arranged according to functional zones, and the isolation is strengthened by physical barriers, which is the basic means to suppress crosstalk in the system.

[0029] The auxiliary circuit for power supply has current fluctuations, which are internal interference sources; the function of the reserved contact area is undetermined, which poses a potential interference risk; when the two are mixed with the ultrasonic signal sensitive area, the interference path is short and the coupling strength is high.

[0030] This solution divides the auxiliary electrical contact hole group into a side power contact area and a corner reserved contact area, both of which are arranged on the edge of the circular insulating base, forming a natural spatial distance from the centrally concentrated signal area; at the same time, an insulating isolation structure is set between the two areas to form a physical barrier, further blocking the direct propagation path of electromagnetic radiation.

[0031] Ultimately, the isolation effect between the signal area and the auxiliary circuit can be enhanced from two dimensions: spatial distance and physical barrier. This reduces the interference of power fluctuations on the imaging signal and also avoids the impact of the function adjustment of the reserved terminals on the stability of signal transmission.

[0032] In a further preferred embodiment, the long strip insulation component and the circular insulation base are plug-in assembled, and each contact is provided with an anti-retraction limiting structure, so that a single long strip insulation component can be independently disassembled and replaced.

[0033] The advantages of the above solution are: based on the modular quick-release assembly process principle, the plug-in toolless connection can greatly simplify the assembly and maintenance procedures.

[0034] When a single-channel fault occurs in the existing integrated base, the connector housing must be disassembled, the entire insulating base removed, and the faulty contacts removed one by one. This involves many steps and has a high maintenance threshold, making it difficult to complete in the clinical setting.

[0035] In this solution, the long insulating component and the main base are plug-in type. A single component can be directly pulled out or inserted along the axial direction without disassembling the shell or removing other normal components, so that the replacement of a single faulty component can be completed.

[0036] Ultimately, the maintenance operation can be simplified to a single step of "plug-and-play replacement", requiring no special tools or professional disassembly skills, which is suitable for the needs of rapid on-site maintenance of medical equipment and significantly reduces the time cost and operational threshold of maintenance.

[0037] In a further preferred embodiment, the plug includes a central housing and an outer housing sleeved on the outside of the central housing. The mating end of the outer housing is provided with a plurality of elastic locking claws with inner bevels in the circumferential direction. The outer wall of the mating end of the central housing is provided with a supporting bevel, the supporting bevel corresponding to the inner bevel of the elastic locking claw. When the tail locking cap is screwed in, it can push the outer housing to move axially. The elastic locking claw expands outward by the cooperation of the supporting bevel and the claw bevel, thereby achieving locking.

[0038] The above solution is effective because it is based on the mechanical principle of the combination of inclined plane force amplification and elastic locking: the inclined plane structure can convert axial force into radial expansion force, thus amplifying the force; the elastic chuck can achieve rapid pre-positioning after insertion, and the combination of the two can balance the convenience of operation and the reliability of locking.

[0039] The existing single quick-lock mechanism relies solely on the elastic force of the elastic claws for engagement. When subjected to external pulling or vibration, the claws are prone to retracting and loosening, resulting in insufficient connection reliability. The single threaded locking mechanism requires multiple rotations, leading to low efficiency in rapid clinical testing.

[0040] This design first utilizes the elastic deformation and rebound of the elastic claws to achieve rapid pre-positioning after the plug and socket are properly engaged. Then, the tail locking cap pushes the outer shell axially, causing the top inclined surface of the middle shell to press against the inner inclined surface of the elastic locking claws. This converts the axial thrust into a radial expansion force, mechanically restricting the claws' inward retraction and creating a second layer of locking. The force-amplifying effect of the inclined surfaces makes the locking strength far greater than structures relying solely on the elasticity of the claws themselves, structurally preventing accidental loosening caused by external pulling.

[0041] Ultimately, it retains the ease of operation of the quick-connect structure while possessing the high reliability of mechanical locking, making it suitable for the frequent insertion and removal requirements and the need to prevent accidental loosening in medical settings.

[0042] In a further preferred embodiment, the tail locking cap and the middle housing are engaged by a threaded connection, and rotating the tail locking cap can drive it to reciprocate along the plug axis.

[0043] The above solution is effective because, based on the mechanical principle of self-locking and precise feeding of threaded transmission, threaded meshing transmission can convert rotational motion into precise axial linear motion and has reverse self-locking characteristics, so it will not loosen on its own when subjected to axial reaction force.

[0044] If a direct-push locking structure is used, relying solely on interference fit or snap-fit ​​for positioning, it is prone to shifting and loosening on its own when affected by vibration or temperature changes, resulting in an unstable locking state.

[0045] This solution drives the tail locking cap to move axially through thread engagement. The axial position of the tail locking cap is precise and controllable. After being screwed in, the thread has self-locking capability and will not move backward due to vibration, pulling, or temperature deformation. The locking state is stable for a long time.

[0046] Ultimately, this ensures that the locking position of the tail cap is accurate and reliable, with no risk of accidental loosening. At the same time, the torque of the rotation operation is uniform, resulting in better consistency in the feel during clinical use.

[0047] In a further preferred embodiment, seals are provided on the mating surfaces of the plug and socket, the panel mounting surface of the socket, the fitting gap between the circular insulating base and the housing, and the cable channel at the tail of the plug.

[0048] The effectiveness of the above solution lies in the following: based on the principle of multi-barrier fluid sealing, liquid intrusion into the connector requires penetration along the mating gap. By setting sealing barriers on all potential penetration paths and blocking the penetration channels step by step, a high level of protection can be achieved.

[0049] Existing medical connectors often only have a single seal on the mating end face. The panel mounting gap, the mating gap between the base and the housing, and the gap of the tail cable can easily become bypasses for liquid penetration and cannot withstand frequent surface disinfection and wiping.

[0050] This solution incorporates seals at the mating surfaces of the plug and socket, the panel mounting surface of the socket, the fit gap between the circular insulating base and the housing, and the cable channel at the end of the plug. These seals cover all possible liquid penetration paths, forming multiple series of sealing barriers to progressively block liquid intrusion.

[0051] Ultimately, this can improve the overall protection capability of the connector, making it suitable for alcohol wiping and surface disinfection requirements in medical scenarios, preventing disinfectant liquid from entering the interior and causing contact oxidation and short circuits, and ensuring electrical reliability for long-term use.

[0052] In a further preferred embodiment, the cable channel at the tail of the plug is provided with a cable clamping and stress relief structure, and each contact element adopts a welded connection to adapt to micro coaxial cables.

[0053] The above solution is effective because, based on the principles of stress dispersion and mechanical buffering, if the stress of the cable under tension and bending is directly transmitted to the core wire welding point, it is easy to cause core breakage and desoldering. By clamping the sheath and buffering the bending, the stress can be dispersed to the outer layer of the cable with higher strength, protecting the fragile welding point inside.

[0054] The micro coaxial cable that comes with the ultrasonic probe has a thin wire diameter and a fragile core wire. The solder joint is the weak point of the entire cable. The existing tail structure is mostly a simple wire threading. The tensile force and bending stress are directly applied to the solder joint. Frequent movement and bending can easily cause open circuit failure.

[0055] This solution incorporates a clamping and stress-relief structure in the cable channel at the tail end. By clamping the cable sheath, external tensile force is absorbed, distributing stress across the sheath layer. Simultaneously, a tapered end buffers the cable bending angle, preventing stress concentration at the welding points. The contacts utilize welded wiring, compatible with the fine-core wire welding process of micro-coaxial cables, ensuring low signal loss and high stability in signal transmission.

[0056] Ultimately, this can improve the tensile and bending resistance of cable connections, reduce the probability of solder joint breakage and failure, extend the service life of probe cables, and adapt to clinical probe usage scenarios involving frequent movement and bending.

[0057] An ultrasound testing device includes an ultrasound probe and a main unit. A socket is fixedly installed on the panel of the main unit, and a plug is connected to the tail cable of the ultrasound probe. The plug and the socket are engaged and cooperated, forming the above-mentioned multi-channel circular connector for medical ultrasound probes.

[0058] The effect of the above solution is that, based on the principle of system interface compatibility, the interface performance of the whole device directly restricts the upper limit of the terminal function.

[0059] The panel interfaces of existing ultrasonic testing equipment are limited by the channel density of traditional circular connectors, and the number of probe channels that a single interface can support is limited, which restricts the upgrading of imaging performance of high-element probes; at the same time, internal interface failures require the replacement of the entire unit, resulting in high maintenance costs.

[0060] By applying the multi-channel circular connector of this solution to ultrasonic testing equipment, the channel carrying capacity of a single interface can be improved without changing the panel interface installation size, supporting ultrasonic probe configurations with higher array element counts; at the same time, the long strip insulation component inside the interface can be replaced independently, making equipment operation and maintenance more convenient.

[0061] Ultimately, this can increase the upper limit of the imaging channel configuration of ultrasound testing equipment, support higher-definition diagnostic imaging capabilities, and reduce the maintenance costs and downtime of equipment interfaces.

[0062] Compared with existing technologies, the circular medical ultrasound probe connector with a partitioned layout provided by this invention uses multiple sets of parallel, chordally arranged long insulating components within a circular insulating base to centrally carry imaging signals. These components are further isolated from each other by partitioned auxiliary electrical contact hole groups, achieving high-density signal channel arrangement and spatial decoupling of different functional circuits. Furthermore, each long insulating component adopts a modular design with consistent structure and interchangeable installation, supporting independent disassembly and replacement, effectively reducing the production and assembly difficulty and subsequent maintenance costs of high-density connectors. This invention systematically reconstructs the internal architecture of the circular connector from three dimensions: spatial geometric arrangement, electromagnetic compatibility partitioning, and modular assembly. Without increasing the installation size, it simultaneously resolves three mutually restrictive technical contradictions: high-density channel integration, weak signal crosstalk suppression, and improved maintainability. This provides a suitable connection interface solution for a new generation of high-performance miniaturized ultrasound probes and has significant industrial application value. Attached Figure Description

[0063] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the circular connector for a medical ultrasound probe with a partitioned layout in this invention.

[0064] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the plug in the circular connector of the medical ultrasound probe with a partitioned arrangement structure of the present invention.

[0065] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the plug after concealing the long insulating component and connectors.

[0066] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A magnified view of part A in the middle.

[0067] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the long insulating component and the circular insulating base after assembly in the plug.

[0068] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the circular insulating base used in the plug.

[0069] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the long insulating component used in the plug.

[0070] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the socket in the circular connector for a medical ultrasound probe with a partitioned arrangement structure according to the present invention.

[0071] Figure 9 This is an exploded view of the socket in the circular connector of the medical ultrasound probe with a partitioned arrangement structure of the present invention.

[0072] Figure 10 This is a perspective view showing the positional relationship of the elongated insulating component, circular insulating base, signal contact, and auxiliary electrical contact in the socket after assembly.

[0073] Figure 11 This is a top view showing the positional relationship of the elongated insulating component, circular insulating base, signal contact, and auxiliary electrical contact in the socket after assembly.

[0074] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the circular insulating base used in the socket of this invention.

[0075] Figure 13 This is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the elongated insulating component and the signal contact component in the socket after assembly, as described in this invention.

[0076] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the foolproof positioning structure in this invention.

[0077] Figure label: 100: Plug 110: Tail locking cap 120: Plug inner shell 130: Middle Shell 131a: Supporting inclined surface 132: Foolproof positioning boss 140: Outer shell 141: Elastic locking claw 141a: Claw abuts against inclined surface 150: First long strip insulation assembly 160: First auxiliary electrical contact 170: First circular insulating base 171: First base body 172: First auxiliary electrical contact hole group 173: First module mounting slot 200: Socket 210: Inner panel mounting nuts 220: Seal 230: Outer panel mounting nuts 240: Socket housing 241: Anti-foolproof positioning groove 250: Second signal contact 260: Second circular insulating base 261: Second module mounting slot 262: Second auxiliary electrical contact hole group 270: Second auxiliary electrical contact 280: Second long strip insulation assembly Detailed Implementation The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention and are used to explain the technical solution of the present invention, rather than limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. Other modifications, substitutions, and implementation schemes that can be obtained by those skilled in the art based on the core concept of the present invention without creative effort are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0078] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "axial", "radial", "circumferential", "inner", "outer", etc., are based on the coordinate system shown in the accompanying drawings and are used only to simplify the structural description, rather than limiting the components to be in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention.

[0079] This embodiment discloses a multi-channel circular connector for medical ultrasound probes, applied in ultrasound testing equipment to achieve electrical connection between the ultrasound probe and the main unit of the equipment, enabling simultaneous transmission of ultrasound imaging signals, power supply, and reserved sensing signals. Addressing the inherent shortcomings of existing medical circular connectors—insufficient channel density, weak signal crosstalk suppression, and high maintenance costs due to small outer diameter constraints—this solution specifically improves the contact arrangement architecture within the insulating base. Through the parallel arrangement and functional partitioning design of a modular elongated structure, it overcomes the space utilization bottleneck of traditional circular connector ring arrangements without increasing the connector's mounting outer diameter, while simultaneously improving signal isolation performance and maintenance manufacturability, thus adapting to the clinical application needs of miniaturized, multi-element ultrasound probes.

[0080] This multi-channel circular connector includes a plug 100 and a socket 200 that interlock and mate with each other, such as Figure 1 As shown. The tail of plug 100 is integrated with the cable of the ultrasonic probe and moves with the probe. Socket 200 is fixedly installed on the main panel of the ultrasonic testing equipment, serving as the standard input interface of the equipment. After plug 100 and socket 200 are inserted into place, they are mechanically fixed by a locking mechanism, and the internal contacts are connected one-to-one to complete the transmission of signals and electrical energy. Functionally, the connector includes, from the outside to the inside, a shell locking layer, a sealing and protective layer, an insulating base layer, and a contact transmission layer. The shell locking layer provides mechanical connection and prevents loosening between plug 100 and socket 200; the sealing and protective layer is distributed at each mating gap to block liquid penetration and meet medical disinfection and protection requirements; the insulating base layer is the main support for the contacts and the core improvement carrier of this solution; the contact transmission layer provides electrical connection and is pre-installed inside the insulating base. Existing circular connectors for medical ultrasound probes generally adopt an architecture with an integral insulating base and annular hole arrangement. The core improvement of this solution focuses on the arrangement of the insulating base layer. The other functional layers are all designed to adapt to the core arrangement architecture, together forming a complete product solution.

[0081] Plug side structure The explosive disassembly structure of plug 100 is as follows: Figure 2 As shown, from the tail to the mating end, it includes a tail locking cap 110, a plug inner shell 120, a middle shell 130, an outer shell 140, a first circular insulating base 170, a first long strip insulating assembly 150, and corresponding contacts.

[0082] The internal cross-sectional structure of plug 100 behind the concealed long insulating component and contacts is as follows: Figure 3 As shown, the outer shell 140 has four elastic locking claws 141 circumferentially arranged at its mating end, and the inner wall of each elastic locking claw 141 has a claw abutment slope 141a. The outer wall of the mating end of the middle shell 130 has a supporting slope 131a. The supporting slope 131a and the claw abutment slope 141a are positioned and angled to match, and the details of their engagement are as follows. Figure 4As shown. The tail locking cap 110 is sleeved on the outer side of the tail of the middle housing 130. The two are engaged by threaded connection. Rotating the tail locking cap 110 can drive it to reciprocate along the axial direction of the middle housing 130. When the tail locking cap 110 is screwed into the mating end, it pushes the outer housing 140 to move axially towards the mating end in sync. The elastic locking claw 141 moves forward in sync with the outer housing 140. The claw abutting inclined surface 141a and the supporting inclined surface 131a abut against each other, converting the axial thrust into the radial expansion force, forcing the elastic locking claw 141 to expand outward and engage in the engaging groove on the inner wall of the socket 200, thereby locking and fixing the plug 100 and the socket 200. When the tail locking cap 110 is rotated back to the tail, the outer shell 140 moves backward, and the top holding inclined surface 131a releases the radial constraint on the elastic locking claw 141. The elastic locking claw 141 elastically resets and retracts, disengaging from the engagement groove of the socket 200, thus completing the unlocking.

[0083] When the tail locking cap 110 is tightened, the cable sheath can be clamped and fixed and stress is relieved simultaneously, preventing the stress of the cable under tension and bending from being directly transmitted to the internal contact welding points, thus ensuring the reliability of the wiring.

[0084] The first circular insulating base 170 is housed inside the middle housing 130, and its outer wall is fitted against the inner wall of the middle housing 130. The mating end face of the plug inner housing 120 abuts against the tail end face of the first circular insulating base 170 from the tail side, and the annular protrusion on the inner wall of the middle housing 130 presses against the mating end face of the first circular insulating base 170 from the mating side. The first circular insulating base 170 is reliably fixed through bidirectional axial limiting. The first circular insulating base 170 is integrally molded from medical-grade insulating material, possessing resistance to disinfection and corrosion, high insulation strength, and sufficient mechanical strength. It can withstand repeated wiping with medical disinfectants while ensuring the positional accuracy of the contacts. The first circular insulating base 170 is cylindrical in shape, with an annular limiting step and a sealing installation groove on its outer wall. It is used to assemble and position with the middle housing 130 and cooperate with the sealing element 220 to achieve gap sealing. The mating end face of the base is a flat mating surface, and the edge is provided with a circumferential positioning structure to limit the unique insertion angle of the plug 100 and the socket 200, so as to avoid damage to the contact element by misinsertion.

[0085] The independent structure of the first circular insulating base 170 is as follows: Figure 6As shown, the interior is axially continuous, with multiple first module mounting slots 173 extending parallel to each other along the chord direction. Each first module mounting slot 173 is a through-type slot with a guide chamfer at the opening and an axial limiting step at the bottom. The cross-sectional dimensions of each mounting slot are completely identical, used for inserting the first long strip insulation assembly 150. The first module mounting slots 173 are arranged parallel to the chord direction of the circular base, fully adapting to the radial dimensions of the circle, maximizing the effective length of the slots, and thus ensuring that a single first long strip insulation assembly 150 can accommodate more contact holes.

[0086] The parallel arrangement referred to here means that multiple sets of first long strip insulation components 150 are arranged parallel to each other and along the chord direction of the circular insulation base.

[0087] It should be noted that the circular insulating base described in this solution refers to an insulating load-bearing structure whose overall outer contour adapts to the inner cavity of a circular connector shell. Its core determination criterion is that the main body's outer contour is circular and can be assembled with the circular shell. This structure includes both a single, injection-molded, complete circular insulating component and a combined base structure assembled from multiple independent insulating parts, resulting in a circular overall outer contour. The base's interior can be configured with mounting slots, cutout areas, and partitions according to functional layout requirements; the shape of the internal solids does not affect its status as a circular insulating base. Those skilled in the art can choose between a single-piece molding or a modular assembly implementation based on assembly processes, shielding requirements, and other practical conditions; such conventional adjustments fall within the scope of protection of this solution.

[0088] The assembly positional relationship between the first elongated insulating component 150 and the first circular insulating base 170 is as follows: Figure 5 As shown. Multiple sets of first long strip insulating components 150 arranged in parallel chordal directions are arranged within the first circular insulating base 170 (in this scheme, both the first and second long strip insulating components are long strip insulating components; the naming distinction is only used to clarify the corresponding structure on the plug and socket sides and does not deviate from the protection scope of this scheme). The independent structure of the first long strip insulating component 150 is as follows... Figure 7As shown, it is an independent modular structure, consisting of an insulating base and multiple contacts pre-installed within the base, primarily used to carry ultrasonic imaging signals. The first long insulating components 150 of each group have identical external dimensions and hole arrangements, possessing universal interchangeability. The first long insulating component 150 is generally elongated columnar, with multiple through-holes for contact mounting along its length. After the contacts are pre-installed inside these holes, the entire first long insulating component 150 is assembled into the first module mounting groove 173 of the first circular insulating base 170. The outer wall of the component is provided with guide ridges that engage with the guide chamfer of the first module mounting groove 173, enabling rapid guidance and alignment during insertion into the base. The mating surface between the component and the base is provided with an axial limiting boss, which, after insertion, abuts against the limiting step of the first module mounting groove 173, ensuring that the rear end face is flush and the coaxiality of the contacts meets the docking requirements. The insulating base of the first long insulating component 150 is divided into a mating section and a welding operation section. The mating section has higher hole position accuracy to ensure the coaxiality of the mating contact. The welding operation section has more operating space to facilitate the welding operation of micro coaxial cables. The two sections are integrally formed, which not only ensures the mating accuracy but also optimizes the welding process.

[0089] The first long strip insulation component 150 is a long strip-shaped insulation bearing unit. Its cross-section can be set to various forms such as rectangle or irregular shape with bosses according to assembly requirements. As long as it extends along the length direction and the contact parts can be densely arranged, it meets the definition of a long strip insulation component described in this solution. The consistent structure and interchangeable installation of each group of components means that their external mounting interface dimensions and hole layout specifications are matched, which can realize universal assembly in any slot. Differences in chamfering and positioning details of the components do not affect their interchangeability.

[0090] The first long strip insulating component 150 is used to carry ultrasonic imaging signals. This means that the component provides a transmission channel for ultrasonic imaging signals through pre-installed internal contacts. This functional description has a clear contact structure as a carrier and is not a purely functional limitation. In addition to ultrasonic imaging signals, the first long strip insulating component 150 can also carry other types of weak analog signals according to actual needs. Its structure itself has versatility.

[0091] In one specific embodiment, a total of 5 groups of first long strip insulating components 150 are provided. Each group of first long strip insulating components 150 has 41 contact holes. The 5 groups of first long strip insulating components 150 arranged in parallel chords can maximize the use of the effective central area within the predetermined outer diameter of the circular base. The 41 contact holes in each group are adapted to the arrangement rule of alternating grounding and signaling of ultrasonic signals, which can form a complete shielding cycle and ensure that both ends of the component end with grounding holes, forming a continuous shielding boundary.

[0092] The following comparison of the number of connectors is based on well-known and generally accepted design principles in the connector industry and medical ultrasound interface field. The relevant design constraints are common design consensus among those skilled in the art: The reference standard is a circular insulating base with the same outer diameter, φ25mm, which is a common base specification for small medical ultrasonic circular connectors; Insulation edge distance requirement: The minimum insulation distance from the contact hole wall to the outer edge of the base is ≥1mm, which meets the general specifications for insulation withstand voltage of medical equipment; Contact hole specifications: Signal contact hole diameter φ0.8mm, compatible with standard contacts commonly used in ultrasonic micro coaxial cables; Hole center distance: 1.27mm, or 0.05 inches, is the common standard pitch for high-density signal connectors, taking into account both injection molding processability and electrical insulation performance; Engineering constraints: Traditional integral circular insulating bases are limited by injection molding deep hole forming process. When the length-to-diameter ratio of hole depth to hole diameter is too large, the mold complexity and demolding defect rate increase sharply. At the same time, the radial output of micro coaxial lines at the tail needs to reserve bending space. Therefore, in engineering practice, only 2 to 3 rings are usually arranged, and pure geometric close arrangement cannot be achieved.

[0093] Under the same constraints mentioned above, the traditional multi-ring concentric ring arrangement is calculated based on the commonly used 3-ring arrangement in engineering: The center radius of the outermost hole = 12.5mm - 1mm - 0.4mm = 11.1mm The first ring, the outermost ring, has a circumference of approximately 69.7 mm and can accommodate approximately 55 holes. Second ring: radius 9.83mm, circumference approximately 61.8mm, can accommodate approximately 48 holes. The third ring: radius 8.56mm, circumference approximately 53.8mm, can accommodate approximately 42 holes. The 3-ring design allows for approximately 145 holes; the more common 2-ring arrangement in the industry yields approximately 103 holes. Increasing the number of rings further would severely restrict the inner ring area due to limitations in the tail cable bending space and injection molding yield, significantly reducing mass production feasibility.

[0094] Correspondingly, the preferred embodiment of this solution, under the constraints of equal base outer diameter, equal hole center distance, and equal edge distance, employs five sets of long strip insulating components arranged in parallel chords, with 41 contact holes per set, enabling a total of 205 signal channels. This significantly improves channel capacity compared to the traditional ring arrangement, representing a customized optimal design for a specific scenario, rather than a conventional parameter selection in this field. In practical applications, the number of sets of long strip insulating components and the number of holes per set can be flexibly adjusted according to the total number of probe channels and the base outer diameter, for example, setting 3, 4, 6, or more sets, with corresponding adjustments to the number of holes per set. Such conventional adjustments to these parameters do not deviate from the core concept of this solution.

[0095] In this preferred embodiment, the signal contact uses a stamped PIN conductor. Compared to traditional machined PIN conductors, stamped PIN conductors occupy less radial space, allowing for smaller hole center distance designs and further reducing the spacing to increase channel density. Simultaneously, the stamping process is more suitable for mass production, improving production efficiency, reducing manufacturing costs, and meeting the mass production needs of high-density connectors. In practical applications, the contact forming method can be flexibly selected based on cost and performance requirements; machining, die casting, and other forming methods are all conventional equivalent replacements for this solution.

[0096] Each contact is equipped with a barbed anti-retraction limiting structure at its mating point with the first long strip insulation assembly 150. The outer wall of the contact has elastic barbs, and the inner wall of the contact hole has a corresponding groove. After the contact is pressed into the hole from the wiring end, the elastic barb engages in the groove, achieving axial reverse locking. During insertion and removal, the contact will not retract along with the pin at the mating end. Compared with the conventional tight-fit crimping method, the axial holding force of the barbed anti-retraction structure is significantly improved, which can withstand higher frequency insertion and removal operations. The probability of contact loosening and failure is greatly reduced, making it suitable for the high insertion and removal life requirements of medical connectors. Each of the first long insulating components 150 has an asymmetrical anti-foolproof protrusion on its cross section, and the first module mounting groove 173 of the first circular insulating base 170 has a corresponding anti-foolproof groove. The first long insulating component 150 can only be inserted into the base when the orientation is correct. It cannot be assembled in the opposite direction. This can avoid the problem of reverse insertion of components during production assembly and later maintenance, reduce the assembly error rate, and at the same time ensure the accurate docking sequence of signal holes, eliminating the risk of signal disorder, short circuit and other risks caused by misconnection.

[0097] The first circular insulating base 170 is also divided into sections with first auxiliary electrical contact hole groups 172 for supporting auxiliary electrical circuits such as power supply and sensor pre-installation. The first auxiliary electrical contact hole group 172 refers to the set of holes on the first circular insulating base 170 for supporting auxiliary electrical circuit contacts. These holes are axially penetrating mounting structures, and corresponding first auxiliary electrical contacts 160 can be assembled inside according to docking requirements. Correspondingly, the contact mounting holes on the elongated insulating assembly also serve as mounting carriers for the contacts. The holes themselves are mounting structures on the insulating base, and electrical transmission is achieved through embedded contacts. The structure of the first auxiliary electrical contact 160 is consistent with the principle of signal contacts, adjusting the wire diameter and contact area only according to current carrying requirements to meet the electrical performance requirements of different circuits.

[0098] The first elongated insulating component 150 and the first auxiliary electrical contact hole group 172 are arranged in a mutually isolated manner within the first circular insulating base 170, forming a functional partition layout. This mutual isolation arrangement includes, but is not limited to, various implementation methods such as separation through insulating solid structures, isolation through increased spatial distance, and enhanced isolation through shielding structures; its core lies in forming functional partitions between the signal transmission area and the auxiliary electrical area in spatial layout, avoiding the close mixing of different functional circuits, rather than limiting it to a specific isolation structure. Those skilled in the art, under the concept of this partitioned layout, may choose any combination of one or more isolation methods such as isolation ribs, isolation grooves, and shielding sheets, all of which fall within the protection scope of this solution.

[0099] The first auxiliary electrical contact hole group 172 is divided into a side power contact area and a corner reserved contact area. The side power contact areas are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the area of ​​the first long strip insulating component 150, and are used to carry the power supply circuit required for probe operation. The corner reserved contact areas are arranged at the corners of the first circular insulating base 170, and are used to carry reserved functional circuits such as temperature sensing, probe encoding recognition, and status feedback. The single hole current carrying capacity of the power contact area is higher than that of the signal hole, and the hole spacing is also increased accordingly, which can meet the dual requirements of current carrying temperature rise and insulation withstand voltage. The hole specifications of the reserved contact area are consistent with those of the signal area, which can be directly reused when the product function is upgraded in the future without redesigning the base structure. An insulating isolation structure is provided between the signal area where the first long strip insulating component 150 is located and the first auxiliary electrical contact hole group 172. In one specific embodiment, an insulating isolation rib integrally formed with the first circular insulating base 170 is provided between the signal area and the first auxiliary electrical contact hole group 172. The isolation rib extends axially and its height is flush with the end face of the base, physically separating the signal area and the auxiliary area. This structure, on the one hand, increases the creepage distance between different functional circuits through the rib, improving the insulation withstand voltage performance; on the other hand, the solid structure of the rib can block part of the direct propagation path of electromagnetic radiation, further weakening the electromagnetic coupling of the auxiliary circuit to the signal circuit, improving the crosstalk suppression effect, and without requiring additional shielding devices, thus not increasing material costs. In addition to the isolation rib, those skilled in the art can also choose to set isolation grooves, fill insulating media, or add metal shielding sheets between areas to achieve isolation according to actual shielding requirements. Such conventional replacements are all within the protection scope of this solution.

[0100] The first elongated insulating component 150 and the first circular insulating base 170 are in a plug-in assembly relationship. The first module mounting slot 173 opened in the first circular insulating base 170 is clearance-fitted with the outer dimensions of the first elongated insulating component 150, and the fit tolerance meets the dual requirements of insertion and extraction force and positioning accuracy. The first elongated insulating component 150 can be inserted into the slot from the wiring end of the base axially and fixed axially by the limiting structure; it can also be pushed out axially to complete disassembly. A single first elongated insulating component 150 can be independently disassembled and replaced without disassembling other normal components or removing the entire first circular insulating base 170. The advantages of this modular assembly architecture are: during the production stage, each component can complete the pre-assembly and testing of the contact parts in parallel; if a single assembly defect occurs, only the corresponding component needs to be replaced, without scrapping the entire base; during the operation and maintenance stage, a single channel failure can be replaced individually, greatly reducing maintenance costs and operational difficulty. Compared to the integrated base where the entire base is scrapped if a single hole is damaged, the modular design can effectively reduce the production scrap rate and operation and maintenance costs, combining production economy and ease of use.

[0101] Each mating gap of the plug 100 is equipped with a sealing element 220, including a radial seal on the base and a cable seal at the tail, forming multiple sealing barriers to meet the protection requirements for surface disinfection in medical settings. The sealing element 220 can be a conventional form such as an O-ring, and its material and specifications can be flexibly selected according to the protection level, without deviating from the core concept of this solution.

[0102] Socket side structure The internal cross-sectional structure of socket 200 is as follows Figure 8 As shown, its explosive disassembly structure is as follows: Figure 9 As shown, from the mating end to the mounting end, it includes a socket housing 240, a second circular insulating base 260, a second long strip insulating component 280, a corresponding contact, an inner panel mounting nut 210 and an outer panel mounting nut 230.

[0103] The socket housing 240 is an integral cylindrical structure with external threads on its outer wall for engaging with the inner panel mounting nut 210 and the outer panel mounting nut 230 to fix the socket 200 to the equipment panel. The inner wall of the socket housing 240 has a locking groove for engaging with the elastic locking claw 141 of the plug 100 to achieve locking.

[0104] The second circular insulating base 260 is fixedly installed inside the socket housing 240. The structure of the second circular insulating base 260 is compatible with that of the first circular insulating base 170, and the contact positions on the mating end faces correspond one-to-one. The independent structure of the second circular insulating base 260 is as follows: Figure 12As shown, it has multiple sets of second module mounting slots 261 arranged parallel to each other along the chord direction for inserting the second long strip insulating component 280. The structural specifications of the second long strip insulating component 280 are the same as those of the first long strip insulating component 150, and the two are positioned correspondingly and inserted into each other. The assembly structure of the second long strip insulating component 280 and the second signal contact 250 is as follows. Figure 13 As shown, the second long strip insulation component 280 is pre-installed with the second signal contact 250. The second signal contact 250 is plugged into the signal contact on the plug side in a one-to-one correspondence to realize the transmission of ultrasonic imaging signals. In this embodiment, the second signal contact 250 also adopts a stamped PIN conductor, which matches the specifications of the plug side contact to ensure the fitting compatibility and processing consistency.

[0105] The three-dimensional assembly structure of the second elongated insulating component 280, the second circular insulating base 260, the second signal contact 250, and the second auxiliary electrical contact 270 is as follows: Figure 10 As shown, its top-view structure with end face arrangement is as follows Figure 11 As shown. The second circular insulating base 260 is provided with a second auxiliary electrical contact hole group 262 in sections. The second auxiliary electrical contact hole group 262 is pre-installed with a second auxiliary electrical contact 270. The second auxiliary electrical contact 270 corresponds to and is inserted into the first auxiliary electrical contact 160 to realize the conduction of the auxiliary electrical circuit.

[0106] From the perspective of the mating relationship between plug 100 and socket 200, the positions of the long insulating components and auxiliary electrical contact hole groups on the plug side and socket side correspond one-to-one. Specifically, a flexible socket structure can be installed in the contact mounting hole on the plug side, and a pin structure can be installed in the corresponding hole on the socket side. When the two are inserted, a pluggable electrical contact is formed. Alternatively, according to design requirements, the plug side can be configured as a pin and the socket side as a socket. The specific mating form of the contact components, such as crown spring sockets, wire spring sockets, and twisted pins, can be flexibly selected according to the insertion and removal life and contact resistance requirements, all without deviating from the core concept of this solution.

[0107] The socket 200 is equipped with sealing elements 220 at the mating end face, panel mounting surface, and the mating gap between the base and the housing, forming multiple sealing barriers to prevent liquid from seeping into the equipment from the mating gaps and panel openings, thus ensuring the long-term reliability of the electrical connection.

[0108] Mistake-proof positioning structure As a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a circumferential anti-foolproof positioning structure is provided between the plug and socket of the connector to limit the unique insertion angle between the two, preventing misaligned insertion, bending, and damage to the internal contacts. This anti-foolproof positioning structure adopts a form of boss and groove mating, with the mating structures located at the mating surfaces of the plug and socket. Its specific location can be flexibly selected according to spatial layout and assembly requirements; it can be located at the mating positions of the two side housings or at the mating positions of the insulating base and the corresponding housing, all without departing from the core concept of this solution.

[0109] In practical implementation, the cooperative configuration of the foolproof positioning structure is as follows: Figure 14 As shown, the outer wall of the mating end of the central housing 130 is provided with a foolproof positioning boss 132, and the inner wall of the mating end of the socket housing 240 is correspondingly provided with a foolproof positioning groove 241. During the plug-socket mating process, the plug and socket can only be fully mated when the foolproof positioning boss 132 is aligned and embedded in the foolproof positioning groove 241, thus achieving circumferential unique alignment. This structure can also play a circumferential limiting role during the parts assembly stage, ensuring that the assembly angles of the internal functional components are consistent and improving the consistency of the production process.

[0110] It should be noted that the technical improvement in this solution is not a simple superposition of multiple independent structures, but rather a complete technical solution formed by the synergistic effect of multiple structural features under multiple constraints such as miniaturized outer diameter, millivolt-level weak signal transmission, and reliability in medical scenarios. Each feature, when applied individually, has inherent limitations and cannot simultaneously solve all the technical problems addressed in this application. If only a modular structure of long insulating components is used, it is usually only suitable for rectangular bases and is difficult to apply directly to the circular shell of ultrasound probes. Moreover, without a partition isolation design, the signal crosstalk problem will be further aggravated under high-density arrangement, which cannot meet the transmission requirements of weak signals in ultrasound imaging. Without a matching reliable locking structure, it is also not suitable for clinical use scenarios with frequent plugging and unplugging.

[0111] If only the inclined expansion locking structure is used, it can only solve the single problem of connection loosening, but cannot improve channel density, suppress signal crosstalk, reduce operation and maintenance costs, and cannot break through the core performance bottleneck of circular connectors.

[0112] If partitioning is only done on the traditional ring-shaped base, it will further reduce the effective layout area and reduce the channel capacity, which contradicts the needs of miniaturization and multi-channel.

[0113] This solution achieves synergistic and complementary technical effects through the combined design of multiple sets of features: Synergistic combination of chordal parallel arrangement and zone isolation: The chordal parallel arrangement concentrates the signal contact holes in the middle of the base, maximizing the use of effective area to increase channel density; Zone isolation arranges interference circuits such as power supply and sensing at the edge of the base. The combination of the two, with the same base outer diameter, not only realizes more signal channels, but also increases the physical distance between interference sources and sensitive signals, simultaneously achieving the dual goals of high density and low crosstalk, avoiding the inherent contradiction that "increasing channels will aggravate crosstalk".

[0114] Modular pluggable structure and chordal arrangement work together: The long strip shape extending in the chordal direction is naturally adapted to the design of independent modules. The standardization of independent modules, in turn, reduces the difficulty of production and assembly and the later maintenance cost of the chordal arrangement structure. The two support each other and solve the common industry problem that "high density arrangement inevitably leads to low production yield and high operation and maintenance cost".

[0115] The inclined expansion locking and internal layout architecture work together: The locking structure relies on the cooperation between the outer shell and the middle shell, which does not occupy the internal layout space of the circular insulating base at all. Without increasing the overall outer diameter of the connector, it simultaneously achieves high-density channel layout and double locking reliability, breaking through the structural constraint that "miniaturized space cannot take into account reliable locking".

[0116] In summary, the combined effect of multiple features in this solution, under the hard constraint of limited connector outer diameter, simultaneously achieves four objectives: increased channel density, crosstalk suppression, reduced operation and maintenance costs, and enhanced locking reliability. It resolves multiple technical contradictions that cannot be addressed by single-dimensional improvements in existing technologies, and its overall technical effect exceeds the conventional expectations of those skilled in the art regarding the individual effects of each feature.

[0117] Description of Alternative Implementation Methods The core concept of this solution lies in the parallel arrangement of long insulating strips within a circular base, combined with a partitioned and isolated layout. Based on this, the outer structure can be adapted in various ways to suit different application scenarios, all of which fall within the protection scope of this solution. 1. Alternative forms of locking structure: The number of elastic locking claws can be set to 3, 5, 6, etc., according to the locking force requirements, and the inclination angle of the inclined plane can be adjusted within a reasonable range; in addition to the tail locking cap pushing the outer shell to move, the driving method can also adopt the form of directly rotating the locking screw to drive the claw expansion / contraction. As long as the structure realizes radial locking of the claw based on the inclined plane force amplification principle, it is an equivalent replacement for the locking structure of this solution.

[0118] 2. Alternative layout methods: Long insulating components can be arranged in parallel with equal length, or they can be arranged in parallel with varying lengths according to the radial dimensions of the circular base to maximize the use of corner space; Auxiliary electrical contact hole groups can be set as two symmetrical groups on the left and right, or as a multi-zone form with one group on one side and one group at the bottom. As long as the layout logic of separating the signal area from the auxiliary area is realized, it is within the scope of this solution.

[0119] 3. Alternative assembly methods: In addition to plug-in assembly, the long strip insulating components and the circular insulating base can also be permanently fixed by bonding, hot riveting, ultrasonic welding, etc. The change of fixing method does not affect the core structure of parallel chordal arrangement and zone isolation, and all are routine adjustments of this solution.

[0120] The technical improvements in this solution are not simply a replacement of a single structure, but a systematic optimization of multiple features working together. The parallel chordal arrangement of the long insulating components within the circular base solves the core problem of insufficient channel density under small outer diameters; the alternating grounding and signal arrangement within the components, combined with the isolation structure between areas, achieves low crosstalk signal transmission; the modular assembly and disassembly design simultaneously optimizes the manufacturability of production and maintenance; and the locking scheme driven by the expansion of the claws and the tail locking cap balances ease of operation and connection reliability within the small outer diameter housing space. All features work synergistically to meet the clinical needs of miniaturization, multi-channel operation, high reliability, and low maintenance, and their overall technical effect far exceeds the conventional expectations of those skilled in the art for improvements to a single structure.

[0121] The above description represents preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the implementation to the only possible embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make adaptive adjustments to the structural parameters based on the concept of the present invention, such as adjusting the number of groups and the number of holes in a single group of long insulating components, replacing the specific form of the insulating isolation structure, adjusting the number and bevel angle of the locking claws, and changing the cross-sectional form and material of the sealing element. Such conventional adjustments are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-channel circular connector for a medical ultrasound probe, comprising a plug and a socket that interlock, characterized in that: Both the plug and the socket are provided with a circular insulating base. Multiple sets of long insulating components arranged in parallel chords are arranged in the circular insulating base. The long insulating components are used to carry ultrasonic imaging signals. The circular insulating base is also provided with auxiliary electrical contact hole groups in sections. The long insulating components and the auxiliary electrical contact hole groups are arranged in isolation from each other in the circular insulating base.

2. The multi-channel circular connector for medical ultrasound probes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The long strip insulation assembly is provided in multiple sets, and each set of the long strip insulation assembly has several contact holes. The long strip insulation assemblies of each set have the same structure and can be interchanged.

3. The multi-channel circular connector for medical ultrasound probes according to claim 2, characterized in that: The contact holes in each group of the long insulating components are arranged according to the rule of alternating grounding holes and signal holes, and grounding isolation holes are provided between adjacent signal holes.

4. The multi-channel circular connector for medical ultrasound probes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The auxiliary electrical contact hole group is divided into a side power contact area and a corner reserved contact area. An insulation isolation structure is provided between the signal area where the long strip insulation component is located and the auxiliary electrical contact hole group.

5. The multi-channel circular connector for medical ultrasound probes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The long strip insulation component and the circular insulation base are assembled by plugging and unplugging. Each contact is equipped with an anti-retraction limit structure. Each long strip insulation component can be disassembled and replaced independently.

6. The multi-channel circular connector for medical ultrasound probes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plug includes a middle housing and an outer housing sleeved on the outside of the middle housing. The mating end of the outer housing is provided with a plurality of elastic locking claws with inner bevels in the circumferential direction. The outer wall of the mating end of the middle housing is provided with a supporting bevel, which corresponds to the inner bevel of the elastic locking claw. When the tail locking cap is screwed in, it can push the outer housing to move axially. The elastic locking claw expands outward by the cooperation of the supporting bevel and the claw bevel.

7. The multi-channel circular connector for medical ultrasound probes according to claim 6, characterized in that: The tail locking cap is threadedly engaged with the middle housing, and rotating the tail locking cap can cause it to reciprocate along the plug axis.

8. The multi-channel circular connector for medical ultrasound probes according to claim 1, characterized in that: Sealing elements are provided at the mating surfaces of the plug and socket, the panel mounting surface of the socket, the fitting gap between the circular insulating base and the housing, and the cable channel at the tail of the plug.

9. The multi-channel circular connector for medical ultrasound probes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cable channel at the end of the plug is equipped with a cable clamping and stress relief structure, and each contact uses a welded connection to accommodate micro coaxial cables.

10. An ultrasonic testing device, characterized in that: The device includes an ultrasound probe and a main unit. A socket is fixedly installed on the panel of the main unit, and a plug is connected to the tail cable of the ultrasound probe. The plug and the socket are engaged and cooperated, and the two constitute a multi-channel circular connector for a medical ultrasound probe as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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