Ultrasonic probe

Abstract

The ultrasonic probe comprises a holding part and a transducer assembly arranged at one end of the holding part and rotationally connected with the holding part, the transducer assembly comprises a main body part, a first transducer connected with the main body part and a second transducer connected with the main body part, and when the first transducer is in contact with a detected body and is in a working state, the second transducer is in contact with the detected body; the second transducer is not in contact with a detected body and is in a non-working state, and the first transducer and the second transducer are different types of transducers. The ultrasonic probe comprises the holding part and the transducer assembly arranged at one end of the holding part and rotationally connected with the holding part, the transducer can be selected to be used in a rotating mode under the condition that the ultrasonic probe is not replaced, and the operation difficulty of a scanning doctor is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of medical equipment, and in particular to an ultrasound probe used in the medical field. Background Art

[0002] Medical ultrasound equipment uses ultrasonic signals for imaging. Compared with X-ray imaging, PET imaging, MR imaging, etc., it has the characteristics of being radiation-free. In addition, medical ultrasound equipment has good portability and low scanning costs, so it has been increasingly widely used.

[0003] An ultrasound device consists of a main unit and an ultrasound probe connected to it. Ultrasound probes typically include linear array probes, convex array probes, and phased array probes. Different types of ultrasound probes can be used to scan different areas. For example, linear array probes can be used to scan superficial areas like blood vessels, convex array probes can be used to scan areas like the liver and kidneys, and phased array probes can be used to scan the heart. To ensure that a single ultrasound device can scan different areas, it typically requires multiple types of ultrasound probes.

[0004] During the scanning process, it is sometimes necessary to perform ultrasound scans on different parts of the patient, so the appropriate ultrasound probe needs to be replaced. At the same time, for portable ultrasound equipment, in order to meet the needs of ultrasound scanning of different parts, it is necessary to carry various types of ultrasound probes, which undoubtedly increases the weight of the ultrasound equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this application is to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art and to provide an ultrasound probe that is easy to operate and carry.

[0006] To achieve the above technical objectives, the present application provides an ultrasound probe, which includes a grip and a transducer assembly arranged at one end of the grip and rotatably connected to the grip, the transducer assembly including a main body, a first transducer connected to the main body, and a second transducer connected to the main body. When the first transducer is in contact with the subject and is in a working state, the second transducer is in non-contact with the subject and is in a non-working state. The first transducer and the second transducer are transducers of different types.

[0007] Furthermore, the first transducer is a linear array transducer, and the second transducer is a convex array transducer.

[0008] Furthermore, the holding portion includes a base, a first extension portion extending from the base, and a second extension portion extending from the base, a receiving space is provided between the first extension portion and the second extension portion, and the transducer assembly is rotatably arranged on the first extension portion and the second extension portion. When the first transducer contacts the subject, the second transducer is placed in the receiving space, and when the second transducer contacts the subject, the first transducer is placed in the receiving space.

[0009] Furthermore, when the first transducer or the second transducer is working, the central axis of the transducer assembly is coaxial with the central axis of the gripping portion, and the first transducer and the second transducer are respectively located at two ends of the main body.

[0010] Furthermore, the ultrasound probe further includes a fixing component, and when the first transducer or the second transducer is working, the fixing component is used to fix the transducer component.

[0011] Furthermore, the ultrasound probe further includes a battery and a control circuit for controlling the operation of the first transducer and the second transducer, and the battery and the control circuit are arranged in the gripping portion.

[0012] Furthermore, the ultrasound probe also includes a first rotating shaft connecting the transducer assembly to the first extension portion and a second rotating shaft connecting the transducer assembly to the second extension portion. The ultrasound probe also includes a conductive member that electrically connects the control circuit, the battery and the transducer assembly and passes through the first rotating shaft and / or the second rotating shaft.

[0013] Furthermore, the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are made of heat-insulating materials, and a gap is set between the transducer assembly and the first extension part, the second extension part and the base.

[0014] Furthermore, the ultrasonic probe further includes a third transducer provided at the other end of the gripping portion, and only one of the first transducer, the second transducer and the third transducer is in a working state.

[0015] Furthermore, the length directions of the first transducer, the second transducer and the third transducer are parallel.

[0016] The ultrasound probe of the present application includes a grip and a transducer assembly provided at one end of the grip and rotatably connected to the grip. Without replacing the ultrasound probe, the transducer to be used can be selected by rotation, thereby reducing the difficulty of operation for the scanning doctor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic probe of the present application when the linear array probe is in working state.

[0018] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the transducer assembly when rotating.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the ultrasound probe when the convex array probe is in working state.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the ultrasound probe of the present application from another direction.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an ultrasound probe in another embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present application more clearly understood, the specific embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description sets forth many specific details to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways than those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without violating the scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0023] To simplify the drawings, only the parts relevant to the present invention are schematically shown in each figure. They do not represent the actual structure of the product. Furthermore, to simplify the drawings and facilitate understanding, in some figures, only one of the components with the same structure or function is schematically depicted or labeled. As used herein, "one" not only means "only one" but also "more than one."

[0024] It should be further understood that the term "and / or" used in this specification and the appended claims refers to and includes any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0025] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed, detachable, or integral connections; mechanical or electrical connections; direct or indirect connections through an intermediary; and internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0026] In addition, in the description of the present application, the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used to distinguish the description and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0027] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings and other embodiments can be obtained based on these drawings without inventive work.

[0028] See also Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the present application provides an ultrasound probe 100, which includes a grip 2 and a transducer assembly 1 provided at one end of the grip 2 and rotatably connected to the grip 2. The transducer assembly 1 includes a main body 13, a first transducer 11 connected to the main body 13, and a second transducer 12 connected to the main body 13. When the first transducer 11 is in contact with the subject and is in a working state, the second transducer 12 is in non-contact with the subject and is in a non-working state. The first transducer 11 and the second transducer 12 are different types of transducers. Through the above arrangement, it is possible to inspect multiple parts of the subject without replacing the ultrasound probe 100, saving the doctor's time and reducing the cost of the ultrasound probe 100. For example, when scanning superficial tissue (such as blood vessels), the first transducer 11 can be used for scanning. When scanning deep tissue (such as the liver), the second transducer 12 can be used for scanning. Preferably, the first transducer 11 is a linear array transducer, and the second transducer 12 is a convex array transducer.

[0029] The gripping portion 2 includes a base 21, a first extension portion 221 extending from the base 21, and a second extension portion 222 extending from the base 21. A receiving space 223 is provided between the first extension portion 221 and the second extension portion 222. The transducer assembly 1 is rotatably mounted on the first extension portion 221 and the second extension portion 222. When the first transducer 11 is in contact with the subject, the second transducer 12 is placed in the receiving space 223. When the second transducer 12 is in contact with the subject, the first transducer 11 is placed in the receiving space 223. During operation, one transducer is placed inside the receiving space 223 and the other transducer is placed outside the receiving space 223. This prevents damage to the other transducer due to accidental contact while ensuring normal operation.

[0030] When the first transducer 11 or the second transducer 12 is in operation, the central axis of the transducer assembly 1 is coaxial with the central axis of the grip 2. The first transducer 11 and the second transducer 12 are located at opposite ends of the main body 13. When scanning an object, it is sometimes necessary to apply some force to the ultrasound probe 100 to achieve better image quality. Coaxially arranging the transducer assembly 1 and the grip 2 effectively transfers the force applied to the grip 2 to the transducer assembly 1.

[0031] In order to prevent the transducer assembly 1 from rotating during scanning, the ultrasonic probe 100 also includes a fixing assembly 4. When the first transducer 11 or the second transducer 12 is in operation, the fixing assembly 4 is used to fix the transducer assembly 1 to prevent rotation. The first extension portion 221 is provided with a receiving hole 226. The fixing assembly 4 includes an elastic member 42 disposed in the receiving hole 226 and a limiting member 41 disposed at one end of the elastic member 42. Under the action of the elastic member 42, the limiting member 41 can perform telescopic movement. The transducer assembly 1 is provided with a groove 13 that matches the limiting member 41. Figure 4 When the second transducer 12 is in working state, the end of the limiting member 41 is placed in the groove 13, thereby preventing the transducer assembly 1 from rotating. Figure 4 This is only a schematic illustration. In a specific design, multiple grooves and multiple fixing components can be set so that when the first transducer 11 is working, the fixing component can fix the transducer component 1 to prevent rotation; when the second transducer 12 is working, the fixing component can also fix the transducer component 1 to prevent rotation.

[0032] The ultrasound probe 100 further includes a battery 23 and a control circuit 24 for controlling the operation of the first transducer 11 and the second transducer 12. The battery 23 and the control circuit 24 are disposed in the grip 2. The battery 23 and the control circuit 24 are electrically connected to power the control circuit 24.

[0033] The ultrasound probe 100 also includes a first rotating shaft 224 connecting the transducer assembly 1 to the first extension 221, and a second rotating shaft 225 connecting the transducer assembly 1 to the second extension 222. The ultrasound probe 100 also includes a conductive member that electrically connects the control circuit 24 and the battery 23 to the transducer assembly 1 and passes through the first rotating shaft 224 and / or the second rotating shaft 225. In this embodiment, the conductive member includes a first conductive member 31 passing through the first rotating shaft 224 and a second conductive member 32 passing through the second rotating shaft 225. This application separates the battery 23 and the control circuit 21 from the transducer assembly 1 by placing them in the grip 2. This reduces the transfer of heat generated by the battery 23 and the control circuit 21 to the transducer assembly 1, thereby reducing the thermal impact of the heat on the transducer elements of the transducer assembly 1.

[0034] The transducer assembly 1 is provided with a gap between the first extension 221, the second extension 222 and the base 21. The first rotating shaft 224 and the second rotating shaft 225 are made of heat-insulating material, which further reduces the heat generated by the battery 23 and the control circuit 21 from being transferred to the transducer assembly 1.

[0035] During use, for example, to scan a blood vessel, the first transducer 11 is rotated to its operating position, with the second transducer 12 located within the receiving space 223. The fixing assembly 4 secures the transducer assembly 1 to prevent rotation. At this point, the central axis of the transducer assembly 1 is coaxial with the central axis of the grip 2. The power is turned on, and the battery 23 supplies power, placing the first transducer 11 in its operating position. The first transducer 11 is placed on the blood vessel. The control circuit 24 controls the first transducer 11 to generate an ultrasonic signal. The reflected ultrasonic signal is received by the first transducer and converted into an electrical signal. The control circuit 24 processes the electrical signal to generate an ultrasonic image. The ultrasonic image is displayed on the monitor. To image the liver of the same patient, the transducer assembly 1 is rotated, placing the first transducer 11 within the receiving space 223 and the second transducer 12 outside the receiving space 223. The fixing assembly 4 secures the transducer assembly 1. The second transducer 12 is placed at the site to be examined, transmitting ultrasonic signals and receiving reflected ultrasonic signals for ultrasonic imaging. Without replacing the ultrasound probe 100, different parts of the subject can be scanned, which saves the doctor's time and reduces the hospital's procurement cost. That is, one ultrasound probe 100 realizes the scanning function of two ultrasound probes.

[0036] Although the ultrasound probe 100 in this embodiment is provided with a battery 23 , in other embodiments, the ultrasound probe 100 may not be provided with a battery, that is, it may be electrically connected to an external power source via a wiring harness to power the ultrasound probe 100 .

[0037] The ultrasound probe 100 comprises a first housing 51 and a second housing 52 located within the grip 2. The first housing 51 and the outer wall of the grip 2 form a first isolation space 511 for accommodating the battery 23. The second housing 52 and the outer wall of the grip 2 form a second isolation space 521 for accommodating the control circuit 24. A first heat pipe 61 is provided within the first isolation space 511 to dissipate heat generated by the battery 23 to the outer wall of the grip 2. A second heat pipe 62 is provided within the second isolation space 521 to dissipate heat generated by the control circuit 24 to the outer wall of the grip 2. The first isolation space 511 and the first heat pipe 61 work together to transfer heat from the battery 23 to the outside world as quickly as possible to prevent it from affecting other components within the ultrasound probe 100. The second isolation space 521 and the second heat pipe 62 also work together to transfer heat generated by the control circuit 24 to the outside world as quickly as possible to prevent it from affecting other components within the ultrasound probe 100.

[0038] In order to prevent the user from accidentally touching the heat conducted out from the other end of the heat pipe during use, the other end of the heat pipe can be set in an area that the user will not touch, such as setting the other end of the heat pipe on the extension part, or setting it in the bottom area of ​​the grip part 2, and the end area of ​​the heat pipe is marked with a color to prevent the user from accidentally touching the hotter area.

[0039] Figure 5 Another embodiment of the ultrasound probe 100 is shown. Unlike the first embodiment, the ultrasound probe 100 further includes a third transducer 25 provided at the other end of the grip 2. In order to reduce power consumption, only one of the first transducer 11, the second transducer 12, and the third transducer 25 is in operation. In this embodiment, the first transducer 11 is a linear array probe, the second transducer 12 is a convex array probe, and the third transducer 25 is a phased array probe. This arrangement enables scanning of more parts of the subject. The first transducer 11 can scan blood vessels, thyroid gland, and other parts, the second transducer 12 can scan liver, kidneys, and other parts, and the third transducer 25 can scan the heart. Preferably, the length directions of the first transducer 11, the second transducer 12, and the third transducer 25 are parallel.

[0040] The ultrasound probe 100 can be equipped with a selector switch that allows the transducer to be set to its active state. For example, to activate the first transducer 11, simply flip the selector switch to a preset position. Automatic mode can also be configured, for example, by installing a pressure sensor on the transducer. When the transducer contacts the subject, the pressure sensor detects a pressure signal, activating the transducer. Automatic mode further reduces the operational complexity for the physician performing the scan.

[0041] In this application, the battery 23 and control circuit 24 are located within the handle 2. The weight of the battery 23 is greater than the weight of the transducer, and the center of gravity of the ultrasound probe 100 is located at the base 21 of the handle 2. If the ultrasound probe 100 is dropped from a height, the handle 2 will first hit the bottom surface due to the center of gravity, causing the lowered transducer to hit the ground first and damage the transducer element.

[0042] The above embodiments merely illustrate several implementation methods of the present application. While the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that a person of ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present application, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present patent application shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic probe, characterized in that: It includes a gripping portion and a transducer assembly arranged at one end of the gripping portion and rotatably connected to the gripping portion. The transducer assembly includes a main body, a first transducer connected to the main body, and a second transducer connected to the main body. When the first transducer is in contact with the subject and is in a working state, the second transducer is in non-contact with the subject and is in a non-working state. The first transducer and the second transducer are different types of transducers.

2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein: The first transducer is a linear array transducer, and the second transducer is a convex array transducer.

3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein: The holding portion includes a base, a first extension portion extending from the base, and a second extension portion extending from the base. A receiving space is provided between the first extension portion and the second extension portion. The transducer assembly is rotatably arranged on the first extension portion and the second extension portion. When the first transducer contacts the subject, the second transducer is placed in the receiving space. When the second transducer contacts the subject, the first transducer is placed in the receiving space.

4. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 3, characterized in that When the first transducer or the second transducer is working, the central axis of the transducer assembly is coaxial with the central axis of the gripping portion, and the first transducer and the second transducer are respectively located at two ends of the main body.

5. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 4, characterized in that It also includes a fixing component, which is used to fix the transducer component when the first transducer or the second transducer is working.

6. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 3, characterized in that It also includes a battery and a control circuit for controlling the operation of the first transducer and the second transducer, and the battery and the control circuit are arranged in the gripping part.

7. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 6, characterized in that It also includes a first rotating shaft connecting the transducer assembly to the first extension part and a second rotating shaft connecting the transducer assembly to the second extension part. The ultrasound probe also includes a conductive member that electrically connects the control circuit, the battery and the transducer assembly and passes through the first rotating shaft and / or the second rotating shaft.

8. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are made of heat-insulating materials, and a gap is set between the transducer assembly and the first extending portion, the second extending portion and the base.

9. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a third transducer arranged at the other end of the gripping portion, and only one of the first transducer, the second transducer and the third transducer is in a working state.

10. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 9, characterized in that: The length directions of the first transducer, the second transducer and the third transducer are parallel.

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