Waterproof sealing structure of ultrasonic probe

Abstract

The utility model relates to medical instrument technical field discloses waterproof sealing structure of ultrasonic probe, including the casing, the top threaded connection of casing has the connecting cover, the top detachable connection of connecting cover has sealing mechanism, the inner wall fixed connection of casing has working mechanism, the inner wall fixed connection of casing has shock insulation layer, the inner wall fixed connection of shock insulation layer has piezoelectric ceramic wafer, the bottom detachable connection of shock insulation layer has waterproof contact mechanism, sealing mechanism includes filling cylinder, the outer wall detachable connection of filling cylinder is in the top of connecting cover, the outer wall fixed connection of filling cylinder has sealing ring no.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to a waterproof sealing structure for an ultrasound probe. Background Technology

[0002] An ultrasound probe is a key component of ultrasound diagnostic equipment, used to transmit and receive ultrasound signals. It is commonly used in medical examinations, such as for diagnosing diseases in the abdomen, heart, and obstetrics and gynecology, and also in industrial non-destructive testing. It converts electrical signals into ultrasound waves for transmission, then receives the reflected ultrasound waves and converts them back into electrical signals for imaging. In medical ultrasound examinations, a coupling agent is used to ensure better contact between the ultrasound probe and the skin and to reduce the impact of air gaps on ultrasound propagation. The coupling agent is typically a water-based gel-like substance. During repeated use, the coupling agent can slowly seep into the probe's interior through gaps or interfaces. Therefore, a waterproof seal is necessary on the ultrasound probe to prevent liquid from entering and damaging the internal precision components, ensuring its normal operation.

[0003] The waterproof sealing structure of an ultrasonic probe typically includes a sealed outer shell, sealing rings, and a sealing interface. The sealed outer shell is the probe's external protective layer, generally made of materials with excellent sealing properties, such as special plastics or metal shells, capable of directly resisting most liquid contact. Sealing rings are often located at the probe shell's joints, around buttons, etc., and their material has high elasticity and corrosion resistance, preventing liquid from seeping in through gaps through a tight fit. The sealing interface is used to connect the probe's internal electronic components to external devices. Through special waterproof designs, such as rubber plugs and sealing plugs, liquid is prevented from entering the interface. Its working principle is that these structures, working closely together, form a relatively sealed space, effectively preventing coupling agents, disinfectants, and other liquids from entering the probe during normal use and cleaning / disinfection, protecting internal precision components such as piezoelectric crystals from liquid corrosion, thereby ensuring the normal operation and lifespan of the ultrasonic probe.

[0004] In existing technologies, ultrasonic probes are subjected to mechanical stresses such as bending, torsion, and vibration during use. This causes the wire connectors to wobble under these dynamic conditions, resulting in gaps at the connection points. Consequently, the entire waterproof sealing structure fails, allowing liquids (such as coupling agents or disinfectants) to enter the ultrasonic probe through these gaps. This damages the internal precision electronic and acoustic components, affecting the probe's normal function and lifespan. Furthermore, it interferes with signal transmission at the wire connectors, causing problems with ultrasonic signal transmission and reception, thus affecting the accuracy of inspection or testing results. Therefore, a waterproof sealing structure for ultrasonic probes is proposed to solve these problems. Utility Model Content

[0005] To overcome the above deficiencies, this utility model provides a waterproof sealing structure for an ultrasonic probe, aiming to improve the problem in the prior art where gaps are created at the connection points due to the shaking of the wires, causing the waterproof sealing structure to fail.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A waterproof sealing structure for an ultrasonic probe includes a housing, a connecting cover threaded to the top of the housing, a sealing mechanism detachably connected to the top of the connecting cover, a working mechanism fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing, a vibration isolation layer fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing, a piezoelectric ceramic wafer fixedly connected to the inner wall of the vibration isolation layer, and a waterproof contact mechanism detachably connected to the bottom of the vibration isolation layer.

[0008] The sealing mechanism includes a filling cylinder, the outer wall of which is detachably connected to the top of the connecting cover, a second sealing ring fixedly connected to the outer wall of the filling cylinder, an electric wire provided on the inner wall of the filling cylinder, a connector fixedly connected to the bottom of the electric wire, an extrusion layer fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing, and a first sealing ring fixedly connected to the outer wall of the connecting cover.

[0009] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0010] The waterproof contact mechanism includes a matching layer, the top of which is detachably connected to the bottom of the vibration isolation layer. The housing has multiple mounting pins threaded inside, the outer walls of which are threaded to the inner wall of the vibration isolation layer. The other ends of which are detachably connected to the outside of the matching layer, and a waterproof membrane is fixedly connected to the bottom of the matching layer.

[0011] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0012] The working mechanism includes an electrical contact layer, the outer wall of which is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing, a plurality of partitions are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing, a damping block is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing, and a sound-absorbing material layer is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing.

[0013] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0014] The inner wall of the extrusion layer is in contact with the outer wall of the filling cylinder, and the outer wall of the connector is detachably connected to the outer wall of the electrical contact layer;

[0015] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0016] The top of the top partition is fixedly connected to the bottom of the electrical contact layer, and the top of the vibration isolation layer is fixedly connected to the bottom of the bottom partition.

[0017] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0018] The two bottom partitions are fixedly connected to the top and bottom of the sound-absorbing material layer on their adjacent sides, and the two top partitions are fixedly connected to the top and bottom of the damping block on their adjacent sides.

[0019] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0020] The outer wall of the sealing ring is in contact with the outer wall of the housing;

[0021] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0022] The outer wall of the second sealing ring is in contact with the outer wall of the connecting cover.

[0023] This utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0024] 1. In this utility model, by placing the connecting cover into the housing, then inserting the wire into the ultrasonic probe through the through hole of the connecting cover, and then inserting the filling cylinder into the gap between the wire and the connecting cover, the connecting cover is tightened so that its bottom is completely inside the housing. The compression ring and sealing ring one are squeezed, and the sealing ring seals the gap between the connecting cover and the housing. Then, sealing ring two seals the gap between the filling cylinder and the connecting cover. At the same time, the compression ring deforms and squeezes the filling cylinder to fix the wire. This achieves adaptive waterproof sealing treatment of the entire ultrasonic probe wiring during the wire installation process, effectively preventing external liquids (such as coupling agents, disinfectants, etc.) from entering the probe, protecting the internal precision electronic components and acoustic components from damage, and ensuring that the ultrasonic probe can accurately transmit and receive ultrasonic signals during inspection or testing, thereby improving the detection accuracy.

[0025] 2. In this invention, an external device generates an electrical signal, which is transmitted to a piezoelectric ceramic wafer via wires and a grounding layer. This causes the wafer to reflect ultrasonic waves. The reflected ultrasonic echo signal is then transmitted back to the external device for processing and analysis to detect the internal structural characteristics of the object. During operation, the vibration isolation layer, damping block, and sound-absorbing material layer respectively absorb vibration energy, dissipate excess energy, and absorb sound wave energy, ensuring stable operation of the probe. The matching layer achieves acoustic impedance matching, and its bottom waterproof membrane provides waterproofing. The mounting pins facilitate the removal of the matching layer for maintenance. Through the combined use of the vibration isolation layer, damping block, and sound-absorbing material layer, multiple protective barriers are formed. The vibration isolation layer effectively buffers external vibrations, preventing them from interfering with internal precision components and ensuring the operational stability of the ultrasonic probe. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the waterproof sealing structure of the ultrasonic probe proposed in this utility model;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the extrusion block of the waterproof sealing structure of the ultrasonic probe proposed in this utility model;

[0028] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0029] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of point B in the middle.

[0030] Legend:

[0031] 1. Housing; 2. Connecting cover; 3. Sealing ring one; 4. Filler cylinder; 5. Sealing ring two; 6. Mounting pin; 7. Extrusion ring; 8. Electrical connection layer; 9. Wire; 10. Connector; 11. Partition plate; 12. Damping block; 13. Sound-absorbing material layer; 14. Vibration isolation layer; 15. Piezoelectric ceramic wafer; 16. Matching layer; 17. Waterproof membrane. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0033] Reference Figures 1 to 3 This utility model provides an embodiment of a waterproof sealing structure for an ultrasonic probe, comprising a housing 1. The housing 1 serves as the external protective structure for the entire ultrasonic probe. The housing 1 is typically made of a material with certain strength and corrosion resistance, such as a specific metal alloy or high-strength engineering plastic, providing support and protection for the internal structure to prevent damage to internal precision components from external physical impacts, dust, etc. A connecting cover 2 is threadedly connected to the top of the housing 1. The connecting cover 2 is tightly fitted to the top of the housing 1 via a threaded connection, preventing loosening due to vibration or other external forces during use and thus ensuring a waterproof seal. A sealing mechanism is detachably connected to the top of the connecting cover 2, used to seal the entire probe wiring connection.

[0034] A working mechanism is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing 1. A vibration isolation layer 14 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing 1, and a piezoelectric ceramic wafer 15 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the vibration isolation layer 14. The piezoelectric ceramic wafer 15 exhibits the piezoelectric effect. When an electrical signal of a certain frequency and voltage is applied to its two ends, the wafer will vibrate mechanically, thereby generating ultrasonic waves and emitting them into the surrounding medium. When the ultrasonic waves encounter the interface between different media, they will be reflected. The reflected ultrasonic waves act on the piezoelectric ceramic wafer 15, causing it to undergo mechanical deformation, which in turn generates electrical signals at both ends of the wafer. This electrical signal is the ultrasonic echo signal, which is transmitted to an external device for processing via wire 9, thereby enabling the detection and analysis of the internal structure and characteristics of the object being tested. A waterproof contact mechanism is detachably connected to the bottom of the vibration isolation layer 14.

[0035] The sealing mechanism includes a filling cylinder 4, which provides an independent and sealed channel for subsequent structures while preventing moisture from penetrating into the ultrasonic probe. The outer wall of the filling cylinder 4 is detachably connected to the top of the connecting cover 2, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly of the filling cylinder 4 to facilitate the installation and arrangement of subsequent structures. A second sealing ring 5 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the filling cylinder 4. The sealing ring fills the annular gap between the outer wall of the filling cylinder 4 and the outer wall of the connecting cover 2, preventing liquid or gas from penetrating through this gap under pressure difference. The outer wall of the second sealing ring 5 is in contact with the outer wall of the connecting cover 2.

[0036] The inner wall of the filling cylinder 4 is equipped with an electric wire 9, which serves as a signal transmission medium. The wire 9 transmits electrical signals generated by external devices (such as the main unit of an ultrasound diagnostic instrument) to the piezoelectric ceramic wafer 15 inside the ultrasound probe, and transmits the echo signals generated by the piezoelectric ceramic wafer 15 back to the external device for processing and display. A connector 10 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the electric wire 9, providing an electrical connection between the wire 9 and the internal working mechanism of the ultrasound probe, thus providing a stable signal transmission interface. An extrusion layer is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing 1, and its inner wall contacts the outer wall of the filling cylinder 4. The main function of the extrusion layer is to apply pressure to the filling cylinder 4, further enhancing the sealing effect between the filling cylinder 4 and the connecting cover 2. A sealing ring 3 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the connecting cover 2, and its outer wall contacts the outer wall of the housing 1. When the connecting cover 2 is tightened on top of the housing 1, a certain outward compressive force is generated at the connection point, causing the sealing ring 3 to deform. The elasticity of the deformed sealing ring 3 then tightly fills the connection between the connecting cover 2 and the housing 1.

[0037] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4The waterproof contact mechanism includes a matching layer 16, which is used to achieve acoustic impedance matching between the ultrasonic probe and the object being tested, preventing ultrasonic energy from being unable to effectively transmit into the object, thus affecting the effect and accuracy of ultrasonic testing. The top of the matching layer 16 is detachably connected to the bottom of the vibration isolation layer 14. The vibration isolation layer 14 plays a role in buffering and isolating vibrations in the ultrasonic probe. When external vibrations are transmitted to the vibration isolation layer 14, the material of the vibration isolation layer 14 will undergo elastic deformation, absorbing vibration energy through its own deformation, thereby reducing the transmission of vibration to the internal working mechanism.

[0038] Multiple mounting pins 6 are internally threaded onto the housing 1. The outer walls of these mounting pins 6 are threaded onto the inner wall of the vibration isolation layer 14. The other ends of the mounting pins 6 are detachably connected to the outside of the matching layer 16. These mounting pins connect the vibration isolation layer 14 and the matching layer 16, enabling the matching layer 16 to accurately perform its acoustic impedance matching function and allowing the entire matching layer 16 to be easily removed for maintenance. A waterproof membrane 17 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the matching layer 16. The waterproof membrane 17 prevents external moisture, humidity, and other liquid substances from entering the probe through the contact interface between the matching layer 16 and the object being tested, thereby ensuring the normal operation and service life of the ultrasonic probe.

[0039] The working mechanism includes an electrical receiving layer 8. The outer wall of the connector 10 is detachably connected to the outer wall of the electrical receiving layer 8. The electrical receiving layer 8 is responsible for making a reliable electrical connection with the connector 10, receiving electrical signals from external devices (such as the main unit of an ultrasound diagnostic instrument), and accurately transmitting these electrical signals to subsequent structures. The outer wall of the electrical receiving layer 8 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing 1. Multiple partitions 11 are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing 1. The partitions 11 are used to divide and isolate the internal space of the working mechanism, which helps to optimize the internal electric field distribution and sound wave propagation path. The top of the top partition 11 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the electrical receiving layer 8, and the top of the vibration isolation layer 14 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the bottom partition 11, thereby separating the electrical receiving layer 8 from the vibration isolation layer 14.

[0040] A damping block 12 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing 1. The two adjacent sides of the top two partitions 11 are fixedly connected to the top and bottom of the damping block 12, respectively. The main function of the damping block 12 in the working mechanism is to absorb and dissipate excess energy inside the probe, effectively reducing mechanical vibration inside the probe and preventing excessive accumulation of vibration energy inside the probe, which could lead to noise interference, component fatigue damage, and other problems. A sound-absorbing material layer 13 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing 1. The two adjacent sides of the bottom two partitions 11 are fixedly connected to the top and bottom of the sound-absorbing material layer 13, respectively. The sound-absorbing material layer 13 is made of materials with good sound absorption properties, such as sound-absorbing cotton, foam plastic, or special acoustic damping materials.

[0041] Working principle: During installation, first, the connecting cover 2 is placed into the housing 1. Then, the wire 9 is inserted into the ultrasonic probe through the through hole on the connecting cover 2. Next, the filling cylinder 4 is inserted into the gap between the wire 9 and the connecting cover 2. Then, the connecting cover 2 is tightened so that the bottom of the connecting cover 2 is completely inside the housing, thereby compressing the compression ring 7 and the sealing ring 3. When the sealing ring 3 is compressed, it tends to deform outward. Thus, the sealing ring 3 itself is elastic and compresses inward in the opposite direction, thereby blocking the gap between the connecting cover 2 and the housing. At the same time, the compression ring 7 is deformed by force, thereby compressing the filling cylinder 4, thereby fixing the wire 9. The deformation of the sealing ring 5 fills and seals the gap between the filling cylinder 4 and the connecting cover 2.

[0042] Then, the external device (ultrasound diagnostic instrument host) is turned on. The electrical signal generated by the external device is transmitted through wire 9. The connector 10 at the bottom of wire 9 is connected to the grounding layer 8, and the electrical signal is transmitted from the grounding layer 8 to the piezoelectric ceramic wafer 15. After receiving an electrical signal of a specific frequency and voltage, the piezoelectric ceramic wafer 15 vibrates mechanically due to the piezoelectric effect, generating ultrasonic waves that are emitted into the surrounding medium. When the ultrasonic waves encounter different medium interfaces and are reflected back, they act on the piezoelectric ceramic wafer 15, causing it to undergo mechanical deformation again, thereby generating ultrasonic echo signals at both ends of the wafer. These signals are transmitted back to the external device via wire 9 for processing and analysis, thereby detecting the internal structure and characteristics of the object being tested.

[0043] During this process, the vibration isolation layer 14 absorbs external vibration energy through its own elastic deformation, reducing its transmission to the internal working mechanism and protecting precision components. The damping block 12 absorbs and consumes excess energy inside the probe, reducing mechanical vibration and noise interference and preventing component fatigue damage. The sound-absorbing material layer 13 absorbs the sound wave energy propagating internally, reducing reflection and scattering, and improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Acoustic impedance matching is then achieved through the matching layer 16. The waterproof membrane 17 on the matching layer 16 prevents moisture from entering from the bottom, and the mounting pin 6 can be separated from the matching layer 16 by rotating it outward, thus facilitating the removal of the matching layer 16 for maintenance.

[0044] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Although the present utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A waterproof sealing structure for an ultrasonic probe, comprising a housing (1), characterized in that: The top of the housing (1) is threaded with a connecting cover (2), the top of the connecting cover (2) is detachably connected with a sealing mechanism, the inner wall of the housing (1) is fixedly connected with a working mechanism, the inner wall of the housing (1) is fixedly connected with a vibration isolation layer (14), the inner wall of the vibration isolation layer (14) is fixedly connected with a piezoelectric ceramic wafer (15), and the bottom of the vibration isolation layer (14) is detachably connected with a waterproof contact mechanism. The sealing mechanism includes a filling cylinder (4), the outer wall of which is detachably connected to the top of the connecting cover (2), a sealing ring two (5) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the filling cylinder (4), an electric wire (9) is provided on the inner wall of the filling cylinder (4), a connector (10) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the electric wire (9), an extrusion layer is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing (1), and a sealing ring one (3) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the connecting cover (2).

2. The waterproof sealing structure of the ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The waterproof contact mechanism includes a matching layer (16), the top of which is detachably connected to the bottom of the vibration isolation layer (14). The housing (1) is internally threaded with a plurality of mounting pins (6), the outer walls of which are threadedly connected to the inner wall of the vibration isolation layer (14). The other ends of which are detachably connected to the outside of the matching layer (16), and a waterproof membrane (17) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the matching layer (16).

3. The waterproof sealing structure of the ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The working mechanism includes an electrical contact layer (8), the outer wall of which is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing (1), a plurality of partitions (11) are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing (1), a damping block (12) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing (1), and a sound-absorbing material layer (13) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing (1).

4. The waterproof sealing structure of the ultrasonic probe according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inner wall of the extrusion layer is in contact with the outer wall of the filling cylinder (4), and the outer wall of the connector (10) is detachably connected to the outer wall of the electrical contact layer (8).

5. The waterproof sealing structure of the ultrasonic probe according to claim 3, characterized in that: The top of the top partition (11) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the electrical contact layer (8), and the top of the vibration isolation layer (14) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the bottom partition (11).

6. The waterproof sealing structure of the ultrasonic probe according to claim 3, characterized in that: The two bottom partitions (11) are fixedly connected to the top and bottom of the sound-absorbing material layer (13) on their adjacent sides, and the two top partitions (11) are fixedly connected to the top and bottom of the damping block (12) on their adjacent sides.

7. The waterproof sealing structure of the ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer wall of the sealing ring (3) is in contact with the outer wall of the housing (1).

8. The waterproof sealing structure of the ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer wall of the sealing ring 2 (5) is in contact with the outer wall of the connecting cover (2).

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