A probe driver for 3D imaging and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

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By designing a probe driver for 3D imaging that combines linear and rotary mechanisms, multidimensional motion of the ultrasonic probe is achieved, solving the problem that existing ultrasonic probe drivers cannot drive the ultrasonic transducer to perform axial motion, thus improving imaging accuracy and diagnostic precision.

CN224484045UActive Publication Date: 2026-07-14INNERMEDICAL CO LTD

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office: CN · China
Patent Type: Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner: INNERMEDICAL CO LTD
Filing Date: 2025-07-11
Publication Date: 2026-07-14

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The existing imaging ultrasound probe driver cannot drive the ultrasound transducer to make axial movement, resulting in inaccurate localization of lesion tissue.

Method used

Design a probe driver for 3D imaging, comprising a linear drive mechanism and a rotary mechanism. The linear and rotary motion of the ultrasound probe is achieved through the combination of a sliding connecting plate and the rotary mechanism. The motion stroke is precisely controlled by a guide rail and a limit switch, and a conductive slip ring provides a reliable electrical connection.

Benefits of technology

It achieves 360-degree rotation and axial extension of the ultrasound probe, improving the 3D scanning imaging accuracy of lesions and surrounding tissues, enhancing the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment, and is compact and reliable in performance.

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Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of probe driver and ultrasonic diagnostic equipment for 3D imaging, probe driver includes driver shell and the driver of being set in driver shell;Driver includes linear drive mechanism being installed on a mounting base, sliding connection plate being driven by linear drive mechanism and doing linear motion, and rotating mechanism, rotating mechanism includes rotating drive piece and probe seat being fixed on sliding connection plate, and lever assembly being rotated in probe seat by rotating drive piece drive;Probe seat is suitable for connecting ultrasonic probe, lever assembly is suitable for connecting transmission shaft inside ultrasonic probe.When this probe driver and ultrasonic probe connect, rotating mechanism can drive ultrasonic transducer inside ultrasonic probe 360 degrees rotation, linear drive mechanism can drive ultrasonic transducer inside ultrasonic probe forward and backward movement, realize 3D scanning imaging, can comprehensively understand the organization situation of focus and its periphery, improve the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment.

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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of medical device technology, specifically to a probe driver for 3D imaging and an ultrasound diagnostic device. Background Technology

[0002] An ultrasound probe is a device that uses a piezoelectric crystal to emit and receive ultrasound waves. It mainly utilizes the piezoelectric effect of materials to convert electrical energy into acoustic energy. During endoscopic ultrasound examination, the flexible tube at the front end of the ultrasound probe is directly inserted into the patient's upper gastrointestinal tract. Ultrasound probes are characterized by their small size, ease of operation, and clear imaging.

[0003] Existing in vivo imaging ultrasound probes mainly consist of a probe driver located at the proximal end and an ultrasound probe located at the distal end. The ultrasound probe mainly includes a probe housing, a Bourdon tube, an ultrasound transducer located at the end of the Bourdon tube, a sheath surrounding the Bourdon tube and the ultrasound transducer, and a rotating shaft connected to one end of the Bourdon tube and capable of rotating around its own axis. The probe driver and the rotating shaft of the ultrasound probe are connected by a drive mechanism to drive the shaft's rotation.

[0004] During an ultrasound examination, the probe sheath extends into body cavities such as the cardiovascular system, bronchi, and digestive tract. The probe driver drives the shaft to rotate, which in turn causes the spring tube and ultrasound transducer to rotate 360° within the sheath, acquiring a cross-sectional image of the lesion through a circumferential scan. However, the cross-sectional image obtained solely from the circumferential scan of the ultrasound transducer is insufficient to accurately locate the diseased tissue. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of this, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a probe driver for 3D imaging and an ultrasound diagnostic device to solve the problem that the probe driver of the existing imaging ultrasound probe cannot drive the ultrasound transducer to make axial movement.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution of this utility model is as follows:

[0007] A probe driver for 3D imaging includes a driver housing and a driver disposed within the driver housing; a mounting base is fixed within the driver housing, and the driver includes:

[0008] A linear drive mechanism is mounted on the mounting base;

[0009] The sliding connecting plate is driven to move linearly by the linear drive mechanism.

[0010] The rotating mechanism includes a rotating drive and a probe seat fixed on the sliding connecting plate, and a lever assembly driven by the rotating drive to rotate around its own axis within the probe seat; the probe seat is adapted to connect to an ultrasonic probe, the lever assembly is adapted to connect to a drive shaft inside the ultrasonic probe, and the rotating drive drives the drive shaft inside the ultrasonic probe to rotate through the lever assembly.

[0011] Furthermore, the linear drive mechanism and the sliding connecting plate are arranged on the mounting base along a first direction, and the sliding connecting plate and the rotating mechanism are arranged on the mounting base along a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are two intersecting different directions.

[0012] By adopting the above technical solution, the arrangement direction of the linear drive mechanism and the sliding connecting plate is different from that of the rotary mechanism and the sliding connecting plate. Compared with the arrangement of the rotary mechanism, the sliding connecting plate and the linear drive mechanism from top to bottom or along the horizontal direction in related technologies, a compact design of the overall structure can be achieved. Under the premise of having both linear drive and rotary drive functions, it is beneficial to reduce the volume of the driver housing and facilitate the miniaturization design of the probe driver.

[0013] Furthermore, the mounting base is fixed with a guide rail, and the sliding connecting plate is slidably connected to the guide rail along the guiding direction of the guide rail; the rotating mechanism is located on the side of the sliding connecting plate facing away from the guide rail, and the linear drive mechanism is located on the same side of the guide rail and the sliding connecting plate.

[0014] By adopting the above technical solution, the sliding connection plate is slidably connected to the guide rail, which helps to improve the motion accuracy of the sliding connection plate and its rotating mechanism when performing linear motion.

[0015] Furthermore, the linear drive mechanism includes a linear drive motor fixed on the mounting base, a lead screw driven by the linear drive motor to rotate about its own axis, and a nut seat threaded to the lead screw and fixedly connected to the sliding connecting plate.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, the linear drive mechanism consisting of a linear drive motor and a lead screw and nut has the advantages of high transmission accuracy and good transmission stability.

[0017] Furthermore, a main control board is fixed to the side of the mounting base facing away from the rotating mechanism, and a first slot is provided on the mounting base corresponding to the position of the lead screw; a sensing plate is connected to the nut seat, at least a portion of the sensing plate extends into the first slot, and a travel limit switch is provided on the side of the main control board facing the mounting base, the travel limit switch corresponding to the position of the first slot; when the sensing plate moves with the nut seat to between the two switch plates of the travel limit switch, the travel limit switch sends a sensing signal to the main control board to control the linear drive motor to stop running.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the setting of the sensing plate on the nut seat and the travel limit switch on the main control board is beneficial for accurately controlling the linear motion stroke of the nut seat, sliding connecting plate, and rotating mechanism. The layout of setting a first slot on the mounting base and placing the travel limit switch on the main control board at the corresponding position of the first slot, compared to the method in related technologies where the travel limit switch is fixed to the mounting base and electrically connected to the main control board via cable, allows for full utilization of the thickness of the mounting base and the gap between the mounting base and the main control board, given a fixed size for the linear drive motor, lead screw, nut seat, and sensing plate. This is because part of the sensing plate can extend into the first slot of the mounting base, reducing the height of the nut seat and sliding connecting plate on the mounting base, and consequently reducing the installation height of the rotating mechanism. This enables a compact design and reduces the height of the probe driver. Furthermore, the reduced installation height of the sliding connecting plate and rotating mechanism also improves the stability of the rotating mechanism during linear motion.

[0019] Furthermore, the rotating mechanism also includes a motor base and a conductive slip ring. The motor base is fixed on the sliding connecting plate, the rotating drive component is a rotating drive motor fixed on the motor base, and the conductive slip ring is coaxially connected between the motor base and the probe base.

[0020] By adopting the above technical solution, the rotary drive motor, motor base, conductive slip ring and probe base are coaxially arranged, which is conducive to achieving a tight connection between the various parts of the rotary mechanism and realizing the overall miniaturization design of the rotary mechanism.

[0021] Furthermore, the rotary drive motor is connected to a motor controller for controlling the rotational speed of the rotary drive motor. The main control board is provided with a first electrical socket on the side facing the mounting base, and the mounting base is provided with a second slot corresponding to the position of the first electrical socket. The first electrical plug of the first cable connected to the motor controller passes through the second slot and is electrically connected to the first electrical socket.

[0022] By adopting the above technical solution, a first electrical socket is provided on the side of the main control board facing the mounting base, and a second slot is provided on the mounting base corresponding to the position of the first electrical socket. The first electrical plug of the first cable connected to the motor controller can pass through the second slot and be electrically connected to the first electrical socket. Compared with the method in related technologies where the first electrical socket is installed on the side of the main control board or the side of the main control board facing away from the mounting base, this method can not only make full use of the gap space between the main control board and the mounting base, which is conducive to the compact design of the probe driver, but also makes the layout, routing and plugging / unplugging of the first cable connecting the motor controller and the main control board more convenient.

[0023] Furthermore, the conductive slip ring includes a stator portion and a rotor portion. The rotor portion is coaxially disposed inside the stator portion and is rotatable relative to the axial direction of the stator portion. One end of the stator portion is fixedly connected to the motor base and the other end is fixedly connected to the probe base. One end of the rotor portion is drivenly connected to the output end of the rotary drive motor through a coupling, and the other end is fixedly connected to the lever assembly.

[0024] By adopting the above technical solution, when the rotor part of the conductive slip ring rotates relative to the stator part under the drive of the rotary drive motor, the rotor part and the stator part can provide a continuous and reliable electrical connection to transmit the signals or data collected by the ultrasonic probe, while allowing unlimited 360-degree rotation.

[0025] Furthermore, an encoder mounting bracket located on the outer periphery of the stator portion is fixed on one side of the motor base, and a magnetic encoder for detecting the rotational speed of the rotor portion is mounted on the encoder mounting bracket; the magnetic encoder is connected to a signal line, and a signal line interface is provided on the side of the main control board facing the mounting base. A third slot is provided on the mounting base corresponding to the position of the signal line interface, and the signal line is electrically connected to the signal line interface through the third slot.

[0026] By adopting the above technical solution, the gap space between the main control board and the mounting base can be fully utilized, which is beneficial for the layout, routing, and plugging / unplugging of signal lines.

[0027] Furthermore, the main control board has a second electrical socket on the side facing the mounting base. The second electrical socket and the third slot are positioned correspondingly. A probe identification plate is fixed to the outside of the probe base. The second electrical plug of the second cable connected to the probe identification plate passes through the third slot and is electrically connected to the second electrical socket.

[0028] By adopting the above technical solution, the gap space between the main control board and the mounting base can be fully utilized, which facilitates the layout, routing, and plugging / unplugging of the second cable between the probe identification board and the main control board.

[0029] An ultrasound diagnostic device includes: an ultrasound host, an ultrasound probe, and a probe driver for 3D imaging as described above. The ultrasound probe is connected to a probe seat of the probe driver. The ultrasound probe has a drive shaft inside. An ultrasound transducer is connected to the distal end of the drive shaft, and an ultrasound lever assembly of the probe driver is connected to the proximal end of the drive shaft. A linear drive mechanism is used to drive the rotary mechanism, the drive shaft, and the ultrasound transducer thereon to perform linear motion. The rotary mechanism is used to drive the drive shaft and the ultrasound transducer thereon to perform rotational motion. The ultrasound host is connected to the ultrasound probe and is used to convert the ultrasound echo signal acquired by the ultrasound probe into an ultrasound image and display it on a display.

[0030] The present invention has the following advantages: The internal driver of the probe driver includes a linear drive mechanism and a rotary mechanism. The rotary mechanism is connected to the output end of the linear drive mechanism via a sliding connecting plate. The linear drive mechanism can drive the sliding connecting plate and the rotary mechanism to perform linear motion, and the rotary mechanism can drive the lever assembly to rotate around its own axis. When this probe driver is connected to an ultrasound probe, the rotary mechanism can drive the transmission shaft inside the ultrasound probe to perform 360-degree rotation, and the linear drive mechanism can drive the transmission shaft inside the ultrasound probe to perform axial extension and retraction, realizing 3D scanning imaging. This allows for a comprehensive understanding of the lesion and its surrounding tissues, improving the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, this probe driver has fewer components, a simple structure, reliable performance, and high positioning accuracy of the motion module. Attached Figure Description

[0031] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments or related technologies of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the assembly relationship of the driver bottom shell, driver, and driver top cover in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0033] Figure 2 The explosion of the probe driver in the embodiment of this utility model Figure 1 ;

[0034] Figure 3 The explosion of the probe driver in the embodiment of this utility model Figure 2 ;

[0035] Figure 4 This is a left view of the probe driver in this embodiment of the present invention, with the driver cover removed.

[0036] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A sectional view of plane A-A in the middle;

[0037] Figure 6 This is a left view of the probe driver in this embodiment of the present invention, omitting the driver bottom shell and driver top cover;

[0038] Figure 7 This is a top view of the probe driver in this embodiment of the present invention, omitting the driver bottom shell and driver top cover;

[0039] Figure 8 This is a front view of the probe driver in this embodiment of the present invention, omitting the driver bottom shell and driver top cover.

[0040] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0041] 11. Driver bottom case; 12. Driver top cover;

[0042] 2. Mounting base; 2a. First slot; 2b. Second slot; 2c. Third slot; 21. Guide rail; 22. Probe support base;

[0043] 3. Linear drive mechanism; 31. Motor mounting bracket; 32. Linear drive motor; 33. Lead screw; 34. Nut seat; 35. Nut connecting block; 36. Induction plate;

[0044] 4. Sliding connecting plate;

[0045] 5. Rotating mechanism; 51. Motor mount; 52. Rotary drive motor; 53. Probe mount; 54. Lever assembly; 541. Driver cover; 542. Driver lever; 55. Conductive slip ring; 551. Stator section; 552. Rotor section; 56. Coupling; 57. Rubber sleeve; 58. Motor controller; 581. First cable; 59. Encoder mounting bracket; 591. Magnetic encoder;

[0046] 6. Main control board; 61. Limit switch; 62. First electrical socket; 63. Signal line interface; 64. Second electrical socket;

[0047] 7. Probe identification board; 8. Signal cable; 9. Power cable. Detailed Implementation

[0048] The technical solution of this utility model will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this utility model. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0049] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0050] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0051] like Figure 1 - Figure 3 The diagram shows a probe driver for 3D imaging. The probe driver is used to connect an ultrasonic probe and to drive the drive shaft and ultrasonic transducer inside the ultrasonic probe to perform rotational and linear reciprocating motion.

[0052] like Figure 1 - Figure 3 As shown, the probe driver includes a driver housing and a mounting base 2, a driver, and a main control board 6 disposed within the driver housing. The driver housing serves as the overall casing of the probe driver, and is elongated and cylindrical in shape, allowing for hand gripping. The driver housing has an internal mounting cavity, comprising a driver base 11 and a driver top cover 12 that are interconnected and enclose the mounting cavity. The mounting base 2, the driver, and the main control board 6 are all located within the mounting cavity of the driver housing. A power cable 9 is connected to one end of the driver housing, and the end of the power cable 9 extending into the driver housing is electrically connected to the main control board 6. The other end of the driver top cover 12, away from the power cable 9, has a mounting hole through which the proximal end of the ultrasonic probe can be connected to the driver inside the driver housing. The power cable 9 and the mounting hole are located at opposite axial ends of the driver housing.

[0053] like Figure 1 - Figure 3As shown, the mounting base 2 is fixed to the driver housing 11 by multiple pan head screws. The main control board 6 is fixed to the side of the mounting base 2 facing the driver housing 11 by multiple screws, and there is a mounting gap between the main control board 6 and the mounting base 2. The main control board 6 is a PCBA board, and the integrated chips and other functional modules on the main control board 6 are mainly located on the side of the main control board 6 facing away from the mounting base 2. The driver housing 11 is provided with heat dissipation holes to facilitate heat dissipation of the functional modules on the main control board 6. The driver is mounted on the side of the mounting base 2 facing the driver cover 12.

[0054] like Figure 1 - Figure 3 As shown, the actuator includes a linear drive mechanism 3, a sliding connecting plate 4, and a rotating mechanism 5. The linear drive mechanism 3 is fixed to the mounting base 2. The sliding connecting plate 4 is connected to the output end of the linear drive mechanism 3 and is driven by the linear drive mechanism 3 to perform linear reciprocating motion. The linear motion direction of the sliding connecting plate 4 is the same as the axial direction of the actuator housing. The rotating mechanism 5 includes a rotary drive motor 52 and a probe holder 53 fixed to the sliding connecting plate 4, and a lever assembly 54 driven by the rotary drive motor 52 to rotate around its own axis within the probe holder 53. The probe holder 53 is suitable for connecting the ultrasound probe of an endoscope, and the lever assembly 54 is suitable for connecting the drive shaft inside the ultrasound probe. The rotary drive motor 52 drives the drive shaft and ultrasound transducer inside the ultrasound probe to rotate via the lever assembly 54.

[0055] The linear drive mechanism 3 of this probe driver can drive the sliding connecting plate 4 and the rotating mechanism 5 to perform linear reciprocating motion. The rotating mechanism 5 can drive the lever assembly 54 to rotate around its own axis. When the probe driver and the ultrasound probe are connected, the rotating mechanism 5 can drive the transmission shaft and ultrasound transducer inside the ultrasound probe to perform 360-degree rotation, and the linear drive mechanism 3 can drive the transmission shaft and ultrasound transducer inside the ultrasound probe to perform axial telescopic motion, realizing 3D scanning imaging of the ultrasound transducer. This allows for a comprehensive understanding of the lesion and its surrounding tissues, improving the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment.

[0056] like Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 6As shown, the mounting base 2 is generally flat and includes two perpendicular directions in thickness, length, and width. The length direction of the mounting base 2 is the same as the axial direction of the driver housing, while the width and thickness directions are perpendicular to the length direction. The rotating mechanism 5, sliding connecting plate 4, mounting base 2, and main control board 6 are arranged along the thickness direction of the mounting base 2, while the linear drive mechanism 3 and sliding connecting plate 4 are arranged along the width direction of the mounting base 2. This arrangement allows the linear drive mechanism 3, sliding connecting plate 4, and rotating mechanism 5 to be arranged in different directions. Compared to the arrangement of the rotating mechanism 5, sliding connecting plate 4, and linear drive mechanism 3 in a vertical or horizontal direction in related technologies, this allows for a more compact driver design. While maintaining both linear and rotary drive functions, it helps reduce the size of the driver housing and facilitates miniaturization of the probe driver.

[0057] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, the linear drive mechanism 3 includes a motor mounting bracket 31, a linear drive motor 32, a lead screw 33, a nut seat 34, and a nut connecting block 35. The motor mounting bracket 31 is fixed to the mounting base 2 on the side facing the driver cover 12 by screws. The linear drive motor 32 is fixed to the motor mounting bracket 31 along the axial direction of the probe driver. One end of the lead screw 33 is fixedly connected to the output end of the linear drive motor 32, and the other end of the lead screw 33 can be mounted on the mounting base 2 via a bearing seat. The linear drive motor 32 drives the lead screw 33 to rotate around its own axial direction. The nut seat 34 is threaded to the lead screw 33. The nut connecting block 35 is fixedly connected to the nut seat 34, and is also fixedly connected to the sliding connecting plate 4. The linear drive motor 32 drives the sliding connecting plate 4 and its rotating mechanism 5 to perform linear reciprocating motion via the lead screw 33, nut seat 34, and nut connecting block 35. The linear drive motor 32 is a stepper motor. The linear drive mechanism 3, composed of a stepper motor and a lead screw and nut, has the advantages of high transmission accuracy and good transmission stability.

[0058] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the mounting base 2 is fixed with a guide rail 21, the guiding direction of the guide rail 21 being the same as the length direction of the mounting base 2; a slider fixed below the sliding connecting plate 4 is slidably connected to the guide rail 21 along the guiding direction of the guide rail 21. The rotating mechanism 5 is located on the side of the sliding connecting plate 4 opposite to the guide rail 21, and the linear drive mechanism 3 is located on the same side of the guide rail 21 and the sliding connecting plate 4. The guide rail 21 on the mounting base 2 helps to improve the motion accuracy of the sliding connecting plate 4 and its rotating mechanism 5 when performing linear motion.

[0059] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 8 As shown, in some embodiments, the mounting base 2 has a first slot 2a extending through its own thickness at the position corresponding to the lead screw 33. A sensing plate 36 is fixedly connected to the nut connecting block 35, with at least a portion of the sensing plate 36 extending into the first slot 2a of the mounting base 2. A pair of travel limit switches 61 are provided on the side of the main control board 6 facing the mounting base 2. The pair of travel limit switches 61 are arranged along the axial direction of the lead screw 33 and are located below the first slot 2a. When the sensing plate 36 moves with the nut connecting block 35 between the two switch plates of the travel limit switch 61, the travel limit switch 61 is triggered and sends a sensing signal to the main control board 6 to stop the linear drive motor 32. The arrangement of the sensing plate 36 on the nut connecting block 35 and the pair of travel limit switches 61 on the main control board 6 facilitates precise control of the linear motion stroke of the sliding connecting plate 4 and the rotating mechanism 5. Furthermore, a first slot 2a is provided on the mounting base 2, and a pair of travel limit switches 61 are provided on the main control board 6 at the position corresponding to the first slot 2a. Compared with the method in related technologies where the travel limit switches 61 are fixed on the mounting base 2 and electrically connected to the main control board 6 via cables, under the condition that the dimensions of the linear drive motor 32, lead screw 33, nut connecting block 35 and sensing plate 36 are fixed, since part of the sensing plate 36 can extend into the space below the mounting base 2, the thickness space of the mounting base 2 itself and the gap space between the mounting base 2 and the main control board 6 can be fully utilized, reducing the height of the nut seat 34 and the sliding connecting plate 4 on the mounting base 2, thereby reducing the installation height of the rotating mechanism 5, achieving a compact design and reducing the size of the probe driver in the thickness direction of the mounting base 2. At the same time, the reduction in the installation height of the sliding connecting plate 4 and the rotating mechanism 5 also helps to improve the stability of the rotating mechanism 5 during linear motion.

[0060] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, the rotating mechanism 5 also includes a motor base 51, a conductive slip ring 55, and a coupling 56. The motor base 51 and the probe seat 53 are both fixed to the sliding connecting plate 4 with screws. The rotary drive motor 52 is fixed to the motor base 51, and the coupling 56 is fixedly connected to the output end of the rotary drive motor 52 and located inside the motor base 51. The conductive slip ring 55 is coaxially connected between the motor base 51 and the probe seat 53. A probe support 22 is fixedly connected to the mounting base 2 with screws, and the end of the probe seat 53 away from the conductive slip ring 55 is supported on the mounting hole of the probe support 22. The coaxial arrangement of the rotary drive motor 52, motor base 51, conductive slip ring 55, and probe seat 53 facilitates a tight connection between the various parts of the rotating mechanism 5, achieving a miniaturized design of the entire rotating mechanism 5.

[0061] like Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, the conductive slip ring 55 includes a stator portion 551 and a rotor portion 552. The rotor portion 552 is coaxially disposed inside the stator portion 551 and is rotatable relative to the axial direction of the stator portion 551. One end of the stator portion 551 is fixedly connected to the motor mount 51, and the other end of the stator portion 551 is fixedly connected to the probe mount 53. One end of the rotor portion 552 is driven by a coupling 56 and the output end of the rotary drive motor 52, and the other end of the rotor portion 552 extends into the probe mount 53 and is fixedly connected to the lever assembly 54. When the rotor portion 552 of the conductive slip ring 55 rotates relative to the stator portion 551 under the drive of the rotary drive motor 52, a continuous and reliable electrical connection can be provided between the rotor portion 552 and the stator portion 551 to transmit signals or data acquired by the ultrasonic probe, while allowing unrestricted 360-degree rotation.

[0062] like Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the end of the coupling 56 connected to the rotor portion 552 has a recess, one end of the rotor portion 552 extends into the recess, and the portion of the rotor portion 552 extending into the recess is fitted with a rubber sleeve 57, which seals the gap between the rotor portion 552 and the recess. The rubber sleeve 57 not only ensures that the rotational power of the coupling 56 is reliably transmitted to the rotor portion 552 of the conductive slip ring 55, but also compensates for any lack of coaxiality between the coupling 56 and the rotor portion 552.

[0063] like Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the lever assembly 54 includes a driver cover 541 and multiple driver levers 542. The driver cover 541 is axially fixed to the rotor portion 552 of the conductive slip ring 55 by multiple screws. The multiple driver levers 542 are installed with the driver cover 541 through a clearance fit in the shaft hole and are also glued together. The multiple driver levers 542 are used to connect to the drive shaft inside the ultrasonic probe.

[0064] like Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, in some embodiments, a motor controller 58 is fixedly connected to the side of the rotary drive motor 52 facing away from the motor base 51. The motor controller 58 is used to control the rotational speed of the rotary drive motor 52. A first electrical socket 62 is provided on the side of the main control board 6 facing the mounting base 2. The mounting base 2 has a second slot 2b that extends through its own thickness at the position corresponding to the first electrical socket 62. The first electrical socket 62 is provided on the main control board 6 below the second slot 2b. The first electrical plug of the first cable 581 connected to the motor controller 58 passes through the second slot 2b and is electrically connected to the first electrical socket 62. Compared with the method in related technologies where the first electrical socket 62 is installed on the side of the main control board 6 or the side of the main control board 6 facing away from the mounting base 2, this method can not only make full use of the gap space between the main control board 6 and the mounting base 2, which is beneficial to the compact design of the probe driver, but also makes the layout, routing and plugging / unplugging of the first cable 581 connecting the motor controller 58 and the main control board 6 more convenient.

[0065] like Figure 2 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, in some embodiments, an encoder mounting bracket 59 located on the outer periphery of the stator portion 551 is fixed to the side of the motor base 51 facing the conductive slip ring 55. A magnetic encoder 591 for detecting the rotational speed of the rotor portion 552 is mounted on the encoder mounting bracket 59. The magnetic encoder 591 is connected to a signal line 8, and the main control board 6 is provided with a signal line interface 63. The signal line 8 is electrically connected to the signal line interface 63 of the main control board 6. The magnetic encoder 591 can detect the rotational angle, speed, and direction of the rotor portion 552 inside the conductive slip ring 55 in real time and accurately, providing key feedback signals to the main control board 6. These feedback signals can precisely control the rotational speed of the rotary drive motor 52, ensuring that the lever assembly 54, the drive shaft of the ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic transducer rotate at a uniform speed, synchronizing the ultrasonic echo signal with the scanning angle, and achieving accurate 360-degree annular image reconstruction.

[0066] like Figure 2 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, in some embodiments, the signal line interface 63 is located on the side of the main control board 6 facing the mounting base 2. The mounting base 2 has a third slot 2c corresponding to the position of the signal line interface 63, through which the signal line 8 can be electrically connected to the signal line interface 63. The first slot 2a is located on the mounting base 2 on one side of the rotating mechanism 5, and the second slot 2b and the third slot 2c are located on the mounting base 2 on the other side of the rotating mechanism 5. This arrangement can make full use of the gap space between the main control board 6 and the mounting base 2, which is beneficial for the layout, routing, and plugging / unplugging of the signal line 8.

[0067] like Figure 2 , Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, in some embodiments, a probe identification plate 7 is fixed externally to the probe holder 53. The probe identification plate 7 is used to detect whether an ultrasonic probe is installed inside the probe holder 53. A second cable is electrically connected between the probe identification plate 7 and the main control board 6. The detection signal of the probe identification plate 7 is fed back to the main control board 6 through the second cable. A second electrical socket 64 is provided on the side of the main control board 6 facing the mounting base 2. The second electrical socket 64 is positioned corresponding to the third slot 2c. The second electrical plug of the second cable connected to the probe identification plate 7 passes through the third slot 2c and is electrically connected to the second electrical socket 64. This arrangement can make full use of the gap space between the main control board 6 and the mounting base 2, facilitating the layout, routing, and plugging / unplugging of the second cable between the probe identification plate 7 and the main control board 6.

[0068] This application also provides an ultrasound diagnostic device, including an ultrasound host, an ultrasound probe, and a probe driver for 3D imaging as described above. The proximal end of the ultrasound probe can extend into a body cavity. The proximal end of the ultrasound probe is connected to the probe seat 53 of the probe driver. An internal drive shaft is provided in the ultrasound probe, and the distal end of the drive shaft is connected to an ultrasound transducer. When the ultrasound probe and the probe driver are connected, the proximal end of the drive shaft is connected to a lever assembly 54 inside the probe driver. The linear drive mechanism 3 can drive the rotating mechanism 5 and the drive shaft to perform linear motion, thereby causing the ultrasound transducer at the distal end of the drive shaft to move back and forth within the body cavity. The rotating mechanism 5 is used to drive the drive shaft to rotate, thereby causing the ultrasound transducer at the distal end of the drive shaft to rotate within the body cavity. The ultrasound host and the ultrasound probe are electrically connected. The ultrasound host is used to convert the ultrasound echo signal acquired by the ultrasound probe into an ultrasound image and display it on a monitor. This ultrasound diagnostic device uses a probe driver to drive the ultrasound transducer within the ultrasound probe to perform linear and rotational movements. This allows the transducer to scan cross-sectional images of diseased tissue within body cavities, as well as images of the axial depth of insertion into the cavity, achieving 3D scanning imaging. This provides a comprehensive understanding of the lesion and surrounding tissues, improving the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, this probe driver features fewer components, a compact structure, reliable performance, and high positioning accuracy of the motion module.

[0069] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A probe driver for 3D imaging, characterized in that, Includes a drive housing and a drive disposed within the drive housing; A mounting base (2) is fixed inside the driver housing, and the driver includes: A linear drive mechanism (3) is mounted on the mounting base (2); The sliding connecting plate (4) is driven to make linear motion by the linear drive mechanism (3); The rotating mechanism (5) includes a rotating drive and a probe seat (53) fixed on the sliding connecting plate (4), and a lever assembly (54) driven by the rotating drive to rotate around its own axis within the probe seat (53); the probe seat (53) is adapted to connect to an ultrasonic probe, and the lever assembly (54) is adapted to connect to the transmission shaft inside the ultrasonic probe; the rotating drive drives the transmission shaft inside the ultrasonic probe to rotate through the lever assembly (54).

2. The probe driver for 3D imaging according to claim 1, characterized in that, The linear drive mechanism (3) and the sliding connecting plate (4) are arranged on the mounting base (2) along a first direction, and the sliding connecting plate (4) and the rotating mechanism (5) are arranged on the mounting base (2) along a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are two different intersecting directions.

3. The probe driver for 3D imaging according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mounting base (2) is fixed with a guide rail (21), and the sliding connecting plate (4) is slidably connected to the guide rail (21) along the guiding direction of the guide rail (21); the rotating mechanism (5) is located on the side of the sliding connecting plate (4) facing away from the guide rail (21), and the linear drive mechanism (3) is located on one side of the guide rail (21) and the sliding connecting plate (4).

4. The probe driver for 3D imaging according to claim 3, characterized in that, The linear drive mechanism (3) includes a linear drive motor (32) fixed on the mounting base (2), a lead screw (33) driven by the linear drive motor (32) to rotate around its own axis, and a nut seat (34) threaded to the lead screw (33) and fixedly connected to the sliding connecting plate (4).

5. The probe driver for 3D imaging according to claim 4, characterized in that, The mounting base (2) has a main control board (6) fixed on the side facing away from the rotating mechanism (5). The mounting base (2) has a first slot (2a) corresponding to the position of the lead screw (33). The nut seat (34) is connected to a sensing plate (36). At least part of the sensing plate (36) extends into the first slot (2a). The main control board (6) has a travel limit switch (61) on the side facing the mounting base (2). The travel limit switch (61) and the first slot (2a) are positioned accordingly. When the sensing plate (36) moves with the nut seat (34) to the space between the two switch plates of the travel limit switch (61), the travel limit switch (61) sends a sensing signal to the main control board (6) to control the linear drive motor (32) to stop running.

6. The probe driver for 3D imaging according to claim 5, characterized in that, The rotating mechanism (5) further includes a motor base (51) and a conductive slip ring (55). The motor base (51) is fixed on the sliding connecting plate (4). The rotating drive component is a rotating drive motor (52) fixed on the motor base (51). The conductive slip ring (55) is coaxially connected between the motor base (51) and the probe base (53). The rotating drive motor (52) is connected to a motor controller (58) for controlling the rotation speed of the rotating drive motor (52). The main control board (6) has a first electrical socket (62) on the side facing the mounting base (2). The mounting base (2) has a second slot (2b) corresponding to the position of the first electrical socket (62). The first cable (581) connected to the motor controller (58) passes through the second slot (2b) and is electrically connected to the first electrical socket (62).

7. The probe driver for 3D imaging according to claim 6, characterized in that, The conductive slip ring (55) includes a stator part (551) and a rotor part (552). The rotor part (552) is coaxially disposed inside the stator part (551) and can rotate relative to the axial direction of the stator part (551). One end of the stator part (551) is fixedly connected to the motor base (51) and the other end is fixedly connected to the probe base (53). One end of the rotor part (552) is connected to the output end of the rotary drive motor (52) through a coupling (56) and the other end is fixedly connected to the lever assembly (54).

8. The probe driver for 3D imaging according to claim 7, characterized in that, An encoder mounting bracket (59) located on the outer periphery of the stator part (551) is fixed on one side of the motor base (51). A magnetic encoder (591) for detecting the rotational speed of the rotor part (552) is mounted on the encoder mounting bracket (59). The magnetic encoder (591) is connected to a signal line (8). The main control board (6) is provided with a signal line interface (63) on the side facing the mounting base (2). The mounting base (2) is provided with a third slot (2c) corresponding to the position of the signal line interface (63). The signal line (8) passes through the third slot (2c) and is electrically connected to the signal line interface (63).

9. The probe driver for 3D imaging according to claim 8, characterized in that, The main control board (6) has a second electrical socket (64) on the side facing the mounting base (2). The second electrical socket (64) and the third slot (2c) are positioned correspondingly. A probe identification plate (7) is fixed to the outside of the probe base (53). The second cable connected to the probe identification plate (7) passes through the third slot (2c) and is electrically connected to the second electrical socket (64).

10. An ultrasound diagnostic device, characterized in that, include: The ultrasound host, ultrasound probe, and probe driver for 3D imaging as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the ultrasound probe is connected to the probe seat (53) of the probe driver, the ultrasound probe has a drive shaft inside, the distal end of the drive shaft is connected to an ultrasound transducer, the proximal end of the drive shaft is connected to the lever assembly (54) of the probe driver, the linear drive mechanism (3) is used to drive the rotation mechanism (5), the drive shaft and the ultrasound transducer thereon to perform linear motion, the rotation mechanism (5) is used to drive the drive shaft and the ultrasound transducer thereon to perform rotational motion, the ultrasound host is connected to the ultrasound probe, and the ultrasound host is used to convert the ultrasound echo signal collected by the ultrasound probe into an ultrasound image and display it on a display.