Ultrasound probe

Abstract

To provide an ultrasonic probe with high water resistance and chemical resistance. The ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic transducer (28), a metallic inner housing thermally connected to the ultrasonic transducer (28), and a probe case enclosing the inner housing. Bond lines (250, 252) of the probe case and bond lines (314, 316) of the inner housing are offset from each other in the vertical direction.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe, and more particularly to an ultrasonic probe having a sealed internal space. [Background technology]

[0002] When performing an ultrasound examination, an operator can freely place an ultrasound probe on a scanning object, orient it in any direction, and perform imaging, thereby obtaining non-destructive / non-invasive ultrasound images.

[0003] After such an ultrasound examination, various dirt and contaminants may accumulate on the ultrasound probe, and bacteria may grow on it. To prevent such problems and shorten the lifespan of the ultrasound probe, ultrasound probe manufacturers provide users with cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization guides for ultrasound probes (e.g., "GE Healthcare Japan, Modality-Specific Disinfection Guidelines"). Following these guidelines, ultrasound probes are typically scrubbed with a sponge, washed with water, or immersed in a disinfectant solution for several minutes to several hours. In addition, for specific applications, disinfection and cleaning may be performed using steam. For this reason, the internal structure of the ultrasound probe is covered by a probe case made of a material with excellent chemical and heat resistance and the required rigidity. The probe case is typically made of resins such as ABS resin (acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene copolymer synthetic resin).

[0004] On the other hand, the ultrasonic vibrator included in the ultrasonic probe vibrates in response to an applied voltage, generating ultrasonic waves and therefore generating heat. To dissipate the heat generated by the ultrasonic vibrator, the ultrasonic probe may be provided with a metal inner housing thermally connected to the ultrasonic vibrator. The inner housing must have high thermal conductivity, so it needs to be made of a metal with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or copper.

[0005] When manufacturing an ultrasonic probe with a metal inner housing built into such a resin probe case, an assembly method can be used in which the inner housing and the probe case are each made in separate states and then joined together to complete the inner housing and probe case. Specifically, a printed circuit board (PCB) on which electronic components for performing functions such as signal processing of ultrasonic data are arranged is connected to a cable at its rear end and to a transducer module at its front end. Next, the top and bottom portions of the inner housing are joined to each other so as to enclose or sandwich the components such as the printed circuit board. Next, the top and bottom portions of the probe case are joined to each other so as to enclose or sandwich the inner housing.

[0006] The inner housing and probe case, which are divided into a top and bottom section, can be joined using a water-resistant adhesive such as a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin adhesive or an epoxy resin adhesive. However, if the bond line that joins the top and bottom sections with the adhesive deteriorates due to factors such as aging, it may become a path for liquids such as disinfectants and cleaning solutions to seep in.

[0007] Furthermore, plastics such as polyvinyl chloride and epoxy resin, as well as natural rubber, are gas permeable, and even if the adhesive is not degraded, they cannot completely block the passage of water vapor contained in the air. Water vapor that penetrates the inside of an ultrasound probe condenses into liquid water when the internal temperature drops below the dew point. When liquid water comes into contact with electronic components or wiring, it can cause short circuits and corrosion of metal parts. Similar problems occur with chemicals. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-19556 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an ultrasonic probe that is highly resistant to the penetration of liquid molecules such as water and chemicals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, an ultrasonic probe is provided. The ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic transducer disposed at a front end of the ultrasonic probe, a probe case, an inner housing disposed inside the probe case, and an electronic circuit connected to the ultrasonic transducer and disposed inside the inner housing. The probe case includes a top surface and a bottom surface facing each other, and a first side surface connected to the top surface and the bottom surface. Each of the top surface and the bottom surface of the probe case has a width greater than the height of the first side surface of the probe case. The probe case includes at least a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion of the probe case includes the top surface of the probe case, and the bottom portion of the probe case includes the bottom surface of the probe case. The top portion and the bottom portion of the probe case are joined to each other by a first bond line to form the first side surface of the probe case. The first bond line of the probe case is provided on the first side surface and extends between the front end of the ultrasonic probe and the rear end of the ultrasonic probe. The inner housing includes opposing top and bottom surfaces and a first side surface connected to the top and bottom surfaces. Each of the top and bottom surfaces of the inner housing has a width greater than the height of the first side surface of the inner housing. The inner housing includes at least a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion of the inner housing includes the top portion of the inner housing, and the bottom portion of the inner housing includes the bottom portion of the inner housing. The top portion and the bottom portion of the inner housing are joined to each other by a first bond line to form the first side surface of the inner housing. The first bond line of the inner housing is provided on the first side surface and extends between the front end and the rear end of the ultrasonic probe. The first bond line of the probe case and the first bond line of the inner housing are offset from each other in the height direction.

[0011] A second aspect of the present disclosure provides an ultrasound diagnostic device including an ultrasound probe, the ultrasound probe including the features of the first aspect of the present disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an ultrasound diagnostic system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the external and internal structures of an ultrasonic probe. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal structure of an ultrasonic probe. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing the main components of an ultrasound probe. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a chassis built into an ultrasound probe. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing how an inner housing of an ultrasonic probe is joined to a probe case. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which an inner housing is disposed in a probe case. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 illustrates the offset between the bond line on the probe case and the bond line on the inner housing. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 illustrates the offset between the bond line on the probe case and the bond line on the inner housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. However, the claimed invention is not limited to the embodiments described here. In particular, in this disclosure, a medical ultrasound diagnostic system will be described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to ultrasound inspection systems, ultrasound inspection devices, and ultrasound probes for non-destructive testing of buildings, structures, various mechanical devices, etc.

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An ultrasonic diagnostic device 1 shown in Fig. 1 includes an ultrasonic probe 2, a transmit / receive beam former 3, an echo data processing unit 4, a display processing unit 5, a display unit 6, an operation unit 7, a control unit 8, and a storage unit 9. The ultrasonic diagnostic device 1 is configured as a computer.

[0015] The ultrasonic probe 2 is configured to have a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (see FIG. 4) arranged in an array, and transmits ultrasonic waves to the object to be inspected by the ultrasonic transducers and receives the resulting echo signals.

[0016] The ultrasonic probe 2 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from the object of examination. The transmit / receive beamformer 3 supplies electrical signals to the ultrasonic probe 2 for transmitting ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic probe 2 under predetermined scanning conditions based on control signals from the control unit 8. The transmit / receive beamformer 3 also performs signal processing such as A / D conversion and phasing addition processing on the echo signals received by the ultrasonic probe 2, and outputs the echo data after signal processing to the echo data processing unit 4.

[0017] The echo data processor 4 performs the following on the echo data output from the transmit / receive beamformer 3: For example, the echo data processing unit 4 performs B-mode processing such as logarithmic compression and envelope detection to generate B-mode data.

[0018] The display processing unit 5 scan-converts the data input from the echo data processing unit 4 using a scan converter to create ultrasound image data. For example, the display processing unit 5 scan-converts B-mode data to create B-mode image data, and displays an ultrasound image on the display unit 6 based on the ultrasound image data. The ultrasound image is, for example, a B-mode image based on the B-mode image data.

[0019] The display unit 6 is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, etc. The operation unit 7 is a device through which a user inputs instructions and information. For example, although not shown, the operation unit 7 includes a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse or trackball.

[0020] The control unit 8 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 8 reads out a program stored in the storage unit 9 and controls each unit of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1. For example, the control unit 8 reads out a program stored in the storage unit 9 and causes the transmit / receive beamformer 3, the echo data processing unit 4, and the display processing unit 5 to perform the functions according to the read out program.

[0021] The control unit 8 may execute all of the functions of the transmit / receive beamformer 3, all of the functions of the echo data processing unit 4, and all of the functions of the display processing unit 5 by a program, or may execute only some of the functions by a program. When the control unit 8 executes only some of the functions, the remaining functions may be executed by hardware such as a circuit. Note that the functions of the transmit / receive beamformer 3, the echo data processing unit 4, and the display processing unit 5 may be realized by hardware such as a circuit.

[0022] The storage unit 9 is a semiconductor memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a random access memory (RAM), or a read only memory (ROM).

[0023] The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 may have all of an HDD, RAM, and ROM as the storage unit 9. The storage unit 9 may also be a portable storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disk) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). The programs executed by the control unit 8 are stored in a non-transitory storage medium such as an HDD or ROM. The programs may also be stored in a portable non-transitory storage medium such as a CD or a DVD.

[0024] 2 and 3 are diagrams showing the external and internal structures of the ultrasound probe 2. In this embodiment, the ultrasound probe 2 is a convex-type ultrasound probe, but it may be other types of ultrasound probes, such as a bronchial endoscope ultrasound probe, a transesophageal ultrasound probe, or a linear-type ultrasound probe. A convex-type ultrasound probe has a lens with a convex curved surface and emits ultrasound waves that diverge radially. A convex-type ultrasound probe is used for abdominal ultrasound echography, etc. A linear-type ultrasound probe has a flat lens and emits ultrasound waves that do not diverge in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface. A linear-type ultrasound probe is used for ultrasound echography of the thyroid gland or blood vessels, etc. Both the convex-type ultrasound probe and the linear-type ultrasound probe have a roughly rectangular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis extending from the front end to the rear end of the ultrasound probe.

[0025] The right side of Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the external structure of the ultrasonic probe 2, and the left side of Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the internal structure with the top portion 241 of the probe case 24 of the ultrasonic probe 2 removed. As shown in Fig. 2, a lens 22 is disposed at the front end 34 of the ultrasonic probe 2, and a cable 26 is disposed at the rear end 36 of the ultrasonic probe 2. An operator of the ultrasonic probe 2 collects an ultrasound image by holding the handle 32 and bringing the lens 22 into contact with an object to be examined. The ultrasonic probe 2 has a generally rectangular cross section in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 37 extending from the front end 34 to the rear end 36.

[0026] In the embodiment of FIG. 2 , the probe case 24 of the ultrasonic probe 2 is configured with a top portion 241 located on the near side of the paper surface of FIG. 2 and a bottom portion 242 located on the far side of the paper surface of FIG. 2 , as shown in FIG. 4 . The probe case 24 can be made of resin. As shown in FIG. 2 , the bottom portion 242 of the probe case 24 has a plurality of protrusions 54, and the top portion 241 of the probe case 24 has a plurality of holes that receive the protrusions 54, allowing for accurate alignment of the top portion 241 and the bottom portion 242. Some or all of the protrusions 54 may be located on the top portion 241, and some or all of the holes that receive them may be located on the bottom portion 242. The bottom portion 242 further has a groove 58 at its end that joins with the top portion 241 to receive the linear protrusion provided on the end of the top portion 241. The groove on the bottom surface side portion 242 and the linear protrusion on the top surface side portion 241 may have complementary shapes that allow them to be aligned with each other, and may be steps or the like that fit together.

[0027] The probe case 24 includes a top surface 243 and a bottom surface 244 facing each other, and two side surfaces 245, 246 connected to the top surface 243 and the bottom surface 244. Each of the top surface 243 and the bottom surface 244 of the probe case 24 has a width greater than the height of the two side surfaces 245, 246 of the probe case 24 at most axial positions along the longitudinal axis 37. At the rear end 36 of the ultrasonic probe 2, the height of the two side surfaces 245, 246 and the width of the probe case 24 are approximately the same. That is, at the rear end 36 of the probe case 24, the cross section of the probe case 24 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 37 has a nearly square shape. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the width is greater than the height of the two side surfaces 245, 246 of the probe case 24 at 80 to 100% of the axial position. More preferably, the width is greater than the height of the two side surfaces 245, 246 of the probe case 24 at 90 to 99% of the axial position. At least the top surface portion 241 of the probe case 24 includes a top surface 243 of the probe case 24, and the bottom surface portion 242 of the probe case 24 includes a bottom surface 244 of the probe case 24. Here, a longitudinal axis 37 extending from the front end 34 to the rear end 36 of the ultrasonic probe 2 extends in the length direction, the width direction extends to the left and right of the plane of FIG. 2, and the height direction extends perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2.

[0028] A metal inner housing 30 is disposed inside the probe case 24 of the ultrasonic probe 2. The outer surface of the inner housing 30 has a shape that matches the inner surface of the probe case 24. The inner housing 30 can be manufactured by known techniques such as casting, additive manufacturing, CNC machining, forging, and press working. The top portion 301 and the bottom portion 302 of the inner housing 30 are bonded to each other with an adhesive (first adhesive). The inner surface of the probe case 24 is attached to the outer surface of the inner housing 30 with an adhesive (second adhesive). The top portion 241 and the bottom portion 242 (FIG. 4) of the probe case 24 are also bonded to each other with an adhesive (third adhesive). The front end of the probe case 24 is bonded to the lens 22, and the rear end of the probe case 24 is bonded to the cable 26. Since the ultrasonic probe 2 may be disinfected with a disinfectant and cleaned with a cleaning solution, it is preferable to use an adhesive with excellent water resistance, such as a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin adhesive or an epoxy resin adhesive. From the viewpoint of miniaturization, the thickness of the adhesive is preferably 5 mm or less. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of adhesive strength, the thickness of the adhesive is preferably 0.3 mm or more. More preferably, the adhesive has a thickness of 1 to 4 mm. The first to third adhesives may be the same adhesive or different adhesives.

[0029] Returning to FIG. 2 , both the top portion 301 and the bottom portion 302 of the inner housing 30 include an opening 56. The inner housing 30 includes spar members 303 and 304 extending along the sides 323 and 324 of the handle 32. The opening 56 in the inner housing 30 is at least partially defined by the spar members 303 and 304. The handle 32 is provided with one or more operating buttons 321 and 322, which are positioned at the opening 56 in the inner housing 30. Positioning the one or more operating buttons 321 and 322 at the opening 56 in the inner housing 30 allows the one or more operating buttons 321 and 322 to sink slightly when an operator operates the one or more operating buttons 321 and 322. Operation of the operating buttons 321 and 322 affects the air pressure inside the inner housing 30 and may place stress on the adhesive of the inner housing 30.

[0030] Similar to the probe case 24, the inner housing 30 also includes a top surface 305 and a bottom surface 306 that face each other, and two side surfaces 307, 308 that are connected to the top surface 305 and the bottom surface 306. Each of the top surface 305 and the bottom surface 306 of the inner housing 30 has a width that is greater than the height of the two side surfaces 307, 308 of the inner housing 30. Similar to the probe case 24, the inner housing 30 also includes at least a top surface portion 301 and a bottom surface portion 302. The top surface portion 301 of the inner housing 30 includes the top surface 305 of the inner housing, and the bottom surface portion 302 of the inner housing 30 includes the bottom surface 306 of the inner housing 30.

[0031] A chassis 38 is positioned in the opening 56 of the inner housing 30. A flexible printed circuit board 46, on which multiple electronic components 40 and 50 are arranged, is fixed to the chassis 38. The chassis 38 is fixed to the inner housing 30 with fasteners such as bolts so that the components fixed thereto do not easily move and do not move from their predetermined positions in the ultrasound probe 2. The electronic components 40 and 50 may be integrated circuits that perform signal processing or environmental information processing. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the rear end of the printed circuit board 46 is detachably connected to the cable 26 via a connector 48 ( FIG. 5 ), and the front end of the printed circuit board 46 is detachably connected to the transducer module 28 via a connector (not shown). This allows power from the cable to be supplied to the electronic components 40 and 50 arranged on the printed circuit board 46 and the transducer module 28. Furthermore, bidirectional signal transmission is possible via the printed circuit board 46 and the cable 26. The chassis 38 is detachably fixed to the inner housing 30 with fasteners such as bolts. In the event of a malfunction or other problem with the electronic components 40, 50, the chassis 38 including the printed circuit board 46 can be replaced with a new chassis through the opening 56 in the inner housing 30. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the chassis 38 is made of a non-magnetic material such as resin.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the inner housing 30 of the ultrasound probe 2, with a top portion 301 (FIG. 4) and a portion of the lens 22 removed. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the inner housing 30 of the ultrasound probe 2 is composed of a top portion 301 located on the near side of the paper in FIG. 3 and a bottom portion 302 located on the far side of the paper in FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom portion 302 of the inner housing 30 has multiple protrusions 52, and the top portion 301 of the inner housing 30 has multiple holes to receive the multiple protrusions 52, allowing for accurate alignment of the top portion 301 and the bottom portion 302. Some or all of the multiple protrusions 52 may be located on the top portion 301, and some or all of the multiple holes to receive them may be located on the bottom portion 302. The bottom portion 302 may further have a groove at the end that joins with the top portion 301, configured to receive a linear protrusion provided at the end of the top portion 301. The groove in the bottom portion 302 and the linear protrusion in the top portion 301 may have complementary shapes that allow for alignment, and may also be steps or the like that fit together. The inner housing 30 could also be assembled by dividing it into the left-right or top-bottom direction of the page, rather than into the top portion 301 and bottom portion 302. However, this would require manufacturing a structure that is deep relative to the bond line, which increases costs. In contrast, manufacturing the inner housing 30 divided into the top portion 301 and bottom portion 302 allows for a structure that is shallower relative to the bond line, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, dividing the inner housing 30 into the top portion 301 and bottom portion 302 makes it easier to install a printed circuit board 46 or the like inside the housing compared to other division methods.

[0033] The multiple protrusions 52 of the inner housing 30 can be replaced with fasteners such as bolts and nuts. The top portion 301 and bottom portion 302 of the inner housing 30 are also bonded to each other with an adhesive. The front end of the inner housing 30 is bonded to the transducer module 28, and the rear end of the inner housing 30 is bonded to the cable 26. Because the ultrasonic probe 2 may be disinfected with a disinfectant and cleaned with a cleaning solution, a water-resistant adhesive such as a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin adhesive or an epoxy resin adhesive is preferred. Since the inner housing 30 is a rigid metal body while the cable 26 is made of resin and is flexible, the joint between the two is relatively susceptible to liquid penetration. In a specific embodiment, the cable 26 and the inner housing 30 are provided with one or more complementary annular grooves and one or more annular protrusions to prevent liquid from penetrating into the ultrasonic probe 2. Airtightness and watertightness can also be improved by placing one or more rubber O-rings in one or more annular grooves.

[0034] As described above, the ultrasonic vibrator included in the ultrasonic probe vibrates in response to an applied voltage, generating heat as a component that generates ultrasonic waves. To dissipate the heat generated by the ultrasonic vibrator, the ultrasonic probe may include a metal inner housing 30 thermally connected to the ultrasonic vibrator. The inner housing 30 must have high thermal conductivity and be made of a metal with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or copper. From the perspective of weight reduction, aluminum is preferable to copper. Furthermore, a thin inner housing 30 prevents heat from building up around the ultrasonic vibrator and reduces its heat transfer ability, so a thickness of 1 mm or more is required. On the other hand, if the inner housing 30 is too thick, although its heat transfer ability improves, it becomes less easy to process and the ultrasonic probe's weight cannot be reduced; therefore, a thickness of 5 mm or less is required. More preferably, the inner housing 30 has a thickness of 2 to 4 mm.

[0035] FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the main components of the ultrasonic probe 2, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the chassis 38 built into the ultrasonic probe 2. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how the inner housing 30 and the probe case 24 of the ultrasonic probe 2 are joined together. In the embodiments of FIGS. 4 to 6, both the inner housing 30 and the probe case 24 are bilaterally symmetrical. As shown in FIG. 5, in a specific embodiment of the present invention, multiple electronic components 40, 50 are arranged on a printed circuit board 46 of the chassis 38. As shown in FIG. 5, the rear end of the printed circuit board 46 of the chassis 38 is connected to a connector 48 of the cable 26. The front end of the printed circuit board 46 of the chassis 38 is connected to the transducer module 28. An acoustic lens 42 is attached to the transducer module 28. Next, the top portion 301 and the bottom portion 302 of the inner housing 30 are joined to each other so as to enclose or sandwich these components. Next, the top portion 241 and the bottom portion 242 of the probe case 24 are joined to each other so as to enclose or sandwich these components.

[0036] The top portion 301 and the bottom portion 302 of the inner housing 30 are joined to each other at bond lines 314, 316 on both side surfaces 307, 308 to form the side surfaces 307, 308 of the inner housing 30. As shown in FIG. 6 , in a preferred embodiment, the height 311 of the top portion 301 of the inner housing 30 is higher than the height 312 of the bottom portion 302. Specifically, the height 311 of the top portion 301 is 55% to 95% of the height of the side surface 307. More preferably, the height 311 of the top portion 301 is 65% to 90% of the height of the side surface 307. The height 311 of the top portion 301 is 1.2 to 19 times the height 312 of the bottom portion 302. More preferably, the height 311 of the top portion 301 is 1.8 to 9 times the height 312 of the bottom portion 302. The inner housing 30 has bond lines 314, 316 on two side surfaces 307, 308, respectively. The two bond lines 314, 316 extend between the front end 34 and the rear end 36 of the ultrasonic probe 2. The height 311 of the top portion 301 of the inner housing 30 may be the same or different on the two sides. Similarly, the height 312 of the bottom portion 302 of the inner housing 30 may be the same or different on the two sides. In other embodiments, a bond line is provided on one side surface of the inner housing 30 but not on the other side surface. The metal material of the inner housing 30 on the side without the bond line is thin enough to allow bending deformation, and adhesive bonding is performed only on the side with the bond line.

[0037] The top portion 241 and the bottom portion 242 of the probe case 24 are joined together at bond lines 250, 252 on two side surfaces 245, 246 of the probe case 24, forming the two side surfaces 245, 246 of the probe case 24. Two bond lines 314, 316 of the probe case 24 extend between the front end 34 and the rear end 36 of the ultrasonic probe 2. As shown in FIG. 6 , in a preferred embodiment, the height 247 of the top portion 241 of the probe case 24 is approximately the same height as the height 248 of the bottom portion 242 from an aesthetic point of view. However, the height 247 of the top portion 241 may be 5% to 50% of the height of the side surface 245. More preferably, the height 247 of the top portion 241 may be 10% to 40% of the height of the side surface 245. The probe case 24 has bond lines 250 and 252 on two side surfaces 245 and 246, respectively. The two bond lines 250 and 252 extend between the front end 34 and the rear end 36 of the ultrasonic probe 2. The height 247 of the top portion 241 of the probe case 24 may be the same or different on the two sides. Similarly, the height 248 of the bottom portion 242 of the probe case 24 may be the same or different on the two sides. In another embodiment, a bond line is provided on one side surface of the probe case 24 but not on the other side surface. The resin material of the probe case 24 is flexible or thin enough to be bend and deform, allowing the inner housing 30 to be inserted into the bag-shaped probe case 24. In this case, the probe case 24 is adhesively bonded only on the side surface where the bond lines are provided.

[0038] 7 is a perspective view showing an ultrasonic probe 2 with the bottom portion 242 of the probe case 24 removed in a specific embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the bond line 250 on the front side of the probe case 24 and the bond line 314 on the front side of the inner housing 30 are offset in the height direction, and are therefore drawn as two parallel lines. The bond line 252 on the rear side of the probe case 24 and the bond line 316 on the rear side of the inner housing 30 are also offset in the height direction.

[0039] FIG. 8 is a side view showing an ultrasonic probe 2 according to a specific embodiment of the present invention with the bottom portion 242 of the probe case 24 removed. In this side view, the longitudinal axis 37 of the ultrasonic probe 2 extends left-right, and the height direction extends up-down. As shown in the figure, the bond line 316 of the inner housing 30 and the bond line 252 of the probe case 24 are offset in the height direction by an offset height 70 from the front end 34 to the rear end 36. That is, the two bond lines 252, 316 are offset in the height direction from each other. The offset height 70 is preferably 3 mm to the height of the probe case 24, more preferably 4 mm to 20 mm, and even more preferably 5 mm to 15 mm. In this example, the height 247 of the top portion 241 of the probe case 24 is approximately the same as the height 248 of the bottom portion 242. On the other hand, the height 311 of the top surface portion 301 of the inner housing 30 is twice the offset height 70 higher than the height 312 of the bottom surface portion 302 .

[0040] This structure provides strong chemical and water resistance because, when a chemical penetrates through bond line 252 of probe case 24, the chemical must pass through at least offset height 70 between probe case 24 and inner housing 30 before reaching bond line 316 of inner housing 30. In certain embodiments, an adhesive fills the gap between probe case 24 and inner housing 30. Filling the gap between probe case 24 and inner housing 30 with adhesive not only improves strength but also thermal conductivity. Regarding improved chemical and water resistance, for example, when offset height 70 is zero (bond line 252 of probe case 24 and bond line 316 of inner housing 30 are aligned at the same height), the liquid penetration paths are a first adhesive corresponding to the thickness of probe case 24 at bond line 252, a second adhesive with a thickness corresponding to the gap between inner housing 30 and probe case 24, and a third adhesive with a thickness corresponding to the thickness of inner housing 30 at bond line 316. In contrast, if there is an offset height 70, the liquid penetration paths will be through a third adhesive corresponding to the thickness of the probe case 24 at the bond line 252, a second adhesive with a thickness corresponding to the gap between the inner housing 30 and the probe case 24 plus the distance of the offset height 70, and a first adhesive corresponding to the thickness of the inner housing 30 at the bond line 316.

[0041] Figure 9A teeth , the ultrasonic probe 2 to the probe case 24 in another embodiment of the present invention. above Face side part 24 1 FIG. 9B is a side view showing a state in which the bottom portion 242 of the probe case 24 is removed from the ultrasound probe 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention.In this side view, the longitudinal axis 37 of the ultrasonic probe 2 extends left-right and the height direction extends up-down. As shown in FIG. 9A , the bond line 252 of the probe case 24 extends linearly, while the bond line 316 of the inner housing 30 bends near the lens 22, resulting in an offset height 72 near the lens 22 that is higher than the offset height 70 at other locations. In FIG. 9B , the bond line 252 of the probe case 24 bends, while the bond line 316 of the inner housing 30 extends linearly, resulting in an offset height 74 near the lens 22 that is higher than the offset height 70 at other locations. The transducer module 28 is a heat-generating element, while the inner housing 30, the probe case 24, and the acoustic lens 42 are made of materials with different thermal expansion coefficients. Furthermore, when cleaning or disinfecting the ultrasonic probe 2, the lens 22 may be immersed in a cleaning solution or disinfectant for an extended period of time. For this reason, the joint between the lens 22 and the probe case 24 is more likely to become a path for liquid penetration than other positions. By setting the offset height 72 near the lens 22 higher than the offset height 70 at other positions, the penetration path can be further lengthened, thereby improving water resistance and chemical resistance. The offset heights 72, 74 are set to be 2 mm or more higher than the offset height 70, more preferably 3 mm to 10 mm, and even more preferably 4 mm to 10 mm higher. Both the offset heights 72, 74 change their heights by transitioning in a step-like manner, but the transition may also be made using a combination of various straight lines and curves.

[0042] The invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1: Ultrasound diagnostic equipment 2: Ultrasonic probe 3: Transmit / receive beamformer 4: Echo data processing section 5: Display processing section 6: Display section 7:Operation unit 8: Control unit 9: Storage part 22: Lens 24: Probe case 241:Top side part 242: Bottom side part 243:Top surface 244: Bottom 245, 246: Side 247: Top height 248: Bottom height 250, 252: Probe case bond line 26: Cable 28: Vibrator module 30: Inner housing 301:Top side part 302: Bottom side part 303, 304: Girder members 305:Top surface 306: Bottom 307, 308: Side 305: Front end 306: Rear end 311: Top height 312: Bottom height 314, 316: Inner housing bond line 32: Handle 321, 322: Operation buttons 323, 324: Side 34: Front end 36: Rear end 37: Longitudinal axis 38: Chassis 40, 50: Electronic components / integrated circuits 42: Acoustic Lens 46: Printed circuit board 48: Connector 52: Protrusion 54: Protrusion 56: Opening 58: Groove 60: Circular groove 62: Annular protrusion 70, 72, 74: Offset

Claims

1. An ultrasound probe, an ultrasonic transducer disposed at the front end of the ultrasonic probe; A probe case; an inner housing provided inside the probe case; an electronic circuit connected to the ultrasonic transducer and provided inside the inner housing; Equipped with the probe case includes a top surface and a bottom surface facing each other, and a first side surface connected to the top surface and the bottom surface; each of the top surface and the bottom surface of the probe case has a width greater than a height of the first side surface of the probe case; the probe case has at least a top portion and a bottom portion; the upper surface side portion of the probe case includes the upper surface of the probe case, the bottom surface side portion of the probe case includes the bottom surface of the probe case, the top surface portion and the bottom surface portion of the probe case are joined together at a first bond line to form the first side of the probe case; the first bond line of the probe case is provided on the first side surface and extends between the front end of the ultrasonic probe and the rear end of the ultrasonic probe; the inner housing includes a top surface and a bottom surface facing each other, and a first side surface connected to the top surface and the bottom surface; each of the top surface and the bottom surface of the inner housing has a width greater than a height of the first side surface of the inner housing; The inner housing has at least a top portion and a bottom portion, the upper surface side portion of the inner housing includes the upper surface of the inner housing, the bottom surface side portion of the inner housing includes the bottom surface of the inner housing, the top and bottom portions of the inner housing are joined together at a first bond line to form the first side of the inner housing; the first bond line of the inner housing is provided on the first side surface and extends between the front end and the rear end of the ultrasonic probe; the first bond line of the probe case and the first bond line of the inner housing are offset from each other in a height direction so that only one of the top surface portion and the bottom surface portion of the inner housing is disposed at a height of the first bond line of the probe case, and the other of the top surface portion and the bottom surface portion of the inner housing is not disposed at a height of the first bond line of the probe case; Ultrasound probe.

2. the probe case includes a second side surface provided on the opposite side of the first side surface and connected to the top surface and the bottom surface; each of the top surface and the bottom surface of the probe case has a width greater than a height of the second side surface of the probe case; the top and bottom portions of the probe case are joined together at a second bond line; the second bond line of the probe case is provided on the second side surface and extends between the front end and the rear end of the ultrasonic probe; the inner housing includes a second side surface provided opposite the first side surface and connected to the top surface and the bottom surface; each of the top surface and the bottom surface of the inner housing has a width greater than a height of the second side surface of the inner housing; the top and bottom portions of the inner housing are joined to each other at a second bond line; the second bond line of the inner housing is provided on the second side surface and extends between the front end and the rear end of the ultrasonic probe; The ultrasonic probe of claim 1 , wherein the second bond line of the probe case and the second bond line of the inner housing are offset from one another.

3. An ultrasonic probe as described in claim 2, wherein the first bond line of the probe case and the second bond line of the probe case are sealed to each other by an adhesive.

4. a power supply disposed at the rear end of the ultrasonic probe and connected to the electronic circuit; the top surface side portion and the bottom surface side portion of the inner housing, and the ultrasonic vibrator; The ultrasonic probe according to claim 3 , wherein the power supply portion and the inner housing are sealed to prevent liquid from entering the interior of the inner housing.

5. a lens covering the ultrasonic transducer; 3. The ultrasonic probe of claim 2, wherein the first bond line of the probe case and / or the second bond line of the probe case have a relatively high offset height near the lens and a lower offset height farther from the lens.

6. a height of the top surface portion of the inner housing at the first side surface is lower than a height of the bottom surface portion of the inner housing at the first side surface; a height of the top surface portion of the inner housing at the second side surface is lower than a height of the bottom surface portion of the inner housing at the second side surface; The ultrasound probe of claim 2 , wherein the offset is at least 3 mm.

7. The ultrasonic probe of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic probe has a rectangular cross section in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending from the front end to the rear end.

8. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 7 , wherein the ultrasonic probe is a convex or linear ultrasonic probe.

9. the inner housing includes a metal material; The ultrasonic probe of claim 1 , wherein the inner housing is thermally connected to the ultrasonic transducer and configured to dissipate heat generated by the ultrasonic transducer.

10. 5. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 4, wherein the top and bottom portions of the probe case, the ultrasonic transducer, and the power supply portion are sealed to one another with an adhesive to prevent liquid from entering the inside of the probe case.

11. 3. The ultrasonic probe of claim 2, wherein the top and bottom portions of the inner housing each include a step having a shape complementary to a position of the first and / or second bond line of the inner housing.

12. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the inner housing is shaped to conform to the inner surface of the probe case.

13. one of the top and bottom portions of the probe case includes a protrusion disposed near the first side of the probe case; The ultrasonic probe according to claim 4 , wherein the other of the top surface portion and the bottom surface portion of the probe case has a recess that receives the protrusion.

14. The ultrasound probe according to claim 10 , wherein the power supply unit includes a cable that connects to an ultrasound diagnostic device.

15. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising the ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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