Bendable Relay Board for Ultrasound Transducer Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasound transducer arrays in endoscopes face challenges with signal transmission and reception due to misalignment and mechanical stress, leading to potential wire breakage and short circuits, which can degrade the quality of ultrasound imaging.
Innovation Solution
A bendable relay board with branched extensions is used to connect ultrasound transducers to a signal line, allowing for flexible alignment and increased electrode distance to absorb mechanical stress, preventing misalignment and improving signal transmission reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rigid connection structure is used to connect ultrasound transducers to the signal line, then alignment precision is improved, but mechanical stress resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible relay board instead of a rigid connection structure. The relay board includes a flexible substrate with conductive patterns that provide both electrical connection and mechanical flexibility. This flexible structure can absorb mechanical stress and deformation while maintaining adequate alignment between ultrasound transducers and the signal line, resolving the contradiction between alignment precision and mechanical stress resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the connection structure by using a flexible substrate with specific material properties (elasticity, flexibility) rather than a rigid material. The relay board is designed to have controlled flexibility that allows it to deform elastically under mechanical stress while maintaining electrical connectivity, thus achieving both alignment precision and stress resistance.
2Reliability
If the relay board is made rigid to maintain stable electrical connection, then connection reliability is improved, but adaptability to bending and deformation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The relay board is constructed with a flexible substrate that can bend and deform while maintaining stable electrical connections. The flexibility of the substrate allows the relay board to adapt to bending and deformation of the endoscope, while the conductive patterns on the substrate maintain reliable electrical connectivity between ultrasound transducers and the signal line.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay board is designed to be dynamically adaptable rather than statically rigid. The flexible substrate can change its shape and configuration in response to mechanical deformation, allowing the endoscope to bend and flex while the relay board maintains functional electrical connections throughout the deformation process.
3Volume of moving object
If the distance between electrodes is reduced to minimize space, then device compactness is improved, but signal transmission reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The relay board is designed with non-uniform electrode spacing that optimizes signal transmission in critical areas. In regions where ultrasound transducers are located, sufficient electrode distance is maintained to ensure reliable signal transmission and minimize interference. In other areas where space is less critical, the board can be more compact, thus achieving a balance between compactness and signal reliability through localized optimization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances the reliability of signal transmission and reception, reduces the risk of wire breakage and short circuits, and maintains the quality of ultrasound transducers by absorbing mechanical stress and allowing for efficient alignment.
Implementation Method 1
a relay board that is a bendable relay board and that has a first end and a second end... the relay board being electrically connected to the ultrasound transducers at a portion extending in a direction of alignment of the ultrasound transducers in peripheral portions of the opening portion
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasound transducer array includes: a transducer group including a plurality of ultrasound transducers aligned, the transducers being configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves; a signal line configured to electrically connect the transducer group and an external device and transmit a signal communicated by the transducer group and the external device; and a relay board that is a bendable relay board and that has a first end and a second end, the first end being branched, the first end being connected to each of the ultrasound transducers, the second end being connected to the signal line to relay transmission and reception of the signal between the ultrasound transducers and the signal line, branched portions of the first end of the relay board extending in a direction of alignment of the ultrasound transducers.