Rotatable Ultrasound Probe With Space Reducing Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasound probes for diagnosing animals are bulky and heavy, making them difficult to use portably and store, which affects their ease of use and image quality due to the spacing between acoustic modules.
Innovation Solution
The ultrasound probe features a rotatable design with a first and second assembly, each containing an acoustic module, and space-reducing portions to minimize the distance between these modules, allowing for easier folding and unfolding, and a hinge unit with a connection member for electrical connectivity, enhancing image quality by reducing gaps between acoustic elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the ultrasound probe uses a larger size and heavier weight design for animal diagnosis, then the acoustic modules can be positioned to improve image quality, but the portability and storage ease deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasound probe is divided into a first assembly and a second assembly that can be folded relative to each other. The first acoustic module is disposed in the first assembly and the second acoustic module is disposed in the second assembly, allowing the probe to be folded to reduce size for portability while maintaining the spatial arrangement of acoustic modules for image quality when unfolded.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement by extending in multiple directions from a folding point. The first and second assemblies are arranged in a folded configuration that reduces the overall footprint while maintaining the necessary distance between acoustic modules through strategic positioning in different spatial dimensions.
2Volume of moving object
If the distance between acoustic modules is reduced to improve portability, then the probe size decreases, but the image quality may deteriorate due to insufficient spacing
Solution Approach 1:
The case includes a space reducing portion at a specific location where the first and second assemblies connect, allowing local reduction of thickness only where necessary for portability. This maintains the overall distance between acoustic modules needed for image quality while reducing the probe size in non-critical areas.
3Volume of moving object
If the case thickness is reduced to minimize distance between acoustic modules, then the probe becomes more compact, but the structural strength and protection of acoustic modules may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The case is designed with different thicknesses at different locations: a space reducing portion with reduced thickness where compactness is needed, and other portions with sufficient thickness to maintain structural strength and protect the acoustic modules. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between compact size and structural integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is an ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe includes a first assembly having a first case, a second assembly coupled with the first assembly, having a second case, and configured to be rotatable between a first position of being unfolded with respect to the first assembly and a second position of being folded on the first assembly, a first acoustic module disposed in the inside of the first case, a second acoustic module disposed in the inside of the second case, and a first space reducing portion disposed in at least one of a portion of the first case toward the second assembly and a portion of the second case toward the first assembly, and configured to reduce a space between the first acoustic module and the second acoustic module when the second assembly is at the first position.