DE102011015324A1 - Ultrasound head e.g. ultrasound probe head, for use in ultrasound device for sonographic examination of tumors of human body, has storage container for storing contact gel, and dosing device for dosing gel and operated by foot pedal - Google Patents

Abstract

The ultrasound head has a storage container i.e. swap container, for storing a contact agent i.e. contact gel, and a dosing device for dosing the contact agent. The dosing device is operated by foot pedal. The dosing device is provided with a discharge stopper (2) and a pump device i.e. mechanical or electrical or pneumatic pump. The storage container is connected with the dosing device by connection hoses. The foot pedal is made of flexible plastic or braided metal. The contact agent is heated by a heating device i.e. canister heater.

Description

State of the art

The invention relates to an ultrasound head for sonographic examination of a body, in particular of a human or animal body.

Usually ultrasound probes, also called ultrasound probes or transducers, are used in the non-invasive examination of human or animal bodies for diagnosis. Their job is to get information from within the body. The core of the ultrasound diagnosis is the ultrasound transducer unit which on the one hand couples ultrasound waves into the body to be examined and on the other hand serves as a microphone, the microphone receiving and correspondingly detecting the ultrasound waves reflected inside the body resulting from piezoelectric effects. The information obtained with this examination technique is used in particular for the examination of unborn or tumors.

The interaction of ultrasound waves with biological tissue is based on absorption, reflection and refraction, similar to light in the glass. Reflection and refraction occur at the interface between two substances having different physical properties, e.g. B. on the outer skin of an organ or tumor. Since these differences in tissue are often very low, a high sensitivity of the receiving device is a prerequisite.

In this case, the coupling efficiency with which the ultrasound waves from the ultrasound transducer enter the interior of the body through the skin layers plays a particularly important role. Equally important is the coupling-out efficiency with which the ultrasonic waves reflected in the interior of the body return to the ultrasonic transducer, which detects them accordingly.

To improve the Einkoppelwirkungsgrads one usually uses a contact means, since otherwise a large part of the radiated energy from the ultrasound head would be lost for the treatment. As a contact agent usually liquids such as water, oil or suitably formed gels are used, which are applied to the skin of the body to be examined. These contact means are usually in a container, such as a bag or a tube, and are applied manually by the examiner on the body.

A disadvantage of such ultrasound heads is that the investigation process must be interrupted if manually again gel must be applied at other points of the body or the already applied amount was distributed by the ultrasound head so that the amount of contact gel at individual points is no longer sufficient ,

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an ultrasound head with which a loss of contact agent is to be avoided and it allows easier operation of the ultrasound head.

Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention, an ultrasound head of an ultrasound device for ultrasound diagnosis has a dosing device for a contact means. This metering device can be configured as a foot operation, in particular as a foot pedal. The foot pedal is coupled to a reservoir containing an ultrasonic contact means, in particular a contact gel. By operating the foot pedal the transport to the ultrasound head and the dosage of the contact gel is made possible. In this case, the quantity of contact gel is always released by means of a pump device whose operation is controlled by the actuation of the foot pedal, and transported to the body site to be examined, which is necessary for the respective examination step.

When the foot pedal is depressed, contact means from the reservoir is pumped by the pump means to the ultrasound head. If the foot pedal is not pressed down, no contact agent is promoted.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the metering device is provided with an outlet stop. This outlet stop is arranged for example in a handle. He can by means of a push button, a locking device, a switch, a slider or the like. be operated. On the push button, a spring is arranged such that upon manual operation of the push button, the spring is compressed. Thus, the further supply of contact gel to the ultrasound head is interrupted by pressing down the push button. After releasing the pushbutton, the outlet stop is deactivated again and the contact gel is pumped back to the ultrasound probe. The outlet stop may be made of various materials suitable for this, in particular of plastic.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the ultrasonic head according to the invention, the metering device by means of a hose with the Reservoir in which the contact means is stored, connected. This hose is formed of a flexible material. Preferably, a plastic is used, in particular a transparent plastic. The hose is flexible. Also possible is an embodiment of flexible, coated in the interior with plastic metal mesh. The hose has a plug connection.

The leadership of the contact gel in the thus formed hose has the further advantage that by reducing the density of the contact gel in the hose and the larger surface area relative to the warmer outer skin of the tube, the gel material is easier to heat compared to the contact gel located in the reservoirs and at Applying on the body to be examined does not feel so cold.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention may be arranged at a suitable location of the ultrasound head for heating the contact gel and a heater, which heats the gel material, for example as a flow heater. An alternative of this embodiment is to form the heater for the contact gel as a canister heater directly on or in the reservoir.

The pump device for conveying the contact means can be designed either as a mechanical or an electric or a pneumatic pump.

The reservoir for the contact means may be configured as a swap body or refillable. The contact gel is usually supplied in these containers or in bags. These containers are preferably prefabricated containers. However, special containers can also be used. It can be arranged one or more storage containers.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention can be taken from the following drawings and the claims.

An exemplary embodiment of the solution according to the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the attached schematic drawings. It shows:

1 a side view of a closure device of a metering device,

2 a connecting hose with plug connection and

3 an ultrasound device with an ultrasound head and the dosing device.

In 1 is a detail view of a dosing device of an ultrasonic head 1 represented in 3 , with a closure device 2 shown in the form of an outlet stop. The exhaust stop 2 has a device for interrupting 3 the supply of contact agent from a reservoir to an ultrasound head 1 on. This device for interrupting 3 is formed in this embodiment as a push button. But it can also be designed, for example, as a switch, latching device, slide or other suitable for interrupting execution.

The button 3 presses a spring when pressed 4 together and close the opening 5 , As a result, further promotion of contact means is interrupted. Will the push button 3 let go, the spring relaxes 4 again and the opening 5 is free again for flow of contact agent. The exhaust stop 2 can be made of various materials suitable for this purpose, in particular of plastic.

In 2 is a connection hose 6 shown.

2 shows the connection hose 6 with a plug connection 7 , This connection hose 6 serves to connect the reservoir or reservoir 9 with the dosing device. In this case, the connection hose 6 at the exhaust stop 2 be arranged. The connection hose 6 is to be formed of a flexible, especially transparent plastic. The plug connection 7 may have locking devices to ensure adequate support. The plug connection 7 is detachable.

3 shows the ultrasound machine with the ultrasound head 1 as well as a foot operation 8th for the metering device. By pressing the foot pedal as foot control 8th becomes contact gel from one or more storage containers 9 by means of a pump device 10 towards the ultrasound head 1 pumped.

The closure device 2 gem. 1 can handle it in one go 11 be arranged.

The pump device 10 can be configured either as a mechanical or electrical or pneumatic pump.

In a further embodiment, the reservoir 9 be designed as a swap body or refillable. The contact gel is usually in these containers 9 or delivered in bags. These containers 9 are preferably prefabricated containers. However, special containers can also be used. There may be one or more storage tanks 9 be arranged.

All in the description, the following claims and the drawings illustrated features may be essential to the invention both individually and in any combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

ultrasound probe

2

closure device

3

push-button

4

feather

5

opening

6

connecting hose

7

connector

8th

pedal

9

reservoir

10

pump means

11

handle

Claims (14)

Ultrasonic head ( 1 ), in particular for use in ultrasound diagnostics, which is arranged on an ultrasound device, with at least one storage container ( 9 ) for a contact agent, characterized in that the ultrasonic head ( 1 ) has a metering device for the contact means. Ultrasonic head ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the metering device by means of a foot pedal ( 8th ) is operable. Ultrasonic head ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact means is a contact gel. Ultrasonic head ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metering device comprises a closure device ( 2 ), which is designed as outlet stop. Ultrasonic head ( 1 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the storage container ( 9 ) by means of a hose ( 6 ) is connectable to the metering device. Ultrasonic head ( 1 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that the hose ( 6 ) a plug connection ( 7 ) having. Ultrasonic head ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dosing device comprises a pump device ( 10 ) having. Ultrasonic head ( 1 ) according to claim 7, characterized in that the pump device ( 10 ) a mechanical or an electric or a pneumatic pump ( 10 ). Ultrasonic head ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage container ( 9 ) is designed as a swap body. Ultrasonic head ( 1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that the foot pedal ( 8th ) is formed of different materials, in particular of plastic or metal. Ultrasonic head ( 1 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the closure device ( 2 ) is formed of different materials, in particular of plastic. Ultrasonic head ( 1 ) according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the hose ( 6 ) made of different materials, in particular of flexible plastic and / or flexible metal mesh, can be formed. Ultrasonic head ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact means can be heated by means of a flow heater. Ultrasonic head ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact means by means of a heating device, on or in a storage container ( 9 ) can be arranged, is heated.

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