TWI674090B - Ultrasound probe - Google Patents

Abstract

An ultrasonic probe includes a first casing, a first connector, a driving member, an engaging member, a second casing, and a second connector. The first casing has a first joint end. The first connector is disposed at the first coupling end. The driving member is disposed on the first casing. The engaging member is disposed in the first casing corresponding to the driving member. The second casing has a second coupling end, and the second coupling end has an engaging portion. The second connector is disposed at the second coupling end. When the first coupling end is combined with the second coupling end, the first connector is connected to the second connector, and the engaging member is engaged with the engaging portion. When the driving member drives the engaging member to move, the engaging member is disengaged from the engaging portion, so that the first coupling end and the second coupling end can be separated from each other, and the first connector and the second connector can be separated from each other.

Description

Ultrasound probe

The invention relates to an ultrasonic probe, in particular to an ultrasonic probe having a detachable housing.

Because ultrasonic scanning has the characteristics of not destroying the structure of materials and human cells, it is widely used in the field of materials and clinical medical detection. According to different scanning applications, ultrasound probes can be divided into many types. Among them, vaginal ultrasound probes used in pregnant women during antenatal examination are invasive probes. Therefore, the vaginal ultrasound probe is covered with a sanitary condom during use to avoid cross infection. However, after use, the entire ultrasound probe must still be disinfected at a high level, and the sanitary condom cannot completely prevent infection. In addition, the size of the sanitary condom and the scanning front end of the probe usually do not match, and the problem that the sanitary condom falls into the body of a pregnant woman may occur. In addition, the scanning lens located at the front of the scanning head of the probe is relatively easy to damage. The entire ultrasonic probe must be replaced during maintenance, which increases the maintenance cost.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe with a detachable housing to solve the above problems.

According to an embodiment, the ultrasonic probe of the present invention includes a first housing, a first connector, a driving member, an engaging member, a second housing, and a second connector. The first casing has a first joint end. The first connector is disposed at the first coupling end. The driving member is disposed on the first casing. The engaging member is disposed in the first casing corresponding to the driving member. The second housing has a second coupling end, the second coupling end has an engaging portion, and the engaging portion is disposed corresponding to the engaging member. The second connector is disposed at the second coupling end. When the first coupling end is combined with the second coupling end, the first connector is connected to the second connector, and the engaging member is engaged with the engaging portion. When the driving member drives the engaging member to move, the engaging member disengages from the engaging portion, so that the first coupling end and the second coupling end can be separated from each other, and the first connector and the second connector can be separated from each other.

To sum up, the ultrasonic probe of the present invention is formed by combining two detachable housings. In practical applications, the scanning lens may be disposed on one of the two casings. The user can directly scan a pregnant woman with a vaginal ultrasound using a casing with a scanning lens, without putting on a sanitary cover. One end of the scanning lens can be sterilized to prevent germ contamination. After use, the user only needs to remove the housing with the scanning lens for replacement. In addition, when the scanning lens is damaged, it is only necessary to remove the housing with the scanning lens and replace it, without replacing the entire ultrasonic probe, thereby reducing maintenance costs.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention can be further understood through the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 7. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic probe 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view in which the first casing 10 and the second casing 18 in FIG. 1 are separated from each other. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second casing 18 in FIG. 2 at another perspective, and FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the first casing 10 in FIG. 2 at another perspective, FIG. 5 FIG. 2 is a partial internal view of the first housing 10 in FIG. 2, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the driving member 14 and the engaging member 16 in FIG. 5 from another perspective, and FIG. 7 is a driving view in FIG. 6. A perspective view of the component 14 and the engaging component 16 from another perspective. It should be noted that, in the following embodiments, "linear movement" and "rotation" both conform to the definition of "movement" in the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the ultrasonic probe 1 includes a first housing 10, a first connector 12, a driving member 14, an engaging member 16, a second housing 18, and a first Two connectors 20, a first elastic member 22, a second elastic member 24, a waterproof gasket 26, a first magnetic member 28, a second magnetic member 30, and a scanning lens 32. In this embodiment, the ultrasound probe 1 may be a vaginal ultrasound probe or other invasive ultrasound probes. Generally speaking, the ultrasonic probe 1 is also provided with software and hardware components necessary for operation, such as a processor, a circuit board, and a memory, depending on the actual application.

The first casing 10 has a first coupling end 100. The scanning lens 32 is disposed on the first casing 10 and is opposite to the first coupling end 100. The driving member 14 is disposed on the first casing 10, and the engaging member 16 is disposed in the first casing 10 corresponding to the driving member 14. In this embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 1 includes two engaging members 16, and the two engaging members 16 are symmetrically disposed. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the driving member 14 may have an operation portion 140 and two driving portions 142, and each of the engaging members 16 may have an engaging end 160 and an abutting end 162. After the driving member 14 is disposed on the first casing 10, the operation portion 140 of the driving member 14 is exposed from the first casing 10.

In this embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 1 includes two first elastic members 22 and two second elastic members 24. The first elastic member 22 may be a torsion spring and the second elastic member 24 may be a compression spring. This is limited. The engaging member 16 can be pivotally connected to the first housing 10 through a pivot shaft 102. The first elastic member 22 can be sleeved on the pivot shaft 102. The two ends of the first elastic member 22 are respectively connected to the engaging member 16 and the first elastic member 22. A casing 10 allows the engaging member 16 to rotate relative to the first casing 10. In addition, the two driving portions 142 of the driving member 14 abut on the abutting ends 162 of the two engaging members 16 respectively, and the two ends of the second elastic member 24 are connected to the driving member 14 and the first casing 10 respectively, so that the driving member 14 It can move in the direction of the parallel engaging member 16, and then drive the engaging member 16 to rotate.

In this embodiment, the first joint end 100 of the first casing 10 may have two holes 104, as shown in FIG. The two holes 104 are formed on the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 corresponding to the engaging ends 160 of the two engaging members 16. Before the driving member 14 drives the engaging member 16 to rotate, the engaging end 160 of the engaging member 16 protrudes from the hole 104 to the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second casing 18 has a second coupling end 180, and the second coupling end 180 has an engaging portion 182. In this embodiment, the engaging portion 182 may be an engaging groove formed on an inner wall of the second coupling end 180. The engaging portion 182 is provided corresponding to the engaging member 16. Since the ultrasonic probe 1 includes two engaging members 16, the second coupling end 180 may have two engaging portions 182 symmetrically disposed on the inner wall of the second coupling end 180. It should be noted that, due to the viewing angle, FIG. 3 only shows the engaging portion 182 on the inner wall side of the second coupling end 180.

The first connector 12 is disposed at the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10, and the second connector 20 is disposed at the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18. In this embodiment, the first connector 12 and the second connector 20 are a male connector and a female connector that can be connected or disconnected from each other. In addition, the number of channels of the first connector 12 and the second connector 20 may be 8N + 1, where N is a positive integer. The waterproof gasket 26 may be selectively disposed at the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 or the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18. In this embodiment, the waterproof gasket 26 is disposed at the first joint end 100 of the first casing 10. In addition, the waterproof gasket 26 may be an o-ring or other gaskets. The first magnetic member 28 is disposed at the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10, and the second magnetic member 30 is disposed at the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18 corresponding to the first magnetic member 28. In this embodiment, one of the first magnetic member 28 and the second magnetic member 30 may be a magnet, and the other of the first magnetic member 28 and the second magnetic member 30 may be a magnet or a magnetically conductive material (such as ,iron).

Please refer to FIGS. 8 to 11. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the combination of the first joint end 100 and the second joint end 180. The figure is a partial cross-sectional view where the first coupling end 100 and the second coupling end 180 are separated from each other, and FIG. 11 is a top view of the driving member 14 after driving the engaging member 16 to move.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 and the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18 are coupled, the first connector 12 is connected to the second connector 20. At this time, the circuit board in the first casing 10 and the circuit board in the second casing 18 can be electrically connected to the second connector 20 through the first connector 12 for signal transmission. As shown in FIG. 9, before the driving member 14 drives the engaging member 16 to move, the engaging end 160 of the engaging member 16 protrudes from the hole 104 to the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10. Therefore, when the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 is combined with the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18, the engaging end 160 of the engaging member 16 protruding from the hole 104 will be combined with the second casing. The engaging portion 182 of the second coupling end 180 of 18 is engaged, so that the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 and the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18 cannot be separated from each other.

In addition, when the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 is combined with the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18, the waterproof gasket 26 is sandwiched between the first coupling end 100 and the second coupling end 180. Therefore, by providing the waterproof gasket 26, water or other liquids can be prevented from penetrating into the first casing 10 and / or the second casing 18 from the gap between the first coupling end 100 and the second coupling end 180.

Furthermore, when the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 and the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18 are coupled, the first magnetic member 28 and the second magnetic member 30 can be magnetically attracted to each other. Therefore, with the arrangement of the first magnetic member 28 and the second magnetic member 30, auxiliary positioning and fixing can be achieved when the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 and the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18 are combined. Effect.

As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, when the user wants to disengage the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 and the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18 from each other, the user may The driving member 14 is pushed in a direction, so that the driving member 14 moves in a direction parallel to the engaging member 16 (that is, the direction of the arrow A1), and then drives the two engaging members 16 to rotate in the directions of arrows A2 and A3, respectively. When the driving member 14 drives the engaging member 16 to move, the engaging end 160 of the engaging member 16 is separated from the engaging portion 182 of the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18, so that the first of the first casing 10 The coupling end 100 and the second coupling end 180 of the second housing 18 can be separated from each other, and the first connector 12 and the second connector 20 can be separated from each other. Thereby, the user can separate the first casing 10 from the second casing 18.

After the driving member 14 drives the engaging member 16 to move, the first elastic member 22 is twisted as the engaging member 16 rotates, and the second elastic member 24 is compressed by the driving member 14. When the force applied to the driving member 14 is released, the torque generated by the first elastic member 22 will reset the two engaging members 16 in the opposite directions of the arrows A2 and A3, and the elastic force generated by the second elastic member 24 will be The driver 14 is reset in the direction opposite to the arrow A1.

Please refer to FIGS. 12 to 14. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic probe 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a view showing the puncture kit 34 in FIG. 12 removed from the second case 18. Exploded view, FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the puncture kit 34 in FIG. 13 from another perspective. The main difference between the ultrasonic probe 2 and the above-mentioned ultrasonic probe 1 is that the ultrasonic probe 2 further includes a puncture kit 34, which is detachably disposed on the second housing 18, as shown in Figs. Show. In this embodiment, the above-mentioned engaging portion 182 may be a hole penetrating through the second casing 18. Therefore, when the engaging end 160 of the engaging member 16 is engaged with the engaging portion 182, the engaging end 160 of the engaging member 16 protrudes from the engaging portion 182 into the second housing 18.

As shown in FIG. 14, the puncture kit 34 may include two clamping slots 340 and two first positioning portions 342. In addition, the second casing 18 may have two second positioning portions 184, wherein the positions of the two second positioning portions 184 and the positions of the two first positioning portions 342 correspond to each other. When the puncture kit 34 is disposed on the second casing 18, the first positioning portion 342 can cooperate with the second positioning portion 184 to position the puncture kit 34 on the second casing 18. In addition, the engaging end 160 of the engaging member 16 protruding from the engaging portion 182 of the second casing 18 can be engaged with the engaging groove 340 of the puncture kit 34, so that the puncture kit 34 is fixed on the second casing 18. When the user wants to remove the puncture kit 34 from the second casing 18, the user can push the driving member 14 in the direction of the arrow A1 to disengage the engaging end 160 of the engaging member 16 from the clamping slot 340 of the puncture kit 34 . It should be noted that the detailed operation principle of the driving member 14 and the engaging member 16 is as described above, and is not repeated here. Thereby, the puncture kit 34 can be removed from the second casing 18.

Please refer to FIG. 15, which is a partial cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic probe 3 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The main difference between the ultrasonic probe 3 and the above-mentioned ultrasonic probe 1 is that the driving member 14 drives the engaging member 16 to move in different ways. As shown in FIG. 15, the ultrasonic probe 3 further includes an elastic member 36, the engaging member 16 is connected to the driving member 14, and two ends of the elastic member 36 are respectively connected to the driving member 14 and the first housing 10 so that the driving member 14 can move in the direction of the vertical engaging member 16 (that is, the direction of the arrow A4), thereby driving the engaging member 16 to move. In this embodiment, the elastic member 36 may be a compression spring, but is not limited thereto.

When the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 and the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18 are coupled, the first connector 12 is connected to the second connector 20. At this time, the circuit board in the first casing 10 and the circuit board in the second casing 18 can be electrically connected to the second connector 20 through the first connector 12 for signal transmission. Before the driving member 14 drives the engaging member 16 to move, the engaging end 160 of the engaging member 16 protrudes from the hole 104 to the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10. Therefore, when the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 is combined with the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18, the engaging end 160 of the engaging member 16 protruding from the hole 104 will be combined with the second casing. The engaging portion 182 of the second coupling end 180 of 18 is engaged, so that the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 and the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18 cannot be separated from each other.

When the user wants to disengage the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 and the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18 from each other, the user can push the driving member 14 in the direction of the arrow A4, so that the driving member 14 moves along the The direction of the vertical engaging member 16 (that is, the direction of the arrow A4) moves, and then the engaging member 16 is driven to move in the direction of the arrow A4. When the driving member 14 drives the engaging member 16 to move, the engaging end 160 of the engaging member 16 is separated from the engaging portion 182 of the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18, so that the first of the first casing 10 The coupling end 100 and the second coupling end 180 of the second housing 18 can be separated from each other, and the first connector 12 and the second connector 20 can be separated from each other. Thereby, the user can separate the first casing 10 from the second casing 18.

After the driving member 14 drives the engaging member 16 to move, the elastic member 36 is compressed by the driving member 14. When the force applied to the driving member 14 is released, the elastic force generated by the elastic member 36 will reset the driving member 14 in the direction opposite to the arrow A4.

Please refer to FIG. 16, which is a partial cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic probe 4 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The main difference between the ultrasonic probe 4 and the above-mentioned ultrasonic probe 1 is that the driving member 14 drives the engaging member 16 to move in different ways. As shown in FIG. 16, the ultrasonic probe 4 further includes an elastic member 38, the driving member 14 is pivotally connected to the first housing 10, the engaging member 16 is connected to the driving member 14, and two ends of the elastic member 38 are respectively connected to the driving The component 14 and the first housing 10 enable the driving component 14 to rotate relative to the first housing 10 in the direction of arrow A5, and then drive the engaging component 16 to rotate in the direction of arrow A5. In this embodiment, the elastic member 38 may be a torsion spring, but is not limited thereto.

When the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 and the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18 are coupled, the first connector 12 is connected to the second connector 20. At this time, the circuit board in the first casing 10 and the circuit board in the second casing 18 can be electrically connected to the second connector 20 through the first connector 12 for signal transmission. Before the driving member 14 drives the engaging member 16 to move, the engaging end 160 of the engaging member 16 protrudes from the hole 104 to the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10. Therefore, when the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 is combined with the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18, the engaging end 160 of the engaging member 16 protruding from the hole 104 will be combined with the second casing. The engaging portion 182 of the second coupling end 180 of 18 is engaged, so that the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 and the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18 cannot be separated from each other.

When the user wants to disengage the first coupling end 100 of the first casing 10 and the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18 from each other, the user can push the driving member 14 so that the driving member 14 rotates in the direction of arrow A5. , Further driving the engaging member 16 to rotate in the direction of arrow A5. When the driving member 14 drives the engaging member 16 to move, the engaging end 160 of the engaging member 16 is separated from the engaging portion 182 of the second coupling end 180 of the second casing 18, so that the first The coupling end 100 and the second coupling end 180 of the second housing 18 can be separated from each other, and the first connector 12 and the second connector 20 can be separated from each other. Thereby, the user can separate the first casing 10 from the second casing 18.

After the driving member 14 drives the engaging member 16 to move, the elastic member 38 will twist as the driving member 14 rotates. When the force applied to the driving member 14 is released, the torsional force generated by the elastic member 38 will cause the driving member 14 to reset in the direction opposite to the arrow A5.

To sum up, the ultrasonic probe of the present invention is formed by combining two detachable housings. In practical applications, the scanning lens may be disposed on one of the two casings. The user can directly scan a pregnant woman with a vaginal ultrasound using a casing with a scanning lens, without putting on a sanitary cover. One end of the scanning lens can be sterilized to prevent germ contamination. After use, the user only needs to remove the housing with the scanning lens for replacement. In addition, when the scanning lens is damaged, it is only necessary to remove the housing with the scanning lens and replace it, without replacing the entire ultrasonic probe, thereby reducing maintenance costs. Furthermore, the puncture kit can be engaged with the housing of the ultrasonic probe by using the engaging component, so as to perform the puncture operation during vaginal ultrasound scanning. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and all equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of patent application of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.

1, 2, 3, 4‧‧‧ Ultrasonic probes

10‧‧‧First case

12‧‧‧first connector

14‧‧‧Driver

16‧‧‧ Engagement

18‧‧‧Second shell

20‧‧‧Second connector

22‧‧‧The first elastic member

24‧‧‧Second elastic member

26‧‧‧Waterproof washer

28‧‧‧The first magnetic piece

30‧‧‧Second magnetic part

32‧‧‧scanning lens

34‧‧‧ Piercing Kit

36, 38‧‧‧ Elastic Parts

100‧‧‧ the first joint

102‧‧‧ Pivot

104‧‧‧ broken hole

140‧‧‧Operation Department

142‧‧‧Driver

160‧‧‧ snap-in end

162‧‧‧butt

180‧‧‧ the second joint

182‧‧‧ Engagement Department

184‧‧‧Second positioning section

340‧‧‧Card slot

342‧‧‧First Positioning Department

A1-A5‧‧‧arrow

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the first casing and the second casing separated from each other in Fig. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second casing in FIG. 2 from another perspective. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the first casing in FIG. 2 at another viewing angle. Fig. 5 is a partial internal view of the first case in Fig. 2. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the driving member and the engaging member in FIG. 5 from another perspective. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the driving member and the engaging member in FIG. 6 from another perspective. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the first joint end and the second joint end. FIG. 9 is a plan view before the driving member drives the engaging member to move. Fig. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the first joint end and the second joint end separated from each other. FIG. 11 is a top view of the driving member after the engaging member is moved. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic probe according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the puncture kit in FIG. 12 being removed from the second casing. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the puncture kit in FIG. 13 from another perspective. FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic probe according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic probe according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (6)

An ultrasonic probe includes: a first casing having a first coupling end; a first connector disposed on the first coupling end; a driving member disposed on the first casing; and an engagement A driving member is disposed in the first casing, the engaging member is pivotally connected to the first casing, the driving member abuts the engaging member; a second casing has a second coupling end The second coupling end has an engaging portion, and the engaging portion is disposed corresponding to the engaging member; a second connector is disposed at the second coupling end; a first elastic member, two of the first elastic member Ends are respectively connected to the engaging member and the first housing, so that the engaging members can rotate relative to the first housing; and a second elastic member, two ends of the second elastic member are respectively connected to the driving member and the The first housing enables the driving member to move in a direction parallel to the engaging member, thereby driving the engaging member to rotate; wherein, when the first coupling end is combined with the second coupling end, the first connector Connected with the second connector, and the engaging member is engaged with the engaging portion; when the driving member drives the engaging When moved, the engaging member from the engaging portion, such that the first coupling end and the second end may be combined from each other and the first connector and the second connector may be disengaged from each other. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, further comprising a waterproof gasket, which is selectively disposed on the first joint end or the second joint end. When the first joint end is combined with the second joint end, the The waterproof gasket is sandwiched between the first joint end and the second joint end. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, further comprising a first magnetic piece and a second magnetic piece. The first magnetic piece is disposed on the first coupling end, and the second magnetic piece is disposed corresponding to the first magnetic piece. At the second bonding end, when the first bonding end is combined with the second bonding end, the first The magnetic member and the second magnetic member are magnetically attracted to each other. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the engaging part is a hole penetrating through the second housing, and when the engaging part is engaged with the engaging part, one of the engaging parts is engaged The end protrudes from the engaging portion to the second casing. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 4, further comprising a puncture kit detachably disposed on the second housing, the puncture kit has a card slot, and the engaging end is engaged with the card slot. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 5, wherein the puncture kit has a first positioning portion, the second housing has a second positioning portion, and the first positioning portion cooperates with the second positioning portion to connect the first positioning portion with the second positioning portion. A puncture kit is positioned on the second casing.