Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a wireless ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic machine. The wireless ultrasonic probe comprises: a probe body for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; and a heat sink comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein at least a part of the second end portion is disposed within the probe body, and the first end portion is formed in a manner that the second end portion extends to the outside of the probe body. The wireless ultrasonic probe can efficiently dissipate heat generated thereby during charging and discharging operation procedures.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to the technical field of probes, and particularly, to a wireless ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic machine. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    An ultrasonic probe, which is mainly used for ultrasonic diagnosis, can convert electrical signals into ultrasonic signals for transmission, and convert ultrasonic echo waves from an object being detected into electrical signals before being transmitted to an ultrasonic main body for subsequent processing. 
         [0003]    A wireless ultrasonic probe transmits data between an ultrasonic main body and a probe by the way of wireless transmission. Since plural connecting cables are removed from the ultrasonic machine, it is possible to facilitate an operator in carrying out ultrasonic examination. 
         [0004]    However, an existing wireless ultrasonic probe has some difficulty in heat dissipation. On one hand, a transducer control circuit in the ultrasonic probe is sealed within narrow space contained in the probe body; and on the other hand, a charging and discharging circuit of a built-in battery of the wireless ultrasonic probe also generates heat during the operation process. 
         [0005]    Therefore, a need exists for a wireless ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic machine, which can allow excellent heat dissipation on the wireless ultrasonic probe. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The object of the present invention is to provide a wireless ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic machine, which can efficiently dissipate heat generated by the wireless ultrasonic probe during its operation and can charge the wireless ultrasonic probe at low costs. 
         [0007]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless ultrasonic probe, comprising: a probe body for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; and a heat sink comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein at least a part of the second end portion is disposed within the probe body, and the first end portion is formed in a manner that the second end portion extends to the outside of the probe body. 
         [0008]    Another embodiment of the present invention provides an ultrasonic machine comprising a wireless ultrasonic probe comprising: a probe body for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; and a heat sink comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein at least a part of the second end portion is disposed within the probe body, and the first end portion is formed in a manner that the second end portion extends to the outside of the probe body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    In conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments of the present invention will be described, so that the present invention can be better understood. In the accompanying drawings: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall structure of one embodiment of a wireless ultrasonic probe according to the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a heat sink of a wireless ultrasonic probe according to the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of charging and discharging means of a wireless ultrasonic probe according to the present invention; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a discharging operation state of a wireless ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described. It is to be noted that, during the process of detailed description of these embodiments, for the sake of concise and clear description, the present description can not possibly describe in detail all features of practical embodiments. It should be understood that, during the process of actual implementation of any embodiment, just as in the process of any engineering or design project, in order to achieve developers&#39; specific purposes and meet system-related or business-related constraints, it is customary to make a variety of specific decisions, which also involves a change from one embodiment to another embodiment or the other way around. In addition, it should also be understood that, although efforts made in such developing process might be complex and lengthy, persons of ordinary skill in the art associated with the disclosure of the present invention would find it nothing but conventional techniques to make modifications in some design, manufacturing, production or the like on the basis of the technical contents disclosed by the present disclosure; and the present disclosure shall not be construed to be insufficient. 
         [0015]    Unless defined otherwise, technical terms or scientific terms used in the claims and the description shall carry conventional meanings as construed by persons of ordinary skill in the art which the present invention pertains to. The “first”, “second”, and the like used in the description and the claims of the patent application for an invention do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but are simply used to make a distinction between different components. The expressions “one”, “a”/“an” or the like do not intend to limit the quantity, but indicate presence of at least one. Such expressions as “comprise”, “include” and the like mean that an element or object present prior to the “comprise” or “include” covers elements or objects listed subsequent to the “comprise” or “include” and their equivalent elements, not excluding other elements or objects. The expression “connect”, “join” or the like is neither limited to physical or mechanical connection, nor limited to direct or indirect connection. 
         [0016]    In order to make the object, the technical solution and the advantages of the present invention clearer, the technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and thoroughly described hereinafter in conjunction with specific embodiments of the present invention and the respective drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. On the basis of the embodiments of the present invention, other embodiments obtained by a person ordinarily skilled in the art without expending inventive labor all belong to the scope claimed by the present invention. 
         [0017]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, a wireless ultrasonic probe is provided. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall structure of one embodiment of a wireless ultrasonic probe  100  according to the present invention. 
         [0019]    The wireless ultrasonic probe  100  may include a probe body  101  and a heat sink  103 . The probe body  101 , which can be used to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, can include an ultrasonic transducer and a control circuit for controlling the ultrasonic transducer (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). The heat sink  103  may include a first end portion  1031  and a second end portion  1032 . Therein, at least a part of the second end portion  1032  is disposed within the probe body  101 , and the first end portion  1031  is formed in a manner that the second end portion  1032  extends to the outside of the probe body. As such, heat generated within the probe body  101  can be dissipated via the heat sink  103 . 
         [0020]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a heat sink  103  can be of a flexible strip shape and can have a hollow structure, and its hollow portion can be filled with a flexional thermally conductive material. In one embodiment of the present invention, the thermally conductive material can be silicone oil. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , which is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a heat sink of a wireless ultrasonic probe according to the present invention. In order to dissipate heat generated within the probe body in a more efficient manner, in one embodiment of the present invention, thermally conductive patches  201  can be provided on a circuit board and an ultrasonic transducer within the probe body. The thermally conductive patches  201  each can have one face thereof cling against means or locations which generate relatively large amounts of heat, such as a high-voltage pulse generating circuit, an analog front-end circuit and the like. The thermally conductive patches  201  can be connected to a second end portion  1032  of a heat sink  103 , so as to dissipate heat generated by electric devices through the heat sink  103 . 
         [0022]    In one embodiment of the present invention, when a plurality of circuit boards are provided within a probe body and are stacked together in a flexible and rigid bonding manner, a thermally conductive patch can be provided between two adjacent circuit boards and these thermally conductive patches are connected to a second end portion  1032  of a heat sink  103 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , which is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of charging and discharging means  300  of a wireless ultrasonic probe according to the present invention. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment of the present invention, the charging and discharging means  300  can include a charging and discharging plug  301 , a charging and discharging circuit  302  and a power supply socket  303 . The charging and discharging plug  301 , the charging and discharging circuit  302  and a battery  304  of the wireless ultrasonic probe can be disposed at a first end portion  1031  of a heat sink  103 . When the charging and discharging plug  301  is plugged into an external power supply, a charging circuit of the wireless ultrasonic probe is on, and electric power of the external power supply charges the battery  304  via the charging and discharging plug  301  and the charging and discharging circuit  302 . When the charging and discharging plug  301  is plugged into the power supply socket  303 , a power supply circuit of the wireless ultrasonic probe is on, and electric energy stored in the battery  304  is supplied to electric devices within the probe body via the charging and discharging circuit  302 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the power supply socket  303  can be disposed on the probe body, i.e., is designed integral with the probe body  101 , and as such, when the charging and discharging plug  301  is plugged into the power supply socket  303 , a heat sink  103  can be bent to have an annular shape, so as to facilitate the user&#39;s operation. 
         [0025]    Since the charging and discharging circuit  302  will generate heat during the charging and discharging procedures, in order to carry out heat dissipation on the charging and discharging circuit  302 , in one embodiment of the present invention, thermally conductive patches  305  can be provided at locations adjacent to the charging and discharging circuit  302 . One face of each of the thermally conductive patches  305  can be in contact with areas or components which generate relatively large amounts of heat in the charging and discharging circuit  302 . The thermally conductive patches  305  can dissipate heat generated by the charging and discharging circuit  302  via the heat sink  103  by way of connection to the first end portion  1031  of the heat sink  103 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , which is a schematic diagram illustrating a discharging operation state of a wireless ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention. When it is necessary to use the wireless ultrasonic probe of an embodiment of the present invention to carry out ultrasonic examination, a charging and discharging plug  301  is only required to be plugged into a power supply socket  303 , such that it is possible to supply power to electric devices within the probe via the power supply socket  303 . 
         [0027]    The wireless ultrasonic probe according to the embodiments of the present invention has been described thus far. The wireless ultrasonic probe is designed to have a heat sink extending out of the probe body, and a charging and discharging circuit is designed at one end of the heat sink. In this way, it is possible to efficiently dissipate heat generated by the wireless ultrasonic probe during the charging and discharging operation procedures and charge the wireless ultrasonic probe at low costs. 
         [0028]    The foregoing description is nothing but the embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. For one skilled in the art, the present invention can undergo various modifications and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement and the like made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included in the scope claimed by the present invention.