Patent Publication Number: US-2015087989-A1

Title: Ultrasound probe and ultrasound scanning system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an ultrasound probe and an ultrasound scanning system, and more particularly, to an ultrasound probe with a passage for transporting the ultrasound conductive medium and an ultrasound scanning system in which aforementioned ultrasound probe is applied. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The ultrasound probe is generally applied in the fields of materials and clinic medical inspection due to the characteristics that the material structures and the human cells would not be ruined. Since the preciseness of the ultrasound is affected by the air, before the inspection is performed via the ultrasound probe, the gel is normally applied on the inspected portion so as to facilitate the ultrasound conduction. Generally speaking, the operator must hold the gel bag, squeeze the gel from the bag, apply the gel on the inspected portion, and then use the ultrasound probe over the inspected portion to perform the ultrasound inspection. If the gel applied on the inspected portion is not enough, or the operator needs to inspect other portion, the operator will have to hold the gel bag, squeeze the gel from the bag, and apply the gel on the inspected portion again. It not only causes trouble but also decreases the inspection efficiency in the aforementioned way. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Due to the problems stated in the description of the prior art, one purpose of the present invention is to provide an ultrasound probe with a passage for transporting the ultrasound conductive medium and an ultrasound scanning system in which aforementioned ultrasound probe is applied 
     According to one embodiment, an ultrasound probe of this invention comprises a casing, an ultrasound scanner and a passage. The ultrasound scanner is disposed in the casing. The passage is disposed on the casing and used for transporting an ultrasound conductive medium. 
     According to another embodiment, an ultrasound scanning system of the invention comprises an ultrasound scanning device, an ultrasound probe, a container and a driving device. The ultrasound probe communicates with the ultrasound scanning device. The ultrasound probe comprises a casing, an ultrasound scanner and a passage. The ultrasound scanner is disposed in the casing. The passage is disposed on the casing. The container is used for containing an ultrasound conductive medium. The driving device is connected between the passage and the container. The driving device is used for transporting the ultrasound conductive medium from the container to the passage and squeezing the ultrasound conductive medium out of the passage. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound probe according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound scanning system in which the ultrasound probe shown in  FIG. 1  is applied. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound probe according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an explosion diagram of part of the components shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound probe according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound scanning system in which the ultrasound probe shown in  FIG. 5  is applied. 
         FIG. 7  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound scanning system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound probe according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound probe according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 1  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound probe according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound scanning system in which the ultrasound probe shown in  FIG. 1  is applied. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the ultrasound scanning system  1  comprises an ultrasound scanning device  10 , an ultrasound probe  12 , a container  14  and a driving device  16 . The ultrasound scanning device  10  can be a computer or other electronic device with data calculation, processing and display functions. The ultrasound probe  12  and the ultrasound scanning device  10  communicate with each other via a cable  18  so that when the ultrasound probe  12  is applied on the inspected portion of a body, the display of the ultrasound scanning device  10  can display the corresponding image. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the ultrasound probe  12  comprises a casing  120 , an ultrasound scanner  122  and a passage  124 . The ultrasound scanner  122  is disposed in the casing  120 . The passage  124  is disposed on the casing  120 . Please note that the operation and the structure of the ultrasound scanner  122  are well known by those of ordinary skill in the art, and therefore are not explained in details herein. In this embodiment, the passage  124  and the casing  120  are formed integrally, but are not so limited. 
     The container  14  is used to contain an ultrasound conductive medium  140 , and the ultrasound conductive medium  140  can be water or soft medium, such as transparent gel. The ultrasound conductive medium  140  is to facilitate the ultrasound conduction. The driving device  16  is connected between the passage  124  of the ultrasound probe  12  and the container  14  by the pipes  10  and  22 . In this embodiment, the driving device  16  is a pump used to transport the ultrasound conductive medium  140  from the container  14  to the passage  124  of the ultrasound probe  12  and then to squeeze the ultrasound conductive medium  140  out of the passage  124 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the ultrasound scanning system further comprises a pedal  24 , and the pedal  24  is connected to the driving device  16  by a signal line  26  so as to drive the driving device  16  to transport the ultrasound conductive medium  140  from the container  14  to the passage  124  of the ultrasound probe  12  and then to squeeze the ultrasound conductive medium  140  out of the passage  124 . 
     Therefore, when the ultrasound inspection is performed by the ultrasound probe  12 , the operator only needs to put the passage  124  of the ultrasound probe  12  closed to the inspected portion of the body and to step on the pedal  24 , the driving device  16  is controlled to transport the ultrasound conductive medium  140  from the container  14  to the passage  124  of the ultrasound probe  12  via the pipes  22  and  20 , and then to squeeze the ultrasound conductive medium  140  out of the passage  124  of the ultrasound probe  12 . The ultrasound conductive medium  140  squeezed out of the passage  124  can then be applied on the inspected portion by the casing  120  of the ultrasound probe  12  directly for the ultrasound scanning over the inspected portion. When the ultrasound conductive medium  140  applied on the inspected portion is not enough or when the operator wants to check other inspected portion, the operator only needs to step on the pedal  24  again, and the driving device  16  is controlled to transport the ultrasound conductive medium  140  from the container  14  to the passage  124  of the ultrasound probe  12  via the pipes  22  and  20 , and then to squeeze the ultrasound conductive medium  140  out of the passage  124  of the ultrasound probe  12  without putting down the ultrasound probe. Besides, when the operator steps on the pedal  24  to control the driving device  16 , the operator&#39;s hand which does not hold the ultrasound probe  12  can operate or set up the ultrasound scanning device  10  upon the operator&#39;s need. In this way, it not only is more convenient and simple to perform the ultrasound inspection, but also increases the inspection efficiency. 
     In another embodiment of this invention, the pedal  24  is replaced by a control module (not shown). The control module communicates with the driving device  16  through wire or wireless communication. The operator operates the control module to drive the driving device  16  to transport the ultrasound conductive medium  140  from the container  14  to the passage  124  of the ultrasound probe  12  and then to squeeze the ultrasound conductive medium  140  out of the passage  124 . In this embodiment, a rapid connector  28  is disposed in the front end of the pipe  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Through the rapid connector  28 , the pipe  20  can be rapidly connected to and easily detached from the passage  124  of the ultrasound probe  12 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 3  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound probe according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is an explosion diagram of part of the components shown in  FIG. 3 . The differences between the ultrasound probe  32  and the aforementioned ultrasound probe  12  are that the ultrasound probe further comprises a connection mechanism  320 , that the connection mechanism  320  comprises a base  322  detachedly connected to the casing  120 , and that the passage  124  and the base  322  are formed integrally. As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the casing  120  has two slots  126 , and the connection mechanism  320  further comprises two stuck members  324 , two hinges  326 , two torsion springs  328  and two latches  330 . Due to the viewing angle,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  show only the slot  126  on one side of the casing  120  as well as the hinge  326 , the torsion spring  328  and the lath  330  on one side of the base  322 . The stuck members  324  are hinged with the base  322  by the hinges  326 . The torsion springs  328  are disposed on the hinges  326 , and contact the base  322  and the stuck members  324 , respectively. After the stuck members  324 , the hinges  326  and the torsion springs  328  are assembled with the base  322 , the latches  330  can pass through the fixing holes  332  of the hinges  326  to fix the assembly. 
     In this embodiment, the operator can press the casing  120  of the ultrasound probe  120  toward the base  322 ,so that the two stuck members  324  rotate apart from each other. At this time, the torsion springs  328  are twisted. When the casing  120  is press downward to the end, the torsion springs  328  generate torsion force to have the stuck members  324  return to where the stuck members  324  are originally disposed, so that the stuck members  324  are stuck with the slots  126  of the casing. In this way, the base  322  are connected to the casing  120  to have the passage  124  be disposed on the casing  120  via the base  322 . When the operator desires to detach the base  322  from the casing  120 , the operator simply presses the end of the stuck members  324 , and the stuck members  324  then rotate to be released from the slots  126  of the casing  120 . When the stuck members  324  are pressed, the torsion springs  328  are twisted. When the stuck members  324  are released, the torsion spring  328  generate torsion force to have the stuck members  324  return to where the stuck members  324  are originally disposed. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the base  322  comprises two stoppers  224  to limit rotation of the stuck members  324  in a predetermined range. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the connection mechanism  320  further comprises an elastic member  336  disposed on the base  322 . When the base  322  is connected to the casing  120 , the elastic member  336  is clamped between the casing  120  and the base  322 . In this way, shake of the base  322  and the casing  120  due to the mechanical tolerance can be avoided. In this embodiment, the elastic member  336  may be a rubber pad or a sponge pad, but is not so limited. 
     Please note that the base  322  may be detachedly disposed on the casing  120  by magnetism or screwing instead of aforementioned stuck members  324  and slots  126 . For example, two magnets may be disposed on the base  322  and the casing  120 , respectively; or the base  322  and the casing  120  have corresponding screw holes, and one screw passes through the screw holes of the base  322  and the casing  120  for fixing. Please not that the components shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  with the same labeling numbers as those shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  operate in substantially the same way and are not repeatedly described in details herein. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 5  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound probe according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound scanning system in which the ultrasound probe shown in  FIG. 5  is applied. The differences between the ultrasound probe  42  and the aforementioned ultrasound probe  12  are that the ultrasound probe  43  further comprises a connection mechanism  420 , that the connection mechanism  420  comprises a base  422  detachedly connected to the casing  120  and that the passage  124  and the base  422  are formed integrally. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the base  433  is ring-shaped hollow. Besides, the connection mechanism  420  further comprises a ring-shaped hollow air bag  424  disposed in the base  422 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the driving device  46  of the ultrasound probe  42  comprises a first pump  460  and a second pump  462 . The first pump  460  is connected to the passage  124  and the container  14  by the pipes  20  and  22 . The second pump  462  is connected to the ring-shaped hollow air bag  424  by the pipe  23 . In this embodiment, the first pump  460  is used to transport the ultrasound conductive medium  140  from the container  14  to the passage  124  and then to squeeze the ultrasound conductive medium  140  out of the passage  124 . The second pump  462  is used to activate air inflation or leakage of the ring-shaped hollow air bag. 
     In this embodiment, the operator can have the casing  120  of the ultrasound probe  42  pass through and be surrounded by the ring-shaped hollow air bag  424 , and then drives the second pump  462  to activate air inflation of the ring-shaped hollow air bag  424 . After the casing  120  of the ultrasound probe  42  is surrounded by the ring-shaped hollow air bag  424  and the ring-shaped hollow air bag  424  is full of air, the casing  120  is clamped in the base  422  by the ring-shaped hollow air bag  424  so that the passage  124  is disposed on the casing  120  by the base  422 . In this embodiment, the connection mechanism  420  further comprises two elastic members  426  disposed on the inner sides of the top and bottom surfaces of the ring-shaped hollow air bag  424 . After the casing  120  passes through and is then surrounded by the ring-shaped hollow air bag  424  and the ring-shaped hollow air bag  424  is full of air, the elastic members  426  contact the casing  120  so as to have the casing  120  be tightly clamped by the ring-shaped hollow air bag  424 . Please not that the components shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  with the same labeling numbers as those shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  operate in substantially the same way and are not repeatedly described in details herein. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound scanning system  5  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The differences between the ultrasound scanning system  5  and aforementioned ultrasound scanning system  4  are that in the ultrasound scanning system  5  the passage  124 , the container  14  and the ring-shaped hollow air bag  424  are connected to the single driving device  56  by the pipes  20 ,  22  and  23 . In other words, in the invention it is able to use a single driving device  56  to transport the ultrasound conductive medium  140  from the container  14  to the passage  124  through the pipes  22 and  20 , and to activate air inflation or leakage of the ring-shaped hollow air bag through the pipe  23 . In addition, in the ultrasound scanning system  5  the control module  50  is used to communicate with the driving device  56  via wire or wireless communication so that the operator operates the control module  50  to drive the driving device  56  to transport the ultrasound conductive medium  140  from the container  14  to the passage  124  through the pipes  22  and  20 , and to activate air inflation or leakage of the ring-shaped hollow air bag  424  through the pipe  23 . Please not that the components shown in  FIG. 7  with the same labeling numbers as those shown in  FIG. 6  operate in substantially the same way and are not repeatedly described in details herein. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound probe according to another embodiment of the present invention. The differences between the ultrasound probe  62  and the ultrasound probe  12  are that the ultrasound probe  62  further comprises a connection mechanism  620 , that the connection mechanism  620  comprises a base  622  detachedly connected to the casing  120 , and that the passage  124  and the base  622  are formed integrally. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the base  622  is ring-shaped hollow. Besides, the connection mechanism  620  further comprises a ring-shaped hollow elastic member  624  disposed in the base  622 . In this embodiment, the ring-shaped hollow elastic member  624  is made of rubber or sponge, but is not so limited. In this way, the casing  120  passes through and is then surrounded by the ring-shaped hollow elastic member  624  so as to have the casing  120  be clamped in the base  622  by the ring-shaped hollow elastic member  624 . Please not that the components shown in  FIG. 8  with the same labeling numbers as those shown in  FIG. 1  operate in substantially the same way and are not repeatedly described in details herein. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is an illustrative diagram of an ultrasound probe according to another embodiment of the present invention. The differences between the ultrasound probe  72  and the ultrasound probe  12  are that the ultrasound probe  72  further comprises a connection mechanism  720 , that the connection mechanism  720  comprises a base  722  detachedly connected to the casing  120 , and that the passage  124  and the base  722  are formed integrally. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the base  722  comprises a top cover  7220  and a bottom cover  7222 . One end of the top cover  7220  is hinged with the bottom cover  7222 , and the other end of the top cover  7220  is selectively stuck with or released from the bottom cover  7222 . In this embodiment, the passage  124  is formed on the bottom cover  7222 , but is not so limited. A stuck member  7224  is disposed on the top cover  7220  and a slot  7226  is formed on the bottom  7226  so that the stuck member  7224  is selectively stuck with or released from the slot  7226 . In addition, the connection mechanism  720  further comprises two elastic members  724  disposed on the inner side of the top cover  7220  and on the inner side of the bottom cover  7222 , respectively. When the casing  120  is disposed between the top cover  7220  and the bottom cover  7222  and the stuck member  7224  of the top cover  7220  is stuck with the slot  7226  of the bottom cover  7222 , the casing  120  is clamped between the top cover  7220  and the bottom cover  7222  by the two elastic members  724 . In this way, the casing  120  is tightly held in the base  722  and shake of the base  722  and the casing  120  due to the mechanical tolerance can be avoided. In this embodiment, the elastic members  724  may be rubber pads or sponge pads, but are not so limited. When the operator desires to detach the base  722  from the casing  120 , the operator simply has the stuck member  7224  of the top cover  7220  be released from the slot  7226  of the bottom cover  7222  and then rotates the top cover  7220  relatively to the bottom cover  7222 , the casing is out of the base  722 . Please not that the components shown in  FIG. 9  with the same labeling numbers as those shown in  FIG. 1  operate in substantially the same way and are not repeatedly described in details herein. 
     As described above, in this invention the passage used for transporting the ultrasound conductive medium is disposed on the casing of the ultrasound probe. Both the passage and the container which contains the ultrasound conductive medium are connected to the driving device. When the operator performs the ultrasound inspection by the ultrasound probe, the operator simply puts the passage of the ultrasound probe closed to the inspected portion of the body and operates the driving device to transport the ultrasound conductive medium from the container to the passage and then to squeeze the ultrasound conductive medium out of the passage. The ultrasound conductive medium squeezed out of the passage can then be applied on the inspected portion by the casing of the ultrasound probe directly for the ultrasound scanning over the inspected portion. When the ultrasound conductive medium applied on the inspected portion is not enough or when the operator wants to check other inspected portion, the operator only needs to operate the driving device again to transport the ultrasound conductive medium from the container to the passage and then to squeeze the ultrasound conductive medium out of the passage without putting down the ultrasound probe. For example, a pedal is connected to the driving device. When the operator steps on the pedal to control the driving device, the operator&#39;s hand which does not hold the ultrasound probe can operate or set up the ultrasound scanning device upon the operator&#39;s need. In this way, it not only is more convenient and simple to perform the ultrasound inspection, but also increases the inspection efficiency. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.