Ultrasonic probe

• US 20060191344A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.), Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Shinichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/632
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/546 involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52079 Constructional features constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44

Abstract

An ultrasonic probe has a probe proper, a connector and a cable for electrically connecting between the probe proper and the connector. The probe proper includes a transducer that converts between ultrasonic wave and electricity, and a phase change member having a property to cause a phase change of from solid to liquid at a particular temperature reached in an operation time period of the transducer and a phase change of from liquid to solid at lower than the particular temperature.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic probe having a probe proper, a connector and a cable for electrically connecting between the probe proper and the connector, the ultrasonic probe wherein the probe proper comprises:

a transducer that converts between ultrasonic wave and electricity; and

a phase change member having a property to cause a phase change of from solid to liquid at a particular temperature reached in an operation time period of the transducer and a phase change of from liquid to solid at lower than the particular temperature.

2. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the particular temperature is selectably set up in a range of 30-50°

C.

3. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the phase change member reaches the particular temperature in a time period that the transducer operates in a continuous-wave Doppler mode.

4. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the probe proper further has a probe housing accommodating the phase change member together with the transducer.

5. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the probe proper further has a probe housing accommodating the transducer, the phase change member having a removality from the probe housing.

6. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the transducer has a plurality of transducer elements arranged in a two-dimensional form.

7. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the phase change member has a plurality of phase change agents different in phase change point.

8. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the phase change member has a phase change agent and a film or container accommodating the phase change agent, the phase change agent being mixed with a plurality of gas bubbles in order to permit a volumetric change due to the phase change.

9. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the phase change member has a phase change agent and a film or container accommodating the phase change agent, the film or container being formed of a resin, a metal, graphite or a composite material thereof.

10. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the phase change member is arranged in back of the transducer.

11. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the phase change member is arranged in a manner surrounding the transducer at a backside and side surface thereof.

12. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the probe proper further has a probe housing accommodating the transducer,

the phase change member being received in a recess formed in a side surface of the probe housing.

13. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the phase change member is connected to the transducer through a heat pipe.

14. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the probe proper further has a probe housing accommodating the transducer and a magnetic-shield member formed on an inner surface of the probe housing,

the phase change member being connected to the transducer through the magnetic-shield member.

15. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the probe proper further has a probe housing accommodating the transducer and a filler member charged in the probe housing,

the phase change member being connected to the transducer through the filler member.

16. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the probe proper further has a probe housing accommodating the transducer and a cooler arranged in the probe housing,

the phase change member being placed in contact with a heat dissipation surface of the cooler.

17. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 16, wherein the cooler has a Peltier device.

18. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 16, wherein the cooler is a heat exchanger of a cooling mechanism of a coolant-circulation type.

19. An ultrasonic probe having a probe proper, a connector and a cable for electrically connecting between the probe proper and the connector, the ultrasonic probe wherein the probe proper comprises:

a transducer that converts between ultrasonic wave and electricity;

a thermal buffering agent that buffers the transducer from rising in a temperature exceeding a particular temperature;

a probe housing accommodating the transducer and the thermal buffering agent; and

a filler agent charged in the probe housing.

20. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 19, wherein the particular temperature is set at a temperature to be reached in an operation time period of the transducer.

21. An ultrasonic probe having a probe proper, a connector and a cable for electrically connecting between the probe proper and the connector, the ultrasonic probe wherein the probe proper comprises:

a transducer that converts between ultrasonic wave and electricity;

a thermal delaying agent that delays a transition of the transducer from a state reached a particular temperature to a state the particular temperature is exceeded;

a probe housing accommodating the transducer and the thermal delaying agent, and

a filler agent charged in the probe housing.

22. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 21, wherein the particular temperature is set at a temperature to be reached in operation time period of the transducer.