Ultrasonic probe, scanning assembly and ultrasonic imaging device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12295789-B2
Application number	US-202217893819-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2022
Priority date	Aug 31, 2021
Publication date	May 13, 2025
Grant date	May 13, 2025

Abstract

Provided in the present application is an ultrasonic probe, including: an ultrasonic transducer configured to send/receive an ultrasonic signal; a housing including a top plate and a side wall that collectively define a cavity with an opening located below the cavity, wherein a top portion of the ultrasonic transducer is configured to be accommodated in the cavity via the opening; and an elastic element accommodated in the cavity, the elastic element being connected to the top portion of the ultrasonic transducer and the top plate of the housing, and the elastic element being configured to provide an elastic force to the ultrasonic transducer to enable part of the ultrasonic transducer to retract and spring back within the cavity. Further provided in the present application are a scanning assembly including the ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic imaging device including the scanning assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An ultrasonic probe, comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer;
a housing comprising a top plate and a side wall that collectively define a cavity with an opening located below the cavity, wherein a top portion of the ultrasonic transducer is configured to be accommodated in the cavity via the opening; and
an elastic element accommodated in the cavity, the elastic element being connected to the top portion of the ultrasonic transducer and the top plate of the housing, and the elastic element being configured to provide an elastic force to the ultrasonic transducer to enable part of the ultrasonic transducer to retract and spring back within the cavity,
wherein the elastic element comprises:
a first base connected to the top plate of the housing;
a second base connected to the top portion of the ultrasonic transducer;
springs disposed between the first base and the second base to achieve an elastic connection of the first base and the second base;
a slide rail assembly comprising a guide rail and slide blocks that are slidably connected to the guide rail, the slide rail assembly being disposed at two ends of the second base; and
connecting rods disposed at two ends of the first base, the connecting rods being rotatably connected to the first base and the slide blocks.

2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic element further comprises: guide posts disposed between the first base and the second base, wherein each of the springs being sleeved on an outer periphery of one of the guide posts.

3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 , wherein
two connecting rods are provided at each end of the first base, and the two connecting rods at each end of the first base are rotatably connected to the slide blocks by means of a base plate.

4. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an elastic seal ring comprising a corrugated elastic material, the elastic seal ring being sleeved on the top portion of the ultrasonic transducer to fill a gap between the top portion of the ultrasonic transducer and the side wall of the housing.

5. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 4 , wherein
the top portion of the ultrasonic transducer and the side wall of the housing are each provided with an engaging groove, and upper and lower openings of the elastic seal ring are engaged with the engaging grooves.

Assignees

• Ge Prec Healthcare Llc

Inventors

• Jin Lu
• Yao Qiang
• Chen Liping
• Xu Sheng

Classifications

• A61B8/4494

  characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements · CPC title

• A61B8/4218

  characterised by articulated arms · CPC title

• A61B8/0825 Primary

  for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography · CPC title

• A61B8/403

  using compression means · CPC title

• A61B8/4461 Primary

  Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe · CPC title