Spherical joint, spherical joint assembly, and ultrasonic imaging device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12435752-B2
Application number	US-202217892552-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2022
Priority date	Aug 31, 2021
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

A spherical joint includes a body portion and a blocking portion. The body portion includes a ball portion and a joint portion. The ball portion and the joint portion have an inner surface that links the two portions together in an axial direction and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface. The outer surface of the ball portion includes a spherical surface. The body portion further includes a first section and a second section. Each of the first section and the second section intersects with the inner surface and the outer surface such that the two sections together define a gap. The blocking portion is detachably connected to the body portion and shaped to match the gap, so that the blocking portion blocks the gap to form a hollow spherical joint structure. Further disclosed in the present application are a spherical joint assembly and an ultrasonic imaging device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A spherical joint, comprising:
a body portion, the body portion comprising a ball portion and a joint portion, the ball portion and the joint portion having an inner surface that links the two portions together in an axial direction and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, the outer surface of the ball portion comprising a spherical surface, the body portion further comprising a first section and a second section, each of the first section and the second section intersecting with the inner surface and the outer surface such that the two sections together define a gap, and the size of the gap on any radial circumference of the spherical surface being less than half of the length of the radial circumference; and
a blocking portion detachably connected to the body portion and shaped to match the gap, so that the blocking portion blocks the gap to form a hollow spherical joint structure.

2. The spherical joint according to claim 1 , wherein
the first section and the second section are configured to be arranged opposite to each other, so that the shape of the gap is defined as a slot shape.

3. The spherical joint according to claim 1 , wherein
the inner surface of the ball portion gradually increases in size in a direction toward an end portion of the ball portion.

4. The spherical joint according to claim 1 , wherein
the inner surface of the ball portion comprises an arc-shaped surface at an end portion of the ball portion, and the arc-shaped surface is connected to the outer surface of the ball portion.

5. The spherical joint according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a connection portion, the body portion and the blocking portion being detachably connected by means of the connection portion.

6. The spherical joint according to claim 5 , wherein
the body portion is provided with a through-hole;
the blocking portion is provided with a screw hole in a position corresponding to the through-hole; and
the connection portion comprises a screw, the screw passes through the through-hole and is connected to the screw hole so that the body portion and the blocking portion are detachably connected.

7. The spherical joint according to claim 6 , wherein
the outer surface of the body portion comprises a recess portion, the recess portion is sized to accommodate an end portion of the screw, and the through-hole is disposed in the recess portion.

8. The spherical joint according to claim 1 , wherein
an end of the joint portion in proximity to the ball portion is configured as a cylindrical rod.

9. A spherical joint assembly, comprising:
a spherical joint, comprising:
a body portion, the body portion comprising a ball portion and a joint portion, the ball portion and the joint portion having an inner surface that links the two portions together in an axial direction and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, the outer surface of the ball portion comprising a spherical surface, the body portion further comprising a first section and a second section, each of the first section and the second section intersecting with the inner surface and the outer surface such that the two sections together define a gap, and the size of the gap on any radial circumference of the spherical surface being less than half of the length of the radial circumference; and
a blocking portion detachably connected to the body portion and shaped to match the gap, so that the blocking portion blocks the gap to form a hollow spherical joint structure; and

a housing, comprising a first end and a second end arranged opposite to each other, the first end comprising a circular arc-shaped inner cavity and an opening, the inner cavity being shaped to match the ball portion of the spherical joint, and the opening being sized to be less than an outer diameter of the ball portion and to allow passage of the joint portion.

10. The spherical joint assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
the first end of the housing is detachably connected to a body of the housing.

11. The spherical joint assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
the first section and the second section are configured to be arranged opposite to each other, so that the shape of the gap is defined as a slot shape.

12. The spherical joint assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
the inner surface of the ball portion gradually increases in size in a direction toward an end portion of the ball portion.

13. The spherical joint assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
the inner surface of the ball portion comprises an arc-shaped surface at an end portion of the ball portion, and the arc-shaped surface is connected to the outer surface of the ball portion.

14. The spherical joint assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the spherical joint further comprises:
a connection portion, the body portion and the blocking portion being detachably connected by means of the connection portion.

15. The spherical joint assembly according to claim 14 , wherein
the body portion is provided with a through-hole;
the blocking portion is provided with a screw hole in a position corresponding to the through-hole; and
the connection portion comprises a screw, the screw passes through the through-hole and is connected to the screw hole so that the body portion and the blocking portion are detachably connected.

16. An ultrasonic imaging device, comprising:
a scanning assembly, comprising an ultrasonic transducer;
an adjustable arm;
a main device, connected to one end of the adjustable arm; and
a spherical joint assembly, comprising:
a spherical joint, the spherical joint comprising a body portion and a blocking portion, the body portion comprising a ball portion and a joint portion, the ball portion and the joint portion having an inner surface that links the two portions together in an axial direction and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, the outer surface of the ball portion comprising a spherical surface, the body portion further comprising a first section and a second section, each of the first section and the second section intersecting with the inner surface and the outer surface such that the two sections together define a gap, the size of the gap on any radial circumference of the spherical surface being less than half of the length of the radial circumference, and the blocking portion being detachably connected to the body portion and shaped to match the gap, so that the blocking portion blocks the gap to form a hollow spherical joint structure; and
a housing, comprising a first end and a second end arranged opposite to each other, the first end comprising a circular arc-shaped inner cavity and an opening, the inner cavity being shaped to match the ball portion of the spherical joint, and the opening being sized to be less than an outer diameter of the ball portion and to allow passage of the joint portion, wherein the joint portion of the spherical joint is connected to the scanning assembly, and the second end of the housing is connected to the other end of the adjustable arm.

17. The ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 16 , wherein
the first section and the second section are configured to be arranged opposite to each other, so that the shape of the gap is defined as a slot shape.

18. The ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 16 , wherein the spherical joint further comprises:
a connection portion, the body portion and the blocking portion being detachably connected by means of the connection portion.

19. The ultrasonic imaging d

Assignees

• Ge Prec Healthcare Llc

Inventors

• Xu Sheng
• Zhao Hongyu
• Yao Qiang
• Chen Liping
• Li Bing
• Dan Bo

Classifications

• A61B8/44

  Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device · CPC title

• G03B17/561 Primary

  Support related camera accessories · CPC title

• F16C11/0685

  Manufacture of ball-joints and parts thereof, e.g. assembly of ball-joints · CPC title

• F16C11/10

  Arrangements for locking · CPC title

• F16C11/106

  for ball joints · CPC title