Biological testing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9456801-B2
Application number	US-201414587734-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2014
Priority date	Mar 19, 2010
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

An ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic transducer, a liquid filled section filled with a liquid, a contact section, and a flexible section. The contact section includes a deformable resin material, is positioned outside the ultrasonic transducer, and forms a portion of the liquid filled section. The flexible section includes the deformable resin material and forms a portion of the liquid filled section. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to transmit ultrasonic waves through the contact section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ultrasonic probe comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer; and
a liquid filled section filled with a liquid, the liquid filled section including
a contact section including a contact portion positioned apart from the ultrasonic transducer in a direction, the contact portion having a resin material and being configured to change shape; and
a flexible section including a flexible portion which has the resin material and is configured to change shape in response to the contact portion changing the shape, and
a communicating section which is connected to the contact section and the flexible section such that the liquid flows between the contact section and flexible section, the communicating section being arranged closer to the ultrasonic transducer than to the flexible portion in the direction,

the ultrasonic transducer being configured to transmit ultrasonic waves through the contact section.

2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 , wherein
the flexible portion is configured to protrude towards outside in the direction.

3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2 , wherein
the ultrasonic transducer includes
a substrate having an opening section,
a support film disposed on the substrate and covering one side of the opening section, and
a piezoelectric body disposed on the support film at a position inside of the opening section when viewed in a plan view along a thickness direction of the support film.

4. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 3 , wherein
the contact section includes a first resin section that is disposed at a position overlapping the opening section in the plan view and spaced apart from the support film in the thickness direction of the support film, and that has the contact portion, the liquid being arranged between the first resin section and the support film, and
the flexible section includes a second resin section that is connected to the communicating section, has the flexible portion, and is configured to house the liquid that flows in through the communication hole,
at least a portion of the first resin section and at least a portion of the second resin section being configured to change shapes such that a first liquid filled volume formed between the first resin section and the support film and a second liquid filled volume formed by the second resin section are changed.

5. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 4 , wherein
the opening sections of the substrate pass through the substrate in a thickness direction of the substrate,
the support film covers one side of the substrate,
the first resin section has a first recessed section that opens toward the support film and forms the first liquid filled volume by an opening edge of the first recessed section being connected to the other side of the substrate that is opposite from the one side, and
the second resin section has a second recessed section that opens toward the support film and forms the second liquid filled volume by an opening edge of the second recessed section being connected to the other side of the substrate.

6. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a displacement detecting section configured to detect a displacement of the second resin section, and
an ultrasonic wave receiving/emitting section configured to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric bodies when the displacement detecting section detects a displacement of the second resin section.

7. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 4 , wherein
the opening section of the substrate pass through the substrate in a thickness direction of the substrate,
the support film covers one side of the substrate,
the first resin section has a first recessed section that opens toward the support film and forms the first liquid filled volume by an opening edge of the first recessed section being connected to the other side of the substrate that is opposite from the one side, and
the second resin section has a second recessed section that opens toward the support film and forms the second liquid filled volume by an opening edge of the second recessed section being connected to the other side of the substrate.

8. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a displacement detecting section configured to detect a displacement of the second resin section, and
an ultrasonic wave receiving/emitting section configured to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric body when the displacement detecting section detects a displacement of the second resin section.

9. An ultrasonic image diagnostic device comprising the ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Nakamura Tomoaki

Classifications

• B06B1/0603

  using a piezoelectric bender, e.g. bimorph · CPC title

• A61B8/429 Primary

  characterised by determining or monitoring the contact between the transducer and the tissue · CPC title

• A61B8/4281

  characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue · CPC title

• B06B1/06

  operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction (piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices per se H10N30/00) · CPC title

• G01H11/08

  using piezoelectric devices · CPC title