JPH0143058Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention relates to an improvement of a probe used when measuring the thickness of tooth dentin using ultrasonic waves.

First, a conventional probe will be explained using FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional probe for an ultrasonic tooth thickness measuring device.

In Fig. 1, 1 is a transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, 2 is an acoustic lens that converges the ultrasonic waves, 3 is a damper that mechanically suppresses the free vibration of the transducer 1, and 4 is the transducer 1 and the acoustic lens. 2 and damper material 3
5 is a lead wire for transmitting and receiving electrical signals, 6 is a contact medium such as hot water, 7 is a tooth, 8 is for storing the contact medium 6 and fixing the probe to the tooth 7. a guideline section, 9 a water suction pipe for supplying the contact medium 6 into the guideline 8;
10 is the dentin of the tooth 7, and 11 is the nerve of the tooth 7.

Incidentally, the ultrasonic waves emitted from the transducer 1 are converged by the acoustic lens 2, pass through the contact medium 6 into the guideline part 8, are partially reflected by the surface of the teeth 7, and are received by the transducer 1 again on the reverse path. Ru. Also teeth 7
The ultrasound waves transmitted inside the dentin 10 and nerve 11
It is reflected at the boundary surface and is received by the vibrator 1 again on the reverse path. Furthermore, there is a water suction pipe 9 in the guideline part 8.
Fresh contact medium 6 is supplied through.

Furthermore, since this probe is inserted into the patient's mouth, the number of times it must be sterilized increases when treating multiple patients. According to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, the sterilization method for this type of medical equipment is stipulated to be heat sterilization at 130℃ for 10 minutes or more.

In conventional probes, the components are integrally bonded, so when the above disinfection method is applied, the joints of the vibrator 1, acoustic lens 2, damper 3,
The acoustic lens (plastic) may be damaged or bonded poorly, making it impossible to achieve the desired performance, and all of the component parts of the probe must be replaced, which is uneconomical.

This invention improves these conventional drawbacks and provides a probe for ultrasonic tooth thickness measuring equipment that allows only parts with weak durability (vibrator, acoustic lens, damper material) to be easily attached and detached. It is something to do.

An embodiment of this invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a probe for an ultrasonic tooth thickness measuring device according to this invention.

In FIG. 2, 1 is a vibrator for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, 2 is an acoustic lens that converges the ultrasonic waves, 3 is a damper that mechanically suppresses the free vibration of the vibrator 1, and 4 is a vibrating body case 12. 5 is a lead wire for transmitting and receiving electric signals, 6 is a contact medium such as hot water, 7 is a tooth, 8 is for storing the contact medium 6 and fixing the probe to the tooth 7. 9 is a water suction pipe for supplying the contact medium 6 into the guideline portion 8; 10 is the dentin of the tooth 7; 11 is the nerve of the tooth 7; This is a vibrating body part case that houses and fixes a lens 1, an acoustic lens 2, and a damper material 3).

Since the vibrating body case 12 of the probe for the ultrasonic tooth thickness measuring device according to this invention is housed and fixed between the main body case 4 and the main body case 4 by screws, springs, etc., repeated thermal disinfection (130°C for 10 minutes) ) even if the characteristics of the probe deteriorate due to
It has the advantage that it can be easily replaced with a new one. In addition, the other components 4 to 9 of the probe can be easily selected from materials that can withstand repeated heat disinfection (130°C for 10 minutes), making them reusable and economically effective. can be expected.

As mentioned above, this idea was developed by making the vibrating body part (vibrator, acoustic lens, damper material) of the probe for ultrasonic thickness measurement of tooth dentin removable by screwing or fitting. , provides a practical and economical probe for an ultrasonic tooth thickness measuring device that allows easy replacement of only the vibrating body, which suffers from characteristic deterioration during repeated heat disinfection (130°C for 10 minutes). It is something to do.

In the example, three types of components were used as the vibrating body part: a vibrator, an acoustic lens, and a damper material.
It is clear that the above effect can be obtained even when a part of the guideline or water suction pipe is included, and it goes without saying that this invention can be applied.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional probe for an ultrasonic tooth thickness measuring device, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a probe for an ultrasonic tooth thickness measuring device according to this invention. In the figure, 1 is a vibrator, 2 is an acoustic lens, 3 is a damper material, 4 is a main body case, 5 is a lead wire, 6
1 is a contact medium, 7 is a tooth, 8 is a guideline, 9 is a water suction tube, 10 is dentin, 11 is a nerve, and 12 is a vibrating body case. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a probe for an ultrasonic tooth thickness measuring device that is brought into contact with the dentin of a tooth via a contact medium such as warm water,
Dental ultrasound characterized in that a vibrating body part consisting of a vibrator, a damper material, an acoustic lens, etc. and a main body case that holds and fixes the vibrating body part can be attached and detached by screwing, fitting, etc. Probe for thickness measuring device.