JPH0352500A - Ultrasonic wave probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease the dimension of a flat shape and to attain a miniaturized ultrasonic wave probe by forming a reference potential path onto a base. CONSTITUTION:Plural piezoelectric chips 1 are arranged to apply sector driving and one terminal of a flexible printed circuit board 2 is connected to one major plane. Only plural signal lines 3 connecting to an exciting electrode at one major face side of each piezoelectric chip 1 are formed to the flexible printed circuit board 2. Then one major face of the piezoelectric chip 1 is bonded to a packing member 5 fitted to the base 6. A metallic body (e.g. film) 8 being a reference potential line is formed to an upper face and one side face of the base 6, and connected to an exciting electrode of other major face of the piezoelectric chip 1 with a lead wire. The other end of the flexible printed circuit board 2 is fitted directly to the upper face of the base 6 to connect a terminal part 7 and a cable line, and the planer direction is made coincident with the tube radial direction. Thus, the flat shape is made small to promote the miniaturization.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to a field of application of ultrasound probes, and particularly relates to a small ultrasound probe for medical use that is inserted into a body cavity to transmit and receive waves. (Background of the Invention) Ultrasonic probes are useful as ultrasonic transmitter/receivers in medical ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. In recent years, small ultrasound probes have been developed to examine the inside of body cavities such as the esophagus, anus, and urethra. In recent years, it has been desired to reduce the burden on patients by making these devices even smaller.

(Prior Art) Figure 4 is a diagram of an ultrasonic probe illustrating a conventional example of this type. The ultrasonic probe is made of, for example, lead zirconate titanate (hereinafter referred to as lead zirconate titanate).
A plurality of piezoelectric pieces 1 made of PZT) are lined up and driven in sectors. Excitation electrodes (not shown) are formed on both principal surfaces of each piezoelectric piece 1. Then, one end side of the flexible printed circuit board 2 is connected to one main surface side. The flexible printed circuit board 2 has a plurality of signal paths 3 connected to the excitation electrode on one main surface of each piezoelectric piece 1, and a base potential path 4 connected to the excitation electrode on the other main surface on the outer periphery thereof. has been done.

Then, one main surface side of the piezoelectric piece l is adhered to one side of a rubber-based backing material 5 for absorbing and damping ultrasonic waves. A base 6 made of, for example, glass epoxy is fixed to the other side of the backing material 5.

Then, the other end of the flexible printed circuit board 2 is connected to the base 6.
stick to the top. Each terminal portion 7 (a, b) of the flexible printed circuit board 2 is connected to each line of a cable (not shown). It is then stored with its plane direction aligned with the radial direction of a tube (not shown) inserted into the body cavity. Note that an acoustic matching layer, an acoustic lens, etc. (not shown) are attached to the other main surface side of the piezoelectric piece.

(Problems with the Prior Art) However, in the horizontal ultrasonic probe described above, since the reference potential path 4 is formed on the outer periphery of the flexible printed circuit board 2, the dimensions of the planar shape are correspondingly increased. Therefore, in such a device, even if the width of each line 3 and the reference potential path is minimized, there is an advantage in miniaturization.

(Object of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe that is miniaturized by reducing the size of the shell shape.

(Solution Means) The present invention provides a solution by removing the reference potential path of the flexible printed circuit board and forming this reference potential path interposed between the flexible printed circuit board and the banking material. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram of a super sweat wave probe illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same parts as those in the previous conventional example diagram are given the same numbers and their explanation will be simplified.

In the ultrasonic probe, as in the previous conventional example, a plurality of piezoelectric pieces 1 are lined up and moved in sectors, and one end side of a flexible printed circuit board 2 is connected to one main surface side. The flexible printed circuit board 2 is formed with only a plurality of signal paths 3 connected to the excitation electrode on one main surface side of each piezoelectric piece 1. Then, one main side of the piezoelectric piece is adhered to the backing material 5 fixed to the base 6. The base 6 has a mark on the top and one side.
A metal body (for example, a membrane) 8 serving as a ttt path is formed.

Then, it is connected to the excitation t-pole on the other main surface of the piezoelectric piece 1, for example, by a conductive wire (not shown). Then, the other end side of the flexible printed circuit board 2 is directly connected to the top surface (metal surface) of the base 6.
After connecting the terminal part 7 and the cable line, the cable is stored with the plane direction aligned with the diameter direction of the pipe (not shown). Therefore, in such a device, the reference potential path of the flexible printed circuit board 2 is removed and this is formed into the base 6, so that its planar shape is reduced and miniaturization is promoted. (Other Embodiments) FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams of ultrasonic probes for explaining other embodiments of the present invention. Note that parts that overlap with the previous embodiments will be omitted from the description. In this embodiment, the other end side of the flexible printed circuit board 2 is arranged in the direction of extension of the main surface of the base 6 (backing material 5) (FIG. 2).
, and also in the direction of extension of the side surface (Fig. 3). For example, in Figure 'J2, the flexible printed circuit board 2 is glued to the backing material 5 and the side surface of the base 6, and the other end is extended in the direction of extension of the top surface of the base as shown in Figure (a), or each piezoelectric piece 1 is ``Figure (b) J.

In addition, in Fig. 3, the flexible printed circuit board 2
to the sides of the backing material 5 and base 6, and glue the other end side as it is in the direction of extension in the thickness direction of the backing material 5 and base 6.
Or in the widthwise extension direction of the side collapse, "same figure (b)"
Derive.

Each terminal portion 7a of each flexible printed circuit board 2
A flexible printed circuit board (not shown) for connection is provided to extend a signal path, respectively. However, it is connected to the terminal section 7b for the reference potential path by a line not shown. Therefore, even in this case, the same applies as in the previous embodiment.
Miniaturization can be promoted by reducing the planar shape. In these cases, the other end of the flexible printed circuit board 2 can be made larger than the surface area of the base 6, so that the distance between each terminal portion is increased to facilitate the connection work with the cable line. However, whether the flexible printed circuit board 2 extends toward the base or toward the side depends on the direction in which the ultrasonic waves are sent (the direction in which it is stored in the tube).In addition, in this embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board 2 for connection Although the signal path was derived using a board, it goes without saying that it may be directly connected to each line of the cable. However, the drive is not limited to this, and it may be linear drive or drive as a single plate.Furthermore, it is not necessarily a drive using a plurality of piezoelectric plates, but may be a drive made of a single piezoelectric plate. Furthermore, in each embodiment, since the area of the base potential path is appropriately increased, it can be expected that generation of unnecessary noise etc. can be prevented.

(Effects of the Invention) The present invention eliminates the reference potential path of the flexible printed circuit board and uses this reference potential path as the base, thereby reducing the size of the planar shape and making the ultrasonic probe smaller. can be provided, and its practical effects are significant.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic probe illustrating one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2(a), (b) and 3(a) and (b) illustrate other embodiments of the present invention It is a perspective view of the ultrasonic probe to be explained. Figure 0 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic probe to explain a conventional example.6 Figure 1 Figure 2 (a) 1 (b) Figure 3 (α) Figure 4 (b) 9

Claims (1)

[Claims] a plurality of piezoelectric pieces having electrodes formed on both main surfaces; a flexible printed circuit board connected to the electrode on one main surface of each of the piezoelectric pieces; a backing material adhered to the one main surface; and the backing. An ultrasonic probe characterized in that it serves as a base on which a metal body is fixed, and a metal body is connected to the electrode on the other main surface of each of the piezoelectric pieces to provide a reference potential.