WO2016137039A1

WO2016137039A1 - Method for manufacturing customized probe handle, and customized probe handle manufactured thereby

Info

Publication number: WO2016137039A1
Application number: PCT/KR2015/001937
Authority: WO
Inventors: 이수성; 이재원
Original assignee: 알피니언메디칼시스템 주식회사
Priority date: 2015-02-27
Filing date: 2015-02-27
Publication date: 2016-09-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a customized probe handle, and a customized probe handle manufactured thereby. The method for manufacturing a customized probe handle comprises the steps of: providing a base structure including a handle frame; attaching a plastically deformable shaping material to the handle frame; shaping a handle model, which has a shape fitted to the hand shape of a specific user, by plastically deforming the shaping material; acquiring three-dimensional shape data for the handle model; and molding a probe handle on the basis of the three-dimensional shape data.

Description

Custom probe handle manufacturing method, and custom probe handle manufactured thereby

The present invention relates to a technique for manufacturing a probe handle of an ultrasonic probe provided in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for acquiring image information inside an object under examination using ultrasonic waves.

The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus transmits an ultrasound signal to a diagnosis site of the test subject by an ultrasound probe, and then receives an ultrasound signal reflected from a tissue boundary in the test subject having a different acoustic impedance by the ultrasound probe. Acquire image information. The image information is output to the monitor of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and the user in charge of the diagnosis task may perform diagnosis on the subject through the image information output to the monitor. The ultrasonic probe may be configured by coupling a probe handle to a probe head accommodating an ultrasonic transducer.

In the process of diagnosing the test object by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the user operates while pressing the probe head of the ultrasound probe on the surface of the test object while holding the probe handle of the ultrasound probe with one hand. At this time, the user moves the wrist to operate the probe head.

However, according to the related art, the probe handle is generally manufactured in one form according to the average hand shape of the user from the viewpoint of industrial design. This type of probe handle is difficult for all users.

For example, a user with a non-average hand may feel uncomfortable while holding the probe handle. If the user operates the probe head while moving the wrist uncomfortably holding the probe handle, fatigue may be caused to the wrist. In addition, when the user operates the probe head for a long time, fatigue may be added to the wrist.

Disclosure of Invention An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a custom probe handle, which is specialized for an individual user, which is easy to grip and operate, and a custom probe handle manufactured thereby.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a customized probe handle according to the present invention, the method comprising: preparing a base including a handle skeleton, adding a shaping material that is plastically deformable to the handle skeleton, and plastically deforming the shaping material. Shaping the handle model to a shape suitable for the shape of the user's hand, obtaining three-dimensional shape data for the handle model, and shaping the probe handle based on the three-dimensional shape data.

The custom probe handle according to the present invention may be manufactured by the above-described custom probe handle manufacturing method.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a customized handle made in a form that is easy to grip and operate to the individual user, there is an effect that can reduce the wrist fatigue of the user and increase the user satisfaction.

1 is a flow chart for a method for manufacturing a custom probe handle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a custom probe handle manufactured by the manufacturing method illustrated in FIG. 1 is applied to an actual ultrasonic probe.

3 to 9 are views for explaining a process of manufacturing a custom probe handle by the manufacturing method shown in FIG.

When described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings for the present invention. Here, the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and repeated descriptions and detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted. Embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the shape and size of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity.

Referring to FIG. 1, the method of manufacturing a custom probe handle includes preparing a foundation including a handle skeleton (S110), adding a shaping material capable of plastic deformation to the handle skeleton (S120), and plastically deforming the shaping material. Shaping the handle model to a shape suitable for the shape of a specific user's hand (S130), obtaining three-dimensional shape data for the handle model (S140), and shaping the probe handle based on the three-dimensional shape data. Step S150 is included.

An example of applying the customized probe handle 40 manufactured by the aforementioned manufacturing method to the actual ultrasonic probe 100 is as shown in FIG. 2.

In the actual ultrasonic probe 100 shown in FIG. 2, the actual probe head 110 is coupled to the customized probe handle 40. The actual probe head 110 may be configured to receive the ultrasonic transducer 111 in such a manner that the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving portion of the ultrasonic transducer 111 is exposed through the opened portion of the head cap 112.

When the ultrasonic transducer 111 is connected to the cable 130 through the transducer substrate 120, the internal space of the probe handle 40 may include a first internal space 41 for partially inserting the cable 130. ) And a second inner space 42 accommodating the transducer substrate 120. The actual strain relief 140 may be used to prevent disconnection of the cable 130, and the like. Meanwhile, when the transducer substrate 120 is accommodated in the head cap 112, the second internal space 42 of the probe handle 40 may be omitted.

Referring to Figures 3 to 9, it will be described in detail with respect to a method for manufacturing a custom probe handle.

In S110, as shown in FIG. 3, the base 10 is provided. The base 10 includes a handle skeleton 11. Therefore, as will be described later, the user can easily perform the operation of shaping the handle model 30 by applying the shaping material 20 to the handle skeleton 11. The handle armature 11 may be made of a material such as plastic having rigidity.

The base 10 may further include a probe head 12 connected to one end of the handle skeleton 11. Additionally, the base 10 may include a strain relief 13 connected to the opposite end of the handle armature 11. In this case, the user can more easily perform the operation of shaping the handle model 30 by appropriately applying a shaping material to the handle skeleton 11 based on the probe head 12 and the strain relief 13. .

At this time, the user pads the shaping material on the portion where the probe head 12 is coupled with the probe handle 40, and applies the shaping material on the portion where the strain relief 13 is coupled with the probe handle 40 to handle model ( 30) can be shaped. Thus, the handle mockup 30 can be shaped to have joining portions of a shape opposite to the respective joining portions of the probe head 12 and the strain relief 13, so that a custom probe manufactured based on this handle mockup 30 is made. The handle 40 may have coupling sites that engage with the probe head 12 and strain relief 13, respectively. As a result, the custom probe handle 40 can be used in combination with the probe head 12 and the strain relief 13 without any additional processing for the portion that is combined with the probe head 12 and the strain relief 13.

The probe head 12 may be formed of a dummy probe head having the same appearance as the actual probe head 110. In this case, the dummy probe head may be manufactured to have the same appearance as that of the ultrasonic transducer 111 and the head cap 112. The dummy probe head may be made of a material such as plastic having rigidity. The dummy probe head may be manufactured to be integrated with the same material as the handle armature 11. Of course, the actual probe head 110 may also be configured to couple to the handle armature 11. In this case, the cost can be reduced by using the actual probe head 110 to be disposed of.

The strain relief 13 may be made of a dummy strain relief having the same appearance as the actual strain relief 140. The dummy strain relief may be manufactured to be integrated with the same material as the handle armature 11. Of course, the actual strain relief 140 may also be configured to couple to the handle armature 11.

As another example, although not shown, a first reference member having a different shape except for a portion where the probe head 12 is coupled to the probe handle 40 may be connected to one end of the base. In addition, a second reference member having a different shape may be connected to the opposite end of the base except for a portion where the strain relief 13 is coupled to the probe handle 40.

The handle armature 11 may have the same appearance as the inner space of the probe handle 40. That is, the handle armature 11 includes a first armature portion 11a having the same appearance as that of the first inner space portion 41 of the probe handle 40 in which the cable 130 is partially inserted and accommodated, and the transducer. It may include a second skeleton portion (11b) having the same appearance as the second inner space portion 42 of the probe handle 40 for receiving the substrate 120. When the transducer substrate 120 is accommodated in the head cap 112, the second skeleton portion 11b may be omitted.

This handle armature 11 makes the inner shape of the handle model 30 identical to the inner space shape of the probe handle 40. Accordingly, the probe handle 40 may be manufactured to have the above-described internal space shape based on the three-dimensional shape data of the internal shape of the handle model 30. Meanwhile, when the actual ultrasonic probe 100 wirelessly communicates with the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus without the cable 130, the base 10 may be provided in a form in which the steriin relief 13 is omitted.

In S120, as shown in FIG. 4, the shaping | molding material 20 which can be plastically deformed is attached to the handle armature 11. At this time, the shaping material 20 is padded on the handle armature 11 in an amount sufficient to shape the handle model 30.

The shaping material 20 may be made of paper clay. Clay is a craft material made from a mixture of paper, clay and glue. Clay is deformed according to the form of force applied and has plasticity that remains deformed. By using the characteristics of these clays, the user can easily rub the clay into the desired shape by hand. Clays with properties that do not stick to the user's hands may be used. The shaping material 20 may be made of various materials that can be plastically deformed, such as clay and rubber clay.

In S120, the shaping material 20 is plastically deformed to shape the handle model 30 in a shape that fits the shape of a specific user's hand. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, a user A may form the handle model 30 by rubbing the shaping material 20 to have a grip portion 31 having a shape suitable for the shape of his or her hand. .

As another example, as shown in FIG. 7, a user B having a different shape of a hand rubs the shaping material 20 to shape a handle model 30 'having a grip portion 31' shaped to fit his or her hand. can do. Accordingly, the handle models 30 and 30 'can be easily shaped to have the grip portions 31 and 31' shaped to fit the shape of the specific user's hand. Based on the handle models 30 and 30 ', the probe handle 40 can be molded to fit the shape of a specific user's hand.

In S140, as shown in FIG. 8, three-dimensional shape data of the handle model 30 is obtained. In this case, the 3D shape data of the handle model 30 may be obtained based on the 3D shape data of the appearance of the base 10 and the 3D shape data of the appearance of the handle model 30. . Three-dimensional shape data on the appearance of the base 10 may be provided as data on the internal shape of the handle model 30. Three-dimensional shape data on the appearance of the base 10 can be obtained by using a three-dimensional scanner, three-dimensional modeling software, or the like.

Three-dimensional shape data on the appearance of the handle model 30 can be obtained by three-dimensional scanning by the three-dimensional scanner 1. The three-dimensional scanner 1 may acquire three-dimensional shape data of the appearance of the handle model 30 by three-dimensional photographing while rotating the handle model 30 by 360 degrees. On the other hand, instead of using three-dimensional shape data on the appearance of the base 10, the thickness data set by setting the thickness of the handle model 30 can be used. In this case, the thickness data for the handle model 30 may be provided as data for the internal shape of the handle model 30.

In S150, as shown in FIG. 9, the probe handle 40 is molded based on the three-dimensional shape data. At this time, the probe handle 40 may be molded by three-dimensional printing. Three-dimensional printing is a manufacturing technology that creates three-dimensional objects by spraying a continuous layer of material. A three-dimensional printer 2 is used for three-dimensional printing.

Appearance color may be given to the probe handle 40 during 3D printing. Appearance color can be given to the probe handle 40 by shape | molding the probe handle 40 by three-dimensional printing with the coloring material containing a color. Therefore, since the appearance color of the probe handle 40 may be given to the user's preferred color, the user's satisfaction may be increased. As another example, it is also possible to color the surface of the shaped probe handle 40. In addition, the probe handle 40 can also be shape | molded by cutting.

The custom probe handle 40 manufactured by the above-described processes is applied to the actual ultrasonic probe 100 as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, since the actual ultrasonic probe 100 may provide a customized handle 40 having a form that is easy to be gripped and operated, which is specialized for an individual user, it may reduce wrist fatigue of a user and increase user satisfaction.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Could be. Accordingly, the true scope of protection of the invention should be defined only by the appended claims.

Claims

Providing a foundation including a handle skeleton;

Padding plastically deformable shaping material to the handle armature;

Plastic deformation of the shaping material to shape the handle model into a shape suitable for the shape of a specific user's hand;

Obtaining three-dimensional shape data for the handle model; And

Shaping a probe handle based on the three-dimensional shape data;

Custom probe handle manufacturing method comprising a.
The method of claim 1,

The base material,

And a probe head connected to one end of the handle armature.
The method of claim 2,

The probe head is a custom probe handle manufacturing method, characterized in that made of a simulated probe head having the same appearance as the actual probe head.
The method of claim 2,

The base material,

And a strain relief connected to the opposite end of said handle armature.
The method of claim 4, wherein

The strain relief is a custom probe handle manufacturing method, characterized in that made of a dummy strain relief having the same appearance as the actual strain relief.
The method of claim 1,

The shaping material is a custom probe handle manufacturing method characterized in that consisting of clay.
The method of claim 1,

Forming the probe handle,

Custom probe handle manufacturing method comprising the step of forming the probe handle by the three-dimensional printing.
The method of claim 7, wherein

Custom probe handle manufacturing method characterized in that to give the appearance color to the probe handle when the three-dimensional printing.
The method of claim 1,

Acquiring three-dimensional shape data for the handle model,

Based on the three-dimensional shape data of the appearance of the base material and the three-dimensional shape data of the appearance of the handle model, the customized probe handle comprising the step of obtaining the three-dimensional shape data for the handle model Manufacturing method.
The method of claim 9,

And a three-dimensional scan of the three-dimensional shape data of the appearance of the handle model.
A custom probe handle manufactured by the manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.