Sheath assembly for ultrasonic probe

Abstract

A sheath assembly is adapted for an ultrasonic probe and includes a plug portion and a sheath portion connected to each other. One end of the plug portion of the sheath assembly is used for detachably and fixedly connecting with a connecting butt joint portion of the ultrasonic probe, so that the plug portion and the connecting butt joint portion are detachable after the ultrasonic probe is used.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheath assembly for an ultrasonic probe, the ultrasonic probe is provided with a connecting butt joint portion and a torque transmitting portion, the sheath assembly comprising:
 a plug portion; and   a sheath portion,   wherein one end of the plug portion is used for detachably and fixedly connecting with the connecting butt joint portion;   a sheath connecting portion of the plug portion is fixedly connected to one end of the sheath portion; and   an inside of the plug portion communicates with an inside of the sheath portion to receive the torque transmitting portion,   wherein the plug portion and the sheath portion of the sheath assembly are connected to each other;   the connecting butt joint portion is detachably and fixedly connected to the plug portion; and   a fixed end of the torque transmitting portion is fixedly connected in the connecting butt joint portion, and a transducer end of the torque transmitting portion extends through the connecting butt joint portion and the plug portion to enter the sheath portion,   wherein the plug portion comprises a first locking portion and a fixing portion, one end of the fixing portion defines a recess, one end of the first locking portion is fixed to a bottom portion of the recess, and the inner sidewall of the recess has a first threaded structure to realize the detachably-fixed connection with the connecting butt joint portion through threaded engagement, and the first locking portion extends from the bottom portion of the recess and beyond an edge of the first threaded structure,   the first locking portion has an internal hollow structure, and inside of the first locking portion communicates with an inside of the sheath portion, and the first threaded structure surrounds the first locking portion,   the first locking portion is a truncated cone structure, and an outer sidewall of the first locking portion has a taper shape, such that the first locking portion is received inside the connecting butt joint portion and is fixedly connected to the connecting butt joint portion by taper self-locking.   
     
     
         2 . The sheath assembly for the ultrasonic probe of  claim 1 , wherein the plug portion comprises a recess, and an inner sidewall of the recess has a first threaded structure to realize the detachably-fixed connection with the connecting butt joint portion through threaded engagement. 
     
     
         3 . The sheath assembly for the ultrasonic probe of  claim 2 , wherein a bottom portion of the recess is provided with a first locking portion, and an inside of the first locking portion communicates with an inside of the sheath portion; an outer sidewall of the first locking portion is engageable with an inner sidewall of the connecting butt joint portion, such that the first locking portion is received inside the connecting butt joint portion. 
     
     
         4 . The sheath assembly for the ultrasonic probe of  claim 3 , wherein the first locking portion has a first inner diameter for receiving the torque transmitting portion, the first inner diameter being greater than or equal to 0.5 mm and larger than an outer diameter of the torque transmitting portion. 
     
     
         5 . The sheath assembly for the ultrasonic probe of  claim 3 , wherein the outer sidewall of the first locking portion has a taper such that the first locking portion is received inside the connecting butt joint portion and is fixedly connected to the connecting butt joint portion by taper self-locking. 
     
     
         6 . The sheath assembly for the ultrasonic probe of  claim 5 , wherein the taper ranges from 3 degrees to 6 degrees to enable the sheath assembly to withstand at least 1 atmosphere for a time period of at least 30 seconds. 
     
     
         7 . The sheath assembly for the ultrasonic probe of  claim 3 , wherein the plug portion has a sealing portion for detachably and fixedly connecting to the first locking portion. 
     
     
         8 . The sheath assembly for the ultrasonic probe of  claim 1 , wherein the other end of the sheath portion has a sealing head structure. 
     
     
         9 . The sheath assembly for the ultrasonic probe of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath portion has a first sheath and a second sheath connected to each other, one end of the first sheath being fixedly connected to the sheath connecting portion of the plug portion, the first sheath having a Shore hardness greater than a Shore hardness of the second sheath. 
     
     
         10 . The sheath assembly for the ultrasonic probe of  claim 9 , wherein the sheath portion further has a third sheath, and the third sheath has a Shore hardness greater than or equal to the Shore hardness of the first sheath and is at least partially sleeved outside the first sheath to enhance a strength of the sheath portion. 
     
     
         11 . The sheath assembly for the ultrasonic probe of  claim 10 , wherein one end of the third sheath is fixedly connected to the sheath connecting portion, and is sleeved outside the first sheath, the third sheath having a length less than a length of the first sheath. 
     
     
         12 . The sheath assembly for the ultrasonic probe of  claim 11 , wherein the Shore hardness of the first sheath is 50D-90D, the Shore hardness of the second sheath is 30D-75D, and the Shore hardness of the third sheath is 50D-90D. 
     
     
         13 . The sheath assembly for the ultrasonic probe of  claim 10 , wherein the third sheath is a metal spring sleeve, and the metal spring sleeve is movably sleeved outside the sheath connecting portion and a portion of the first sheath.