IP Library › Granted Patent US 12678132
Granted Patent B2
US 12678132 · App. 19/175,563 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Locking device for scanning assembly of ultrasound imaging apparatus and ultrasound imaging apparatus

Inventors: Donghui Fang (Wuxi, CN); Qiang Yao (Wuxi, CN); Bo Dan (Wuxi, CN); Junjian Meng (Wuxi, CN)
Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
A61B8/4218A61B8/0825A61B8/403A61B8/4405A61B8/4455
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12678132
App. No.
19/175,563
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An ultrasound imaging apparatus and a locking apparatus for a scanning assembly in the ultrasound imaging apparatus. The locking apparatus includes: a scanning assembly connecting apparatus, one end of which has a ball-head structure and the other end of which is connected to the scanning assembly; a fixing member, connected to a main body of the ultrasound imaging apparatus, and including a hollow cavity, the ball-head structure being accommodated within the hollow cavity and movable within the hollow cavity; and a pressing assembly, including a motor assembly, a cylinder assembly, and a pressing member, the cylinder assembly being disposed between the motor assembly and the pressing member, and cylinder gas pressure of the cylinder assembly being increased under the driving of the motor assembly, to drive the pressing member to press against the ball-head structure, thereby locking the scanning assembly.

Claims (47)

1 . A locking apparatus for a scanning assembly in an ultrasound imaging apparatus, comprising:

a scanning assembly connecting apparatus having a ball-head structure on a first end and a second end connected to the scanning assembly;

a fixing member, connected to a main body of the ultrasound imaging apparatus, and comprising a hollow cavity, the ball-head structure being accommodated within the hollow cavity and movable within the hollow cavity;

a pressing assembly, comprising a motor assembly, a cylinder assembly, and a pressing member, the cylinder assembly being disposed between the motor assembly and the pressing member, and cylinder gas pressure of the cylinder assembly being increased under the driving of the motor assembly, to drive the pressing member to press against the ball-head structure, thereby locking the scanning assembly; and

a pressing assembly housing surrounding the pressing assembly,

wherein the pressing assembly housing and the fixing member provide a common housing containing the pressing assembly and at least a portion of the ball-head structure.

2 . The locking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cylinder assembly comprises:

a first cylinder, provided with a first piston connected to the motor assembly, the first piston moving under the driving of the motor assembly; and

a second cylinder, provided with a second piston connected to the ball-head structure;

the first cylinder being connected to the second cylinder by means of a gas passage.

3 . The locking apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the cylinder assembly further comprises:

a first check valve, disposed in the gas passage to allow gas to flow unidirectionally from the first cylinder into the second cylinder; and

a second check valve, disposed on the first piston, the second check valve being configured to be closed when the first piston compresses the gas in the first cylinder, and to be opened when the first piston retracts.

4 . The locking apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

an inner diameter of the first cylinder is smaller than an inner diameter of the second cylinder.

5 . The locking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the motor assembly comprises a motor, a transmission gear, and a transmission rod, the transmission gear being engaged with an output gear of the motor, and both ends of the transmission rod being connected to the transmission gear and the cylinder assembly, respectively.

6 . The locking apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

a radial dimension of the transmission gear is greater than a radial dimension of the output gear of the motor.

7 . An ultrasound imaging apparatus, comprising:

an ultrasound transducer; and

a locking apparatus, comprising:

a scanning assembly connecting apparatus having a ball-head structure on a first end and a second end connected to the scanning assembly;

a fixing member, connected to a main body of the ultrasound imaging apparatus, and comprising a hollow cavity, the ball-head structure being accommodated within the hollow cavity and movable within the hollow cavity;

a pressing assembly, comprising a motor assembly, a cylinder assembly, and a pressing member, the cylinder assembly being disposed between the motor assembly and the pressing member, and cylinder gas pressure of the cylinder assembly being increased under the driving of the motor assembly, to drive the pressing member to press against the ball-head structure, thereby locking the scanning assembly; and

a pressing assembly housing surrounding the pressing assembly,

wherein the pressing assembly housing and the fixing member provide a common housing containing the pressing assembly and at least a portion of the ball-head structure.

8 . The ultrasound imaging apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a scanning assembly, the scanning assembly being connected to the locking apparatus and comprising a housing, an ultrasound transducer, and a control unit, the control unit being disposed outside the housing and being operable to control the locking apparatus, and the ultrasound transducer being accommodated within the housing and configured to perform ultrasound imaging.

9 . The locking apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the cylinder assembly comprises:

a first cylinder, provided with a first piston connected to the motor assembly, the first piston moving under the driving of the motor assembly; and

a second cylinder, provided with a second piston connected to the ball-head structure;

the first cylinder being connected to the second cylinder by means of a gas passage.

10 . The locking apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the cylinder assembly further comprises:

a first check valve, disposed in the gas passage to allow gas to flow unidirectionally from the first cylinder into the second cylinder; and

a second check valve, disposed on the first piston, the second check valve being configured to be closed when the first piston compresses the gas in the first cylinder, and to be opened when the first piston retracts.

11 . The locking apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein

an inner diameter of the first cylinder is smaller than an inner diameter of the second cylinder.

12 . The locking apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the motor assembly comprises a motor, a transmission gear, and a transmission rod, the transmission gear being engaged with an output gear of the motor, and both ends of the transmission rod being connected to the transmission gear and the cylinder assembly, respectively.

13 . The locking apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein

a radial dimension of the transmission gear is greater than a radial dimension of the output gear of the motor.

14 . The locking apparatus according to claim 7 ,

further comprising a pressure limiting valve disposed on the cylinder, the pressure limiting valve being opened when gas pressure in the cylinder reaches a predetermined value.

15 . The locking apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein

the pressure limiting valve is a solenoid valve that can be switched between an open state and a closed state by means of a switch.