JP5374095B2 - Method for manufacturing ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method suitable for manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment device from titanium material. <P>SOLUTION: The method for manufacturing the ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment device includes a preparation process for preparing a rod of material 58 formed of titanium material, and an area reduction molding process for area reduction molding of at least one end side of the material 58 by use of an area reduction molding die 52. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing an ultrasonic probe for use in line cormorants ultrasonic treatment apparatus of various treatments by using the ultrasonic vibration to the living tissue.

  There are various ultrasonic treatment devices that perform various treatments on living tissue using ultrasonic vibration. In such an ultrasonic treatment apparatus, an ultrasonic probe as a vibration transmission member is used. The ultrasonic probe is a long rod-like member having a total length of 400 to 450 mm, for example, and is inserted into a cylindrical sheath of the ultrasonic treatment apparatus. The proximal end portion of the ultrasonic probe is connected to an ultrasonic transducer built in the ultrasonic treatment apparatus, and the distal end portion of the ultrasonic probe protrudes to the outside at the distal end portion of the ultrasonic treatment apparatus. The ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic transducer is transmitted from the proximal end portion of the ultrasonic probe to the distal end portion, and various treatments are applied to the biological tissue by pressing the distal end portion of the probe in a vibrating state against the biological tissue. Is possible.

As a material for forming such an ultrasonic probe, a material having high acoustic effect, biocompatibility, low Young's modulus and high fracture strain and fracture strength is preferable, and a titanium material is used. Then, cutting is used to form an ultrasonic probe from a titanium material. Patent Document 1 discloses that milling is used to form an ultrasonic probe.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-5237

  When an ultrasonic probe is formed from a titanium material using a cutting process, a large amount of cutting waste is generated and discarded, so that the material yield is extremely high even though an expensive titanium material is used. It will drop to. Further, since the titanium material is hard and difficult to process, the processing time becomes long and the productivity is lowered. Furthermore, since the ultrasonic probe is a long rod-like member, bending is likely to occur along the axial direction, resulting in a high defect rate. Thus, the cutting process is not necessarily suitable for manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a manufacturing method suitable for forming an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus from a material of titanium material. .

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, the method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus includes a preparation step of preparing a rod-shaped material formed of a titanium material, and a reduction-molding metal on at least one end side of the material. And a surface-reduction molding step of performing surface-reduction using a mold.

  In a second embodiment of the present invention, the method for manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus includes the surface-reduction molding using the surface-reduction molding die after the preparation step and before the surface reduction molding step. It further comprises a heating step of heating the material by friction between the mold and the material.

  In a third embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic probe manufacturing method for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus includes a cold rotary swaging method using a surface molding die for cold rotary swaging in the surface reduction molding step. It is characterized by surface reduction molding by aging.

  In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic probe manufacturing method for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus includes: the cold rotary swaging surface-reduction mold after the preparation step and before the surface-reduction molding step. It further comprises a heating step of heating the material by friction between the cold rotary swaging surface-reduction mold and the material.

  In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, in the method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus, after the surface-reduction molding step, one end of the material is cold pressed using a cold pressing bending mold. The method further comprises a bending molding step of bending molding according to the above.

  In a sixth embodiment of the present invention, the method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus is characterized in that the cold pressing bending mold is a closed mold.

  In the seventh embodiment of the present invention, the method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus is such that, after the surface-reduction molding step, one end of the material is cold using a polygonal column forming die for cold pressing. The method further includes a polygonal column forming step of forming into a polygonal column shape by pressing.

  In an eighth embodiment of the present invention, in the method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment device, the polygonal column forming mold for cold pressing is formed from a pair of molds, and the pair of molds in press forming A gap for releasing the material is formed between the molds.

  In a ninth embodiment of the present invention, the method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment device is characterized in that, after the surface reduction molding step, at least one end side of the material is grooved by surface reduction using a groove molding die. The method further comprises a groove forming step of forming the material.

  In the tenth embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus is a rod-shaped ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus formed of a titanium material, and has a small diameter portion on one end side and the other end side. The surface hardness value of the said small diameter part is larger than the value of the surface hardness of the said large diameter part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In an eleventh embodiment of the present invention, in the ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus, the small diameter portion has a straight straight portion formed on the large diameter portion side, and the straight portion is It has a groove part formed over the entire circumference at a position that becomes a node position of the sonic vibration, and the surface hardness value of the groove part is larger than the surface hardness value of the straight part.

  In a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic treatment apparatus includes a cylindrical sheath and an ultrasonic probe that is inserted through the sheath and formed of a titanium material, and the ultrasonic probe is on one end side. A thin-diameter portion and a large-diameter portion on the other end side, the thin-diameter portion has a straight straight portion formed on the large-diameter portion side, and the straight portion is super A groove portion formed over the entire circumference at a position to be a node position of the sonic vibration, and the surface hardness value of the straight portion is larger than the surface hardness value of the large diameter portion, and the surface hardness of the groove portion is The value of the height is larger than the value of the surface hardness of the straight part.

  In the method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the material yield is high, the productivity is high, the defect rate is low, and the surface hardness of the ultrasonic probe is increased. Therefore, a manufacturing method suitable for forming an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus from a titanium material has been realized.

  In the method for manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, since the material is heated by friction between the mold and the material, the material is not undesirably modified in a short time. The heating of the material can be completed, and the heating process and the surface-reduction molding process can be performed continuously by heating using the surface-reduction molding die, simplifying the process and manufacturing time. Can be shortened.

  In the method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention, surface reduction molding is performed by cold rotary swaging, and the material yield increases, the productivity increases, the defect rate decreases, The effect of increasing the surface hardness is remarkably exhibited.

  In the method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, since the material is heated by friction between the mold and the material, the material is not detrimentally modified in a short time. The heating of the material can be completed, and the heating process and the area reduction molding process by cold rotary swaging are continuously performed by using the area reduction molding die for cold rotary swaging. This can be done, simplifying the process and shortening the manufacturing time.

  In the method for manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to accurately form a curved shape at one end of an ultrasonic probe in a short time by using a cold press. It has become.

  In the method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, the ridge line portion can be smoothly finished at one end of the ultrasonic probe by using a closing mold, and after chamfering or the like. A process is unnecessary, and it is possible to further improve productivity.

  In the method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to form a polygonal column shape at one end of the ultrasonic probe in a short time and accurately by using a cold press. It has become.

  In the method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention, the cold pressing is performed by setting the volume of the material for forming the polygonal column shape to be larger than the originally required volume. It is possible to fill the inside of the mold reliably with the material in order to clarify the ridge line part of the polygonal columnar part, and to form a gap for releasing the material between the pair of molds Therefore, it is possible to prevent the material from being cracked in the cold press working.

  In the method for manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention, since the groove is formed by surface reduction molding, the surface hardness of the groove can be increased.

  The ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention is suitable for manufacturing by the method for manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention is suitable for manufacturing by the method for manufacturing an ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

  In the ultrasonic treatment apparatus of the twelfth embodiment of the present invention, in the ultrasonic probe, the value of the surface hardness is larger in the narrow diameter portion on one end side than the thick diameter portion on the other end side, and the hardness is high. In the small-diameter part, the groove part with a smaller outer diameter has a higher surface hardness value and higher hardness, so that even a long ultrasonic probe bends along the axial direction of the ultrasonic probe. Therefore, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic treatment apparatus that is easy to insert and has good penetrability of the ultrasonic probe into the cylindrical sheath.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  With reference to FIG. 1, the ultrasonic treatment tool as the ultrasonic treatment apparatus of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  In the ultrasonic treatment instrument, the probe unit 20, the operation unit 22, and the transducer unit 24 are detachably connected to each other from the distal end side to the proximal end side. In the ultrasonic treatment instrument, for example, a long and rod-shaped ultrasonic probe 26 having a total length of about 450 mm is used. The ultrasonic probe 26 is inserted through the probe unit 20 and the operation unit 22. An ultrasonic transducer 28 is built in the transducer unit 24, and the base end portion of the ultrasonic probe 26 is screwed to the ultrasonic transducer 28. In the probe unit 20, an ultrasonic probe 26 is inserted into a long cylindrical sheath 30 that is inserted into a body cavity. In the sheath 30, an annular rubber lining is extrapolated to the ultrasonic probe 26 at the ultrasonic vibration node position, and the ultrasonic probe 26 is supported by the inner surface of the sheath 30 via the rubber lining. A distal end portion 26 a of the ultrasonic probe 26 protrudes from the distal end portion of the sheath 30. Further, a jaw 32 is disposed at the distal end portion of the sheath 30 in parallel with the distal end portion 26 a of the ultrasonic probe 26. The jaw 32 is opened and closed with respect to the distal end portion 26 a of the probe 26 by opening and closing the handle 34 of the operation unit 22. The living tissue is sandwiched between the distal end portion 26 a of the probe 26 and the jaw 32, and the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic transducer 28 is transmitted from the proximal end portion of the probe 26 to the distal end portion. By ultrasonically vibrating 26a, treatments such as coagulation and incision are performed on the living tissue.

  The ultrasonic probe 26 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  The ultrasonic probe 26 is formed of a titanium material having a high acoustic effect, biocompatibility, low Young's modulus, and high fracture strain and fracture strength. The titanium material includes pure titanium and a titanium alloy. As the titanium material, an α + β titanium alloy is preferable, and a titanium alloy of JIS 60 Al 6%, V4% and the balance Ti is preferably used.

  In the ultrasonic probe 26, a large-diameter portion 36 is formed at the proximal end portion. A screw portion 38 to be screwed to the ultrasonic transducer 28 is formed at the base end portion of the large diameter portion 36. A tapered portion 40 is formed on the distal end side of the large diameter portion 36, and the outer diameter of the tapered portion 40 decreases from the proximal end side to the distal end side. A small diameter portion 42 is formed on the tip side of the taper portion 40. In the small diameter portion 42, a straight straight portion 44 is formed at the proximal end portion, and a bending portion 46 that is gently curved is formed at the distal end portion. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the straight portion 44 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ultrasonic probe 26, the direction perpendicular to the plane including the center line of the bending portion 46 is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the ultrasonic probe 26, and the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction. This direction is referred to as the width direction of the ultrasonic probe 26. Further, in the straight portion 44, a plurality of lining grooves 48 into which rubber linings are extrapolated are extended over the entire circumference at positions serving as node positions of ultrasonic vibration.

  Here, the value of the surface hardness of the straight portion 44 of the small diameter portion 42 is larger than the value of the surface hardness of the large diameter portion 36. The value of the surface hardness of the lining groove 48 is larger than the value of the surface hardness of the straight portion 44 of the small diameter portion 42. For example, in terms of Vickers hardness, the surface hardness of the large diameter portion 36 is 300 to 310 HV, the surface hardness of the straight portion 44 of the small diameter portion 42 is 330 to 340 HV, and the surface hardness of the lining groove 48 is 355 to 360 HV.

  A method for manufacturing the ultrasonic probe 26 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the cold rotary swaging apparatus used for the manufacturing method of the ultrasonic probe 26 is demonstrated.

  The cold rotary swaging apparatus is provided with a header 50 that is rotated about a predetermined rotation axis O. In the header 50, a surface-reducing mold 52, a spacer 54, and a backer 53 that functions as a hammer are disposed in order from the rotation axis O of the header 50 in the radial direction. The surface-reduction molding die 52, the spacer 54, and the backer 53 are supported by the header 50 so as to be movable in the radial direction, and can be rotated integrally with the header 50. In the present embodiment, four sets of surface-reduction molding dies 52, spacers 54, and backers 53 that are rotationally symmetric with respect to the rotation axis O are arranged on the header 50 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. An insertion hole 55 is formed along the rotation axis O on the radially inner side of the four reduced surface molding dies 52. The cold rotary swaging device has a rod-shaped blank material as a material arranged coaxially in the insertion hole 55 and has a movement mechanism (not shown) that allows the blank material to move in the axial direction. On the other hand, a large number of cylindrical rollers 56 are arranged on the outer side of the backer 53 in the radial direction. The many rollers 56 extend in parallel to the rotation axis O and are arranged in parallel in the circumferential direction, and are rotatable about the central axis of each roller 56. When the surface-reducing mold 52, the spacer 54, and the backer 53 are rotated integrally with the header 50, the surface-reducing mold 52, the spacer 54, and the backer 53 are moved by the rollers 56 to the radially outer end of the backer 53. The movement inward in the radial direction by hitting the part and the outward movement in the radial direction by centrifugal force are repeated. After the blank material is inserted into the insertion hole 55, the header 50 is rotated to repeatedly reciprocate the reduced surface mold 52 in the radial direction, and the reduced surface mold 52 applies a force inward in the radial direction to the blank material. By repeatedly moving the blank material in the axial direction while repeatedly applying, it is possible to reduce the outer diameter of the blank material and reduce the surface area to reduce the cross-sectional area of the blank material.

  The header 50 is provided with a stopper for restricting the movement of the surface-reducing mold 52, the spacer 54, and the backer 53 inward in the radial direction. After the blank material is inserted into the insertion hole 55 by the moving mechanism, the inner surface in the radial direction of the reduced surface mold 52, the spacer 54, and the backer 53 by the stopper in a state where the reduced surface mold 52 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the blank material. The blank material can be heated by the friction between the blank material and the surface-reduction molding die 52 by rotating the surface-reduction molding die 52 by rotating the header 50.

  Each process of the manufacturing method of the ultrasonic probe 26 is demonstrated with reference to FIGS.

Preparation process (see Fig. 4)
A rod-shaped blank material 58 formed from a titanium material is prepared. The volume of the blank material 58 is set so as to have a margin of about + 3% with respect to the volume of the product. The margin can be set to only about + 3% in this way because, as will be described later, the blank 58 is reduced in surface by cold rotary swaging so that the entire length of the blank 58 is extended. This is because the generation of waste is extremely reduced. In addition, when manufacturing an ultrasonic probe by cutting, the volume of about 10 times the volume of a product is required as a volume of a blank material. This is because the cutting process requires at least a blank material having an outer diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the large-diameter portion 36 of the ultrasonic probe 26 that is a finished product. Based on the set volume of the blank material 58, the dimensions of the blank material 58 are set as appropriate. For example, a blank material having an outer diameter of 8 mm and a total length of 170 mm is used.
The base end portion of the blank material 58 forms a large-diameter portion preparation portion 36j that forms the large-diameter portion 36 of the ultrasonic probe 26.

Heating process (see Fig. 5)
The blank material 58 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface on the front end side of the blank material 58 by rotating the reduced surface molding die 52 of the cold rotary swaging device and rotated, and the blank material 58 is caused by frictional heat generated by friction between the blank material 58 and the reduced surface molding die 52. Is heated and softened. For example, the blank material 58 is heated to 500 to 600 ° C. by pressing and rotating for about 5 to 10 seconds. Here, when the blank material 58 is heated by a burner or the like, undesired modification such as burning may occur in the blank material 58, but such modification is prevented by heating by friction. Further, when the blank material 58 is heated by a furnace or the like, it is troublesome to shift to a surface reduction molding process by cold rotary swaging as the next process. On the other hand, when the blank material 58 is heated by the surface-reducing mold 52 of the cold rotary swaging device, the surface-reducing mold 52, the spacer 54, and the backer 53 by the stopper are radially inward. It is possible to continuously perform the surface reduction forming process by cold rotary swaging, which is the next process, simply by releasing the restriction of movement.

Surface reduction molding process (see FIGS. 6A to 6C)
One end side of the blank material 58 is reduced by cold rotary swaging and stretched to form a tapered portion preparing portion 40j and a small diameter portion preparing portion 42j that become the tapered portion 40 and the small diameter portion 42 of the ultrasonic probe 26. . The area reduction rate is 20 to 70%. The surface-reduction molding may be performed once, or if there is a risk of cracking, it may be divided into multiple times, and if it is divided into multiple times, intermediate annealing is performed. Also good. For example, with respect to the blank material 58 having an outer diameter of 8 mm and a total length of 170 mm, a 100 mm portion on the tip side is subjected to surface reduction molding to an outer diameter of 2.5 mm, and the total length of the blank material 58 is extended to 450 mm.
The surface hardening by cold rotary swaging causes work hardening, and the surface hardness of the small-diameter portion preparation portion 42j is harder than the surface hardness of the large-diameter portion preparation portion 36j, which is the surface hardness of the blank material 58. . For example, the surface hardness of the blank material 58, that is, the large-diameter portion preparation portion 36j is 300 to 310 HV, whereas the surface hardness of the small-diameter portion preparation portion 42j is 330 to 340HV. Further, the metal structure of the blank material 58, that is, the large diameter portion preparation portion 36j is α + spherical β, whereas the small diameter portion preparation portion 42j is changed to α + granular β.
When such processing is performed by cutting, bending is likely to occur in the small-diameter portion preparing portion 42j. However, in the surface reduction molding by cold rotary swaging, the value of the surface hardness increases and the hardness increases. As a result, bending along the axial direction hardly occurs. In addition, cutting requires several tens of minutes of processing time, but surface reduction by cold rotary swaging requires only a few seconds to a few dozen seconds.

Groove forming process (see Fig. 7)
In the groove forming step, a cold rotary swaging apparatus having a groove forming mold 60 is used. In the four groove forming dies 60, on the radially inner side surface of each groove forming die 60, a protruding portion 59 protruding inward in the radial direction is extended in the tangential direction of rotation. Using the groove forming mold 60, a part of the small diameter portion preparing portion 42j is surface-reduced by cold rotary swaging to form a lining groove preparing portion 48j that becomes the lining groove 48 over the entire circumference. In the small diameter part preparing part 42j, a plurality of lining groove preparing parts 48j are formed in the axial direction of the small diameter part preparing part 42j at a predetermined pitch corresponding to the half wavelength of the ultrasonic vibration.
The value of the surface hardness of the lining groove preparation part 48j is larger than the value of the surface hardness of the small diameter part preparation part 42j. For example, the surface hardness of the thin part preparing portion 42j is 330 to 340 HV, whereas the surface hardness of the lining groove preparing portion 48j is 355 to 360 HV. In the lining groove preparation portion 48j, the outer diameter is smaller than that of the small diameter portion preparation portion 42j, but the surface hardness value is large and the hardness is high, so that the strength is increased, and the lining groove preparation portion 48j is not easily bent. Become.

Polygonal column forming process (see FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C)
In the polygonal column forming step, for example, a cold press machine having octagonal column forming dies 61u and 61d is used. In the octagonal column forming dies 61u and 61d, a forming groove 68 is extended on each forming surface on the pressing direction side of the upper die 61u and the lower die 61d, and the cross section of the forming groove 68 has a top side and a bottom side. Has a trapezoidal shape in which the base is orthogonal to the pressing direction and the base is disposed on the pressing direction side. When the octagonal column forming dies 61u and 61d are closed, the forming space of the octagonal column forming dies 61u and 61d is not completely closed, and the space between the forming surface of the upper die 61u and the forming surface of the lower die 61d is not closed. A gap 62 through which the material escapes is formed. In the cold press machine, the narrow diameter portion preparing portion 42j has the tip portion of the small diameter portion preparing portion 42j disposed between the two octagonal column forming dies 61u and 61d, and is in the width direction and the longitudinal direction of the ultrasonic probe 26. The directions are arranged so as to coincide with the pressing direction of the octagonal column forming dies 61u and 61d and the extending direction of the forming groove 68, respectively.
In the polygonal column forming step, the tip of the small diameter portion preparing portion 42j is formed into an octagonal column shape by cold pressing with the octagonal column forming dies 61u and 61d. Here, since the volume of the blank material 58 is set with a margin more than the volume of the product, the inside of the forming grooves 68 of the octagonal column forming dies 61u and 61d is sufficiently filled with the material at the time of pressing. The ridge line portion 65 of the portion 63 is clearly formed. On the other hand, since gaps 62 through which material escapes are formed between the molding surfaces of both octagonal column forming dies 61u and 61d, the pressure in the octagonal column forming dies 61u and 61d rises excessively, resulting in an octagonal prism shape. It is avoided that the portion 63 is cracked. A flash 66 projecting laterally is formed in the octagonal columnar portion 63 by the surplus material that has flowed into the gaps 62 between the molding surfaces of the two octagonal column molding dies 61u and 61d. The flash 66 is appropriately removed by punching or the like, and two side surfaces of the octagonal columnar portion 63 are formed.

Bending molding process (Figs. 9A to 9C)
In the bending molding process, a cold press having bending molding dies 64u and 64d is used. In the bending molds 64u and 64d, a molding groove 69 is extended on each molding surface, and the cross section of the molding groove 69 is a trapezoid in which the top and bottom are orthogonal to the pressing direction and the bottom is arranged on the pressing direction. It has a shape. Further, each molding surface is formed such that each molding groove 69 is gently curved in the pressing direction of the upper mold 64u from one end side to the other end side of the molding groove 69. The bending molds 64u and 64d are closed molds in which the molding space is closed without a gap at the bottom dead center of the press. In the cold press machine, an octagonal columnar portion 63 serving as a bending portion preparation portion 46j is disposed between both bending molding dies 64u and 64d, and the width direction of the ultrasonic probe 26 and the direction of the center line direction of the bending portion 46 are set. The bending direction corresponds to the pressing direction of the bending molds 64u and 64d and the extending direction from one end side to the other end side of the forming groove 69, respectively.
In the bending forming step, the leading end portion of the small-diameter portion preparing portion 42j is bent to form a bending portion preparing portion 46j that becomes the bending portion 46. Here, in order to suppress the spring back of the bending part preparation part 46j, the bending molds 64u and 64d are stopped for a predetermined time at the bottom dead center of the press. Further, the bending molds 64u and 64d are closed molds, and the ridge line portion 65 of the bending part preparation part 46j is smoothly finished in the bending process. For this reason, it is not necessary to chamfer the ridge line portion 65 of the bending portion preparation unit 46j.

Cutting process (Fig. 10)
By a cutting process by a cutting machine, a threaded portion preparing portion 38j to be the threaded portion 38 is formed at the base end portion of the large diameter portion preparing portion 36j.
Through the above steps, a semi-finished product of the ultrasonic probe 26 having the same shape as the completed product of the ultrasonic probe 26 is obtained from the rod-shaped blank material 58.

Heat treatment step The semi-finished product of the ultrasonic probe 26 is put into a heat treatment furnace for annealing, and then the temperature of the semi-finished product is gradually lowered while being held in the furnace to cool to room temperature and taken out from the furnace. In the completed ultrasonic probe 26 taken out, residual stress generated by molding and processing is removed. In the small diameter portion 42, the metal structure is modified from α + granular β to α + spherical β, and tensile strength and Young's modulus are increased. When the product surface is black or brown, the metallic luster may be recovered on the product surface by pickling, blast shot or the like.

  As described above, in the method of manufacturing the ultrasonic probe 26 according to the present embodiment, the small-diameter portion 42 and the lining groove 48 of the ultrasonic probe 26 are formed by surface reduction molding by cold rotary swaging. It is possible to increase the material yield, increase the productivity, and reduce the defect rate. Further, it is possible to increase the surface hardness of the small diameter portion 42 and the lining groove 48 of the small diameter portion 42.

  Further, in the heating process, since the blank material 58 is heated by friction between the surface-reducing mold 52 and the blank material 58, the blank material 58 can be heated in a short time without causing undesirable modification to the blank material 58. In addition, heating is performed using the surface-reducing mold 52 of the cold rotary swaging device, so that the heating step and the surface-reforming step by cold rotary swaging are continuously performed. It is possible to simplify the process and shorten the manufacturing time.

  Further, by performing the polygonal column forming process and the bending forming process using a cold press, the bending portion 46 of the ultrasonic probe 26 can be precisely formed in a short time. In the octagonal column forming molds 61u and 61d used in the polygonal column forming step, the volume of the blank material 58 for forming the octagonal columnar portion 63 is set to be larger than the originally required volume, and the ridgeline of the octagonal columnar portion 63 is set. The portion 65 can be clearly formed, and cracks are prevented from occurring in the octagonal columnar portion 63 by letting the material escape to the gap 62 between the upper die 61u and the lower die 61d. It is possible. Further, the bending molds 64u and 64d used for bending molding are closed molds having no gap other than a molding space that does not generate burrs in the molded product, and the ridge line part 65 of the bending part preparation part 46j is smoothly smoothed. Since it can be finished, chamfering of the ridge line portion 65 is not necessary, and productivity can be further improved.

  In the embodiment described above, the surface reduction molding is performed by cold rotary swaging, but the surface reduction molding may be performed by spatula drawing, forward extrusion, or the like.

  In the ultrasonic probe 26 of the above-described embodiment, the outer diameter of the straight portion 44 is constant over the entire length in the axial direction between the tapered portion 40 and the bending portion 46, and the straight portion 44 is a lining. The shape has no step other than the groove 48. However, the outer diameter dimension of the straight portion 44 is appropriately changed with respect to the axial direction between the minimum outer diameter dimension of the tapered portion 40 and the outer diameter dimension of the most advanced lining groove 48, so that the straight portion 44. It is good also as a shape with a level | step difference other than the lining groove | channel 48. FIG.

  In the polygonal column forming step, the tip portion of the small diameter portion preparing portion 42j is formed in an octagonal column shape, but may be formed in another polygonal column shape such as a decagonal column shape.

The side view which shows the ultrasonic treatment tool of one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a top view showing an ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention. The schematic diagram which shows the cold rotary swaging apparatus used with the manufacturing method of one Embodiment of this invention. The side view which shows the preparatory process of one Embodiment of this invention. The cross-sectional view which shows the heating process of one Embodiment of this invention. The fragmentary longitudinal cross-section side view which shows the surface-reduction molding process of one Embodiment of this invention. The cross-sectional view which shows the area-reduction molding process of one Embodiment of this invention at the time of a start. The cross-sectional view which shows the surface-reduction molding process of one Embodiment of this invention in the middle of shaping | molding. The fragmentary longitudinal cross-section side view which shows the groove forming process of one Embodiment of this invention. The fragmentary longitudinal cross-section side view which shows the polygonal column shaping | molding process of one Embodiment of this invention. The cross-sectional view which shows the polygonal-column molding process of one Embodiment of this invention at the time of a start. The cross-sectional view which shows the polygonal-pillar formation process of one Embodiment of this invention at the time of completion | finish. The fragmentary longitudinal cross-section side view which shows the bending molding process of one Embodiment of this invention. The cross-sectional view which shows the bending molding process of one Embodiment of this invention at the time of a start. The cross-sectional view which shows the bending molding process of one Embodiment of this invention at the time of completion | finish. The side view which shows the cutting process of one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  36 ... large diameter portion, 42 ... small diameter portion, 48 ... groove portion (rising groove), 52 ... reduction surface mold for cold rotary swaging, 58 ... material (blank material), 60 ... groove molding die, 61u , 61d ... Cold pressing polygonal column forming mold, 62 ... Gap, 64u, 64d ... Cold pressing bending molding die.

Claims (7)

A preparation step of preparing a rod-shaped material formed of titanium material;
A surface-reduction molding step of performing area-reduction using at least one end side of the material using a surface-reduction molding die; and
After the preparation step, before the surface reduction molding step, a heating step of heating the material by friction between the surface reduction molding die and the material using the surface reduction molding die,
Comprising the ultrasonic treatment device and method of manufacturing the ultrasonic probe you wherein a. A preparation step of preparing a rod-shaped material formed of titanium material;
A surface-reduction molding step in which at least one end side of the material is surface-reformed by cold rotary swaging using a surface reduction molding die for cold rotary swaging,
After the preparatory step and before the surface-reduction molding step, the cold rotary swaging surface-reduction molding die is used to cause friction between the cold rotary swaging surface-reduction molding die and the material. A heating process for heating the material ;
Comprising the ultrasonic treatment device and method of manufacturing the ultrasonic probe you wherein a. After the surface reduction molding step, further comprising a bending molding step of bending one end portion of the material by cold pressing using a cold pressing bending molding die.
The manufacturing method of the ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic treatment apparatuses of Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. The cold pressing bending molding die is a closing die,
The manufacturing method of the ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic treatment apparatuses of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. After the surface-reduction molding step, further comprising a polygonal column forming step of forming one end portion of the material into a polygonal column shape by cold pressing using a polygonal column forming die for cold pressing,
The manufacturing method of the ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic treatment apparatuses of Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. The cold pressing polygonal column molding die is formed from a pair of dies, and a gap is formed between the pair of dies to release the material in the press molding.
The manufacturing method of the ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic treatment apparatuses of Claim 5 characterized by the above-mentioned. After the surface-reduction molding step, at least one end side of the material further comprises a groove forming step of forming a groove by surface-reduction molding using a groove molding die.
The manufacturing method of the ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic treatment apparatuses of Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.

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