Spherical joint, spherical joint assembly, and ultrasonic imaging device

A spherical joint assembly, comprising:

• a spherical joint, comprising:
• a body portion, the body portion comprising a ball portion and a joint portion, the ball portion and the joint portion having an inner surface that links the two portions together in an axial direction and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, the outer surface of the ball portion comprising a spherical surface, the body portion further comprising a first section and a second section, each of the first section and the second section intersecting with the inner surface and the outer surface such that the two sections together define a gap, and the size of the gap on any radial circumference of the spherical surface being less than half of the length of the radial circumference;
• and
• a blocking portion detachably connected to the body portion and shaped to match the gap, so that the blocking portion blocks the gap to form a hollow spherical joint structure;
• and
• a housing, comprising a first end and a second end arranged opposite to each other, the first end comprising a circular arc-shaped inner cavity and an opening, the inner cavity being shaped to match the ball portion of the spherical joint, and the opening being sized to be less than an outer diameter of the ball portion and to allow passage of the joint portion.

An ultrasonic imaging device, comprising:

• a scanning assembly, comprising an ultrasonic transducer;
• an adjustable arm;
• a main device, connected to one end of the adjustable arm;
• and
• a spherical joint assembly, comprising:
• a spherical joint, the spherical joint comprising a body portion and a blocking portion, the body portion comprising a ball portion and a joint portion, the ball portion and the joint portion having an inner surface that links the two portions together in an axial direction and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, the outer surface of the ball portion comprising a spherical surface, the body portion further comprising a first section and a second section, each of the first section and the second section intersecting with the inner surface and the outer surface such that the two sections together define a gap, the size of the gap on any radial circumference of the spherical surface being less than half of the length of the radial circumference, and the blocking portion being detachably connected to the body portion and shaped to match the gap, so that the blocking portion blocks the gap to form a hollow spherical joint structure;
• and
• a housing, comprising a first end and a second end arranged opposite to each other, the first end comprising a circular arc-shaped inner cavity and an opening, the inner cavity being shaped to match the ball portion of the spherical joint, and the opening being sized to be less than an outer diameter of the ball portion and to allow passage of the joint portion, wherein the joint portion of the spherical joint is connected to the scanning assembly, and the second end of the housing is connected to the other end of the adjustable arm.