JP2008142329A - Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic probe capable of reducing the size and weight of a power generating part, and to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including the ultrasonic probe. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic probe includes: an ultrasonic vibrator unit 31 having a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators arrayed in a first direction; a support mechanism 32 for supporting the ultrasonic vibrator unit 31 in a second direction different from the first direction, so as to be substantially linearly movable; and the power generating part 33 for generating power for moving the ultrasonic vibrator unit 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe that mechanically moves an ultrasonic transducer and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that includes the ultrasonic transducer.

  For three-dimensional scanning, an ultrasonic transducer unit including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a row by rotating a rotary shaft of a power generation unit (motor) is moved along a direction different from the arrangement direction. There is an ultrasonic probe having a mechanism that supports it so as to be swingable, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus equipped with this ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic probe having the mechanism can support the ultrasonic transducer unit in a swingable manner by including an arm connecting the rotation shaft of the power generation unit and the ultrasonic transducer unit.

  When using an ultrasound probe for diagnosis of convex parts such as the mammary gland, the radius of curvature of the contact surface of the ultrasound probe is set to ensure the adhesion between the contact surface of the ultrasound probe and the living body. It is desirable to make it as large as possible and make the contact surface of the ultrasonic probe as flat as possible. In order to achieve this object, it is necessary to increase the length of the arm in an ultrasonic probe having a mechanism that supports the ultrasonic transducer unit in a swingable manner. However, there is a problem that when the length of the arm is increased, the size of the ultrasonic probe increases.

  Further, in order to obtain a highly accurate ultrasonic diagnostic image, it is desirable that the moving speed of the ultrasonic transducer unit be as constant as possible. However, when the ultrasonic transducer unit reaches near one end of the swing range, it is necessary to decelerate and stop the ultrasonic transducer unit by the power generation unit and accelerate it in the reverse direction. When accelerating the ultrasonic transducer unit that is separated from the rotation axis of the power generation unit by a certain distance, the greater the moment of inertia that depends on the square of this distance, the more difficult the power generation unit accelerates the ultrasonic transducer unit. That is, when the ultrasonic transducer unit is accelerated, the longer the arm length, the larger the torque required for the power generation unit. As a result, the power generation unit is required to generate a large current and increase its size.

Applying a large current to the power generation unit causes the ultrasonic probe to generate heat excessively. Therefore, the ultrasonic transmission intensity is suppressed in order to suppress the temperature of the ultrasonic probe within the regulation value, which leads to a decrease in ultrasonic reception sensitivity. Moreover, if the size of the power generation unit is increased, the size of the ultrasonic probe must be increased. As a result, the weight of the ultrasonic probe increases, and the load when the user operates the ultrasonic probe increases.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-184532

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe capable of reducing the size and weight of a power generation unit and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including the ultrasonic probe.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the first aspect, the present invention provides an ultrasonic transducer unit having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a first direction; A support mechanism that supports the movable body substantially linearly along a second direction different from the direction, and a power generation unit that generates power for moving the ultrasonic transducer unit.

  In the second aspect of the present invention, an ultrasonic probe and a power control unit that controls the power generation unit are provided, and the ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of ultrasonic waves arranged in a first direction. An ultrasonic vibrator unit having a vibrator; a support mechanism for supporting the ultrasonic vibrator unit so as to be substantially linearly movable along a second direction different from the first direction; and the ultrasonic vibrator. And a power generation unit that generates power for moving the unit.

  According to the present invention, the power generation unit can be reduced in size and weight.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 includes an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 10 and an ultrasonic probe 30.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 10 includes an ultrasonic transmission unit 11, an ultrasonic reception unit 12, a B-mode processing unit 13, a Doppler processing unit 14, a scan converter 15, an image synthesis unit 16, a monitor 17, a storage unit 18, and a system control unit. 19, an input unit 20, and a power control unit 21.

  The ultrasound probe 30 is connected to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body 10 and includes an ultrasound transducer unit 31, a support mechanism 32, a power generation unit 33, an angle signal generation unit 34, and a reference signal generation unit 35. Hereinafter, the function of each component will be described.

  The ultrasonic transmission unit 11 includes a trigger generation circuit, a delay circuit, a pulsar circuit, and the like (not shown). In the pulsar circuit, a rate pulse for forming a transmission ultrasonic wave is repeatedly generated at a predetermined rate frequency fr Hz (period: 1 / fr second). In the delay circuit, each rate pulse is given a delay time necessary for focusing the ultrasonic wave into a beam and determining the transmission directivity for each channel. The trigger generation circuit applies an ultrasonic drive pulse to the ultrasonic transducer 31 at a timing based on this rate pulse, and generates an ultrasonic wave.

  The ultrasonic receiving unit 12 includes an amplifier circuit, an A / D converter, an adder and the like which are not shown. In the amplifier circuit, an ultrasonic signal (echo signal) obtained based on the reflected wave from the subject is amplified for each channel. The A / D converter provides a delay time necessary for determining the reception directivity for the amplified echo signal. Thereafter, the adder performs addition processing on the echo signal given the delay time. The added echo signal is supplied to the B-mode processing unit 13 and the Doppler processing unit 14.

  The B-mode processing unit 13 receives the echo signal from the ultrasonic receiving unit 12 and performs logarithmic amplification, envelope detection processing, and the like, and generates luminance data in which the signal intensity is expressed by luminance. The B mode processing unit 13 supplies the luminance data to the scan converter 15. The supplied luminance data is displayed on the monitor 18 as a B-mode image representing the intensity of the echo signal in luminance.

  The Doppler processing unit 14 receives the supply of the echo signal from the ultrasound receiving unit 12 and calculates the Doppler signal such as a blood flow due to the Doppler effect by performing frequency analysis of the echo signal. Based on a Doppler signal such as blood flow, the Doppler processing unit 14 calculates data such as blood flow information represented by an average velocity such as blood flow, velocity dispersion, power of the Doppler signal, and the like at a number of points. The Doppler processing unit 24 transmits data such as the calculated blood flow information to the scan converter 15. The transmitted data such as blood flow information is displayed in color on the monitor 18 as an average velocity image, a dispersion image, a power image, and a combination image thereof.

  The scan converter 15 converts an ultrasonic scan scan line signal sequence of received data such as luminance data and blood flow information into a scan line signal sequence of a general video format such as a television, generates a video signal, and performs image synthesis Transmit to unit 16.

  The image synthesis unit 16 receives a video signal from the scan converter 15 and the storage unit 18, synthesizes the video signal and character information and scales of various parameters, and outputs the synthesized video signal to the monitor 17.

  The monitor 17 displays in-vivo morphological information and blood flow information as an image based on the video signal from the image synthesis unit 16.

  The input unit 20 has various switches, buttons, a trackball, a mouse, a keyboard, and the like for incorporating an instruction from the operator, for example, stop of scanning, into the ultrasonic vibration device main body 10.

  The storage unit 18 stores a control program for executing image generation and display processing, various image data groups, and the like.

  The system control unit 19 has a function as an information processing apparatus (computer) and controls the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 10. The system control unit 19 reads out a control program for executing image generation / display and the like from the storage unit 18 and develops it on its own memory, and executes calculations / controls and the like regarding various processes.

  The ultrasonic transducer unit 31 includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a line and transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves, an acoustic lens, an acoustic matching layer, and a backing material. The array direction of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers is defined as an array direction (d1).

  The support mechanism 32 supports the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 so as to be linearly movable along a direction (linear movement direction (d2)) intersecting the array direction (d1). Details of the support mechanism 32 will be described later.

  The power generation unit (motor) 33 is supplied with drive pulses (hereinafter referred to as drive signals) from the power control unit 21 to be described later, and rotates at a speed and direction according to the repetition frequency of the pulses of the drive signals. The support mechanism 32 is operated.

  The angle signal generator 34 is an optical or magnetic encoder, and the rotation shaft of the power generator 33 is attached to the slit plate of the encoder. The angle signal generation unit 34 generates a pulse signal (hereinafter referred to as an angle signal) for detecting the rotation angle of the rotation shaft of the power generation unit 33 every time the rotation shaft of the power generation unit 33 rotates by a certain angle. The rotation angle of the rotation shaft corresponds to the position of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31. The generated angle signal is transmitted to the power control unit 21 through a signal line.

  The reference signal generator 35 is attached to the support mechanism 32 and generates a pulse signal (hereinafter referred to as a reference signal) every time the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 passes the reference position R. The reference position R is a reference position for linear movement of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31. The generated reference signal is transmitted to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 10 through a signal line.

  The power control unit 21 receives the angle signal and the reference signal from the angle signal generation unit 34 and the reference signal generation unit 35. The power control unit 21 is based on the angle signal, the reference signal, a predetermined moving range of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31, and the rotational speed of the power generating unit 33 (moving speed of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31). A drive signal for rotating 33 at an appropriate rotation speed is generated and supplied to the power generation unit 33.

  Hereinafter, the structure of the ultrasound probe 30 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the Z axis is defined in the array direction (d1) of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31, the X axis is defined in the linear movement direction (d2) of the ultrasonic vibration unit 31, and the Y axis is defined perpendicular to the XZ plane.

  The support mechanism 32 is a mechanism for supporting the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 so as to be capable of reciprocating linear movement along the linear movement direction (X axis), and includes a ball screw 43, a guide rail 44a, a guide rail 44b, and a movable member ( Slider) 45, support member 46a, and support member 46b. Both ends of the ball screw 43 are rotatably supported by the support member 46a and the support member 46b, and are rotated by the rotation of the rotation shaft of the power generation unit 33. In addition, a guide rail 44 a and a guide rail 44 b are installed on the support member 46 a and the support member 46 b at positions parallel to the axis of the ball screw 43. Here, it is assumed that the ball screw 43, the guide rail 44a, and the guide rail 44b are installed in parallel to the linear movement direction (d2). The screw hole of the movable member 45 is screwed into the ball screw 43, and the movable member 45 moves linearly along the guide rail 44a and the guide rail 44b without rotating around the screw axis as the ball screw 43 rotates. (X axis).

  An ultrasonic transducer unit 31 is attached to one end of the movable member 45 as shown in FIG. More specifically, the center line (MK) in the X-axis direction of the movable member 45 and the center line (MT) in the X-axis direction of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 are shifted by a distance L. Furthermore, when the movement range of the center line (MK) of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 is X1 to X2, the distance L1 between the position X1 and the housing 47 and the distance L2 between the position X2 and the housing 47 are the distance L. The distance L1 and the distance L2 are made to coincide with each other. The ultrasonic transducer unit 31 is connected to a signal line for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic transducer unit 31 linearly moves (X axis) together with the movable member 45 along with the rotation of the rotation shaft of the power generation unit 33 and ultrasonic waves. Are transmitted and received along the Y-axis direction. At this time, since the distance L1 and the distance L2 coincide with each other, it is easy to obtain volume data of the examination site at a desired position. The signal line is sufficiently plastic so as not to hinder the linear motion of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 and is bent.

  The angle signal generation unit 34 installed in the power generation unit 33 transmits the generated angle signal to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 10 through a signal line. Further, a reference signal generator 35 is installed in a portion of the movable member 45 and the guide rail 44a or guide rail 44b that is not shown in FIG. 2, and the reference signal generated by the reference signal generator 35 is transmitted through the signal line. It is transmitted to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 10.

  The casing 47 covers the ultrasonic transducer unit 31, the support mechanism 32, the power generation unit 33, the angle signal generation unit 34, and the reference signal generation unit 35. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic probe 30 in FIG. 2 in the X direction. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the contact surface 47a of the housing 47 with the subject is ultrasonic waves. The transducer unit 31 is formed in a plane parallel to the array direction (d1) and the linear movement direction (d2).

  A space 48 in which the ultrasonic probe unit 31 moves is filled with oil so as not to attenuate the ultrasonic waves in the ultrasonic probe 30.

  Hereinafter, the structure of the reference signal generator 35 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the reference signal generator 35 is an optical sensor composed of a light source 51 and a light receiving element 52. The light source 51 is installed on the side surface of the guide rail 44a on the ball screw 43 side, and the light receiving element 52 is installed on the light source 51 side of the movable member 45. The position O where the light source 51 is installed corresponds to the place where the light receiving element 52 is located when the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 is located at the reference position R. As the position of the reference position R, for example, the turning point (X1, X2) of the reciprocating movement shown in FIG. 2 or the intermediate point (XM) of the moving range can be considered. There may be one or two reference positions R, and the position and number of the reference positions R and the position and number of the reference signal generator 35 are the same. When the light receiving element 52 of the movable member 45 reaches the reference position R, the light receiving element 52 detects the light from the light source 51 and generates a reference signal. The light receiving element 52 may be installed on the guide rail 44b instead of the guide rail 44a. The light receiving element 52 may be installed on the movable member 45, and the light source 51 may be installed on the guide rail 44a or the guide rail 44b. Further, the reference signal generator 35 may be a magnetic sensor instead of an optical sensor composed of the light source 51 and the light receiving element 52.

  Next, the movement control of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 will be described. Based on the movement range of the center line (MK) of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31, the power control unit 21 supplies a drive signal to the power generation unit 33, thereby rotating the rotational speed of the power generation unit 33, that is, ultrasonic vibration. The moving speed of the child unit 31 is controlled. It is assumed that the moving range of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 is a range from the position X1 to the position X2. The power control unit 21 performs control so that the constant velocity moving region of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 becomes long in order to obtain an accurate ultrasonic diagnostic image.

  FIG. 5 shows the velocity of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 that is changed by the control of the power control unit 21, where the vertical axis represents the velocity V of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 and the horizontal axis represents the position X of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31. It is a figure. First, the reciprocating linear motion of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 will be described on the assumption that the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 is moved by a linear function speed change as indicated by a solid line F1. Now, it is assumed that the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 is instantaneously stopped at one end (X1) of the movement range. At the next moment, the power control unit 21 controls the rotation of the power generation unit 33 to move the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 in the reverse direction to a predetermined speed (Vc) determined in advance at a predetermined position (Xi). Accelerate at equal acceleration. When the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 reaches a predetermined speed (Vc), the power control unit 21 moves the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 from the position (Xi) to a predetermined position (Xj) near the other end of the moving range. Move at speed Vc. When the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 moves to the position (Xj), the power control unit 21 decelerates the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 from the position (Xi) to near the other end (Xj) of the moving range at a constant acceleration, Stop at position (X2). When stopped, the power control unit 21 again accelerates the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 in the reverse direction. Thereafter, the power control unit 21 repeatedly performs the same control on the power generation unit 33 until the stop signal is supplied from the system control unit 19.

  As indicated by the solid line F <b> 1, when the power control unit 21 switches the acceleration motion of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 to the uniform velocity, vibration due to a rapid change in speed is transmitted to the ultrasonic transducer unit 31. Therefore, instead of controlling the speed of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 in a linear function like the solid line F1, it is controlled in a cubic function like a two-dot chain line F2 or a cubic function like the two-dot chain line F2. By doing so, a rapid change in speed can be pushed. In this way, by suppressing a rapid change in speed, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 can obtain a more accurate ultrasonic diagnostic image.

  According to the configuration described above, the shape of the contact surface of the ultrasonic probe 30 is provided by the ultrasonic probe 30 having the support mechanism 32 that linearly moves the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 instead of the conventional oscillation. Can be flat. As a result, the adhesion between the contact surface 47a of the ultrasonic probe 30 and the subject is improved. The moment of inertia between the ball screw 43 and the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 is much higher than the moment of inertia between the rotating shaft of the power generation unit and the ultrasonic transducer unit in the conventional ultrasonic probe having a long arm. small. Therefore, the torque of the power generation part of the ultrasonic probe 30 in this embodiment is smaller than that of the conventional one. As a result, the power generation unit can be reduced in size and weight, and the ultrasonic probe 30 can be reduced in size and weight accordingly. In addition, the operability of the ultrasonic probe 30 is improved.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

The figure which shows the structure of the ultrasound probe 30 and the ultrasound diagnosing device 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the ultrasonic probe 30 of FIG. Sectional drawing in the X-axis direction of the ultrasonic probe 30 of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. The speed of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 that is changed by the control of the power control unit 21 in FIG. 1 is represented by the velocity V of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 on the vertical axis and the position X of the ultrasonic transducer unit 31 on the horizontal axis. The figure shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, 10 ... Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, 11 ... Ultrasonic transmission part, 12 ... Ultrasonic reception part, 13 ... B mode processing part, 14 ... Doppler processing part, 15 ... Scan converter, 16 ... Image Synthesis unit, 17 ... monitor, 18 ... storage unit, 19 ... system control unit, 20 ... input unit, 21 ... power control unit, 30 ... ultrasonic wave probe, 31 ... ultrasonic transducer unit, 32 ... support mechanism , 33: Power generation unit, 34: Angle signal generation unit, 35: Reference signal generation unit, 43: Ball screw, 44a and 44b ... Guide rail, 45 ... Movable members (sliders), 46a and 46b ... Support members, 47 ... Housing, 47a ... contact surface, 48 ... oil, 51 ... light source, 52 ... light receiving element.

Claims (6)

An ultrasonic transducer unit having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a first direction;
A support mechanism for supporting the ultrasonic transducer unit so as to be substantially linearly movable along a second direction different from the first direction;
An ultrasonic probe comprising: a power generation unit that generates power for moving the ultrasonic transducer unit. The power generation unit is a motor,
The support mechanism is
A ball screw disposed along the axis in the second direction and rotated by the motor;
A movable member having a screw hole screwed into the ball screw, to which the ultrasonic transducer unit is attached;
A guide rail for guiding the slider and the ultrasonic transducer unit so as to be linearly movable along the second direction;
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, comprising: The power generation unit is a motor,
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, further comprising an angle signal generator that generates a pulse signal each time the rotation shaft of the motor rotates by a certain angle.   The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, further comprising a reference signal generation unit that generates a pulse signal each time the ultrasonic transducer unit passes through a reference position. A housing that houses the ultrasonic transducer unit, the support mechanism, and the power generation unit;
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the casing has a contact surface with a subject having a substantially parallel planar shape. An ultrasound probe,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a power control unit that controls the power generation unit,
The ultrasonic probe is
An ultrasonic transducer unit having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a first direction;
A support mechanism for supporting the ultrasonic transducer unit so as to be substantially linearly movable along a second direction different from the first direction;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a power generation unit that generates power for moving the ultrasonic transducer unit.

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