JP2706104B2 - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe used for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for obtaining information on the inside of a body cavity and the like.

[Conventional technology]

For example, when diagnosing the inside of a blood vessel, it is performed using a miniature ultrasonic probe.In this case, an ultrasonic probe provided on a catheter is inserted into the blood vessel, an ultrasonic vibrator is excited, and an ultrasonic beam is applied to the blood vessel. This is emitted to the inner wall, and the reflected wave is received to obtain intravascular information.

In this case, there is an A mode as an ultrasonic beam reflection method, in which an ultrasonic transducer is set, an ultrasonic beam is emitted, and a reflected wave is received by the ultrasonic transducer. The intensity of the reflected wave that returns one after another is displayed as an amplitude on an oscilloscope or the like to determine arteriosclerosis or the like.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, it is difficult for a conventional A-mode ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to find various lesions in a blood vessel.

For this purpose, B-mode diagnosis is performed, that is, an ultrasonic beam is emitted from the ultrasonic transducer, the reflected wave is detected by the same ultrasonic transducer, and the intensity of the reflected wave is displayed on a CRT or the like using the intensity modulation to display the position of the reflected wave. I do. Next, the ultrasonic transducer is moved, and the ultrasonic beam is emitted again. Receives the reflected wave and displays its position on another scan line of the CRT. There is a demand for a diagnosis to obtain a tomographic image by repeating such operations.

As an apparatus for performing the B-mode diagnosis, for example, an ultrasonic vibrator as described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 53-28306 is provided at the tip of a flexible shaft, and is mechanically operated by rotating via a rotary cylinder. And JP-A-53-85
There is an electronic scanning system which electronically scans by giving a delay time to each of a plurality of transducer elements as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 982.

However, in the former mechanical scanning method, a flexible shaft must be provided, which results in an increase in the diameter of the insertion portion. Therefore, it is not suitable for a miniature ultrasonic probe to be inserted into a thin duct such as a blood vessel. In addition, there is a disadvantage that a large drive unit must be provided on the hand side to drive the long flexible shaft.

On the other hand, in the latter electronic scanning method, lead wires must be connected together with a plurality of transducer elements, and the diameter of the insertion portion becomes large due to an increase in the number of lead wires. In addition, there is a problem that the tip of the insertion portion becomes large.

These inconveniences cause a problem that the subject suffers more pain and that it is not easy to insert the ultrasonic probe into the body cavity. In addition, there is a problem that complication of the configuration of the ultrasonic probe cannot be avoided.

The present invention is proposed to solve these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe having a simple configuration and a small insertion portion diameter.

[Means and actions for solving the problem]

The present invention provides an ultrasonic probe that scans a subject by emitting an ultrasonic beam by an ultrasonic transducer provided therein to achieve the above object, wherein the ultrasonic probe is rotatable by fluid motion in a tip cap having a fluid port. A rotating body, means for continuously changing the scanning direction of the ultrasonic transducer provided near the rotating body as the rotating body rotates, and means for detecting the scanning direction of the ultrasonic transducer are provided.

As described above, by using the fluid, the rotating blade provided in the tip of the ultrasonic probe is turned, and the scanning direction of the ultrasonic beam is changed to perform the ultrasonic scanning.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an ultrasonic probe in which an ultrasonic transducer 1 and the like are provided at the distal end of a catheter 10.

Rotating blades 6 are connected to the rear of the ultrasonic vibrator 1 provided in the cap 4 and are respectively attached to the rotating shafts 5. The rotating shaft 5 includes a cap tip 4 c and a cap rear end. Bearings 2a, 2b with the tip member 3 provided in the
Is held through.

A rotary transformer 7 for signal transmission is provided adjacent to an end 5a of the rotating shaft 5 on the side of the catheter 10, and the ultrasonic transducer 1
Is transmitted to the transmission / reception line 8 connected to the rotary transformer 7. The rotary transformer 7 incorporates a rotation position detection unit, and transmits a rotation position signal of the ultrasonic transducer 1 to the signal line 9. The transmission / reception line 8 and the signal line 9 pass through the inside of the catheter 10 and are connected to an observation device (not shown).

Openings are formed in the cap 4 and the cap tip 4c so that the blood flow in the blood vessel can be taken in. In this embodiment, four substantially elliptical openings 4a are formed on the outer periphery of the cap tip 4c except for the center, and a rectangular opening 4b is formed on the outer periphery of the rear end of the cap 4.

With this configuration, a signal is first sent through the transmission / reception line 8 to excite the ultrasonic vibrator 1 for ultrasonic scanning. Then, the ultrasonic beam passes through the cap 4 and is emitted. The reflected wave from the subject is detected by the ultrasonic vibrator 1 and sent via the transmission / reception line 8.

FIG. 2 shows a state when an ultrasonic probe is inserted into a blood vessel. As the ultrasonic probe is inserted, the blood flowing around the tip of the cap as shown by the white arrow
The liquid flows into the cap from the opening 4a of the cap 4c and flows out from the opening 4b of the cap 4. Due to this blood flow, the rotating blade 6
Rotate in the direction of arrow A about the rotation shaft 5 as the axis. When the ultrasonic probe is pulled back, blood flows in from the opening 4b of the cap 4 and flows out from the opening 4a of the tip 4c of the cap as shown by a black arrow. And rotating blade 6
Rotates in the direction of arrow B.

In this way, the rotation of the rotary blade 6 causes the ultrasonic vibrator 1 attached to the rotary shaft 5 to rotate integrally, so that the ultrasonic beam can be emitted over substantially the entire outer peripheral direction of the cap 4. Since no driving source is used for driving the rotating blades 6 in this way, the configuration is extremely simple.

Since the rotary shaft end 5a and the rotary transformer 7 are electrically connected to each other, even when the rotary shaft 5 rotates, signals are transmitted and received between the ultrasonic vibrator 1 and the transmission / reception signal line 8 and transmitted to and received from the signal line 9. There is no hindrance to signal transmission.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
Parts corresponding to the embodiments are given the same reference numerals (the same applies to the following embodiments).

In the present embodiment, the space where the rotary blade 6 is provided and the space where the ultrasonic vibrator 1 is provided are separated. The rotary blade 6 is provided in a space on the distal end side of the ultrasonic probe, and openings 4b and 4a are formed in the cap 4 and the cap distal end 4c, respectively, so as to rotate by the blood flow.

The ultrasonic transducer 1 is provided in a space connected to the space on the tip side of the ultrasonic probe, and the space is filled with an ultrasonic transmission medium liquid 11 such as paraffin, castor oil, etc., so that transmission and reception of the ultrasonic beam is good. I have to.

Bearings 2b and 2a are provided on the partition wall between the space in which the rotating blades 6 are provided and the space in which the ultrasonic vibrator 1 is provided, and the tip member 3 connected to the rear end of the latter space, respectively.
The rotary shaft 5 for the ultrasonic transducer 1 is held. Reference numeral 7 denotes a rotary transformer, and reference numeral 13 denotes a rotation position detection unit.

With this configuration, it is possible to rotate the ultrasonic vibrator 1 and perform ultrasonic scanning without using a driving source, as in the first embodiment, but the rotating blades 6 move the course of blood flow around. Since there is no obstacle, more efficient rotation can be realized. The sound field around the ultrasonic vibrator 1 can be stabilized by the ultrasonic transmission medium 11.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the ultrasonic vibrator 1 is kept stationary without rotating, and the ultrasonic vibrator 1 is superposed by a mirror 12 provided opposite to the ultrasonic beam transmission direction. The sound beam is deflected and emitted outside the ultrasonic probe.

The ultrasonic vibrator 1 is fixed to the distal end member 3 and connected to a transmission / reception line 8. The rotating blades 6 are provided in the space on the tip side of the ultrasonic probe as in the second embodiment, the mirror 12 is provided in a space continuously provided via a partition, and the rotating shaft 5 is mounted on a bearing 2a provided in the partition. I keep it. Reference numeral 13 denotes a rotation detection unit for detecting the rotation position of the mirror 12, and the detected signal is sent to the signal line 9.

The mirror 12 is rotated by the rotation of the rotary blade 6, and the ultrasonic beam is emitted and scanned on a plane perpendicular to the ultrasonic probe insertion axis. In this embodiment, since the ultrasonic transducer 1 is not rotated, there is no need to provide a signal transmission mechanism by rotation of a rotary transformer or the like. In addition, since the lightened mirror is rotated, the rotational force of the rotating blade can be effectively utilized.

In the above embodiment, the rotating blades are rotated by the blood flow in the blood vessel. However, in a state where the blood flow is extremely weak or hardly present, the inserted ultrasonic probe is reciprocated in the insertion direction to thereby cause the blood vessel to rotate. What is necessary is just to generate a blood flow inside and rotate it. Alternatively, a physiological saline solution may be caused to flow in the blood vessel to rotate the blood vessel.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the ultrasonic vibrator can be rotated by the rotating blade that rotates using the blood flow around the ultrasonic probe. Therefore, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic probe that can simplify the configuration and reduce the diameter.

[Brief description of the drawings]

 FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the same use state, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic vibrator, 4 ... Cap 4a, 4b ... Opening, 5 ... Rotating shaft 6 ... Rotating blade 7 ... Rotary transformer (including rotation position detecting unit)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ultrasonic probe for scanning an object by emitting an ultrasonic beam by an ultrasonic transducer provided therein, comprising: a rotating body rotatable by fluid motion in a tip cap having a fluid inlet / outlet; An ultrasonic probe comprising: means for continuously changing a scanning direction by an ultrasonic transducer provided near a rotating body with rotation of a body; and means for detecting a scanning direction by an ultrasonic transducer.