JPH0229929Y2 - - Google Patents
Info
- Publication number
- JPH0229929Y2 JPH0229929Y2 JP1984095248U JP9524884U JPH0229929Y2 JP H0229929 Y2 JPH0229929 Y2 JP H0229929Y2 JP 1984095248 U JP1984095248 U JP 1984095248U JP 9524884 U JP9524884 U JP 9524884U JP H0229929 Y2 JPH0229929 Y2 JP H0229929Y2
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- subject
- water bag
- ultrasonic probe
- ultrasonic
- acoustic lens
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 36
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 claims description 35
- 239000012780 transparent material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000001902 propagating effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000002604 ultrasonography Methods 0.000 description 10
- 239000011358 absorbing material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000003745 diagnosis Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 4
- 244000043261 Hevea brasiliensis Species 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000015110 jellies Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000008274 jelly Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003052 natural elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920001194 natural rubber Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920002379 silicone rubber Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004945 silicone rubber Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
Description
【考案の詳細な説明】
〔産業上の利用分野〕
本考案は超音波探触子に係り、特に被検体の診
断部位の体表面の凹凸の曲率が大きい部位への使
用に適した水袋を備えた超音波探触子に関するも
のである。[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe, and particularly provides a water bag suitable for use in the diagnosis area of a subject, where the unevenness of the body surface has a large curvature. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe equipped with an ultrasonic probe.
超音波を情報キヤリアとして被検体の内部を検
査する超音波診断装置において、超音波を被検体
内へ伝播させるためには、超音波探触子の超音波
放射面を被検体の体表面へ密着させる必要があ
る。そのために、探触子の超音波放射面と被検体
表面との間に、若し空気層が生ずる懸念がある場
合には、探触子の超音波放射面と被検体表面との
間に、超音波診断用ゼリーや脱気水を封入した水
袋を介在させることが行われる。
In an ultrasound diagnostic device that examines the inside of a subject using ultrasound as an information carrier, in order to propagate the ultrasound into the subject, the ultrasound probe's ultrasound emitting surface must be brought into close contact with the body surface of the subject. It is necessary to do so. Therefore, if there is a concern that an air layer may be formed between the ultrasonic wave emitting surface of the probe and the surface of the object to be examined, A water bag filled with ultrasonic diagnostic jelly or deaerated water is used.
上記したように、探触子の超音波放射面と被検
体表面との間に超音波診断用ゼリーや水袋を介在
させるにしても、被検体表面の凹凸の曲率が大き
い場合には、探触子の超音波放射面と被検体表面
との間に空気層が出来てしまうものであつた。例
えば、水袋を使用した場合の従来例を第４図に示
しているが、被検体１０の診断部位が凸状となつ
ており、その曲率が大きいと、探触子２０の超音
波放射面と被検体１０の体表面との間に設けた水
袋３０が、探触子２０の超音波放射面の一部の領
域に対応した部位のみで被検体１０と密着するこ
ととなり、探触子２０の超音波放射面の前方に
て、水袋３０と被検体１０とが密着しない部分が
生ずる。この場合、破線で示した領域外では、水
袋３０内の音響伝播媒体の音響インピーダンスZ1
と空気の音響インピーダンスZ2とがかけ離された
値であるため、前記破線間の領域外に放射された
超音波は図に示すように全反射を起こすこととな
る。
As mentioned above, even if a jelly for ultrasound diagnosis or a water bag is interposed between the ultrasonic emission surface of the probe and the surface of the subject, if the curvature of the irregularities on the subject's surface is large, the An air layer was created between the ultrasonic wave emitting surface of the probe and the surface of the subject. For example, a conventional example in which a water bag is used is shown in FIG. The water bag 30 provided between the body surface of the subject 10 and the body surface of the subject 10 comes into close contact with the subject 10 only at a portion corresponding to a part of the ultrasonic emission surface of the probe 20. In front of the ultrasonic wave emission surface 20, there is a portion where the water bag 30 and the subject 10 do not come into close contact with each other. In this case, outside the area indicated by the broken line, the acoustic impedance Z 1 of the acoustic propagation medium inside the water bag 30
Since the acoustic impedance Z 2 of the air and the acoustic impedance Z 2 of the air are far apart from each other, the ultrasonic waves radiated outside the region between the broken lines undergo total internal reflection as shown in the figure.
第５図は第４図のような探触子と水袋と被検体
との接触状態での超音波断層像表示の例を示して
いるが、上記破線間の領域外の全反射のエコー信
号が断層像ｅ内にアーチフアクト（虚像）ｂとし
て表示されるものであつた。このアーチフアクト
ｂは医師の診断の妨げとなる惧れがあつた。な
お、第５図においてａで示す部分は、前記全反射
により被検体の断層像が表示されない部分であ
る。 FIG. 5 shows an example of an ultrasound tomographic image displayed in a state where the probe, water bag, and subject are in contact as shown in FIG. was displayed as an artifact (virtual image) b in the tomographic image e. There was a fear that this artifact b would interfere with a doctor's diagnosis. Note that the portion indicated by a in FIG. 5 is a portion where a tomographic image of the subject is not displayed due to the total internal reflection.
本考案は、被検体の体表面の凹凸の曲率が大き
い部位の診断に際し、良好な超音波画像を得るこ
とができる水袋付き超音波探触子を提供すること
を目的とする。 An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe with a water bladder that can obtain good ultrasonic images when diagnosing a region of a subject's body surface with large curvature.
上記目的は、配列振動子の前面側に音響レンズ
を有する超音波探触子と、この超音波探触子と被
検体との間に介在させられ、前記超音波探触子か
らの超音波を被検体内へ伝播する媒体を収容し、
被検体と当接する部分が柔軟な超音波透過性物質
で構成された水袋とを備えた超音波探触子におい
て、前記水袋の前記音響レンズと接触する取付部
の外形寸法が、被検体の診断部位の体表面の凹凸
の曲率に応じて、前記音響レンズの振動子配列方
向の長さより短く形成されることで達成される。
The above purpose is to provide an ultrasonic probe having an acoustic lens on the front side of an array transducer, and an ultrasonic probe that is interposed between this ultrasonic probe and a subject to transmit ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic probe. Contains a medium that propagates into the subject,
In an ultrasonic probe equipped with a water bag in which the portion that comes into contact with the subject is made of a flexible ultrasound-transparent material, the external dimensions of the mounting portion of the water bag that comes into contact with the acoustic lens are such that This is achieved by forming the acoustic lens shorter than the length of the acoustic lens in the transducer arrangement direction, depending on the curvature of the unevenness of the body surface of the diagnostic site.
前述のアーチフアクトは、水袋と被検体とが密
着せずに、それらの間に空気層ができてしまうこ
とによる。そこで上記の如く、水袋の取付部の外
形寸法を短くすると、第４図に示す破線間の領域
外の超音波の水袋部での全反射が生ずる部分はな
くなり、第１図に示すように水袋と被検体とが良
好に密着し、アーチフアクトが生じなくなる。
The aforementioned artifact is caused by the fact that the water bag and the subject do not come into close contact with each other, and an air layer is created between them. Therefore, as mentioned above, if the external dimensions of the water bag attachment part are shortened, there will be no part where total reflection of ultrasonic waves outside the area between the broken lines shown in Fig. 4 occurs at the water bag part, as shown in Fig. 1. The water bag and the subject are in good contact with each other, and no artifacts occur.
以下、本考案の実施例を第１図乃至第３図によ
り説明する。
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
第１図は本考案の第１の実施例を示している。
図において、１０は被検体で、この図では曲率の
大きい凸状部位を示している。また、２０は超音
波探触子、３１は超音波探触子２０の超音波放射
面側に取り付けられた超音波探触子用水袋で、水
袋３１内には図示を省略しているが、脱気水のよ
うな公知の超音波伝播媒体が封入されている。な
お、探触子２０は詳細な図示を省略しているが、
被検体１０へ当接する面へ、複数の超音波振動子
を短冊状に配列するとともに、その前面へマツチ
ング層、音響レンズを順次設け、それらを保持容
器へ組み込んだもので、従来より公知のものであ
る。 FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention.
In the figure, 10 is a subject, and this figure shows a convex portion with a large curvature. Further, 20 is an ultrasonic probe, and 31 is a water bag for the ultrasonic probe attached to the ultrasonic radiation surface side of the ultrasonic probe 20. Although the inside of the water bag 31 is not shown, , a conventional ultrasound propagation medium such as degassed water is enclosed. Although detailed illustration of the probe 20 is omitted,
A conventionally known method in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are arranged in a strip shape on the surface that contacts the subject 10, a matching layer and an acoustic lens are sequentially provided on the front surface, and these are assembled into a holding container. It is.
次に、本考案が特徴とする超音波探触子用水袋
について説明する。第１の実施例においては、第
１図に示すように、超音波探触子用水袋３１は超
音波探触子２０の超音波放射面、すなわち音響レ
ンズの前面に、超音波走査方向（振動子配列方向
と同一方向）に沿つて、音響レンズの長さよりも
短い寸法で取り付けられる。この取付寸法は、水
袋の大きさも含めて、被検者の診断部位の凹凸の
曲率との兼合いで適宜設定すれば良い。 Next, a water bag for an ultrasonic probe, which is a feature of the present invention, will be explained. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. The length of the acoustic lens is shorter than the length of the acoustic lens. The mounting dimensions, including the size of the water bag, may be appropriately set in consideration of the curvature of the unevenness of the diagnostic site of the subject.
このように、診断部位の凹凸の曲率に応じて、
音響レンズの長さよりも水袋の取付寸法を短くす
ることにより、水袋と診断部位との密着性が良く
なり、水袋のない診断部位以外へ放射された超音
波（第１図矢印ｃ）が診断部位の断層像内へアー
チフアクトとなつて現われることがなくなる。 In this way, depending on the curvature of the unevenness of the diagnosis site,
By making the mounting dimensions of the water bag shorter than the length of the acoustic lens, the adhesion between the water bag and the diagnostic site is improved, and the ultrasound waves are emitted to areas other than the diagnostic site where there is no water bag (arrow c in Figure 1). will no longer appear as artifacts in the tomographic image of the diagnostic site.
（第２図参照）
次に、第３図によつて本考案の第２の実施例を
説明する。この第２の実施例は、超音波探触子用
水袋３１の音響レンズとの接触部の両端（超音波
走査方向の両端）に、天然ゴム、シリコンゴム、
又は金属粉末を含む天然ゴム及びシリコンゴムな
どで成形した吸音材３２を設けたものである。こ
の吸音材３２は、音響レンズと水袋３１の超音波
走査方向に対する接触境界をなすものである。第
１図に示す第１の実施例では、操作者が手に持つ
た探触子２０が動いたり、探触子２０を被検体１
０へ押し当てる力が変化した場合は、表示画像の
領域が不安定となつたりするが、本実施例のよう
に吸音材３２を設けることにより、それが防止で
きる。(See FIG. 2) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this second embodiment, natural rubber, silicone rubber,
Alternatively, a sound absorbing material 32 formed of natural rubber, silicone rubber, or the like containing metal powder is provided. This sound absorbing material 32 forms a contact boundary between the acoustic lens and the water bag 31 in the ultrasonic scanning direction. In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the probe 20 held in the operator's hand may move or the probe 20 may
If the pressing force toward zero changes, the area of the displayed image may become unstable, but this can be prevented by providing the sound absorbing material 32 as in this embodiment.
なお、上記実施例では水袋に超音波伝播媒体を
封入した例を挙げて説明したが、音響レンズと水
袋の膜を接触させずに、音響レンズが直接、水袋
内の超音波伝播媒体である液体に浸されるように
水袋を取り付けても良いことは勿論である。ま
た、上記実施例では、探触子は図からも明らかな
ように、リニア走査型のものを用いた場合を示し
たが、それに限定されるものではない。 In addition, in the above embodiment, an example was explained in which the ultrasonic propagation medium was sealed in the water bag. Of course, a water bag may be attached so that it is immersed in a certain liquid. Further, in the above embodiment, as is clear from the drawings, a linear scanning type probe is used, but the probe is not limited thereto.
〔考案の効果〕
以上述べたように本考案によれば、被検体の診
断部位の凹凸の曲率が大きい場合にも、探触子の
超音波送波面に前方に設けた水袋と被検体との密
着性が良くなり、従来のように水袋と被検体との
間の空気層により生ずるアーチフアクトが低減で
きる。[Effects of the invention] As described above, according to the invention, even when the curvature of the unevenness of the diagnostic site of the subject is large, the water bag provided in front of the ultrasonic wave transmission surface of the probe and the subject can be connected to each other. The adhesion between the water bag and the subject is improved, and artifacts caused by the air layer between the water bag and the subject can be reduced.
第１図は本考案の第１の実施例による超音波探
触子用水袋の使用状態を示す図、第２図は第１図
に示す使用状態での表示画像を示す図、第３図は
本考案の第２の実施例による超音波探触子用水袋
の使用状態を示す図、第４図は従来技術による超
音波探触子用水袋の問題点を説明する使用状態
図、第５図は第４図の使用状態での表示画像を示
す図である。
１０……被検体、２０……超音波探触子、３
０，３１……超音波探触子用水袋、３２……吸音
材、ｂ……アーチフアクト、ｅ……断層像。
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the usage state of the water bag for an ultrasonic probe according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display image in the usage state shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the state of use of the water bag for an ultrasound probe according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display image in the usage state of FIG. 4. FIG. 10... Subject, 20... Ultrasonic probe, 3
0, 31... Water bag for ultrasonic probe, 32... Sound absorbing material, b... Artifact, e... Tomographic image.
Claims (1)
波探触子と、この超音波探触子と被検体との間に
介在させられ、前記超音波探触子からの超音波を
被検体内へ伝播する媒体を収容し、被検体と当接
する部分が柔軟な超音波透過性物質で構成された
水袋とを備えた超音波探触子において、前記水袋
の前記音響レンズと接触する取付部の外形寸法
が、被検体の診断部位の凹凸の曲率に応じて前記
音響レンズの振動子配列方向の長さより短く形成
されたことを特徴とする水袋付き超音波探触子。 An ultrasonic probe having an acoustic lens on the front side of an array transducer is interposed between the ultrasonic probe and the subject, and the ultrasonic probe from the ultrasonic probe enters the subject. In an ultrasonic probe equipped with a water bag that accommodates a propagating medium and a portion that comes into contact with a subject is made of a flexible ultrasound-transparent material, a mounting portion that comes into contact with the acoustic lens of the water bag. An ultrasonic probe with a water bladder, characterized in that the external dimensions of the acoustic lens are shorter than the length of the acoustic lens in the transducer arrangement direction, depending on the curvature of the unevenness of the diagnostic site of the subject.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP9524884U JPS6110712U (en) | 1984-06-27 | 1984-06-27 | Ultrasonic transducer with water bag |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP9524884U JPS6110712U (en) | 1984-06-27 | 1984-06-27 | Ultrasonic transducer with water bag |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPS6110712U JPS6110712U (en) | 1986-01-22 |
| JPH0229929Y2 true JPH0229929Y2 (en) | 1990-08-13 |
Family
ID=30654279
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP9524884U Granted JPS6110712U (en) | 1984-06-27 | 1984-06-27 | Ultrasonic transducer with water bag |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS6110712U (en) |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS57188248A (en) * | 1981-05-14 | 1982-11-19 | Terumo Corp | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
| JPS59111744A (en) * | 1982-12-16 | 1984-06-28 | 東一工業株式会社 | Ultrasonic probe and adaptor thereof |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5081824U (en) * | 1973-11-28 | 1975-07-14 | ||
| JPS58131805U (en) * | 1982-02-28 | 1983-09-06 | 株式会社島津製作所 | ultrasonic probe |
-
1984
- 1984-06-27 JP JP9524884U patent/JPS6110712U/en active Granted
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS57188248A (en) * | 1981-05-14 | 1982-11-19 | Terumo Corp | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
| JPS59111744A (en) * | 1982-12-16 | 1984-06-28 | 東一工業株式会社 | Ultrasonic probe and adaptor thereof |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS6110712U (en) | 1986-01-22 |
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