JPH05337108A - Mechanically scanning type ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a mechanically scanning type ultrasonic probe with higher convenience in diagnosing work by tilting a rotor or the like having an element fixed thereon to allow the scanning of a plurality of sections. CONSTITUTION:A first gear 8 is fixed on one side of a rotor 4 having an element 3 fixed thereon. A second gear 9 rotatable with respect to the rotor 4 and the shaft 5 is supported on the other side of the rotor 4. Third and fourth gears 11 and 12 are provided as meshed with each other sandwiching the first and second gears 8 and 9 from both sides. Driven with motors 13 and 14, the third and fourth gears 11 and 12 are turned through a gear 17 or the like. The rotation of the third and fourth gears 11 and 12 is controlled to incline the shaft 5 or the like through the first gear 8 while the rotor 4 having the element 3 fixed thereon is rotated thereby enabling scanning on a plurality of scan surfaces.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe which is used in a medical ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and mechanically operates an ultrasonic transmitting / receiving element to scan an ultrasonic beam. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe of this type, as described in Medical Ultrasonic Equipment Handbook P28 (Corona Corp.), an ultrasonic probe is provided in the ultrasonic probe. A configuration is known in which an ultrasonic beam is scanned by mechanically rotating or oscillating a device that converts a signal into an ultrasonic wave by using a driving force of a motor or the like.

FIG. 4 shows a typical structure of a conventional mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe. As shown in FIG. 4, an acoustic window 52 is attached to the front side portion of the frame 51, and a cover (not shown) is attached to the rear side portion. A rotary shaft 53 is rotatably supported by a bearing 54 at the tip of the standing portion of the frame 51, and a rotor 55 is attached to the rotary shaft 53. An element 56 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is attached to the rotor 55. A motor 57 and a rotary encoder 58 for detecting the number of rotations of the motor 57 are supported inside the cover on the horizontal portion of the frame 51.
The drive shaft 59 of the motor 57 is inserted into the horizontal portion of the frame 51 and sealed by the oil seal 60.
A drive gear 61 is attached to the inward projecting portion of 9.
A driven shaft 62 is rotatably supported on the base side of the standing portion of the frame 51 in a direction perpendicular to the drive shaft 59 and parallel to the rotary shaft 53 via a bearing 63, and the driven shaft 62 has a driven gear 64.
And the driven gear 64 is meshed with the drive gear 61. Timing belt pulleys 65 and 66 are attached to the driven shaft 62 and the rotary shaft 53, and a timing belt 67 is wound around the timing belt pulleys 65 and 66. Therefore, the driven shaft 62 is rotated by the drive of the motor 57 via the drive gear 61 and the driven gear 64, and accordingly, the timing belt pulley 65,
The rotary shaft 53 and the rotor 55 are rotated via the timing belt 67 and the timing belt pulley 66,
The element 56 can be operated for scanning. An acoustic coupling liquid 68 is enclosed in the acoustic window 52. The motor 57 is driven and controlled by the control circuit based on the information obtained by the encoder 58.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. The motor 57 is driven and the drive shaft 59 rotates. Along with this, the element 56 attached to the rotor 55 rotates together with the rotor 55 via the drive transmission system such as the gears 61, 64, the driven shaft 62, the timing belt pulley 65, the timing belt 67, and the timing belt pulley 66. An electric signal is transmitted to the element 56 while detecting this rotation angle by the encoder 58 attached to the motor 57. The ultrasonic waves converted into ultrasonic signals by the element 56 are applied to the human body through the acoustic coupling liquid 68 and the acoustic window 52. The reflected wave in the human body goes through the above path in reverse, and is received by the element 56 and converted into an electric signal. This electric signal is processed and displayed as an image on the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body.

As described above, also in the above-mentioned conventional mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe, the scanning motion is mechanically performed by rotating or swinging the element 56 together with the rotor 55 using the rotational movement of the motor 57. You can

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe, the rotary shaft 53 that supports the rotor 55 and the like is supported at a fixed position by the standing portion of the frame 51 via the bearing 54. Therefore, the scanning surface of ultrasonic waves cannot be tilted. Therefore, in order to set the scanning surface to an arbitrary position, the ultrasonic probe itself must be tilted, and there is a problem that its operation is extremely troublesome.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and the scanning plane can be set at an arbitrary position without tilting the whole, and ultrasonic tomographic images of a plurality of scanning planes can be obtained. In addition, it is possible to obtain a three-dimensional ultrasonic tomographic image by continuously changing the scanning surface, if necessary, and thus to improve the convenience of the diagnostic work. An object of the present invention is to provide a type ultrasonic probe.

[0008]

The technical means of the present invention for achieving the above object is to provide an element for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves,
A rotor for holding the element, a shaft for rotatably holding the rotor, the shaft, the rotor and the element for rocking,
Drive means for rotating the rotor holding the above-mentioned element.

The drive means in the above technical means comprises a power transmission means and a drive source, and the power transmission means includes a first power transmission element fixed to one side of the rotor,
A second power transmission element rotatably supported on the other side of the rotor with respect to the rotor and a shaft, and a third and a third power transmission element linked to the first and second power transmission elements so as to be sandwiched from both sides. Four power transmission elements can be provided.

Further, the drive means in the above technical means comprises a power transmission means and a drive source, and the power transmission means includes a first power transmission element fixed to one side of the rotor,
A second power transmission element rotatably supported on the other side of the rotor with respect to the rotor and a shaft, and a third and a third power transmission element linked to the first and second power transmission elements so as to be sandwiched from both sides. 4 power transmission elements and 5th and 6th power transmission elements respectively linked to the 3rd and 4th power transmission elements, wherein the drive source is at least one of the 5th and 6th power transmission elements. By rotating
The rotary motion may be transmitted to the first power transmission element via the third and fourth power transmission elements.

Independent motors are used as drive sources for the fifth and sixth power transmission elements, and the rotation angle of each motor can be detected by the detection means.

It is preferable that the flat portion formed at the end portion of the shaft holding the rotor is guided by the guide groove to be swung. Further, it is preferable to provide a signal transmission means such as a rotary transformer or a slip ring between the shaft and the element. Further, it is preferable to use a gear as the power transmission means.

[0013]

Therefore, according to the present invention, a tomographic image can be obtained by scanning a fixed scanning plane by rotating a rotor to which an element is attached, and the shaft, rotor, etc. can be tilted to an arbitrary position. By rotating the rotor to which the element is attached at that position, a tomographic image can be obtained by scanning on a scanning plane different from the scanning plane. In addition, by rotating the rotor with the element attached while continuously inclining the axis as necessary,
It is possible to obtain a three-dimensional tomographic image in which the scan plane is continuously changed.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 show a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view,
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part, and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a state where the scanning surface is tilted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a front acoustic window 1 and a rear cover 2 are attached to a frame (not shown). An element 3 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is provided inside the acoustic window 1. This element 3 is a rotor 4
It is fixed to. The rotor 4 is rotatably held by a cylindrical shaft 5 via a bearing 6. The shaft 5 has an end portion formed in a flat shape, and an arc-shaped guide groove 7 provided in the frame.
It is guided so as to be swingable and is restricted in rotation.

A first gear 8 is fixed to one side of the rotor 4 on the outer periphery of the shaft 5, and a second gear 9 rotatable with respect to the rotor 4 and the shaft 5 is provided on the other side of the rotor 4. 5 is supported via a bearing 10. First and second gear 8
The third and fourth gears 11 and 12 so that the first and second gears 9 and 9 are sandwiched between them.
Is provided, and each gear 11 and 12 is rotatably supported by the frame. The third and fourth gears 11 and 12 are formed in a ring shape, and teeth are formed on the inner surface side and the outer surface side, respectively, and the teeth on the inner surface side of both gears 11 and 12 are the first and second gears 8 and 9 respectively. It is engaged so that it is sandwiched from both sides.
Two motors 13 and 14 are supported on the frame. A fifth gear (pinion gear) (not shown) provided integrally with the drive shaft 15 of the motor 13 is meshed with teeth on the outer surface side of the third gear 11. A sixth gear (pinion gear) integrally provided on the drive shaft 16 of the motor 15.
17 is engaged with the teeth on the outer surface side of the fourth gear 12. Therefore, by driving the motor 13, the fifth gear,
The first gear 8 can be rotated via the third gear 11. Further, the sixth gear 1 is driven by driving the motor 14.
The first gear 8 can be rotated via the seventh and fourth gears 12. Further, by driving the both motors 13 and 14 to rotate the third and fourth gears 11 and 12, it is possible to rotate the first gear 8 and the rotor 4 at fixed positions. The rotation angles of the motors 13 and 14 are detected and controlled by detection means (not shown) such as an encoder. Inside the rotor 4, a slipping (or rotary transformer) 18 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the shaft 5, and the signal line 19 inserted into the shaft 5 is a slip ring 18
Is connected to the element 3 via. The other side of the signal line 19 is guided to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body (not shown). Therefore, even if the element 3 rotates together with the rotor 4, the electrical signal can be transmitted to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body via the slip ring 18. An acoustic coupling liquid is enclosed in the acoustic window 1.

The operation of the above arrangement will be described below. When the motors 13 and 14 are driven, the rotational force is transmitted to the third gear 11 and the fourth gear 12 as described above. At that time, if the third gear 11 and the fourth gear 12 are rotated at the same speed in the opposite directions, the first gear 8 rotates at a fixed position. That is, the shaft 5 and the rotor 4
And the element 3 in place with the first gear 8 together with the element 3
Rotor 4 having During this period, the element 3 causes the acoustic coupling liquid and the acoustic window 1 by the electric signal from the signal line 19.
By transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves via the, the human body can be scanned and an ultrasonic tomographic image can be displayed on the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body. Next, when the other motor 13 is rotated while the one motor 14 is stationary, the first gear 8 is rotated via the third gear 11, but the fourth gear is rotated.
Since the gear 12 of the above does not rotate, the first gear 8 revolves around its own axis and revolves along the third and fourth gears 11 and 12,
The shaft 5, the rotor 4, and the element 3 are tilted in any direction along the guide groove 7 to be in the state of FIG. 3, for example. The shaft 5 or the like is tilted to an arbitrary position, and both motors 13 and 14 are driven at that position in the same manner as described above, and the third and fourth gears 11 and 12 are driven.
By rotating the mirrors in opposite directions at the same speed, scanning plane scanning different from that in FIG. 1 becomes possible. Further, even if the motors 13 and 13 are rotationally controlled so that the third gear 11 and the fourth gear 12 rotate in the same direction, the first gear 8 is the same as the third and fourth gears 11 and 12. The shaft 5 and the like incline along the guide groove 7 while being engaged at the position. When the third and fourth gears 11 and 12 are rotated in the opposite directions at the same speed with the shaft 5 and the like tilted, the rotor 4 having the element 3 rotates together with the first gear 8. , Can be scanned.

Further, by independently controlling the rotations of the third gear 11 and the fourth gear 12 by the motors 13 and 14, respectively, the rotor 4 having the element 3 is rotated while gradually inclining the shaft 5 and the like. Can be scanned.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the elements 3 are controlled by driving the motors 13 and 14 to rotate the third and fourth gears 11 and 12 in opposite directions at the same speed. The rotor 4 having the shaft 5 can rotate about the shaft 5 as a central axis to perform a scanning operation. By stopping one motor 14 and rotating the other motor 13, the shaft 5 and the like can be tilted to an arbitrary position. You can
Then, by driving the motors 13 and 14 again, the third and fourth motors are driven.
By controlling the rotation of the gears 11 and 12 in the opposite directions at the same speed, the element 3 can be caused to perform a scanning operation about the tilted shaft 5, and a scanning operation for a plurality of scanning planes becomes possible. Also, the motors 13 and 1
By independently controlling the rotation of each of the shafts 4, the rotor 4 having the element 3 can be rotated while gradually inclining the shaft 5 and the like, and the scanning operation in which the scanning surface is continuously changed can be performed. The original scanning becomes possible. Further, since the flat portion provided at the end of the shaft 5 is guided to the guide groove 7 provided in the frame,
Of the signal line 19 which is prevented from rotating and runs inside the shaft 5.
Prevents the wire from breaking and also serves as a guide when the shaft 5 and the like tilt.

In the above embodiment, the two motors 1
3 and 14 are used to perform scanning by the element 3 and change the scanning surface. However, one motor, a drive transmission system, and a drive other than a motor such as a solenoid for controlling linkage of the drive transmission system such as meshing. Even if the source is used, it has the same operation as the above-mentioned embodiment. In addition, the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the basic technical idea thereof.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, a tomographic image can be obtained by scanning on a constant scanning plane by rotating a rotor to which an element is attached,
Also, by tilting the shaft, rotor, etc. to any position and rotating the rotor with the element attached at that position,
A tomographic image can be obtained by scanning on a scanning plane different from the scanning plane. Further, by rotating the rotor to which the element is attached while inclining the axis continuously as needed, it is possible to obtain a three-dimensional tomographic image in which the scan plane is continuously changed. In this way, the scanning plane can be set at any position without tilting the whole, and ultrasonic tomographic images of a plurality of scanning planes can be obtained, and the scanning plane can be continuously changed as necessary. By doing so, a three-dimensional ultrasonic tomographic image can be obtained, and therefore the convenience of the diagnostic work can be improved.

Further, the power transmission means of the drive means for swinging the shaft or the like and rotating the rotor or the like includes the first power transmission element composed of a gear or the like fixed to one side of the rotor and the other side of the rotor. Third and fourth second power transmission elements such as gears rotatably supported by the rotor and the shaft, and gears and the like linked to the first and second power transmission elements so as to be sandwiched from both sides. Since it has a power transmission element of
By controlling the rotation of the fourth power transmission element, the scanning surface can be changed and the scanning operation can be performed.
The operation can be performed easily and surely.

Further, since the flat portion at the end of the shaft is inserted into the guide groove of the frame, the rotation of the shaft can be prevented and the shaft and the like can be rocked reliably.

In addition, a slip ring between the shaft and the element,
Alternatively, by providing a signal transmission system such as a rotary transformer, it is possible to transmit a signal while the element fixed to the rotor is rotating.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part showing the ultrasonic probe.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the ultrasonic probe with the scanning surface tilted.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 element 4 rotor 5 shaft 7 guide groove 8 first gear 9 second gear 11 third gear 12 fourth gear 13 motor 14 motor 18 slip ring 19 signal line

Continued Front Page (72) Wataru Tokunaga Wataru Tokunaga 4-3-1 Tsunashima-higashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Fumika Hasegawa 4-chome, Tsunashima-higashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa No. 1 Matsushita Communication Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An element for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a rotor for holding the element, a shaft for rotatably holding the rotor, a shaft for holding the element, and a rotor for holding the element. A mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe having a driving unit for rotating the ultrasonic scanning unit. 2. The drive means comprises a power transmission means and a drive source, and the power transmission means comprises a first power transmission element fixed to one side of the rotor and the rotor and the shaft on the other side of the rotor. A second power transmission element rotatably supported with respect to the first power transmission element, and third and fourth power transmission elements linked to the first and second power transmission elements so as to be sandwiched from both sides. 1. The mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe described in 1. 3. The drive means comprises a power transmission means and a drive source, and the power transmission means comprises a first power transmission element fixed to one side of the rotor and the rotor and the shaft on the other side of the rotor. A second power transmission element rotatably supported with respect to the third power transmission element, a third power transmission element linked to the first and second power transmission elements so as to be sandwiched from both sides, and a third power transmission element. And a fourth power transmission element, which are respectively associated with the fifth and sixth power transmission elements, wherein the drive source rotates at least one of the fifth and sixth power transmission elements to cause the rotational movement. The mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe is configured to be transmitted to the first power transmission element via the third and fourth power transmission elements. 4. The mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe according to claim 3, wherein the drive sources of the fifth and sixth power transmission elements are independent motors, and the rotation angle of each motor is detected by the detection means. .. 5. The mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein a flat portion formed at an end portion of a shaft for holding the rotor is swung by being guided by a guide groove. 6. The mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein a signal transmission means is provided between the shaft and the element. 7. The mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein a gear is used as the power transmission means.