JPH1133026A - Blood vessel probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable blood drawing or chemical injection to be performed safely and easily by accurately stabbing a puncturing needle into superficial blood vessels of a subject. SOLUTION: An ultrasonic sensor part 1 is put into contact with a subject 4 via a gelled ultrasonic wave propagation medium 3 for transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves, and the signals received are processed by a processing device part 2 to display a tomogram of the subject 4 including superficial blood vessels 5 on a display unit 9. The operator stabs a puncturing needle 6 at an angle of 30 degrees or less to the subject 4 along an ultrasonic scanning surface 8 while observing the image, inserting the end of the needle into a blood vessel.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention searches for a blood vessel (hereinafter referred to as a superficial blood vessel) existing substantially parallel to the surface of a subject, displays the image, and inserts a puncture needle into the blood vessel while observing the image. The present invention relates to a blood vessel detecting device used for performing blood collection or injecting a drug.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there was no such type of blood vessel exploration apparatus, but a similar one was published in the Japanese Society of Ultrasonics, 57-300 (October and November 1990). A linear scanning probe for shallow part "is known.

FIG. 4 shows this scanning probe, wherein 21 is an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, 22 is an attachment, 23 is a puncture needle, and 24 is a subject. A solid attachment 22 is provided between the ultrasonic probe 21 and the subject 24, and a puncture needle 23 is connected to the subject via the attachment 22.
It is configured to be inserted into 24.

[0004]

However, since the conventional ultrasonic probe uses a solid attachment, it is necessary to attach the attachment to an object having an irregular surface shape such as a subject. Since the attachment is pressed against the surface of the sample by applying force, the superficial blood vessel is deformed, and there is a problem that the puncture needle cannot be inserted into an accurate position. In addition, since the puncture needle is inserted into the subject at an angle of 45 degrees or more with respect to the surface of the subject, it is difficult to accurately puncture a blood vessel located substantially parallel to the surface of the subject, particularly a thin blood vessel. Had the problem that

[0005] The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and accurately and easily inserts a puncture needle into a superficial blood vessel of a subject without deforming the superficial blood vessel to obtain blood or a drug. An object of the present invention is to provide a blood vessel exploring device capable of performing injection.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a blood vessel detecting apparatus according to the present invention comprises an ultrasonic sensor for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and a signal for processing signals transmitted and received by the ultrasonic sensor. A processing device unit for displaying an image, a gel-like ultrasonic propagation medium interposed between the ultrasonic sensor unit and the subject, and a subject along the ultrasonic scanning surface of the ultrasonic sensor unit. A puncture needle that is inserted at an angle of 30 degrees or less.

According to the above arrangement, a tomographic image of the subject is displayed without giving any deformation to the superficial blood vessel, and a desired blood vessel is formed at an angle of 30 degrees or less with respect to the subject while observing the tomographic image. The puncture needle can be accurately inserted into the blood vessel, and blood collection or drug injection can be performed safely and easily.

[0008] The ultrasonic sensor section has a guide member for guiding a puncture needle inserted into the subject at an angle of 30 degrees or less with respect to the subject, and further includes a part of the housing or a part thereof. More preferably, an image display monitor is provided in the vicinity.

The ultrasonic sensor section can be electronically scanned in a sector shape or a convex shape.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a blood vessel detecting apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, wherein 1 is an ultrasonic sensor unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and 2 is an ultrasonic sensor unit 1. A processing unit for processing signals transmitted and received by ultrasonic waves and displaying an image on the display device 9, a gel-like ultrasonic wave propagation medium interposed between the ultrasonic sensor unit 1 and the subject 4, and a subject 5 4
A blood vessel (superficial blood vessel) running near the surface is a puncture needle 6 that penetrates the subject 4 at an angle of 30 degrees or less along the ultrasonic scanning surface 8 of the ultrasonic sensor unit 1.

The ultrasonic sensor 1 transmits an ultrasonic wave to the subject 4 using an ultrasonic vibrator (not shown) and receives a reflected wave. A plurality of ultrasonic transducers are arranged, and are driven by the processing unit 2 to electronically scan. The processing unit 2
Ultrasonic waves are oscillated from the ultrasonic sensor unit 1 toward the subject 4, the reflected reception signals are processed, and an image is displayed on the display device 9.

The ultrasonic wave propagation medium 3 is interposed between the ultrasonic sensor unit 1 and the subject 4, and the required characteristic is the acoustic impedance of the subject 4 (1.5 to 1.65 Mrayl).
, The attenuation coefficient is a small value and can be freely deformed, and the subject 4 and the ultrasonic sensor 1 can be easily brought into close contact with a small force. For this purpose, a gel-like material that is not a solid but deforms very easily is desirable. As the gel material, polyurethane gel,
Silicone gel, polyvinyl alcohol gel, polyethylene oxide gel and the like are preferred. Ultrasonic wave propagation medium 3
After the puncture needle 6 is inserted into the blood vessel 5, that is, after use, blood or the like may adhere to the blood vessel 5. By interposing the ultrasonic wave propagation medium 3, there is an advantage that a high-resolution tomographic image near the surface of the subject 4 can be obtained.

The puncture needle 6 has an angle of not more than 30 degrees with respect to the subject 4 or the blood vessel 5 positioned substantially parallel to the subject 4 through the gel-like ultrasonic wave propagation medium 3 or directly to the subject 4. And insert it to the target blood vessel 5. In order to insert the blood vessel 5 accurately so as not to make a mistake, it is desirable to puncture at a small angle of 30 degrees or less. At an angle larger than this, it becomes difficult to pierce a thin blood vessel, and a high level of skill is required for a puncture needle puncture user.

The operation of the blood vessel searching apparatus according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, the electric signals transmitted from the transmission unit of the processing device unit 2 through a plurality of channels are transmitted through the cable 7 to the ultrasonic sensor unit 1.
Is applied to a group of ultrasonic transducer rows (not shown).
The ultrasonic transducer row to which the electric signal is applied generates an ultrasonic wave, and is transmitted to the subject 4 via the ultrasonic wave propagation medium 3.
The ultrasonic wave transmitted into the subject 4 is reflected at the boundary thereof from the difference in acoustic impedance of the tissue in the subject 4 and is received again by the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic sensor unit 1, and the received signal is The signal is received again by the receiving unit of the processing unit 2 via the cable 7.

Next, the same operation is sequentially performed by electronically scanning the channels. These received signals are processed and displayed on the display device 9 as images. In this manner, the target blood vessel 5 of the subject 4 is displayed as a tomographic image, and an angle of 30 degrees or less from the scanning direction of the ultrasonic sensor unit 1 with respect to the surface of the subject 4 while observing the tomographic image. Then, a puncture needle 6 is inserted into the blood vessel 5 of the subject 4 to collect blood or inject a drug.

In the first embodiment, the case where the ultrasonic sensor unit 1 has a convex shape has been described. In addition, a similar effect can be obtained in the case of a sector-like scanning method. Further, in the first embodiment, the ultrasonic sensor unit 1 and the processing device unit 2 have described an image display obtained by electronic scanning. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Similar effects can be obtained by a method of non-invasively detecting a blood vessel and confirming the position as in the display method.

A gel-like ultrasonic wave propagation medium is provided between the ultrasonic sensor unit and the subject so as to be freely deformed and adhere to the subject without applying force, and the puncture needle is moved to the subject. Since the puncture needle can be inserted at an angle of 30 degrees or less, and the puncture needle can be inserted while observing the tomographic image, the puncture needle can be inserted into a blood vessel extremely accurately, accurately, and easily. This has the effect of reducing the pain and burden on the specimen and the burden on the puncture needle inserter.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 shows that a puncture needle 6 is inserted into a subject 4 using an ultrasonic sensor unit 1 and an ultrasonic propagation medium 3 of a blood vessel detecting apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It shows the state. The ultrasonic sensor unit 1 and the ultrasonic wave propagation medium 3 are the same as those in the first embodiment, but the ultrasonic sensor unit 1 punctures the housing 4 at a fixed angle of 30 degrees or less with respect to the subject 4. The difference is that a guide member 10 for guiding the needle 6 is provided.

The guide member 10 is held by a part of the housing of the ultrasonic sensor unit 1, and a portion through which the puncture needle 6 is inserted is located in the ultrasonic wave propagation medium 3. This guide member 10
The material for the insertion portion of the puncture needle 6 is made of, for example, metal such as stainless steel or plastic which does not corrode and can be sterilized.

According to the second embodiment configured as described above, the puncture needle 6 can be inserted at an angle of 30 degrees or less while observing the tomographic image of the subject 4, so that the needle tip can be more accurately inserted. Into the blood vessel 5 to safely and easily perform blood collection and drug injection.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 3 shows that a puncture needle 6 is inserted into a subject 4 using an ultrasonic sensor unit 1 and an ultrasonic propagation medium 3 of a blood vessel detecting apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. It shows the state. Here, an image display monitor 11 is provided on the ultrasonic sensor unit 1 separately from the display device 9 in FIG.
This is characterized in that the puncture needle 6 can be inserted while observing the tomographic image on the image display monitor 11.

The image display monitor 11 is connected to the display device 9 through the cable 7, and preferably has a screen using liquid crystal, plasma, or the like for miniaturization. As described above, since the image display monitor 11 for observing the tomographic image of the subject 4 is arranged near the hand for operating the puncture needle 6, the operation is easy, and the puncture needle 6 can be accurately inserted into the target blood vessel. You can enter.

In the third embodiment, the image display monitor is provided on the housing of the ultrasonic sensor. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the puncture needle is installed near the hand at which the puncturing operation is performed, Similar effects can be obtained.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the gel-like ultrasonic wave propagation medium is interposed between the ultrasonic sensor and the subject, so that a strong force is not applied to the subject. The ultrasonic sensor unit can be brought into close contact. Thereby, the deformation of the subject, particularly the blood vessel, can be suppressed to a small value. In addition, since it passes through the gel-like ultrasonic wave propagation medium, the vicinity of the surface of the subject can be displayed in a clear image, and the patient can be inserted into the subject at an angle of 30 degrees or less while sufficiently observing the superficial blood vessels. It is possible to accurately puncture a target blood vessel, especially a thin blood vessel, so that blood collection or drug injection can be performed safely and easily, thereby reducing the burden on the subject. This has the effect of reducing the number of operations and not requiring a high level of skill of the operator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a blood vessel searching device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a puncture needle is inserted into a subject using an ultrasonic sensor unit and an ultrasonic wave propagation medium of the blood vessel detecting device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state where a puncture needle is inserted into a subject using an ultrasonic sensor unit and an ultrasonic wave propagation medium of the blood vessel detecting device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional ultrasonic probe.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic sensor part, 2 ... Processing device part, 3 ... Ultrasonic wave propagation medium, 4 ... Subject, 5 ... Blood vessel, 6 ... Puncture needle,
8: scanning surface, 9: display device, 10: guide member,
11 ... Image display monitor.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masami Kawabuchi 4-3-1 Tsunashima Higashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] An ultrasonic sensor unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves,
A processing unit for processing a signal transmitted and received by the ultrasonic sensor unit to display an image and displaying an image; a gel-like ultrasonic propagation medium interposed between the ultrasonic sensor unit and a subject; For the subject along the ultrasonic scanning surface of the sensor
A puncture needle for piercing at an angle of 30 degrees or less. 2. The ultrasonic sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a guide member for guiding a puncture needle inserted into the subject at an angle of 30 degrees or less with respect to the subject. Angiography device. 3. The blood vessel detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic sensor unit has an image display monitor at a part of or its vicinity. 4. The blood vessel detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic sensor section is capable of electronically scanning in a sector shape or a convex shape.