EP0160580B1 - Sonde d'échographie à disque piézoélectrique oscillant solidaire d'une membrane déformable formant lentille de focalisation - Google Patents

Sonde d'échographie à disque piézoélectrique oscillant solidaire d'une membrane déformable formant lentille de focalisation Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0160580B1
EP0160580B1 EP19850400328 EP85400328A EP0160580B1 EP 0160580 B1 EP0160580 B1 EP 0160580B1 EP 19850400328 EP19850400328 EP 19850400328 EP 85400328 A EP85400328 A EP 85400328A EP 0160580 B1 EP0160580 B1 EP 0160580B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lens
liquid
membrane
piezoelectric element
transducer
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
Application number
EP19850400328
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0160580A1 (fr
Inventor
Jacques Dory
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
EDAP International SA
Original Assignee
EDAP International SA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by EDAP International SA filed Critical EDAP International SA
Publication of EP0160580A1 publication Critical patent/EP0160580A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10K11/00—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
    • G10K11/18—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound
    • G10K11/26—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning
    • G10K11/35—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning using mechanical steering of transducers or their beams
    • G10K11/352—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning using mechanical steering of transducers or their beams by moving the transducer
    • G10K11/355—Arcuate movement
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10K11/00—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
    • G10K11/18—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound
    • G10K11/26—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning
    • G10K11/30—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning using refraction, e.g. acoustic lenses

Definitions

  • the invention relates to ultrasound probes comprising a transducer composed of a housing containing a coupling liquid and provided with a window for the passage of an ultrasonic beam, in which a piezoelectric element is immersed, preferably in the form of disc, an electric motor and a mechanical link transforming the rotation of the motor shaft into an oscillating movement of the piezoelectric element.
  • probes are used in medical ultrasound devices where the ultrasonic beam generated by the piezoelectric element performs relatively rapid planar angular scanning.
  • French patent applications No. 80.16717 filed July 29, 1980 for "Sector scanning ultrasound probe comprising two coupling liquids” (corresponds to EP-A-45 265) and No. 80.16718 filed July 29, 1980 for "Probe of mechanical sector scanning ultrasound "(FR-A-2 487 665) probes of this type have been described, comprising a particularly simple and advantageous mechanical connection. Although the invention will preferably apply to probes comprising this special mechanical connection, it should be understood that its application could be more general.
  • the invention aims to overcome this drawback by constituting the lens, in a manner known per se, by means of a deformable membrane secured to the movable piezoelectric element to constitute with it a chamber containing a refractive index liquid. for the acoustic waves different from that of the coupling liquid, and by having a flexible mobile portion comprising the pipe which connects said mobile chamber to a fixed reservoir of liquid, itself associated with means for varying the volume of the liquid which 'it contains.
  • FIG. 1 the combination of a plane transducer adjustable in inclination and in azimuth with a fixed lens.
  • the lens is produced on one face of the plane transducer itself.
  • the curvature of the lens is varied by bringing a variable volume of liquid by means of a fixed pipe 7.
  • the plane-lens transducer assembly rotates about an axis, but the way in which the liquid supply pipe for adjustment is then carried out to allow this rotation is not not described at all.
  • the membrane 11 which constitutes the ultrasound exit window is flat and does not constitute a lens.
  • the lens is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the scanning is therefore carried out in a plane parallel to the ultrasonic exit window.
  • the scanning is helical and the lens is fixed. In fact, it is mainly an adjustment which is provided rather than a sweeping movement.
  • the present invention applies exclusively to the case of a sectoral scanning ultrasound probe.
  • Mechanical sector scanning ultrasound probes well known per se, are very simple to produce and it is particularly advantageous to be able to give them the possibilities of focusing adjustments.
  • the relatively rapid oscillation of the transducer disc does not exclude the possibility of forming a lens on said disc itself, this requires finding a practical means of varying the curvature of the membrane of said lens, although this it oscillates quickly.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an adjustment means, but where this means is associated with a fixed lens.
  • the invention according to the single claim combines such a means with the characteristic that the ultrasonic transmission window is itself hemispherical and thus forming a second lens (which is very advantageous when it is desired to obtain very precise focusing), the axis of oscillation of the transducer disc is offset from the plane of the disc, so as to pass it through the center of the hemisphere. It is indeed only in this way that the focal point of the assembly of the two lenses remains the same during the oscillation of the disc.
  • the cylindrical housing 1 which contains a coupling liquid is closed by a spherical membrane 2 transparent to ultrasound and relatively rigid.
  • a piezoelectric ceramic disc 3 is mounted so as to oscillate around an axis XX 'passing through the center of the sphere 2 and perpendicular to the plane of the figure.
  • Such an arrangement can be obtained by means of a device of the type described in the aforementioned French patent, and which is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2.
  • the drive shaft 31 drives, by means of a rod 32 which rotates in a plane perpendicular to the shaft 31, an inclined link 33 whose opposite end, located on the axis of the shaft 31, cooperates with a yoke 34 in the center of it.
  • the yoke 34 is also connected to the ends of a first diameter of a disc 35 (which has been shown hollowed out in the form of a cross to lighten it).
  • the disc 35 oscillates around a second diameter perpendicular to the first, bearings being provided at the ends of this second diameter to define a fixed axis XX 'of oscillation.
  • a rod 36 mounted perpendicular to the surface of the disc 35 in its center, carries at its opposite end the disc 3 which will undergo an oscillating movement around the axis XX 'offset from its plane.
  • the disc 3 carries on its face opposite the membrane 2 a flexible membrane 4 and the chamber in the form of a spherical cap thus defined is connected by a flexible pipe 5 (advantageously made of plastic) which moves in the hemisphere 2.
  • the movable pipe 5 is connected to a fixed pipe 6 which passes through the cylindrical casing 1 and leads, outside of the latter, to a bellows 7 containing a liquid whose index, with respect to the acoustic waves, is different from that of the coupling liquid.
  • a lens 4 has thus been formed.
  • the coupling liquid itself has a higher index than that of the tissues examined, so that the hemisphere 2 forms a converging lens.
  • the relative position of the surfaces of the two lenses located close to one another and facing each other remains constant, so that the focal point of the assembly is located at a constant distance from the center of the sphere and the ultrasonic emission surface.
  • Such a device is easy and completely reliable in its operation, even when the transducer oscillates at a relatively high frequency.
  • window 2 water as coupling liquid, without departing from the spirit of the invention.
  • Window 2 is not necessarily spherical when it does not form a lens.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
  • Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
EP19850400328 1984-04-04 1985-02-22 Sonde d'échographie à disque piézoélectrique oscillant solidaire d'une membrane déformable formant lentille de focalisation Expired EP0160580B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8405296 1984-04-04
FR8405296A FR2562747B1 (fr) 1984-04-04 1984-04-04 Sonde d'echograhie a disque piezoelectrique oscillant solidaire d'une membrane deformable formant lentille de focalisation

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0160580A1 EP0160580A1 (fr) 1985-11-06
EP0160580B1 true EP0160580B1 (fr) 1989-03-15

Family

ID=9302828

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19850400328 Expired EP0160580B1 (fr) 1984-04-04 1985-02-22 Sonde d'échographie à disque piézoélectrique oscillant solidaire d'une membrane déformable formant lentille de focalisation

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0160580B1 (ja)
JP (1) JPS6141441A (ja)
BR (1) BR8501219A (ja)
DE (1) DE3568885D1 (ja)
FR (1) FR2562747B1 (ja)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2477723A1 (fr) * 1980-03-07 1981-09-11 Cgr Ultrasonic Sonde d'echographie ultrasonore a lentille acoustique et echographe comportant une telle sonde
JPS5943172B2 (ja) * 1980-06-30 1984-10-20 アロカ株式会社 超音波探触子
FR2487664A1 (fr) * 1980-07-29 1982-02-05 Dory Jacques Sonde d'echographie a balayage sectoriel comportant deux liquides de couplage
US4418698A (en) * 1980-07-29 1983-12-06 Jacques Dory Ultrasonic scanning probe with mechanical sector scanning means
WO1982004157A1 (fr) * 1981-05-23 1982-11-25 Lierke Ernst Guenter Installation pour emettre et recevoir des ondes ultrasonores focalisees

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BR8501219A (pt) 1985-11-12
FR2562747A1 (fr) 1985-10-11
JPS6141441A (ja) 1986-02-27
DE3568885D1 (en) 1989-04-20
FR2562747B1 (fr) 1987-09-11
EP0160580A1 (fr) 1985-11-06

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