JP2002000601A - Mechanical scanning mode of ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means to prevent the absence of a reflected image of a puncture needle in the puncture examination by sensing a regular position of a scanning surface on the main body of a diagnostic device and indicating the availability of puncture examinations of main body images even when there exists a mechanical looseness or gap between the position detector mechanism being represented by an encoder for detecting rocking angles on a scanning surface and the scanned surface. SOLUTION: An ultrasonic element 15 only for receiving fixed on a position enabling to receive signals generated from an ultrasonic element 1 provided for obtaining tomograms of a living body only when a scanning surface exists on a regular position for puncture examinations, so that the absence of reflected images of a puncture needle can be prevented in the puncture examination by sensing a regular position of a scanned surface on the main body of a diagnostic device and indicating the availability of puncture examinations on the image of the main body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and having an oscillating mechanism capable of tilting a scanning surface without moving the ultrasonic probe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe capable of oscillating an ultrasonic scanning surface is described in "3D Ultrasound" of "1st International Obstetrics and Gynecology 3D Ultrasound Symposium Abstracts". As shown in "Basics of sound waves, Kazunori Baba, Hiroshi Imachi", the ultrasonic scanning surface is made to swing in a fan shape. The general configuration of this ultrasonic probe is shown in Fig. 6. Show. One or more ultrasonic elements 601 are fixed to a rotor 602, and the rotor 602 is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 603 and a rotating shaft support member 604. The driving force of the scanning motor 605 rotates or swings the rotor 602 through a transmission system such as a driving pulley 606, a timing belt 607, and a driven pulley 608 to perform ultrasonic scanning in a sector shape. These scanning mechanisms are swingably supported by a swing shaft 609 and a swing frame 610, and the driving force of a swing motor 611 is controlled by a pinion gear 612 and a swing gear 6.
The scanning mechanism is swung right and left through the switch 13. The above mechanism operates in the acoustic coupling liquid 615 enclosed by the acoustic window 614. The control circuit of the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (not shown) controls the swing angle based on pulse data obtained by an encoder 616 attached to the swing motor.

[0003]

When a puncture inspection is performed using an ultrasonic probe capable of swinging an ultrasonic scanning surface according to the above-mentioned prior art, the swingable scanning surface displays a reflection image of a puncture needle. The puncture needle must be flush with the movement of the puncture needle so that the puncture needle reaches the inspection site accurately. However, the probe that detects the swing angle by installing a position detection mechanism such as an encoder in the swing motor, mechanically rattles in the swing drive force transmission system, the tooth loss of the swing gear and the idle rotation of the pinion gear. In such a case, the probe cannot accurately detect the swing angle, and therefore cannot send accurate swing angle information of the ultrasonic scanning surface to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In some cases, the scanning plane does not coincide with the plane on which the puncture needle moves, and in the worst case, the subject may be damaged.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problem, and detects that the swing angle of the oscillating ultrasonic scanning surface is the same as that of the surface on which the puncture needle moves, thereby detecting a puncture test. An object of the present invention is to provide a safe probe that does not cause a failure in detecting a reflected image of a puncture needle due to a malfunction of an encoder.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a scanning mechanism capable of rotating or swinging an ultrasonic element for performing ultrasonic scanning, and a scanning mechanism. When the tilting swing mechanism and the ultrasound scanning surface swinging by the swinging mechanism have the swing angle at which the puncture inspection is performed, the swing angle of the ultrasound scanning surface by receiving the ultrasonic signal radiated by the ultrasonic element is received. Has a swing angle detecting ultrasonic element capable of detecting the swing angle.

With this configuration, the present invention provides a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe capable of swinging an ultrasonic scanning surface, and a mechanical rattling in a swing driving force transmission system for swinging the ultrasonic scanning surface. Even if there is a difference between the swing angle information from a position detection mechanism such as an encoder and the actual swing scan surface due to a defect such as tooth loss of the swing gear or idle rotation of the pinion gear, the ultrasonic scanning The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus determines whether or not the oscillating scanning surface and the moving surface of the puncture needle match with the signal from the acoustic wave element, and the puncture is performed because the reflected image of the puncture needle is not obtained in the ultrasonic tomographic image. Does not damage the subject during the test.

Further, the present invention provides a scanning mechanism capable of rotating or oscillating an ultrasonic element for performing ultrasonic scanning, a swing mechanism for tilting the scanning mechanism, and a swing mechanism by the swing mechanism. When the moving ultrasonic scanning surface is at the swing angle at which the puncture inspection is performed, it is possible to detect the swing angle of the ultrasonic scanning surface by receiving the ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic element In an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic element,
An ultrasonic element capable of sensing the swing angle of the ultrasonic scanning surface has a reflector that reflects the ultrasonic signal so that the ultrasonic element can receive the ultrasonic signal.

With this configuration, according to the present invention, an ultrasonic scanning surface is oscillated in a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe capable of oscillating the ultrasonic scanning surface even when the swing range of the rotor is limited. Due to mechanical backlash in the oscillating driving force transmission system, chipping of the oscillating gear, or idle rotation of the pinion gear, the difference between the oscillating angle information from the position detection mechanism such as an encoder and the actual oscillating scanning surface may be different. Even in the case of occurrence, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus determines whether or not the oscillating scanning plane and the plane on which the puncture needle moves coincide with a signal from the ultrasonic element for ultrasonic scanning, and outputs the ultrasonic tomographic image. Since the reflected image of the puncture needle cannot be obtained, the subject is not damaged in the puncture test.

Further, the present invention provides a scanning mechanism capable of rotating or oscillating an ultrasonic element for performing ultrasonic scanning, a swing mechanism for tilting the scanning mechanism, and a swing mechanism by the swing mechanism. When the moving ultrasonic scanning surface is at the swing angle at which the puncture inspection is performed, it is possible to detect the swing angle of the ultrasonic scanning surface by receiving the ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic element In an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic element,
A guide unit for guiding a puncture needle for performing a puncture test is provided.

With this configuration, the present invention provides a mechanical scanning type ultrasonic probe capable of swinging an ultrasonic scanning surface, and a mechanical rattling in a swing driving force transmission system for swinging the ultrasonic scanning surface. Even if there is a difference between the swing angle information from a position detection mechanism such as an encoder and the actual swing scan surface due to a defect such as tooth loss of the swing gear or idle rotation of the pinion gear, the ultrasonic scanning The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus determines whether or not the oscillating scanning surface and the moving surface of the puncture needle match with the signal from the acoustic wave element, and the puncture is performed because the reflected image of the puncture needle is not obtained in the ultrasonic tomographic image. The puncture needle can be reliably operated along the guide without damaging the subject in the examination.

Further, the present invention provides a scanning mechanism capable of rotating or oscillating an ultrasonic element for performing ultrasonic scanning, a swing mechanism for tilting the scanning mechanism, and a swing mechanism by the swing mechanism. When the moving ultrasonic scanning surface is at the swing angle at which the puncture inspection is performed, it is possible to detect the swing angle of the ultrasonic scanning surface by receiving the ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic element In an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic element,
A guide for guiding a puncture needle for performing a puncture test is attached.

With this configuration, the present invention provides a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe capable of swinging an ultrasonic scanning surface, and a mechanical rattling in a swing driving force transmission system for swinging the ultrasonic scanning surface. Even if there is a difference between the swing angle information from a position detection mechanism such as an encoder and the actual swing scan surface due to a defect such as tooth loss of the swing gear or idle rotation of the pinion gear, the ultrasonic scanning The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus determines whether or not the oscillating scanning surface and the moving surface of the puncture needle match with the signal from the acoustic wave element, and the puncture is performed because the reflected image of the puncture needle is not obtained in the ultrasonic tomographic image. When the test does not cause any damage to the subject and the guide portion is unnecessary, it can be removed and tested.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an ultrasonic element 1 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is fixed to a rotor 2, which is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 3 and a rotating shaft supporting member 4. The driving force of the scanning motor 5 is transmitted through a driving force transmission system such as a driving pulley 6, a timing belt 7, and a driven pulley 8 to rotate or swing the rotor 2 to perform sectoral ultrasonic scanning by the ultrasonic element 1. These scanning mechanisms are swingably supported by a swinging shaft 9 and a swinging frame 10, and the driving force of a swinging motor 11 moves the swinging shaft 9 via a pinion gear 12 and a swinging gear 13 to the center of swinging. Rock. An ultrasonic element 1 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a living body only at a swing angle at which the swing angle of the ultrasonic scanning plane is the same as the plane at which the puncture needle moves is provided on the base frame 14 by rotating the rotor 2 to the subject. An ultrasonic element 15 for detecting a swing angle is fixed at a position at which an ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic element 1 can be received at a rotation angle at which ultrasonic waves are not emitted for scanning. These mechanisms include an acoustic coupling liquid 17 sealed by an acoustic window 16 and a storage case (not shown).
Works in.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the scanning motor 5 rotates the rotor 2 to which the ultrasonic element 1 is fixed. In the range of the acoustic window 16 through which ultrasonic waves can pass through a subject such as a living body, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body (not shown) applies an electric signal to the ultrasonic element 1 while rotating the rotor 2 to emit ultrasonic waves. . The ultrasonic waves radiated from the ultrasonic element 1 pass through the acoustic coupling liquid 17 and the curved surface of the acoustic window 16 and are radiated into the inside of a subject such as a living body. Through the window 16, the acoustic coupling liquid 17,
It reaches the ultrasonic element 1. The ultrasonic element 1 converts the received ultrasonic wave into an electric signal. An image processing circuit of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (not shown) displays an electric signal received by the ultrasonic element 1 and displays a tomographic image of the subject.

While performing this scanning, a scanning mechanism section constituted by the ultrasonic element 1, the rotor 2, the rotating shaft 3, the rotating support member 4, the scanning motor 5, the driving pulley 6, the timing belt 7, and the driven pulley 8 is The driving force of the oscillating motor 1 is oscillated (for example, from −45 ° to + 45 °) around the oscillating shaft 9 via the pinion gear 12 and the oscillating gear 13 (for example, from −45 ° to + 45 °). The ultrasonic scanning surface can be swung even in a part where the camera cannot be tilted, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (not shown) can display an arbitrary tomographic image of the subject.

The operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

2 (a) and 2 (c), when the moving surface of the puncture needle 19 is the ultrasonic scanning surface 21 having the steady state swing angle which is the same as the scanning surface, the rotation drive (not shown) When the rotor 2 is rotated by the source and the ultrasonic element 1 comes to a position facing the ultrasonic element 15 for detecting a swing angle,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (not shown) supplies an electric signal to the ultrasonic element 1, and the ultrasonic element 1 emits an ultrasonic pulse signal. The emitted ultrasonic pulse signal propagates along the propagation path 18 and is received by the oscillation angle detecting ultrasonic element 15. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body is an ultrasonic element 1 for detecting a swing angle.
When the reception signal is obtained from 5, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus determines that the ultrasonic scanning plane is at an angle for performing a puncture test, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus displays a puncture test mode (for example, a guideline of a puncture needle) on a monitor.

Next, referring to FIGS. 2B and 2C, when the puncture needle is on the ultrasonic scanning surface 22 swung at an angle different from that of the puncture needle, the ultrasonic wave radiated from the ultrasonic element 1 The pulse signal propagates along the propagation path 18, but is not received by the oscillation angle detecting ultrasonic element 15. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body determines that the ultrasonic scanning surface is at an angle at which the puncture test cannot be performed because there is no reception signal from the swing angle detecting ultrasonic element 15, and the user selects the puncture test mode. However, the guideline of the puncture needle is not displayed on the monitor. In this way, when the ultrasonic scanning surface swings at an angle at which the reflection image of the puncture needle cannot be obtained, the user can select the puncture inspection mode and prevent the puncture needle from being erroneously punctured. Becomes

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which an ultrasonic element 1 is fixed to a rotor 2 and
1 shows a configuration example in which is supported by a rotating shaft 3 and a rotating shaft support member 4 so as to be able to swing. In the case of this configuration, since the swing range of the rotor 2 is limited, the ultrasonic element 1
The ultrasonic pulse signal radiated from is reflected by the reflector 23, propagates through the propagation path 18 to the ultrasonic element 15 for detecting the oscillating angle, and the ultrasonic scanning surface has the oscillating angle at which the puncture inspection can be performed. Information can be sent to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows a puncture needle guide 20 for performing a puncture test in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
And an ultrasonic probe for puncturing that can swing the scanning surface.

FIG. 5 shows a puncture needle guide 20 for performing a puncture test in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Is an ultrasonic probe for puncture that is attached and can swing a scanning surface.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe that can swing the ultrasonic scanning surface, mechanical rattling in the swing driving force transmission system that swings the ultrasonic scanning surface causes tooth loss of the swing gear and idle rotation of the pinion gear. Even if a difference occurs between the swing angle information from a position detection mechanism such as an encoder and the actual swing scan surface due to a defect such as a defect, the signal from the ultrasonic scanning ultrasonic sensor and the swing scan surface may cause a difference. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus determines whether the moving surface of the puncture needle coincides with the moving surface of the puncture needle, and does not cause damage to the subject in the puncture test because the reflected image of the puncture needle is not obtained in the ultrasonic tomographic image. A safe probe can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 (a) is a partially broken perspective view when a scanning surface according to an embodiment of the present invention is flush with a puncture needle.

FIG. 2 (b) is a partially cutaway perspective view when the scanning surface according to the embodiment of the present invention is different from a puncture needle.

FIG. 2C is a diagram showing a positional relationship between the oscillating scanning surface and the puncture needle according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an ultrasonic probe according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic probe according to the embodiment of the present invention having a puncture needle guide.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view in which a puncture needle guide is attached to the ultrasonic probe according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially broken front view showing a conventional ultrasonic probe.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic element 2 Rotor 3 Rotary shaft 4 Rotation support part 5 Scan motor 6 Drive pulley 7 Timing belt 8 Follower pulley 9 Oscillating shaft 10 Oscillating frame 11 Oscillating motor 12 Pinion gear 13 Oscillating gear 14 Base frame 15 Oscillating angle Ultrasonic element for detection 16 Acoustic window 17 Acoustic coupling liquid 18 Propagation path of ultrasonic pulse signal 19 Puncture needle 20 Puncture needle guide 21 Ultrasonic scanning surface on the same plane as puncture needle 22 Swung to an angle different from that of puncture needle Ultrasonic scanning surface on the same surface 23 Reflector

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A scanning mechanism capable of rotating or swinging an ultrasonic element for performing ultrasonic scanning, a swing mechanism capable of tilting the scanning mechanism, and swinging by the swing mechanism. When the ultrasonic scanning surface has a swing angle at which a puncture inspection is performed, a swing angle detecting ultrasonic sensor capable of receiving an ultrasonic signal emitted from the ultrasonic element and sensing the swing angle of the ultrasonic scan surface. An ultrasonic probe having an acoustic element. 2. A reflector that reflects the ultrasonic signal so that the oscillation angle detecting ultrasonic element capable of sensing the oscillation angle of the ultrasonic scanning surface can receive the ultrasonic signal. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, comprising: 3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, further comprising a guide portion for guiding a puncture needle for performing a puncture inspection. 4. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, further comprising a guide portion for guiding a puncture needle for performing a puncture test.