JP2003334197A - Ultrasonic probe and operating device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the handling of an operator of an operating device and to make an operating method easy to understand sensuously, by inserting into a celom a probe head wherein an ultrasonic vibrator is disposed and by rotating an ultrasonic scanning plane remotely by the operating device outside the body. <P>SOLUTION: A motor provided in the probe head and rotating an ultrasonic vibrator array is operated by a jog switch 20 provided for the operating device 16. The jog switch is urged by springs 44 and 46 to return to a neutral position. When the switch is rotated clockwise at a prescribed angle from the neutral position, the motor is rotated and it continues to rotate when this angle is maintained. When the jog switch is released, it returns to the neutral position and the motor stops. When the jog switch is rotated counterclockwise, the motor rotates reversely. By holding the jog switch at the prescribed angle, the motor rotates continuously and the operation becomes easy. By controlling the rotation of the motor by the rotating operation of the jog switch, the direction of the rotation is made easy to be known sensuously. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operating device for controlling the direction of an ultrasonic scanning surface of an ultrasonic probe, and more particularly to the structure of the operating member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ultrasonic waves are radiated from a probe into a living body, ultrasonic waves reflected from the living body are received by the probe, and an ultrasonic image inside the living body is formed based on the received signals. However, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for observing is widespread. The probe of this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an ultrasonic probe) is
It has various forms, shapes, and sizes depending on the site to be diagnosed, and is appropriately used. Among them, an ultrasonic probe used by being inserted into a body cavity such as the transesophagus is known. In this type of ultrasonic probe, an array of ultrasonic transducers is arranged in a probe head that is inserted into a body cavity, and this array is rotated to rotate the scanning surface of ultrasonic waves. The rotation of the array of ultrasonic transducers is performed by an operating device that is connected to the probe head with the insertion tube and is operated outside the body. This operating device includes an array of ultrasonic transducers,
A dial connected by a wire penetrating the inside of the insertion tube is provided, and the rotation of the dial is mechanically transmitted through the wire and transmitted to the ultrasonic transducer array to rotate the ultrasonic scanning surface.

[0003]

When operating the ultrasonic probe for transesophageal as described above, the operator grasps the insertion tube with one hand and sends the probe head into the body cavity.
The other hand grips the operating device and operates various switches provided on the operating device. Also, while operating the ultrasonic probe,
While watching the obtained ultrasonic image, the switch of the operation device is operated by groping. Therefore, it is desired that the switch of the operating device be easy to operate and intuitively understand the contents of the operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide an operating device which is easy to operate and whose contents of operation are easy to understand.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an ultrasonic probe device according to the present invention controls a motor by operating a jog switch provided on an operating device. I am trying to change the direction of the acoustic surface.
The motor is stopped when the jog switch is in the neutral position. When the jog switch is rotated a predetermined angle to the right from the neutral position, the motor is continuously controlled to rotate in the forward direction. Further, if it is rotated a predetermined angle to the left from the neutral position, the rotation is continuously controlled in the opposite direction.

According to this structure, if the jog switch is rotated by a predetermined angle and held there, the motor continuously rotates, which facilitates the operation. Further, since the rotation direction of the motor, that is, the rotation direction of the scanning surface and the rotation direction of the jog switch correspond to each other, the contents of the operation can be easily understood.

Further, the rotation speed of the motor can be changed according to the rotation angle of the jog switch from the neutral position. In this case, it is preferable to increase the rotation speed of the motor stepwise or continuously as the rotation angle increases.

The jog switch can be configured in two stages. In the first stage close to the neutral position, the motor rotates at the first speed, and in the next second stage, the first stage described above is used. The motor can be rotated at a second speed that is faster than

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
The schematic configuration of the appearance of the ultrasonic probe 10 according to the present embodiment is shown. This ultrasonic probe 10 is for transesophageal use, and a probe head 12 provided at the tip is inserted through the oral cavity of a patient. An ultrasonic transducer array (not shown) is rotatably provided on the probe head 12, and the ultrasonic scanning surface is also rotated by the rotation of the array, so that ultrasonic waves at an arbitrary angular position can be obtained. A tomographic image can be obtained. The probe head 12 includes an operating device 16 via an insertion tube 14.
Connected with. The operating device 16 includes the probe head 12
The probe head 12 is formed by bending the curved portion 13 at the tip of the probe.
An operator is provided for changing the direction and rotating the ultrasonic transducer array described above. A dial 18 is provided as an operator for bending the bending portion 13 to change the direction of the probe head 12. The dial 18 and the probe head 12 are connected by two wires passing through the insertion tube 14, and when the dial 18 is rotated in the first direction, one wire is pulled and the other is loosened. The vicinity of the tip of the curved portion 13 is bent so that the probe head 12 is lifted to the front side of the paper surface of FIG. Further, when the dial 18 is rotated in the second direction opposite to the first direction, the probe head 12 bends in the opposite direction, that is, toward the back of the paper, the bending portion 13 bends. The operating device 16 is
It has another operator, namely a jog switch 20 provided so as to be stacked on the dial 18. The operation of the jog switch 20 controls the rotation of the ultrasonic transducer array. The configuration and operation of the jog switch 20 will be described in detail later. The operating device 16 is further connected to the connector 24 via a cable 22. By mounting the connector 24 on the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body (not shown), the ultrasonic probe 10 and the main body are electrically connected.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a cross section of the probe head 12 including the axis of the insertion tube 14 in FIG. 1 and orthogonal to the paper surface. The ultrasonic transducer array 26 includes a motor 30.
Fixed on the rotor 28 of the
Rotates due to the interaction with the rotating magnetic field formed by the stator 32 of the motor 30 about the axis extending in the vertical direction in the drawing. The rotation of the rotor 28 changes the orientation of the ultrasonic transducer array 26, and the ultrasonic scanning surface rotates about the rotation axis of the rotor 28. The jog switch 20 described above is a switch that controls the rotation of the motor 30.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the structure of the operating element of the operating device, and is a partially cutaway view showing the internal structure of the operating device 16. Two wires 34 and 36 extending toward the inside of the insertion tube 14 are connected to the dial 18. When the dial 18 is turned counterclockwise in FIG. 3, the wire 34 is loosened, the lower wire 36 is pulled, and the bending portion 13 is bent by this tension. When the dial 18 is turned clockwise, the upper wire 34 is pulled, and the bending portion 13 bends in the opposite direction.

One end of the two tension wires 38 and 40 is locked to the jog switch 20 at a symmetrical position about its rotation axis, and the other ends of these tension wires 38 and 40 are operated. It is locked to a fixed plate 42 fixed to the device 16. The tension wires 38, 40 are provided with elastic members, preferably springs 4, which are stretched from their free lengths in order to apply tension to them.
4, 46 are provided. Further, one tension wire, in the present embodiment, the tension wire 38 and the slide switch 48 are arranged.

The jog switch 20 includes springs 44 and 46.
The neutral position is provided at a position where these are almost balanced. When the jog switch 20 is rotated, the balance of the urging forces of the springs 44 and 46 is lost, and when the jog switch 20 is released in this state, the neutral position is restored. The stator of the slide switch 48 is fixed to the main body side of the operating device 16, and is fixed to the slider wire. The stator is provided with two contacts so as to sandwich a position corresponding to the neutral position of the jog switch 20, and the slider slides within the range of these two contacts.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the jog switch 20 is rotated clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the end of the movable range. By this operation, tension is applied to the tension wire 38 located on the upper side, the spring 44 extends, and the spring 46 on the opposite side contracts. The slider of the slide switch 48 moves to the right in the figure and contacts the right contact. This contact causes the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body to output a control signal for rotating the motor 30 in the probe head 12 clockwise when viewed from the side of the probe head 12 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. When the force holding the jog switch 20 is released, the tension of the spring 44 returns the jog switch 20 to the neutral position, the contacts of the slide switch 48 are also released, and the motor 30 stops.

Contrary to the case of FIG. 4, when the jog switch 20 is rotated counterclockwise to the end of the movable range, the spring 44 contracts and the spring 46 extends. Therefore, the slider comes into contact with the contact on the side opposite to the contact in the case of FIG. 4, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus outputs a control signal for rotating the motor 30 counterclockwise.

As described above, by rotating the jog switch 20 by a predetermined angle from the neutral position and then holding it at this position, the motor 30 continues to rotate and continues to rotate within the rotation range of the motor. In the case where the ultrasonic transducer array 26 mechanically connected with the wire is rotated by a dial, the ultrasonic transducer array 26 does not continue to rotate unless the dial is continuously rotated. In this case, the jog dial may be held at a predetermined angular position, which makes the operation easier. Further, by controlling the rotation of the ultrasonic transducer array 26 by the rotation of the jog switch 20, it is possible to associate the direction in which the tomographic plane, which is the ultrasonic scanning plane, is rotated with the rotation direction of the jog switch 20, Do not hesitate to operate. For example, when controlling clockwise and counterclockwise with two push buttons, it is difficult to know which button is pressed to rotate the tomographic image in a desired direction. Can be understood.

Further, the slide switch 48 is provided with two contacts on both sides of the neutral position, and the motor 30 is driven at a low speed when it comes into contact with the contact close to the neutral position and at a high speed when it comes into contact with the contact. It can also be rotated. Further, the rotation speed of the motor 30 can be continuously changed according to the distance from the neutral position.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration in which a photo switch 50 is used instead of the slide switch 48. Other configurations are similar to those shown in FIG.
The same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted. Two photo switches 50 are arrayed and fixed to the operation device 16 along the extending direction of the tension wire 38, with two photo switches 50 sandwiching the neutral position. A slit plate 52 is fixed to the tension wire 38, and the slit plate 52 moves in the extending direction of the tension wire 38 as the jog switch 20 rotates. The slit plate 52 is provided with one slit 54, and this slit 54 is located at the center of the row of the four photo switches 50 when the jog switch 20 is in the neutral position. In one photo switch 50, the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are arranged so as to sandwich the slit plate 52, and when the slit 54 is aligned with the position of the photo switch 50,
The light from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit, and a signal corresponding to this is output.

When the jog switch 20 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the slit plate 52 moves, and the position of the second photosensor 50 from the right of the four is slit 54.
Passes through. The second photo sensor 50 outputs a signal, and the motor 30 is controlled to rotate clockwise at the first speed in accordance with this signal. When the jog switch 20 is further rotated clockwise, the slit 54 moves to the position of the photo sensor 50 at the right end, and a signal is output from this photo sensor 50. This signal causes the motor 30 to be controlled to rotate in the same direction at a second speed, which is faster than before. When the slit is returned to the position of the second photo sensor by slightly returning the jog switch 20, the rotation speed of the motor 30 becomes the first speed. When the jog switch 20 is released, the force of the spring 44 returns the jog switch 20 to the neutral position and the motor 30 also stops. On the contrary, when the jog switch 20 is rotated counterclockwise,
The rotation of the motor 30 is also reversed, that is, counterclockwise.

The switch configuration shown in FIG. 5 has a photo sensor 50.
The speed can be controlled in two stages by using four sensors, but the speed can be constant by using two sensors. It is also possible to further increase the number of speed control stages. Further, although the slit wire 52 is arranged on the tension wire 38, a disk having a slit may be provided coaxially with the jog switch 20 and a photosensor may be provided corresponding to the disk.

[0021]

According to the present invention, the operation of the operating device for rotating the tomographic plane of the ultrasonic tomographic image can be easily performed, and the contents of the operation can be easily understood intuitively.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a schematic configuration of a transesophageal probe of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of a probe head.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway plan view showing a configuration example of an operating device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the operating device in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view showing another configuration example of the operating device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ultrasonic probe, 12 probe head, 16 operating device, 18 dial, 20 jog switch, 26
Ultrasonic transducer array, 30 motor, 38,40 tension wire, 44,46 spring, 48 slide switch, 50 photo sensor, 52 slit plate,
54 slits.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 4C301 BB22 BB28 CC02 EE13 FF04                 4C601 BB05 BB06 BB09 BB11 BB16                       EE11 FE01 KK12

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An operating device for controlling an ultrasonic probe for changing the orientation of an ultrasonic scanning surface by a motor, comprising a jog switch for controlling the motor, wherein the jog switch is in a neutral position. Is an operating device for an ultrasonic probe in which the motor is stopped, and when the motor is rotated a predetermined angle to the right from the neutral position, the motor is normally rotated, and when the motor is rotated a predetermined angle to the left from the neutral position, the motor is rotated in the reverse direction. 2. The ultrasonic probe operating device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation speed of the motor is changed according to a rotation angle of the jog switch from the neutral position. Tactile operating device. 3. The operating device for the ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the jog switch has a two-step switch configuration in each of the left and right rotation directions with the neutral position as a boundary, and is close to the neutral position. The ultrasonic probe in which the motor is controlled at a first speed in the first step, and is controlled at a second speed higher than the first speed in the second step away from the neutral position. Operating device. 4. An ultrasonic transducer, wherein a head having an ultrasonic transducer array and a motor for rotating the ultrasonic transducer array is inserted into a body cavity, and the motor is controlled by operating an operating device outside the body to change the ultrasonic scanning plane. A sound wave probe, wherein the operating device has a jog switch for controlling the motor, the motor is stopped in a neutral position of the jog switch, and when the jog switch is turned to the right from the neutral position, the motor is moved to the normal position. An ultrasonic probe that rotates and rotates in the opposite direction when turned counterclockwise from the neutral position.