JP2004275545A - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide ultrasonic diagnostic equipment detecting a temperature rise due to heating of an ultrasonic probe, detecting and displaying its maximum temperature and automatically lowering the temperature, when it exceeds a safety rated value. <P>SOLUTION: This ultrasonic diagnostic equipment is characterized in that only necessary ones out of elements 11-1n of the ultrasonic probe 10 are driven based on set information of an operation mode inputted from an input device 37, and a CPU 32 controls a signal switch 38 to select an output of a temperature sensor out of the temperature sensors 21-2m, which is positioned in a place showing a highest temperature rise near the central part of the driven elements, finds the temperature of an acoustic lens surface in contact with the skin by a calculation based on the temperature sensor output imported via an amplifier 40 and an A/D converter 50, displays the temperature on an image monitor device 36 and, when the temperature exceeds the safety rated value, the CPU 32 controls a transmission/receiving part 31 to lower the power to be input in the elements 11-1n. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs imaging of an ultrasonic tomographic image (B-mode image), blood flow velocity measurement using an ultrasonic Doppler phenomenon, and the like, and particularly relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that copes with heat generated by the ultrasonic probe. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Ultrasound diagnostic equipment irradiates an ultrasonic beam into a subject (body of the examinee) and receives reflected waves to obtain a tomographic image of the inside of the body or to obtain a blood flow using the Doppler phenomenon. For example, an image representing the speed of the object is obtained, and is widely used in medical diagnostic applications. The transmission of the ultrasonic beam into the body and the reception of the reflected wave from the body are performed by an ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic probe has a number of transducer elements arranged side by side, and an acoustic lens is attached to the acoustic input / output side. At the time of transmitting waves, each element is driven by an ultrasonic drive signal to generate an ultrasonic sound. The generated ultrasonic sound is made to enter the body through an acoustic lens brought into contact with the skin surface.
[0003]
However, the conversion efficiency of the input electric energy to acoustic energy in the vibrator element is not 100%, and a part of the vibrator element becomes heat instead of acoustic energy. Therefore, the skin in contact with the ultrasonic probe may be damaged by the heat.
[0004]
Therefore, conventionally, it has been considered to measure the temperature. For example, in the following Patent Document 1, a temperature sensor is provided at the distal end of a puncture device that combines a puncture device that performs electric treatment at the distal end portion and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. It is also known to incorporate one temperature sensor into an ultrasonic probe for transesophageal use.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-340350 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above merely measures the temperature of the distal end portion of the puncture device, and does not prevent the danger of the skin due to the heat generated by the ultrasonic probe. In addition, a transesophageal ultrasonic probe having a built-in temperature sensor cannot detect that the temperature has been partially increased. The transesophageal ultrasonic probe is a type of sector probe that performs a sector (fan) scan with an ultrasonic beam. In order to perform a sector scan, all the elements are driven, so that the temperature rises uniformly. Therefore, since it is sufficient to measure the temperature at one point, only one temperature sensor is provided, and it is impossible to know that a part of the ultrasonic probe has risen in temperature and has become dangerous.
[0007]
For example, when measuring in a Doppler mode using a linear probe or a convex probe, to increase the number of wave transmissions on the line of the ultrasonic beam on which the Doppler cursor is set, the temperature is centered on the element related to the line. The temperature distribution has a certain pattern of rising. In the color Doppler mode, the temperature distribution that has risen differs depending on the position of the set ROI (region of interest). When the temperature of the ultrasonic probe rises so as to have a specific distribution, the conventional technique measures the highest temperature in the distribution and avoids the risk of skin damage according to the temperature measurement. It was difficult to do.
[0008]
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus improved so that the maximum temperature can be detected when the temperature of each part of the ultrasonic probe does not rise uniformly.
[0009]
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which, when the temperature of each part of the ultrasonic probe does not rise uniformly, danger avoidance measures are automatically taken in accordance with the detected maximum temperature. It is in.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, an ultrasonic probe including a number of ultrasonic transducer elements, and a driving pulse is sent to the transducer elements to transmit ultrasonic waves into a subject. Transmitting / receiving means for transmitting and receiving a reception signal generated by the transducer element receiving an ultrasonic wave from inside the subject; and signal processing for processing the reception signal from the transmission / reception means to generate image data Scanning means for converting the image data into a video signal scanning method; video output means for outputting the video signal; an image monitor device for transmitting the video signal and displaying an image; An input device, an ultrasonic transmission / reception control unit that controls the transmission / reception unit and the signal processing unit based on operation mode setting information input by the input device; A plurality of temperature sensors attached to various parts of the ultrasonic probe, and temperature display control means for displaying the highest temperature among the temperatures represented by the outputs of the plurality of temperature sensors on the screen of the image monitor device are provided. Is the feature.
[0011]
A plurality of temperature sensors are attached to each part of the ultrasonic probe, and the temperature is measured at a plurality of places. Then, since the temperature display control means displays the measured maximum temperature on the screen of the image monitor device, even when the temperature of each part of the ultrasonic probe does not rise uniformly but partially rises, the temperature is controlled. It can be known and the heat can prevent the patient's body skin from being damaged.
[0012]
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second aspect, the temperature display control means includes a signal switching means for selecting an output of the temperature sensor based on operation mode setting information input by the input device. It has become.
[0013]
The operation mode can be set by operating the input device. When the line of the ultrasonic beam is set in the Doppler mode, the ultrasonic transducer element related to the line is driven, so that the temperature becomes highest near the center of the driven element. In the case of the color Doppler mode, the temperature of the ultrasonic transducer element corresponding to the vicinity of the center of the set color ROI becomes the highest. Therefore, based on the setting information, the output of the temperature sensor located near the element having a high temperature is selected by the signal switching means, and if the temperature represented by the output is displayed, the highest among the ultrasonic probes can be obtained. The temperature can be captured and displayed.
[0014]
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, the temperature display control means is configured to take in all of the outputs of the plurality of temperature sensors and display the temperatures of the respective parts represented by all the temperature sensor outputs as a temperature distribution. It is characterized by being.
[0015]
By taking in all the outputs of the plurality of temperature sensors provided at various points of the ultrasonic probe, the temperature distribution of the entire ultrasonic probe can be determined. Since this temperature distribution is displayed, the maximum temperature can be known from the temperature distribution, and the safety of the patient can be improved accordingly.
[0016]
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the ultrasonic transmission / reception control means is controlled in accordance with the highest temperature among the temperatures represented by the outputs of the plurality of temperature sensors. It is characterized in that automatic power reduction means for reducing electric energy applied to the vibrator element is further provided.
[0017]
The electrical energy applied to the ultrasonic transducer element is automatically reduced according to the detected maximum temperature of the ultrasonic probe, so that the heat of the ultrasonic probe that has become hot may damage the patient's skin. Can be prevented automatically.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, an ultrasonic probe 10 includes a number of ultrasonic transducer elements 11, 12,..., 1n, each of which includes a transmitting / receiving unit (means). A drive pulse is sent from 31 to be excited. The ultrasonic waves generated from the transducer elements 11, 12,..., 1n are combined and emitted as one ultrasonic beam into a subject (patient body) (not shown). This ultrasonic wave is reflected inside the subject and returns to oscillate the transducer elements 11, 12,..., 1n of the ultrasonic probe 10. Each of the transducer elements 11, 12,..., 1n converts this acoustic vibration into an electric signal and sends the electric signal to the transmission / reception unit 31.
[0019]
In the ultrasonic probe 10, as shown in FIG. 3, a number of ultrasonic transducer elements 11, 12,..., 1n are linearly arranged in a line, and are arranged on the sound input / output side (downward in the figure). An acoustic lens 61 is attached. In this example, the ultrasonic probe 10 is a so-called linear probe, but in the case of a convex probe, a number of ultrasonic transducer elements 11, 12,..., 1n are curved and arranged in a line. If the direction in which the ultrasonic transducer elements 11, 12,..., 1n are arranged in the long axis direction, the acoustic lens 61 focuses the transmitted and received ultrasonic waves in the short axis direction perpendicular thereto. Focusing of the ultrasonic waves in the long axis direction is performed electronically by delay control of the drive timing of each of the elements 11, 12,... 1n and delay control of the output of each of the elements 11, 12,.
[0020]
Here, as shown in FIG. 3, a large number of temperature sensors 21, 22,..., 2m are provided on the side surfaces of the vibrator elements 11, 12,. Each is attached near the middle of the element.
[0021]
The transmission / reception unit 31 applies a drive pulse to each of the transducer elements 11, 12,..., 1n while performing delay control of the drive timing of each of the transducer elements 11, 12,. By receiving these signals while performing the delay control, the direction (directivity) and focusing of the transmitted and received ultrasonic beams are controlled. These operations are performed under the control of the CPU (central control unit) 32. For example, sector scanning or Doppler measurement by an ultrasonic beam is performed. The received signals obtained by the transmitting / receiving section 31 are sequentially sent to a signal processing section (means) 33. The signal processing unit 33 creates a B-mode image signal from these received signals or creates a Doppler image signal.
[0022]
The image signal is converted into a video signal by a scan converter (means) 34 into a video signal scanning system, and is sent to an image monitor 36 via a video output unit (means) 35. In this way, a B-mode image (ultrasonic tomographic image) or a Doppler image of a target site such as a blood vessel or a tumor is displayed on the screen of the image monitor device 36.
[0023]
The CPU 32 controls each unit and the whole of the transmission / reception unit 31, the signal processing unit 33, the scan conversion unit 34, and the like. The CPU 32 is connected with an input device 37 such as a keyboard, a trackball or a mouse, which can be operated by a doctor or the like.
[0024]
, 2 m attached to the ultrasonic probe 10, only one of the outputs is selected by a signal switch (means) 38, and is subjected to A / D conversion via an amplifier 40. The digital signal is converted into a digital signal by the device 50 and is taken into the CPU 32.
[0025]
When the operator operates the input device 37 such as a keyboard to set the operation mode, for example, sets the line of the ultrasonic beam in the Doppler mode, the CPU 32 controls the transmission / reception unit 31, and the ultrasonic transducer elements 11, 12, .., One of 1n related to the line is driven. The CPU 32 sends a switching control signal to the signal switch 38 so that the temperature sensor output closest to the element driven based on the setting information is selected by the signal switch 38.
[0026]
Further, when the color Doppler mode is selected and the color ROI is set, the element related to the ROI is driven. Therefore, the CPU 32 outputs the temperature sensor output closest to the center of the driven element based on the setting information. A switch control signal is sent to the signal switch 38 so as to be selected by the switch 38.
[0027]
In this way, information that detects the temperature near the maximum temperature of the element that generates heat by being driven is selected by the signal switch 38, which is taken into the CPU 32 via the amplifier 40 and the A / D converter 50. It is. This maximum temperature information may be sent to the video output unit 35 as it is, and a numerical value representing the temperature may be displayed on the screen of the image monitor device 36. Here, the temperature near the element detected by the temperature sensor and the actual patient Considering that the temperature of the surface of the acoustic lens 61 touching the skin does not exactly match, based on the correlation between the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the surface temperature of the acoustic lens 61, which is measured in advance, The CPU 32 calculates the surface temperature of the acoustic lens 61, sends the obtained value to the video output unit 35, and displays the estimated temperature on the screen of the image monitor device 36, thereby further improving the safety. This temperature display is made to appear in, for example, a corner of the screen of the image monitor device 36 so that it can be observed together with the ultrasonic image.
[0028]
Thus, the maximum temperature can be detected and displayed in the Doppler mode or the color Doppler mode in which the temperature of the ultrasonic probe 10 partially rises. Doctors, etc. may make a diagnosis while confirming that the temperature is within a safe range that does not exceed the value specified in the safety standard, or checking how much room there is to the standard value. it can. Further, by adjusting the incident ultrasonic power while observing the display, it is possible to perform setting so that the maximum ultrasonic power is incident into the patient's body, and perform ultrasonic diagnosis with good sensitivity. If the displayed temperature exceeds the limit value, a doctor or the like can take such a measure and take safety measures such as lowering the input power to the ultrasonic transducer element. In this case, it is effective if the CPU 32 calls the attention by changing the color of the temperature display displayed on the image monitor device 36 or issuing a warning sound.
[0029]
Furthermore, if a safety management program is incorporated in the CPU 32 and the detected temperature exceeds the standard value, and the operator does not perform an operation for lowering the temperature even after a certain time, the ultrasonic vibrator element An operation of reducing the input electric energy, such as lowering the drive voltage, may be automatically performed. If the input electric energy is reduced to the maximum and set to zero, the transmission of the ultrasonic wave itself is stopped.
[0030]
FIG. 2 shows another embodiment. 2, the signal switch 38 is omitted, and the outputs of the temperature sensors 21, 22,..., 2m are respectively connected to amplifiers 41, 42,. After that, all are input to the CPU 32. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG. The CPU 32 always monitors the outputs of all the temperature sensors, regardless of the operation mode, estimates the surface temperature distribution of the acoustic lens 61 from those outputs, and as shown in FIG. Display the distribution as a graph. Such a temperature distribution is displayed in the corner of the screen of the image monitor device 36 together with the ultrasonic image. If the limit value is also displayed as shown in FIG. 4, it is immediately known that the maximum value of the temperature profile has exceeded the limit value, and it is safe.
[0031]
In the case where the maximum value of the temperature profile exceeds the limit value as shown in FIG. 5, if the portion exceeding the limit value is displayed in a different color from the others as shown by a thick line, more attention can be drawn. Also in this case, a warning sound may be emitted. Further, in the same manner as described above, if the CPU 32 does not perform an operation for lowering the temperature after a certain period of time in response to the fact that the maximum value of the temperature profile has exceeded the limit value, the ultrasonic vibrator element It is also possible to automatically reduce the input electric energy by lowering the driving voltage of the device.
[0032]
In the configuration of FIG. 1, the CPU 32 controls the signal switch 38 so that all outputs of the temperature sensors 21, 22,..., 2m are always selected in order regardless of the operation mode. The temperature profile of the ultrasonic probe 10 can be obtained in the same manner also by performing a scan of the temperature sensor described above and taking in all the outputs from the CPU 32.
[0033]
The above description relates to the embodiment of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, although one temperature sensor is provided for two ultrasonic transducer elements, the ratio is not limited to this. In the above description, the CPU 32 controls the transmission / reception unit 31 and the signal processing unit 33 according to the input setting information of the operation mode. However, the control function of the ultrasonic transmission / reception is performed by another hardware or software. It can also be constituted by means. The CPU 32 also performs a function of displaying the maximum temperature represented by the outputs of the temperature sensors 21, 22,..., 2m on the screen of the image monitor device 36 as a numerical value or a temperature profile. You may make it perform by a means. Automatic reduction of electric energy when the detected maximum temperature exceeds the limit value can be performed by other hardware or software means in addition to the CPU 32. Furthermore, the transmission / reception unit 31, the signal processing unit 32, the scan conversion unit 34, and the like have been described in terms of hardware above, but they can also be realized by an emulation function of software.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, when the high temperature is generated in a part of the ultrasonic probe in the Doppler mode or the color Doppler mode in which all the elements of the ultrasonic probe are not driven, the maximum is obtained. The temperature can be detected and notified to the operator. Therefore, the operator can easily perform better diagnosis by increasing the ultrasonic wave incident power within a safe range. In addition, if the maximum temperature exceeds the safe range, the operator is prompted to take appropriate action, and if the action is not taken, the system automatically lowers the temperature. Have been.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of an ultrasonic probe used in these embodiments.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a temperature profile.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another display example of a temperature profile.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Ultrasonic Probe 11-1n Ultrasonic Transducer Element 21-2m Temperature Sensor 31 Transmitter / Receiver 32 CPU
33 signal processing unit 34 scan conversion unit 35 video output unit 36 image monitoring device 37 input device 38 signal switch 40, 41-4 m amplifier 50, 51-5 m A / D converter

Claims (4)

An ultrasonic probe having a number of ultrasonic transducer elements, and a driving pulse is sent to the transducer elements to transmit ultrasonic waves into the subject, and the transducer elements receive ultrasonic waves from inside the subject. Transmitting and receiving means for receiving a received signal generated by the transmitting and receiving means, signal processing means for processing the received signal from the transmitting and receiving means to generate image data, and scan conversion means for converting the image data into a video signal scanning method A video output means for outputting the video signal, an image monitor device for transmitting the video signal to display an image, an operable input device, and the operation mode setting information input by the input device. Ultrasonic transmission / reception control means for controlling transmission / reception means and signal processing means, a plurality of temperature sensors attached to various parts of the ultrasonic probe, Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising a temperature display control means for displaying the maximum temperature of the temperature output of the temperature sensor of the number represented on the screen of the picture display device. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature display control means includes a signal switching means for selecting an output of the temperature sensor based on operation mode setting information input by the input device. The temperature display control means is configured to take in all of the outputs of the plurality of temperature sensors and display the temperature of each part represented by all of the temperature sensor outputs as a temperature distribution. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. The ultrasonic transmission / reception control means is controlled in accordance with the highest temperature among the temperatures represented by the outputs of the plurality of temperature sensors, and further includes an automatic output reduction means for reducing electric energy applied to the ultrasonic transducer element. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

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