JP2005230378A - Connection adapter for ultrasonic inspection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform an electronic ultrasonic scanning by connecting an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe to an ultrasonic inspection apparatus to which a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe is connected. <P>SOLUTION: A connection adapter 50 for connecting the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 40 to a connection part 3 of the ultrasonic inspection apparatus 1 for the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10 comprises a connection part 50P detachably connected to the connection part 3 and a connection part 50S detachably connected to the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 40. The connection adapter 50 also has a built-in multiplexer 52, a distribution circuit 53 and a delay circuit 54, and a switch 55 for controlling the on/off of a pulse generator 52. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection adapter for an ultrasonic inspection apparatus for connecting an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe to an ultrasonic observation apparatus connected to a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe so that ultrasonic electronic scanning can be performed. It is about.

  The ultrasonic inspection apparatus is generally composed of an ultrasonic probe provided with an ultrasonic transducer and an ultrasonic observation apparatus to which the ultrasonic probe is detachably connected, and acquires a tomographic image of a body tissue or the like, It obtains information for diagnosis and examination, and is widely used in the medical field. Here, in order to drive the ultrasonic transducer and acquire a tomographic image of the body tissue, the scanning method includes a mechanical scanning type that mechanically moves the ultrasonic transducer and a number of ultrasonic vibrations. There is an electronic scanning type which includes an ultrasonic transducer array in which children are arranged in a predetermined direction, and sequentially drives each ultrasonic transducer.

  Whether it is a mechanical scanning type or an electronic scanning type, the ultrasonic probe is detachably connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus, and drive control of the ultrasonic transducer is performed by a signal from the ultrasonic observation apparatus. Then, the ultrasonic reflected echo signal received by the ultrasonic transducer is transmitted to the ultrasonic observation apparatus, and ultrasonic image data is generated by performing predetermined signal processing, and the ultrasonic image is displayed on the monitor. It will be. Therefore, the configuration of the ultrasonic observation apparatus includes at least a transmission / reception circuit, a scan converter, and a frame memory. In the transmission / reception circuit, an ultrasonic pulse is transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer by inputting a drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer from the transmission side. Since the transmitted ultrasonic pulse generates a reflected echo in the tissue tomographic section, the ultrasonic transducer receives the reflected echo and converts it into an electrical signal. By switching the transmission / reception circuit to the reception side, the reflected echo signal acquired by the ultrasonic transducer is taken into the ultrasonic observation apparatus. The reflected echo signal is recorded in the frame memory through the scan converter. Furthermore, a monitor device is connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus, and an ultrasonic image is displayed on the monitor device.

  These mechanical scanning and electronic scanning ultrasonic probes are detachably connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus. When ultrasonic scanning is performed by operating the ultrasonic probe, the transmission / reception circuit switches between a transmission side that inputs a drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer and a reception side that receives a reflected echo signal from the ultrasonic transducer. The operation is repeatedly performed at a predetermined timing. In the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe, the switching timing is switched between the transmitting side and the receiving side based on the position signal in the rotational direction or linear direction of the ultrasonic transducer. On the other hand, in the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe, a large number of arranged ultrasonic transducers are sequentially driven, so the wiring from each ultrasonic transducer is connected to the switching means, and a control signal is input to this switching means. Thus, the ultrasonic transducers are controlled to be sequentially driven and the reflected echo signals are sequentially captured. Also, in an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe, normally, an ultrasonic transducer is not driven one by one, but a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are used to change the transmission direction of ultrasonic waves or perform electronic focusing. These ultrasonic transducers are driven simultaneously. For this purpose, a distribution circuit is connected to the transmission / reception circuit, and a delay circuit for shifting the transmission timing of the ultrasonic pulse of each ultrasonic transducer in the plurality of ultrasonic transducers driven simultaneously is provided. It is common to configure.

  Therefore, in an ultrasonic observation apparatus used for a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe, a position detection unit of an ultrasonic transducer is provided, and a position detection signal from the position detection unit is input as a control signal of a transmission / reception circuit or the like. In addition, an ultrasonic observation apparatus to which an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe is connected includes a pulse generator that generates a drive control signal for switching a transmission / reception circuit. As described above, since the circuit configuration of each ultrasonic observation apparatus is different between the mechanical scanning ultrasonic inspection apparatus and the electronic scanning ultrasonic inspection apparatus, the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe and the electronic scanning type are different. An ultrasonic observation device cannot be shared with an ultrasonic probe. Therefore, when performing an ultrasonic examination on a subject in an ultrasonic examination room, a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe is sometimes used, and an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe is also used. Two ultrasonic observation devices including a monitor device must be installed in the sonography room. In general, since there is no need to perform ultrasonic inspection using a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe and an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe simultaneously, two ultrasonic observation devices are installed in the ultrasonic inspection room. It is wasteful both in terms of space and cost.

However, in the ultrasonic observation apparatus, whether it is a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe or an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe, there is no particular difference in the circuit configuration and the monitor apparatus after the scan converter. It is possible to share. Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration of an ultrasonic inspection apparatus capable of connecting a mechanical scanning type electronic scanning type ultrasonic probe. In the configuration of Patent Document 1, a mechanism that cannot be shared by the two types of ultrasonic probes described above, that is, a circuit from the connection to the ultrasonic probe to the scan converter is separately provided in the ultrasonic observation apparatus. It is provided so that any ultrasonic probe can be selectively connected by the switching means.
JP 10-33533 A

  The conventional ultrasonic observation apparatus according to the prior art described above is provided with a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe connecting portion and an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe connecting portion, and each has a structure in which different transmission / reception circuits and the like are incorporated. However, since the ultrasonic observation apparatus is provided with the non-shared part individually, the apparatus configuration becomes complicated and large. When an ultrasonic observation device suitable for performing an ultrasonic inspection using a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe is installed in an ultrasonic inspection room, an ultrasonic inspection is performed using an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe. When there is a request to do it, there is a problem that it can not cope with it. In addition, it is impossible to use an existing ultrasonic observation apparatus for both a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe and an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points. The object of the present invention is to connect an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe to an ultrasonic observation apparatus to which a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe is connected. The purpose is to enable sonic scanning.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention includes a single ultrasonic transducer and position detection means for detecting the amount of movement of the ultrasonic transducer, and mechanically moves the ultrasonic transducer. And a transmission / reception circuit for performing switching control of transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves on the basis of a detection signal from the position detection means. In order to connect an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer array comprising a plurality of electronically controlled ultrasonic transducers to an ultrasonic observation device, the transmission / reception circuit and the ultrasonic transducer A scanning switching means for connecting between the ultrasonic transducers constituting the array; and a switching signal generating means for inputting a switching signal to the transmission / reception circuit and the scanning switching means, the ultrasonic observation apparatus and the electron scanning It is an its features that it has a structure that is detachably connected to the ultrasonic probe.

  Here, as the configuration of the ultrasonic transducer array in the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus, the ultrasonic transducers are arranged in a linear direction or a convex or concave curved shape, or arranged in an annular shape The number and the number of ultrasonic transducers to be arranged are not limited. In short, the connection portion of the connection adapter to the ultrasonic probe is configured to fit each connector. On the other hand, the connection part to the ultrasonic observation apparatus has the same configuration. As a result, a plurality of types of electronic scanning ultrasonic probes can be connected to a single ultrasonic observation apparatus. In addition, as an ultrasonic probe, a type that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves from the body skin of a subject, a type that is inserted into a body cavity to perform ultrasonic examination, a type that is configured as an ultrasonic endoscope, etc. Does not matter.

  In performing electronic scanning, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are driven simultaneously or with a predetermined time difference in order to control the directionality of ultrasonic pulses and to perform electronic focusing. Accordingly, the drive signal is distributed to a plurality of units, and the scanning switching means including the switching circuit is provided with a delay function. However, in a general electronic scanning ultrasonic inspection apparatus, these scanning switching means and distribution are provided. Since the means and the delay means are provided on the ultrasonic observation apparatus side, these mechanisms are provided in the connection adapter.

  Therefore, by using the connection adapter of the present invention, ultrasonic electronic scanning can be performed by connecting the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe to the ultrasonic observation apparatus constituting the mechanical ultrasonic inspection apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of an ultrasonic inspection apparatus. In the figure, 1 is an ultrasonic observation apparatus, 2 is a monitor apparatus thereof, and the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1 is provided with a connecting portion 3, and the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10 can be attached to and detached from this connecting portion. It can be connected.

  Here, the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is configured to be inserted into a body cavity through the treatment instrument insertion channel of the endoscope S and to perform ultrasound scanning from the inner wall of the body cavity. Is. 2 and 3 show a specific example of the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10. The mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10 shown in the figure is suitable for performing radial ultrasonic scanning. Note that the ultrasonic scanning direction may be not only the radial direction but also the linear direction. The illustrated mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10 includes a flexible probe main body 11 and a translator 12, and a connection cord 13 extends from the translator 12 for connection to the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1. The end of the connection cord 13 is a connector 14. The mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 1 is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel of the endoscope S. However, the endoscope S is not necessarily used as a guide means, and the ultrasonic probe alone is used in the body cavity. It may be configured to be inserted into the.

  The probe main body 11 of the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10 is provided with a rotating base 15 inside the tip of a flexible tube whose tip is closed, and an ultrasonic transducer 16 is installed on the rotating base 15. . The ultrasonic transducer 16 is made of a single plate and is configured to perform mechanical radial scanning by rotationally driving it. The rotation base 15 is connected with a flexible shaft 17 made of a contact coil or the like as a rotation transmitting means. Although not shown, the flexible shaft 17 is a hollow flexible shaft, and a cable 18 connected to the ultrasonic transducer 16 is inserted through the flexible shaft 17. When the flexible shaft 17 is rotationally driven around the axis, the rotation is transmitted to the rotation base 15 at the tip, and the ultrasonic transducer 16 is rotationally driven.

  A connector 13 connected to the base end portion of the flexible cord portion 12 is detachably connected to the translator 12. As shown in FIG. 3, a motor 19 and an encoder 20 are mounted on the translator 12, and the flexible shaft 17 is driven to rotate about the axis by the motor 19. The encoder 20 is connected to the ultrasonic transducer 16. It is provided to detect the rotation angle. The connector 14 provided at the tip of the connection cord 13 connected to the translator 12 is detachably connected to the connection portion 3 provided in the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1.

  FIG. 4 shows a schematic block configuration of the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1. As is clear from the figure, the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1 is provided with a transmission / reception circuit 30, and an A / D converter 31 is connected to the reception side of the transmission / reception circuit 30. A scan converter 32 is connected to the A / D converter 31, and the reflected echo signal transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer 16 is taken into the scan converter 32 to convert the scanning direction in the ultrasonic image. In addition, an ultrasonic image signal is stored in the frame memory 33 attached to the scan converter 32. In addition, a scan controller 34 is provided to control switching between the transmission side and the reception side of the transmission / reception circuit 30 and the capture of signals into the scan converter 32 and the frame memory 33. When an ultrasonic image for one frame is captured in the frame memory 33, the ultrasonic image signal is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 35, and ultrasonic image data is output to the monitor device 2, Accordingly, an ultrasonic image is displayed on the screen of the monitor device 2.

  Accordingly, when the connector 14 of the connection cord 13 in the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10 is connected to the connection part 3 of the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1, the contacts A1 and B1 on the connection part 3 side are connected to the contacts A2 and B2 of the connector 14, respectively. Each will be connected. As a result, the ultrasonic transducer 16 is electrically connected to the transmission / reception circuit 30 via the contacts A1 and A2, and the encoder 20 is connected to the scan controller 34 via the contacts B1 and B2.

  As described above, when the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10 is connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1, the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10 can be operated. That is, the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10 is inserted into a predetermined position in the body of the subject, and the motor 19 is operated in this state to rotationally drive the flexible shaft 17. This rotation is transmitted to the rotation base 15 connected to the tip of the flexible shaft 17 and the rotation of the ultrasonic transducer 16 provided on the rotation base 15 starts. The rotation angle of the ultrasonic transducer 16 is detected as a position signal of the ultrasonic transducer 16 by the encoder 20, and this position signal is input to the scan controller 34 as a control signal. As a result, the transmission / reception circuit 30 is switched to the transmission side, the driving pulse is applied to the ultrasonic transducer 16, and the ultrasonic pulse is transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer 16 toward the body.

  After the transmission of the ultrasonic pulse, the transmission / reception circuit 30 is switched to the reception side. At this time, the ultrasonic transducer 16 receives a reflected echo of the transmitted ultrasonic pulse from the tomographic part of the body tissue and converts it into an electrical signal. The reflected echo signal is transmitted to the transmission / reception circuit 30, and after being subjected to processing such as conversion to the coordinate position information of the bright spot information on the screen by the scan converter 32, the reflected echo signal is stored in the frame memory 33.

  As described above, on the basis of the position detection signal from the encoder 20, when ultrasonic transmission / reception operations are sequentially repeated and the ultrasonic transducer 16 makes one rotation, one ultrasonic image is stored in the frame memory 33. Data is generated, and the ultrasonic image data is transmitted to the monitor device 2 to display the ultrasonic image.

  As described above, when ultrasonic inspection is performed using the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10, transmission / reception is switched using the position detection signal from the encoder 20 as a control signal. A contact point B <b> 1 for capturing a signal is provided in the connection portion 3 of the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1. Further, in the case of this mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10, since the ultrasonic transducer 16 is composed of one piece, the ultrasonic transducer 16 is directly connected to the transmission / reception circuit 30, The connection unit 3 includes a contact A <b> 1 from the transmission / reception circuit 30.

  By the way, as a kind of ultrasonic probe, there is not only the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10 described above but also an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe indicated by reference numeral 40 in FIG. Although the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 40 is configured as an ultrasonic endoscope in the illustrated one, it does not necessarily have to include an endoscope observation means.

  The electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 40 is configured by connecting an insertion portion 41 to a main body operation portion 42 and extending a connection cord 43 from the main body operation portion 42. 44 is provided. Note that the connection cord 43 is branched with a cord for connection to the light source device. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, an ultrasonic transducer array 46 is arranged at the distal end of the insertion portion 41 of the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 40 by arranging a large number of ultrasonic transducers 45 in an array. Composed. The ultrasonic transducer array 46 is configured to perform ultrasonic scanning by sequentially operating the ultrasonic transducers 45 while being held at a predetermined position in the body. The ultrasonic transducers 45 may be driven one by one, or a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 45 can be simultaneously driven. When a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 45 are driven at the same time, the transmission direction of the ultrasonic pulse can be controlled, and electronic focusing can be performed. For this reason, the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 45 that are driven simultaneously are controlled so as to shift the transmission timing of the ultrasonic pulse via the delay circuit.

  In the ultrasonic observation apparatus connected to the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 40, the ultrasonic transducers 45 constituting the ultrasonic transducer array 46 serve as scanning switching means via a multiplexer having a switching element. To be connected to the transmission / reception circuit. The transmission / reception switching timing is controlled by inputting a switching signal to the multiplexer. Therefore, the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 40 cannot be connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1 as it is. A connection adapter 50 is used to connect the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 40 to the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the connection adapter 50 includes a connection portion 50 </ b> P that is detachably connected to the connection portion 3 of the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1 and a connection connector provided on the connection cord 43 of the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 40. 44 is provided with the connection part 50S connected so that attachment or detachment is possible.

  In addition, the connection adapter 50 includes a multiplexer 51 as a scan switching device, a pulse generator 52, a distribution circuit 53, and a delay circuit 54. Further, the contact point A3 and the contact point B3 are provided on the connection unit 50P side, and the number of the ultrasonic transducers 45 constituting the ultrasonic transducer array 46 is provided on the connection unit 50S side connected to the connection connector 44. Contacts C1, C2, C3,... Cn are provided. Further, a switch 55 is provided in the connection adapter 50 in order to control the pulse generator 52 to be turned on and off.

  The wiring from the contact A3 is connected to the distribution circuit 53, and the distribution circuit 53 branches the wiring into a plurality. Here, the number of branches of the wiring in the distribution circuit 53 is matched with the number of ultrasonic transducers 45 that are driven simultaneously. The illustrated example is configured to drive three ultrasonic transducers 45 simultaneously. A delay circuit 54 is connected to each wiring branched by the distribution circuit 53, and each delay circuit 54 is connected to the multiplexer 51. The multiplexer 51 is connected to the contacts C1 to Cn. The number of contacts corresponds to the number of ultrasonic transducers 45 constituting the ultrasonic transducer array 46. On the other hand, the pulse generator 52 is connected to the multiplexer 51 and is also connected to the contact point B3. The pulse generator 52 transmits a control signal for switching between transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves.

  By using the connection adapter 50 having the above configuration, the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 40 is connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1 connected to the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10. Ultrasonic inspection using can be performed.

  For this purpose, first, the connection portion 50P of the connection adapter 50 is connected to the connection portion 3 of the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1, and the connection connector 44 of the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 40 is connected to the connection portion 50S of the connection adapter 50. Connecting. Thereby, the contact A3 of the distribution circuit 53 and the contact B3 of the pulse generator 52 are respectively connected to the contact A1 connected to the transmission / reception circuit 30 of the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1 and the contact B1 connected to the scan controller 34. Connected to. In the connection connector 44, contacts (not shown) to which the wiring from the ultrasonic transducer 45 is connected are connected to the contacts C <b> 1 to Cn of the multiplexer 51, respectively.

  It is necessary to supply power to the multiplexer 51 and the pulse generator 52 in the connection adapter 50. This power supply can be received from the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1, and the connection adapter 50 has its own power supply. A power supply wiring may be connected. In addition to the above-described contacts, the connection adapter 50 is provided with appropriate contacts in order to exchange other signals.

  The insertion portion 41 is inserted into the body of the subject, and the ultrasonic transducer array 46 is operated so that the mounting portion is directed toward the ultrasonic inspection target portion. In this state, the switch 55 provided in the connection adapter 50 is turned on. As a result, a control signal is transmitted from the pulse generator 52 at predetermined time intervals. This control signal is input to the multiplexer 51 and ultrasonic observation is performed by connecting the contact points B3 to B1 in the connection unit 3. Also input to the scan controller 34 of the apparatus 1. As a result, in the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1, the drive pulse of the ultrasonic transducer 45 is output from the transmission / reception circuit 30, and this drive pulse is taken into the distribution circuit 53 provided in the connection adapter 50. 53 is distributed to three signal lines. The drive pulses distributed by the distribution circuit 53 are input to the multiplexer 51 with a predetermined delay given by the delay circuit 54. In the multiplexer 51, three contacts are selected from the contacts C1 to Cn using the signal from the pulse generator 52 as a control signal. Here, in the multiplexer 51, the contacts C1, C2, C3, contacts C2, C3, C4, contacts C3, C4, C5,..., Contacts Cn-2, Cn-1, and Cn are selected in this order. Control is made. As a result, the three ultrasonic transducers 45 are driven sequentially or differentially with a delay, and ultrasonic waves are transmitted toward the body.

  Since the pulse generator 52 is connected to the scan controller 34, the drive pulse from the pulse generator 52 is transmitted to the transmission / reception circuit 30, so that the drive pulse is transmitted to the ultrasonic transducer array 46, After the ultrasonic pulse is transmitted from the three ultrasonic transducers 45 constituting, it switches to the receiving side. As a result, the reflected echo signal acquired by the ultrasonic transducer 45 is taken into the transmission / reception circuit 30 side.

  Here, the reflection echo signal is transmitted to the transmission / reception circuit 30 via the delay circuit 54 and the distribution circuit 53. However, if the reflection echo signal is delayed by the delay circuit 54, the distance resolution of the ultrasonic image is lowered. . In order to prevent this, when the reflected echo signal is captured, the signal from any one of the ultrasonic transducers 54 may be captured. Here, since no delay is given to at least one of the three delay circuits 54, it is desirable to select a signal line to which this delay is not given. That is, when the multiplexer 51 enters the reception mode, only the signal line to which no delay is given is selected from the three signal lines, and the reflected echo signals from other ultrasonic transducers are not captured. Further, when an adder circuit is connected to the multiplexer 51 and the reception mode is entered, it is also possible to take in the signal via this adder circuit instead of the delay circuit 54 and the distribution circuit 53 side.

  When the transmission / reception circuit 30 is switched to the reception side, the reflection echo signal from the ultrasonic transducer 45 is taken into the transmission / reception circuit 30 of the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1. The reflected echo signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter converter 31, input to the scan converter 32, and recorded in the frame memory 33. Of course, at this time, the scan converter 32 and the frame memory 33 are also driven and controlled based on a control signal from the scan controller 34 connected to the pulse generator 52. The signal processing after the reflected echo signal is captured by the transmission / reception circuit 30 is the same as that of the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10 described above.

  Each time a control pulse is output from the pulse generator 52, the above-described operations are repeated in order, whereby ultrasonic image data is recorded in the frame memory 33. When one piece of ultrasonic image data is recorded in the frame memory 33 from the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 40, this ultrasonic image data is output to the monitor device 2, and the ultrasonic image is displayed on the monitor device 2. Is displayed.

  Therefore, even when only the ultrasonic observation apparatus 1 suitable for the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10 is installed in the ultrasonic examination room, the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 40 can be connected via the connection adapter 50. Become. As a result, it is not necessary to install two ultrasonic observation apparatuses in the ultrasonic examination room, and the equipment cost can be saved and the installation space can be made more efficient. Also, depending on the subject to be examined, etc., the operator or the like performs an ultrasonic inspection using the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 10 or an ultrasonic inspection using the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 40. In addition, since a degree of freedom of selection can be obtained, an accurate ultrasonic inspection can be performed smoothly.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of a mechanical scanning type ultrasonic probe. It is sectional drawing of the translator of a mechanical scanning type ultrasonic probe. It is a circuit block diagram of an ultrasonic observation apparatus. It is an external view of the front-end | tip part of an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe. It is a circuit block diagram of a connection adapter.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic observation apparatus 2 Monitoring apparatus 3 Connection part 10 Mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe 11 Probe main body 12 Translator 14 Connector 16 Ultrasonic transducer 30 Transmission / reception circuit 32 Scan converter 33 Frame memory 34 Scan controller 40 Electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 44 Connector 45 Ultrasonic transducer 46 Ultrasonic transducer array 50 Connection adapter 50P, 50S Connection unit 51 Multiplexer 52 Pulse generator 53 Distribution circuit 54 Delay circuit 55 Switch

Claims (3)

A machine comprising a single ultrasonic transducer and position detecting means for detecting the amount of movement of the ultrasonic transducer, and transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves while mechanically moving the ultrasonic transducer A scanning ultrasonic probe is detachably connected, and is electronically driven and controlled by an ultrasonic observation apparatus having a transmission / reception circuit that performs switching control of transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves based on a detection signal from the position detection means. To connect an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe with an ultrasonic transducer array consisting of multiple ultrasonic transducers,
Scan switching means for connecting between the transmission / reception circuit and each ultrasonic transducer constituting the ultrasonic transducer array, and switching signal generation means for inputting a switching signal to the transmission / reception circuit and the scan switching means. A connection adapter for an ultrasonic inspection apparatus, wherein the connection adapter is detachably connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus and the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe. In the ultrasonic transducer array, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are driven simultaneously, and the connection adapter further distributes the drive signals from the transmission / reception circuit to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The connection adapter for an ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means. 3. The connection adapter for an ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the scan switching means includes delay means for causing a delay in the drive signal distributed by the distribution means.

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