JP2006087676A - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that an obtained image is disturbed since a drive motor cannot absorb disturbance completely when the disturbance such as a shock is added. <P>SOLUTION: The subject equipment is provided with: an acoustic element 3 for converting ultrasonic waves and an electric signal to each other; the drive motor 7 for driving the acoustic element 3; a control part 14 for driving the driving motor 7; and an acceleration detector 5 arranged in the vicinity of the acoustic element 3 to vary the control of the drive motor 7 by output from the acceleration detector 5. The direction of acceleration detection by the acceleration detector 5 is made to be coincident with the driving direction of the acoustic element to obtain a stable image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasound probe and an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that transmit and receive ultrasound and observe and diagnose the state of a body organ.

As shown in FIG. 4, the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus performs control to reduce the drive voltage after activation (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-9-198507

  However, the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a problem that when a disturbance such as an impact is applied, the drive motor cannot absorb the disturbance and the acquired image is disturbed.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of acquiring a stable ultrasonic image even when a disturbance is applied.

  An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention is arranged in the vicinity of an acoustic element that mutually converts an ultrasonic wave and an electrical signal, a drive motor that drives the acoustic element, a control unit that drives the drive motor, and the acoustic element. And an acceleration detector, and the control of the drive motor is changed by the output from the acceleration detector.

  This configuration makes it possible to control the drive voltage or drive current of the drive motor before the rotational fluctuation occurs in the drive motor of the ultrasonic element due to the impact from the outside when an external impact is applied. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that is resistant to shock from the object.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, the acceleration detection direction of the acceleration detector coincides with the driving direction of the acoustic element. The drive voltage and drive current can be controlled only when an impact that affects the rotation of the motor is applied.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, a step motor is used as the drive motor, and the control unit increases the drive current of the step motor in proportion to the output from the acceleration detector. With this configuration, when there is no external impact, the drive current is lowered to the level at which it operates, and when an impact is applied, the drive current is increased to drive with a drive current that will not step out due to the impact. Therefore, efficient driving is possible and a position detector such as an encoder is not required.

  In addition, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is characterized by stopping the drive current to the drive motor when the output of the acceleration detector becomes a certain level or more, so when an excessive impact is applied. It is possible to prevent an overcurrent from flowing to the drive motor.

  By providing an acceleration detector in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the present invention makes it possible to detect an impact applied to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and control a drive motor according to the impact. Can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, an ultrasonic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the ultrasonic probe viewed from the direction 9 of the arrow.

  In FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 is composed of an ultrasonic probe 2 and a main body 10. The ultrasonic probe 2 includes an acoustic element 3 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, a housing 4 that holds the acoustic element 3, an acceleration detector 5 that detects an impact applied to the housing 4, a cable 6, and an acoustic element. The housing 4 is provided with a threshold, and a portion where the acoustic element 3 is provided is filled with a coupling liquid 8. The main body 10 is a transmission / reception control unit 11 that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves, an image processing unit 12 that converts ultrasonic signals into image signals, a monitor 13, and a drive that controls the drive motor 6 of the ultrasonic probe 1. The controller 14 is configured. In FIG. 2, the swing direction of the acoustic element 3 is the direction of the arrow 20, and the acceleration detector 5 detects the acceleration in the direction of the arrow 21. FIG. 3 shows the drive current of the drive motor when no impact is detected, and FIG. 4 shows the drive current waveform when the impact is detected.

  In FIG. 3, 100 is an output waveform of the acceleration detector 5, and no acceleration is detected since no impact is applied. Therefore, the drive current waveform of the drive motor 7 has a waveform as shown at 101. On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows a waveform when an impact is applied. Reference numeral 102 denotes an output waveform of the acceleration detector 5, and an acceleration 104 is detected. A drive current 105 for canceling the influence of the acceleration 104 is superimposed on the drive current 103 of the drive motor 7 by the detected acceleration 104.

  According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention as described above, the acceleration detector 5 is provided in the ultrasonic probe 1, and the drive current of the drive motor 5 is changed by the detected impact. Since the configuration is adopted, the rotation of the drive motor does not become unstable due to an impact.

  In this explanation, the case where a normal motor is used as the drive motor has been explained. However, the same operation is possible even if a position motor such as a step motor is used. Further, in the case of a position motor, control without step-out is possible. Thus, a position detector such as an encoder becomes unnecessary.

  If the detected impact is large and the drive current exceeds the input rating of the drive motor, control to cut off the drive current may be performed.

  As described above, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has an effect of obtaining a stable ultrasonic image even when an impact is applied.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Schematic configuration diagram of an ultrasonic probe viewed from the direction of arrow 9 in the first embodiment of the present invention Diagram showing drive current waveform when no impact is applied Diagram showing drive current waveform when impact is applied

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 Ultrasonic probe 3 Acoustic element 4 Housing 5 Accelerometer 6 Cable 7 Drive motor 8 Coupling liquid 9 Arrow direction 10 Main body part 11 Ultrasonic transmission / reception control part 12 Image processing part 13 Monitor 14 Drive Control unit 20 Acoustic element swing direction 21 Acceleration detection direction of acceleration detector 5 100 Drive current waveform when no impact is applied 101 Output of acceleration detector when no impact is applied 102 Drive current waveform when an impact is applied 103 Output of acceleration detector when impact is applied 104 Detected acceleration 105 Drive current increased due to detected acceleration

Claims (4)

An acoustic element that mutually converts ultrasonic waves and electrical signals, a drive motor that drives the acoustic element, a control unit that drives the drive motor, and an acceleration detector disposed in the vicinity of the acoustic element An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized in that the control of the drive motor is changed by the output from the acceleration detector. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an acceleration detection direction of the acceleration detector coincides with a driving direction of the acoustic element. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a step motor is used as a drive motor, and the control unit increases a drive current of the drive step motor in proportion to an output from the acceleration detector. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drive current to the drive motor is stopped when the output of the acceleration detector becomes a certain level or more.

Images