JP2007111229A - Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic probe capable of expanding the angle of visibility for scanning with an ultrasonic beam performed by using a plurality of vibrators arrayed in a circular arc at the distal end of an insertion part to be inserted into the body cavity, and an ultrasonic diagnostic system equipped with the ultrasonic probe. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic probe comprises the rod-like insertion part 10 which can be inserted into the body cavity of a subject and whose distal end is formed in the circular arc, and a plurality of vibrators 14 arrayed along the circular arc at the distal end. The ultrasonic probe is characterized by the vibrators arrayed at the center and at ends of the array with different pitches. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic diagnostic system, and more particularly to an ultrasonic probe used by being inserted into a body cavity and an ultrasonic diagnostic system including the ultrasonic probe.

  Conventionally, an ultrasonic pulse is transmitted from a transducer of an ultrasonic probe into a living body, and a reflected wave generated by reflection at a boundary of a living tissue is received again by the transducer, and reconstructed based on the received reflected wave. There is an ultrasonic diagnostic system for making a diagnosis using a tomographic image in a living body.

  In the ultrasonic probe used in the ultrasonic diagnostic system as described above, for example, there is an insertion portion for insertion into a body cavity such as the vagina or anus, and a plurality of transducers are provided at the distal end of the insertion portion. There is a so-called small curvature convex ultrasonic probe which is arranged in an arc shape and is used by inserting the insertion portion into a body cavity. In such an ultrasonic diagnostic system, a transducer within a predetermined length range (hereinafter referred to as an opening) of transducers arranged at the tip of an ultrasonic probe is used, and the transducer at the center of the aperture is the latest Drive each transducer by delaying left and right symmetrically so as to send out the sound wave, synthesize the wavefront of each ultrasonic wave to form an ultrasonic beam, and scan by shifting the ultrasonic beam by sequentially shifting the aperture I do. This scanning range has a shape that extends along the arc shape at the tip of the insertion portion. This angle of spread of the scanning range is called a viewing angle. However, the number of vibrators in the opening differs depending on the device, for example, up to 24 in the low-end device and up to 192 in the high-end device. Here, the number of vibrators in the opening is referred to as the number of channels. In general, scanning is performed by changing the opening according to the depth from the body surface to be examined. Further, at the end of the arranged transducers, the number of channels is decreased stepwise (for example, the minimum number is 4 channels) to form an ultrasonic beam, and scanning with the ultrasonic beam is performed to a portion close to the end. ing. Therefore, the viewing angle is substantially determined by the total number of transducers arranged at the tip.

  Further, in an ultrasonic probe that is used by being inserted into a body cavity, it is required to reduce the burden on the patient due to the insertion, and it is desired that the insertion portion has a smaller diameter. However, by reducing the diameter of the insertion portion, the wiring of signal lines and the like are physically restricted, and the total number of vibrators is limited. As a result, the viewing angle described above is also limited. For example, when the diameter of the insertion portion is 20 mm, for example, the number of vibrators is limited to 128, the tip has an arc shape with a radius of 10 mm, and the pitch of the arranged vibrators is about 73 degrees when the pitch is 0.1 mm. If it is 0.2 mm, it will be about 147 degrees.

  On the other hand, without reducing the number of channels at the ends of the arranged transducers, the viewing angle is widened by steering (for example, see Patent Document 1) that is transmitted by changing the angle of the ultrasonic beam at both ends of the scanning range. Is possible. Steering is asymmetric with respect to the normal of the tangent line of the arc at the tip, by making the delay asymmetrical, for example by sending the ultrasonic wave from each vibrator so that the vibrator near the end sends the ultrasonic wave most slowly. The wavefront is synthesized and the angle of the ultrasonic beam is changed and transmitted. The oblique angle with respect to the normal is called the steering angle.

  However, when the ultrasonic beam is transmitted by steering, the wavefront is synthesized in a direction other than the transmission direction of the ultrasonic beam, and a so-called grating lobe may be generated. Then, a virtual image that is not present in the steered direction due to the reflected wave from the grating lobe, that is, an artifact appears on the tomographic image and hinders diagnosis.

Even if each transducer is driven so that the change in the delay time (referred to as delay time) becomes a smooth curve, the grating lobe actually has a delay time step due to a quantization error due to the pitch between the transducers. This is caused by the change in shape. Therefore, the step of the delay time increases as the pitch between the transducers increases, so that a grating lobe is likely to occur. On the other hand, the step of the delay time decreases and becomes smooth as the pitch decreases, so that it is difficult to generate a grating lobe. In general, the grating lobe generation avoidance condition is that the pitch between the transducers is d, the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave is λ, and the steering angle is θm.
d <λ / (1 + sin θm)
Given in. This formula also shows that the steering angle θm can be increased as the pitch is reduced, that is, the grating lobe is less likely to occur when the pitch is smaller.

  For example, in an ultrasonic probe of a small curvature convex type in which transducers are arranged in an arc shape with a radius of 10 mm, 7.5 MHz ultrasonic waves are used, the number of channels is 24, and an ultrasonic beam is located in the vicinity of 40 mm from the ultrasonic transmission start position. FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D and FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D show the simulation results of the sound field when each transducer is delayed so as to converge. FIG. 7 shows a sound field with a transducer pitch of 0.1 mm, (a) to (d) showing the sound fields with steering angles of 0 degrees, 30 degrees, 40 degrees, and 60 degrees, respectively, and FIG. At 2 mm, (a) to (d) show sound fields with steering angles of 0 degrees, 5 degrees, 30 degrees, and 60 degrees, respectively. Also, in each of FIGS. 7A to 7D and FIGS. 8A to 8D, the formed ultrasonic beam is “B” and a grating lobe is generated. Shown as “G”. If the allowable value of the grating lobe is about −60 dB, the allowable steering angle is 40 degrees when the pitch is 0.1 mm, and 5 degrees when the pitch is 0.2 mm.

The viewing angle when the ultrasonic beam at both ends of the scanning range is steered by 24-channel driving is the viewing angle by the ultrasonic beam that is not steered by 24-channel driving (the transducer is placed at a predetermined pitch on an arc having a radius of 10 mm). The sum of the angle of the arc when aligned and the angle obtained by subtracting the angle of 12 arcs from each end, and twice the allowable steering angle (doubled because steering is performed at both ends) So,
When the pitch is 0.1 mm
360 * 0.1 * (128-24) / (2 * 10 * 3.14) + 2 * 40
= 139.6 [degrees],
When the pitch is 0.2mm,
360 * 0.2 * (128-24) / (2 * 10 * 3.14) + 2 * 5
= 129.2 [degrees],
It becomes.

Special table 2003-534074 gazette

  From the above calculation results, if the pitch of the vibrator is increased to widen the viewing angle, the steering angle becomes smaller. Conversely, to increase the steering angle to widen the viewing angle, the pitch of the vibrator is reduced. Therefore, it can be seen that the viewing angle by the ultrasonic beam that is not steered is reduced, and in either case, the viewing angle is not large. That is, since the increase in the pitch of the vibrator and the steering are in conflict, it is difficult to easily widen the viewing angle.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic beam using a plurality of transducers arranged in an arc shape at the distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity. It is an object to provide an ultrasonic probe that can widen the viewing angle of scanning and an ultrasonic diagnostic system including the ultrasonic probe.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 includes a rod-shaped insertion portion that is insertable into a body cavity of a subject and has a tip formed in an arc shape, and a plurality of rows arranged along the arc of the tip. An ultrasonic probe having a transducer, wherein the plurality of transducers are arranged at different pitches between a central portion of the array and an end portion of the array.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the plurality of transducers include transducers arranged at a first pitch at a central portion of the array, and a plurality of transducers smaller than the first pitch at an end of the array. It includes at least vibrators arranged at a pitch of 2.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the plurality of transducers include transducers arranged at a first pitch at a central portion of the array, and the end portions of the array are arranged on the extreme end side of the array. It includes a vibrator arranged at a first pitch and a vibrator arranged at the second pitch near the central portion.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the vibrators are continuously formed with the same size and are wired so as to have the different pitches.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the vibrators having the same size are continuously formed and wired so as to have the first pitch and the second pitch. .

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the wiring is equivalently connected to a first pitch vibrator and a second pitch vibrator by short-circuiting a plurality of partially adjacent vibrators. It is characterized by being arranged.

  The invention according to claim 7 includes a rod-shaped insertion portion that can be inserted into a body cavity of a subject and has a tip formed in an arc shape, and a plurality of transducers arranged along the arc of the tip. An ultrasonic probe, and a control means for controlling the ultrasonic probe so as to form an ultrasonic beam while moving the ultrasonic beam in the direction of the array by transmitting an ultrasonic wave from each of the transducers. An ultrasonic diagnostic system for performing a diagnosis using an ultrasonic beam, wherein the ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of transducers arranged at different pitches between a central portion of the array and an end portion of the array The control means further controls to form the ultrasonic beam obliquely with respect to a normal line of the arc tangent at the end portion.

  According to the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic diagnostic system according to the present invention, the transducers arranged at the tip of the ultrasonic probe are arranged at different pitches at the central portion and the end portion of the arrangement. For example, by making the pitch of the vibrator at the end different from the pitch at the center, the steering angle can be increased at the end while ensuring a viewing angle at the center. Therefore, the entire viewing angle can be increased.

  Hereinafter, various embodiments of the ultrasonic probe 1 according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is an external view showing an outline of an ultrasonic diagnostic system including an ultrasonic probe 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic system is connected to an ultrasonic processing device 2 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and creating an ultrasonic image, and to the ultrasonic processing device 2 via a connector 26 and a cable 12. The ultrasonic probe 1, the operation panel 3, and the monitor means 4 as a display means are provided.

  The ultrasonic probe 1 transmits an ultrasonic wave to a living body such as a patient, receives a reflected wave reflected at the boundary of the living tissue as an echo signal, and transmits the echo signal to the ultrasonic processing apparatus 2. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a substantially cylindrical grip portion 13 is provided for the operator to hold. The cable 12 is connected to one end side of the grip portion 13 and the axial direction of the grip portion 13 is connected to the other end side. A rod-shaped insertion portion 10 is extended in the same direction. Further, the distal end side of the insertion portion 10 has a convex shape, specifically, an arc shape in this example, and a plurality of transducers 14 (not shown in FIG. 1) that oscillate and receive ultrasonic waves. Has a probe portion 11 arranged along an arc.

(Control configuration)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic system as the first embodiment according to the present embodiment.

  The ultrasonic processing apparatus 2 is connected to the ultrasonic probe 1 and includes an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22, an echo signal processing unit 23, a DSC (digital scan converter) 24, a data synthesis unit 26, and a frame memory 25. The

  Although not shown, the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22 includes a transmission circuit such as a delay circuit and a pulsar circuit, and a reception circuit such as an A / D converter and an adder. The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22 is controlled by the control unit 21 and transmits ultrasonic waves to the vibrator 14. The echo signal received by the transducer 14 is received as an inspection result.

  The echo signal processing unit 23 is connected to the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22, performs echo signal logarithmic amplification, envelope detection processing, and the like on the echo signal received by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22, and the signal intensity indicates brightness. Image data represented by data is generated.

  The DSC 24 digitally scans the image data generated by the echo signal processing unit 23 from the ultrasonic scan to the standard TV scan, and outputs it as frame image data.

  The synthesizing unit 26 digitally synthesizes the frame image data output from the DSC 24 and various data (for example, graphic data, character data, etc.) into one frame image data, and superimposes the synthesized frame image. The sonic tomographic image is displayed on the monitor means 4 in almost real time.

  The frame memory 25 stores the frame image data output from the DSC 24 one by one. The stored frame image data is used for freeze image formation and the like.

  The monitor means 4 is constituted by a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), or the like.

  The operation panel 3 is an input means, and is connected to the ultrasonic processing apparatus 2 and is used for inputting various information such as instruction information and a password from an operator. Various keys (not shown) such as alphabet keys and numeric keys are used. ) A mouse or trackball is connected or installed.

  The control unit 21 receives an input from the operation panel 3, and performs drive control of each unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic system based on the input or a control program stored in advance. The control unit 21 stores a CPU (not shown), various programs, various data and tables necessary for executing the programs, and executes the various programs in order to realize the functions. And a system memory (not shown) that constitutes a work area at the time.

  In addition, the control unit 21 controls the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22 to transmit ultrasonic waves from each transducer 14. Specifically, the transducer 14 within a predetermined length range (this arbitrary range is referred to as an opening) among the transducers 14 arranged at the tip of the ultrasonic probe 1 is connected to the delay circuit by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22. Are driven at different timings, and ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the respective transducers 14. As a result, the wavefronts of the transmitted ultrasonic waves are combined to form an ultrasonic beam. The control unit 21 sequentially forms the ultrasonic beam by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22, receives the echo signal as an inspection result, and performs scanning with the ultrasonic beam. That is, the control unit 21 and the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22 have a function as control means of the present invention. Here, the number of vibrators 14 to be driven in the opening is referred to as the number of channels. The number of channels is generally changed according to the depth from the body surface to be examined, for example. For example, the number of channels corresponding to the depth from the body surface to be examined is stored in advance in a system memory or the like, and for example, the number of channels is set according to the depth input using the operation panel 3. deep. Further, when the pitch of the vibrator 14 is not constant, the length of the opening corresponding to the depth from the body surface to be examined is stored, for example, the depth input using the operation panel 3 An opening is set in accordance with the number of channels, and the number that becomes the length of the opening is set as the number of channels.

(Configuration of probe part of ultrasonic probe)
Here, the configuration of the probe unit 11 of the ultrasonic probe 1 in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the probe unit 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the probe portion 11 has a tip portion formed in an arc shape, and a plurality of, for example, 128 transducers 14a1, 14a2,. 14a128 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as vibrator 14) are arranged along the arc at the tip. The vibrator 14 has, for example, 24 vibrators at both ends of the arranged vibrators 14, that is, the vibrators 14a1,..., 14a24, and 14a105,. The 80 vibrators in the central portion, that is, the vibrators 14a25,. Note that amm is the first pitch of the present invention, bmm is the second pitch of the present invention, the first pitch and the second pitch are different pitches, and b <a, that is, the second pitch is It is assumed that it is smaller than the first pitch.

  In addition, each of the vibrators 14 is connected to signal lines 15c1, 15c2,..., 15c128 (hereinafter may be collectively referred to as signal lines 15) via a flexible substrate (Flexible-PC board) (not shown). The signal line 15 is accommodated in the cable 12. Further, a matching layer 16 for efficiently transmitting ultrasonic waves between a living body and a vibrator having different acoustic impedances is provided on the ultrasonic wave sending surface side of the vibrator 14, and the ultrasonic waves are converged on the outer side thereof. An acoustic lens 17 is provided. Further, a backing material 18 is provided on the side opposite to the ultrasonic wave sending surface side of the vibrator 14 to absorb backward ultrasonic waves and suppress excessive vibrations.

  With the configuration as described above, in the ultrasonic diagnostic system of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic beam is sequentially formed from the ultrasonic beam B1 to the ultrasonic beam B2k + n, and scanning with the ultrasonic beam is performed. (These ultrasonic beams may be simply referred to as an ultrasonic beam B).

  Next, scanning by each ultrasonic beam B will be described in detail. However, in the present embodiment, as an example, the pitches amm and bmm of the vibrator 14 are 0.2 mm and 0.1 mm, respectively, and the opening is 2.4 mm. Therefore, the number of channels depends on the position of the opening. For example, when the vibrator 14 in the opening is constituted by the vibrator 14 having a pitch of 0.2 mm, the number of channels is constituted by 12 channels and the vibrator 14 having a pitch of 0.1 mm. There are 24 channels. In the case of coexistence, for example, if the vibrator 14 with a pitch of 0.2 mm is 10 and the vibrator 14 with a pitch of 0.1 mm is 4, there are 14 channels. Further, the ultrasonic beam is formed from the ultrasonic beam B1 to the ultrasonic beam B2k + n in order, returns to the ultrasonic beam B1, and forms the ultrasonic beam B in order.

  First, scanning from the ultrasonic beam B1 to the ultrasonic beam Bk + 1 formed at the left end in FIG. 3 will be described. These ultrasonic beams B are formed by transducers 14a1 to 14a24 arranged at the ends. The ultrasonic beam B1 to the ultrasonic beam Bk are formed obliquely with an angle (steering angle) with respect to the normal line of the arc tangent at the center of the opening. Further, the steering angle becomes the maximum value θm for the ultrasonic beam B1, and becomes smaller as the inner ultrasonic beam Bk is reached. The ultrasonic beam Bk + 1 is formed so that the steering angle is zero.

  In order to form the ultrasonic beam B in the oblique direction as described above, the control unit 21 uses the table indicating the delay time of the drive timing of each transducer 14 as shown in FIG. The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22 is controlled so as to delay and transmit the ultrasonic wave by a delay time corresponding to. 4A to 4D show the time for which the drive of the vibrator 14 is delayed on the vertical axis for each vibrator 14 on the horizontal axis as a delay time. Such a table may be stored in advance in a system memory or the like. FIGS. 4A to 4D are representative examples for explaining the delay time.

  First, the control unit 21 controls the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22 based on a table that maximizes the delay of the timing for driving the transducer 14a1 with respect to the transducer 14a24 as shown in FIG. Ultrasound is transmitted from the vibrator 14. In this case, the ultrasonic beam B1 is formed at a steering angle θm obliquely in the direction of the vibrator 14a1 with respect to the normal line of the arc tangent at the center of the opening by the vibrators 14a1 to 14a24. The echo signal generated by the ultrasonic beam B1 is received by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22, and the echo signal is processed by the echo signal processing unit 23 and the like. As described above, the echo signal is received and processed every time the ultrasonic beam B is formed. In the following description, the formation of the ultrasonic beam is described, and the description of the reception and processing of the echo signal is omitted.

  Next, the control unit 21 forms the ultrasonic beam B while changing the steering angle from θm to 0 while changing the delay time. Specifically, from the relationship of the delay time shown in FIG. 4A, as shown in FIG. 4B, the delay time of driving the vibrator 14a1 with respect to the vibrator 14a24 is shown in FIG. 4A. As shown in FIG. 4C, the delay time for driving the vibrator 14 inside the vibrator 14a1 (but outside the center of the opening) is maximized. Further, the vibrator 14 having the longest drive delay time is changed to be close to the center of the opening. Then, as shown in FIG. 4D, an ultrasonic beam Bk + 1 having a steering angle of 0 degrees is formed with the vibrator 14 having the maximum drive delay time as the center of the opening.

  Next, scanning from the ultrasonic beam Bk + 1 to the ultrasonic beam Bk + n will be described. These ultrasonic beams B are formed so that the steering angle becomes zero. The control unit 21 uses the transducers 14a1 to 14a128 for these ultrasonic beams B, and sequentially configures the apertures toward the transducers 14a128, and uses the transducers 14 in the apertures to open the apertures. The delay time for driving the central vibrator 14 is maximized. However, when shifting the opening, in order to make the opening 2.4 mm, the vibrator 14 having a pitch of 0.1 mm is shifted by two, and the vibrator 14 having a pitch of 0.2 mm is shifted by one, and accordingly And change the number of channels.

  Finally, scanning from the ultrasonic beam Bk + n to the ultrasonic beam B2k + n formed at the right end in FIG. 3 will be described. These ultrasonic beams B are formed by transducers 14a105 to 14a128 arranged at the ends. The ultrasonic beam Bk + n is formed so that the steering angle becomes zero, and the ultrasonic beam Bk + 1 + n to the ultrasonic beam B2k + n are formed in an oblique direction with an angle (steering angle) with respect to the normal line of the arc tangent at the center of the opening. ing. Further, the steering angle increases as the ultrasonic beam Bk + 1 + n becomes the outer ultrasonic beam B2k + n, and reaches the maximum value θm with the ultrasonic beam B2k + n.

  In order to form the ultrasonic beam B in the oblique direction as described above, the control unit 21 uses each transducer 14 based on a table indicating the delay time of the drive timing of each transducer 14 as shown in FIG. The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22 is controlled so as to delay and transmit the ultrasonic wave by a delay time corresponding to. In FIGS. 5A to 5D, for each transducer 14 on the horizontal axis, the vertical axis represents the time for which the drive of the transducer 14 should be delayed as a delay time. FIGS. 5A to 5D are representative examples for explaining the change in the delay time.

  First, the control unit 21 forms the transducer 14 having the maximum delay time as shown in FIG. 5A with the ultrasonic beam Bk + n having the steering angle of 0 degrees as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5B, the vibrator 14 having the maximum delay time is changed to the outside from the center of the opening. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22 is controlled such that the delay of the driving timing of the transducer 14a128 is maximized with respect to the transducer 14a105, and the timing of driving the transducer 14a128 is further increased. The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 22 is configured so that the delay time is gradually increased and finally the delay of the timing for driving the transducer 14a128 with respect to the transducer 14a105 is maximized as shown in FIG. And ultrasonic waves are transmitted from each transducer.

  As described above, by using the ultrasonic probe of the present embodiment, a scanning range by transducers having an arrangement of 0.2 mm pitch can be secured at the center, and a small pitch at both ends, that is, 0.1 mm in this example. Steering using a pitch vibrator is possible. That is, from FIG. 7 shown in [Background Art], it is possible to tilt 40 degrees by steering.

On the other hand, the angle of the scanning range of the ultrasonic beam Bk + 1 to the ultrasonic beam Bk + n without steering, that is, the viewing angle, is 80 0.2 mm pitch transducers and 24 (12 on each side) 0.1 mm pitch. The angle when the transducers are arranged in an arc with a radius of 10 mm,
360 × (0.1 × 24 + 0.2 × 80) / (2 × 10 × 3.14) = 105.5 [degree]
It is.

In the present embodiment, since the scanning range by the steering is further added to the viewing angle by the ultrasonic beam Bk + 1 to the ultrasonic beam Bk + n, the viewing angle of the present embodiment is
105.5 + 2 × 40 = 185.5 [degree]
It becomes.

  On the other hand, as described in [Background Art], when steering is performed with a vibrator having a pitch of 0.1 mm, 139.6 [degrees], and steering with a vibrator having a pitch of 0.2 mm Is 129.2 degrees.

  Therefore, as described above, each of the 24 vibrators 14 at both ends has a small pitch of 0.1 mm, and the other 80 vibrators 14 have a large pitch of 0.2 mm, so that steering can be performed. The steering angle can be increased while ensuring the viewing angle by the ultrasonic beam that is not performed, and the total viewing angle can be increased. By widening the viewing angle in this way, it is possible to contribute to an improvement in the detection rate of lesions such as tumors.

  Further, the total number of the above-described vibrator configurations of 128, a circular arc having a radius of 10 mm, a vibrator pitch, and an ultrasonic frequency of 7.5 MHz are shown as examples and are not limited thereto.

  Further, as described above, the end portion may include not only the 0.1 mm pitch vibrator 14 but also the 0.1 mm pitch vibrator and the 0.2 mm pitch vibrator 14. For example, at the end, the most end side (the most end of the arrangement of the transducers) is a transducer 14 having a pitch of 0.1 mm, the transducer 14 having a pitch of 0.2 mm is near the center, and the most end side is a pitch of 0.2 mm. The vibrator 14 has a configuration in which the vicinity of the central portion is a vibrator 14 having a pitch of 0.1 mm. According to such a configuration, generation of grating lobes can be suppressed by the vibrator 14 having a pitch of 0.1 mm included in the end portion, so that the steering angle can be increased. Therefore, the total viewing angle can be increased by including the vibrator 14 having a pitch of 0.1 mm at the end.

  Further, a plurality of pitches, for example, two types of pitches such as 0.1 mm and 0.05 mm may be used as the second pitch.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, detailed description of configurations substantially similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted, and different points will be mainly described.

A feature of the present embodiment is that an array of equivalently different pitches is obtained by electrically short-circuiting a plurality of partially adjacent vibrators formed with the same pitch.
(Configuration of ultrasonic probe)
FIG. 6 shows a part of a cross section of the probe unit 11. FIG. 6 shows only the vibrator 14 ′ and the wiring pattern, and the others are omitted.

  In the probe unit 11 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, transducers 14′a1 to 14′a208 having the same size with a pitch of 0.1 mm are formed along the arc of the tip. The transducers 14′a1,..., 14′a24 and the transducers 14′a185,..., 14′a208 are respectively formed with wiring patterns, and the transducers 14′a25, 14′a26,. 14′a183 and 14′a184 are formed with a wiring pattern that connects two vibrators 14 ′ to one.

  Therefore, each of the vibrators 14'a1, ..., 14'a24 and the vibrators 14'a185, ..., 14'a208 operates as one vibrator. On the other hand, vibrators 14′a25, 14′a26... 14′a183, 14′a184 are vibrators connected by a wiring pattern, that is, vibrators 14′a25 and 14′a26 and vibrators 14′a27 and 14. Each set of transducers' a28, ..., 14'a183 and 14'a184 operates like one transducer. That is, a 0.2 mm pitch is configured by wiring vibrators formed with the same size of 0.1 mm pitch.

  In addition, the ultrasonic probe having such a probe unit 11 includes a step of forming transducers 14 ′ having the same size arranged in succession, and a 0.1 mm pitch and 0.2 mm as described above, for example. And a step of wiring so as to constitute different pitches such as a pitch.

  Further, the transducer 14 'may be formed with, for example, 0.05 mm. In this case, in order to configure a 0.1 mm pitch, to connect two transducers 14' and configure a 0.2 mm pitch, A wiring pattern connecting four transducers' may be formed. That is, the vibrator 14 ′ may have a size of 1 / integer of the minimum pitch to be configured.

  According to the present embodiment, the vibrators in the arrangement as in the first embodiment can be equivalently realized by the wiring that connects the vibrators of the same size by being electrically short-circuited. According to this, since the pitch of a vibrator should just be formed at equal intervals, it can manufacture easily. In addition, various pitch patterns can be manufactured only by changing the electrical connection (wiring).

1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the probe part of the ultrasonic probe connected to the ultrasonic system shown in FIG. (A) thru | or (d) each show the table of delay time, and is a figure for demonstrating the change of delay time. (A) thru | or (d) each show the table of delay time, and is a figure for demonstrating the change of delay time. It is a figure which shows a part of cross section of a probe part. (A) thru | or (d) is a figure which shows the mode of the sound field in each steering angle in case the pitch of a vibrator | oscillator is 0.1 mm. (A) thru | or (d) is a figure which shows the mode of the sound field in each steering angle in case the pitch of a vibrator | oscillator is 0.2 mm.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic probe 2 Ultrasonic processing apparatus 3 Operation panel 4 Monitor means 10 Insertion part 11 Probe part 12 Cable 13 Grip part 14, 14 'Vibrator 15 Signal line 16 Matching layer 17 Acoustic lens 18 Backing material 21 Control part 22 Ultrasonic transceiver 23 Echo signal processor 24 DSC
25 Frame memory 26 Data synthesis means B Ultrasonic beam

Claims (7)

An ultrasonic probe having a rod-like insertion portion that can be inserted into a body cavity of a subject and whose tip is formed in an arc shape, and a plurality of transducers arranged along the arc of the tip,
The ultrasonic probe, wherein the plurality of transducers are arranged at different pitches at a central portion of the array and an end portion of the array.   The plurality of vibrators include vibrators arranged at a first pitch at a central portion of the array, and vibrators arranged at a second pitch smaller than the first pitch at an end of the array. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, comprising at least.   The plurality of vibrators include vibrators arranged at a first pitch at a central portion of the array, and vibrators arranged at the first pitch on the endmost side of the array at an end of the array. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, further comprising transducers arranged at the second pitch near the central portion.   The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the vibrators are continuously formed with the same size and are wired so as to have the different pitches.   4. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, wherein the vibrators are continuously formed with the same size and are wired so as to have the first pitch and the second pitch. 5.   The ultrasonic wave according to claim 5, wherein the wiring has a first pitch transducer and a second pitch transducer equivalently arranged by short-circuiting a plurality of partially adjacent transducers. probe. An ultrasonic probe having a rod-like insertion portion that can be inserted into a body cavity of a subject and whose tip is formed in an arc shape, and a plurality of transducers arranged along the arc of the tip, and each transducer Control means for controlling an ultrasonic probe so as to form an ultrasonic beam while moving the ultrasonic beam in the direction of the arrangement, and for performing diagnosis using the formed ultrasonic beam An ultrasonic diagnostic system of
In the ultrasonic probe, the plurality of transducers are arranged at different pitches at a central portion of the array and an end portion of the array,
The control means further controls the ultrasonic beam so that the ultrasonic beam is formed obliquely with respect to a normal line of the arc tangent at the end portion.

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