JP2009183454A - Ultrasonic inspection apparatus or ultrasonic irradiation position inspection method using frequency damping characteristic - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic inspection apparatus allowing a user to confirm that the ultrasonic wave is correctly irradiated to a site of fracture. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic inspection apparatus includes a transmission transducer which is installed on a body surface near the site of fracture and irradiates ultrasonic waves to the fracture site, a reception transducer which is installed on the body surface near the bone having the fracture site and receives the ultrasonic waves propagating through the bone, and a determination means which confirms that the transmission transducer irradiates the ultrasonic waves to the fracture site based on reception signals of the reception transducer propagating through a specific tissue using a difference in frequency damping characteristics between the bone and the soft tissue, and the characteristics of pulsed ultrasonic waves. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic inspection apparatus or an ultrasonic irradiation position inspection method. In particular, the present invention relates to an ultrasonic inspection apparatus or an ultrasonic irradiation position inspection method for confirming an ultrasonic irradiation position of an irradiation target bone using attenuation characteristics of propagating ultrasonic waves.

  Ultrasound is generally used for diagnosis and treatment as a safe and simple physical therapy. Among them, an ultrasonic fracture treatment device used for promoting fracture fusion is to perform treatment by irradiating a fracture site with ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic transducer and stimulating the fracture healing process. In order to appropriately irradiate the fractured part with ultrasonic waves, it is required to accurately determine and hold the mounting position and angle of the treatment device.

  Conventionally, in determining the ultrasonic irradiation position, an X-ray photograph of a fractured part is taken, and the irradiation position is determined based on the information. However, since the information obtained from X-ray photographs is two-dimensional information viewed from one direction at the time of radiography, the correct position and angle of transducer mounting, particularly in the thick femur and humerus of soft tissues such as muscle and fat There was a problem that it was difficult to decide.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a technique is disclosed in which ultrasonic waves are irradiated from a therapeutic transducer to a bone, and the reflected wave is received by a receiving transducer to determine whether the bone is correctly irradiated (patent) Reference 1).

As another method, a technique has been invented that determines whether bone is correctly irradiated by irradiating bone with ultrasonic waves and receiving a propagation wave in the long axis direction of the bone with a receiving transducer. (Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-224335).
JP 2001-299772 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic inspection apparatus capable of confirming accurate irradiation of an ultrasonic wave to an irradiation position at any site within a safe range for a living body when the bone is irradiated with ultrasonic waves. To do.

  The present invention provides a transmitting transducer for transmitting ultrasonic waves, a receiving transducer for receiving ultrasonic waves propagated in the longitudinal direction of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone, and a transmitting transducer at a target position of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone. A discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the ultrasonic wave is applied; the transmitting transducer transmits an ultrasonic wave having two or more types of frequencies; and the discriminating unit transmits an ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer. When the intensity information of each frequency and the received signal at each frequency is acquired and the attenuation coefficient / frequency calculated from the intensity information indicates a different numerical value for each frequency, the ultrasonic irradiation target bone is placed at the target position. It is an ultrasonic inspection apparatus characterized by discriminating that a transmitting transducer emits ultrasonic waves.

  In the present invention, the discriminating unit obtains the frequency information of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer from the frequency determining unit, and the intensity of the received signal from the recording unit in which the received signal received by the receiving transducer is recorded. Obtaining information, calculating the attenuation coefficient / frequency for each frequency after calculating the attenuation coefficient from the intensity of the received signal using the frequency information of the transmission signal and the intensity information of the received signal, This is an ultrasonic inspection apparatus.

  Furthermore, the present invention relates to a transmitting transducer for transmitting ultrasonic waves, a receiving transducer for receiving ultrasonic waves propagated in the longitudinal direction of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone, and a transmitting transducer at a target position of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone. The transmitting transducer has a lower frequency than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and the transmitted wave from the soft tissue is transmitted. The ultrasonic wave in the frequency region having the same frequency as the frequency of the ultrasonic wave that has been transmitted is transmitted, the determination means acquires a frequency component included in the received signal, and a frequency component lower than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave is received in the received signal. The transmitting transducer determines that the transmitting transducer is irradiating the ultrasonic wave at the target position of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone. It is a sound wave inspection apparatus.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the discriminating unit acquires the frequency information of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer from the frequency determining unit, and the frequency of the received signal from the recording unit in which the received signal received by the receiving transducer is recorded. By acquiring the component, and using the frequency information of the transmission signal and the frequency component of the reception signal, the period of the transmission signal and the reception signal, the external shape, or the frequency analysis result is compared, An ultrasonic inspection apparatus that determines whether or not the received signal has a frequency component lower than a frequency.

  Furthermore, the present invention is the ultrasonic inspection apparatus, wherein the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the transmitting transducer is 400 kHz or more.

  Furthermore, the present invention is an ultrasonic inspection apparatus including a display unit that displays a determination result obtained by the determination unit.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides an ultrasonic irradiation position inspection method for an ultrasonic irradiation target bone, wherein a transmitting transducer is installed on a body surface near the irradiation position of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone, and ultrasonic waves having two or more frequencies are used. The step of transmitting separately, the receiving transducer installed on the body surface near the ultrasonic irradiation target bone, the long axis direction or the soft tissue of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone of each ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission transducer The step of receiving the propagated ultrasonic wave, the discrimination means for discriminating whether the transmitting transducer is irradiating the ultrasonic wave at the target position of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone, each frequency of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer And the intensity information of the received signal received by the receiving transducer at each frequency, and the attenuation coefficient / frequency calculated from the intensity information is When the show different numbers, the originating transducer to a target position of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone and a step of determining that the ultrasonic irradiation, an ultrasonic irradiation position inspection method.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides an ultrasonic irradiation position inspection method for an ultrasonic irradiation target bone, wherein a transmitting transducer is installed on the body surface near the irradiation position of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone, and a propagation wave from the bone is transmitted A step of transmitting ultrasonic waves in a frequency region where the propagation wave from the soft tissue has the same frequency as the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic waves, and is set on the body surface near the ultrasonic irradiation target bone. Receiving the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer, the ultrasonic wave propagating through the long axis direction or the soft tissue of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone, and the target position of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone. A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the transmitting transducer is irradiated with ultrasonic waves, and the frequency of the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the transmitting transducer and the receiving transducer. If the frequency component included in the received signal obtained by the sensor is acquired and the received signal has a frequency component lower than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, the ultrasonic signal irradiation target bone is located at the target position. And a step of determining that the transmitting transducer is radiating ultrasonic waves.

  According to the present invention, when determining the installation position of the device for irradiating the bone with ultrasonic waves, the influence of the shape of the bone or the bone part is reduced as compared with the conventional method, and the irradiation position is within the safe range for the living body. It is possible to provide an ultrasonic inspection apparatus or an inspection method capable of confirming accurate irradiation of ultrasonic waves.

(principle)
The present invention uses the feature that the frequency and intensity of the propagating wave differ depending on the relationship between the attenuation characteristic of the propagating medium and the characteristic of the transmitted ultrasonic pulse, and confirms the ultrasonic irradiation position. When an ultrasonic wave is irradiated, a propagation wave transmitted in the long axis direction of the irradiated bone is received by a receiving transducer, and it is confirmed whether the target position can be irradiated by the received signal.
In the present invention, bone means bone tissue such as cortical bone and / or cancellous bone, and soft tissue means soft tissue other than bone tissue such as cortical bone and / or cancellous bone.

The frequency attenuation characteristic is expressed by the following equation using an attenuation coefficient α, an ultrasonic frequency f, a proportional coefficient k, and a frequency power m.
^{α = k · f m [dB} / cm]
Also, the received signal strength I and the attenuation coefficient α are expressed by the following relationship.
I∝exp (-α)

  In the above formula, the soft tissue has m of approximately 1 and k of approximately 0.5 to 2, and tends to increase in proportion to the first power of the frequency. That is, α / f is constant without depending on f. On the other hand, bone is larger in both k and m than soft tissue, and α / f has an inclination depending on f. Therefore, when ultrasonic waves having the same frequency are propagated to the bone and soft tissue having the same length, the bone propagates while being attenuated more than the soft tissue. Furthermore, since α has the relationship of the received signal strength and the above equation, α can be calculated by measuring the received signal strength.

  When the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer is a pulse ultrasonic wave having a frequency of fHz, the frequency included in the ultrasonic wave is a frequency other than fHz and fHz included in the rising and falling edges of the pulse ultrasonic wave. It becomes frequency.

  FIG. 14 shows the intensity distribution of the frequency included in the pulsed ultrasonic wave when N waves having a frequency of fHz are repeatedly irradiated at a frequency of 1 Hz. The intensity distribution of the frequency contained in the pulsed ultrasonic wave when N waves with a frequency of fHz are repeatedly emitted at a frequency of 1 Hz has the largest peak at the frequency fHz, and each of the low frequency region and the high frequency region centered on fHz. Distribution with N-1 small peaks.

  Therefore, in a system in which pulsed ultrasonic waves having a frequency of fHz are propagated, when the attenuation of the fHz component is small and the ratio of fHz in the intensity distribution of the propagation wave is larger than the ratio of frequency components other than fHz of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, The frequency of the propagating wave is the same frequency fHz as the transmitted ultrasonic wave. In a system for propagating pulsed ultrasonic waves having a frequency of fHz, when the attenuation of the fHz component is large and the ratio of fHz in the intensity distribution of the propagating wave is smaller than the ratio of frequency components other than fHz of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, the propagating wave This frequency is lower than the frequency fHz of the transmitted ultrasonic wave.

  The present invention confirms the irradiation to the bone by evaluating the frequency information of the received signal using the difference in frequency attenuation characteristics between bone and soft tissue and the characteristics of pulsed ultrasound.

(Determination method)
And frequency information of the received signal, specifically, (A) and attenuation coefficient alpha _n calculated from the intensity I _n of the received signal at each frequency f _n of the outgoing ultrasound from the transmitting transducer, (B) the received signal It is a frequency component contained in. From these two types of frequency information, two methods are proposed as a discrimination method for confirming the irradiation of ultrasonic waves to the bone.

In the method using the information of (A), it is a method of determining by originating by changing a few streets frequency, to evaluate the attenuation coefficient alpha _n calculated from the intensity I _n of the received signal at each frequency f _n . In determining in this way, is used as the discrimination information, frequency information of the received signal, and the frequency f _n of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer, the attenuation is calculated from the intensity I _n of the received signal at each frequency f _n The coefficient α _n . In this case, if α / f has an inclination with respect to f, it is determined that the bone is irradiated. When the bone is not irradiated, that is, when propagating through the soft tissue, since m of the soft tissue is approximately 1, α / f has an inclination with respect to f without being influenced by the frequency f. Because there is no. On the other hand, when the bone is irradiated, m of the bone is larger than 1, so α / f is influenced by the frequency f and has an inclination with respect to f.

  In the case of (A), when there are two or more received signals, the inclination of α / f with respect to f is evaluated in each case, and if there is even one received signal having an inclination, it is determined that the bone is irradiated. . If α / f has almost no inclination with respect to f, it is determined that the bone is not irradiated. When there are two or more received signals, the inclination of α / f with respect to f is evaluated in each case. In each, the inclination of α / f with respect to f is evaluated, and if all the received signals have no inclination, it is determined that the bone is not irradiated.

  In the method using the information in (B), the propagation wave from the bone has a frequency lower than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and the propagation wave from the soft tissue has a frequency domain super frequency that is the same as the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave. In this method, a sound wave is transmitted and the frequency component included in the received signal is evaluated. When discriminating by this method, the frequency information of the received signal used as discrimination information is a frequency component included in the received signal. In this case, if the received signal has a frequency lower than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, it is determined that the bone is irradiated. When there are two or more received signals, frequency components are evaluated in each of them, and if there is a received signal having a frequency lower than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, it is determined that the bone is irradiated. If the received signal has the same frequency as the transmitted ultrasonic wave, it is determined that the bone is not irradiated. When there are two or more received signals, the frequency components are evaluated in each, and if all the received signals have the same frequency as the transmitted ultrasonic wave, it is determined that the bone is not irradiated.

  In this method of discriminating based on the frequency information of the propagation wave, the receiving transducer may be installed anywhere as long as the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer can be received.

(Concrete example)
In the evaluation of the frequency information of the received signal, transmission is performed by changing two or more frequencies, and the attenuation coefficient α _n [dB] calculated from the received signal intensity I _n [W / cm ² ] at each frequency f _n [MHz]. In the case of the method (A) for discriminating by evaluating / cm], the frequency of the transmitting ultrasonic wave is changed in several ways, such as f1, f2, and f3, and the received signal intensities I1, I2, I3 is acquired, and attenuation coefficients α1, α2, and α3 are calculated. Based on these, the relationship between α / f [dB / (cm · MHz)] and f [MHz] is derived, and the slope of α / f with respect to f [MHz] is evaluated. For example, if α _n / f _n −α _n−1 / f _n−1 ≠ 0, it is determined that it has a slope and evaluated. In the case of this method, the frequency may be any frequency as long as the output is within a range in which a propagation wave can be received and is safe for a living body. When using ultrasonic waves in a frequency region that is lower than the frequency of the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the bone, since the evaluation will be performed in the frequency region of low intensity included in the rise and fall of the pulse ultrasonic wave, It is preferable to use the ultrasonic wave in the frequency region having the same frequency as the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave as the propagation wave from the bone.

Specifically, an ultrasonic wave having a frequency of about 150 kHz or less is preferable. According to the experiments by the present inventors, the ultrasonic wave in the frequency region having the same frequency as the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the bone is 300 kHz or less for a 4 cm bone and 150 kHz or less for a 20 cm bone. Confirm that there is. Accordingly, in the method for determination by originating by changing a few streets frequency, to evaluate the attenuation coefficient alpha _n calculated from the intensity I _n of the received signal at each frequency f _n, without limiting the installation position of the two transducer Therefore, a frequency of 150 kHz or less is preferable because it is possible to receive a propagating wave that is a sufficient discrimination criterion.

  For example, the frequency f of the transmitting ultrasonic wave is changed every 100 kHz from 100 kHz to 150 kHz, the intensity of the received signal at each frequency is measured, and α / f is calculated. If α / f has an inclination with respect to f, it is determined that the bone is irradiated. If α / f does not have an inclination, it is determined that the bone is not irradiated.

In the evaluation of the frequency information of the received signal, the frequency range where the propagation wave from the bone is lower than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave and the propagation wave from the soft tissue is the same frequency as the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave. In the case of the method (B) for discriminating by evaluating the frequency component included in the received signal, the frequency f ₀ of the received signal when the fHz ultrasonic wave is transmitted is acquired. The frequency f ₀ of the received signal can be obtained by observing the period and outer shape of the received signal or performing frequency analysis. The frequency f _{0 of the} received signal may be information that allows relative evaluation of the frequency f of the transmitted ultrasonic wave. In the case of this method, an ultrasonic wave of 500 kHz or more is particularly preferable. According to the experiments by the present inventors, the propagation wave from the bone has a frequency lower than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and the propagation wave from the soft tissue has the same frequency as the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave. It has been confirmed that it is 400 kHz or more for a 4 cm bone and 200 kHz or more for a 20 cm bone. Therefore, the propagation wave from the bone has a frequency lower than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and the propagation wave from the soft tissue transmits the ultrasonic wave in the frequency region having the same frequency as the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave. In the method of discriminating by evaluating the frequency component included in the received signal, it is possible to receive a propagation wave as a discriminating reference sufficiently without limiting the installation positions of both transducers, so a frequency of 400 kHz or higher is preferable. More preferably, it is 500 kHz or more.

  For example, if there is a 100 kHz signal in the received signal when an ultrasonic wave having a frequency of 800 kHz is transmitted, it is determined that the bone is irradiated, and if only the 800 kHz signal is determined, the bone is not irradiated. To do.

  In addition, the propagation wave from the bone has the same frequency as the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and the propagation wave from the bone has a frequency lower than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and from the soft tissue. Propagation waves may be transmitted at different timings, with ultrasonic waves in the frequency domain having the same frequency as the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic waves, and ultrasonic waves in the respective frequency domains. In this way, when transmitting ultrasonic waves of two types of frequencies, the information used for discrimination and the stage until discrimination are increased compared to the case of discriminating by irradiating either one type of ultrasonic wave. Irradiation detection accuracy is increased.

(Application example 1)
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.
An example of application of the present invention to the treatment of femoral fracture is shown in FIG.

  Regarding the transmitting side, when treating the fracture site 3, the transmitting transducer 4 is installed at the mounting position determined by the medical institution and mounted on the thigh using the fixing means 10. The fixing means 10 only needs to be able to fix the transmitting transducer 4 to the body surface 12, and for example, a belt or the like is used. At this time, the ultrasonic wave propagation material 7 is interposed between the transmitting transducer 4 and the body surface 12. The ultrasonic wave propagation material 7 may be anything that propagates ultrasonic waves. For example, water or ultrasonic gel is suitable. At this time, the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer 4 may be used for treatment and / or diagnosis and inspection, or only for inspection. When it is used only for testing, it can take the form of a device separate from the treatment or diagnosis device.

  On the receiving side, the receiving transducer 5 is fixed to a location on the body surface 12 near the femur 2 at a location different from the location where the transmitting transducer 4 is installed. The receiving transducer 5 is fixed using the fixing means 11 in the same manner as the transmitting transducer 4. The ultrasonic propagation material 7 is also interposed between the receiving transducer 5 and the body surface 12.

  The receiving transducer 5 may be installed anywhere as long as it can receive a propagation wave from an ultrasonic bone transmitted from the transmitting transducer. Since ultrasonic waves are straight, the body surface close to the bone to be treated and the proximal end and distal end of the bone to be treated are preferable in order to receive the propagation wave from the bone more efficiently. For example, if the bone to be treated is the femur, the femur is near the outer epicondyle of the femur, near the epicondyle of the femur, or the greater trochanter of the femur. In FIG. 2, the receiving transducer 5 is installed in the vicinity of the outer epicondyle of the femur. As another example, when treating the humerus, a receiving transducer may be installed in the vicinity of the outer humerus condyle or in the vicinity of the inner humerus condyle.

  As described above, the receiving transducer 5 is installed in a place where the ultrasonic wave propagating the propagation wave from the bone can be received, and the frequency information of the received signal obtained is evaluated, thereby confirming the accurate irradiation position of the transmitting transducer. Is possible. At this time, when the accurate irradiation to the fracture position is confirmed, when the ultrasonic wave that can be transmitted from the transmitting transducer 4 is for treatment and / or diagnosis and examination, before treatment start, during treatment, and treatment end. It can be performed at any later timing, and when it is for testing only, it is before the start of treatment and after the end of treatment.

(Device configuration 1)
An example of device components is shown in FIG.
The inspection apparatus body 6 includes a transmission circuit 13, a reception circuit 14, a frequency determination unit 17, a control unit 15 including a recording unit 18 and a determination unit 19, a power supply unit 16, and a display unit 20.

The actual device movement is described below. First, the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave is determined by the frequency determining means 17, and the discrimination condition under that frequency is determined. For example, the frequency of the ultrasonic waves originating from transmitting transducer 4 is set to less than 150 kHz, transmits by changing the few streets frequency, attenuation coefficient calculated from the intensity I _n of the received signal at each frequency f _n alpha _When using the method (A) for discriminating by evaluating _n , the discriminating condition is the slope of α / f with respect to f. When using the method (B) in which the frequency of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer 4 is set to 500 kHz or higher and the frequency component included in the received signal is evaluated, the determination condition is the frequency included in the received signal. Ingredients.

  Next, the control unit 15 supplied with power from the power supply unit 16 sends a drive signal to the transmission circuit 13. The transmission circuit 13 that has received the drive signal sends a signal to the transmission transducer 4 via the cable 8, and the transmission transducer 4 transmits an ultrasonic wave. At this time, the receiving side sends a trigger signal to the receiving circuit 14 when the control means 15 sends a driving signal to the transmitting circuit 13 or stops, and starts signal detection, or a voltage value above a certain level in the receiving circuit. When the signal is detected, the signal detection of the receiving circuit 14 is started. Here, the power supply means 16 specifically includes a built-in power supply or an external power supply.

  The ultrasonic wave received from the receiving transducer 5 is converted into an electric signal and sent to the receiving circuit 14 via the cable 9. The detected signal is recorded by the recording means 18 and discriminated using the discriminating means 19 based on the discriminating information determined from the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave. The result is displayed on the display unit 20, and it is possible to determine whether or not the bone is irradiated. Here, the recording means 18 is specifically a semiconductor memory or the like. The display unit 20 specifically includes an LCD for displaying the result in characters, an LED for displaying the result in lighting, and the like.

  When it is determined that the irradiation position is correct at the time of use before treatment, when the inspection apparatus body 6 can transmit ultrasonic waves for treatment or diagnosis, the transmission circuit 13 can perform treatment or diagnosis from the inspection signal. Switch to the signal for use and start treatment or diagnosis. When the inspection apparatus main body 6 can transmit only the ultrasonic waves for inspection, the apparatus is switched to the apparatus for treatment or diagnosis and treatment or diagnosis is started.

(Application example 2)
FIG. 3 shows an example in which the transmission and reception mechanisms of ultrasonic waves according to the present invention are realized by two devices.
The transmission mechanism 21 can transmit only the inspection ultrasonic wave, or the inspection ultrasonic wave and the therapeutic ultrasonic wave and / or the diagnostic ultrasonic wave via the transmission transducer 4, and the reception mechanism 22 transmits the reception transducer 5. The ultrasonic wave received via the terminal is converted into an electrical signal, and the suitability of the irradiation position is determined based on the discrimination condition input in advance. In this embodiment, the S / N can be improved by downsizing each device and removing noise from the transmission mechanism 21.

(Device configuration 2)
FIG. 4 shows an example of the transmission mechanism and FIG. 5 shows an example of the reception mechanism when the transmission mechanism 21 and the reception mechanism 22 are realized by two devices.
The transmission mechanism 21 includes a transmission circuit 13, a control unit 15, a power supply unit 16, a transmission transducer 4, and a cable 8. The reception mechanism 22 includes a reception circuit 14, a control unit 15, a power supply unit 16, a frequency determination unit 17, a recording unit 18, a determination unit 19, a display unit 20, a reception transducer 5, and a cable 9.

  You may comprise the effect | action of each component, etc. similarly to the Example mentioned above. In this case, the receiving side sends a trigger signal to the transmission circuit 13 by the control means 15 or sends a trigger signal to the reception circuit 14 by a cable (not shown) or wireless (not shown) at the timing of stopping. The reception timing can be easily adjusted by starting the signal detection of the reception circuit 14 or starting the signal detection of the reception circuit 14 when a voltage value of a certain level or higher is detected in the reception circuit. In addition, when it is determined that the irradiation position is correct at the time of use before treatment, a signal is transmitted to the transmission mechanism by the cable or wirelessly, and the ultrasound for examination of the transducer for transmission is switched to treatment or diagnostic ultrasound. it can.

(Irradiation conditions)
As the therapeutic ultrasonic waves, ultrasonic waves having conditions suitable for fracture treatment are used. For example, as one of suitable ultrasonic conditions, a 1.5 MHz frequency, a 200 μs burst width, a 1 kHz repetition frequency, an ultrasonic wave with a time average and a spatial average of 30 mW / cm ² are preferable.
The inspection ultrasonic waves are as described above. Further, since the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used within a safe range for the living body, the output is used within the range where the safety to the living body can be maintained such that MI (Mechanical Index) is 1.0 or less. MI is a value defined by an expression obtained by dividing the maximum value of negative sound pressure by the square root of the frequency, and is a mechanical index indicating the possibility of an influence on a living body when a cavity generated by negative sound pressure disappears. is there.

(Confirmation method of ultrasonic irradiation position)
An example of confirming the ultrasonic irradiation position of the transmitting transducer will be described. When the transmitting transducer 4 is correctly installed at the irradiation position, the ultrasonic wave is irradiated to the fracture site 3. The ultrasonic wave applied to the fracture site 3 is transmitted in the long axis direction of the femur 2, and the ultrasonic wave propagated through the bone is received using the receiving transducer 5.

The determination means 19 transmits by changing a few streets frequency, how to determine by evaluating the attenuation coefficient alpha _n calculated from the intensity I _n of the received signal at each frequency f _n (A), or the received signal Two means of the method (B) for discriminating by the frequency component contained in the above are conceivable. One of the two means may be used, or both may be used in combination. When both are used in combination, the accuracy of detection of irradiation to the bone is higher than when discrimination is made by either means.

When determining by originating by changing a few streets frequency, to evaluate the attenuation coefficient alpha _n calculated from the intensity I _n of the received signal at each frequency f _n, the example of determining method by the discrimination means 19 6 Shown in When ultrasonic waves having frequencies f1, f2, and f3 are transmitted from the transmitting transducer 4, the attenuation coefficients calculated from the intensity of the propagation waves received by the receiving transducer 5 for the respective ultrasonic waves are α1, α2, and α3. And When calculating the attenuation coefficient from the intensity of the propagating wave, the following equation is used. The output of the transmitted ultrasonic wave is denoted as _I0 .
α ∝ -log (I _n / I ₀ )
In the graph with α1 / f1, α2 / f2, α3 / f3 on the vertical axis and f1, f2, and f3 on the horizontal axis, α / f has an inclination with respect to f (FIG. 6a). Since it is determined that the transducer 4 is correctly installed at the irradiation position and the result is displayed on the display unit 20 as information, it can be seen that the ultrasonic wave is irradiated to the fracture site 3. When there are two or more received signals, the inclination of α / f with respect to f is evaluated in each case, and if there is even one received signal having an inclination, it is determined that the transmitting transducer 4 is correctly installed at the irradiation position. To do. On the other hand, in the graph drawn with α1 / f1, α2 / f2, α3 / f3 on the vertical axis and f1, f2, and f3 on the horizontal axis, α / f has almost no inclination with respect to f and is constant. In the case (FIG. 6 b), it is determined that the transmitting transducer 4 is not properly installed at the irradiation position, and the result is displayed on the display unit 20 as information. I understand. When there are two or more received signals, the inclination of α / f with respect to f is evaluated in each case. If all the received signals have no inclination, it is determined that the transmitting transducer 4 is not correctly installed at the irradiation position. . In this case, the installation position and orientation of the transmitting transducer are changed, and the operation is repeated until α / f draws a graph having an inclination with respect to f.

  FIGS. 7 to 10 show examples of the discrimination method by the discrimination means 19 when discriminating by the frequency component included in the received signal (B). When an ultrasonic wave having a frequency of fHz is transmitted from the transmitting transducer 4, a sine wave that includes frequency components other than fHz and is disturbed by overlapping a plurality of frequency waves is detected in the propagation wave received by the receiving transducer 5 ( 7), or even when one of a plurality of received signals is received, a received signal having a frequency lower than fHz is detected (FIG. 8), or the largest peak is detected in a frequency region lower than fHz after FFT analysis (FIG. 9). Since it is determined that the transmitting transducer 4 is correctly installed at the irradiation position and the result is displayed on the display unit 20 as information, it can be seen that the fracture site 3 is irradiated with ultrasonic waves. On the other hand, when an ultrasonic wave having a frequency of fHz is transmitted from the transmitting transducer 4, the propagation wave received by the receiving transducer 5 includes one sine wave having a frequency of fHz (FIG. 10) and a plurality of received signals. In all cases, a sine wave having a frequency of fHz is detected (FIG. 11), or when the largest peak is detected at fHz after FFT analysis (FIG. 12), it is determined that the transmitting transducer 4 is not correctly installed at the irradiation position, Since the result is displayed on the display unit 20 as information, it can be understood that the fracture site 3 is not irradiated with ultrasonic waves. In this case, the operation is repeated until a plurality of peaks are detected after detecting a disturbed sine wave or FFT analysis by changing the installation position and orientation of the transmitting transducer.

  If the timing for confirming accurate irradiation to the fracture position is before treatment or diagnosis, if it is determined that the irradiation position is correct, the ultrasonic wave emitted from the transmitting transducer 4 is used for treatment or diagnosis from the inspection ultrasonic wave. Change to ultrasound or change from examination device to treatment or diagnostic ultrasound device and start treatment or diagnosis.

  If the timing for confirming the accurate irradiation to the fracture position is under treatment, the therapeutic ultrasonic wave is irradiated, and the repetition frequency of 1 kHz, that is, the repetition period of 1 ms, is at a time of 800 μs where the ultrasonic wave for treatment is not irradiated. It can also be determined by irradiating the inspection ultrasonic wave at a predetermined interval. When performing the treatment or diagnosis, when the position of the transmitting transducer 4 is not correct, the display unit 20 can always inform the patient that the setting of the therapeutic transducer is not correct and correct the position of the transmitting transducer 4. Therefore, improvement of the therapeutic effect can be expected.

  An example using the present embodiment will be specifically described in the case of confirming the position during treatment. An electric signal for driving the transmitting transducer 4 is shown in FIG. First, an ultrasonic wave for treatment or diagnosis having a width of 200 μs is transmitted, and then an ultrasonic wave for inspection having a burst width T is transmitted after 400 s. In the remaining time before the next treatment or diagnostic ultrasonic wave is sent, a discrimination section is provided in consideration of the delay in the ultrasonic wave propagation time via the bone, and the ultrasonic wave for examination propagating through the bone is detected by the receiving transducer 5. Then, it is determined whether or not the position of the transmitting transducer is appropriate. The method of sending the ultrasonic waves for examination once every 10 times of sending ultrasonic waves for treatment or diagnosis is also possible. As another method, ultrasonic waves for examination can be irradiated only three times at intervals of, for example, 200 μs during the 800 μs without irradiation of ultrasonic waves for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.

It is the schematic of the embodiment using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of components of the apparatus. It is the schematic of another embodiment using the ultrasonic diagnosing device of this invention. It is the schematic of a transmission mechanism. It is the schematic of a receiving mechanism. Is a diagram of a discrimination method example by the discrimination means in the case of determination by evaluating the attenuation coefficient alpha _n calculated from the intensity I _n of the received signal at each frequency f _n. It is a figure of the example of a discriminating method by the discriminating means in the case of discriminating with a frequency component (when irradiated to the bone). It is a figure of the example of a discriminating method by the discriminating means in the case of discriminating with a frequency component (when irradiated to the bone). It is a figure of the example of a discriminating method by the discriminating means in the case of discriminating with a frequency component (when irradiated to the bone). It is a figure of the example of a discriminating method by the discriminating means in the case of discriminating with a frequency component (when not irradiating the bone). It is a figure of the example of a discriminating method by the discriminating means in the case of discriminating with a frequency component (when not irradiating the bone). It is a figure of the example of a discriminating method by the discriminating means in the case of discriminating with a frequency component (when not irradiating the bone). It is a figure of the one aspect | mode of the electric signal which drives the transducer for a transmission of this invention. It is a power spectrum figure of a pulse ultrasonic wave when N waves of frequency f are irradiated with repetition frequency 1Hz.

Explanation of symbols

1. 1. Soft tissue 2. Femur Fracture site 4. 4. Transmitting transducer 5. Transducer for reception 6. Inspection device body Ultrasonic wave propagation material8. Transmission cable 9. Receive cable 10. Fixing means 11. Fixing means 12. Body surface 13. Transmitting circuit 14. Receiving circuit 15. Control means 16. Power supply means 17. Frequency determining means 18. Recording means 19. Discriminating means 20. Display unit 21. Transmission mechanism 22. Reception mechanism

Claims (8)

A transmitting transducer for transmitting ultrasonic waves, a receiving transducer for receiving ultrasonic waves propagated in the longitudinal direction of the bone to be irradiated with ultrasonic waves, and a transmitting transducer for irradiating ultrasonic waves to the target position of the bone to be irradiated with ultrasonic waves Having a determining means for determining whether or not
The transmitting transducer transmits ultrasonic waves having two or more frequencies,
The discrimination means acquires each frequency of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer and the intensity information of the received signal at each frequency, and the attenuation coefficient / frequency calculated from the intensity information indicates a different numerical value for each frequency In the ultrasonic inspection apparatus, it is determined that the transmitting transducer is irradiating ultrasonic waves at a target position of an ultrasonic irradiation target bone.   The discriminating means obtains frequency information of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer from the frequency determining means, acquires intensity information of the received signal from the recording means in which the received signal received by the receiving transducer is recorded, The attenuation coefficient / frequency for each frequency is calculated after calculating the attenuation coefficient from the intensity of the received signal using the frequency information of the transmission signal and the intensity information of the received signal. The described ultrasonic inspection apparatus. A transmitting transducer for transmitting ultrasonic waves, a receiving transducer for receiving ultrasonic waves propagated in the longitudinal direction of the bone to be irradiated with ultrasonic waves, and a transmitting transducer for irradiating ultrasonic waves to the target position of the bone to be irradiated with ultrasonic waves Having a determining means for determining whether or not
In the transmitting transducer, the propagation wave from the bone has a frequency lower than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and the propagation wave from the soft tissue has an ultrasonic frequency in the frequency region that is the same as the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave. Outgoing,
The discriminating means obtains a frequency component included in the received signal, and when the received signal has a frequency component lower than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, An ultrasonic inspection apparatus characterized by discriminating that a transmitting transducer emits ultrasonic waves.   The determination means acquires frequency information of ultrasonic waves transmitted from the transmission transducer from the frequency determination means, acquires a frequency component of the reception signal from a recording means on which the reception signal received by the reception transducer is recorded, By using the frequency information of the transmission signal and the frequency component of the reception signal, the frequency component lower than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave by comparing the period, external shape, or frequency analysis result of the transmission signal and the reception signal. The ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein it is determined whether or not the received signal has a signal.   The ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the transmitting transducer is 400 kHz or more.   The ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays a discrimination result obtained by the discrimination unit. In the ultrasonic irradiation position inspection method for the ultrasonic irradiation target bone,
A step of separately transmitting ultrasonic waves having two or more types of frequencies by installing a transmitting transducer on the body surface near the irradiation position of the bone to be irradiated with ultrasonic waves;
The receiving transducer installed on the body surface near the ultrasonic irradiation target bone receives the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer and transmitted through the long axis direction of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone or the soft tissue. The process of
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the transmitting transducer irradiates ultrasonic waves at a target position of the bone to be irradiated with ultrasonic waves. Each frequency of ultrasonic waves transmitted from the transmitting transducer and the receiving transducer at each frequency. When the intensity information of the received signal is acquired and the attenuation coefficient / frequency calculated from the intensity information indicates a different value for each frequency, the transmitting transducer is placed at a target position on the ultrasonic irradiation target bone. An ultrasonic irradiation position inspection method comprising: a step of determining that a sound wave is applied. In the ultrasonic irradiation position inspection method for the ultrasonic irradiation target bone,
A transmitting transducer is installed on the body surface near the irradiation position of the target bone for ultrasonic irradiation, so that the propagation wave from the bone is lower than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and the propagation wave from the soft tissue is transmitted. A step of transmitting an ultrasonic wave in a frequency region having the same frequency as the sound wave,
The receiving transducer installed on the body surface near the ultrasonic irradiation target bone receives ultrasonic waves transmitted from the transmitting transducer in the long axis direction of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone or the soft tissue. Process,
It is a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the transmitting transducer is radiating ultrasonic waves to the target position of the bone to be irradiated with ultrasonic waves, and the frequency obtained from the transmitting transducer and the reception obtained by the receiving transducer. When the frequency component included in the signal is acquired and the received signal has a frequency component lower than the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, the transmitting transducer transmits the ultrasonic wave at the target position of the ultrasonic irradiation target bone. And a step of discriminating that the irradiation is performed.

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