JP2010042166A - Ultrasonic probe used for medical diagnosing and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust tomographic images at a plurality of angle positions in the middle of a long axis image and a short axis image relatively accurately by a simple operation. <P>SOLUTION: The shape of the cross section 23a of the grip portion 23 of the ultrasonic probe 3 is formed into a polygon having six or more corners, and by rotating the ultrasonic probe 3 for one or more corners (pitches) around an axis, adjustment is relatively accurately executed by the simple operation and imaging is executed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe used for medical diagnosis and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using the same, and more particularly to improvement of a grip portion of an ultrasonic probe.

  An ultrasonic probe transmits an ultrasonic wave into a subject and receives an echo signal reflected from a diagnostic region. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus generates an image of a diagnostic region based on the received reflected echo signal, displays the image on a monitor, and observes the image to perform a medical diagnosis.

  As an ultrasonic probe used for such a medical diagnosis, as described in Patent Document 1, one in which a plurality of transducers are arranged one-dimensionally to form an ultrasonic transmission / reception surface is known. The electronic scanning type ultrasonic probe is roughly classified into a linear type ultrasonic probe and a sector type ultrasonic probe. The linear type ultrasonic probe is suitable for abdominal examination, and the sector type ultrasonic probe is suitable for cardiac examination. As a linear scanning type deformation, there is a convex type ultrasonic probe, and a small convex type ultrasonic probe is also used for cardiac examination.

  In general, the direction in which the transducers are arranged is referred to as the major axis direction, and the direction orthogonal to this is referred to as the minor axis direction. When imaging a desired part of the subject, the transmission / reception surface of the ultrasound probe is used as the subject. Ultrasonic waves are sent to the body surface by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, displaying images on the monitor, and observing the ultrasonic images on the monitor while changing the vertical axis tilt and major axis direction of the transmission and reception surfaces. A tomographic image at a desired cross section is acquired by manipulating the scan plane.

  For example, in the diagnosis of the heart, in order to observe and evaluate the motion of the heart wall, it is required to image and depict the cross section of the heart from various directions. In this case, for example, the inspector holds the ultrasonic probe grip part with the fingertip and presses it against the body surface, and the long axis of the transmission / reception surface is adjusted by the operation of the fingertip with reference to the mark formed on the grip part. For example, a long-axis image rotated in the plane and taken as a reference position (0 °) and a so-called short-axis image shifted by 90 ° are taken. In particular, even in the case of the sector-type ultrasonic probe, the grip section has a rounded rectangular shape, so that it can be rotated 90 ° with relatively high accuracy.

JP 2006-457 A

  By the way, when evaluating the motion of the heart, not only a cross section of the long axis image (0 °) and the short axis image (90 °) but also a tomographic image at an angle such as 45 ° or 135 ° between them. There is a request for imaging. In the case of such an intermediate angle, according to the prior art, according to the experience and intuition of the inspector, the angle of the long axis of the transmitting / receiving surface must be rotated in the surface by the operation of the fingertip. However, there is a problem that the operation is complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible to adjust a tomographic image placed at a plurality of intermediate angular positions between a long-axis image and a short-axis image with a relatively accurate and simple operation.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is characterized in that the cross-sectional shape of the grip portion of the ultrasonic probe is a hexagon or more polygon.

  According to this, the grip portion of the ultrasound probe is held between the fingertips (for example, the thumb and forefinger or the middle finger in addition to this), and the ultrasound probe is rotated around the axis according to the number of polygons. By rotating by one or a plurality of angles (pitch), for example, it is possible to adjust to a plurality of angular positions such as a 30 ° pitch, a 45 ° pitch, a 60 ° pitch and the like with a simple operation with relatively high accuracy.

  Here, the polygon is preferably an even angle, and a hexagon, an octagon, a dodecagon, and a hexagon can be adopted. The polygon is preferably a regular polygon circumscribing a circle. In this case, it is preferable to rotate at a 60 ° pitch in the case of a hexagon, a 45 ° pitch in the case of an octagon, a 30 ° pitch in the case of a dodecagon, and a 22.5 ° pitch in the case of a hexagon. The polygon need not be a regular polygon, and may be a long polygon circumscribing an ellipse. In short, the normal of two opposing faces sandwiched by two fingers among the polygonal faces is a plurality of angles such as 30 ° pitch, 45 ° pitch, 60 ° pitch, etc. with respect to 0 ° as the reference position. What is necessary is just to be formed in the position.

  According to the present invention, a tomographic image placed at a plurality of angular positions in the middle between a long-axis image and a short-axis image can be adjusted with a relatively simple and simple operation.

  Hereinafter, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 forms and displays a two-dimensional ultrasonic image or a three-dimensional ultrasonic image for a diagnostic region using a reflected echo signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in the subject 2. , An ultrasonic probe 3 having a vibration element for irradiating and receiving ultrasonic waves to the subject 2, an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4 for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic signals, and a two-dimensional ultrasonic image (B Mode image) or an ultrasonic image construction unit 5 constituting a three-dimensional ultrasonic image, a display unit 6 for displaying an ultrasonic image constructed in the ultrasonic image construction unit 5, and a control unit 7 for controlling each component. And a control panel 8 for giving an instruction to the control unit 7.

  Here, each component is demonstrated concretely. In the ultrasonic probe 3, vibration elements are arranged for 1 to m channels in the long axis direction of the ultrasonic probe. Here, when k pieces are cut in the short axis direction and arranged for 1 to k channels, the delay time given to each vibration element (1 to k channels) in the short axis direction is changed to change the short axis direction. Also, the focus of transmission and reception can be applied. Also, transmission weighting is applied by changing the amplitude of the ultrasonic transmission signal applied to each vibration element in the short axis direction, and the amplification or attenuation of the ultrasonic reception signal from each vibration element in the short axis direction is changed. The receiving weighting can be applied. Further, the aperture control can be performed by turning on and off the respective vibration elements in the minor axis direction.

  The ultrasonic probe 3 changes the ultrasonic reception sensitivity, that is, the electromechanical coupling coefficient, in accordance with the magnitude of the bias voltage applied in a superimposed manner on the drive signal supplied from the ultrasonic transmission unit 4.

  The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4 supplies a transmission signal to the ultrasonic probe 3 and processes the received reflected echo signal. Inside the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4, the ultrasonic probe 3 is controlled to emit an ultrasonic beam. A transmission circuit that receives the reflected echo signal from the subject of the emitted ultrasonic beam and collects biological information, and a control circuit that controls these.

  The ultrasonic image construction unit 5 converts the reflected echo signal processed by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4 into an ultrasonic tomographic image, and a digital scan converter that forms an ultrasonic image based on the sequentially inputted reflected echo signal; A magnetic disk device that stores ultrasonic images and a storage device that includes a RAM, and processes reflected echo signals received by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4 to perform two-dimensional ultrasonic images, three-dimensional ultrasonic images, and various Dopplers. Output as an image.

  The display unit 6 inputs an image created by the ultrasonic image constructing unit 5 through the display control unit and displays it as an ultrasonic image, and includes, for example, a CRT monitor and a liquid crystal monitor.

  The control unit 7 controls the operation of each of the above constituent elements, and is configured by a control computer system having an interface with a user interface circuit. The control unit 7 controls the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4 based on the user interface included therein, information from the user interface, and the like. Also, control is performed such as transferring biological information received by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4 to the ultrasonic image construction unit 5 and transmitting information imaged by the ultrasonic image construction unit 5 to the display control unit.

  Below, the structure of the grip part of the ultrasonic probe 3 which is the characteristic of this invention is divided and demonstrated to an Example.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a grip portion of an embodiment of the ultrasonic probe 3 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the ultrasonic probe 3 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a front view of an example ultrasonic probe 3. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ultrasonic probe 3 includes a transducer unit 11 including an array transducer and a backing material, an acoustic matching layer, an acoustic lens, and the like, and a connection between an electrode of the array transducer and a cable. It has a main body portion 12 for storing a circuit, and a cable portion 13 composed of a cable bushing and a cable.

  Each element of the array transducer 20 is actually covered with an acoustic lens and is not visible from the outside, but is arranged in a strip shape along the long axis direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 21. The case 22 of the main body 12 is formed with a grip portion 23 and a rounded portion 24 formed in a constricted shape. The grip portion 23 is located at a portion continuous with the transducer portion 11 and is formed as a portion where the inspector grasps the ultrasonic probe 3 with a finger. The detailed configuration of the grip portion 23 will be described later. The rounded portion 24 is connected to the grip portion 23 and is located up to the cable portion 13. When the inspector grasps the ultrasonic probe 3, the round portion 24 is fitted into the base of the thumb and index finger. It is formed in a circle including an oval. In these drawings, the transducer portion 11 is formed with a concave attachment portion 25 for attaching a puncture attachment and a convex attachment portion 26.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 1, the cross-sectional structure of the grip part 23 of a present Example is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the grip portion 23 taken along CC in FIG. As illustrated, the cross-section 23a of the grip portion 23 is formed in a polygon having a regular octagonal outer shape. And the protrusion part 27 is provided in the site | part corresponding to the regular A octagonal A surface of the grip part 23. As shown in FIG. When the examiner touches the protrusion 27 with a finger, the major axis direction of the ultrasonic probe 3 pressed against the subject can be recognized. The protrusion 27 indicates a scan start point, and the inspector can grasp the scan start point by the protrusion 27 and check the image displayed on the monitor of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Similarly, the rounded portion 24 is provided with a protruding portion so that the scanning start point can be grasped even at the base portion between the thumb and the index finger. For example, if the protrusion 27 is formed on the axis of the ultrasound probe 3, that is, on the long axis direction passing through the center of the transmission / reception surface, the position of the protrusion 27 becomes the reference position (0 °). In addition, the inner surface shape of the cross section of the grip part 23 is circular.

  Next, a method for using the ultrasonic probe 3 of this embodiment will be described. First, the ultrasonic probe 3 is sandwiched by placing a thumb on the B surface in the drawing and an index finger on the surface facing the B surface. In this state, if the A surface on which the protrusion 27 is formed is at the illustrated position, a long-axis image can be captured. Next, when acquiring a tomographic image at a position shifted by 45 ° from the long-axis image, a so-called 45 ° image can be captured by rotating the ultrasonic probe 3 by one pitch around the axis with the thumb. it can. When the image is further rotated and the thumb is in contact with the D surface, a short-axis image that is a so-called 90 ° image can be captured.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the grip portion 23 of the ultrasound probe 3 is held between the fingertips (for example, the thumb and forefinger, or the middle finger in addition to this) to obtain a regular octagonal number of angles. Accordingly, by rotating the ultrasonic probe 3 around the axis by one or a plurality of angles (pitch), for example, a 45 ° image and a 90 ° image can be easily obtained with respect to a long-axis image of 0 °. By operation, it is possible to adjust and image with relatively high accuracy.

  FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a grip portion of another embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention. The ultrasonic probe itself is formed in the same manner as the ultrasonic probe 3 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the difference from the first embodiment is that the shape of the cross section 23a of the grip portion 23 is not a regular octagon. The long octagonal shape is long in the long axis direction. In addition, the inner surface shape of the cross section 23a of the grip part 23 is an oval long in the long axis direction.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 3 is rotated by one or a plurality of angles (pitch) around the axis at an angle set on each surface of the octagon, It is possible to adjust and image with relatively high accuracy by a simple operation.

  FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a grip portion of another embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention. The ultrasonic probe itself is formed in the same manner as the ultrasonic probe 3 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the difference from the first embodiment is that the shape of the cross section 23a of the grip portion 23 is a regular dodecagon. There is. In addition, the inner surface shape of the cross section 23a of the grip part 23 is circular.

  According to the present embodiment, in addition to the long-axis image of 0 ° and 90 °, a 30 ° image in which the thumb is in contact with the C surface and a 60 ° image in which the thumb is in contact with the D surface can be easily obtained. With a simple operation, it is possible to adjust and image with relatively high accuracy.

  FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a grip portion of another embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention. The ultrasonic probe itself is formed in the same manner as the ultrasonic probe 3 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the difference from the third embodiment is that the shape of the cross section 23a of the grip portion 23 is not a regular dodecagon. The long dodecagon is long in the long axis direction. In addition, the inner surface shape of the cross section 23a of the grip part 23 is an oval long in the long axis direction.

  Also in the present embodiment, similarly to the third embodiment, by rotating the ultrasonic probe 3 around the axis by one or a plurality of angles (pitch) at an angle set on each surface of the long dodecagon, It is possible to adjust and image with relatively high accuracy by a simple operation.

  FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a grip portion of another embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention. The ultrasonic probe itself is formed in the same manner as the ultrasonic probe 3 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the difference from the first embodiment is that the shape of the cross section 23a of the grip portion 23 is a regular hexagon. There is. In addition, the inner surface shape of the cross section 23a of the grip part 23 is circular.

  According to this embodiment, in addition to the 0 ° and 90 ° images of the long axis image, the 30 ° image in which the thumb is in contact with the C surface, the 45 ° image in which the thumb is in contact with the D surface, and the thumb A 60 ° image in contact with the E-plane can be adjusted and adjusted with relatively high accuracy by a simple operation.

  FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a grip portion of another embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention. The ultrasonic probe itself is formed in the same manner as the ultrasonic probe 3 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and is different from the fifth embodiment in that the shape of the cross section 23a of the grip portion 23 is not a regular hexagon. The long hexagonal shape is long in the long axis direction. In addition, the inner surface shape of the cross section 23a of the grip part 23 is an oval long in the long axis direction.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the fifth embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 3 is rotated by one or a plurality of angles (pitch) around the axis at an angle set on each surface of the long hexagon. It is possible to adjust and image with relatively high accuracy by a simple operation.

Sectional drawing of the grip part of Example 1 of the ultrasonic probe of this invention is shown. 1 is an external perspective view of an ultrasonic probe of Example 1. FIG. 1 is a front view of an ultrasonic probe of Example 1. FIG. Sectional drawing of the grip part of Example 2 of the ultrasonic probe of this invention is shown. Sectional drawing of the grip part of Example 3 of the ultrasonic probe of this invention is shown. Sectional drawing of the grip part of Example 4 of the ultrasonic probe of this invention is shown. Sectional drawing of the grip part of Example 5 of the ultrasonic probe of this invention is shown. Sectional drawing of the grip part of Example 6 of the ultrasonic probe of this invention is shown. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device of one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

3 Ultrasonic probe 21 Transmission / reception surface 23 Grip part 23a Cross section

Claims (3)

  In an ultrasonic probe that transmits an ultrasonic wave into a subject and receives an echo signal reflected from a diagnostic site, a cross-sectional shape of a grip portion that sandwiches the ultrasonic probe with a finger is a polygon that is a hexagon or more. An ultrasonic probe characterized in that it is formed. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1,
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the polygon is a regular polygon circumscribing a circle or a long polygon circumscribing an ellipse. An ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound to and from a subject, an ultrasound image configuration unit that configures an ultrasound image based on ultrasound image data received from the ultrasound probe, and the ultrasound image An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a display unit for displaying,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe is the ultrasonic probe according to claim 1.