JP2012061125A - Probe for ultrasonic diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a probe for ultrasonic diagnostic system which achieves suppression of temperature rise in the probe, reducing size and improvement of operability.SOLUTION: The probe for ultrasonic diagnostic system includes: a probe body 1 including an oscillator array transmitting an ultrasonic beam based on a driving signal and receiving an ultrasonic echo by a subject while generating a received signal; a heat radiation mechanism removably mounted to the probe body 1 while discharging heat generated in the probe body 1; a radiation mechanism detection part 7 arranged in the probe body 1 while detecting presence or absence of the radiation mechanism mounted to the probe body 1; and a probe control part 17 for controlling the probe body 1 as adjusting simultaneous numerical aperture numbers of a plurality of vibrator arrays which are formed on the basis of the detection result by the radiation mechanism detection part 7.

Description

  The present invention relates to a probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to suppression of temperature rise of an ultrasonic probe.

  Conventionally, in the medical field, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using an ultrasonic image has been put into practical use. In general, this type of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has an ultrasonic probe with a built-in transducer array and an apparatus main body connected to the ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic waves are directed toward the subject from the ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic echo from the subject is received by the ultrasonic transducer, and the received signal is electrically received by the apparatus main body, thereby generating an ultrasonic image.

  When this ultrasonic probe is used, the temperature of the probe rises due to heat generated by an ultrasonic transducer accompanying transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves, heat generated due to integration of an electric circuit in the probe, and heat generated by a battery in the probe. Therefore, with the driving time, the temperature of the probe becomes high, and the safety to the subject is impaired, and the accuracy is lowered due to the change in the material characteristics of the probe.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, for example, a removable water bag is attached to an ultrasonic probe having a transducer array, and water is circulated through the water bag by a driving mechanism. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that cools a transducer array that generates heat is disclosed.

JP 2003-038485 A

  However, in the case of an ultrasonic probe of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can be used by being transported to a bedside or an emergency medical site as developed recently, the apparatus of Patent Document 1 In addition, the operation becomes complicated and the size of the apparatus must be increased for heat dissipation, and the convenience of the portable type is lost.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and provides a probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of suppressing temperature rise in the probe, miniaturizing the apparatus, and improving operability. For the purpose.

  A probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first invention includes a probe main body including a transducer array that transmits an ultrasonic beam based on a drive signal and receives an ultrasonic echo from a subject to generate a reception signal; A heat dissipating mechanism that is detachably attached to the probe main body and releases heat generated in the probe main body, and a heat dissipating mechanism detecting means that is disposed on the probe main body and detects whether or not the heat dissipating mechanism is attached to the probe main body. And a control means for controlling the probe main body so as to adjust the simultaneous numerical apertures of the plurality of vibrators constituting the vibrator array based on the detection result by the heat radiation mechanism detection means.

When the heat radiation mechanism detection means detects that the heat dissipation mechanism is attached to the probe body, the control means opens all vibrators that can be simultaneously opened in the vibrator array, so that the heat radiation mechanism can be attached to the probe body. When not detected, it is possible to reduce the simultaneous numerical aperture by opening only some of the transducers of the transducer array.
When the simultaneous numerical aperture is reduced, the control means can control the probe main body so as to increase the number of scanning lines and transmit / receive ultrasonic waves.
The heat dissipation mechanism preferably has any of a heat dissipation fin, a refrigerant circulation mechanism, and a heat dissipation fan.

  A probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a second invention includes a probe main body including a transducer array that transmits an ultrasonic beam based on a drive signal and receives an ultrasonic echo from a subject to generate a reception signal; A temperature sensor that is disposed on the probe body and detects the temperature inside the probe body, and the probe body is adjusted so as to adjust the simultaneous numerical aperture of a plurality of vibrators constituting the vibrator array based on a detection result by the temperature sensor. And control means for controlling.

When the temperature in the probe body detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a preset threshold value, the control means opens all transducers that can be simultaneously opened in the transducer array and exceeds the threshold value. In this case, it is possible to reduce the simultaneous numerical aperture by opening only some of the transducers in the transducer array.
When the simultaneous numerical aperture is reduced, the control means can control the probe main body so as to increase the number of scanning lines and transmit / receive ultrasonic waves.

  The probe main body according to the first and second embodiments preferably includes a wireless communication unit for receiving the drive signal from the diagnostic apparatus main body and transmitting the received signal to the diagnostic apparatus main body.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can suppress temperature rise in the probe, downsize the apparatus, and improve operability.

It is a figure which shows the probe for ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, (A) is a top view, (B) is a side view. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state of mounting the heat dissipation mechanism to the probe body in the first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which has an ultrasonic probe which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating a heat dissipation mechanism used in an ultrasonic probe according to a modification of the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a heat dissipation mechanism used in an ultrasonic probe according to another modification of the first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the probe main body in Embodiment 2 of this invention. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature in the probe and the switching of the simultaneous numerical aperture in the second embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
1A and 1B show a probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. This probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is composed of a probe body 1 and a heat radiating mechanism 2, and the heat radiating mechanism 2 fixes a plurality of heat radiating fins 3 and the heat radiating fins 3 to the grip portion side of the probe main body 1. 4 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing means 4 that holds the radiation fin 3 is pushed into the probe main body 1 so as to be fitted, and is further provided in the fixing means 4 in the groove 6 provided in the probe main body 1. The fixed projections 5 are fitted and positioned and fixed.
In the vicinity of the groove 6 of the probe body 1, a heat dissipation mechanism detection unit 7 that determines whether or not the heat dissipation mechanism 2 is mounted is disposed.

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the ultrasonic probe according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. A diagnostic device body 8 is connected to the probe body 1 by wireless communication.

  The probe main body 1 has a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 9 constituting a one-dimensional or two-dimensional transducer array, and a reception signal processing unit 10 is connected to each of the transducers 9. The wireless communication unit 12 is connected to the serial / serial conversion unit 11. Also, a transmission control unit 14 is connected to the plurality of transducers 9 via the transmission drive unit 13, a reception control unit 15 is connected to the plurality of reception signal processing units 10, and a communication control unit 16 is connected to the wireless communication unit 12. ing. A probe control unit 17 is connected to the parallel / serial conversion unit 11, the transmission control unit 14, the reception control unit 15, and the communication control unit 16. Further, a heat dissipation mechanism detection unit 7 that detects whether or not the heat dissipation mechanism 2 is mounted is connected to the probe control unit 17.

The plurality of transducers 9 transmit ultrasonic waves according to the drive signals supplied from the transmission drive unit 13, respectively, receive ultrasonic echoes from the subject, and output reception signals. Each transducer 9 is formed with electrodes on both ends of a piezoelectric body made of, for example, a piezoelectric ceramic represented by PZT (lead zirconate titanate), a single crystal, a polymer piezoelectric element represented by PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), or the like. It is comprised by the vibrator.
When a pulsed or continuous wave voltage is applied to the electrodes of such a vibrator, the piezoelectric body expands and contracts, and pulsed or continuous wave ultrasonic waves are generated from the respective vibrators, and the synthesis of those ultrasonic waves. As a result, an ultrasonic beam is formed. In addition, each transducer generates an electric signal by expanding and contracting by receiving propagating ultrasonic waves, and these electric signals are output as ultrasonic reception signals.

  The transmission drive unit 13 includes, for example, a plurality of pulsers, and based on the transmission delay pattern selected by the transmission control unit 14, the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the plurality of transducers 9 pass through the tissue area in the subject. The delay amount of each drive signal is adjusted so as to form a wide ultrasonic beam to be covered and supplied to the plurality of transducers 9.

The reception signal processing unit 10 of each channel generates a complex baseband signal by performing orthogonal detection processing or orthogonal sampling processing on the reception signal output from the corresponding transducer 9 under the control of the reception control unit 15. Then, by sampling the complex baseband signal, sample data including information on the tissue area is generated, and the sample data is supplied to the parallel / serial converter 11. The reception signal processing unit 10 may generate sample data by performing data compression processing for high-efficiency encoding on data obtained by sampling a complex baseband signal.
The parallel / serial conversion unit 11 converts the parallel sample data generated by the reception signal processing unit 10 of a plurality of channels into serial sample data.

The wireless communication unit 12 modulates a carrier based on serial sample data to generate a transmission signal, supplies the transmission signal to the antenna, and transmits radio waves from the antenna, thereby transmitting serial sample data. As the modulation scheme, for example, ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying), PSK (Phase Shift Keying), QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying), 16QAM (16 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), and the like are used.
The wireless communication unit 12 performs wireless communication with the diagnostic apparatus main body 8 to transmit sample data to the diagnostic apparatus main body 8 and to receive various control signals from the diagnostic apparatus main body 8. The control signal is output to the communication control unit 16. The communication control unit 16 controls the wireless communication unit 12 so that the sample data is transmitted with the transmission radio wave intensity set by the probe control unit 17 and also performs probe control on various control signals received by the wireless communication unit 12. To the unit 17.

The heat dissipation mechanism detection unit 7 detects the presence or absence of the heat dissipation mechanism 2 of the probe body 1 and outputs it to the probe control unit 17.
The probe control unit 17 controls each part of the probe main body 1 based on various control signals transmitted from the diagnostic apparatus main body 8 and an output signal from the heat dissipation mechanism detection unit 7.
Note that the heat dissipation mechanism detection unit 7 includes, for example, an optical sensor or a small mechanical switch as a member that detects the presence or absence of the heat dissipation mechanism 2.

  The probe control unit 17 determines whether or not the heat dissipation mechanism 2 is attached to the probe main body 1 based on the output signal from the heat dissipation mechanism detection unit 7, and the transmission control unit 14 and the reception are determined according to the determination result. By controlling the control unit 15, the simultaneous numerical apertures of a plurality of transducers constituting the transducer array are adjusted. That is, when the probe control unit 17 detects the attachment of the heat dissipation mechanism 2 to the probe body 1 based on the output signal from the heat dissipation mechanism detection unit 7, the probe control unit 17 simultaneously opens all the transducers that can be simultaneously opened in the transducer array. The transmission control unit 14 and the reception control unit 15 are controlled so as to be opened. On the other hand, when the attachment of the heat dissipation mechanism 2 to the probe body 1 is not detected by the output signal from the heat dissipation mechanism detection unit 7, the probe control unit 17 opens only some of the transducers in the transducer array and simultaneously opens them. The transmission control unit 14 and the reception control unit 15 are controlled so as to reduce the numerical aperture. Furthermore, when reducing the simultaneous numerical aperture of the transducer array, the probe control unit 17 controls the transmission control unit 14 and the reception control unit 15 so as to transmit / receive ultrasonic waves by increasing the number of scanning lines. .

The probe body 1 includes a battery (not shown), and power is supplied from the battery to each circuit in the probe body 1.
The probe body 1 may be an external probe such as a linear scan method, a convex scan method, or a sector scan method, or may be an ultrasonic endoscope probe such as a radial scan method.

  On the other hand, the diagnostic apparatus body 8 includes a wireless communication unit 18, a data storage unit 20 is connected to the wireless communication unit 18 via a serial / parallel conversion unit 19, and an image generation unit 21 is connected to the data storage unit 20. Has been. Further, a display unit 23 is connected to the image generation unit 21 via the display control unit 22. In addition, a communication control unit 24 is connected to the wireless communication unit 18, and an apparatus body control unit 25 is connected to the serial / parallel conversion unit 19, the image generation unit 21, the display control unit 22, and the communication control unit 24. Furthermore, an operation unit 26 for an operator to perform an input operation and a storage unit 27 for storing an operation program are connected to the apparatus main body control unit 25.

The wireless communication unit 18 transmits various control signals to the probe body 1 by performing wireless communication with the probe body 1. The wireless communication unit 18 outputs serial sample data by demodulating a signal received by the antenna.
The communication control unit 24 controls the wireless communication unit 18 so that various control signals are transmitted with the transmission radio wave intensity set by the apparatus main body control unit 25.
The serial / parallel converter 19 converts the serial sample data output from the wireless communication unit 18 into parallel sample data. The data storage unit 20 is configured by a memory, a hard disk, or the like, and stores at least one frame of sample data converted by the serial / parallel conversion unit 19.

The image generation unit 21 performs reception focus processing on the sample data for each frame read from the data storage unit 20 to generate an image signal representing an ultrasound diagnostic image. The image generation unit 21 includes a phasing addition unit 28 and an image processing unit 29.
The phasing / adding unit 28 selects one reception delay pattern from a plurality of reception delay patterns stored in advance according to the reception direction set in the apparatus main body control unit 25, and selects the selected reception delay pattern. Based on the above, the reception focus processing is performed by adding respective delays to the plurality of complex baseband signals represented by the sample data. By this reception focus processing, a baseband signal (sound ray signal) in which the focus of the ultrasonic echo is narrowed is generated.

  The image processing unit 29 generates a B-mode image signal that is tomographic image information related to the tissue in the subject based on the sound ray signal generated by the phasing addition unit 28. The image processing unit 29 includes an STC (sensitivity time control) unit and a DSC (digital scan converter). The STC unit corrects the attenuation due to the distance according to the depth of the reflection position of the ultrasonic wave on the sound ray signal. The DSC converts the sound ray signal corrected by the STC unit into an image signal according to a normal television signal scanning method (raster conversion), and performs necessary image processing such as gradation processing to thereby obtain a B-mode image signal. Is generated.

The display control unit 22 displays an ultrasound diagnostic image on the display unit 23 based on the image signal generated by the image generation unit 21. The display unit 23 includes a display device such as an LCD, for example, and displays an ultrasound diagnostic image under the control of the display control unit 22.
The apparatus main body control unit 25 controls each part of the diagnostic apparatus main body 8 based on various control signals transmitted from the probe main body 1.

  In such a diagnostic apparatus main body 8, the serial / parallel conversion unit 19, the image generation unit 21, the display control unit 22, the communication control unit 24, and the apparatus main body control unit 25 are for causing the CPU and the CPU to perform various processes. However, they may be composed of digital circuits. The operation program is stored in the storage unit 27. As a recording medium in the storage unit 27, a flexible disk, MO, MT, RAM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or the like can be used in addition to the built-in hard disk.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the ultrasonic diagnosis is started, first, the apparatus main body control unit 25 of the diagnostic apparatus main body 8 recognizes the probe main body 1 by a radio signal transmitted from the probe main body 1 (step S1).

When the probe main body 1 is recognized, the probe control unit 17 in the probe main body 1 determines whether or not the heat dissipation mechanism 2 is attached to the probe main body 1 based on the output signal from the heat dissipation mechanism detection unit 7 (step) S2).
If it is determined in step S2 that the heat dissipation mechanism 2 is attached to the probe body 1, the probe control unit 17 opens all transducers that can be simultaneously opened in the transducer array to obtain the normal numerical aperture. In this manner, the transmission control unit 14 and the reception control unit 15 are controlled (step S3).
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the heat dissipation mechanism 2 is not attached to the probe body 1, the probe control unit 17 opens only some of the transducers in the transducer array to reduce the simultaneous numerical aperture. Thus, the transmission control unit 14 and the reception control unit 15 are controlled (step S4). That is, some of the reception signal processing units 10 among the plurality of reception signal processing units 10 are stopped. Further, the probe control unit 17 controls the transmission control unit 14 and the reception control unit 15 so as to perform transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves by increasing the number of scanning lines (step S5).

Thereafter, each transducer receives an ultrasonic wave transmission / reception instruction from the probe control unit 17, transmits ultrasonic waves from the plurality of transducers 9 according to the drive signal supplied from the transmission drive unit 13, and receives ultrasonic echoes from the subject. The reception signals output from 9 are respectively supplied to the corresponding reception signal processing units 10 (step S6).
Then, sample data is generated in the reception signal processing unit 10, serialized by the parallel / serial conversion unit 11, and then wirelessly transmitted from the wireless communication unit 12 to the diagnostic apparatus body 8. Sample data received by the wireless communication unit 18 of the diagnostic apparatus main body 8 is converted into parallel data by the serial / parallel conversion unit 19 and stored in the data storage unit 20. Further, sample data for each frame is read from the data storage unit 20, an image signal is generated by the image generation unit 21, and an ultrasonic diagnostic image is displayed on the display unit 23 by the display control unit 22 based on this image signal. (Step S7).

Thus, it is determined whether or not the heat dissipating mechanism 2 is attached to the probe body 1, and if it is determined that the probe body 1 is attached, it is determined that the temperature increase of the probe body 1 is prevented by the heat dissipating mechanism 2 beforehand. Thus, it operates with a normal simultaneous numerical aperture, and an image can be displayed with a necessary image quality for diagnosis. Further, when it is determined that the heat dissipation mechanism 2 is not attached, it is determined that there is a possibility that the temperature of the probe body 1 will rise excessively if the operation is continued with the normal simultaneous numerical aperture. By partially reducing the temperature, the probe body temperature is prevented from rising. Further, at this time, the diagnosis is performed by partially reducing the simultaneous numerical aperture by increasing the number of scanning lines, but the diagnosis is performed without reducing the amount of image data and without degrading the necessary image quality. be able to.
Moreover, with such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus probe, the apparatus can be miniaturized and the operability can be improved.

In the first embodiment, the heat dissipation mechanism 2 having the heat dissipation fins 3 is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the heat dissipation mechanism 30 having the refrigerant circulation mechanism as shown in FIG. 5 is used. May be used. The refrigerant circulation mechanism is composed of a pump 32 and a refrigerant circulation tube 33 disposed in the housing 31, and the probe main body 1 is cooled by driving the pump 32 and circulating the refrigerant through the refrigerant circulation tube 33. be able to.
A projection 5 is formed on the casing 31 in the same manner as the heat dissipation mechanism 2 shown in FIG. 2, and the projection 5 is fitted into the groove 6 of the probe main body 1, so that the heat dissipation mechanism 30 can be mounted. It is detected by the heat dissipation mechanism detector 7 of the probe body 1.

Moreover, what has a heat radiating fan as shown in FIG. 6 can also be used as a heat radiating mechanism. The heat radiating mechanism 34 includes a heat radiating fan 36 disposed in a housing 35, and the probe main body 1 can be cooled by sending cold air to the probe main body 1 by driving the heat radiating fan 36.
A projection 5 is formed on the housing 35 in the same manner as the heat dissipation mechanism 2 shown in FIG. 2, and the projection 5 is fitted into the groove 6 of the probe body 1, so that the heat dissipation mechanism 34 can be mounted. It is detected by the heat dissipation mechanism detector 7 of the probe body 1.

Embodiment 2
In the first embodiment, the heat dissipation mechanism detection unit 7 detects the presence or absence of the heat dissipation mechanism 2 to the probe main body 1 and controls the driving of the probe according to the result. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to detect the amount of heat generated in the probe and control the driving of the probe according to the amount of heat generated.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a probe main body 37 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
The second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the probe main body 1 of the first embodiment except that the heat radiation mechanism detection unit 7 of the probe main body 1 shown in FIG.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the probe main body 37 includes the same diagnostic apparatus main body 8 as that of the first embodiment.

  The temperature sensor 38 detects the temperature inside the probe main body 37 and outputs the detected temperature to the probe control unit 17. The probe control unit 17 controls each part of the probe main body 37 based on various control signals transmitted from the diagnostic apparatus main body 8 and an output signal from the temperature sensor 38.

Based on the output signal from the temperature sensor 38, the probe control unit 17 determines whether or not the internal temperature of the probe main body 37 exceeds a preset threshold value Tth, and the transducer according to the determination result. The transmission control unit 14 and the reception control unit 15 are controlled so as to adjust the simultaneous numerical apertures of a plurality of transducers constituting the array.
That is, the probe control unit 17 determines that all transducers that can be simultaneously opened in the transducer array when the temperature in the probe main body 1 is equal to or lower than a preset threshold value Tth according to the output signal from the temperature sensor 38. The reception signal processing unit 10 is controlled via the reception control unit 15 so as to be simultaneously opened. On the other hand, when the temperature in the probe main body 37 exceeds the threshold value Tth, the probe control unit 17 opens only some of the transducers of the transducer array so as to reduce the simultaneous numerical aperture. The transmission control unit 14 and the reception control unit 15 are controlled. Further, when reducing the simultaneous numerical aperture of the transducer array, the probe control unit 17 controls the transmission control unit 14 and the reception control unit 15 so as to perform transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves by increasing the number of scanning lines.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the ultrasound diagnosis is started, first, the apparatus main body control unit 25 of the diagnostic apparatus main body 8 recognizes the probe by a radio signal transmitted from the probe main body 37 (step S11).

When the probe main body 37 is recognized, the probe control unit 17 in the probe main body 37 determines whether or not the internal temperature Tm of the probe main body 37 exceeds the threshold value Tth based on the output signal from the temperature sensor 38. Determination is made (step S12).
In step S12, when it is determined that the internal temperature of the probe main body 37 is equal to or lower than the threshold value, the probe control unit 17 opens all the transducers that can be simultaneously opened in the transducer array, and sets the normal numerical aperture. The transmission control unit 14 and the reception control unit 15 are controlled so as to be (step S13).
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that the internal temperature Tm of the probe main body 37 exceeds the threshold value Tth, the probe control unit 17 opens only a part of the transducers in the transducer array at the same time. The transmission control unit 14 and the reception control unit 15 are controlled so as to reduce the numerical aperture (step S14). That is, some of the reception signal processing units 10 among the plurality of reception signal processing units 10 are stopped. Furthermore, the probe control unit 17 controls the transmission control unit 14 and the reception control unit 15 so as to perform transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves by increasing the number of scanning lines (step S15).

Thereafter, each transducer receives an ultrasonic wave transmission / reception instruction from the probe control unit 17, transmits ultrasonic waves from the plurality of transducers 9 according to the drive signal supplied from the transmission drive unit 13, and receives ultrasonic echoes from the subject. The reception signals output from 9 are supplied to the corresponding reception signal processing units 10 (step S16).
Then, sample data is generated in the reception signal processing unit 10, serialized by the parallel / serial conversion unit 11, and then wirelessly transmitted from the wireless communication unit 12 to the diagnostic apparatus body 8. Sample data received by the wireless communication unit 18 of the diagnostic apparatus main body 8 is converted into parallel data by the serial / parallel conversion unit 19 and stored in the data storage unit 20. Further, sample data for each frame is read from the data storage unit 20, an image signal is generated by the image generation unit 21, and an ultrasonic diagnostic image is displayed on the display unit 23 by the display control unit 22 based on this image signal. (Step S17).

  For example, normally, an ultrasonic image is generated with 128 scanning lines with a simultaneous numerical aperture of 48 channels, and as shown in FIG. 9, the internal temperature Tm of the probe body 37 gradually increases with the diagnosis operation, and the time It is assumed that the internal temperature Tm of the probe main body 37 may further increase after reaching the threshold value Tth at t1. In this case, when it is determined that the internal temperature Tm of the probe body 37 exceeds the threshold value Tth based on the output of the temperature sensor 38 at time t2, the probe control unit 17 sets the simultaneous numerical aperture to 32 channels. The transmission control unit 14 and the reception control unit 15 are controlled so as to be reduced. As a result, the amount of heat generated in the probe main body 37 is reduced, and the internal temperature Tm of the probe main body 37 is lowered to be lower than the threshold value Tth. Further, at this time, the probe control unit 17 controls the transmission control unit 14 and the reception control unit 15 to increase the number of scanning lines from 128 to 192. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an ultrasonic image having the same image quality as that in the normal diagnosis with the simultaneous numerical aperture of 48 channels and 128 scanning lines.

In this way, the temperature sensor 38 detects the internal temperature of the probe main body 37. When the temperature is equal to or lower than a preset threshold value Tth, the probe is operated with a normal simultaneous numerical aperture, and the necessary image quality for diagnosis is obtained. You can display images. In addition, when the internal temperature of the probe main body 37 exceeds the threshold value Tth, the simultaneous numerical aperture can be partially reduced to suppress an increase in the temperature of the probe main body. Further, although the diagnosis is performed by reducing the simultaneous numerical aperture, since the diagnosis is performed by increasing the number of scanning lines, a necessary image for diagnosis can be obtained without reducing the image data.
Moreover, with such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus probe, the apparatus can be miniaturized and the operability can be improved.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the probe main bodies 1 and 37 and the diagnostic apparatus main body 8 are connected to each other by wireless communication. However, the present invention is not limited to this. 37 may be connected to the diagnostic apparatus body 8. In this case, the wireless communication unit 12 and the communication control unit 16 of the probe main bodies 1 and 37, the wireless communication unit 18 and the communication control unit 24 of the diagnostic apparatus main body 8, and the like are unnecessary.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 37 Probe body 2, 30, 34 Heat radiation mechanism, 3 Heat radiation fin, 4 Fixing member, 5, Projection, 6 groove, 7 Heat radiation mechanism detection part, 8 Diagnostic apparatus body, 9 Transducer, 10 Received signal processing part, 11 Parallel / serial conversion unit, 12 wireless communication unit, 13 transmission drive unit, 14 transmission control unit, 15 reception control unit, 16 communication control unit, 17 probe control unit, 18 wireless communication unit, 19 serial / parallel conversion unit, 20 data Storage unit, 21 Image generation unit, 22 Display control unit, 23 Display unit, 24 Communication control unit, 25 Device main body control unit, 26 Operation unit, 27 Storage unit, 28 Phased addition unit, 29 Image processing unit, 31, 35 Housing, 32 pump, 33 refrigerant circulation tube, 36 heat dissipation fan

Claims (8)

A probe main body including a transducer array that transmits an ultrasonic beam based on a drive signal and receives an ultrasonic echo from a subject to generate a reception signal;
A heat dissipating mechanism that is removably attached to the probe body and for releasing heat generated in the probe body;
A heat dissipating mechanism detecting means which is disposed on the probe main body and detects whether or not the heat dissipating mechanism is attached to the probe main body;
Control means for controlling the probe main body so as to adjust the simultaneous numerical aperture of a plurality of transducers constituting the transducer array based on a detection result by the heat dissipation mechanism detection unit. Probe for diagnostic equipment.   When the heat dissipation mechanism is detected by the heat dissipation mechanism detection means, the control means opens all the transducers that can be simultaneously opened in the transducer array to the probe body. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus probe according to claim 1, wherein when the mounting of the heat radiation mechanism is not detected, only a part of the transducers of the transducer array are opened to reduce the simultaneous numerical aperture.   3. The probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the simultaneous numerical aperture is reduced, the control unit controls the probe main body so as to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves by increasing the number of scanning lines.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus probe according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation mechanism includes any one of a heat dissipation fin, a refrigerant circulation mechanism, and a heat dissipation fan. A probe main body including a transducer array that transmits an ultrasonic beam based on a drive signal and receives an ultrasonic echo from a subject to generate a reception signal;
A temperature sensor disposed on the probe body and detecting the temperature in the probe body;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: control means for controlling the probe main body so as to adjust a simultaneous numerical aperture of a plurality of transducers constituting the transducer array based on a detection result by the temperature sensor. Probe.   The control means opens all transducers that can be simultaneously opened in the transducer array when the temperature in the probe body detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a preset threshold value. 6. The probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the threshold value is exceeded, only a part of the transducers of the transducer array are opened to reduce the simultaneous numerical aperture.   The probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the simultaneous numerical aperture is reduced, the control unit controls the probe main body so as to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves by increasing the number of scanning lines.   The ultrasonic diagnosis according to claim 1, wherein the probe main body includes a wireless communication unit for receiving the drive signal from the diagnostic apparatus main body and transmitting the received signal to the diagnostic apparatus main body. Probe for equipment.

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