JP2012179377A - Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an ultrasonic vibrator from being damaged by the shock of a drop when an ultrasonic probe is dropped.SOLUTION: This ultrasonic probe includes: an acoustic window material 51 installed to a probe body 50, and storing a liquid acoustic propagation medium; an ultrasonic vibrator assembly 3 including the ultrasonic vibrator, immersed in the acoustic propagation medium 52, and swingably stored inside the acoustic window material 51; a detection means 8 detecting that the probe body 50 separates from a hand of an operator; protective bodies 9 provided inside the acoustic window material 51, capable of moving to protection positions where it is blocked that the ultrasonic vibrator assembly 3 collides against a drop surface when the probe body 50 drops; elastic materials 54 provided in portions of the protective bodies 9 facing to the inner surface of the acoustic window material 51; and a movement means 10 moving the protective bodies 9 to the protection positions based on the detection result of the detection means 8.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  For example, as described in Patent Document 1 below, an ultrasonic probe that is used by being connected to a medical ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to obtain a tomographic image of a living body is known. The ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in an array, and the ultrasonic transducer is formed using a hard and brittle material such as ceramics.

JP 2005-198261 A

  When an ultrasonic probe is dropped, an ultrasonic transducer formed of a brittle material is easily damaged by an impact at the time of dropping. When the ultrasonic transducer is damaged, an image obtained by ultrasonic scanning becomes a defect image, and the accuracy of ultrasonic diagnosis is lowered.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the ultrasonic transducer from being damaged by the impact of the drop when the ultrasonic probe is dropped. An ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using the ultrasonic probe are provided.

  The ultrasonic probe according to the embodiment includes an acoustic window member that is attached to a probe main body and accommodates a liquid acoustic propagation medium, and an ultrasonic transducer, and is immersed in the acoustic propagation medium and swingable. When the ultrasonic vibrator assembly housed in the window material, the detection means for detecting that the probe main body is separated from the operator's hand, and the probe main body are dropped inside the acoustic window material A protective body that can be moved to a protective position that prevents the ultrasonic vibrator assembly from colliding with a falling surface, an elastic material provided on a portion of the protective body facing the inner surface of the acoustic window material, Moving means for moving the protector to the protected position based on a detection result of the detecting means.

It is the ultrasonic probe which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: They are the front view (a) and the side view (b) which show the case where a protector is located in a protection cancellation | release position. It is the front view (a) and side view (b) which show the case where a protector is located in a protection position. It is a perspective view which shows an ultrasonic transducer | vibrator assembly. It is a front view which shows the ultrasonic probe which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the ultrasonic probe which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view explaining operation | movement of the moving means to move the protection body in the ultrasonic probe which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is the ultrasonic probe which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: They are the front view (a) and the side view (b) which show the case where a protector is located in a protection cancellation | release position. It is the front view (a) and side view (b) which show the case where a protector is located in a protection position. It is a side view which shows the ultrasonic probe which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the ultrasonic probe which concerns on the 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on the 8th Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
An ultrasonic probe according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ultrasonic probe 1 includes a probe main body 2 formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and an ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 accommodated in the probe main body 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 includes a plurality of strip-shaped ultrasonic transducers 4 arranged in an array to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, and a backing material that prevents generation of ultrasonic waves on the back surface. 5, an acoustic matching layer 6 that matches the acoustic impedance, and an acoustic lens 7 that mechanically determines the focal point of the ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 housed in the probe body 2 is housed in a position where the surface of the acoustic lens 7 is the same as the lower end edge 2a of the probe body 2 or a position where the surface is exposed outward from the lower end edge 2a. During acoustic diagnosis, the surface of the acoustic lens 7 is brought into contact with the body surface of the subject.

  The probe body 2 is formed with a grip portion that is gripped by an operator during ultrasonic diagnosis. The grip portion is provided with a pressure sensor 8 which is a detection means for detecting that the probe main body 2 is separated from the operator's hand. “The probe main body 2 is separated from the operator's hand” means that, for example, when the operator places the ultrasonic probe 1 on a mounting portion such as a table during the ultrasonic diagnosis, the operator This is the case when you drop. The pressure sensor 8 is turned on when the operator is holding the probe body 2 and turned off when the operator's hand is released from the probe body 2. The pressure sensor 8 is connected to a control unit (not shown) that controls each part of the ultrasonic probe 1.

  Further, a protector 9 and a moving means 10 are attached to the probe body 2.

  The protector 9 is a member for preventing the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 from colliding with the falling surface when the ultrasonic probe 1 falls. Here, the “falling surface” means a surface on which the dropped ultrasonic probe 1 collides when the ultrasonic probe 1 is dropped, and corresponds to an indoor floor surface, for example.

  The protector 9 is formed in a D-shape using a rod-shaped member, and is attached to two outer surfaces of the probe body 2 that face each other in parallel. The D-shaped protective body 9 includes a pair of linear portions 9a facing each other in parallel and a curved contact portion 9b formed integrally with the linear portion 9a and connecting one end side of the pair of linear portions 9a. And a linear pressing portion 9c connected to the other end side of the pair of linear portions 9a by screwing or the like. A pair of holding portions 11 are fixed to the surface of the outer peripheral surface of the probe main body 2 to which the protector 9 is attached, and the linear portions 9a are slidably held by these holding portions 11. The protector 9 is held by the holding portion 11 with the abutting portion 9 b facing downward, which is the same direction as the surface of the acoustic lens 7.

The moving means 10 is a mechanism for moving the protector 9 to the protection position shown in FIG. 2 and the protection release position shown in FIG. The moving means 10 includes a cam 13, a motor 14, and a spring 12. The motor 14 is connected to a control unit that controls each part of the ultrasonic probe 1.

  The cam 13 is disposed outside the probe body 2 and at a position where it abuts against the pressing portion 9c. The motor 14 is disposed inside the probe main body 2, and the motor 14 is connected to the cam 13. The spring 12 is provided between the holding portion 11 and the pressing portion 9 c and urges the pressing portion 9 c of the protection body 9 in a direction to press the outer peripheral surface of the cam 13. The cam 13 is rotated by driving the motor 14, and the cam 13 stops at either the position shown in FIG. 1 or the position shown in FIG.

  When the protector 9 is located at the protection release position shown in FIG. 1, the contact portion 9 b of the protector 9 is located above the lower end edge 2 a of the probe body 2. When the protector 9 is located at the protection position shown in FIG. 2, the contact portion 9 b of the protector 9 is located so as to protrude below the surface of the acoustic lens 7 and the lower end edge 2 a of the probe body 2.

  A cover 15 that covers the protective body 9 and the cam 13 is provided on the surface of the probe body 2 on which the protective body 9 and the cam 13 are provided.

  In such a configuration, when the operator is holding the ultrasonic probe 1, the pressure sensor 8 provided in the grip portion is gripped by the operator, and the pressure sensor 8 is turned on. When the pressure sensor 8 is on, the cam 13 driven by the motor 14 is stopped at the position shown in FIG. When the cam 13 is stopped at the position shown in FIG. 1, the protector 9 is moved to a position (protection release position) where the pressing portion 9 c comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface on the short diameter side of the cam 13 by the urging force of the spring 12. To position. When the protector 9 is located at the protection release position shown in FIG. 1, the contact portion 9 b of the protector 9 is located above the lower end edge 2 a of the probe body 2. Therefore, in the ultrasonic diagnosis performed by bringing the surface of the acoustic lens 7 into contact with the body surface of the subject, the ultrasound diagnosis can be performed without bringing the contact portion 9b into contact with the body surface of the subject.

  When the ultrasonic probe 1 is separated from the operator's hand during the ultrasonic diagnosis, for example, when the ultrasonic probe 1 is placed on the examination table or when the ultrasonic probe 1 is dropped, the pressure sensor 8 is Turn off. When the pressure sensor 8 is turned off, a detection result indicating that the pressure sensor 8 is turned off is input to the control unit, and a drive signal is output from the control unit to the motor 14 to drive the motor 14. When the motor 14 is driven based on the detection result that the pressure sensor 8 is turned off, the cam 13 rotates to the position shown in FIG. Abutted. When the outer peripheral surface of the long diameter side of the cam 13 is brought into contact with the pressing portion 9c, the protection body 9 is pressed by the cam 13 and moves to the protection position shown in FIG. When the protector 9 is located at the protection position shown in FIG. 2, the contact portion 9 b of the protector 9 protrudes below the surface of the acoustic lens 7 and the lower end edge 2 a of the probe body 2.

  The position of the center of gravity of the ultrasonic probe 1 is shifted to the side where the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 is provided. For this reason, when the ultrasonic probe 1 falls, the ultrasonic probe 1 falls in the direction in which the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 is on the lower side. However, since the contact portion 9b of the protector 9 is located at a position (protective position) that protrudes below the surface of the acoustic lens 7 and the lower end edge 2a of the probe body 2 as shown in FIG. The contact portion 9b collides with the falling surface, and the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 is prevented from colliding with the falling surface. For this reason, even if the ultrasonic probe 1 falls, the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 is prevented from colliding with the falling surface, and the ultrasonic transducer causing the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 to collide with the falling surface. 4 is prevented from being damaged.

If the drop distance of the ultrasonic probe 1 is about 1 meter, the protective body 9 located at the protection release position is moved to the protection position within about 0.4 seconds after detection by the pressure sensor 8. It is necessary to move the protector 9 to the protection position. Thus, in order to increase the moving speed of the protective body 9, it is necessary to reduce the weight of the protective body 9, and as described in the present embodiment, the D-shaped protective body 9 is formed by the rod-shaped member. Thus, the weight of the protector 9 can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment)
An ultrasonic probe according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment and other embodiments described below, the same components as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  The ultrasonic probe 1A according to the second embodiment uses a protector 20 instead of the protector 9 described in the first embodiment, and constituent elements other than the protector 20 are the same as those in the first embodiment. It is the same as the ultrasonic probe 1 of the form.

  The protector 20 is formed in a U-shape using a rod-shaped member, and is attached to the two outer surfaces of the probe body 2 that face each other in parallel. The U-shaped protector 20 is formed of a pair of linear abutting portions 20a that face each other in parallel, and a linear shape that is formed integrally with the abutting portion 20a and connects one end side of the pair of abutting portions 20a. The pressing portion 20b is formed. A pair of holding portions 11 are fixed to the surface of the outer peripheral surface of the probe main body 2 to which the protector 20 is attached, and the contact portions 20a are slidably held by these holding portions 11. The protector 20 is held by the holding portion 11 with the tip of the abutting portion 20 a facing downward, which is the same direction as the surface of the acoustic lens 7. Between the holding part 11 and the pressing part 20b, a spring 12 is provided that urges the pressing part 20b of the protective body 20 in a direction to press the outer peripheral surface of the cam 13.

  In such a configuration, when the ultrasound probe 1 is separated from the operator's hand during the ultrasound diagnosis, for example, when the ultrasound probe 1 is placed on the examination table or when the ultrasound probe 1 falls. The pressure sensor 8 is turned off, the motor 14 is driven, and the cam 13 rotates 90 degrees from the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 4 to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line. When the cam 13 is rotated to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, the protective body 20 is pushed by the cam 13, and the protective body 20 is configured so that the tip ends of the pair of contact portions 20 a are indicated by the two-dot chain line. It moves to a position (protection position) that protrudes below the surface of the acoustic lens 7 and the lower end edge 2a of the probe body 2.

  When the protection body 20 moves to the protection position, when the ultrasonic probe 1A falls, the contact portion 20a of the protection body 20 may collide with the drop surface, and the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 may collide with the drop surface. Is prevented. For this reason, even if the ultrasonic probe 1A falls, the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 is prevented from colliding with the falling surface, and the ultrasonic transducer causing the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 to collide with the falling surface is caused. 4 is prevented from being damaged.

(Third embodiment)
An ultrasonic probe according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The ultrasonic probe 1B of the third embodiment uses a protector 30 in place of the protector 9 described in the first embodiment, and the constituent elements other than the protector 30 are the first embodiment. It is the same as the ultrasonic probe 1 of the form.

  The protector 30 is formed of a plate member. A pair of linear shaft portions 31 are fixed to the protector 30, and a linear pressing portion 32 that connects these shaft portions 31 is screwed to the distal ends of the pair of shaft portions 31.

  A pair of holding portions 11 are fixed to the surface of the outer peripheral surface of the probe body 2 to which the protector 30 is attached, and the shaft portion 31 is slidably held by these holding portions 11. The protector 30 is held by the holding unit 11 with the edge on the lower end side of the protector 30 facing downward in the same direction as the surface of the acoustic lens 7. Between the holding part 11 and the pressing part 32, a spring 12 is provided that urges the pressing part 32 in a direction to press the pressing part 32 against the outer peripheral surface of the cam 13.

  In such a configuration, when the ultrasound probe 1B moves away from the operator's hand during ultrasound diagnosis, for example, when the ultrasound probe 1 is placed on the examination table or when the ultrasound probe 1 falls. The pressure sensor 8 is turned off, the motor 14 is driven, and the cam 13 rotates 90 degrees from the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 5 to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line. When the cam 13 rotates to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, the protector 30 is pushed by the cam 13, and the surface of the acoustic lens 7 so that the lower end side edge of the protector 30 is indicated by the two-dot chain line. And it moves to the position (protection position) which protrudes below the lower end edge 2a of the probe body 2.

  By moving the protector 30 to the protection position, when the ultrasonic probe 1B falls, the edge on the lower end side of the protector 30 collides with the drop surface, and the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 collides with the drop surface. Is prevented. For this reason, even if the ultrasonic probe 1B falls, the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 is prevented from colliding with the falling surface, and the ultrasonic transducer causing the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 to collide with the falling surface. 4 is prevented from being damaged.

(Fourth embodiment)
An ultrasonic probe according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The fourth embodiment shows a moving means 41 that is provided on an ultrasonic probe and moves the protector 40 from the protection release position to the protection position. In the fourth embodiment, the probe body is omitted, and only the moving means 41 and the linear protector 40 are shown.

  The protector 40 is formed by a large diameter contact portion 40a and a small diameter shaft portion 40b. A holding portion 42 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the probe body, and a shaft portion 40b is slidably passed through a through hole 43 formed in the holding portion 42. The through hole 43 has a larger diameter than the shaft portion 40b and a smaller diameter than the contact portion 40a. A spring 44 is provided between the end face of the contact portion 40a facing the holding portion 42 and the holding portion 42 to urge the protector 40 downward toward the protection position.

  A truncated cone-shaped stopper 45 is attached to the shaft portion 40b. The stopper 45 is formed to be opened and closed by an actuator (not shown) based on the detection result of the pressure sensor 8 provided on the probe body. Further, the stopper 45 is formed so as to be easily closed when an external force is applied to the stopper 45 that is open from the outside in the direction of closing the stopper 45. 6A and 6C show a state in which the stopper 45 is open, and FIG. 6B shows a state in which the stopper 45 is closed. As shown in FIG. 6B, when the stopper 45 is closed, the stopper 45 can pass through the through hole 43 together with the shaft portion 40b. The moving means 41 is configured by the stopper 45 and an actuator that opens and closes the stopper 45.

  The shaft portion 40b is made of a magnetic material, and an electromagnet 46 capable of attracting the shaft portion 40b is disposed on the tip side of the shaft portion 40b. The electromagnet 46 is provided so as to be able to reciprocate between a position indicated by a solid line in FIGS. 6A to 6C and a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

In such a configuration, FIG. 6A shows a state where the protector 40 is located at the holding release position. The stopper 45 is open, and the large diameter side of the opened stopper 45 is in contact with the surface of the holding portion 42 around the through hole 43.

  When the protector 40 is located at the holding release position shown in FIG. 6A, when the pressure sensor 8 is turned off due to the ultrasonic probe moving away from the operator's hand, the actuator constituting the moving means 41 is driven. The stopper 45 is closed as shown in FIG. When the stopper 45 is closed as shown in FIG. 6B, the stopper 45 can pass through the through hole 43 together with the shaft portion 40b, and the protection body 40 is directed to the protection position by the urging force of the spring 44 as shown in FIG. Slide in the direction of arrow a.

  FIG. 6C shows a state where the protector 40 has moved to the protection position. As described in the first to third embodiments, the protection position is a position where the tip of the protection body 40 protrudes below the surface of the acoustic lens 7 and the lower end edge 2a of the probe body 2. . When the protector 40 moves to the protection position, when the ultrasonic probe falls, the tip of the contact portion 40a of the protector 40 collides with the drop surface, and the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 collides with the drop surface. Is prevented. For this reason, even if the ultrasonic probe falls, the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 is prevented from colliding with the falling surface, and the ultrasonic transducer 4 that causes the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 to collide with the falling surface. Is prevented from being damaged.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (c), when the protector 40 located at the protection position is moved to the protection release position shown in FIG. 6 (a), the electromagnet 46 is energized and the electromagnet 46 is turned on in FIG. 6 (c). The shaft 40 b is attracted by the electromagnet 46 by being moved to a position indicated by a two-dot chain line. After the shaft portion 40b is attracted by the electromagnet 46, the electromagnet 46 is moved together with the shaft portion 40b to a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. When the electromagnet 46 is moved to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 6C, the open stopper 45 abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 43, and an external force acts on the stopper 45 in the direction to close the stopper 45. To do. Thereby, the stopper 45 is closed, the stopper 45 is moved together with the shaft portion 40b, and the protective body 40 is moved to the holding release position shown in FIG.

(Fifth embodiment)
An ultrasonic probe according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The ultrasonic probe 1 </ b> C of the present embodiment includes a probe main body 50 and an acoustic window material 51 attached to the distal end side of the probe main body 50. The acoustic window material 51 is formed in a semi-elliptical sphere shape at the tip side. The acoustic window material 51 is a material having a property of transmitting ultrasonic waves, and is formed of a material having acoustic impedance close to that of a human body, for example, polymethylpentene polymer.

  A liquid acoustic propagation medium 52 is accommodated in the acoustic window member 51. Further, in the acoustic window material 51, the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 immersed in the acoustic propagation medium 52 is accommodated. As described in the first embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 is formed by laminating the backing material 5, the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 4, the acoustic matching layer 6, and the acoustic lens 7. The ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 is supported so as to be able to swing in the direction of arrow b with the support shaft 53 as a fulcrum.

  In this ultrasonic probe 1 </ b> C, ultrasonic waves are transmitted / received from the ultrasonic transducer 4 while the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 is swung around the center line of the support shaft 53, and the ultrasonic waves are transmitted through the acoustic propagation medium 52 and the acoustic window material 51. Between the subject and the subject. The acoustic window member 51 is thinly formed to suppress ultrasonic attenuation and efficiently propagate ultrasonic waves, and is easily elastically deformed.

The protector 9 and the moving means 10 described in the first embodiment are attached to the probe main body 50 of the ultrasonic probe 1C.

  The protector 9 is disposed outside the acoustic window material 51. When the ultrasonic probe 1 </ b> C falls, the protector 9 has the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 dropped via the elastically deformed acoustic window member 51 even if the acoustic window member 51 collides with the drop surface and elastically deforms. It is a member for preventing collision with the surface.

  The moving means 10 is a mechanism for moving the protector 9 to the protection position shown in FIG. 8 and the protection release position shown in FIG. When the protection body 9 is located at the protection position shown in FIG. 8, the contact portion 9 b of the protection body 9 is located so as to protrude below the surface of the acoustic lens 7. On the other hand, when the protector 9 is located at the protection release position shown in FIG. 7, the contact portion 9 b of the protector 9 is located above the surface of the acoustic lens 7 of the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3.

  In such a configuration, when the operator holds the ultrasonic probe 1C, the pressure sensor 8 provided in the grip portion is gripped by the operator, and the pressure sensor 8 is turned on. When the pressure sensor 8 is on, the cam 13 driven by the motor 14 is stopped at the position shown in FIG. When the cam 13 is stopped at the position shown in FIG. 7, the protector 9 is located at the protection release position. When the protector 9 is located at the protection release position shown in FIG. 7, the contact portion 9 b of the protector 9 is located above the surface of the acoustic lens 7 of the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3. Therefore, in the ultrasonic diagnosis performed by bringing the acoustic window material 51 into contact with the body surface of the subject, the ultrasound diagnosis can be performed without bringing the contact portion 9b into contact with the body surface of the subject.

  When the ultrasonic probe 1C moves away from the operator's hand during the ultrasonic diagnosis, for example, when the ultrasonic probe 1C is placed on the examination table or when the ultrasonic probe 1C falls, the pressure sensor 8 is The motor 14 is driven and the cam 13 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. When the cam 13 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 8, the protector 9 moves to the protected position shown in FIG. When the protector 9 is located at the protection position shown in FIG. 8, the contact portion 9 b of the protector 9 protrudes below the surface of the acoustic lens 7.

  Therefore, when the ultrasonic probe 1C falls and the acoustic window member 51 collides with the dropping surface and is elastically deformed, the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 collides with the dropping surface via the elastically deformed acoustic window member 51. Before the contact, the contact portion 9b of the protector 9 collides with the falling surface. Therefore, even if the ultrasonic probe 1C falls, the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 is prevented from colliding with the dropping surface via the acoustic window material 51 that is elastically deformed. Therefore, the ultrasonic transducer 4 is prevented from being damaged due to the collision with the falling surface.

(Sixth embodiment)
An ultrasonic probe according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The ultrasonic probe 1D of the present embodiment includes the probe main body 50 and the acoustic window member 51 described in the fifth embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, the protector 9 is the acoustic window member 51. In contrast to being provided outside, the protector 9 is provided inside the acoustic window member 51 in the sixth embodiment. The moving means 10 is accommodated in the probe main body 2.

  FIG. 9 shows a case where the protector 9 is located at the protected position. The protector 9 located at the protection position is positioned such that the contact portion 9b of the protector 9 protrudes downward from the surface of the acoustic lens 7. On the other hand, when the protector 9 is located at a protection release position (not shown), the contact portion 9 b of the protector 9 is located above the surface of the acoustic lens 7 of the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3.

In such a configuration, when the ultrasound probe 1D moves away from the operator's hand during ultrasound diagnosis, for example, when the ultrasound probe 1 is placed on the examination table or when the ultrasound probe 1 falls. The pressure sensor 8 is turned off, the motor 14 is driven, and the cam 13 rotates to move the protective body 9 to the protective position shown in FIG. When the protector 9 is located at the protection position shown in FIG. 9, the contact portion 9 b of the protector 9 protrudes below the surface of the acoustic lens 7.

  For this reason, when the ultrasonic probe 1D falls and the acoustic window member 51 collides with the dropping surface and elastically deforms, before the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 collides with the dropping surface via the elastically deformed acoustic window member 51. Further, the contact portion 9b of the protector 9 collides with the falling surface through the acoustic window material 51 that is elastically deformed. Therefore, even if the ultrasonic probe 1D falls, the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 is prevented from colliding with the dropping surface via the acoustic window material 51 that has been elastically deformed. Therefore, the ultrasonic transducer 4 is prevented from being damaged due to the collision with the falling surface.

(Seventh embodiment)
An ultrasonic probe according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The ultrasonic probe 1E of the present embodiment is an elastic material formed of rubber or the like on the contact portion 9b that is a portion facing the inner surface of the acoustic window member 51 in the protector 9 described in the sixth embodiment. 54 is attached.

  In such a configuration, when the ultrasound probe 1E moves away from the operator's hand during ultrasound diagnosis, for example, when the ultrasound probe 1 is placed on the examination table or when the ultrasound probe 1 falls. When the pressure sensor 8 is turned off and the motor 14 is driven and the cam 13 rotates, the protector 9 moves to the protection position shown in FIG. When the protector 9 is located at the protection position shown in FIG. 10, the elastic material 54 attached to the contact portion 9 b of the protector 9 protrudes below the surface of the acoustic lens 7.

  For this reason, when the ultrasonic probe 1E falls and the acoustic window member 51 collides with the dropping surface and is elastically deformed, before the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 collides with the dropping surface via the elastically deformed acoustic window member 51. Furthermore, the elastic material 54 attached to the contact portion 9b of the protector 9 collides with the falling surface via the acoustic window material 51 that has been elastically deformed. Therefore, even if the ultrasonic probe 1D falls, the ultrasonic transducer assembly 3 is prevented from colliding with the dropping surface via the acoustic window material 51 that has been elastically deformed. Therefore, the ultrasonic transducer 4 is prevented from being damaged due to the collision with the falling surface.

  In addition, since the acoustic window member 51 elastically deformed collides with the elastic member 54 attached to the contact portion 9b when the ultrasonic probe 1E is dropped, it is possible to prevent the acoustic window member 51 from being damaged due to the impact at the time of dropping. .

  In addition, when the protection body 20 having the structure shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is provided in the acoustic window material 51, such an elastic material 54 is attached to the front end side of the contact portion 20a formed in a linear shape. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the acoustic window material 51 from being damaged when the ultrasonic probe is dropped.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the pressure sensor 8 has been described as an example of the detection unit that detects that the ultrasonic probe has moved away from the operator's hand. However, what can be used as the detection unit is a pressure sensor. It is not limited to 8. As another detection means, for example, an acceleration sensor that detects that the ultrasonic probe has dropped can be used.

(Eighth embodiment)
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 60.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 60 includes an ultrasonic probe 61, a transmission / reception unit 62, a signal processing unit 63, a DSC (Digital Scan Converter) 64, an image generation unit 65, a display device 66, and a control unit 67. I have. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 60 is characterized by an ultrasonic probe 61, and a well-known one is used as a transmission / reception unit 62, which is a component other than that.

  As the ultrasonic probe 61, the ultrasonic probes 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E according to the first to seventh embodiments are used. The ultrasonic probe 61 is provided with a protector 9, a moving means 10 including an actuator such as a motor, and a detecting means 8 such as a pressure sensor and an acceleration sensor.

  The transmission / reception unit 62 includes a transmission unit and a reception unit. The transmission / reception unit 62 supplies an electrical signal to the ultrasonic probe 61 to generate an ultrasonic wave, and receives an echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe 61.

  The signal processing unit 63 includes a known B-mode processing circuit, Doppler processing circuit, and color mode processing circuit. The data output from the transmission / reception unit 62 is subjected to predetermined processing in any processing circuit. The B-mode processing circuit visualizes echo amplitude information and generates B-mode ultrasonic raster data from the echo signal. The Doppler processing circuit extracts the Doppler shift frequency component and further performs FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) processing or the like to generate data having blood flow information. The color mode processing circuit visualizes the moving blood flow information and generates color ultrasonic raster data. Blood flow information includes information such as speed, dispersion, and power, and blood flow information is obtained as binarized information.

  The DSC 64 converts the ultrasonic raster data into data represented by orthogonal coordinates (scan conversion process) in order to obtain an image represented by the orthogonal coordinate system. For example, when scan conversion processing is performed on data output from the B-mode processing circuit, tomographic image data representing the tissue shape of the subject as two-dimensional information is generated.

  The image generation unit 65 performs various image processing. For example, voxel data is generated from tomographic image data, and volume rendering processing is further performed to generate three-dimensional image data.

  The display device 66 includes a monitor such as a liquid crystal display, and displays a tomographic image, a three-dimensional image, and the like.

  The control unit 67 includes a CPU, and controls each unit by executing a control program, an image generation program, and the like stored in a storage unit (not shown). The storage unit includes a memory such as a ROM and a hard disk, and stores image data, various setting conditions, a program, and the like.

  In addition, a pointing device such as a joystick, a switch, or an operation unit (not shown) such as a TCS (Touch Command Screen) is provided, and various settings relating to ultrasonic transmission / reception conditions are input by the operator.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E Ultrasonic probe 2 Probe main body 3 Ultrasonic transducer assembly 8 Detection means 9 Protection body 10 Movement means 20 Protection body 40 Protection body 41 Movement means 51 Acoustic window material 52 Acoustic propagation medium 54 Elastic material 61 Ultrasonic probe 63 Transmission / reception unit 65 Image generation unit

Claims (2)

An acoustic window material attached to the probe body and containing a liquid acoustic propagation medium;
An ultrasonic transducer assembly that includes an ultrasonic transducer and is immersed in the acoustic propagation medium and accommodated in the acoustic window member in a swingable manner;
Detecting means for detecting that the probe main body is separated from the operator's hand;
A protector that is provided inside the acoustic window member and is movable to a protection position that prevents the ultrasonic transducer assembly from colliding with a drop surface when the probe body falls;
An elastic material provided on a portion of the protector facing the inner surface of the acoustic window material;
Based on the detection result of the detection means, moving means for moving the protector to the protection position;
An ultrasonic probe comprising: The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1;
A transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from a subject by the ultrasonic probe;
An image generation unit that generates an ultrasonic image based on a reflected wave from the subject received by the transmission / reception unit;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

Images