JP2016043045A - Device for acquiring information on portion to be inspected - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique which, in the case of acquiring information on a portion to be inspected by using an acoustic medium accommodated between a portion to be inspected and a portion-to-be-inspected holding part, prevents the acoustic medium from being leaked to the outside.SOLUTION: A device for acquiring information on a portion to be inspected comprises a portion-to-be-inspected contact part 93 which can be deformed corresponding to the shape of the portion to be inspected 1 and brought into contact between the portion to be inspected 1 and a portion-to-be-inspected holding part 11. While keeping a sealed space constituted by the portion to be inspected 1, the portion-to-be-inspected contact part 93, and the portion-to-be-inspected holding part 11 in a state of negative pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure to keep the portion to be inspected 1 in close contact with the portion-to-be-inspected contact part 93, pressure adjusting means 91 accommodates an acoustic medium 12 in the sealed space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring an acoustic wave reflected at a test part or an acoustic wave generated at a test part, such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus or a photoacoustic imaging apparatus, and particularly used for observing a chest of a living body. The present invention relates to an apparatus for acquiring information on a subject to be examined. In this specification, an acoustic wave includes what is called a sound wave, an ultrasonic wave, a photoacoustic wave, and the like. For example, it includes photoacoustic waves generated inside the test part by irradiating the test part with light (electromagnetic waves) such as visible light and infrared rays.

  In recent years, researched and developed information acquisition devices such as ultrasound diagnostic devices and photoacoustic imaging devices that image the inside of a living body using acoustic waves generated or reflected by the test portion. Yes. For example, a photoacoustic imaging apparatus irradiates a living body with pulsed laser light (laser pulse) that emits light for a short time and absorbs the energy of the pulsed laser light. ) To generate an image. The photoacoustic imaging apparatus has been researched and developed as an apparatus for observing a human breast for early detection of breast cancer, for example. An example of a specific configuration is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 2 discloses a photoacoustic imaging apparatus having a detector in which a plurality of detection elements are arranged on a container having a spherical surface on the side to be examined, and a holding member that matches the shape of the part to be examined. Yes.

JP 2012-179348 A US Patent Publication No. 2011/306865

  By the way, in the case of an apparatus that uses a liquid as the acoustic medium between the test part holding member and the test part, there is a test part holding member between the test part and the probe. Thus, for example, bubbles are unlikely to remain on small irregularities such as a teat, and can be filled with an acoustic medium without a gap. Therefore, there is an advantage that a signal with less noise can be received without reflection of acoustic waves by bubbles.

  On the other hand, when a liquid is used for the acoustic medium between the test part and the test part holding member, the liquid may overflow and wet the room or device, or may be wet outside the test part of the subject. Sometimes it's frustrating. In particular, when the subject's chest wall is filled with the liquid of the acoustic medium, even if the device configuration measures in the prone position, it is necessary to take measures against the outflow of the liquid from between the device and the chest wall. In addition, if the device is configured so that it can be measured while sitting or standing in consideration of the comfort of the subject, the acoustic medium will flow out between the subject and the device due to gravity, and acoustic waves can be received. It can be lost. It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique that can prevent or suppress the outflow of an acoustic medium even in a sitting position or a standing position, and enables good measurement.

  The test subject information acquiring apparatus according to the present invention includes the following elements. That is, the test part holding part which has a recessed part which has an opening and demarcates the space which accommodates a test part and an acoustic medium. A test portion contact portion disposed along an edge around the opening of the test portion holding portion. A detection unit that is arranged with respect to the test unit holding unit and receives an acoustic wave from the test unit. When the test part is disposed to be pressed against the test part contact part, the sealed space constituted by the test part holding part, the test part contact part, and the test part is lower than the atmospheric pressure. Pressure adjusting means for maintaining the negative pressure state.

  According to the present invention, a sealed space is constituted by the test part, the test part holding part, and the test part contact part, and an acoustic medium is accommodated in the sealed space in a negative pressure state. The wave can be received satisfactorily by the detection unit, and for example, an image of the part to be examined can be obtained favorably.

The figure which shows the whole structure of an example of the to-be-tested part information acquisition apparatus of this invention. The block diagram of an example of the to-be-tested part information acquisition apparatus of this invention. The perspective view of an example of the to-be-tested part holding | maintenance part used by this invention. The block diagram of an example of the water circulation system used by this invention. The schematic diagram explaining the water supply / drainage of the acoustic medium used by this invention. The figure which shows the structure of Example 1 containing a pressure adjustment means and the water supply / drainage system of an acoustic medium. The figure which shows the structure of Example 2 containing a pressure adjustment means and the water supply / drainage system of an acoustic medium. The figure which shows the structure of Example 3 containing a pressure adjustment means and the water supply / drainage system of an acoustic medium.

  In the present invention, an acoustic wave from the test part is detected by maintaining the sealed space constituted by the test part holding part, the test part contact part, and the test part in a negative pressure state lower than the atmospheric pressure. Receive at. The embodiment described below employs a photoacoustic tomography that includes a light source and receives an acoustic wave generated by irradiating a test portion with light oscillated from the light source. However, the present invention can also be applied to a mode in which an acoustic wave is transmitted toward the test part and an acoustic wave reflected by the test part is received. In the description of the present specification, an acoustic medium supply / discharge mechanism or the like is referred to as a water supply / drainage mechanism or the like including a case where the acoustic medium or the acoustic matching material is not water.

Example 1
<Description of the entire device>
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the configuration of the test subject information acquiring apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the subject faces the breast insertion port 13 opened on the side surface of the measurement unit outer wall 37 of the measurement unit 3 in the sitting or standing posture and inserts the breast 1 from the insertion port 13. The breast 1 is held by bringing the breast 1 into contact with the opening edge of the test part holding member 11 that is a test part holding part. The test part information acquisition apparatus of the present embodiment has a test part holding member 11 having a plurality of shapes and sizes that can be exchanged according to the size of the breast 1, and holds the breast 1 with a suitable compression amount. I can do it. The measurement unit 3 is supported by a measurement unit support portion 38, and the height and angle of the measurement unit 3 can be adjusted so that the subject can easily insert the breast 1 into the breast insertion opening. For example, it is adjusted by moving in the Y direction or the rotation direction around the X axis, and if necessary, in the Z direction or the rotation direction around the Z axis.

<Measurement unit configuration>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the test subject information acquisition apparatus of the present embodiment. A test part contact member 93 which is a test part contact part described later is disposed on the outer periphery of the breast insertion opening 13. When the test part contact member expands and contracts and comes into close contact with the subject's chest, a sealed space constituted by the subject's chest, the test part contact member 93 and the test part holding member 11 is formed. The sealed space is maintained in a negative pressure state at a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure by pressure adjusting means 91 described later. The acoustic medium 12 is supplied from an acoustic medium water supply / drainage system 92, which will be described later, while being maintained at a negative pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure, and is replaced with at least a part of the air between the breast 1 and the test-part holding member 11, and the breast The acoustic matching between 1 and the test part holding member 11 is taken.

  The following means are arranged at a position facing the breast 1 held by the test part holding member 11. That is, a light irradiation unit 31 that irradiates the breast 1 with laser light guided from the light source 5 using the light guide unit 51, a detection unit 32 that includes a plurality of detection elements 321 that receive acoustic waves generated from the breast 1, and the breast A camera 33 for observing the holding state of 1 is disposed. These can be two-dimensionally scanned in the XY directions by the scanning mechanism 34. The scanning direction of the scanning mechanism 34 may be a three-dimensional scanning including a Z direction and a rotation direction in which the detection unit 32 is inclined with respect to the test unit, if necessary. In order for the detection unit 32 to efficiently receive the acoustic wave from the breast 1, it is necessary to reduce the difference in acoustic impedance between the test unit and the detection unit 32 as much as possible by using an acoustic medium. The space between the breast 1 and the test portion holding member 11 is filled with the acoustic medium 12, and the space between the test portion holding member 11 and the detection unit 32 is surrounded by the acoustic matching material container 36. Inside, the acoustic matching material 35 is filled. The acoustic matching material and the acoustic medium may be the same or different, as long as the material is selected so that the detection unit can efficiently receive the acoustic wave from the test unit.

  In this embodiment, the acoustic medium 12 and the acoustic matching material 35 use water or the like whose acoustic impedance is closer to that of the human body than air, and acoustic matching from the breast 1 to the detection unit 32 is taken. At the time of measurement, laser light is irradiated from the light irradiation unit 31 to the breast 1, and ultrasonic waves (photoacoustic waves) generated during volume expansion due to heat generation of the cells of the breast 1 are generated in the acoustic medium 12, the test portion holding member 11, and The signal is received by the detection unit 32 via the acoustic matching material 35. The detection unit 32 is provided such that reception surfaces of at least some of the detection elements 321 among the plurality of detection elements 321 that receive the photoacoustic wave have different angles. A more preferable form is a configuration in which the plurality of detection elements 321 are provided on the spherical surface so that the directivity of the detection elements 321 faces the center of the sphere. The scanning mechanism 34 is a three-axis scanning mechanism capable of three-dimensional scanning in the XYZ directions. The triaxial stage is configured by combining, for example, a linear guide (not shown), a feed screw mechanism (not shown), and a motor (not shown).

  The control unit 2 controls the intensity of light applied to the breast 1, the timing of light irradiation and reception of acoustic waves, the scanning of the detection unit 32, and the like. The received electrical signal from the acoustic wave is AD converted into digital data (photoacoustic data) by the signal processing unit 4. The image generation unit 6 generates a two-dimensional or three-dimensional photoacoustic image using the photoacoustic data. The generated photoacoustic image and the image acquired by the camera 33 are displayed on the display unit 7.

  In the configuration of FIG. 2, all the mechanisms are mounted in the measurement unit 3, but may be appropriately disposed outside the measurement unit 3 from the viewpoints of downsizing, heat, noise, and the like. For example, the light source 5 may be arranged outside the measurement unit 3 so as to reduce the size of the measurement unit 3 and guide light to the light irradiation unit 31 by the light guide unit 51.

<Test part holding member>
The subject holding member 11 of the present embodiment has a shape having a bowl-shaped recess so that the breast 1 can be easily held. The concave portion having the annular opening does not need to have a complete spherical surface, and may be any shape that matches the shape of the breast 1, the axilla, or the like. A water supply / drainage groove 94 that is a groove for water supply / drainage as shown in FIG. 3 is formed on the entire outer periphery of the subject's chest wall side of the subject holding member 11. As a result, even if the breast 1 is in close contact with the test portion holding member 11, the water supply / drainage port 941 is not blocked, and water can be supplied / drained from the water supply / drainage port 941 through the water supply / drainage system 92 through the water supply / drainage groove 94. For the same reason, the pressure adjusting port 942 is also provided to open in the water supply / drainage groove 94.

  As described above, the test part holding member 11 preferably has a plurality of sizes according to the size of the breast 1. The test part holding member 11 can be exchanged according to the size of the breast 1 and has a flange part 111 over the outer periphery in order to attach it to the acoustic matching material container 36 shown in FIG. As a method for attaching the flange portion 111 of the test portion holding member to the acoustic matching material container 36, for example, there is a method in which a ring-shaped sealing material is sandwiched between the flange portion 111 and the acoustic matching material container 36 and fixed with screws. When the strength is insufficient, such as when the flange-shaped part is made of resin, the metal part and the acoustic matching material container 36 are further reinforced with a metal ring-shaped member from above the sealing material and the flange-shaped part. You may attach so that it may pinch.

  The test part holding member 11 is a transparent member that is thin (for example, 0.1 mm to 1 mm) so as to easily transmit acoustic waves and transmits light. It is composed of a member having a strength capable of withstanding water pressure by the acoustic matching material 35 in the acoustic matching material container 36 before breast insertion, contact pressure after breast insertion, and negative pressure (80 kPa to 90 kPa) by the pressure adjusting means 91. It is preferable. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is suitable as a material for the test-part holding member 11 having such characteristics. A space between the test-part holding member 11 and the breast 1 is filled with an acoustic medium 12 so that an acoustic wave can be easily transmitted. It is preferable that the acoustic medium 12 has a lower viscosity because air bubbles between the breast 1 and the test-portion holding member 11 can be easily removed, and examples thereof include water.

  The detection unit 32 adjusts the position in the Z direction according to the size of the test object holding member 11, and performs two-dimensional scanning in the XY direction at a position with the highest reception sensitivity. The scanning direction of the scanning mechanism 34 may be three-dimensional scanning including a rotational direction in which the detection unit 32 is tilted with respect to the test portion after adjusting the position in the Z direction as necessary. Therefore, it is necessary for the test part information acquisition device to determine the type of the test part holding member 11. As a determination method, a unique notch shape is created for each type of the test part holding member 11, and the test part information acquisition device is automatically operated by detection means such as a switch or sensor (not shown) provided in the measurement unit 3. Can be discriminated. Alternatively, a barcode or the like may be attached to the test part holding member 11 and the type of the test part holding member 11 may be detected using an image of the camera 33. By automatically detecting the type of the test part holding member 11, it is possible to save a person from inputting the type of the test part holding member 11 and to eliminate an input error. The mode of light irradiation, the angle and intensity of the irradiated light, the method of signal processing, and the like can be appropriately adjusted depending on the type of the test part holding member.

<Contact member to be examined>
An annular test part contact member 93 arranged around the opening of the test part holding member is composed of a cushion part 931 and a seat part 932. When the subject inserts the breast 1 from the breast insertion opening 13, the cushion portion 931 collapses, and a closed space is formed by the subject, the subject portion holding member 11, and the subject portion contact member 93. The cushion portion 931 is further crushed when the closed space is made negative pressure (80 kPa to 90 kPa) by the pressure adjusting means 91, and the reaction force becomes an adhesion force to the test portion. This adhesion force is greater than the water pressure (3 kPa to 10 kPa) of the acoustic medium 12 by supplying the acoustic medium 12 from the water supply / drainage system 92 to the closed space. Therefore, the acoustic medium 12 is filled without leaking from between the subject and the subject contact member 93.

  The sheet portion 932 is a thin sheet-like portion, and the acoustic medium 12 can be prevented from leaking from fine irregularities such as wrinkles and finished products by being in close contact with the portion to be examined on the contact surface. The material of the subject contact member 93 can be flexibly deformed according to the unevenness of the body of the subject, the material that does not penetrate the acoustic medium 12 and is light-shielding against laser light. It is preferable that That is, the test portion contact portion is elastically deformed in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface with the test portion, and can be deformed into a shape along the outer shape of the test portion. For example, it can be formed by molding black silicone rubber or neoprene rubber. The watertight attachment of the test part contact member to the test part holding member or the acoustic matching material container may be performed, for example, by the same method as the screw fixing of the test part holding member to the acoustic matching material container. If the test part contact member is formed integrally with the test part holding member in advance, the attachment of the test part contact member is completed by fixing the test part holding member to the acoustic matching material container.

<Light source>
When light energy is supplied from the light source 5 to the test part, a photoacoustic wave is generated from the test part. When the test portion is a living body, the light source 5 emits light having a specific wavelength that is absorbed by a specific component among the components constituting the breast 1. The light source may be provided integrally with the apparatus of this embodiment, or the light source may be separated and separated. As the light source, a pulse light source capable of generating pulsed light on the order of several nanometers to several hundred nanoseconds as irradiation light is preferable. Specifically, a pulse width of about 10 nanoseconds to 100 nanoseconds is used to efficiently generate photoacoustic waves. As the light source, a laser is preferable because a high output can be obtained, but a light emitting diode or the like can be used instead of the laser. As the laser, various lasers such as a solid laser, a gas laser, a fiber laser, a dye laser, and a semiconductor laser can be used. The timing, waveform, intensity, etc. of irradiation are controlled by the light source control unit in the control unit 2. In this embodiment, it is desirable that the wavelength of the light source to be used is a wavelength at which light propagates to the inside of the breast. Specifically, it is 500 nm or more and 1200 nm or less.

<Detection element>
The detection element 321 detects an acoustic wave transmitted from the test part and converts it into an electrical signal that is an analog signal. Any element may be used as long as it can detect acoustic waves, such as a conversion element using a piezoelectric phenomenon, a conversion element using optical resonance, and a conversion element using a change in capacitance. In this embodiment, a plurality of detection elements 321 are arranged, and the detection elements are arranged so that directions having the highest reception sensitivity are different from each other. By using such multi-dimensional array elements, acoustic waves can be detected at a plurality of locations at the same time, and the detection time can be shortened.

<Detector>
The detection unit 32 is preferably configured such that a plurality of detection elements 321 are arranged on a closed curved surface surrounding the test portion. However, it is difficult to dispose a plurality of detection elements 321 on all closed curved surfaces that surround the portion to be examined (breast). Therefore, it is preferable to arrange a plurality of detection elements 321 on a substantially hemispherical surface as in this embodiment. Moreover, the arrangement method is preferably arranged in a spiral shape, for example.

  The shape of the detection unit 32 of the present embodiment is a shape that enables the above-described detection element arrangement. It is preferable that the light irradiation unit 31 can be further arranged in the detection unit 32. Thereby, since the relationship between the acoustic wave detection position and the light irradiation position is kept constant, more uniform photoacoustic wave information can be acquired. The irradiation area that can be applied to the breast is limited by American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards. Therefore, it is preferable to increase the irradiation intensity and the irradiation area in order to increase the amount of light propagating into the breast, but the irradiation area is limited from the viewpoint of the cost of the light source. In addition, since the electromechanical conversion element has directivity, the reception sensitivity of acoustic waves from a direction deviating from the direction with high detection sensitivity decreases. In other words, even when light is irradiated to a region where the detection sensitivity is low, the light amount utilization efficiency is lowered. For this reason, it is not efficient to irradiate the entire portion to be examined. In other words, since it is efficient to irradiate light only to a highly sensitive area of the detection unit 32 composed of a plurality of detection elements 321, it is desirable that the light irradiation unit 31 also moves together with the detection unit 32.

<Acoustic matching material container>
The acoustic matching material container 36 is a container that fills the acoustic matching material 35. Even if the detection unit 32 scans, the acoustic matching material 35 needs to be filled between the test piece holding member 11 and the detection unit 32. Therefore, the acoustic matching material container 36 is a container that surrounds the region including the region scanned by the detection unit 32 and can accommodate the acoustic matching material 35. As described above, the measurement unit 3 including the container is supported by the support part, and the support part has the adjusting means for adjusting the relative position of the container with respect to the test part.

<Light guide means>
The light emitted from the light source 5 in FIG. 2 is typically guided to a test portion while being processed into a desired light distribution shape by an optical component such as a lens or a mirror. However, it is also possible to propagate using an optical fiber, a bundle optical fiber bundled with the optical fiber, an optical waveguide such as an articulating arm in which a mirror or the like is incorporated in a lens barrel, and these are also regarded as the light guide means 51. The other light guide means 51 is, for example, a mirror that reflects light, a lens that collects or enlarges light, or changes its shape, or a diffusion plate that diffuses light. Any optical component may be used as long as the light emitted from the light source is irradiated on the breast 1 in a desired shape. However, it is preferable to spread the light to a certain area rather than collecting the light with a lens from the viewpoint that the diagnostic region of the test part can be widened. In the case where desired pulsed light can be directly emitted from the light source 5 to the breast 1, the apparatus may not include the light guide means 51.

<Water circulation system>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the water circulation system 8 of the present invention. The water circulation system 8 includes a pump 81, a tank 82, a flow path switching device 83, a deaeration device 85, a heating device 86, flow meters 87a and 87b, pipes 80a, 80b and 80c, and a liquid level sensor 88. The configuration is as follows. The acoustic matching material 35 is stored in a tank 82 and is sent by a pump 81 via a flow path switching device 83. Further, the air is supplied to the acoustic matching material container 36 through the pipe 80a via the defoaming (degassing) device 85 for removing air and bubbles dissolved in the acoustic matching material 35 and the heating device 86 for heating the acoustic matching material 35. Is done. The amount and flow velocity of the acoustic matching material 35 supplied to the acoustic matching material container 36 are measured and controlled by the flow meter 87a. Whether the acoustic matching material 35 supplied to the acoustic matching material container 36 is always filled to a sufficient level is confirmed by the liquid level sensor 88, and if the water level falls, a measurement error or warning is given to the display unit 7. I can do it. Further, the acoustic matching material 35 supplied to the acoustic matching material container 36 flows out from the pipe 80b. By measuring the amount of the acoustic matching material 35 flowing out from the pipe 80b with the flow meter 87b, it can be measured that the acoustic matching material 35 is filled up to the position of the pipe 80b of the acoustic matching material container 36 and is circulating.

  Since the acoustic matching material 35 is warmed according to the body temperature, the acoustic matching material container 36 is convected. By arranging the pipe 80a in the lower part of the acoustic matching material container 36 and the pipe 80b in the upper part of the acoustic matching material container 36, the entire acoustic matching material container 36 is circulated without difficulty according to the convection of the acoustic matching material. To do. Therefore, temperature spots due to the acoustic matching material 35 staying can be reduced. When returning the acoustic matching material 35 from the acoustic matching material container 36 to the tank 82, it is preferable to return the acoustic matching material 35 using the pipe 80 a below the acoustic matching material container 36. Further, a plurality of pumps 81 may be provided as necessary. Any type of pump can be used as long as the acoustic matching material 35 can flow, but a pump such as a gear pump or a tube pump allows the acoustic matching material 35 to flow in both directions of supply and discharge by reversing the motor. I can do it. Therefore, the number of switching of the flow path switching device 83 can be reduced. The flow path switching device 83 can be configured by combining electromagnetic valves and the like, and can select a pipe to be fed to the pump and a pipe to be fed from the pump.

  When bubbles are generated in the acoustic matching material 35, reception of acoustic waves is affected, so that bubbles and dissolved gas components are removed from the acoustic matching material 35 in the deaerator 85. The deaeration device 85 is connected to the heating device 86, and the degassed acoustic matching material 35 is sent to the heating device 86. If the acoustic matching material 35 is excessively cold, the subject feels uncomfortable, and the acoustic matching material 35 is heated to the body temperature by the heating device 86. Further, when the temperature of the acoustic matching material 35 changes, the sound speed changes and affects the reception of sound waves, so that it is always monitored and maintained at a constant temperature.

  The tank 82 has a volume capable of storing all of the acoustic matching material 35 flowing through the water circulation system 8 including the acoustic matching material container 36, and includes a supply port and a discharge port (not shown). Further, the deaeration device 85 and the heating device 86 may be installed in the tank 82. The pump 81, the tank 82, the flow path switching device 83, the deaeration device 85, and the heating device 86 can be optimized by changing the order of connection as necessary.

<Water supply / drainage mechanism>
Next, the process of water supply / drainage with respect to the closed space in the recessed part of the to-be-tested part holding member 11 is demonstrated using the schematic diagram of the water supply / drainage of FIG. FIG. 5A shows the state of the breast insertion unit 13 before breast insertion. The test portion contact member 93 is not compressed, and the pressure adjusting means 91 and the water supply / drainage system 92 are not moved. FIG. 5B shows the subject's chest, the subject contact member 93, and the subject's chest in a state where the breast 1 is inserted from the breast insertion opening 13 and the subject's chest is brought into contact with the subject contact member 93. A sealed space is configured by the test part holding member 11. FIG. 5C shows a state in which the air in the sealed space is exhausted by the pressure adjusting means 91 and reduced to a predetermined pressure (for example, about 0.8 atm (80 kPa)). At this time, a differential pressure (0.2 atm (20 kPa)) is generated between the inside and the outside of the sealed space, and a force that attracts the subject's chest to the test part holding member 11 is generated by the differential pressure. The contact member 93 is crushed. This reaction force becomes a close contact force between the chest wall and the test part contact member 93.

  FIG. 5D shows a state in which the acoustic medium 12 is supplied by the water supply / drainage system 92 while the internal pressure of the sealed space is maintained at a negative pressure from the atmospheric pressure by the pressure adjusting means 91. In order to keep the internal pressure of the sealed space constant while supplying the acoustic medium 12, the pressure adjusting means 91 performs exhaust. Moreover, the pressure according to the depth is applied to the surface in contact with the acoustic medium 12 by the acoustic medium 12 supplied in the sealed space. If the specific gravity of the acoustic medium 12 is 1, this pressure is 5 kPa at a water depth of 50 cm, and is smaller than the differential pressure (20 kPa) from the outside. Therefore, the pressure causes an acoustic wave between the subject's chest and the subject contact member 93. The medium 12 does not leak. The filling of the acoustic medium 12 in the sealed space is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the supply of the acoustic medium is stopped.

  In FIG. 5E, the internal pressure of the sealed space is maintained at a negative pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure by the pressure adjusting means 91, and the acoustic medium 12 is moved by the water supply / drainage system 92 while the subject contact member 93 and the subject's chest are adsorbed. It is in the state of discharging. In order to prevent a decrease in the internal pressure of the sealed space due to the discharge of the acoustic medium 12, the pressure adjusting means 91 performs intake so as to compensate for a decrease in the pressure due to the discharge of the acoustic medium 12, and the pressure in the sealed space is made constant. keep. Accordingly, the drainage is performed while the chest of the subject and the contact portion contact member 93 are adsorbed, and the acoustic medium 12 does not leak outside the contact portion contact member 93. FIG. 5 (F) shows a state in which the water supply / drainage is finished and the atmospheric pressure in the sealed space is set to 100 kPa which is the same as the outside air by the pressure adjusting means 91. Since the differential pressure is eliminated, the force for adsorbing the subject's chest is lost, and the subject can easily remove the chest from the subject contact member 93.

<Pressure adjustment means / water supply / drainage system>
Next, a specific configuration example of the pressure adjusting means and the water supply / drainage system will be described with reference to FIG. The pressure adjusting means 91 has a negative pressure chamber 911 continuous with a sealed space constituted by the chest of the subject, the test portion contact member 93 and the test portion holding member 11, and the negative pressure chamber 911 is the sealed space. It becomes the same pressure as. The negative pressure chamber 911 includes a pressure gauge 919 that measures pressure, an exhaust pump 912 that exhausts air from the negative pressure chamber 911, and a check valve 913 that prevents air from returning to the negative pressure chamber 911. When the pressure in the negative pressure chamber 911 is brought close to the atmospheric pressure, the air pressure in the negative pressure chamber 911 can be increased by opening the intake valve 915.

  The water supply / drainage system 92 includes a tank 921 for accumulating the acoustic medium 12, a water supply pump 929 for supplying the acoustic medium 12 from the tank 921 to the sealed space, a drain pump 925 for draining from the sealed space, and air flowing back from the drain pump. A check valve 926 is provided. The water supply pump 929 and the drainage pump 925 are preferably pumps that prevent the acoustic medium 12 from freely flowing due to a difference in atmospheric pressure when stopped, such as a gear pump and a tube pump. Alternatively, it is possible to use a pump in which the acoustic medium 12 flows by a pressure difference by using a valve that closes when stopped. A water supply level sensor 917 for detecting that the acoustic medium is filled and a drainage water level sensor 924 for detecting that the acoustic medium is discharged are provided above and below the sealed space, and water supply and drainage can be stopped. . The tank 921 includes a heater and a degassed water purifier (not shown), and can manage the temperature of the acoustic medium 12 and deaerate it. Since the acoustic medium 12 is exchanged every time the subject is changed from the viewpoint of hygiene, a new acoustic medium 12 is supplied to the tank 921 from the water supply pipe 927, and the acoustic medium 12 to be used next is prepared.

  Next, an example of the flow when actually used is shown. First, the subject inserts the breast 1 into the breast insertion opening 13, and a hermetic space is formed by the subject's chest, the subject contact member 93, and the subject holding member 11. The insertion of the breast into the breast insertion opening 13 by the subject is detected by the breast detection sensor 918, and the exhaust pump 912 is operated automatically or manually to discharge air from the negative pressure chamber 911 to the outside. At this time, the intake valve 915 is closed. When the value of the pressure gauge 919 reaches a desired value (for example, 80 kPa), the exhaust pump 912 is temporarily stopped. The doctor or engineer confirms that the subject contact member 93 is in good contact with the chest of the subject and activates the water supply pump 929. The water supply pump transfers the acoustic medium 12 stored in the tank 921 to the sealed space. Since the pressure in the sealed space is increased by supplying the acoustic medium 12 to the sealed space by the water supply pump 929, the pressure is monitored by the pressure gauge 919, and exhausted by the exhaust pump 912 in accordance with the increase in the pressure. Maintained. It is detected that the acoustic medium 12 has filled the sealed space by the water level sensor 917 installed in the upper part of the sealed space or between the sealed space and the negative pressure chamber 911. At that time, the water supply pump 929 stops, The test part can be measured.

  When the measurement is completed and discharged, the drainage pump 925 is operated to discharge the acoustic medium 12 from the drainpipe 928. Since the pressure in the sealed space is lowered by discharging the acoustic medium from the sealed space, the pressure is monitored by a pressure gauge 919, and outside air is sucked from the intake valve 915 in accordance with the pressure drop. As a result, the acoustic medium 12 can be discharged while maintaining the desired pressure and adsorbing the test portion. When the drainage water level sensor 924 detects that all of the acoustic medium 12 has been discharged, the drainage pump 925 stops. Finally, by opening the intake valve 915, the pressure in the sealed space becomes equal to the outside air, and the suction of the test part is released.

  In the present embodiment, the pressure adjusting means 91 and the water supply / drainage system 92 are provided, and the acoustic medium can be supplied / drained into a sealed space formed by the subject's chest, the test part contact member 93 and the test part holding member 11. Therefore, there is an effect that the sealed space can be completely filled with the acoustic medium 12 without wetting the space other than the sealed space, but the breast 1 is held even when only the pressure adjusting means is provided without the water supply / drainage system 92. I can do it. Further, since the laser light can be shielded by the test portion contact member 93, there is an effect that the measurement can be performed safely. In this case, the acoustic medium 12 can be a gel, gel, or water bag. Alternatively, there is a method in which the apparatus is configured to open upward with respect to the direction of gravity, and the liquid acoustic medium 12 is placed in advance. In this embodiment, the test portion is measured in a state where many portions of the test portion are in contact with the inner surface of the test portion holding member. However, in a state where the acoustic medium 12 is accommodated in a non-contact space without contacting the test portion with the inner surface of the test portion holding member or without contacting the inner surface of the test portion holding member in many parts. It is also possible to measure the test part. In addition, it is possible to measure the test portion in a state where the sealed space is not completely filled with the acoustic medium 12 and is accommodated up to a level necessary for measurement.

(Example 2)
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second embodiment according to the present invention including a second example of the pressure adjusting means and the water supply / drainage system. In the first embodiment, the pressure is monitored by the pressure gauge 919, and the inside of the negative pressure chamber 911 is maintained at a desired pressure by supplying and discharging the air in the negative pressure chamber 911 by the exhaust pump 912 and the intake valve 915. . Unlike this, Example 2 shows a structure in which the pressure in the negative pressure chamber 911 is maintained at a desired pressure using a constant pressure valve. A constant pressure valve is a structure in which a valve opens when a pressure difference between an inlet and an outlet reaches a predetermined pressure difference due to a mechanical structure. In the second embodiment, by using a constant pressure valve having a pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet of, for example, 20 kPa, when the pressure in the negative pressure chamber 911 becomes 80 kPa or less, the valve opens and takes in the outside air or the acoustic medium 12, Can be maintained at 80 kPa.

  The negative pressure chamber 911 has the same pressure as that of the sealed space as in the first embodiment. The negative pressure chamber 911 includes a pressure gauge 919 for measuring pressure, an intake side constant pressure valve 914 for setting the inside of the negative pressure chamber 911 to 80 kPa, and an intake valve 915 connected in series to the valve 914 for blocking intake air. Separately, it is provided with an atmospheric release valve 916 that can be opened to atmospheric pressure, and further, air in the negative pressure chamber 911 is exhausted, and air is discharged into the negative pressure chamber 911 and the negative pressure chamber 911. It has a check valve 913 that prevents it from returning.

  The water supply / drainage system 92 has a tank 921 for accumulating the acoustic medium 12 as in the first embodiment, a heater (not shown), and a degassed water purifier, and can manage the temperature and deaerate the acoustic medium 12. In order to supply the acoustic medium 12 in the tank 921, the water supply pump 929 is used in the first embodiment, whereas in the second embodiment, suction is performed using the negative pressure in the sealed space. A water supply valve 923 for cutting off the supply is provided. The configuration of the drainage is the same as that of the first embodiment, and includes a drainage pump 925 and a check valve 926 that prevents backflow of air from the drainage pump. As in the first embodiment, it is desirable to use a pump that does not flow freely due to a pressure difference when stopped, or a valve that closes when stopped. Similarly to the first embodiment, a water level sensor 917 for water supply and a water level sensor 924 for drainage are provided above and below the sealed space.

  Next, an example of the flow when actually used is shown. First, the subject inserts the breast 1 into the breast insertion opening 13, and the subject's chest, the subject contact member 93, and the subject holding member 11 form a sealed space. The insertion of the breast 1 into the breast insertion opening 13 by the subject is detected by the breast detection sensor 918, and the exhaust pump 912 is operated automatically or manually to discharge air from the negative pressure chamber 911 to the outside. When the air release valve 916 and the water supply valve 923 are closed, only the intake valve 915 is opened and the exhaust pump 912 is operated to lower the atmospheric pressure in the negative pressure chamber 911. Air is inhaled and the pressure is maintained at 80 kPa.

  Next, a doctor or an engineer confirms that the subject contact member 93 is in good contact with the chest of the subject, and starts inhalation of the acoustic medium 12. The air release valve 916 is closed and the intake valve 915 is also closed. Instead, by opening only the water supply valve 923 and operating the exhaust pump 912, the acoustic medium 12 is sucked into the sealed space through the water supply side constant pressure valve 922. The At this time, the negative pressure chamber 911 side of the water supply side constant pressure valve 922 is 80 kPa, and the tank 921 side is atmospheric pressure (100 kPa). When the acoustic medium 12 is inhaled and the water level rises, the water supply level sensor 917 detects that the sealed space has been filled, and the exhaust pump 912 stops and measurement is possible.

  When the measurement is completed and the water is drained, the air release valve 916 is kept closed, the water supply valve 923 is closed again, and instead, only the intake valve 915 is opened to operate the drain pump 925. As a result, the suction side constant pressure valve 914 keeps the negative pressure chamber 911 and the sealed space at 80 kPa, and the acoustic medium 12 is discharged from the drain pipe 928 while adsorbing the test portion. The drainage water level sensor 924 detects that all of the acoustic medium 12 has been discharged, and the drainage pump 925 stops. Finally, by opening the atmosphere release valve 916, the pressure in the sealed space becomes equal to the outside air, and the adsorption of the test part is released.

  Similarly to Example 1, this example also forms a sealed space with the test part, the test part holding member, and the test part contact member, and the acoustic wave from the test part is received well at the detection part, For example, an image can be acquired. Further, by filling the sealed space with an acoustic medium, it is possible to better receive the acoustic wave from the test portion. Further, by maintaining the sealed space in a negative pressure state lower than atmospheric pressure, the test part and the test part contact member can be in close contact with each other, and the water tightness between the test part and the test part contact member can be maintained. I can do it. Moreover, although the pressure from an acoustic medium is applied between a test part and a test part contact member by gravity, this pressure is smaller than the said negative pressure. Therefore, the acoustic medium can be filled with water in a sealed space regardless of the direction of gravity, making it possible to perform good measurements even in a sitting or standing position, reducing the burden on the subject to sleep or wake up. I can do it. Further, since it is kept watertight, there is an effect that it is not necessary to wet other than the device and the test portion of the subject.

(Example 3)
In the first and second embodiments, the configuration in which the breast insertion port 13 is open on the side surface of the measurement unit is shown. However, as the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention, the breast insertion port 13 is on the upper surface with respect to the measurement unit 3. An open structure may be used. Even when the breast insertion opening is open on the upper surface, the test subject contact member 93 can hold the breast 1 by adsorbing to the subject's chest and shield the laser from the subject's eyes. I can do it. Further, by bringing the opening of the pressure adjustment port 942 connected to the negative pressure chamber 911 from the sealed space formed by the subject's chest, the subject contact member 93 and the subject holding member 11 close to the chest wall, The acoustic medium 12 can be filled as close as possible.

  A specific configuration example of the pressure adjusting means and the water supply / drainage system will be described with reference to FIG. As in the first embodiment, the pressure adjusting means 91 has a negative pressure chamber 911 that is continuous with the sealed space formed by the chest of the subject, the test portion contact member 93, and the test portion holding member 11, and the negative pressure chamber. 911 has the same pressure as the sealed space. The negative pressure chamber 911 includes a pressure gauge 919 that measures pressure, an exhaust pump 912 that exhausts air from the negative pressure chamber 911, and a check valve 913 that prevents air from returning to the negative pressure chamber 911. The difference between the first embodiment and the third embodiment is as follows. That is, the negative pressure chamber 911 is provided with a check valve 926 that prevents the air from flowing back from the drain pipe 928 and the drain pump, and the acoustic medium 12 sucked into the negative pressure chamber 911 is temporarily stored when the negative pressure chamber 911 is exhausted. And discharged from the drain pipe 928.

  The water supply / drainage system 92 includes a tank 921 for accumulating the acoustic medium 12 as in the first embodiment, a heater (not shown), and a deaerated water purifier, and can control the temperature and deaerate the acoustic medium 12. To supply water. In the third embodiment, the water supply / drainage system 92 does not have a discharge function, and the acoustic medium 12 remaining in the test object holding member 11 after measurement is removed by sucking and wiping with a suction machine (not shown).

  Next, an example of the flow when actually used is shown. First, the subject inserts the breast 1 into the breast insertion opening 13, and the subject's chest, the subject contact member 93, and the subject holding member 11 form a sealed space. As in the first embodiment, the insertion of the breast into the breast insertion port 13 by the subject is detected by the breast detection sensor 918, and the exhaust pump 912 is automatically or manually operated to air from the negative pressure chamber 911 to the outside. Is discharged. At this time, the intake valve 915 is closed. When the value of the pressure gauge 919 reaches a desired value (for example, 80 kPa), the exhaust pump 912 is temporarily stopped. The doctor or engineer confirms that the subject contact member 93 is in good contact with the chest of the subject and activates the water supply pump 929. The water supply pump transfers the acoustic medium 12 stored in the tank 921 to the sealed space. Since the pressure in the sealed space is increased by supplying the acoustic medium 12 to the sealed space by the water supply pump 929, the pressure is monitored by the pressure gauge 919, and exhausted by the exhaust pump 912 in accordance with the increase in the pressure. Maintained. It is detected that the acoustic medium 12 has filled the sealed space by the water level sensor 917 installed at the upper part of the sealed space or between the sealed space and the negative pressure chamber 911, and the feed water pump 929 is stopped and measurement is possible. Become. The acoustic medium 12 that has passed through the water supply level sensor 917 is temporarily stored in the negative pressure chamber 911 and is discharged after the measurement is completed and the breast 1 is extracted from the breast insertion opening 13.

  When the breast 1 is extracted from the breast insertion opening 13, by opening the intake valve 915, the pressure in the sealed space becomes equal to the outside air, and the suction of the test part is released. The acoustic medium 12 remaining in the subject holding member 11 after the subject has extracted the breast 1 is sucked and wiped with a suction machine (not shown). In the present embodiment, the water supply / drainage system 92 is provided, but the acoustic medium 12 may be previously placed in the test portion holding member before the breast 1 is inserted without the water supply / drainage system.

  Even in this embodiment, substantially the same effects as those of Embodiments 1 and 2 can be obtained. However, it is possible to measure particularly well in the prone position. In addition, since the sealed space is kept watertight, there is an effect that it is not necessary to wet other than the device and the test portion of the subject.

  1 .. Breast (test part), 11 .. Test part holding member (test part holding part), 12 .. Acoustic medium, 32 .. Detection part, 91 .. Pressure adjusting means, 93. Part contact member (test part contact part)

Claims (17)

A test portion holding portion having an opening and having a recess that defines a space for accommodating the test portion and the acoustic medium;
A test portion contact portion disposed along an edge around the opening of the test portion holding portion;
A detection unit that is arranged with respect to the test unit holding unit and receives an acoustic wave from the test unit;
When the test part is placed in contact with the test part contact part, a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure is applied to the sealed space formed by the test part holding part, the test part contact part, and the test part. Pressure adjusting means for maintaining the negative pressure state of
A test subject information acquisition device comprising: Containing the detector and the acoustic matching material, and having a container having an opening;
The edge part around the opening of the said test part holding | maintenance part and the said test part contact part are closely attached along the edge part of the opening part of the said container, The said test part contact part is attached. To-be-tested part information acquisition device. Having a water supply / drainage mechanism to the sealed space;
The test part according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the water supply / drainage mechanism supplies and discharges an acoustic medium to and from the sealed space in a state where the sealed space is maintained in a negative pressure state by the pressure adjusting means. Information acquisition device. Provided with a groove portion that does not come into contact with the test portion even if the test portion is deformed, in the concave portion along the periphery of the opening of the test portion holding portion,
The test part information acquiring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a water supply / drain port of the water supply / drainage mechanism is open in the groove.   The said test part contact part is elastically deformed perpendicularly | vertically with respect to a contact surface with a test part, and can deform | transform into the shape along the external shape of a test part. The test subject information acquisition apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.   The test part information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the test part contact part has a sheet-like part that is in surface contact with the surface of the test part.   The test part information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the test part contact part is made of a light-shielding material without passing through an acoustic medium. A light source and a processing unit,
The detection unit receives an acoustic wave generated by irradiating the test unit with light oscillated from the light source, converts the received acoustic wave into an electrical signal,
The test part information acquisition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the processing part acquires and processes information on the test part using an electrical signal output from the detection part. apparatus. Having a processing unit,
The detection unit receives an acoustic wave reflected by the test unit and converts it into an electrical signal;
The test part information acquisition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the processing part acquires and processes information on the test part using an electrical signal output from the detection part. apparatus.   The test part information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a scanning mechanism for changing a relative position of the detection unit with respect to the test part. A support portion for supporting the container;
The test part information acquiring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the support part includes an adjustment unit that adjusts a relative position of the container with respect to the test part.   The subject according to claim 11, wherein a subject having a subject portion can be arranged by pressing the subject portion against the subject contact portion in a sitting or standing position. Laboratory information acquisition device.   The test subject having a test portion is configured to be able to press and place the test portion against the test portion contact portion in a prone position. The test subject information acquisition device according to the item. A test portion is inserted into an insertion port formed by an opening of the test portion holding portion, and a sealed space is configured by the test portion, the test portion contact portion, and the test portion holding portion; and
Discharging the air from the sealed space to the outside and bringing the test part contact part into close contact with the test part; and
Transferring an acoustic medium to the enclosed space;
Accommodating the acoustic medium and the test part in the sealed space in a predetermined negative pressure state;
Receiving acoustic waves from the test unit at the detection unit to obtain information on the test unit; and
A method for acquiring test subject information, comprising:   The test part information acquisition according to claim 14, wherein, in the step of transferring the acoustic medium to the sealed space, the acoustic medium is transferred to the sealed space while maintaining the sealed space in the negative pressure state. Method.   The test part information acquiring method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of returning the pressure of the sealed space to the pressure of the outside air after the step of acquiring the information of the test part.   In the step of returning the pressure of the sealed space to the pressure of the outside air, after discharging the acoustic medium from the sealed space while maintaining the sealed space in the negative pressure state, the pressure of the sealed space is returned to the pressure of the outside air. The method for acquiring test subject information according to claim 16.

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