JP2017077410A - Analyte information acquisition device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an analyte information acquisition device for performing scan by moving a liquid tank, capable of suppressing liquid level variation of a matching liquid which is caused by movement of the liquid tank, and suppressing quality deterioration of acquired analyte information.SOLUTION: An analyte information acquisition device comprises: a support part comprising a support plane 201 for supporting a subject, and an insertion hole 202 provided on the support plane and into which an analyte 101 which is a part of the subject is inserted downward in a vertical direction; an annular bank 403 protruding downward in the vertical direction from the support part, and arranged so as to surround the insertion hole 202; and a movement probe unit comprising a probe 402 for receiving an acoustic wave which is transmitted from inside of the analyte and a scanning base 410 in which the probe 402 is arranged and which relatively moves to the insertion hole 202, and being arranged below the annular bank 403 in the vertical direction. The annular bank 403 and the movement probe unit regulate a matching material storage container 400 for storing an acoustic matching material 401 in an integrated state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a subject information acquisition apparatus that acquires information inside a subject.

In recent years, research on photoacoustic imaging apparatuses that image information in a subject using the photoacoustic effect has been actively promoted in the medical field.
When measurement light such as pulsed laser light is irradiated on a living body that is a subject, an acoustic wave is generated when the measurement light is absorbed by a living tissue in the subject. By receiving and analyzing this acoustic wave (typically, an ultrasonic wave), information related to the optical characteristics inside the living body can be imaged. Such an acoustic wave is called a photoacoustic wave, and a technique using the photoacoustic wave is called photoacoustic tomography (PAT).

  There is a photoacoustic apparatus described in Patent Document 1 as an apparatus that acquires biometric information relating to a human breast using photoacoustic tomography. In the apparatus, a subject is held by a hemispherical holding member, and an acoustic wave is acquired using an acoustic element disposed in a hemispherical container facing the holding member. Moreover, an acoustic wave can be acquired from a wide range by moving the container in which the acoustic element is disposed relative to the holding member.

  In such a photoacoustic apparatus, if the subject swings during a scanning period in which a plurality of original images are acquired, the quality of the tomographic image after reconstruction is degraded. In view of this, there has been proposed an apparatus provided with a mechanism for suppressing swinging and allowing the subject to maintain a stable imaging posture. Patent Document 2 discloses an apparatus for performing photoacoustic measurement by supporting a subject in a prone position by a support portion and inserting a breast into an opening provided in the support portion.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2011/306865 JP-A-2015-85015

  The subject information acquisition device described in Patent Document 2 has a liquid tank that stores a liquid for matching acoustic impedance (hereinafter referred to as a matching liquid), and is one of the subject and the subject holding unit. The part is immersed in the matching liquid, and scanning is performed while moving the liquid tank.

However, in the subject information acquiring apparatus having such a configuration, there are cases where defects and noise occur in the acoustic wave signal and the tomographic image, and the quality of the obtained subject information is deteriorated.
As a result of intensive studies by the inventor of the present application, it has been found that such a decrease in the quality of the subject information has a strong correlation with the scanning acceleration of the liquid tank and the liquid level of the matching liquid.

The knowledge concerning the quality degradation of the subject information obtained by the present inventor is as follows.
・ As the liquid tank moves, the matching liquid with inertial mass is shaken and a wave is generated. ・ The generated wave causes a change in the liquid level above the reservoir where the matching liquid and the sample are in contact (hereinafter referred to as the liquid level) Called liquid level fluctuation)
-The path length of the acoustic wave propagation path and the continuity of the propagation path fluctuate due to liquid level fluctuation (hereinafter referred to as propagation path fluctuation).
As a result, attenuation and reflection occur in the acoustic wave, the quality of the received acoustic wave signal and the obtained tomographic image is degraded, and the quality of the subject information is degraded (hereinafter referred to as signal degradation).
Note that the liquid level fluctuation of the matching liquid may include local wave excess or deficiency of the matching liquid, such as waving due to the inertial mass of the matching liquid with respect to the tank wall or the subject, generation of bubbles, and liquid overflow from the liquid tank. The excess or deficiency of the matching liquid for the entire tank is included.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and in a subject information acquisition apparatus that performs scanning by moving the liquid tank, the liquid of the matching liquid generated as the liquid tank moves. The purpose is to suppress the position fluctuation and to suppress the quality deterioration of the subject information.

The subject information acquisition apparatus according to the present invention is:
A support surface having a support surface for supporting the subject; an insertion port provided on the support surface and into which a subject that is a part of the subject is inserted vertically downward; and vertically from the support portion An annular bank that protrudes downward in the direction and is disposed so as to surround the insertion port, a probe that receives an acoustic wave propagating from within the subject, and the probe is disposed with respect to the insertion port. A moving probe unit that is disposed below the annular dam in a vertical direction, and the annular dam and the moving probe unit include an acoustic matching material. An alignment material storage container is defined which integrally stores the container.

  According to the present invention, in the subject information acquiring apparatus that performs scanning by moving the liquid tank, the liquid level fluctuation of the matching liquid that occurs with the movement of the liquid tank is suppressed, and the deterioration of the quality of the subject information is suppressed. can do.

1 is a configuration diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a figure explaining the liquid-tight reference plane in 1st embodiment. It is XY sectional drawing of the ultrasound diagnosing device in 1st embodiment. It is YZ sectional drawing of the ultrasonic diagnosing device in 1st embodiment. It is a figure explaining the modification of the drooping part in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state which the support unit moved in 1st embodiment. It is a figure showing the movable range of the support unit in 1st embodiment. It is a block diagram of the ultrasound diagnosing device which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a block diagram of the ultrasound diagnosing device which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is a block diagram of the ultrasound diagnosing device which concerns on 4th embodiment. It is a block diagram of the ultrasound diagnosing device which concerns on 4th embodiment. It is YZ sectional drawing of the ultrasonic diagnosing device in a modification. It is XY sectional drawing of the ultrasonic diagnosing device in a modification. It is a block diagram of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which concerns on a prior art example.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described below should be appropriately changed depending on the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to the following description.

The present invention relates to a technique for detecting acoustic waves propagating from a subject, generating characteristic information inside the subject, and acquiring the characteristic information. Therefore, the present invention can be understood as a subject information acquisition apparatus or a control method thereof, a subject information acquisition method or a signal processing method. The present invention can also be understood as a program that causes an information processing apparatus including hardware resources such as a CPU and a memory to execute these methods, and a storage medium that stores the program.

  The subject information acquisition apparatus of the present invention receives an acoustic wave generated in a subject by irradiating the subject with light (electromagnetic waves), and obtains characteristic information of the subject as image data. Includes devices that use. The characteristic information is characteristic value information (characteristic value information) corresponding to each of a plurality of positions in the subject, which is generated using a reception signal obtained by receiving a photoacoustic wave.

  The subject information acquisition apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasound device that transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject, receives ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject, and acquires structural information of the subject as image data. Including. The structure information is information indicating the position of the boundary surface with different acoustic impedance in the subject.

  The acoustic wave in the present invention is typically an ultrasonic wave, and includes an elastic wave called a sound wave and an acoustic wave. An electric signal converted from an acoustic wave by a probe or the like is also called an acoustic signal. However, the description of ultrasonic waves or acoustic waves in this specification is not intended to limit the wavelength of those elastic waves. An acoustic wave generated by the photoacoustic effect is called a photoacoustic wave or an optical ultrasonic wave. An electrical signal derived from a photoacoustic wave is also called a photoacoustic signal.

  The subject information acquisition apparatus in the following embodiments can be used for diagnosis of breast cancer, vascular disease, etc., follow-up of chemotherapy, and the like.

(First embodiment)
The subject information acquisition apparatus according to the first embodiment visualizes information related to acoustic characteristics in the subject by transmitting ultrasound to the subject and analyzing the ultrasound reflected in the subject. That is, it is a device for imaging (ultrasound diagnostic device). The subject is a part of the subject and is a breast in this embodiment.

<Problems of conventional technology>
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a subject information acquiring apparatus according to a conventional technique. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the subject 100 lies on the support surface 201 in the prone position, and measurement is performed by inserting a breast into an opening provided on the support surface. Reference numeral 700 denotes a measurement unit including an ultrasonic probe. The measurement unit includes a hemispherical member on which the probe is arranged and a member (hereinafter referred to as a liquid tank) that stores a liquid (acoustic matching liquid) for matching the acoustic impedance between the probe and the subject. The whole is movable along the XY plane. By moving the probe together with the liquid tank, it is possible to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves over a wide range while maintaining acoustic matching with the subject.

On the other hand, when measurement is performed using such an apparatus, the following problems occur.
That is, in order to move the liquid tank itself in the horizontal direction, the acoustic matching liquid stored in the liquid tank is shaken. If the acoustic matching liquid is shaken, the propagation path length of the acoustic wave, the acoustic impedance on the path, and the like may fluctuate, and there is a possibility that highly accurate subject information cannot be acquired. It is desirable that the acoustic matching liquid is essentially stationary.
In addition, the following problems occur as secondary problems.
That is, when the subject takes a prone position, the head hits the support surface, so the body floats slightly, making it difficult to insert the breast deeply into the insertion port provided on the support surface. . As a solution to this problem, there is a method of providing a recess for housing the head on the support surface. However, since the measurement unit 700 that moves in the horizontal direction exists immediately below the support surface, physical interference occurs. That is, the head cannot be held at a position lower than the support surface.
Hereinafter, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment for solving this problem will be described.

<Configuration overview>
The configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
Reference numeral 100 denotes a subject to be diagnosed. Reference numeral 200 denotes a support portion (hereinafter, support base 200) for supporting the subject in a prone position. The support table 200 includes a bed-like support surface 201 on which the subject lies, an insertion port 202 for inserting a breast that is the subject, and the subject's head by hanging down the subject's head. It has a hanging part 203 which is a part provided to reduce such a burden. Note that the height of the support surface 201 can be adjusted by the legs 204.
As shown in FIG. 5A, a pillow portion (reference numeral 205) may be installed on the hanging portion 203. Thereby, the pressure concerning a head is disperse | distributed and comfort improves. A form in which the pillow part 205 is provided in the hanging part 203 is also included in the embodiment of the present invention. The target head supported by the pillow portion 205 includes a frontal head, a temporal region, an upper forehead portion, and a lower forehead portion. The pillow part 205 may be provided with a replaceable cover (not shown).

  Reference numeral 300 denotes a holding member (subject holding member in the present invention) for holding the breast inserted into the insertion port 202. The holding member 300 stores an acoustic matching material 310 for matching the acoustic impedance between the breast 101 and the holding member 300.

Reference numeral 400 denotes a unit that transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject and receives reflected ultrasonic waves (a moving probe unit in the present invention; hereinafter, a liquid tank unit). The liquid tank unit 400 is a unit that includes a support unit 410 in which the probe 402 is disposed and a scanning mechanism 412 for moving the support unit 410 relative to the support base 200. Further, the space between the liquid tank unit 400 and the holding member 300 is filled with a liquid for matching acoustic impedance (acoustic matching liquid in the present invention; hereinafter referred to as acoustic matching liquid 401). In addition, the acoustic matching liquid 401 is integrally stored in a space formed by an annular bank 403 and a support unit 410 described later.
In this specification, a member for matching the acoustic impedance between the liquid tank unit and the holding member is referred to as an acoustic matching liquid, and a member for matching the acoustic impedance between the holding member and the subject is used. This is called an acoustic matching material.

The probe 402 is a probe (acoustic wave probe) that transmits ultrasonic waves to the subject 101 and receives ultrasonic waves that are reflected and propagated in the subject. It consists of one or more acoustic elements that convert propagating acoustic waves into electrical signals. In this embodiment, the probe 402 is a probe array including a plurality of CMUT type probes.
The support unit 410 (scanning base in the present invention) includes a hemispherical member (reference numeral 411) that holds the probe, and a planar member that is connected to the hemispherical member and extends to the outside of the annular bank 403. (Reference numeral 413). Further, the support unit 410 is disposed at a position facing the inserted subject, and can be moved in a two-dimensional direction in parallel with the support surface 201 by the scanning mechanism 412.

  The supply / discharge unit 500 is a unit for supplying and discharging the acoustic matching liquid 401 to the liquid tank unit 400. When measuring the subject, the supply / discharge unit 500 supplies the acoustic matching liquid 401 into the liquid tank unit 400 to fill the liquid tank unit 400.

The signal processing unit 600 (not shown) is a means for controlling each part of the apparatus, such as processing of an electric signal output from the probe 402, driving of the scanning mechanism 412 and control of the supply / discharge unit 500. . The signal processing unit 600 uses the electrical signal output from the probe 402 and the subject 10.
An image representing the characteristic information and structure information in 1 is generated and output to a display unit (not shown).

Hereinafter, each component will be described in more detail.
<Support stand 200>
The support table 200 is a support unit that holds the subject 100 in a prone (prone position) state, and includes a support surface 201 that supports the subject, a hanging portion 203 that holds the subject's head, and legs. Part 204.
The support surface 201 of the support base 200 is provided with an opening (hereinafter referred to as an insertion port 202) for inserting the test portion 101 (in this embodiment, a breast). The support base 200 may be made of any material as long as it has strength to support the weight of the subject. The present embodiment is an example when the present invention is applied to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. However, when the present invention is applied to a photoacoustic apparatus, light is not transmitted to prevent scattering of light to the outside of the apparatus. It is preferable that the support 200 is made of a material. For example, aluminum, iron, and stainless steel, which are metal materials, can be suitably used.
In addition, the support base 200 is provided with a hanging portion 203 that is a step that causes the head of the subject to hang down from the support surface 201. The structure of the drooping portion 203 will be described later.

<Holding member 300>
The holding member 300 is a member that is installed in the insertion port 202 and holds the breast. The shape of the holding member 300 may be any shape as long as it can be held in contact with the breast, such as a columnar shape, a rectangular parallelepiped, or a bowl shape, but the shape matches the shape of the breast and the axilla. Is preferred. In the present embodiment, the holding member 300 is a bowl-shaped member. In the prone position, the breast has a bell shape due to gravity, so that the contact area between the breast and the holding member 300 can be increased by making the holding member bowl-shaped. The holding member 300 may be selectable from a plurality of sizes according to the size of the breast.
It is preferable to use a material close to the acoustic impedance of the living body as the material of the holding member 300. Thereby, reflection of ultrasonic waves at the interface between the breast and the holding member 300 can be suppressed. The holding member 300 is preferably a thin material. Thereby, the influence of attenuation and refraction of ultrasonic waves can be reduced, and noise can be reduced.

When the present invention is applied to a photoacoustic apparatus, a light source that emits pulsed light in the near-infrared to infrared wavelength region and an optical transmission path that is optically connected to the light source are used. You may comprise so that pulsed light can be radiate | emitted from the provided light emission part.
In such an apparatus, pulsed light is applied to the breast via the holding member 300. Therefore, a material having a high light transmittance (preferably 90% or more) may be employed as the material of the holding member 300. Examples of satisfying these conditions include polymethylpentene and polyethylene terephthalate.
Furthermore, the holding member 300 may be configured by a stretchable sheet member. The material is particularly preferably a rubber member having elasticity, and more preferably a material having a low rubber hardness (for example, 50 or less). Moreover, the material close | similar to the acoustic impedance of a biological body is preferable. Examples of such materials include silicone rubber, natural rubber, and isoprene rubber.
By making the holding member 300 into a sheet shape, the sheet member is deformed when the breast is held, and the adhesion can be further improved.

Since the holding member 300 is attached to the insertion port 202, the holding member 300 is preferably larger than the insertion port 202. For example, a flange-shaped portion is provided on the outer edge of the holding member 300 and attached to the insertion port 202. As a method of attaching the flange-shaped portion to the insertion port 202, any method such as screw fixing, adhesive fixing, or clamp fixing can be adopted. Moreover, the attachment part of a holding member is good to set it as a watertight structure so that the acoustic matching material mentioned later may not leak. For example, screws may be fixed with a ring-shaped sealing material interposed therebetween. Further, when the strength is insufficient, such as when the flange-shaped portion is made of resin, a metal ring-shaped member may be further arranged on the sealing material and the flange shape so as to be reinforced and sandwiched.
In the holding member 300, a member (acoustic matching material 310) for matching the acoustic impedance with the subject 101 is stored. As the acoustic matching material 310, it is preferable to use a material having an acoustic impedance close to that of a living body. For example, water, gel, gel, etc. can be used.

<Liquid tank unit 400>
The liquid tank unit 400 is a unit positioned below the insertion port 202 and the holding member 300 in the vertical direction, and irradiates the subject with ultrasonic waves by the probe 402 and receives ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject. Unit. The liquid tank unit 400 has a structure in which the space between the holding member 300 and the probe 402 is filled with the acoustic matching liquid 401. The liquid tank unit 400 includes a support unit 410, a probe 402 disposed on the support unit, a scanning mechanism 412 that moves the support unit 410 and the probe 402, and an annular shape for sealing the acoustic matching liquid. It is in contact with the bank 403.
The liquid tank unit 400 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves using the probe 402 in a state where the acoustic matching liquid 401 is stored, and moves the position of the support unit 410 (probe 402) relative to the support base. Then, a signal in a desired imaging range is acquired.

The components of the liquid tank unit 400 will be described.
The probe 402 is a probe (acoustic wave probe) that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from the subject 101, and includes one or more acoustic elements that convert ultrasonic waves and electrical signals. What kind of acoustic element can be used if it can receive ultrasonic waves and convert them into electrical signals, such as transducers using piezoelectric effects, transducers using optical resonance, and transducers using capacitance changes? It may be a simple element. By arranging a plurality of elements that transmit and receive ultrasonic waves in one, two, or three dimensions, ultrasonic waves can be received simultaneously at a plurality of locations, and the reception time can be shortened. If necessary, a converter that digitizes an analog electric signal output from the element, an amplifier that amplifies the electric signal, and the like are arranged.
The probe 402 is disposed on the surface of a support unit 410 described later.

The support unit 410 includes a hemispherical container (hereinafter referred to as a support container 411) that holds the probe 402 and a planar member (hereinafter referred to as “substantially parallel to the support surface 201”) that is connected to the outer periphery of the support container 411. , A flange portion 413). Further, the support unit 410 has a structure capable of storing an acoustic matching liquid 401 described later.
The probe 402 is preferably configured by arranging a plurality of acoustic elements on a closed curved surface surrounding the breast. However, it is difficult in terms of cost to arrange the acoustic elements on all the closed curved surfaces surrounding the breast. It is. Therefore, in this embodiment, a plurality of acoustic elements are arranged on the surface of the hemispherical support container. By doing in this way, an acoustic element can be arrange | positioned so that a direction with high receiving sensitivity may cross | intersect at one point. That is, the rate at which ultrasonic waves enter perpendicularly to the receiving surface of the probe 402 increases, and the angle dependency of the acoustic element can be reduced.
In this embodiment, the probe is arranged on a hemispherical member, but the probe may be arranged in a planar shape. If an ultrasonic wave generated from the breast can be acquired, the arrangement method is arbitrary.

The scanning mechanism 412 is a means for moving the support unit 410 in the XY direction. By using the scanning mechanism 412, the region having the highest reception sensitivity can be moved, and measurement can be performed over a wide range.
The scanning mechanism 412 may be any mechanism as long as it moves the support unit 410. For example, a linear motion mechanism such as a ball screw, a linear guide, a chain, or a timing belt, or a rotation mechanism such as a thrust bearing, an R guide, or a cross roller bearing may be used. Moreover, you may combine linear movement and rotation according to the desired motion.
The power of the scanning mechanism 412 may be electric or manual. In the case of electric drive, a DC motor, a brushless motor, or the like can be used, and in the case of manual operation, it can be used in combination with a mechanism that converts hand movement into power, such as a handle or a grip.

If there is an air layer between the probe 402 and the holding member 300, reflection of ultrasonic waves occurs at the interface due to the difference in acoustic impedance. Therefore, in this embodiment, a member (acoustic matching liquid 401) for matching the acoustic impedance is disposed between the probe 402 and the holding member 300. As the acoustic matching liquid 401, it is preferable to select a material that is close to the acoustic impedance of a living body and has a small ultrasonic attenuation. For example, a liquid mainly composed of water or oil can be preferably used.
Note that in an apparatus using the photoacoustic effect, since light is transmitted through the acoustic matching liquid 401, it is preferable to use a material having a low light absorption rate (for example, water).

The acoustic matching liquid 401 is arranged so that air does not exist on the ultrasonic wave propagation path. In other words, the acoustic matching liquid needs to be filled up to a liquid level that is in contact with the holding member 300. On the other hand, when the acoustic matching liquid is filled up to such a height, the acoustic matching liquid flows out of the hemispherical holding member.
Therefore, in this embodiment, an annular bank 403 that is a frame-like structure surrounding the insertion port 202 is provided on the opposite side of the support surface 201 to seal the acoustic matching liquid.
The annular bank 403 is a circular frame member having a diameter larger than that of the insertion port 202, and is arranged at a position where it does not interfere with the hanging part 203. The annular bank 403 is fixed to the back side of the support surface 201. That is, the annular bank 403 has a shape protruding from the lower surface of the support surface 201 and has a structure in which the contact surface with the flange portion 413 slides when the scanning mechanism 412 operates.
The material of the annular bank 403 may be any material as long as it has a strength that does not cause deformation due to the water pressure acting when the acoustic matching liquid 401 is stored. For example, a resin material or a metal material may be used.

  Since there is a gap between the flange portion 413 and the annular bank 403, the acoustic matching liquid 401 may leak out to the outside unless the adhesion is improved. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a seal member 404 that can be expanded and contracted in the Z direction is installed at the end of the annular bank 403 (the portion that contacts the flange 413). The seal member 404 may be an elastic member.

  In this specification, a horizontal plane (reference numeral 601 in FIG. 2) corresponding to the water surface of the stored acoustic matching liquid is referred to as a liquid-tight reference plane. That is, of the target area for acquiring the acoustic wave, the area located below the liquid-tight reference plane 601 in the Z-axis direction is immersed in the acoustic matching liquid and is in an acoustic contact state. Further, when the apparatus is viewed from vertically above, the inner area of the water line 602 is an acoustic contact area, and an observable area where acoustic waves can be acquired.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the XY plane corresponding to the liquid-tight reference plane 601 observed from the Z-axis direction. As can be seen from the figure, the water surface of the acoustic matching liquid is surrounded by and in contact with the annular bank in the horizontal plane. Moreover, in this example, the outline of the holding member 300 and the water line 602 are represented at the same position. That is, the inside of the outline of the holding member 300 is an observable region.
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view when measurement is performed by directly immersing the subject 101 in the acoustic matching liquid without using the holding member 300. In this example, the contour of the subject 101 and the water line 602 are represented at the same position. That is, the inside of the contour of the subject 101 becomes an observable region.

  FIG. 4 is a YZ sectional view of the apparatus observed from the X-axis direction. 3C to 3E are XY cross-sectional views of the liquid tank unit observed from the Z-axis direction in the cross-section A to the cross-section C illustrated in FIG.

<Suspension 203>
The drooping portion 203 is a portion provided on the support base 200 so that the head of the subject whose breast is inserted into the insertion opening 202 can be drooped from the support surface 201. The drooping portion 203 is provided at a height position such that at least a part of the head is lower than the liquid-tight reference surface 601 when the subject is prone to the support surface 201 and touches the head. .
The drooping portion 203 may have any shape as long as the head of the subject can be held at a position lower than the liquid-tight reference plane 601 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). For example, it may be a rectangular or circular region having a step (dent) in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) of the support base. In addition, the stepped region is not necessarily a closed region surrounded by the support surface 202.

  The drooping portion 203 is preferably formed at a position within 200 mm in the Y-axis direction from the center of the insertion port 202. By providing the drooping portion 203 at such a position, when the head of the subject is supported, the compression of the neck due to the step between the drooping portion 203 and the support surface 201 is relieved, and the comfort of the subject is reduced. Can be improved.

  The step between the support surface 201 and the drooping portion 203 may be 90 degrees as shown in the figure, but a gradient for relaxing the pressure may be applied, or an R chamfering process may be performed.

  In the measurement, when the left and right breasts are exchanged, the left and right breasts are inserted into the same insertion port 202, so that the position of the head of the subject moves. Therefore, it is necessary to set the size of the drooping portion 203 in consideration of such positional deviation and further individual differences in physique. For example, the drooping portion 203 preferably has a width of 620 mm or more in the minor axis direction (X-axis direction) of the support surface and a length of 460 mm or more in the major axis direction (Y-axis direction). Thereby, a head can be drooped appropriately irrespective of the change of the posture accompanying the breast replacement on the left and right and the physique difference.

The hanging portion 203 may be formed integrally with the support surface 201 or may be formed separately from the support surface and attached to the support surface. Forming as a separate body is preferable because the cost can be reduced, different materials can be used, and the degree of freedom in design is increased.
When fixing the hanging part 203 to the supporting surface as a separate body, for example, a flange shape is provided around the hanging part, and the flange part is installed and fixed to the supporting surface. Examples of the method for attaching the flange-shaped portion to the support surface include screw fixing, adhesive fixing, and clamp fixing, and any method may be used. At this time, if there is an unnecessary convex portion in the fixing portion with respect to the support surface 201, there is a possibility that the subject may feel uncomfortable, so that the convex portion is preferably prevented from being generated. Further, any material may be used as the material of the hanging portion 203 as long as it has enough strength to support the head. When the present invention is applied to a photoacoustic apparatus, a material that does not transmit light is preferable. For example, it is preferable to use a metal material such as aluminum, iron, stainless steel, or a black resin.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, a pillow portion (reference numeral 205) may be provided on the hanging portion 203. Thereby, a pressure can be disperse | distributed. Moreover, you may enable the pillow part 205 to select what has several types of thickness. By doing in this way, a pillow suitable for a subject can be selected. Note that an arbitrary material such as a latex mat, a urethane mat, or a polyethylene mat can be used for the pillow portion 205.

FIG. 5B is an example of a form in which the hanging portion forms a step due to the weight of the head of the subject.
As shown in the figure, the hanging portion does not necessarily have to form a step in the initial state (the state in which the head is not disposed). For example, the head may be supported by a sheet member 206 having elasticity. In this case, the sheet member 206 is a hanging part. Thus, by holding the head with the deformable sheet member, the adhesion can be improved and the pressure can be dispersed.
Any material may be used for the sheet member 206 as long as it is a stretchable material. In addition, when applying this invention to a photoacoustic apparatus, it is preferable to use the black-type rubber material which does not permeate | transmit light. Examples of such materials include nitrile rubber, EPDM rubber, and chloroprene rubber.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 5A, and 5B, in the present embodiment, the suspended head is supported at a position lower than the liquid-tight reference plane. Thereby, since the support surface does not interfere with the face, the breast can be inserted closer to the chest wall. This also reduces the blind spot area of the generated image. Furthermore, since the twist of the neck and the pressure on the head are reduced, the comfort of the subject can be improved.

  The support surface 201 and the pillow portion 205 may be a cushioning member having flexibility. That is, the member may be deformed by a load, and the initial thickness and the deformed thickness are not limited to specific forms.

  In addition, the “head” in the present specification is a portion located on the top of the head from the “mandibular portion”, and includes the forehead, nose, cheek, ear, mouth, lower jaw and the like. The hanging portion 203 may be any portion as long as at least a part of the head can be hung below the liquid-tight reference plane 601 and may be a portion of the nose or the lower jaw.

<Supply / discharge unit 500>
The supply / discharge unit 500 is a means for supplying and discharging the acoustic matching liquid 401 to and from the liquid tank unit 400, and includes a pump 501, a tank 502, a flow meter 503, a pipe 504, and a liquid amount sensor 505.
The acoustic matching liquid 401 is stored in the tank 502, and is supplied into the liquid tank unit 400 from the supply port provided in the support container 411 by the pump 501 through the pipe 504. The amount and flow velocity of the acoustic matching liquid 401 supplied are measured and controlled by the flow meter 503.
Further, the liquid level sensor 505 detects whether or not the supplied acoustic matching liquid 401 is filled up to a desired liquid level. The liquid amount sensor 505 may be, for example, a sensor that detects the height of the liquid surface, or may be a sensor that detects the amount of supplied liquid using water pressure.
The pump 501 may be anything as long as the acoustic matching liquid 401 can flow. More preferably, a pump such as a gear pump or a tube pump that can rotate the motor forward and backward is used. By doing in this way, the pump for supply and the pump for discharge can be shared, and a supply / discharge part can be reduced in size.
The tank 502 has a volume capable of storing all of the acoustic matching liquid 401 flowing through the supply / discharge unit 500, including the liquid tank unit 400, and includes a water supply port and a drain port (not shown).
The acoustic matching liquid 401 is supplied and held in a space formed with the support unit 410 as a bottom surface and an annular bank 403 fixed to the back side of the support surface 201 as a side wall. Further, the height of the liquid level is adjusted by driving the pump 501 according to the detection result of the sensor 505.

<Signal processing unit 600>
The signal processing unit 600 is a means for performing overall processing for operating the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Specifically, each part in the apparatus is controlled such as processing of an electrical signal output from the probe 402, driving of the scanning mechanism 412 and control of the supply / discharge unit 500. Further, the electrical signal received and converted by the probe 402 is processed, and processing for reconstructing an image is executed. For image reconstruction processing, a known method such as phasing addition can be used. The signal processing unit 600 is typically a general-purpose processing device such as a workstation, but is not limited thereto.

<Effect of the first embodiment>
As described above, in the first embodiment, the annular bank 403 functions as a means for sealing the acoustic matching liquid and defining the shape of the liquid tank (matching material storage container in the present invention).
As described above, in the present embodiment, the acoustic matching liquid is stored in a space formed by the movable support unit 410 and the annular bank 403 fixed to the back side of the support surface 201. In this way, the liquid tank is composed of a plurality of members, and a part of the liquid tank is fixed to the support portion, so that the inertial mass accompanying the scanning can be reduced, and the liquid of the matching liquid accompanying the scanning of the liquid tank Position fluctuation can be suppressed.
In addition, since the propagation path of the ultrasonic wave from the probe to the subject is filled with the acoustic matching liquid and the acoustic matching material, the propagation path is less likely to change, and the ultrasonic wave propagating from the desired imaging region is not generated. It can be received efficiently. That is, signal degradation can be suppressed.

  In addition, by providing a part that hangs the head on the support base that supports the subject, the breast can be inserted deeply into the opening, reducing the blind spot area in the measurement and improving the measurement accuracy. be able to. Furthermore, since twisting of the neck and pressure on the head are reduced, the comfort of the subject during the measurement can be improved.

Further, since the flange portion 413 of the support unit 410 moves in the horizontal direction at a position lower than the lowermost portion of the hanging portion 203, even if the supporting unit 410 is moved, it physically interferes with the hanging portion 203. do not do.
FIG. 1 shows a state where the center of the probe and the center of the breast are aligned, while FIG. 6 shows a state where the support unit 410 is moved in the Y-axis direction by the scanning mechanism 412. It is a figure.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a movable range of the support unit 410 when the apparatus is viewed from the vertically upward direction (Z-axis direction). As illustrated, the movable range of the support unit 410 in the XY plane overlaps the range where the drooping portion 203 exists. However, in this embodiment, since the flange part 413 is located below the drooping part 203, interference with the drooping part 203 can be avoided.
FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a range in which the annular bank 403 slides in the support unit 410. As can be seen from the figure, in the present embodiment, a range in which the annular bank 403 slides is included in the support unit 410. That is, the subject can be scanned while the space for storing the acoustic matching liquid is formed.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the hanging portion 203 is provided has been described. However, the hanging portion 203 is not an essential configuration for the present invention. Even if the hanging part 203 is not provided, it is possible to achieve the object of the invention to suppress the liquid level fluctuation of the matching liquid accompanying the scanning of the liquid tank.

Moreover, when providing the hanging part 203, you may further provide the member (receiving part) which receives the drooping head.
When providing a receiving part in the hanging part 203, the lowest point of a receiving part should just be located below a liquid-tight reference plane. In such a case, since the collision between the drooping portion 203 and the liquid tank unit becomes a problem, the configuration of the present embodiment is effective.
In consideration of the load distribution of the subject, the uppermost point of the receiving part is preferably lower than the height of the support surface 201 from the viewpoint of imaging posture, particularly cervical spine load reduction, and more preferably 40 mm or more. As a ratio of the load applied to the support surface 201 and the load applied to the receiving portion, for example, the support surface 201 can be 5 kPa and the receiving portion can be 10 kPa, but is not limited thereto.

  The ratio of the volume of the stored acoustic matching liquid located below the flange part (hereinafter referred to as the lower volume) and the volume of the part located above (hereinafter referred to as the upper volume) is a specific value. It is not limited to. However, as the volume of the lower portion is smaller, the effect that the liquid level fluctuation of the matching liquid accompanying the scanning of the liquid tank accompanying the movement of the liquid tank decreases can be obtained. Preferably, the lower volume is 1/10 or less of the upper volume.

(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment, leakage of the acoustic matching liquid is prevented by providing a seal member 404 that can be expanded and contracted at the end of the annular bank. On the other hand, 2nd embodiment is an embodiment which provided the means to collect | recover the leaked acoustic matching liquid instead of omitting a sealing member.
The configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment, the annular bank 403 does not have a seal member. Instead, the matching liquid is applied to the outer edge of the flange portion 413 (the edge outside the annular bank 403). A member to be collected (collection unit 414) is provided.
The matching liquid that has flowed into the recovery unit 414 is recovered by the tank 502 via the pipe 504a. In addition, it is preferable that the flange portion 413 is slightly inclined so that the leaked matching liquid flows into the recovery portion 414.

  In the second embodiment, since the matching liquid can leak from the sliding portion between the annular bank 403 and the flange portion 413, it is preferable that the pump 501 supplies the acoustic matching liquid at a flow rate that can compensate for the leakage. By doing in this way, the height of the liquid level of the acoustic matching liquid in the liquid tank unit can be maintained at a height that can maintain the acoustic matching with the subject (and the holding member 300).

In the second embodiment, since the acoustic matching liquid may decrease due to leakage during the measurement of the subject, it is preferable to always operate the pump 501 to maintain the amount of the acoustic matching liquid in the unit.
In addition, when taking such a structure, it is good to make the collection capacity of the collection part 414 larger than the supply capacity of the pump 501. By doing in this way, the situation where the acoustic matching liquid which cannot be collect | recovered overflows from the collection | recovery part 414 can be prevented.

In addition, when the pump is always operated, it is preferable to perform control so that the acoustic matching liquid does not overflow. This is because when the liquid level of the acoustic matching liquid reaches the height of the support surface 201, the internal pressure in the unit increases, the holding member 300 is deformed, and the breast cannot be appropriately held.
There are the following methods for avoiding an increase in internal pressure in the liquid level unit.

The first method is a method in which a passage (hole) is provided in the connecting portion between the annular bank 403 and the support base 200 to overflow the raised acoustic matching liquid 401. In this case, the overflowing acoustic matching liquid 401 is collected by the collection unit 414.
The second method is a method of installing a sensor for detecting the liquid level in the unit and stopping the supply of the acoustic matching liquid according to the output of the sensor. For example, a sensor (not shown) for detecting the liquid level is installed at a position corresponding to the upper limit (HIGH) and lower limit (LOW) of the desired liquid level height. The pump 501 is stopped when a liquid level higher than HIGH is detected, and the pump 501 is operated when a liquid level lower than LOW is detected. Thus, the liquid level of the acoustic matching liquid can be maintained at a desired height by controlling the pump 501 based on the detection state of the liquid level sensor. Of course, a method other than the exemplified method may be used.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained without using a seal member.

(Third embodiment)
In the first and second embodiments, the acoustic matching liquid is sent out from the pump 501 so that the liquid level in the liquid tank unit is raised and brought into contact with the holding member 300. On the other hand, the third embodiment is an embodiment in which the liquid tank unit is depressurized to raise the liquid level of the acoustic matching liquid and contact the holding member 300.
The configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment includes a partition wall 415 that prevents the matching liquid from flowing out at an outer edge of the flange portion 413 (an edge outside the annular bank 403). Further, the suction / discharge unit 500 includes a valve 510, and the pipe 504b is connected to the inside of the liquid tank unit.
In the third embodiment, as in the other embodiments, the acoustic matching liquid is supplied by the pump 501 via the pipe 504. After a certain amount of supply is performed, a negative pressure is applied to the liquid tank unit. It differs from other embodiments in that it is applied.

The application of negative pressure will be specifically described.
When the acoustic matching liquid is supplied into the liquid tank unit by the pump 501, a closed space 420 surrounded by the annular bank 403, the acoustic matching liquid 401, the support surface 201, and the holding member 300 is formed. At this time, the valve 510 of the supply / discharge unit 500 is opened, and the closed space 420 is at atmospheric pressure.

In the third embodiment, a liquid level sensor (not shown) is provided in the liquid tank unit to detect that the liquid level of the acoustic matching liquid is higher than the lower end of the annular bank 403. it can. When the supply of the acoustic matching liquid proceeds and the sensor detects that the liquid level of the acoustic matching liquid is higher than the lower end of the annular bank 403 and lower than the upper end of the partition wall 415, the valve 510 is closed and the pipe is closed. A negative pressure is applied to 504b. Thereby, a negative pressure is applied to the closed space 420 and the liquid level in the closed space can be raised.
Thereafter, the flow rate of the acoustic matching liquid 401 supplied from the pipe 504 and the flow rate of the air discharged from the pipe 504b are set to the same amount. Thereby, only the liquid level in the closed space 420 can be raised while the level of the liquid level between the annular bank 403 and the partition wall 415 is kept constant.

  In addition, when it is difficult to make the supply amount of the acoustic matching liquid 401 and the discharge amount of air the same, the height of the liquid surface between the partition wall 415 and the annular bank 403 is detected by a sensor or the like, and the liquid surface height The flow rate may be controlled so that is located between the annular bank 403 and the partition wall 415.

  Further, if bubbles remain in the liquid tank unit, the acoustic wave propagation is hindered. Therefore, the outlet of the pipe 504b is preferably provided at a position close to the support surface 201 so that air can escape to the end. For example, it may be attached to the fixed portion of the annular bank 403 or may be attached to the support surface 201.

Thereafter, when the air in the closed space 420 is completely removed and the acoustic matching liquid starts to flow out from the pipe 504b, the flow rate of the acoustic matching liquid supplied from the pipe 504 and the flow volume of the acoustic matching liquid discharged from the pipe 504b are made equal. . Thereby, the inside of the liquid tank unit can be filled with the acoustic matching liquid.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, the acoustic matching liquid is supplied by setting the closed space in the liquid tank unit to a negative pressure. Thereby, the sealing member provided in an annular bank can be omitted. Moreover, the same effect as 1st and 2nd embodiment can be acquired.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the first and second embodiments, the acoustic matching liquid is stored in a space formed by the movable support unit 410 and the annular bank 403 fixed to the back side of the support surface 201. Thereby, the inertial mass accompanying scanning can be reduced and the liquid level fluctuation | variation of the matching liquid accompanying the scanning of a liquid tank can be suppressed.
In the fourth embodiment, a diaphragm (separation part in the present invention) is further provided inside the liquid tank, and the space for storing the matching liquid is partitioned to suppress the flow of the matching liquid in the space, and the resistance during scanning This is an embodiment that suppresses fluctuations in the liquid level.

FIG. 10A is an example of a configuration in which a diaphragm 701 and a diaphragm fixing unit 703 are added to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment. The space on the upper side (annular bank side) and the space on the lower side (moving probe unit side) of the diaphragm 701 are respectively acoustic matching materials so that ultrasonic waves propagating from the subject can be transmitted to the probe. It is filled with 401a and the acoustic matching material 401b.
Accordingly, the diaphragm 701 is preferably made of a material close to the acoustic impedance of the living body, like the holding member. In addition, when the present invention is applied to a photoacoustic apparatus, it is desirable that the light transmittance is high.

By dividing the upper and lower matching materials by the diaphragm 701, even if the support container 411 is moved, it does not mix or change its shape. That is, it is possible to reduce waves and scanning resistance during scanning.
It is ideal that the diaphragm 701 and the diaphragm fixing part 703 are on the sliding surface.

  Moreover, you may provide the means for replacing matching material 401a and 401b as needed. For example, the matching material 401b may be supplied and discharged from the pipe 504. In addition, the matching material 401a may be supplied / discharged through a pipe (not shown), or a hole connecting the upper and lower sides of the diaphragm 701 may be provided, and the matching material 401b may be supplied via the hole. .

Next, FIG. 10B shows a modification using the diaphragm 701.
In FIG. 10A, the diaphragm fixing portion 703 is attached to the flange portion 413, but FIG.
), The diaphragm fixing part 703 is attached to the annular bank 403.
Further, a seal member 404 may be provided as shown in FIG. 10A, but in the configuration of FIG. 10B, the annular bank 403 and the diaphragm 701 are fixed in a watertight manner. By doing so, the seal member 404 can be omitted.

  Since the diaphragm 701 contacts the upper surface of the flange portion 413 due to the weight of the matching material 401a, the friction between the diaphragm 701 and the flange portion 413 is preferably small. As a method of reducing friction, for example, there is a method of using a member with low resistance. In addition, there is a method in which the diaphragm 701 is lifted and slid by the matching material 401b that gradually overflows from the support container 411 by continuously injecting the matching material 401b into the support container 411 from the exhaust pipe 504. The injected matching material 401b is discharged from a pipe 504a provided on the flange. In addition, by providing a small hole in the diaphragm 701 and allowing the matching material 401a injected from the pipe 504c to flow out of the small hole, the diaphragm 701 can be similarly lifted and slid.

FIG. 11A shows an example of a configuration that reduces the flow of the matching material above and below the sliding surface without using a diaphragm.
In the example of FIG. 10 (A) and FIG. 10 (B), the fluid matching material is partitioned by a diaphragm, but as shown in FIG. For example, it may be composed of a non-fluid substance (non-fluid substance) such as agar or jelly. By doing in this way, the same effect can be acquired, without using a diaphragm. In this case, the interface between one matching material and the other matching material is a separation part.
In the example of FIG. 11A, the matching material 401a is a fluid, and the matching material 401b is a non-fluid material. Therefore, even if the support container 411 moves, the fluid matching material 401 a and the matching material 401 b do not intersect at the interface 702.
In contrast to this configuration, the matching material 401a may be a non-fluid material and the matching material 401b may be a fluid material. Further, the interface 702 is not necessarily on the sliding surface.
As the matching material, liquid, solid, sol, gel, or the like can be used.

FIG. 11B shows an example in which the matching material 401a and the matching material 401b are both made of a non-fluid material.
In this case, an interface 702 is formed between the matching material 401a and the matching material 401b. That is, when this surface slides, it is necessary to prevent gaps and bubbles from entering. Therefore, for example, the matching material 401 c having lubricity may be supplied from the pipe 504 to the interface 702.

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment, the acoustic matching material stored in the space formed by the movable support unit 410 and the annular dam 403 fixed to the back side of the support surface 201 is separated or separated. Separate by fluid interface. Thereby, the flow of the matching material in the space can be suppressed, and fluctuations in resistance and liquid level during scanning can be suppressed.

(Modification)
The description of the embodiments is an example for explaining the present invention, and the present invention can be implemented with appropriate modifications or combinations within a range not departing from the gist of the invention. For example, the present invention can be implemented as a subject information acquisition apparatus including at least a part of the above processing. The processes and means described above can be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical contradiction occurs.

For example, in the description of the embodiment, the example in which the liquid tank is formed by the flange-shaped member (reference numeral 413) included in the support unit and the annular bank 403 has been given, but the member on the support unit side is necessarily a flat flange shape. There is no.
For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, a protrusion (reference numeral 1201) for preventing leakage of the acoustic matching liquid may be provided. Also, as shown in FIG. 12B, flange-like members (reference numerals 1202 and 1203) are provided on both the support unit and the annular dam, and a second annular dam 1204 connected to the support unit side is provided between them. You may form a liquid tank by arrange | positioning. A member having a shape other than the flange may be used.
13A to 13F are cross-sectional views corresponding to cross sections A1 to A3 and cross sections B1 to B3 in FIGS. 12A and 12B.

  Further, in each embodiment, an example of an apparatus that measures a subject by ultrasonic echo has been described. However, a liquid is used to match acoustic impedance, and the subject is supported in a prone position. If it is an apparatus, it can also be applied to other modalities. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a measuring apparatus using the photoacoustic effect and a measuring apparatus using diffuse optical tomography.

  In each embodiment, the circular bank 403 is a circular member. However, the circular bank 403 may have any shape as long as it can surround the insertion port and seal the acoustic matching liquid. Good. In addition, the “annular bank” in the present invention does not necessarily need to be a circular bank.

Note that sealing does not necessarily mean a liquid-tight structure. As explained, as long as a space for storing the acoustic matching liquid can be formed, there may be a slight gap on the sliding surface with the liquid tank unit.
A sealing member for preventing leakage of the acoustic matching liquid, a means for collecting the leaked acoustic matching liquid, a means for supplying the acoustic matching liquid, a means for applying a negative pressure in the liquid tank unit, etc. These are not essential components of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 201 ... Support surface, 202 ... Insertion port, 203 ... Hanging part, 300 ... Holding member, 400 ... Liquid tank unit, 401 ... Acoustic matching liquid, 402 ... Probe Child, 403 ... annular dam, 410 ... support unit

Claims (32)

A support unit having a support surface that supports the subject, and an insertion port that is provided on the support surface and into which a subject that is a part of the subject is inserted vertically downward;
An annular bank that protrudes vertically downward from the support and is arranged to surround the insertion port;
A probe that receives an acoustic wave propagating from within the subject, and a scanning base in which the probe is disposed and moves relative to the insertion port, and vertically below the annular bank A mobile probe unit located in
Have
The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the annular bank and the moving probe unit define an alignment material storage container that integrally stores an acoustic alignment material. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic matching material is an acoustic matching liquid, and the matching material storage container is a liquid tank that stores the acoustic matching liquid. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the acoustic matching liquid is stored in the matching material storage container, a liquid surface of the acoustic matching liquid is annularly in contact with the annular bank. The liquid level of the acoustic matching liquid is located above the upper end of the moving probe unit when the acoustic matching liquid is stored in the matching material storage container. 2. The object information acquiring apparatus according to 1. The subject according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the annular dam and the moving probe unit are in contact with each other via a sliding portion to form the alignment material storage container. Information acquisition device. The sliding portion is composed of a first sliding surface located at the lower end of the annular bank and a second sliding surface located at the upper end of the moving probe unit,
The subject according to claim 5, wherein a region in which the first sliding surface slides with respect to the second sliding surface is included in the second sliding surface. Information acquisition device. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface is made of an elastic member. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein each of the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface is a surface parallel to a horizontal plane. In the volume of the matching material storage container in which the acoustic matching liquid is stored, the volume of the portion located below the sliding portion is smaller than the volume of the portion located above the sliding portion. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: In the volume of the matching material storage container in which the acoustic matching liquid is stored, the volume of the portion located below the sliding portion is 10 minutes of the volume of the portion located above the sliding portion. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the object information acquiring apparatus is 1 or less. When the acoustic matching liquid is stored in the matching material storage container formed by the annular dam and the moving probe unit, a part of the subject inserted in the insertion port is immersed in the annular dam. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the object information acquiring apparatus has a height at which the acoustic matching liquid can be stored up to a liquid level. Further comprising a subject holding member that contacts the insertion port and holds the subject inserted into the insertion port from below,
When the acoustic matching liquid is stored in the matching material storage container formed by the annular dam and the moving probe unit, the annular dyke reaches the liquid level at which a part of the object holding member is immersed. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the object information acquiring apparatus has a height capable of storing the acoustic matching liquid. The lower surface of the support part and the upper end of the annular bank have a connection part,
The object information acquiring apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein the connection portion has an annular shape surrounding the insertion port. 14. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a supply port that supplies the acoustic matching liquid to the matching material storage container; and a discharge port that discharges the acoustic matching liquid from the matching material storage container. 2. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1. Each of the said supply port and the said discharge port is provided in the said annular bank. The subject information acquisition apparatus of Claim 14 characterized by the above-mentioned. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving probe unit further includes a light emitting unit that emits light toward the insertion port. The object information according to claim 16, wherein the light emitting unit is optically connected to a light source that emits light in a near-infrared or infrared wavelength region through an optical transmission path. Acquisition device. The support part is a part of a bed that supports the subject,
The subject is the subject's breast;
The bed has a hanging part that can hang the head of the subject apart from the insertion port,
18. The subject information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a lower end in a vertical direction of the annular bank is located below a lower end in a vertical direction of the hanging part. The subject information acquiring apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the annular embankment and the hanging portion do not have a region as seen from a direction in which the subject is inserted. The subject information acquiring apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the annular bank is disposed across the support portion and the hanging portion when viewed from the direction in which the subject is inserted. 19. The subject information acquisition apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the subject information acquisition apparatus has a region where the region where the moving probe unit moves and the hanging portion overlap each other when viewed from the direction in which the subject is inserted. . The object information acquiring apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein an upper end in a vertical direction of the moving probe unit is located below a lower end in the vertical direction of the hanging part. . The said hanging part hold | maintains the said test subject's head in the position lower 40 mm or more than the upper surface of the stored said acoustic matching material. The one of Claim 18 thru | or 22 characterized by the above-mentioned. Subject information acquisition apparatus. The object information acquiring apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 23, wherein the annular bank is in contact with the moving probe unit via a seal member. The object information acquiring apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 24, wherein the moving probe unit includes a mechanism for collecting the leaked acoustic matching liquid. Further comprising a subject holding member that contacts the insertion port and holds the subject inserted into the insertion port from below,
The apparatus further comprises supply means for supplying an acoustic matching liquid to a closed space formed by the moving probe unit, the annular bank, and the subject holding member or support part. 26. The object information acquiring apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 25. A pressure reducing means for applying a negative pressure to the closed space;
27. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the closed space is filled with an acoustic matching liquid by applying a negative pressure by the decompression means. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a separation unit that stores the acoustic matching material in a vertical direction inside the matching material storage container. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the separation unit is a diaphragm connected to one of the annular dam and the moving probe unit. 30. The subject information acquiring apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the diaphragm is connected to the annular bank. An acoustic matching material exhibiting non-fluidity of at least one of solid, sol, and gel is accommodated in one of the space on the annular dam side and the space on the moving probe unit side. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 29 or 30. The separation unit includes: the non-fluid acoustic matching material stored in one of the space on the annular bank side and the space on the moving probe unit side; and the acoustic matching liquid stored in the other. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the object information acquiring apparatus is an interface.

Images