JP2019122657A - Three-dimensional probe for ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a three-dimensional ultrasonic probe whose transmission and reception circuit scale is small and which can perform endless rotation scan.SOLUTION: The three-dimensional ultrasonic probe comprises: a concentric array vibrator composed of a plurality of concentrically arranged ring-shaped vibrators fixed in a sealed container filled with an acoustic medium; and an ultrasonic shielding plate which has an ultrasonic window. Electronic scanning is performed in a moving radial direction of the concentric array vibrator, and the ultrasonic shielding plate having the acoustic window is rotated in an angular direction in the closed container, thereby moving an electronic scanning cross section and collecting a three-dimensional image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic probe for acquiring a three-dimensional ultrasonic image.

  Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are used in many medical care areas such as circulatory organs, abdomen, obstetrics and mammary glands as noninvasive and simple examination methods without exposure. A normal ultrasound imaging examination is performed by a two-dimensional tomographic image of a portion called an “B mode” where an ultrasound probe abuts on a body surface of a subject. By continuously moving the scan plane of this two-dimensional tomographic image, an image of the three-dimensional space in the subject is acquired, diagnosis by the three-dimensional image, or any tomographic image reconstructed from the three-dimensional image data Diagnosis is also being done.

  As a scanning method for acquiring the three-dimensional image, an array transducer in which ultrasonic transducers are one-dimensionally arrayed is swung like an pendulum in an elevation angle direction by a mechanical 3D probe combining electronic scanning and mechanical scanning There are scanning methods and electronic scanning methods using a 2D array probe in which ultrasonic transducers are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix.

  On the other hand, in breast ultrasound examination conducted in breast cancer screening and the like, three-dimensional image data of the entire breast may be collected. In this case, it is difficult to obtain a three-dimensional image of the entire breast because the contact surface with the body surface is smaller than the entire breast by a method using a mechanical 3D probe or a 2D array probe. Therefore, a method of acquiring three-dimensional image data by sequentially scanning the normal breast over the entire breast vertically and horizontally, or by rotating the ultrasonic probe centering on the nipple to acquire three-dimensional image data of the entire breast The method is realized.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 03-184532 JP 2003-310614 A

The above three-dimensional image data acquisition method has the following problems.
Since the mechanical 3D probe method involves the rocking movement of the ultrasonic transducer array part, a mechanical mechanism and control circuit for the rocking movement require a large probe outer shape to accommodate the whole rocking range Requires the probe structure to be complicated, vibration caused by the rocking motion causes discomfort to the examiner and the subject, and mechanical scanning speed changes when the return path of the rocking motion changes direction There are problems such as the generation of scan areas that can not be handled as images.

  In the 2D array probe method, the area of the two-dimensional array transducer has to be increased in order to widen the acquisition region of the three-dimensional image, so the number of ultrasonic transducers becomes as large as 1000 or more. Alternatively, there is a problem such as the addition of a channel reduction circuit for avoiding an increase in the number of transmission / reception circuits, the complication of the apparatus, and the cost increase.

  The rotational scanning method of the probe has an advantage that the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be used as it is because no mechanical 3D probe or 2D array probe is required, but the probe is connected to the cable connecting the probe and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body Twisting occurs with rotational scanning. For this reason, the probe can not be rotated indefinitely, and reverse rotation must be performed to release the twist, which reduces the complexity of the probe rotation mechanism and the inspection time for acquiring three-dimensional image data. There was a problem that it was impossible.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, without oscillating the ultrasonic transducer portion and without complication of the transmission / reception circuit due to the increase in the number of ultrasonic transducers, three-dimensional in a short time without rotating and scanning the probe itself. Provided is a three-dimensional probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for acquiring image data.

  A three-dimensional probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a concentric array transducer in which ultrasonic transducers are two-dimensionally arranged concentrically, and an ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving wavefront of the concentric array transducer. Disk-shaped ultrasonic shielding plate disposed in parallel with each other, and the rotation axis of the ultrasonic shielding plate is the same as the concentric axis of the concentric array transducer, and the ultrasonic shielding plate is moved with concentricity as the origin It has an acoustic window opened along the radial direction, and the concentric array transducer performs an electronic scan through the acoustic window in a concentric radial direction, and the electronic scan by rotating the ultrasonic shielding plate It is characterized by moving a face and acquiring a three-dimensional image.

  Further, the concentric array vibrator may be divided into at least two or more in a radius of motion having a concentric origin.

  A polygon concentric array vibration characterized in that an arc formed when the concentric array vibrator is divided into four or more with a radius having a concentric origin is approximated by a chord corresponding to the arc. It may be a child.

  Furthermore, the concentric array vibrator may be a 2D array vibrator, and the 2D array vibrator may be a concentric array vibrator connected by a plurality of ring-shaped electrodes having different radii.

  According to the present invention, since the mechanical scanning is performed by the rotational movement of the ultrasonic shielding plate, in general, the drive mechanism is easy to simplify, vibration is also less likely to occur, and the rotation can be infinite. There is an effect that no unscannable area occurs.

  In addition, since the two-dimensional electronic scanning in the radial direction is performed by moving the transmitting and receiving apertures in the plurality of ring transducers constituting the concentric array transducer, it can be configured by a general ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, It can be realized at a price.

  In addition to the aspect in which the concentric array vibrator is configured by a ring vibrator, the concentric array vibrator can also be configured by interconnecting two-dimensional array vibrators concentrically with ring-shaped electrodes. A two-dimensional scan in the radial direction is possible without being accompanied.

  Further, since only the ultrasonic shielding plate is rotated, there is no restriction on mechanical scanning due to twisting of the cable connecting the probe and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

It is a conceptual diagram of a three-dimensional probe. It is sectional drawing of the three-dimensional probe seen from the side. It is the schematic of an acoustic window, an ultrasonic shielding board, and a concentric array transducer. It is the schematic which looked at the acoustic window, the ultrasonic shielding board, and the concentric array transducer from the sound wave sending direction. The dotted lines are concentric array transducers acoustically hidden by the ultrasound shield. Explanatory drawing which makes a fan-shaped array vibrator | oscillators gather, and comprises a concentric array vibrator. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of assembling a polygonal array transducer by aggregating isosceles triangular array transducers; Explanatory drawing which comprises a concentric array vibrator by grouping a fine vibrator group by a ring-shaped electrode. Explanatory drawing which synchronizes and controls the concentric vibrator divided | segmented by the radius to an acoustic window position. Explanatory drawing which synchronizes with an acoustic window position and controls a transmission / reception circuit.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. The embodiments are not limited to the configurations and means shown in the drawings.

  According to the embodiment, the present invention provides a concentric array transducer 3 comprising a closed container 4 filled with an acoustic medium 5 such as water or oil, and a plurality of concentrically arranged ring transducers fixed inside the container. And an ultrasonic shielding plate 2 having an acoustic window 1 consisting of an acoustic lens opened along the concentric radial direction.

  One electronic scanning cross section is acquired by electronic scanning (electronic scanning) by a portion of the concentric array transducer which is not acoustically hidden by the acoustic window as shown in FIG.

  The ultrasonic waves transmitted by the concentric array transducer 3 reach the subject 7 through the acoustic window 1, are reflected by the subject 7, and are received by the concentric array transducer 3 through the acoustic window 1. Be done. The electronic scanning image at the position of the acoustic window 1 is acquired by repeating this while moving the opening of the concentric array transducer, that is, while moving the aperture position of the one-dimensional array transducer formed by the acoustic window 1. .

  Then, the position of the acoustic window 1 is moved by rotating the ultrasonic shielding plate 2 about the concentric axis in the sealed container by the motor 6, thereby moving the electronic scanning cross section to obtain the second electronic scanning cross section I can do it.

Furthermore, the rotation of the ultrasonic shielding plate 2 and the electronic scanning are repeatedly performed, and when the ultrasonic shielding plate 2 makes one rotation, a three-dimensional image of the subject 7 can be acquired.
Subsequently, by repeating the rotation of the ultrasonic shielding plate 2 and the electronic scanning, it is possible to continuously acquire a three-dimensional image of the subject 7.

  An ultrasound shielding plate 2 having an acoustic window 1 is illustrated in FIG. The ultrasonic shielding plate 2 blocks the arrival of the object 7 by absorbing or reflecting the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the concentric array transducer 3 in portions other than the acoustic window 1, and from the object 7. The reflected ultrasonic waves are prevented from being received by the concentric array transducer 3 by absorbing or reflecting.

  The acoustic window 1 allows the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the concentric array transducer 3 to reach the subject 7 without absorbing or reflecting it, and absorbs or reflects the ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject 7. It is an acoustic window capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves so as to be received by the concentric array transducer 3.

  The acoustic window may have a configuration in which the opening portion is filled with the acoustic medium 5 such as water or oil in which the closed container 4 is filled, or a medium capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves such as an acoustic lens Also good. As a medium capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves, there is a commonly used silicon lens or the like.

FIG. 5 exemplifies a method of assembling the fan-shaped array vibrators 8 to construct a concentric array vibrator. Although FIG. 5 collects the four divisions, the number of divisions may be any number. Further, although the fan opening angle of each fan-shaped array transducer may not be uniform, it is desirable that the sum of the fan opening angles be 360 degrees.
The configuration of FIG. 5 can be manufactured more easily than processing a ring-shaped array vibrator.

  FIG. 6 exemplifies a method of assembling the isosceles triangular array transducers 9 to form a polygonal array transducer. Although FIG. 6 collects 16 divisions, the number of divisions may be any number. Also, the apex angles of the respective isosceles triangular array transducers do not have to be uniform, but the sum of the apex angles is desirably 360 degrees. The configuration of FIG. 6 can be more easily manufactured than the assembly of the fan-shaped array vibrator of FIG.

  FIG. 7 exemplifies a method of forming a concentric array transducer in which a ring-shaped transducer is formed by grouping the piezoelectric element group 11 of 2D array transducers finely divided in a matrix shape by the ring-shaped electrodes 10 It is a thing.

FIG. 8 shows a circuit configuration method for selecting one of a fan-shaped or isosceles triangle array transducer connected to the transmitting and receiving circuit in synchronization with the rotational position of the acoustic window 1 provided in the ultrasonic shielding plate 2. It is a figure illustrated for explaining.
The circuit of FIG. 9 is a circuit for changing the characteristics of the transmission / reception circuit connected to each element according to the position of the acoustic window.

  FIG. 8 is a view showing an example in which a concentric array transducer is configured by eight fan-shaped array transducers. The eight fan-shaped array vibrators 1 to 8 are represented as ARRAY [1] to ARRAY [8]. Further, among the N number of vibrators constituting the fan-shaped array vibrator of each of the fan-shaped array vibrator 1 to the fan-shaped array vibrator 8, the n-th vibrator counted from the center is ARRAY [1] [n], ARRAY [2] [n], ARRAY [3] [n]. . . It is expressed as ARRAY [8] [n].

  The acoustic window 1 rotates the front face of eight fan-shaped array transducers around the corner of the fan (FIG. 8). The n-th vibrator from the center among the N vibrators constituting one fan-shaped array vibrator is the n-th vibrator and the analog switch counted from the center constituting the other fan-shaped array vibrator It is connected to the transceiver "n" via any of SW1 to SW8. In addition, in order to scan the radial direction electronically, N identical circuits exist but are omitted in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a circuit that controls the transmission / reception circuit in synchronization with the position of the acoustic window 1. The acoustic window detection circuit A is composed of a position detection circuit such as a potentiometer, detects the position of the acoustic window 1 and outputs one of condition condition numbers 1 to 16 according to the truth table of Table 1. The switch control circuit B controls SW1 to SW8 according to the truth table of Table 1 according to the position condition number. In the case of FIG. 8, the number of transducers connected to the transceiver “n” is one or two depending on the position of the acoustic window 1, and the transmission / reception characteristics change according to the position of the acoustic window 1.

  The transmission condition memory D controls the characteristics of the transmission amplifier F by determining the condition for compensating for the change in the number of transducers connected to one transmission circuit based on the position condition number (FIG. 9).

  The reception condition memory E determines the conditions for compensating for the change in the number of transducers connected to one reception circuit based on the position condition number, and controls the characteristics of the reception amplifier G (FIG. 9).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 acoustic window 2 ultrasonic shielding board 3 concentric array transducer 4 closed container 5 acoustic medium 6 motor 7 test object 8 fan-shaped array transducer 9 isosceles triangle shaped array transducer 10 ring shaped electrode 11 finely divided piezoelectric element Group 12 Acoustic window detection circuit 13 Transmission condition memory 14 Reception condition memory 15 Switch control circuit 16 Transmission / reception circuit

Claims (4)

Concentric array transducers in which ultrasonic transducers are two-dimensionally arranged concentrically,
An ultrasonic shielding plate disposed opposite to the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving wavefront of the concentric array transducer;
The ultrasonic shielding plate has an acoustic window opened along a radial direction with a concentric origin.
The concentric array transducer performs an electronic scan through the acoustic window,
A three-dimensional ultrasonic probe characterized by moving an electronic scanning section by the electronic scanning by rotating the ultrasonic shielding plate to collect a three-dimensional image. The three-dimensional ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the concentric array transducer is divided into at least two or more at a radius with a concentric origin. An arc formed when the concentric array vibrator is divided into four or more with a radius having a concentric origin is approximated by a chord corresponding to the arc. A polygonal concentric array vibrator The three-dimensional ultrasonic probe according to claim 1. The concentric array transducer is a 2D array transducer, and an ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving element group of the 2D array transducer is connected by two or more ring electrodes having different radii. 3D ultrasound probe as described.

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