JP2021145724A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an ultrasonic probe that facilitates connection of an electric signal line to a piezoelectric element.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic probe comprises an ultrasonic vibrator, a housing for supporting the ultrasonic vibrator, a first electric signal line, and a second electric signal line. The ultrasonic vibrator has a flat piezoelectric material, a first electrode laminated on at least one side of the piezoelectric material in a thickness direction of the piezoelectric material, and a second electrode laminated on at least the other side of the piezoelectric material in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric material. The housing comprises a first conductive member connected to the first electric signal line and connected to the first electrode, and a second conductive member connected to the second electric signal line and connected to the second electrode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present disclosure relates to ultrasonic probes.

The ultrasonic probe is used as an ultrasonic transmitter / receiver for a medical ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Recently, an ultrasonic probe is loaded into a catheter, and ultrasonic diagnosis is performed with the catheter inserted in the body.

Patent Document 1 describes an active transducer element having a top main surface and a bottom main surface, a top electrode formed on the top main surface, a bottom electrode formed on the bottom main surface, and a top electrode directly electrically. Disclosed is an ultrasonic probe comprising a first lead connected to and a second lead electrically connected to a bottom electrode via a conductive housing, a conductive bed and a conductive backing element. ..

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-198425

The ultrasonic probe loaded on the catheter is required to be miniaturized in order to reduce the burden on the patient and to improve the insertability into a smaller diameter body cavity such as a deep blood vessel.

The miniaturization of the ultrasonic probe can be realized by miniaturizing the ultrasonic vibrator including the piezoelectric element and the piezoelectric element composed of a pair of electrodes. However, when the ultrasonic vibrator is miniaturized, the piezoelectric element is also miniaturized. Therefore, the electrode of the piezoelectric element also becomes small, and it becomes difficult to connect the electric signal line connecting the piezoelectric element and the external power source to the electrode of the piezoelectric element.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an ultrasonic probe that facilitates connection of an electric signal line to a piezoelectric element.

The ultrasonic probe as the first aspect of the present disclosure includes an ultrasonic transducer, a housing for supporting the ultrasonic transducer, a first electric signal line, and a second electric signal line. The ultrasonic transducer is a flat piezoelectric body, a first electrode laminated on at least one side of the piezoelectric body in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric body, and the said. A second electrode laminated on at least the other side of the piezoelectric body in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric body is provided, and the housing is connected to the first electric signal line and is connected to the first electrode. A first conductive member to be connected and a second conductive member connected to the second electric signal line and connected to the second electrode are provided.

As one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first conductive member includes a terminal for a first electrode facing the first electrode, and the second conductive member is a terminal for a second electrode facing the second electrode. To be equipped with.

As one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first electrode is a front electrode layer located on the one side of the piezoelectric body in the thickness direction and a back surface electrode located on the other side of the piezoelectric body in the thickness direction. A layer and an interlayer conductive portion that conducts the front electrode layer and the back surface electrode layer are provided.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminal for the first electrode is connected to the first electrode on the other side of the piezoelectric body in the thickness direction, and the terminal for the second electrode is the terminal of the piezoelectric body. It is connected to the second electrode on the other side in the thickness direction.

As one embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing comprises an insulating housing body that holds the first conductive member and the second conductive member.

As one embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing comprises a first recess having a bottom surface formed by the terminal for the first electrode and an inner peripheral surface formed by the housing body, and a terminal for the second electrode. It includes a second recess having a bottom surface formed and an inner peripheral surface formed by the housing body.

As one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first conductive member includes a terminal for a first electric signal line connected to the first electric signal line, and the second conductive member is attached to the second electric signal line. It is provided with a terminal for a second electric signal line to be connected.

As one embodiment of the present disclosure, a first connector conductive member connected to the first electric signal line and in contact with the terminal for the first electric signal line, and connected to the second electric signal line and described above. A connector having a second connector conductive member that comes into contact with a terminal for a second electric signal line is provided.

As one embodiment of the present disclosure, a drive shaft for accommodating the first electric signal line and the second electric signal line is provided, and the housing has an inner peripheral surface connected to an outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft. It has a connecting part.

As one embodiment of the present disclosure, the drive shaft and the shaft connecting portion are made of metal.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic probe that facilitates connecting an electric signal line to a piezoelectric element.

It is a figure which shows the state which the catheter for image diagnosis including the ultrasonic probe as one Embodiment of this disclosure, and the external device are connected. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction at the tip of the diagnostic imaging catheter shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction in the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the housing of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the housing when viewed from the direction different from FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the ultrasonic oscillator of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the piezoelectric element of the ultrasonic vibrator shown in FIG. 7. It is a perspective view which shows the drive shaft assembly of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 2 in the disassembled state. It is a perspective view which shows the drive shaft assembly of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 2 in an assembled state. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a diagnostic imaging catheter including an ultrasonic probe as an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the ultrasonic vibrator according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are given to common members and parts in each figure.

First, an example of an diagnostic imaging apparatus to which the ultrasonic probe according to the present disclosure can be applied will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an diagnostic imaging apparatus 100 including an ultrasonic probe 10 (see FIG. 2) as an embodiment.

The diagnostic imaging device 100 includes a diagnostic imaging catheter 110 and an external device 120. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the diagnostic imaging catheter 110 is connected to the external device 120. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction A at the tip of the diagnostic imaging catheter 110. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the ultrasonic probe 10 shown in FIG. 2 parallel to the longitudinal direction. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the ultrasonic probe 10 shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the drive shaft 13 is shown in a simplified manner. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the housing 12 of the ultrasonic probe 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the housing 12 when viewed from a direction different from that of FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the ultrasonic vibrator 11 of the ultrasonic probe 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the piezoelectric element 1 of the ultrasonic vibrator 11 shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the drive shaft assembly 17 of the ultrasonic probe 10 shown in FIG. 2 in an exploded state. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the drive shaft assembly 17 of the ultrasonic probe 10 shown in FIG. 2 in an assembled state. In FIG. 10, the drive shaft 13 is shown in a simplified manner.

<Catheter for diagnostic imaging 110>
The diagnostic imaging catheter 110 is applied to an intravascular ultrasound (abbreviated as "IVUS"). As shown in FIG. 1, the diagnostic imaging catheter 110 is driven by being connected to an external device 120. More specifically, the diagnostic imaging catheter 110 of the present embodiment is connected to the drive unit 120a of the external device 120.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, in the diagnostic imaging catheter 110, the side inserted into the living body in the longitudinal direction A of the diagnostic imaging catheter 110 is referred to as the "tip side", and the opposite side is referred to as the "base end side". do. Further, the direction from the proximal end side to the distal end side of the diagnostic imaging catheter 110 may be simply described as "insertion direction A1". Further, the direction from the distal end side to the proximal end side of the diagnostic imaging catheter 110 may be simply described as "removal direction A2".

As shown in FIG. 1, the diagnostic imaging catheter 110 includes an insertion portion 110a and an operation portion 110b. The insertion portion 110a is a portion of the diagnostic imaging catheter 110 that is inserted into the living body and used. The operation unit 110b is a portion of the diagnostic imaging catheter 110 that is operated in vitro with the insertion unit 110a inserted into the living body. In the diagnostic imaging catheter 110 of the present embodiment, the portion on the distal end side of the distal end side connector 42 described later is the insertion portion 110a, and the portion on the proximal end side from the distal end side connector 42 is the operation portion 110b.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the insertion portion 110a includes an ultrasonic probe 10 and a sheath 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 110b includes an inner pipe member 30 and an outer pipe member 40. The inner tube member 30 holds an end portion of the ultrasonic probe 10 on the proximal end side. The outer tube member 40 holds the end portion of the sheath 20 on the proximal end side. Although the details will be described later, the ultrasonic probe 10 can move in the sheath 20 in the longitudinal direction A by moving the inner tube member 30 in the outer tube member 40 in the central axis direction. Further, as will be described in detail later, if the drive shaft assembly 17, which is a part of the ultrasonic probe 10, passes through the inside of the inner tube member 30 and the outer tube member 40 and is only in the region of the insertion portion 110a in the longitudinal direction A. Instead, it extends over the area of the operation unit 110b. That is, the operation unit 110b of the present embodiment is partially composed of the ultrasonic probe 10 in addition to the inner tube member 30 and the outer tube member 40.

[Ultrasonic probe 10]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the ultrasonic probe 10 includes an ultrasonic vibrator 11, a housing 12, and a drive shaft assembly 17. The drive shaft assembly 17 includes a drive shaft 13, a first electric signal line 14, a second electric signal line 15, and a connector 16.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the ultrasonic vibrator 11 includes a piezoelectric element 1 and an acoustic matching member 2. Specifically, the piezoelectric element 1 includes a flat piezoelectric body 3, a first electrode 4 laminated on at least one side of the piezoelectric body 3 in the thickness direction B, and at least the other of the piezoelectric body 3 in the thickness direction B. It is composed of a second electrode 5 laminated on the side. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, one side of the thickness direction B of the piezoelectric body 3 in which at least a part of the first electrode 4 is provided will be referred to as “the surface side of the piezoelectric element 1”. Further, for convenience of explanation, the other side of the piezoelectric body 3 in the thickness direction B in which at least a part of the second electrode 5 is provided is described as "the back surface side of the piezoelectric element 1". The surface side of the piezoelectric element 1 is a side that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. Further, the back surface side of the piezoelectric element 1 is the side opposite to the side that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves.

The piezoelectric body 3 of the piezoelectric element 1 is composed of, for example, a piezoelectric ceramic sheet. Examples of the material of the piezoelectric ceramic sheet include piezoelectric ceramic materials such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and lithium niobate. The piezoelectric body 3 may be formed of quartz instead of the piezoelectric ceramic material.

The first electrode 4 and the second electrode 5 of the piezoelectric element 1 are laminated as electrode layers on both sides of the piezoelectric body 3 in the thickness direction B by, for example, an ion plating method using a mask material, a vapor deposition method, or a sputtering method. Can be formed by Examples of the material of the first electrode 4 and the second electrode 5 include metals such as silver, chromium, copper, nickel, and gold, and laminates of these metals.

The second electrode 5 of this embodiment is formed only on the back surface side of the piezoelectric element 1.

On the other hand, the first electrode 4 of the present embodiment is composed of a folded electrode. Specifically, the first electrode 4 of the present embodiment includes a front electrode layer 4a, a back electrode layer 4b, and an interlayer conductive portion 4c. The surface electrode layer 4a is located on the surface side of the piezoelectric element 1. The back electrode layer 4b is located on the back side of the piezoelectric element 1. The interlayer conductive portion 4c conducts the front surface electrode layer 4a and the back surface electrode layer 4b. In other words, the first electrode 4 of the present embodiment is formed from the front surface side to the back surface side of the piezoelectric element 1. By using the first electrode 4 as a folded electrode, the back electrode layer 4b of the first electrode 4 and the second electrode 5 can be arranged together on the back surface side of the piezoelectric element 1. As a result, the first electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 15 and the first electric signal line 15 are compared with the case where the first electrode 4 and the second electrode 5 are arranged only on the separate surfaces of the piezoelectric element 1. The connection work between the electrode 4 and the second electrode 5 can be performed only on one side of the piezoelectric element 1.

The piezoelectric element 1 is provided with a notch portion 1c having an arc shape in the thickness direction B, and an interlayer conductive portion 4c is provided along the peripheral edge of the notch portion 1c, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the piezoelectric element 1 may not be provided with the notch portion 1c, and the interlayer conductive portion 4c may be provided along the outer peripheral surface of the piezoelectric element 1.

Further, the piezoelectric element 1 includes a first portion 1a formed of a portion where the first electrode 4 and the second electrode 5 overlap in the thickness direction B, and a second portion 1b excluding the first portion 1a.

The acoustic matching member 2 is laminated so as to cover a part of the surface side of the piezoelectric element 1. More specifically, the acoustic matching member 2 of the present embodiment is laminated so as to cover only the entire surface side of the first portion 1a of the piezoelectric element 1, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and for example, the piezoelectric element 1 It may be laminated so as to cover the entire surface side of the piezoelectric element 1, or it may be laminated so as to cover only a part of the surface side of the first portion 1a of the piezoelectric element 1.

By providing the acoustic matching member 2, it is possible to improve the propagation efficiency of ultrasonic waves to the subject. That is, the acoustic matching member 2 of the present embodiment constitutes an acoustic matching layer that enhances the propagation efficiency of ultrasonic waves.

The acoustic matching layer as the acoustic matching member 2 is formed by a method in which a sheet material forming the acoustic matching layer is attached to the piezoelectric element 1, a method in which a liquid acoustic matching material forming the acoustic matching layer is applied and cured, and the like. Can be formed. Examples of the material of the acoustic matching member 2 include a resin material such as an epoxy resin. Further, the acoustic matching member 2 may be composed of a laminated body of resin layers made of a resin material.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing 12 supports the ultrasonic vibrator 11. The base end side of the housing 12 is connected to the drive shaft assembly 17. The housing 12 has a hollow rod shape extending in the longitudinal direction A. An opening 12a having a rectangular shape when viewed in the thickness direction B is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 12. The ultrasonic vibrator 11 is housed in the opening 12a. The ultrasonic vibrator 11 is arranged so that the second portion 1b of the piezoelectric element 1 is located in the extraction direction A2 rather than the first portion 1a of the piezoelectric element 1. Further, the ultrasonic vibrator 11 is arranged so that the surface side of the piezoelectric element 1 faces the outside of the opening 12a, that is, the radial outside of the housing 12.

More specifically, the housing 12 of the present embodiment is connected to the first conductive member 12b and the second electric signal line 15 which are connected to the first electric signal line 14 and also to the first electrode 4 of the piezoelectric element 1. It includes a second conductive member 12c that is connected and is also connected to the second electrode 5 of the piezoelectric element 1. Examples of the material of the first conductive member 12b and the second conductive member 12c include metals such as copper, silver, gold, and nickel, and laminates of these metals. Further, the housing 12 includes an insulating housing body 12d for holding the first conductive member 12b and the second conductive member 12c, and a metal shaft connecting portion 12e having an inner peripheral surface connected to the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 13. , Equipped with. The housing body 12d is made of, for example, insulating ceramics or resin. The housing 12 is formed using, for example, three-dimensional laminated modeling (3D printer) technology. The outer diameter of the housing 12 is, for example, about 0.5 mm.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the first conductive member 12b includes a first electrode terminal 12f facing the first electrode 4. The second conductive member 12c includes a second electrode terminal 12g facing the second electrode 5. The terminal 12f for the first electrode faces the back surface electrode layer 4b of the first electrode 4. Therefore, the terminal 12f for the first electrode is connected to the first electrode 4 on the back surface side (the other side in the thickness direction B) of the piezoelectric element 1, and the terminal 12g for the second electrode is on the back surface side (thickness direction) of the piezoelectric element 1. The other side of B) is connected to the second electrode 5.

The housing 12 has a first recess 12h having a bottom surface formed by the first electrode terminal 12f and an inner peripheral surface formed by the housing body 12d, and a bottom surface formed by the second electrode terminal 12g and the housing body 12d. It is provided with a second recess 12i having an inner peripheral surface formed by. The first recess 12h and the second recess 12i are circular when viewed in the thickness direction B, but are not limited to this shape. The first recess 12h and the second recess 12i have the same shape, but are not limited thereto. The first recess 12h and the second recess 12i are arranged at intervals along the width direction C perpendicular to both the thickness direction B and the longitudinal direction A. The first recess 12h and the second recess 12i are arranged on the peripheral edge of the opening 12a, but are not limited thereto. Shelf-shaped portions 12j projecting inward in the width direction C are provided at the edges on both sides of the opening portion 12a in the width direction C, respectively. Each shelf-shaped portion 12j has a large amount of protrusion inward in the width direction C at the base end side portion. A first recess 12h is provided on the base end side portion of one shelf-shaped portion 12j, and a second recess 12i is provided on the base end side portion of the other shelf-shaped portion 12j. The upper surfaces of both shelf-shaped portions 12j are formed flush with each other, and the ultrasonic vibrator 11 is placed on the upper surface.

A conductive joining member 18 is arranged in the first recess 12h and the second recess 12i. For example, lumpy solder, copper, or gold as the conductive bonding material 18 is arranged in the first recess 12h and the second recess 12i, and by heating, the terminal 12f for the first electrode is connected to the first electrode 4, and the first electrode is connected. A second electrode terminal 12g can be connected to the two electrodes 5. It is also possible to use a conductive adhesive as the conductive bonding material 18. The conductive bonding material 18 may be provided in advance on either or both of the first electrode 4 and the first electrode terminal 12f. The conductive bonding material 18 may be provided in advance on either or both of the second electrode 5 and the second electrode terminal 12g.

The first recess 12h and the second recess 12i may not be provided. In this case, for example, an adhesive such as an ultraviolet curable resin or the like is used while keeping the first electrode 4 and the terminal 12f for the first electrode in contact with each other and the terminal 4 for the first electrode and the terminal 12f for the first electrode in contact with each other. The ultrasonic vibrator 11 may be fixed to the housing 12.

The housing body 12d has a hollow rod shape extending in the longitudinal direction A. More specifically, the housing body 12d includes a cylindrical peripheral wall 12k having an opening 12a, a partition wall 12l that separates the inside of the peripheral wall 12k into a front end side and a base end side, and a back surface of the ultrasonic vibrator 11 from the partition wall 12l. It is provided with a lattice portion 12 m extending toward the tip end side along the above. A part of the first conductive member 12b and a part of the second conductive member 12c are embedded in the partition wall 12l.

The first conductive member 12b includes a first electric signal line terminal 12n connected to the first electric signal line 14. The second conductive member 12c includes a second electric signal line terminal 12o connected to the second electric signal line 15. The first electric signal line terminal 12n and the second electric signal line terminal 12o are exposed from the partition wall 12l to the proximal end side. The first electric signal line terminal 12n and the second electric signal line terminal 12o are configured as female connectors.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the connector 16 has a first connector conductive member 16c connected to the first electric signal line 14 and in contact with the terminal 12n for the first electric signal line, and a second electric signal line 15. A second connector conductive member 16d, which is connected to and contacts the second electric signal line terminal 12o, is provided. The first connector conductive member 16c includes a first contact terminal 16e that contacts the first electric signal line terminal 12n. The second connector conductive member 16d includes a second contact terminal 16f that contacts the second electric signal line terminal 12o. The first connector conductive member 16c includes a first connection terminal 16g connected to the first electric signal line 14. The second connector conductive member 16d includes a second connection terminal 16h connected to the second electric signal line 15.

The first contact terminal 16e and the second contact terminal 16f are configured as male connectors. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and for example, the first contact terminal 16e and the second contact terminal 16f are configured as female connectors, and the first electric signal line terminal 12n and the second electric signal line terminal 12o are male. It may be configured as a type connector.

The connector 16 includes an insulating connector main body 16a that holds the first connector conductive member 16c and the second connector conductive member 16d, and an insulating connector lid portion 16b that fits into the connector main body 16a. The connector body 16a and the connector lid 16b are made of, for example, insulating ceramics or resin. A part of the first connector conductive member 16c and a part of the second connector conductive member 16d are embedded in the connector main body 16a. The first contact terminal 16e and the second contact terminal 16f are exposed to the tip side from the connector main body 16a. The connector body 16a and the connector lid 16b are formed, for example, by using a three-dimensional laminated molding (3D printer) technique.

By fitting the connector lid portion 16b to the connector main body 16a, the disc-shaped portion 16i and the truncated cone-shaped protruding portion 16j projecting from the disc-shaped portion 16i toward the proximal end side and reducing the diameter toward the proximal end side. , Are formed. The protruding portion 16j is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the tip end portion of the tubular drive shaft 13 by tightening.

The connector main body 16a is provided with a pair of grooves 16k extending from the protruding portion 16j across the disk-shaped portion 16i. Each groove 16k is open to the base end surface of the protrusion 16j. The bottom surface at the tip of one groove 16k is formed by the first connection terminal 16g. The bottom surface at the tip of the other groove 16k is formed by the second connection terminal 16h. The tip of the first electric signal line 14 is arranged in one of the grooves 16k. The tip of the second electric signal line 15 is arranged in the other groove 16k. The tip of the first electric signal line 14 is fitted into one groove 16k by tightening. The tip of the second electric signal line 15 is fitted into the other groove 16k by tightening. The tip of the first electrical signal line 14 includes a first connecting portion 14a made of a conductor from which the insulating coating material has been removed and exposed. The tip of the second electrical signal line 15 includes a second connecting portion 15a made of a conductor from which the insulating coating material has been removed and exposed.

The connector lid portion 16b includes a pair of convex portions 16l that fit into the pair of grooves 16k. The one convex portion 16l is fitted into the one groove 16k to press the first connecting portion 14a against the first connecting terminal 16g and connect the first connecting portion 14a. The other convex portion 16l is fitted into the other groove 16k to press and connect the second connecting portion 15a to the second connecting terminal 16h.

As shown in FIG. 3, the outer peripheral surface of the disk-shaped portion 16i is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 12k of the housing body 12d by tightening and fitting on the proximal end side of the partition wall 12l. A shaft connecting portion 12e is integrally provided at the base end portion of the peripheral wall 12k of the housing body 12d. The shaft connecting portion 12e is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the base end portion of the peripheral wall 12k and on the base end surface of the peripheral wall 12k. The housing 12 includes a positioning groove 12p extending in the longitudinal direction A on the inner peripheral surface of the shaft connecting portion 12e and the peripheral wall 12k on the base end side of the partition wall 12l. A positioning convex portion 16m is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the disk-shaped portion 16i of the connector 16. The positioning convex portion 16m is fitted in the positioning groove 12p. The first contact terminal 16e (see FIG. 9) of the connector 16 is fitted to the first electric signal line terminal 12n (see FIG. 4) of the first conductive member 12b by tightening. The second contact terminal 16f (see FIG. 9) of the connector 16 is fitted to the second electric signal line terminal 12o (see FIG. 4) of the second conductive member 12c by tightening.

In this way, the first electric signal line 14 is connected to the first electrode 4 via the first connector conductive member 16c, the first conductive member 12b, and the conductive bonding material 18. Further, the second electric signal line 15 is connected to the second electrode 5 via the second connector conductive member 16d, the second conductive member 12c, and the conductive bonding material 18. As described above, in the present embodiment, the first electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 15 are connected to the piezoelectric element 1 via the first conductive member 12b and the second conductive member 12c provided in the housing 12. Therefore, the first electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 15 can be easily connected to the piezoelectric element 1. Further, in the present embodiment, since the first recess 12h and the second recess 12i are provided, the connection via the conductive bonding material 18 can be easily performed. Further, in the present embodiment, since the connector 16 is provided, the first electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 15 can be easily connected to the first conductive member 12b and the second conductive member 12c.

The drive shaft 13 is made of a flexible tubular body. Inside the drive shaft 13, a first electric signal line 14 and a second electric signal line 15 connected to the ultrasonic vibrator 11 are arranged. The drive shaft 13 is composed of two layers of metal coils having different winding directions around the shaft. However, the configuration of the drive shaft 13 is not limited to this, and for example, the drive shaft 13 may be composed of three or more layers of coils. Examples of the coil material include stainless steel and Ni-Ti (nickel-titanium) alloys. By using such a drive shaft 13, even if the first electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 15 are configured by a double spiral twisted pair cable, the shielding property is improved and the first electric signal line 14 and the first electric signal line 14 and The influence of noise generated from the second electric signal line 15 can be reduced.

The tip of the metal drive shaft 13 is welded to the same metal shaft connecting portion 12e via, for example, a metal joining material. Examples of the metal bonding material include solder. By welding the drive shaft 13 to the shaft connecting portion 12e in this way, the drive shaft assembly 17 can be firmly connected to the housing 12. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and for example, the fitting of the first contact terminal 16e and the second contact terminal 16f with the first electric signal line terminal 12n and the second electric signal line terminal 12o, and the disk-shaped portion. The drive shaft assembly 17 may be configured to be firmly connected to the housing 12 only by fitting the 16i to the peripheral wall 12k. In addition to these fittings, the driving shaft assembly 17 may be configured to be firmly connected to the housing 12 by using the fitting of the drive shaft 13 and the peripheral wall 12k.

The drive shaft 13 passes through the inside of the inner pipe member 30 and the outer pipe member 40 and extends to a hub 32, which will be described later, located at the base end portion of the inner pipe member 30. That is, the drive shaft 13 extends from the tip end portion of the insertion portion 110a to the base end portion of the operation portion 110b in the longitudinal direction A.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 15 extend in the drive shaft 13 and electrically connect the ultrasonic vibrator 11 and the external device 120. There is. That is, the first electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 15 extend from the tip end portion of the insertion portion 110a to the base end portion of the operation portion 110b in the longitudinal direction A, similarly to the drive shaft 13. The first electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 15 can be flexible thin wire members having an outer diameter of more than 0 mm and 0.1 mm or less. The first electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 15 can be composed of, for example, a conductor wire larger than 0 mm and 0.05 mm or less, and a coating material formed of an insulating material and covering the periphery of the conductor wire.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the lattice portion 12m extends in the width direction C with a plurality of vertical lattices 12q that are perpendicular to the width direction C and extend in the direction along the back surface of the piezoelectric element 1. It also has a horizontal grid 12r that connects the tip portions of a plurality of vertical grids 12q. The number of vertical grids 12q is 11 in this embodiment, but it can be changed as appropriate. In FIGS. 5 and 6, only one vertical grid 12q is coded. The base ends of the plurality of vertical grids 12q are connected to the partition wall 12l. The plurality of vertical grids 12q are arranged at intervals in the width direction C. Each vertical lattice 12q has a tapered shape that gradually tapers toward the back surface of the piezoelectric element 1. A gap G is formed between the lattice portion 12 m and the back surface of the piezoelectric element 1. The lattice portion 12m extends from the partition wall 12l to the tip end side of the tip end portion of the piezoelectric element 1. The back surface of the lattice portion 12 m is formed flush with each other. That is, the back surface of all the vertical grids 12q and the back surface of the horizontal grid 12r have a shape included in the same plane. The back surface shape and the front surface shape of the lattice portion 12 m are not limited to this. The lattice portion 12m is not limited to a configuration having a plurality of vertical lattices 12q and horizontal lattices 12r. The range in which the grid portion 12 m is provided can be changed as appropriate. It is also possible to have a configuration in which the lattice portion 12 m is not provided.

On the back surface side of the lattice portion 12m, a cavity H surrounded by the lattice portion 12m and the peripheral wall 12k is formed. A scattering portion 12t formed by a plurality of tapered convex portions 12s is provided on a portion of the peripheral wall 12k facing the cavity H. The number of tapered convex portions 12s is 11 in this embodiment, but can be changed as appropriate. In FIGS. 3 and 6, only one tapered convex portion 12s is designated. Each tapered convex portion 12s extends in the longitudinal direction A. Each tapered convex portion 12s gradually tapers inward in the radial direction of the peripheral wall 12k. The scattering portion 12t extends from the partition wall 12l to the tip end side of the tip end portion of the piezoelectric element 1. The shape of the scattering portion 12t is not limited to this. The range in which the scattering portion 12t is provided can be changed as appropriate. It is also possible to have a configuration in which the scattering portion 12t is not provided.

A tip opening 12u is provided at the tip of the housing body 12d. The tip opening 12u communicates with the cavity H and the gap G, respectively. The cavity H and the gap G are filled with an insulating adhesive material 19. The adhesive material 19 reaches the surface of the ultrasonic vibrator 11, whereby the ultrasonic vibrator 11 is firmly connected to the housing body 12d. For example, the adhesive material 19 enters the housing body 12d through the tip opening 12u, passes through the passage port P provided between the upper portion of the partition wall 12l and the base end portion of the ultrasonic vibrator 11, and the ultrasonic vibrator 11 It is introduced into the housing body 12d so as to reach the surface of the housing. The adhesive material 19 is preferably filled in the cavity H and the gap G without any gap. The adhesive material 19 is preferably made of a material having an ultrasonic damping function for attenuating ultrasonic waves emitted from the back surface side of the piezoelectric element 1. The adhesive 19 is made of, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin.

The lattice portion 12m penetrates into the cavity H through between the plurality of vertical lattices 12q while reflecting and attenuating the ultrasonic waves emitted from the back surface side of the piezoelectric element 1. The ultrasonic waves that have entered the cavity H are repeatedly reflected by the scattering portion 12t and the back surface of the lattice portion 12m, and are attenuated in the cavity H. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the piezoelectric element 1 from receiving the ultrasonic waves emitted from the back surface side of the piezoelectric element 1 as disturbance. The structure for attenuating ultrasonic waves on the back surface side of the piezoelectric element 1 is not limited to the structure using the lattice portion 12m, the scattering portion 12t, and the adhesive material 19 as described above. For example, instead of or in addition to such a structure, a backing material having an ultrasonic attenuation function may be provided on the back surface of the piezoelectric element 1. The backing material can be made of, for example, rubber, an epoxy resin in which a metal powder such as tungsten powder is dispersed, or the like.

[Sheath 20]
As shown in FIG. 2, the sheath 20 partitions the first hollow portion 21a and the second hollow portion 21b. The ultrasonic probe 10 is housed in the first hollow portion 21a. The ultrasonic probe 10 can move back and forth in the longitudinal direction A in the first hollow portion 21a. A guide wire W can be inserted into the second hollow portion 21b. In the present embodiment, the tubular guide wire insertion portion 20b that partitions the second hollow portion 21b is parallel to the tip of the tubular main body portion 20a that partitions the first hollow portion 21a. Is located in. The main body portion 20a and the guide wire insertion portion 20b can be formed by joining different pipe members by heat fusion or the like, but the forming method is not limited to this.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 20a is provided with a marker 22 having an X-ray contrast property, which is formed of a material that is opaque to X-rays. Further, the guide wire insertion portion 20b is also provided with a marker 23 (see FIG. 2) having X-ray contrast property. The markers 22 and 23 can be configured by, for example, a metal coil having high X-ray impermeableness such as platinum, gold, iridium, and tungsten.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the range in which the ultrasonic vibrator 11 moves in the longitudinal direction A of the sheath 20, a window portion 24 having a higher ultrasonic wave transmission rate than other portions is formed. .. More specifically, the window portion 24 of the present embodiment is formed on the main body portion 20a of the sheath 20.

The window portion 24 of the main body portion 20a and the guide wire insertion portion 20b are formed of a flexible material, and the material is not particularly limited. Examples of the constituent material include various thermoplastic elastomers such as polyethylene, styrene, polyolefin, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polyimide, polybutadiene, transpolyisoprene, fluororubber, and chlorinated polyethylene, and one of them. Alternatively, a polymer alloy in which two or more kinds are combined, a polymer blend, a laminate, or the like can also be used.

The base end side of the main body 20a with respect to the window portion 24 has a reinforcing portion reinforced with a material having a higher rigidity than the window portion 24. The reinforcing portion is formed, for example, by disposing a reinforcing material in which a metal wire such as stainless steel is braided in a mesh shape on a flexible tubular member such as resin. The tubular member is made of the same material as the window portion 24.

It is preferable to dispose a hydrophilic lubricating coating layer that exhibits lubricity when wet on the outer surface of the sheath 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, a communication hole 25 that communicates the inside and the outside of the first hollow portion 21a is formed at the tip of the main body portion 20a of the sheath 20. At the time of priming, the gas in the main body 20a can be discharged through the communication hole 25.

[Inner pipe member 30 and outer pipe member 40]
As shown in FIG. 1, the inner pipe member 30 includes an inner pipe 31 and a hub 32. The inner pipe 31 is inserted so as to be movable back and forth in the outer pipe member 40. The hub 32 is provided on the base end side of the inner pipe 31.

As shown in FIG. 1, the outer tube member 40 includes an outer tube 41, a front end side connector 42, and a base end side connector 43. The outer pipe 41 is located on the outer side in the radial direction of the inner pipe 31, and the inner pipe 31 moves back and forth inside the outer pipe 41. The tip-side connector 42 connects the base end of the main body 20a of the sheath 20 and the tip of the outer tube 41. The base end side connector 43 is provided at the base end portion of the outer pipe 41, and is configured to receive the inner pipe 31 in the outer pipe 41.

The drive shaft 13, the first electric signal line 14, and the second electric signal line 15 of the ultrasonic probe 10 described above are the main body portion 20a of the sheath 20, and the outer tube member connected to the base end side of the main body portion 20a. It extends to 40 and the hub 32 located at the base end of the inner tube member 30 which is partially inserted into the outer tube member 40.

The ultrasonic probe 10 and the inner tube member 30 described above are connected to each other so as to move back and forth in the longitudinal direction A integrally. Therefore, for example, when the inner pipe member 30 is pushed in the insertion direction A1, the inner pipe member 30 is pushed into the outer pipe member 40 in the insertion direction A1. When the inner tube member 30 is pushed into the outer tube member 40 toward the insertion direction A1, the ultrasonic probe 10 connected to the inner tube member 30 moves in the main body 20a of the sheath 20 in the insertion direction A1. do. On the contrary, when the inner pipe member 30 is pulled in the pulling direction A2, the inner pipe member 30 is pulled out from the outer pipe member 40 in the pulling direction A2. When the inner tube member 30 is pulled out from the inside of the outer tube member 40 in the removal direction A2, the ultrasonic probe 10 connected to the inner tube member 30 moves in the main body 20a of the sheath 20 in the removal direction A2.

When the inner pipe member 30 is pushed most in the insertion direction A1, the tip portion of the inner pipe member 30 reaches the vicinity of the tip side connector 42 of the outer pipe member 40. At this time, the ultrasonic transducer 11 of the ultrasonic probe 10 is located near the tip of the main body 20a of the sheath 20.

At the tip of the inner pipe member 30, the inner pipe member 30 is prevented from popping out toward the tip side of the outer pipe member 40, and the outer pipe member 40 is pulled to the most proximal side when the inner pipe member 30 is pulled to the most proximal side. A stopper is provided on the base end side of the tube to prevent it from falling off. The stopper portion is not particularly limited as long as it can realize the above function, and may be configured by, for example, a wall portion that abuts the outer pipe member 40 at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction A.

At the base end of the hub 32 of the inner pipe member 30, a connector portion that is mechanically and electrically connected to the external device 120 is provided. That is, the diagnostic imaging catheter 110 is mechanically and electrically connected to the external device 120 by a connector portion provided on the hub 32 of the inner tube member 30. More specifically, the first electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 15 of the ultrasonic probe 10 extend from the ultrasonic vibrator 11 to the connector portion of the hub 32, and the connector portion of the hub 32 Is electrically connected to the external device 120 and the ultrasonic vibrator 11 is connected to the external device 120. The received signal in the ultrasonic vibrator 11 is transmitted to the external device 120 via the connector portion of the hub 32, is subjected to predetermined processing, and is displayed as an image.

<External device 120>
As shown in FIG. 1, the external device 120 includes a motor 121 which is a power source for rotating the drive shaft 13 and a motor 122 which is a power source for moving the drive shaft 13 in the longitudinal direction A. .. The rotational motion of the motor 122 is converted into axial motion by the ball screw 123 connected to the motor 122.

More specifically, in the external device 120 of the present embodiment, the drive unit 120a, the control device 120b electrically connected to the drive unit 120a by wire or wirelessly, and the control device 120b are the diagnostic imaging catheter 110. A monitor 120c capable of displaying an image generated based on a received signal received from is provided. The motor 121, the motor 122, and the ball screw 123 described above in this embodiment are provided in the drive unit 120a. The operation of the drive unit 120a is controlled by the control device 120b. The control device 120b can be configured by a processor including a CPU and a memory.

The external device 120 is not limited to the configuration shown in the present embodiment, and may be further provided with an external input unit such as a keyboard, for example.

The ultrasonic vibrator according to the present disclosure is not limited to the specific configuration specified in the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified or modified as long as it does not deviate from the gist of the invention described in the claims. .. In the ultrasonic vibrator 11 of the present embodiment, the first electrode 4 is composed of a folded electrode, but neither the first electrode 4 nor the second electrode 5 is a folded electrode, and each is laminated on only one side. It may be a configuration. Further, instead of the first electrode 4, the second electrode 5 may be composed of a folded electrode. However, as in the present embodiment, by configuring the first electrode 4 as a folded electrode, the first electrode 4 and the second electrode 5 of the piezoelectric element 1 are on the back surface side of the piezoelectric element 1 and are the first of the housing 12. It is connected to the electrode terminal 12f and the second electrode terminal 12g. Therefore, the structure of the housing 12 can be simplified, and the reliability of the electrical connection for the piezoelectric element 1 can be improved.

Further, in the ultrasonic probe 10 of the above-described embodiment, the first electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 15 are connected to the first conductive member 12b and the second conductive member 12c of the housing 12 via the connector 16. However, it may be directly connected without using the connector 16. In this case, for example, the first connection portion 14a of the first electric signal line 14 and the second connection portion 15a of the second electric signal line 15 are each coated with a solder or other conductive material to increase the hardness. The first connecting portion 14a and the second connecting portion 15a are directly fitted into the first electric signal line terminal 12n of the first conductive member 12b and the second electric signal line terminal 12o of the second conductive member 12c. It may be configured to connect by.

Further, the ultrasonic probe 10 of the above-described embodiment is configured to include only an ultrasonic transducer 11 capable of intravascular ultrasonic diagnosis as an imaging core, but the configuration is not limited to this configuration, and for example, light. It may be configured to further include an optical transmission / reception unit that enables optical coherence tomography (abbreviated as “OCT”). FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a diagnostic imaging catheter 410 including an ultrasonic transducer 11 and an ultrasonic probe 310 including an optical transmission / reception unit 301. The ultrasonic probe 310 shown in FIG. 11 is different from the above-mentioned ultrasonic probe 10 in that a configuration that enables optical interference tomographic diagnosis is added.

Specifically, in the ultrasonic probe 310 shown in FIG. 11, an optical transmission / reception unit 301 is arranged in the housing 12 in addition to the ultrasonic vibrator 11. The optical transmission / reception unit 301 continuously transmits light (measurement light) transmitted from an optical fiber cable as an optical signal line 302 extending in the drive shaft 13 into the biological lumen, and also in the biological lumen. Continuously receives the reflected light from the living body tissue of. The optical transmission / reception unit 301 transmits the received reflected light to the external device 120 (see FIG. 1) through the optical signal line 302. The control device 120b (see FIG. 1) of the external device 120 generates interference light data by interfering the reflected light obtained by the measurement with the reference light obtained by separating the light from the light source. Further, the control device 120b of the external device 120 generates an optical tomography image based on the generated interference light data and displays it on the monitor 120c (see FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 11, in the drive shaft 13, the first electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 15 are spirally wound around the optical signal line 302, and the first electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 15 are spirally wound around the optical signal line 302. 2 The electric signal lines 15 extend parallel to each other. More specifically, the first electric signal line 14 and the second electric signal line 15 shown in FIG. 11 extend around the optical fiber cable as the optical signal line 302 extending in the longitudinal direction A in a double helix shape. doing.

The present disclosure relates to ultrasonic probes.

1: Pietryl element 1a: 1st part 1b: 2nd part 1c: Notch part 2: Acoustic matching member 3: piezoelectric body 4: 1st electrode 4a: Front surface electrode layer 4b: Back surface electrode layer 4c: Interlayer conductive part 5: Second electrodes 10, 310: Ultrasonic probe 11: Ultrasonic transducer 12: Housing 12a: Opening 12b: First conductive member 12c: Second conductive member 12d: Housing body 12e: Shaft connecting portion 12f: First Terminal for electrode 12g: Terminal for second electrode 12h: First recess 12i: Second recess 12j: Shelf-shaped portion 12k: Peripheral wall 12l: Partition wall 12m: Lattice portion 12n: Terminal for first electric signal line 12o: Second electric signal Wire terminal 12p: Positioning groove 12q: Vertical grid 12r: Horizontal grid 12s: Tapered convex portion 12t: Scattering portion 12u: Tip opening 13: Drive shaft 14: First electric signal line 14a: First connection part 15: Second electric Signal line 15a: Second connection part 16: Connector 16a: Connector body 16b: Connector lid part 16c: First connector conductive member 16d: Second connector conductive member 16e: First contact terminal 16f: Second contact terminal 16g: First Connection terminal 16h: Second connection terminal 16i: Disc-shaped portion 16j: Projection portion 16k: Groove 16l: Convex portion 16m: Positioning convex portion 17: Drive shaft assembly 18: Conductive joint material 19: Adhesive material 20: Sheath 20a: Main body Part 20b: Guide wire insertion part 21a: First hollow part 21b: Second hollow part 22, 23: Marker 24: Window part 25: Communication hole 30: Inner pipe member 31: Inner pipe 32: Hub 40: Outer pipe member 41 : Outer tube 42: Tip-side conductor 43: Base-end-side connector 100: Diagnostic imaging device 110, 410: Diagnostic imaging catheter 110a: Insertion unit 110b: Operation unit 120: External device 120a: Drive unit 120b: Control device 120c: Monitor 121: Motor 122: Motor 123: Ball screw 301: Optical transmission / reception unit 302: Optical signal line A: Longitudinal direction A1: Insertion direction A2: Removal direction B: Thickness direction C of piezoelectric element: Width direction G: Gap H: Cavity W: Guide wire

Claims (10)

An ultrasonic probe including an ultrasonic vibrator, a housing for supporting the ultrasonic vibrator, a first electric signal line, and a second electric signal line.
The ultrasonic vibrator
Flat piezoelectric material and
With the first electrode laminated on at least one side of the piezoelectric body in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric body,
A second electrode laminated on at least the other side of the piezoelectric body in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric body is provided.
The housing is
A first conductive member connected to the first electric signal line and connected to the first electrode,
An ultrasonic probe including a second conductive member connected to the second electric signal line and connected to the second electrode. The first conductive member includes a terminal for the first electrode facing the first electrode.
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the second conductive member includes a terminal for a second electrode facing the second electrode. The first electrode is
A surface electrode layer located on the one side of the piezoelectric body in the thickness direction,
A back electrode layer located on the other side of the piezoelectric body in the thickness direction,
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, further comprising an interlayer conductive portion that conducts the front electrode layer and the back surface electrode layer. The terminal for the first electrode is connected to the first electrode on the other side of the piezoelectric body in the thickness direction.
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the terminal for the second electrode is connected to the second electrode on the other side of the piezoelectric body in the thickness direction. The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the housing includes an insulating housing body that holds the first conductive member and the second conductive member. The housing is
A first recess having a bottom surface formed by the terminal for the first electrode and an inner peripheral surface formed by the housing body,
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 5, further comprising a second recess having a bottom surface formed by the terminal for the second electrode and an inner peripheral surface formed by the housing body. The first conductive member includes a terminal for a first electric signal line connected to the first electric signal line.
The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second conductive member includes a terminal for a second electric signal line connected to the second electric signal line. A first connector conductive member connected to the first electric signal line and in contact with the terminal for the first electric signal line,
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 7, further comprising a connector having a second connector conductive member connected to the second electric signal line and in contact with the terminal for the second electric signal line. A drive shaft for accommodating the first electric signal line and the second electric signal line is provided.
The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the housing includes a shaft connecting portion having an inner peripheral surface connected to the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 9, wherein the drive shaft and the shaft connecting portion are made of metal.

Images