JP2645038B2 - Shock wave therapy device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a shock wave treatment apparatus for treating a crushed object, for example, a calculus in a subject by crushing the object with focused energy of a shock wave.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional ultrasonic therapy apparatus includes an ultrasonic applicator provided with an ultrasonic transducer having a two-dimensional array structure having a concave or concave annular structure or a planar shape. Based on the image displayed above, it is also used for both positioning and crushing of the calculus in the subject. In some cases, an ultrasonic diagnostic device or an X-ray diagnostic device is separately used as an auxiliary positioning device.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above-described ultrasonic therapy apparatus, the field of view is limited to one point in the case of the concave ultrasonic transducer, and the field of view is concentric in the case of the ultrasonic transducer having the concave annular structure. Is difficult to align because it is limited to a straight line passing through the center of the circle and perpendicular to the circle. In addition, even when using the ultrasonic probe as an aid in this alignment, the set position of the ultrasonic probe is limited as a result of the crushing vibrator becoming an obstacle, and the alignment is performed. The required image quality of the image displayed on the display could not be secured. In addition, a medium such as water is interposed between the ultrasonic vibrator and the subject in order to transmit the ultrasonic waves for crushing well into the subject. Scattering and the like occur, which adversely affects the image displayed on the display, and there is a problem that it is difficult to perform the alignment by the crushing vibrator.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a shock wave treatment apparatus that can easily position a shock wave for crushing with respect to an object to be crushed.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) A first invention of the present application for achieving the above object is a shock wave therapy apparatus having a shock wave applicator that transmits a shock wave toward a subject, The shock wave applicator includes a shock wave transducer that transmits a shock wave into the subject to form a focal point, a water tank provided on the shock wave transmitting surface side of the shock wave transducer, and a focal point from the shock wave transmitting surface of the shock wave transducer. , And an ultrasonic transducer for collecting tomographic image data of the subject including the focal point.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shock wave therapy apparatus having a shock wave applicator for transmitting a shock wave toward a subject, wherein the shock wave applicator transmits a shock wave into the subject. A shock wave transducer forming a focusing point, a water tank provided on the shock wave transmitting surface side of the shock wave transducer, and a shock wave transmitting region from the shock wave transmitting surface of the shock wave transducer to the focusing point; And an ultrasonic transducer for acquiring tomographic image data of the subject including the following.

(Operation) According to the first aspect of the present invention, the ultrasonic transducer is arranged at a position from the shock wave transmitting surface of the shock wave transducer to the focal point of the shock wave, and tomographic image data of the subject is collected.
Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the ultrasonic transducer is arranged in the shock wave transmitting area of the shock wave transducer and the tomographic image data of the subject is collected, so that the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving surface of the ultrasonic transducer and the subject are collected. Reduces or eliminates water, etc., interposed between the body surface, preventing attenuation and scattering of ultrasonic waves caused by water, etc., and obtaining a good tomographic image, and eventually crushing the focal point of the shock wave It can be easily positioned on an object.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, a shock wave therapy apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an embodiment using an ultrasonic wave as a shock wave will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the shock wave therapy apparatus according to one embodiment.

The illustrated shock wave therapy apparatus is roughly divided into a system control unit, a crushing unit, an imaging unit, and a crushing target setting unit.

The system control unit includes a system setting unit 12 for setting the intensity of the crushing force of the object to be crushed, a system control circuit 13 for controlling an imaging system and a crushing system according to the set values, an imaging system control circuit 19 and a crushing system control. And a circuit 15.

The crushing unit includes a crushing system control circuit 15, a clock oscillation circuit 18 that determines the timing of a crushing shock wave pulse, and a programmable delay circuit group that applies a delay controlled by the crushing system control circuit 15 to a pulse that drives each oscillator. 1
And a pulser group 2 that drives the vibrator with a delay waveform
And a crushing vibrator group (shock wave transducer) 3 divided into N pieces.

The imaging unit includes an ultrasonic transducer 4 that acquires tomographic image data of the subject 7M, a multiplexer 20 that is a circuit selection switch, and a clock oscillator 21 that determines the timing of an ultrasonic pulse for acquiring tomographic image data.
And a programmable delay group 22 for providing a delay by the imaging system control circuit 19, a pulser group 23 for driving the vibrator, a programmable delay 24 for receiving an echo delay amount, and combining and detecting the obtained echo. A B-mode receiving circuit 25 for outputting the received signal as a received signal, and an A / D converter 26 for converting an analog received signal into a digital signal.
And a digital scan converter 27 that performs scan conversion
And a display 28.

The crushing target setting unit includes a probe position detector 16 and a crushing target setting circuit 17 that calculates a crushing target (object to be crushed) based on information obtained from the probe position detector 16 and the crushing system control circuit 15. . The crushing target (crushed object) obtained here is applied to the digital scan converter 27 of the imaging system, and a crushing target image (marker) 29 is displayed on the display 28 together with the tomographic images 10 and 11.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a shock wave applicator 40 used by being attached to a subject, and a diagram showing a use state thereof.

A shock wave applicator 40 shown in FIG. 3 includes a vibrator group 3 (shock wave transducer) for crushing an object to be crushed, which is arranged in a concave shape, and water stored therein to form a bellows on an outer peripheral side surface and to be connected to a subject. A contact surface (contact portion) of the water tank 6 formed of a thin film 6a having an acoustic impedance substantially equal to that of water, and a shock wave transducer 3 in the water tank 6
The ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 4a is arranged in the shock wave transmitting region 42 extending from the shock wave transmitting surface 3a to the shock wave focusing point 43 and the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 4a is brought into contact with the subject 7M via the thin film 6a at least when collecting image data. It is configured with an ultrasonic transducer 4 for tomographic imaging. Therefore, the ultrasonic transducer 4 is the focal point of the shock wave (ultrasonic wave) of the shock wave transducer 3.
The sound field area 11 including 43 will be formed.

Although the illustrated ultrasonic transducer 4 shows a state in which the ultrasonic transducer 4 is in contact with the subject 7M, this is not limited to a state in which the ultrasonic transducer 4 is always in contact with the subject 7M, and does not always contact when tomographic image data is collected. The ultrasonic transducer 4 need not be in contact with the subject via the thin film 6a, but may be in direct contact with the subject. 9M is a kidney.

2 (a) to 2 (d) are diagrams each showing a detailed configuration of the shock wave transducer 3. FIG.

FIG. 1A shows an annular arrangement in which the ultrasonic transducers 30 are arranged concavely and concentrically, and an insertion hole 41 through which the ultrasonic transducer 4 can be inserted is formed at the center thereof. . FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 3C shows a two-dimensional array structure. The ultrasonic transducer 31 shown in the figure is similar to that shown in the figure (a) in that it is arranged concavely and concentrically, and is configured by dividing it at a constant angular interval around the center of the concentric circle. Things. In such a configuration, the position of the focal point to be formed can be set freely, so that the focal point can be arbitrarily matched with the object to be crushed by the crushing target setting circuit 17 described above.

The operation and effect of the shock wave treatment device having the above-described configuration will be described below.

 Turn on the power and adjust each part of the device appropriately.

First, the shock wave applicator 40 is mounted on the surface of the subject 7M, and the ultrasonic transducer 4 for collecting tomographic image data is used.
Displays a tomographic image of the portion on the display 28.

In this case, only the thin film 6a of the water tank 6 is interposed between the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 4a of the ultrasonic transducer 4 and the body surface of the subject 7M, and water or the like which has conventionally existed between them can be eliminated. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent attenuation and scattering of the transmitted and received ultrasonic waves due to the water and the like, and as a result, it is possible to obtain a good tomographic image. From this,
It is possible to easily position the focal point 43 obtained by the shock wave transducer 3 (the vibrator for crushing) on the crushed object 10M. Further, even when the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface of the ultrasonic transducer 4 is not in contact with the thin film 6a, the amount of intervening water can be reduced, which is effective in obtaining a good image. Furthermore, at the center of the shock wave transducer 3 and in the water tank 6
Since the ultrasonic transducers 4 are arranged in the inside, both transducers can transmit a shock wave and transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave for collecting image data without causing any obstacles.

By the way, the operator searches for a calculus to be crushed based on the tomographic image displayed on the display 28, and
Is displayed. At the same time, a crush target image (marker) 29 obtained by the crush target setting unit is displayed on the display 28.

Then, the applicator 40 is finely adjusted so that the displayed calculus image 10 and the marker 29 match.

Next, the operator uses the system setting device 12 to instruct the start of crushing, so that calculus is crushed. On the other hand,
The system control circuit 13 is an imaging clock oscillator.
By synchronizing 21 with the crushing clock oscillator 18,
It is also possible to prevent the shock wave for crushing from affecting the tomographic image. It may also be asynchronous.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified and implemented within the scope of the gist.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a shock wave treatment apparatus that can easily position a crushing shock wave on an object to be crushed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the structure of a shock wave applicator of a shock wave therapy apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention and its use, and FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (d) are explanatory views of a shock wave transducer.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a shock wave therapy apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. 3 ... Shock wave transducer, 4 ... Ultrasonic transducer, 6 ... Water tank, 43 ... Focusing point.

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A shock wave therapy apparatus having a shock wave applicator for transmitting a shock wave toward a subject, wherein the shock wave applicator transmits a shock wave into the subject to form a focal point, and A water tank provided on the shock wave transmitting surface side of the shock wave transducer; and an ultrasonic transducer arranged at a position from the shock wave transmitting surface of the shock wave transducer to the convergence point and collecting tomographic image data of a subject including the convergence point. And a shock wave treatment device comprising: 2. A shock wave treatment apparatus having a shock wave applicator for transmitting a shock wave toward a subject, wherein the shock wave applicator transmits a shock wave into the subject to form a focal point, and A water tank provided on the shock wave transmitting surface side of the shock wave transducer; and a tomographic image data of the subject including the focusing point, which is arranged in a shock wave transmitting region from the shock wave transmitting surface of the shock wave transducer to the focusing point. A shock wave treatment device comprising: 3. The shock wave transducer according to claim 1, wherein said shock wave transducer has an insertion hole at a center portion thereof, and said ultrasonic transducer is inserted through said insertion hole. Shock wave treatment device. 4. The shock wave therapy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is arranged so as to come into contact with a bottom surface in the water tank or a subject when collecting a tomographic image. . 5. The shock wave transducer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are formed in an annular arrangement or a two-dimensional arrangement in a concave and concentric arrangement on the shock wave transmitting surface side. Any one of claims 1 to 4
Item 10. The shock wave treatment device according to Item 1.