JP2837708B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic device in body cavity - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an in-body-cavity ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays an optical visual direction.

[Prior art] In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity,
2. Description of the Related Art Endoscopes capable of observing organs in a body cavity and the like and performing various treatments using a treatment tool inserted into a treatment tool channel as necessary are widely used.

Also, there has been proposed an ultrasonic endoscope in which an ultrasonic probe is provided at the distal end of an insertion portion so that an ultrasonic tomographic image can be observed.

The ultrasonic endoscope, for example, as shown in U.S. Pat.No. 4,605,009, by matching the optical field and the ultrasonic field, optical observation can be performed at the same time, and West German Patent Application Publication 3368003 As shown in the figure, an endoscope is provided with light emission ports on both sides of the ultrasonic measurement unit of the ultrasonic probe, and performs optical observation from the opposite side of the ultrasonic probe with light output from this emission port. Discloses a technique for notifying an ultrasonic observation site.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-described conventional technology, the visual field direction of the optical system is not displayed in the ultrasonic tomographic image, and it is difficult to associate the ultrasonic tomographic image with the optical image, so that the endoscope is difficult. Operation was difficult. In particular, in radial scanning, a tomographic image may be rotated on a monitor in order to obtain a standard tomogram, and it is difficult to recognize the position of the endoscope tip within a body cavity when such rotation is performed. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and deepens the relationship between an ultrasonic tomographic image and an optical field of view, improves operability, and particularly in a body cavity even when a tomographic image is rotated and displayed in radial scanning. It is an object of the present invention to provide an in-body-cavity ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that clarifies the position of the distal end of the body and improves operability.

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems] The in-vivo ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention displays an ultrasonic tomographic image and superimposes an index for displaying a visual field direction of an optical system on the ultrasonic tomographic image. And rotation of the ultrasonic tomographic image on the display means, or display control means for aligning and re-superimposing the index according to a change in the relative position of the ultrasonic transducer and the optical system. It is provided.

In the present invention, an index indicating the position of the optical system is displayed on the ultrasonic tomographic image displayed by the display means and the display control means.

Examples Examples of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic endoscope diagnostic apparatus, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a distal end portion of an endoscope, FIG. Is a sectional view taken along the line AA 'of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of an ultrasonic endoscope.

In FIG. 4, an ultrasonic endoscope 2 constituting the ultrasonic endoscope diagnostic apparatus 1 includes an insertion section 3 inserted into a body cavity and an operation section 4 connected to a rear end of the insertion section 3. Have. An ultrasonic transducer 6 is provided at the distal end of the insertion section 3 so as to be able to scan in the radial direction. A flexible shaft 7 as a drive shaft for rotating the ultrasonic transducer 6 is attached to the insertion section 3. It is inserted and connected via a belt 11 to a motor 9 provided in a case 8 of the operation unit 4. An encoder 12 provided in a case 8 is connected to the flexible shaft 7 via a belt 13 so as to output a signal indicating the position of the ultrasonic transducer 6. Furthermore, the flexible shaft 7
The rear end is provided with a slip ring 14 capable of transmitting an ultrasonic signal.

In FIG. 2, an observation optical system 16 and an illumination optical system 17 that can optically obliquely observe a part for performing ultrasonic observation are provided at a part slightly rearward of the ultrasonic transducer 6. An incidence end face of an image guide 18 formed by a fiber bundle is provided behind the observation optical system 16, and the image guide 18 is inserted through the insertion section 3 and the operation section 4, and is provided at the rear end of the operation section 4. The endoscope image taken in from the observation optical system 16 can be observed with the naked eye by an eyepiece section 19 provided in the camera. An emission end face of a light guide 21 formed by a fiber bundle is provided behind the illumination optical system 17, and this light guide 21 is inserted through the insertion section 3 and the operation section 4 and connected to a light source device (not shown). The illumination light output from the light source device can be applied to the observation unit.

In FIG. 1, a circuit of the ultrasonic endoscope diagnostic apparatus 1 will be described.

The ultrasonic transducer 6 is a transmission / reception circuit for transmitting / receiving an ultrasonic signal.
The transmission / reception circuit 22 is connected to a digital scan converter (hereinafter abbreviated as DSC) 23. Further, the DSC 23 is connected to the encoder 12, from which a timing pulse and an origin signal are input. When this timing pulse is input, the DSC 23 outputs a trigger pulse to the transmission / reception circuit 22 in synchronization with the timing pulse to drive the ultrasonic transducer 6.

The encoder 12 is connected to a writing position changing circuit 24, and receives the timing pulse and the origin signal. The writing position changing circuit 24 is connected to a writing position setting circuit 26 for setting the number of timing pulses for rotating the ultrasonic tomographic image.When the number of timings set by the writing position setting circuit 26 is counted, the writing position is changed to the DSC 23. A write start signal is output. Note that the DSC 23, the writing position changing circuit 24, and the writing position setting circuit 26 constitute a display control means.

The DSC 23 is connected to a standard TV monitor 27, and displays an ultrasonic tomographic image on which an origin position 28 is superimposed.

The operation of the ultrasonic endoscope diagnostic apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.

The rotation of the ultrasonic transducer 6 at the distal end of the ultrasonic endoscope 2 is controlled by a motor 9 via a flexible shaft 7. The rotation angle of the ultrasonic vibrator 6 is detected by an encoder 12, and the encoder 12 outputs a timing pulse for transmitting an ultrasonic wave and an origin signal indicating the origin position of the ultrasonic vibrator 6 to DS.
C23 and the write position change circuit 24. In addition,
The origin signal of the encoder 12 is output at a fixed angle with respect to the direction in which the image guide 18 exists.

The DSC 23 sends a transmission signal to the transmission / reception circuit 22 in synchronization with the timing pulse of the encoder 12, and
To transmit ultrasonic waves to a subject (not shown). The ultrasonic wave returned to the ultrasonic vibrator 6 is converted into an electric signal by the ultrasonic vibrator 6, amplified by the transmission / reception circuit 22, and input to the DSC 23.

On the other hand, the amount of rotation of the ultrasonic tomographic image on the monitor 27 is input to the writing position setting circuit 26, and the number of timing pulses corresponding to the amount of rotation is input to the writing position changing circuit 24. Write position change circuit 24 is encoder 12
, And outputs a write start signal to the DSC 23 when the number of timing pulses coincides with the set number of timing pulses. DSC23 builds an ultrasonic tomographic image in DSC23 by the timing pulse and write start signal of encoder 12,
It is read out in synchronization with the standard television monitor 27, and displays an ultrasonic tomographic image on the standard television monitor 27, and the encoder 12
The origin position 28 of the ultrasonic tomographic image is displayed at the scanning position of the origin signal.

When the ultrasonic tomographic image is further rotated on the monitor 27, the rotation amount is input from the writing position setting circuit. The rotation of the ultrasonic tomogram also rotates the optical field of view,
An origin position 28 indicated by a broken line is displayed on the standard television monitor 27.

According to the present embodiment, by superimposing the origin position 28 indicating the optical visual field direction on the ultrasonic tomographic image, it is possible to easily know the position of the optical visual field direction in the ultrasonic tomographic image.

5 to 7 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line BB ′ of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the origin position displayed on the standard television monitor.

In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a direct-view type ultrasonic endoscope.

In FIG. 5, an observation optical system 16 and an illumination optical system 17 are provided at the distal end of the insertion section 3, and an ultrasonic transducer 6 is further provided. The ultrasonic transducer 6 has an ultrasonic transmission / reception direction rearward in the longitudinal direction of the insertion section 3 (the operation section 4 side).
It is arranged to be. A mirror 31 is provided behind the ultrasonic vibrator 6, and the mirror 31 reflects the ultrasonic wave output from the ultrasonic vibrator 6 at a substantially right angle to the longitudinal direction of the insertion section 3 and transmits the ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic waves returned from the subject are reflected again and input to the ultrasonic transducer 6. One end of the flexible shaft 7 is connected to the rear end face of the mirror 31.

As a result, an ultrasonic tomographic image on which the origin position 28 indicating the optical visual field direction is superimposed is displayed on the screen of the standard television monitor 27. Note that the origin position 28 in the present embodiment indicates the direction in which the optical field of view increases.

Other configurations, operations and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

8 to 10 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a state in which an ultrasonic probe is inserted into a channel of a normal endoscope, and FIG. 9 is an endoscope. FIG. 10 is a partial external view of the ultrasonic probe.

This embodiment is a normal endoscope (having no ultrasonic transducer)
And an ultrasonic probe.

In FIG. 8, the distal end component of the body cavity insertion portion of the endoscope 40 which is not provided with a means for ultrasonic diagnosis itself.
The ultrasonic probe 42 is derived from 40a. The ultrasonic probe 42 is used by passing through the channel from the forceps port 41 of the endoscope 40, and the distal end portion 44 is provided with an ultrasonic transducer. And the ultrasonic probe 42 is an endoscope
To perform an optical diagnosis by 40, or to perform a treatment by inserting a laser scalpel or electric scalpel through the forceps port 41 and the channel, and then to insert an ultrasonic diagnosis through the channel to determine the effect of the treatment What is used.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the forceps port 41. As shown in the figure, a convex portion 41a is formed on the inner side to fit with a concave portion formed in the protective tube of the ultrasonic probe. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic probe 42, in which the protection tube 45 is formed with the concave portion 45a, and a flexible coaxial cable 46 for rotating the ultrasonic vibrator in the distal end portion 44 is provided inside the concave portion 45a. A shaft 47 is provided. Then, when inserting the ultrasonic probe 42 into the forceps port 41, the convex portion 41a, the concave portion 4
By fitting 5a, they can be inserted without rotating each other in the circumferential direction.

With such a configuration, in order to perform ultrasonic diagnosis using the apparatus of the present embodiment, first, the ultrasonic probe 42 is inserted through the forceps port 41 and the insertion channel of the endoscope 40, and a required portion in the body cavity is Is derived as shown in FIG. Next, the ultrasonic vibration element is rotated by the rotation control device 43 via the flexible shaft 47, and at the same time, is supplied with a drive signal to be excited to give an ultrasonic signal to the subject.

Then, as in the above-described embodiments, the appropriate ultrasonic diagnosis can be performed by matching the optical image position with the reference position of the ultrasonic image. Further, in this embodiment, when such an ultrasonic diagnosis is performed, the ultrasonic probe 42 is connected to the forceps port of the endoscope 40.
It is inserted in 41 without rotating in the circumferential direction. Therefore, it is easy to associate the viewing direction of the endoscope 40 with the operation direction of the ultrasonic probe 42, and appropriate ultrasonic diagnosis can be performed.
In addition, since the flexible shaft 47 and the coaxial cable 46 in the protection tube 45 of the ultrasonic probe 42 are not fixed in the protection tube 45, there is no problem in rotating and driving the ultrasonic transducer.

11 and 12 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which a photosensor 50 is detachably provided on a forceps port 41, and a flexible shaft 47 is inserted through a protective tube 45 through an ultrasonic probe 42. The display unit 51 is provided. And the photo sensor 50
Is a device for detecting a display portion 51 such as a marked bright line or a black line, and inputting the output of the encoder 12 to the DSC 23 and the writing position changing circuit 24 via the switch 52. Other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

With this configuration, the same effects as in the above embodiments can be obtained, and by detecting the display unit 51 with the photo sensor 50, the rotation origin of the flexible shaft with respect to the endoscope 40 can be grasped. Thus, the positional relationship with the optical image can be reliably grasped. When the ultrasonic probe 42 is used alone in a blood vessel or the like, the signal of the photosensor 50 cannot be used, and the signal may be switched to the signal of the encoder 12 via the switch 52. Good.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since the optical view direction is displayed on the ultrasonic tomographic image, the relationship between the ultrasonic tomographic image and the optical view direction is deepened, and the operation is performed. In particular, even if a tomographic image is rotated and displayed in radial scanning, the position of the tip in the body cavity is clarified, and operability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic endoscope diagnostic apparatus, FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a distal end portion of the endoscope, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. 2, and FIG. Description of endoscope, FIGS. 5 to 7
FIG. 5 relates to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a distal end portion of an ultrasonic endoscope, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line BB 'of FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 to 10 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a use state of the apparatus, and FIG. 9 is a view of a forceps port. FIG. 10 is a partial external view of an ultrasonic probe, and FIGS. 11 and 12 relate to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a partial external view of the device, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the diagnostic device. 1: Ultrasound endoscopy diagnostic device, 6: Ultrasonic transducer, 12: Encoder, 22: Transmitter / receiver circuit, 23: Digital scan converter (DS
C), 24: Write position change circuit, 26: Write position setting circuit, 27: Standard TV monitor, 28: Origin position, 42: Ultrasonic probe

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An intra-body-cavity ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having an optical system for observing the inside of a body cavity and an ultrasonic transducer for obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image, displaying the ultrasonic diagnostic layer image and displaying the ultrasonic tomographic image. Display means for superimposing an index indicating the visual field direction of the optical system on an image, and rotation of the ultrasonic tomographic image on the display means, or according to a change in the relative position of the ultrasonic transducer and the optical system And a display control means for aligning and re-superimposing the indices.