JP3476017B2 - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe which is inserted into a subject, in particular, a hollow organ of a human body for ultrasonic observation and diagnosis.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, an ultrasonic probe for observing and diagnosing the prostate or the like by inserting it into the rectum and transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves through the wall of the rectum, or inserting it into the esophagus to detect the heart, etc. An ultrasonic probe or the like is used for observation and diagnosis. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of an ultrasonic probe inserted into the rectum.

The ultrasonic probe 10 shown in FIG. 4 is provided with a long tube 12, and a large number of ultrasonic transducers 11-for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves are provided in the vicinity of the front end 12a of the tube.
, 11-n are arranged along the length direction of the tube 12, and these ultrasonic transducers 11-1, 1 are arranged.
A linear scanning type transducer array 11 is composed of 1-2, ..., 11-n. In transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves by the transducer array 11, the tube 12 in the subject is
A rectangular cross section along the length direction of the is a visual field 13 by ultrasonic waves.

A cable 14 is connected to the rear end 12b of the tube 12, and the cable 14 is connected to a main body (not shown), and each ultrasonic transducer 11 is connected via an electric wire passing through the cable 14. -1, 11-2, ..., 1
An ultrasonic wave transmission signal is sent to 1-n, and an ultrasonic wave is received by each ultrasonic transducer 11-1, 11-2, ..., 11-n. And transmitted to the main body.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view showing another example of an ultrasonic probe inserted into the rectum. The ultrasonic probe 20 shown in FIG. 5 has a tube 22 near the front end 22a thereof.
A large number of ultrasonic transducers 21-1, 21-2, ..., 21-n arranged along the circumferential direction of the tube 22 are provided, and these ultrasonic transducers 21-1, 21-2 are provided. ，
..., 21-n is a convex type transducer array 21.
Is configured.

With this transducer array 21, the cross section of the inside of the subject in the direction intersecting the length direction of the tube 22 serves as a visual field 23 for ultrasonic observation and diagnosis. Here, the ultrasonic probes 10 and 20 shown in FIGS.
Since the transducer arrays 11 and 21 are fixedly attached to the tubes 12 and 22, for example, it is not possible to obtain images of two cross sections orthogonal to each other. The probe 10 is inserted into the rectum to obtain a tomographic image in the length direction of the tube 12, then the ultrasonic probe 10 is removed, and this time the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 5 is inserted. Since it is necessary to obtain a tomographic image in the direction orthogonal to it, the labor of diagnosis is troublesome, it causes extra pain to the patient, and it is expensive because it is necessary to prepare multiple ultrasonic probes. Will be.

FIG. 6 is a plan view (FIG. 6 (a)) and a front view (FIG. 6 (b)) schematically showing the front end portion of the ultrasonic probe inserted into the esophagus. This ultrasonic probe 30 has a large number of ultrasonic probes 31-1, 31-2, which are disc-shaped in the vicinity of the front end 32a of the tube 32 thereof.
, 31-n, a sector scanning type transducer array 31 is arranged. The transducer array 31 is rotatable along the arrows shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b),
Therefore, as the visual field 33, a visual field for obtaining tomographic images in various directions can be obtained. Here, the ultrasonic waves emitted from the transducer array 31 pass through the acoustic window 35 whose acoustic impedance matches that of the subject into the subject, and the ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject pass through the acoustic window 35. However, if air or the like enters between the surface of the transducer array 31 and the inner wall of the acoustic window 35, the ultrasonic waves will be greatly disturbed there. Even if the transducer array 31 is filled with grease and rotated, air or the like is prevented from entering between them.

[0008]

By providing a rotatable oscillator array in a tube as shown in FIG.
Images of various directions can be obtained by inserting the ultrasonic probe only once. However, since the transducer array 31 shown in FIG. 6 is a sector scan type, the field of view in the vicinity of the probe is extremely large. This is inconvenient when the organ is narrow and adjacent to the body cavity into which the organ to be observed and diagnosed is inserted.

In this case, in order to secure a wide field of view on the short distance side, the linear scanning type transducer array 11 shown in FIG. 4 is used.
Alternatively, it is conceivable to arrange the convex vibrator array 21 shown in FIG. However, in the linear scanning type (see FIG. 4), its length is long and it is physically impossible to rotate it in a thin tube.

In the convex type (see FIG. 5), it is physically possible to rotate the inside of the tube.
When rotation is possible, a wide space is created between the inner wall of the acoustic window and the convex type transducer array. If this wide space is filled with grease, for example, a large resistance is given to the rotation of the transducer array, and operability is increased. If it becomes worse to fill with paraffin oil, castor oil, etc. instead of grease, it becomes very difficult to shield the paraffin oil, castor oil, etc. from leaking from the space where the transducer array is placed. There is a problem that it ends up.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic probe in which a convex type transducer array can be rotatably arranged.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a plan view (a), a front view (b) and a side view (c) schematically showing a structure which is a constituent element of an ultrasonic probe of the present invention. Yes, Figure 2
It is the schematic plan view (a) which showed the state by which this structure was arrange | positioned in the tube, and the schematic front view (b) which shows some cross sections. The present invention is not limited to the structures and shapes shown in these figures, but for ease of understanding, the configuration of the present invention will be described here with reference to these figures.

The structure 100 includes a convex type transducer array 102 formed by arranging a large number of ultrasonic transducers in an arc shape, and a convex type transducer array 102 that forms a substantially spherical surface together with the convex type transducer array 102. It is composed of members 104 arranged on both sides of the transducer array 102. This structure 100 is arranged in a tube 120, as shown in FIG. This tube 12
0, the inner wall has a structure 10 near the front end 120a.
Acoustic window 1 formed into a spherical surface having almost the same radius as the surface of 0
30 has the structure 100 of the acoustic window 1.
It is attached so as to be substantially in contact with the inner wall of 30 and to be rotatable about a straight line 140 that passes through the acoustic window 130 and connects the inside and outside of the tube 120. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic probe has the structure attached inside the tube 120 as described above in a straight line 140.
A rotation mechanism that rotates about the axis is provided.

In the present invention, the rotating mechanism is not limited to a specific structure, but for example, the pulley provided on the structure, the tube, and the rear end portion of the tube extending outside the subject, A rotation knob attached to the outside of the tube so that the rotation axis extends inside the tube, and between the pulley and the rotation axis of the rotation knob such that the structure is rotated by turning the rotation knob. It is preferable that the structure is provided with a wire extending to the.

The above "tube" does not necessarily have to be flexible, and is a concept including a rigid shaft. Moreover, here, a “tube” may be used instead of the “tube”.

[0016]

In the ultrasonic probe of the present invention, the convex type transducer array 102 is sandwiched between the members 104 to form a structure 100 which is in contact with the inner wall of the acoustic window 130 as a whole, and the structure 100 is centered around the axis 140. Since the structure 100 is rotatably arranged in the tube, the surface of the structure 100 is always in sliding contact with the inner wall of the acoustic window 130 even if the structure 100 is rotated. A wide space is not formed between the two, and therefore it is possible to prevent the ingress of air etc. simply by filling the space between them, which makes it possible for the ultrasonic probe to have a convex transducer array rotatably arranged. The child is realized.

[0017]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 3 is a front sectional view schematically showing an embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention. A spherical acoustic window 45 is formed near the front end 42a of the tube 42 of the ultrasonic probe 40. Inside the acoustic window 45, a structure 46 similar to the structure 100 shown in FIG. 1 is rotatably arranged around a shaft 49 so as to be substantially in sliding contact with the inner wall thereof. A pulley 48 is attached to the lower end of the structure 46. In addition, in the convex type transducer array forming the structure 46, the electric wire 4 is attached to each ultrasonic transducer.
7 is wired, and this electric wire 47 is a cable 44 '.
And extends inside the tube 42 and is connected to a main body (not shown) via a cable 44 'connected to the rear end 42b.

A knob 50 is attached near the rear end 42b of the tube 42, that is, at a portion located outside the body even when the front end of the tube 42 is inserted into the body cavity. A rotary shaft 50a of the knob 50 extends inside the tube 42, and a pulley 52 is attached to a portion of the rotary shaft inside the tube 42. Structure 46
A wire 54 is bridged between the pulley 48 of No. 50 and the pulley 52 of the knob 50, and the structure 46 is configured to rotate about a shaft 49 by turning the knob 50. Further, grease is filled between the inner wall of the acoustic window 45 and the structure 46.

As described above, since the structure 46 is provided with the convex type transducer array, a considerably wide field of view 43 is secured even at a short distance side, and by turning the knob 50, tomographic images in various directions can be obtained. You can Further, since the inner wall of the acoustic window 45 is formed in a spherical shape and the surface of the structure 46 is also formed in a substantially spherical shape, the inner wall of the acoustic window 45 and the surface of the structure 46 are almost always in contact with each other. ,
Only by filling grease in the meantime, it is possible to realize a reliable ultrasonic probe in which air bubbles are not mixed.

[0020]

As described above, the ultrasonic probe of the present invention has a substantially spherical structure including a convex transducer array, and the surface of this structure and the inner wall of the acoustic window are substantially in sliding contact with each other. Due to the structure, it is possible to obtain a multi-plane image (tomographic image in various directions) with a wide field of view at a short distance, and yet a highly reliable probe with no bubbles mixed between the inner wall of the acoustic window and the structure. Become a child.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view (a), a front view (b), and a side view (c) schematically showing a structure that is a constituent element of an ultrasonic probe of the present invention.
Is.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view (a) showing a state in which the structure is arranged in a tube, and a schematic front view (b) showing a part of the structure in section.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view schematically showing an embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a schematic structure of an ultrasonic probe inserted into the rectum.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view showing another example of the ultrasonic probe inserted into the rectum.

FIG. 6 is a plan view (a) and a front view (b) showing the outline of the front end portion of the ultrasonic probe inserted into the esophagus.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 20, 30, 40 Ultrasonic probe 11,21,31 Transducer array 12, 22, 32, 42 tubes 13,23,33,43 field of view 14,24,44,44 'cable 35,45 acoustic window 46 structure 48,52 pulley 54 wire 100 structures 102 Convex transducer array 104 member 120 tubes 130 acoustic window 140 rotation axis

Continued front page       (56) References JP-A-1-190341 (JP, A)                 JP-A-2-36854 (JP, A)                 JP-A-59-22534 (JP, A)                 JP 62-227334 (JP, A)                 JP-A-53-85982 (JP, A)                 JP-A-2-71732 (JP, A)                 International Publication 92/02179 (WO, A1)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A part of the peripheral wall of the front end is formed flat.
The flat-formed portion of the front end, to have the acoustic window that also the inner wall protrudes spherically formed in a spherical shape, a tube front end is inserted into the rectum of the subject, through the acoustic window super A convex transducer array in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers for transmitting and receiving sound waves are arranged in a convex shape so as to be substantially in contact with the inner wall of the acoustic window, and together with the convex transducer array, substantially contact the inner wall of the acoustic window. A structure that is rotatably mounted in the pipe about a straight line that passes through the acoustic window and connects the inside and the outside of the pipe, the structure including members arranged on both sides of the convex oscillator array that form a substantially spherical surface. And an ultrasonic probe having a rotating mechanism for rotating the structure with the straight line as an axis. 2. The rotating mechanism includes a pulley provided on the structure, a rear end portion of the tube extending outside the subject, and an outside of the tube so that a rotation axis extends inside the tube. 2. A rotating knob attached, and a wire extending between the pulley and a rotating shaft of the rotating knob so that the structure is rotated by rotating the rotating knob.
The ultrasonic probe described.