JP3662827B2 - Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to a puncture mechanism.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When performing puncture using ultrasound diagnosis, the position and orientation of the ultrasound probe are appropriately adjusted while abutting the ultrasound probe with the puncture adapter on the body surface and viewing the two-dimensional tomographic image. The puncture needle is inserted into the body using the puncture adapter.
[0003]
Conventional general puncture adapters hold and guide a puncture needle at a predetermined angle so that a puncture route is set on a scanning plane corresponding to a two-dimensional tomographic image. On the other hand, some conventional puncture adapters hold and guide a puncture needle from a direction orthogonal to the scanning plane. In addition, there is one that can switch the puncture angle in stages. The switching is performed manually.
[0004]
Further, the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a function of displaying a puncture route as a guideline on a two-dimensional tomographic image when performing puncture. In this case, the guideline is displayed under display conditions registered in advance, and automatic control of the puncture adapter based on the guideline is not performed.
[0005]
By the way, in recent years, using an ultrasonic probe for capturing three-dimensional echo data, transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to a three-dimensional region in the living body, based on the three-dimensional echo data obtained thereby, An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying a three-dimensional ultrasound image representing a three-dimensional region, a triplane image representing the three-dimensional region by, for example, three orthogonal tomographic images, and the like has been put into practical use.
[0006]
However, the conventional puncture adapter is basically for setting a puncture target (target tissue) on a two-dimensional scanning plane and performing puncture on the target, and the puncture direction with respect to the ultrasonic probe is Even if it is fixed or the puncture direction can be changed, it is limited to change of the puncture angle within a predetermined plane.
[0007]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-116164 discloses a three-dimensional data capturing ultrasonic probe equipped with a puncture adapter. The three-dimensional data capture space is configured as a collection of a plurality of scanning planes formed by electronic scanning of ultrasonic beams, and a puncture position can be set for each scanning plane. Specifically, the needle guide member is slidably provided along the mechanical scanning direction of the ultrasonic transducer, and when the puncture position is designated on the three-dimensional image, the needle guide is guided to the slide position corresponding to the puncture position. The member is automatically positioned, and in this state, puncture is performed within the scanning plane corresponding to the puncture position.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the apparatus described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-116164, the puncture direction can be translated, but the puncture angle cannot be set freely, and a relatively large slide mechanism must be provided. Therefore, there is a problem that the ultrasonic probe is enlarged. In the above-described conventional apparatus, the needle guide member can be automatically translated by setting the puncture position on the three-dimensional image. However, when the needle guide member is manually positioned, it is reflected in the three-dimensional image. It is not possible.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to make it possible to more freely set a puncture route in a three-dimensional data capture space.
[0010]
Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to confirm a manually set puncture direction on an ultrasound image.
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to actually automatically set the puncture orientation set on the ultrasonic image.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a probe body that forms a three-dimensional three-dimensional data capture space by scanning an ultrasonic beam in a first scanning direction and a second scanning direction. A puncture adapter provided in the probe main body and guiding a puncture needle with respect to the three-dimensional data capturing space, the puncture adapter being a fixed frame provided in the probe main body, A movable part having a guide groove for guiding the puncture needle, and an attitude adjustment mechanism for setting the puncture angle in the first scanning direction and the second scanning direction by adjusting the attitude of the movable part with respect to the fixed frame. It is characterized by having.
[0013]
According to the above configuration, when the ultrasonic beam is scanned in both the first scanning direction and the second scanning direction, a three-dimensional three-dimensional echo data space is formed in the living body. Based on the captured echo data, a three-dimensional image, a plurality of tomographic images, and the like are formed. The probe main body is provided with a puncture adapter, whereby the puncture needle is guided. The puncture adapter is provided with a posture adjustment mechanism, and by the posture adjustment mechanism, an arbitrary puncture angle is set for each of the upper first scanning direction and the second scanning direction, that is, the elevation angle and the rotation angle in polar coordinates. Is possible.
[0014]
The first scanning direction is an electronic scanning direction or a mechanical scanning direction, and the same applies to the second scanning direction. When the ultrasonic beam is electronically scanned by sector scanning or convex scanning, the three-dimensional data capturing area has a substantially pyramid shape. A puncture point as an end point of the puncture path can be freely set over almost the entire three-dimensional data capturing area.
[0015]
Preferably, the fixed frame has a mounting tool that is detachably mounted to the probe body. According to this configuration, when puncturing is not performed, the puncture adapter can be removed to improve operability.
[0016]
Preferably, the posture adjusting mechanism includes a sphere connected to the movable portion, and a holding portion that is provided on the fixed frame and rotatably holds the sphere. According to this configuration, the angle of the movable portion can be continuously varied in both the first scanning direction and the second scanning direction due to the nature of the sphere, and delicate angle adjustment is easy. Desirably, more than half of the sphere is surrounded by the holding portion.
[0017]
Preferably, a first angle detector that detects an angle of the sphere in a first rotation direction, and a second angle detector that detects an angle of the sphere in a second rotation direction. According to this configuration, the direction of the puncture path can be detected. In particular, there is an advantage that when the puncture route is manually set, the direction can be recognized by the apparatus main body.
[0018]
Desirably, a first rotation drive unit that rotates the sphere in a first rotation direction, and a second rotation drive unit that rotates the sphere in a second rotation direction. According to this configuration, it is possible to automatically set the puncture route in a desired direction by operating the first rotation driving unit and the second rotation driving unit by scanning on the apparatus main body side.
[0019]
(2) In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising an ultrasonic probe and an apparatus main body, wherein the ultrasonic probe performs first scanning of an ultrasonic beam. A probe main body that forms a three-dimensional three-dimensional data acquisition space by scanning in the direction and the second scanning direction, and a puncture needle that is provided in the probe main body and that is provided in the three-dimensional data acquisition space A puncture adapter for guiding the puncture adapter, the puncture adapter comprising a fixed frame provided in the probe body, a movable part having a guide groove for guiding the puncture needle, and the movable part with respect to the fixed frame. A posture adjusting mechanism for setting the puncture angles in the first scanning direction and the second scanning direction by adjusting the posture of the apparatus, and the apparatus main body is captured in the three-dimensional data capturing space. Based on echo data Image forming means for forming an ultrasound image representing the three-dimensional data capture space; and guideline composition display means for composing and displaying a guideline representing a puncture route set by the posture adjustment mechanism on the ultrasound image; , Including.
[0020]
According to the above configuration, the puncture route can be recognized by the guideline in relation to the three-dimensional data capture space, and accurate puncture can be performed.
[0021]
Preferably, the ultrasound probe includes orientation detection means for detecting an orientation of a puncture path set by the posture adjustment mechanism, and the guideline on the ultrasound image is determined according to the detected orientation of the puncture path. Is displayed.
[0022]
According to this configuration, for example, when a three-dimensional image is displayed as an ultrasonic image, the guideline is also three-dimensionally displayed. When two orthogonal cross sections are displayed as an ultrasonic image, The puncture route is displayed. When the puncture route is changed, the display mode is also changed accordingly.
[0023]
Preferably, the posture adjusting mechanism includes a drive unit that moves the movable unit, and the apparatus main body includes a posture control unit that controls the drive unit. According to this configuration, the movable unit can be moved by the drive unit, that is, the posture of the movable unit can be automatically set.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0025]
FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an ultrasonic probe according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic probe.
[0026]
The ultrasonic probe 10 according to the present embodiment is roughly composed of a probe main body 12 and a puncture adapter 14. The probe main body 12 has an array transducer and a scanning mechanism that swings and scans the array transducer inside. A scanning plane is formed by electronic scanning of the ultrasonic beam on the array transducer, and if this is swung, a three-dimensional data capture space 100 shown in FIG. 1 is formed. Incidentally, reference numeral 104 in FIG. 1 represents the electronic scanning direction, that is, the direction in which the ultrasonic beam is scanned, and reference numeral 106 represents the mechanical scanning direction in which the array transducer is swung.
[0027]
Of course, the present invention can be applied to a case where a so-called 2D array transducer is used or a single transducer is two-dimensionally scanned.
[0028]
The puncture adapter 14 shown in FIG. 1 is roughly composed of a belt 24 as a fixed frame, a posture adjusting mechanism 18, and a movable portion 20. The belt 24 is wound around a body portion of the probe main body 12 that is formed to extend in the vertical direction, and the puncture adapter 14 is detachably fixed to the probe main body 12 by tightening the belt 24. . Of course, other detachable fixing mechanisms can be used. In the present embodiment, the probe body 12 has four side surfaces, and the puncture adapter 14 can be disposed on any of the side surfaces. Of course, the posture adjusting mechanism 18 and the movable unit 20 may be configured to be slidable on the belt 24.
[0029]
The movable part 20 includes a member 30 having a guide groove 30A for guiding and holding the puncture needle 102. The guide groove 30A is a V-shaped groove as in the conventional case, and the puncture needle 102 can be held using a predetermined metal fitting in a state where the puncture needle 102 is inserted into the guide groove 30A. . Of course, in this state, the puncture needle 102 can be freely advanced and retracted in the guide groove 30A. Various types of guide mechanisms for the puncture needle 102 can be employed. The posture adjusting mechanism 18 is a mechanism for freely setting the posture of the movable unit 20 with respect to the probe body 12. In the present embodiment, the posture adjustment mechanism 18 includes a sphere 28 and a holding portion 26 that partially accommodates the sphere. According to the posture adjusting mechanism 18, the angle of the puncture needle 102, that is, the angle of the puncture path can be freely set in any of the electronic scanning direction 104 and the mechanical scanning direction 106. A puncture point can be arbitrarily set over almost the entire original data capture space 100. In the present embodiment, since the posture adjustment mechanism 18 using the sphere 28 as described above is used, there is an advantage that the puncture angle can be varied over a wide range while being a simple and small mechanism. In particular, since the sphere 28 is used, it is possible to continuously change the angle as will be described later, and the posture adjustment mechanism 18 is miniaturized so that the visual field of the operator is unnecessarily hindered. There is no advantage.
[0030]
FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the configuration of the puncture adapter 20 in the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG.
[0031]
The holding portion 26 has a box shape as a whole, and an opening 26A is formed in a part thereof, and a part of the sphere 28 is exposed to the outside through the opening 26A. The movable part 20 is fixedly connected to a part thereof. At least a hemispherical portion of the sphere 28 is accommodated in the holding portion 26, thereby preventing the sphere 28 from falling off. That is, the diameter of the opening 26 </ b> A is set smaller than the diameter of the sphere 28.
[0032]
In this embodiment, a horizontal rotation motor 48 and a roller 52 connected to the shaft 50 are provided inside the holding unit 26, and the roller 52 is in contact with the surface of the sphere 28. As shown in FIG. 2, when the horizontal rotation motor 48 is driven to rotate, the roller 52 thereby rotates, and the sphere 28 in contact therewith performs a horizontal rotation motion.
[0033]
Further, a vertical rotation motor 40 is provided in the holding portion 26, and a roller 44 is connected to the shaft 42. When the vertical rotation motor 40 is driven to rotate, the roller 44 rotates, and the sphere 28 in contact with the roller rotates in a vertical plane.
[0034]
As is clear from the above configuration, the rotation angle of the sphere 28 can be set to a desired value by the above mechanism.
[0035]
The horizontal rotation angle detector 54 is connected to the rotation shaft of the horizontal rotation motor 48 and detects the rotation angle of the sphere 28 in the horizontal plane. The vertical rotation angle detector 46 is connected to the rotation shaft of the vertical rotation motor 40, and the rotation angle in the vertical plane of the sphere 28 is detected by the vertical rotation angle detector 46.
[0036]
Incidentally, in order to prevent slip between the sphere 28 and the rollers 44 and 52, it is desirable that the rollers 44 and 52 are made of an elastic body such as rubber, and irregularities or the like are formed on the surface of the sphere 28 as necessary. May be provided. Furthermore, a mechanism other than that shown in FIG. 2 can be adopted as a mechanism for freely setting the posture of the movable unit 30.
[0037]
The horizontal rotation angle detector 54 and the vertical rotation angle detector 46 are constituted by, for example, a rotary encoder. However, other devices using a potentiometer, an MR element, or the like may be used.
[0038]
It should be noted that a brake mechanism or the like may be provided on the sphere 28 or each motor in order to maintain the fixed posture of the movable portion 20 fixedly.
[0039]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to this embodiment. The ultrasonic probe 10 is composed of the probe main body 12 and the puncture adapter 14 as described above. Inside the probe main body 12, an array transducer 60, a scanning mechanism 62, and a scanning position detector 64 are provided. Is provided. Here, the scanning position detector 64 is a sensor that detects the scanning position of the array transducer 60 in the mechanical scanning direction.
[0040]
As described above, the puncture adapter 14 is provided with the horizontal rotation motor 48, the horizontal rotation angle detector 54, the vertical rotation motor 40, the vertical rotation angle detector 46, and the like. A drive signal is supplied, and output signals from the detectors 46 and 54 are output to the puncture controller 77.
[0041]
In FIG. 3, the scanning control unit 72 is a unit that controls electronic scanning of the ultrasonic beam and mechanical scanning of the array transducer 60. A drive signal is supplied from the scanning control unit 72 to the scanning mechanism 62, and the scanning position detected by the scanning position detector 64 is sent to the scanning control unit 72. As a result, feedback position control is performed.
[0042]
The array transducer 60 is composed of a plurality of transducer elements, and electronic sector scanning or convex scan is applied to the array transducer 60 in this embodiment. Specifically, such electronic scanning is performed by the operation of the transmission / reception unit 74. Here, the transmission / reception unit 74 supplies a transmission signal to each vibration element constituting the array transducer 60 and also transmits the array. This is a circuit that performs a predetermined process on a reception signal output from each vibration element of the vibrator 60. The received signal phased and added by the transmission / reception unit 74 is output to the three-dimensional image processing unit 76.
[0043]
The three-dimensional image processing unit 76 is a circuit that forms an ultrasonic image as will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. A method described in Japanese Patent No. 33538 can also be used. Image data output from the three-dimensional image processing unit 76 is output to the display processing unit 80.
[0044]
The puncture controller 77 has two main mechanisms in this embodiment. The first function is that when the posture of the movable unit 20 is set manually in the ultrasonic probe 10, the posture of the movable unit, that is, the posture on the ultrasonic image based on the horizontal and vertical rotation angles. It is a function to display the guidelines corresponding to. Another second function is to automatically control the posture of the movable unit 20 according to such setting when the puncture path direction or puncture angle is set on the ultrasonic image by the input of the input device 79. It is a function. Hereinafter, these functions will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional image 110 displayed on the display screen 108. The three-dimensional image 110 represents a three-dimensional data capture space. In the three-dimensional capture space, an organ 109 to be punctured is included. In the present embodiment, the guideline 112 can be displayed on the display screen 108 together with such a three-dimensional image 110. This guideline 112 represents the azimuth of the puncture route and is on the guideline 112. The upper point 112A represents an incident point into the three-dimensional data capture space, that is, a body surface puncture position, and the point 112B represents a puncture point in the target organ 109. The position of the point 112A is obtained by automatic calculation, and the point 112B is set by the user as necessary.
[0045]
In the present embodiment, in the ultrasonic probe 10, when the movable unit 20 is manually operated and thereby the posture of the movable unit 20 is set to a desired one, the set puncture is performed by the puncture controller 77. A guideline 112 representing a route is generated by the guideline image generation unit 78 shown in FIG. 3 and sent to the display processing unit 80. The display processing unit 80 synthesizes the guideline image with the 3D image output from the 3D image processing unit 76 and outputs the combined image to the display 82. As a result, an image as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed.
[0046]
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the guideline 112 is set on the three-dimensional image 110 using the input device 79, its azimuth is automatically calculated by the puncture controller 77, and the puncture path actually matches the azimuth. Thus, the attitude | position of the movable part 20 is adjusted. That is, necessary rotation commands are issued to the horizontal rotation motor 48 and the vertical rotation motor 40, and as a result, the angle of the movable portion 20 is set to a desired angle by the action of these motors. Therefore, if the puncture needle 102 is inserted into the guide groove 30A in such a state, the puncture needle can be inserted into the body under the same puncture conditions as those displayed in the three-dimensional image and actually punctured. It becomes. Of course, since such a puncture needle 102 appears as an echo on the ultrasound image, an image representing such a puncture needle 102 is actually displayed along the guideline 112. Therefore, the operator can confirm whether or not puncturing is performed as set by checking such an image.
[0047]
Next, FIG. 5 shows another display example of an ultrasonic image. In the example shown in FIG. 5, an image obtained by viewing the three-dimensional data capture space from three directions is displayed on the display screen 108. Specifically, the image 114 is an image of the three-dimensional data capture space 100 viewed from the probe body side, and this corresponds to the top view. The image 118 corresponds to an image of the three-dimensional data capture space 100 viewed from the front, and this corresponds to a front view. Furthermore, the image 116 corresponds to an image obtained by viewing the three-dimensional data capture space 100 from the side, which corresponds to a side view. In each image, reference numeral 109 represents a target organ, and reference numeral 112 represents a guideline similar to that shown in FIG. In the image 114, a line 118A represents a cross-sectional position where the front view 118 appears. A line 116A represents a cross-sectional position corresponding to 116 of the side view image.
[0048]
Even when the image as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, the first function or the second function can be selectively executed, that is, if the movable unit 20 is manually operated, the posture of the movable unit 20 is displayed. If the guideline 112 indicating the puncture route corresponding to is displayed and the guideline 112 is set to a desired angle using the input device 79, the posture of the movable unit 20 is adjusted accordingly, and as a result Puncture can be performed with a puncture orientation that actually matches the puncture conditions under the puncture conditions.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to set the puncture route more freely in the three-dimensional data capture space. Further, according to the present invention, the automatically set puncture direction can be confirmed on the ultrasonic image, and further, according to the present invention, the puncture direction set on the ultrasonic image can be actually automatically set. Is possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic probe according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a puncture adapter.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another display example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ultrasonic probe, 12 Probe main body, 14 Puncture adapter, 18 Attitude adjustment mechanism, 20 Movable part, 24 Belt (fixed frame), 26 Holding part, 28 Sphere, 40 Vertical rotation motor, 46 Vertical rotation angle detection , 48 horizontal rotation motor, 54 horizontal rotation angle detector, 76 three-dimensional image processing unit, 77 puncture controller, 78 guideline image generation unit, 80 display processing unit.

Claims (8)

A probe body that forms a three-dimensional three-dimensional data capture space by scanning an ultrasonic beam in the first scanning direction and the second scanning direction;
A puncture adapter provided in the probe body and guiding a puncture needle to the three-dimensional data capture space;
Including
The puncture adapter is
A fixed frame provided in the probe body;
A movable part having a guide groove for guiding the puncture needle;
A posture adjusting mechanism for setting a puncture angle in the first scanning direction and the second scanning direction by adjusting the posture of the movable part with respect to the fixed frame;
An ultrasonic probe characterized by comprising: The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the fixed frame includes a mounting tool that is detachably mounted to the probe body. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1,
The posture adjustment mechanism is
A sphere coupled to the movable part;
A holding portion provided on the fixed frame and rotatably holding the sphere;
Ultrasonic probe characterized by including. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 3,
A first angle detector for detecting an angle of the sphere in a first rotation direction;
A second angle detector for detecting an angle of the sphere in a second rotational direction;
Ultrasonic probe characterized by including. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 3,
A first rotation drive unit that rotates the sphere in a first rotation direction;
A second rotation driving unit that rotates the sphere in a second rotation direction;
An ultrasonic probe characterized by comprising: In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus composed of the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body,
The ultrasonic probe is
A probe body that forms a three-dimensional three-dimensional data capture space by scanning an ultrasonic beam in the first scanning direction and the second scanning direction;
A puncture adapter provided in the probe body and guiding a puncture needle to the three-dimensional data capture space;
Including
The puncture adapter is
A fixed frame provided in the probe body;
A movable part having a guide groove for guiding the puncture needle;
A posture adjusting mechanism for setting a puncture angle in the first scanning direction and the second scanning direction by adjusting the posture of the movable part with respect to the fixed frame;
Have
The apparatus main body is
Image forming means for forming an ultrasound image representing the three-dimensional data capture space based on echo data captured in the three-dimensional data capture space;
On the ultrasonic image, a guideline composition display unit that compositely displays a guideline representing a puncture route set by the posture adjustment mechanism;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: The apparatus of claim 6.
The ultrasonic probe includes azimuth detecting means for detecting the azimuth of the puncture path set by the posture adjustment mechanism,
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, wherein a display mode of the guideline on the ultrasound image is determined according to the detected puncture path orientation. The apparatus of claim 6.
The posture adjustment mechanism includes a drive unit that moves the movable unit,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the apparatus main body includes posture control means for controlling the driving unit.

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