JP4627605B2 - Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to simultaneous formation of a plurality of reception beams.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems]
In order to form an ultrasonic three-dimensional image, it is necessary to three-dimensionally scan the ultrasonic beam. Specifically, it is necessary to form a plurality of scanning planes formed by electronic scanning of an ultrasonic beam in a direction orthogonal thereto. In this case, a two-dimensional array transducer is used, or mechanical scanning of the array transducer is used. In any case, when displaying a heart or the like as a three-dimensional image, it is necessary to increase the frame rate, but at present, a sufficient frame rate is not always obtained. This problem is also pointed out in cases other than three-dimensional image formation.
[0003]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of improving the frame rate.
[0004]
Another object of the present invention is to enable simultaneous formation of a plurality of scanning planes in a direction orthogonal to the array direction of the array transducer.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a vibration element array including n vibration element groups. In the vibration element array, each vibration element is repeatedly arranged in the vibration element group order in the array direction, and The vibration element groups are arranged so as to be shifted from each other in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the array direction.
[0006]
According to the above configuration, since the plurality of vibration element groups are set so as to be shifted from each other in the orthogonal direction (elevation direction), for example, a plurality of reception beams can be simultaneously formed using the vibration element groups. For example, a plurality of scanning planes can be formed by one transmission. Therefore, for example, the amount of echo data per time can be increased or the frame rate can be improved as compared with the case where one scanning plane is formed by one transmission / reception.
[0007]
Preferably, each of the vibration elements includes a piezoelectric body and an electrode, and the piezoelectric bodies of the vibration elements are aligned with their ends aligned, and the electrodes of the vibration elements are arranged in the orthogonal direction for each vibration element group. Formed out of alignment. According to this configuration, in the vibration element array, while the piezoelectric bodies of the vibration elements are aligned in the elevation direction (orthogonal direction), the electrode configuration is shifted in the elevation direction, and as a result, each other in the elevation direction. A plurality of displaced vibration element groups can be formed.
[0008]
Preferably, each of the vibration elements includes a piezoelectric body and a matching layer provided on an upper surface thereof, and the piezoelectric bodies of the vibration elements are aligned with both ends thereof aligned, and the matching layers of the vibration elements are aligned. Are formed shifted in the orthogonal direction for each vibration element group. Even with such a configuration, a plurality of vibration element groups can be formed by changing the position of the matching layer in the elevation direction.
[0009]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe including a vibration element array composed of n vibration element groups, and an apparatus main body connected to the ultrasonic probe. In the vibrating element array, the vibrating elements are repeatedly arranged in the order of the vibrating element groups in the array direction, and the vibrating element groups are shifted from each other in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the array direction. And a transmission circuit for forming a transmission beam and a plurality of reception circuits for simultaneously forming n reception beams in the orthogonal direction with respect to one transmission beam.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0011]
FIG. 1 shows a main configuration of an ultrasonic probe according to the present invention. This ultrasonic probe is used in contact with the surface of a living body or inserted into a body cavity.
[0012]
In FIG. 1, the vibration element array 10 is configured by two vibration element groups 12 and 14 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Each vibration element group 12 and 14 is composed of a plurality of vibration elements aligned in the array direction, and each vibration element group 12 and 14 is formed so as to be shifted in the elevation direction orthogonal to the array direction. Here, the deviation amount Δd is, for example, 1 to 2 mm.
[0013]
In each vibration element group 12, 14, each vibration element includes a piezoelectric element 16 and a first matching layer 18 and a second matching layer 20 provided on the upper surface side thereof. A backing layer 22 common to each vibration element is provided behind (lower side) the piezoelectric element 16.
[0014]
In FIG. 1, electrodes (signal electrodes and ground electrodes), signal leads, and ground leads provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric element 16 are not shown. Incidentally, a gap is formed at one end of each transducer element due to the deviation in the elevation direction of the two vibrating element groups 12 and 14, and such a gap is filled with, for example, an adhesive. May be.
[0015]
In the present embodiment, the width of each vibration element in the array direction is, for example, 0.1 mm, and the pitch between elements in each vibration element group 12, 14 is, for example, 0.3 mm. Moreover, the width | variety of the elevation direction of each vibration element is 10 mm, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, the vibration elements are separated in the array direction, and specifically, a groove is formed between the vibration elements. Such grooves may be filled with an adhesive that can be acoustically isolated.
[0016]
FIG. 2B schematically shows a cross section in the elevation direction of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. FIG. 2A shows the relative amplitude in the elevation direction of the transmission beam 100 and the two reception beams 102 and 104 formed by the ultrasonic probe.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2B, an acoustic lens 24 similar to the conventional one is provided on the upper surface of the second matching layer 20. As described above, the two vibration element groups 12 and 14 are set so as to deviate from each other in the elevation direction, and at the time of transmission, the two vibration element groups 12 and 14 are used together, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, at the time of reception, the vibration element groups 12 and 14 are individually used, and two reception sound pressure distributions 102 and 104 as shown in FIG. It is formed. Corresponding to the shift amount of the two vibration element groups in the elevation direction, the peaks of the two received sound pressure distributions 102 and 104 are shifted by a predetermined amount in the elevation direction. As a result, two scanning planes parallel to each other can be formed. However, they can also be non-parallel.
[0018]
Of course, although the ultrasonic probe shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a so-called linear array transducer, the present invention is applied to the case where electronic sector scanning is applied or other electronic scanning methods are applied. It is also applicable to cases. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a convex ultrasonic probe.
[0019]
FIG. 3 shows a main configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for realizing one transmission and two receptions. The transmission beam former 36 is a transmission circuit for forming a transmission beam using all the vibrators constituting the vibration element array. A transmission signal output from the transmission beam former 36 for each channel is supplied to both the vibration element groups 12 and 14. Of course, when the transmission / reception aperture is scanned according to the electronic linear scanning, the transmission signal is supplied only to the vibration element in the transmission / reception aperture, while when the electronic sector scanning is applied, all A transmission signal is supplied to the vibration element.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 3, each vibration element is provided with a transmission / reception change-over switch, and this transmission / reception change-over switch 30 connects each vibration element to the transmission beam former 36 at the time of transmission. The receiving beam former 38 is connected to each transducer constituting the oscillating element 12, and the receiving beam former 39 is connected to the oscillating element constituting the oscillating element group 14. Incidentally, a preamplifier 32 is inserted for each channel in the preceding stage of the reception beam formers 38 and 40. Each of the reception beam formers 38 and 39 has a function of executing a phasing addition with respect to the reception signal, thereby electronically forming a reception beam. Therefore, the two scanning planes can be electronically formed simultaneously by these received signals.
[0021]
Therefore, according to the above configuration, for example, when echo data is captured in a three-dimensional region in a living body by mechanically scanning the vibration element array, it is possible to realize a capture speed twice as high as that in the past. . Further, not only three-dimensional image formation but also two scanning planes can be formed at the same time. For example, two scanning planes that are staggered can be simultaneously displayed as an ultrasonic image on the screen.
[0022]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the vibration elements constituting each vibration element group are alternately shifted in the elevation direction. However, in the embodiment shown in FIG. This is realized by devising the form of the electrode. That is, in FIG. 4, each piezoelectric element 40 is aligned with both end portions in the elevation direction regardless of the group. As shown in FIG. 4, the electrodes 42 and 44 provided for each piezoelectric element are formed so as to be shifted from each other in the elevation direction. As a result, it is possible to shift the effective vibration region in the piezoelectric element 40 in the elevation direction, and as a result, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as the embodiment shown in FIG.
[0023]
Incidentally, even if the alternate electrode pattern as shown in FIG. 4 is applied to both the upper surface electrode and the lower surface electrode, it is possible to obtain the same effect as described above.
[0024]
In each of the embodiments described above, two transducer element groups are formed. Of course, three or more transducer element groups may be configured. If n vibration element groups are configured, there is an advantage that n scanning planes can be formed at the same time. In addition, as described above, various scanning methods such as electronic sector scanning, electronic linear scanning, and convex scanning can be applied as the electronic scanning method, and various forms such as a flat surface, a concave surface, and a convex surface are adopted as the surface form of the vibrator. it can. Further, since the deviation amount in the elevation direction between the vibration element groups corresponds to the distance between the scanning surfaces, it is desirable to set the deviation amount of the vibration element group according to the desired distance between the scanning surfaces.
[0025]
Incidentally, when the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 1 is used as an ultrasonic probe for taking in three-dimensional data, the transducer unit shown in FIG. 1 is translated or oscillated in the elevation direction. I will let you. In that case, a mechanical mechanism using a motor or the like is used.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously form a plurality of scanning planes with a simple configuration, thereby obtaining, for example, an effect of improving the frame rate.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of an ultrasonic probe according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross section and a sound pressure distribution of an ultrasonic probe according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method for forming a vibration element group according to another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 vibrating element array, 12, 14 vibrating element group, 16 piezoelectric element, 18 first matching layer, 20 second matching layer, 22 backing layer.

Claims (4)

a vibration element array comprising n vibration element groups;
In the vibration element array, the vibration elements are repeatedly arranged in the array direction in the vibration element group order, and the vibration element groups are arranged so as to be shifted from each other in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the array direction .
At the time of transmission, one transmission beam is formed by n vibration element groups, and at the time of reception, one reception beam is formed for each vibration element group. Thus, n transmission beams are formed in the orthogonal direction with respect to one transmission beam. An ultrasonic probe, wherein reception beams are formed simultaneously . The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1,
Each of the vibration elements includes a piezoelectric body and an electrode, and the piezoelectric bodies of the vibration elements are aligned with both ends thereof aligned,
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes of the respective vibration elements are formed so as to be shifted in the orthogonal direction for each vibration element group. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1,
Each of the vibration elements includes a piezoelectric body and a matching layer provided on the upper surface side thereof,
The piezoelectric bodies of the respective vibration elements are aligned with both ends thereof aligned,
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the matching layer of each vibration element is formed so as to be shifted in the orthogonal direction for each vibration element group. an ultrasonic probe including a vibration element array composed of n vibration element groups;
An apparatus main body connected to the ultrasonic probe;
Including
In the vibration element array, the vibration elements are repeatedly arranged in the array direction in the vibration element group order, and the vibration element groups are arranged so as to be shifted from each other in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the array direction.
One transmission beam is formed by n vibration element groups during transmission, and one reception beam is formed for each vibration element group during reception.
The apparatus main body includes a transmission circuit for forming a transmission beam, and a plurality of reception circuits for simultaneously forming n reception beams in the orthogonal direction with respect to one transmission beam. apparatus.

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