JP4886291B2 - Ultrasonic probe, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and control program for ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and a control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for acquiring different subject images by moving an ultrasonic transducer.

2. Description of the Related Art There is known an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that scans an inside of a subject with ultrasonic waves and images the inside of the subject based on a reception signal generated from a reflected wave from the inside of the subject. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits an ultrasonic wave from an ultrasonic probe into a subject, receives a reflected wave caused by acoustic impedance mismatch inside the subject, and generates a reception signal.

As an example of an ultrasonic probe used in such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a multi-plane TEE (transes) that is orally inserted into an upper digestive tract such as an esophagus or a stomach and images a heart or the like.
There is an ultrasonic probe. In this ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic transducer is formed by arranging an ultrasonic transducer at the distal end of the endoscope body cavity in the middle of the body cavity or in the middle thereof, and a tomographic image can be taken from within the body cavity. An ultrasonic transducer in which ultrasonic transducers are arranged one-dimensionally can scan a cross section in a predetermined direction. However, in the multiplane TEE ultrasonic probe, the ultrasonic transducer can be rotated around an axis passing through the center of the array and orthogonal to the ultrasonic transducer surface. Thereby, ultrasonic tomographic images of a number of tomographic planes in a desired direction can be taken. In addition, since the image is taken from inside the body cavity, a tomographic plane in any direction can be imaged without being affected by bone or subcutaneous fat.

Such a rotation operation can be operated from an operation unit arranged so that it can be gripped even if the guiding portion is inserted into the body cavity. A motor for rotating the ultrasonic transducer is driven in accordance with the operation on the operation unit. By such an operation, the operator can adjust the position of the ultrasonic transducer so that a desired cross section of the subject can be imaged.

Here, as a method for controlling the rotational operation of the ultrasonic transducer for such position adjustment, a method described in Patent Document 1 is known. This is a method of selecting the rotation speed of the ultrasonic transducer by an operation from the operation unit. According to this method, it is possible to perform fine adjustment by performing an operation to rotate the transducer to the vicinity of a desired position at a high speed and switching to a low speed.
US Pat. No. 5,402,793

However, the conventional technique has a problem that it is not easy to accurately adjust the rotation angle of the ultrasonic transducer to a desired position. In the method as described above, since the change in the rotation angle of the ultrasonic transducer is continuous, the positioning causes a subtle difference or a complicated operation. Such a problem will be described in detail below.

The rotation angle of the multiplane TEE ultrasonic probe is usually displayed on a monitor or the like in a predetermined unit with a predetermined position as a reference. With the predetermined unit, it is assumed that it is sufficient to display in units of 1 ° at present. That is, even when the rotation operation is continuously performed, 1 ° → 2 ° → 3 °... Is displayed and 1.5 °, 2.5 °, etc. are not displayed. Therefore, the operator adjusts the position of the ultrasonic transducer according to this unit.

Here, in the prior art, the rotation of the ultrasonic transducer was a continuous rotation, although its speed could be changed. In other words, it continues to rotate while giving a rotation instruction. Here, for example, if the operator has previously observed an ultrasonic image under the display of a rotation angle of 15 °, the ultrasonic image is reproduced from a different angle to the above angle in order to reproduce this ultrasonic image. Suppose you are trying to adjust a sonic transducer. In order to reproduce the rotation angle of 15 °, it is necessary to carefully observe the angle display that changes while performing the operation to instruct the rotation. Then, a stop instruction must be given at the moment when the displayed angle reaches 15 °. Such an operation is extremely troublesome and places an excessive burden on the operator.

Further, even if the operator rotates the ultrasonic transducer until 15 ° is displayed, the operator cannot recognize whether or not this is the position of 15 ° accurately. Actually 14.
It may be 6 ° or 15.4 °. Also, the operator cannot recognize whether the target position is exactly 15 °. In other words, even if it is the same 15 ° on the display, an error close to 1 ° at maximum may occur, and the previous position of the ultrasonic transducer cannot be accurately reproduced.

On the other hand, even if the accuracy of displaying the rotation angle of the ultrasonic transducer is increased, the operation becomes extremely complicated. For example, in order to reproduce a rotation angle of 15.37 °, it is necessary to memorize this four-digit number and carefully look at the changing angle display while performing an operation to instruct the rotation. A stop instruction must be given at the moment when the displayed angle reaches 15.37 °. Such an operation is much more complicated and imposes an excessive burden on the operator.

Furthermore, the operator must always pay attention to the displayed image, the operation unit and the patient while holding the ultrasonic probe inserted into the body cavity of the subject. It must be said that the visual observation itself is a sufficiently complicated operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and an ultrasonic wave that can accurately and easily adjust the position of the ultrasonic transducer to a desired position. To provide a control program for a diagnostic apparatus.

In order to solve the above-described problem , an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes an ultrasonic transducer including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged so as to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to a subject, and an input of a drive signal. A moving mechanism for moving the ultrasonic transducer by a predetermined amount, an operating unit for performing an input for instructing the movement of the moving mechanism, and a detecting unit for detecting an input by the operating unit. A first mode for outputting the drive signal in response to detection of an input and determining whether or not the input is continuously performed during a third time interval, and an input by the operation unit A second mode in which the detection time interval is performed at a first time interval or a second time interval according to the type, and the drive signal is output according to the detection, and the input is continued. Na To the first mode when it is determined that, characterized in that it comprises a movement control means for controlling to switch to the second mode when it is determined that the input is continued.

Furthermore, the ultrasonic probe according to the embodiment includes an ultrasonic transducer including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged so as to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to a subject, and the ultrasonic transducer according to an input of a drive signal. A movement mechanism for moving the movement mechanism by a predetermined amount; an operation unit for performing an input for instructing movement of the movement mechanism; and a detection unit for detecting an input by the operation unit, and detecting an input by the operation unit. According to the first mode for determining whether or not the input is continuously performed during a third time interval and the type of input by the operation unit. When the detection time interval is performed at the first time interval or the second time interval, and the second mode for outputting the drive signal according to the detection is provided, and the input is determined not to be continued In the first mode, characterized by comprising a movement control means for controlling to switch to the second mode when determining that the input is continued.

Furthermore, the control program of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment includes an ultrasound transducer including a plurality of ultrasound transducers arranged to transmit and receive ultrasound to and from the subject, and the drive program according to the input of the drive signal. For an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a moving mechanism for moving an ultrasonic transducer by a predetermined amount, an operating unit for performing an input for instructing movement of the moving mechanism, and a detecting unit for detecting an input by the operating unit, A first mode for outputting the drive signal in response to detection of an input by the operation unit and determining whether or not the input is continuously performed during a third time interval; and In the second mode in which the detection time interval is performed at the first time interval or the second time interval according to the type of input by the operation unit, and the drive signal is output according to the detection. There the first mode when it is determined not to be continued, is characterized in that to control to switch to the second mode when it is determined that the input is continued.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and a control program for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can accurately and easily adjust the position of the ultrasonic transducer to a desired position.

(Overall configuration)
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 includes an ultrasonic probe 100, an apparatus main body 211, and an input apparatus 2.
13 and a monitor 214. The ultrasonic probe 100 includes an ultrasonic transducer 111,
The apparatus main body 211 includes an ultrasonic transmission unit 221, an ultrasonic reception unit 222, a B-mode processing unit 223, a Doppler processing unit 224, a scan converter 225, a cine memory 226, a motor 112, an angle detector 113, and a rotation switch 114. Image composition unit 2
27, control processor (CPU) 228, internal storage unit 229, interface unit 230
, A rotation controller 231 and a rotation driver 232. Hereinafter, the function of each component will be described.

First, the ultrasonic probe 100 will be described. Below, it demonstrates centering on the functional characteristic part of the ultrasonic probe 100, and further demonstrates a mechanical structure later.

The ultrasonic transducer 111 generates ultrasonic waves based on the drive signal from the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 221. When ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer 111 to the subject, the transmitted ultrasonic waves are reflected one after another on the discontinuous surface of the acoustic impedance of the body tissue,
The echo signal is received as an echo signal. The amplitude of this echo signal depends on the difference in acoustic impedance at the discontinuous surface that is to be reflected. In addition, the echo when the transmitted ultrasonic pulse is reflected by the moving blood flow or the surface of the heart wall depends on the velocity component in the ultrasonic transmission direction of the moving body due to the Doppler effect, and the frequency Undergo a shift.

The motor 112 is mechanically connected to the ultrasonic transducer 111 and rotates the ultrasonic transducer 111. By this rotation, the ultrasonic transducer 111 rotates about the direction perpendicular to the transducer surface, and the position of the ultrasonic transducer 111 relative to the subject is changed.

The angle detector 113 is mechanically connected to the motor 112 and detects angle information related to the rotational movement of the position of the ultrasonic transducer 111 from the rotation state of the motor. The detected angle information is transmitted to the rotation controller 231 of the apparatus main body 211, converted into an appropriate display mode by the control processor 228, and then displayed on the monitor 214. Here, the appropriate display mode is an angle indicating how much the ultrasonic transducer 111 is rotated from a predetermined position. In the present embodiment, the angle is displayed in units of 1 °, but is not limited to this. For example, the angle may be displayed in units of 0.5 °, 2 °, and 5 °.

The rotation switch 114 is a switch for inputting an instruction to change the angle of the ultrasonic transducer 111. The rotary switch 114 is provided as two switches, each having a two-stage switch mechanism. The mechanism of the two-stage switch is a mechanism of a switch that outputs different signals according to the amount of pressing by the operator, and can perform different operation instructions by so-called half-pressing and full-pressing. The two switches are an ultrasonic transducer 1
11 corresponds to the direction of rotation, and if one is clockwise, the other is a switch for instructing counterclockwise. The operation information output from this switch is the rotation controller 2
31 and is controlled so that the motor 112 performs a rotation operation desired by the operator according to the operation information.

Next, the apparatus main body 211, the input device 213, and the monitor 214 will be described. Below,
The configuration and operation of the overall characteristic part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus will be described, and the ultrasonic transducer 11
The configuration and operation related to the rotation of 1 will be further described later.

The input device 213 is connected to the device main body 211, and various switches, buttons, and tracks for incorporating various instructions, conditions, region of interest (ROI) setting instructions, various image quality condition setting instructions, etc. from the operator into the device main body 211. It has a ball, mouse, keyboard, etc. For example, when the operator operates the end button or the FREEZE button of the input device 213, transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves is terminated, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is temporarily stopped.

Based on the video signal from the scan converter 225, the monitor 214 displays in-vivo morphological information and blood flow information as an image.

The ultrasonic transmission unit 221 has a voltage generation circuit, a pulser circuit, and the like. In the pulsar circuit, a rate pulse for forming a transmission ultrasonic wave is repeatedly generated at a predetermined rate frequency fr Hz (period: 1 / fr second).

The ultrasonic receiving unit 222 has an amplifier circuit, an A / D converter, an adder, and the like not shown. The amplifier circuit amplifies the echo signal captured via the probe 1 for each channel. In the A / D converter, a delay time necessary for determining the reception directivity is given to the amplified echo signal, and thereafter, an addition process is performed in the adder. By this addition, the reflection component from the direction corresponding to the reception directivity of the echo signal is emphasized, and a comprehensive beam for ultrasonic transmission / reception is formed by the reception directivity and the transmission directivity.

The B-mode processing unit 223 receives the echo signal from the transmission / reception unit 221, performs logarithmic amplification, envelope detection processing, and the like, and generates data in which the signal intensity is expressed by brightness. This data is transmitted to the scan converter 225, and is displayed on the monitor 214 as a B-mode image in which the intensity of the reflected wave is represented by luminance.

The Doppler processing unit 224 performs frequency analysis on velocity information from the echo signal received from the transmission / reception unit 221, extracts blood flow, tissue, and contrast agent echo components due to the Doppler effect, and obtains blood flow information such as average velocity, dispersion, and power. Ask for multiple points. The obtained blood flow information is sent to the scan converter 225 and displayed in color on the monitor 214 as an average velocity image, a dispersion image, a power image, and a combination image thereof.

The scan converter 225 converts the scan line signal sequence of the ultrasonic scan into a scan line signal sequence of a general video format typified by a television or the like, and generates an ultrasound diagnostic image as a display image. The scan converter 225 is equipped with a storage memory for storing image data. For example, an operator can call up an image recorded during an examination after diagnosis.

The cine memory 226 is a memory that stores an ultrasonic image corresponding to a plurality of frames immediately before freezing, for example. By continuously displaying the images stored in the cine memory 226 (cine display), an ultrasonic moving image can be displayed.

The image synthesizing unit 227 synthesizes the image received from the scan converter 225 together with character information, scales, and the like of various parameters, and outputs them as a video signal to the monitor 214.

The control processor 228 has a function as an information processing apparatus (computer) and is a control unit that controls the operation of the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The control processor 228 reads out a control program for executing image generation / display and the like from the storage medium 229 and develops it on its own memory, and executes calculations / controls and the like regarding various processes.

The storage medium 229 is a scan sequence and image generation described later. A control program for executing display processing, diagnostic information (patient ID, doctor's findings, etc.), diagnostic protocol, transmission / reception conditions, and other data groups are stored.

The interface unit 230 includes an input device 213, a network, a new external storage device (
(Not shown).

The rotation controller 231 takes in the operation information output from the angle switch 114,
The rotation driver 232 is instructed to perform the rotation operation of the ultrasonic transducer corresponding to the operation information. The rotation controller 231 also receives angle information from the angle detector 113. The rotation controller 231 passes this angle information to the control processor 228, and the angle information of the ultrasonic transducer 111 is displayed on the monitor 214.

The rotation driver 232 receives information related to the rotation operation of the ultrasonic transducer 111 transmitted from the rotation controller 231 and transmits a pulse to the motor 112 so as to perform this rotation operation. The motor 112 operates according to this pulse, and the ultrasonic transducer 111 rotates.

(Configuration of ultrasonic probe)
Hereinafter, the mechanical configuration of the ultrasonic probe 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In the present embodiment, an embodiment of a multi-plane TEE ultrasonic probe that is orally inserted into the upper digestive tract such as the esophagus and stomach and images the heart and the like will be described.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the entire ultrasonic probe 100 . This probe has a shape similar to that of an endoscope, and has a flexible lead-in part 120 that is inserted into the upper digestive tract such as the esophagus and stomach. The distal end portion 130 of the guiding middle portion 120 incorporates an ultrasonic transducer 111. The ultrasonic transducer 111 includes a large number of ultrasonic transducers 126 arranged one-dimensionally, and electronically scans the ultrasonic beam in a plane perpendicular to the element. Each transducer is arranged so that the long sides of the rectangle are in contact with each other, and the long side of each transducer is gradually shortened toward the periphery of the array, resulting in a circular planar shape. In FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, each transducer (boundary line) is shown. However, in actuality, each transducer cannot be recognized with the naked eye. The scanning surface of the ultrasonic beam is also rotated by the rotation of the transducer, and tomographic images of various angles can be obtained using one ultrasonic transducer 111 without changing the direction of the tip of the probe. Thereby, for example, tomographic images of all angles of the heart can be taken, and a tomographic image along the short axis and a tomographic image along the long axis that are useful for diagnosis can be obtained.

The guiding middle portion 120 is provided with an angle portion 121 that can be bent vertically and horizontally in order to change the direction of the distal end portion and to bring the distal end portion into close contact with the wall of the digestive tract. The bending of the angle part 121 is performed by pulling one of two pairs of wires (not shown) provided in the guiding middle part.

The operation unit 14 that is operated by a doctor or the like without being inserted into the digestive tract at the hand of the guiding center 120.
0 is connected. The operation unit 140 has an operation knob 141 for angle operation and a rotation switch 114 for rotation operation of the scanning surface of the transducer. The operation knob 141 is formed by overlapping two knobs (different in diameter) for vertical and horizontal bending. The operation unit 140 is connected to the rotation controller 231 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 211 via the cable unit 150 and the connector unit 160.

A cross-sectional structure of the tip portion 130 is shown in FIG. The transducer 111 includes an ultrasonic transducer 126, an acoustic matching layer 122, an acoustic lens 123, and a backing material 131. A spherical or cylindrical acoustic lens 123 is disposed on the circular ultrasonic transducer 126 via an acoustic matching layer 122. The lens 123 is attached to the case 134 . An acoustic window 125 is provided on the lens 123 via an acoustic propagation liquid 124. The acoustic window 125 is made of a highly transparent material such as plastic.

A cylindrical backing material 131 is provided below the ultrasonic transducer 126, and the backing material 131 is fixed on the pulley 132. The pulley 132 is rotatably attached to a case 134 that houses the components at the tip.

As shown in the drawing, a groove is provided on the circumferential surface of the pulley 132 to form a gear shape. When the gear 135 of the motor 112 is engaged with the gear 133, the drive of the motor 112 is transmitted to the pulley 132, and the rotating operation of the transducer 111 is realized. Motor 1
12, an angle detector 113 is provided coaxially. The angle detector 113 is configured using a mechanism such as a known rotary encoder.

(Operation)
Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In using this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the operator first inserts the distal end portion 130 and the guiding middle portion 120 from the oral cavity of the subject into the esophagus. When the tip comes to a position near the heart of the subject, the operation knob 14
The position of the distal end portion 130 is adjusted so that the ultrasonic wave from the transducer 111 is irradiated to the heart of the subject by operating 1 and performing an angle operation. Further, the operator operates the rotary switch 114 so that the morphological image of the desired cross section of the subject is displayed.
4 is operated to rotate the transducer 111.

Usually, in diagnosis using a multiplane TEE probe, a plurality of different ultrasonic tomographic images are acquired at different angles. At this time, the operator makes adjustments so as to obtain the most suitable image while observing the ultrasonic tomographic image displayed in real time while changing the angle of the transducer 111 in various ways. Here, when fine-tuning the angle to fine-tune the optimal image,
While observing the angle display on the monitor 214, the operator stores some angles that are considered to be good for diagnosis, and finally returns to the angle determined to be optimal and performs image storage and detailed diagnosis. Further, when the acquisition of the long-axis image of the subject's heart is finished and the acquisition of the short-axis image is aimed at, the operator greatly changes the angle of the transducer 111.

The operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to this embodiment when rotating the transducer 111 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. First, as step S1, the operator operates the rotary switch 114. As described above, the rotation switch 114 is provided as two switches corresponding to the rotation direction, and each has a mechanism of a two-stage switch, so that the operator performs a switch operation in a mode corresponding to a desired rotation operation. When fine adjustment of the angle is desired, the operation of pressing and immediately releasing the rotation switch 114 is repeated, or when the angle is to be changed rapidly and continuously, the rotation switch 114 is continuously long pressed. Further, when it is desired to move slowly and continuously, the rotary switch 114 is continuously pressed halfway.

Next, as step S <b> 2, a current signal is generated from the operated rotation switch 114 and input to the rotation controller 231. The rotary switch 114 can be input in two modes, half-pressed and fully-pressed, from each of the two switches. Accordingly, the rotation controller 231 can identify which switch is operated in what manner. It is assumed that a current signal is continuously generated while the rotary switch 114 is pressed. Thereby, the rotation controller 231 can identify the continuation of pressing the switch.

In step S3, the rotation controller 231 instructs the rotation driver 232 to perform rotation. When there is an input from the rotation switch 114, the rotation controller 231 immediately instructs the rotation of the transducer 111 regardless of half-pressing, full-pressing, or continuing pressing. Specifically, the rotation controller 231 instructs the rotation driver 232 to transmit the pulse current to the motor 112 only once.

In step S <b> 4, the rotation driver 232 emits a pulse current for rotating 1 ° to the motor 112. The rotation driver 232 receives the above instruction and transmits the pulse current to the motor 112 only once. This one-time pulse current is a current for rotating the motor by 1 °.

In step S5, the motor 112 is driven and the ultrasonic transducer 111 is rotated. When the motor receiving the pulse current is driven, the pulley 132 is driven by the gear mechanism described above.
The driving force is transmitted to the ultrasonic transducer 111 and the ultrasonic transducer 111 is rotated by 1 °.

In step S6, the rotation controller 231 determines whether or not the current from the switch 114 continues for 0.5 seconds or more. The rotation controller 231 constantly monitors the input from the rotation switch 114. If the input from the rotary switch 114 is interrupted in less than 0.5 seconds, the operation is completed, but if it is 0.5 seconds or more, the process proceeds to step S7.

In steps S7 and S8, as in steps S4 and S5, the rotation driver 232 generates a pulse current for rotating 1 ° to the motor 112, and the motor 112 is driven to rotate the transducer 111 by 1 °. Here, the pulse current from the rotation controller 231 is immediately generated when the pressing of the switch 114 continues for 0.5 seconds. Therefore, even if the pressing of the switch 114 is stopped during the rotation operation, the rotation is always 1 °.

In step 9, the rotation controller 231 determines whether or not the current from the switch 114 continues for another 0.01 seconds from the previous motor drive. If the pressing of the switch 114 has already been released, the operation ends.

If the pressing is continued, that is, if the current from the switch 114 continues for another 0.01 seconds, the process proceeds to step S10, and the rotation controller 231 determines whether the switch 114 is half pressed or fully pressed. If it is fully pressed, the process returns to step S7, and the transducer 111 rotates 1 °. That is, as long as the switch 114 is continuously pressed down, the transducer 111 rotates by 1 ° at intervals of 0.01 seconds.

If the rotation switch has been pressed halfway, the process proceeds to step S11, where it is determined whether or not the current from the switch 114 continues for 0.03 seconds from the previous motor drive. If the pressing of the switch 114 has already been released, the operation ends. If the pressing has been continued, the process returns to step S7, and the transducer 111 rotates 1 °. That is, as long as the switch 114 is continuously pressed halfway down, the transducer 111 remains 0.0.
It will rotate by 1 ° at intervals of 3 seconds.

Such operation results will be described together using the table shown in FIG. First, when the operator depresses the switch 114, the transducer 111 rotates 1 ° and does not rotate any more unless the depressing continues for 0.5 seconds or longer. Therefore, when the operator repeats pressing for 0.5 seconds or less a plurality of times, the angle transducer 111 is rotated by that number of times.

If the operator continues to press down, the rotation is repeated by 1 ° at short intervals . When half-pressed, it rotates by 1 ° every 0.03 seconds. When fully pressed, it rotates by 1 ° every 0.01 seconds.

  That is, the long press moves faster to the desired angle than the half press.

(effect)
Compared to the conventional technique described above, the present embodiment has the following effects. According to this embodiment, the transducer 111 is always 1 ° if the switch is pressed for less than 0.5 seconds.
Rotate. The pressing time of 0.5 seconds is a time that can be operated even if the operator does not pay special attention, and it is recognized by the operator that it is rotated by 1 ° every time it is pressed. That is, if it is desired to rotate the 5 ° transducer 111, the rotation switch 114 may be pressed five times. Therefore, according to this embodiment, since a desired rotation can be instructed by the number of times of pressing, the position of the transducer can be accurately and easily adjusted to the desired position. This is a remarkable effect as compared with the conventional situation where the switch must be released quickly in continuous rotation.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the desired rotation can be instructed to the transducer 111 by the number of times of pressing, the desired rotation can be instructed without visually observing the monitor angle display, and the position of the transducer is set to the desired position. It can be adjusted accurately and easily. This is a remarkable effect because the operator must always pay attention to the displayed image, the operation unit, and the patient while holding the ultrasonic probe inserted into the body cavity of the subject. It can be said that there is. In addition, in the continuous rotation as in the case, this effect is obvious even when compared with the situation that the angle display of the monitor had to be adjusted while carefully observing.

Further, according to the present embodiment, by continuously pressing the rotary switch 114 for 0.5 seconds or more, the transducer is rotated by 1 ° at intervals of 0.01 seconds when pressed halfway and at intervals of 0.03 seconds when pressed fully. Such an operation mode is perceived as continuous rotation by the operator. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the above-described accurate angle adjustment is possible, and at the same time, the transducer can be quickly rotated.

Furthermore, the interval of the rotation operation can be switched by switching the pressing time, half pressing, and long pressing without changing the pressing position of the hand switch. Therefore, according to this embodiment,
The mode of the rotational operation can be changed easily and in a short time.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the rotation of the transducer at a predetermined angle is instructed when a predetermined time elapses, the rotation of the transducer is always performed in units of a predetermined angle. Therefore, if the angle display on the monitor is also performed in this predetermined unit, the error between the actual angle of the transducer 111 and the display angle is almost eliminated, so that the position of the transducer can be accurately and easily adjusted to the desired position.

(Modification)
The present embodiment can be variously applied and modified in addition to the above. Below, the modification of this embodiment is enumerated.

In this embodiment, the rotation interval of the transducer is set to 0.5 seconds, 0.03 seconds, 0.01 seconds, and the rotation angle of one rotation is 1 °, but is not limited thereto. These numbers can be easily changed as appropriate. These numerical values may be appropriately changed by the operator using the input device 213.

In the present embodiment, the intervals of rotation of the transducer 111 are 0.5 seconds, 0.03 seconds, 0.0.
Although it can be adjusted in three steps of 01 seconds, it is not limited to this. Depending on the amount of pressing of the switch 114, it may be adjustable in a number of stages, or may be continuously changed.
Such a modification will be further described with reference to FIG. In the modification of FIG. 6, the switch 114 is not a two-stage switch. FIG. 6A shows the relationship between the switch pressing amount and the rotation interval when a four-stage switch is used. FIG. 6B shows the relationship between the switch pressing amount and the rotation interval when a continuously variable switch that detects the pressing amount more finely is used. The deeper you press both, the shorter the rotation interval.

Further, in the present embodiment, the rotation interval of the transducer 111 is switched in two stages depending on the duration of pressing of the rotation switch 114, but is not limited to this. The number of steps may be adjusted according to the duration of pressing of the rotary switch 114, or may be changed continuously. For example, after the first rotation interval of 0.5 seconds has elapsed, the rotation interval may be gradually shortened to 0.3 seconds, 0.1 seconds, 0.05 seconds, and 0.03 seconds. Furthermore, even in this case, the rotation interval may be unchanged after pressing for a certain time.

In this embodiment, the rotation controller 231 and the rotation driver 232 are incorporated in the apparatus main body 211, but the present invention is not limited to this. The rotation controller 231 and the rotation driver 211 may be provided in the connector unit 160 or the operation unit 140. Further, the rotation controller 231 can be incorporated into the device 211 as a board in hardware,
It can also be incorporated as software. When incorporated as software, a program for realizing the function of the rotation controller is stored in the storage medium 229,
By deploying and operating on the control processor 228 as needed, the same functions as in the above-described embodiment can be achieved.

In this embodiment, although the motor 112 and the angle detector 113 were demonstrated as what was integrated in the front-end | tip part 130, it is not restricted to this. The motor 112 and the angle detector 113 are the operation unit 140.
Or the connector unit 160 may be provided. The rotational drive mechanism of the transducer 111 in this case may be a mechanism in which a wire is wound around the pulley 132 and extended to the operation unit 140 or the like, and the driving force of the motor 112 is applied to this wire. Further, a torque tube is extended from the operation unit 140 or the like to the tip portion 130, and this torque tube is rotated in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guiding middle portion by the driving force of the motor. The transducer 111 may be rotated by transmitting to the pulley 132 by a mechanism. In addition, the angle detector 113 may not be coaxial with the motor 112, and may be one that detects the angle directly from the pulley 132, or one that detects the angle of the transducer from an operating unit other than the motor. May be. According to the modified example in which the motor 112 and the angle detector 113 are arranged other than the distal end portion 130, the distal end portion 130 can be made smaller, so that the burden on the patient who must swallow the distal end portion 130 can be reduced. .

In the present embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 100 is a multi-plane TEE probe, but is not limited thereto. The present embodiment can be applied to any probe that has a mechanism in which the transducer moves mechanically. For example, there are mechanically oscillating probes that aim to obtain an image mainly by contacting the epidermis from outside the subject. This is a probe that can mechanically swing the vibrators arranged in a line in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction. The present embodiment can also be applied when adjusting the swing mechanism. Also, as a probe in the body cavity, a transducer is arranged on the side surface of the rod-shaped guiding portion, which rotates around the longitudinal direction of the guiding portion, or has a transducer at the tip, which rotates and moves in various directions Can be considered. The present embodiment can also be applied to these probes.

In the present embodiment, the rotation switch 114 is a mechanism that can be operated by pressing, but the present invention is not limited to this. The rotary switch 114 has a shape like an operation knob 141.
The rotation mode of the transducer 111 may be changed depending on the amount of rotation.
Needless to say, a slide-type knob may be used, a bar-like knob may be inclined in two directions, and various modifications are possible.

The block diagram for demonstrating the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is an external view for explaining the ultrasonic probe according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. Sectional drawing for showing the mechanism of the front-end | tip part of the ultrasonic probe of FIG. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the ultrasound diagnosing device which concerns on embodiment of FIG. The figure for demonstrating the outline of operation | movement of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on embodiment of FIG. The figure for demonstrating the modification of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on embodiment of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Ultrasonic probe 111 Ultrasonic transducer 112 Motor 113 Angle detector 114 Rotation switch 120 Guide part 121 Angle part 122 Acoustic matching layer 123 Lens 124 Acoustic propagation liquid 125 Acoustic window 126 Ultrasonic transducer 130 Tip part 131 Backing material 132 Pulley 134 Case 140 Operation unit 141 Operation knob 150 Cable unit 160 Connector unit 211 Device body 213 Input device 214 Monitor 221 Ultrasonic transmission unit 222 Ultrasonic reception unit 223 B-mode processing unit 224 Doppler processing unit 225 Scan converter 226 Cine memory 227 Image composition unit 228 Control processor (CPU)
229 Storage medium 230 Other interface 231 Rotation controller 232 Rotation driver

Claims (9)

An ultrasonic transducer including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to a subject;
A moving mechanism for moving the ultrasonic transducer by a predetermined amount in response to an input of a drive signal ;
An operation unit for performing an input for instructing movement of the moving mechanism;
A detection unit for detecting an input by the operation unit,
A first mode for outputting the drive signal in response to detection of an input by the operation unit, and determining whether or not the input is performed during a third time interval;
According to the type of input by the operation unit, the detection time interval is performed at a first time interval or a second time interval, and the second mode for outputting the drive signal according to the detection, and
Movement control means for controlling to switch to the first mode when it is determined that the input is continued when it is determined that the input is not continued ;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: Further comprising an electrically middle to connect the said to be inserted into a body cavity of a subject ultrasonic transducer and the operating unit,
The moving mechanism is
The movement is performed by rotating the ultrasonic transducer around an axis substantially perpendicular to an ultrasonic transducer surface formed by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to 1. The moving mechanism is
The ultrasound transducer, there is performed the movement by Rukoto rotates an axis in a predetermined direction,
The movement control means moves the ultrasonic transducer so as to move with rotation of at least one of 0.5 °, 1 °, 2 °, 3 °, 5 °, and 10 °. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is controlled. The moving mechanism is
A time interval of a predetermined amount of movement by the moving mechanism changes between movement based on the drive signal output at the first time interval and movement based on the drive signal output at the second time interval.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The movement control means includes
It has a function of detecting a mode of operation to the operation unit, according to claim 1, wherein <br/> possible to determine the type of the input according to an aspect of the operation to the operating unit Ultrasound diagnostic equipment. The movement control means includes
Has a function of detecting a time when the input is performed is continued, claims 1 to 4, characterized in <br/> possible to determine the type of the input according to the length of the continuous time An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to 1. The movement control means includes
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising a function of detecting an operation amount to the operation unit, and determining the type of the input according to the operation amount. An ultrasonic transducer including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to a subject;
A moving mechanism for moving the ultrasonic transducer by a predetermined amount in response to an input of a drive signal ;
An operation unit for performing an input for instructing movement of the moving mechanism;
A detection unit for detecting an input by the operation unit,
A first mode for outputting the drive signal in response to detection of an input by the operation unit, and determining whether or not the input is performed during a third time interval;
According to the type of input by the operation unit, the detection time interval is performed at a first time interval or a second time interval, and the second mode for outputting the drive signal according to the detection, and
Movement control means for controlling to switch to the first mode when it is determined that the input is continued when it is determined that the input is not continued ;
An ultrasonic probe comprising: An ultrasonic transducer including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to a subject;
A moving mechanism for moving the ultrasonic transducer by a predetermined amount in response to an input of a drive signal ;
An operation unit for performing an input for instructing movement of the moving mechanism;
For an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a detection unit for detecting an input by the operation unit ,
A first mode for outputting the drive signal in response to detection of an input by the operation unit, and determining whether or not the input is performed during a third time interval;
In the second mode in which the detection time interval is performed at the first time interval or the second time interval according to the type of input by the operation unit, and the drive signal is output according to the detection,
An ultrasonic wave that is controlled to switch to the first mode when it is determined that the input is not continued, and to the second mode when it is determined that the input is continued. Diagnostic device control program.

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