JPH0122651Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic blood flow meter probe used for measuring blood flow rate, blood flow velocity, etc. of a living body.

Conventionally, this type of ultrasonic blood flow meter probe (hereinafter simply referred to as a probe) includes a type that sends continuous waves and measures the difference in ultrasonic frequency between the transmitting side and the receiving side.
, a type that attaches to the outer wall of a blood vessel by placing two transducers in the direction of blood flow, and taking advantage of the fact that the propagation time between them changes depending on the flow velocity of the blood (blood flow velocity), which is the sound propagation medium. etc. were there.

FIG. 1 is a needle perspective view of an ultrasonic blood flow meter and probe using a conventional propagation type probe.

In the figure, 1 is the main body of the ultrasonic blood flow meter (hereinafter simply referred to as the main body), which has a built-in oscillator, mixing demodulator, integrator, amplifier, etc., and has a built-in oscillator, mixer demodulator, integrator, amplifier, etc., which transmits the ultrasonic frequency from the transmitted pulse and reaches the receiving side transducer. The difference between the ultrasonic frequency and the ultrasonic frequency is determined and converted into a blood flow rate, which can be directly read by the meter 2. 3 is a probe and a pipe (1 to be described later) is led out from an artificial dialysis machine (not shown).
1) is used to extract the frequency difference corresponding to the blood flow. A lead wire 4 connects the main body 1 and the probe 3 and covers signal wires for transmission and reception.

The probe 3 has a lead wire 4 connected to its end as shown in the enlarged perspective view of FIG. and the other clamping piece 8 rotatably supported at. Grooves 9 and 10 are provided in parallel on opposing surfaces of these clamping pieces 5 and 8, respectively. A pipe 11 (shown in phantom) connected to an artificial dialysis machine (not shown) can be held between the grooves 9 and 10. 12 is a transmitting ultrasonic transducer, and 13 is a receiving ultrasonic transducer. These transducers oscillate ultrasonic waves to the blood flow passing through the pipe 11 held between the grooves 9 and 10, and receive propagating waves.

However, the above probe had the following drawbacks.

The operation for pinching the blood vessel is complicated.

Since this type has two transducers embedded in one groove, if the probe is made smaller and can be used to hold and measure small blood vessels, the reflection angle of the sound waves (the angle between the outward and return paths) will be small. Too much, making accurate measurements impossible.

The present invention was devised in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, and the object is to obtain an ultrasonic blood flow meter probe that is small, can be directly implanted in a living body, is easy to operate for clamping blood vessels, and enables accurate measurement. .

Therefore, the first feature of the present invention is that one end of each is connected by a hinge or a bendable connecting member, and when the other end is fitted, a pair of clamping grips are provided with grooves that form a blood vessel insertion hole on opposing surfaces. A transmitting ultrasonic transducer is provided in one groove of the holding piece, and a receiving ultrasonic transducer is provided in the other groove, and lead wires are connected to each of the ultrasonic transducers, and one lead is connected to the other. The present invention provides a probe in which a wire is led into the inside of the other clamping piece through the hinged portion, and both this lead wire and the other lead wire are led out from the other clamping piece.

3 to 5 show a probe showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the probe 14 has a pair of clamping pieces 15,
16, and each of the holding pieces 15 and 16 is connected by a hinge connection 17 so as to be bendable. It should be noted that this joining method is not limited to this, and the two holding pieces may be joined by other methods as long as they can be bent.

Next, grooves 18 and 1 are formed on the opposing surfaces of the clamping pieces 15 and 16.
9 are provided in parallel and in a fitted state, a blood vessel insertion hole 20 is formed as shown in FIG. 21,2
Reference numeral 2 denotes a press-fitting portion, which is provided with unevenness at the ends of the holding pieces 15 and 16 facing the hinge joint 17;
As shown in the figure, they can be fitted into each other. Note that the present invention is not limited to these as long as the respective ends of the holding pieces 15 and 16 can be connected.

23 is a transmitting ultrasonic transducer, and 24 is a receiving ultrasonic transducer. These oscillators are groove 1
A part of the blood vessel insertion hole 20 is formed by having a curvature so that the surface of each of the holes 8 and 19 is exposed and the blood vessel is not prevented from being pinched. 25 and 26 are connected to the transmitting ultrasonic transducer 23 by lead wires, pass between the hinge joints 17, and are led out to a lead wire 27 to the outside.
In this embodiment, the lead wires 25 and 26 are exposed to the outside at the hinge joint portion, but the hinge joint portion may be formed slightly thicker and the lead wires may be buried.

28 and 29 are wing-shaped protrusions;
It protrudes outward from one end of 5 and 16. A hole 30 for a needle thread is made in each of the protrusions 28 and 29. This hole 30 allows it to be sewn and fixed to the muscle or connective tissue in the body cavity. In the above embodiment, the needle hole was bored in the wing-shaped protrusion provided on the clamping piece, but the needle hole may be bored directly in the clamping piece main body.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 3, a blood vessel (not shown) is inserted into the grooves 18 and 19 with both clamping pieces 15 and 16 bent at the hinge joint 17 and opened. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, put together the clamping pieces 15 and 16, and as shown in FIG.
Combine 1 and 22. Thus blood vessels (not shown)
is accommodated within the blood vessel insertion hole 20. Then, the needle holes 30 provided in the protrusions 28 and 29 are sewn into muscles, connective tissues (not shown), etc. around the blood vessel to be measured using a surgical suture needle and suture thread using the needle holes at appropriate positions.

When the main body 1 oscillates ultrasonic waves in this manner, the ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the transmitting ultrasonic transducer 23 and received by the ultrasonic receiving transducer 24 as they cross a blood vessel (not shown). This signal is lead wire 2
7 to the main body 1.

Using this embodiment in this manner provides the following effects.

The entire probe is small and lightweight, reducing costs and making it disposable.
Furthermore, if connected to a telemeter, it is convenient to carry around and is suitable for long-term monitoring and observation of dynamics.

Further, since a needle hole is provided in the gripping piece or the wing-shaped protrusion provided at one end of the gripping piece, it is possible to sew a surgical suture thread. Therefore, by sewing and fixing the probe to the connective tissue in the body's lumen, the probe can be made smaller and lighter, and stable blood flow measurement can be performed without disturbing the direction of blood flow velocity.

This is effective in that the conditions for attaching the probe to the blood vessel to be measured can always be kept constant without being affected by body movements or the pulsation of the blood vessel itself.

In addition, the mounting operation is simplified and is less invasive, making it possible to measure blood flow stably over a long period of time without anesthesia.

In order to reduce the cost of the probe during extracorporeal circulation operations, it is also possible to continuously measure and monitor the blood flow distribution of each organ in a sterile and safe manner without requiring re-sterilization and reuse.

The present invention has the following effects.

Since the ultrasonic transducers for transmitting and receiving are arranged facing each other, accurate measurements can be made even in small blood vessels, and the probe can be made smaller.

Because it is a type in which one end of a pair of gripping pieces having a groove is hinged and the other end is fitted, it is easy to fix the blood vessel within the groove even in a narrow surgical field and field of view during surgery.

Furthermore, since the lead wires are commonly led out from one side of the clamping pieces, the lead wires do not wind around the blood vessel to be measured, and occlusion of the blood vessel due to external mechanical twisting can be prevented. Furthermore, nerves and other living tissues are less likely to be damaged, the surgical operation area is reduced, and the invasion of the blood vessels to be measured is reduced.

Furthermore, since the transmission or reception lead wire of one clamping piece is led to the other clamping piece through the hinge joint, it can also serve as reinforcement for the hinge joint.

Ultrasonic transducers for transmitting and receiving are placed facing each other, and because they are sandwiched between blood vessels, even if the new connective tissue of the living body invades when implanted in the body, the transmission and reception will not be affected and will remain stable over a long period of time. Measurement is possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional extracorporeal ultrasonic blood flow meter and probe, Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the probe in Figure 1, and Figures 3 to 5 are perspective views of the probe of the present invention. , FIG. 3 shows the holding pieces in an open state, FIG. 4 shows them in a slightly closed state, and FIG. 5 shows them in a fitted state. 15, 16... Clamping piece, 17... Hinge connection,
18, 19... groove, 20... blood vessel insertion hole, 23...
... Ultrasonic transducer for transmitting, 25... Ultrasonic transducer for receiving, 27... Lead wire, 28, 29... Protruding portion.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A pair of clamping pieces each having one end connected by a hinge and having a groove forming a blood vessel insertion hole on opposing surfaces when the other end is fitted, and a transmitting ultrasonic transducer in one groove of the clamping piece. A receiving ultrasonic transducer is provided in the other groove, lead wires are led out from each of the ultrasonic transducers, and one lead wire is led into the inside of the other holding piece through the hinge joint part. An ultrasonic blood flow meter probe in which both this lead wire and the other lead wire are led out from the other clamping piece.