JPH02279146A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize a miniature probe and to convert it to disposal by allowing a driving system of the miniature probe which is inserted through a channel of a main probe and executes a scan to use in common to that for the main probe so that the miniature probe can be separated from the driving system and a signal transfer system. CONSTITUTION:A main probe 1 is provided with an ultrasonic vibrator 2 on the tip, a flexible shaft 3 is connected to the ultrasonic vibrator 2, and the flexible shaft 3 transmits rotational force to the ultrasonic vibrator 2 by connecting the other end through a connecting member to a motor 5 placed in a sub-operating part 4. To the ultrasonic vibrator 12, a cable 11 is connected, and inputted to a preamplifier 13 through a slip ring 12. On the tip of a minia ture probe 17, as well, an ultrasonic vibrator 18 is provided, and brought to radial rotation. To the ultrasonic vibrator 18, a coaxial cable 19 for transmitting and receiving a signal is connected. In such a way, a two-screen display by a scan of the main probe 1 and the miniature probe 17 is executed by a monitor. The miniature probe 17 is divided into a main rotation axis 17a part and a sub-rotation axis 17b part, and transfers rotational force, etc., for the main probe 1 to the main rotation axis 17a through the sub-rotation axis 17b.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention emits ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic transducer provided at an insertion portion into a body cavity, and detects reflected echoes generated due to differences in acoustic impedance of body tissues. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic device that receives, processes signals, and displays images on an observation device.

(Prior art) Some ultrasonic diagnostic devices have a large-diameter mechanical radial ultrasonic probe inserted into another ultra-thin diameter ultrasonic probe, and the two ultrasonic probes display two angles of view. be.

The one shown in FIG. 7 is one of them, and an ultrasonic transducer 42a provided in a mechanical radial ultrasonic probe 42 is rotated by a motor 43 in a direction perpendicular to the probe axis.

Rotation detection of the motor 43 is performed by an encoder 44, rotation control is performed by a servo circuit 45, and a drive signal is provided by a transistor 4.
Send via 6. These servo systems are provided in the observation device 52.

On the other hand, the ultrasonic probe 47 with an ultra-thin diameter is similarly equipped with an ultrasonic transducer 47a at its tip, and has a motor 48, an encoder 49,
A servo circuit 50 and a transistor 51 are separately provided to control rotation and transmit drive signals.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in conventional ultrasound diagnostic equipment, the drive system for the ultrasonic probe with an ultra-thin diameter is provided separately from the ultrasonic probe with a large diameter, which hinders the miniaturization and disposal of ultrasonic probes. It had become.

The present invention is proposed to solve the above problems,
The object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having an ultrasonic probe with an ultra-thin diameter that can be downsized and made disposable.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having at least two ultrasonic probes and displaying at least two angles of view on the observation device. , a transmission member is provided for transmitting the driving force of a drive unit that drives the ultrasound transducer of one ultrasound probe to the ultrasound transducer of another ultrasound probe,
This transmission member is provided with a signal cable connection portion so that the transmission/reception signals of the other ultrasonic probe can be transmitted and received to the observation device, and the other ultrasonic probe is detachably connected to the transmission member.

In this way, the drive system and signal transmission system of the ultrasonic probe with an ultra-thin diameter are provided on the side of the ultrasonic probe with a large diameter. What is necessary is just to provide a main body to be formed.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. A large-diameter mechanical radial ultrasonic probe 1 (hereinafter referred to as the main probe) has an ultrasonic transducer 2 at its tip, and a flexible shaft 3 is connected to the ultrasonic transducer 2. Extend. The other end of the flexible shaft 3 is connected to the motor 5 in the auxiliary operating section 4 via a connecting member so as to transmit rotational force to the ultrasonic transducer 2 . The rotation angle of the motor 5 is detected by an encoder 6.

Note that the rotational force of the motor 5 is transmitted to the flexible shaft 3 via the belt 7 and the pulley 8, and the rotation angle of the encoder 6 is detected by setting the pulley ratio so that the rotation angles of the flexible shaft 3 and the encoder 6 are the same. pulley 9,
This is done by applying the rotational force of the flexible shaft 3 via the belt 10.

The ultrasonic transducer 2 has a coaxial cable 1 for receiving and transmitting signals.
1 is connected to the slip ring 12 in the sub-operation section 4.
The signal is manually inputted to the preamplifier 13 via the preamplifier 13. The output of the preamplifier 13 is demodulated by a detection circuit 14, converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 15, and further displayed as an image by an OSC (digital scan converter) 16.

An ultrasonic transducer 18 is also provided at the tip of an ultrasonic probe 17 with an ultra-thin diameter (hereinafter referred to as a miniature probe), and is configured to rotate radially.

A coaxial cable 19 for transmitting and receiving signals is connected to this ultrasonic transducer 18. The miniature probe 17 is rotated via the sub-rotation shaft 20.

The sub-rotating shaft 20 is connected to the pulley 9 of the main probe 1 via a belt 21, a pulley 22, and a belt 23, and rotates upon receiving the rotational force of the main probe 1.

Then, the ultrasonic transducer 18 is rotated.

The coaxial cable 19 connected to the ultrasonic transducer 18 is
It is connected to a preamplifier 25 via a slip ring 24 provided on the sub-operation section 4, and the output of the preamplifier 25 is connected to the detection circuit 2.
The signal is demodulated by the A/D converter 27, converted into a digital signal by the A/D converter 27, and then displayed as an image by the DSC 2B. In this way, a two-screen display is performed on the monitor by scanning the main probe 1 and the miniature probe 17. In order to excite the ultrasonic transducers 2 and 18, a rotation angle signal (physiological signal) from the encoder 6 is received, and the pulser circuit 29 applies a pulse voltage to the ultrasonic transducer 2 of the main probe 1 to excite it. .

In addition, the A-phase signal of the encoder 6 is input to the delay circuit 30,
The balsa circuit 31 converts the signal into a signal with a delay added thereto, and uses the signal to send the ultrasonic transducer 18 of the miniature probe 17 to the balsa circuit 31.
This is done by applying a pulse voltage to the oscillator to excite it.

In this way, in this embodiment, the miniature probe 17 is
It is divided into a main rotating shaft 17a portion and a sub rotating shaft 17b portion, and the rotational force for the main probe l is transmitted to the main rotating shaft 17a via the sub rotating shaft 17b.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the sub-rotating shaft portion 17b. The auxiliary rotating shaft 20 has a wheel shaft 32 that receives the rotational force of the belt 21 formed on the side of the auxiliary operating section 4, and has a main body 33 extending toward the main rotating shaft in continuation with the wheel shaft 32. A connector 3 is attached to the end of the main body 33.
4 is provided so that rotational force can be transmitted to the main rotating shaft and a coaxial cable 19 can be connected. Note that the coaxial cable 19 is connected to the preamplifier 25 via a slip ring 24 on the side of the sub-operation section 4 .

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the main rotating shaft portion 11a. The miniature probe 17 has an ultrasonic transducer 18 provided at the tip of a main body 35, and a coaxial cable 19 arranged inside a flexible shaft 3B continuous with the ultrasonic transducer 18, which is connected to a terminal 36 provided on the auxiliary rotating shaft side. . This terminal 36 is provided on a rotating part 37 that is attached to the main body 35 in an airtight and watertight state, and is configured to transmit the rotational motion of the auxiliary rotating shaft 20 to the flexible shaft 38 by being coupled to the connector 34 of the auxiliary rotating shaft 20. It has become.

The operation of this embodiment configured in this way will be explained as follows.
When the motor 5 in the sub-operation section 4 is rotated, the rotational force is transmitted through the belt 7 and the pulley 8 to rotate the flexible shaft 3 in the main probe 1, which rotates the ultrasonic transducer 18 at the tip and also to the pulley 9. belt 23 connected to
The sub rotating shaft 20 is also rotated via the pulley 22 and belt 21. A miniature probe 17 is connected to the sub-rotary shaft 20 via a connector 34, and the sub-rotary shaft 20
The rotation causes the flexible shaft 38 to rotate, thereby causing the ultrasonic transducer 18 to rotate.

On the other hand, the ultrasonic transducer 1 provided on the miniature probe 17
The signal for exciting the ultrasonic transducer 8 is transmitted via the coaxial cable 19, and the received signal from the ultrasonic transducer 18 is also transmitted via the same coaxial cable 19, and is connected to the slip ring via the terminal 36 and the connector 34. The signal is then sent to the observation device 4a, where it is further processed by a necessary circuit and sent to the observation device 4a, where it is displayed as an image on a monitor.

The ultrasonic transducer 2 of the main probe 1 is excited by a signal transmitted via the coaxial cable 11, and the ultrasonic transducer 2
The received signal from the observation device 4a is also transmitted via the same coaxial cable 11, subjected to signal processing by the slip ring 12, and further in a necessary circuit, and transmitted to the observation device 4a, where the image is displayed on the monitor for two-screen display. In this way, the timing of the excitation of the ultrasonic transducers of both probes is delayed from that of the main probe, and the miniature probe is excited, so that interference between the two ultrasonic waves does not occur (the timing of the excitation of the ultrasonic transducers of both probes is delayed, and the timing of excitation of the ultrasonic transducers of both probes is delayed, and the timing of excitation of the miniature probe is delayed, so that interference between the two ultrasonic waves does not occur (the timing of excitation of the ultrasonic transducers of both probes is delayed), and the timing of excitation of the miniature probe is delayed compared to that of the main probe. can be displayed.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which parts corresponding to the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals (the same applies to the following embodiments). In this embodiment, the miniature probe-type slim ring and preamplifier that were provided in the sub-operation section 4 in the first embodiment are provided between the sub-rotary shaft 20 and the miniature probe 17. Other configurations and operations are similar to those of the first embodiment, but in the case of this embodiment, the sub-operation section 4 can be made smaller. In addition, in this embodiment, the portion between the sub rotating shaft 20 and the miniature probe 17 may be made into an actuator.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the rotational force for rotating the ultrasonic transducer of the main probe is converted into linear drive to drive the miniature probe mechanically linearly. It is something.

To move the miniature probe 17 forward and backward in the axial direction,
This is done by moving the connector 33a forward and backward. In other words, connector 3
A cam 39 that moves the connector 33a forward and backward while rotating with the rotation of the motor is adjacent to the side portion of the connector 33a in the forward and backward movement direction.
will be established. To rotate this cam 39, a gear 40 (or a pulley) transmits the rotational force transmitted from the motor to the camshaft via a belt 41.

The connector 33a is provided with a terminal 34a, to which the terminal 34a of the miniature probe 17 is connected to establish electrical continuity.

Furthermore, an elastic member 42 for pushing the connector 33a toward the cam 39 is provided on the opposite side of the cam 39 in the forward and backward movement direction of the connector 33a.

Since this embodiment is configured in this manner, when the driving force of the motor is transmitted to the cam 39 to push the connector 33a in the axial direction of the miniature probe 17, the connector cover 33a moves in the direction of the ultrasonic transducer 18. If you further rotate the cam 39 to push away the connector 33a and release it,
When the elastic member 42 is pressed in the opposite direction, the force causes the connector 33a to move in the opposite direction. By repeating these operations and driving the ultrasonic transducer 18 at the same time, the miniature probe 17 can repeat linear scanning. The received signal generated by driving the ultrasonic transducer 18 is transmitted to the observation device through the coaxial cable 19, terminals 36a, 34a, and other necessary circuits, where it is image-processed.

Note that if the shape of the cam 39 and the gear ratio of the gear 40 are determined, the miniature probe 1 can be detected from the A-phase signal of the encoder.
The amount of forward and backward movement of 7 can be calculated. Therefore, a linear encoder for the miniature probe 17 is not required.

FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which the cam 39, connector 33a1, elastic material 42, etc. provided in the sub-scanning section 4 in the third embodiment are connected to the sub-scanning section 4 and the miniature probe 17. A set of attachments is provided between them, and is connected to a gear 40 provided in the sub-scanning section 4. By doing so, the sub-operation section 4 can be made smaller.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the drive system of the miniature probe inserted into the channel of the main probe for scanning is also used for the main probe, so that it is not provided independently, and the drive system of the miniature probe, which is inserted into the main probe channel for scanning, is not provided independently. Since it can be separated from the transmission system, the miniature probe can be made smaller and
Disposal is now possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 2 and 3 are detailed views of the same portion; FIG. 4 is a partial configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5 is a partial configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a partial configuration diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram showing a conventional example. It is. ■ Main probe 2 Ultrasonic transducer 4
...Sub-operation section 4a...Observation device 17...
Miniature probe 18...Ultrasonic transducer 19...Coaxial cable 20...Sub-rotation axis Fig. 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having at least two ultrasonic probes and configured to display at least two angles of view on an observation device, the ultrasonic transducer of one ultrasonic probe is driven. A transmission member is provided to transmit the driving force of the drive unit to the ultrasound transducer of another ultrasound probe, and a signal cable connection part is provided to this transmission member so that the transmission/reception signal of the other ultrasound probe can be transmitted/received to the observation device. What is claimed is: 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, further comprising: a transmitting member having the other ultrasonic probe detachably connected to the transmitting member.