JPH02280749A - Supersonic wave probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the pains in diagnosis and adjust the receiving transmission direction and the focus position of the supersonic waves by using only deaerated water as catalytic substance for naked eye and using an electronic linear probe which performs electronic scan. CONSTITUTION:A linear probe 1 is arranged through a rubber seal 5 onto the bottom part of a water container 4 in which the deaerated water 3 as catalytic substance is accommodated, and the water container 4 is supported by a casing 6. In the state where the inside of the water container 4 is filled with the deaerated water 3, and the linear probe 1 is covered with water, the naked eye of an inspected patient is immersed into the deaerated water 3. Then, the motors 10 to 13 are driven by the control signal supplied from a diagnosing device body 14, and the linear probe 1 is shifted to a desired position, and the supersonic wave is received and transmitted through the electronic scan of a supersonic wave vibration element. In this case, the inspected patient in diagnosis opens his eye and gazes steady at a fixed light 2, and then the supersonic wave supplied from the linear probe 1 directly reach to the cornea E1 only through the deaerated water 3 as catalytic substance, and the scan of the supersonic wave vibrator element after setting the position of the linear probe 1 is not provided with a mechanical movement, and the inspected patient does not suffer from physical pains.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an ophthalmological ultrasound probe, and more specifically, an ophthalmic ultrasound probe that uses ultrasound, which is used in the medical field for diagnosing cataracts, etc. The present invention relates to a probe for a sonic diagnostic device.

(Prior technology) Conventionally, this type of ultrasound probe emits ultrasound waves to the surface of the cornea via a couplant with the eye open, and then emits ultrasound waves reflected from the interfaces of tissues in various parts of the eye. It is known for diagnosing intraocular conditions by receiving sound waves. This ultrasonic probe uses a mechanical sector probe that mechanically scans the ultrasonic transducer in an oscillating manner. The position of the crystalline lens is fixed by gazing at the viewing light.

Figure 3 shows the state of use of the conventional ultrasonic probe as described above. In Figure 1, P' is a mechanical sector probe, P4 is its window, 31 is a water pillow, and 3z is a degassing catalyst inside. 33 represents water, 33 represents a contact lens, E represents an eyeball, and El represents a cornea. That is, in the conventional structure, the contact lens 33 is placed over the cornea Ei, and the water pillow 31 is interposed between the mechanical sector probe P' and the contact lens 33.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Conventionally, therefore, (1) the contact lens 33 is placed over the cornea E1 and the contact pressure of the water pillow 31 is applied to the eyeball E, causing pain to the subject.

(2) During the sector operation of the mechanical sector probe P', mechanical vibrations are transmitted to the eyeball E via the water pillow 31 and the contact lens 33, causing pain to the subject.

(2) There are two couplants, the contact lens 33 and the water pillow 31, and the presence of a window unique to the mechanical sector probe P' causes multiple reflections, refraction, and attenuation of ultrasound waves, which hinders accurate diagnosis.

There were other problems.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems,
The purpose of this is to eliminate the pain to the patient described above and the harmful effects on diagnosis such as multiple reflections, refraction, and attenuation of ultrasound due to the couplant, and to make it possible to perform accurate examinations and diagnoses. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a water container filled with degassed water as a couplant into which the naked eye is immersed, and a solid water container disposed within the water container. It is equipped with an electronic linear probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves equipped with a viewing light. Further, it is desirable to include a drive unit that rotates the electronic linear probe by a predetermined angle around a coordinate axis connecting the probe and the naked eye, and moves linearly along the coordinate axis and a coordinate axis perpendicular to the coordinate axis.

(Function) According to the present invention, since the couplant for the naked eye is only degassed water and an electronic linear probe that is scanned electronically is used, the contact pressure applied to the subject's eyeball is extremely small, making diagnosis Moreover, by making the electronic linear probe movable in multiple directions by means of a drive unit, it is possible to adjust the transmission/reception directions and focal position of the ultrasound waves.

(Example) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to two figures.

Figure 1 shows the overall configuration of this embodiment.
In the present invention, an electronic linear probe (hereinafter simply referred to as a linear probe) that electronically scans an ultrasonic transducer is used in place of the conventionally used mechanical sector probe. Namely.

In the ultrasonic probe P shown in FIG. 1, 1 is a linear probe, and a fixation lamp 2 made of an optical fiber or the like for fixing the crystalline lens E2 of the eyeball E is embedded inside the probe. Note that E is the vitreous body of eyeball E.

Here, the linear probe 1 has degassed water 3 as a couplant.
is placed at the bottom of a water container 4 in which a rubber seal 5 is interposed, and the water container 4 is supported by a casing 6. Further, 7 is a supply/drainage pump for the deaerated water 3, 8 is a tray for receiving the deaerated water 3 that overflows from the water container 4 when the subject immerses his or her face in the deaerated water 3, and 17 is a linear plate. This is a sealing material for the probe 1.

Next, the driving section 9 of the linear probe 1 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 2, this drive unit 9 rotates the linear probe 1 by an angle θ with respect to its central axis (coordinate axis connecting the linear probe 1 and the naked eye) 2, and rotates the linear probe 1 with respect to the orthogonal coordinate axes x, y, and z. This is for adjusting the transmitting/receiving direction and focal position of ultrasonic waves by linearly moving them along the respective lines. And this drive section 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, there are a stepping motor 10 for rotational movement at an angle θ, a stepping motor 11 for linear movement along the coordinate axis Y, a stepping motor 12 for linear movement along the coordinate axis X, and a stepping motor 12 for linear movement along the coordinate axis Z. A stepping motor 13 is provided for linear motion. The rubber seal 5 functions to allow the linear probe 1 to move smoothly in the angle θ direction and along the coordinate axes X, Y, and Z.

Further, in FIG. 1, 14 is a diagnostic device equipped with a display 15, and 16 is a cable that connects this diagnostic device main body 14 to the second probe 1 and each stepping motor.

In order to use the ultrasonic probe P configured in this way, the subject should use the naked eye as shown in FIG. Soak in deaerated water 3. Thereafter, the linear probe 1 is moved to a desired position by driving each of the motors 10 to 13 according to a control signal from the diagnostic apparatus main body 14, and ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received by electronic scanning of the ultrasonic transducer.

At this time, the subject undergoing diagnosis 1 opens his eyes and gazes at the fixation light 2, but the ultrasound from the linear probe 1 directly reaches the angle mEx only via the degassed water 3, which is the couplant. This reduces the risk of multiple reflections, refraction, attenuation, etc. of ultrasonic waves compared to the conventional case where a plurality of couplants are present.

In addition, contact lenses are not used, and the scanning of the ultrasonic transducer after the position of the linear probe 1 is set does not involve mechanical movement.

There is almost no physical pain for the subject.

Note that the water supply and drainage pump 7, the receiver plate 8, etc. described in the above embodiments are not essential components of the present invention;
Practically, it is preferable to have these.

Further, the configuration of the drive unit 9 is not limited to the above embodiment, and the direction in which the linear probe 1 is moved by the drive unit 9 and the number of coordinate axes are also not particularly limited.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, an electronic linear probe is used and the couplant is only degassed water. Accurate inspection by eliminating inconveniences such as multiple reflections, refraction, and attenuation of ultrasound waves.

Diagnosis can be performed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal structure of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the driving section, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the prior art. 1...Electronic linear probe 2...Fixation light 3.
... Deaerated water 4 ... Water container 5 ... Rubber seal 6 ... Casing 7 ... Water supply and drainage pump 8
・The receiver is a plate 9 ・Drive parts 10 to 13 ・・
・Stepping motor 14...Diagnostic device body 15...Display 16...Cable 17...Seal material E・
・・Eyeball E・Cornea E2・Lens E3
...Vitreous body patent applicant Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A water container filled with degassed water as a couplant into which the naked eye is immersed, and an electronic linear probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves placed within this water container and equipped with a fixation light. An ultrasonic probe characterized by: (2) Claim comprising a drive unit that rotates the electronic linear probe by a predetermined angle around a coordinate axis connecting the probe and the naked eye, and moves linearly along the coordinate axis and a coordinate axis perpendicular to the coordinate axis. 1) The ultrasonic probe described above.