JPH03146042A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely secure an air duct, and also, to obtain a satisfactory ultrasonic diagnostic image by executing repeatedly expansion and contraction of a balloon at the time of ultrasonic diagnosis for the lungs and the bronchus, etc. CONSTITUTION:When a motor 17 is driven, a cam 16 rotates, and pushes and moves a piston 14. As a result, a transfer medium 7 stored in a cylinder 13 is fed into a sheath 8 through a tube 11 and a feed water suction hole 12 and it is injected into a balloon 10 from a feed/discharge liquid hole 9 and the balloon 10 expands, and in the case an ultrasonic probe 1 is inserted into the bronchus, the expanded balloon 10 adheres closely to the inner wall of the bronchus. Subsequently, an ultrasonic vibrator 5 scans the part to be examined and its observation signal is outputted to an observation device 3 through an operating part 2 and an observation image is obtained. When the cam 16 rotates and detached from the piston 14, the piston 14 is pushed back by a return motion spring 15, the transfer medium 7 is sucked into the cylinder 13, the transfer medium 7 in the balloon is also sucked into the sheath 8 and the balloon 10 contracts. Accordingly, an air duct is secured.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, specifically an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using an ultrasonic endoscope, in which a balloon at the tip of an ultrasonic probe is attached. This invention relates to liquid supply control means.

[Prior Art] In general, in an ultrasound endoscope, a head consisting of an ultrasound transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasound, covered with an expandable balloon, is disposed at the tip of an ultrasound probe inserted into a body cavity. When the balloon is in use, a liquid such as physiological saline or oil for ultrasound transmission is supplied from the outside. Then, by supplying liquid to inflate the balloon and bringing it into close contact with the body cavity wall, a liquid-based ultrasound propagation path is formed between the transducer and the body cavity wall, which improves the propagation of the ultrasound and allows the ultrasound transducer to At the time of drive scanning, a good diagnosis is made without attenuation due to air.

Therefore, this type of ultrasound endoscope requires a supply/drainage mechanism for feeding and draining liquid into the balloon.
In this regard, various methods have been proposed in the past. For example, JP-A-58-65148 and JP-A-58-65
In the ultrasonic endoscope provided by Publication No. 129, the same suction mechanism is used to suction remove dirt and the like within the body cavity and to discharge liquid within the balloon. Also,
The technical means disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 56-63345 includes a storage tank for storing liquid to be supplied into a balloon in a main body including an ultrasonic probe, and a liquid storage tank for feeding the liquid in this tank into the balloon. The pump is provided with a pump for controlling the pump, and the drive of the pump is controlled by operating a pump operating member provided within the main body. Furthermore, the present applicant has filed a patent application
As suggested by No. 117241, a bypass path consisting of a hollow channel communicating the space at the proximal end and the space at the distal end of the balloon was formed to prevent the body cavity tract from being blocked by inflation of the balloon. There are some things.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, when making a diagnosis by inserting an ultrasound endoscope into the trachea or bronchi, etc., it is necessary to insert a balloon into the tracheal wall or the trachea wall in order to eliminate the attenuation of ultrasound waves caused by air. Since it is inflated to fit tightly against the bronchial wall, it obstructs the airway during the diagnosis. This obstruction of the airway is very dangerous if done for a long time. Therefore, in order to eliminate this danger, the invention of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 1-117241 provides a hollow channel between the proximal end and the distal end of the balloon. This creates a bypass path for the airways that communicate with the airways. However, although this technical means can relieve the risk of airway obstruction,
This is accompanied by the problem that an ultrasound image cannot be obtained due to the attenuation of the ultrasound waves by the air in the hollow channel portion.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system in which the airway can be secured safely when using a balloon when diagnosing the lungs and bronchi using an ultrasound endoscope, and ultrasound diagnostic images can also be obtained satisfactorily. We provide ultrasonic diagnostic equipment.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] In order to achieve the above object, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer disposed at its tip, and the ultrasonic probe. A balloon arranged so as to cover the periphery of the ultrasonic transducer at the tip, a liquid feeding/draining means for supplying and draining an ultrasonic transmission medium into the balloon, and this liquid feeding/draining means. The device is characterized by comprising an operation control means for sequentially driving and controlling the liquid feeding operation and liquid draining operation of the balloon. Deflation and inflation are repeated, securing the airway when the balloon is deflated, and obtaining an ultrasound image when it is inflated.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an ultrasound endoscope in an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

This ultrasonic endoscope consists of an ultrasonic probe 1 inserted into the trachea or bronchus in a body cavity, an operating section 2 connected to the ultrasonic probe 1, and an ultrasonic output through the operating section 2. Its main parts are composed of a viewing 711j device 3 that receives input and obtains an observation image, and a water supply/suction device 4 that is a liquid supply/drainage means.

The ultrasonic probe 1 has an ultrasonic transducer 5 rotatably disposed within its tip. The tip is connected. The flexible shaft 6 is driven by a drive motor (not shown) in the operating section 2, and the ultrasonic transducer 5 also rotates, transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in the radial direction. It is designed to scan the area to be examined using waves. Further, the inside of this ultrasonic probe 1 is filled with an ultrasonic transmission medium 7 such as degassed water.

Further, the sheath 8 of the ultrasonic probe 1 has a liquid feeding/draining hole 9 formed at the tip of the sheath 8 facing the ultrasonic transducer 5 . A balloon 10 is attached to the sheath 8 so as to cover the liquid feeding/draining hole 9. Further, a water suction hole 12 is provided in a portion of the sheath 8 near the operating section 2, and this water suction hole 12 and the water suction device 4 are connected by a tube 11.

The water supply and suction device 4 includes a cylinder 13 that stores the ultrasonic transmission medium 7 inside and is connected to the tube 11, and a piston 14 for pushing out and suctioning the transmission medium 7 within the cylinder 13. A piston return spring 15 is disposed between the flange 14a of the piston 14 and the immovable housing 4a of the water supply/suction device 4, and a spring 15 is in pressure contact with the piston 14 to move the piston 14 forward. It is composed of a cam 16, a motor 17 for rotationally driving the cam 16, and a motor rotation speed control circuit 18 for controlling the rotation speed of the motor 17, and these are housed in the immovable housing 4a. It is stored.

The cam 16 for reciprocating the piston 14 is formed of an eccentric triangular plate cam having a partially arcuate operating cam edge 16a with a radius α, and its central portion near the top is connected to the output shaft of the motor 17. 17a. The operating cam edge 16a formed in the shape of a partial arc has a circumference of v1/
The cam edge 18a moves the piston 14 forward, sends out the ultrasonic transmission medium 7, and inflates the balloon 10. Observations are made by rotating and scanning the image.

In the ultrasonic endoscope of the first embodiment configured in this way, when the motor 17 is driven, the cam 16 rotates,
The piston 14 is pushed by the operating cam edge 16a. Then, the ultrasonic transmission medium 7 stored in the cylinder 13
is tube 11. The water is fed into the sheath 8 through the water suction hole 12, and then injected into the balloon 10 through the liquid feed/drain hole 9. Therefore, when the balloon 10 is inflated and the ultrasound probe 1 is pushed into the bronchus, for example,
The inflated balloon 10 comes into close contact with the inner wall of the bronchus. Therefore, in this state, the ultrasonic transducer 5 scans the subject, and the observation signal is output to the observation device 3 through the operation section 2 to obtain an observation image.

In addition, the cam 16 rotates and the operating cam edge 16a moves toward the piston 1.
4, the piston 14 is pushed back by the reciprocating spring 15, so the ultrasonic transmission medium 7 in the sheath 8
is the water supply suction hole 12. cylinder 13 through tube 11
As a result, the transmission medium 7 within the balloon 10 is also drawn into the sheath 8, causing the balloon 10 to contract. Therefore, the airway is secured when the balloon 10 is deflated.

The rotation of the cam 16 is performed by a drive motor 17, and the rotation speed of the motor 17 is controlled by a motor rotation speed control circuit 18. The repetition period of inflation and deflation of the balloon 10 is set by the rotation speed of the motor 17, and if the rotation of the motor 17 is fast, the repetition period of expansion and contraction of the balloon 10 is shortened, and when the rotation of the motor 17 is slow, The repetition period of inflation and deflation of the balloon 10 becomes longer.

In the case of the trachea, this repetition cycle is preferably matched to breathing, and in the case of the bronchi, it is desirable to deflate the balloon 10 at intervals of about 10 seconds.

In addition, the cam 16 in the above embodiment does not need to be rotated continuously, but the operating cam edge 16H is shortened so that the motor 17 is stopped when the piston 14 is moved forward by the cam edge 16a. You can also strain it.

According to this Ts1 embodiment, the airway can be secured when the balloon 10 is repeatedly inflated and deflated. Therefore, good observation images can be obtained in a short period of time without requiring the examiner to secure the airway or interrupting the diagnosis. Further, since the cycle of expansion and contraction is determined by simply changing the rotation speed of the motor 17, a remarkable effect can be obtained in that a desired cycle can be selected and diagnosed depending on the region to be diagnosed.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an ultrasound endoscope used in an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this second embodiment, the tip of one ultrasonic probe is constructed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, but the ultrasonic wave transmission medium 7 has a liquid feeding/draining means and liquid feeding/draining means. The operation control means for the repetitive operation period is different.

That is, an ultrasonic transducer 5 is disposed at the tip of the ultrasonic probe IA, and a flexible shaft 6 performs a radial scan, and the ultrasonic transducer 5 is covered with the probe. A balloon 10 is arranged around the outer circumference of 1A.

Inside the sheath 8 of the ultrasonic probe IA, there is one liquid feed pipe and a liquid drain pipe 20 parallel to the flexible shaft 6.
The ends of the liquid supply pipe 19 and the liquid drainage pipe 20 are led out into the upper balloon 10 as a liquid supply port 21 and a first port 22, respectively. The rear end of one of the liquid sending pipes is connected to a first solenoid valve 23 on the operating section 2 side, the solenoid valve 23 is connected to a pump 24, and the rear end of the liquid drain pipe 20 is on the operating section 2 side. In the second solenoid valve 25
The solenoid valve 25 is connected to a tank 26. Further, the first and second solenoid valves 23 and 25 are connected to a solenoid valve control circuit 27. and the pump 24
is connected to a pump drive circuit 28 , the pump 24 is further connected to the tank 26 through a tube 29 , and the electromagnetic valve control circuit 27 is connected to an oscillator 30 .

In the second embodiment configured in this manner, when the balloon 10 is inflated, the first solenoid valve 23 is opened by the solenoid valve control circuit 27, the second solenoid valve 25 is closed, and the second solenoid valve 25 is closed.
Next, the pump drive circuit 28 is operated. Then, as the pump 24 is driven, the ultrasonic transmission medium 7 in the tank 26 is transmitted through the tube 29 to the first electromagnetic valve 23 and the liquid feeding pipe 19.
The medium 7 is injected into the balloon 10 through the balloon 10, so that the balloon 10 is inflated. Therefore, the radial scan by the super wave vibrator 5 is performed in this swollen state.

When the balloon 10 is to be deflated, the pump 24 is stopped, the first solenoid valve 23 is closed, and the second solenoid valve 25 is opened.
is pushed out from the drain port 22 through the drain pipe 20 and the second electromagnetic valve 25 into the tank 26, thereby causing the balloon 10 to contract. Therefore, the airway is secured in this deflated state of the balloon 10.

In this way, the repeated inflation and deflation operations of the balloon 10 are performed in the first
and the solenoid valve control circuit 27 that controls the second solenoid valve 23, 25 depending on the open/close state of the second solenoid valve 23.
By operating in synchronization with the signal of the oscillator 30, the balloon 10 can be repeatedly expanded and deflated at the same period as the oscillation period of the oscillator 30.

Therefore, according to this second embodiment, the airway can be easily secured by periodically inflating and deflating the balloon by opening and closing the solenoid valve, and furthermore, by simply changing the oscillation frequency of the oscillator, the balloon can be The cycle of expansion and contraction can be changed, allowing the user to easily adjust the cycle.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a first modification of the second embodiment. The ultrasonic endoscope of this first modification has a changeover switch 31 between the solenoid valve control circuit 27 and the oscillator 30.
is provided, and the solenoid valve control circuit 27 is operated by the output of the oscillator 30 by the changeover switch 31, or
The foot switch 32 can be used to select whether to operate or not. The other configurations are the same as the ultrasound endoscope of the second embodiment.

In the ultrasonic endoscope shown in Fig. 3, the changeover switch 3
1 to the oscillator 30 side, the balloon 10 repeatedly expands and contracts with the oscillation cycle of the oscillator 30, and when the selector switch 31 is switched to the foot switch 32 side, the balloon 10 repeats the expansion and contraction for the time the foot switch 31 is on. Balloon 10
will be inflated and the balloon 10 will be deflated only during the off time.

Therefore, according to the first modification of the second embodiment, it is possible to select whether to inflate and deflate the balloon automatically or manually by simply switching the selection switch 31, thereby expanding the scope of use. Can be done. Furthermore, the same effect can be obtained by attaching the tool to the operating section 2 instead of the two-tooth switch 32 described above.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an ultrasound endoscope further showing a modification of TS2 of the second embodiment. In the ultrasound endoscope of this second modification, the control signal from the solenoid valve control circuit 27 to the second solenoid valve 25 in the second embodiment is transmitted to the freeze signal generator 33, that is, the still image signal generator. The output of the freeze signal generator 33 is input to the freeze circuit in the viewing a11 device 3.

In the ultrasonic endoscope of this second modification, the control signal from the control circuit 27 to the second solenoid valve 25 is also manually inputted to the freeze signal generator 33, and the freeze signal generator 33 outputs the control signal from the control circuit 27 to the second solenoid valve 25. When a control signal to open the balloon 25 is input manually, that is, when the balloon 10 is deflated, a freeze signal is output to the freeze circuit of the observation device 3 to freeze (still) the observed image. Conversely, if a control signal that closes the second electromagnetic valve 25 is input, that is, when the balloon 10 is inflated, no freeze signal is output.

As in the present invention, when the balloon is repeatedly inflated and deflated to alternately obtain diagnostic images and securing the airway,
When the balloon is deflated, the airway is secured, but even if an ultrasound scan is performed, the air attenuates the ultrasound waves.
It becomes impossible to obtain images that allow diagnosis.

For this reason, as in this second modification, when the balloon 10 is deflated, the image is frozen, and by displaying a good diagnostic image obtained when the balloon 10 is inflated, it is possible to always obtain a good diagnosis image rather than intermittently. This makes it possible to diagnose while looking at continuous images.

Next, FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third modified example of the above-mentioned 2''A embodiment. This third modified example is similar to the above-mentioned second embodiment and 1st and 2nd modified examples. In this example, the solenoid valve control circuit 27 was controlled by an oscillator 30, but is now controlled by a counter.

That is, in the ultrasound endoscope of this third modification, the counter 34 is used instead of the oscillator 30 in the second embodiment.
is connected to the solenoid valve control circuit 27. This counter 3
The two-phase output of the rotary encoder 36 provided in the operation unit 2, that is, the pulse output output every time the rotary encoder 36 rotates once, is input to the counter 4. A count setting switch 35 is connected to.

In the third modified example configured in this way, the count number is set in advance by the count number setting switch 35, and the Z rod 1 output pulses from the rotary encoder 36 are counted by the counter 34 up to the set count number. .

The counter 34 inverts the output level from "L" to "H" to "L" to "H" every set count, and the output of the counter 34 is input to the electromagnetic valve control circuit 27.

The solenoid valve control circuit 27 opens the first solenoid valve 23 and closes the second solenoid valve 25 when the output of the counter 34 is at "H" level according to the output of the counter 34.
When the output of No. 4 is at "L" level, the first solenoid valve 23 is closed.
The second solenoid valve 25 is controlled to be open. That is, when the output of the counter 34 is at the "H" level, the balloon 10 is inflated, and when the output of the counter 34 is at the "L0" level, the balloon 10 is deflated. In FIG. 6, the set count number is set to "3". It shows the operation timing of each part when set. Further, the count number can be set to an arbitrary number using the count number setting switch 35.

According to this modification, the airway can be secured similarly to the above embodiments and modifications, and the Z of the rotary encoder can be
By inflating and deflating the balloon in synchronization with the phase,
Balloons can be controlled while displaying one screen reliably.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the balloon is repeatedly inflated and deflated in ultrasonic diagnosis of Ikli, bronchus, etc., so that the airway can be securely secured and a good ultrasonic wave can be obtained. It is possible to provide an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that can obtain ultrasound diagnostic images.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ultrasonic endoscope in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 and 4 are schematic configuration diagrams of an ultrasound endoscope respectively showing a first modification and a second modification of the embodiment 2'A in FIG. 2. , FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ultrasound endoscope showing a third modification of the second embodiment shown in FIG. This is a time chart 1 showing the operation.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An ultrasonic probe with an ultrasonic transducer disposed at the tip; a balloon disposed so as to cover the ultrasonic transducer at the tip of the ultrasonic probe; A liquid feeding/draining means for supplying and draining an ultrasonic transmission medium, and an operation control means for sequentially driving and controlling the liquid feeding operation and liquid draining operation of the liquid feeding/draining means. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment.