JPH03168133A - Ultrasonic medical apparatus for prostate gland - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve a higher treating effect significantly by arranging a vibrator to be used in common for diagnostic display and treatment of prostate so that the optimum position of the vibrator can be checked and set on a monitor before the start of a treatment. CONSTITUTION:First, after the insertion of a probe 10 into rectum R from anus, a mode switching unit 22 is set to a diagnostic display mode. A vibrator 14 on a rotor 20 connected to a motor 18 continues action of depicting a circular arc with a reciprocal rotation. A received signal outputted from a transmitting/ receiving unit 24 is converted to an image signal with a digital scan converter(DSC) 30 and based on an output thereof, a tomographic image of prostate P is displayed at the current inserting position of the probe 10 on a monitor 32. Therefore, the optimum position for the irradiation of beams for treatment of the vibrator 14 can be set selectively with respect to the prostate gland P. When the mode switching unit 22 is set to a treatment mode, an excitation signal for treatment is supplied to the same vibrator 14 from a high frequency amplifier 28 and a powerful ultrasonic beam is irradiated accurately to the prostate gland P from the vibrator 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic prostate treatment device, and particularly to an ultrasonic prostate treatment device that irradiates an ultrasonic beam from within the rectum toward the prostate to produce a medical effect. .

[Prior Art] An ultrasonic prostate treatment device that utilizes the biological effects of high-power ultrasound irradiation has been developed as a means of physical therapy for prostate diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, or prostate cancer. It has been confirmed that the synergistic effect created when used in combination with physical therapy produces a unique therapeutic effect on the affected area.

In this method, a long and thin rod-shaped probe carrying a vibrator is inserted into the rectum through the anus, and strong ultrasound waves generated by exciting the vibrator are directed toward the prostate through the rectal wall.

As a result, a synergistic pharmacological effect is produced by the vibration and heating effect of the irradiated ultrasound beam on the prostate gland, which has been previously administered therapeutic drugs. The therapeutic effect is greatly enhanced.

FIG. 8 shows an external perspective view of a conventional basic ultrasonic prostate treatment device.

A transrectal probe 3 is connected to the device main body 1 via a connecting cable 2.

The transrectal probe 3 has a short cylindrical therapeutic vibrator 4 near the tip of an elongated rod-shaped divine part 3b carried by a grip 3a.
is attached.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the insertion part 3b of the transrectal probe 34 is inserted into the rectum R from the anus, and the transducer 4 is inserted into the transducer 4 at a position where the therapeutic transducer 4 and the prostate P face each other across the rectal wall. By applying an excitation voltage from the device main body 1, an ultrasonic beam is irradiated toward the prostate P, resulting in a desired therapeutic effect.

Figure 10 shows a cross section of a general therapeutic vibrator used in this way, in which an electrostrictive element such as titanate zirconate (PZT) is placed inside a stainless steel case 4a. 4b is installed.

By using such a device to combine chemical treatment with drugs and physical treatment using the heating and vibration effects of ultrasound beams, the period until complete recovery can be shortened, and
The cure rate is also significantly increased.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-mentioned conventional ultrasonic prostate treatment devices basically focused on shaping the therapeutic ultrasonic beam, and therefore did not have the ability to perform treatment functions when applied to a living body. However, there was a problem in that there was little consideration given to fulfilling the objective, and it was extremely inconvenient clinically.

That is, in the conventional device, once the insertion part 3b of the probe 3 is inserted into the rectum R, the operator cannot visually grasp the relative position of the transducer 4 with respect to the prostate P, and the positioning of the therapeutic transducer 4 is difficult. The reality was that we had no choice but to rely on blind intuition and experience.

For this reason, it is very difficult to set the vibrator 4 at a position where the ultrasound beam reliably hits the prostate P, making it impossible to obtain a stable therapeutic effect.

Furthermore, in view of the difficulty of such accurate irradiation,
Conventionally, as is clear from the figure, the therapeutic transducer 4 has a cylindrical shape with approximately the same diameter as the insertion part 3b, and has a structure that increases the irradiation probability by widening the irradiation range of the ultrasound beam.

As a result, there is a drawback that the powerful ultrasonic beam for treatment is unnecessarily scattered and irradiated not only to the prostate P of the affected area to be treated but also to the surrounding healthy tissue.

In addition, since the above-mentioned conventional device is designed only for treatment, it is necessary to diagnose the affected area in advance to understand the state of the disease and the position of the prostate before applying the ultrasound prostate treatment device to the human body as a separate treatment step. Since diagnosis and treatment cannot be performed as a continuous process, it is very time-consuming, and there is a problem that this adds to the patient's discomfort and pain.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to quickly and accurately position a transducer within the rectum and accurately irradiate ultrasound only to the affected area; Another object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic prostate treatment device capable of diagnosing and treating an affected area as a continuous treatment.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the first invention of the present application provides a therapeutic power source that supplies a therapeutic excitation signal to a vibrator of a probe;
a transmitting/receiving unit that supplies diagnostic excitation signals to the transducer and receives reflected waves from the affected area via the transducer; and a diagnostic image of the affected area based on the received signal output from the transducing unit. and a mode switching unit 1 that selectively switches between a treatment mode in which the probe is connected to a treatment power supply and a diagnosis display mode in which it is connected to a transmitting and receiving unit.

Further, in the second invention of the present application, a plurality of sets of vibrator arrays each including a plurality of vibrator pieces arranged along the circumferential direction of a cylindrical vibrator holder are arranged in the axial direction of the holder. Constructed as a mesh array type transducer group, an excitation signal for diagnostic display is supplied to each transducer column of the transducer group, and the transducer pieces in each column are radially scanned, and the vibrator columns to be excited are sequentially switched and controlled. death,
Also, a transmitting/receiving unit that receives reflected waves from the affected area via each transducer array, and an image display unit that displays a plurality of diagnostic images corresponding to each of the transducer arrays from the received signal output from the transmitting/receiving unit. a storage unit that determines the position of the transducer piece in each of the transducer arrays at which the ultrasonic beam has reached the affected area from the received signal and temporarily stores the position; and a therapeutic power source that generates a therapeutic transducer excitation signal. , a transducer drive control unit that supplies an excitation 8 signal from the therapeutic power source only to the transducer piece whose position is stored by the storage unit, and a treatment mode and transmitting/receiving unit in which the probe is connected to the therapeutic power source. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a mode switching unit that selectively switches between the connected diagnostic display modes.

[Operation] According to the first invention of the present application configured as described above, a diagnostic excitation signal is first supplied from the transmitting/receiving unit 1 to the transducer of the probe inserted into the rectum, and the transducer is operated. The transmission/reception unit receives reflected waves from the affected area obtained through the control, and the received waves are supplied to the image display section to form a diagnostic image of the affected area.

The user operates the probe while viewing this diagnostic image to set the transducer to the optimal position, and then switches the mode switching unit to the treatment mode.

As a result, the probe and the therapeutic power source are connected, and a therapeutic high-frequency excitation signal is applied from the power source to the transducer set at the optimal position, and a therapeutic ultrasound beam is irradiated only to the affected area. be done.

Further, according to the second invention of the present application, when the probe is pushed into the rectum and the mode switching unit is set to the diagnostic display mode, an excitation signal for diagnostic display is sent from the transmitting/receiving unit to each transducer row of the mesh array type transducer group. is supplied, and a diagnostic image by radial scanning is displayed on the image display section for each column.

Of the transducer pieces in each transducer row, only those that contributed to the image shape of the affected area, that is, the position of the transducer piece where the ultrasound beam reached the affected area, are determined based on the received signal and temporarily Remember.

After the diagnostic display step is thus completed, when the mode switching unit is switched to the treatment mode, the treatment transducer excitation signal generated from the treatment power source is stored in the storage unit as the beam is at the position to reach the affected area and irradiate it. The vibrator drive control unit simultaneously supplies the vibrator only to the stored vibrator pieces.

[Example] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the ultrasonic prostate treatment device according to the first invention of the present application, with the probe inserted into the rectum.

The probe 10 pushed into the rectum R is inserted into the cylindrical case 1.
A vibrator 14 is supported by a rotatable motor Y [inside the rotary motor Y].

That is, a motor 18 that receives drive current from the device main body is disposed within the probe 10, which is connected to the device main body (not shown) via a cable 16, and a motor 18 that is rotatably supported on a shaft 18a. A vibrator 14 is supported on a part of the outer periphery of the body 20.

An excitation voltage is applied to this vibrator 14 from the main body of the device via the connection cable 16.

A characteristic feature of the first invention of the present application is that the vibrator 14 of the probe 10 is used both for diagnostic display and treatment of the prostate P.

Hereinafter, the structure and operation of the device of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 2 showing the circuit structure of the device of the present invention.

11 The probe 10 having the above-described configuration uses the mode switching unit 22 that switches between the diagnosis display mode and the treatment mode to display the diagnosis table tJ<11! It is connected to a transmitting/receiving unit 24 that supplies excitation signals to the vibrator 14 of the probe 10 and receives reflected waves from the affected area, and to a therapeutic power source section comprising an AC power source 26 and a high frequency amplifier 28.

A digital scan converter (hereinafter abbreviated as rDscJ) 30 is connected to the transmitter/receiver unit 1/24 for converting a received signal during diagnostic display into a display signal, and the output of the DSC 30 is used as an image display section. supply to the monitor 32.

The mode switching unit 22 and the transmitting/receiving unit 1
・24, the high frequency amplifier 28 and the DSC 30 are an operation panel unit 34 that outputs a predetermined command signal based on the user's operation
The drive is controlled by

Next, the operation of the first invention of the present application having the above configuration will be explained.

First, after appropriately inserting the probe 10 into the rectum R through the anus by a predetermined amount, the operation panel section 34 is operated to set the 12-mode switching unit 22 to the diagnostic display mode.

Thereby, the transmitting/receiving unit I.24 is connected to the probe 10, and an excitation signal of a frequency suitable for diagnostic display is supplied to the vibrator 14 from the power supply built in the switching unit 24.

At the same time, the motor 18 receives power from the transmitting/receiving unit 24 and repeats rotation within a predetermined angle.

As a result, at the position where the probe 10 is inserted, the vibrator 14 on the rotating body 20 connected to the motor 18 continues to move in a circular arc by reciprocating rotation.

The transducer 14, which performs such a rotational movement, is supplied with an excitation signal at a predetermined repetition frequency from the transmitter/receiver unit 24, so that the transducer 14 receives the prostate P at predetermined angles.
An ultrasonic beam is emitted toward the transducer 14, and the reflected wave is converted into voltage again via the transducer 14 and input to the transmitter/receiver unit 24 as an electrical signal.

The received signal output from the transmitter/receiver unit 24 is sent to the DSC3.
0 is converted into an image signal, and a tomographic image of the prostate P at the current insertion position of the probe 10 is displayed on the monitor 32 based on the output.

Therefore, while looking at the monitor screen, the user determines the position of the probe 10 inserted into the rectum R by following the arrows Ell a b in the figure.
By adjusting the movement in the direction, it becomes possible to select and set the optimal position for irradiating the therapeutic beam of the transducer 14 to the prostate P, and there is no need to manually locate the position as in the conventional method.

Generally, as shown in FIG. 3, if the probe 10 is set at the center of the prostate P displayed on the cursor 36 on the screen of the monitor 32, this can be said to mean the optimal treatment position.

After the diagnostic display procedure as described above, the prostate P of the vibrator 14 is
After the positioning is done, the treatment mode is then entered.

As mentioned above, the present invention is characterized in that the same transducer 14 is used for both diagnostic display and treatment, thereby allowing rapid transition from diagnostic display to treatment without changing the basic settings of the device for the human body. The patient's discomfort and pain are reduced to a minimum.

When the user operates the operation panel 34 to set the mode switching unit 22 to the treatment mode, the high frequency amplifier 28 that receives power from the AC power supply 26 is connected to the probe 10 and used for the diagnostic display inside the probe 10. A therapeutic excitation signal is supplied from the high-frequency amplifier 28 to the same transducer 14 that has been used, and a strong ultrasound beam is reliably directed from the transducer 14 to the prostate P at the optimal position set in the diagnostic display mode. The static pharmacological effect of the administered drug on the prostate P can be given a physical synergistic effect by heating, vibration, etc.

Next, the second invention of the present application will be explained.

This second invention further improves the positioning of the vibrator with respect to the prostate gland and the efficiency of beam irradiation by electronically scanning a large number of vibrator pieces.

Figure 4 shows the structure of the vibrator according to the second invention of the present application15 vinegar.

This vibrator has a plurality of sets of vibrator rows 42a (center row), 42b, .
... Mesh array type vibrator group 42 in which 42g is arranged
Consists of. Each of the vibrator rows 42a to 42g is constructed by arranging the same number of vibrator pieces 44 in parallel in the circumferential direction of the vibrator holder 40.

As is clear from FIG. 5, which shows the cross section of the probe 110 inserted into the rectum R, in the second invention of the present application, each vibrator piece 44 is subjected to electronic scanning as described above. There is no need to rotate it.

Therefore, a motor for driving the vibrator as in the first invention is not provided.

FIG. 6 shows the circuit configuration according to the present invention.

In the figure, the same components as those of the first invention explained in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

A plurality of high-frequency amplifiers 28a to 28g corresponding to each of the transducer rows 42a to 42g are connected to the next stage of the AC power supply 26 that supplies therapeutic transducer excitation signals to the probe 110 containing a mesh array type transducer group. The amplification degree of each of these amplifiers is set by an amplifier control circuit 50 to which the output of the DSC 30 is supplied, and the voltage intensity at which the vibrator pieces of each vibrator row are excited is controlled. It turns out.

The operation of the second invention of the present application configured as described above will be explained below.

After the probe 110 is pushed into the rectum R, the mode switching unit 22 is set to the diagnostic display mode using the operation panel section 34, and each transducer row of the mesh array type transducer group 42 is electronically radially scanned.

First, the transducer row 42a located at the center of the mesh array type transducer group 42 in the axial direction is
excite.

Then, the probe 10 is moved and adjusted in the rectum R to a position where the image displayed on the monitor 32 best represents the entire image of the prostate P by radially scanning the central transducer row 42a, and the probe is moved to that position. Fix lO. In this way, the optimum position of the probe 10 and the mesh array type transducer group 42 relative to the prostate P within the rectum R can be obtained.

After the position of the entire transducer group is determined, next, a detection and memorization operation is performed for the transducer pieces 44 of each row of transducer pieces 44 whose ultrasonic beams emitted when they are excited reach the prostate P.

In other words, the transducer array 42a that best represents the overall image
With reference to , the same number of oscillator rows exist on both sides,
In the illustrated example, the tomographic images 42b, c, d, e, f, and g are shown in FIGS. 7(A) and 7(B), respectively. (C). (D),
(E). (F). It is expressed as (G).

Each display image is obtained by setting the direction (angle) of the cursor 36H by operating the operation panel 34 as shown in the figure.

Here, a large number of vibrator pieces 44 in each row are arranged as shown in the figure, and when these are electronically scanned, the beam reaches the prostate P.
is limited, and in terms of beam energy efficiency, it is wasteful to excite all the transducer pieces during treatment.
It is sufficient to excite only the beam that reaches the prostate P.

Therefore, in the second invention, the transducer array 42a...
- When the reflected wave from the prostate P is supplied to the DSC 30 from the transmitting/receiving unit 24 as an electrical reception signal during the sequential switching and scanning control of 42g, the DSC 30 determines whether the beam has reached the prostate P based on this reception signal. Only the vibrator pieces 44 are detected for each row, and the position of each vibrator piece 44 is temporarily stored in a built-in memory.

In the illustrated example, the number of transducer pieces 44 through which the beam in each row reaches the prostate P is greater than the number of transducer pieces 44 in the central transducer row 4.
It is understood that 2a has the most amount, and it gradually decreases toward both ends.

After the diagnosis display mode ends in this way, the user operates the operation panel section 34 to switch the mode switching 19 unit 22 to the treatment mode, and the amplifier control circuit 5
0 to probe 110.

At this time, as described above, the digital scan converter 30 supplies the position data of the vibrator piece 44, where the beam reaches the prostate P, to the amplifier control circuit 50, and the AC power supply 26 supplies the data to the high frequency amplifier 28 for each column. The voltage-adjusted excitation signal passes through the amplifier control circuit 50 and the mode switching unit 22 to the mesh array type transducer group 4.
The signal is supplied to only the two stored vibrator pieces 44 at the same time.

As a result, all of the ultrasound beams irradiated from the mesh array type transducer group 42 are irradiated onto the prostate P without waste, and even more efficient therapeutic effects are expected.

In this embodiment, the mesh array type vibrator group is installed on about half of the circumference of the cylindrical vibrator holder 40, but the structure is not limited to this, and for example, the mesh array type vibrator group can be installed over the entire circumference. You may do so.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the first invention of the present application, the vibrator is configured so that it can be used both for diagnosis and treatment of the prostate, so that the setting state of the device for the human body remains unchanged. It is possible to quickly transition from diagnosis to treatment, minimizing discomfort and pain for the patient, and in addition to confirming and setting the optimal position of the transducer relative to the prostate on the monitor in the diagnostic display mode before starting treatment. It is possible to dramatically increase the therapeutic effect.

Further, according to the second invention of the present application, by electronically radially scanning the mesh array type transducer group consisting of a plurality of transducer pieces, the ultrasonic beam can be applied more precisely to only the affected prostate gland. This makes it possible to control the radiation, almost completely preventing the irradiation of powerful ultrasonic waves on surrounding tissue, and dramatically improving beam irradiation efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ultrasonic prostate treatment device according to the first invention of the present application in a state where the probe is inserted into the rectum; FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the device according to the first invention of the present application; 3 is a tomographic image of the prostate according to the first invention of the present application, FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a mesh array type transducer group of the ultrasonic prostate treatment device according to the second invention of the present application, and FIG. A cross-sectional view of the probe according to the second invention inserted into the rectum, FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the device of the second invention, and FIG.
A tomographic image diagram for each transducer row according to the second invention of the present application; FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of the conventional device; FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the conventional device with the probe inserted into the rectum; The figure is a cross-sectional view of a conventional vibrator. 10... Probe 12... Probe case 14... Vibrator 16... Cable 18... Motor 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 40 42 44 Rotating body mode switching unit Transmission/reception unit AC power supply high frequency amplifier DSC Monitor operation panel section transducer holder transducer row transducer piece.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Excite the vibrator in the probe inserted into the rectum,
An ultrasonic prostate treatment device that irradiates an ultrasound beam to the prostate via the rectal wall, comprising: a treatment power source that supplies a therapeutic excitation signal to a transducer of the probe; and a diagnostic excitation signal that supplies a diagnostic excitation signal to the transducer. At the same time, a transmitter/receiver unit receives reflected waves from the affected area via the transducer, an image display unit displays a diagnostic image of the affected area based on the received signal output from the transmitter/receiver unit, and the probe is connected to a therapeutic power source. a mode switching unit that selectively switches between a treatment mode connected to the transmitting/receiving unit and a diagnostic display mode connected to the transmitting/receiving unit, and a transducer is shared for displaying diagnosis of the affected area and for treating the ultrasound. Prostate treatment device. (2) Excite the vibrator in the probe inserted into the rectum,
In an ultrasonic prostate treatment device that irradiates an ultrasonic beam to the prostate gland through the rectal wall, the vibrator is a cylindrical vibrator holder with a plurality of vibrator pieces arranged along the circumferential direction. It consists of a mesh array type transducer group in which a plurality of child rows are arranged in the axial direction of the holder, and an excitation signal for diagnosis display is supplied to each transducer row of the mesh array type transducer group to A transmitting/receiving unit that radially scans the transducer piece and sequentially controls the switching of the vibrator rows to be excited, and receives reflected waves from the affected area via each vibrator row; an image display unit that displays a plurality of diagnostic images corresponding to each transducer row; and a position of a transducer piece in each transducer row where the ultrasound beam reaches the affected area is determined from the received signal and temporarily stored. a therapeutic power source that generates a therapeutic transducer excitation signal, and a transducer drive that supplies the excitation signal from the therapeutic power source only to the transducer pieces whose positions are stored by the storage section. a control unit; and a mode switching unit that selectively switches between a treatment mode in which the probe is connected to a treatment power source and a diagnostic display mode in which the probe is connected to a transmitter/receiver unit; An ultrasonic prostate treatment device characterized by being able to irradiate a therapeutic ultrasound beam to the prostate.