JPH03207351A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent that an unpleasant feeling is imparted to a patient by emitting a desired amount of a gel-like acoustic matching material by an emit ting means. CONSTITUTION:An operator holds an emitting part 10 and pushes down an emitting button to emit a desired amount of an acoustic matching material S to the surface of the body of the desired region to be photographed of a patient. A desired amount of the acoustic matching material S heated to proper temp. is applied to the surface of the body of the patient. Next, the operator holds an ultrasonic probe 5 to bring the leading end thereof into contact with the surface of the body of the desired region to be photographed. When the ultrasonic probe 5 transmits an ultrasonic wave to the desired region to be photographed to receive the reflected wave therefrom while it is controlled by a controller 15, the ultrasonic image of the region to be photographed is displayed on a CRT display 3. By this method, a desired amount of the acoustic matching material can be applied without imparting an unpleasant feeling to the patient.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic device for living body diagnosis, and more specifically relates to a gel-like ultrasonic diagnostic device used between the body surface and an ultrasonic probe. The present invention relates to an acoustic matching material.

(Prior art) Conventionally, a gel-like acoustic matching material used between the body surface and an ultrasound probe is pushed out of a tube by an operator.
It is applied extensively to the body surface.

The amount of this coating varies depending on the temperature of the acoustic matching material, the rigidity of the tube itself, and the operator's operations, and is usually oversized in order to ensure a predetermined ultrasonic transmission efficiency. be. Further, since the temperature of this acoustic matching material is lower than the body temperature, the living body (usually the patient) feels cold and uncomfortable.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) Since the conventional device is configured as described above, the application and amount of the gel-like acoustic matching material is not controlled, so more matching material than necessary is applied and wasted. There was a problem that.

Furthermore, there is a problem in that if more than necessary or a cold acoustic matching material is applied, the patient may feel uncomfortable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can apply a desired amount of acoustic matching material without causing discomfort to the patient.

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention applies a gel-like acoustic matching material to the body surface of a living body, and applies the tip of an ultrasound probe onto the gel-like acoustic matching material. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from the living body is characterized by having a discharge means that can discharge a desired amount of the acoustic matching material.

Alternatively, the apparatus includes a temperature control means for heating and cooling the acoustic matching material so that the temperature of the acoustic matching material discharged from the discharge means becomes approximately body temperature.

(for production) The operation of the apparatus having the above configuration will be explained below.

The discharge means of this device can discharge a desired amount of gel-like acoustic matching material.

Furthermore, when the temperature control means controls the temperature of the acoustic matching material discharged from the discharge means to be approximately the body temperature, the viscosity of the acoustic matching material becomes constant and the discharge amount becomes stable. Since this acoustic matching material has approximately body temperature, it does not cause discomfort to the living body.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below.

FIG. 1 shows an external perspective view of a device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

This device 1 includes an operation panel 2. A device main body 4 equipped with a CRT display 3 and a controller 15 for controlling each part of the device 1
, an ultrasonic probe 5 detachably connected to the device main body 4, a discharge means 6 capable of discharging a desired amount of gel-like acoustic matching material S to be applied to the patient's body surface, and this discharge means 6. It has a temperature control means 7 for heating the acoustic matching material S discharged from the acoustic matching material S.

The apparatus main body 4 includes connectors 4a, 4b, and 4c to which various ultrasonic probes 5 can be connected. Either connector 4a, 4b
, 4c. With the above configuration, three different ultrasonic probes can be connected at the same time. The operation panel 2 also includes selection switches 2a, 2b, and 2c that can select any one ultrasonic probe even when a plurality of ultrasonic probes are connected at the same time.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the discharge means 6 and the temperature control means 7.

This discharge means 6 is connected by a pipe 9 to a bellows-shaped container 8 and a motor (not shown) for discharging the gel-like acoustic matching material S housed in the container 8. It has a discharge section 10 for discharging the water, and a discharge switch 11 disposed near the discharge section 10 for driving a motor. Further, the container 8 of the discharge means 6 is provided protruding from the front side of the apparatus main body 4, and the pipe 9 is led out from an opening 12 provided in the vicinity of the connectors 4a to 4C of the apparatus main body 4. The discharge section 10 is equipped with gauze in the flow path of the acoustic matching material S, so that the acoustic matching material S can be discharged warmly. Further, the upper part of the container 8 is provided with a push-down plate 8a, and this push-down plate 8a is pushed down by the driving force of the motor.
The acoustic matching material S in the container 8 is discharged from a discharge section 10 via a pipe 9. The motor of the discharge switch 11 rotates for a period of time when the discharge switch 11 is pressed, so that a desired amount of acoustic matching material S can be discharged from the discharge section 10.

The temperature control means 7 includes a temperature detecting section 13 disposed on the discharge part lO side of the pipe 9, a heater 14 disposed around the pipe 9 in the vicinity of the temperature detecting section 13, and a temperature detecting section 14 disposed in the vicinity of the temperature detecting section 13 and around the pipe 9. The controller 15 is arranged to control the current flowing through the heater 14 based on the detected temperature information from the temperature detection section 13. This controller 1
5 heats the acoustic matching material S stored in the container 8 at room temperature on the discharge part 10 side, and controls the temperature of the acoustic matching material S immediately after being discharged to 36° C., which is approximately the body temperature. .

The operation of the first embodiment device 1 configured as described above will be explained.

An operator holds the ejection unit 10 and presses the ejection switch 11 to eject a desired amount of acoustic matching material S onto the body surface of a desired imaging region of the patient. A desired amount of acoustic matching material S heated to around 36° C. is applied to the patient's body surface. Next, the operator
The ultrasound probe 5 is held and the tip of the ultrasound probe 5 is brought into contact with the body surface of the desired imaging region. The ultrasonic probe 5 is
When ultrasonic waves are transmitted to and received from a desired region to be imaged under the control of the controller 15, an ultrasound image of the region to be imaged is displayed on the CRT display 3.

FIG. 3 shows a device 20 that is a modification of the device 1 shown in FIG.
1 shows a perspective view of the exterior.

The discharge means 26 of the present apparatus 20 is arranged on the operation panel 2 by disposing the discharge switch 11 of the discharge means 6 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a discharge switch 2d, and by disposing a similar discharge switch F on the apparatus body
It was derived from the front lower part of the.

The present device 20 operates in the same manner as the device 1 of the first embodiment by pressing either the discharge switch 2d or the discharge switch F.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the exterior of the device 30 of the second embodiment.

This device 30 includes the ultrasonic probe 5 of the device 1 shown in FIG.
and the discharge part 10 shown in FIG. It is equipped with 8 containers. Components having the same other functions are shown with the same reference numbers.

The ultrasonic pronib 35 of this device 30 has the discharge means 6
．． 26, as shown in FIG. It has a discharge path for the acoustic matching material S and a cable 35a provided with a signal cable for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals.

Further, on the ultrasonic probe 35 side of this cable 35a, a temperature detection section 13 and a heater 14 of a temperature control means 37 having the same function as the device 1 are arranged. The connector 35b disposed at the end of the cable 35a can be detachably connected to the connectors 34a to 34c disposed on the device main body 34, and when the discharge switch 11 is pressed, the first
Similarly to the embodiment device 1, a desired amount of temperature-controlled acoustic matching material S can be discharged from the discharge port 39.

The operation of the device 30 configured in this way will be explained.

The operator holds the ultrasonic probe 35 and presses the discharge switch 11 to discharge a desired amount of temperature-controlled acoustic matching material S onto the body surface. Next, the operator brings the ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving surface 35a of the ultrasonic probe 35 into contact with the body surface and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves in the same manner as in the first embodiment device 17, and the ultrasonic image is displayed on the CRT display 3. will be displayed.

Each embodiment device configured as described above 1. 20°30
According to the method, a desired amount of gel-like acoustic matching material S can be discharged by the discharge means.

In addition, since the temperature of the acoustic matching material S discharged by the discharging means is controlled by the temperature control means so that it remains at body temperature all the way, the patient does not feel uncomfortable and the viscosity of the acoustic matching material S is kept constant. Therefore, the discharge amount is stabilized.

Although each embodiment has been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be modified in various ways without changing the gist thereof.

For example, although the temperature control means is configured to perform only heating, it may also be capable of heating and cooling depending on the gel-like acoustic matching material used. Further, the discharge port 39 can be provided in any position on the probe and in any shape as long as transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves cannot be prevented.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention described in detail above, the dispensing means is capable of discharging a desired amount of gel-like acoustic matching material, so that the desired amount of acoustic matching material can be dispensed without causing discomfort to the patient. It is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device that can apply

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a first embodiment of the device of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a side view of the discharge means and temperature control means of this device, FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a modified example device of the first embodiment device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic probe of this device. 1.20.30...Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, 5.35...
Ultrasonic probe, 6.26... Discharge means, 7.37... Temperature control means, S... Gel-like acoustic matching material. Fig. 39 Fig.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in which a gel-like acoustic matching material is applied to the body surface of a living body, and the tip of an ultrasound probe is brought into contact with the body surface of the living body to send and receive ultrasound to and from the living body, the acoustic matching material An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by having a discharge means capable of discharging a desired amount of. (2) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature control means for heating and cooling the acoustic matching material so that the temperature of the acoustic matching material discharged from the discharge means becomes approximately body temperature.