JPH04183453A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ultrasonic sectional image of a high accuracy while maintaining favorable contact with a living organism in accordance with the changes in shape and size of the living organism by transmitting ultrasonic waves through a water containing gel to the living organism while sliding over the water containing gel and receiving the ultrasonic echo. CONSTITUTION:Before diagnosis, water containing gel 30 is placed in close contact with the breast 10 and its surrounding area 20 of a subject. With the subject lying on its back, arranged vibration piece probe 520 is set to the diagnosis starting position on the water containing gel 30 placed in close contact with the breast 10 of the subject, and slides in a main scanning direction (Sn) over the water containing gel 30. Because the surface of the breast 10 is three dimensionally curved and expressed as z=f(x, y), a power factor sensor 590 detects during scanning over the surface of the breast 10 detects vertical changes of the arranged vibration probe 520, and a z-direction control section 570 makes the arranged vibration probe 520 move up and down by a small amount (DELTAz) so that the arranged vibration probe 520 comes in contact with the water containing gel 30 with a specified pressure according to the shape of the breast 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and particularly relates to, for example, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for breasts.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, the following three methods have been used for breast examination using an ultrasound diagnostic device.

(1) Diagnosis using a combination of mechanical scanning using a single ultrasonic transducer and ice bag method.

(2) Diagnosis using a combination of complex scanning using multiple concave ultrasonic transducers and the ice bag method.

(3) Diagnosis using a combination of an array transducer consisting of multiple ultrasonic transducers and an acoustic applicator.

(Jikkoi No. 2-7533, Jikkoi No. 2-15447) First, in method (1), the subject lies on his back and an ice bag is brought into contact with the subject's breasts from above, and ultrasonic vibrations are generated within the ice bag. A tomographic image of the breast is obtained by mechanically scanning the child.

In method (2), the subject lies on his or her stomach and a water bag is brought into contact with the subject's breast from below, and a tomographic image of the breast is obtained by scanning multiple ultrasound transducers in a complex manner within the ice bag. .

Furthermore, in method (3), the subject is seated, a solid acoustic applicator is brought into contact with the subject's breast, and an array of transducers provided on the acoustic applicator is rotated and slid to create a cross-section of the breast. Get the statue.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above conventional example has the following drawbacks.

First, in the case of method (1), since an ice bag is used, the acoustic characteristics of the water and the breast do not match, so the ultrasound waves are refracted and reflected at the interface between the water and the breast, and the ice bag However, multiple reflections occur, making it impossible to obtain a tomographic image of the breast with sufficient accuracy. Additionally, in order to prevent multiple reflections caused by the ice bag, the ice bag is usually made large enough so that the multiple reflections are located outside of the breast being diagnosed, so the weight of the ice bag becomes heavy (which can be a burden on the patient). Furthermore, mechanical scanning using a single ultrasound transducer requires a long time for diagnosis, making it impossible to obtain tomographic images of the breast in real time.

Further, in the case of method (2), the acoustic characteristics of water and breast do not match, as in method (1). Furthermore, multiple ultrasonic transducers are vibrated inside the ice bag, which requires a large amount of water.
The equipment was inconvenient to handle and testing was inefficient. Also,
With the method of letting the breast hang down, depending on the size of the breast, there may be a blind spot in the ultrasound beam, resulting in areas where diagnosis cannot be made.

Furthermore, in the case of method (3), since the acoustic applicator is made of a solid material, it has poor contact with the breast (air may get mixed in between the acoustic applicator and the breast, changing the transmission characteristics of ultrasound). There was a possibility.

Furthermore, even if the shape of the breast contacting surface of the acoustic applicator is devised, it has been difficult to improve the contact with the breast because the shape and size of the breast vary greatly from person to person.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional examples, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device that has good consistency with the acoustic characteristics of a living body and can respond to changes in the shape and size of the living body. .

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the present invention has the following features:
It consists of the following structure. That is, in an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that obtains a tomographic image of the living body by transmitting ultrasound waves from an ultrasound transducer to a living body and receiving echoes of the ultrasound waves, array vibration in which a plurality of ultrasound transducers are arranged is used. one side of the child closely observes the living body, and the other side facing the one side is brought into contact with the arrayed transducer, thereby transmitting the ultrasonic waves emitted from the arrayed transducer to the living body, and , an acoustic transmission medium of a hydrous gel that transmits ultrasonic echoes from the living body to the array transducer; and controlling the array transducer so that it can slide on the acoustic transmission medium closely watching the living body. A special sound wave characterized by having a control means, a storage means for storing information obtained from the ultrasonic echo, and a reproduction means for reading out the information obtained from the ultrasonic echo from the storage means and reproducing it as a tomographic image. Equipped with diagnostic equipment.

[Function] With the above configuration, the present invention allows the array transducer to move through the hydrous gel while sliding on the hydrous gel, which is an acoustic transmission medium that is in close contact with the living body, in response to changes in the three-dimensional curved surface of the living body. It operates to transmit ultrasound waves to a living body and to receive ultrasound echoes through the hydrous gel.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The first section is a block diagram showing the configuration of a breast ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that is a typical embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the breast ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a monitor section 290.
The main unit 200 includes a console 300, a scanner adapter 500, a scanner adapter auxiliary arm 510, and an array transducer probe 520. When actually using such a device for breast diagnosis, first, the breast 1
0 and its surrounding area 20 are brought into close contact with a hydrous gel 30, which will be described later, which acts as an acoustic covert, to improve the contact between the array transducer 520 and the breast, and to improve the ultrasonic transmission characteristics between the breast and the array transducer 520. aim to equalize the

Further, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the main body section 200. In FIG. 2, the main unit 200 includes a control unit 210 that controls the entire device, and an array transducer 5 that transmits ultrasonic oscillation signals.
20, a switching circuit 220 that receives ultrasonic echoes from the array transducer 520, an ultrasonic oscillator 230, a receiving section 240 that receives ultrasonic echoes, an amplifier 250 that amplifies the received signal, and an amplifier 250 that processes the received ultrasonic echo signal. It is comprised of a signal processing section 260, a display control section (DSC section) 270 that controls the display of breast tomographic images on a monitor section 290, and a memory section 280 that stores the breast tomographic images.

Further, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the inside of the scanner adapter 500 and the arrangement vibrator 520 scanning a three-dimensional curved surface (z=f(x,y)). In FIG. 3, the scanner adapter 500 includes an I10 control section 530 that controls data input/output to and from the main body section 200, a transducer control section 540 that controls the three-dimensional movement of the array transducer 520, and a transducer control section 540 that controls the movement in the main scanning direction. An X-direction control section 550, an X-direction control section 560 that controls movement in the sub-scanning direction, an X-direction control section 570 that controls vertical motion, a step scan motor 580 that moves the array transducer 520 in the sub-scanning direction, It is composed of a power factor sensor 590 that detects changes and a support section 600 that supports the scanner adapter auxiliary arm 510. Under the control of the transducer control unit 540, the array transducer probe 520 performs ultrasonic exploration while sliding on the breast surface.

The procedure for performing breast ultrasound diagnosis using the breast ultrasound diagnostic apparatus having such a configuration will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG. 4.

First, prior to diagnosis, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), a hydrous gel 3
0 in close contact (SIO).

Here, FIG. 5(b) is a sectional view taken along the line AA' in FIG. 5(a). The hydrous gel at this time is, for example,
An ultrasonic transmission gel such as a water-containing crosslinked ethylene oxide polymer which is colorless and transparent and has excellent acoustic properties is used, as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 1-240219. The acoustic impedance is close to that of a living body (and it is highly flexible and has high adhesion to the breast), so the ultrasound from the ultrasound oscillator is efficient even when the shape and size of the breast changes. The reflected echo from the breast can be efficiently transmitted to the array transducer probe 520.

Next, in step S15, the subject lies on his back, and the array transducer probe 520 is brought into contact with the diagnosis starting position on the hydrous gel 30 that is in close contact with the breast 10 of the subject. As shown in (a), an array transducer probe 520 is set on the upper left side of the breast to be diagnosed. At this point, the diagnosis starting position B is set as the coordinate origin of the xy coordinate system used for data acquisition and management, as shown in FIG. 6(a). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the X-axis direction is called the main scanning direction, and the array transducer probe 520 moves in this direction to perform ultrasound diagnosis. One scan S n (n = 1 +
It's called N. Further, the y-axis direction is referred to as the sub-scanning direction.

In step S20, the control section 210 controls the transducer control section 54.
■10 control unit 530 that controls data input/output for 0
Issue a scan command through.

Subsequently, when diagnosis is started, in step S25, the array transducer probe 520 oscillates ultrasonic waves, and as shown in FIG.
) to (b), it is slid on the hydrous gel 30 in the main scanning direction (Sn).

At this time, in step S30, the array transducer probe 520
receives the echo of the emitted ultrasonic wave and converts it into I1
0 control section 530 to the main body section 200 in real time. In step S35, upon receiving this, the receiving section 24
0 through the switching circuit 220, this signal is amplified by the amplifier 250, and then converted into a tomographic image by the signal processing unit 260. In step S40, the DS
The C section 270 displays this tomographic image as a B-mode image on the monitor section 290 as a breast tomographic image, and stores it in the memory 280 for re-examination after diagnosis. At this time, the breast tomogram is stored in accordance with the x-y coordinate system as shown in FIG.

Also, the surface of the breast 100 is z = f (x, y)
Since the surface is a three-dimensional curved surface expressed as Water-containing gel 30 at a given pressure
The array transducer probe 520 is moved up and down by a minute amount (Δ2) according to the shape of the breast 10 so as to make contact with the breast 10.

When one scan in the main scanning direction is completed, the transducer control section 540 detects this in step S45, and sends the array transducer probe 520 to the X direction control section 560 in the sub scanning direction.
Instruct to move by a minute amount (Δy). The value of △y at this time is determined according to the situation at the time of diagnosis in Figures 6 (a) to (b).
) can be changed as shown. Step S5
0, the X-direction control unit 560 receives this and drives the step scan motor 580 to move the transducer probe 520 by Δy in the sub-scanning direction, and then the X-direction control unit 55
0, the transducer probe 520 is returned to the 1! line (scanning base on the y-axis) without causing ultrasonic oscillation.

After this, the process determines whether scanning in the main scanning direction is to be performed in step S55. Here, if it is determined that the diagnosis has reached the end of the breast and has been completed, the process ends; otherwise, the process returns to step S25 and repeats scanning in the main scanning direction.

Now, the data of the breast tomographic image acquired in the above procedure is stored in the memory 280 for each scan in the main scanning direction.
Since the coordinate system is managed according to the coordinate system, the user of the apparatus can input the coordinate information from the console 300 at any time after breast diagnosis to read the data of the breast tomographic image from the memory 280 and create a breast tomogram at any cross section. The image can be displayed on monitor 290.

Furthermore, since the transducer probe 520 can be removed from the scanner adapter auxiliary arm 510, for example,
If the user wants to use the transducer probe 520 to diagnose a complex curved surface that cannot be controlled by the transducer control unit 540, the user can use the transducer probe 520 by sliding it arbitrarily without receiving the transducer control unit 540. You can also do that.

In this embodiment, only the case where the arrayed transducer probe is scanned as shown in FIG. 6 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), the array transducer probe is rotated and scanned around the nipple 11 (R1, R2 in the figure).
), and it is also possible to scan the entire breast by shifting the array transducer probe by a minute amount (Δr) in the direction of the outer diameter of the breast every time one rotation of scanning is completed.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, a hydrous gel with good acoustic characteristics matching with the breast is brought into close contact with the breast and its surrounding area, and an ultrasound transducer probe is brought into contact with the hydrous gel to direct the ultrasound beam to the breast. Since the ultrasonic transducer probe can be moved while being three-dimensionally controlled in response to changes in the shape and size of the breast, highly accurate breast tomographic images can be obtained. Furthermore, since the obtained breast tomograms are managed and stored in a predetermined coordinate system, the tomograms of any location can be examined again after diagnosis.

Only preferred embodiments have been shown above. However, various embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the claims set forth herein. Therefore, the invention is not limited only to the embodiments shown and described herein.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, an ultrasonic transmission medium whose acoustic characteristics match well with the living body is brought into close contact with the living body, and an ultrasonic transducer is brought into contact with the ultrasonic transmission medium while Since the ultrasonic transducer can be slid while maintaining good contact with the living body while responding to changes in the shape and size of the living body, it is possible to obtain highly accurate ultrasound tomographic images.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that is a typical embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. A diagram showing how the interior and array transducers scan a three-dimensional curved surface, Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the breast ultrasound diagnosis procedure, and Figures 5 (a) to (b) are the breasts of the subject and their surroundings. Figures 6(a) to 6(a) show how the hydrous gel is applied to the area.
b) is a diagram showing an example of scanning of the arrayed transducer probe, and FIGS. 7(a) to 7(b) are diagrams showing examples of rotational scanning of the arrayed transducer probe. In the figure, 10... Breast, 20... Breast periphery, 30...
... Hydrous gel, 200 ... Main body, 210 ... Control section, 220 ... Switching circuit, 230 ... Ultrasonic oscillator, 240 ... Receiving section, 250 ... Amplifier, 260 ... ...Signal processing section, 270...DSC section, 2
80...Memory, 290...Monitor section, 300-.
・Operation console, 500...Scanner adapter, 510...
- Scanner adapter auxiliary arm, 520... array transducer, 530... I10 control section, 540... transducer control section, 550... X direction control section, 560... X direction control section, 570 ... Two-way control unit, 580 ... Step scan motor, 590 ... Power factor sensor, 600
...It is an arm support part. Patent applicant: Terumo Corporation --- Two agents: Patent attorney: Yasunori Otsuka (and one other person) 'Figure 5 (a) Figure 5 (b) Figure 6 (0) 61-1 (b)

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that obtains a tomographic image of the living body by transmitting ultrasound from an ultrasound transducer to a living body and receiving echoes of the ultrasound, an array in which a plurality of the ultrasound transducers are arranged. a transducer, one surface of which is in close contact with the living body, and the other surface facing the one surface is brought into contact with the arrayed transducer, thereby transmitting the ultrasonic waves emitted from the arrayed transducer to the living body; , an acoustic transmission medium of hydrous gel that transmits ultrasonic echoes from the living body to the array transducer, and control that controls the array transducer to be able to slide on the acoustic transmission medium that is in close contact with the living body. An ultrasonic diagnosis characterized by comprising: a storage means for storing information obtained from the ultrasonic echo; and a reproducing means for reading out the information obtained from the ultrasonic echo from the storage means and reproducing it as a tomographic image. Device. (2) The control means has an axial direction control means that follows each axis direction of a three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system so that the array vibrator can slide according to changes in the three-dimensional curved surface of the living body. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1. (3) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the array transducer can be freely inserted into the control means.