JPH04347145A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve quick and accurate detection of temperature along with a smaller size of an ultrasonic probe in the ultrasonic probe with a temperature detecting element. CONSTITUTION:A phased array probe in which a number of vibrators 2-1 to 2-N are arranged in a train is formed and the vibrator 2-1 at least on one end side of the train is used as element for detection. The vibrator 2-1 is arranged as part of the vibrator train to allow very close arrangement of the vibrator with the vibrators 2-2 to 2-(N-1) for ultrasonic transmission and reception. This eliminates an excess of space for arranging an element for detecting temperature thereby allowing miniaturization. This close arrangement also improves heat conduction very much thereby achieving quick and accurate detection of temperature.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Purpose of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe equipped with a temperature detection element for detecting the surface temperature of the probe during ultrasonic diagnosis.

0002

[Prior Art] Ultrasonic probes built into ultrasonic diagnostic equipment generate heat during diagnosis, so in order to protect patients from danger, a temperature sensor is designed to stop energizing when the surface temperature rises above a certain level. (temperature detection element) is provided. In the case of intrabody cavity probes in particular, the effect of generating heat on the patient is significant, so it is essential to keep the surface temperature of the ultrasound probe always below a certain temperature, and if this is not done, the patient will be exposed to low temperatures. This may expose you to the risk of burns.

FIG. 7 shows an outline of a conventional ultrasonic probe, which is composed of a phased array probe in which a large number of transducers 2-1 to 2-N are arranged in a row. Thermistor 1 detects the surface temperature of the vibrator
9 is used as a temperature sensor and is arranged in the support 20. In this case, the thermistor 19 needs to be placed in a position that does not affect the transmission and reception of ultrasound transmitted from the transducer to the patient's imaged area during ultrasound diagnosis, for example, so as not to cause unnecessary reflections. be. Further, temperature detection by the thermistor 19 is performed based on heat conduction via a medium between each of the vibrators 2-1 to 2-N and the thermistor 19.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, such conventional ultrasonic probes require space for arranging the temperature sensor in close proximity to the transducer, making it difficult to miniaturize the ultrasonic probe. Become. This becomes a major bottleneck, especially in applications where miniaturization is important, such as intracorporeal probes.

[0005] Furthermore, the thermistor must be placed at a distance that does not affect the ultrasonic transmission and reception of the vibrator. On the other hand, temperature detection is performed by heat conduction through a medium, so the distance must be kept below a certain level. There are restrictions that cannot be
This makes it difficult to detect temperature quickly and accurately.

The present invention has been made in response to the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic probe that can be miniaturized and facilitates rapid and accurate temperature detection. . [Structure of the invention]

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ultrasonic probe constructed by arranging a large number of transducers in a row, the transducers being located at both ends of the row. The present invention is characterized in that at least one end of the vibrator is used as a temperature detection element.

[0008]

[Operation] An ultrasonic probe is constructed in which a large number of transducers are arranged in a row like a phased array probe, and the transducers on at least one end of the row are used as temperature detection elements. No extra space is needed to place it. Therefore, it becomes possible to downsize the ultrasonic probe. In addition, since the temperature detection element is placed as part of the transducer array together with the ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving transducer, it can be placed extremely close to the transducers without being subject to distance constraints, so heat conduction is also improved. This makes it possible to detect temperature quickly and accurately.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic probe according to the present invention.
, 2-2, 2-3, ...2-N are composed of phased array probes arranged in a row, and the transducers 2-1 and 2-N at both ends of the row are used as temperature detection elements. and are connected to a temperature detection circuit 12, which will be described later. Furthermore, the oscillators 2-2 to 2-(N-
1) is used for normal ultrasonic transmission and reception and is connected to a transmission and reception control circuit 14 including a pulser and the like.

In a phased array probe, as shown in FIG. 2, the transducers 2-1 and 2-N at both ends of a large number of transducers forming a row have uniform sound field characteristics. Since it is used as a dummy oscillator (kept in a free state without being electrically connected to anything) for the purpose of correcting the It can be used as a temperature detection element.

That is, in a normal phased array probe, the distance between adjacent transducers is such that each transducer 2 used for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves has a sound field characteristic showing ultrasonic directivity as shown in FIG. They are arranged so as to maintain a uniform space D. However, vibrators 2-2 and 2- on both ends
Since only (N-1) deviates from this condition, in order to satisfy this condition, a space D is maintained in each of the dummy oscillators 2-1 and 2-(N-1), respectively. N is provided.

Alternatively, in the case of a phased array probe in which a dummy transducer is not provided, a large number of transducers are arranged in a row, and the transducers at both ends of the row are used as temperature detection elements. do it.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a method for manufacturing a phased array probe in the order of steps. First, as in step A, a piezoelectric ceramic 15 used as an ultrasonic vibrator is
Prepare by processing into the desired shape. Next, as in step B, the piezoelectric ceramic 15 is attached to the backing material 16 with adhesive 1.
Fix it via 7. Next, as in step C, the piezoelectric ceramic 15 is separated into a large number of vibrators 2-1 to 2-N using a diamond cutter or the like. The number of transducers is determined depending on the purpose, use, etc. of the ultrasonic probe, and is usually divided into several tens or hundreds. Next, as in step D, a phased array probe is completed by covering the ultrasonic radiation surfaces of each of the transducers 2-1 to 2-N with a matching layer 18.

Of the probes manufactured in this manner, the ultrasonic probe having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 can be obtained by using the transducers 2-1 and 2-N at both ends of the row for temperature detection. In a phased array probe configured with a large number of transducers arranged in a row in this way, each transducer is arranged with a space D of only several tens of micrometers in between. 2-N also has ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving transducers 2-2 and 2-(
N-1).

Therefore, according to this embodiment, an extra space for arranging a temperature detection element is not required, so that the ultrasonic probe can be made smaller, which is particularly advantageous for a body cavity probe. In addition, the temperature detection transducer can be placed very close to the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving transducer without being subject to distance constraints, which results in extremely good heat conduction, allowing temperature detection to be carried out quickly and accurately. It can be carried out.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus into which the ultrasonic probe of this embodiment is incorporated. The transmission delay circuit 4 and the reception delay circuit 7 are given in advance transmission and reception delay data necessary for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. 3 is a rate signal generator that generates a rate signal Sr, and this rate signal Sr is controlled by the transmission delay data of the transmission delay circuit 4 and is applied to the pulser 5. The pulser 5 amplifies the rate signal Sr to a level necessary to drive the probe 1 and applies it to the probe 1 as a drive signal. This drive signal is applied to the ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving transducers 2-2 to 2-(N-1) among the transducers constituting the probe in FIG.

The echo signal received from the probe 1 is amplified by a preamplifier 6 and then added to an adder 8 under the control of reception delay data from a reception delay circuit 7 . The adder 8 performs phasing and addition of each signal received by each transducer, and after the echo component is detected by the detector 9, the received signal is converted to D. S. The ultrasonic image is converted into a TV signal by a C (digital scan converter) 10 and displayed on a monitor 11 such as a CRT display.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a temperature detection circuit to which the surface temperature of the probe 1 detected by the temperature detection vibrators 2-1 and 2-N of the probe 1 is converted into a voltage and applied. The output of the temperature detection circuit 12 is applied to the system controller 13, and the system controller 13 controls the pulser 5 according to the temperature detection result to change the manner in which the probe 1 is energized. For example, when the surface temperature of the probe 1 rises above a certain temperature, the voltage of the drive signal is controlled to be lowered or its application is stopped.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 5 incorporating the probe of this embodiment will be explained. While ultrasonic waves are being transmitted and received by the ultrasonic transducers 2-2 to 2-(N-1) of the probe 1, this surface temperature is always maintained by the temperature detection transducers 2-1 and 2-. A detection signal is output to the temperature detection circuit 12 and monitored by the system controller 13.

When the detected temperature rises above a certain temperature, the system controller 13 controls the pulser 5 to reduce the driving voltage for the vibrators 2-2 to 2-(N-1). Next, after waiting for a period of time, for example, 2 to 3 minutes later, control is performed so that the normal driving voltage is applied again.

[0022] Accordingly, in the case of a momentary abnormal operation due to the influence of noise, etc., the probability that the same symptom will be repeated is low, so malfunctions based on this can be eliminated. If an abnormal temperature is continuously detected even after applying the drive voltage after waiting for a while, it can be determined that the temperature rise is due to an abnormality in the probe itself, so in this case, the pulser 5
Stops applying the driving voltage. The abnormal operation of the probe can be dealt with by investigating the cause of the abnormality in the probe or by replacing the probe.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
This figure shows an example in which only the vibrator at one end of the row of phased array probes, for example, the vibrator 2-1, is used as a temperature detection vibrator. Also in this embodiment, since the temperature detection transducer 2-1 is arranged close to the ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving transducer, substantially the same effect as in the previous embodiment can be obtained.

Furthermore, when using the vibrators placed at both ends of the row for temperature detection, it is not necessary to use only one vibrator at each end, but two or more vibrators can be used to improve detection accuracy. It becomes possible to further improve the performance. Even in this case, since the width and space of each vibrator are extremely small, the influence on the overall dimensions of the probe can be almost ignored.

[0025]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, in an ultrasonic probe in which a large number of transducers are arranged in a row, at least one end of the row is used as a temperature detection element. In particular, since extra space for arranging the temperature detection element is not required, miniaturization is possible. Furthermore, since the temperature detection vibrators can be arranged extremely close to each other, heat conduction is good, and temperature detection can be performed quickly and accurately.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic probe of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of each vibrator, explaining the principle of construction of the probe of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of sound field characteristics of each vibrator.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the manufacturing process of the probe of this example.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus into which the probe of this embodiment is incorporated.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional probe.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Ultrasonic probes 2-1 and 2-N Temperature detection transducers 2-2 to 2-
(N-1) Ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving transducer 5 Pulsar 12 Temperature detection circuit 13 System controller

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic probe configured with a large number of transducers arranged in a row, wherein at least one of the transducers located at both ends of the row is used as a temperature detection element. An ultrasonic probe characterized by being used as an ultrasonic probe. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein undriven vibrators among the vibrators located at both ends of the row are used as temperature detection elements. 3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein dummy transducers arranged at both ends of the row are used as temperature detection elements in order to uniformly correct the sound field characteristics of each transducer.