JPH0497743A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve a better piezoelectric property of a piezoelectric vibrator by combining first and second sector probe sections, each with a simple electrode structure for obtaining a one-way sector image to allow the prevention of omitted polarization in the piezoelectric vibrator. CONSTITUTION:An ultrasonic probe hat three sector probe sections 12a, 12b and 12c arranged in parallel sequentially on a specified part of a probe body 1 to transmit or receive ultrasonic waves. With the ultrasonic probe thus arranged, two sector images A and C superimposed in the same direction are projected with sector probe sections 12a and 12c onto a monitor, while a sector image B is done thereonto with a sector probe section 12b as orthogonal coaxially to the superimposed part of the sector images A and C. In other words, two sector section images orthogonal to each other coaxially are obtained by combining the sector probe sections 12a, 12b and 12c with a simple electrode structure for obtaining a one-way sector image.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to ultrasonic diagnostic equipment that transmits and receives ultrasound waves to and from a living body to obtain tomographic images and blood flow information of the living body. Regarding probes.

(Prior Art) Generally, an ultrasonic probe consists of an acoustic lens, a large number of ceramic piezoelectric vibrators, and the like. When such an ultrasound probe is brought into contact with the body surface of a living body or inserted into a body cavity, the piezoelectric vibrator transmits ultrasound waves to the living body, receives ultrasound reflected from the living body, and receives the ultrasound waves reflected from the living body. By converting the information into electrical signals, tomographic images and blood flow information of the living body can be obtained.

By the way, when inserting an ultrasound probe into a body cavity, the direction of the piezoelectric vibrator cannot be freely changed because the interior of the body cavity is a narrow space. Therefore, the wide angle (field of view) of the ultrasound probe
In order to expand this, an ultrasonic probe that captures two coaxial orthogonal cross sections has been proposed.

Conventionally, this type of ultrasonic probe will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ultrasound probe. In the drawing, 1 is a probe body, and on a predetermined part of this probe body 1, there is a sector probe part 2 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves.
is formed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sector probe section. That is, this sector probe part 2 is placed on the backing material 3,
A large number of first electrode parts 4 divided at equal intervals in the X direction
are arranged, and a large number of second electrode parts 5 divided at equal intervals in the X direction are further arranged thereon. and,
A large number of piezoelectric ceramics, so-called piezoelectric vibrators 6, arranged in a matrix in the X and X directions are interposed between the first electrode section 4 and the second electrode section 5. Further, lead wires Y1 to Yn are individually connected to the plurality of first electrode sections 4, and the lead wires Y1 to Yn are connected to the TR box 8 through the first switch 7, respectively. There is. Further, the plurality of second electrode parts 5 are also connected with lead wires X1 to X1, respectively.
The lead wires X1 to Xn are individually connected to the TR box 8 through the second switch 9.

Further, a third switch 10 connected to the ground side is connected to the lead wires Y1 to Yn, and the lead wires X1 to X
A fourth switch 11 connected to the ground side is connected to n, and these first to fourth switches 7.9, 10.11
By switching the ground sides of the first and second electrode parts 4 and 5, the polarization direction of the piezoelectric vibrator 6 was changed, and coaxial and orthogonal sector tomographic images were obtained.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in the conventional ultrasonic probe described above,
The above switch 7.9.10.11 causes the first and second
If only the ground sides of the electrode parts 4 and 5 are switched, the ground side may become opposite to the polarization direction of the piezoelectric vibrator 6, and as a result, the piezoelectric vibrator 6 depolarizes and loses piezoelectricity. There was a problem.

Furthermore, there was also the problem that the acoustic lens could not receive reflected waves in two directions, resulting in deterioration of image quality.

Further, electrode portions 4 are arranged in a matrix above and below the piezoelectric vibrator 6.
5, the electrode structure becomes complicated and the manufacturability of the ultrasonic probe is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe that does not cause depolarization of a piezoelectric vibrator, prevents deterioration of image quality, and improves manufacturability.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention comprises a large number of piezoelectric vibrators that transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, and obtains tomographic images and blood flow information of a living body. In the sonic probe, on both sides of the first sector probe section consisting of the plurality of piezoelectric vibrators arranged in one direction, there are arranged at right angles to the arrangement direction of the piezoelectric vibrators of the first sector probe section. The second sector probe section is made up of a large number of piezoelectric vibrators arranged in the same direction.

(Function) In the present invention, on both sides of a first sector probe section having piezoelectric vibrators arranged in one direction, a second sector probe section having piezoelectric vibrators arranged in a direction orthogonal to the piezoelectric vibrators is provided.
Since the sector probe parts are arranged in parallel, two coaxial and orthogonal sector tomographic images can be easily obtained by combining the first and second sector probe parts with a simple electrode structure to obtain a sector image in one direction.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, with the same reference numerals assigned to the same components as in the conventional example.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, this ultrasonic probe has a 3 (
Eleven sector probe sections 12a, 12b, and 12C are arranged in parallel.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one such sector 10-1. In the drawing, 3 is a backing material. On this backing material 3, a large number of electrode parts 13 divided at equal intervals in the X direction (or in the A large number of piezoelectric vibrators 14 are arranged. Further, on the piezoelectric vibrator 14, a large number of electrode portions 16 are arranged in the same direction.
are arranged. Then, the sector probe section 1
Electrode parts 13.16 and piezoelectric vibrator 14 of 2a and 12c
are arranged in the X direction (or the Y direction), the electrode parts 13.16 and the piezoelectric vibrators 14 in the sector probe part 12b are arranged in the Y direction (or the X direction) (the first
(see figure). Further, the plurality of electrode parts 13 are connected to lead wires 1 to 1 and switches 15 and 15, respectively. The TR boxes 8 are connected to each other in sequence, and the electrode portions 16 are connected to the ground side through the wires A1 to An, respectively.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, according to the ultrasonic probe having this configuration, the sector probe parts 12a and 12c
Two sector images A and C (
The above-mentioned sector image A is obtained by the sector probe section 12b.

A sector image B (see FIG. 3) coaxially and perpendicular to the overlapping portion of C is displayed on the monitor.

That is, according to this embodiment, the sector probe parts 12a, 12b, 1 with a simple electrode structure obtain sector images in one direction.
By combining 2C, two coaxial and orthogonal sector tomograms are obtained.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, by combining the first and second sector probe sections with a simple electrode structure that obtains a sector image in one direction, two sector tomograms that are coaxial and orthogonal are formed. Images are easily obtained. Therefore, depolarization of the piezoelectric vibrator can be prevented, and the piezoelectricity of the piezoelectric vibrator is not impaired. Furthermore, since the acoustic lens only needs to receive reflected waves in one direction, deterioration in image quality can be prevented. Furthermore, since the electrode structure of the sector probe portion is simple, the above-mentioned problems can be solved by the effects such as improved manufacturability of the ultrasonic probe.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic probe, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sector probe section, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic probe. Explanatory views of sector images, FIGS. 4 and 5, show conventional examples. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic probe, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sector probe section. 1... Probe body, 3... Backing material, 8...
TR box, 12a 12b, 12c=sector one broof part, ]3
16... Electrode section, 14... Piezoelectric vibrator, 15. Switch, 81-An... Lead wire, A, B, C... Sector image.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An ultrasonic probe consisting of a large number of piezoelectric transducers that transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to obtain tomographic images and blood flow information of a living body. 1
On both sides of the sector probe section, a second sector probe section consisting of the plurality of piezoelectric vibrators arranged in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the piezoelectric vibrators of the first sector probe section is arranged in parallel. An ultrasonic probe characterized by: