JPH05176930A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To change a distance between a reflecting mirror and an ultrasonic probe in a state that they are inserted into a capillary by rotating simultaneously a first and a second driving transfer springs connected to a driving part and a lock part provided in a main body part, and also, rotating only a second spring. CONSTITUTION:By providing a driving part and a lock part in a main body part, connecting driving transfer springs 17, 21 to the clock part and rotating them simultaneously, a mirror holder 14 to which a reflecting mirror 16 positioned in the tip part of an ultrasonic probe 1 is fixed, and a probe holder 19 to which an ultrasonic probe 20 is fixed can be rotated simultaneously, and a radial scan can be executed. Also, by a control signal of a control part of the main body part, the lock part transfer driving force of the driving part only to the spring 21, by which only a joint 18 connected to the spring 21 is rotated against the mirror holder 14, and by this rotation, the probe holder 19 is moved forward and backward, a distance between the ultrasonic probe 20 and the reflecting mirror 16 is changed, and a converging area can be changed easily.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from the inside by inserting into a thin tube and mechanically changing the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving direction to obtain the state inside the thin tube wall from reflected ultrasonic waves. The present invention relates to a possible ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method for inspecting a state inside a thin tube inner wall portion, for example, a crack, etc. by inserting it into a thin tube, there is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
There is one typified by the flaw detection device for a small diameter tube described in Japanese Patent No. 87653. As an application in the medical field, ULTRASOUND IMAGING PROBE described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,757 is used to obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image from inside by inserting it into a body cavity or a blood vessel. WITH Z
There is an ultrasonic probe represented by ERO DEAD SPACE). Various scanning methods have been devised to mechanically change the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception direction to obtain a reflected signal from a two-dimensional area, but so-called radial scanning, which scans a surface orthogonal to the capillary axis direction, is often used. ing.

The system for realizing the radial scanning system is roughly divided into the directions in which the ultrasonic wave of the ultrasonic probe is transmitted and received, and the ultrasonic probe is mechanically rotated in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the capillary tube. There are two methods: a method of rotating the ultrasonic probe and a method of fixing the ultrasonic transmission / reception direction of the ultrasonic probe in the axial direction and arranging a mirror for reflecting in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction on the propagation path and rotating the same.

The above-mentioned two conventional examples are of a type in which ultrasonic waves transmitted from an ultrasonic probe are reflected by a reflecting mirror in a direction perpendicular to the axis and the mirror is driven to rotate. In this mirror reflection method, it is necessary to incorporate an ultrasonic probe and a reflection mirror in a thin tube, and the entire shape needs to be flexible in order to adapt to a small tube having a small overall shape and a bent portion. An ultrasonic probe represented by the flaw detection device for a small diameter tube described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-87653 will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of a conventional ultrasonic probe. In FIG. 3, 31 is a test tube, 32 is a casing, 33 is a bearing, 34 is a hollow cavity rotatable by the middle bearing 33, 35 is a water turbine connected to the hollow cavity 34, and 36 is the tip of the hollow cavity 34. Is a reflection mirror, 37 is an ultrasonic probe fixed to the casing 32, and 38 is water.

The operation of the ultrasonic probe constructed as above will be described below. First, the ultrasonic probe is inserted into the test tube 31 and positioned at the flaw detection target site. Next, the ultrasonic transmission signal is transferred to the ultrasonic probe 37 and the ultrasonic wave is transmitted. The ultrasonic wave output from the ultrasonic probe 37 propagates through the water 38 in the hollow cavity 34, reaches the reflection mirror 36 located at the tip of the hollow cavity 34, and changes the ultrasonic wave propagation direction by 90 °. The ultrasonic wave whose propagation direction is changed by the reflection mirror 36 is incident on the inner wall portion of the test tube 31 due to the geometrical shape, and the reflected ultrasonic wave according to the inner wall portion and the internal state is transmitted along the same path as when transmitting. The reflected signal is returned to the acoustic probe 37 and is output to a main body (not shown).

Next, water 38 is injected from a main body (not shown). Water 38 flows along the arrows shown in the figure, causing water turbine 35 to rotate. The hollow cavity 34 connected to the water turbine is rotated by the rotation of the water turbine 35, and at the same time, the reflection mirror 36 fixed to the tip of the hollow cavity 34 is also rotated. As a result, the ultrasonic waves transmitted and received by the ultrasonic probe 37 can scan the inner wall portion of the test tube 31 in the radial direction, and two-dimensional ultrasonic flaw detection can be performed.

It is said that the entire shape needs to be φ2 or less when it is inserted into a medical area, particularly in a coronary artery of the heart. In this way, when the ultrasonic probe and the reflection mirror are installed in the limited space and the reflection mirror is rotated, sufficient installation strength cannot be obtained, and the ultrasonic transmission / reception direction of the ultrasonic probe and the reflection mirror There is a problem that the rotation axis shifts during rotation and the quality of the obtained ultrasonic tomographic image deteriorates. In order to solve this problem, a method has been devised in which the ultrasonic probe and the reflection mirror are integrally formed and rotated together, and the US Pat. No. 4,899,757 employs this method. The ultrasonic probe described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,757 in which the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic probe are integrated will be described below.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of an ultrasonic probe in which a reflecting mirror and an ultrasonic probe are integrated with each other. Since the ultrasonic probe is considered to be inserted into a blood vessel, the bearing can be made extremely thin. The components such as are omitted. In FIG. 4, 39 is a holder for constructing the reflection mirror 36 and the ultrasonic probe 37 in an integrated structure, 40 is a drive transmission spring, and 41 is a coaxial cable as components different from those in FIG. The method of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is the same as that of the above-mentioned conventional example, and will be omitted. The reflection mirror 36 is formed integrally with the ultrasonic probe 37 by the holder 39, and is rotated by the rotation of the drive transmission spring 40.

Since the reflecting mirror 36 and the ultrasonic probe 37 are integrally formed, the positional relationship of the ultrasonic probe 37 with respect to the reflecting mirror 36 becomes constant during rotation, and the bearing and casing have a strong structure. Even when there is no object, it is possible to obtain a two-dimensional ultrasonic tomographic image with little axial displacement.
Since the ultrasonic probe of FIG. 4 is intended for use in a blood vessel, its outer shape is covered with a hollow catheter (not shown).

[0011]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, in order to perform flaw detection in the subject with high resolution, the focusing region of the ultrasonic probe, that is, the focusing lens provided in the ultrasonic probe. , Or the curvature for focusing provided on the reflection mirror or the directional characteristics of the ultrasonic probe itself, the shape of the object to be inspected is estimated in advance, and the distance between the ultrasonic probe and the reflection mirror is determined. Had set. For this reason,
When the shape of the subject deviates from the estimated shape, for example, in intravascular ultrasonic scanning, the diameter of the blood vessel differs depending on each individual or site, and the distance between the ultrasonic probe and the reflection mirror during rotational scanning or flaw detection. However, there is a problem that the resolution of the ultrasonic tomographic image may be deteriorated due to the inability to change.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. In an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in the radial direction from the inside by a reflecting mirror inserted in a thin tube,
An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of changing the distance between a reflection mirror and an ultrasonic probe in a state of being inserted into a thin tube.

[0013]

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object is an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and a transmitting / receiving section connected to the ultrasonic probe. A signal processing unit connected to the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit, a display unit connected to the signal processing unit, an operator unit for inputting change data of the focusing region, and a control unit connected to the operator unit. , A drive unit connected to this control unit,
A first drive transmission spring having a hollow structure for transmitting a driving force generated by the driving unit, and a drive generated by the driving unit having flexibility for passing through the first driving transmission spring. A second drive transmission spring having a hollow structure for transmitting a force, the first drive transmission spring and the second drive transmission spring;
Second drive transmission spring, which is connected to both rear ends of the drive transmission spring and transmits the drive force generated by the drive portion to both of them according to an instruction from the control portion or fixes the rotation of the first drive transmission spring. It has a lock part that transmits it only to.

On the other hand, the structure of the ultrasonic probe portion is
Of a flexible thin tube structure in which the drive transmission spring is arranged in the lumen, a bearing connected and fixed to the tip of the catheter, and a tip connected and fixed to the tip of the second drive transmission spring. 2nd with a screw structure on the outer wall
A joint of a hollow tube structure that is rotated together with the drive transmission spring and a screw fitted to the screw provided in this joint on the inner wall portion of the rear end, and the ultrasonic probe is fixed to the front end portion to the mirror holder. On the other hand, a probe holder having a pin for limiting a rotation direction, and a probe holder connected to and fixed to a tip portion of the first drive transmission spring, inserted into the bearing, longer than the bearing, and rotated together with the first drive transmission spring with respect to the bearing. And a rotary part having a two-step structure at the tip part for rotatably inserting the joint, and a rotary part connected and fixed to the rotary part to rotate together and open in the central axis direction to pin the pin provided on the probe holder. Mirror holder having a hollow tube structure having a groove and an opening in an ultrasonic wave propagation path, and a method of propagating ultrasonic waves output from the ultrasonic probe, which is fixed to the tip of the mirror holder And a reflecting mirror for changing the.

[0015]

According to the present invention, with this structure, the first drive transmission spring and the second drive transmission spring are rotated in the same direction at the lock portion at the same speed so that the reflection mirror and the probe holder fixed to the mirror holder are provided. It is possible to rotate the probe holder and the mirror holder in the same direction and at the same speed while keeping the distance to the fixed ultrasonic probe constant, and by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves during this operation, It is possible to obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image of the inner wall of the sample. Furthermore, the joint can be rotated with respect to the mirror holder by stopping the rotation operation of the first drive transmission spring at the lock portion and rotating only the second drive transmission spring, and the outer wall portion of the joint tip and the probe can be rotated. By tightening the screw provided on the inner wall portion of the rear end of the holder, the probe holder can be moved in the front-rear direction to change the distance between the ultrasonic probe and the reflection mirror. This forward and backward movement is possible by changing the rotation direction of the second drive transmission spring. The pin on the probe holder and the groove on the mirror holder into which the pin is inserted restrict the rotational movement of the probe holder due to the rotation of the joint only in the front-back direction of the mirror holder, so that the mirror can be efficiently used. It becomes possible to convert the rotation of the joint with respect to the holder into the movement of the probe holder in the front-back direction, and in response to the shape change of the object, the ultrasonic probe is inserted in the object. It is possible to change the focus position of the child.

[0016]

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

FIG. 1 is a block connection diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an ultrasonic probe and 2 is a main body. Reference numeral 3 denotes a transmission / reception unit, which is connected to the ultrasonic probe 1 by a coaxial cable 24. 4 is a signal processing unit connected to the transmitting / receiving unit 3 and 5
Is a display unit including a television monitor connected to the signal processing unit 4 to display an ultrasonic tomographic image, 6 is an operator unit, 7 is a control unit connected to the operator unit, 8 is a drive unit including a motor and an encoder, and 9 is a controller. Is a lock unit connected to the drive unit, and includes a transmitter / receiver unit 3, a signal processing unit 4, a display unit 5, an operator unit 6, a control unit 7, a drive unit 8, and a lock unit 9 for the main body unit 2.
Is configured. A first drive transmission spring 17 and a second drive transmission spring 21 are connected to the lock portion 9. Reference numeral 10 is a subject.

Next, the detailed structure of the ultrasonic probe 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 11 is a catheter which can be inserted into a thin tube such as a blood vessel, 12 is a bearing having a hollow tube structure which is joined and fixed to the tip of the catheter 11, 13 is a bearing 12 which is inserted from the rear end inside the bearing 12. It is a rotating part of a longer hollow tube structure. 14 is a rotating part 13 and a bearing 12
It is a hollow tubular mirror holder that is inserted and fixed to the tip of the rotating portion 13 that protrudes from the rear bearing 12 that is inserted into the. The ultrasonic opening 15 is provided in the ultrasonic wave emitting portion at the tip.
Reference numeral 16 is a reflecting mirror for propagating the propagating ultrasonic waves to the subject, and the reflecting surface is inclined by 45 ° with respect to the central axis of the ultrasonic probe. Reference numeral 17 denotes a first drive transmission spring, which is formed in the shape of a flexible hollow spring and has a tip portion inserted and fixed to a rear end portion of the rotating portion 13, a rear end portion connected to a lock portion 9, and a drive portion 8. The generated rotational force is transmitted via the lock portion 9. The rotation of the first drive transmission spring causes the bearing 12 to rotate with respect to the rotating portion 13 and the mirror holder 1.
4. The reflection mirror 16 is rotated. Reference numeral 18 denotes a joint having a hollow tube structure in which a rear end portion is inserted into the inner space of the front end portion of the rotating portion 13 and a screw is provided on the outer wall portion of the front end portion so as to be rotatable with respect to the rotating portion 13, and the rotating portion 13 is a joint. The inner wall portion has a two-stage structure so that 18 can enter only a certain length. Reference numeral 19 is a probe holder having a hollow tube structure in which screws are provided on the inner wall portion so as to match the screws provided on the joint 18, and the outer diameter of the probe holder 19 is smaller than the inner diameter of the mirror holder 14. It is movable with respect to the holder 14.
Reference numeral 20 is an ultrasonic probe fixed to the tip end of the probe holder 19 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and reference numeral 21 is a flexible member which is inserted into the inner space of the first drive transmission spring 17 and can be independently rotated. Second hollow spring shape having elasticity
Drive transmission spring of the second drive transmission spring 2
One front end portion is inserted and fixed to the rear end portion of the joint 18, and the rear end portion is connected to the lock portion 9. 22 is a reflection mirror 1
6 is a tip bearing located at the tip portion, 23 is a cap that covers the entire tip portion of the ultrasonic probe, and the cap 23 is fixed to the catheter 1 and the tip bearing 22.
A coaxial cable 24 is inserted into the second drive transmission spring 21, is connected to the electrode of the ultrasonic probe 20 on the front end side, and is connected to the transmitting / receiving unit 3 in the main body 2 on the rear end side. Reference numeral 25 is an ultrasonic wave propagation medium filled in the cap 23 at the tip portion.

In FIG. 2, the mirror holder 14, the probe holder 19, the joint 18, the bearing 12, and the catheter 1 are shown.
1, the tip portion of the first drive transmission spring 17 and the tip portion of the second drive transmission spring 21, the cap 23
Is partially shown as a sectional view. In addition, the first drive transmission spring 17 and the second drive transmission spring 2
The spiral line at the rear end portion of 1 indicates a spring shape, not a cross section.

In the above structure, the structure of the contact portion between the mirror holder 14 and the probe holder 19 will be described in more detail. 26 is a pin provided on the probe holder 19;
Reference numeral 7 is a groove provided in the mirror holder 14 in which the pin 26 is inserted, and the groove 27 is parallel to the central axis direction of the ultrasonic probe 1 and opened by a distance corresponding to the length of the moving distance of the probe holder 19 in the front-back direction. ing. The pin 26 and the groove 27 limit the direction in which the probe holder 19 rotates with respect to the mirror holder 14.

The operation of the above arrangement will be described below. The method of propagating the ultrasonic wave transmitted in the central axis direction of the ultrasonic probe 1 to the plane orthogonal to the central axis is the same as the conventional example. That is, the ultrasonic transmission signal generated by the transmission / reception unit 3 in the main body 2 is transmitted via the coaxial cable 24 to the ultrasonic probe 20.
Transferred to. Ultrasonic probe 2 which received the ultrasonic transmission signal
0 converts an electric signal into an ultrasonic wave and emits it into the ultrasonic wave propagation medium 25. This ultrasonic wave changes its propagation direction by 90 ° by the reflection mirror 16 on the propagation path, travels in the direction orthogonal to the central axis of the ultrasonic probe 1, is incident on the inside of the subject 10, and has an acoustic characteristic. The reflected ultrasonic waves are reflected in response to the change, and the incident reflected ultrasonic waves return to the ultrasonic probe 20 through the same path, are converted into electric signals, and are transferred to the transmission / reception unit 3.

The ultrasonic tomographic image of the subject 10 can be acquired by radial scanning by rotating the reflection mirror 16. The first drive transmission spring 17 and the second drive transmission spring 21 are rotated in the same direction at the same speed. This is possible by transmitting the rotational force generated by the motor of the drive unit 8 to the first drive transmission spring 17 and the second drive transmission spring 21 via the lock unit 9. The function of the lock portion 9 is to transmit the rotational force generated by the drive portion 8 to the first drive transmission spring 17 and the second drive transmission spring 21 at the same time in the lock portion 9 and to control the control signal from the control portion 7. Release the state, the first drive transmission spring 1
It has two functions of fixing the rotation of 7 and transmitting it only to the second drive transmission spring 21.

The rotation of the first drive transmission spring 17 causes the rotating portion 13 connected and fixed to the first drive transmission spring 17 and the mirror holder 14 connected and fixed to the rotating portion 13.
Is rotated with respect to the bearing 12, and the reflection mirror 16 fixed to the tip of the mirror holder 14 is rotated so that the subject 10 can be radially scanned. Further, the probe holder 19 is provided on the mirror holder 14 which is further rotated and is provided on the groove 27 and the probe holder 19 by the pin 26.
Is rotated at the same speed in the same direction as. Here, the joint 18 connected to the rear end portion of the vibrator holder 19 with a screw
Is rotated by a second drive transmission spring 21 fixedly connected to the joint 18, but the rotation of the second drive transmission spring is determined by the lock function of the lock portion 9.
The rotational movement of the probe holder 19 and the joint 8 is the same as the rotational movement of the drive transmission spring of the above, and finally the reflection mirror 16 and the ultrasonic probe 20 are reflected without changing the positional relationship. The mirror 16 and the ultrasonic probe 20 can be rotated, and radial scanning can be performed on the reflection mirror 14 while always keeping the ultrasonic wave emission state of the ultrasonic probe 20 constant. The signal processing unit 4 constructs an image matched with the television synchronizing signal based on certain angle information and the output of the transmission / reception unit 3 and displays it on the display unit 5 to obtain a distortion-free ultrasonic tomographic image.

The ultrasonic tomographic image displayed on the display unit 5 becomes an image with degraded resolution when the ultrasonic focusing region deviates from the inspection region due to the positional relationship between the size of the subject 10 and the ultrasonic probe 1. .. Therefore, the operator inputs, from the ultrasonic tomographic image displayed on the display unit 5, an instruction to adjust the focal region from the operator unit 6. In order to change the focal area, for example, when the focal area is set farther than the ultrasonic probe 1, the ultrasonic probe 20 and the reflection mirror 16 may be close to each other, and in the opposite case, they may be separated from each other. good.

The control unit 7 is instructed by the operation unit 6.
Outputs a control signal necessary for changing the designated focus area to the drive unit 8 and the lock unit 9. The control signal transferred to the drive unit 8 is the rotation direction and the operation time, and the control signal transferred to the lock unit 9 indicates the simultaneous rotation state of the first drive transmission spring 17 and the second drive transmission spring 21. The lock portion 9 releases the drive force generated by the drive portion 8 only to the second drive transmission spring, and fixes the first drive transmission spring 17 so as not to rotate. The drive unit 8 rotates in the rotation direction determined by the control signal transferred from the control unit 7 for a predetermined time. The second drive transmission spring 21 rotated by the drive unit 8 and the lock unit 9.
Rotates the connected and fixed joint 8. On the other hand, the probe holder 19 cannot rotate with respect to the mirror holder 14 due to the pin 26 and the groove 27 provided in the mirror holder 14. The mirror holder 14 is connected and fixed to the first drive transmission spring 17 via the rotating portion 13, and the first drive transmission spring 17 is fixed by the lock portion 9 so as not to rotate. Therefore, the probe holder 19
Does not rotate.

The rotational force of the joint 8 rotated by the second drive transmission spring 21 does not rotate the probe holder 19, so that the joint holder 8 and the probe holder 19 are not rotated.
Is provided inside and rotates a screw, and consequently moves the probe holder 19 in the front-back direction. The moving distance is the control unit 7
The direction of movement depends on the direction of rotation, corresponding to the time determined by the control signal transferred from the. When the focus area is changed as described above, radial scanning can be performed again as described above to obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image with good resolution.

As described above, the first drive transmission spring 17 connected to the drive portion 8 and the lock portion 9 provided on the main body portion 2 and the second drive passage spring 1 passed through the inner space of the first drive transmission spring 1. By rotating the drive transmission spring 21 of
The mirror holder 14 having the reflection mirror 16 fixed to the tip located at the tip of the catheter 11 and the probe holder 19 having the ultrasonic probe 20 fixed can be simultaneously rotated, and ultrasonic tomography of the subject 10 by radial scanning is performed. An image can be obtained and the lock unit 9 is controlled by the control signal from the control unit 7.
Transmits the driving force of the drive unit 8 only to the second drive transmission spring 21, and fixes the first drive transmission spring 17 so as not to rotate, so that the probe holder 19 is moved back and forth with respect to the mirror holder 14. It is possible to move in the direction.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first drive transmission spring connected to the drive portion and the lock portion provided in the main body portion and the first drive transmission spring passed through the inner space of the first drive transmission spring. By rotating the drive transmission spring 2, the mirror holder with the reflection mirror fixed to the tip located at the tip of the catheter and the probe holder with the ultrasonic probe fixed can be rotated at the same time. An ultrasonic tomographic image of the specimen can be obtained, and the lock unit transmits the driving force of the drive unit only to the second drive transmission spring by the control signal of the control unit so that the first drive transmission spring is not rotated. By fixing the probe holder, it is possible to move the probe holder in the front-back direction with respect to the mirror holder, and the distance between the ultrasound probe and the reflection mirror can be adjusted by using the ultrasound probe inside the subject. Can be changed while it is positioned, with respect to the change in shape of the object, it is possible to change the focus region, in which can be realized diagnostically excellent ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block connection diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of an ultrasonic probe which is a main part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a conventional ultrasonic probe for flaw detection.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of a conventional ultrasonic probe.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic probe 2 Main body part 3 Transmitting / receiving part 4 Signal processing part 5 Display part 6 Operator part 7 Control part 8 Driving part 9 Lock part 10 Subject 11 Catheter 12 Bearing 13 Rotating part 14 Mirror holder 15 Ultrasonic opening 16 Reflective mirror 17 First Drive Transmission Spring 18 Joint 19 Probe Holder 20 Ultrasonic Probe 21 Second Drive Transmission Spring 22 Tip Bearing 23 Cap 24 Coaxial Cable 25 Ultrasonic Transmission Medium 26 Pins 27 Groove 31 Test Tube 32 Casing 33 bearing 34 hollow cavity 35 water turbine 36 reflection mirror 37 ultrasonic probe 38 water 39 holder 40 drive transmission spring 41 coaxial cable

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a transceiver connected to the ultrasonic probe, a signal processor connected to the ultrasonic transceiver, and a signal processor. A display section connected to the operator section, an operator section for inputting change data of the focusing area, a control section connected to the operator section, a drive section connected to the control section, and the drive section having flexibility. The first hollow structure that transmits the driving force generated in
Drive transmission spring, a second drive transmission spring having a hollow structure that has flexibility to pass through the first drive transmission spring, and transmits the drive force generated in the drive section, and the first drive transmission A driving force generated by the driving unit, which is connected to both rear ends of the spring and the second drive transmission spring, is transmitted to both of them according to an instruction from the control unit.
Alternatively, a lock portion for fixing the rotation of the first drive transmission spring and transmitting the rotation to only the second drive transmission spring, and a catheter having a flexible thin tube structure in which the first drive transmission spring is arranged in the lumen portion, A bearing which is connected and fixed to the tip of the catheter, and a hollow which is connected and fixed to the tip of the second drive transmission spring and has a screw structure on the outer wall of the tip and is rotated together with the second drive transmission spring. A probe having a joint having a tube structure and a screw fitted to the screw provided in the joint on the inner wall of the rear end and having the pin for fixing the ultrasonic probe to the front end and limiting the rotation direction with respect to the mirror holder. The tentacle holder is connected and fixed to the tip of the first drive transmission spring, is inserted into the bearing, is longer than the bearing, and is connected to the bearing together with the first drive transmission spring. A rotary part having a two-stage structure at the tip part that is rotated to insert the joint so that the joint is rotatable, and a rotary shaft connected to and fixed to the rotary part and rotating together to open a pin provided on the probe holder in a central axis direction. A mirror holder having a hollow tube structure having a groove formed therein and having an opening in an ultrasonic wave propagation path, and changing the propagation direction of ultrasonic waves fixed to the tip of the mirror holder and outputted from the ultrasonic probe. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a reflection mirror.