JPH0622963A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device which is inserted into a thin pipe having a bent part such as vein and transmits the turning moment which exists outside the thin pipe to the top edge part with high precision and scans the propagation direction of the ultrasonic wave. CONSTITUTION:An ultrasonic vibrator element 3 and a revolution scan part 4 for two-dimensionally scanning the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic vibrator element 3 are installed at the top edge part of an ultrasonic contactor 7, and the turning moment generated by a driving part 9 positioned on the other edge side for the top edge side of a catheter 1 by a multilayered spring type drive transmission shaft 5 is transmitted to a revolution scanning part 4, and two-dimensional scan is carried out mechanically. On the top edge side of the drive transmission shaft 5, strands are arranged in equal intervals, and on the other edge side, a plurality of strands are arranged in parallel in equal interval, and also at the top edge bent part, the turning moment of the drive transmission shaft 5 is transmitted to the revolution scanning part 4 in stable manner, and an ultrasonic tomogram having little strain can be obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is to insert a flexible thin tube, for example, into a blood vessel to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves from the inside, and mechanically change the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving direction to reflect the inside of the thin tube. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can be obtained.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic flaw detector which is inserted into a thin tube having a bent portion and inspects the inside of the thin tube by ultrasonic waves is widely used in the medical field as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus adaptable to the body cavity of a human body. It is applied. A device that is supposed to be inserted from the forceps hole of an endoscope is known to be inserted into the body cavity, specifically, the digestive tract, and the outer diameter of the ultrasonic probe is limited by the size of the forceps hole. In order to insert it into a blood vessel, for example, when the coronary artery of the heart is used as the diagnosis site, the outer diameter of the ultrasonic probe must be set to φ2 or less.

As an ultrasonic probe which can be inserted into such a thin tube, for example, a structure of an ultrasonic transducer rotation type system described in JP-A-3-289948 which can be inserted into a blood vessel, Configuration of the mirror rotation type method described in JP-A-3-231651, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,75
There is known a structure of a mirror oscillator integrated rotation type system described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. A conventional ultrasonic probe will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a conventional ultrasonic probe 40, in which (a) is a vibrator rotation type system,
(B) Mirror rotation type system, (c) Mirror oscillator integrated rotation type system. In FIG. 6, 41 is a catheter made of resin having a hollow thin tube structure, 42 is an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, 43 is a mirror for changing the propagation direction of ultrasonic waves by 90 °, and 44 is an ultrasonic transducer. A holder for holding 42 and the mirror 43 and operating them integrally, and 45 are drive transmission shafts.
The drive transmission shaft 45 is a drive unit not shown in FIG.
For example, it is connected to a motor and rotated. The ultrasonic transducer 42 is electrically connected to the main body by a signal line not shown in FIG. 6, and exchanges ultrasonic wave transmission / reception signals.

A multi-layer spring structure has been conventionally used as the structure of the drive transmission shaft 45 which is bent and transmits the driving force. The conventional drive transmission shaft 45 will be described below with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a conventional drive transmission shaft 45, showing a case of a two-layer spring structure. In FIG. 7A, 47 is 1
The second layer, 48 is a second layer, and 49 is a wire constituting a spring of each layer. As shown in FIG. 7B, the wire 49 is composed of a plate thickness 50 and a plate width 51 in its cross section. By changing the sizes of the plate thickness 50 and the plate width 51, the entire drive transmission shaft 45 can be obtained. It is possible to change the characteristics of, that is, flexibility and transmissibility. Specifically, although it is possible to improve the torque that can be transmitted by increasing these values, the flexibility is sacrificed.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram when such an ultrasonic probe 40 is applied to a coronary artery of the heart. In FIG. 8, 52 is a heart, 53 is an aorta, 54 is a coronary artery, 5
Reference numeral 5 is a guide catheter having an inner diameter sufficient to insert the ultrasonic probe 40 into the lumen.

The operation of the above arrangement will be described below. First, the guide catheter 55 is inserted into the aorta 53 from the thigh, for example, as shown in FIG. The ultrasonic probe 40 is inserted into the guide catheter 55, the ultrasonic probe 40 is inserted into the coronary artery from the distal end of the guide catheter 55, and the ultrasonic probe 40 is pushed and arranged at the target diagnostic site. In this state, the drive transmission shaft 45 is rotated to move the ultrasonic transducer 42 in (a) and the mirror 43 in (b).
However, in (c), the mirror 43 and the ultrasonic transducer 42 are rotated, the ultrasonic wave propagation direction indicated by the arrow is rotated on the scanning surface 46, and ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received during this rotation, and a conventional signal is transmitted. Through the processing, it becomes possible to obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image on the scanning surface 46.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned structure, the ultrasonic probe 40 is placed in a flexible blood vessel in order to obtain a distortion-free ultrasonic tomographic image, and the rotation generated in the main body is caused. It is necessary to stably transmit the force to the tip. However, it is possible to assume that this bent portion is present to some extent depending on the adaptation site. That is, when the coronary artery 54 of the heart 52 as shown in FIG.
Although the part of the body 0 on the main body side is arranged in the aorta 53 and does not have a bent portion so much, the tip part is arranged in the coronary artery 54, and the ultrasonic probe 40 is largely bent as shown in FIG. To be

Since the drive transmission shaft 45 is constructed by using uniform strands 49 as shown in FIG. 7, it has the same characteristics as a whole. Therefore, when the transmissibility is emphasized, the flexibility of the coronary artery 54 in flexion is lacking, and when the flexibility is emphasized, the overall rotational force transmissibility is reduced.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. It is inserted into a thin tube having a bent portion such as a blood vessel, the rotational force existing outside the thin tube is accurately transmitted to the distal end portion, and the propagation direction of ultrasonic waves is changed. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for scanning is provided.

[0010]

In order to achieve this object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention comprises a catheter having a hollow hollow tube structure having flexibility, an acoustic window connected to the tip of the catheter, and its acoustic. A propagation medium housed inside a window, an ultrasonic transducer located in the propagation medium for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and a rotary scanning unit for two-dimensionally scanning the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer. A drive unit for generating a rotational force, a multi-layer spring drive transmission shaft for transmitting the rotational force generated by the drive unit to the rotary scanning unit, and a transmission / reception unit electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer. A scan conversion unit connected to the transmission / reception unit, an image memory connected to the scan conversion unit, a monitor connected to the image memory, the drive unit, the transmission / reception unit, the scan conversion unit, and the image memory. Control unit that controls operation The outermost layer of the drive transmission shaft is configured such that the strands of wire are arranged at equal intervals on the side of the rotary scanning unit, and the strands of wire are arranged at equal intervals on the side of the drive unit. Is.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the rotational driving force generated in the driving unit is transmitted to the rotary scanning unit located at the tip of the catheter via the drive transmission shaft, and the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving direction generated from the ultrasonic transducer is changed. Two-dimensional scanning is performed. At the time of this two-dimensional scanning, the ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer by the transmitting / receiving section, the ultrasonic wave reflected from the blood vessel wall or the like is received by the ultrasonic transducer, and the transmitting / receiving section and the scan converting section perform the two-dimensional scanning method. It is possible to display an ultrasonic tomographic image corresponding to the above on the monitor. In the coronary arteries of the heart, it is necessary to bend the tens of centimeters of the tip of the ultrasonic probe, and the drive transmission shaft of this portion is more flexible than the characteristics of the wire shape that constitutes the spring shape. Therefore, it is possible to flexibly bend and transmit the rotational force, it is possible to obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image with less distortion, and it is possible to improve the diagnostic effect.

[0012]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a catheter, 2 is an acoustic window connected to the tip of the catheter, 3 is an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, 4
Is a rotary scanning unit for two-dimensionally scanning the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer 3, and a mirror is used in this embodiment.
Reference numeral 5 is a drive transmission shaft having a flexible characteristic for transmitting a rotational force to the rotary scanning unit 4, reference numeral 6 is a transmission medium such as physiological saline filled in the acoustic window 2, and reference numeral 7 is the catheter 1 and the acoustic window 2.
The ultrasonic transducer 3 includes the ultrasonic transducer 3, the rotary scanning unit 4, the drive transmission shaft 5, and the propagation medium 6, and 8 is a main body. Reference numeral 9 is a drive unit including a motor and an encoder connected to the drive transmission shaft 5, and 10 is a transmission / reception constituted by an ultrasonic pulse transmission circuit, a reception amplifier, an A / D converter, etc. connected to the ultrasonic transducer 3. 11 is a scan conversion unit connected to the transmission / reception unit 10, 12 is an image memory connected to the scan conversion unit 11, 13 is a monitor connected to the image memory 12, 1
Reference numeral 4 is a control unit connected to the drive unit 9, the transmission / reception unit 10, the scan conversion unit 11 and the image memory 12, 15 is a signal line connected to the ultrasonic transducer 5 and the transmission / reception unit 10, and 16 is a blood vessel.
The drive unit 9, the transmission / reception unit 10, the scan conversion unit 11, the image memory 12, the monitor 13, and the control unit 14 constitute the main body unit 8. The acoustic window 2 prevents contact between the propagating medium 6 and blood, and is characteristically not a sound obstruction factor when propagating ultrasonic waves propagating in the propagating medium 6 to blood, so that sound velocity and density The acoustic impedance obtained by multiplying by is substantially the same as that of the blood flowing in the blood vessel 16 or the tissue of the blood vessel 16 and is made of a material such as polyethylene having a small attenuation.

Further, the detailed structure of the drive transmission shaft 5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2A is an enlarged view showing the structure on the tip side A and the body side B of the multi-layer spring-shaped drive transmission shaft 5, and FIG. 2B is a partially enlarged view of the body side B of FIG. 2A. FIG. 2C is a partially enlarged view of the main body side A of FIG. In FIG. 2, 17 is the outermost layer of the multi-layer spring that constitutes the drive transmission shaft 5, 18 is the inner layer formed inside the outermost layer 17, 19 is the distance A, 20 is the distance B, and the tip side The length L configured in the shape of a spring like A is a length assuming a tip bending portion when the coronary artery is inserted. FIG. 2B shows a wire 21 forming the outermost layer 17.
22 is a plate thickness, 23 is a plate width, and the outermost layer 17 of the drive transmission shaft 5 has a plate thickness of 2 as a whole.
2 and the plate width 23 have substantially the same shape, and the outer diameters of the outermost layers 17 thus configured are also substantially the same.

The operation of the above arrangement will be described below. First, the ultrasonic probe 7 is inserted into the blood vessel 16 and the tip of the ultrasonic probe 7 is moved to the affected area. When the tip of the ultrasonic probe 7 is located on the affected area, a rotational force is generated by the drive unit 9 and the rotational force is transmitted to the drive transmission shaft 5, and the rotary scanning unit 4 located at the tip of the ultrasonic probe 7 is rotated. . While rotating the rotary scanning unit 4, a transmission signal is output from the transmission / reception unit 10 to the ultrasonic transducer 3 via the signal line 15 to generate ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic wave converted by the ultrasonic transducer 3 propagates in the propagation medium 6 and is changed in propagation direction by the rotary scanning unit 4 to the wall direction of the blood vessel 16. The ultrasonic waves pass through the acoustic window 3 and are reflected one after another due to the difference in acoustic impedance within the blood vessel wall or inside the wall, and a part of the ultrasonic waves is received by the ultrasonic transducer 3 and converted into an electric signal, which is input to the transmitting / receiving unit 10. It

The received signal is subjected to a predetermined process such as amplification by the transmitting / receiving section 10, converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter, and output to the rotary scanning section 4 from the driving section 9. According to the writing position calculated by the control unit 14 according to the corresponding position signal, the scan conversion unit 11 causes the image memory 1 to operate.
The digital value of the reflected signal is stored at a predetermined position on 2. By repeating the process of transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic signal while the rotary scanning unit 4 is rotating, the image in the radial direction obtained by the rotary scanning of the rotary scanning unit 4 is stored in the image memory 12, and the monitor 13 is stored. Is displayed as an ultrasonic tomographic image.

When the ultrasonic probe 7 is inserted into the coronary artery of the heart as shown in FIG. 8, the bent portion is mainly the tip of the ultrasonic probe 7. Even in such an adaptive portion having only a bent portion at the distal end portion, since the drive transmission shaft 5 has a structure as shown in FIG. 2, the drive transmission shaft 5 flexibly follows the blood vessel 16 and stabilizes the rotation of the drive transmission shaft 5 even in the bent portion. Can be transmitted to the rotary scanning unit 4.

That is, on the front end side A of the drive transmission shaft 5, the strands 21 are arranged at intervals A19, and on the main body side B, a plurality of strands 21, for example, three strands 21 are arranged in parallel and arranged at intervals B20. . With such a configuration, the main body side B comes close to the characteristic of forming a spring shape with a wire having a plate width three times as large as the plate width 23. As a result, the flexibility is sacrificed, but the transmission force is improved. It On the contrary, the tip side A has improved flexibility,
Even if the ultrasonic probe 7 is inserted into a region having a bend such as a coronary artery, the ultrasonic probe 7 can be flexibly followed and the rotational force can be transmitted to the rotary scanning unit 4.

The rotary scanning unit 4 described in this embodiment is used.
Although the mirror structure has been described as above, the same effect can be obtained by the vibrator rotation type or the mirror vibrator integrated rotation type scanning system described in the related art.

As described above, according to this embodiment, an ultrasonic wave constituted by the catheter 1, the acoustic window 2, the ultrasonic transducer 3, the rotary scanning unit 4, the multi-layer spring-shaped drive transmission shaft 5, and the propagation medium 6. It has a probe 7 and a main body 8 and has a drive transmission shaft 5
In the outermost layer 17 in which the strands 21 are arranged at equal intervals A19 in a length corresponding to the bending portion of the adaptation region on the tip side A, and a plurality of strands 21 are arranged in parallel on the main body side B. Even in the coronary arteries of the heart where the ultrasonic probe 7 distal end is located exactly at the bent portion, it is configured by the equal intervals B20.
The rotary driving force generated by the driving unit 9 can be accurately transmitted to the rotary scanning unit 4 located at the tip of the ultrasonic probe 7.

(Embodiment 2) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 3 (a) is the second
7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a multi-layer spring-shaped drive transmission shaft 5 according to the embodiment of FIG. The schematic block diagram of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as the schematic block diagram of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

3 (b) and 3 (c) are enlarged views showing the structures of the tip end side A and the main body side B of the drive transmission shaft 5 in FIG. 3 (a), and 17 constitutes the drive transmission shaft 5. The outermost layer of the multilayer spring, 18 is an inner layer formed inside the outermost layer 17, and 24 is a gap. 21A is a cross section of the wire on the tip side A, 22A is the plate thickness, and 23A is the plate width.
Similarly, 21B is the cross section of the wire on the main body side B, 2
2B is the plate thickness, and 23B is the plate width. Plate thickness 22A and plate thickness 2
The relationship between 2B and the plate width is 22A <the plate thickness 22B, and the relationship between the plate width 23A and the plate width 23B is the plate width 23A = the plate width 23.
B.

That is, on the front end side A, the plate thickness 22A and the plate width 23
In A, the strands 21A are formed at intervals 24, and on the main body side B, a plate thickness 22B that is thicker than the plate thickness on the tip side A and a plate width 23 of the same width
The B wire 21B is formed at the same interval 24 as the tip side A. By configuring the drive transmission shaft 5 as described above,
Since the plate thickness 22B of the main body side B is thicker than that of the tip side A, the transmission force is improved, and conversely, the tip side A has flexibility. The outer diameter of the outermost layer 17 of the drive transmission shaft 5 is larger on the main body side B than on the difference between the plate thicknesses 22A and 22B because the outer diameter of the inner layer 18 is the same.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the ultrasonic wave constituted by the catheter 1, the acoustic window 2, the ultrasonic transducer 3, the rotary scanning unit 4, the multi-layer spring-shaped drive transmission shaft 5, and the propagation medium 6 is provided. It has a probe 7 and a main body 8 and has a drive transmission shaft 5
The outermost layer 17 is composed of the spaces 24 between the strands as a whole, and has a plate thickness 22A of the strand 21A and a strand 21B of the main body B at a length corresponding to the bending portion of the adapting portion on the tip side A.
The plate thickness 22A has a relationship between the plate thickness 22A and the plate thickness 22B, and the plate width 23A of the strand 21A and the plate width 2 of the strand 21B.
It is configured to have a plate width 23A = plate width 23B between 3B, and is generated by the drive unit 9 even in the coronary artery of the heart where the tip of the ultrasonic probe 7 is located exactly at the bent portion. The rotational driving force can be accurately transmitted to the rotary scanning unit 4 located at the tip of the ultrasonic probe 7.

(Third Embodiment) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4A shows the third
7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a multi-layer spring-shaped drive transmission shaft 5 according to the embodiment of FIG. The schematic block diagram of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment is equivalent to the schematic block diagram of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIGS. 4 (b) and 4 (c) are enlarged views of the structures of the drive transmission shaft 5 on the front end side A and the main body side B.
7 is the outermost layer of the multi-layer spring that constitutes the drive transmission shaft 5,
Reference numeral 18 is an inner layer formed inside the outermost layer 17, and 24 is a space. 21A is a cross section of the wire on the tip side A, 2
2A is the plate thickness and 23A is the plate width. Similarly, 21B is the cross section of the wire on the main body side B, 22B is the plate thickness, and 23B is
Is the board width. The relationship between the plate thickness 22A and the plate thickness 22B is the plate thickness 22A = the plate thickness 22B, and the plate width 23A and the plate width 23B.
The relationship is that the plate width 23A <the plate width 23B.

That is, on the front end side A, the plate thickness 22A and the plate width 23
A is composed of the strands 21A at intervals 24, and the body side B is made up of strands 21B having a plate thickness 22B having the same thickness as the tip side A and a plate width 23B larger than the tip side A, and at the same spacing 24 as the tip side A. is doing. By configuring the drive transmission shaft 5 as described above, the transmission force is improved on the main body side B because the plate width 23B is large, and conversely, the tip side A has flexibility.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the ultrasonic wave constituted by the catheter 1, the acoustic window 2, the ultrasonic transducer 3, the rotary scanning section 4, the multi-layer spring-shaped drive transmission shaft 5 and the propagation medium 6. It has a probe 7 and a main body 8 and has a drive transmission shaft 5
The outermost layer 17 is composed of the spaces 24 between the strands as a whole, and has a plate thickness 22A of the strand 21A and a strand 21B of the main body B at a length corresponding to the bending portion of the adapting portion on the tip side A.
The plate thickness 22A = the plate thickness 22B, and the plate width 23A of the wire 21A and the plate width 2 of the wire 21B.
It is configured to have a relationship of plate width 23A <plate width 23B between 3B, and even in the coronary artery of the heart where the tip of the ultrasonic probe 7 is located just at the bent portion, it is generated by the drive unit 9. The rotational driving force can be accurately transmitted to the rotary scanning unit 4 located at the tip of the ultrasonic probe 7.

(Embodiment 4) A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a multi-layer spring-shaped drive transmission shaft 5 according to the fourth embodiment. The schematic block diagram of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth embodiment is equivalent to the schematic block diagram of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, 17 is the outermost layer, 18 is the inner layer, and at the distal end side A, the outermost layer 17 is removed according to the length assuming the distal bent portion when the coronary artery is inserted,
As a result, the inner layer 18 becomes the outermost layer. By configuring the drive transmission shaft 5 as described above, the main body side B side has one more layer than the tip side A side, the transmission force is improved, and conversely, the tip side A has flexibility.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the catheter 1, the acoustic window 2, the ultrasonic transducer 3, the rotary scanning unit 4, the multi-layer spring-shaped drive transmission shaft 5 and the propagation medium 6 are used. Ultrasonic probe 7 and main body 8
And the outermost layer 17 of the drive transmission shaft 5 is removed on the tip side A in accordance with the length of the assumed flexible portion of the adapting portion, so that the tip of the ultrasonic probe 7 is just bent. Even in the coronary arteries of the heart located at the position, the rotational driving force generated by the driving unit 9 can be accurately transmitted to the rotary scanning unit 4 located at the tip of the ultrasonic probe 7.

In response to the above description, the second embodiment and the third embodiment
In the above embodiment, the distance 24 is the same on the tip side A and the body side B, but as the characteristic of the drive transmission shaft 5, the distance 24 is set for the purpose of having flexibility on the tip side A as compared to the body side B. You may change it.

As a characteristic of the drive transmission shaft 5, the tip side A
The second embodiment is a combination of the third embodiment and the third embodiment for the purpose of having more flexibility than the main body side B, that is, the board thickness 22A <the board thickness 22B and the board width 23A.
<There is no problem even if it is configured to have the relationship of the plate width 23B.

Further, in the layers other than the outermost layer 17 of the drive transmission shaft 5, for example, in the inner layer 18, the tip side A is more flexible than the body side B in the first embodiment and the first embodiment. There is no problem even if the configurations described in the second embodiment and the third embodiment are provided.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a catheter having a hollow thin tube structure which can be inserted into a blood vessel, an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves contained in the tip of the catheter, and an ultrasonic wave A rotary scanning unit that two-dimensionally scans ultrasonic waves transmitted from the vibrator, a multi-layer spring-shaped drive transmission shaft that transfers the rotational force generated in the main body to the rotary scanning unit, and a main body connected to the ultrasonic vibrator. Have a section. When the drive transmission shaft is formed in a spring shape, the tip side has flexibility and the main body side is made of a wire shape that emphasizes transmissibility, and the main body is connected to the drive transmission shaft. Drive unit,
A transmission / reception unit electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer, a scan conversion unit connected to the transmission / reception unit, an image memory connected to the scan conversion unit, a monitor connected to the image memory, a drive unit and a transmission / reception unit, It is composed of a control unit that controls the operation of the scan conversion unit and the image memory.The tip of the ultrasonic probe follows the bending portion even at the bending portion of the tip, and for example, even in the coronary artery of the heart, it occurs in the driving unit. It is possible to realize an excellent ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of accurately transmitting the rotational driving force to the rotational scanning unit located at the tip of the ultrasonic probe and capable of acquiring and displaying an ultrasonic tomographic image without distortion. It is a thing.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a drive transmission shaft that is a main part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a drive transmission shaft that is a main part of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of a drive transmission shaft that is a main part of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of a drive transmission shaft that is a main part of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a scanning method of a conventional ultrasonic probe for scanning in a thin tube.

FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of a conventional drive transmission shaft.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram when a conventional ultrasonic probe for intracapillary scanning is applied to a coronary artery of the heart.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Catheter 2 Acoustic Window 3 Ultrasonic Transducer 4 Rotation Scanning Section 5 Drive Transmission Axis 6 Propagation Medium 7 Ultrasonic Probe 8 Main Body 9 Drive Section 10 Transmitter / Receiver Section 11 Scan Converter 12 Image Memory 13 Monitor 14 Control Section 15 Signal Line 16 Blood vessel 17 Outermost layer 18 Inner layer 19 Interval A 20 Interval B 21 Element wire 21A Element wire 21B Element wire 22 Plate thickness 22A Plate thickness 22B Plate thickness 23 Plate width 23A Plate width 23B Plate width 24 Interval 40 Ultrasonic probe 41 Catheter 42 Ultrasonic Transducer 43 Mirror 44 Holder 45 Drive Transmission Axis 46 Scanning Surface 47 Heart 48 Aorta 49 Coronary Artery 50 Guide Catheter

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A catheter having a flexible hollow capillary structure, an acoustic window connected to the tip of the catheter, a propagation medium contained inside the acoustic window, and an ultrasonic wave located in the propagation medium. The ultrasonic transducer that transmits and receives the ultrasonic wave, the rotary scanning unit that two-dimensionally scans the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer, the driving unit that generates the rotational force, and the rotational force that is generated by the driving unit. A multi-layer spring drive transmission shaft that transmits to the rotary scanning unit, a transmission / reception unit electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer, a scan conversion unit connected to the transmission / reception unit, and a connection to the scan conversion unit. Image memory,
A monitor connected to the image memory and a control unit for controlling the operation of the drive unit, the transmission / reception unit, the scan conversion unit, and the image memory are provided, and the outermost layer of the drive transmission shaft is not provided on the rotary scanning unit side. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is characterized in that the wires are arranged at equal intervals, and a plurality of strands are arranged in parallel on the drive section side at equal intervals. 2. The outermost layer of the multi-layer spring-shaped drive transmission shaft has a plate thickness and a plate width of a wire cross section on the rotary scanning unit side,
Regarding the relationship between the plate thickness and the plate width of the wire cross section on the drive unit side, the drive unit side plate thickness is thicker than the rotary scanning side plate thickness, and the rotary scanning side plate width and the drive unit side plate width are equal. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The outermost layer of the multi-layer spring-shaped drive transmission shaft has a plate thickness and a plate width of a wire cross section on the rotary scanning unit side,
Regarding the relationship between the plate thickness and the plate width of the wire cross section on the drive unit side, the rotation scanning side plate thickness is equal to the drive unit side plate thickness, and the drive unit side plate width is wider than the rotation scanning side plate width. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outermost layer of the multi-layer spring-shaped drive transmission shaft has a smaller number of layers on the rotary scanning unit side than on the drive unit side. 5. The outermost layer of the multi-layer spring-shaped drive transmission shaft includes a plate thickness and a plate width of a wire cross section on the rotary scanning unit side,
In relation to the plate thickness and plate width of the wire cross section on the drive unit side, the drive unit side plate thickness is thicker than the rotary scanning side plate thickness, and the drive unit side plate width is wider than the rotary scanning side plate width. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: