JPH0630938A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ultrasonic probe capable of altering a searching range in a linear direction by an optional and simple scanning. CONSTITUTION:A drive means 6 is provided to drive an ultrasonic vibrator in a linear direction and drive range setting means 18, 19 and 20 to set a drive range in the linear direction of the ultrasonic vibrator. Position detecting means 12 and 13 are provided to detect the position of the ultrasonic vibrator and inversion means 9, 10 and 11 which receive outputs of the position detecting means to invert the direction of moving the ultrasonic vibrator in the linear direction in a drive range set by a drive range setting means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe, and more particularly to an ultrasonic wave used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for projecting an ultrasonic pulse on a living body and receiving an ultrasonic echo of the ultrasonic pulse. It is about the probe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a method of irradiating an ultrasonic wave into a living body and visualizing the state of the inside of the body from the echo signal to detect and diagnose a lesion has become widespread. Among them, the method of inserting the ultrasonic probe into the body endoscopically and irradiating ultrasonic waves from the inside of the body is to use high-frequency ultrasonic waves with less attenuation of ultrasonic waves than the external type and high resolution. It is attracting attention because it can.

Since such an intracavity ultrasonic probe scans a cross section substantially perpendicular to the lumen axis in the body, it is called a radial scan for rotating the ultrasonic transducer, or along the lumen axis. Obtaining an ultrasonic image of the lumen by performing a so-called linear scan in which the ultrasonic transducer is moved is the most effective for diagnosis. Further, in the case of constructing a three-dimensional image of the lumen from the information obtained by the ultrasonic probe, a method of spirally scanning the lumen by combining the above-described radial scan and linear scan has been attempted. .

In the case of moving the ultrasonic vibrator in the linear direction, conventionally, a detector such as a photo interrupter or a micro switch is moved within a moving range of the driving unit, which moves the ultrasonic vibrator back and forth in the axial direction. It was fixed at two positions in the front and rear, and when these detectors detected the approach of the drive unit, the moving direction of the drive unit was reversed to reciprocate the ultrasonic transducer.

Further, in the case of performing a spiral scan, normally, the ratio of the speed of the radial scan and the speed of the linear scan is kept constant, and the scan in the radial direction and the motion in the linear direction are synchronized. There is.

[0006]

When performing such ultrasonic scanning, the user of the ultrasonic probe must consider the conditions of the diagnostic region, the speed at which three-dimensional image data is captured, and the like. It is necessary to arbitrarily change the number of slice images, that is, the scan range in the linear direction. However, in the conventional ultrasonic probe, since the detector for reversing the movement of the ultrasonic transducer in the linear direction is fixed, a tool or the like is used to change the range of the linear scan. The complicated operation of changing the fixed position of the detector and adjusting the distance between the detectors to match the linear scan range set on the processing device side is required.

Further, in the case of performing the spiral scan, in the conventional apparatus, the speeds of the radial scan and the linear scan are fixed at a constant ratio, so that the scan range in the originally required linear direction is actually scanned. The range may be long, which is a pain for the patient because he / she must hold his breath during this period.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a problem, and an ultrasonic probe capable of arbitrarily changing the linear scan range of the ultrasonic transducer without complicated work. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic probe that allows a user to arbitrarily select the speed of linear scanning.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the ultrasonic probe of the first invention of the present application comprises a drive means for driving the ultrasonic transducer in a linear direction, and the ultrasonic transducer described above. In the drive range set by the drive range setting means for setting the drive range in the linear direction, the position detection means for detecting the position of the ultrasonic transducer, and the output of the position detection means. And a reversing means for reversing the moving direction of the ultrasonic transducer in the linear direction.

With this configuration, it becomes possible for the user to input the boundary position of the linear scan of the ultrasonic transducer via the drive range setting means and to set the linear scan range arbitrarily. When the value detected by the position detecting means of the ultrasonic transducer matches the set value, the driving direction in the linear direction of the ultrasonic transducer can be reversed by the reversing means to achieve the above object.

The ultrasonic probe of the second invention of the present application is
In an ultrasonic probe comprising a radial scan means for rotating the ultrasonic transducer in the radial direction and a linear scan means for driving the ultrasonic transducer in the linear direction, the ultrasonic probe with respect to the rotational speed in the radial direction. It comprises: setting means for setting a ratio of the moving distance in the linear direction, and control means for controlling the moving speed of the ultrasonic transducer in the linear direction according to the ratio set by the setting means. Is.

As described above, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the user can arbitrarily set the ratio of the moving distance in the linear direction to the rotational speed of the ultrasonic transducer in the radial direction, and based on this ratio. The linear movement is controlled by the control means. Therefore, the moving speed in the linear direction of the ultrasonic transducer rotating in the radial direction can be arbitrarily set.

[0013]

1 and 2 are views showing the configuration of a first embodiment of an ultrasonic probe according to the first invention of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic probe of the present embodiment has a frame 1
Further, a radial motor 2 and a rotary encoder 3 which constitute a radial rotation unit are held. The rotary shaft of the radial motor 2 is connected to the flexible shaft 4, and the rotation of the motor 2 is transmitted to an ultrasonic vibrator (not shown) attached to the tip of the flexible shaft 4 to drive the ultrasonic vibrator. Rotate in the radial direction. The radial motor 2 and the rotary encoder 3 are fixed via a gear 5. On the other hand, the frame 1 holding the radial rotating portion is mechanically connected to a ball screw 7 via a fitting member 8, and the ball screw 7 Is further connected to the stepping motor 6 via.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a control circuit for controlling the linear movement of the ultrasonic probe of this embodiment. The bus of the microprocessor 20 is connected to the first and second magnitude comparators 18 and 19, respectively. The outputs of the first and second magnitude comparators are supplied to the reciprocating movement control circuit 11, and the output of the reciprocating movement control circuit 11 is further
It is supplied to the motor control circuit 9 and the selector 12, respectively. The motor control circuit 9 is connected to the stepping motor 6 via a motor driver 10, and is also connected to an addition up terminal 14 and a subtraction down terminal 15 of an up / down counter 13 via a selector 12.
The output terminal 17 of the up / down counter 13 is connected to the first and second magnitude comparators 18 and 19, respectively.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the ultrasonic probe of the present embodiment, the rotation of the stepping motor 6 is transmitted to the ball screw 7,
The ultrasonic transducer is driven in the linear direction via the fitting member 8, the frame 1, the radial motor 2, and the flexible shaft 4. The ultrasonic transducer is, for example, a stepping motor 6
It is configured to move back and forth in the linear direction by 1 mm per one rotation. As shown in FIG. 2, the motor control circuit 9
Output of up-down counter 1 via selector 12.
3 and is connected to the up terminal 1 of the up / down counter 13 every time the stepping motor 6 is rotated once.
One pulse (unit distance pulse) is output to one terminal selected by the selector 12 among the 4 or down terminals 15.

When this pulse is input to the up terminal 14, the up / down counter 13 counts by adding the number of times the pulse is input, and when input to the down terminal 15, the number of times the pulse is input is subtracted. Are counted and output to the first and second magnitude comparators 18 and 19, respectively. That is,
When the selector 12 selects the up terminal 14 of the up / down counter 13 and the unit distance signal indicating one rotation of the stepping motor 6 is output from the motor control circuit 9, the ultrasonic transducer When the stepping motor 6 makes 10 revolutions, the ultrasonic transducer moves forward by 10 mm, and the unit distance signal pulse output from the motor control circuit 9 becomes 10 and the count of the up / down counter 13 increases. The value will be 10. It is assumed that the up / down counter 13 has been reset at a predetermined origin position.

In FIG. 1, when the starting point of the linear scan is point A and the ending point is point B, the count value corresponding to the distance from the origin to the point A is the first magnitude comparator 18
Then, the count value corresponding to the distance to the point B is stored in the second magnitude comparator 19, respectively.
For example, if the starting point is 35 mm away from the origin,
When the end points are set at distant positions, the count values to be input to the respective magnitude comparators 18 and 19 are 5 and 35.

In the first and second magnitude comparators 18 and 19, the starting point input as described above,
Count value corresponding to the end point and up / down counter 1
When the count value sent from 3 matches, the match signal is output to the reciprocating movement control circuit 11. In the reciprocating movement control circuit 11, the first magnitude comparator 18
Alternatively, when a match signal is received from any of the second magnitude comparators 19, the motor control circuit 9
And a direction switching signal is output to the selector 12. Upon receiving the direction switching signal from the reciprocating movement control circuit 11, the motor control circuit 9 reverses the rotation direction of the stepping motor 6 via the motor driver 10. When the rotation of the stepping motor 6, that is, the rotation of the ball screw 7 is reversed, the advancing / retreating direction of the ultrasonic transducer is reversed. On the other hand, in the selector 12, the up terminal 1 of the up / down counter 13
The output is switched from 4 to the down terminal 15. By repeating this process, the fitting member 8 reciprocates between the starting point A and the ending point B in the linear direction, and in response to this, the ultrasonic transducer moves in the linear direction and linear scanning can be performed. .

When the count values input to the first magnitude comparator 18 and the second magnitude comparator 19 are 5 and 35, respectively, the selector 12
Is being supplied to the up terminal 14 of the up / down counter 13, each time the fitting member 8 moves 1 mm in the direction from the starting point A to the ending point B, the up / down counter 13 causes 5, 6, 7, ... The count value is incremented one by one, and this count value is output to the first and second magnitude comparators 18 and 19. When the count value reaches 35, the count value matches the count value set in the second magnitude comparator 19, so that the match signal is output from the second magnitude comparator 19 to the position control circuit 11. In response to this, in the position control circuit 11, the motor control circuit 9 and the selector 1
A direction change signal is issued to the switch 2. In response to this signal, the motor control circuit 9 reverses the rotation of the stepping motor 6 and reverses the linear moving direction of the ultrasonic transducer.
On the other hand, the selector 12 switches the output destination of the unit distance signal supplied from the motor control circuit 9 to the down terminal 15.

The traveling direction of the fitting member 8 is reversed and the end point B
When moving from the starting point A to the starting point A, the count value is input to the down terminal 15 of the up / down counter 13, so that the countdown is 35, 34, 33 ,. When the fitting member 8 moves to the starting point A located at a distance of 5 mm from the origin, a coincidence signal is issued from the first magnitude comparator 18, and the traveling direction of the ultrasonic transducer (fitting member 8) is reversed again. . For this purpose, the ultrasonic transducer (fitting member 8) reciprocates between a starting point A located at a distance of 5 mm from the origin and an end point B located at a distance of 35 mm from the origin, and a linear direction of the ultrasonic transducer. Scan of is realized.

As described above, in this embodiment, the range of the linear scan of the ultrasonic transducer can be arbitrarily set by changing the count values set in the magnitude comparators 18 and 19, and the photo interrupter and the micro-interrupter can be set. It is possible to arbitrarily and easily change the number of slice images of the lumen without the troublesome process of changing the position of the detector such as a switch using a tool. Therefore, an appropriate diagnostic range can be obtained according to the size of the lesion. Further, even when a radial scan and a linear scan are combined to perform a spiral scan for constructing a three-dimensional image, the most appropriate linear scan range can be obtained according to the image data acquisition speed. .

3 and 4 are views showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the ultrasonic probe according to the first invention of the present application.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a control circuit for controlling the linear movement of the probe shown in FIG. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, in parallel with the ball screw 7,
For example, a plurality of detectors 21A to 21I formed of photo interrupters or micro switches are arranged at equal intervals. The other structure of the device is the same as that of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the microprocessor 2
The 0 bus is connected to a selector 23, which receives the output from the detector 21 and outputs a forward reverse position signal or a backward reverse position signal to the direction switching control circuit 22. . Further, the direction switching control circuit 2
The output of 2 is supplied to the motor control circuit 9, and the motor control circuit 9 is configured to control the rotation direction of the stepping motor 6 via the motor driver 10.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic probe of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In this embodiment, the user selects a detector at the position to be the starting point and the ending point of the reciprocating motion of the fitting member 8 in the linear direction in advance, and sets the starting point and the ending point in the selector 23 via the microprocessor 20. Keep it. For example, as a starting point, the detector B
When the detector G is selected as the end point, the fitting member 8
Moves from the starting point B to the ending point G and reaches the ending point G, the backward inversion signal from the detector G is sent to the selector 23.
To the direction switching control circuit 22 via. Upon receiving the backward direction inversion signal, the direction switching control circuit 22 outputs a direction switching signal to the motor control circuit 9 so that the motor control circuit 9 reverses the rotation direction of the stepping motor 6 via the motor driver 10. The rotation of the ball screw 7 is reversed by the reversal of the rotation direction of the stepping motor 6, and the linear movement direction of the fitting member 8 is reversed so that the fitting member 8 starts moving from the end point G to the start point B. When the fitting member 8 moves to the starting point B, a forward direction inversion signal is issued from the detector B and is output to the direction switching control circuit 22 via the selector 23, and similarly the rotation direction of the stepping motor 6 is output. Invert. By repeating this process, the fitting member 8 and the ultrasonic transducer reciprocate in the linear direction, and the linear scanning of the ultrasonic transducer is realized.

With this configuration, the troublesome work of changing the position of the detector using a tool is required only by setting the detector corresponding to the starting point and the ending point in the selector 23 via the microprocessor 20. The range of linear scan can be set arbitrarily without performing. Therefore, the user can arbitrarily and easily set and change the number of slice images of the lumen, and an appropriate diagnosis range can be obtained according to the size of the lesion. When a radial scan and a linear scan are combined to perform a spiral scan for constructing a three-dimensional image, it is possible to obtain the most appropriate linear scan range with respect to the image data acquisition speed. .

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the ultrasonic probe according to the first invention of the present application. Figure 5
As shown in, the movable electrode portion 24a of the potentiometer 24 is attached to the fitting member 8 in this embodiment. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first and second embodiments,
The same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted here.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of a control circuit for controlling the movement of the ultrasonic transducer in the linear direction in this embodiment. One fixed electrode portion 24b is grounded, and the other fixed electrode portion 24c is connected to a power supply voltage of + 5V. The movable electrode portion 24 a is connected to the respective non-inverting inputs of the first voltage comparator 26 and the second voltage comparator 27 via the buffer amplifier 25. The outputs of the first and second voltage comparators 26 and 27 are the direction switching circuit 30.
And the output of the direction switching circuit 30 is input to the motor control circuit 9. The motor control circuit 9 is a motor driver 1
It is connected to the stepping motor 6 via 0. On the other hand, the bus of the microprocessor 20 includes the first and second
Of the first D / A converter 28 are connected to the inverting input of the first voltage comparator 26, and the output of the second D / A converter 29 is connected to the second D / A converter 28. Each is connected to the inverting input of the voltage comparator 27.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart of the output of the potentiometer 24 and the outputs of the first and second voltage comparators 26 and 27 in the control circuit shown in FIG.
The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. As shown in FIG. 5, when the fitting member 8 moves along with the rotation of the ball screw 7, the movable electrode portion 24a of the potentiometer 24 connected to the fitting member 8 also moves in the linear direction. As shown in FIG. 6, when the movable electrode portion 24a moves, the movable electrode portion 24a outputs a voltage corresponding to the moving position, that is, a divided voltage of the power supply voltage 5V. This output voltage is passed through a buffer amplifier 25 to a first voltage comparator 26 and a second voltage comparator 27.
Respectively, and is compared with a comparison voltage described later.
The buffer amplifier 25 is provided for the purpose of reducing the load effect of the subsequent circuit.

Through the microprocessor 20, a comparison voltage value for determining the forward reversal position, for example, +1.0 V
The digital data corresponding to the first D / A converter 2
8 is set, and a comparison voltage value for determining the backward reversal position, for example, digital data corresponding to +3.0 V is set in the second D / A converter 29. FIG. 7 shows the relationship between these comparison voltage values and the output voltage of the potentiometer 24, and also shows the output waveforms of the voltage comparators 26 and 27.

At the drive start point P, the fitting member 8 is located in front of the forward reversal position set by the microprocessor 20, and the output voltage of the potentiometer 24 is
Since the voltage is lower than the first comparison voltage value +1.0 V,
The output of the first voltage comparator 26 becomes low level.
That is, it is detected that the fitting member 8 is located in front of the forward reversal position, and the backward instruction signal is output to the motor control circuit 9 via the direction switching circuit 30. On the contrary, when the fitting member 8 is located rearward of the rearward reversal position, the output of the second voltage comparator 27 becomes high level, and the forward instruction signal is given to the motor control circuit 9.
The fitting member 8 starts driving in the forward direction. Further, when the fitting member 8 is located in the middle between the forward reversal position and the rearward reversal position, the driving may be started from either the reverse or the forward direction.

In response to a command from the motor control circuit 9, the stepping motor 6 is rotated via the motor driver 10 and the fitting member 8 starts moving backward. When this fitting member 8 passes through the forward reversal position Q, the output voltage of the potentiometer 24 exceeds +1.0 V, and the first voltage comparator 2
The output of 6 becomes high level. Further, when the fitting member 8 reaches the rearward reversal position R while continuing the backward movement, the output voltage of the potentiometer 24 exceeds + 3V, and the output of the second voltage comparator 27 becomes high level. Direction switching circuit 3
At 0, a change in the output of the second voltage comparator 27, more accurately, a rising edge is detected, and a direction inversion signal,
That is, the forward instruction signal is output to the motor control circuit 9. By this forward movement instruction, the rotation of the stepping motor 6 is reversed, the moving direction of the fitting member 8 is reversed, and forward movement is started. When the forward movement is started, the output voltage of the potentiometer 24 becomes lower than the second comparison voltage +3.0 V again, so that the output of the second voltage comparator 27 returns to the low level. Further, the fitting member 8 advances, and the forward reversal position Q '
When the voltage reaches, the output voltage of the potentiometer 24 becomes lower than the first comparison voltage +1.0 V again, so that the output of the first voltage comparator 26 becomes low level. At this time, the direction switching circuit 28 detects a change in the output of the first voltage comparator 26, more specifically, a falling edge, and outputs a direction inversion signal, that is, a backward instruction signal to the motor control circuit 9.

By repeating the above operation, the fitting member 8 moves to the forward reversal position determined by the first comparison voltage,
It reciprocates to and from the backward reversal position determined by the second comparison voltage. Therefore, by setting the comparison voltage to each of the first and second D / A converters via the microprocessor 20, the fitting member 8, that is, the ultrasonic transducer can be reciprocated within an arbitrary range. .

As described above, also in the third embodiment, similar to the above-mentioned embodiments, the troublesome work of changing the positions of the photo interrupter and the detectors such as microswitches by using a tool is avoided. The linear scan range can be arbitrarily and easily changed according to the diagnosis condition. When a spiral scan is performed by combining radial scan and linear scan in order to construct a three-dimensional image, it is possible to obtain the most appropriate linear scan range with respect to the image data acquisition speed. Become.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the ultrasonic probe according to the second invention of the present application. In this embodiment,
A frequency dividing circuit 31 is connected to the bus of the microprocessor 20. The frequency dividing circuit 31 includes a rotary encoder 3 mechanically connected to a radial motor 2 that gives a radial rotation to an ultrasonic transducer. Output is being supplied. The output terminal of the frequency dividing circuit 31 is connected to the motor control circuit 9, and the motor control circuit 9 is connected to the motor driver 10.
It is connected to the stepping motor 6 via. The configuration of the ultrasonic probe is the same as that shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the user inputs the frequency division ratio to the frequency dividing circuit 31 via the microprocessor 20 in advance. The rotary encoder 3 generates a clock of, for example, 200 cycles for one rotation of the radial motor 2 and inputs it to the frequency dividing circuit 31. In the frequency dividing circuit 31, the clock pulse supplied from the rotary encoder 3 is frequency-divided by the frequency dividing ratio set via the microprocessor 20, and the frequency-divided clock is output to the motor control circuit 9. When the frequency division ratio is, for example, 1: 1, the motor control circuit 10 moves the stepping motor 6, that is, the ball screw 7 by 1.8 ° through the motor driver 10 for one cycle of the clock supplied from the frequency division circuit 31. Rotate. Therefore, the stepping motor 6, that is, the ball screw 7 is set to 3 by the clock 200 generated by the rotary encoder 3.
This means 60 °, that is, one rotation. The fitting member 8, that is, the ultrasonic transducer retracts by 1 mm for one rotation of the ball screw 7. Since the rotational speed of the radial motor 2 is constant, the linear movement amount of the ultrasonic transducer with respect to the radial rotation can be changed by changing the frequency division ratio of the frequency dividing circuit 31 via the microprocessor 20.

As described above, in this embodiment, by changing the frequency division ratio of the frequency dividing circuit 31 via the microprocessor 20, the rotation in the radial direction and the movement in the linear direction are operated in synchronization, and The speed of linear scan can be changed arbitrarily. Therefore, if the user increases the speed of the linear scan, the slice pitch of the ultrasonic tomographic image will become coarse, but the scan time will be shortened, so the patient's distress such as holding the breath for scanning should be reduced. You can Further, by decreasing the scan speed and increasing the number of radial scans with respect to the linear scan, the slice pitch of the tomographic image can be made fine and the resolution can be increased. The user can select these features to use the ultrasonic probe by varying the speed of the linear scan relative to the radial scan.

[0038]

As described above, according to the ultrasonic probe of the first invention of the present application, the scanning range in the linear direction can be arbitrarily changed by the user by a simple operation. Accordingly, the scanning range in the linear direction can be easily changed. That is, when the lesion area is large, the scanning range should be set large to include the lesion area, and when the lesion area is small, the scanning range should be reduced to shorten the time required for scanning, thereby stopping breathing during the scanning. It is possible to reduce the pain of the patient.
Further, according to the ultrasonic probe of the second invention of the present application, since the user can appropriately change the speed of the linear scan, the speed of the scan is increased and the scan time is increased according to the situation. It can be shortened, and the patient's pain can be reduced. Also, 3
When performing a spiral scan to construct a three-dimensional image, the number of radial scans for the linear scan can be increased by decreasing the scan speed in the linear direction, and the slice pitch becomes finer and the ultrasonic image The resolution is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit that controls movement of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 1 in a linear direction.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the first invention of the present application.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit that controls movement of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 3 in a linear direction.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a third embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the first invention of the present application.

6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit that controls movement of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 5 in a linear direction.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing output waveforms of elements constituting the control circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control circuit for controlling the moving speed of the ultrasonic probe of the second invention of the present application in the linear direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Rotating Frame 2 Radial Motor 3 Rotary Encoder 4 Flexible Shaft 5 Gear 6 Stepping Motor 7 Ball Screw 8 Fitting Parts 9 Motor Control Circuit 10 Motor Driver 11 Reciprocating Control Circuit 12 Selector 13 Up / Down Counter 18, 19 Magnitude Comparator 20 Microprocessor 21 detector 23 selector 24 potentiometer 26 27 voltage comparator 28 29 D / A converter 30 direction switching circuit 31 frequency dividing circuit

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 21, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0031

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

At the drive start point P, when the fitting member 8 is located in front of the forward reversal position set by the microprocessor 20, the output voltage of the potentiometer 24 becomes the first voltage.
Since the voltage is lower than the comparison voltage value of +1.0 V,
The output of the voltage comparator 26 becomes low level. That is, it is detected that the fitting member 8 is located in front of the forward reversal position, and the backward instruction signal is output to the motor control circuit 9 via the direction switching circuit 30. On the contrary, when the fitting member 8 is located rearward of the rearward reversal position, the output of the second voltage comparator 27 becomes high level, and the forward movement instruction signal is given to the motor control circuit 9 to The driving of the combination member 8 starts in the forward direction. Also, the fitting member 8
Is located between the forward reversal position and the backward reversal position, the driving may be started from either the reverse direction or the forward direction.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0036

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In this embodiment, the user inputs the frequency division ratio to the frequency dividing circuit 31 via the microprocessor 20 in advance. The rotary encoder 3 generates a clock of, for example, 200 cycles for one rotation of the radial motor 2 and inputs it to the frequency dividing circuit 31. In the frequency dividing circuit 31, the clock pulse supplied from the rotary encoder 3 is frequency-divided by the frequency dividing ratio set via the microprocessor 20, and the frequency-divided clock is output to the motor control circuit 9. When the frequency division ratio is, for example, 1: 1, the motor control circuit 9 moves the stepping motor 6, that is, the ball screw 7 by 1.8 ° via the motor driver 10 for one cycle of the clock supplied from the frequency division circuit 31. Rotate. Therefore,
The stepping motor 6 or the ball screw 7 is rotated by the clock 200 generated by the rotary encoder 3 in 360 degrees.
°, that is, one rotation. The fitting member 8, that is, the ultrasonic transducer retracts by 1 mm for one rotation of the ball screw 7. Since the rotational speed of the radial motor 2 is constant, the linear movement amount of the ultrasonic transducer with respect to the radial rotation can be changed by changing the frequency division ratio of the frequency dividing circuit 31 via the microprocessor 20.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0037

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As described above, in this embodiment, by changing the frequency division ratio of the frequency dividing circuit 31 via the microprocessor 20, the rotation in the radial direction and the movement in the linear direction are operated in synchronization, and The speed of linear scan can be changed arbitrarily. Therefore, if the user increases the speed of the linear scan, the slice pitch of the ultrasonic tomographic image will become coarse, but the scan time will be shortened, so the patient's pain such as breathing being stopped during the scan should be reduced. You can Further, by decreasing the scan speed and increasing the number of radial scans with respect to the linear scan, the slice pitch of the tomographic image can be made fine and the resolution can be increased. The user can select these features to use the ultrasonic probe by varying the speed of the linear scan relative to the radial scan.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Brief description of the drawing

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit that controls movement of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 1 in a linear direction.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the first invention of the present application.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit that controls movement of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 3 in a linear direction.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a third embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the first invention of the present application.

6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit that controls movement of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 5 in a linear direction.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing output waveforms of elements constituting the control circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control circuit for controlling the moving speed of the ultrasonic probe of the second invention of the present application in the linear direction.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 Rotating Frame 2 Radial Motor 3 Rotary Encoder 4 Flexible Shaft 5 Gear 6 Stepping Motor 7 Ball Screw 8 Fitting Part 9 Motor Control Circuit 10 Motor Driver 11 Reciprocating Control Circuit 12 Selector 13 Up / Down Counter 18, 19 Magnitude comparator 20 Microprocessor 21 Detector 22 Direction switching control circuit 23 Selector 24 Potentiometer 25 Buffer amplifier 26 27 Voltage comparator 28 29 D / A converter 30 Direction switching circuit 31 Dividing circuit

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 1]

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A driving means for driving an ultrasonic transducer in a linear direction, a driving range setting means for setting a driving range of the ultrasonic transducer in the linear direction, and a position of the ultrasonic transducer. A position detecting means; and an inverting means for receiving the output of the position detecting means and inverting the moving direction of the ultrasonic transducer in the linear direction within the drive range set by the drive range setting means. Ultrasonic probe. 2. An ultrasonic probe comprising: a radial scanning means for rotating the ultrasonic transducer in a radial direction; and a linear scanning means for driving the ultrasonic transducer in a linear direction. Setting means for setting the ratio of the moving distance in the linear direction to the rotational speed in the direction, and control means for controlling the moving speed in the linear direction of the ultrasonic transducer according to the ratio set by the setting means. Ultrasonic probe characterized by.