JPH0698889A - Ultrasonic probe for measuring blood stream - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ultrasonic blond stream measuring probe which enables the measuring of blood stream hidden in a side wall and a rear side of an organ during an operation using two hands. CONSTITUTION:This device has a holder 1 with both ends thereof open to be mounted on a finger, an ultrasonic vibrator unit 2 mounted on a holder surface on the side of the finger surface contacting a part to be measured and a transmitting/receiving cable 3 connected to the ultrasonic vibrator unit. The holder 1 is mounted on the finger tip and a palpation of the part to be measured is performed with the finger tip to let the ultrasonic vibrator unit 2 contact the part to be measured thereby enabling the measuring of a blood stream.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is for blood flow measurement for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in a living body, measuring the Doppler frequency shift of the received ultrasonic waves, and measuring the blood flow velocity (hereinafter referred to as blood flow). It relates to an ultrasonic probe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of conventional blood flow measuring probe, ultrasonic waves are made incident from the body surface, which is the site to be measured, and the position of the blood vessel is confirmed while observing the tomographic image inside the body. There are those that perform various measurements by capturing an echo from the blood flow flowing through the blood flow, and those that measure the blood flow by directly contacting the probe with the exposed and blood vessels in a state close to that.

[0003]

Since the conventional ultrasonic blood flow measuring probe is constructed as described above, since the pencil type ultrasonic measuring probe is grasped by one hand for measurement, both hands are used. It cannot be used during surgery (hereinafter abbreviated as intraoperative), and with the conventional probe, the probe cannot contact the blood vessel hidden on the side wall or the back side of the organ, and blood flow in this part There was a problem that could not be measured.

The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and even during the operation using both hands,
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe for blood flow measurement that can be used even when measuring the blood flow in a blood vessel hidden on the side wall or the back side of an organ.

[0005]

The ultrasonic probe for blood flow measurement according to the present invention transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to a ring-shaped finger-pulling type holder which is attached to a finger and has a partially opened circumference. And an ultrasonic transducer unit.

[0006]

The ultrasonic probe for blood flow measurement according to the present invention has the finger-pulling type holder attached to the fingertip, and the fingertip is used to palpate a blood vessel hidden on the side wall or the back side of the organ to be measured. The transducer unit provided in this finger-pulling type holder can come into contact with the site to be measured and measure blood flow. In other words, blood flow can be measured at a place where the fingertip attached with the finger-pulling type holder can reach.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an ultrasonic probe for blood flow measurement according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a ring-shaped holder with a part of its circumference opened so as to be worn on a finger,
2 is an ultrasonic transducer unit attached to the holder 1 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, 3 is a transmission / reception cable connecting the ultrasonic transducer unit 2 and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (not shown),
Reference numeral 4 denotes a ring-shaped arm band to be worn on the arm, and the arm band 4 has a cut-and-raised portion 4a for inserting and supporting the transmission / reception cable 3 in a part of its peripheral surface.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the holder 1 is attached to a finger, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is operated, a transmission signal is sent to the ultrasonic transducer unit 2 via the transmission / reception cable 3, and a received signal from the ultrasonic transducer unit 2 is sent. Send to ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. In this state, when the finger to which the holder 1 is attached is touched on the site to be measured, the ultrasonic transducer unit 2 can also contact the blood vessels hidden on the side wall or the back side of the organ according to the touch of the finger to measure the blood flow. Further, even during the operation of connecting the bypass blood vessel with both hands, the ultrasonic transducer unit 2 is brought into contact with the bypass blood vessel 5 as shown in FIG. 2, and the blood flow flowing in the bypass blood vessel 5 in the direction of arrow A. Can be measured to determine whether or not the bypass blood vessel is correctly connected.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the mounting structure of the ultrasonic transducer unit 2, which comprises a transducer portion 2a and a base portion 2b to which the transducer portion is mounted.
The T-shaped convex portion 1a provided in the holder 1 is rotatably fitted into the T-shaped concave portion 2b-1 provided in the holder 1. Therefore, the transmitting and receiving directions of the ultrasonic waves can be adjusted, and the ultrasonic beam and the direction of the blood vessel can be set to have an appropriate angle.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing a specific structure of the ultrasonic transducer unit 2, and FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line AA 'in FIG. A plurality of ultrasonic transducers 21a and 21b are attached to the holder 1 in a stepwise manner with a fixing member 22 tilted at an angle of about 45 °, and the ultrasonic transducers 21a and 21b are attached to the contact surface side with the measurement site. An elastic protective layer (standoff material) 24 is provided via a matching layer 23, and the periphery thereof is fixed by a silicon compound 25.

With this configuration, the ultrasonic transducer unit 2 can be made thinner than in the case where one large transducer is attached to the holder 1 while being inclined. in this case,
The number of ultrasonic transducers 21a and 21b may be three or more, and the larger the number, the thinner the number. However, the number is determined in consideration of mutual influence of the transducers.

The tactile surface of the elastic protective layer 24 is a part of a substantially cylindrical surface, and if it is formed as a concave surface, the contact property with the site to be measured is improved. In addition, the flexibility of the elastic protective layer 24 does not damage the blood vessel or the like.

Further, if the holder 1 is formed by using an elastic member, it is possible to provide a holder which is not affected by the thickness of the finger and has good wearability.

When the ultrasonic transducer unit 2 is embedded in the holder 1 so as to be flush with the holder 1 as shown in FIG. 6, the ultrasonic transducer unit 2 is formed in a stepwise manner as shown in FIGS. Can be made thinner.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, the finger-pulling type holder is attached to the fingertip, and the fingertip is used to palpate the blood vessel hidden on the side wall or the back side of the organ to be measured. Since the transducer unit provided in the holder is configured so that it can contact and measure the site to be measured, blood flow measurement can be performed during the operation using both hands and even at the back of the organ, as long as the fingertips can reach it. Is effective.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an ultrasonic probe for blood flow measurement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a blood flow measurement state of a bypass blood vessel.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing how the ultrasonic transducer unit is attached to the holder.

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic transducer unit taken along the line AA ′ of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a specific structure of the ultrasonic transducer unit.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing how the ultrasonic transducer unit is attached to the holder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Holder 2 Ultrasonic Transducer Unit 3 Transmission / Reception Cable 21a, 21b Ultrasonic Transducer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A holder having a ring shape with a part of the circumference being opened, and an ultrasonic wave provided on the outer surface of the holder for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in a direction at a predetermined angle with respect to a normal to the holder surface. An ultrasonic probe for measuring blood flow, which includes a transducer unit. 2. The ultrasonic probe for blood flow measurement according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer unit is rotatably attached to the holder, and the transmitting and receiving directions of ultrasonic waves are adjustable. An ultrasonic probe for blood flow measurement, which is characterized in that 3. The ultrasonic probe for blood flow measurement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ultrasonic transducer unit has a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a stepwise manner. An ultrasonic transducer for blood flow measurement. 4. The ultrasonic probe for blood flow measurement according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the ultrasonic transducer unit is covered with a protective layer having flexibility. An ultrasonic transducer for blood flow measurement.