JPH08308833A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device which electrically connects between an ultrasonic oscillator array and wiring materials easily. CONSTITUTION: An ultrasonic probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic device is provided with an ultrasonic oscillator array 1, a substrate 111 having land patterns 106-11-106-1n arranged in such a pitch as corresponding to an array pitch, lands 106-21-106-2n electrically connected to the land patterns respectively, etc., a twisted pair cable whose one end is soldered and connected to the substrate, and a connector 104 having elasticity and such a structure that a substance having conductivity and a substance having insulating performance are alternately arranged. The connector 104 is sandwiched between the ultrasonic oscillator array and the substrate 111 so that the interval between respective electrodes 101-1-101-n of the ultrasonic oscillator array 1 and the twisted pair cable are electrically connected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is to connect an ultrasonic probe having a built-in ultrasonic vibrator, excite the ultrasonic vibrator to send ultrasonic pulses into a living tissue, and The present invention relates to a medical ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that obtains a biological tomographic image by receiving a reflected echo with the ultrasonic probe and then processing the signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, in order to connect an ultrasonic transducer array and a wiring material, a wiring material or a substrate as an intermediate medium is directly connected to the transducer electrode by soldering. Was.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional electronic scanning ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, since the ultrasonic transducer array provided at the tip of the ultrasonic transducer is connected to the wiring member, A wiring material or a substrate as an intermediate medium is directly connected to the vibrator electrode by soldering. However, since the electrodes of the ultrasonic transducer array have a fine pitch, it is difficult to connect the wiring members to the respective electrodes of the ultrasonic transducer array by soldering, and the workability is poor. This poor workability has been a factor of increasing the manufacturing cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of easily electrically connecting an ultrasonic transducer array and a wiring member. And

[0005]

To this end, the structure of claim 1 of the present invention comprises an array-type transducer, a substrate having lands arranged at a pitch corresponding to the array pitch of the array-type transducer, A wiring material having one end soldered to the substrate and the other end connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, and a flexible material having a structure in which a conductive material and an insulating material are alternately arranged An ultrasonic probe configured to electrically connect the array-type transducer and the wiring member by sandwiching the flexible connector between the array-type transducer and the substrate. It is characterized by being formed.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a conductive material is provided between the array type transducer and the substrate having the lands arranged at a pitch corresponding to the array pitch of the array type transducer. By sandwiching a flexible connector having a structure in which insulating materials are alternately arranged, the array type transducer and the wiring member are electrically connected in the ultrasonic probe. Since one end of the wiring material is soldered to the substrate and the other end of the wiring material is connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, the ultrasonic probe is electrically connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a tip portion of an ultrasonic probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an ultrasonic transducer array (array transducer). This ultrasonic transducer array 1 is an ultrasonic piezoelectric body (vibrator element) divided into n (n is an integer).
It has 100-1 to 100-n. The common electrode 103 is provided on one side surface (upper surface) of the ultrasonic piezoelectric body, and the same number (n) as the ultrasonic piezoelectric body is provided on the other side surface (lower surface).
The electrodes 101-1 to 101-n divided into pieces are provided.

Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 104 denotes a connector constituted by alternately stacking prismatic conductors and prismatic insulators, and the connector 104 has flexibility. In this embodiment, insulating silicon rubber is used as the insulator. Further, as the connector 104, for example, "Shin-Etsu Interconnector" (trade name) manufactured by Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd. or its equivalent is used.

Further, in FIG. 1, 111 is a substrate,
On the substrate 111, land patterns 106-11 to 106-1n each having a shape corresponding to each of the electrodes 101-1 to 101-n of the ultrasonic transducer array divided into n pieces,
Lands 106-21 to 106-2n electrically connected to these land patterns 106-11 to 106-1n, respectively.
Are provided. In addition, the land 106 of the substrate 111
The land 107 is arranged close to the right side of -2n, and the land 108 is arranged close to the left side of the land 106-21.

Further, the lands 106-21 and 106
The land 105-1 is arranged in the vicinity of the land 10-22, and the land 105-1 is arranged between the lands 106-22 and 106-23.
5-2 are arranged close to each other, and the land 10
Land 10 is provided between 6- (2n-1) and 106-2n.
5- (n-1) are arranged close to each other. Then, these lands 105-1 to 105- (n-1), 107,
108 (shown with hatching in FIG. 1) is electrically shorted on the backside of the substrate.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment, the work of electrically connecting the ultrasonic transducer array and the wiring member is performed as follows. That is, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, the connector 104 is connected to the ultrasonic transducer array 1 and the substrate 11.
By sandwiching the electrodes 101-1 to 101-n of the ultrasonic transducer array with the land pattern 1 respectively.
06-11 to 106-1n are electrically connected. This electrically connected state is held by a vibrator housing or the like (not shown).

Each land pattern 106- on the substrate 111
Land 106-which is electrically connected to 11-106-1n
Signal lines of twisted pair cables 2-1 to 2-n as wiring members are connected to 21 to 106-2n by soldering, respectively, as shown in FIG. Also, the lands 105-1 to 105- (n-1) and the land 107 on the substrate 111.
The return wires of the above twisted pair cables are connected to each by soldering. Further, the land 107 and the land 108 on the substrate 111 are connected to the common electrode 103 of the ultrasonic vibrator by soldering or wire bonding.

In the above, the lands 105-1 to 105- (n-1), 106, 10 on the substrate 111 are formed.
Each land and each land pattern are laid out so that the areas of 7 and 108 can be maximized. This layout is for improving the workability of soldering and facilitating the electrical connection between each electrode of the ultrasonic transducer array and each twisted pair cable.

In the above, the substrate 111 is formed in an arcuate cross section using a flexible member, and the connector 1
04 is formed in a cylindrical cross section so that the substrate 111 having the arcuate cross section contacts the inner circumference, and the ultrasonic transducer array 1 is formed in the cylindrical cross section so that the connector 104 having the cylindrical cross section contacts the inner circumference. You may do it. In that case, it can be used as a convex type or radial type ultrasonic transducer array. Alternatively, zirconia powder, alumina powder, or the like may be mixed into silicon rubber, which is the main constituent material of the flexible connector 104, to appropriately adjust the acoustic impedance. In that case, connector 1
04 can also function as a backing material (support member) of the ultrasonic transducer array 1, and the ultrasonic transducer array portion can be made compact.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the transducer elements 100-1 to 100-n of the ultrasonic transducer array 1 has a twisted pair cable 2-1 connected to its electrodes 101-1 to 101-n. Through 2-n signal lines are electrically connected to the reception preamplifiers 4-1 to 4-n and the transmission circuits 6-1 to 6-n. The twisted pair cables 2-1 to 2-1
The 2-n is provided with an outer conductor 3 for enhancing noise resistance, and this outer conductor 3 is grounded.

The ultrasonic transducer array 1, the twisted pair cables 2-1 to 2-n and the outer conductor 3 are housed in an ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic probe is connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body and a connector (not shown). It is removable. Further, the reception preamplifiers 4-1 to 4-1 shown in FIG.
The 4-n and the transmission circuits 6-1 to 6-n are housed in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, and receive preamplifiers 4-1 to 4-
From n to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, received signals 5-1 to 5-1
5-n is transmitted, and the transmission circuit 6 is transmitted from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body.
Transmission trigger signals 7-1 to 7-n toward -1 to 6-n
Is being transmitted.

In the first embodiment, as described above, the lands 105-1 to 105-on the substrate 111.
Since the areas of (n-1), 106, 107 and 108 can be maximized, each electrode of the ultrasonic transducer array is directly connected to the wiring material or the substrate as the intermediate medium by soldering. As compared with the conventional example, the work of electrically connecting each electrode of the ultrasonic transducer array and each twisted pair cable can be greatly simplified. Further, since the soldering work is abolished, no soldering failure occurs. Further, in the first embodiment, since the twisted pair cable is used as the wiring material for connecting the ultrasonic transducer array and the transmission / reception circuit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, a multi-core coaxial cable is used instead of the twisted pair cable. It has the following advantages over the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus used.

In the above-mentioned conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, since the multi-core coaxial cable is used as the wiring material for connecting the ultrasonic transducer array and the transmission / reception circuit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, the multi-core coaxial cable is expensive. Not only is it difficult to reduce the diameter. This is a very disadvantageous condition when applied to an ultrasonic endoscope or the like for which the tip of the ultrasonic probe is designed to be particularly thin. Furthermore, since the multi-core coaxial cable itself has a relatively large capacitance component, the signal attenuation due to this capacitance component is not small. Therefore, it is possible to realize an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasonic probe having good operability, which is inexpensive, has a small signal attenuation, and has a small diameter of the ultrasonic probe that is relatively easy to reduce the diameter. Have difficulty.

On the other hand, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment, since the twisted pair cable is used as the wiring material for connecting the ultrasonic transducer array and the transmitting / receiving circuit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, the electrostatic capacitance of the cable itself is used. The capacitive component is reduced and the signal attenuation is suppressed. In addition, since the characteristic impedance of the cable itself is not low, it is easy to match the impedance between the ultrasonic transducer array and the transmitting / receiving circuit. Therefore, it is possible to realize an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasonic probe which is inexpensive, has a small signal attenuation, and has a small diameter of the ultrasonic probe using a twisted pair cable which is relatively easy to make the diameter small, and which has an excellent operability. You can

In the first embodiment, the connecting portion between the ultrasonic transducer array and the transmitting / receiving circuit may be configured as shown in FIG. 3 instead of being configured as shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 3, the signal lines and the return lines of the twisted pair cables 2-1 to 2-n connected to the respective transducer elements 100-1 to 100-n of the ultrasonic transducer array 1 are
It is connected to each input terminal of the multiplexer 8 having n input terminals, and the common output terminal of the multiplexer 8 is connected to the receiving preamplifier 4 and the transmission circuit 6. Further, the multiplexer 8 has a control circuit (not shown) in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
And the control signal 10 is input.

By inputting the control signal, the multiplexer 8 selects any one pair from the signal line and the return line of the twisted pair cables 2-1 to 2-n. As a result, it is possible to set 1 for each of transmitted and received waves by inputting the control signal once.
Since one transducer element is selected, the obtained received wave data can be visualized as a tomographic image of a living body by performing beam combining processing such as aperture combining in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. According to the configuration of FIG. 3, by selecting any one of the n twisted pairs by the multiplexer 8, the number of receiving preamplifiers and transmitting circuits can be significantly reduced. Therefore, the tip portion of the ultrasonic probe such as the aperture synthesizer can be realized at low cost.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and various changes and modifications can be added. For example, an array-type transducer, a board having lands arranged at a pitch corresponding to the array pitch of the array-type transducer, and wiring for connecting one end to the board by soldering and the other end to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body A flexible connector having a structure in which a conductive material and an insulating material are alternately arranged, and the flexible connector is provided between the array type transducer and the substrate. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (Appendix 1) including an ultrasonic probe configured to electrically connect the array type transducer and the wiring member by sandwiching the connector, the connector is connected to the ultrasonic transducer. It may function as a backing material for the array. In that case, the ultrasonic transducer array portion can be made compact.

Further, a medical treatment in which ultrasonic pulses are transmitted into the living body by the ultrasonic transducer array, echo signals reflected from the living body are received, and a tomographic image of the living body is obtained by the signal processing means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for use, wherein a twisted pair cable is used to transmit a signal between the ultrasonic transducer array and the signal processing means, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (Appendix 2) is configured. You may. In that case, it is possible to realize an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus equipped with an ultrasonic probe having good operability, which is inexpensive, has little signal attenuation, and uses a twisted pair cable that is relatively easy to reduce the diameter of the ultrasonic probe. be able to.

Further, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the above-mentioned item 2, selective signal transmission for selecting an arbitrary twisted pair in the twisted pair cable and performing signal transmission between the corresponding transducer element and the wave transmitting / receiving means. Means may be provided. In that case, since one transducer element is selected for each of the transmitted and received waves, the received wave data obtained can be visualized as a tomographic image of the living body. Moreover, the number of the wave receiving / preamplifier and the wave transmitting / receiving means of the transmitting circuit can be significantly reduced, and the tip of the ultrasonic probe of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be realized at low cost.

[0025]

As described above, according to the structure of claim 1 of the present invention, conductivity is provided between the array type transducer and the substrate having the lands arranged at a pitch corresponding to the array pitch. By sandwiching a flexible connector having a structure in which a substance having and an insulating substance are alternately arranged, the array type transducer and the wiring member are electrically connected in an ultrasonic probe, and Since the wiring material is connected to the board, the electrical connection between the ultrasonic transducer array and the wiring material is greater than the case where the array transducer and the wiring material or the board as an intermediate medium is directly connected by soldering. The work of can be greatly simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a tip portion of an ultrasonic probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a circuit from an ultrasonic transducer array to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing another example of a circuit from the ultrasonic transducer array to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ultrasonic transducer array (array transducer) 2-1 to 2-n Twisted pair cable (wiring material) 4-1 to 4-n Receiving preamplifier 6-1 to 6-n Transmission circuit 100-1 to 100- n ultrasonic piezoelectric body (vibrator element) 101-1 to 101-n electrode 103 common electrode 104 connector 105-1 to 105-n, 107, 108 land 106-11 to 106-1n, land pattern 106-21 to 106 -2n land 111 substrate

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An array type transducer, a substrate having lands arranged at a pitch corresponding to the array pitch of the array type transducer, one end of the substrate is soldered and the other end is connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body. A flexible connector having a structure in which a conductive material and an insulating material are alternately arranged, and the flexible connector is provided between the array-type transducer and the substrate. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising an ultrasonic probe configured to electrically connect the array-type transducer and the wiring member by sandwiching a connector having electrical properties.