JPH09108217A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device which surely stops an ultrasonic probe at least from applying of power supply to the starting of software. SOLUTION: When a power supply is applied to a control part 12, a RESET 20 is supplied from a power-on reset circuit 15 to a CLR of a flip-flop 14a so as to set the output/Q to (H). As a result, the output PULSE OUT 23 of a pulse output control circuit 14 is fixed to (H), the pulse is not supplied to a stepping motor 11, and the stepping motor 11 does not move. After the inicialization of a control software in the control circuit 13 is completed, a CS 20 is sent from the control circuit 13 to the PR of the flip-flop 14a and the output/Q of the flip-flop 14a is fixed to the (L). The pulse signal PULSE IN22 is supplied to a driver 17 without masked in a gate 14b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly, to an ultrasonic tomography of a subject by an ultrasonic pulse echo method by inserting an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer at the tip into a body cavity or the like. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for obtaining an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ultrasonic probe has been developed as an apparatus for ultrasonically scanning a thin tubular cavity inside a body cavity or the like to obtain a tomographic image of the periphery thereof. With conventional ultrasonic probes, linear images and radial images could be obtained independently, but in recent years, three-dimensional images that can be used to grasp the shape of tumors and the like in the subject and to measure their volume. There is an increasing need for the development of ultrasonic probes that can provide

As an ultrasonic probe capable of obtaining such a three-dimensional image, the present applicant has disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-3093.
In Japanese Patent Publication No. 9, an ultrasonic probe is proposed which performs a three-dimensional scan in a spiral manner by moving the probe in the axial direction while performing radial scanning.

[0004]

However, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-30939, the probe is linear against the user's will from the time the power is turned on until the software starts up. There is a possibility that the device may move in the direction, and in that case, the device may be exhausted due to mechanical abutment and the life of the device may be shortened.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of surely stopping an ultrasonic probe at least from the time when power is turned on until the software starts up. Has an aim.

[0006]

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer connected to a power transmission means at its tip and the ultrasonic probe are detachably connected, Driving means for moving the ultrasonic transducer via a power transmission means, and ultrasonic waves electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer via the driving means and processing signals from the ultrasonic transducer. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a signal processing means and a control means electrically connected to the drive means and controlling the operation of the drive means, the control means is electrically connected to the drive means, A pulse generator that supplies a drive pulse to a driving unit, a pulse controller that is electrically connected to the pulse generator and controls the pulse generator, and a pulse controller that is electrically connected to the pulse controller The output of the drive pulse of the pulse generation means is prohibited from the time when the power source is detected by the detection means for detecting the lifting and the initialization processing of the control software of the pulse control means is completed. And a pulse output control means for controlling the pulse output.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the pulse output control means operates the pulse from the time when the power is detected by the sensing means to the end of the initialization process of the control software of the pulse control means. By prohibiting the output of the drive pulse of the generating means, it is possible to surely stop the ultrasonic probe at least from the time when the power is turned on until the software starts up.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of FIG. FIG. 3 is a timing diagram showing the timing of each signal of the control unit of FIG.

(Structure) As shown in FIG. 1, an ultrasonic transducer 2 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is disposed at the tip of the ultrasonic probe 1, and the ultrasonic transducer 2 is inside the sheath 3. Is connected to a shaft 4 which extends to The sheath 3 and the shaft 4 are detachably connected to the connector 6 in the drive unit 5. The sheath 3 is covered with an outer sheath 3 a, and the outer sheath 3 a is fixed to the drive unit 5.

The shaft 4 is connected to a DC motor 7 via a connector 6 so that the ultrasonic transducer 2 is rotationally driven by the rotation of the DC motor 7.

A cable (not shown) is connected to the ultrasonic transducer 2, and this cable is connected to the ultrasonic observation section 8 via the shaft 4, the connector 6 and the DC motor 7. Then, the ultrasonic observing unit 8 uses the ultrasonic transducer 2
An ultrasonic image is displayed on a monitor (not shown) by an ultrasonic echo signal from the.

The connector 6 is connected to a ball screw 10 via a flange 9, and the ball screw 10 is connected to a stepping motor 11. The rotation of the stepping motor 11 is transmitted to the ball screw 10 and the flange 9
The connector 6 connected via the shaft is moved back and forth in the axial direction to reciprocally drive the ultrasonic transducer 2 in the linear direction.

DC motor 7 and stepping motor 11
Is connected to the control unit 12, and the control unit 12
The so-called spiral scanning can be performed by controlling the rotational driving of the ultrasonic transducer 2 by the DC motor 7 and the forward / backward driving of the stepping motor 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, a control circuit 13 is provided in the control unit 12, and the control circuit 13 is controlled by control software stored in the control circuit 13.

A pulse output control circuit 14, a power-on reset circuit 15, and a pulse generation circuit 16 are connected to the control circuit 13. A driver 17 is connected to the pulse output control circuit 14, and a stepping motor 11 in the drive unit 5 is connected to the driver 17.

The pulse output control circuit 14 is composed of a flip-flop 14a and a gate 14b. The preset terminal (PR) of the flip-flop 14a receives the control signal / CS20 from the control circuit 13 and the clear terminal (CLR) thereof. The reset signal / RESET21 from the power-on reset circuit 15 is input. In addition.
The symbol “/” indicates illogical.

The output / Q of the flip-flop 14a is input to one terminal of the gate 14b, and the pulse signal PU from the pulse generating circuit 16 is input to the other terminal of the gate 14b.
LSE IN22 is input, and the gate 14b is
Pulse output PULSE OUT2 according to these inputs
By outputting 3 to the driver 17, the driver 17 drives the stepping motor 11.

The driver 18 also drives the DC motor 7 in response to a motor control signal 24 from the control circuit 13.

(Operation) In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as described above, it receives a signal from a transmitter (not shown) provided in the ultrasonic observation section 8 and is arranged at the tip of the ultrasonic probe 1. An ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer 2 to the subject, the ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject is received by the ultrasonic transducer 2 and converted into an echo signal, and this echo signal is processed to An ultrasonic image of the sample is displayed on a monitor (not shown).

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment, the driver 18 drives the radial DC motor 7 arranged in the drive unit 5 by the motor control signal 24 from the control circuit 13 to rotate the DC motor 7. Has connector 6
And transmitted to the ultrasonic transducer 2 via the shaft 4, and the ultrasonic transducer 2 rotates.

Further, the rotation of the stepping motor 11 in the drive unit 5 by the driver 17 is converted into a linear movement by the ball screw 10, and the connector 6 is linearly moved in the axial direction through the flange 9, so that the connector 6 is passed through. The connected ultrasonic probe 1 is linearly moved in a linear direction. At this time, the pulse generation circuit 16 in the control unit 12
A pulse signal PUL according to the signal of the control circuit 13
SE IN22 is generated, the pulse output control circuit 14,
Motor driving pulses are supplied to the stepping motor 11 via the driver 17.

The operation when the power is turned on will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

When the controller 12 is powered on, the power-on reset circuit 15 generates the reset signal / RESET20. The reset signal / RESET20 is supplied to the clear terminal (CLR) of the flip-flop 14a in the pulse output control circuit 14, and sets the output / Q of the flip-flop 14a to H. As a result, the pulse output control circuit 1
4, the output of the gate 14b in the pulse output control circuit 14, PULSE OUT23, is fixed to H, and no pulse is supplied to the stepping motor 11.
The stepping motor 11 does not operate. Therefore, when the power is turned on, the ultrasonic probe 1 is kept stopped in the linear direction.

When the linear motion is restarted, after the initialization of the control software in the control circuit 13 is completed, the control signal / CS20 is sent from the control circuit 13 to the preset terminal (PR) of the flip-flop 14a in the pulse output control circuit 14. ), Flip flop 1
By fixing the output / Q of 4a to L, the pulse signal PU
The LSE IN22 is supplied to the driver 17 with the pulse waveform as it is without being masked by the gate 14b. Therefore, the stepping motor 11 is driven and the ultrasonic probe 1 is linearly scanned in the linear direction.

(Effect) As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment, unexpected movement of the ultrasonic probe 1 in the axial direction when the power is turned on can be prevented, and the life of the apparatus becomes longer. At the same time, usability can be improved.

4 to 9 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit, and FIG. 5 is a first explanation for explaining the operation of the control unit of FIG. FIG. 6 is a second explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the control unit of FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is FIG.
9 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic probe provided with a SW that is turned on at the time of contact at the root of the outer sheath instead of the photo interrupter of FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a first explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the SW of FIG. 7, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a second explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of SW in FIG. 7.

Since the second embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, only different points will be described, and the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

(Structure) In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a keyboard 30 for inputting information is connected to the control circuit 13 in the control unit 12, and a CRT 31 in the control unit 12 is connected. A display display circuit 32 and a photo interrupter 33 that detects the flange 9 in the drive unit 5 are connected. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Operation) In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as described above, the control circuit 13 causes the pulse generating circuit 16 to generate a drive pulse based on the input information from the keyboard 30, and supplies it to the driver 17. . The driver 17 supplies a driving pulse to the stepping motor 11 using the pulse signal from the pulse generation circuit 16. The stepping motor 11 rotates in response to the supplied driving pulse to realize the axial advance / retreat of the ultrasonic probe 1.

When the flange 9 is detected by the photo interrupter 33 in the drive unit 5 as a result of the reciprocating motion of the probe, the photo interrupter 33 causes the control circuit 13 to operate.
Send a detection signal to. Upon receiving the detection signal, the control circuit 13 determines that the ultrasonic probe 1 has moved too much in the axial direction, and the control circuit 13 instructs the pulse generation circuit 16 to generate a pulse for returning the attachment / detachment position, and at the same time, displays on the display. The circuit 32 is instructed to display that it is returning to the attachment / detachment position. As a result, the ultrasonic probe 1 moves to the attachment / detachment position as shown in FIG. 5 and stops.

Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment is
For example, it has a plurality of scanning modes such as a radial dedicated scanning mode and a radial / linear simultaneous scanning mode, and these scanning modes can be switched by software. At the time of switching, a switching instruction signal is input from the keyboard 30 and transmitted to the control circuit 13. The control circuit 13 instructs the pulse generation circuit 16 to generate a pulse for returning to the attachment / detachment position, and also instructs the display display circuit 32 to display that the return to the attachment / detachment position is being performed. Also in this case, the ultrasonic probe 1 moves to the attachment / detachment position as shown in FIG. 5 and stops.

Other operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Effect) By doing so, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, when the scanning mode is switched, the ultrasonic probe 1 is moved to a position as shown in FIG. The probe 1 can be attached and detached, the ultrasonic probe 1 does not stop at a position where the ultrasonic probe 1 cannot be attached and detached as shown in FIG. 6, and the operability can be further improved.

When the ultrasonic probe 1 moves too much, the ultrasonic probe 1 automatically returns to the attachment / detachment position.
It can be checked immediately to see if there is any abnormality, and handling becomes easy.

Instead of the photo interrupter 33, a probe attachment / detachment SW may be provided on the keyboard 30. In this case, the ultrasonic probe 1 is forcibly moved to the attachment / detachment position by using a signal generated when the probe attachment / detachment SW is pressed instead of the detection signal of the photo interrupter 33. As a result, the user can
It is possible to attach and detach whenever you want to attach and detach, and it is possible to easily handle.

Further, instead of the photo interrupter 33, as shown in FIG. 7, when the base of the outer sheath 3a is contacted O
You may provide and provide SW41 used as N. in this case,
If the ultrasonic probe 1 moves too far, the ultrasonic probe 1
Since the tip of the outer sheath 3a hits the outer sheath 3a and pulls the entire outer sheath 3a, SW41 is turned off as shown in FIG.
It can be used instead of the detection signal of the photo interrupter 33. Note that normally, SW41 is ON as shown in FIG.
It has become. The fact that the SW 41 is turned off is transmitted to the control circuit 13, and the ultrasonic probe 1 is forcibly controlled to return to the attachment / detachment position. Therefore, when the ultrasonic probe 1 moves too much, the ultrasonic probe 1 automatically returns to the attachment / detachment position, and it is possible to remove the ultrasonic probe 1 and immediately check whether there is any abnormality.

The SW 41 may be inside the outer sheath 3a. In this case, when the ultrasonic probe 1 advances and hits the outer sheath 3a, the SW41 turns on.
It can be seen that the ultrasonic probe 1 has advanced too much.

In the second embodiment, the timing of returning to the attachment / detachment position is set to the switching of the scanning mode and the detection of the flange 9 by the photo interrupter 33. The freeze switch (not shown) of the observation unit may be pressed to return to the attachment / detachment position even when the radial rotation of the ultrasonic probe 1 is stopped. At this time, OK / Detachment OK is displayed on the CRT 31.

By doing so, when the ultrasonic probe 1 freezes and the operation of the ultrasonic probe 1 is stopped, the ultrasonic probe 1 can be always attached and detached, and the handling becomes easy.

Further, the keyboard 30 is provided with a fine movement SW (not shown) for instructing fine movement in the axial direction of the ultrasonic probe 1. By pushing this fine movement SW, a signal of fine movement in the axial direction is sent to the control circuit 13. It may be configured to. That is, the control circuit 13 controls the pulse generation circuit 16 to generate a pulse signal that moves the ultrasonic probe 1 in the axial direction by one step, and the pulse generation circuit 16 supplies the driver 17 with the pulse signal for driving one step. Then, the driver 17 supplies the driving pulse for one step to the stepping motor 11,
1 to 1 step operation. As a result, for example, when observing a specific lesion, the ultrasonic probe 1 can be easily handled.

Further, the radial motor may be a radial stepping motor instead of the DC motor 7. In the case of the DC motor 7, the driver 18 is controlled by the control circuit 13 as described in the first embodiment. The DC motor 7 is driven by the motor control signal 24 of the driver 1 by using the radial stepping motor.
Driven by 7.

In this case, similarly to the stepping motor 11, the keyboard 30 is provided with a rotation fine movement SW (not shown) for instructing fine movement in the rotation direction of the ultrasonic probe 1, and the control circuit is operated by pushing this rotation fine movement SW. The control circuit 13 controls the pulse generation circuit 16 to generate a pulse signal for moving the ultrasonic probe 1 by one step in the rotation direction. 16 is driver 1
It is possible to supply a pulse signal for one-step driving to 7, and to supply a driving pulse for one step to the radial stepping motor by the driver 17 so that the radial stepping motor can perform one-step operation. As a result, when observing a specific lesion, the probe can be easily handled, and orientation during linear scanning can be easily provided.

When the radial motor is a DC motor, the radial encoder normally detects the amount of rotation of the DC motor and controls the DC motor. However, by using a stepping motor, the radial encoder is omitted. The size of the drive unit can be reduced.

In the first or second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the shaft 4 in the ultrasonic probe 1 may be provided with a marking 51 as an index. As shown in FIG. 11, the ultrasonic probe 1 is used by being passed through, for example, a treatment tool channel 53 of an endoscope 52.

As shown in FIG. 12, the endoscope 52 displays the obtained endoscopic image on, for example, the observation monitor 54 and observes it. By using the ultrasonic probe 1 having the marking 51, the marking 51 This can be confirmed on the optical image of the endoscope 52, and by observing this, the amount of movement of the ultrasonic probe 1 in the linear direction can be known. In other words, by moving the marking 51, the actual driving state of the ultrasonic probe 1 can be reliably grasped, and the operability can be improved.

[Supplementary Note] (Supplementary Note 1) An ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer connected to a power transmission means at its tip and the ultrasonic probe are detachably connected, and the ultrasonic transmission is performed via the power transmission means. Driving means for moving the ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic signal processing means electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer via the driving means, for processing signals from the ultrasonic transducer, and the driving means. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, which is electrically connected to the driving means and includes a control means for controlling the operation of the driving means, the control means is electrically connected to the driving means and sends a driving pulse to the driving means. A pulse generation means for supplying, a pulse control means electrically connected to the pulse generation means for controlling the pulse generation means, and an electrical connection for the pulse control means to detect power-on. An informing means, and a pulse output control means for inhibiting the output of the drive pulse of the pulse generating means from the time when the power source is detected by the detecting means to the end of the initialization process of the control software of the pulse control means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

(Additional Item 2) An ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer at the tip end connected to a power transmission means and the ultrasonic probe are detachably connected, and the ultrasonic vibration is generated via the power transmission means. Drive means for moving a child, an ultrasonic signal processing means electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer for processing signals from the ultrasonic transducer, and electrically connected to the driving means, a plurality of In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a control unit that controls the drive unit in the drive control mode, the control unit controls the drive unit when the control mode is switched, and the ultrasonic probe is detachable. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by transitioning to a state.

The prior art, for example, the decision circuit in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-30939 considers only the hardware, and when it is necessary to return to the probe attachment / detachment position by software when switching the software mode. Has a problem that it cannot be returned to the attachment / detachment position.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 2, when the control means switches the control mode, the drive means is controlled to shift the ultrasonic probe to a detachable state, thereby solving the above problem. It is possible.

(Additional Item 3) An ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer at the tip thereof connected to a power transmission means and the ultrasonic probe are detachably connected, and the ultrasonic vibration is generated via the power transmission means. Drive means for moving the child, an ultrasonic signal processing means electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer for processing signals from the ultrasonic transducer, and a plurality of software operations for the driving means. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a control means for controlling in a control mode,
The control means is electrically connected to the drive means, and pulse generation means for supplying a drive pulse to the drive means,
Pulse control means electrically controlling the pulse generation means and electrically connected to the pulse generation means, and driving the pulse generation means from the time of power-on to the end of the initialization process of the control software of the pulse control means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, comprising: a pulse output control unit for prohibiting output of a pulse; and transitioning the ultrasonic probe to a detachable state when the control mode is switched.

[0052]

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the pulse output control means from the power-on time detected by the sensing means to the end of the initialization processing of the control software of the pulse control means. Since the output of the drive pulse of the pulse generating means is prohibited during this period, there is an effect that the ultrasonic probe can be reliably stopped at least from the time when the power is turned on until the software starts up.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a control unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the timing of each signal of the control unit of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a control unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a first explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the control unit in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a second explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the control unit in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic probe provided with a SW that is turned on at the time of contact with the root of the outer sheath instead of the photo interrupter of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a first explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of SW of FIG.

9 is a second explanatory diagram for explaining the action of SW in FIG. 7. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic probe according to a modification of the first or second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an endoscope used by inserting the ultrasonic probe of FIG. 10 into a treatment tool channel.

12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an ultrasonic probe on an endoscopic image by the endoscope of FIG. 11. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic probe 2 ... Ultrasonic transducer 3 ... Sheath 3a ... Outer sheath 4 ... Shaft 5 ... Drive part 6 ... Connector 7 ... DC motor 8 ... Ultrasonic wave observation part 9 ... Flange 10 ... Ball screw 11 ... Stepping motor 12 ... Control unit 13 ... Control circuit 14 ... Pulse output control circuit 14a ... Flip-flop 14b ... Gate 15 ... Power-on reset circuit 16 ... Pulse generation circuit 17, 18 ... Driver

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic probe having at its tip an ultrasonic transducer connected to a power transmission means, and the ultrasonic probe is detachably connected, and the ultrasonic transducer is moved via the power transmission means. Driving means, an ultrasonic signal processing means electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer via the driving means, and processing the signal from the ultrasonic transducer as a signal, and electrically connected to the driving means. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a control unit that controls the operation of the drive unit, the control unit is electrically connected to the drive unit, and a pulse generation unit that supplies a drive pulse to the drive unit. A pulse control means electrically connected to the pulse generation means for controlling the pulse generation means; a sensing means electrically connected to the pulse control means for sensing power-on. From the time the power is turned sensed by known means,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, comprising: pulse output control means for prohibiting the output of the drive pulse of the pulse generation means until the initialization processing of the control software of the pulse control means is completed.