JPS59115029A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe used in an apparatus for ultrasonic diagnosis or flaw detection, and particularly relates to an ultrasonic probe in which ultrasonic waves are scanned in a fan-shaped manner.

(b) Prior Art and Problems A conventional ultrasonic glove that mechanically performs fan-shaped scanning is constructed as shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional ultrasonic glove.

In general, methods for performing fan-shaped scanning mechanically include those in which the probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves is fully oscillated or rotated, and the other is in which the acoustic mirror is oscillated or rotated via an acoustic mirror. There is.

For example, when an acoustic mirror is used, the configuration is as shown in FIG. A case 1 houses a probe 2 and a sound mirror 3 that is rotated in the direction of arrow A. Based on the transmitted signal, a predetermined ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the probe to the acoustic mirror 3 along the path shown in B. This ultrasonic wave is radiated in a fan shape shown by C-1 by rotation of the acoustic mirror 3, and the reflected ultrasonic wave is received via the acoustic mirror 3 along a similar path shown by B. The receiving probe 2 is formed to output a received signal E.

Therefore, the ultrasonic radiation surface of the case 1 is brought into close contact with the body surface 4A to obtain a diagnostic image of a predetermined diagnosis point 4B in the body 4.

When rotating the aforementioned probe itself, use these signals.
It is difficult to connect E, and if an acoustic mirror is used, there is no signal problem. Although there is no problem with E joining, the point that forms the fan shape is farther away from the body surface 4A, so the field of view from which the ultrasonic waves are emitted is limited. However, in any case, the rib bone 4C is located near the body surface 4A.
When it is desired to diagnose the diagnosis point 4B of the heart where the bones and the like are located, the ultrasound waves at C-2 shown by the dotted line are blocked by the rib '4C and do not reach the diagnosis point 4B. Therefore, the diagnosis UT
The problem was that diagnostic images could not be obtained in some locations.

(c) Purpose of the Invention The purpose of the present invention is to provide an acoustic mirror having an elliptical curved surface so that the key position of ultrasonic fan-shaped scanning can be set at a predetermined location, thereby eliminating the above-mentioned problems. It is something to do.

(d) Structure of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic glove with an acoustic mirror having an elliptical concave curved surface formed by two focal points, and a system in which the transmitted ultrasonic waves are transmitted from one of the focal points. ultrasonic wave generating and receiving means arranged to be emitted to the concave curved surface and to cause the received ultrasonic waves to be focused by the concave curved surface to one of the focal points; This is accomplished with a signature ultrasonic glove.

(e) Examples of the invention The present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

FIGS. 2 to 4 are explanatory diagrams showing embodiments of the ultrasonic glove according to the present invention.

In FIG. 2, a case 1 is provided with an acoustic mirror 11 having a curved surface formed by a part of an ellipse E, and a probe 12 which is rotated around one focal point D1 of the ellipse E. It is.

With this configuration, the ultrasonic scanning line C-11 transmitted or received by the probe 12 is reflected by the acoustic mirror 11 and passes through the other center point D2 of the ellipse E to the scanning line C-21. becomes. Similarly, scanning lines C-31 and C-5
1 become scanning lines C-41 and C-61 through the acoustic mirror 11 and the focal point D2, respectively, forming a fan-shaped scan.

Therefore, a diagnostic image of a predetermined diagnostic location 4B in the body 4, where the rib bones 4C are located near the body surface 4A, is obtained by the position of the focal point D2 that forms a fan-shaped scan.

This prevents the bone 4C as described above from making it impossible to obtain a diagnostic image at the diagnostic location 4B.

FIG. 3 shows the acoustic mirror 11 described above, the acoustic mirror 13 rotated around the focal point of the ellipse E, and the probe 14 that transmits or receives ultrasonic waves to the acoustic mirror 13 along the path shown in G. Ultrasonic waves transmitted or received by the probe 14 are reflected by the acoustic mirror 13, and the rotation of the acoustic mirror 13 in the direction of arrow F changes the scanning line C-11 to C-21. , C-31 is C-
411C, C-51 and C-61 are each subjected to fan-shaped scanning at the focal point D2 similar to that described above. Also, in this case, it is the acoustic mirror 13 that is rotated, and the probe 14
Since it is fixed, it is easy to connect signals to be sent to and output from the probe 14.

FIG. 4 shows the same acoustic mirror 11 as described above and a plurality of probes 15-1 to 15-1 arranged in a circular shape centered on the center point D+ of the ellipse E.
0 This probe 15-1 to 1, which is equipped with 5-ne
5-n uses a segmented probe that is driven sequentially,
Scanning line C-11 is connected to C-21, C-31 is connected to C-41,
C-51 is centered on C-61, and a fan-shaped scan is performed with the center being centered on C-61.

- With this configuration, the rotating mechanism as explained in FIGS. 2 and 3 is unnecessary, and the mechanical obstacle 8 caused by the rotating mechanism can be eliminated.

(f) Detailed Description of the Invention As described, the present invention provides an acoustic mirror 11 forming an ellipse E, the means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is provided at one focal point of the ellipse E, and at the other focal point. D2 is formed so that it becomes the key point of the fan-shaped scanning line. With this configuration, even if there is an obstacle such as a bone in the area to be diagnosed, diagnosis can be performed by performing fan-shaped scanning using the curved acoustic mirror 11. However, as the means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, it is possible to use the rotating probe 12 or the sound V-mirror 13, or even the split type probes 15-1 to 15-n, and the practical effect is It's large.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional ultrasonic probe, Figures 2 and 3
FIG. 4 shows an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the ultrasonic probe according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a case, 2, 12.14 is a probe,
3, 11.13 is an acoustic mirror, 4 is inside the body, 15-1 to 1
5-n is a split type probe, C-1, C-11, C-21,
C-31, C-41, C-51゜C-61 is the scanning line, E
indicates an ellipse, and D, , D2 indicates a focal point. Hold / Pi 2nd Z

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A first acoustic mirror having an elliptical concave curved surface formed by two focal points, so that the transmitted ultrasound is radiated from one of the focal points to the concave curved surface, and is received. 1. An ultrasonic probe comprising ultrasonic generating and receiving means arranged so that the ultrasonic waves generated by the concave curved surface are focused on one of the focal points. (2) The ultrasonic glove according to claim (1), wherein the ultrasonic wave generation and reception means is formed by swinging or rotating a plurality of probes of one size. . (3) The ultrasonic wave generation and reception means includes one or more second acoustic mirrors that are oscillated or rotated;
and a probe which is transmitted and received through an acoustic mirror of the invention.
The ultrasonic probe described in section 1). (4) The ultrasonic generation and reception means is formed by a split type probe in which a plurality of probes are arranged and scanned sequentially. The ultrasonic probe described in (1).