JPS60212151A - 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] +t.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION FIELD The present invention relates to a mechanical scanning type ultrasonic probe that can mechanically scan an ultrasonic beam and obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image.

Conventional configuration and problems There are known ultrasonic diagnostic devices that emit an ultrasonic pulse beam toward a living body, receive reflected waves caused by differences in acoustic impedance within the living body, and display a desired tomographic image of the living body. be. An ultrasonic pulse beam is mechanically scanned in the
There are devices that can obtain fan-shaped or rectangular ultrasonic tomographic images.

The method of mechanically scanning an ultrasonic beam involves rotating an ultrasonic transducer in a container filled with a sound wave propagation medium, or moving it back and forth around an arbitrary point. There are two methods: a method that performs fan-shaped scanning, and a method that performs linear scanning by performing linear reciprocating motion.

The former mechanical fan-scanning ultrasonic probe that scans the ultrasonic beam in a fan-shape by rotating an ultrasonic transducer is the fan-scanning ultrasonic probe shown in Figure 1. Figure 1B shows a schematic side view of the rotating support portion. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, 1 is a container filled with a sound wave propagation medium, 1a is a sound wave propagation medium, 2 is a rotating support, and 3a.

3b, 3c are ultrasonic vibrators, 4a, 4b, 4c are reed switches, 6 is a fixed permanent magnet, 6 is a rotary transformer, 7 is an oil seal, 8.14 is a pulley, 9 is a rotating shaft,
10 is a belt, 11 is a motor, 12 is a rotational position control detector, 13 is a connection cable with the main device, and 16 is a probe case.

In the conventional mechanical fan-shaped scanning ultrasonic probe shown in FIGS. It is generally composed of reed switches 4a, 4b, 4c for switching and selecting ultrasonic transducers 3a, 3b, 3c, and a rotary transformer 6 provided on the rotating shaft 9 of the rotating support 2. The rotary support 2 is connected to a motor 11, pulleys 8, 14. It is rotated by a belt 10. On the other hand, the rotation of the motor 11 is controlled based on the rotation position control detector 12 so as to be maintained at a constant rotation speed. Note that the rotary transformer 6 includes rotating ultrasonic transducers 3a and 3b.

This is for connecting electrical signals with 3C without contact.

The operation of this conventional mechanical fan-shaped scanning ultrasonic probe is such that, for example, as the rotary support 2 rotates, the reed switch 4a
are closed depending on the relative position with the fixed permanent magnet 5. Needless to say, at this time, the ultrasonic transducer 3a needs to be located at a desired position relative to the living body. Next, an electric signal is applied through the connection cable 13 with the main device and the rotary transformer 6 to energize the ultrasonic transducer 3a.

The ultrasound beam generated from the ultrasound transducer 3a is emitted toward the living body through the sound wave propagation medium 1a and the container 1. On the other hand, reflected waves from the living body due to the difference in acoustic impedance are received by the ultrasonic transducer 3a via the opposite path. The received signal is sent to the main unit via the rotary transformer 6 and the connection cable 13, undergoes appropriate signal processing, and displays its strength as a -scanning line segment on the cathode ray tube. As described above, together with the rotating support 2, the ultrasonic transducer 3
A is continuously rotated to sequentially scan the ultrasonic beam in a fan shape, thereby obtaining a fan-shaped ultrasound tomographic image of the living body. Here, the reed switch 4a needs to be closed until the ultrasonic transducer 3a completes the fan-shaped scanning at a predetermined angle.

This is done by fixed permanent magnets 6. Thereafter, based on the same principle, the ultrasonic transducers 3a, 3b, and 3c are sequentially switched and used by opening and closing the reed switches 4a, 4b, and 4c, and a desired fan-shaped scan is performed. A tomographic image can be obtained.

Incidentally, the container 1 and the probe case 15 are usually made of an insulating material such as plastic in order to prevent electric shock due to leakage current. Plastic is completely transparent to electromagnetic waves. On the other hand, ultrasonic diagnostic devices are made to be most sensitive to the frequency of the ultrasonic waves used (usually 3 to 10 MHz).

However, around us, radio waves of various frequencies are used daily in televisions, radios, and various wireless devices. In addition, various electronic devices are used in hospitals.
They leak electromagnetic waves of various frequencies, albeit in small amounts. Electromagnetic waves radiated or leaked from these various devices are guided and mixed into the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as harmful electromagnetic waves via the ultrasonic probe, and seriously impair the quality of ultrasonic tomographic images. In extreme cases, it becomes impossible to observe and interpret ultrasound tomographic images at all. It also causes malfunction of the device.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe that significantly reduces electromagnetic interference.

Structure of the Invention The present invention achieves the above-mentioned object, and includes: a first casing containing at least a rotatable support holding at least one ultrasonic transducer; and a driving means for driving the support. The present invention provides an ultrasonic probe comprising: a second casing containing at least a second casing; and a conductive layer provided on the inner circumferential surfaces of the first and second casings.

Description of examples Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In Figure 2, 1o is a container filled with a sound wave propagation medium 10a, 10a is a sound wave propagation medium, 30a is an ultrasonic transducer, 4
0a is a reed switch, 60 is a fixed permanent magnet, 60 is a rotary transformer, 70 is an oil seal, 80 and 1
50 is a pulley, 90 is a rotating shaft, 100 is a belt, 110
120 is a motor, 120 is a rotational position control detector, 130 is a cable, 140 and 180 are lead wires, 160 is a probe case, and 170 and 190 are conductive layers, respectively.

The container 1o and the probe case 160 are made of plastic, and the conductive layers 170 and 190 are made of aluminum by vacuum evaporation. The conductive layer 190 on the inner surface of the container 1o is formed to a thickness of ~16 microns or less that does not affect the transmission and reception of the ultrasonic beam by the ultrasonic transducer 30a and sufficiently prevents electromagnetic interference. It was done. Also, container 10. It goes without saying that the conductive layers 190 and 170 provided on the inner surface of the probe case 160 can be formed by coating or plating other metals. On the other hand, the conductive layer 190 is electrically connected to the conductive layer 170 on the inner surface of the probe case through the lead wire 180, and the lead wire 140 is taken out from the conductive layer 170 and connected to the main body device (not shown) through the connecting cable 130. ) and grounded.

The operation of the mechanical fan-shaped scanning ultrasonic probe according to this embodiment is the same as that of the conventional probe shown in FIG. For example, when the ultrasonic transducer 30a comes to a position facing the living body due to rotation of the rotary support 20, the reed switch 40a is closed due to its relative position with the fixed permanent magnet 5o. Next, the connection cable 130 with the main unit and the rotary transformer 6o
Through this, the ultrasound transducer 30a is energized, and an ultrasound beam is emitted toward the living body via the sound wave propagation medium 10a and the container 1o.

The reflected wave reflected within the living body is received by the ultrasonic transducer 30a, and is transmitted to the rotary transformer 60 and the connection cable 1.
The signal is sent to the main unit via 30, undergoes appropriate signal processing, and is displayed on a cathode ray tube.

According to this configuration, interference electromagnetic waves such as electromagnetic waves of various frequencies from televisions, radios, and various wireless devices, leaked electromagnetic waves from various electronic devices, etc. are removed from the conductive layer 190 on the inner surface of the container 10 and the inner surface of the probe case 160. conductive layer 1
70 and is further grounded to the main unit through the connection cable 130.

Therefore, the influence of interfering electromagnetic waves can be prevented in transmitting and receiving ultrasonic beams by the ultrasonic transducer 30a. Therefore, according to the present invention, a high-quality ultrasonic tomographic image with extremely little interference caused by interfering electromagnetic waves can be obtained, and malfunctions of the main unit will not occur.

In the above embodiment, the conductive layer on the inner surface of the container and the conductive layer on the inner surface of the probe case were connected with a lead wire, and were further electrically connected to the main body/device and grounded. Any other method may be used as long as it is grounded.

Further, the rotary transformer for energizing the ultrasonic transducer may be a non-contact type such as a slip ring.

Furthermore, the support body holding the ultrasonic transducer may not only rotate but also swing.

In addition, although the above embodiments have been described with respect to a mechanical fan-shaped scanning probe, it goes without saying that the same procedure can be applied to a mechanical linear scanning probe.

Effects of the Invention In short, the present invention provides an ultrasonic probe in which a conductive layer is provided on the inner surface of a container (made of plastic) and a probe case (made of plastic), and these conductive layers are grounded. This has the advantage of significantly reducing electromagnetic interference and providing high-quality ultrasound tomographic images.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure below shows the outline of the rotary support of the same probe.
... Container, 10a ... Sound wave propagation medium,
2゜...Rotating support body, 30a...Ultrasonic vibrator, 40a...Reed switch, 6o...
...Fixed permanent magnet, 60...Rotary transformer, 7o...Oil seal, 80.16
0... Pulley, 9o... Rotating shaft, 10
0...Belt, 110...Motor, 1
2o...Rotary position control detector, 130...
...Connection cable, 140°180...Lead wire, 160...Probe case, 170, 19
0... Conductive layer. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person
1 Figure (Pano CB) d 46

Claims (1)

[Claims] a support body that holds at least one ultrasonic transducer and rotates or swings; a first casing that includes at least the support body and is filled with a sound wave propagation medium; and a drive means that drives the support body. and a rotational position control means for controlling the driving means, a transmission means for transmitting the motion from the driving means to the support, and at least the rotational position control means and the transmission means for the driving means 9, The present invention is characterized by comprising a first casing and a second casing arranged adjacent to each other, and a conductive layer electrically connected to each other is provided on the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second casings. Ultrasonic probe.