JPS61128950A - Apparatus for observing coronary arteries - 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 [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a cardiovascular diagnostic device, and particularly to an observation device suitable for diagnosing coronary arteries (of the heart).

[Background of the invention]

Conventionally, coronary angiography has been performed for coronary arteries, in which a contrast medium is injected into the coronary arteries using a catheter and observed using X-rays. Recently, there has been an announcement (IE
84-23) However, coronary angiography involves the effects of the contrast agent on the living body and exposure to X-rays.
The problem is that it is highly invasive. On the other hand, ultrasound is non-invasive and highly desirable for biological observation, and a system for analyzing echocardiograms and evaluating cardiac function has been announced (IE84-24). No consideration has yet been given to observing arteries.

[Purpose of the invention]

An object of the present invention is to provide an effective device for capturing three-dimensional images of coronary arteries using ultrasound.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention is characterized by a device that monitors the heart and uses ultrasound to capture high-resolution three-dimensional images of minute areas near the coronary arteries during certain periods such as diastole or systole to obtain images of coronary arteries. This makes it possible to perform non-invasive and effective diagnosis.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 10
1 is a heart, and 102 is a coronary artery. Body surface 103
The ultrasonic probes 104 and 105 are applied from there. A monitoring probe 104 is always directed toward the main body of the probe 102, and a probe 105 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves along the probe 102. When an ultrasonic transmission signal from the computer 106 is applied to the ejection circuit 107, an ejection pulse is applied to the ejection circuit 104, and the ultrasonic wave is emitted from the ejection circuit 104. Furthermore, the receiving circuit 10 receives the reflected signal.
Receive at 8. At this time, 104 is controlled by a 1-position control device 109 so as to face the main body of 102. 10
6 stores the obtained received signal in the storage device 110, performs signal processing, detects the time when the main part 102 reaches its maximum diameter, and sends a transmission signal to the launching circuit 111. In response, 111 gives an ejection pulse to 105, and ultrasonic waves are transmitted. Furthermore, the receiving circuit 112 receives the reflected signal. At this time, three-dimensional imaging is performed, and in this regard, a zero position control device 113, which will be explained in FIG. 106 transmits the obtained received signal to 110
102 is stored, signal processing is performed, the running direction of 102 is estimated, and the inclination of 105 is changed by 113. 102
To estimate the traveling direction of the coronary artery,
This is possible by extrapolating the dimensional image. Furthermore, if there is a branch of the coronary artery, it is possible to determine whether or not it is a branch based on the size of the diameter and directionality, and the running direction can be estimated while ignoring the branch. Similarly, while monitoring with 104,
Three-dimensional imaging of the coronary artery is performed in step 105.Finally, the obtained plurality of small region three-dimensional images are processed in step 106 to form a three-dimensional image of the coronary artery and displayed on the display device 114. 11
5 is the 106 console.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of three-dimensional imaging of a small area.

201 is a coronary artery, and 202 is a probe.

At this time, if a two-dimensional probe is used, it is possible to electrically scan three-dimensionally and construct a three-dimensional image.
A case is shown in which a three-dimensional image is constructed by normal sector scanning and mechanical scanning in a direction perpendicular to the normal sector scanning. 203 is a minute angle sector scan with an opening angle of about 10°;
04 is imaged, then mechanical scanning 205 and sector scanning 206 are performed. In this way, 2 with 201 as the center
Although it is three-dimensional, it images an area of about 3 cm.

Since only a small area needs to be imaged, high-resolution and high-speed imaging is possible.

Note that although the main trunk of the coronary artery was monitored using ultrasound, it is also possible to monitor other parts of the heart, and it is also possible to use an electrocardiogram.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that it is also possible to apply it to areas other than the heart.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, coronary arteries, which have been difficult to image, can be imaged non-invasively and accurately, and are very effective in diagnosing coronary artery stenosis.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a coronary artery observation device, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of three-dimensional imaging of a micro region.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that irradiates a subject with ultrasonic waves and detects reflected echoes returned from a reflector in the subject to form a tomographic image, the condition of the subject's heart is determined. The first step is to monitor the
a second device for three-dimensionally composing a tomographic image, and a third device for processing the obtained three-dimensional image, detecting a coronary artery image, and further determining its running direction. and a fourth device that synthesizes the obtained three-dimensional images and displays a coronary artery image. 2. The first device described in item 1 includes an ultrasound device for irradiating ultrasound to a specific region suitable for determining the heart condition of a subject and detecting the reflected signal, and a signal obtained from the ultrasound device. A coronary artery observation device comprising a device that processes and recognizes the condition of the heart. 3. The second device described in item 1 divides the target region estimated from the running direction of the coronary artery into
A coronary artery observation device characterized by dimensional scanning and constructing a tomographic image.