JPS61146237A - 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 Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an ultrasound probe connected to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.

Conventional technology An ultrasonic diagnostic device that emits an ultrasonic pulse beam toward a living body, receives reflected waves caused by differences in acoustic inviders within the body, and displays a desired tomographic image of the living body. It has been known. The ultrasonic beam is electrically or mechanically scanned in a linear or fan-shaped manner to obtain a rectangular or linear ultrasonic tomographic image. There is a so-called B-mode ultrasonic diagnostic device. Many ultrasound probes connected to such ultrasound diagnostic equipment are known.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing an example of a conventional linear electronic scanning type ultrasound probe. Here, reference numeral 1 indicates an ultrasonic radiation surface that contacts the living body, 2 indicates a test width mark indicating the width from which an ultrasonic tomographic image can be obtained, 3 indicates a cable, 4 indicates a probe body, and 5 indicates a label. This conventional linear electronic scanning ultrasound probe has a large number (for example, 64 to 128) of elongated strip-shaped ultrasound transducers (not shown) each having two acoustic matching layers and an acoustic lens. On the ultrasonic radiation surface 1 part in a play shape,
It is installed as an array of ultrasonic transducers. A large number of lead wires (not shown) of the ultrasonic transducer array are electrically connected to a main unit (not shown) via a cable 3. The operation of this probe is, for example, when eight ultrasonic transducers are simultaneously selected from the right end of the ultrasonic transducer row on the ultrasonic radiation surface 1 and a pulse voltage is applied, so that the ultrasonic pulse beam is transmitted to the living body. radiated towards. Reflected waves caused by differences in acoustic impedance within the living body are received by the same eight ultrasonic transducers. The received signal is sent to the main unit via the cable 3, undergoes appropriate signal processing, and displays its strength as a scanning line segment on a cathode ray tube. Next, eight beams shifted one position to the left are selected, transmit and receive ultrasonic beams as described above, and display their strengths and weaknesses on the cathode ray tube as the second scanning line segment. The above operations are performed until the left end of the ultrasonic transducer row on the ultrasonic radiation surface 1. If you can move to the left end, return to the right end. By repeating the above operations, the ultrasonic pulse beam is scanned at high speed from the right end to the left end of the ultrasound emission surface 1. That is, linear electronic scanning is performed to obtain a rectangular B-mode ultrasonic tomographic image in real time. In addition, actually the probe body 4
It goes without saying that the ultrasonic wave emitting surface 1 is in contact with the living body. The inspection width mark 2 indicates the scanning start point and end point of the ultrasonic pulse beam, and the width between the two points indicates the effective inspection width of the B-mode ultrasonic tomographic image that is actually obtained. The label 5 usually includes information such as the ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic probe, a serial number that is a product management number, and a model name.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, conventional ultrasonic probes receive reflected waves due to differences in acoustic impedance of a living body caused by, for example, eight ultrasonic transducers at appropriate positions in an array of ultrasonic transducers. , when performing the M mode method, which displays the intensity as a change over time on a cathode ray tube, etc., or the A mode method, which simply displays the intensity, which part of the ultrasonic transducer array on the ultrasonic emission surface 1 is selected? It is unknown whether there is a presence or not as there is no indication on the ultrasonic probe. This is extremely inconvenient clinically because it is unclear which part of the living body is being measured using the M-mode method or the A-mode method. Further, the test width mark 2 is provided near the ultrasound emission surface 1. In reality, when it comes into contact with a living body, the living body becomes an obstacle, making visual inspection difficult and making it impossible to utilize it. Furthermore, ultrasound diagnostic equipment generally has a function to display the obtained B-mode ultrasound tomographic image as a still image if necessary; Since there is no display indicating that the ultrasound probe is in the current mode, if the tomographic image on the main unit does not change, it is sometimes mistaken for the ultrasound probe to be malfunctioning. In addition, the conventional ultrasonic probe shown in Fig. 3 uses the so-called electron focusing effect, which applies a pulse voltage with an appropriate delay control to the ultrasonic transducer to improve resolution. Therefore, it is also possible to improve the resolution by focusing the ultrasonic beam at an appropriate distance (focal length).

Therefore, the focal length is changed depending on the desired part of the living body. If you display that focal length on the probe,
Although this is clinically extremely meaningful, the conventional ultrasound probe shown in FIG. 3 does not have this display. Therefore, whenever necessary, data regarding the ultrasonic probe must be viewed on the cathode ray tube of the main unit, which is very inconvenient.

Page 6 The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by displaying various data related to the ultrasound probe on the display of the ultrasound probe, thereby preventing erroneous operation of the main unit along with the ultrasound probe. The present invention provides an ultrasonic probe with high operability and a liquid crystal display, a light emitting element display, and a liquid crystal display, in order to display various data on the outer surface of the ultrasonic probe in conjunction with the operation of the main unit. The above object is achieved by installing an electrically controllable display such as an electrochromic display, a fluorescent display, an electroluminescent display, or a plasma panel display.

According to the above configuration, the present invention can display a mode such as B mode, M mode or A mode on the display on the outer surface of the ultrasonic probe.
The test width, focal length, still image mode, ultrasonic frequency, etc. can be displayed using signals from the main unit, preventing erroneous operation of the ultrasound probe and main unit.
Improved operability - Can perform 7 turns.

EXAMPLE A first example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1a shows an overview of the ultrasonic probe according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows an example of data display on the display 60. In FIG. 1a, 10 is an ultrasonic emission surface, 3o is a cable, 40 is a probe body, and 60 is a display (in this embodiment, a liquid crystal display is used).

This ultrasonic probe consists of a number of elongated rectangular ultrasonic transducers (not shown) each having two acoustic matching layers and an acoustic lens.
are installed as an array of ultrasonic transducers on the ultrasonic emission surface 1o, and a display 60 is provided on the outer surface of the probe body 4o. On the other hand, a large number of lead wires (not shown) from the ultrasonic transducer array and the display 6o are connected to the main unit (not shown) via a cable 30.

The method of bringing the ultrasound emission surface 1o into contact with a living body and obtaining a B-mode ultrasound tomographic image of the living body is the same as the conventional method, and its explanation will be omitted. On the other hand, as is clear from Figure 1,
This ultrasonic probe has an ultrasonic frequency fr of 3,5M as the ultrasonic probe data displayed on the display 6o.
Hz, focal length fl is 60 birds, test width W is ss*M,
M mode is selected, and the position data in M mode is S
It is shown that the still image is frozen. It goes without saying that the data to be displayed is sent from the main unit to the display 6o.

FIG. 2a shows a schematic configuration diagram of an ultrasound probe in a second embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows an example of data display on the display 6o. In Fig. 2a, 10 is the ultrasonic radiation surface, 3o is the cable, 4o is the probe body, 6o is the display using a liquid crystal display, 70 is the knob, 8o is the Doppler transducer, and 9° is the ultrasonic wave. Propagation medium liquid, 100 is a vibrator array,
110 is a frame, 120 is a rotation axis, and θ is a tilt angle. This ultrasonic probe consists of a large number of long and thin strip-shaped ultrasonic 9''-zo wave transducers each having two acoustic matching layers and an acoustic lens arranged in an array on a frame 110.
Set as 00. Next, a Doppler transducer 8Q whose inclination angle θ can be varied around the rotation axis 120 by turning the knob 7° is installed on the frame 110 at the end of the transducer array 100, and the ultrasonic propagation medium liquid 9o is placed together with the transducer array 100. is immersed in A display 60 is provided on the outer surface of the probe body 40. On the other hand, the display 60. Vibrator row 10o,
and each lead wire from the Doppler vibrator 8o (not shown)
is connected to the main unit via a cable 30.

By bringing the ultrasonic radiation surface 10 into contact with a living body, these various ultrasonic probes can obtain a JB mode ultrasonic tomographic image using the transducer 100 and a Doppler signal using the 8° Doppler transducer. It is possible. At this time, the inclination angle θ can be changed as appropriate with the knob 70 around the rotating shaft 120 in order to obtain a Si Doppler signal using the Doppler oscillator 80 and to determine the circumferential flow velocity. The method for obtaining a B-mode ultrasound tomographic image using the transducer array 100 and the Doppler transducer 1o
The explanation of the Doppler method by Beno'80 is the same as the conventional method and will therefore be omitted. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, as is clear from the display 6o, this ultrasonic probe has a Doppler transducer 8o with an inclination angle θ of 30 degrees, an ultrasonic frequency of 3.5 MHz,
Focal length 60πm, Dogra mode and still image f ro
This indicates that zen mode is selected.

As mentioned above, 1st. As is clear from the second embodiment, the display provided on the ultrasound probe allows accurate information about the ultrasound probe, which is extremely effective clinically.

In addition, the display 6o displays information such as an abnormal state of the main unit, an incorrect operation display, or which ultrasound probe is selected and used when multiple ultrasound probes are connected to one main unit. Needless to say, it is possible to display the following.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the effects of the present invention can be obtained as long as the present invention is an ultrasonic probe, without being limited to an electronic scanning type or a mechanical scanning type.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention allows the status of the ultrasonic probe and the main device to be easily known as needed by attaching the display 6o to a suitable location on the outer surface of the ultrasonic probe. , improves operability and prevents erroneous operations.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1a is an overview diagram of an ultrasonic probe according to a first embodiment of the present invention, an example of display on a display, and FIG. 2a is an overview diagram of an ultrasonic probe according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a probe, an example of a display on a display, and FIG. 3 is a general view of a conventional ultrasonic probe. 10... Ultrasonic radiation surface, 3o... Cable, 40... Probe body, 6o...
Display, 7o...Knob, 8o...Doppler transducer, 90...Ultrasonic propagation medium liquid, 1o
○... Vibrator row, 110... Frame, 120... Rotation axis, θ...-Inclination angle. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Dochu and one other person Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An electrically controlled indicator is provided on the outer surface of the housing,
An ultrasonic probe characterized by being able to display data related to the probe, such as the drive frequency, test width, focal length, operating status, and operating mode of the probe. (2) The display device is a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode display,
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a fluorescent tube display, an electrochromic display, an electroluminescence display, and a plasma panel display.