JPS62176435A - Ultrasonic heating treatment apparatus - 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] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention applies ultrasonic waves to diagnosis and heating treatment, and in particular, when heating treatment is applied to an affected area within a living body, the temperature of the heating treatment area is controlled. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic heating treatment device that measures and displays distribution and temperature change distribution.

[Conventional technology]

BACKGROUND ART Conventional ultrasonic diagnostic devices scan an ultrasound beam inside a living body and display the reflection of the ultrasound beam inside the living body as a tomographic image (B-mode image) of the living body for diagnosis. And the diagnosed affected area in the body,
It has been known for a long time that malignant cells in particular can be destroyed by heating. An example of this type of heating treatment device is JP-A-60-241436. In this publication, the treatment zone is localized,
A technique has been disclosed in which treatment is performed by increasing the temperature in a well-controlled manner within a defined and limited area within this zone, but with this conventional device, the local area requiring treatment is It is not possible to know whether the area is being reliably heated or the state of the temperature distribution and the distribution of temperature changes in the area.

In addition, as a conventional means of measuring the temperature inside a living body,
Thermistors were inserted directly into organs to measure the temperature inside the body.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The present invention makes it possible to measure and display the temperature of an affected area within a living body, which is a problem with the conventional devices mentioned above, and also enables measurement and display of temperature distribution within a living body without directly inserting it into the living body (non-invasively). The purpose of this study is to obtain important information for in-vivo diagnosis and treatment by knowing the changes in .

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the ultrasonic heating treatment device of the present invention includes an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving means for drawing a B-mode tomographic image, and is connected to the ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving means to generate a target object by a cross beam method. It includes a means for measuring and displaying local temperature and temperature distribution, and an ultrasonic energy generating means for heating treatment of the subject, and the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving means and the plurality of ultrasonic energy generating means are used for heating the subject. The feature is that the ultrasonic energy is adjustable and has a structure to focus on the same tomographic plane of the body, and that an acoustic coupling part is interposed between the ultrasonic energy generating means and the subject to be treated. That is.

[Function] The ultrasonic heating treatment device equipped with the temperature distribution measuring device of the present invention has elements T1゜r2. T...
... constituted a transmitting section Ta as a group, and the transmitting section Ta radiated a highly directional transmission beam into the subject B (diagnosed subject) to constitute the transmitting section Ta. A receiving section Tb is constituted by a group of a plurality of elements located a predetermined distance away from the transmitting section Ta of the array type transducer T,
A receiving beam is created from the receiving section Tb, and the receiving beam has a strong straightness similar to the transmitting beam, and intersects a focus point (convergence point) that can be changed in stages of the transmitting beam. , which effectively receives ultrasonic pulses.

Then, as described above, by changing the angle or position of the directional direction of the receiving section Tb while keeping the direction of the transmitting beam constant, the ultrasonic pulses at each focus point on the transmitting beam are received, and from that transmission. The time until reception is measured, and the position of the transmitter Ta is changed to receive ultrasonic pulses by the receiving beam that intersects each focus point on the transmitting beam in the same manner as described above.
When the entire area to be diagnosed is scanned, a grid-like beam intersection is formed at regular intervals within the body (see Figure 1).The sound velocity passing through these intersections is measured, and the sound velocity is converted into temperature to provide treatment. Based on the difference between the previous temperature and the temperature during heating treatment, it is possible to display whether the affected area is being heated to the required temperature or the temperature distribution. It is equipped with an ultrasonic energy generating means for warming the affected area, and the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving means and the ultrasonic energy generating means have a structure such that they focus on an arbitrary position within the same tomographic plane of the object to be treated. It is possible to always focus on the affected area and display it, and as mentioned above, it is possible to focus on the affected area and heat it, and it is possible to constantly display the temperature distribution or temperature change of heating, and it is possible to display the temperature in the living body non-invasively. can be known. Furthermore, in the present invention,
Since the synchronized coupling portion is interposed between the ultrasonic energy generating means and the subject to be treated, the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic energy generating means are reliably transmitted into the living body.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4,
T indicates an array-type transducer which is a transmitting/receiving means for drawing a B-mode tomographic image and measuring temperature, and the array-type transducer T is rotatably attached to a support l in which wiring etc. are arranged inside. It is suspended on the arm 2 and brought into contact with the subject (living body) B on the treatment table 3 or the like. The arm 2 described above has applicators 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 4, 5, 4, 5, 5, 4, 5, 4, 5 or 4 applicators attached to the distal end thereof. ...
Connecting rod 5,5. . . . and the connecting rod 5, 5° . . . and the connecting rod 6 that constitutes the link mechanism.
,6. ...... are respectively pivotally connected. The applicator 4 is comprised of the ultrasonic energy generating transducer t described above and a rubber bag 7 filled with water constituting an acoustic coupling section (ultrasonic coupling medium). About four transducers are provided radially in all directions around the array type transducer T for drawing B-mode tomographic images and measuring temperature. Furthermore, the above-described image drawing and temperature measurement array type transducers 'I' and their respective applicators 4, 4.・・・・・・
The rubber bag 7 filled with water is brought into contact with the living body B, and the applicators 4, 4, . . . . consists of a console section 8 where operations and images are drawn, and 9 is a CRT.
It is.

The above-described array type transducer T, which is an ultrasonic wave receiving and transmitting means for depicting a B-mode tomographic image, is brought into contact with the living body B.
The means for depicting a mode tomographic image, the means for measuring changes in local temperature and temperature distribution, and the means for heating an affected area will be explained with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 4. The array type transducer T, which is a sound wave emitting/receiving means, has a vibrating element T, , T, , T, with a width of approximately 0.4.
.

About 256 elements T, , T2 . T3... are connected to the multiplexer 14 by lead wires.

First, in order to draw a B-mode tomographic image, the transmission delay circuit 12 performs focusing in response to a command from the first scan control circuit 11, drives the pulser 13, and operates the multiplexer 14 based on the output of the pulser 13. A group of transmitting elements is selected from the type transducer T, and the transmission is performed, and the above-mentioned element group performs reception, and the first stage amplifier circuit 1
5, the reception delay circuit 16 performs reception focusing, the signal passes through the addition circuit 17 and the detection circuit 18, is A/D converted by the A/D converter 21, is written to the first memory 22, and is sent to the D/A converter 25. TV by D/A conversion
It is converted into a signal and displayed.

On the other hand, the local temperature and temperature distribution display and heating means are controlled by a first scan control circuit 11 that controls all scanning such as temperature distribution display, and a transmission delay circuit 12 that determines the deflection and focus point during transmission. via pulsa 13
The multiplexer 14 drives the output of the pulser 13 to determine which elements of the array type transducer T are to be grouped to form the transmitting element group Ta.
, the array type transducer T is excited to emit ultrasonic pulses, and the ultrasonic pulses are emitted into the living body. The transmitted beam radiated in this manner has strong directivity and its focus is controlled.

At the same time, the receiving gate is opened, and the multiplexer 14 selects a receiving element group Tb separated from the transmitting element group Ta of the array type transducer T by a predetermined distance, and the initial The weak signal is amplified by the amplifier circuit 15, and the deflection and focus point of the received signal are determined by the reception delay circuit 16. This results in a strong receiving beam. Reference numeral 17 is an addition circuit that adds the received signals, and 18 is a detection circuit that performs full-wave rectification and amplification of the received signal.

19 is a peak detector circuit that detects the highest position of the intersection between the transmitting beam and the receiving beam, and the length of the path from the transmitting transducer to the receiving transducer via the intersection is determined by the first signal control circuit 11 The peak point of the received waveform is detected by the peak detector circuit 19, which is known and described above, and the time from transmission until the peak point appears is measured, and the average speed of sound along that path is determined. When measuring the propagation time of sound waves along the above-mentioned route, in order to improve the accuracy of obtaining a value at a single intersection, it is necessary to repeat the transmission and reception many times and average the results to smooth the received waveform. is preferable.

The sound speed distribution is determined by sequentially calculating the average sound speed data obtained by scanning the array type transducer T described above. And the average sound speed Ci j is iJ t, 4: Measured time value from transmission to reception ib + jf
:Total path of crossed beams physically determined from transmitting point coordinates, receiving point coordinates, and deflection angle.Also, to measure the local sound speed, (i=1.2, 3...) Find it using simultaneous equations.

The arithmetic circuit 20 calculates the transmission time from transmission to reception, determines the average speed of sound along that route as described above, and calculates the speed of sound distribution from these data by sequential calculations. Then, in order to write it into memory, it is converted into digital data by an A/D converter 21. For example, a first memory 22 stores data before the start of treatment, and a second memory 23 constantly records data at the present time during the progress of heating treatment. Preparation, second memory 2
By subtracting the data recorded in the first memory 22 from the data recorded in 3, data is obtained in which only the changes in the sound velocity distribution are emphasized, and at the same time calculations are performed to convert the sound velocity into temperature. Second arithmetic circuit (subtraction).

Temperature conversion) 24, which determines the color classification according to the size of the data value, and converts the temperature change inside the treated object (living body) B in color via the D/A converter 15 which creates an output signal to the display device 26. etc. will be displayed.

As described above, a B-mode tomographic image is drawn by the array type transducer T brought into contact with the living body B, the position of the affected area C is confirmed, and the ultrasonic energy generating transducer 1 of the applicator 4 is applied to the affected area C.・・・・・・It transmits ultrasonic pulses for heating, but this transmission is
A repulsor 29 is driven by a signal from a second scan control circuit 28 similar to the scan control circuit 11, and the output of the pulser 29 drives the ultrasonic energy generating transducer 1.1. . . . by selecting which one to drive using the multiplexer 30. Then, as described above, the first scan control circuit 11 and the second scan control circuit 28 are linked to perform image rendering.

Temperature measurement and heating are controlled, but normally the first scan control circuit 11 and the second scan control circuit 28 determine the position of the affected area based on the image, the temperature state, and the ultrasonic pulse for heating that is emitted to the affected area C. It is preferable to drive both alternately in order to confirm whether the

As described above, heating ultrasonic pulses are transmitted to the affected area C from the ultrasonic energy generating transducers 1.1, and the ultrasonic pulses are the ultrasonic medium of the applicator 4. The water enters the subject B through the water bag 7, and at this time, the link mechanism 5 pivots and holds the applicators 4, 4° so that their focal points coincide with the affected area. Adjust the tilt or position of each of the applicators 4, 4, 4, .・・・・・・
... is recognized by the position detector 27,
As a result, the heating applicators 4, 4, 4.・・・・・・
The position of ... is displayed.

Next, a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 will be described. In this second embodiment, the same members or those having the same functions as those in the first embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a treatment housing filled with water, which is an ultrasonic coupling medium, and has an opening 32 at the top, and a flexible thin film 33 is provided in the top opening 32 .

A support arm 34 is attached to an arc-shaped frame 36 in the treatment housing 31 filled with water, and a plurality of (eight in this embodiment) transducers 35, 35 are attached to the support arm 34. ．． . . . is the connecting arm 37.37.
It can be installed via...

The plurality of transducers 35.35. The support arm 34 to which ... is attached is movable in the X, Y, and Z directions within the treatment housing 31 so that the transducer 35 obtains a desired scanning plane with respect to the living body B. These moving mechanisms are known per se; for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-3042
It is explained in detail in No. 3. In addition, the converter 3 described above
5.35.・・・・・・support arm 37.37°...
It is configured so that positioning can be performed by...

The plurality of converters 35, 35.・・・・・・
. . operates as a wave transmitting unit that transmits ultrasonic pulses and a wave receiving unit that receives pulses reflected from living body B, which is the subject to be treated, and includes a plurality of transducers 35° 35, .
... operates according to the selected order, emits ultrasonic waves, is received by the converter selected as the wave receiving section, measures the time from transmission to reception, and transmits ultrasonic waves to the transmitter or receiver. The above-mentioned time at the intersection of each transmitting beam and receiving beam is repeatedly measured by changing the position or angle, and the above-mentioned converter 35.35. . . . is selected by driving the pulser 38 and using the output of the pulsar 38 to select which converter 35 among the plurality of converters 35.35° . First scan control circuit 1
1, the multiplexer 14 excites the transducer 35 and transmits an ultrasound pulse to the upper opening 32 of the treatment housing 31 through the ultrasound coupling medium water.
enters the living body B, and the first scan control circuit 11
The received signal is amplified by the first stage amplifier circuit 15, passed through the detection circuit 18, converted into ^/D and written to the first memory, and further converted into D/D.
The A converter 25 converts the signal into a TV signal and displays a B mode image. On the other hand, the received waveform is amplified by the first-stage amplifier circuit 15, passed through the detection circuit 18, and the peak point of the received waveform is detected by the peak detector circuit 19, and the time from the transmission until the peak point appears is measured. Since the length of the path from transmission to reception via the intersection is known by the first scan control circuit 11, the first calculation circuit 20 calculates the transmission time of the ultrasonic pulse from transmission to reception, A/
A first memory 22 that stores data before the start of treatment and a second memory 2 that constantly records data at a certain point during the course of heating treatment, which are converted into digital data by a D converter 22.
3, and by subtracting the data recorded in the first memory 22 from the data recorded in the second memory 23, data is obtained in which the local area where the speed of sound has changed is emphasized, and at the same time, the speed of sound is converted into temperature. The second arithmetic circuit 24 further displays the temperature inside the living body B on a display device 26 via a D/A converter 25.

In this embodiment, for the heating treatment described above, the transducer 35.35° is attached to a frame 36 to which a support arm 34 is attached within the treatment housing 31.
Ultrasonic energy generating transducers 1.1- are attached via support rods so as to sandwich the transducer on both sides of the transducer;
The ultrasonic energy generation transducer 1. 1 is selectively driven via the multiplexer 30 to emit heating ultrasonic pulses, and the focused beam is emitted to the affected area C within the living body B. Made to move and adjust.

The ultrasonic energy generating transducer 1.1 and the plurality of transducers 35.35. . . . respective positions, angles, etc. are confirmed by a position detector 27.

According to this embodiment, the affected part of the living body B is diagnosed, the heating treatment is reliably performed on the affected part, and the heating is displayed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The ultrasonic heating treatment device according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving means for drawing a B-mode tomographic image, and is connected to the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving means to display the local temperature and temperature distribution of a treated object using a cross beam method. and an ultrasonic energy generating means for heating the object to be treated, the ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving means and each of the ultrasonic energy generating/receiving means having a structure such that they are focused on the same cross section. Therefore, you can always check the affected area by image, focus on it, and heat the affected area.
In addition, it is possible to know the temperature distribution, etc. of the heating state of the affected area in the body by looking at the temperature difference between before and during treatment, and it is possible to obtain important information in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. With conventional thermography, etc., only the temperature near the surface of a living body could be determined, but with the present invention, it has become possible to determine the temperature deep inside the living body non-invasively.

Further, the present invention has extremely excellent effects, such as being able to be used as a hyperthermia in-vivo temperature monitoring device, and furthermore, it can be expected to be clinically applied as a quantitative parameter in ultrasonic diagnostic methods.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the crossed beam method, FIGS. 2 to 4 show the first embodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are front views schematically showing the apparatus. FIG. 4 shows a block diagram. 5 to 7 show the second embodiment, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams showing the outline of the device.
The figure is a side view, FIG. 6 is a front view, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram. T, t: Array type transducer 7: Ultrasonic coupling medium 5: Connecting rod 6: Connecting rod 11.28 Niscan control circuit 1. l113.29
: Pulsar 14, 30: Multiplexer 12: Transmission delay circuit 16: Reception delay circuit 17: Addition circuit
18: Detection circuit 19: Peak detector circuit 20.24: Arithmetic circuit 21: A/D converter 2
5: D/A converter 27: Position detector 31:
Treatment housing 32: Opening 34: Support arm
35, 35: Converter 36: Frame Patent applicant Asahi Medical Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney Kenji Iwaki ゛+−−− Ichido Okinosa \,
・ Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4-55 Figure 6 Figure 7 Prisoner

Claims (1)

[Claims] an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving means for drawing a B-mode tomographic image; a means connected to the ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving means to measure and display the local temperature and temperature distribution of the treated object by a cross beam method; and heating of the treated object. a therapeutic ultrasonic energy generating means, wherein the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving means and the ultrasonic energy generating means are adjustable and have a structure to focus within the same tomographic plane of the object to be treated; An ultrasonic heating treatment apparatus characterized in that an acoustic coupling section is interposed between the ultrasonic energy generating means and the object to be treated.