JPS63154169A - 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 the Invention The present invention relates to a mechanical sector-scanning ultrasonic probe used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for obtaining tomographic images of a living body using ultrasonic waves.

Conventional technology A mechanical sector scanning type ultrasound probe has one or more transducers mounted on a pedestal, and the pedestal is rotated in one direction through a power transmission mechanism driven by a motor. Alternatively, it can be rotated back and forth to obtain sector-shaped ultrasonic tomographic images. Hereinafter, a conventional mechanical sector scanning type ultrasonic probe will be explained with reference to FIG.

In the 4th @, 51 is a pedestal formed in the shape of a triangular prism, 5
2 is a transducer attached to each side of the pedestal 51; 53 is a pulley attached to the shaft 54 of the pedestal 51;
55 is a motor, 56 is a pulley attached to the output shaft 57 of the motor 55, and 58 is a belt hooked around the pulleys 53 and 56.

Next, the operation of the above conventional example will be explained.

The pedestal 51 is rotated by the drive of the motor 55 via the pulley 56, belt 58, and pulley 53, and the ultrasonic beam from the transducer 52 is scanned in sectors.

In the above conventional example, the entire transducer s 2 pedestal 51
Although three transducers 52 are attached and the ultrasonic beams are superimposed to obtain a tomographic image, some transducers 52 are attached with two or only one.

In the conventional example, in order to provide the transducer 52 with an ultrasonic focusing effect in any case, an acoustic lens is used in front of the piezoelectric vibrator, or the piezoelectric vibrator itself is formed into a concave shape.

Further, the focal length is determined by the shape of the acoustic lens or piezoelectric vibrator.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional configuration as described above, even when a plurality of transducers 52 are attached to the pedestal 51, each transducer 52 has the same focusing distance. . Therefore, in order to obtain high-resolution tomographic images of diagnostic regions at different distances, it is necessary to prepare multiple types of ultrasound probes, which is inconvenient for diagnosis.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an ultrasonic probe that can obtain high-resolution tomographic images of diagnostic regions at different distances with a single device, thereby facilitating diagnosis. .

Means for Solving the Problems and Technical Means of the present invention for solving the above problems include a rotationally driven pedestal, a pedestal attached to the pedestal, and a focal point of the emitted ultrasonic beam, respectively. It is equipped with a plurality of different transducers.

For production The effects of the above technical means are as follows.

That is, by selectively using a plurality of transducers, it is possible to obtain high-resolution tomographic images of diagnostic regions at different distances.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an ultrasonic probe in a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a pedestal formed in the shape of a triangular prism; 2.
3.4 are transducers mounted in holes 5 formed on each side of the pedestal 1. The shaft 6 of the pedestal 1 is linked to a shimotor (not shown) by a power transmission mechanism using a pulley and a belt, or a power transmission mechanism using gears, as in the conventional example.

Each transducer 2.3.4 is a planar piezoelectric vibrator 7
A concave acoustic lens 8 is attached to the front surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 7, and the pedestal 1 is attached to the hole 5 by a back load member 9 attached to the back surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 7. The acoustic lens 8 of each transducer 2.3.4 has a respective focusing distance (
curvature). Each acoustic lens 8 is generally made of a material close to the acoustic impedance of the subject (human body) or water, 1.5×10 6 N-S-3. Further, if the sound speed of the acoustic lens 8 is VL and the sound speed of water is VW, then when VL > VW, the acoustic lens 8 is of a concave shape as described above, and V L
(In the case of VW, the acoustic lens 8 has a convex shape.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit for selecting each transducer 2.3.4. In FIG. 2, 7 is a piezoelectric vibrator of each transducer 2.3.4, 10 is a transformer, 11 is a changeover switch, 12 is a changeover switch, and 13 is a diode.

By operating the changeover switches 12 and 11, each transducer 2.3.4 can be selectively operated.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

Q) Transducer 2.3 by the selection circuit as described above.
．． 4 selectively and rotating the pedestal 1 by driving the motor, it is possible to obtain a sector-type tomographic image with good resolution of a diagnostic region at a desired distance.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, each transformer shub 2.3.4 uses a concave piezoelectric vibrator 7 to focus the ultrasonic beam without using an acoustic lens. , each transducer 2.3.4 is set to have a different focusing distance from the piezoelectric vibrator 7,
The structure of the pond is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, since a plurality of transducers are attached to a rotatably driven pedestal with different focal points of the ultrasonic beams emitted from the pedestal, the plurality of transducers can be selectively used. By using this method, it is possible to obtain high-resolution tomographic images of diagnostic regions at different distances, thereby facilitating diagnosis.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 show an ultrasonic probe according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a selection circuit, and FIG. 3 is an ultrasonic probe according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A cross-sectional view showing the second embodiment,
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional ultrasound probe. 1...Pedestal, 2.3.4...Transducer, 7...Piezoelectric vibrator, 8...
Acoustic lens, 9. River... Back load material. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
Figure 1 Shiraki Figure 3 Figure 4 b

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) An ultrasonic probe comprising a rotationally driven pedestal and a plurality of transducers that are attached to the pedestal and each emit a different focal point of an ultrasonic beam. (2) The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein each transducer includes a planar piezoelectric vibrator and an acoustic lens attached to the front surface of the piezoelectric vibrator. (3) The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein each transducer includes a concave piezoelectric vibrator.