JPS6370159A - Probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve a smaller size and a lighter weight of an electronic scan type ultrasonic probe for obtaining 3-D scan information, by rolling supporting a roller formed on a cylinder with several trains of array elements adjoining on a concentric circle on an object to be inspected. CONSTITUTION:Array elements A set in a train adjoining to a vibrator 1 are arranged to be adjacent to one another in several trains of cylinders. The array elements A are each retained with a packing material 5 and an acoustic matching layer 6 and an acoustic lens 7 adhere onto the circumference of the array element A and the packing material 5. A terminal is provided on the internal circumference of the packing material 5 corresponding to a vibrator 1 of each array element A to form a cylindrical roller R. The roller R thus obtained is supported with a cylindrical axle 10 in such a manner as to rotate over an object 4 to be inspected and the axle 10 is mounted on a case 2 with a fixing metal 12. Terminals are connected to a cable 3 corresponding to respective terminals of one train of array elements A one to one. The movement of a probe P during the scanning is performed by rolling the roller R.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an electronic scanning probe used in medical diagnostic equipment, industrial inspection equipment, etc. that utilizes ultrasonic waves, and particularly relates to an electronic scanning probe that is easy to scan. This is suitable for obtaining three-dimensional scanning information of an object.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional general electronic scanning probes are shown in Figures 4 to 6.
This will be explained with reference to the figures. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a rectangular piezoelectric vibrator, and a large number (several tens to hundreds) of them are arranged adjacent to the bottom surface 2Aa of the case 2A:O (for example, at a pitch of 1 m).
They are arranged in a row in a plane to form an array element A. PA is a probe consisting of array element A and case 2A;
3A is a cable connecting the probe P and the measuring device main body (not shown), and 4 is a test object. The subject 4 is a living body in the case of medical use, and is a solid made of various materials in the case of industrial use. When measuring with the probe PA, as shown in FIG. 5, the bottom part 2Aa is brought into contact with the object surface 4a,
When an ultrasonic pulse is applied to the array element A through the array element A, the array element A receives reflected waves from the subject 4 almost simultaneously, although it takes some electronic switching time because a large number of transducers are arranged in parallel. ^ However, if the arrangement direction of the transducer l is set to the X direction, the measurement information of the XZ plane shown by diagonal lines is displayed as a B scope image on the CRT etc. of the main body of the measuring device, and the measurement is performed without moving the probe PA. be exposed. However, in order to measure other parts of the subject 4 and obtain a C-scope image or a three-dimensional image, it is necessary to scan the probe PA not only in the Y direction but also in the X direction. However, the scanning of the probe PA requires very high accuracy in terms of speed, direction, etc., so the scanning device needs to use a scanning jig, making it larger, making it difficult to operate, and increasing the price. It has its drawbacks.

In order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, a probe pB shown in FIG. 6 has been proposed. This is because the probe PA shown in FIG. 4 has only one row of array elements A to obtain a one-dimensional B scope image in the XZ plane, but the array elements A are arranged in parallel on the bottom surface 2 A plurality of array elements A are arranged in a two-dimensional manner, and the plurality of array elements A can obtain B scope images almost simultaneously without touching the subject and moving them, as if the probe PA
The same measurement results as those obtained by scanning a certain distance in the Y direction are obtained. In this case, for an object whose area can be measured without contacting the probe PB and moving it, the inconvenience of the scanning failure like the probe PA described above can be solved; As the area of the subject becomes larger, the size of the slave PR increases, which poses the problem that it is not only difficult to handle, but also that the internal circuit configuration becomes increasingly complex. However, even if the dimensions of the probe P are set to a size that is not unwieldy, there are rare cases of objects that do not require scanning.
Since scanning is usually involved, the above-mentioned drawbacks of the probe PA are unavoidable, and in addition, the problem of complicating the circuit configuration is involved.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As mentioned above, conventional probes have drawbacks such as the use of jigs for scanning, which makes the device large and difficult to operate, as well as the fact that array elements are arranged two-dimensionally to reduce the scanning range. In this case, there is a problem that the size of the probe itself becomes larger and the circuit configuration becomes more complicated.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and provides a probe that is small and easy to handle, can be easily scanned without using a jig, and can obtain three-dimensional scanning information of a subject. The purpose is to provide.

[Failure to solve the problem]

The present invention provides a probe equipped with an array element in which a large number of rectangular piezoelectric vibrators are arranged adjacent to each other in a case, and in which a plurality of rows of the array elements are arranged concentrically. rollers arranged adjacent to each other in a cylindrical shape;
an axle that penetrates through the roller and is attached to the case and supports the roller via a bearing so that it can be moved over the subject; By providing terminals, and arranging terminals among the terminals that are sequentially connected in one-to-one correspondence with only each terminal in one row of the array element on the outer periphery of the axle,
This is a small, easy-to-handle, and easy-to-scan probe that can obtain three-dimensional scanning information of a subject.

[Effect]

When the probe is brought into contact with the subject and ultrasonic waves are applied, the inner peripheral surface of the roller of any one of the plurality of array elements arranged adjacently on concentric circles within the roller Since the terminals provided on the axle are connected one-to-one with the terminals provided on the outer periphery of the axle, a B-scope image of the subject at the contact position can be obtained. This is the same effect as in the conventional probe described above (see FIG. 5).

However, when the probe is then lightly pressed onto the subject and the roller is moved slightly without skidding, the roller rotates and the array element shifts one pitch on the concentric circle to the next array element. The terminal connects with the axle side terminal, and a B scope image at that position can be obtained. Thereafter, by rotating the roller in the same manner, scanning information of other parts of the subject can be obtained at each pitch on the concentric circle of the array element.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the same, Figure 1 (, ) is a side sectional view, Figure 1 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken from the side of Figure 1 (a), and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 (a). FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the front part and shows the scanning state. In the drawings, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 4 to 6 indicate the same parts. In the figure, an array element A in which vibrators 1 are arranged in adjacent rows is formed into a cylindrical shape with a plurality of rows arranged concentrically and adjacent to each other at a pitch p. Each array element A is held by a backing material 5, and each array element A
A sound #matching layer 6 is adhered to the outer periphery of the backing material 5, and an acoustic lens 7 is adhered in a layered manner to the outer periphery of the acoustic matching layer 6. Terminals 8 corresponding to each vibrator 1 of each array element A are provided on the inner periphery of the backing material 5. Of the electrodes 1a and 1b attached to the inner and outer surfaces of the vibrator 1, the electrode 1a and are connected to each other by electric wire 9. Note that the electrode 1b is for a common ground line, and in addition to the terminal 8 described above, a terminal 8 for the common ground line is provided. the plurality of rows of array elements A arranged in a cylindrical shape; a backing material 5; and an acoustic matching layer 6. A cylindrical roller R is formed by the acoustic lens 7 and the terminal 8 connected to the electrode 1a of the vibrator 1.
is configured. With this configuration, the width can be reduced to less than about 10 cm compared to a conventional probe in which array elements are arranged in a planar manner. Reference numeral 10 denotes an axle that supports the roller R on the case 2 via a bearing 11 so that it can be moved over the subject 4. The axle 10 has a cylindrical shape, and is inserted through the roller R and its both ends are fixed via the fixing fittings 12. It is removably attached to the case 2. Terminals 13 are provided on the outer periphery of the axle lO, and are connected in a one-to-one correspondence with only the terminals 8 of one row of array elements A among the plurality of rows of array elements A. It is connected to the cable 3 by an electric wire 14. Terminal 8 and terminal 13 are connected to the inner circumference of roller R and axle 10.
(in this embodiment, a space corresponding to the thickness of the bearing 11) formed between the bearing 11 and the outer periphery of the bearing 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the probe P having the above configuration is brought into contact with the object surface 4a (C) and ultrasonic waves are applied, the terminal 13 on the axle 10 side is connected to one of the rows of the rollers R. Since it is connected to the terminal 8 of the array element A (in this embodiment, the contact position is directly below and the row directly below), the B scope image of the subject 4 at that contact position is still in the X2 plane. information is obtained in the same way as with the conventional probe.Subsequently, the probe P is pressed onto the object surface 4a by 11γ and moved so that the roller R rotates by the pitch p without skidding. .Then, terminal 8 of array element A.
The terminal 13 connected to the array element A is now connected to the terminal 8 of the array element A, and information about the subject 4 at that position can be obtained. Hereinafter, in the surrounding plate, information on the X2 plane is obtained every time the roller R rotates by the pitch p, and this information is integrated to obtain scanning information on the XY plane.

Since the movement of the probe P during scanning is performed by rolling the roller R, the sliding resistance that conventionally existed between the probe and the object is changed to the resistance of the rollers. Miniaturization of child P 1
There is also a reduction in movement resistance due to the single molecular weight, making the probe P easier to handle and easier to scan. Therefore, it is possible to easily handle a large object with a long scanning distance by simply rolling the roller R without using a scanning jig or the like, with good scanning directionality. In addition, conventional probes with multiple array elements required approximately twice as many electrical circuits as the number of rows of array elements, but as mentioned above, only one row's worth of circuitry is required, which simplifies the configuration. This has the effect of downsizing not only the probe but also the overall configuration of the device. Note that the axle 10 is removably attached to the case 2 and can be easily removed from the roller R, so it can be used in combination with other shapes of rollers, such as non-flat rollers such as convex or sector shapes. It can also be used as a highly versatile probe.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the electrotaxis type probe according to the present invention includes a roller formed in a cylindrical shape with a plurality of rows of array elements arranged concentrically adjacent to each other, and a bearing that allows the roller to be transferred to a subject. An axle is provided to support the casen ζ through the roller, and as the roller rolls, it is connected in one-to-one correspondence to only one row of axles on the array element side provided on the inner circumference of the roller. Since the terminal is installed on the outer periphery of the axle, it is small, lightweight, and easy to handle, and can be easily scanned without using jigs, making it a practical device that can obtain three-dimensional scanning information of the subject. It has a remarkable effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 are explanatory diagrams of an embodiment of the probe according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 shows a sectional view thereof, FIG. 1(a) is a side sectional view, and FIG. 1(b) FIG. 1(a) is a sectional view taken along the line 1b-xb, FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the part shown in FIG. 1(a), and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a scanning state. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a conventional general probe, and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a conventional general probe.
Explanatory diagram for scanning using the probe shown in Figure 6.
The figure is an explanatory diagram of another example of a conventional probe.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a probe equipped with an array element in which a large number of rectangular piezoelectric vibrators are arranged adjacently and in parallel in a case, a plurality of rows of the array elements an axle that penetrates through the roller and is attached to the case and supports the roller via a bearing so that it can roll over the subject; A terminal is provided on the inner periphery of the roller corresponding to each vibrator of each array element, and one of the terminals of the array element is provided with a terminal corresponding to each vibrator of each array element.
A probe characterized in that terminals that are sequentially connected in one-to-one correspondence to only each terminal in a row are arranged on the outer periphery of the axle. 2. The probe according to claim 1, wherein the axle is detachably attached to the case. 3. Claim 1, wherein each terminal provided on the inner circumference of the roller and the outer circumference of the axle is disposed in a gap formed between the inner circumference of the roller and the outer circumference of the axle.
Probe described in section.