TWI790750B - Esophageal scanning system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is an esophagus scanning system, which shakes the user’s wall of the esophagus by the ultrasound acoustic radiation force, and obtains a dynamic elastic image of esophagus tissue, and then detects the tumor tissue.

Description

Esophageal Scanning System

The present invention relates to an esophagus scanning system, especially an esophagus scanning system which utilizes ultrasonic sound radiation force to test whether a patient suffers from Barrett's esophagus.

In the detection of early esophageal cancer, it is unlikely to have the opportunity to detect obvious symptoms of esophageal cancer, but the cause of patients with obvious symptoms, most of the reasons are swallowing problems. While some patients were found when they went to the hospital for other symptoms of tumor metastasis, only a very small number of people accidentally discovered esophageal cancer during physical examination or when they were checked for other diseases.

In the past, the diagnosis of esophageal cancer was not difficult clinically. The doctor would raise doubts and make reasonable assumptions based on the patient's chief complaint, relevant medical history, and physical examination, and then make further arrangements. check. In the past, the best tools for diagnosing esophageal diseases were endoscopy, esophageal contrast X-ray examination, chest X-ray photography, endoscopic ultrasound, etc., which are helpful for the establishment and correlation of esophageal cancer diagnosis. degree of judgment.

In addition, "Endoscopic Ultrasound" (Endoscopic Ultrasound, EUS) technology is currently a relatively advanced technology, which mainly installs an ultrasonic probe on the front end of the endoscope. In addition to observing the inside of the esophagus, EUS can also be used to The submucosal tissue structure can be observed immediately with sound waves, so that a more detailed understanding can be obtained of the depth of lesion invasion and the changes of tissues (including lymph nodes) near the esophagus. According to recent research, the accuracy rate of endoscopic ultrasound technology is indeed quite high, which is much higher than that of computerized tomography scans, which is only about 60% accurate for esophageal lesions. It is also very helpful for the stage of cancer and the decision of treatment in the future.

Moreover, "Barrett's esophagus" is a symptom of esophageal cell disease. Some patients with esophagitis and ulcers caused by reflux have different gastroesophageal junctions from others. In addition to abnormalities caused by inflammation, the epithelial tissue of the stomach and esophagus will also undergo changes, such as the original columnar epithelium extending upwards to replace the position of the squamous epithelium. , will be firmer than healthy breast tissue.

To sum up, at present, the medical field really needs an esophagus inspection system, which can be used to measure the softness and hardness of the wall tissue of the esophagus, detect abnormal tissues, and locate the location of abnormal tissues.

The present invention provides an esophagus scanning system, which is used to scan the user's esophagus. It can detect the softness and hardness of the esophagus when the wall of the esophagus is vibrated by the ultrasonic sound radiation force, so as to know whether there is a lesion. The stress-strain Young's coefficient of the detected esophagus is an average value, and the value of the hard block can be obtained from the stress-strain Young's coefficient. If there is a hard block, it can be identified as a lesion, and it can be diagnosed. Locate the location of early lesion.

An embodiment of an esophageal scanning system according to the present invention includes: a signal unit, a switching unit, a receiving unit, a control unit, an analyzing unit and an ultrasonic detector.

The signal unit of the esophageal scanning system of the present invention is used to generate and amplify ultrasonic waves.

In the esophagus scanning system of the present invention, the switching unit is electrically connected to the signal unit, and is used for switching the emission of the ultrasonic sound radiation force, or receiving the Young's coefficient of stress and strain.

The receiving unit of the esophageal scanning system of the present invention is electrically connected to the switching unit.

The control unit of the esophageal scanning system of the present invention is electrically connected to the signal unit, the switching unit and the receiving unit.

An ultrasonic detector of the esophageal scanning system of the present invention is electrically connected to the switching unit and the signal unit, the ultrasonic detector receives the ultrasonic wave to generate and emit ultrasonic sound radiation force, or receives the stress strain Yang coefficient.

And, an analysis unit of an esophageal scanning system of the present invention is electrically connected to the receiving unit and the control unit.

Wherein, the control unit of the esophageal scanning system of the present invention controls the signal unit to generate and amplify the ultrasonic wave, and controls the switching unit to emit the ultrasonic sound radiation force or receive the stress-strain Young's modulus.

The switching unit of an esophageal scanning system of the present invention receives the stress-strain Young's coefficient and transmits it to the receiving unit, and the control unit controls the receiving unit to receive and calculate the stress-strain Young's coefficient to generate calculation data, and the analysis unit The computing data is received and analyzed to generate an image.

The ultrasonic probe of the esophageal scanning system of the present invention penetrates into the esophagus of the user, and emits the ultrasonic sound radiation force to vibrate the tube wall of the esophagus to cause displacement of the tube wall tissue (also called Make the point to be measured fluctuate), obtain the dynamic elastic image of the tissue of the esophagus, detect the stress-strain Young's coefficient of the tube wall by the ultrasonic detector, and then detect the tumor.

According to another embodiment of the esophagus scanning system of the present invention, the ultrasonic probe further includes: a balloon, wherein the balloon is filled with water, and the ultrasonic probe emits the ultrasonic sound radiation force through the balloon Water is used as a medium to vibrate the tube wall of the esophagus, and the stress-strain Young's modulus of the tube wall is detected by the ultrasonic detector.

According to another embodiment of the esophageal scanning system of the present invention, the ultrasonic detector further includes: a low-frequency generating unit connected to the signal unit for generating sound wave energy; a high-frequency generating unit connected to the signal unit, It is used to receive image signals; the transmitting probe is used to transmit the ultrasonic sound radiation force or connect the stress-strain Young's coefficient, which is connected to the switching unit; and the pulse/receiving unit is connected to the transmitting probe and the switching unit The switching unit controls the pulse/receiving unit to switch the emitting probe to emit the ultrasonic sound radiation force, or receive the stress-strain Young's modulus.

According to another embodiment of the esophagus scanning system of the present invention, the low frequency generating unit and the high frequency generating unit are a piezoelectric material.

According to another embodiment of an esophageal scanning system of the present invention, wherein the analysis unit evaluates the elastography function of the tube wall and tissue by ultrasonic sound radiation elastography, and uses a convolutional neural network to determine the benign/malignant tumor Perform calculations and build deep learning diagnostic models.

According to another embodiment of an esophageal scanning system of the present invention, the pulse/receiving unit transmits the pulse of the ultrasonic sound radiation force to obtain the quantitative elasticity and viscosity of the esophagus, so as to calculate the shear wave and guided wave .

According to another embodiment of the esophageal scanning system of the present invention, the ultrasonic detector further includes a rotating unit, which is connected to the transmitting probe and the pulse/receiving unit, wherein the transmitting probe is rotated by the The unit is rotated to capture the stress-strain Young's coefficient of the esophagus rotation, and the analysis unit generates the image of the esophagus rotation.

According to another embodiment of the esophageal scanning system of the present invention, the ultrasonic detector further includes a protection rod connected to the rotating unit, the low frequency generating unit, and the high frequency generating unit.

According to another embodiment of the esophageal scanning system of the present invention, the ultrasonic detector further includes a cover, and the cover covers the protective rod, the low-voltage generator, and the high-frequency generator.

Based on the foregoing, when the present invention utilizes the pulse of ultrasonic sound radiation force to replace the current defect that doctors have to apply slight pressure to the tissue, the ultrasonic diffuser is used to cause the displacement of the esophageal tissue, and then, after absorbing the energy, the tissue of the esophagus is obtained. Dynamic Elastic Image.

The present invention can excite the shear wave elastography by encoding, utilize the shear wave to have different wave speeds in various media, and the wave speed changes with the softness and hardness of the media, and measure the quantitative elasticity of the esophagus.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be cited, and further detailed description will be made in conjunction with the drawings as follows: First, please refer to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an esophageal scanning system according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram (similar to a cartoon diagram) for sensing by an ultrasonic detector according to the present invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the esophageal scanning system of the present invention, an esophageal scanning system 100 of the present invention shown in Figure 1 is used for sensing with the ultrasonic detector of the present invention as shown in Figure 2 (like a cartoon diagram) ), shown in Fig. 2 is to scan the esophagus E of the user U with the present invention, and the esophagus scanning system 100 shown in Fig. 1 includes: signal unit 102, switching unit 104, receiving unit 106, control unit 108, analysis unit 110, and an ultrasonic detector 120.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the esophageal scanning system of the present invention. An esophageal scanning system 100 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 , and the signal unit 102 shown therein is used to generate and amplify ultrasound S.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the esophageal scanning system of the present invention, an esophageal scanning system 100 of the present invention shown in Figure 1, wherein the switching unit 104 shown in the figure is electrically connected to the signal unit 102, the control unit 108, and the receiving unit 106 , and the ultrasonic detector 120. The switching unit 104 is used to switch the ultrasonic detector 120 to emit ultrasonic acoustic radiation force (ultrasound acoustic radiation force), or to receive Young's modulus of stress (Stress) and strain (Strain).

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the esophagus scanning system of the present invention. An esophagus scanning system 100 of the present invention is shown in FIG. Wherein the ultrasonic detector 120 receives the ultrasonic wave S to generate and transmit the ultrasonic acoustic radiation force UA, or receive the Young's coefficient C of stress and strain.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the esophagus scanning system of the present invention. An esophagus scanning system 100 of the present invention is shown in FIG.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the esophageal scanning system of the present invention, an esophageal scanning system 100 of the present invention shown in Fig. 1, wherein the control unit 108 shown in the figure can control the signal unit 102 to generate and amplify the ultrasonic wave S, and The control switching unit 104 emits the ultrasonic sound radiation force UA, or receives the stress-strain Young's modulus C.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the esophagus scanning system of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, an esophagus scanning system 100 of the present invention, wherein the switching unit 104 shown in the figure receives the stress-strain Young's coefficient C and transmits it to the receiving unit 106 , and the aforementioned control unit 108 can control the receiving unit 106 to receive and calculate the stress-strain Young's coefficient C to generate the calculated data D, and the aforementioned analysis unit 110 receives and analyzes the calculated data D to generate the image I.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the esophagus scanning system of the present invention, an esophagus scanning system 100 of the present invention shown in Figure 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe 120 shown in Figure 2 can go deep into the esophagus of user U shown in Figure 2 , and emit ultrasonic sound radiation force UA to vibrate the tube wall P of the esophagus E, causing the tissue of the tube wall P to displace, and obtain the dynamic elastic image of the tube wall P tissue of the esophagus E, through the ultrasonic detection The device 120 detects the stress-strain Young's coefficient C of the tube wall P, and then detects the tumor T.

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic detector of the present invention. The ultrasonic probe 120 includes a balloon B filled with water W, which acts as a medium for the acoustic radiation force UA. And when the ultrasonic detector 120 emits the ultrasonic sound radiation force UA, the water W in the balloon B can be used as the conduction medium to vibrate the tube wall P of the esophagus E to cause displacement of the tube wall tissue (also called make the point to be measured fluctuate); moreover, the ultrasonic detector 120 detects the stress-strain Young's modulus E of the pipe wall P.

Please refer to the ultrasonic probe schematic diagram of the present invention of Fig. 3 again, wherein the ultrasonic probe 120 shown includes the following: low frequency generating unit 121, high frequency generating unit 122, transmitting probe (microprobe) 124, and pulse A pulser/receiver 125, and a housing 128 positioned between the base and the handle, the arm 128 can provide protection for the aforementioned components.

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic detector of the present invention, in which the low-frequency generating unit 121 and the high-frequency generating unit 122 are arranged to overlap. The low-frequency generating unit 121 is electrically connected to the signal unit 102 and is used to generate sound wave energy eA.

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic detector of the present invention, in which the high-frequency generating unit 122 is electrically connected to the signal unit 102 for receiving the image signal Sv. Wherein the low frequency generating unit 121 and the high frequency generating unit 122 are piezoelectric materials.

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic detector of the present invention, in which the emitting probe 124 is electrically connected to the switching unit 104 . The transmitting probe 124 is used to transmit the ultrasonic radiation force UA or receive the stress-strain Young's modulus E.

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic detector of the present invention, in which the pulse/receive unit 125 is electrically connected to the transmitting probe 124 and the switching unit 104 .

Please refer to the schematic diagram of the ultrasonic detector of the present invention in Fig. 3, wherein the switching unit 104 shown controls the pulse/receiving unit 125 to switch the transmitting probe 124 so as to emit the ultrasonic sound radiation force UA, or receive the stress-strain Young's Coefficient E.

In summary, the ultrasonic detector of the present invention includes: a low-frequency generating unit 121, which is used to generate sound wave energy, and is connected to the signal unit 102; a high-frequency generating unit 122, which is used to receive image signals, and is connected to the signal unit 102; The transmitting probe 124 is used to transmit the ultrasonic sound radiation force or the young's coefficient of the contact stress and strain, which is connected to the switching unit 104; the pulse/receiving unit 125 is connected to the transmitting probe 124 and the switching unit 104, and the switching unit 104 controls the pulse /receiving unit 125 to switch the transmitting probe 124 to transmit the ultrasonic sound radiation force, or receive the stress-strain Young's modulus; and an arm 128 positioned between the base and the handle, which provides protection Functions for plural components.

Please refer to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 (comic-like diagram), wherein the analysis unit 110 uses ultrasonic acoustic radiation elastography technology to evaluate the ultrasonic acoustic radiation elastography function (ultrasound acoustic elastography) of the esophagus E tube wall P tissue radiation force elastic imaging technology), and improve the resolution of esophagus images.

Please refer to the schematic diagram of the ultrasonic detector of the present invention in FIG. 3 , where the pulse/receiving unit 125 shown can emit pulses of the ultrasonic sound radiation force UA to obtain the quantitative elasticity and viscosity values of the esophagus E (quantitative elasticity and viscosity values ), to calculate shear waves and guided waves.

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic detector of the present invention, wherein the ultrasonic detector 120 of the present invention includes a rotating unit 126 .

The rotating unit 126 (not shown in FIG. 3 ) is connected to the transmitting probe 124 shown in FIG. 3 of the present invention and the pulse/receiving unit 125, wherein the transmitting probe 124 is rotated by the rotating unit 126 to capture the esophagus. E rotation stress-strain Young's modulus C.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the esophagus scanning system of the present invention. Fig. 1 shows an esophagus scanning system 100 of the present invention, wherein the analysis unit 110 shown in the figure can generate the image I of the esophagus E rotating.

Please refer to FIG. 3 which is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic detector of the present invention, wherein the ultrasonic detector 120 shown therein includes two protection rods 127, and the protection rods 127 are arranged in parallel. The protection rod 127 is connected to the rotating unit 126 , connected to the low frequency generating unit 121 , and connected to the high frequency generating unit 122 .

Please refer to FIG. 3 which is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic detector of the present invention, wherein the ultrasonic detector 120 shown therein includes a cover 128 . The cover 128 covers the protection bar 127 , the low frequency generator 121 , and the high frequency generator 122 .

In addition, the present invention can have two measurement modes:

As mentioned above, the first measurement mode is a photoacoustic image endoscopy mode:

In the aforementioned FIG. 1 , the ultrasonic detector 120 is used to excite the signal to make the point to be measured fluctuate, and then the ultrasonic emitting probe 124 is used to receive the signal, so as to calculate the shear wave and the guided wave.

The second measurement mode is an ultrasonic endoscope mode:

In the foregoing Fig. 1, the low-frequency generating unit 121 of the ultrasonic detector 120 is replaced by laser light (not shown in the figure) (the low-frequency generating unit 121 belongs to the ultrasonic detector 120), and the laser light 521 is used for excitation The signal causes the point to be measured to fluctuate, and then the ultrasonic probe 124 receives the signal, so as to calculate the shear wave and guided wave.

To sum up, the esophagus scanning system of the present invention is used to scan the user's esophagus, and the present invention uses a convolutional neural network (convolutional neural network) algorithm to calculate the benignity/malignancy of the tumor T and establish Deep learning diagnostic model to improve the speed and accuracy of medical ultrasound diagnosis. Furthermore, the present invention develops an ultrasonic micro-probe flexible imaging technology (ultrasound micro-probe flexible imaging technology), which utilizes ultrasonic acoustic radiation force elastography to evaluate the tissue elastography function. In addition, the present invention uses convolutional neural network technology to calculate the benign/malignant effects of Barrett's esophageal tumors, establishes a deep learning diagnostic model, and provides a complete evaluation plan for preventive medicine of esophageal tumors.

The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the patent scope of the present invention; all other equivalent changes or modifications that do not deviate from the spirit disclosed in the present invention should be included in the following within the scope of the patent application.

100: Esophagus Scanning System

102:Signal unit

104:Switch unit

106: Receiving unit

108: Control unit

110: Analysis unit

120:Ultrasonic detector

121: Low frequency generating unit

122: High frequency generating unit

124:Launch probe

125: Pulse/receiving unit

126:Rotary unit

127: Protection Rod

128: cover

B: balloon

C: Young's modulus of stress and strain

D: Computing data

E: Esophagus

e _A : Acoustic energy

I: Image

U: user

UA: Ultrasonic Acoustic Radiation Force

P: pipe wall

S: Ultrasonic

S _v : video signal

T: Tumor

W: water

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an esophagus scanning system according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram (cartoon-like) for sensing by the ultrasonic detector according to the present invention. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic detector according to the present invention.

100:Esophageal scanning system

102:Signal unit

104:Switch unit

106: Receiving unit

108: Control unit

110: Analysis unit

120:Ultrasonic detector

C: Young's modulus of stress and strain

D: Computing data

I: Image

UA: Ultrasonic Acoustic Radiation Force

S: Ultrasonic

Claims (11)

An esophageal scanning system is used to scan a user's esophagus, at least comprising: a signal unit for generating and amplifying an ultrasonic wave; a switching unit electrically connected to the signal unit for switching and emitting an ultrasonic wave Sound wave sound radiation force, or receive a stress-strain Young's coefficient; a receiving unit, which is electrically connected to the switching unit; a control unit, which is electrically connected to the signal unit, the switching unit, and the receiving unit; an ultrasonic detector , which is electrically connected to the switching unit and the signal unit, wherein the ultrasonic detector receives the ultrasonic wave to generate and emit the ultrasonic sound radiation force, or receives the stress-strain Young’s modulus; and an analysis unit, which is The receiving unit is electrically connected with the control unit; the ultrasonic detector detects the stress-strain Young's coefficient of the tube wall, and then detects a tumor. The esophagus scanning system as claimed in item 1, wherein the ultrasonic detector includes: a low-frequency generating unit, which is used to generate sound wave energy, connected to a signal unit; a high-frequency generating unit, which is used to receive an image signal, connected to the signal unit; a transmitting probe, used to transmit an ultrasonic sound radiation force or connected to a stress-strain Young's modulus, which is connected to a switching unit; a pulse/receiving unit, connected to the transmitting probe and the switching unit, The switching unit controls the pulse/receiving unit to switch the emitting probe to emit the ultrasonic sound radiation force, or receive the stress-strain Young's modulus; and An arm positioned between a base and a handle provides a function of protecting the plurality of components. The esophageal scanning system according to claim 2, wherein the pulse/receiving unit transmits the pulse of the ultrasonic sound radiation force to obtain a quantitative elasticity of the esophagus and a viscosity value. The esophageal scanning system according to claim 2, wherein the low-frequency generating unit and the high-frequency generating unit comprise a piezoelectric material. The esophagus scanning system according to claim 2, wherein the low frequency generating unit further includes a laser light. The esophagus scanning system as claimed in item 1, wherein the ultrasonic detector further includes a balloon, wherein the balloon is filled with water, and the ultrasonic detector emits the ultrasonic sound radiation through the water in the balloon as a medium , to vibrate the tube wall of the esophagus, and detect the stress-strain Young's modulus of the tube wall by the ultrasonic detector. The esophagus scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe further includes a rotating unit, which is connected to the transmitting probe and a pulse/receiving unit, wherein one transmitting probe is rotated by one of the rotating units , to extract a stress-strain Young's coefficient of the esophagus rotation, the analysis unit generates the image of the esophagus rotation. The esophageal scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe further includes a protective rod, and the protective rod is connected to a rotating unit, connected to a low-frequency generating unit, and connected to a high-frequency generating unit. The esophagus scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic detector further includes a cover, and the cover covers a protective rod, a low-frequency generator, and a high-frequency generator. The esophagus scanning system according to claim 2, wherein the ultrasonic detector further includes a laser light. The esophagus scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the analysis unit evaluates the elastography function of the tube wall and the tissue by ultrasonic sound radiation elastography, and uses a convolutional neural network to calculate the benignity/malignancy of the tumor .

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