JP2008178518A - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique to disinfect an ultrasonic probe using vibrators. <P>SOLUTION: A probe 10 has a vibrator for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. A transmission section 12 outputs a transmission signal to vibrate the vibrator. An ultrasonic image generation section 16 generates an ultrasonic image on the basis of an ultrasonic reception signal acquired by a receiving section 14. In a high sound pressure transmission mode for disinfecting the probe 10 (a cleaning mode), a controller 20 controls the transmission section 12 to vibrate the vibrator. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for cleaning an ultrasonic probe.

  The ultrasonic probe is used, for example, with its transducer surface placed on the body surface of the subject. In some cases, an ultrasonic probe is inserted into the body of a subject. Therefore, the surface of the ultrasonic probe is required to be kept clean.

  Conventionally, an ultrasonic probe used for surgery or the like is used after it has been sufficiently sterilized with a disinfectant or the like. Of course, other ultrasonic probes are carefully sterilized by wiping them with a cloth or paper coated with a disinfectant or the like.

  Against this background, several techniques for cleaning the ultrasonic probe have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for disinfecting an ultrasonic probe by heating, and Patent Document 2 discloses a technique that uses an antibacterial member for a cover that accommodates an ultrasonic transducer. Is described.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-28207 JP-A-8-112284

  As described above, conventionally, several techniques for cleaning the ultrasonic probe have been proposed. Under such circumstances, the inventors of the present application have repeatedly researched and developed an improved technique for cleaning the ultrasonic probe.

  The present invention has been made in the course of research and development, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for disinfecting an ultrasonic probe using a vibrator.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a preferred aspect of the present invention outputs an ultrasonic probe including a transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and a transmission signal for vibrating the transducer. Transmission unit, reception unit for obtaining an ultrasonic reception signal output from the transducer, an image forming unit for forming an ultrasonic image based on the reception signal, and a transmission unit in a cleaning mode for disinfecting the ultrasonic probe And a control unit that vibrates the vibrator.

  In a preferred aspect, the control unit controls the transmission unit in a cleaning mode in which at least one of transmission power and transmission frequency is different from that in a normal inspection mode. In this aspect, the normal inspection mode is, for example, a B mode, an M mode, a Doppler mode, or the like. In the cleaning mode, for example, the transmission power is set higher than that in the normal inspection mode. That is, in the cleaning mode, for example, high sound pressure transmission with a high transmission signal power is executed. In the cleaning mode, the transmission power may be set higher than the normal inspection mode, and the transmission frequency may be set to the same level as the normal inspection mode or lower than the normal inspection mode.

  In a preferred aspect, the control unit controls the transmission unit in a cleaning mode corresponding to the ultrasonic probe.

  In a preferred aspect, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus forms a message image including a message indicating that the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is controlled in a cleaning mode.

  In a preferred aspect, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus restricts an input of a user operation when being controlled in a cleaning mode. In a preferred embodiment, a liquid containing microbubbles is applied to the ultrasonic probe, and the transmission unit is controlled in a cleaning mode having a higher transmission power than that in a normal inspection mode, whereby a high transmission power and the liquid can be controlled. It is characterized in that the cleaning effect is enhanced by this interaction.

  According to the present invention, a technique for disinfecting an ultrasonic probe using a vibrator is provided.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the overall configuration thereof.

  The probe 10 is an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave, and includes a vibrator including a plurality of vibration elements, for example. For example, the plurality of vibration elements are arranged in a line and electronically controlled to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves in a two-dimensional plane. In addition, ultrasonic waves may be transmitted and received three-dimensionally by arranging a plurality of vibration elements in a two-dimensional manner in a lattice form and being electronically controlled.

  The transmission unit 12 outputs a transmission signal corresponding to each of the plurality of vibration elements included in the probe 10. The transmission unit 12 applies a delay process or the like corresponding to the vibration element to the transmission signal of each vibration element. The transmission signal output from the transmission unit 12 is supplied to each vibration element of the probe 10. That is, the transmission unit 12 functions as a transmission beamformer, each vibration element vibrates in accordance with a transmission signal formed by the transmission unit 12, an ultrasonic transmission beam is formed, and scanning of the transmission beam is controlled.

  The reception unit 14 forms a reception beam based on reception signals obtained from a plurality of vibration elements included in the probe 10. The receiving unit 14 applies delay processing or the like corresponding to the vibration element to the reception signal of each vibration element, and adds the reception signals obtained from the plurality of vibration elements. That is, the reception unit 14 functions as a reception beam former, and forms reception beam data by performing phasing addition processing on reception signals output from a plurality of vibration elements.

  The ultrasonic image forming unit 16 forms image data of an ultrasonic image based on the received beam data formed in the receiving unit 14. For example, image data of a two-dimensional B-mode image is formed based on reception beam data obtained by two-dimensionally scanning an ultrasonic transmission beam. Of course, image data of a three-dimensional ultrasonic image may be formed based on received beam data obtained by three-dimensionally scanning an ultrasonic transmission beam. Further, image data such as a Doppler image may be formed as the image data.

  The display image forming unit 18 forms a display image based on the ultrasonic image (image data) formed in the ultrasonic image forming unit 16. The display image forming unit 18 forms a display image according to the apparatus state of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The display image formed in the display image forming unit 18 is displayed on the display unit 24.

  The operation panel 22 is an operation device that accepts user operations. The operation panel 22 is, for example, a trackball, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, or the like.

  The control unit 20 controls each unit in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. For example, the control unit 20 controls each unit in the apparatus in accordance with a user operation input via the operation panel 22. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a cleaning mode function for disinfecting the probe 10. For example, when the cleaning mode is selected by a user operation or the like, the control unit 20 controls each unit in the apparatus by a control process corresponding to the mode.

  The control unit 20 controls the transmission unit 12 in a cleaning mode for disinfecting the probe 10 to vibrate the vibrator in the probe 10, that is, a plurality of vibration elements. And the bacteria adhering to the surface of the probe 10, for example, a transmission / reception surface, are sterilized by the vibration. Although it is desirable to sterilize all bacteria attached to the surface of the probe 10, it is not always necessary to sterilize all bacteria. For example, by reducing the number of bacteria by vibration, the effect of suppressing the propagation and propagation of bacteria can also be expected. In addition, the effect of facilitating wiping by freeing attached bacteria from the transmitting and receiving surfaces can be expected.

  Further, a disinfectant may be applied to the probe 10 during the cleaning mode. Thereby, the cell membrane of bacteria is destroyed by vibration, the drug penetrates into the bacteria, and the bactericidal effect is further enhanced. The cleaning mode may be executed by immersing the probe 10 in a liquid or jelly-like medicine. In this case, for example, a medicine container corresponding to the shape of the probe 10 is used.

  Further, micro bubbles may be used in the cleaning mode. For example, the probe 10 is immersed in a liquid containing microbubbles, or a liquid containing microbubbles is applied to the probe 10, and the microbubbles are destroyed by vibrating the vibration element with a sound pressure that can destroy the microbubbles. Alternatively, bacteria may be sterilized using shock waves generated from the microbubbles due to destruction.

  The probe 10 may be sterilized by vibrating the vibrating element while the probe 10 is applied, or may be sterilized by vibrating the vibrating element while the probe 10 is immersed in water or the like.

  Next, the operation in the cleaning mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in FIG. 1 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the cleaning mode. Hereinafter, the processing content will be described for each step of the flowchart of FIG. In addition, about the part (structure) already shown in FIG. 1, the code | symbol of FIG. 1 is utilized also in the following description.

  For example, when the cleaning mode is selected by the user via the operation panel 22, the control unit 20 acquires probe information of the probe 10 (S201). The probe information is, for example, the type of probe (two-dimensional probe, three-dimensional probe, linear probe, convex probe) or the like. The probe information may be registered in advance in a memory in the apparatus or may be acquired from the probe 10.

  Furthermore, the control unit 20 selects parameters for disinfection (S202). The parameters for disinfection include, for example, data such as power of a transmission signal output from the transmission unit 12 to the probe 10, transmission duration (disinfection time), and frequency of the transmission signal. Depending on the disinfection conditions, a plurality of disinfection parameters may be prepared. For example, the time for disinfection when the medicine is applied to the probe 10 and the time for disinfection when the medicine is not applied may be prepared.

  When a parameter for disinfection is selected, the control unit 20 starts high sound pressure transmission according to the parameter (S203). That is, the vibration element is vibrated in the high sound pressure cleaning mode in which the power of the transmission signal is larger than in the normal B mode.

  When the transmission of the high sound pressure, that is, the vibration of the vibration element by the cleaning mode is started, the control unit 20 controls the display image forming unit 18 to display a message screen on the display unit 24 and accept the operation by the operation panel 22. Processing is restricted (S204). The message screen is an image including a message indicating that the message is controlled in the cleaning mode. Instead of displaying the message screen, the image displayed on the display unit 24 may be masked to notify the user that the cleaning mode is in progress.

  The control unit 20 counts the sterilization elapsed time B during the operation in the cleaning mode (S205), and further calculates a sterilization remaining time that is a difference between the sterilization time A and the sterilization elapsed time B (S206). The calculated disinfection remaining time may be displayed in a message screen, for example. Note that the sterilization time A is included in the sterilization parameters selected in S202.

  Then, the control unit 20 compares the sterilization elapsed time B with the sterilization site time A, and confirms whether or not the sterilization elapsed time has reached the sterilization site time (S207). If the sterilization elapsed time has not reached the sterilization time, the processing from S205 to S207 is repeatedly executed.

  When the sterilization elapsed time reaches the sterilization time, the control unit 20 ends the vibration of the vibration element in the high sound pressure transmission, that is, the cleaning mode (S208). Then, the display image forming unit 18 is controlled to erase the message screen on the display unit 24, and the restriction on the operation reception process by the operation panel 22 is released (S209). Thus, the cleaning mode operation by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is completed.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described, it becomes possible to keep the probe 10 still cleaner by embodiment mentioned above. Further, since the cleaning mode is executed in accordance with the parameters for sterilization, the reliability of the sterilization operation is improved as compared with, for example, the case where the probe 10 is sterilized by leaving to the discretion of the examiner. In consideration of the possibility that an inspector wipes the surface of the probe 10 by using cloth or paper to deteriorate the lens of the probe 10 or the like, the effect of extending the life of the probe 10 according to the present embodiment can be expected. .

  In addition, since high sound pressure transmission has already been realized as a contrast agent mode in diagnosis using a contrast agent, for example, the high sound pressure transmission in the contrast agent mode is applied to the cleaning mode, thereby improving a large-scale apparatus. The cleaning mode can be realized without the need for the above.

  The preferred embodiments and effects of the present invention described above are merely examples in all respects, and do not limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention includes various modifications without departing from the essence thereof.

1 is a functional block diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement at the time of cleaning mode.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Probe, 12 Transmission part, 14 Reception part, 16 Ultrasonic image formation part, 18 Display image formation part, 20 Control part, 22 Operation panel.

Claims (6)

An ultrasonic probe having a transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves;
A transmission unit that outputs a transmission signal for vibrating the vibrator;
A receiving unit for obtaining an ultrasonic reception signal output from the vibrator;
An image forming unit that forms an ultrasonic image based on the received signal;
A control unit that vibrates the vibrator by controlling the transmission unit in a cleaning mode for disinfecting the ultrasonic probe;
Having
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The control unit controls the transmission unit in a cleaning mode in which at least one of transmission power and transmission frequency is different compared to a normal inspection mode.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The control unit controls the transmission unit in a cleaning mode according to the ultrasonic probe;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
Forming a message image containing a message indicating that it is controlled in cleaning mode;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
Limit user input when controlled in cleaning mode,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
By applying a liquid containing microbubbles to the ultrasonic probe and controlling the transmission unit in a cleaning mode with a higher transmission power than in a normal inspection mode, the interaction between the high transmission power and the liquid is achieved. Enhance the cleaning effect,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

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