JPH0519049Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe equipped with a phased array transducer that scans ultrasonic waves in sectors.

(b) Conventional technology and its problems Conventionally, this type of ultrasound probe has been able to obtain a single fan-shaped tomographic image by sector-scanning ultrasonic waves, without being affected by ribs, etc. Since the inside of the body can be observed through a small acoustic window, it is widely used for heart examinations, etc.

By the way, if you want to observe tomographic images in different directions using this sector-scanning ultrasound probe, conventionally you have to manually rotate the entire ultrasound probe to change its orientation. ing. However, with such manual operations, it is not possible to subtly change the direction of ultrasonic wave transmission and reception. In practice, it is extremely difficult to perform detailed operations when observing arbitrary tomographic images.

The present invention was developed in view of these circumstances, and the ultrasonic probe itself remains fixed without moving relative to the subject, and any arbitrary object included in the rotating body of the sector scanning plane is In particular, in cardiac diagnosis, by making it possible to obtain tomograms with a predetermined time phase and angle after a certain period of time in synchronization with electrocardiogram signals, more accurate diagnosis can be made. The purpose is to

(c) Means for solving the problem In order to achieve the above object, the present invention incorporates a rotational drive mechanism for rotationally driving the phased array transducer, and also includes an operation switch for rotationally driving the rotational drive mechanism. and a control unit to which both the rotation drive operation signal and the electrocardiogram signal from the operation switch are input, and the control unit rotates the rotation drive in synchronization with the electrocardiogram signal under the input state of the rotation drive operation signal. The structure is such that the mechanism is controlled to rotate the vibrator.

(d) Effects In the ultrasound probe of the present invention, when an electrocardiogram signal is simultaneously input to the control unit while a rotation drive operation signal from the operation switch is input to the control unit, the control unit will: The rotational drive mechanism is controlled in synchronization with this electrocardiogram signal to rotationally drive the ultrasound transducer.
Therefore, a tomographic image having a predetermined time phase and angle after a certain period of time can be stably obtained in synchronization with the electrocardiogram signal.

(E) Embodiment FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of the ultrasonic probe. In these figures, numeral 1 is an ultrasonic probe, 2 is a phased array transducer that scans ultrasonic waves in sectors, 4 is a backing layer provided on the back of the phased array transducer 2, and 6 is a backing layer 4 fixed by adhesive. It is a mounting bracket.
This fixture 6 is rotatably held by a bearing 10 fitted into a cylindrical probe case 8. Reference numeral 12 denotes a stepping motor constituting a rotational drive mechanism built into the upper part of the probe case 8, and its drive shaft 14 is connected to the above-mentioned fixture 6. The maximum rotation angle of the fixture 6 is 180° in this example.
is set to . Note that 16 is a transmission cable for transmitting and receiving waves for the phased array vibrator 2, 18 is a control cable for the stepping motor 12, and 20 is a motor operation switch.

Therefore, in the ultrasonic probe 1 of this embodiment, when the operation switch 20 is turned on and the stepping motor 12 is driven, the phased array transducer 2 rotates around the axis O of the drive shaft 14. , by exciting and driving the phased array transducer 2 in accordance with the rotation to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, it is possible to obtain any tomographic image included in the rotating body A in the sector scanning plane, as shown in FIG. .

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which this ultrasonic probe is applied.

The electrocardiogram signal (ECG) is sent to the electrocardiogram signal processing section 30.
When the electrocardiogram signal processing unit 30 generates an electrocardiogram synchronization pulse triggered by the R wave of the electrocardiogram signal, this electrocardiogram synchronization pulse is input to the control unit (CPU) 32. At this time, if a motor operation signal is input from the motor operation switch 20 to the control section 32 via the control cable 18, the control section 32 outputs a signal from the control cable 18.
A stepping pulse is applied to the stepping motor 12 via 8, thereby causing the stepping motor 12 to rotate through a predetermined step angle.
In parallel with this, an excitation pulse is applied from the control unit 32 to the phased array transducer 2 via the transmission cable 16 to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves. The echo signal obtained by the phased array transducer 2 is amplified and detected by an analog processing section 34, and then digitized by an A/D converter 36.
Since the multiplexer 38 is given a selection signal synchronized with the stepping pulse from the control unit 32, the echo signal data from the A/D converter 36 is sent to the predetermined frame memories 40, 40, . . . selected by the multiplexer 38. Each is stored in... When reading echo signal data, the control unit 32 provides the day multiplexer 42 with a select signal according to the display mode (for example, a mode in which all stored contents are displayed simultaneously). Each selected frame memory 40,4
From 0, .
6 is output. As a result, arbitrary tomographic images having different directions according to the rotation of the stepping motor 12 can be displayed on the CRT monitor 46.

(f) Effects As described above, according to the present invention, any tomographic image included in the rotating body of the sector scanning plane can be obtained. Therefore, for example, in cardiac diagnosis, it is possible to observe a tomographic image at a predetermined time phase and angle after a certain period of time in synchronization with an electrocardiogram signal (ECG). Furthermore, by storing each diagnostic image in a memory, three-dimensional information can be obtained, which provides excellent effects such as making it easier to understand the movement of the heart than in the past.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of the ultrasonic probe, and Fig. 3 is an ultrasonic probe of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which the DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Ultrasonic probe, 2... Phased array transducer, 6... Mounting tool, 12... Rotation drive mechanism (stepping motor).

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] An ultrasonic probe equipped with a phased array transducer for sector-scanning ultrasonic waves, which includes a built-in rotational drive mechanism for rotationally driving the phased array transducer, and a rotary drive mechanism for rotationally driving the rotational drive mechanism. and a control section into which both the rotary drive operation signal and the electrocardiogram signal from the operation switch are input, and the control section synchronizes with the electrocardiogram signal under the input state of the rotation drive operation signal. An ultrasonic probe characterized in that the transducer is rotationally driven by controlling a rotational drive mechanism.