JP6300618B2 - Acoustic matching body, probe attachment, ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an acoustic matching body, a probe attachment, an ultrasonic probe, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that ensure acoustic matching between an ultrasonic probe and a subject.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic probe to a subject, and generates and displays an ultrasonic image based on the echo signal. Transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves is performed with the ultrasonic probe in contact with the surface of the subject.

  If there is a discontinuity in the acoustic impedance (impedance) between the ultrasonic probe and the surface of the subject, for example, the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic probe is reflected by the air layer. . Therefore, in order to eliminate acoustic impedance discontinuity between the ultrasonic probe and the surface of the subject and ensure acoustic matching, an ultrasonic inspection gel is provided between the ultrasonic probe and the surface of the subject. (Gel) is applied (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This gel is formed of a material having an acoustic impedance close to that of the subject. Since gel is interposed between the ultrasonic probe and the surface of the subject, air is prevented from entering between the ultrasonic probe and the surface of the subject, so that acoustic matching can be ensured. it can.

Japanese Patent No. 5154280

  However, when the inspection is finished, the operator needs to wipe off the gel. Since an appropriate amount of gel is applied in order to ensure adhesion between the ultrasonic probe and the surface of the subject, it takes time to wipe the gel. For example, in the field of orthopedics, a plurality of parts such as elbows, wrists, and palms may be inspected. As described above, when there are a plurality of inspection parts, it is necessary to apply a gel to each inspection part and wipe it off after the inspection. Moreover, in places where a quick inspection is necessary, such as a disaster area, it is not quick to apply gel one by one. In addition, when the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used outside a hospital such as outdoors, it is necessary to carry the gel.

  Therefore, it is required to ensure acoustic matching between the ultrasonic probe and the subject without using a gel.

  One aspect of the invention made in order to solve the above-described problem is an acoustic matching body attached to an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, and the ultrasonic probe is attached to the ultrasonic probe. A solid surface having a first surface that is in close contact with the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception surface and a second surface that is in contact with a subject to be ultrasonic wave transmission / reception by the ultrasonic probe. A material that is applied to the surface of the subject by friction upon contact with the subject on the second surface, and is formed of a material that ensures acoustic matching between the ultrasonic probe and the subject. It is an acoustic matching body characterized by being.

  The acoustic matching body according to the first aspect of the invention is attached to the ultrasonic probe such that the first surface is in close contact with the transmission / reception surface of the ultrasonic probe, and the second surface is connected to the subject. Contact. And since the said acoustic matching body contacts the said subject and is apply | coated to the surface of the said subject by friction, air does not enter between the surfaces of a subject. Moreover, the acoustic matching body is made of a material having acoustic matching properties. Therefore, acoustic matching between the ultrasonic probe and the subject can be ensured without using a gel.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device in embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the ultrasonic probe in embodiment of this invention, and the probe attachment in embodiment of this invention attached to this ultrasonic probe. It is an enlarged front view which shows an acoustic matching body and a housing | casing housing | casing among the probe attachments shown by FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3. It is an AA line expanded sectional view of FIG. It is a front view which shows the probe attachment of the state in which the cover was attached to the accommodating housing | casing. It is a front view which shows the ultrasonic probe with which the probe attachment of the state to which the cover was attached was attached. It is a figure which shows the probe attachment of the state put into the bag. It is a figure which shows the state which made the 2nd surface of the acoustic matching body contact the surface of a subject. It is a figure which shows the state in which a part of solid substance which comprises an acoustic matching body adhered to the surface of the subject.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an acoustic matching body, a probe attachment, an ultrasonic probe, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention will be described. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an ultrasonic probe 2, a transmission / reception beam former 3, an echo data processing unit 4, a display processing unit 5, a display unit 6, an operation unit 7, a control unit 8, and a storage unit 9. The ultrasonic probe 2 is connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 1a. In this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 1a, a transmission / reception beamformer 3, an echo data processing unit 4, a display processing unit 5, a display unit 6, an operation unit 7, a control unit 8, and a storage unit 9 are provided.

  The ultrasonic probe 2 has a known configuration and includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (not shown) arranged in an array. The ultrasonic transducer transmits ultrasonic waves to the subject and receives the echo signal. The ultrasonic probe 2 has an acoustic lens (lens) formed of silicone or the like, and this acoustic lens has an ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 2a (see FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 2, a probe attachment 100 is detachably attached to the ultrasonic probe 2 at an end portion on the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 2a side. The probe attachment 100 includes an acoustic matching body 101, a housing 102, and a cover 103. The acoustic matching body 101 is attached to the ultrasonic probe 2 via the housing 102.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to 5, the acoustic matching body 101 is made of a solid material 106 having a first surface 104 and a second surface 105. The first surface 104 is a surface that is in close contact with the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 2 a of the ultrasonic probe 2 in a state where the acoustic matching body 101 is attached to the ultrasonic probe 2. Here, the ultrasonic probe 2 shown in FIG. 2 is a convex probe, and the transmitting / receiving surface 2a is a convex curved surface having a required curvature. Therefore, the first surface 104 is a concave curved surface having the same curvature as the transmitting / receiving surface 2a.

  The second surface 105 is a surface that comes into contact with an object to be transmitted / received by the ultrasonic probe 2. The second surface 105 is a convex curved surface. In the figure, the second surface 105 is a curved surface having the same curvature as the transmitting / receiving surface 2a.

  The solid material 106 is formed of a material that contacts the subject such as a living body and is applied to the surface of the subject by friction on the second surface 105. The solid material 106 has a required hardness and viscosity like a solid lip balm, and a part of the second surface 105 is peeled off by friction with the subject and applied to the surface of the subject. It is made of a material.

  The solid material 106 is made of a material that ensures acoustic matching between the ultrasonic probe 2 and the subject. Specifically, the solid object 106 is made of a material having an acoustic impedance that is the same as or similar to the acoustic impedance of a subject such as a living tissue. The fact that the acoustic matching between the ultrasonic probe 2 and the subject is ensured means that there is no acoustic impedance discontinuity between the ultrasonic probe and the surface of the subject.

  For example, the solid material 106 includes solid petrolatum, paraffin, resin, solid oil, and the like. However, the solid material 106 may be formed of a material containing at least one of solid petrolatum and paraffin.

  The housing case 102 is detachably attached to the ultrasonic probe 2. The acoustic matching body 101 is accommodated in the accommodating housing 102. More specifically, the housing case 102 is formed in a substantially rectangular tube shape and has a hollow portion 107. The acoustic matching body 101 is fitted and accommodated in the hollow portion 107. The acoustic matching body 101 is accommodated in the hollow portion 107 in a state where the second surface 105 protrudes from one opening 107 a of the hollow portion 107.

  In the housing case 102, the ultrasonic probe 2 is inserted into the hollow portion 107 from the other opening portion 107b opposite to the opening portion 107a from which the second surface 105 protrudes. 2 (see FIG. 2). In a state where the housing case 102 is attached to the ultrasonic probe 2, the first surface 104 of the acoustic matching body 101 is in close contact with the transmission / reception surface 2 a of the ultrasonic probe 2 in the hollow portion 107. .

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cover 103 (not shown in FIGS. 3 to 5) is detachably attached to the housing case 102 on the opening 107a side. The cover 103 is fitted and attached to the outer peripheral wall of the housing case 102. By attaching the cover 103 to the housing case 102, the acoustic matching body 101 protruding from the opening 107a is covered.

  The operator attaches the probe attachment 100 to the ultrasonic probe 2 when transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic probe 2 to the subject. As shown in FIG. 2, the operator may attach the probe attachment 100 to the ultrasonic probe 2 with the cover 103 removed from the housing case 102. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the operator may attach the probe attachment 100 to the ultrasonic probe 2 with the cover 103 attached. In this case, the operator removes the cover 103 when transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.

  Incidentally, the unused probe attachment 100 before being attached to the ultrasonic probe 2 may be put in a sealed bag 110 as shown in FIG. 8 and carried. The bag 110 is formed of, for example, a polypropylene film.

  The operator holds the ultrasonic probe 2 to which the probe attachment 100 with the cover 103 removed is attached by hand, and covers the second surface 105 of the acoustic matching body 101 as shown in FIG. Contact the surface S of the specimen P. Then, the operator moves the ultrasonic probe 2 while pressing the second surface 105 against the surface S of the subject P. As a result, due to the friction between the second surface 105 and the surface S of the subject P, a part of the solid matter 106 on the second surface 105 is peeled off as shown in FIG. It is applied to the surface S. In FIG. 10, the symbol X indicates the deposit that is applied to the surface S of the subject P after a part of the solid material 106 is applied. Since the deposit X has a required viscosity, the second surface and the surface S of the subject P are in close contact with each other, and the second surface 105 and the surface S of the subject P are in contact with each other. There is no air in between.

  According to this example described above, air does not enter between the second surface 105 and the surface S of the subject P due to the deposit X, and the acoustic matching body 101 is The surface 104 is in close contact with the transmission / reception surface 2 a of the ultrasonic probe 2. The acoustic matching body 101 has the same or approximate acoustic impedance as the subject P. Therefore, by using the probe attachment 100 of this example, acoustic matching between the ultrasonic probe 2 and the subject P can be ensured without using a gel.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by the said embodiment, of course, this invention can be variously implemented in the range which does not change the main point.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 Ultrasonic probe 2a Transmission / reception surface 100 Probe attachment 101 Acoustic matching body 102 Housing | casing housing 103 Cover 104 First surface 105 Second surface 106 Solid substance 107 Hollow part 107a Opening part

Claims (9)

  An acoustic matching body attached to an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, the first surface being in close contact with the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface of the ultrasonic probe in a state of being attached to the ultrasonic probe; A solid surface having a second surface that comes into contact with an object to be transmitted / received by an ultrasonic probe, and the solid object is brought into contact with the object on the second surface by friction and the object An acoustic matching body, characterized in that the acoustic matching body is formed of a material that is applied to the surface of the substrate to ensure acoustic matching between the ultrasonic probe and the subject.   The acoustic matching body according to claim 1, wherein the solid material is formed of a material containing at least one of solid petrolatum and paraffin. The acoustic matching body according to claim 1 or 2,
A housing that is detachably attached to the ultrasonic probe and houses the acoustic matching body;
A probe attachment comprising:   The probe attachment according to claim 3, wherein the housing case has a hollow portion that is formed in a cylindrical shape and houses the acoustic matching body.   The probe attachment according to claim 4, wherein the second surface of the acoustic matching body is in contact with the subject in a state of protruding from the opening of the hollow portion.   6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a cover that is detachably attached to the housing case on the opening side from which the second surface protrudes and covers the second surface side of the acoustic matching body. The probe attachment described.   The housing case is attached to the ultrasonic probe by inserting the ultrasonic probe into the hollow portion, and the first surface of the acoustic matching body is the transmitting / receiving surface of the ultrasonic probe in the hollow portion. The probe attachment according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the probe attachment is closely attached to the probe attachment.   An ultrasonic probe to which the probe attachment according to any one of claims 3 to 7 is attached.   An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising the ultrasonic probe according to claim 8.