JPH03224549A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a piercing needle probe provided on the tip part of the piercing needle which can exactly decide a position of the tip part of a piercing needle and improve piercing workability by receiving an ultrasonic wave through an ultrasonic vibrator from a vibrator whose ultrasonic probe is different. CONSTITUTION:When an ultrasonic wave is received from vibrators 1a, 1n whose ultrasonic probe 1 is different, to a piercing needle probe 7b provided on the tip part of a piercing needle 7, for instance, an ultrasonic vibrator, since distances to the vibrators 1a, 1n whose ultrasonic probe 1 is different are different from each other, time differences t1, t2 are generated. Based on these time differences t1, t2, an exact position of the tip part of the piercing needle 7 is derived by a system controller 5, and on an indicator 4 (TV monitor, etc.), the tip part position of the piercing needle 7 is superposed on a tomography image and displayed. In such a way, irrespective of an angle between the piercing needle 7 and the ultrasonic probe 1, an exact position of the tip part of the piercing needle 7 is derived, and the piercing workability by an operator is improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention is directed to transmitting ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic probe to a subject and receiving ultrasonic waves from the subject. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that extracts a desired frequency from the obtained echo signal using a filter and obtains a tomographic image.

(Prior Art) Ultrasonic diagnostic methods that transmit ultrasonic pulses into a living body and obtain biological information from reflected waves from various tissues within the living body are free from irradiation problems like X-rays, and do not use contrast agents. It has the advantage of being able to diagnose soft tissue without the need for The ultrasonic probes in recent ultrasonic diagnostic devices are of an array type (also called an array type).

) A piezoelectric vibrator is used. Each transducer of this ultrasonic probe is driven by a drive signal to generate ultrasonic waves, and the ultrasonic waves are transmitted into the living body. By giving a predetermined delay time to the received signal obtained from the same transducer from inside the living body, the ultrasound beam is focused at a predetermined distance N (position), and a tomographic image with excellent resolution is obtained. ing.

On the other hand, some of the ultrasonic probes are provided with a puncture needle for performing puncture as a treatment on a subject. This puncture needle can be operated along the puncturing direction of the subject, thereby making it possible to perform the puncturing operation.

Therefore, while scanning the ultrasound probe, a tomographic image is displayed on the TV monitor, and the puncture needle is operated while observing this display.

When viewing a puncture needle with an ultrasonic diagnostic device in this way, if a part of the puncture needle is scratched, for example at the tip, the ultrasound reflected from this tip will be transmitted to areas other than the tip of the puncture needle. Since this is different, the position of the puncture needle can be detected.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the above-described ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has the following problems. That is, the angle between the puncture direction of the puncture needle and the distance direction of the ultrasound probe makes it difficult to detect the position of the wound at the tip of the puncture needle.

For example, if the puncture needle is arranged so that the distance direction of the ultrasound probe and the puncture direction of the puncture needle are almost parallel, the reflected ultrasound due to the scratch made on the tip of the puncture needle will be transmitted to the ultrasound probe. I don't come back to my child much. For this reason, the position of the puncture needle could not be clearly detected, making the puncture operation difficult.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to detect the accurate position of the puncture needle,
An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device that can improve puncture workability.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems and achieve the objects, the present invention takes the following measures. The present invention provides a method for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic probe to and from the subject when performing a puncture operation by attaching a puncture needle body with a scratched tip to an ultrasound probe. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays a tomographic image and the position of the tip of the puncture needle body based on echo signals from a subject and a wound at the tip of the puncture needle body, the ultrasonic probe transmits signals from different transducers of the ultrasound probe. A puncture needle probe that receives ultrasound waves is attached to the tip of the puncture needle body, and a puncture needle probe that receives ultrasound waves is attached to the puncture needle body. The cI feature is defined as having a calculation means for determining the position of the tip of the puncture needle.

(Effects) By taking such measures, the following effects are achieved. When a puncture needle probe (for example, an ultrasonic transducer) installed at the tip of the puncture needle receives ultrasound waves from a different transducer of the ultrasound probe, the transducer different from the puncture needle probe receives ultrasonic waves. Since the distances are different, there is a time difference. Since the accurate position of the tip of the puncture needle is determined by the calculation means based on this time difference, the position of the tip of the puncture needle can be displayed superimposed on the tomographic image on a TV monitor or the like. As a result, no matter what the angle between the puncture needle and the ultrasonic probe is, the exact position of the tip of the puncture needle can be clearly determined, and the operator's puncturing efficiency can be improved.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a linear electronic scanning ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as an embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, the linear electronic scanning ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is configured as follows.

The ultrasonic probe 1 is equipped with a plurality of ultrasonic transducers and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. Input the signal. The image display circuit 3 performs processing to obtain a tomographic image based on the echo signal from the transmitting/receiving circuit 2.

Next, the puncture needle probe 7b will be explained. FIG. 2 shows the puncture needle 7, FIG. 2(a) shows the general structure of the puncture needle 7, FIG. 2(b) shows the structure of the puncture needle body 7a, and FIG. c) is a diagram showing the structure of the puncture needle probe 7b.

As shown in FIG. 2(a), the puncture needle 7 includes a puncture needle main body 7a having an elongated bar shape, and a puncture needle body 7a that is attached to the tip of the puncture needle main body 7a and receives ultrasonic waves from different transducers of the ultrasound probe 1. A puncture needle probe 7b (for example, an ultrasonic transducer) that receives sound waves; electrode lead wires 7c and 7d having one end attached to the left and right upper edges of the puncture needle body 7a and the other end attached to the receiving circuit 8; Consisting of The puncture needle main body 7a has a second
As shown in Figure (b), positive electrodes 11 are provided on the left and right sides. It consists of a negative electrode 13 and an insulator 12 interposed between them. Further, the puncture needle probe 7b has a positive electrode 11 of the puncture needle main body 7a, as shown in FIG. 2(c). Negative electrode 1
Left and right positive electrodes 14 provided corresponding to 3. Negative electrode 16
, and a piezoelectric element 15 which is inserted between these and is provided corresponding to the insulator 12 of the puncture needle body 7a and receives transmitted echoes.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a method of detecting the position of the puncture needle probe 7b using the puncture needle 7, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the position of the puncture needle probe 7b displayed on a TV monitor screen. . As shown in the third factor, the puncture needle probe 7b receives ultrasonic waves transmitted from a different transducer of the ultrasound probe 1, for example, the leftmost transducer 1a, at time t1, and The ultrasonic wave transmitted from the rightmost transducer 1n is received at time t2, and the puncture needle body 7a
and the receiving circuit 8 via the electrode lead lines 7c and 7d.
It is intended to be output to. Note that FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of calculating the time t1 from the leftmost transducer 1a of the ultrasound probe 1 to the puncture needle probe 7b, and FIG. The final rate pulse from the rightmost transducer 1n of the ultrasound probe 1 causes the puncture needle probe 7b to
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of calculating the time t2 until the end of the process.

The receiving circuit 8 shown in FIG. 1 receives a plurality of received ultrasonic waves obtained by the puncture needle probe 7b of the puncture needle 7, and amplifies these received ultrasonic waves. The time difference calculating circuit 9 calculates the times tl and t2 of the plurality of received ultrasonic waves from the receiving circuit 8 from the transmitted pulses from the ultrasonic probe 1 to the puncture needle probe 7b, as shown in FIGS. The times tl and t2 are calculated by applying a gate to the period up to the reception pulse received at and counting the number of clocks during this period.

The system controller 5 processes the tomographic image of the ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving 1 image display circuit 3 of the transmitting/receiving circuit 2, converts the time difference from the receiving circuit 8 and the time difference calculating circuit 9 into distance, and converts the time difference from the time difference calculating circuit 9 to the puncture needle probe. Find the position of child 7b.

The character display circuit 6 outputs a signal for displaying characters based on the position signal from the controller to the synthesizer 3a, and the synthesizer 3a outputs a signal for displaying characters based on the position signal from the controller, and the synthesizer 3a outputs the puncture needle probe 7b from the character display circuit 6.
The characters indicating the position and the tomographic image from the image display circuit 3 are combined and displayed on the display 4 in a superimposed manner.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be explained. In the figure, when a control signal is input from the system controller 5 to the transmitter/receiver circuit 2, the repeat pulse is given a predetermined delay time by the transmitter/receiver circuit 2, and then sent to an internal pulser to form a drive pulse. When this driving pulse sequentially drives the right transducer from the leftmost transducer 1a of the ultrasonic probe 1, the generated ultrasonic waves are transmitted into the living body (not shown).

On the other hand, ultrasonic waves reflected from within the living body are received by the ultrasonic probe 1 and further input to the image display circuit 3 via the transmitting/receiving circuit 2 . Then, when a control signal is input from the system controller 5 to the image display circuit 3,
The image display circuit 3 performs processing to obtain a tomographic image, and the obtained signal is input to a synthesizer 3a.

On the other hand, when the transmission pulse S is transmitted from the leftmost vibrator 1a driven by the root pulse R1 of the transmitting/receiving circuit 2 to the puncture needle probe 7b, after a certain period of time, the puncture needle probe The signal is received by the probe 7b as a reception pulse O5. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the time difference calculating circuit 9 sets G1 to Low with the first rate pulse R1, and starts counting by the counter clock. Next, the received pulse 0 received by the puncture needle probe 7b is amplified by the receiving circuit 8, and the amplified received pulse S sets the gate G to High, and the counter clock is stopped to end the counting. Then, find the time t1.

Next, each vibrator is sequentially scanned to the right, and finally the rightmost vibrator 1n is driven by the transmitting/receiving circuit 2.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the transmission pulse Sn is transmitted from the rightmost transducer 1n to the puncture needle probe 7b,
After a certain period of time, a received pulse O is sent to the puncture needle probe 7b.
received as n. That is, the time [2] is determined using the last rate pulse Pn in the same manner as described above.

The times tl and t2 thus calculated by the time difference calculation circuit 9 are converted into distances by the system controller 5, and the position of the puncture needle is calculated as shown in FIG.

Furthermore, it is inputted to the synthesizer 3a via the character display circuit 6.

In this way, the synthesizer 3a synthesizes the tomographic image from the image display circuit 3 and the position image of the puncture needle probe 7b from the character display circuit 6, and the display 4 displays the puncture needle position superimposed on the tomographic image. Ru.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the puncture needle probe 7b provided at the tip of the puncture needle 7, for example, an ultrasound transducer, has a different transducer 1a from the ultrasound probe 1.

When ultrasonic waves are received from 1n, time differences tl and t2 occur because the distances from the puncture needle probe 1 to different transducers 1a and In are different. This time difference 11. t2
Based on this, the accurate position of the tip of the puncture needle 7 is determined by the system controller 5, so that the position of the tip of the puncture needle 7 can be displayed superimposed on the tomographic image on the display 4 (TV monitor, etc.). Thereby, no matter what the angle between the puncture needle 7 and the ultrasound probe 1 is, the accurate position of the tip of the puncture needle 7 can be determined, and the operator's puncturing efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, since the position of the puncture needle 7 can be clearly seen, the surgical time can be shortened. Since the time during puncturing can be shortened, effects such as reducing the pain of the subject can be achieved.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Although the above-described embodiments have been described using a linear electronic scanning type ultrasound probe as an example, a sector electronic scanning type ultrasound probe may also be used, for example. In short, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, when the puncture needle probe, for example, the ultrasound transducer provided at the tip of the puncture needle, receives ultrasound waves from different transducers of the ultrasound probe, , because the distances between the puncture needle probe and different transducers are different, a time difference occurs. Since the accurate position of the tip of the puncture needle is determined by the calculation means based on this time difference, the position of the tip of the puncture needle can be displayed superimposed on the tomographic image on a TV monitor or the like. As a result, no matter what the angle between the puncture needle and the ultrasound probe, the exact position of the tip of the puncture needle can be clearly determined, which improves the operator's puncturing efficiency in ultrasound diagnosis. equipment can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a linear electronic scanning ultrasound diagnostic device as an embodiment of the ultrasound diagnostic device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of a puncture needle in the device,
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a method of detecting the position of the puncture needle probe using the puncture needle, and FIG.
The diagram displayed on the monitor screen, FIG. 5, is a diagram for explaining the method of calculating the time t1 to the puncture needle probe using the root pulse from the leftmost transducer of the ultrasound probe 1. ,
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a method of calculating the time t2 to the puncture needle probe using the final rate pulse from the rightmost transducer of the ultrasound probe. 1... Ultrasonic probe, 2... Transmission/reception circuit, 3...
Image display circuit, 3a...Synthesizer, 4...Display device, 5
...System controller, 6...Character display circuit,
7... Puncture needle, 7a... Puncture needle body, 7b... Puncture needle probe, 8... Receiving circuit, 9... Time difference calculation circuit, 11.14... Positive electrode, 13 .16... Negative electrode, 12... Insulator, 15... Piezoelectric element.

Claims (1)

[Claims] When performing a puncture operation by attaching a puncture needle body with a scratched tip to an ultrasonic probe, the ultrasound probe transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from the subject, and In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays a tomographic image and the position of the tip of the puncture needle body based on echo signals from a wound at the tip of the puncture needle body, ultrasonic waves transmitted from different transducers of the ultrasound probe are used. A puncture needle has a puncture needle probe that receives sound waves attached to the tip of the puncture needle body, and the tip of the puncture needle is attached to the tip of the puncture needle based on a plurality of received ultrasonic waves obtained by the puncture needle probe of the puncture needle. 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a calculation means for determining the position of the part.