EP0174167A2 - Ultrasonic transducers for medical diagnostic examination - Google Patents
Ultrasonic transducers for medical diagnostic examination Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0174167A2 EP0174167A2 EP85306166A EP85306166A EP0174167A2 EP 0174167 A2 EP0174167 A2 EP 0174167A2 EP 85306166 A EP85306166 A EP 85306166A EP 85306166 A EP85306166 A EP 85306166A EP 0174167 A2 EP0174167 A2 EP 0174167A2
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- supporting member
- ultrasonic
- rotary
- coil
- piezoelectric elements
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G10K11/00—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
- G10K11/18—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound
- G10K11/26—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning
- G10K11/35—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning using mechanical steering of transducers or their beams
- G10K11/352—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning using mechanical steering of transducers or their beams by moving the transducer
- G10K11/355—Arcuate movement
Definitions
- This invention relates to ultrasonic probes for use in ultrasonic diagnostic systems and more particularly, to ultrasonic probes for producing mechanical sector scanns in an object to be scanned.
- ultrasonic diagnostic systems have been widely used in recent years.
- the ultrasonic diagnostic systems make use of a variety of ultrasonic transducers.
- MSP mechanical sector scan-type probe
- the piezoelectric transducer assembly of which is rotated or swung to obtain ultrasonic image in sector scan-type is wellknown.
- ultrasonic pulse signals received by the peizoelectric transducer are displayed on a display device as one scanning line with brightness modulation.
- the scanning line is successively shifted in accordance with the received ultrasonic pulse signals to obtain a cross-sectional image of the object
- a real time cross-sectional image of the object such as a human body
- ultrasonic wave is transmitted and received at predetermined position, and received signal is displayed as a brightness modulation signal in accordance with variation in time.
- Doppler mode is a mode to obtain frequency spectrum and/or velocity of travellingmaterial in the object by receiving a ultrasonic signal which is frequency modulated or Doppler shifted by velocity of the travelling material.
- a continuous wave Doppler hereafter called "CW Doppler”
- CW Doppler which uses a continuous wave ultrasonic signal
- CW Doppler has advantage to be able to detect high speed travelling materials but disadvantage not to be able to pick up information of specified region.
- a pulse Doppler which uses a pulsed ultrasonic signal, has advantages to be able to pick up information of specified region but has low detecting ability of high speed travelling material. Therefore, the CW Doppler and the pulse Doppler are selected to use properly.
- conventional MSP generally employs a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators having some curvature and aperture to transmit and receive converged ultrasonic beam.
- ultrasonic beam convergence is different along depth of the object Therefore, resolution at the point near the surface of the object and the point far from the surface of the object are deteriorated because of thick ultrasonic beam.
- deterioration of the resolution at the region far from the surface of the object is one of severe problem to be solved in conventional MSP.
- an object of the present invention to provide an MSP which is able to cope with all of 2D mode, M mode, CW Doppler and pulse Doppler mode with one MSP.
- an MSP which comprises one or a plurality of ultrasonic transducers each having piezoelectric vibrator, one or a plurality of the piezoelectric vibrators are divided mechanically or electrically into two or more.
- the divided piezoelectric vibrators are electrically connected or separated in accordance with 2D mode, M mode, CW Dopler mode and pulse Doppler mode.
- an MSP which comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducer, each of which is mounted on a supporting means rotatable or swingable arround an axis.
- Each of the transducer has a piezoelectric vibrator which has different focal length with each other.
- piezoelectric vibrators 20a, 20b and 20c are mounted on a supporting member 14 which is rotatable arround a axle 4 supported through bearing 40. At one end of the axle 40, a pulley 60 is provided for transmitting rotation of a motor 5 to the supporting member 14 through another pulley 80 and a belt 6.
- rotary coils 30b and 31 b are embedded or mounted.
- a fixed coil 30a is embedded or mounted on inner side wall of a container 2 in opposite relation to the rotary coil 30b.
- a fixed coil 31 a is provided on a inner surface of a housing 5 5 in opposite relation to the rotary coil 30b.
- a third rotary coil 32b is provided which is opposite to a fixed coil 32a mounted on another surface of the housing 55.
- the fixed coiles 30a, 31a, 32a and the rotary coils 30b, 3 1 b, 32b are formed in spiral.
- Numeral 33 designates a magnetic core.
- a set of the fixed coil 30a, the rotary coil 30b and the magnetic core 33 forms a first flat type rotary transfarmer.
- a set of the fixed coil 3 1 a, the rotary coil 31 b and the magnetic coil 33, and a set of the fixed coil 32a, the rotary coil 32b and the magnetic coil 33 form second and third flat type rotary transformers.
- Each of the rotary transformers is electrically coupled to the rotating piezoelectric vibrators 20a, 20b and 20c with no contact relation.
- the magnetic cores 33 are made of magnetic material such as ferrite to improve efficiency of the rotary transformer and suppress electro-magnetic interference between each of the rotary transformers.
- the electro-magnetic interference between the ratary transformers is suppressed moreover by providing shielding plates 34 of magnetic material such as Permalloy between the rotary transformers.
- the supporting member 1 4 is rotated by the motor 5 through the pulley 80, the belt 6 and the pulley 60.
- the motor 5 is controlled to maintain constant rotation by rota- t i on controller 7.
- the piezoelectric vibrators 20a, 20b, and 20c are provided on outside surface of the supporting member 14 having equi-angular relation of 120°, and each piezoelectric vibrator scans 90° sector region respectively.
- Each of the piezoelectric vibrator has single or multi-layered acoustical matching layers for matching acoustical impedance between the object as ocasion demands.
- the inductance of the rotary transformers is also matched to the impedance of the piezoelectric vibrators 20a, 20b and 20c for raising efficiency of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic wave.
- a pulse signal is supplied to the fixed coil 30a to excite the piezoelectric vibrator 20a.
- the pulse signal is immediately induced to the rotaty coil 30b by electromagnetic induction and excite the piezoelectric vibrator 20a.
- the piezoelectric vibrator 20a generates a ultrasonic pulse beam.
- the ultrasonic pulse beam is emitted to the object through the container 2 which is fieled an ultrasonic wave propagating material 3 therein.
- a reflected beam obtained by the difference of acoustic impedance of the object is received by the piezoelectric vibrator 20a along a reverse passage.
- the received signal is transmitted to the fixed coil 30a through the rotary coil 30b by electromagnetic induction and supplied to a signal processor via a cable 110.
- the signal processor the received signal is processed and displayed as a brightness signal of one scanning line on a cathode ray tube.
- the piezoelectric vibrators 20b and 20c perform sector scanning operation of 90° sector.
- the supporting member 14 rotates in a rotating speed of 10 rps and the piezoelectric vibrators 20a, 20b and 20c are sequentially selected to the excited by switching the fixed coils 30a, 31 a and 32a with a semiconductor switching device 90, which is provided in the signal processor, in accordance with relative position of the piezoelectric vibrator 20a, 20b, and 20c to the object.
- a semiconductor switching device 90 which is provided in the signal processor
- an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portion 1 comprises a piezoelectric vibrator, acoustic impedance matching layer and backing load member, which are integrated in piled layer.
- the piezoelectric vibrator or both of the piezoelectric vibrator and acoustic impedance matching layer are mechanically or electrically divided, as shown in Figs. 5a and 5b, into two regions by sound wave buffer member 11 such as a silicone rubber to decrease acoustic coupling between the two divided regions.
- the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portion 1 of Fig. 4 employs the case shown in Fig. 5a. If no acoustic crosstalks occur, only the electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator may be divided as illustrated in Figs.
- the thus obtained ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portion 1 is located in the contrainer 2 which has an acoustic window made of resin having acoustic impedance matched with that of the human body such as poly- methylpentene.
- the container 2 is filled with the ultrasonic wave propagating material 3 such as deflated water or butanediol.
- the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving portion 1 is swung around the axis 4 by a belt or crank chain 6 driven with a motor 5.
- the motor 5 is linked to a controller 7 with a belt or gear 8 to adjust the rotation speed of the motor 5 in a predetermined value.
- the controller 7 is formed such as rotary encoder or a potentiameter.
- Numeral 9 designates a housing of the MSP.
- a lead wire 10a is connected to a common electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator, a lead wire 10b to an electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator I, a lead wire 10c to an electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator 0 respectively.
- the lead wires 10a, 10b and 10c are switched by a semiconductor switching device in a signal processing and displaying apparatus in accordance with the mode to be displayed. When 2D mode, M mode or pulse Doppler mode is displayed, the lead wires 10b and 10c are commonly connected.
- one of the lead wires 10b and 10c is used as a exclusive use for ultrasonic wave transmission and another a exclusive use for ultrasonic wave reception.
- the buffer region 11 does not influence to sound field because the buffer region 11 has very small area of 1/30 1/100 of that of the divided ultrasonic transmitting and receiving portion.
- Fig. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention.
- ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portion 1 container 2 having an acoustic window, ultrasonic wave propagating material 3, rotating axle 4, motor 5, belt or crank chain 6, controller 7 and housing 9 are same as those of Fig 4.
- Reference numeral 12 designates a signal transmitter, 13a connecting cable and 14 a supporting member respectively.
- the MSP of Fig. 6 is essentially same as that of Fig. 1 except the divided ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portion 1.
- the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portion 1 is based on the structure as shown in Figs. 5a and 5b, but other various modification may be employed.
- Fig. 7a illustrates an example of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portion 1 of Fig. 6.
- the supporting member 14 has a quasi-triangular cross-section on each of the plane surface of which three ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portions 1 each having constructions shown in Fig. 5a are disposed.
- six signal transmission lines and one grounded line are connected to the signal processor and display apparatus through the signal transmitter 12.
- the signal transmitter 12 is formed with a rotary transformer same as previously described or a slip ring.
- Fig. 7b is another example of ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portion.
- the divided ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portion 1 is provided on one surface of the supporting member 1 4.
- non-divided ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portion 15 is provided.
- 2D mode, M mode or pulse Doppler mode is displayed, the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portion 15 is used.
- CW Doppler mode is displayed, the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portion 1 is used as same as previously described.
- piezoelectric vibrators 20a, 20b and 20c each having same aperture and different focal distances f1, f, and f, are provided on surfaces of a supporting member 14 in equi-angular relation.
- the supporting member 14 is rotated by a DC motor 23 through a gear or a belt 24.
- the supporting member 14 is located in a container 2 having acoustic window made of poly- methylpentene resin and ultrasonic wave propagating material 3 such as deflated water is filled in the container 2.
- the piezoelectric vibrators 20a, 20b, and 20c are electrically connected to a signal processing and displaying apparatus 17 through a singal transmitter 16 such as a rotary transformer or a slip ring.
- the signal transmitter 16, DC motor 23, and the encoder 18 are connected to the signal processing and displaying apparatus 17 through connecting wires 10.
- Numeral 55 designates a housing of the MSP.
- the signal processing and displaying apparatus 17 generates transmission signal, processes received signal such as amplifying, detecting, storing and scan converting, generates controlling signals for various subsystems, and displays the section image on a cathode ray tube. Generally these signal processing is not performed in the MSP.
- FIG. 9a an ultrasonic beam from the piezoelectric vibrator 20a having focal length of f, is shown by dotted line.
- an ultrasonic beams from the piezoelectric vibrator 20b having focal length of f" and the piezoelectric vibrator 20c having focal length of f are shown by different dotted lines.
- the piezoelectric vibrators 20a, 20b and 20c are selectively used in such a manner that most slender beam is selected. Namely, the piezoelectric vibrator 20a is used at Z, region, the piezoelectric vibrator 20b is used at Z, region, and the piezoelectric vibrator 20c is used at Z, region.
- Fig. 9b shows the ultrasonic beam thus obtained. As apparent from Fig. 9b, converged slender beam is obtained according to the embodiment of Fig. 8.
- the selection of desired ultrasonic beam is performed by the signal processing and displaying apparatus 17.
- the piezoelectric vibrator 20a is selected to extract and memorize informations in Z, region.
- the piezoelectric vibrator 20b is selected to extract and memorize informations in Z, region.
- the piezoelectric vibrator 20c is selected to extract and memorize informations in Z, region.
- the piezoelectric vibrators 22a, 22b, and 22c have different focal lengths f" f,, f, and different aperlures.
- resolution in Z, region is improved by using the piezoelectric vibrator 22a having small aperture.
- the ultrasonic beam obtained by the embodiment of Fig. 10a is illustrated in Fig. 10b.
- a first coil 42 mounted on inner sidewall of a cell 32 and a second coil 4 3 mounted on a supporting means 14 forms two pair of rotary transformers each having coil gaps of d, and d, respectively.
- the supporting member 14 is supported to the cell 32 by bearings 81 and 82.
- the bearing 81 is stored in a bearing box 83.
- On outside of the bearing box 83 and corresponding surface of the cell 32 a screw-cuttings having very small pitch are formed. The screw-cuttings make possible to adjust the location of the supporting member 14, whereby the coil gaps d, and , are adjustable.
- another bearing 82 is suspended by a spring 84 which absorbs the change of thrust load occured by adjusting the supporting member 14 and prevents oscillation of axis of the supporting member 14.
- Numeral 85 designates an oil seal.
- the sum d 1 + d, of the coil gaps of the rotary transformer is decided by rotor length LR of the supporting member 14 and inner size Ls of the cell 32 and cannot be adjusted itself.
- the coil gap d is detected by measuring impedance of rotary transformer block. Therefore, electric characteristics of the rotary transformer block can be regulated by screwing the bearing box 83.
- a third coil 63 1 is further provided on a pulley 60 and chassis 83 in face to face manner as shown in Fig. 12. Impedance adjustment of the coil 63 1 is performed after adjusting two pair of coils of Fig. 11 described before.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
- Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
- Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to ultrasonic probes for use in ultrasonic diagnostic systems and more particularly, to ultrasonic probes for producing mechanical sector scanns in an object to be scanned.
- In the medical fields, ultrasonic diagnostic systems have been widely used in recent years. The ultrasonic diagnostic systems make use of a variety of ultrasonic transducers. As one of them, mechanical sector scan-type probe (hereafter called "MSP"), the piezoelectric transducer assembly of which is rotated or swung to obtain ultrasonic image in sector scan-type, is wellknown.
- On the other hand, it is wellknown that the diagnostic informations obtained by ultrasonic diagnostic systems are classified in 2D mode, M mode, and Doppler mode in accordance with disply method or received signal.
- In the 2D mode, ultrasonic pulse signals received by the peizoelectric transducer are displayed on a display device as one scanning line with brightness modulation. The scanning line is successively shifted in accordance with the received ultrasonic pulse signals to obtain a cross-sectional image of the object When the shift of the scanning line is performed in high speed, a real time cross-sectional image of the object, such as a human body, is observed.
- In the M mode, ultrasonic wave is transmitted and received at predetermined position, and received signal is displayed as a brightness modulation signal in accordance with variation in time.
- Doppler mode is a mode to obtain frequency spectrum and/or velocity of travellingmaterial in the object by receiving a ultrasonic signal which is frequency modulated or Doppler shifted by velocity of the travelling material. A continuous wave Doppler (hereafter called "CW Doppler"), which uses a continuous wave ultrasonic signal, has advantage to be able to detect high speed travelling materials but disadvantage not to be able to pick up information of specified region. On the contrary, a pulse Doppler, which uses a pulsed ultrasonic signal, has advantages to be able to pick up information of specified region but has low detecting ability of high speed travelling material. Therefore, the CW Doppler and the pulse Doppler are selected to use properly.
- In conventional MSP, 2D mode, M mode and pulse Doppler mode are obtained with one MSP by using transmitting and receiving circuit corresponding to each of the 2D mode, M mode, and pulse Dopper mode. On the contrary, CW Doppler mode information cannot be obtained with one MSP and an exclusive probe for CW Doppler is requested. In this case, troblesome operation cannot be avoided because two probes for MSP and CW Dopper must be operated. Even if the two probes are attached with each other, the probes become large and contact surface to the object (this is called foot print) becomes wide. The wide contact surface often fails to obtain necessary information for precise diagnosis of specific affected part of the human body.
- In the mean time, conventional MSP generally employs a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators having some curvature and aperture to transmit and receive converged ultrasonic beam. In this case, ultrasonic beam convergence is different along depth of the object Therefore, resolution at the point near the surface of the object and the point far from the surface of the object are deteriorated because of thick ultrasonic beam. Especially, deterioration of the resolution at the region far from the surface of the object is one of severe problem to be solved in conventional MSP.
- It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an MSP which is able to cope with all of 2D mode, M mode, CW Doppler and pulse Doppler mode with one MSP.
- It is another object of the present invention to improve resolving power at near and far region from the surface of the object.
- According to the present invention, an MSP is provided which comprises one or a plurality of ultrasonic transducers each having piezoelectric vibrator, one or a plurality of the piezoelectric vibrators are divided mechanically or electrically into two or more. The divided piezoelectric vibrators are electrically connected or separated in accordance with 2D mode, M mode, CW Dopler mode and pulse Doppler mode.
- In another embodiment an MSP is provided which comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducer, each of which is mounted on a supporting means rotatable or swingable arround an axis. Each of the transducer has a piezoelectric vibrator which has different focal length with each other.
- The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 is a schematic inner side view of an MSP adaptable for the present invention;
- Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a rotary- transformer portion of the MSP of Fig. 1 ;
- Fig. 3 is a equivalent circuit of the MSP of Fig. 1 ;
- Fig. 4 is a schematic inner side view of a first embodiment of the MSP according to the present invention;
- Fig. 5a and 5b are front views of a ultrasonic transducer according to the present inventions;
- Fig. 6 is a schematic inner side view of a second embodiment of the MSP according to the present invention;
- Figs. 7a and 7b are side views of a rotor adaptable to the MSP of Fig. 6;
- Fig. 8 is a schematic inner side view of a third embodiment of the MSP according to the present invention;
- Figs. 9a and 9b are side views of ultrasonic beams obtained by the MSP of Fig. 8 ; Figs. 10a and 10b are side views of ultrasonic beams of forth embodiment of the MSP according to the present invention;
- Figs. 11 and 12 are cross-sectional side views of a rotary transformer adapted to the MSP according to the present invention.
- Referring to Figs. 1 and 2,
piezoelectric vibrators member 14 which is rotatable arround a axle 4 supported through bearing 40. At one end of theaxle 40, apulley 60 is provided for transmitting rotation of amotor 5 to the supportingmember 14 through anotherpulley 80 and abelt 6. On both sides of the supportingmember 14,rotary coils 30b and 31 b are embedded or mounted. Afixed coil 30a is embedded or mounted on inner side wall of acontainer 2 in opposite relation to therotary coil 30b. In the same manner, a fixed coil 31 a is provided on a inner surface of ahousing 55 in opposite relation to therotary coil 30b. On one side wall of thepulley 60, a thirdrotary coil 32b is provided which is opposite to afixed coil 32a mounted on another surface of thehousing 55. Thefixed coiles rotary coils Numeral 33 designates a magnetic core. A set of thefixed coil 30a, therotary coil 30b and themagnetic core 33 forms a first flat type rotary transfarmer. In the same manner, a set of the fixed coil 31 a, the rotary coil 31 b and themagnetic coil 33, and a set of thefixed coil 32a, therotary coil 32b and themagnetic coil 33 form second and third flat type rotary transformers. Each of the rotary transformers is electrically coupled to the rotatingpiezoelectric vibrators magnetic cores 33 are made of magnetic material such as ferrite to improve efficiency of the rotary transformer and suppress electro-magnetic interference between each of the rotary transformers. The electro-magnetic interference between the ratary transformers is suppressed moreover by providingshielding plates 34 of magnetic material such as Permalloy between the rotary transformers. When thefixed coils rotary coils container 2 andhousing 55. - The supporting
member 14 is rotated by themotor 5 through thepulley 80, thebelt 6 and thepulley 60. Themotor 5 is controlled to maintain constant rotation by rota- tioncontroller 7. Thepiezoelectric vibrators member 14 having equi-angular relation of 120°, and eachpiezoelectric vibrator scans 90° sector region respectively. Each of the piezoelectric vibrator has single or multi-layered acoustical matching layers for matching acoustical impedance between the object as ocasion demands. The inductance of the rotary transformers is also matched to the impedance of thepiezoelectric vibrators - Referring now to Fig. 3. when the piezoelectric vibrator 20a is rotated at predetermined position corresponding to the object, a pulse signal is supplied to the
fixed coil 30a to excite the piezoelectric vibrator 20a. The pulse signal is immediately induced to therotaty coil 30b by electromagnetic induction and excite the piezoelectric vibrator 20a. As a result, the piezoelectric vibrator 20a generates a ultrasonic pulse beam. The ultrasonic pulse beam is emitted to the object through thecontainer 2 which is fieled an ultrasonicwave propagating material 3 therein. A reflected beam obtained by the difference of acoustic impedance of the object is received by the piezoelectric vibrator 20a along a reverse passage. The received signal is transmitted to the fixedcoil 30a through therotary coil 30b by electromagnetic induction and supplied to a signal processor via acable 110. In the signal processor, the received signal is processed and displayed as a brightness signal of one scanning line on a cathode ray tube. In the same manner, thepiezoelectric vibrators - The suporting
member 14 rotates in a rotating speed of 10 rps and thepiezoelectric vibrators coils semiconductor switching device 90, which is provided in the signal processor, in accordance with relative position of thepiezoelectric vibrator - Referring now to Fig. 4, an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving
portion 1 comprises a piezoelectric vibrator, acoustic impedance matching layer and backing load member, which are integrated in piled layer. The piezoelectric vibrator or both of the piezoelectric vibrator and acoustic impedance matching layer are mechanically or electrically divided, as shown in Figs. 5a and 5b, into two regions by soundwave buffer member 11 such as a silicone rubber to decrease acoustic coupling between the two divided regions. The ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portion 1 of Fig. 4 employs the case shown in Fig. 5a. If no acoustic crosstalks occur, only the electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator may be divided as illustrated in Figs. 5a and 5b. The thus obtained ultrasonic wave transmitting and receivingportion 1 is located in thecontrainer 2 which has an acoustic window made of resin having acoustic impedance matched with that of the human body such as poly- methylpentene. Thecontainer 2 is filled with the ultrasonicwave propagating material 3 such as deflated water or butanediol. The ultrasonic transmitting and receivingportion 1 is swung around theaxis 4 by a belt or crankchain 6 driven with amotor 5. Themotor 5 is linked to acontroller 7 with a belt or gear 8 to adjust the rotation speed of themotor 5 in a predetermined value. Thecontroller 7 is formed such as rotary encoder or a potentiameter. Numeral 9 designates a housing of the MSP. In this embodiment, a lead wire 10a is connected to a common electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator, alead wire 10b to an electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator I, alead wire 10c to an electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator 0 respectively. Thelead wires lead wires lead wires lead wires buffer region 11 does not influence to sound field because thebuffer region 11 has very small area of 1/30 1/100 of that of the divided ultrasonic transmitting and receiving portion. - Fig. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 6, ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving
portion 1,container 2 having an acoustic window, ultrasonicwave propagating material 3,rotating axle 4,motor 5, belt or crankchain 6,controller 7 and housing 9 are same as those of Fig 4.Reference numeral 12 designates a signal transmitter, 13a connecting cable and 14 a supporting member respectively. The MSP of Fig. 6 is essentially same as that of Fig. 1 except the divided ultrasonic wave transmitting and receivingportion 1. The ultrasonic wave transmitting and receivingportion 1 is based on the structure as shown in Figs. 5a and 5b, but other various modification may be employed. - Fig. 7a illustrates an example of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving
portion 1 of Fig. 6. The supportingmember 14 has a quasi-triangular cross-section on each of the plane surface of which three ultrasonic wave transmitting and receivingportions 1 each having constructions shown in Fig. 5a are disposed. In this case, six signal transmission lines and one grounded line are connected to the signal processor and display apparatus through thesignal transmitter 12. Thesignal transmitter 12 is formed with a rotary transformer same as previously described or a slip ring. - Fig. 7b is another example of ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving portion. On one surface of the supporting
member 14, the divided ultrasonic wave transmitting and receivingportion 1 is provided. On another surface of the supportingmember 14, non-divided ultrasonic wave transmitting and receivingportion 15 is provided. When 2D mode, M mode or pulse Doppler mode is displayed, the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receivingportion 15 is used. When CW Doppler mode is displayed, the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receivingportion 1 is used as same as previously described. - Referring to Fig. 6,
piezoelectric vibrators member 14 in equi-angular relation. The supportingmember 14 is rotated by aDC motor 23 through a gear or abelt 24. The supportingmember 14 is located in acontainer 2 having acoustic window made of poly- methylpentene resin and ultrasonicwave propagating material 3 such as deflated water is filled in thecontainer 2. Thepiezoelectric vibrators apparatus 17 through asingal transmitter 16 such as a rotary transformer or a slip ring. Anencoder 18, which is driven by theDC motor 23 through a gear or abelt 19, is provided for controlling the rotation of the supportingmember 14. Thesignal transmitter 16,DC motor 23, and theencoder 18 are connected to the signal processing and displayingapparatus 17 through connectingwires 10.Numeral 55 designates a housing of the MSP. The signal processing and displayingapparatus 17 generates transmission signal, processes received signal such as amplifying, detecting, storing and scan converting, generates controlling signals for various subsystems, and displays the section image on a cathode ray tube. Generally these signal processing is not performed in the MSP. - Referring to Fig. 9a an ultrasonic beam from the piezoelectric vibrator 20a having focal length of f, is shown by dotted line. In the same manner, an ultrasonic beams from the
piezoelectric vibrator 20b having focal length of f" and thepiezoelectric vibrator 20c having focal length of f, are shown by different dotted lines. In consideration of these, thepiezoelectric vibrators piezoelectric vibrator 20b is used at Z, region, and thepiezoelectric vibrator 20c is used at Z, region. Fig. 9b shows the ultrasonic beam thus obtained. As apparent from Fig. 9b, converged slender beam is obtained according to the embodiment of Fig. 8. - The selection of desired ultrasonic beam is performed by the signal processing and displaying
apparatus 17. In a first scanning operation, the piezoelectric vibrator 20a is selected to extract and memorize informations in Z, region. In a second scanning operation, thepiezoelectric vibrator 20b is selected to extract and memorize informations in Z, region. In a third scanning operation, thepiezoelectric vibrator 20c is selected to extract and memorize informations in Z, region. As a result, one section image to be displayed is obtained by three scanning operation. Whenth supporting member 14 is rotated in a speed of 600 rpm, a period of 100 msec is necessary to obtain one frame of section image, and section image of sector scan-type having frame rate of 1OHz is obtained. - Referring to Fig. 10a the
piezoelectric vibrators - Referring now to Fig. 11, another embodiment of an ultrasonic cell is illustrated. A
first coil 42 mounted on inner sidewall of acell 32 and asecond coil 43 mounted on a supporting means 14 forms two pair of rotary transformers each having coil gaps of d, and d, respectively. The supportingmember 14 is supported to thecell 32 bybearings bearing 81 is stored in abearing box 83. On outside of thebearing box 83 and corresponding surface of thecell 32, a screw-cuttings having very small pitch are formed. The screw-cuttings make possible to adjust the location of the supportingmember 14, whereby the coil gaps d, and , are adjustable. in this case, another bearing 82 is suspended by aspring 84 which absorbs the change of thrust load occured by adjusting the supportingmember 14 and prevents oscillation of axis of the supportingmember 14.Numeral 85 designates an oil seal. - The sum d1 + d, of the coil gaps of the rotary transformer is decided by rotor length LR of the supporting
member 14 and inner size Ls of thecell 32 and cannot be adjusted itself. However, it is possible to adjust each of the coil gap d of the rotary transformer to a value equal to (d,+d2)/2 by screwing thebearing box 83. Practically, the coil gap d is detected by measuring impedance of rotary transformer block. Therefore, electric characteristics of the rotary transformer block can be regulated by screwing thebearing box 83. - When three ultrasonic vibrators are employed, a third coil 631 is further provided on a
pulley 60 andchassis 83 in face to face manner as shown in Fig. 12. Impedance adjustment of the coil 631 is performed after adjusting two pair of coils of Fig. 11 described before.
Claims (10)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP91111825A EP0455273B1 (en) | 1984-08-30 | 1985-08-30 | Ultrasonic transducers for medical diagnostic examinations |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP18131784A JPS6158648A (en) | 1984-08-30 | 1984-08-30 | Machine scanning type ultrasonic probe |
JP59181316A JPS6158647A (en) | 1984-08-30 | 1984-08-30 | Machine scanning type ultrasonic probe |
JP181316/84 | 1984-08-30 | ||
JP181317/84 | 1984-08-30 |
Related Child Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP91111825.5 Division-Into | 1985-08-30 | ||
EP91111825A Division EP0455273B1 (en) | 1984-08-30 | 1985-08-30 | Ultrasonic transducers for medical diagnostic examinations |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP0174167A2 true EP0174167A2 (en) | 1986-03-12 |
EP0174167A3 EP0174167A3 (en) | 1988-12-14 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP91111825A Expired - Lifetime EP0455273B1 (en) | 1984-08-30 | 1985-08-30 | Ultrasonic transducers for medical diagnostic examinations |
EP85306166A Withdrawn EP0174167A3 (en) | 1984-08-30 | 1985-08-30 | Ultrasonic transducers for medical diagnostic examination |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP91111825A Expired - Lifetime EP0455273B1 (en) | 1984-08-30 | 1985-08-30 | Ultrasonic transducers for medical diagnostic examinations |
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Country | Link |
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EP (2) | EP0455273B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE3588128T2 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0203717A1 (en) * | 1985-04-26 | 1986-12-03 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Ultrasonic probe |
EP0359546A2 (en) * | 1988-09-16 | 1990-03-21 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Ultrasound system with improved coupling fluid |
WO1990013107A1 (en) * | 1989-04-25 | 1990-11-01 | Board Of Regents, The University Of Texas System | System for ultrasonic pan focal imaging and axial beam translation |
US5052393A (en) * | 1988-09-16 | 1991-10-01 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Ultrasound system with improved coupling fluid |
US7575552B2 (en) | 2004-06-10 | 2009-08-18 | Panasonic Corporation | Ultrasonic probe with acoustic medium |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN103675093B (en) * | 2013-11-22 | 2016-04-27 | 国核电站运行服务技术有限公司 | Tubing detection system |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4149419A (en) * | 1977-11-25 | 1979-04-17 | Smith Kline Instruments, Inc. | Ultrasonic transducer probe |
DE3045623A1 (en) * | 1980-12-03 | 1982-06-24 | Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München | Ultrasonic applicator for workpiece examination - provides line scanning using head inside individual line head |
JPS58131559A (en) * | 1982-01-30 | 1983-08-05 | Aloka Co Ltd | Ultrasonic probe |
US4424813A (en) * | 1981-08-14 | 1984-01-10 | Diasonics, Inc. | Multi-mode ultrasound scanner |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
AT384545B (en) * | 1981-12-01 | 1987-11-25 | Kretztechnik Gmbh | ULTRASONIC EXAMINATION DEVICE |
JPS58131560A (en) * | 1982-02-01 | 1983-08-05 | Nippon Steel Corp | Method and apparatus for ultrasonic flaw detection |
-
1985
- 1985-08-30 EP EP91111825A patent/EP0455273B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-08-30 EP EP85306166A patent/EP0174167A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1985-08-30 DE DE19853588128 patent/DE3588128T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4149419A (en) * | 1977-11-25 | 1979-04-17 | Smith Kline Instruments, Inc. | Ultrasonic transducer probe |
DE3045623A1 (en) * | 1980-12-03 | 1982-06-24 | Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München | Ultrasonic applicator for workpiece examination - provides line scanning using head inside individual line head |
US4424813A (en) * | 1981-08-14 | 1984-01-10 | Diasonics, Inc. | Multi-mode ultrasound scanner |
JPS58131559A (en) * | 1982-01-30 | 1983-08-05 | Aloka Co Ltd | Ultrasonic probe |
Non-Patent Citations (2)
Title |
---|
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 7, no. 245 (P-233)(1390), October 29, 1983 & JP 58131559 A (AROKA K.K.) 05-08-1983 * |
R.S. RENEMAN: "CARDIOVASCULAR APPLICATIONS OF ULTRASONICS", Proceedings of an International Symposium at Beerse, may 29-30, 1973, ed. 1974, Amsterdam, NL, pages 125-131, P.N.T. WELLS: "Ultrasonic Doppler Probes" * |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0203717A1 (en) * | 1985-04-26 | 1986-12-03 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Ultrasonic probe |
US4677853A (en) * | 1985-04-26 | 1987-07-07 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Ultrasonic probe |
EP0359546A2 (en) * | 1988-09-16 | 1990-03-21 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Ultrasound system with improved coupling fluid |
EP0359546A3 (en) * | 1988-09-16 | 1990-05-02 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Ultrasound system with improved coupling fluid |
US5052393A (en) * | 1988-09-16 | 1991-10-01 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Ultrasound system with improved coupling fluid |
WO1990013107A1 (en) * | 1989-04-25 | 1990-11-01 | Board Of Regents, The University Of Texas System | System for ultrasonic pan focal imaging and axial beam translation |
US7575552B2 (en) | 2004-06-10 | 2009-08-18 | Panasonic Corporation | Ultrasonic probe with acoustic medium |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0455273A3 (en) | 1992-04-29 |
DE3588128T2 (en) | 1997-04-30 |
EP0455273B1 (en) | 1996-10-30 |
DE3588128D1 (en) | 1996-12-05 |
EP0455273A2 (en) | 1991-11-06 |
EP0174167A3 (en) | 1988-12-14 |
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