JPH068808B2 - Focused ultrasonic probe - Google Patents
Focused ultrasonic probeInfo
- Publication number
- JPH068808B2 JPH068808B2 JP61204532A JP20453286A JPH068808B2 JP H068808 B2 JPH068808 B2 JP H068808B2 JP 61204532 A JP61204532 A JP 61204532A JP 20453286 A JP20453286 A JP 20453286A JP H068808 B2 JPH068808 B2 JP H068808B2
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- ultrasonic probe
- ultrasonic
- acoustic lens
- focused ultrasonic
- closed space
- Prior art date
- 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.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Landscapes
- Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
- Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
Description
【発明の詳細な説明】 ［産業上の利用分野］ 本発明は、超音波診断装置等に有用に使用し得る集束型
超音波探触子に関するものである。TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a focused ultrasonic probe that can be usefully used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the like.
［従来の技術］ 従来、超音波診断装置の分解能の向上のために、超音波
振動子から放射された超音波を被検体の内部の１点に集
束させることがよく行われている。この超音波を集束さ
せる方法として、第３図に示すように超音波振動子１を
凹面状に加工したものや、第４図に示すように平面状超
音波振動子１に凹面状に加工した音響レンズ２を取り付
けたものや、或いは第５図(a)、(b)に示すようにリング
状の超音波振動子１を基板２上で同心円状に配置し、そ
れぞれの振動子１から発生した超音波の相互干渉により
集束させるものがある。[Prior Art] Conventionally, in order to improve the resolution of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, it is often practiced to focus an ultrasonic wave emitted from an ultrasonic transducer on a single point inside a subject. As a method of focusing this ultrasonic wave, the ultrasonic transducer 1 is processed into a concave shape as shown in FIG. 3 or the planar ultrasonic transducer 1 is processed into a concave shape as shown in FIG. The acoustic lens 2 is attached, or the ring-shaped ultrasonic transducers 1 are arranged concentrically on the substrate 2 as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), and generated from each transducer 1. Some of them focus by mutual interference of the generated ultrasonic waves.
これらの方法は何れも音軸上の１点に超音波を集束さ
せ、この点で高い分解能を得ようとするものである。し
かし、これらの方法では集束点の前後で超音波ビームが
急激に広がり、音軸方向つまり縦方向の分解能が低下す
るという欠点がある。In all of these methods, ultrasonic waves are focused on one point on the sound axis and high resolution is obtained at this point. However, these methods have a drawback that the ultrasonic beam spreads sharply before and after the focal point, and the resolution in the sound axis direction, that is, the vertical direction is reduced.
また、特開昭５７−１４３３４号公報や実開昭５９−９
３４１３号公報等において、外部から管を通して音響媒
体液を注入又は吸引することにより屈折力調整可能な音
響レンズを探触子に設けることが知られている。In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-14334 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-9.
In Japanese Patent No. 3413, etc., it is known to provide a probe with an acoustic lens whose refractive power can be adjusted by injecting or sucking an acoustic medium liquid from the outside through a tube.
これによれば上述のような問題は改善されるが、探触子
の外部から管を通して音響媒体液を注入又は吸引するこ
とにより、レンズの屈折率を可変にする構成のため、配
管等の存在のために探触子を小型化することができず、
更に媒体液を管内に流すと管壁の壁面抵抗を受けてしま
うため、媒体液の送流に遅れを伴い、迅速な屈折力調整
が不可能である。According to this, although the above-mentioned problems are improved, since the refractive index of the lens is made variable by injecting or sucking the acoustic medium liquid from the outside of the probe through the pipe, the presence of piping or the like Because of this, the probe cannot be miniaturized,
Further, when the medium liquid is flown into the pipe, the wall surface resistance of the pipe wall is received, so that the flow of the medium liquid is delayed and rapid adjustment of the refractive power is impossible.
［発明の目的］ 本発明の目的は、上述の従来例の欠点を除去し、振動子
から放射される超音波を音軸上の任意の点で集束させる
ことにより縦方向の分解能に優れ、かつ小型化可能な簡
易な構成で、迅速に集束位置の調整が可能な集束型超音
波探触子を提供することにある。[Object of the Invention] An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the above-described conventional example, and to focus the ultrasonic wave emitted from the transducer at an arbitrary point on the sound axis, thereby providing excellent longitudinal resolution, and An object of the present invention is to provide a focused ultrasonic probe that can be quickly downsized and adjusted with a simple structure.
［発明の概要］ 上述の目的を達成するための本発明の要旨は、超音波を
送受信する超音波探触子において、該超音波探触子内の
送受面側に少なくとも一部を弾性薄膜で覆った密閉空間
を形成し、該密閉空間内に超音波を伝導可能な可変形性
物質を充填し、前記密閉空間に対する押圧により屈折力
の調整を行う音響レンズを備えたことを特徴とする集束
超音波探触子である。[Summary of the Invention] The gist of the present invention for achieving the above object is, in an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, at least a part of an elastic thin film on the transmitting and receiving surface side in the ultrasonic probe. A converging device characterized by comprising an acoustic lens for forming a covered closed space, filling the closed space with a deformable substance capable of conducting ultrasonic waves, and adjusting the refractive power by pressing the closed space. It is an ultrasonic probe.
［発明の実施例］ 本発明を図示の実施例に基づいて詳細に説明する。Embodiments of the Invention The present invention will be described in detail based on the illustrated embodiments.
第１図〜第２図は本発明の実施例を示し、探触子のケー
ス１０内に超音波振動子１１が内蔵され、その前部には
音響整合層１２が設けられ、更に超音波を伝導可能な液
体状又はゲル状物質１３を凸面状に包み込み超音波を透
過可能な薄膜物質１４がリング部材を介して取り付けら
れている。また、振動子１１の後方にはバッキング材１
６、駆動力伝達部材１７、アクチュエータ１８が配置さ
れている。1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which an ultrasonic transducer 11 is built in a case 10 of a probe, an acoustic matching layer 12 is provided in the front portion thereof, and ultrasonic waves are further generated. A thin film substance 14 wrapping a conductive liquid or gel substance 13 in a convex shape and capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves is attached via a ring member. The backing material 1 is provided behind the vibrator 11.
6, a driving force transmission member 17, and an actuator 18 are arranged.
この構成において、アクチュエータ１８によって発生し
た駆動力は、伝達部材１７を介して振動子１１を音軸Ｐ
方向に移動することができる。このとき、物質１３の圧
力が第２図(a)に示すように増加、又は(b)に示すように
減少することにより薄膜２の曲率半径が変形し、薄膜２
及びその中に充填された物質１３から成る音響レンズの
厚みが変化する。これにより、音響レンズの屈折力が変
り、第２図(a)、(b)に示すように集束点Ｏが音軸Ｐ上に
移動することになる。In this configuration, the driving force generated by the actuator 18 causes the vibrator 11 to move through the transmission member 17 to the sound axis P.
You can move in any direction. At this time, the radius of curvature of the thin film 2 is deformed by increasing the pressure of the substance 13 as shown in FIG. 2 (a) or decreasing it as shown in FIG. 2 (b).
And the thickness of the acoustic lens consisting of the substance 13 filled therein changes. As a result, the refracting power of the acoustic lens changes, and the focusing point O moves on the sound axis P as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b).
なお、アクチュエータ１８を用いて超音波振動子１１を
移動する代りに、空気圧を用いることにより振動子１１
を動かすようにすれば、超音波探触子中にアクチュエー
タ１８を入れる必要がなくなり、超音波探触子をコンパ
クトに構成できる。また、薄膜２の形状は球面のみでな
く非球面とすることもできる。Instead of moving the ultrasonic transducer 11 using the actuator 18, the transducer 11 is moved by using air pressure.
If the actuator is moved, it is not necessary to insert the actuator 18 into the ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic probe can be made compact. Further, the shape of the thin film 2 can be an aspherical surface as well as a spherical surface.
［発明の効果］ 以上説明したように本発明に係る超音波探触子は、振動
子から放射される超音波を音響レンズの屈折力を変えて
音軸上の任意の点に集束し得るようにすると縦方向の分
解能に優れた特性が得られ、また配管等の不要な簡易な
構成で、迅速な集束位置の変化が可能となる。[Advantages of the Invention] As described above, the ultrasonic probe according to the present invention can focus the ultrasonic waves radiated from the transducer at an arbitrary point on the sound axis by changing the refractive power of the acoustic lens. When this is set, excellent characteristics can be obtained in the vertical resolution, and the focusing position can be changed quickly with a simple configuration that does not require piping or the like.
第１図は本発明に係る超音波探触子の実施例の断面図、
第２図(a)、(b)はその作動説明図、第３図は従来の凹面
状振動子の縦断面図、第４図は従来の音響レンズを取り
付けた振動子の断面図、第５図(a)は従来のリング状振
動子の正面図、(b)はその断面図である。 符号１０はケース、１１は超音波振動子、１２は音響整
合層、１３は薄膜状物質、１４は液体状物質、１６はバ
ッキング材、１７はアクチュエータ駆動力伝達部材、１
８はアクチュエータである。FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of an ultrasonic probe according to the present invention,
2 (a) and 2 (b) are explanatory views of the operation, FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a conventional concave vibrator, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a vibrator with a conventional acoustic lens, and FIG. FIG. 1A is a front view of a conventional ring-shaped vibrator, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view thereof. Reference numeral 10 is a case, 11 is an ultrasonic transducer, 12 is an acoustic matching layer, 13 is a thin film substance, 14 is a liquid substance, 16 is a backing material, 17 is an actuator driving force transmission member, 1
Reference numeral 8 is an actuator.
Claims (4)
て、該超音波探触子内の送受面側に少なくとも一部を弾
性薄膜で覆った密閉空間を形成し、該密閉空間内に超音
波を伝導可能な可変形性物質を充填し、前記密閉空間に
対する押圧により屈折力の調整を行う音響レンズを備え
たことを特徴とする集束型超音波探触子。1. An ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, wherein a closed space, at least a part of which is covered with an elastic thin film, is formed on the transmitting and receiving surface side in the ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic wave is superposed in the closed space. A focused ultrasonic probe comprising an acoustic lens that is filled with a deformable substance capable of conducting sound waves and that adjusts the refracting power by pressing against the sealed space.
とした特許請求の範囲第１項に記載の集束型超音波探触
子。2. The focused ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the deformable substance is a liquid or gel elastic substance.
状とした特許請求の範囲第１項に記載の集束型超音波探
触子。3. The focused ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the acoustic lens is spherical or aspherical.
空間に対して後方から圧力を加えることにより行うよう
にした特許請求の範囲第１項に記載の集束型超音波探触
子。4. The focused ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the refractive power of the acoustic lens is adjusted by applying pressure to the closed space from the rear.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP61204532A JPH068808B2 (en) | 1986-08-30 | 1986-08-30 | Focused ultrasonic probe |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP61204532A JPH068808B2 (en) | 1986-08-30 | 1986-08-30 | Focused ultrasonic probe |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPS6361161A JPS6361161A (en) | 1988-03-17 |
| JPH068808B2 true JPH068808B2 (en) | 1994-02-02 |
Family
ID=16492099
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP61204532A Expired - Lifetime JPH068808B2 (en) | 1986-08-30 | 1986-08-30 | Focused ultrasonic probe |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH068808B2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2003064980A1 (en) * | 2002-01-28 | 2003-08-07 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Acoustic matching layer, ultrasonic transmitter/receiver, their manufacturing methods, and ultrasonic flowmeter |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2761394B2 (en) * | 1989-01-19 | 1998-06-04 | オリンパス光学工業株式会社 | Endoscopic ultrasound diagnostic equipment |
| JP2776541B2 (en) * | 1989-03-17 | 1998-07-16 | 東洋メディカル株式会社 | Contact terminal for ultrasonic probe |
| EP0622858B2 (en) | 1993-04-28 | 2004-09-29 | Nichia Corporation | Gallium nitride-based III-V group compound semiconductor device and method of producing the same |
| US6678403B1 (en) * | 2000-09-13 | 2004-01-13 | Peter J. Wilk | Method and apparatus for investigating integrity of structural member |
| JP5044197B2 (en) * | 2006-01-25 | 2012-10-10 | 株式会社東芝 | Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
| US8764665B2 (en) * | 2007-05-03 | 2014-07-01 | Koninklijke Philips N.V. | Methods and apparatuses of microbeamforming with adjustable fluid lenses |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5943172B2 (en) * | 1980-06-30 | 1984-10-20 | アロカ株式会社 | ultrasonic probe |
| JPS5993413U (en) * | 1982-12-07 | 1984-06-25 | オリンパス光学工業株式会社 | Intrabody ultrasound diagnostic device |
-
1986
- 1986-08-30 JP JP61204532A patent/JPH068808B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2003064980A1 (en) * | 2002-01-28 | 2003-08-07 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Acoustic matching layer, ultrasonic transmitter/receiver, their manufacturing methods, and ultrasonic flowmeter |
| WO2003064981A1 (en) * | 2002-01-28 | 2003-08-07 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Acoustic matching layer, ultrasonic transmitter/receiver, and ultrasonic flowmeter |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS6361161A (en) | 1988-03-17 |
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