JP2014195498A - Sheet and ultrasonic measurement system - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet, an ultrasonic measurement system, and the like that can guide the movement of an ultrasonic probe according to the body shape without using a complicated device. A sheet is used by being disposed between an ultrasonic probe and a subject. The sheet 200 includes an ultrasonic transmission medium 210 and a groove 220 provided on at least one sheet surface. The groove 220 is engageable with the acoustic lens 314 of the ultrasonic sensor unit 310 included in the ultrasonic probe 300 so that the ultrasonic probe 300 can slide in the longitudinal direction of the groove 220. [Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet, an ultrasonic measurement system, and the like.

  A technique for obtaining a panoramic image using an ultrasonic measurement system (ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus) is known. In order to obtain this panoramic image, it is necessary for the diagnostician to perform ultrasonic measurement while moving the ultrasonic probe along a desired trajectory freehand. However, it is difficult to accurately move the probe along the intended trajectory while keeping the pressure on the body surface constant while keeping the probe perpendicular to the body surface, so that an accurate panoramic image can be obtained. There is a problem that it is difficult.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for guiding the movement of the ultrasonic probe using a guide rail. However, this method has problems such as difficulty in accurate measurement according to the shape and body shape of various measurement sites, and the complexity of the apparatus.

JP 2007-21172 A

  According to some aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a sheet, an ultrasonic measurement system, and the like that can guide the movement of the ultrasonic probe according to the body shape without using a complicated device.

  One aspect of the present invention is a sheet used by being disposed between an ultrasonic probe and a subject, and includes an ultrasonic transmission medium and a groove provided on at least one sheet surface, the groove being The present invention relates to an acoustic lens of an ultrasonic sensor unit included in the ultrasonic probe and a sheet that can be engaged with the ultrasonic probe so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the groove.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the ultrasonic probe can be slid in the longitudinal direction of the groove by engaging the groove with the acoustic lens of the ultrasonic probe.

  In the aspect of the invention, the groove may be a groove that guides the sliding movement of the ultrasonic probe in the longitudinal direction of the sheet.

  In this way, since the groove portion can guide the movement of the ultrasonic probe in the longitudinal direction of the sheet, the user can accurately move the ultrasonic probe along the trajectory defined by the sheet. As a result, it is possible to guide the movement of the ultrasonic probe according to the body shape without using a complicated device.

  In the aspect of the invention, the groove may be provided in the longitudinal direction of the sheet.

  In this way, the movement of the ultrasonic probe can be guided in the longitudinal direction of the sheet by engaging the groove with the acoustic lens of the ultrasonic probe.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the width of the opening of the groove may be larger than the width of the bottom surface of the groove.

  In this way, since the groove portion can be engaged with acoustic lenses having various shapes of the ultrasonic probe, the versatility of the sheet can be improved.

  In the aspect of the invention, the groove portion may have a bottom surface including a concave curved surface having a curvature in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the sheet.

  If it does in this way, the movement of an ultrasonic probe can be guided to the longitudinal direction of a sheet by engaging with the acoustic lens in which a slot has a convex curve.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the cross section of the groove portion in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the sheet corresponds to the shape of the cross section in a plane perpendicular to the scanning direction of the acoustic lens of the ultrasonic sensor unit. It may be a shape.

  If it does in this way, movement of an ultrasonic probe can be guided to a slice direction because a groove part engages with an acoustic lens of an ultrasonic sensor part.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the ultrasonic transmission medium includes a base sheet as a base material, and a first gel layer provided on a sheet surface opposite to the sheet surface on which the groove portion of the base sheet is provided. May be included.

  In this way, the sheet can be brought into close contact with the subject during ultrasonic measurement, and air can be prevented from entering between the subject and the sheet.

  In the aspect of the invention, the ultrasonic transmission medium may further include a second gel layer provided on a sheet surface of the base sheet on which the groove portion is provided.

  In this way, the sheet can be brought into close contact with the ultrasonic probe during ultrasonic measurement, and air can be prevented from entering between the ultrasonic probe and the sheet.

  In the aspect of the invention, the groove may be formed at least on the base sheet.

  In this way, it is possible to prevent the groove portion from being deformed during ultrasonic measurement, so that the groove portion can be reliably engaged with a member protruding to the subject side of the ultrasonic probe.

  Another aspect of the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic sensor unit, and a sheet capable of transmitting an ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic sensor unit to a subject. The sheet includes a lens, and the sheet relates to an ultrasonic measurement system having a groove portion that engages the acoustic lens so that the ultrasonic probe can slide.

1A and 1B show a first configuration example of a sheet. FIG. 1C shows a modification of the first configuration example of the sheet. 2A and 2B show a second configuration example of the sheet. A basic configuration example of an ultrasonic probe. 4A and 4B are measurement examples using the first configuration example of the sheet. 5A and 5B show a first measurement example using the second configuration example of the sheet. 6A and 6B show a second measurement example using the second configuration example of the sheet. The figure explaining the movement of the guided ultrasonic probe. 8A and 8B are basic configuration examples of the ultrasonic transducer element. The structural example of an ultrasonic transducer device. A basic configuration example of an ultrasonic measurement system. FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are specific configuration examples of the ultrasonic measurement system.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. The present embodiment described below does not unduly limit the contents of the present invention described in the claims, and all the configurations described in the present embodiment are indispensable as means for solving the present invention. Not necessarily.

1. Sheet FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B show a first configuration example of a sheet 200 of the present embodiment. The sheet 200 includes an ultrasonic transmission medium 210 and groove portions 220 (220-1 and 220-2). The first configuration example includes a base sheet 212 and first and second gel layers 214-1 and 214-2 as the ultrasonic transmission medium 210. Further, the groove portion 220 includes first and second groove portions 220-1 and 220-2. The seat 200 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and some of the components are omitted, replaced with other components, or other components are added. Various modifications of the above are possible.

  In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the longitudinal direction of the sheet 200 is the X direction (first direction in a broad sense), and the direction orthogonal to the X direction is the Y direction (second direction in a broad sense). A direction in which ultrasonic waves are emitted during ultrasonic measurement (a direction toward the subject) and a direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction is defined as a Z direction.

  FIG. 1A is a view (top view) of the sheet 200 as viewed from the −Z direction side, that is, the side on which an ultrasonic probe is set during ultrasonic measurement. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the sheet 200 in the Y direction.

  The sheet 200 is disposed between the ultrasonic probe and the subject in order to ensure acoustic matching (acoustic impedance matching) between the ultrasonic sensor unit of the ultrasonic probe and the subject during the ultrasonic measurement. It is a sheet that transmits ultrasonic waves. The sheet 200 can transmit ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic sensor unit to the subject.

  The ultrasonic transmission medium 210 is desirably formed of a material that transmits ultrasonic waves, has an acoustic impedance close to that of the human body, and has low attenuation. For example, it is formed of oil gel, acrylamide, hydrogel, or the like. The ultrasonic transmission medium 210 is used in close contact with the subject.

  The sheet 200 of the first configuration example includes a base sheet 212, a first gel layer 214-1, and a second gel layer 214-2 as the ultrasonic transmission medium 210. The base sheet 212 is a base material of the sheet 200, and it is desirable that the shape hardly changes even when pressure is applied during measurement. The first gel layer 214-1 is provided on the sheet surface opposite to the sheet surface on which the groove 220 of the base sheet 212 is provided, that is, on the surface on the subject side. The second gel layer 214-2 is provided on the surface of the base sheet 212 on which the groove 220 is provided, that is, the surface on the ultrasonic probe side. It is desirable that the first and second gel layers 214-1 and 214-2 are easily deformed so as to be in close contact with the ultrasonic probe and the subject during measurement. In addition, you may make it the structure which does not provide any one or both of the 1st, 2nd gel layers 214-1 and 214-2. For example, the gel may be applied to the surface of the base sheet 212 on the ultrasonic probe side during the ultrasonic measurement without providing the second gel layer 214-2.

  The sheet 200 of the first configuration example includes a groove 220 provided in the longitudinal direction of the sheet. The groove part 220 is provided on the surface of the sheet 200 on the ultrasonic probe side (−Z direction side), has a length in the X direction, a width in the Y direction, and a depth in the Z direction. It is a groove part opened to the surface of this.

  The groove 220 is provided on at least one of the sheet surfaces, and as will be described later, the acoustic lens 314 (FIGS. 4A and 4B) of the ultrasonic sensor unit 310 included in the ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic probe It can engage so that a slide movement is possible to the longitudinal direction of a groove part. That is, the groove part 220 is a groove part that guides the sliding movement of the ultrasonic probe in the longitudinal direction of the sheet 200. This makes it possible for the user to acquire an ultrasonic image while accurately moving the ultrasonic probe along the trajectory defined by the sheet 200.

  The shape of the cross section in the direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the sheet 200 of the groove portion 220 is a shape corresponding to the shape of the cross section in the plane perpendicular to the scan direction or slice direction of the acoustic lens 314 of the ultrasonic sensor unit 310. is there. Specifically, the shape of the cross section in the Y direction of the groove portion 220 is the same as or substantially the same as the shape of the cross section of the acoustic lens 314 of the ultrasonic sensor unit 310 in the plane perpendicular to the scan direction or slice direction. The acoustic lens 314 has a shape that can be fitted to at least a part of the acoustic lens 314. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the groove 220 has a concave shape in a cross section along the Y direction.

  The groove 220 is formed at least in the base sheet 212. Since the shape of the base sheet 212 hardly changes even when pressure is applied during measurement, the groove 220 can be prevented from being deformed. For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the second gel layer 214-2 is provided, the groove 220 is formed in the base sheet 212 and the second gel layer 214-2.

  FIG. 1C shows a modification of the first configuration example of the sheet 200. In this modification, the width WA of the opening of the groove 220 is larger than the width WB of the bottom of the groove 220. The width WA of the opening is the length in the Y direction of the opening opened on the surface of the groove 220 on the ultrasonic probe side. The width WB of the bottom surface is the length of the bottom surface facing the opening of the groove 220 in the Y direction.

  By doing so, it is possible to engage with acoustic lenses having various shapes of the ultrasonic probe, so that versatility of the sheet 200 can be enhanced. Note that the shape of the groove 220 is not limited to that shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C.

  2A and 2B show a second configuration example of the sheet 200 of the present embodiment. The sheet 200 of the second configuration example includes a base sheet 212, first and second gel layers 214-1 and 214-2, and a groove part 220 as the ultrasonic transmission medium 210. The seat 200 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and some of the components are omitted, replaced with other components, and other components are added. Various modifications of the above are possible.

  FIG. 2A is a view (top view) of the sheet 200 as viewed from the −Z direction side, that is, the side on which the ultrasonic probe is set during ultrasonic measurement. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the sheet 200 in the Y direction.

  The base sheet 212 and the first and second gel layers 214-1 and 214-2 are the same as those in the first configuration example (FIGS. 1A and 1B). Description is omitted.

  The groove 220 is provided on at least one sheet surface, and as will be described later, the acoustic lens 314 (FIGS. 5A and 5B) of the ultrasonic sensor unit 310 included in the ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic probe The grooves 220 can be engaged so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction. That is, the groove part 220 is a groove part that guides the sliding movement of the ultrasonic probe in the longitudinal direction of the sheet 200.

  The shape of the cross section in the direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the sheet 200 of the groove portion 220 is a shape corresponding to the shape of the cross section in the plane perpendicular to the scan direction or slice direction of the acoustic lens 314 of the ultrasonic sensor unit 310. is there. Specifically, the shape of the cross section in the Y direction of the groove portion 220 is the same as or substantially the same as the shape of the cross section of the acoustic lens 314 of the ultrasonic sensor unit 310 in the plane perpendicular to the scan direction or slice direction. The acoustic lens 314 has a shape that can be fitted to at least a part of the acoustic lens 314. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the groove 220 has a bottom surface including a concave curved surface having a curvature in the Y direction.

2. Ultrasonic Probe FIG. 3 shows a basic configuration example of an ultrasonic probe 300 used with the sheet 200 of the present embodiment. The ultrasonic probe 300 includes an ultrasonic sensor unit 310. The ultrasonic probe 300 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 3, and various modifications may be made such as omitting some of the components, replacing the components with other components, or adding other components. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a surface facing the subject at the time of measurement of the ultrasonic probe 300 is a sensor surface 320, the longitudinal direction of the sensor surface 320 is the X direction, and the direction orthogonal to the X direction is the Y direction, the X direction, and the Y direction. The direction that is orthogonal to the direction and faces the subject at the time of measurement is defined as a Z direction.

  The sensor surface 320 is one of the surfaces that form the outer surface of the housing of the ultrasonic probe 300, and is a surface that faces the subject side during ultrasonic measurement. The sensor surface 320 may be a flat surface or a curved surface. The sensor surface 320 has, for example, a long shape or a rectangular shape in a plan view viewed from the Z direction side. The longitudinal direction of the sensor surface 320 is, for example, a direction along the length direction when the sensor surface 320 has a long shape in plan view, and a long side when the sensor surface 320 has a rectangular shape in plan view. It is the direction along. The sensor surface 320 may be, for example, an ellipse shape in plan view or a shape close thereto, or a shape in which four corners of a rectangle are cut out in plan view, or a shape close thereto.

  The ultrasonic sensor unit 310 includes an ultrasonic transducer device (not shown), transmits ultrasonic waves to the subject (target object), and receives ultrasonic echoes from the subject. The ultrasonic sensor unit 310 is provided on the sensor surface 320 so that the scan direction or slice direction of the ultrasonic transducer device is along the Y direction. Details of the ultrasonic transducer device will be described later.

  FIGS. 4A and 4B show measurement examples using the first configuration example of the sheet 200 (FIGS. 1A and 1B). 4A is a diagram viewed from the −Z direction side, that is, the side opposite to the sensor surface 320, and FIG. 4B is a diagram viewed from the −X direction side.

  The groove part 220 engages with the acoustic lens 314 of the ultrasonic sensor part 310 of the ultrasonic probe 300. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the groove 220 is fitted to the acoustic lens 314 of the ultrasonic sensor unit 310, so that the movement of the ultrasonic probe 300 in the Y direction relative to the subject can be limited. That is, the groove 220 can guide the sliding movement of the ultrasonic probe in the longitudinal direction of the sheet 200.

  Although not shown, a modified example of the first configuration example (FIG. 1C) can be used as the sheet 200.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B show a first measurement example using the second configuration example (FIGS. 2A and 2B) of the sheet 200. FIG. 5A is a view seen from the −Z direction side, that is, the opposite side of the sensor surface 320, and FIG. 5B is a view seen from the −X direction side.

  The groove part 220 engages with the acoustic lens 314 of the ultrasonic sensor part 310 of the ultrasonic probe 300 as in the case of the first configuration example shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B). For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the groove 220 is fitted to the acoustic lens 314 of the ultrasonic sensor unit 310, so that the movement of the ultrasonic probe 300 in the Y direction with respect to the subject can be limited. That is, the groove 220 can guide the sliding movement of the ultrasonic probe in the longitudinal direction of the sheet 200.

  6A and 6B show a second measurement example using the second configuration example of the sheet 200 (FIGS. 2A and 2B). 6A is a diagram viewed from the −Z direction side, that is, the side opposite to the sensor surface 320, and FIG. 6B is a diagram viewed from the −X direction side.

  In the second measurement example, the ultrasonic sensor unit 310 is provided so that the scan direction is parallel to the X direction. The shape of the cross section of the groove portion 220 in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the sheet 200 is a shape corresponding to the shape of the cross section of a surface (surface along the Y direction) perpendicular to the scanning direction of the acoustic lens 314 of the ultrasonic sensor unit 310. is there. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, the acoustic lens 314 has a shape formed of a part of a cylinder having a cylindrical axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the ultrasonic sensor unit 310. The cross-sectional shape of the groove 220 is a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the scanning direction of a part of the cylinder.

  By fitting the groove 220 with the acoustic lens 314 of the ultrasonic sensor unit 310, the movement of the ultrasonic probe 300 in the Y direction with respect to the subject can be restricted. That is, the groove 220 can guide the sliding movement of the ultrasonic probe with the longitudinal direction of the sheet 200 as the scanning direction. A plurality of ultrasonic images can be easily acquired by performing ultrasonic measurement while moving the ultrasonic probe 300 in the scanning direction along the trajectory defined by the sheet 200. As a result, for example, it is possible to obtain an ultrasonic panoramic image along a desired trajectory.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the ultrasonic probe 300 guided by the sheet 200. The longitudinal direction of the sheet 200 is the X direction.

  As described above, the groove 220 of the sheet 200 fixed to the subject engages with the acoustic lens 314 of the ultrasonic probe 300 to guide the sliding movement of the ultrasonic probe in the longitudinal direction of the sheet 200.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the user fixes the sheet 200 to the diagnosis target region (region of interest) of the subject, and sets the ultrasonic probe 300 thereon. At this time, the scan direction or the slice direction is set along the Y direction. Although the movement of the ultrasonic probe 300 in the Y direction is limited, the movement in the X direction is not limited. That is, the ultrasonic probe 300 can freely move in the longitudinal direction of the sheet 200. As a result, the ultrasonic probe 300 can be reliably moved along the trajectory defined by the sheet 200. In addition, since the sheet 200 can be fixed according to the shape of the subject, the ultrasonic probe 300 can be accurately moved according to the shape of various measurement parts, the body shape of the subject, and the like.

  As described above, according to the sheet 200 of this embodiment, the groove 220 is engaged with the acoustic lens 314 of the ultrasonic probe 300, thereby guiding the sliding movement of the ultrasonic probe 300 in the longitudinal direction of the sheet 200. be able to. As a result, it is possible to easily obtain a plurality of ultrasonic images while moving the ultrasonic probe accurately along the trajectory defined by the sheet with a simple configuration. Furthermore, an ultrasonic panoramic image or a three-dimensional ultrasonic image can be obtained based on the plurality of ultrasonic images acquired in this way.

3. Ultrasonic Transducer Device The ultrasonic sensor unit 310 of the ultrasonic probe 300 used with the sheet 200 of this embodiment includes an ultrasonic transducer device 312. 8A and 8B show a basic configuration example of the ultrasonic transducer element 10 (thin film piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer element) included in the ultrasonic transducer device 312. FIG. The ultrasonic transducer element 10 of the present embodiment includes a vibration film 42 and a piezoelectric element part. The piezoelectric element section includes a first electrode layer 21, a piezoelectric film 30, and a second electrode layer 22. In addition, the ultrasonic transducer element 10 of this embodiment is not limited to the structure of FIG. 8 (A) and FIG. 8 (B), a part of the component may be omitted or replaced with another component, Various modifications such as adding other components are possible.

  FIG. 8A is a plan view of the ultrasonic transducer element 10 formed on the substrate 60 (silicon substrate) as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the substrate on the element formation surface side. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section along A-A ′ of FIG.

  The first electrode layer 21 (lower electrode) is formed, for example, as a metal thin film on the vibration film 42. The first electrode layer 21 may be a wiring that extends to the outside of the element formation region and is connected to the adjacent ultrasonic transducer element 10 as shown in FIG.

The piezoelectric film 30 (piezoelectric layer) is formed of, for example, a PZT (lead zirconate titanate) thin film, and is provided so as to cover at least a part of the first electrode layer 21. The material of the piezoelectric film 30 is not limited to PZT. For example, lead titanate (PbTiO ₃ ), lead zirconate (PbZrO ₃ ), lead lanthanum titanate ((Pb, La) TiO ₃ ), etc. May be used.

  The second electrode layer 22 (upper electrode) is formed of, for example, a metal thin film, and is provided so as to cover at least a part of the piezoelectric film 30. The second electrode layer 22 may be a wiring that extends to the outside of the element formation region and is connected to the adjacent ultrasonic transducer element 10 as shown in FIG.

The vibration film 42 (membrane) is provided so as to close the opening 45 by a two-layer structure of, for example, a SiO ₂ thin film and a ZrO ₂ thin film. The vibration film 42 supports the piezoelectric film 30 and the first and second electrode layers 21 and 22 and can vibrate according to the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric film 30 to generate ultrasonic waves.

  The opening 45 is disposed in the substrate 60. The cavity region 40 by the opening 45 is formed by etching by reactive ion etching (RIE) or the like from the back surface (surface on which no element is formed) side of the substrate 60. The resonance frequency of the ultrasonic wave is determined by the size of the vibrating film 42 that can be vibrated by the formation of the hollow region 40, and the ultrasonic wave is directed to the piezoelectric film 30 side (from the back to the front in FIG. 8A). Radiated.

  The lower electrode of the ultrasonic transducer element 10 is formed by the first electrode layer 21, and the upper electrode is formed by the second electrode layer 22. Specifically, a portion of the first electrode layer 21 covered with the piezoelectric film 30 forms a lower electrode, and a portion of the second electrode layer 22 covering the piezoelectric film 30 forms an upper electrode. . That is, the piezoelectric film 30 is provided between the lower electrode and the upper electrode.

  The piezoelectric film 30 expands and contracts in the in-plane direction when a voltage is applied between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, that is, between the first electrode layer 21 and the second electrode layer 22. The ultrasonic transducer element 10 uses a monomorph (unimorph) structure in which a thin piezoelectric element portion and a vibration film 42 are bonded together. When the piezoelectric element portion expands and contracts in the plane, the dimensions of the bonded vibration film 42 are as follows. As it is, warping occurs. Therefore, by applying an AC voltage to the piezoelectric film 30, the vibration film 42 vibrates in the film thickness direction, and ultrasonic waves are emitted by the vibration of the vibration film 42. The voltage applied to the piezoelectric film 30 is, for example, 10 to 30 V, and the frequency is, for example, 1 to 10 MHz.

  The driving voltage of the bulk ultrasonic transducer element is about 100 V from peak to peak, whereas in the thin film piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer element as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, driving is performed. The voltage can be reduced from the peak to about 10 to 30 V from the peak.

  The ultrasonic transducer element 10 also operates as a receiving element that receives an ultrasonic echo that is returned when the emitted ultrasonic wave is reflected by an object. The vibration film 42 is vibrated by the ultrasonic echo, and pressure is applied to the piezoelectric film 30 by this vibration, and a voltage is generated between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. This voltage can be taken out as a received signal.

  FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of the ultrasonic transducer device 312 included in the ultrasonic probe 300. The ultrasonic transducer device 312 of this configuration example includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements 10 arranged in an array, first to n-th (n is an integer of 2 or more) drive electrode lines DL1 to DLn, first To m-th (m is an integer of 2 or more) common electrode lines CL1 to CLm. FIG. 9 shows a case where m = 8 and n = 12, as an example, but other values may be used. Note that the ultrasonic transducer device 312 of the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration in FIG. 9, and some of the components are omitted, replaced with other components, or other components are added. Various modifications are possible.

  The plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements 10 are arranged in a matrix of m rows and n columns. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, it is arranged in 8 rows in the X direction and 12 columns in the Y direction intersecting the X direction. The ultrasonic transducer element 10 can be configured as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, for example.

  The first to twelfth (nth in a broad sense) drive electrode lines DL1 to DL12 are wired in the X direction. Among the first to twelfth drive electrode lines DL1 to DL12, the jth drive electrode line DLj (j is an integer satisfying 1 ≦ j ≦ 12) is the ultrasonic transducer element 10 arranged in the jth column. Is connected to the first electrode of the.

  During a transmission period in which ultrasonic waves are emitted, first to twelfth transmission signals VT1 to VT12 output from a transmission unit 110 described later are supplied to each ultrasonic transducer element 10 via the drive electrode lines DL1 to DL12. . In the reception period for receiving the ultrasonic echo signal, the reception signals VR1 to VR12 from the ultrasonic transducer element 10 are output to the receiving unit 120 described later via the drive electrode lines DL1 to DL12.

  The first to eighth (mth in a broad sense) common electrode lines CL1 to CL8 are wired in the Y direction. The second electrode of the ultrasonic transducer element 10 is connected to any one of the first to mth common electrode lines CL1 to CLm. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the i-th common electrode line CLi (i is an integer satisfying 1 ≦ i ≦ 8) among the first to eighth common electrode lines CL1 to CL8 is It is connected to the second electrode of each ultrasonic transducer element 10 arranged in the i row.

  A common voltage VCOM is supplied to the first to eighth common electrode lines CL1 to CL8. The common voltage may be a constant DC voltage, and may not be 0 V, that is, the ground potential (ground potential).

  For example, for the ultrasonic transducer element 10 in the first row and first column, the first electrode is connected to the drive electrode line DL1, and the second electrode is connected to the first common electrode line CL1. For example, for the ultrasonic transducer element 10 in the fourth row and sixth column, the first electrode is connected to the sixth drive electrode line DL6, and the second electrode is connected to the fourth common electrode line CL4. The

  The arrangement of the ultrasonic transducer elements 10 is not limited to the matrix arrangement of m rows and n columns shown in FIG. For example, a so-called staggered arrangement in which m ultrasonic transducer elements 10 are arranged in odd-numbered rows and m−1 ultrasonic transducer elements 10 are arranged in even-numbered rows may be used.

  The elements included in the ultrasonic transducer device 312 are not limited to the above-described thin film piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer elements, and may be, for example, bulk piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer elements, or capacitive micromachined ultrasonic waves. It may be a transducer element (CMUT: Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer).

4). Ultrasonic Measurement System FIG. 10 shows a basic configuration example of the ultrasonic measurement system 400 of the present embodiment. The ultrasonic measurement system 400 includes a sheet 200, an ultrasonic probe 300, a transmission unit 110, a reception unit 120, a processing unit 130, and a display unit 410.

  Since the ultrasonic probe 300 has already been described, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  The transmission unit 110 performs ultrasonic transmission processing. Specifically, the transmission unit 110 outputs a transmission signal (drive signal) to the ultrasonic probe 300, and the ultrasonic transducer device 312 included in the ultrasonic probe 300 converts the transmission signal, which is an electrical signal, into ultrasonic waves. And an ultrasonic wave is radiate | emitted with respect to a target object. At least a part of the transmission unit 110 may be provided in the ultrasonic probe 300.

  The receiving unit 120 performs ultrasonic echo reception processing. Specifically, the ultrasonic transducer device 312 included in the ultrasonic probe 300 converts an ultrasonic echo from an object into an electrical signal. The reception unit 120 performs reception processing such as amplification, detection, A / D conversion, and phase alignment on the reception signal (analog signal) that is an electrical signal from the ultrasonic transducer device 312, and the signal after the reception processing The received signal (digital data) is output to the processing unit 130. At least a part of the receiving unit 120 may be provided in the ultrasonic probe 300.

  The processing unit 130 performs control processing for ultrasonic measurement, image data generation processing based on a reception signal from the reception unit 120, and the like. The generated image data is output to the display unit 410.

  The display unit 410 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and displays display image data from the processing unit 130.

  11A and 11B show a specific configuration example of the ultrasonic measurement system 400. FIG. FIG. 11A shows a portable ultrasonic measurement system 400, and FIG. 11B shows a stationary ultrasonic measurement system 400.

  The ultrasonic probe 300 is connected to the ultrasonic measurement system main body by a cable 350. The display unit 410 displays display image data.

  As described above, according to the sheet 200 and the ultrasonic measurement system 400 of the present embodiment, it is simple to acquire a plurality of ultrasonic images while accurately moving the ultrasonic probe along a predetermined trajectory. Easy to do with the configuration. Furthermore, an ultrasonic panoramic image can be obtained based on the plurality of ultrasonic images acquired in this way.

  Although the present embodiment has been described in detail as described above, it will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications can be made without departing from the novel matters and effects of the present invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included in the scope of the present invention. For example, a term described at least once together with a different term having a broader meaning or the same meaning in the specification or the drawings can be replaced with the different term in any part of the specification or the drawings. Further, the configuration and operation of the sheet and the ultrasonic measurement system are not limited to those described in the present embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

10 ultrasonic transducer elements, 21 first electrode layer (lower electrode),
22 second electrode layer (upper electrode), 30 piezoelectric film (piezoelectric layer), 40 cavity region,
42 vibrating membrane, 45 aperture, 60 substrate,
110 transmission unit, 120 reception unit, 130 processing unit, 200 sheets,
210 ultrasonic transmission medium, 212 base sheet, 214-1, 214-2 gel layer,
220, 220-1, 220-2 groove, 300 ultrasonic probe,
310 ultrasonic sensor unit, 312 ultrasonic transducer device,
314 acoustic lens, 320 sensor surface, 350 cable,
400 Ultrasonic measurement system, 410 Display unit

Claims (10)

A sheet used by being disposed between an ultrasonic probe and a subject,
An ultrasonic transmission medium;
Including a groove provided on at least one sheet surface,
The groove is capable of engaging with an acoustic lens of an ultrasonic sensor unit included in the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic probe so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the groove. In claim 1,
The sheet is characterized in that the groove is a groove that guides the sliding movement of the ultrasonic probe in the longitudinal direction of the sheet. In claim 1 or 2,
The groove is provided in a longitudinal direction of the sheet. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3,
The width | variety of the opening of the said groove part is larger than the width | variety of the bottom face of the said groove part, The sheet | seat characterized by the above-mentioned. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4,
The groove portion has a bottom surface including a concave curved surface having a curvature in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the sheet. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5,
A shape of a cross section of the groove portion in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the sheet is a shape corresponding to a shape of a cross section in a plane perpendicular to the scanning direction of the acoustic lens of the ultrasonic sensor portion. Sheet. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 6.
The ultrasonic transmission medium is
A base sheet as a base material;
The sheet | seat characterized by including the 1st gel layer provided in the sheet | seat surface on the opposite side to the sheet | seat surface in which the said groove part of the said base sheet was provided. In claim 7,
The ultrasonic transmission medium is
The sheet | seat characterized by further including the 2nd gel layer provided in the sheet | seat surface in which the said groove part of the said base sheet was provided. In claim 7 or 8,
The groove is formed on at least the base sheet. An ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic sensor unit;
Including a sheet capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic sensor unit to a subject,
The ultrasonic sensor unit has an acoustic lens,
The ultrasonic measurement system, wherein the sheet includes a groove portion that engages the acoustic lens so that the ultrasonic probe can slide.

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