KR20110003057A - Ultrasonic Probes and Ultrasonic Diagnostics - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: By together including the first transducer and the second transducer having the different frequency the ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic equipment selectively use the function of wanting of user. CONSTITUTION: A first transducer(120) partitions the first piezoelectric(122) on the first backing material(126) in order to include a plurality of piezoelectric elements. The second transducer(130) comprises the second piezoelectric(132) which forms a plurality of piezoelectric elements on the second backing material(136) in order to have the first transducer and the other frequency.

Description

Ultrasonic Probe and Ultrasonic Diagnostic Apparatus

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe used for transmitting ultrasonic waves to a subject such as a living body or receiving ultrasonic waves from a subject, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which the ultrasonic probe is applied.

In general, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus irradiates ultrasonic waves into a subject of a living body such as a human or an animal, detects an echo signal reflected in the living body, and displays a tomogram of the tissue in the living body on a monitor. Provide the necessary information.

At this time, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe for transmitting ultrasonic waves into the subject and receiving an echo signal from the subject.

In addition, the ultrasonic probe is mounted therein and includes a transducer for converting an ultrasonic signal and an electrical signal. In general, the transducer includes a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators.

Therefore, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having such a configuration radiates an ultrasonic wave to a subject, converts the reflected ultrasonic signal into an electrical signal, and transmits the image to an image processing apparatus, and then transmits the image through the signal received from the image processing apparatus. Create

Ultrasonic vibrators using such ultrasonic pores have been usefully used for medical purposes such as the detection of foreign substances in living organisms, the measurement of the degree of injury, the observation of tumors and the observation of fetuses.

In ultrasound diagnosis, it is easy to obtain good azimuth decomposition performance with a high frequency, but ultrasonic waves are attenuated, and an ultrasonic wave with a relatively low frequency is easy to reach a deep part, but azimuth decomposition performance is easily deteriorated.

Therefore, the user needs to use a probe that is suitable for the test, and there is a hassle to use a different probe depending on the intended use.

Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of using a probe having a desired function without replacing the probe.

In addition, as a useful method for diagnosing tumors, a dedicated probe for diagnosing elastic imaging, which has recently been spotlighted, generates low vibration (several KHz ~ hundreds of kHz) to give pressure in the human body stepwise to create a difference in deformation between tumor and human tissue. It is to realize the image using high frequency (MHz).

As a specific means for solving the above object, the present invention includes a first transducer for dividing the piezoelectric body on the first backing material to be provided with a plurality of piezoelectric elements; And a second transducer having a plurality of piezoelectric elements formed on a second backing material to have a frequency different from that of the first transducer, wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are mutually different. It may be characterized by being formed by bonding.

Particularly, in order to make a low frequency (vibration) necessary for implementing an elastic image diagnosis-only probe, a piezoelectric element of a bulk type may be provided instead of an array of piezoelectric elements, and a first backing material may be provided under the piezoelectric element. 1 transducer; And a second transducer having a plurality of piezoelectric element arrays formed on the second backing material to have a high frequency.

In addition, at least one of the first transducer or the second transducer of the ultrasonic probe according to the present invention may have a frequency band of approximately 20 Hz to 500 kHz.

In addition, at least one of the first piezoelectric body or the second piezoelectric body of the ultrasonic probe according to the present invention may be formed to be spaced apart from each other by about 0.03 mm to 0.05 mm.

In addition, the ultrasonic probe according to the present invention may further include a switch unit for controlling the first transducer and the second transducer.

In addition, in the ultrasonic probe according to the present invention, the switch unit may operate at least one of the first transducer or the second transducer, and may simultaneously drive two transducers when the elastic image is implemented. can do.

Further, in the ultrasonic probe according to the present invention, the first piezoelectric body and the second piezoelectric body may have a linear arrangement in which sound waves are scanned in a fixed direction.

In addition, in the ultrasonic probe according to the present invention, the first piezoelectric body and the second piezoelectric body may have a phase arrangement in which sound waves may be steered according to depth and direction.

In addition, the ultrasonic probe according to the present invention may further include a third transducer attached to the second piezoelectric side by side and scanning a different frequency from the second piezoelectric body.

In addition, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a first transducer for dividing the piezoelectric body on the first backing material so that a plurality of piezoelectric elements are provided; And a second transducer having a frequency different from that of the first transducer, wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are bonded to each other; A driver for receiving and transmitting a sound wave signal provided from the ultrasonic probe; And an image processor for generating an image corresponding to the sound wave signal.

The first backing material and the second backing material may attenuate sound waves of the plurality of piezoelectric elements.

In addition, at least one of the first transducer or the second transducer of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for elastic imaging according to the present invention may have a frequency band of approximately 20 Hz to 500 kHz.

In addition, at least one of the first piezoelectric body or the second piezoelectric body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention may be formed to be spaced apart from each other by about 0.03 mm to 0.05 mm.

In addition, the first piezoelectric body and the second piezoelectric body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention may have an arrangement in which sound waves are scanned in a fixed direction.

In addition, the first piezoelectric body and the second piezoelectric body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention may have a phase arrangement in which sound waves are scanned according to depth and direction.

In addition, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention may further include a third transducer attached to the second piezoelectric side by side and scanning a different frequency from the second piezoelectric body.

In addition, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention may further include a system body including a switch unit for controlling the first transducer and the second transducer.

Since the ultrasonic probe according to the present invention includes a first transducer and a second transducer having different frequencies, the user may selectively use a desired function, thereby providing convenience at the time of diagnosis.

In addition, the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention form a plurality of piezoelectric elements using one piezoelectric body, and attach the plurality of piezoelectric elements to one backing material, thereby making the operation easier.

In addition, the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, instead of a method of changing the pressure by hand, the transducer having a low frequency to give a pressure change using the sound waves of the low frequency, at the same time from the transducer having a high frequency to the ultrasonic wave Since the image is implemented, the reproducibility of the image is improved when the elastic image is diagnosed.

The ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described in detail a specific embodiment of the present invention.

However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention may deteriorate other inventions or the present invention by adding, modifying, or deleting other elements within the scope of the same idea. Other embodiments that fall within the scope of the inventive concept may be readily proposed, but they will also be included within the scope of the inventive concept.

1 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram for explaining the driving of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of Figure 1 4 is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of the probe, and FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the ultrasonic transducer accommodated inside the ultrasonic probe of FIG. 3.

1 and 2, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes an ultrasound probe 100, a controller 103, a driver 101, an image processor 102, and a display device 104. .

The controller 103 may output a command signal to the driver 101 causing the ultrasonic probe 100 to transmit ultrasonic waves for imaging.

In addition, the controller 103 may include various storage devices such as a semiconductor memory or a hard disk drive. Therefore, the image data transmitted from the image processing unit 102 can be stored.

In this case, the controller 103 may also store various parameters such as a program for operating the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, a sound line used in the program, and a distance to a photographing target.

The driving unit 101 may be realized by using an electric / electronic circuit, and generates and transmits a driving signal for driving the ultrasound pro unit 100 to form a sound line in response to a command signal from the control unit 103.

In addition, the driving unit 101 outputs an echo signal regarding the information of the subject generated by the ultrasound probe 100 to the image processing unit 102.

The image processing unit 102 generates an image of the subject based on the transmitted echo signal, and instructs the display device 104 to display the generated image in response to an instruction of the control unit 103. In this case, the display device 104 may be applied to a CRT, a liquid crystal display panel, or the like.

3 and 4, the ultrasound probe 100 includes a body 110, a first transducer 120, a second transducer 130, and a switch unit 140.

The body 110 is formed to receive the first transducer 120 and the second transducer 130 therein, and is preferably manufactured in a shape convenient for general users to hold and operate by hand. However, the shape of the body 110 may be designed in various ways depending on the intention of the designer.

In this case, the front of the body 110 is partially open so that ultrasonic waves are generated from the first transducer 120 and the second transducer 130, and the rear of the body 110, the first transducer 120 and the second The external device and the cable 112 may be connected to each other so as to transmit a signal provided from the transducer 130 to the outside.

In addition, the first transducer 120 is attached in parallel with the second transducer 130, and adheres to each other by applying an adhesive such as an adhesive epoxy between the second transducer 130. However, the material of the adhesive is not limited thereto.

The first transducer 120 has a different frequency specification from that of the second transducer 130, and in this embodiment, may have a low frequency band of approximately 20 Hz to 500 kHz. However, the first transducer 120 and the second transducer 130 may be used interchangeably. In addition, the low frequency band may be in the range of approximately tens of Hz to several hundred kHz.

In addition, the first transducer 120 may include a first piezoelectric body 122 formed of a single body, and the first piezoelectric body 122 may be divided into a plurality of first piezoelectric elements 124. have.

Specifically, the first transducer 120 may not be generally used for ultrasound imaging but may be used as a medical device capable of generating vibration. However, it is not limited thereto.

The second transducer 130 is similarly attached to the first transducer 120 and includes a second piezoelectric member 132 in a linear arrangement in which sound waves travel in a fixed direction, and the second piezoelectric member 132 ) May be divided into a plurality of second piezoelectric elements 134.

At this time, the image displayed on the screen is rectangular in size and proportional to the length of the probe, and may be usefully used for breast, thyroid, and skeletal examination, which are superficial organs.

The switch unit 140 is electrically connected to the second transducer 130 and the first transducer 120, and may selectively control the operations of the second transducer 130 and the first transducer 120. have.

In this case, the switch 140 may be designed to operate at least one of the second transducer 130 or the first transducer 120 according to the angle at which the ultrasonic probe 100 contacts the body. However, the switch unit 140 is not limited to this function, and may be freely designed according to the intention of the designer.

The display apparatus may further include a matching part 129 formed on the top surfaces of the second piezoelectric body 132 and the first piezoelectric body 122, respectively.

The matching unit 129 is installed to transmit and receive into the subject to improve the efficiency of the ultrasonic wave generated from the piezoelectric body, and more specifically, serves to bring the acoustic impedance of the piezoelectric body closer to the acoustic impedance of the subject.

In addition, an acoustic lens (not shown) may be formed on the front surface of the matching unit 129, and the acoustic lens (not shown) may identify ultrasonic waves generated forward from the second piezoelectric body 132 and the first piezoelectric body 122. It focuses on the branch.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating dividing a piezoelectric body in an ultrasonic probe according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the first piezoelectric element 124 may be manufactured by dicing the first piezoelectric body 122 according to a specific design (a), and the first piezoelectric body 122 manufactured in this manner may be One transducer may be manufactured by adhering to the first backing material 126.

In this case, the first piezoelectric element 124 may be formed by varying the depth of the groove according to the intention of the designer because the frequencies generated are different from each other according to the depth of the groove to be formed.

Specifically, the first piezoelectric body 122 may be formed to be spaced apart from each other by about 0.03 mm to 0.05 mm.

However, dividing and manufacturing a plurality of piezoelectric elements is not limited to this method, and the piezoelectric elements may be formed by pressing a piezoelectric element with a metal mold to form a gap between the piezoelectric elements, and thus the piezoelectric elements may be manufactured by various methods.

The first piezoelectric material 122 may be formed of a piezoelectric ceramic such as a piezoelectric element (PZT) system, a single crystal, a piezoelectric material of a polymer represented by a composite piezoelectric material in which the material and the polymer are combined, and the like.

Accordingly, the first piezoelectric body 122 converts the voltage into ultrasonic waves and transmits the ultrasonic wave into the inspected object or converts the echo reflected from the inspected object into an electrical signal.

Likewise, since the second piezoelectric member 132 may also be formed in the same manner as the first piezoelectric member 122, a detailed description thereof may be omitted.

In addition, the first backing material 126 and the second backing material 136 are positioned behind the first piezoelectric material 122 and the second piezoelectric material 132, and the first piezoelectric material 122 and the second piezoelectric material 132 are formed. The beam is absorbed in order to prevent noise from being generated by the beam generated at.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view illustrating bonding of a first transducer and a second transducer to each other according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 illustrates AA of the first transducer and the second transducer in FIG. 6. It is a schematic sectional drawing in a cross direction.

Referring to FIG. 6, the second transducer 130 and the first transducer 120 are close to each other to bond each other (b).

In addition, the second electrode unit 138 is disposed between the second piezoelectric member 132 and the second backing member 136 to be electrically connected to the second piezoelectric member 122 and the first backing member 126. It further comprises a switch unit 140 for electrically connecting the first electrode 128.

The second electrode part 138 and the first electrode part 128 may apply a driving voltage to the piezoelectric body, and may be formed of a metal foil such as copper foil to perform such a role. However, the second electrode portion 138 and the first electrode portion 128 are not limited to these materials.

Referring to FIG. 7, the ultrasonic wave B generated by the second transducer 130 goes straight, and the ultrasonic wave B generated by the first transducer 120 adhered to the second transducer 130 also goes straight. One or two transducers will have different frequencies. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the two transducers may have sound waves that rotate due to a phase difference from each other.

8 is a schematic perspective view for explaining an ultrasonic probe according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, in the first transducer 120, the first piezoelectric body 122 is formed in a bulk shape, and the first piezoelectric body 122 has a low frequency band of about 20 Hz to 500 kHz by the first piezoelectric body 122 formed in such a shape. Transducer 120 may be implemented. In this case, since the low frequency band may be changed according to its thickness, the first piezoelectric member 122 may be designed by selecting its thickness according to the intention of the designer.

However, the first transducer 120 is not limited to the piezoelectric element but may include a vibration member that generates a low frequency by vibrating by an electrical signal such as a vibration motor.

Accordingly, one ultrasonic probe may be manufactured by bonding the first transducer 120 having the low frequency band and the second transducer 130 having the high frequency band as shown in FIG. 8.

Therefore, the ultrasonic probe according to the present exemplary embodiment may be provided with the first transducer 120 and the second transducer 130 together to selectively use a desired function, thereby providing convenience at the time of diagnosis.

In addition, the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment form a plurality of piezoelectric elements by using one second piezoelectric element 132 and the first piezoelectric element 122, respectively, and the plurality of piezoelectric elements as one backing material. It is easier to work because the product is completed by attaching to.

In addition, in the case of the elastic image, while pressing and releasing the probe by hand in the past, the pressure is changed to the human body, and at the same time, the image is realized with only one high frequency. This method has a disadvantage in that the image reproducibility is poor because the image comes out differently depending on the person pressing.

However, in the present embodiment, instead of a method of changing the pressure by hand, the pressure is changed by using a sound wave having a low frequency, and at the same time, the image is realized by ultrasonic waves using another ultrasonic transducer, so that the image is more reproducible. It works.

9 is a schematic perspective view illustrating ultrasonic transducers to describe an ultrasonic probe according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the first first transducer 220 is attached in parallel with the second transducer 230, and is coated with an adhesive such as an adhesive epoxy between the second transducer 230. Attach. However, the material of the adhesive is not limited thereto.

In addition, the third transducer 250 may be attached to the first transducer 220 to contact the outside thereof, and the third transducer 250 may be attached to the first transducer 220 and the first transducer 230. ) And different frequencies.

The switch unit 240 may selectively control the first, second, and third transducers 220, 230, and 250, and specifically, the first, second, and third transducers may be formed according to an angle at which the ultrasonic probe contacts the body. One of 220, 230, 250 may be designed to operate. However, the operation of the switch unit 240 is not limited thereto.

Therefore, the ultrasound probe according to the present embodiment may include the first to third transducers 220, 230, and 250 together to selectively use a function desired by the user, thereby providing convenience at the time of diagnosis.

1 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram for explaining driving of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 1.

3 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of an ultrasonic probe in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an ultrasonic transducer accommodated in the ultrasonic probe of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating dividing a piezoelectric body in an ultrasonic probe according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a schematic perspective view for explaining bonding the first transducer and the second transducer to each other according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the first transducer and the second transducer in FIG. 6 in the A-A direction.

8 is a schematic perspective view for explaining an ultrasonic probe according to another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a schematic perspective view illustrating ultrasonic transducers to describe an ultrasonic probe according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: ultrasonic probe 120: first transducer

130: second transducer 140: switch unit

Claims (17)

A first transducer for dividing the first piezoelectric body on the first backing material so that a plurality of piezoelectric elements are provided; And And a second transducer including a second piezoelectric body having a plurality of piezoelectric elements formed on a second backing material to have a frequency different from that of the first transducer. And the first transducer and the second transducer are bonded to each other. The method of claim 1, And the first transducer or the second transducer has a frequency band of approximately 20 Hz to 500 kHz. The method of claim 2, And the first transducer or the second transducer comprises a single piezoelectric element. The method of claim 1, And the first piezoelectric body or the second piezoelectric body are formed to be spaced apart from each other by about 0.03 mm to 0.05 mm. The method of claim 1, Ultrasonic probe further comprises a switch for controlling at least one of the first transducer and the second transducer. The method of claim 1, And the first piezoelectric body and the second piezoelectric body have a linear arrangement in which sound waves are scanned in a fixed direction. The method of claim 1, And the first piezoelectric body and the second piezoelectric body have a phased array in which sound waves are steerably scanned according to depth and direction. The method of claim 1, And a third transducer attached to the second transducer side by side and scanning a different frequency from the second piezoelectric body. A first transducer for dividing the first piezoelectric body on the first backing material so that a plurality of piezoelectric elements are provided; And a second transducer having a frequency different from that of the first transducer, wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are bonded to each other; A driver for receiving and transmitting a sound wave signal provided from the ultrasonic probe; And An image processor for generating an image corresponding to the sound wave signal; Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a. 10. The method of claim 9, The second transducer includes an oscillating member that vibrates by an electrical signal to generate a low frequency. 10. The method of claim 9, At least one of the first transducer and the second transducer has a frequency band of approximately 20 Hz to 500 kHz. The method of claim 11, And at least one of the first transducer and the second transducer comprises a single piezoelectric element. 10. The method of claim 9, At least one of the first piezoelectric member or the second piezoelectric member is formed so as to be spaced apart from each other by about 0.03 mm to 0.05 mm. 10. The method of claim 9, And the first piezoelectric body and the second piezoelectric body have a linear arrangement in which sound waves are scanned in a fixed direction. 10. The method of claim 9, And the first piezoelectric body and the second piezoelectric body have a phased array in which sound waves are steerably scanned according to depth and direction. 10. The method of claim 9, And a third transducer attached to the second transducer side by side and scanning a frequency different from that of the second piezoelectric body. 10. The method of claim 9, And a system body including a switch unit for controlling the first transducer and the second transducer.

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