JP2003310614A - Diagnostic equipment for breast by ultrasonic wave - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide diagnostic equipment for a breast by automatic operation by use of an ultrasonic wave. <P>SOLUTION: An end of a horizontal arm three-dimensionally perpendicular to a post is fixed to a rotatable block A installed near an erectly fixed post top part, a block B is movably fitted on the horizontal arm, a vertical rotary shaft having a colored luminous beam in the lower end is inserted through the block B such that the rotary shaft can rotate and vertically move, and the vicinity of the lower end of the rotary shaft is inserted through a block D integrated with a block C and is fixed to the block D. A pair of ax-like arms each having a slit, tiltably pinching an ultrasonic probe, is inserted through the block C along both side faces of the block D such that the arms have a prescribed angle and a prescribed length. The ax-like arms are temporarily fixed in the positions by a lever, and distance sensors in both ends of the ultrasonic probe interlock a rotary shaft vertically-moving motor and a ultrasonic probe inclining motor. Thereby, because management of an adhesion degree of the ultrasonic probe to breast skin and management of position information about an obtained image are automatically executed to properly diagnose the breast. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for a breast.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, mammography and an ultrasonic method have been most popular for breast image diagnosis. Mammography is a method that has attracted attention in Europe and the United States, although there is concern about the effects of X-rays on the living body. There is a big difference in breast size and age of breast cancer in Europe and the United States, and the peak breast cancer incidence in Japan is in the 40s, while in Europe and America it is 70.
There is a peak in the talented people. Mammography is a method of sandwiching the breasts with a crimping plate, so it is suitable for large breasts in Europe and the United States. It can be said that the method is rather suitable.

However, the ultrasonic method is not widely used in Japan. This is because it is difficult to perform quality control at the time of diagnosis. In other words, the ultrasonic method is to place the subject in the prone position and put the breast directly in the water to scan images with several ultrasonic probes and combine the images, and in the supine position, place the vinyl tank on the breast. There is a method to move the ultrasonic probe horizontally or arcuately, but in any case, because the breast is raised in a half-moon shape, the ultrasonic beam is incident on the skin surface of the breast with an inclination. However, there is a drawback that the ultrasonic wave is reflected in another direction different from the incident direction, which makes accuracy control difficult and hinders it.

Further, as a method without using a water tank, ultrasonic diagnosis of the breast by a nipple center radial scanning method has been proposed, but in the current situation where the scanning means of the ultrasonic probe must be manually operated, accuracy control is still required. Is difficult. This is because the breasts have various sizes and different shapes, and it is particularly difficult to set the breast horizontally.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, an ultrasonic probe is rotated automatically around the teat along the skin surface of the breast by an automatic operation to scan an ultrasonic beam and display an image of the inside of the breast. It is intended to provide a breast diagnostic device.

[0006]

Here, the inventor of the present invention supports the ultrasonic probe 6 via an arm having a predetermined inclination and length, and the height of the rotating shaft 4 having the center of rotation just above the nipple. And the inclination of the ultrasonic probe 6 are interlocked with sensors for the breast skin surface provided at both ends of the ultrasonic probe 6, and the ultrasonic probe 6 is rotated to rotate the breast skin including the nipple. The breast is divided into the inside and the outside of the surface and rotated in close contact with the skin surface of the breast, and the inside and outside images obtained by scanning the ultrasonic beam while displaying the rotation angle of the ultrasonic probe 6 are connected. He came to find an ultrasound breast diagnostic device that was designed to display the entire image.

As a specific example thereof, a rotatable block A3 mounted near the top of the upright fixed pillar 1.
A horizontal arm 2 that is three-dimensionally orthogonal to the support 1 is fixed to the block 1, a block B5 is movably fitted to the horizontal arm 2, and a vertical rotation shaft having a colored emission beam at the lower end with respect to the block B5. 4 rotatably and vertically movably inserted, the lower end of the rotary shaft 4 is inserted and fixed in a block D8 integrated with a block C8, and the ultrasonic probe 6 is sandwiched so as to be tiltable. Arm 7 is block D
9 is inserted into the block C8 along both side surfaces of the block D9 so as to have a predetermined length at a predetermined inclination angle, the axial arm 7 is temporarily fixed via the block D9, and the ultrasonic probe 6 The above-mentioned ultrasonic breast diagnosing device has been found in which the distance sensors 9 provided at both ends work together with the rotary shaft vertical movement motor 13 and the ultrasonic probe tilting motor 14.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An ultrasonic breast diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention supports an ultrasonic probe 6 through an arm having a predetermined inclination and length, and a rotary shaft 4 having a center of rotation just above the nipple. Of the ultrasonic probe 6 and the inclination of the ultrasonic probe 6 are interlocked with sensors for the breast skin surface provided at both ends of the ultrasonic probe 6, and the ultrasonic probe 6 includes the teat by rotation of the rotation shaft 4. The image is divided into the inside and outside of the breast skin surface and rotated in close contact with the breast skin surface, and while displaying the rotation angle of the ultrasonic probe 6, both the inside and outside images obtained by scanning the ultrasonic beam are connected. The image of the entire breast is displayed.

A specific example will be described below. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for breasts is constructed by fixing one end of a horizontal arm 2 that is three-dimensionally orthogonal to the support 1 to a rotatable block A3 mounted near the top of the support 1 that is fixed upright, and blocks the horizontal arm 2 on the horizontal arm 2. B5 is movably fitted, and a vertical rotation shaft 4 having a colored light emitting beam at the lower end is rotatably and vertically movable through the block B5.

Further, a block C is provided near the lower end of the rotary shaft 4.
8 is fixed to the block D9 integrated with the ultrasonic probe 6
The pair of slit-shaped axial arms 7 for sandwiching the slant is inserted into the block C8 along both side surfaces of the block D9 so as to have a predetermined length at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the block D9. A distance sensor 9 provided at both ends of the ultrasonic probe 6 is temporarily fixed by tightening a lever attached to the block D9 at a position intersecting with the rotary shaft 4.
The rotary shaft vertical movement motor 13 and the ultrasonic probe tilting motor 14 are interlocked with each other. In the above description, the operation is electric except for the movement of the horizontal arm 2 and the block B5, but it is also possible to make these manual parts electric.

In using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for the breast, the subject is in a supine position, using a pillow or a tilting bed, and a bowl with a level is placed on the breast so that the breast is Once the body position is adjusted to be approximately horizontal, the horizontal arm 2 whose one end is fixed to the block A3 is manually rotated, and the block B5 through which the horizontal arm 2 is inserted is manually moved to change the position. The colored emission beam from the rotary shaft 4 of the sound wave probe 6 is aligned with the center of the papilla, and the block A3 is fixed by the electromagnetic brake 11, and the block B5 is fixed by the electromagnetic brake (not shown). In addition to the colored light emitting beam, laser light having an output level of 1 or less, a reflecting mirror, or the like can be used for positioning.

The ultrasonic probe 6 is covered with a water bladder as a coupler 16, which is brought into contact with the breast coated with jelly and scanned. When the ultrasonic probe 6 is composed of 92 elements, the visual field width is about 62 mm.

In order to make the heights of both ends of the ultrasonic probe 6 in close contact with the surface of the breast skin, the motor 13 for moving the rotary shaft up and down on the side of the block B5, and the pair of axial arms 7 with slits. The ultrasonic probe tilting moters 14 at the one ends of the sandwiching parts of the above operate in conjunction with the distance sensor 10.
In addition to the distance sensor 10, a touch sensor, a pressure sensor, or the like can be used here. The ultrasonic probe 6 is required to have a considerable inclination in order to be in close contact with the breast skin surface. Therefore, the insertion angle of the pair of slit-shaped axial arms 7 with respect to the block D9 is fixed with respect to the block D9 so that the first stage of inclination is achieved and the second stage of inclination is distance. This is done by the operation of the ultrasonic probe tilting motor 14 that works in conjunction with the sensor 10, and the tilting range of the latter is approximately 0 to 30 degrees.

Since the ultrasonic probe 6 cannot cover the inclined curved surface of the breast skin surface by one, the inclination of the breast skin surface is divided into two parts, the inner surface and the outer surface, and the rotary shaft rotating motor 12 is used.
Rotation of the rotary shaft 4 causes the scanning to be performed. At that time, the ax-shaped arm moving motor 15 inserts the ax-shaped arm 7 into the block C8 along both side surfaces of the block D9 so as to have a predetermined turning radius. The rotating shaft 4 is rotated by a rotating shaft rotating motor 12 provided at the top of the rotating shaft 4, and the rotating speed is such that the ultrasonic probe 6 makes one rotation in 30 to 45 seconds. If the rotation is reversed, the length of the ultrasonic transmission / reception code can be saved.

From the ultrasonic probe 6 to the display of the sectional image, it is possible to use a commercially available ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (linear electronic scanning type). Since the flexibility of the cable is restricted, it is possible to separately prepare equipment that meets the desired conditions.
The cross-sectional angle of the breast can be shown in analog form at each angle position during rotation by using a pulse motor to rotate the ultrasonic probe 6, so that
If it is displayed together with the cross-sectional image, the diagnosis site can be analyzed. In addition to the pulse motor, the sectional angle of the breast is
It can also be displayed using an encoder or potentiometer.

As described above, the cross-sectional images of the breast by ultrasonic waves are recorded and displayed for each rotation of the inside and outside of the ultrasonic probe 6, and the boundaries of both are connected to form each cross-sectional image of the entire breast. Then, by displaying it, a fine breast diagnosis can be performed.

[0017]

The breast diagnosing device according to the present invention scans the ultrasonic probe, and the whole field of view of the ultrasonic probe based on the difference in the non-horizontal level of the breast and the size and shape of the breast depending on the subject. The inhibition of the degree of close contact with the skin is eliminated, and both the close contact and the position information of the obtained image are automatically managed with high accuracy, so that an appropriate diagnosis of the breast can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a breast diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 prop 2 horizontal arm 3 block A 4 rotation axes 5 block B 6 Ultrasonic probe 7 ax arm 8 blocks C 9 block D 10 distance sensor 11 Electromagnetic brake 12 Rotating shaft rotation motor 13 Motor for vertical movement of rotating shaft 14 Ultrasonic probe tilting motor 15 Axial arm movement motor 16 coupler

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 4C301 BB22 BB29 DD24 EE20 GD03                 4C601 BB05 BB06 BB09 BB12 BB16                       DD08 EE30 GA17 GA18 GA21                       GA22

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. The ultrasonic probe (6) is supported via an arm having a predetermined inclination and length, and the ultrasonic probe (6) has a height of a rotating shaft (4) having a rotation center just above the nipple and an ultrasonic probe (6). The tilt of 6) is interlocked with sensors for the breast skin surface provided at both ends of the ultrasonic probe (6), and the ultrasonic probe (6) is rotated to rotate the ultrasonic probe (6) to the breast including the nipple. The image is divided into the inside and outside of the skin surface, and the breast skin surface is brought into close contact with the breast surface and rotated, and the ultrasonic beam is scanned while displaying the rotation angle of the ultrasonic probe (6). Then, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for the breast that displays an image of the entire breast. 2. One end of a horizontal arm (2), which is three-dimensionally orthogonal to the column (1), is fixed to a rotatable block A (3) mounted near the top of the column (1) fixed upright. , The block B (5) is movably fitted to the horizontal arm (2), and the vertical rotation shaft (4) having a colored light emitting beam at the lower end is rotatably and vertically movable through the block B (5). The block C near the lower end of the rotary shaft (4).
A pair of slit-shaped axial arms (7), which are inserted into and fixed to a block D (9) integrated with (8) and sandwich the ultrasonic probe (6) in a tiltable manner, are provided to the block D (9). Block D to have a predetermined length at a predetermined tilt angle
It is inserted into the block C (8) along both side surfaces of (9), the axial arm (7) is temporarily fixed through the block D (9), and is provided at both ends of the ultrasonic probe (6). The distance sensor (10) is adapted to interlock a motor (13) for vertical movement of the rotary shaft and a motor (14) for tilting the ultrasonic probe.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for a breast according to the description.