Abstract:
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasonic probe transmitting and receiving ultrasound toward and from a subject, a puncture adaptor configured to be fixed to the ultrasonic probe and to hold a puncture needle, wherein the puncture adaptor has moving part movable in relation to the ultrasonic probe with the puncture needle, and a sensor provided at the ultrasonic probe, and configured to detect the position of the moving part. As the puncture needle is moved relative to the probe, the movable part is correspondingly moved relative to the probe, and movement of the movable part, and therefore also of the puncture needle, is detected by the sensor.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-233308, filed on Aug. 11 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is often used for puncture. In this case, an operator watches a monitor display of an ultrasound image of a live body and a puncture needle, and insertion of the puncture needle. In the puncture operation, a puncture adapter is often used, and a puncture guide marker is displayed on the monitor to serve as a direction guide to assist an operator during needle insertion. In one puncture method, a puncture adaptor is fixed at a predetermined position of an ultrasonic probe body. In this method, an operator must read an angle value by watching a scale on the adaptor, and set the angle value for displaying the angle of the puncture marker of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. This setting enables display of the puncture guide image with an ultrasonic image on the display monitor. In this technique, which entails operator&#39;s reading and setting, an operator perform angle reading and setting every time the operator changes an angle of the puncture needle. This is complicated for the operator.  
         [0003]     In another method, the above mentioned angle of the puncture needle guide is detected by a sensor set by the puncture guide, and the detected angle is delivered to a processing unit in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. (For example, see JP2004-305535A.) The sensor detecting the angle of the puncture needle guide is provided near a part moving in accordance with the changing angle of the puncture needle, (for example, see  FIG. 6  or  FIG. 7  in JP2004-305535A) and the sensor detects the angle indirectly or directly. In this method, the puncture marker image displayed on the monitor is automatically changed in accordance with the detected angle.  
         [0004]     However the puncture adaptor is often removably constructed so that operator can mount and remove it from a standard ultrasonic probe. In this case, provision must be made for delivering detected signal to the apparatus body. For example, in the case that probe cables double as the connection to apparatus body, a connection structure such as a connecter connecting to the ultrasonic probe and a cable leaded from the puncture adaptor is necessary. On the other hand, in the case that another cable is connected to the apparatus body, the increasing number of cables adversely impact operability, and providing a new connecter for puncture is needed.  
         [0005]     Because a guiding portion of the puncture adaptor guides a needle inserted into a body, body fluid and body tissues adhere to the guides. In this situation, the guiding portion must be easily disinfected and sterilized or must be disposable. However, in the above mentioned case, use of the sensor makes the structure complicated, makes disinfection or sterilization of the guide difficult, and makes the guide too expensive to be disposable.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic apparatus diagnostic, an ultrasonic probe, a puncture guide and a method for detecting the angle of a puncture needle that does not require an operator to perform a bothersome operation for display of a puncture guide image.  
         [0007]     According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including a ultrasonic probe configured to transmit and receive ultrasound toward and from a subject, puncture adaptor configured to be fixed at the ultrasonic probe and to hold a puncture needle, the puncture adaptor having moving part configured to move toward the ultrasonic probe with the puncture needle and a sensor provided at the ultrasonic probe and configured to detect a position of the moving part.  
         [0008]     According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic probe including a fixed puncture adaptor configured to hold a puncture needle, and having moving part configured to move with the puncture needle, and a sensor provided at a probe body and configured to detect a position of the moving part.  
         [0009]     According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a puncture adaptor including a fixed part configured to be fixed at an ultrasonic probe, a moving part movable with the puncture needle toward the ultrasonic probe when the moving part is fixed at the ultrasonic probe, and a sensor provided at probe body and configured to detect a position of the moving part.  
         [0010]     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for detecting an angle of a puncture needle, including detecting a position of a moving part which moves with a puncture needle toward a ultrasonic probe, by a sensor provided at the ultrasonic probe, and detecting information relating to position of the puncture needle on the basis of a detection result of the sensor. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0011]     A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0012]     FIGS.  1 ( a ),  1 ( b ),  1 ( c ) and  1 ( d ) are related aspect views of a first exemplary embodiment of the ultrasonic probe and puncture adaptor of the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
         [0014]     FIGS.  3 ( a ),  3 ( b ) and  3 ( c ) are related aspect views of a second exemplary embodiment of the ultrasonic probe and puncture adaptor of the invention.  
         [0015]     FIGS.  4 ( a ),  4 ( b ) and  4 ( c ) are related aspect views of a third exemplary embodiment of the ultrasonic probe and puncture adaptor of the invention.  
         [0016]     FIGS.  5 ( a ),  5 ( b ) and  5 ( c ) are related aspect views of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the ultrasonic probe and puncture adaptor of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, various embodiments of the present invention are next described.  
         [0000]     (First Exemplary Embodiment)  
         [0018]     An ultrasonic probe  10  shown in  FIG. 1  ( b ) includes a probe body  11  holding an ultrasonic transmit and receiving unit  12  having arrayed ultrasonic transducers, and an alternating photo sensor  13  including luminous elements  13   a  and light sensitive elements  13   b . Lead wires of the luminous elements  13   a  and the light sensitive elements  13   b  are wired in a probe body  11 . The wires are connected to a body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus through a probe cable  11   c  with read wires of ultrasonic transducers.  
         [0019]     As a slide opening part  22  of puncture adaptor  20  shown in  FIG. 1  ( a ) is positioned opposite the photo sensor  13  of the probe body  11 , a holder  21  of the puncture adaptor  20  holds the probe body  11 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ( c ). A slider  23 , having a reflective face facing the probe body  11 , is fitted into a slide opening part  22  of the puncture adaptor  20 , and a needle guide  24  is fastened at one end of the slider  23  by screws (not shown) to the slider  23  and an adaptor part  25 . A puncture needle  29  can be inserted into a puncture needle hole of the needle guide  24  as shown in  FIG. 1  ( c ).  
         [0020]     Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which the puncture adaptor  20  attaches, in this exemplary embodiment, is explained with reference to the schematic block diagram of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0021]     As shown in the  FIG. 2 , the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a body  30  connected to an ultrasonic probe  10  with an puncture adaptor  20 , an angle sensor signal from the ultrasonic probe  20  is inputted into the body  30 , for processing within the body  30 . Also connected to the body  30  is an input unit  41  for user interface with the body  30 . The input unit  41  can be a key board, a track ball and/or an operation panel. A monitor  39  for displaying an image signal delivered from the body  30  is also connected to the body  30 .  
         [0022]     The body  30  includes an ultrasonic transmitting unit  31 , an ultrasonic receiving unit  32 , an image processing unit  33 , a sensor IF (interface) unit  34 , a database  35 , a CPU unit  36  and a display unit  37 . The ultrasonic transmitting unit  31  generates and applies a driving signal to the ultrasonic probe  10 . The ultrasonic receiving unit  32  receives a received signal from the probe  10 . The image processing unit  33  processes this received signal into an image signal. The sensor IF (interface) unit  34  receives a sensor signal from the ultrasonic probe  10  and converts this signal into an angle signal. The database  35  memorizes and saves a variety of data. The CPU unit  36  controls each of the components of the apparatus on the basis of an operation signal from the input unit  41 . The display unit  37  converts a signal from the image processing unit  33  into a display format. An additional image signal like a signal based on a signal from sensor IF  34  is also processed into a graphical signal by this image processing unit  33 . The display unit  37  delivers these signals to the monitor  39 .  
         [0023]     Next, the function and operation of the exemplary embodiment are explained in reference to  FIG. 1 .  
         [0024]     At first, the holder  21  is fixed to the probe body  11  shown in  FIG. 1  ( b ), so that the needle guide  24  of the puncture adaptor  20  lies near the end of the adaptor part  25 . Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ( c ), all of the luminance elements  13   a  and the sensitive elements  13   b  composing the photo sensor  13  are exposed. In this case, each sensitive element  13   b  which does not receive light emitted from luminance elements  13   a  likewise does not generate a signal. This position of the needle guide  24  corresponds to a maximum angle of insertion angles (in relation to a vertical insertion angle which is 0 degree) of the puncture needle.  
         [0025]     Next, when an operator displaces the needle guide  24  and the slider  23  to the side of the probe body along the slide opening part  22  and reduces the insertion angle of the puncture needle, the slider  23  having a reflective surface on the side facing probe body  11  faces opposite some of the luminance elements  13   a  and sensitive elements  13   b . At that time, light reflected off the reflecting surface impinges on the sensitive elements  13   b , and a detection signal is outputted from such sensitive elements  13   b . Such detection signals are delivered by a lead wires (not shown in the figures) provided in the probe body  11 . These read wires are assembled in the probe cable  11   c  with read wires for the ultrasonic transducer unit  12  provided at the top of ultrasonic probe  10 , and these read wires are connected to the sensor IF unit  34 . When the detective signal is inputted to the sensor IF unit  34 , the unit measures an angle of the needle guide  24  by detecting how many sensitive elements  13   b  detect the light from luminance elements  13   a . The result of angle detection is delivered to the CPU unit  36 .  
         [0026]     The CPU unit  36  directs the image storing device  38  to output data of the puncture guide image corresponding to the detected puncture needle insertion angle to the display unit  37 . An operator can see the puncture guide image corresponding to a real needle angle on the monitor  39 .  
         [0027]     In addition, luminous elements  13   a  and light sensitive elements  13   b  of the alternating photo sensor  13  are arranged in pairs in the direction of a circular arc in the above explanation. However, pairs of the luminous elements  13   a  and light sensitive elements  13   b  may be arranged radially opposite each other with the pairs of luminous element  13   a  and light sensitive element  13   b  extending in a circular arc direction. This arrangement enables a high density of sensors and high accuracy of angle detection. In another implementation, the reflecting part of slider  23  may be composed of a plurality of reflecting parts having narrow reed shape, which also enables high accuracy of angle detection.  
         [0028]     In the above explanation of the described exemplary embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus reads an angle of the needle guide, and automatically display an insertion position or angle of the puncture needle in an ultrasonic image. This enables provision of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic probe and a puncture adaptor which avoids a bothersome operation for display of a puncture guide image. In addition, because an angle detection sensor is arranged in the body of the ultrasonic probe, the puncture adaptor has no electrical machinery. Therefore this puncture adaptor can be disinfected and sterilized without concern for breakage or electric leakage caused by body fluids or heat. In addition, because the fabrication cost of the puncture adaptor can be lower than one having sensor, it is possible to treat the adaptor as disposable. Furthermore because read wires for sensor signals are provided in the probe body, it is not necessary that a connecting device be provided outside the probe. Because a cable for the sensor to the diagnostic apparatus body is united with a probe cable for transducers, there is no operability complication caused by an increasing number of cables when the puncture adaptor is used.  
         [0029]     Furthermore, in the above explanation of this exemplary embodiment, because it is not necessary that electromagnetic devices be provided on the puncture adaptor, the cost for fabricating the puncture adaptor is lower than the cost for gabricating a puncture adaptor having magnetic elements described in the below mentioned third exemplary embodiment or fourth exemplary embodiment.  
         [0000]     (Second Exemplary Embodiment)  
         [0030]     In a second embodiment, as shown by  FIG. 3 , it is characteristic that a pattern having different degrees of reflection, for example a black and white stripe pattern, is provided on a probe body side of the slider  26 . The pattern is detected by one pair of a luminance element  15   a  and a sensitive element  15   b  provided on the probe body  11 . In the explanation of this exemplary embodiment, explanations of similarities with the first exemplary embodiment will be skipped, and differences will be mainly explained.  
         [0031]     In this second exemplary embodiment, the needle guide  24  of the puncture adaptor  20  held by the probe body  11   a  of the ultrasonic probe  10   a  is moved to a desirable position. By this movement, when the stripe pattern on the slider  26  passes by the luminance element  15   a  and the sensitive element  15   b , the sensitive element  15   b  receives reflected light from the luminance element intermittently. A read wire for light receiving signals is provided in the probe body  11   a  and the probe cable, and the signal is delivered to the sensor IF unit  34 . This pulse train signal by intermittently receiving light is transformed to angle data by pulse counting of the sensor IF unit  34 . The CPU unit  36  directs the image storing device  38  to output data of the puncture guide image corresponding to the detected puncture needle insert angle to the display unit  37 . An operator can see the puncture guide image corresponding to an actual needle angle on the monitor  39 .  
         [0032]     In addition, in order to detect a direction of movement of the puncture needle, the photo sensor  15  may be composed as two sensitive elements and one luminance element between the two sensitive elements. In this case, by detecting each phase of light that enters into two sensitive elements, a direction of movement is distinguished.  
         [0033]     Furthermore, the pattern on the slider  26  may be composed as an other monochrome pattern code which indicates puncture angles, for an example bar-code or a QR code (registered trade mark). In this case, the photo sensor  15  reads the code pattern, and the sensor IF unit  34  decodes this code.  
         [0034]     In the above explanation of this exemplary embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus reads an angle of the needle guide and displays an insert position or angle of the puncture needle in an ultrasonic image automatically. This enables provision of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic probe and a puncture adaptor which avoids a bothersome operation for display of a puncture guide image. In addition, because the angle detection sensor is arranged in the body of ultrasonic probe, the puncture adaptor has no electrical machinery. Therefore this puncture adaptor can be disinfected and sterilized without concern for breakage or electric leakage caused by body fluids and heat. In addition, because the fabrication cost of the puncture adaptor can be lower than one having sensor, it is possible to treat the adaptor as disposable. Furthermore because the read wires for sensor signals are provided in the probe body, it is not necessary that connecting devices be provided outside the probe. Because cables for the sensors to the diagnostic apparatus body are united with the probe cable for the transducers, there is no operability complication caused by an increasing number of cables when the puncture adaptor is used.  
         [0035]     Furthermore, in the above explanation of this second exemplary embodiment, because it is not necessary that electromagnetic devices be provided on the puncture adaptor, the cost for fabricating the puncture adaptor is lower than the cost for fabricating a puncture adaptor having magnetic elements described in the below mentioned third exemplary embodiment or fourth exemplary embodiment.  
         [0036]     In addition, in the above explanation of this second exemplary embodiment, because the number of necessary sensors is two or three, the cost of fabrication of read wires and connecting devices for the sensor can be lower than the case of using more sensors.  
         [0000]     (Third Exemplary Embodiment)  
         [0037]     In a third exemplary embodiment as shown by  FIG. 4 , a magnetized magnetic element  27   a  is provided on the probe body side of the slider  27  and a magnetic sensor unit formed by magneto metric sensors  16   a - 16   f  is provided at the probe body  11   b  in a circular direction. In the explanation of this exemplary embodiment, explanation of similarities with the first exemplary embodiment will be skipped, and differences will be mainly explained.  
         [0038]     In this exemplary embodiment, the needle guide  24  of the puncture adaptor  20  held by the probe body  11   b  of the ultrasonic probe  10   b  is moved to a desirable position. By this movement, when the magnetic element  27   a  on the slider  27  passes past the magneto metric sensors  16   a - 16   f , the magnetic metric sensors  16   a - 16   f  detect the passing of the magnetic element  27   a  in turn. A read wire for detecting signals is provided in the probe body  11   a  and the probe cable, and the signal is delivered to the sensor IF unit  34 . When detected signals are inputted to the sensor IF unit  34 , the unit  34  measures an angle of the needle guide  24  by detecting how many magneto metric sensors detect the passing. The CPU unit  36  directs the image storing device  38  to output data of the puncture guide image corresponding to the detected puncture needle insertion angle to the display unit  37 . An operator can see the puncture guide image corresponding to a real needle angle on the monitor  39 .  
         [0039]     In the above explanation of this exemplary embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus reads an angle of the needle guide, and displays an insertion position or angle of the puncture needle in an ultrasonic image automatically. This enables provision of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic probe and a puncture adaptor which avoids a bothersome operation for display of a puncture guide image. In addition, because an angle detection sensor is arranged in the body of the ultrasonic probe, the puncture adaptor has no electrical machinery. Therefore this puncture adaptor can be disinfected and sterilized without concern for breakage or electric leakage caused by body fluid or heat. In addition, because the fabrication cost for the puncture adaptor can be lower than one having sensor, it is possible to treat the adaptor as disposable. Furthermore because read wires for sensor signals are provided in the probe body, it is not necessary that a connecting device be provided outside the probe. Because a cable for the sensor to the diagnostic apparatus body is united with a probe cable for transducers, there is no operability complication caused by an increasing number of cables when the puncture adaptor is used.  
         [0040]     Furthermore, in the above explanation of this exemplary embodiment, because of noncontact sensing between the magneto metric sensors and the magnetic element, the magneto metric sensors  16   a - 16   f  can be provided inside the case of the probe body  11   b . In this case, a surface of the probe body  11   b  can be formed without irregularities. So a probe washing operation is easy. Because of noncontact sensing, in a case that fluid and tissues of object adhere on the surface of probe body, there is no adverse effect on sensing.  
         [0041]     Furthermore, in the above explanation of this exemplary embodiment, it is not necessary that a plurality of magnetic elements be provided on the slider. So the cost for composing puncture adaptor can be lower than the case of below mentioned fourth exemplary embodiment.  
         [0000]     (Fourth Exemplary Embodiment)  
         [0042]     In a fourth exemplary embodiment, as shown by  FIG. 5 , plural magnetized magnetic elements  28   a  are provided on the probe body side of the slider  28  in a circular arc direction. The magnetized magnetic elements  28   a  are detected by a magneto metric sensor  17   a  provided on the probe body  11   c . In the explanation of this exemplary embodiment, explanation of similarities with the first exemplary embodiment will be skipped, and differences will be mainly explained.  
         [0043]     In this exemplary embodiment, the needle guide  24  of the puncture adaptor  20  held by the probe body  11   a  of the ultrasonic probe  10   a  is moved to a desirable position. By this movement, when the magnetized magnetic elements  28   a  on the slider  28  pass adjacent the magneto metric element  17   a , the magneto metric element  17   a  detects passing of the magnetic elements  28   a  in turn. A read wire for detecting signals is provided in the probe body  11   a  and the probe cable, and the signal is delivered to the sensor IF unit  34 . This pulse train signal produced by intermittent detecting of element  17   a  is transformed to angle data by pulse counting of the sensor IF unit  34 . The CPU unit  36  directs the image storing device  38  to output data of the puncture guide image corresponding to the detected puncture needle insertion angle to the display unit  37 . An operator can see the puncture guide image corresponding to a real needle angle on the monitor  39 .  
         [0044]     In the above explanation of this exemplary embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus reads an angle of the needle guide, and automatically displays an insertion position or angle of the puncture needle in an ultrasonic image. This enables provision of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic probe and a puncture adaptor which avoids a bothersome operation for display of a puncture guide image. In addition, because an angle detection sensor is arranged in the body of the ultrasonic probe, the puncture adaptor has no electrical machinery. Therefore this puncture adaptor can be disinfected and sterilized without concern for breakage or electric leakage caused by body fluids or heat. In addition, because the fabrication cost of the puncture adaptor can be lower than one having sensor, it is possible to treat the adaptor as disposable. Furthermore because read wires for sensor signals are provided in the probe body, it is not necessary that a connecting device be provided outside the probe. Because a cable for the sensor to the diagnostic apparatus body is united with a probe cable for transducers, there is no operability complication caused by an increasing number of cables when the puncture adaptor is used.  
         [0045]     Furthermore, in the above explanation of this exemplary embodiment, because of noncontact sensing between the magneto metric sensor and the magnetic elements, the magneto metric sensor  17   a  can be provided inside the case of the probe body  11   c . In this case, the surface of the probe body  11   c  can be formed without irregularities. So a probe washing operation is easy. Because of noncontact sensing, in a case that fluid and tissues of object adhere on the surface of the probe body, there is no adverse effect on sensing.  
         [0046]     Furthermore, in the above explanation of this fourth exemplary embodiment, it is not necessary that a plurality of magneto metric sensors be provided on the probe body  11   c . So the cost of fabricating read wires and connecting devices to the sensor can be lower than the case of using more sensors.  
         [0047]     Numerous variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above description. It is therefore to be understood that the invention as claimed can be practiced other than is specifically described herein.  
         [0048]     For example, in above explanation of exemplary embodiments, sensors detecting the slider is magneto metric sensors or photo sensors. However, it is needless to say that electromagnetic induction sensors, electro capacitance sensors or an ultrasound sensors can be adaptable by appropriate change.