Pulse detecting device and ultrasound diagnostic apparatus

• US 20050203403A1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hiroshi Odagiri, Hiroyuki Muramatsu, Masataka Shinogi, Takahiko Nakamura
• Original Assignee: Hiroshi Odagiri, Hiroyuki Muramatsu, Masataka Shinogi, Takahiko Nakamura
• Inventors: Odagiri, Hiroshi, Shinogi, Masataka, Muramatsu, Hiroyuki, Nakamura, Takahiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,686,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/447
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02444 Details of sensor A61B5/02427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4218 characterised by articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer

Abstract

There is provided a pulse detecting device which resists fluctuations in the quality by locating an ultrasound transmitting piezoelectric element and an ultrasound receiving piezoelectric element with high precision. In the pulse detecting device, a detection sensitivity of the pulse is improved. A transmitting piezoelectric element and a receiving piezoelectric element are fixed onto a substrate by electrodes. The transmitting piezoelectric element is excited in response to an inputted drive voltage signal to generate an ultrasound and transmits the generated ultrasound to a living body. The receiving piezoelectric element receives an echo produced by reflecting the ultrasound transmitted into the living body by a blood flow of the living body and converts it into a voltage signal. A processing arithmetic unit compares the frequency of the ultrasound generated by the transmitting piezoelectric element with that of the echo received in the receiving piezoelectric element to thereby detect a pulse.

Claims

1. A pulse detecting device comprising:

a transmitting piezoelectric element to transmit an ultrasound into a living body in response to an inputted drive signal;

a receiving piezoelectric element to receive an echo produced by reflecting the ultrasound by a blood flow of the living body;

a substrate to fix the transmitting piezoelectric element and the receiving piezoelectric element onto one surface;

a detection unit to detect a pulse in accordance with the ultrasound generated by the transmitting piezoelectric element and the echo; and

a feed portion provided on the substrate in order to apply the drive signal to the transmitting piezoelectric element,

wherein at least one surface of one of the transmitting piezoelectric element and the receiving piezoelectric element is fixed onto the substrate in the feed portion.

2-38. -38. (canceled)

39. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising:

a transmitting piezoelectric element for transmitting an ultrasound to a diagnostic portion of a body in response to an input drive signal;

a receiving piezoelectric element for receiving an echo produced by reflecting the ultrasound by the diagnostic portion of the body;

a substrate having the transmitting piezoelectric element and the receiving piezoelectric element fixed onto one surface thereof;

a support member supporting the substrate;

an information obtaining circuit for obtaining information concerning the diagnostic portion of the body based on the transmitted ultrasound and the received echo; and

an ultrasound attenuation portion provided between the support member and the substrate for attenuating unwanted propagation of the transmitted ultrasound.

40. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 39;

wherein the ultrasound attenuation portion is a conductive rubber.

41. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 39;

wherein an ultrasound attenuating material is filled in the gap.

42. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 39;

wherein the support member has a convex portion or a concave portion beneath the substrate; and

the ultrasound attenuation portion comprises a gap between the substrate and the convex portion or the concave portion of the support member.

43. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 42;

wherein the support member is a looseness member.

44. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 42;

wherein the support member is a box type or a comb teeth type.

45. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 42;

wherein the support member is made of one of ceramics, plastics or metal.

46. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 42;

wherein a depth of the gap is equal to an ultrasound wavelength or more.

47. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 42;

wherein an area of the gap is larger than a transmit plane of the transmitting piezoelectric element or that of the receiving piezoelectric element.

48. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 42;

wherein the substrate has a thickness corresponding to substantially a quarter of a wavelength of the ultrasound generated by the transmitting piezoelectric element.

49. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 39;

wherein the substrate is divided into two substrate parts,

the transmitting piezoelectric element is fixed on one of the substrate parts, and

the receiving piezoelectric element is fixed on the other of the substrate parts.