Ultrasonic diagnosis device

• US 6,554,772 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Shinogi, Masataka, Tsubata, Keisuke, Nakamura, Takahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, MAULIN M
• Application Number:
  US10/027,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20020128556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/443, 600/459, 600/460, 600/455, 600/503, 600/445, 600/444, 600/446
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/02 Measuring pulse or heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4227 characterised by straps, belts, cuffs or braces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52079 Constructional features constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 9/22 Mountings; Casings

Abstract

To provide an ultrasonic diagnosis device which can be simply manufactured and can detect an ultrasonic wave with excellent sensitivity and accuracy. An ultrasonic diagnosis device in which a transmitting piezoelectric element and a receiving piezoelectric element are supported on a substrate supported parallel to a radial artery by support means such that their widths a, c are respectively 0.38-1.1 mm and a gap b between them is 0.05-4.0 mm, an ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the transmitting piezoelectric element, a reflected wave from the radial artery is received by the receiving piezoelectric element, and a pulse wave is detected on the basis of a detection result of the reflected wave.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic diagnosis device comprising:

a transmitting piezoelectric element for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a diagnosis region,

a receiving piezoelectric element for receiving a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave from the diagnosis region,

support means for supporting the transmitting piezoelectric element and the receiving piezoelectric element, and

information obtainment means for obtaining an information of the diagnosis region on the basis of the reflected wave received by the receiving piezoelectric element,

wherein the support means has a planar face disposed approximately parallel to the diagnosis region, and

the transmitting piezoelectric element and the receiving piezoelectric element are disposed on the planar face of the support means by a relation satisfying the following conditions 1 or conditions 2 in case where it is supposed that a width of the transmitting piezoelectric element is a, a distance between the transmitting piezoelectric element and the receiving piezoelectric element b, a width of the receiving piezoelectric element c, a distance up to a measuring region d and a directivity angle θ

;

2. An ultrasonic diagnosis device comprising:

a transmitting piezoelectric element for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a diagnosis region,

a receiving piezoelectric element for receiving a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave from the diagnosis region,

support means for supporting the transmitting piezoelectric element and the receiving piezoelectric element, and

information obtainment means for obtaining an information of the diagnosis region on the basis of the reflected wave received by the receiving piezoelectric element,

wherein the support means has a planar face disposed parallel to the diagnosis region, and

the transmitting piezoelectric element and the receiving piezoelectric element are disposed on the planar face of the support means such that their widths are respectively 0.38 to 1.1 mm, and a gap between them is 0.05 to 4.0 mm.