WO2024078602A1

WO2024078602A1 - Elastography assembly, ultrasonic detector, and ultrasonic detection method

Info

Publication number: WO2024078602A1
Application number: PCT/CN2023/124371
Authority: WO
Inventors: 和晓念
Original assignee: 深圳市影越医疗科技有限公司
Priority date: 2022-10-15
Filing date: 2023-10-12
Publication date: 2024-04-18

Abstract

An elastography assembly, an ultrasonic detector, and an ultrasonic detection method, wherein the elastography assembly comprises: a detachable body (20), a driving portion (30), and a vibration component (40); the detachable body (20) is detachably connected to an ultrasonic transducer (10), the vibration component (40) is connected to the detachable body (20), the vibration component (40) is at least partially located below a detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer (10), and the driving portion (30) is used for driving the vibration component (40) to perform elastography. The detachable design of the elastography assembly likewise allows a conventional ultrasonic transducer (10) to perform elastography detection and especially transient elastography detection, without needing to develop a dedicated elastography detection handle, thereby reducing economic cost and improving the universality of elastography technology.

Description

An elastic imaging component, an ultrasonic detector and an ultrasonic detection method

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the technical field of ultrasound and medical equipment, and in particular to an elastic imaging component, an ultrasound detector and an ultrasound detection method.

Background technique

Clinical practice has found that changes in the hardness or elasticity of biological tissues are often closely related to the degree of tissue lesions. Elastic imaging has important research significance in the early diagnosis of soft tissue lesions. The different excitation signals applied to tissues in existing ultrasound elastic imaging mainly include: natural excitation, external compression excitation, acoustic radiation force excitation and mechanical vibration excitation. Elastic imaging based on external mechanical vibration excitation mainly refers to driving the surface of the target to be detected through a low-frequency vibration (20~1000Hz) device, exciting vibration waves (mainly shear waves) in the target to be detected, and using ultrasonic pulse echo to detect the propagation of low-frequency vibration in the tissue to extract the wave information: amplitude, phase, speed, etc., so as to infer the elastic information of the target to be detected, and then realize elastic imaging. Transient Elastography (TE) is a liver disease detection technology with the characteristics of non-invasive, rapid and quantitative. It can provide an effective tool for early screening, diagnosis and treatment evaluation of liver disease for people with chronic liver disease, solve the problems of trauma and inaccuracy of traditional diagnostic methods, and has broad application prospects. At present, due to its accuracy in diagnosing the degree of fibrosis, it has been recommended by major global liver disease guidelines including the World Health Organization.

The core elements of detection in conventional transient elastic imaging technology are mainly: 1. Using the end of the elastic probe to perform mechanical vibration to generate the transient shear wave required for transient elastic imaging; 2. Using ultrasonic signals to track and detect the generated shear wave. In order to achieve the above core elements, a vibration unit, a drive unit, and an ultrasonic transducer are required. Conventional transient elastic imaging detection requires the use of a specific elastic detection handle, which has a built-in vibration unit, a drive unit, and an ultrasonic transducer. Conventional transient elastic imaging requires a dedicated system and a dedicated transient elastic imaging device, which increases the product production cost and reduces the clinical application of this technology.

Summary of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an elastic imaging component to solve the problem that the existing elastic imaging technology (especially transient elastic imaging) requires a dedicated system and a dedicated elastic imaging device, which increases the production cost of the product.

The present invention provides an elastic imaging component, comprising a detachable body, a driving unit and a vibrating component, wherein the detachable body is detachably connected to an ultrasonic transducer, the vibrating component is connected to the detachable body, the vibrating component is at least partially located below the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer, and the driving unit is used to drive the vibrating component to achieve elastic imaging. The above elastic imaging component, with a detachable design, allows conventional ultrasonic transducers to achieve elastic imaging detection (especially instantaneous elastic imaging detection), without the need to develop a dedicated elastic imaging detection handle, which reduces economic costs and increases the popularity of elastic imaging technology.

Furthermore, at least a portion of the elastic imaging component located below the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer has an acoustic transparency property.

Furthermore, the elastic imaging includes any one or any combination of instantaneous elastic imaging, general shear wave elastic imaging, and compression elastic imaging.

Furthermore, the size of the detachable body is adjustable to match the ultrasonic transducers of different sizes.

Furthermore, there is at least one vibration component.

Furthermore, the vibration component is any one of a cylindrical, plate-shaped, a vibration rod, and a vibration membrane.

Furthermore, a protrusion is provided at the lower end of the vibration component.

Furthermore, the elastic imaging assembly also includes a connecting member, at least a portion of which is located between the ultrasonic transducer detection surface and the vibration component.

Furthermore, the lower end surface of the elastic imaging component constitutes an imaging surface.

Furthermore, the detachable body is snap-connected to the ultrasonic transducer.

Further, the ultrasonic transducer vibrates instantaneously together with the vibrating component.

The present invention also provides an ultrasonic detector, comprising any one of the elastic imaging components mentioned above, and also comprising an ultrasonic transducer.

The present invention also provides an ultrasonic detection method, which is applied to the above ultrasonic detector, and the method comprises:

Step 1: Selectively install the elastic imaging component on the ultrasonic transducer according to the target to be detected;

Step 2: Perform elastic imaging and/or ultrasonic grayscale imaging; elastic imaging includes one or more of instantaneous elastic imaging, general shear wave elastic imaging, and compression elastic imaging; instantaneous elastic imaging is achieved by the vibration component with a protrusion vibrating instantaneously on the surface of the target to be detected, general shear wave elastic imaging is achieved by the vibration component exciting shear wave vibration in the target to be detected, and compression elastic imaging is achieved by pressing the ultrasonic detector on the target to be detected to cause the target to be detected to produce strain;

Ultrasonic grayscale imaging refers to the process of performing ultrasonic grayscale imaging by contacting the imaging surface of the ultrasonic detector with the object to be detected;

Step 3: Obtaining an ultrasonic echo signal using the ultrasonic transducer;

Step 4: Analyze the ultrasonic echo signal to extract the structural information and characteristic information of the target to be detected. Step 5: Display the structural information and characteristic information.

Through the above-mentioned ultrasonic detector and ultrasonic detection method, conventional ultrasonic transducers can not only realize ultrasonic grayscale imaging detection, but also elastic imaging detection such as transient elastic imaging detection. There is no need to develop a dedicated elastic imaging detection handle, which reduces the economic cost and improves the popularity of elastic imaging technology.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic detector in a first embodiment of the present invention at a first viewing angle;

FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG1 at a second viewing angle;

FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG1 in a first installation state;

FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG1 in a second installation state;

5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic detector in the second embodiment of the present invention at a first viewing angle;

FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG5 at a second viewing angle;

FIG7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG5 in a first installation state;

FIG8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG5 in a second installation state;

9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic detector in the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG10 is a bottom view of the ultrasonic detector in FIG9 ;

11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic detector in the fourth embodiment of the present invention at a first viewing angle;

FIG12 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG11 at a second viewing angle;

FIG13 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG11 in a first installation state;

FIG14 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG11 in a second installation state;

15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic detector in the fifth embodiment of the present invention at a first viewing angle;

FIG16 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG15 at a second viewing angle;

FIG17 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG15 in a first installation state;

FIG18 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG15 in a second installation state;

FIG19 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ultrasonic detector in a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG20 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic detector in a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG21 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG20 in an exploded state;

FIG22 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG20 at a first viewing angle;

FIG23 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the ultrasonic detector in FIG20 at a second viewing angle;

FIG24 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vibrating component in another ultrasonic detector of the present invention;

FIG25 is a schematic diagram of a partially exploded state of the ultrasonic detector in FIG24;

FIG26 is a flow chart of an ultrasonic detection method in an embodiment of the present invention;

The following specific implementation manner will further illustrate the present invention in conjunction with the above-mentioned drawings.

具体实施方式Detailed ways

In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention, the present invention will be described more fully below with reference to the relevant drawings. Several embodiments of the present invention are given in the drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the disclosure of the present invention more thorough and comprehensive.

It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be a central element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be a central element at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. The terms used herein in the specification of the present invention are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The term "and/or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.

Example

Please refer to Figures 1 to 4. The first embodiment of the present invention provides an ultrasonic detector, which includes an ultrasonic transducer 10 and an elastic imaging component. The elastic imaging component includes a detachable body 20, a driving unit 30 and a vibrating component 40. In this embodiment, the number of the vibrating component is 1. The elastic imaging component is detachably connected to the ultrasonic transducer 10. The vibrating component 40 has a sound-transmitting property, and the center of the vibrating component 40 is located on the central axis of the detachable body.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the detachable body 20 is detachably connected to the ultrasonic transducer 10, and specifically, the connection mode of the detachable body 20 and the ultrasonic transducer 10 is a snap-on connection. More specifically, the center positions of the front and rear sides of the ultrasonic transducer 10 are respectively provided with protruding members 11, and the protruding members 11 are provided with first grooves 111. The detachable body 20 is provided with a snap-on member 21 that is matched and connected with the first groove 111 of the protruding member 11. Specifically, the detachable body 20 is a groove structure as a whole, that is, the end of the detachable body 20 corresponding to the front end of the ultrasonic transducer 10 is provided with a second groove 22, and the second groove 22 is used to accommodate the detection surface end structure of the ultrasonic transducer 10. When the detachable body 20 is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic transducer 10, the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 is placed in the second groove 22, and the upper surface shape of the second groove 22 is in contact with the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10. This setting is conducive to the smooth propagation of the ultrasonic signal to the target to be detected. It should be noted that the detachable body 20 is mainly a structure that surrounds the end of the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10. The buckling member 21 used for fixed connection with the ultrasonic transducer 10 is arranged on the upper edge of the front and rear sides of the detachable body 20. When the detachable body 20 is buckled and connected with the ultrasonic transducer 10, the buckling member 21 is just matched and connected with the protruding member 11 arranged on the front and rear sides of the ultrasonic transducer 10. The buckling member 21 has a certain elasticity, and the buckling member 21 is also provided with a protruding end. When the protruding end of the buckling member 21 falls into the first groove 111 of the protruding member 11, the elastic imaging component is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic transducer 10. As shown in Figures 2 and 3. It can be understood that when the elastic buckling member 21 is manually broken away from the first groove 111 of the protruding member 11, the elastic imaging component can be removed from the ultrasonic transducer 10. In other embodiments, the connection method between the detachable body and the ultrasonic transducer 10 can be a magnetic connection, and the two can be fixed by magnetic force, or the two can be separated by external force, thereby achieving a detachable connection between the detachable body and the ultrasonic transducer 10.

In this embodiment and other embodiments, the connection between the elastic imaging component and the ultrasonic transducer 10 is achieved through the detachable body 20 , and the connection between the elastic imaging component and the ultrasonic transducer 10 can be understood as the connection between the detachable body 20 and the ultrasonic transducer 10 .

In one embodiment of the present invention, the elastic imaging component also includes a connector 50, which is arranged inside the elastic imaging component. The connector 50 has telescopic and sound-permeable properties. Specifically, in this embodiment, the connector 50 is composed of upper and lower elastic membranes 51, 52, the side walls around the detachable body 20, and the inner wall of the lower end surface 201 of the detachable body 20. The lower end surface 201 of the detachable body 20 is provided with a vacant structure, and the vacant structure is used to accommodate the vibration component 40. In this embodiment, the vacant structure is a quadrilateral, and in other embodiments, the vacant structure is a shape that matches the shape of the vibration component, such as a circle. Specifically, the upper elastic membrane 51 is sealed and connected to the side walls around the detachable body 20, and the lower elastic membrane 52 is sealed and connected to the edge of the vacant structure of the elastic imaging component. The connector 50 formed by them forms a tubular cavity structure, and the cavity is filled with a sound-permeable liquid, which can be glycerin or water. After the elastic imaging component is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic transducer 10, the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 is tightly fitted and connected to the upper elastic membrane 51 of the connecting member 50. The vibration component 40 is arranged inside the connecting member 50, specifically, the vibration component 40 is arranged at the lower end inside the connecting member 50. The vibration component 40 is cylindrical as a whole, and the lower end of the vibration component 40 is adhesively bonded and connected to the lower elastic membrane 52. The center of the vibration component 40 is set on the central axis of the detachable body. When the vibration component 40 remains stationary, the lower end surface of the lower elastic membrane 52 of the connecting member 50 is flush or substantially flush with the lower end surface 201 of the detachable body 20; when the thickness of the lower elastic membrane 52 can be ignored, it can be considered that the vibration component 40 is flush or substantially flush with the lower end surface 201 of the detachable body 20. The lower elastic membrane 52 of the connecting member 50 and the lower end surface of the detachable body 20 form a plane or an approximate plane. The advantage of this design is that when the vibration component 40 remains stationary, the lower end surface 201 of the detachable body 20 and the lower elastic membrane 52 of the connecting member 50 form the lower end surface of the elastic imaging component, forming an imaging surface, which is conducive to the ultrasonic transducer 10 to perform ultrasonic grayscale imaging. In this embodiment, the driving part 30 is two voice coil motors, and the two voice coil motors are respectively fixedly arranged on the left and right sides of the detachable body 20. Specifically, the two voice coil motors are respectively fixed on the fixing plates 31, and the two fixing plates 31 are respectively fixedly connected to the left and right side walls of the detachable body 20; as shown in Figure 1. The driving part 30 acts on the vibration component 40 through the driving rod 32. Specifically, one end of the driving rod 32 is connected to the moving structure in the driving part 30 (voice coil motor) (not shown in the figure), and the other end of the driving rod 32 is fixedly connected to the upper end surface of the vibration component 40. The upper elastic film 51 is provided with a through hole at the position corresponding to the driving rod 32, and the through hole allows the driving rod 32 to pass through it to achieve the connection with the vibration component 40; since the driving part 30 is provided on the detachable body 20, the driving part 30 is connected with the vibration component 40 through the driving rod, that is, the connection between the detachable body 20 and the vibration component 40 is achieved. The driving rod 32 is sealed and connected to the through hole of the upper elastic film 51; in other embodiments, the driving part 30 can also be directly fixed to the detachable body, and no fixing plate is required in this case.

After the elastic imaging component is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic transducer 10 through the detachable body 20, the vibration component 40 can vibrate or move under the action of the driving unit 30. A variety of elastic imaging tests can be performed using the same elastic imaging component. The detachable design allows the conventional ultrasonic transducer 10 to also perform instantaneous elastic imaging tests, without the need to develop a dedicated instantaneous elastic imaging test handle, which reduces the economic cost and improves the popularity of the instantaneous elastic imaging technology. In addition, the ultrasonic detector provided by this embodiment can also perform press-type elastic imaging and general shear wave elastic imaging. At the same time, since the lower end surface 201 of the detachable body, the vibration component 40 and the connector 50 arranged at the front end of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface all have acoustic transparency, or in other words, the elastic imaging component at least the portion below the ultrasonic transducer detection surface has acoustic transparency, in other embodiments, this arrangement can also be made so that the ultrasonic transducer can perform conventional ultrasonic grayscale imaging.

When the ultrasonic detector is used for ultrasonic grayscale imaging, the vibrating component 40 is in a stationary state (default state), and the lower end surface of the lower elastic membrane 52 at the lower end of the vibrating component 40 is in a planar or approximately planar shape with the lower end surface of the detachable body 20. The planar or approximately planar shape can fully contact the surface of the target to be detected, so it is beneficial for the ultrasonic transducer 10 to perform ultrasonic grayscale imaging or detection, that is, it is beneficial to achieve the search and locking of the area of interest in the target to be detected. One advantage of setting the lower end surface 201 of the detachable body is that the vibrating component can be "hidden" in the plane formed by the lower end surface of the detachable body, so as to avoid the vibration component existing alone and appearing abrupt and affecting the ultrasonic grayscale imaging. Another advantage of setting the lower end surface 201 of the detachable body is that the plane formed increases the contact with the target to be detected. When the lower end surface 201 of the detachable body is used for press-type elastic imaging, a more uniform stress can be applied to the target to be detected, thereby obtaining a better press elastic detection effect.

The above-mentioned ultrasonic detector can also be used to realize general shear wave elastic imaging. After locking the region of interest, the general shear wave elastic imaging detection of the region of interest can be realized by vibrating the elastic imaging component of the vibration component 40; specifically, when the vibration component 40 generates mechanical vibration at the initial position, it acts on the target to be detected, and can excite the shear wave required for general shear wave elastic imaging inside the target to be detected. The shear wave is detected and tracked using the ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic transducer 10, and finally elastic imaging based on shear wave generation by general vibration can be realized. When performing elastic imaging detection based on shear wave generation by general vibration, the vibration frequency range of the vibration component 40 is greater than 5Hz, preferably 200Hz. The vibration amplitude of the vibration component 40 is about 1mm. The vibration amplitude of the vibration component 40 is much smaller than the distance between the vibration component 40 and the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10, so that the problem of mechanical impact of the vibration of the vibration component 40 on the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 can be avoided.

The above-mentioned ultrasonic detector (elastic imaging component) can also be used to achieve specific transient elastic imaging detection. When implementing transient elastic imaging detection, it is necessary to first form a convex portion on the vibration component 40, and then perform mechanical transient vibration. Specifically, the driving unit 30 drives the vibration component 40 to first move its position, and moves the vibration component 40 along the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer 10 away from the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 to form a convex portion. When the vibration component 40 forms a convex portion, the height difference between the lower end surface of the vibration component 40 (the thickness of the lower elastic membrane 52 is ignored) and the lower end surface 201 of the detachable body is greater than or equal to 0.5mm, preferably 4mm~16mm. Since the lower elastic membrane 52 of the connecting member 50 has a telescopic characteristic, when the vibration component 40 moves downward to form a convex portion, the vibration component 40 and the ultrasonic transducer 10 are still connected with the help of the connecting member 50. The position of the vibration component 40 after the convex portion is formed is the vibration base point for transient vibration, and the shear wave required for transient elastic imaging detection is stimulated inside the target to be detected. Preferably, the lower end surface of the vibration component 40 is circular, and the diameter of the circle ranges from 5 mm to 15 mm.

In this embodiment, the lower end surface of the elastic imaging component is the imaging surface. After the vibration component 40 forms a protrusion, the lower end surface of the protrusion is the lower end surface of the elastic imaging component; after the protrusion is restored (i.e., there is no more protrusion), the lower end surface of the lower elastic membrane 52 of the connecting member 50 and the lower end surface 201 of the detachable body 20 constitute the lower end surface of the elastic imaging component.

The above-mentioned ultrasonic detector can also be used to realize the press-type elastic imaging detection. In the conventional press-type elastic imaging detection, the operator needs to hold the ultrasonic transducer and use the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer to apply regular pressing operations to the target to be detected, so that the target to be detected generates strain under stress. The strain information generated by tissues with different hardness under the same stress is used. The strain information can be extracted through ultrasonic signals, and then the press-type elastic imaging detection of the target to be detected can be realized. There are two problems with conventional press-type elastic imaging: First, when applying pressure to the target to be detected using the ultrasonic transducer detection surface, the larger and flatter the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer, the more uniform the stress applied to the target to be detected, and the more conducive to press-type elastic imaging detection. In actual clinical practice, in order to increase the comfort of the target to be detected and facilitate the doctor's inspection and operation, the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer is usually small (for easy operation), and the surface of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface has a certain small curvature (favorable for focusing the ultrasonic signal). Second, the press-type elastic imaging test has certain requirements on the doctor's operating skills, and the doctor needs to be able to apply pressure to the target to be detected as regularly as possible. In actual clinical practice, doctors need to undergo long-term training before they can master the pressing operation skills of press-type elastic imaging detection. The ultrasonic detector in this embodiment can solve the first problem encountered by conventional press-type elastic imaging, and use the imaging surface formed by the elastic imaging component to press the target to be monitored. Because the imaging surface formed by the elastic imaging component is larger and smoother than the ultrasonic transducer detection surface, it can better apply pressure to the target to be detected, so that the target to be detected can produce more uniform stress, which is more helpful to optimize the press-type elastic imaging detection results. In this implementation, considering that the detachable body cannot be driven by the driving part, the imaging surface formed by the lower end surface 201 of the detachable body can only be fixed. Therefore, when performing press-type elastic imaging detection, the operator still needs to hold the above-mentioned ultrasonic detector and press the imaging surface formed by the lower end surface 201 of the detachable body to press the target to be detected according to the conventional pressing operation.

The connector 50 in this embodiment has two functions. The first function is to maintain the vibration or movement of the vibration component 40. With the help of the retractable and sound-transmitting characteristics of the connector 50, at least a part of the connector 50 is located between the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 and the vibration component 40, which can keep the ultrasonic signal propagation channel between the vibration component 40 and the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 unobstructed, so that the ultrasonic signal can still propagate to the target to be detected without hindrance; the second function is to reduce the attenuation of the ultrasonic signal, so that more ultrasonic signal energy can be transmitted to the inside of the target to be detected through the elastic imaging component. The lower end surface of the driving rod 32, the vibration component 40, the connector 50 and the detachable body 20 located in the area below the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 all have sound-transmitting characteristics, or in other words, the elastic imaging component at least The part below the detection surface 10 of the ultrasonic transducer has sound-transmitting characteristics to ensure that the ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic transducer 10 can pass through them smoothly and propagate to the target to be detected, realizing ultrasonic grayscale imaging of the target to be detected. In this embodiment, the connector 50 is directly attached to the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10.

It is understandable that the vibration component 40 in this embodiment can also be arranged outside the connecting member 50. Specifically, the upper end surface of the vibration component 40 is bonded and connected to the lower end surface of the lower elastic membrane 52 of the connecting member 50. The driving rod 32 passes through the inside of the connecting member 50 and is fixedly connected to the vibration component 40, and the vibration/movement drive of the vibration component 40 is realized by the driving rod 32.

In this embodiment, the vibration component 40 is circular, and the lower elastic membrane 52 connected to the vibration component 40 and the lower end surface of the detachable body together constitute the lower end surface of the elastic imaging component, that is, the imaging surface. In other embodiments, the vibration component 40 can be a plate-shaped surface and can constitute an imaging surface alone, see Example 2 and Example 7.

Example

Please refer to Figures 5 to 8. In the ultrasonic detector provided in the second embodiment of the present invention, the elastic imaging component is detachably connected to the ultrasonic transducer 10 via a detachable body 20. The states of the elastic imaging component when connected and separated from the ultrasonic transducer 10 are shown in Figures 7 and 8.

One difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 is that the connection position of the elastic imaging component and the ultrasonic transducer 10 is different. In this embodiment, the protruding member 11 on the ultrasonic transducer 10 for connecting with the elastic imaging component is arranged on the left and right sides of the ultrasonic transducer 10. The buckling member 21 is arranged on the left and right sides of the corresponding elastic imaging component. When the elastic imaging component and the ultrasonic transducer 10 are buckled together, the buckling member 21 and the protruding structure 11 are located in a corresponding position to each other, and the elastic imaging component and the ultrasonic transducer 10 are detachably connected by a snap connection.

The elastic imaging component mainly includes a detachable body 20, a driving part 30 and a vibrating part 40. The detachable body 20 has a second groove 22, and the second groove 22 is used to accommodate the end of the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10. The upper surface shape of the second groove 22 matches the detection surface shape of the ultrasonic transducer 10. When the elastic imaging component is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic transducer 10, the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 can be tightly fitted with the upper surface of the second groove 22 of the elastic imaging component to ensure that the ultrasonic signal can be smoothly transmitted to the target to be detected. In other embodiments, a coupling layer (not shown in the figure) can also be added between the upper surface of the second groove 22 and the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10. The coupling layer can be an elastomer with sound permeability to further ensure that the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 is tightly fitted with the elastic imaging component to ensure that the ultrasonic signal can be smoothly transmitted to the target to be detected.

A receiving chamber (FIG. 6) is provided inside the detachable body 20, and the receiving chamber can be formed by slotting the detachable body 20. The central axis of the receiving chamber is coaxially arranged with the central axis of the detachable body. The receiving chamber is used to form or be arranged as a connector 50. Specifically, the connector 50 is composed of a lower elastic membrane 52 and an inner wall of the receiving chamber, and the surroundings of the lower elastic membrane 52 of the connector 50 are sealed and connected to the surroundings of the lower port of the receiving chamber, and the formed cavity is filled with a sound-permeable liquid, such as water or glycerin. Preferably, these liquids can make the ultrasonic signal amplitude attenuate less when the ultrasonic signal propagates inside it. In this embodiment, the vibration component 40 is in the shape of a strip-shaped vibration rod as a whole, and the strip-shaped vibration component 40 is arranged outside the connector 50. Specifically, the strip-shaped vibration component 40 is arranged on the outer side of the lower elastic membrane 52 of the connector 50 (52 is an inverted concave shape), and at least a portion of the upper surface and the left and right sides of the vibration component 40 are bonded and connected to the lower elastic membrane 52 of the connector 50. The center of the vibration component 40 is set on the central axis of the detachable body, and the lower end surface of the vibration component 40 is flat or approximately flat with the lower end surface of the detachable body 20. Further, the lower end surface of the detachable body 20, the lower end surface of the vibration component 40 and the lower elastic membrane 52 of part of the connecting member 50 can jointly constitute the lower end surface of the elastic imaging component, that is, the imaging surface, and the imaging surface is flat or approximately flat as a whole, and the plane or the approximately flat surface can fully contact the surface of the target to be detected, which helps the ultrasonic transducer to perform ultrasonic grayscale imaging. The driving unit 30 is two voice coil motors, and the two voice coil motors are symmetrically arranged in the middle of the front and rear sides of the detachable body 20. The two voice coil motors are respectively fixed on the fixing plate 31, and are respectively fixed on the front and rear sides of the elastic imaging component through the fixing plate 31. The driving unit 30 drives the vibration component 40 to vibrate through the driving rod 32. One end of the driving rod 32 is connected to the mover of the voice coil motor (not shown in the figure), and the other end of the driving rod 32 is connected to one end of the vibration component 40. The two driving rods 32 are symmetrically arranged on the front and rear sides of the detachable body 20. The movement direction of the mover of the driving part 30 is parallel to the central axis direction of the detachable body, or perpendicular to the detection surface direction of the ultrasonic transducer, to ensure that the vibration direction of the vibration component 40 is also parallel to the central axis direction of the detachable body.

In addition to grayscale imaging, the above-mentioned ultrasonic detector can also realize general shear wave elastic imaging. Specifically, after the elastic imaging component is installed on the ultrasonic transducer 10, the imaging surface of the elastic imaging component is placed on the surface of the target to be detected, and the vibration component 40 can act on the surface of the target to be detected under the action of the driving unit 30 to perform mechanical vibration, and further stimulate shear waves inside the target to be detected, and finally realize general shear wave elastic imaging detection. In this embodiment, the shape of the vibration component is approximately a bar-shaped vibration rod. In this embodiment, the vibration component 40, the connecting piece 50, the detachable body 20 and the lower surface of the detachable body 20 below the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 must have sound-transmitting properties. Therefore, the above-mentioned ultrasonic detector can also perform ultrasonic grayscale imaging.

The above-mentioned ultrasonic detector can not only realize grayscale imaging, general shear wave elastic imaging, but also press-type elastic imaging. By using the lower end surface (i.e., imaging surface) of the elastic imaging component composed of the lower end surface 201 of the detachable body and the lower end surface of the vibrating component, a stress (pressing) operation is applied to the target to be detected, which can cause strain to be generated in the target to be detected. Preferably, the area of the lower end surface of the elastic imaging component is set to be larger than the area of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface. The advantage of such a setting is that the use of a larger imaging surface helps to apply a more uniform stress to the target to be detected, which can improve the detection effect of press-type elastic imaging. When the above-mentioned ultrasonic detector is used for press-type elastic imaging, the above-mentioned ultrasonic detector is held in hand and the conventional manual pressing operation is performed to apply stress to the imaging surface of the elastic imaging component to the target to be detected, and further strain is generated inside the target to be detected, thereby realizing press-type elastic imaging detection. In order to further get rid of the influence of irregular pressing of the target to be detected by human operation, the driving unit can further drive the elastic imaging component imaging surface to automatically apply a pressing operation to the monitored target. In order to achieve this purpose, preferably, the vibrating component is set to a plate shape, so that the plate-shaped vibrating component alone constitutes the imaging surface of the elastic imaging component. Specifically, the process of forming the plate-like shape can be regarded as the width of the strip vibrating rod increasing along the direction of the ultrasonic transducer array, while the lower end surface of the detachable body 20 is completely eliminated, and the plate-like vibrating component 40 alone constitutes the imaging surface of the elastic imaging assembly, then the entire plate-like vibrating component 40 can act directly and independently on the target to be detected. It can be understood that when the width dimension of the strip vibrating rod vibrating component 40 is increased to become a plate-like vibrating component 40, the size of the connecting piece 50 connected to the plate-like vibrating component also needs to be increased to ensure that when the plate-like vibrating component 40 vibrates, it can still maintain the connection with the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 through the connecting action of the connecting piece 50.

When the driving unit drives the plate-shaped vibration component to realize the automatic pressing operation of the press-type elastic imaging detection, the driving unit drives the entire imaging surface formed by the plate-shaped vibration component at this time, and the low-frequency vibration (driving frequency is 0.2Hz~5Hz) of the plate-shaped vibration component 40 can be used to make the target to be detected produce strain, that is, press-type elastic imaging can be realized. Conventional press-type elastic detection operation is very dependent on the doctor's operating technique, and the doctor needs to be able to apply pressure to the detection target at a stable frequency, which is difficult to do. The plate-shaped vibration component 40 can replace the doctor's manual pressing, and the driving unit 30 drives the vibration component 40 to vibrate at a low frequency to make the target to be detected produce strain. The driving unit 30 can regularly drive the plate-shaped vibration component 40 to apply pressure to the target to be detected, thereby helping to optimize the conventional press-type elastic imaging detection effect. It can be further understood that general shear wave elastic imaging detection can also be realized using a plate-shaped vibration component. The plate-shaped vibration component can directly act on the target to be detected to mechanically vibrate to generate shear waves. When the plate-shaped vibrating component 40 is used to act on the target to be detected to generate shear waves, the driving frequency is greater than 5 Hz, preferably 200 Hz. When the vibrating component is used to mechanically vibrate to generate shear waves, the vibration direction can be perpendicular to the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer or parallel to the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer.

Example

Please refer to Figures 9 and 10. The third embodiment of the present invention provides an ultrasonic detector. The difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that, in the third embodiment, the same elastic imaging component is provided with multiple vibration components 40, and a variety of elastic imaging detections can be achieved based on the use of different vibration components 40 or combinations of vibration components 40.

Specifically, in this embodiment, the elastic imaging assembly contains two vibrating components 40, namely a first vibrating component 40a and a second vibrating component 40b. The first vibrating component 40a is cylindrical, and its lower end surface is circular, and the lower end surface of the second vibrating component 40b is in the shape of a plate as a whole. The setting position of the first vibrating component 40a is the same as the setting position in Example 1, and the connection method between it and the driving part 32 is also the same. One difference between this embodiment and Example 1 is that the connecting member 50 in this embodiment is directly composed of an elastic membrane 53 and a sound-permeable liquid filling the inside. A part of the elastic membrane 53 of the connecting member 50 is bonded and connected to the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10, a part is bonded and connected to the surrounding side walls of the detachable body 20, and a part is bonded and connected to the second vibrating component 40b, as shown in Figure 9. In this embodiment, the lower end surface structure of the detachable body 20 in Example 1 is no longer provided, but is directly provided as the second vibrating component 40b. The second vibrating component 40b is connected to the detachable body 20 through the connecting member 50. The second vibration component 40b is arranged outside the elastic membrane 53 of the connecting member 50 and is bonded and connected to the elastic membrane 53. The second vibration component 40b is in the shape of a plate as a whole, and a hollow structure is arranged in the middle of the plate-shaped second vibration component 40b, and the hollow structure is used to accommodate the first vibration component 40a. The first vibration component 40a is located in the cavity formed by the elastic membrane 53, and the lower end surface of the elastic membrane 53 bonded and connected to the first vibration component 40a is flat or substantially flat with the lower end surface of the second vibration component 40b, and the whole is flat or approximately flat. The top view is shown in Figure 10. At least part of the elastic membrane of the connecting member 50 is arranged between the first vibration component 40a and the second vibration component 40b. The advantage of such an arrangement is that, with the help of the telescopic characteristics of the elastic membrane 53, the first vibration component 40a can be allowed to vibrate or move along the central axis direction of the detachable body. The second vibration component 40b is connected to two driving parts (not shown in the figure) located on the front and rear sides of the detachable body 20 through two front and rear driving rods (not shown in the figure), that is, the setting method of the driving part 30 for driving the second vibration component 40b is the same as the design scheme for driving the vibration component 40 as a vibration rod in Example 2. Two voice coil motors are arranged at the center positions of the front and rear sides of the detachable body 20. The first end of the driving rod driving the second vibration component 40b is connected to the mover in the voice coil motor, and the second end of the driving rod is connected to the second vibration component 40b. The connection position of the second end of the driving rod and the second vibration component 40b is shown as 300 in Figure 10, and the connection position is respectively located in the middle of the two sides in the width direction of the second vibration component 40b (or the middle of the front and rear sides). The driving rod for driving the second vibration component 40b is arranged outside the connecting member 50. When the elastic imaging assembly is buckled with the ultrasonic transducer 10, all structures located below the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer must have sound permeability. These structures include a driving rod 32 for driving the first vibration component 40a, a first vibration component 40a, a second vibration component 40b and a connecting member 50. It can be understood that conventional ultrasonic grayscale imaging can be achieved using the ultrasonic detector. In this embodiment, the driving part is 4 voice coil motors. The voice coil motors symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the detachable body 20 are used to drive the first vibration component 40a, and the voice coil motors symmetrically arranged on the front and back sides of the detachable body 20 are used to drive the second vibration component 40b. The advantage of this arrangement is that the forces on the two vibration components 40 are the same. In other embodiments, the first vibration component 40a and the second vibration component 40b can be driven by a voice coil motor respectively.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the elastic imaging component can be provided with multiple vibration components 40 at the same time, and the driving unit 30 can realize the separate vibration control of different vibration components 40. Therefore, based on multiple vibration components 40, the elastic imaging component in this embodiment can realize multiple forms of vibration, that is, different ultrasonic detection methods can be realized by using the same elastic imaging component. In this embodiment, there are two vibration components 40, one is a circular vibration component 40a, and the other is a plate-shaped vibration component 40b. Four forms of vibration control can be realized, corresponding to the corresponding elastic detection methods.

The first vibration form: Shear waves are stimulated by the circular vibrating component 40a, and general shear wave elastic imaging detection can be realized. Specifically, the driving part 30 (voice coil motor) arranged on the left and right sides of the elastic imaging component drives the first vibrating component 40a to vibrate based on the original position, and the second vibrating component 40b is stationary at this time. The vibration direction is preferably along the direction of the central axis of the detachable body (that is, perpendicular to the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10) to vibrate back and forth, and the vibration frequency is greater than 5Hz, preferably 200Hz. Based on this vibration, shear waves can be stimulated inside the target to be detected, and general shear wave elastic imaging detection can be realized by using this shear wave. In other embodiments, the vibration direction can also be perpendicular to the central axis of the detachable body (that is, parallel to the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10), and shear waves can also be stimulated inside the target to be detected, and general shear wave elastic imaging detection can also be realized by using this shear wave.

The second vibration form: realizing the equivalent vibration of the plate-like vibration component 40 to excite shear waves, and realizing general shear wave elastic imaging detection. By adjusting and combining the vibration components, the change of the shape of the vibration components is equivalently realized. Specifically, the first vibration component 40a and the second vibration component 40b vibrate synchronously, that is, the first vibration component 40a and the second vibration component 40b vibrate in the form of a plate-like surface formed together, and the vibration direction vibrates back and forth along the central axis direction of the detachable body, and shear waves are excited inside the target to be detected, and elastic imaging detection can be realized by using the shear waves. In other embodiments, the vibration direction of the first vibration component 40a and the second vibration component 40b synchronously vibrates perpendicular to the central axis direction of the detachable body, and shear waves can also be excited inside the target to be detected. The above-mentioned vibration frequency is greater than 5Hz, preferably 200Hz. Vibration at this frequency can excite shear waves inside the target to be detected, thereby realizing general shear wave elastic imaging detection.

The third vibration form: realizes low-frequency pressing vibration similar to a plate surface, and this vibration form can realize pressing elastic imaging. Specifically, the driving unit 30 simultaneously drives the first vibration component 40a and the second vibration component 40b to vibrate (low-frequency vibration, forming a pressing (generating stress) operation on the target to be detected, and generating strain inside the target to be detected). The difference between the vibration form and the second vibration form is that the synchronous vibration frequency of the first vibration component 40a and the second vibration component 40b is low, and the vibration direction is a reciprocating motion along the central axis direction of the detachable body (perpendicular to the detection surface direction of the ultrasonic transducer). The vibration frequency is 0.2HZ-5hz. Based on this lower vibration frequency, the pressing plate (imaging surface) structure jointly formed by the first vibration component 40a and the second vibration component 40b will form a repeated process of applying and releasing pressing to the target to be detected, which will cause corresponding strains inside the tissue of the target to be detected, rather than shear waves. The strain information generated by the target to be detected can be detected using ultrasonic signals, thereby realizing pressing elastic imaging detection. During the driving process, the distance between the pressing plate (imaging surface) formed by the first vibrating component 40a and the second vibrating component 40b and the ultrasonic transducer detection surface will change as the pressing plate is driven. Using the driving unit 30 to drive the vibrating component 40 to realize the pressing operation on the target to be detected can solve the problem of heavy reliance on the doctor's operating technique in conventional press-type elastic imaging detection, thereby improving the press-type elastic imaging detection results. This driving form is equivalent to the low-frequency driving of the plate-shaped vibrating component 40 in Example 2. The difference is that the plate-shaped vibrating component 40 in this embodiment is composed of the first vibrating component 40a and the second vibrating component 40b. Preferably, the surface area of the plate-shaped vibrating component jointly formed is larger than the area of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface. The larger the area of the vibrating component, the more uniform the pressure can be applied to the target to be detected, and the more accurate the strain information is, which is helpful for press-type elastic imaging detection. In addition to using the driving unit to drive the pressing plate (imaging surface) formed by the first vibrating component 40a and the second vibrating component 40b to perform a pressing operation on the target to be detected, the above-mentioned ultrasonic detector can also be held by hand to perform press-type elastic imaging detection by manual pressing (conventional pressing). When the manual pressing method is used, the driving unit does not work, that is, during the manual pressing process, the distance between the pressing plate (imaging surface) formed by the first vibrating component 40a and the second vibrating component 40b and the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer will not change.

The fourth vibration form: the vibration component 40 is formed into a convex portion (not shown in Figures 9 and 10), and the convex portion is used to vibrate on the surface of the target to be detected and then excite the shear wave required for transient elastic imaging inside the target to be detected, so as to realize transient elastic imaging detection. Specifically, the driving unit drives the first vibration component 40a to move along the central axis of the detachable body away from the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer to form a convex portion 41. When the first vibration component 40a is driven to move, the second vibration component 40b remains stationary or is driven to move in the opposite direction. When the first vibration component 40a forms a convex portion, the height difference between the lower end surface of the first vibration component 40a and the lower end surface of the second vibration component 40b is greater than or equal to 0.5mm, preferably 3mm~16mm. Since the connecting member has a telescopic characteristic, when the first vibration component 40a moves downward away from the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 to form a convex portion, the first vibration component 40a and the ultrasonic transducer 10 are still connected by means of the connecting member 50. The position of the first vibrating component 40a after the protrusion is formed is the vibration base point, and then instantaneous vibration is performed, so that the shear wave required for transient elastic imaging detection can be excited inside the target to be detected. Preferably, the lower end surface of the first vibrating component 40a is circular, and the diameter range of the circle is 5mm~15mm. It can be understood that in other embodiments, the process of forming the protrusion can also allow the first vibrating component 40a to remain stationary, and by driving the second vibrating component 40b to move toward the direction close to the ultrasonic transducer detection surface, the protrusion can also be formed.

In summary, it is easy to understand that various elastic imaging methods can be implemented using the elastic imaging component in this embodiment.

Example 4

Please refer to Figures 11 to 14. The fourth embodiment of the present invention provides an ultrasonic detector. The difference between the fourth embodiment and the second embodiment is that in the fourth embodiment, the shape of the vibrating component 40 is different. In this embodiment, the vibrating component 40 has an obvious protrusion 41. At this time, the lower end surface of the protrusion 41 is the lower end surface of the elastic imaging component, and the center of the protrusion 41 is set on the central axis of the detachable body. The protrusion 41 is cylindrical as a whole, and the diameter of the cylinder ranges from 5mm to 15mm. The height difference between the lower end surface with the protrusion 41 and the lower end surface 201 of the detachable body is greater than or equal to 0.5mm. After the elastic imaging component with a clear protrusion 41 is fixed to the ultrasonic transducer 10, when used for transient elastic imaging detection, the protrusion 41 is placed in the rib gap, and the driving unit 30 drives the protrusion 41 to vibrate instantaneously, so that the shear wave required for transient elastic imaging can be stimulated inside the target to be detected (for example, inside the liver), thereby realizing conventional transient elastic imaging detection. The protrusion 41 should have a sound-transmitting property, so the existence of the protrusion does not affect the grayscale imaging of the ultrasonic transducer, that is, ultrasonic grayscale imaging can still be performed, but the area of ultrasonic grayscale imaging is limited by the size of the lower end surface of the protrusion. It can be understood that the image guidance function can also be realized when the ultrasonic transducer in the ultrasonic detector is a multi-element ultrasonic transducer. In one embodiment, the lower end surface of the detachable body can be omitted.

Example 5

Please refer to Figures 15 to 18, which are ultrasonic detectors provided in the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth embodiment, the vibration component of the elastic imaging assembly has a protrusion 41, and the protrusion 41 is fixedly connected to the detachable body 20 through a connecting plate 42. The detachable body 20 is a fixed frame, and the snap-fitting components 21 are arranged on the left and right sides of the detachable body 20, and the vibration component 40 having the protrusion 41 is directly fixed to the detachable body 20 through the connecting plate 42. The center of the vibration component 40 having the protrusion 41 is arranged on the central axis of the detachable body. In this embodiment, the detachable body 40, the connecting plate 42 and the vibration component can be an integrated design. In other embodiments, the connection method of the protrusion and the detachable body is not limited to the connecting plate 42, and can also be other connection methods such as a connecting rod. The fixing method of the detachable body and the ultrasonic transducer is not limited to a snap connection, but can also be other connection methods, such as threaded fixing.

When the elastic imaging component is fixed to the ultrasonic transducer 10, the end face of the protrusion 41 close to the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 is directly in contact with the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10. The elastic imaging component also includes a driving unit 30, and the driving unit 30 is arranged in the middle of the front side or the rear side of the detachable body 20. Specifically, the driving unit 30 is fixed on a fixing plate 31, and the fixing plate 31 is fixed on the detachable body 20. In other embodiments, the driving unit 30 can be directly fixed on the detachable body 20. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the driving unit 30 does not need to be connected to the vibration component 40, but the driving of the vibration component 40 is indirectly realized by driving the ultrasonic transducer 10 and the elastic imaging component through the inertia of the instantaneous downward movement of the mover in the driving unit 30. By increasing the driving power of the driving unit 30 itself and enhancing the vibration amplitude of the mover (not shown in the figure) of the driving unit 30, the inertia of the instantaneous downward movement of the mover in the driving unit 30 can drive the ultrasonic transducer 10 and the elastic imaging component fixed on the ultrasonic transducer 10 to vibrate instantaneously. During detection, the protrusion (vibrating component) placed on the target to be detected (for example, between the ribs) can excite the shear wave required for instantaneous elastic imaging inside the target to be detected (for example, inside the liver) under the action of instantaneous vibration, and finally realize conventional instantaneous elastic imaging detection. In this embodiment, the number of driving units 30 is one, and in other embodiments, the number of driving units 30 can be set to two or more. It can be understood that the vibrating component 40 and the connecting plate 42 located below the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 have acoustic permeability characteristics. Only with acoustic permeability characteristics can the ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic transducer 10 be allowed to be smoothly transmitted to the target to be detected to realize ultrasonic signal detection; it can be understood that when the ultrasonic transducer in the above-mentioned ultrasonic detector is a multi-element array, the image guidance function (ultrasonic grayscale imaging) can be realized. In this embodiment, the vibration component 40 is directly attached to the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 ; in other embodiments, a coupling layer is provided between the vibration component 40 and the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 .

Example 6

Please refer to FIG. 19 , the ultrasonic detector provided by the sixth embodiment of the present invention, the difference between the sixth embodiment and the second embodiment is that in the sixth embodiment, the vibration component 40 is no longer a bar-shaped vibration rod, but a vibration membrane, which is arranged at one end of the tubular cavity structure 60, and forms a sealing arrangement for the port. The vibration drive of the vibration membrane is achieved by applying and releasing pressure to the liquid in the tubular cavity structure 60. Specifically, when the elastic imaging component is buckled with the ultrasonic transducer 10, the center of the vibration membrane is on the central axis of the detachable body, and the lower end surface of the vibration membrane is flush or substantially flush with the lower end surface of the elastic imaging component. The vibration membrane and the lower end surface of the detachable body together form a plane or an approximate plane, which can fully contact the surface of the target to be detected, which helps the ultrasonic signal to be smoothly transmitted to the target to be detected, and helps to achieve ultrasonic grayscale imaging. The vibration membrane can be circular as a whole, and in other embodiments, it can also be other shapes, such as rectangular, rectangular, approximate elliptical, etc. The surroundings of the vibration membrane are sealed and glued to the surroundings of the vacant structure on the lower end surface of the elastic imaging component, that is, the vibration membrane forms a sealing arrangement for a port of the tubular cavity structure 60. The diaphragm has the characteristics of being retractable, deformable and sound-permeable. A tubular structure connected to the diaphragm is provided inside the detachable body 20. Specifically, the diaphragm forms a sealing arrangement with the first end of the tubular structure. The second end of the tubular structure is connected to the lower end of the liquid storage chamber 100. The liquid storage chamber 100 is fixed on the fixing plate 31. The driving unit 30 controls the vibration of the diaphragm by applying pressure to or releasing pressure on the liquid in the tubular structure 60. Specifically, the driving unit 30 includes a voice coil motor, a driving rod 32, a pressing plate 70, and a liquid storage chamber 100. The driving unit 30 is fixed on the fixing plate 31. The fixing plate 31 is fixed on the front side or the rear side of the detachable body 20. In some cases, the fixing plate 31 can also be omitted, that is, the driving unit 30 can be directly fixed on the detachable body 20. It can be understood that the driving unit 30 can also be arranged on the ultrasonic transducer 10, or suspended. In both cases, the fixing plate can also be omitted. The mover in the driving unit 30 drives the pressing plate 70 to move through the driving rod 32, and the pressing plate 70 is slidably sealed and connected to the inner wall of the liquid storage chamber through rubber rings. The movement of the pressing plate 70 can apply pressure to or release pressure on the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber, thereby controlling the vibration of the vibrating membrane. In other embodiments, there can be multiple vibrating membranes, and one driving unit 30 can drive multiple vibrating membranes. In other embodiments, there can also be multiple driving units 30.

When the elastic imaging component with the vibrating membrane is buckled and fixed to the ultrasonic transducer 10, the vibrating membrane is in direct contact with the surface of the target to be detected. The vibrating membrane can be driven by the driving unit 30 to vibrate, thereby exciting a shear wave inside the target to be detected. The shear wave can be tracked and detected using the ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic transducer, and finally a general shear wave elastic imaging detection is realized. Since the detachable body 20, the tubular structure 60, and the liquid and the vibrating membrane in the tubular structure 60 located below the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer all have acoustic transparency, the above-mentioned ultrasonic detector can realize ultrasonic grayscale imaging. In addition, it can be understood that by holding the above-mentioned ultrasonic detector, a conventional manual pressing operation is applied to the target to be detected using the plane formed by the vibrating membrane and the lower end surface of the detachable body (i.e., the imaging surface, preferably, the area of the imaging surface is larger than the area of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface), and a press-type elastic imaging detection can also be realized.

It can be understood that in Examples 1-6, as well as other examples, the vibration component is detachably connected to the detachable body so as to replace the vibration component with different shapes and sizes.

Example 7

Please refer to Figures 20 to 25. The ultrasonic detector provided by the seventh embodiment of the present invention has a one-to-one matching relationship between the elastic imaging component and the ultrasonic transducer 10 in Examples 1-6, that is, each elastic imaging component is designed to match an ultrasonic transducer of a specific shape. The problem with this is that the universality of the elastic imaging component is reduced. In this embodiment, a size-adjustable elastic imaging component will be provided, and the size-adjustable elastic imaging component can be matched and fixedly connected with ultrasonic transducers of different sizes. In addition, this embodiment also provides an embodiment in which the vibration component is replaceable.

Specifically, in this embodiment, the size-adjustable elastic imaging component mainly includes: a fixing frame 310, a fine-tuning structure 80, a driving unit 30 and a vibrating component 40, wherein the fixing frame 310 and the fine-tuning structure 80 constitute a detachable body. The fixing frame 310 and the fine-tuning structure 80 are used to clamp ultrasonic transducers 10 of different sizes, and the ultrasonic transducer 10 is placed in the middle of the fixing frame 310, and the ultrasonic transducer 10 is fixed to the elastic imaging component through the fine-tuning structure 80. When the elastic imaging component is fixed to the ultrasonic transducer 10, the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer 10 coincides with the central axis of the detachable body.

Specifically, the fixing frame 310 is divided into a first fixing frame 311 and a second fixing frame 312. Two protrusion structures 313 are respectively arranged at the two ends of the first fixing frame 311. The protrusion structures are cylindrical as a whole, as shown in Figures 21 and 23. At the corresponding positions at the two ends of the second fixing frame 312, groove structures 110 matching the size of the protrusion structures 313 at the two ends of the first fixing frame 311 are arranged. The advantage of such a design is that the first fixing frame 311 and the second fixing frame 312 can be buckled along the fixed direction (that is, the sliding direction of the protrusion structure along the groove) by means of the protrusion structure 313-groove structure 110 itself. The design of the protrusion structure 313-groove structure 110 can limit the force direction of the two fixing plates (the first fixing frame 311 and the second fixing frame 312) when clamping the ultrasonic transducer 10, that is, the two fixing plates (the first fixing frame 311 and the second fixing frame 312) can only be buckled in the front relative direction. The ultrasonic transducer 10 is placed between two fixing plates (the first fixing frame 311 and the second fixing frame 312), and the two fixing plates are fixedly connected, and the connection method is connected by a thread-nut method. Specifically, a hole is dug in the central axis of the raised structure 313 and a screw is set, and a nut is set at the central axis position of the groove of the second fixing frame 312. The first fixing frame 311 and the second fixing frame 312 can be buckled and fixed along the direction of the raised structure 313 by the connection method of the screw nut, and finally the ultrasonic transducer 10 is fixed between the first fixing frame 311 and the second fixing frame 312. In other embodiments, the shape of the raised structure 313 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, but can also be other shapes, such as a triangular prism, and the corresponding groove structure can also be changed accordingly. The number of 313 raised structures is not limited to four in this embodiment, but can also be other numbers. The connection method is not limited to a threaded nut connection, and can also be connected and fixed by a magnet. The protrusion structure 313-groove structure 110 and the corresponding fixed connection method are simultaneously provided at both ends of the fixed plate, which helps to make the forces at both ends of the two fixed plates equal, and further the clamping force of the ultrasonic transducer 10 equal. In a specific embodiment, the hollow formed in the middle after the two fixed plates (the first fixing frame 311 and the second fixing frame 312) are buckled is roughly elliptical, and the ultrasonic transducer 10 is placed between the two fixed plates. It can be further understood that when the two fixed plates are fixed, the distance between them is related to the thickness of the clamped part of the ultrasonic transducer 10. Considering that the thickness of the ultrasonic transducer 10 is not uniform in many cases, when the ultrasonic transducer 10 is directly fixed by the fixing frame 310, it will cause the ultrasonic transducer 10 to be unevenly stressed and its position will be unstable. In order to achieve the effect of stably clamping ultrasonic transducers 10 of different sizes and thicknesses, a fine-tuning structure 80 is added to the fixing frame 310 in this embodiment, and the position adjustment and fixation of the ultrasonic transducer 10 are achieved by the fine-tuning structure 80.

A plurality of fine-tuning structures 80 are respectively arranged on each fixing frame 310, and each fine-tuning structure 80 can exert force on the clamped ultrasonic transducer 10 to adjust and fix the position of the ultrasonic transducer 10. Specifically, four fine-tuning structures 80 are respectively arranged on each fixing frame 310 (the first fixing frame 311 and the second fixing frame 312), and the four fine-tuning structures 80 are located at the four vertices of a quadrilateral. The advantage of such arrangement is that the fine-tuning structures 80 at the vertices of the quadrilateral can exert force on the ultrasonic transducer 10 in multiple directions (up and down, left and right) and at different positions, so that the front and rear positions of the ultrasonic transducer 10 along its central axis can be adjusted, and the left and right positions of the ultrasonic transducer 10 can also be adjusted. The positions of the fine-tuning structures 80 arranged on the two fixing plates (the first fixing frame 311 and the second fixing frame 312) are the same. Through the cooperation of eight fine-tuning structures 80, the position of the ultrasonic transducer 10 between the two fixed plates (the first fixing frame 311 and the second fixing frame 312) can be flexibly adjusted to finally realize the coincidence of the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer 10 with the central axis of the fixing plate in use. In other embodiments, the position distribution of the fine-tuning structure 80 is not limited to the vertices of the quadrilateral, but can also be distributed in a triangle. The core is that it can realize the effect of applying force to multiple points of the clamped ultrasonic transducer 10 to achieve adjustment in multiple directions. The distribution of the fine-tuning structure 80 in the two fixed plates is not limited to being exactly the same, but can also be staggered, as long as the fine-tuning structure 80 can apply force to different positions of the ultrasonic transducer 10. Specifically, the fine-tuning structure 80 mainly consists of a spring 81, a fine-tuning column 82, a screw 83 and a mounting hole 84. The side of the fixing frame 310 close to the ultrasonic transducer 10 is the inner side of the fixing plate, and the other side of the corresponding fixing frame 310 is the outer side of the fixing plate. The fixing frame 310 is provided with a mounting hole 84, in which a spring 81, a fine-tuning column 82, and a screw 83 are placed, and a fine-tuning structure 80 is formed by their combination. Specifically, a thread matching the screw is provided near the outer edge of the fixing plate of the mounting hole 84. By rotating the screw 83, the position of the screw 83 moves and sinks along the mounting hole 84 toward the inner side of the fixing plate. When sinking, the screw 83 acts on the upper end of the fine-tuning column 83, pressing the fine-tuning column 82 to move along the mounting hole 84 toward the inner side of the fixing plate until the lower end of the fine-tuning column 82 contacts the ultrasonic transducer 10 placed in the middle of the fixing frame 310, so as to achieve the effect of applying force to the ultrasonic transducer 10 and further achieve the adjustment of the position of the ultrasonic transducer 10. In order to allow the fine-tuning column 82 to move in a single direction along the mounting hole (to avoid rotating itself due to the rotation of the screw, which will cause wear to the ultrasonic transducer), a limiting structure (not shown in the figure) is provided on the fine-tuning column 82, and the limiting structure is achieved by adding a protruding structure on the outer side of the fine-tuning column 82. A groove is provided on the side wall of the mounting hole 84 to accommodate the limiting structure of the fine-tuning column 82. With the help of the limiting structure and the groove, the fine-tuning column 82 can only move along the direction of the mounting hole 84 under the pressure of the screw 83. In order to allow the fine-tuning column 82 to be reset, a spring 81 is provided at the lower end of the limiting structure. The spring 81 is sleeved on the fine-tuning column 82, the upper end of the spring 81 abuts against the lower end of the limiting structure, and the other end of the spring 81 abuts against the lower end of the mounting hole 84 near the inner side of the fixing frame 310, as shown in Figures 23 and 25. Specifically, when the screw 83 is tightened, the screw 83 acts on the fine-tuning column 82 to move downward, and at this time the spring 81 is in a compressed state, as shown in Figure 22. When the screw 83 is screwed outward (loosening direction), the position of the screw 83 moves toward the outside of the fixing plate, reducing the pressure on the upper end of the fine-tuning column 82. The fine-tuning column 82 will also move toward the outside of the fixing plate with the screw 83 under the elastic force of the spring 81, and the force of the fine-tuning column 82 on the ultrasonic transducer 10 can be reduced. In order to avoid wear on the outer shell of the ultrasonic transducer 10, an elastic medium is adhered to the inner side of the two fixing frames 310 and the lower end surface of the fine-tuning column 82. The elastic medium has a certain compressible property, such as silica gel. With the help of the elastic medium, the mechanical wear or damage to the ultrasonic transducer 10 when the fixing frame 310 or the fine-tuning column 82 clamps the ultrasonic transducer 10 can be reduced or avoided.

The elastic imaging assembly in this embodiment also includes a driving unit 30, which is fixed to the fixed frame 310 through a mounting plate 90. Specifically, a groove is provided in the middle position of each fixed frame 310, and the driving unit 30 is provided in the groove. As shown in FIG. 22 . The mounting plate 90 is L-shaped as a whole, and the mounting plate 90 mainly has two functions, one is to fix the driving unit 30 on the mounting plate 90; the other function is to fix the driving unit 30 on the fixed frame 310 through the mounting plate 90. Specifically, the driving unit 30 preferably adopts a voice coil motor, which includes a stator and a mover. The bottom of the stator is fixedly connected to the mounting plate 90, and the connection method is a thread-nut connection. There is a driving plate 91 at the end of the mover, and one side of the driving plate 91 is fixedly connected to a sliding plate 92, and the sliding plate 92 is clamped to a linear bearing 93 provided on the mounting plate 90 to ensure that the direction of the mover movement is vibrated or moved along the direction predetermined by the linear bearing 93. The linear bearing 93 is arranged between the stator close to the fixed frame 310 and the mounting plate 90, so that the overall space of the driving unit 30 can be reduced. The upper end surface of the driving plate 91 is fixedly connected to the driving column 94, and the driving column 94 is used to transmit the driving action of the mover to the vibration component 40. The driving column 94 is provided with a thread, which is convenient for fixing with the vibration component 40 by means of a thread-nut. In this embodiment, in order to make the vibration component 40 evenly stressed, the driving unit 30 is respectively installed at symmetrical positions on the two fixing frames 310. In other embodiments, the driving unit 30 can also be installed on only one fixing plate 31 to reduce the space and volume of the entire elastic imaging assembly. Further, in other embodiments, the driving unit 30 can be directly fixed on the fixing frame 310. A connector 50 is added between the vibration component 40 and the ultrasonic transducer 10. The connector 50 has a sound-transmitting deformable characteristic. Preferably, the connector 50 can be composed of a cavity composed of a sound-transmitting elastic membrane, and the cavity is filled with a sound-transmitting liquid, which can be water or glycerin, and the elastic membrane can be composed of a silicone product with sound-transmitting properties. One side of the connecting member 50 is fitted or bonded to the vibration component 40, and the other side is fitted or bonded to the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10. In particular, when the distance between the vibration component 40 and the ultrasonic transducer 10 is greater than the vibration amplitude of the vibration component 40 itself, the connecting member 50 can play a good connecting role, that is, when the vibration component 40 vibrates, the connection between the vibration component 40 and the ultrasonic transducer 10 is still maintained due to the compressible deformation and sound-transmitting characteristics of the connecting member 50, thereby ensuring that the ultrasonic signal is smoothly transmitted during the vibration of the vibration component.

The vibration component 40 is connected to the driving column 94 in the driving unit 30 so that the driving unit 30 can drive the vibration component 40 .

Furthermore, the vibration component 40 is detachably connected to the driving column 94, and vibration components 40 with different shapes and sizes can be replaced according to actual needs to achieve different elastic imaging tests. In addition to the different shapes and sizes, the replaceable vibration components have the same connection structure and connection method with the driving column. Specifically, the vibration component with a protrusion (as shown in Figures 21 and 22) and the vibration component with a plate surface (as shown in Figures 24 and 25, where the driving part in Figure 25 is not shown) have the same connection method or structure with the detachable body. The structure of the plate-shaped vibration component (as shown in Figure 24) is described as follows. The plate-shaped vibration component is mainly composed of a vibration plate 43 and a connecting plate 42. Preferably, the vibration plate 43 and the connecting plate 42 can be designed in one piece. Specifically, connecting plates 42 extending upward are arranged along both sides of the vibration plate 43, and the connecting plates 42 continue to extend upward to form a horizontal protruding structure 44, and an adjustment groove 441 is arranged on the protruding structure 44, and an adjustment hole 442 whose size is smaller than the width of the adjustment groove 441 is arranged inside the adjustment groove 441, and the adjustment hole 442 has a certain length along the direction of the adjustment groove 441. The adjustment groove 441 is used to accommodate the top of the driving column 94 in the driving part 30, and the top of the driving column 94 can slide/move in the adjustment groove 441 to a position that needs to be fixed (a certain position in the adjustment hole 442), and the adjustment hole 442 with a certain length is to facilitate the matching of the position of the driving column 94 in the driving part 30 with the vibration component 40. For ease of understanding, further explanation is given here. The distance between the two fixing frames 310 will change with the change of the thickness of the clamped ultrasonic transducer 10. When the distance between the two fixing frames 310 changes, the distance between the driving parts 30 set on the two fixing frames 310 will also change, and then the distance between the driving columns 94 in the two driving parts 30 will also change. In order to adapt to or match the change of this distance, an adjustment hole 442 with a certain length is provided in the protruding structure 44 of the connecting plate 42 of the vibration component 10 to adapt to the change of the distance between the driving columns 94. When the top ends of the two driving columns 94 are respectively matched with the positions of the adjustment holes 442 of the two protruding structures 44 of the vibration component 40, the vibration component 40 and the driving part 30 can be fixedly connected by means of screws and nuts. In other embodiments, the adjustment hole 442 may not be closed and may be in an outwardly open state.

In this embodiment, the protrusion 41 of the replaceable protrusion vibration component (as shown in Figures 21 and 22) is cylindrical as a whole, and the protrusion 41 is directly arranged on the lower end surface of the vibration plate 43 and fixedly connected. The diameter range of the protrusion 41 is 5mm~15mm. Preferably, the center of the protrusion 41 is set at the central axis position of the ultrasonic transducer 10. The vibration component 40 with the protrusion 41 is instantaneously vibrated back and forth parallel to the central axis direction of the ultrasonic transducer 10 under the action of the driving unit 30. Protrusion vibration components of different sizes can be replaced, that is, the diameter size of the protrusion 41 of the vibration component can be different, so as to meet the detection of different types of patients in the transient elastic imaging clinic to improve the detection accuracy. For example, when the liver stiffness of obese patients is detected, a large-sized protrusion 41 is used for detection, and when the liver stiffness of children is detected, a vibration component with a small-sized protrusion 41 is used for detection. When performing transient elastic imaging detection using an elastic imaging assembly having a raised vibrating component 40, the raised portion 41 is placed in the intercostal space, and the shear wave can be stimulated inside the target to be detected (for example, inside the liver) through the instantaneous vibration of the raised portion 41 of the vibrating component 40, so as to realize transient elastic imaging detection of the target to be detected (such as the liver, etc.). Further, in the detection of transient elastic imaging, the operator is required to hold the elastic detection handle to apply a certain pressure to the detection surface of the target to be detected, and then vibrate the end of the elastic detection handle to stimulate effective shear waves. In order to improve the repeatability of the detection, in other embodiments, a pressure detection device can be provided between the vibrating component 40 and the driving part 30. Specifically, the pressure detection device can be selected as a threaded pressure sensor, which is a part of the driving column 94, that is, the pressure sensor can bear or detect the pressing force of the vibrating component 40 on the target to be detected by the driving column 94, so as to prompt the operator to determine whether to start the transient elastic detection, wherein the prompting method includes sound, light, etc. Since the vibration components and connectors disposed below the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer have acoustic transparency, when the ultrasonic transducer is a multi-element ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic grayscale imaging can still be achieved, further realizing the image guidance function required for transient elastic imaging.

The shape of the replaceable vibration component is not limited to the vibration component 40 with the protrusion 41 in this embodiment, and can also be a vibration component 40 of other shapes, such as a plate-shaped vibration component, as shown in Figures 24 and 25. The lower end of the plate-shaped vibration component is no longer provided with a protrusion, but is directly composed of a vibration plate 43. The vibration plate 43 alone constitutes an imaging surface. Specifically, the vibration plate 43 is arranged parallel to the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10. Preferably, the vibration plate 43 is a plane or an approximate plane (for example, when the ultrasonic transducer 10 is a convex array ultrasonic transducer, the approximate plane is a corresponding curved surface; in other embodiments, the imaging surface formed by the lower end surface of the elastic imaging component can also be a corresponding curved surface), and its area is larger than the area of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface (forming a coverage of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface), which helps to apply uniform stress to the target to be detected (helps with press-type elastic imaging detection), and helps to generate a shear wave field that is approximately a plane wave (helps with general shear wave elastic imaging detection). A connecting piece is also arranged between the vibration plate 43 and the detection surface (not shown in the figure). The vibration plate 43 is directly connected to the driving unit 30, and the driving unit 30 drives the vibration plate 43 to vibrate. The difference between the vibration component with a protrusion and the vibration component with a plate surface is only the difference in the shape of the vibration component. The connection structure and method of the vibration component with the driving unit are the same, so it can be replaced. The vibration frequency of the replaceable vibration component is above 0.2Hz, generally not higher than 1000HZ. It can be understood that, as understood in Example 1 and Example 2, the vibration component with a plate-shaped vibration plate 43 can realize press-type elastic imaging and general shear wave elastic imaging detection while realizing conventional ultrasonic grayscale imaging. In the process of realizing press-type elastic imaging, the vibration plate can be driven by the driving unit to complete its pressing operation on the target to be detected, and the vibration frequency is low, and its range is 0.2Hz-5HZ. In other embodiments, the vibration plate can also be manually pressed to complete the pressing operation on the target to be monitored. When the plate-shaped vibration component 40 is used to excite (generate) shear waves in the target to be detected, the driving frequency is greater than 5Hz, preferably 200Hz, to realize shear wave elastic imaging.

It can be understood that in the above-mentioned embodiments 1-7, the vibration component 40 is at least partially located below the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10, and the portion of the vibration component 40 located below the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 10 has a sound-transmitting property, thereby realizing the transmission of ultrasonic signals within the detection area of the ultrasonic transducer.

The above-mentioned elastic imaging device has a detachable design that allows the conventional ultrasonic transducer 10 to also realize instantaneous elastic imaging detection, or/and general shear wave elastic imaging, or/and compression elastic imaging, without the need to develop a dedicated elastic imaging detection handle, thereby reducing economic costs and increasing the popularity of elastic imaging technology.

When the elastic imaging assembly is fixed to the ultrasonic transducer, the central axis of the detachable body coincides with the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer. In one embodiment, the center of the vibrating component is set on the central axis of the detachable body. In other embodiments, the center of the vibrating component can also be set outside the central axis of the detachable body, thereby changing the position of the mechanical vibration, further changing the distribution of the general shear wave field, and also realizing the general shear wave elasticity. The shape of the vibrating component can also be a shape other than cylindrical, plate-shaped, vibrating rod, vibrating membrane, etc.

Conventional ultrasonic transducers refer to single-element ultrasonic transducers or multi-element ultrasonic transducers. Specifically, such as transcranial Doppler ultrasonic transducers, linear array ultrasonic transducers, micro-convex ultrasonic transducers, large convex ultrasonic transducers, phased array ultrasonic transducers or 3D ultrasonic transducers. All of them can realize elastic imaging detection, especially instantaneous elastic imaging detection, through the elastic imaging component scheme disclosed in the present invention. It can be understood that when the elastic imaging component is fixed to the conventional ultrasonic transducer and elastic imaging detection is performed, the working timing of the conventional ultrasonic transducer array element will be adjusted accordingly according to the actual situation. The purpose of the timing adjustment is to achieve shear wave tracking or strain detection. For example, when the linear array ultrasonic transducer and the elastic imaging component are fixed for instantaneous elastic imaging detection, only part of the linear array ultrasonic transducer array elements (part of the array elements facing the protrusion) need to work to realize the detection of the shear wave part excited directly below the lower end surface of the protrusion, without all the array elements working.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic detection method is also provided, which is applied to the above ultrasonic detector, and is characterized in that the method comprises:

Step 2: Perform elastic imaging and/or ultrasound grayscale imaging.

Elastic imaging includes instantaneous elastic imaging, general shear wave elastic imaging, and compression elastic imaging; instantaneous elastic imaging is achieved by the vibration component with a protrusion vibrating instantaneously on the surface of the target to be detected, general shear wave elastic imaging is achieved by the vibration component exciting shear wave vibration in the target to be detected, and compression elastic imaging is achieved by pressing the ultrasonic detector on the target to be detected to cause the target to be detected to produce strain;

Ultrasonic grayscale imaging refers to ultrasonic grayscale imaging performed by contacting the imaging surface of an ultrasonic detector with the object to be detected.

Step 3: Obtaining an ultrasonic echo signal using the ultrasonic transducer;

Step 4: Analyze the ultrasonic echo signal to extract structural information and characteristic information of the target to be detected, wherein the characteristic information includes at least one of shear wave velocity, fat content of the target to be detected, and viscoelasticity of the target to be detected.

Step 5: Display the structural information and characteristic information.

The above-mentioned ultrasonic detection method and the detachable design can enable the conventional ultrasonic transducer 10 to realize instantaneous elastic imaging detection, etc., without the need to develop a dedicated elastic imaging detection handle, thereby reducing economic costs and increasing the popularity of elastic imaging technology.

The above-mentioned embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present invention, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the patent of the present invention. It should be pointed out that, for ordinary technicians in this field, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present invention shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

An elastic imaging component, characterized in that it includes a detachable body, a driving unit and a vibrating component, wherein the detachable body is detachably connected to an ultrasonic transducer, the vibrating component is connected to the detachable body, the vibrating component is at least partially located below a detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer, and the driving unit is used to drive the vibrating component to realize elastic imaging.
The elastic imaging component according to claim 1 is characterized in that at least the portion of the elastic imaging component located below the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer has an acoustically transparent property.
The elastic imaging component according to claim 1 is characterized in that the elastic imaging includes any one or more of instantaneous elastic imaging, general shear wave elastic imaging, and compression elastic imaging.
The elastic imaging assembly according to claim 1 is characterized in that the size of the detachable body is adjustable to match the ultrasonic transducers of different sizes.
The elastic imaging assembly according to claim 1 is characterized in that there is at least one vibrating component.
The elastic imaging assembly according to claim 1 is characterized in that the vibration component is any one of a cylindrical, plate-shaped, a vibration rod, and a vibration membrane.
The elastic imaging assembly according to claim 1 is characterized in that a protrusion is provided at the lower end of the vibrating component.
The elastic imaging component according to claim 1 is characterized in that the elastic imaging component also includes a connecting member, at least a portion of which is located between the ultrasonic transducer detection surface and the vibrating component.
The elastic imaging component according to claim 1 is characterized in that the lower end surface of the elastic imaging component constitutes an imaging surface.
The elastic imaging assembly according to claim 1 is characterized in that the detachable body is snap-connected to the ultrasonic transducer.
The elastic imaging assembly according to claim 7 is characterized in that the ultrasonic transducer vibrates instantaneously together with the vibrating component.
An ultrasonic detector, characterized in that it comprises the elastic imaging component according to any one of claims 1 to 11, and also comprises an ultrasonic transducer.
An ultrasonic detection method, applied to the ultrasonic detector according to claim 12, characterized in that the method comprises:

Step 1: Selectively install the elastic imaging component on the ultrasonic transducer according to the target to be detected;

Step 2: Perform elastic imaging and/or ultrasonic grayscale imaging; elastic imaging includes one or more of instantaneous elastic imaging, general shear wave elastic imaging, and compression elastic imaging; instantaneous elastic imaging is achieved by the vibration component with a protrusion vibrating instantaneously on the surface of the target to be detected, general shear wave elastic imaging is achieved by the vibration component exciting shear wave vibration in the target to be detected, and compression elastic imaging is achieved by pressing the ultrasonic detector on the target to be detected to cause the target to be detected to produce strain;

Ultrasonic grayscale imaging refers to the process of performing ultrasonic grayscale imaging by contacting the imaging surface of the ultrasonic detector with the object to be detected;

Step 3: Obtaining an ultrasonic echo signal using the ultrasonic transducer;

Step 4: Analyze the ultrasonic echo signal to extract the structural information and characteristic information of the target to be detected. Step 5: Display the structural information and characteristic information.