JP2005102716A - Bone diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bone diagnosis apparatus capable of obtaining excellent bone information with a relatively wide range and high positional accuracy.
A vibrator 15 placed on a plateau portion 16 of a tibia 14 receives a drive signal from a signal generator 20 and vibrates the tibia 14. The ultrasonic probe 1 and the transmitter / receiver 3 transmit ultrasonic waves in response to vibrations that have propagated through the tibia and receive the returned ultrasonic waves. The phase comparison unit 4 performs phase comparison on the received signal, the correlation calculation unit 6 performs correlation calculation of the phase comparison signal, and the intensity of vibration at each part of the tibia, which is the result of the correlation calculation, is displayed on the display unit 7. .
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a diagnostic apparatus for diagnosing a bone state using ultrasonic waves.

  As a bone vibration analysis apparatus that examines the healing state of a fracture, the degree of progression of osteoporosis, and the like by exciting a bone and detecting and analyzing the vibration with a sensor, one having the configuration shown in FIG. 4 is known (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

  The operation of the conventional example will be described with reference to FIG.

  Under the control of the computer device 18, the driver module 17 sweeps a sine wave in the frequency range of 20 Hz to 2 kHz, and this signal is converted into acoustic energy by the vibration device 15, and is applied to the upper end of the tibia 14 of the lower leg 9 placed on the cushion 10. The plateau part 16 is vibrated. This vibration is transmitted through the tibia 14 and reaches the inner heel 13 at the lower end of the tibia. An accelerometer 11 is attached to the inner bag 13 by a strap 12, and the accelerometer 11 detects acoustic energy and converts it into an electrical signal. The converted signal is amplified by the charge amplifier 19 and then taken into the computer device 18 for analysis. In the computer device 18, frequency analysis is performed, and bone information such as a fracture state is obtained from the frequency characteristics of the propagation signal, propagation intensity, and the like.

In addition, as an attempt to know the degree of progression of osteoporosis by acoustic excitation, for example, the spine is hit with a hammer, the vibration wave propagating by an acceleration pickup is received, and frequency analysis is performed to analyze the degree of progression of osteoporosis. Have been proposed (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).
Japanese National Patent Publication No. 5-501213 Takatoshi Ide et al., “Acoustic diagnosis for osteoporosis”, Pathophysiology, 1994, Vol. 13, No. 1, p. 53-59

  The conventional bone vibration analysis method has the following problems.

  First of all, in the conventional method, the position where the signal is received must be set at a position where the bone is relatively shallow under the skin, and the points that can be measured are limited.

  Secondly, in the vibration detection by the accelerometer, the detected position range cannot be specified, and there is a problem in accuracy.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to detect signals in a relatively wide range by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and to clarify the position of signal detection. An object of the present invention is to provide a bone diagnostic apparatus capable of obtaining excellent bone information with high accuracy and reliability.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first bone diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a signal generating means for generating an electric signal having an audible frequency, and a vibration for converting the electric signal from the signal generator into a sound and transmitting the sound to the bone. An ultrasonic transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves with respect to the vibration propagated through the bone by the vibrator, a phase detection unit that detects a phase of a signal received by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit, and a phase from the phase detection unit Correlation calculation means for performing correlation calculation on the detection signal and display means for displaying the result of correlation calculation by the correlation calculation means are provided.

  According to this configuration, the sound (vibration) propagating through the bone is subjected to phase analysis using ultrasonic waves, and correlation calculation is performed, so that the vibration state of the bone can be set with high positional accuracy and parameters such as vibration frequency. It is possible to measure and analyze with high accuracy, and to diagnose the progress of osteoporosis and the healing status in fractures.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the first bone diagnosis apparatus includes an average calculation unit that averages the results of the correlation calculation at each frequency while changing the frequency of the audible frequency electric signal by the signal generation unit.

  According to this configuration, in the process of detecting the vibration of the bone by the ultrasonic wave, by changing the frequency to be vibrated, a measurement error due to the occurrence of a standing wave due to the vibration of the bone is strongly prevented. Accurate measurement of vibration amplitude and the like can be performed.

  In order to achieve the above object, a second bone diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a signal generating means for generating an electric signal having an audible frequency, and a vibration for converting the electric signal from the signal generator into a sound and transmitting the sound to the bone. An ultrasonic transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from the bone; a phase detection unit that detects a phase of a signal received by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit; and a fast Fourier that performs frequency conversion of a phase detection signal from the phase detection unit A conversion (FFT) calculation means and a display means for displaying a spectrum as a result of the FFT calculation by the FFT calculation means are provided.

  According to this configuration, by performing frequency analysis in the process of detecting bone vibration due to ultrasonic waves, it is possible to accurately perform structural analysis such as accurate bone strength.

  According to the bone diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, excellent bone information with high positional accuracy and reliability can be obtained by detecting signals in a relatively wide range by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and clarifying the signal detection position. There is a special effect that can be obtained.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a bone diagnosis apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a diagnostic apparatus main body 2 includes a transmitter / receiver 3 that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves, a phase detector 4 that detects a phase of a signal received by the transmitter / receiver 3, and a correlation calculation of phase detection signals from the phase detector 4. A correlation calculation unit 6, a display unit 7 for displaying a result of the correlation calculation, a signal generator 20 for generating a drive signal which is an electric signal of an audible frequency, and a control unit 5 for controlling the respective units. ing. A transducer 15 is placed in close contact with the body surface on the plateau portion 16 of the medial tibia 14 in the lower leg 9, and the ultrasound probe 1 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is placed on the lower leg 9. It has been. Here, the ultrasonic probe 1 and the transceiver 3 constitute an ultrasonic transmission / reception means.

  Next, the operation of the bone diagnosis apparatus configured as described above will be described.

  The vibrator 15 placed on the plateau portion 16 of the tibia 14 receives the drive signal from the signal generator 20 and vibrates the tibia 14. The ultrasonic probe 1 and the diagnostic apparatus main body 2 fulfill a function of calculating vibration intensity information as an ultrasonic blood flow image device (power mode display). In the power mode display, the intensity is calculated from the output signal of the correlation calculation unit 6, and the diagnostic apparatus main body 2 displays the intensity of vibration at each part of the tibia 14 on the display unit 7.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the sound (vibration) propagating through the bone is phase-analyzed using ultrasonic waves and the correlation calculation is performed, thereby accurately measuring the amplitude of the bone vibration. It is possible to analyze, indirectly know the strength (easy to break) distribution of the tibia, and know the progress of osteoporosis. In addition, the healing status in fractures and the like can be diagnosed by the distribution of vibrations transmitted through the bone.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a bone diagnosis apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that an average calculation unit 8 is provided between the correlation calculation unit 6 and the display unit 7. In addition, the operation is different in that the frequency of the drive signal generated by the signal generator 20 is changed.

  In the present embodiment, the frequency of the drive signal generated from the signal generator 20 is automatically changed by a controller (not shown) while performing the measurement. The method of changing may be continuous, or may be a method of switching several frequencies. Further, the vibrator 15 may be driven with a waveform in which a plurality of frequencies are mixed.

  In this way, the results of measurement using a plurality of frequencies are averaged in the average calculation unit 8 and displayed on the display unit 7.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the advantages of the first embodiment, a measurement error due to the occurrence of a standing wave due to strong vibration of a certain portion due to resonance of the tibia 14 is prevented, and more accuracy is achieved. High measurement is possible.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a bone diagnosis apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a fast Fourier transform (FFT) calculation unit 21 is provided instead of the correlation calculation unit 6. In the present embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 1 and the diagnostic apparatus main body 2 perform the same operation as that of the ultrasonic Doppler blood flow meter. Since the operation of the ultrasonic Doppler blood flow meter is already known, a description thereof is omitted here.

  If the vibration output from the vibrator 15 is a sine wave, there is a part that generates a harmonic due to the bone structure. When a frequency analysis is performed on the phase-detected signal by the FFT calculation unit 21, the generation site of this harmonic can be understood, so that the structure of the bone, for example, the bone is fragile at a certain part can be understood.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the state analysis of the tibia has been described, but it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to bones in other parts of the body.

  The bone diagnosis apparatus according to the present invention obtains excellent bone information with high positional accuracy and reliability by detecting signals in a relatively wide range by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and clarifying the signal detection position. It can be applied to applications such as diagnosis of healing status in osteoporosis progression and fracture, bone structure analysis, and the like.

The figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the bone diagnostic apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the bone diagnostic apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the bone diagnostic apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the conventional bone vibration analyzer

Explanation of symbols

1 Ultrasonic probe (Ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving means)
2 Diagnostic equipment body 3 Transmitter / receiver (ultrasonic transmitter / receiver)
4 phase detection unit 5 control unit 6 correlation calculation unit 7 display unit 8 average calculation unit 9 crus 14 tibia 15 transducer 16 plateau unit 20 signal generator 21 FFT calculation unit

Claims (3)

Signal generating means for generating an audible frequency electrical signal;
A transducer that converts the electrical signal from the signal generator into sound and transmits it to the bone;
Ultrasonic transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves with respect to the vibration propagated through the bone by the vibrator;
Phase detection means for phase detection of a signal received by the ultrasonic transmission / reception means;
Correlation calculation means for performing correlation calculation on the phase detection signal from the phase detection means;
A bone diagnosis apparatus comprising: display means for displaying a result of correlation calculation by the correlation calculation means. The bone diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an average calculation unit that averages the result of the correlation calculation at each frequency while changing the frequency of the electric signal having the audible frequency by the signal generation unit. Signal generating means for generating an audible frequency electrical signal;
A transducer that converts the electrical signal from the signal generator into sound and transmits it to the bone;
Ultrasonic transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves with respect to the vibration propagated through the bone by the vibrator;
Phase detection means for phase detection of a signal received by the ultrasonic transmission / reception means;
Fast Fourier transform (FFT) computing means for performing frequency conversion of the phase detection signal from the phase detection means;
A bone diagnostic apparatus comprising: display means for displaying a spectrum which is a result of the FFT calculation by the FFT calculation means.

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