Instantaneous elasticity detection device, method and system

Abstract

The invention discloses an instantaneous elasticity detection device, which comprises an ultrasonic transducer and a sound transmission medium, and is characterized in that the sound transmission medium is arranged at the front end of a detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer, one end, far away from the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer, of the sound transmission medium is provided with an end part, the end part is provided with an end surface, and the ultrasonic transducer emits a scanning line; at least part of the scanning lines penetrate through the end face in a cross scanning mode. The invention further discloses an elasticity detection method (and an image guiding method) and an elasticity detection system. By adopting the instantaneous elasticity detection device, an image guiding function can be realized, and an instantaneous elasticity detection function can also be realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of medical devices, and in particular to a transient elasticity detection device, method and system. Background Art

[0002] In the known prior art, the hardness information and fatty change information of the liver can be obtained through transient elastic detection, thereby realizing the elastic detection of the liver and providing reliable lesion assessment information for clinicians. The principle of conventional transient elastic imaging is relatively simple, and its detection is mainly divided into two steps: first, the end of the elastic detection handle is used to excite shear waves inside the target to be monitored through mechanical vibration. The component usually used for mechanical vibration (the end of the elastic detection handle) is the single / multi-element ultrasonic transducer itself, or the protrusion set at the front end of the transmitting surface of the multi-element ultrasonic transducer; secondly, the ultrasonic transducer is used to detect the above-mentioned shear wave in the form of pulse-echo, and the process of shear wave propagation along the depth direction of the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer is obtained, thereby obtaining information such as the shear wave propagation speed, and then realizing transient elastic detection, wherein the fatty lesion information is calculated by the attenuation of the ultrasonic signal in the liver.

[0003] In the prior art, when transient elasticity testing is performed on the liver, because the elasticity value of the transient elasticity test reflects the average value of a region of the liver, large blood vessels, cysts, etc. in the liver are not suitable for transient elastic imaging. Therefore, it is necessary to select a relatively uniform area in the liver area for the test. Therefore, before the transient elasticity test, it is necessary to find the aforementioned uniform area through the image guidance function.

[0004] In the prior art, a single-element ultrasonic transducer often requires another probe to find the aforementioned uniform area, which increases the complexity of the operation and places certain requirements on the doctor's operating experience, and cannot guarantee the consistency and accuracy of the transient elastic detection. For the elastic detection handle using a multi-element ultrasonic transducer, one method is to use the multi-element ultrasonic transducer itself to vibrate and generate shear waves, but the multi-element ultrasonic transducer is large in size, which will undoubtedly reduce the accuracy of the transient elastic detection. The other method is to set a small-sized protrusion at the front end of the multi-element ultrasonic transducer. Although it solves the problem of balancing the image guidance function and the elastic detection quality, the image guidance quality will be limited to a certain extent by the small size of the end face of the protrusion, resulting in a small image guidance imaging range and poor image guidance effect.

[0005] Therefore, the prior art still needs to be improved and developed. Summary of the invention

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned deficiencies in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a method to solve the deficiencies in the prior art.

[0007] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows: an instantaneous elasticity detection device, comprising an ultrasonic transducer and a sound-transmitting medium, characterized in that the sound-transmitting medium is arranged at the front end of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface, the end of the sound-transmitting medium away from the ultrasonic transducer detection surface has an end, the end has an end surface, the ultrasonic transducer emits a scanning line, and at least part of the scanning line passes through the end surface in a cross-scanning form.

[0008] The present invention also discloses an elasticity detection method, comprising the elasticity detection device of the present invention, and performing elasticity detection according to the following steps:

[0009] Step 1: Determine the location where elasticity testing is required based on the image guidance function achieved by cross scanning.

[0010] Step 2: After determining the detection position, start the elastic detection button of the instantaneous elastic detection device. At the same time as or after the elastic detection button is turned on, the end of the sound-permeable medium vibrates under the action of the driver according to a preset number n of instantaneous elastic detection vibrations, that is, n instantaneous elastic detection vibration cycles are continuously generated.

[0011] Step 3: At the same time as or after the elastic detection button is turned on, the ultrasonic transducer is used to track and detect the shear waves generated by n elastic detection cycle vibrations; the ultrasonic echo signal analysis can obtain n elastic shear wave vibration motion diagrams, shear wave velocity, liver stiffness, fatty changes and other information.

[0012] Step 4: After processing, the n measurement results are output and displayed.

[0013] The present invention also discloses an image-guided and elasticity detection method, using the elasticity detection device of the present invention to perform elasticity detection according to the following steps:

[0014] Step 1: Determine the location where elasticity testing is required based on the image guidance function achieved by cross scanning;

[0015] Step 2: After determining the detection position, activate the elasticity detection button of the instantaneous elasticity detection device;

[0016] Step 3: After the elasticity detection button of the instantaneous elasticity detection device is activated, the elasticity detection trigger signal is received, and the ultrasonic transducer starts to work, and while performing elasticity detection, image guidance is realized in real time.

[0017] The invention also discloses an elasticity detection system, comprising the elasticity detection device of the invention.

[0018] The instantaneous elasticity detection device of the present invention can realize both the image guidance function and the instantaneous elasticity detection function, thereby saving costs, improving detection efficiency, and having a wide range of applicable scenarios. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary personnel in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the principle of instantaneous elasticity detection according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the principle of instantaneous elasticity detection according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the principle of instantaneous elasticity detection according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the transient elasticity detection device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4-1 The present invention Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the internal structure.

[0025] Figure 5 The present invention Figure 4 Another schematic diagram of the internal structure.

[0026] Figure 5-1 yes Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the partial internal structure of the transient elasticity detection device of the illustrated embodiment (side cut).

[0027] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the partial internal structure of the transient elasticity detection device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention (tangent).

[0028] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the instantaneous elasticity detection device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 8 2 is a schematic diagram of a transient elasticity detection device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 9-1 It is a schematic diagram of a transient elasticity detection device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 9-2 The present invention Figure 9-1 Schematic diagram of a single array element in the transient elastic detection device.

[0032] Fig.102 is a schematic diagram of a transient elasticity detection device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 11-1 It is a schematic diagram of a partial internal structure of the transient elasticity detection device of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 11-2 It is another schematic diagram of the internal partial structure of the transient elasticity detection device of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Fig.12 It is a schematic diagram of a transient elasticity detection device according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Fig.13 2 is a schematic diagram of a transient elasticity detection device according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Fig.14 It is a schematic diagram of a transient elasticity detection device according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Fig.15 It is a schematic diagram of a transient elasticity detection device according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 15-1 It is a schematic diagram of the partial internal structure of the transient elasticity detection device of the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 15-2 It is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the transient elasticity detection device according to the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 16-1 It is a schematic diagram of the external partial structure of the transient elasticity detection device according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 16-2 It is a schematic diagram of the external partial structure of the transient elasticity detection device according to the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 16-3 It is a schematic diagram of the external partial structure of the transient elasticity detection device according to the seventeenth embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 16-4 to Figure 16-12 This is an alternative to the sound-transmitting medium in the transient elasticity detection device of the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Figure 16-13 Schematic diagram of the external structure of the transient elasticity detection device according to the nineteenth embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Fig.17 It is a schematic diagram of the external partial structure of the transient elasticity detection device of the twentieth embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Fig.18It is a schematic diagram of the instantaneous elasticity detection device according to the twenty-first embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Figure 19-1 It is a schematic diagram of image guidance for the instantaneous elasticity detection device of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 19-2 It is a schematic diagram of scanning lines for instantaneous elasticity detection in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] Figure 19-3 This is the first schematic diagram of the instantaneous elasticity detection and image guidance of the present invention.

[0051] Figure 19-4 This is the second schematic diagram of the instantaneous elasticity detection and image guidance of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 19-5 This is the second schematic diagram of the instantaneous elasticity detection and image guidance of the present invention.

[0053] Fig. 20 It is a block diagram of the instantaneous elasticity detection system of the present invention.

[0054] The symbols in the accompanying drawings:

[0055] 1 Ultrasonic transducer 88 Target to be detected 2 Scan Line 101 Array 3 Intersection 9 Aperture 21 First scan line 28 Elastic membrane 22 Second scan line 29 Ultrasonic beam 4 Common vertical line 6 Connectors 41 First perpendicular intersection point 10 Spiral center axis 42 Second perpendicular intersection point 901 2D Surface 5 Reflector 802 Array Center 19 Elastic medium 800 Array Element 20 Acoustically transparent media 801 Array element emitting surface 24 Transient elasticity testing device 803 Normal to the emitting surface of the array element 31 end 321 End side 32 End face 301 First intersection 17 Drive 302 Second intersection 18 Drive rod 303 The third intersection 25 shell 304 The fourth intersection 27 Ultrasonic anti-fading medium 102 First Drive 11 Ultrasonic transducer center axis 200 Accommodation cavity 311 End center axis 6 Connectors 61 First imaging area 103 Second Drive 62 Second imaging area 202 Second drive rod 500 Support column 201 First drive rod 501 Acoustic Transparent Membrane 701 Third Drive 600 Adjustment Department 700 guide 601 Adjustment surface 23 The third scan line 110 Detection surface 260 Accommodation cavity 220 Lower end surface of accommodating cavity 221 First ultrasonic beam 222 Second ultrasonic beam DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] The present invention provides an ultrasonic detection probe. To make the purpose, technical solution and effect of the present invention clearer and more specific, the present invention is further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described here are only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention.

[0057] In the embodiments and the scope of the patent application, unless the text specifically defines the article, "a", "an", "the" and "the" may also include plural forms. If there are descriptions involving "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the present invention, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features.

[0058] It should be further understood that the term "comprising" used in the specification of the present invention refers to the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof. It should be understood that when we refer to an element as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or there can be intermediate elements. In addition, the "connection" or "coupling" used herein can include wireless connection or wireless coupling. The term "and / or" used herein includes all or any unit and all combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0059] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art in the art to which the present invention belongs. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in general dictionaries should be understood to have meanings consistent with the meanings in the context of the prior art, and will not be interpreted with idealized or overly formal meanings unless specifically defined as herein.

[0060] In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the fact that ordinary technicians in the field can implement it. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present invention.

[0061] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the principle schematic diagram of instantaneous elastic detection of the first to third embodiments provided by the present invention. The ultrasonic transducer emits a scan line, and the scan line is mainly used to realize the imaging function and the elastic detection function. The imaging of the target area of ​​interest to be detected is realized by scanning the target area of ​​interest to be detected through the scan line. Specifically, the scan line is an ultrasonic beam formed by the ultrasonic transducer in the form of pulse-echo emission, and the ultrasonic beam can be formed by a single array element or by an aperture composed of multiple array elements. In fact, the ultrasonic beam has a certain spatial distribution, but for the convenience of explanation and description, the present invention regards the ultrasonic beam as a scan line. Imaging using a scan line can be understood as a sampling of the imaging space using a scan line. Any area where the scan line can propagate or reach can realize imaging of the area. The scan line can be regarded as a line segment with a starting point, direction and length. The starting point of the line segment is regarded as the end point of the scan line. The direction of the scan line is the direction from the end point of the scan line to the end point of the scan line; the length of the scan line refers to the length from the end point of the scan line to the end point of the scan line. The present invention focuses on the description of scan lines formed in the form of a pulse-echo of an ultrasonic transducer. Unless otherwise specified, the scan lines described herein are all scan lines formed in the form of a pulse-echo. In other embodiments, the scan lines may also be formed by an ultrasonic transducer emitting a continuous ultrasonic signal.

[0062] It is easy to understand that when a single array element is used to form a scan line, the scan line formed is perpendicular to the emission surface of the single array element. When a scan line is emitted using an aperture formed by multiple array elements, the emission direction of the scan line can be controlled. Specifically, by controlling the emission time of different array elements in the aperture, or controlling the phase of ultrasonic signals emitted by different array elements in the aperture, a scan line with a controllable deflection angle can be formed, and the scan line deflection angle refers to the relationship between the emission direction of the scan line and the emission surface of the array element in the aperture, which is not limited to a vertical relationship, and can also have a certain deflection angle. The array element in this article refers to an ultrasonic transducer array element.

[0063] In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention, the definition of scan line cross scanning is given here. The scan line crossing method is divided into plane cross scanning (plane crossing) and space cross scanning (space crossing). Plane crossing is based on all scan lines in one plane, and space crossing is based on all scan lines being in different planes. The illustrated embodiments in this article list the plane crossing and space crossing situations. In other embodiments, plane crossing and space crossing can exist at the same time, that is, the scan lines emitted by the ultrasonic transducer, part of the scan lines are on the same plane, and part of the scan lines are in different planes. Regardless of plane crossing or space crossing, at least two scan lines are required, and the two scan lines are called the first scan line 21 and the second scan line 22. The two definitions are described below.

[0064] Plane cross scan (such as Figure 1) refers to that the two scan lines emitted by the ultrasonic transducer, namely the first scan line 21 and the second scan line 22, are in the same plane and form an intersection. It can be understood that at the intersection 3 of the two scan lines, the distance between the two scan lines is the shortest and is zero. The two scan lines that intersect in the plane show a trend: that is, during the process of the two scan lines being emitted (propagated) from the scan line endpoints along the scan line direction, the distance between the two scan lines gradually approaches until they intersect and then diverge. The lengths of the two scan lines that intersect in the plane may be equal or unequal.

[0065] Spatial cross scanning (such as Figure 2 ) means: the following conditions are met at the same time: 1. The first scanning line 21 and the second scanning line 22 emitted by the ultrasonic transducer are not in the same plane (i.e., the first scanning line 21 and the second scanning line 22 are not in the same plane); 2. There is a common perpendicular line 4 between the first scanning line 21 and the second scanning line 22, and the common perpendicular line 4 intersects the two scanning lines perpendicularly. The intersection positions formed by the common perpendicular line 4 and the two scanning lines are not at the end positions of any scanning line, nor at the end positions of both scanning lines at the same time. The common perpendicular line 4 intersects the two scanning lines perpendicularly to form a pair of intersection points, i.e., the common perpendicular line 4 intersects the first scanning line 21 perpendicularly to form a first common perpendicular line intersection point 41, and the common perpendicular line 4 intersects the second scanning line 22 perpendicularly to form a second common perpendicular line intersection point 42. The line connecting the first common perpendicular line intersection point 41 and the second common perpendicular line intersection point 42 is the common perpendicular line segment, and the length of the common perpendicular line segment is the shortest distance between the two non-planar scanning lines (the first scanning line 21 and the second scanning line 22). The straight line where the common perpendicular line segment lies is the common perpendicular line. The overall trend of spatial cross scanning is that when two scan lines are emitted (propagated) from the scan line endpoints along the scan line direction, the distance between the two scan lines gradually decreases to the minimum (i.e., the length of the common perpendicular line segment), and then gradually increases.

[0066] from Figure 1 and Figure 2 It can be seen that no matter it is a plane cross scan or a space cross scan, the two scan lines show a process of gradually approaching each other along the emission direction, and then diverging and propagating away from each other; if there are more than two scan lines, at least some of the scan lines cross to form cross scan lines.

[0067] The above two scanning line cross scanning modes can also be formed by the scanning lines emitted by the ultrasonic transducer through reflection. Figure 3As shown, the scanning line emitted by the ultrasonic transducer is reflected by the reflector 5, changing the direction of the original scanning line emission (propagation), and the first scanning line 21 and the second scanning line 22 after the change form a cross scan, which can be a cross in a plane or a space cross. In this case, the intersection of the scanning line and the reflector 5 is regarded as (equivalent to) the end point of the cross scanning line, and other concepts (such as scanning line length, scanning line end point, common perpendicular line, etc.) remain the same.

[0068] The aforementioned cross scan lines may be formed by different array elements or apertures in the same ultrasonic transducer, such as Figure 4-Figure 17 As shown; it can also be formed by the same ultrasonic transducer emitting scan lines at different positions, such as Fig.18 As shown in the embodiment.

[0069] The ultrasonic transducer emits scan lines, and when the planes intersect, at least some of the scan lines intersect at the same point; when the space intersects, at least some of the scan lines share the same common perpendicular line; when the planes intersect and the space intersect at the same time, at least some of the scan lines intersect at the same point, or / and, at least some of the scan lines share the same common perpendicular line.

[0070] Preferably, when the planes intersect, all scan lines intersect at the same intersection point (e.g. Figure 4 to Figure 9-1 Implementation examples, etc.); when the space intersects, all scan lines share the same common vertical line (such as Fig.10 In other embodiments, it is not necessary for all the scan line intersections to be at the same position or share the same common perpendicular line. They can also be at different positions (such as Figure 11-2 Embodiment) or do not share a common perpendicular line; it is not necessarily required that all scan lines are cross scan lines, and only a part of the scan lines can be cross scan lines.

[0071] The first scan line is not limited to intersecting only with the second scan line. The first scan line may also intersect with other scan lines at the same time. The intersection position of the first scan line and other scan lines may be the same as or different from the intersection position of the first scan line and the second scan line. The number of the other scan lines may be one or more. Whether the second scan line intersects with the other scan lines is not required. The intersection may be a plane intersection or a space intersection.

[0072] The main purpose of cross-scanning of scan lines is to allow more scan lines to pass through a small size or area, so as to achieve wide-angle imaging of the target to be detected on the other side of the small size or area (the end 31 of the sound-transmitting medium 20), thereby solving the problem in conventional ultrasonic imaging methods that the ultrasonic imaging range is limited by the small size of the end 31 of the sound-transmitting medium 20.

[0073] The ultrasonic transducer is also used to receive ultrasonic echo data (signal). It is understandable that the scanning line echo data is obtained by scanning the line, and the imaging of the detection target can be achieved by analyzing and processing the echo data. Imaging refers to two-dimensional imaging and / or three-dimensional imaging. Specifically, when the scanning line scanning area constitutes a surface, two-dimensional imaging can be achieved; further, when the scanning line scanning area constitutes a 3D body, three-dimensional imaging can be achieved. The echo data of the cross-scanning line includes two parts: data before the intersection and data after the intersection. The echo data formed by the propagation between the scan line endpoint and the intersection is called the data before the intersection. It is understandable that the echo data formed between the intersection and the end point of the scan line is called the data after the intersection. Regardless of whether it is in-plane cross scanning or spatial cross scanning, at least a portion of the data after the intersection is used for imaging. The ultrasonic transducer transmits a scan line for imaging, at least part of the scan line is a cross scan line, and at least part of the cross scan line is used for imaging. It is understandable that the scan line echo data used for imaging is not limited to the cross scan line echo data, and some non-cross scan line echo data can also participate in the imaging to realize the image guidance function. The more scan lines participating in the imaging, the better the imaging resolution will be. It should be noted that when the ultrasonic transducer is used to realize the instantaneous elastic detection function, it is only necessary to excite one array element or multiple array elements (apertures) at the position corresponding to the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface to generate a scan line (such as Figure 19-1 , Figure 19-2 The third scanning line 23 in the figure is used to track and detect the shear wave propagation process along the depth direction of the target to be detected along the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer in the form of pulse-echo.

[0074] In the present invention, the ultrasonic transducer emits scanning lines, at least two of the scanning lines cross to form cross scanning lines, the two scanning lines that cross each other are called a pair of cross scanning lines, and at least one pair of the cross scanning lines passes through the end face; in other words, the ultrasonic transducer emits scanning lines, at least some of the scanning lines pass through the end face in the form of cross scanning, and the scanning lines participating in the cross scanning are called cross scanning lines.

[0075] It can be understood that the above “at least two of the scan lines intersect to form a cross scan line, and the two scan lines that intersect each other are called a pair of cross scan lines”, for the plane intersection, when two scan lines intersect, there is one intersection point, and the two scan lines are both called cross scan lines, and the two scan lines are a pair of cross scan lines; when three scan lines intersect, the three scan lines (A, B, C) intersect at the same point, or the three scan lines intersect at two points (for example, two of the scan lines (A, B) are parallel and intersect with another scan line C), or the three scan lines (A, B, C) intersect at three points, and the three scan lines are both called are crossed scan lines; however, two of the crossed scan lines are called a pair of crossed scan lines. For example, when three scan lines (A, B, C) intersect at the same point, scan lines A and B are a pair of crossed scan lines, scan lines A and C are a pair of crossed scan lines, and scan lines B and C are a pair of crossed scan lines; when three scan lines (A, B, C) intersect at two points, scan lines A and C can be a pair of crossed scan lines, and scan lines B and C can be a pair of crossed scan lines; when three scan lines (A, B, C) intersect at three points, scan lines A and B are a pair of crossed scan lines, scan lines A and C are a pair of crossed scan lines, and scan lines B and C are a pair of crossed scan lines. Among the crossed scan lines passing through the end face, there are at least two scan lines that intersect each other, or at least one pair of crossed scan lines.

[0076] According to common sense, n scan lines intersect in a plane (n is an integer greater than or equal to 2), and the number of intersection points can be 1 to n(n-1) / 2. These n scan lines are called cross scan lines, and two scan lines that cross each other are called a pair of cross scan lines. There are at most n(n-1) / 2 pairs of cross scan lines.

[0077] Figure 4 , Figure 4-1 , showing the situation where the ultrasonic transducer 1 emits two scanning lines (a first scanning line 21 and a second scanning line 22), the two scanning lines intersect to form a cross scanning line, and then pass through the end surface 32 through the sound-transmissive medium 20 to reach the target to be detected.

[0078] Figure 5 In the embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer 1 emits two scanning lines (a first scanning line 21 and a second scanning line 22), which cross to form a cross scanning line, and then pass through the ultrasonic anti-attenuation medium 27 and the sound-transmitting medium 20 and then pass through the end surface 32 to reach the target to be detected.

[0079] It should be noted that Figure 4 and Figure 4-1In the figure, the situation where the ultrasonic transducer 1 emits two scan lines is shown. In practice, there may be one or more scan lines emitted by the ultrasonic transducer between the two scan lines (i.e., with the two scan lines as the boundary and within the area formed by the two scan lines). All these scan lines cross at one point to form cross scan lines for participating in imaging. The more scan lines participating in imaging, the better the imaging quality.

[0080] Figure 4 , Figure 4-1 , Figure 5 In the embodiment, the cross scan lines intersect at the same intersection 3. In other embodiments (such as Figure 11-1 , 11-2 Embodiment), the intersection points of the intersecting scan lines are not necessarily the same.

[0081] Figure 4 and Figure 4-1 In the embodiment, the intersection point 3 is located inside the sound-transmitting medium 20 (above the end surface); Figure 5 In the embodiment, the intersection point 3 is located in the ultrasonic anti-fading medium 27 (above the end surface 32), and Figure 11-1 and Figure 11-2 In the illustrated embodiment, some intersections are located in the ultrasonic anti-attenuation medium 27 (above the end surface 32), and some intersections (such as the fourth intersection 304) are located below the end surface. The scanning line forming area above the intersection 3 is the first imaging area 61, and the scanning line forming area below the intersection 3 is the second imaging area 62; during the operation of the transient elasticity detection device, the driver 17 drives the ultrasonic transducer 1 or the sound-transmitting medium 20 through the driving rod 18, so that the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the sound-transmitting medium 20 move simultaneously; the end 31 is used to vibrate to generate shear waves.

[0082] Figure 4 , Figure 4-1 , Figure 5 In the embodiment, all the scanning lines emitted by the ultrasonic transducer 1 are cross scanning lines, and all the cross scanning lines pass through the end surface 32 in a cross scanning manner. In other embodiments, although all the scanning lines emitted by the ultrasonic transducer 1 are cross scanning lines, only a portion of the cross scanning lines passes through the end surface 32 in a cross scanning manner through the acoustically transparent medium, such as Figure 7 As shown in the embodiment, in addition, due to Figure 7 In the example, there is a connecting piece 6 , and the aforementioned part of the cross scanning line passes through the connecting piece 6 before passing through the acoustically transparent medium 20 and the end surface 32 .

[0083] In other embodiments, not all scan lines generated by the ultrasonic transducer are necessarily cross scan lines, and not all cross scan lines necessarily pass through the end surface 32. Figure 11-2In the embodiment shown, the scanning lines generated by the ultrasonic transducer are a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6, and a7, wherein a5 does not participate in the intersection with other scanning lines emitted by the ultrasonic transducer at the front end of the ultrasonic transducer, i.e., a5 is a non-intersecting scanning line, and only a part of the scanning lines, i.e., a1, a2, a3, a4, a6, and a7, are intersecting scanning lines, wherein a6 and a7 are a pair of intersecting scanning lines, a3 and a6 are a pair of intersecting scanning lines, a1 and a3 are a pair of intersecting scanning lines, a2 and a3 are a pair of intersecting scanning lines, a1 and a4 are a pair of intersecting scanning lines, and a2 and a4 are a pair of intersecting scanning lines, wherein only a part of the intersecting scanning lines (a1 and a3 as a pair of intersecting scanning lines; a2 and a3 as a pair of intersecting scanning lines) pass through the end surface 32 after passing through the ultrasonic anti-attenuation medium 27 and the sound-transmitting medium 20, and participate in imaging; i.e., Figure 11-2 In the embodiment shown, only a portion of the scan lines cross to form multiple pairs of cross scan lines, and some pairs (at least one pair) of the multiple pairs of cross scan lines participate in imaging; of course, in order to achieve imaging, the multiple pairs of cross scan lines may all pass through the end face, and there is no requirement for whether the non-cross scan line a5 passes through the end face.

[0084] The above describes the case of plane intersection. For spatial intersection, it is similar / corresponding to plane intersection; for example, in spatial intersection, all scan lines intersect perpendicularly at (share) the same common perpendicular line, which is equivalent to all scan lines in plane intersection intersecting at one point; in spatial intersection, some scan lines intersect perpendicularly at (share) the same common perpendicular line, which is equivalent to some scan lines in plane intersection intersecting at one point; in spatial intersection, some scan lines intersect perpendicularly at (share) different common perpendicular lines, which is equivalent to some scan lines in plane intersection intersecting at different points, and so on.

[0085] See also Figure 4 and 4-1 , shows a transient elastic detection device, which includes an ultrasonic transducer 1 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals to realize image guidance function and elastic detection function. In this embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer 1 is a multi-element concave ultrasonic transducer, that is, the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110 is arranged in a concave shape, and the concave ultrasonic transducer has a single curvature. In one embodiment, the curvature radius of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110 ranges from 4mm to 50mm (preferably in the range of 5mm-10mm); the arc length of the ultrasonic transducer 1 detection surface 110 is less than 35mm, preferably greater than 10mm, and less than or equal to 25mm; the arc angle of the ultrasonic transducer 1 detection surface 110 is greater than or equal to 10 degrees and less than or equal to 180 degrees. The advantage of such a design is to realize two-dimensional imaging of a certain appropriate range of the target to be detected; preferably, the curvature radius of the ultrasonic transducer 1 detection surface 110 is 10mm, and the arc length of the detection surface 110 is 25mm. In other embodiments (for example Figure 8As shown in FIG. 1 , the concave shape formed by the multi-element ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110 may also have multiple curvatures, that is, the multi-element ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110 may be approximately concave.

[0086] The transient elasticity detection device further includes a sound-transmitting medium 20, which is arranged at the front end of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface. In other words, the sound-transmitting medium 20 is at least partially arranged at the front end of at least part of the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1. Figure 4 and Figure 4-1 In the embodiment, a part of the sound-transmitting medium 20 is arranged at the front end of the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 1, and another part is arranged around the ultrasonic transducer 1. The sound-transmitting medium 20 arranged around the ultrasonic transducer 1 is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic transducer 1, and a part of the sound-transmitting medium is arranged at the front end of the entire detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer; in another embodiment, a part of the sound-transmitting medium is arranged at the front end of a part of the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer; in another embodiment, different from the present embodiment, the sound-transmitting medium 20 is arranged at the front end of the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1, and the sound-transmitting medium 20 is not arranged around the ultrasonic transducer 1, and the surrounding of the ultrasonic transducer 1 can be directly connected to the elastic medium 19. Specifically, the sound-transmitting medium 20 is arranged at the front end of the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer, which can be the front end of the entire detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer, or can be the front end of a part of the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer. The front end of the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer refers to the side facing the target to be detected, bounded by the plane or curved surface where the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is located.

[0087] When the sound-permeable medium is arranged at the front end of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface, the arrangement relationship between the sound-permeable medium 20 and the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110 can be that the sound-permeable medium is directly arranged on the ultrasonic transducer detection surface (such as Figure 4-1 Embodiment), or the sound-transmitting medium may be indirectly disposed on the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110 (eg Figure 5 and Figure 7 Example).

[0088] The acoustically transparent medium 20 has an acoustically transparent property at least in the portion located on the scanning line channel (i.e., the scanning line propagation path) emitted by the ultrasonic transducer 1. There is no requirement for the acoustically transparent property of the acoustically transparent medium 20 that is not located on the scanning line channel, i.e., the acoustically transparent medium 20 that is not located on the scanning line channel may have an acoustically transparent property or may not have an acoustically transparent property. Preferably, the acoustically transparent medium 20 has an end 31 at one end away from the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1, and the end 31 has an end surface 32. The end 31 and the ultrasonic transducer 1 may be arranged coaxially, i.e., the central axis 11 of the ultrasonic transducer and the central axis 311 of the end 31 of the acoustically transparent medium 20 are the same axis. The cross-sectional surface of the acoustically transparent medium 20 along the array element direction of the ultrasonic transducer 1 (i.e., the length direction of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110) is generally in the shape of an inverted cone as a whole. It is easy to understand that when the ultrasonic transducer 1 performs scanning imaging in a cross-scanning line manner to achieve image guidance, the first imaging area 61 (e.g., Figure 4-1 The whole is fan-shaped, and the section of the sound-transmitting medium 20 along the direction of the array element of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is also designed to be fan-shaped or similar, so that the scanning line (ultrasonic signal) propagation channel can be covered with the smallest volume. The sound-transmitting medium 20 has at least two functions: one is to provide (form) an end 31, and the end 31 is used to stimulate the shear wave field required for transient elasticity in the form of mechanical vibration; the other is to provide a propagation medium for the ultrasonic signal (scanning line), so that the ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic transducer 1 passes through the sound-transmitting medium and further passes through the end surface 32 to propagate to the inside of the target to be detected.

[0089] Figure 16-13 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the external structure of a transient elasticity detection device according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the acoustically transparent medium 20 and Figure 4 Compared with the sound-permeable medium 20 in the embodiment, the sound-permeable medium 20 in this example has a higher (pointy) sharpness (or in other words, the cross-sectional area of ​​the lower part of the sound-permeable medium 20 is closer to the end face cross-sectional area), or in other words, the sound-permeable medium 20 in this example is closer to the front end shape of the classic fibroscan handle. The difference is that the classic fibroscan handle does not have an image guidance function, while the transient elasticity detection device of the present invention has a transient elasticity detection function and an image guidance function.

[0090] like Figure 5 As shown, another embodiment of a transient elasticity detection device is provided. Figure 5 Example and Figure 4 and Figure 4-1 The difference between the embodiments is Figure 5The sound-permeable medium 20 in the embodiment is a hollow structure. A portion of the sound-permeable medium 20 is arranged at the front end of the entire ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110, and the other portion is arranged around the ultrasonic transducer 1. The sound-permeable medium 20 arranged around the ultrasonic transducer 1 is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic transducer 1, and an ultrasonic anti-attenuation medium 27 is arranged between the sound-permeable medium 20 and the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110. The instantaneous elastic detection device also includes a housing 25, an elastic medium 19, and a driver 17. The housing 25 is connected to the outer side of the sound-permeable medium 20 through the elastic medium 19. The sound-permeable medium 20 has a housing 260 (hollow structure). The ultrasonic transducer 1 is located in the upper part of the housing 260. The outer side of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is fixedly connected to the housing 260. The lower part of the housing 260 is provided with an ultrasonic anti-decay medium 27. In one embodiment, the contour of the ultrasonic anti-decay medium 27 is formed by the inner side wall of the lower part of the housing 260 and the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1. The ultrasonic anti-decay medium 27 can be a liquid sound-permeable medium, such as water, glycerol, 1,3-butanediol, etc. When the ultrasonic signal (scanning line) propagates in the liquid sound-permeable medium, the ultrasonic signal attenuates very little or does not attenuate, which is conducive to the propagation of the ultrasonic signal. In one case, the sound permeability of the ultrasonic anti-decay medium 27 is better than that of the sound-permeable medium 20. The sound-permeable medium 20 has an end 31, and the end 31 has an end surface 32.

[0091] It is understandable that during the use of the transient elasticity detection device, the end surface 32 is in direct contact with the target to be detected. It is understandable that the intersection 3 is located at the front end of the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 1 .

[0092] It is understandable that the sound-transmitting medium 20 is not necessarily a hollow structure. In order to prevent / reduce the attenuation of the ultrasonic signal, the ultrasonic anti-attenuation medium 27 only needs to be located on the ultrasonic propagation channel from the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 to the sound-transmitting medium 20 .

[0093] In other embodiments, the sound-permeable medium 20 may be designed to be solid, for example Figure 4-1 As shown, in addition to the acoustically transparent medium, Figure 4-1 and Figure 5 Components with the same designation have the same meaning.

[0094] In other embodiments, the sound-transmitting medium 20 may be composed of a material with sound-transmitting properties, or may be a mixture of multiple other materials with different sound-transmitting properties.

[0095] In other embodiments, the sound-transmitting medium 20 may be composed of one or more layers of a material having sound-transmitting properties, and the material of each layer having sound-transmitting properties may be the same or different.

[0096] In this embodiment, preferably, the end 31 is cylindrical, and the diameter of the cylinder can range from 4mm to 12mm, that is, when the end 31 is cylindrical, the end face of the end 31 is circular, and the diameter of the circle can range from 4mm to 12mm, preferably, the diameter of the cylinder is 7mm, and the height range H of the end 31 is greater than 0.5mm, preferably, the height H of the end 31 is 3mm. In other embodiments, the end 31 can also be a table (for example, a truncated table, a prism, etc.). The size of the end 31 is smaller than the size of the ultrasonic transducer 1. Specifically, the length M3 ( Figure 16-2 ) is smaller than the length K of the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 (e.g. Figure 7 and Fig.12 The length M3 direction of the end surface 32 corresponds to the length direction of the detection surface 110 (as shown in Figure 7 ); or, the area of ​​the end face 32 is smaller than the area of ​​the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1. When the ultrasonic transducer 1 is a one-dimensional multi-element ultrasonic transducer, the length K of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface (e.g. Figure 7 and Fig.12 As shown) is less than 35mm. In this embodiment, the end face 32 is circular. In other embodiments, the end face 32 can be any of approximately circular, elliptical, polygonal, and chamfered polygonal shapes. The polygon can be a square, a chamfered square, a rectangle, a chamfered rectangle, etc. In this embodiment, the end face 32 is a plane. In other embodiments, it can be any of approximately flat planes (micro-convex / micro-concave). In this embodiment, the end 31 is cylindrical, and the cross-section of the end 31 is equal in area from the end face 32 to the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional area of ​​the end 31 gradually increases from the end face 32 to the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1. The end 31 is used to vibrate to generate shear waves required for transient elastic imaging. The size of the end face 32 cannot be too large. Specifically, the area range of the end face 32 is 10 square millimeters-200 square millimeters. During the vibration process of the end 31, it is necessary to generate relative mechanical vibration with the target to be detected. The end 31 needs to have a certain hardness. Preferably, the elasticity value E (hardness) of at least the end surface 32 of the end 31 is greater than 50kPa, and preferably, the elasticity value is greater than 150kPa. Specifically, the end can be made of Japan Mitsui Chemicals-TPXMX002O (a new type of thermoplastic resin); in one embodiment, the sound-permeable medium 20 is made of Japan Mitsui Chemicals-TPXMX002O. There is a relationship between the elasticity value E and the shear wave velocity C, and the formula is expressed as: E=3ρC 2 , where ρ is the density of soft tissue (usually ρ = 1 kg / m 3In order to make the end portion 31 stand out clearly relative to the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1, the distance between the center position of the end surface 32 of the end portion 31 and the center position of the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is D (e.g. Figure 4-1 or Figure 5 The height H of the end portion 31 (as shown) is greater than or equal to 3mm; Figure 4-1 or Figure 5 In one embodiment, the plane where the end surface 32 is located is perpendicular to the central axis 11 of the ultrasonic transducer. In this embodiment, Figure 5 The end portion 31 shown may be a cavity structure.

[0097] Preferably, when the ultrasonic transducer 1 is a one-dimensional multi-element array, the width W of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110 (eg Figure 5-1 The width W of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110 is preferably 6 mm. The width direction of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110 is perpendicular to the length direction of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110. In one embodiment, the width W of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110 is smaller than the width dimension of the end surface 32 of the sound-transmitting medium 20 (as shown in FIG. Figure 5-1 shown).

[0098] A driver 17 is provided inside the transient elastic detection device, and the driver is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic transducer 1 or the sound-transmitting medium 20 through a driving rod 18. The driver 17 acts on the sound-transmitting medium 20 and the ultrasonic transducer 1 through the driving rod 18, and can drive the end 31 of the sound-transmitting medium 20 and the ultrasonic transducer 1 to synchronously and instantaneously vibrate, and finally utilize the end 31 of the front end of the sound-transmitting medium 20 to excite the shear wave field required for transient elastic detection inside the target to be detected, and then utilize the ultrasonic transducer 1 to detect and track the shear wave, thereby realizing transient elastic detection. In this embodiment, the connection between the sound-permeable medium 20 and the ultrasonic transducer 1 is a fixed connection, that is, no relative movement can occur, or when transient vibration occurs, the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20 and the ultrasonic transducer 1 move simultaneously. In this case, the ultrasonic transducer 1 collects echo data while vibrating. At this time, the echo data needs to be compensated to correct the influence of the vibration on the ultrasonic transducer; or, the echo data is collected after the ultrasonic transducer 1 stops vibrating. At this time, the echo data does not need to be compensated, but the echo data during vibration will be missing; in other embodiments, for example Figure 7 In the embodiment shown, the end of the sound-permeable medium 20 and the ultrasonic transducer 1 can move relative to each other (see below for details). Figure 7 ’s corresponding description).

[0099] Conventional ultrasonic transducer arrays are mainly linear arrays, phased arrays, and convex types, specifically large convex, micro-convex, etc.; in the conventional ultrasonic imaging scanning process, the ultrasonic scanning lines emitted by the array elements of the multi-element ultrasonic transducer are generally in a divergent state (there will be no intersection). In this embodiment, a concave ultrasonic transducer is used to realize the image guidance function in a cross-scanning manner, so that more scanning lines can be propagated to the target to be detected through the end face 32 of the small-sized end 31, so as to realize the imaging of a larger area of ​​the target to be detected, that is, to realize the image guidance function of a large field of view without being limited by the size of the end 31. Specifically, the array element of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is concave as a whole. It is easy to understand that the advantage of such a concave design is that it is convenient for the scanning lines emitted by the array element to realize cross scanning. In this embodiment, the scanning line is formed by the separate emission of each array element of the ultrasonic transducer 1, that is, each array element can emit a scanning line, and the direction of the formed scanning line is perpendicular to the emission surface of the corresponding array element. The scanning lines can be emitted simultaneously, or not emitted simultaneously (such as emitted in sequence), or partially emitted simultaneously. The center of each array element is in the same plane. In other embodiments, the scan line may also be formed by aperture emission composed of multiple array elements, such as Fig.12 As shown in the embodiment.

[0100] In this embodiment, there are at least two cross scan lines for realizing imaging, and at least two of them form a cross. There is no requirement as to whether the ultrasonic transducer generates other non-cross scan lines, and there is no requirement as to whether the non-cross scan lines are used for imaging. When there are more than two cross scan lines, not all cross scan lines necessarily participate in imaging for realizing image guidance. The more scan lines participating in imaging, the better the imaging quality. The two are the first scan line 21 and the second scan line 22, and the first scan line 21 and the second scan line 22 can be cross scan lines in the plane formed by adjacent array elements. In this embodiment, any two scan lines can realize cross scanning in the plane, that is, the scan lines are cross scanned in pairs. It can be understood that when the concave shape formed by the array element array of the multi-element ultrasonic transducer has a single curvature, the normal extension line of the emitting surface of each array element in the array element array will intersect at the center of the concave shape, that is, the ultrasonic scan line emitted by each array element will intersect at the center of the circle. That is, when the intersection is a plane intersection, all scan lines intersect at one point to form an intersection point (it can be understood that the shape of the multi-element ultrasonic transducer array element array is not limited to a concave shape). Figure 5As shown, specifically, the first scanning line 21 and the second scanning line 22 are respectively perpendicular to the array element emission surface at the corresponding position and propagate in the direction away from the array element emission surface, and the intersection position of the first scanning line 21 and the second scanning line 22 is exactly at the center position of the concave circle. All scanning lines are cross scanning lines in the plane, and all cross scanning lines intersect at one point, and the intersection point 3 is located on the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer 1, and is also located on the central axis of the end 31. In this embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer 1 is arranged coaxially with the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20. The position of the intersection point 3 is preferably set within the ultrasonic signal propagation range covered by the sound-permeable medium 20, and is close to the end face 32. The advantage of setting the intersection point 3 near the end face 32 is that the scanning lines after the intersection point, that is, in the second imaging area 62, can propagate to the target to be detected through the end face 32 before they are particularly divergent, thereby realizing two-dimensional imaging of the inside of the detection target, thereby realizing the graphic guidance function. It is easy to understand that each scan line can be regarded as a sampling detection of the target to be detected, and the area that the scan line can reach (scan) can realize imaging of the area, and the imaging of the target to be detected can be realized by post-processing the echo data of the scan line. The echo data post-processing process includes but is not limited to the filtering of the scan line echo data, image reconstruction and other processes. Specifically, when the area scanned by the scan line is a line, one-dimensional imaging can be realized after processing the scan line echo data; when the scan line scans the area is a plane or a two-dimensional surface, a plane two-dimensional image or a curved surface two-dimensional image can be obtained by processing the scan line echo data; when the scan line scans the area as a three-dimensional space, three-dimensional imaging of the target to be detected can be obtained by processing the scan line echo data.

[0101] In this embodiment, based on the scanning line cross scanning scheme, all scanning lines can be propagated to the target to be detected through the small-sized end 31, so as to realize the imaging of a large area of ​​the target to be detected, and then realize the image guidance function. Specifically, in this embodiment, the scanning line scanning area is a plane, and a planar two-dimensional image can be obtained after post-processing the scanning line echo data. In this embodiment, the first imaging area 61 and the second imaging area 62 are both planes and are in the same plane. The area of ​​the second imaging area 62 is larger than the area of ​​the first imaging area 61; the intersection 3 formed by the scanning lines between the first imaging area 61 and the second imaging area 62 is the dividing point. The scanning line is divergent after the intersection 3, and the second imaging area 62 is fan-shaped. The second imaging area is mainly used to image the area of ​​interest of the target to be detected. Specifically, two-dimensional imaging of the liver area can be realized.

[0102] The intersection point may be an intersection point in a plane or an intersection point formed by a spatial intersection; in order to better realize the image guidance function, preferably, the intersection point position of the cross scan line needs to be within a certain range. Specifically, Figure 6 As shown, P1 is the leftmost scan line endpoint of the scan line that the ultrasonic transducer 1 can emit, and P2 is the rightmost scan line endpoint of the scan line that the ultrasonic transducer 1 can emit. In order to allow the scan line emitted by point P1 to be smoothly transmitted to the target 88 to be detected, it can be understood that the range of the scan line emitted by point P1 is preferably within the range between scan lines L3 and L4. If the scan line L3 deviates to the left, the path of the scan line L3 will exceed the left critical point p3 between it and the sound-transmitting medium 20, that is, the path of the scan line L3 will enter the air, but due to the strong obstruction of the air, the scan line L3 cannot be smoothly transmitted to the inside of the target to be detected; if the scan line L4 deviates to the right, the path of the scan line L4 will exceed the right critical point p4 between it and the end of the sound-transmitting medium, that is, the path of the scan line L4 will enter the air, but due to the strong obstruction of the air, the scan line L4 cannot be smoothly transmitted to the target 88 to be detected. It can also be understood that the preferred area of ​​the scan line emitted by point P2 is between the scan line L1 and the scan line L2. Points P5 and p6 are critical points where the scan line emitted from point P2 can smoothly propagate through the acoustically transparent medium 20 to the target to be detected. Since the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the acoustically transparent medium 20 are arranged with the same central axis, the intersection point p7 formed by the scan lines L1 and L4 and the intersection point p8 formed by the scan lines L2 and L3 are both on the central axis of the end 31 of the acoustically transparent medium 20. It can be understood that in order to allow the crossed scan lines to smoothly propagate through the acoustically transparent medium 20 to the target to be monitored 88 to realize the image guidance function, the preferred interval of the intersection point is between p7 and p8 on the central axis. It can be understood that the intersection point may not be on the central axis. Even if the intersection point of the scan line is not on the central axis, it can also be smoothly propagated to the detection target 88 after crossing. The intersection point should be located in the quadrilateral area formed by p7, p11, p8, and p10. Among them, point p10 is the intersection of critical lines L1 and L3; point p11 is the intersection of critical lines L2 and L4. It is easy to understand that as long as the intersection of the scan lines is located on the boundary or within the area of ​​the quadrilateral (the quadrilateral is defined as the limit quadrilateral) formed by p7, p11, p8, and p10, the cross scan lines emitted by the ultrasonic transducer have the opportunity to be smoothly transmitted to the target 88 to be detected. In this embodiment, it should be noted that in a determined scanning imaging process, the scan line determined based on point p1 can only be one within the interval from L3 to L4, that is, if the scan line L3 is formed, L4 will not be formed, that is to say, the scan line endpoint position and the corresponding scan line are in a one-to-one correspondence. In other embodiments, the same endpoint P1 can be shared to emit different scan lines. In other embodiments, the position of the intersection point can also be at other positions.

[0103] If the scan line is formed by the emission of an array element, the emission direction of the scan line is determined by the position of the center point of the array element and the normal direction of the array element emission surface, that is, the emission direction of the scan line cannot be adjusted; if the scan line is formed by the aperture emission composed of multiple array elements, such as Figure 7 In the embodiment shown, the emission direction (angle) of the scanning line is adjustable, and further, the position of the intersection is also adjustable, that is, the position of the intersection relative to the target to be detected is adjustable.

[0104] Please refer to Figure 7 , this embodiment and Figure 5 The difference between the illustrated embodiments is that, although the sound-transmitting medium 20 is also arranged at the front end of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110, a connector 6 is also arranged between the ultrasonic transducer 1 detection surface 110 and the sound-transmitting medium 20. In this embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer 1 is a linear array or phased array ultrasonic transducer. The cross-scanning lines are no longer formed by the emission of a single array element, but by the emission of an aperture 9 composed of multiple array elements; the end 31 of the sound-transmitting medium 20 can move independently relative to the ultrasonic transducer 1; in other embodiments, the sound-transmitting medium 20 and the ultrasonic transducer 1 can also move synchronously. The position of the intersection 3 of the cross-scanning lines can be adjusted. That is, by changing the position of the ultrasonic transducer relative to the target to be detected, the position of the intersection 3 relative to the target to be detected is equivalently changed.

[0105] It is understandable that the acoustically transparent medium 20 is not necessarily Figure 7 The hollow structure can also be a solid structure, and the connecting member 6 only needs to be located between the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the sound-transmitting medium 20.

[0106] Specifically, the array of ultrasonic transducer 1 elements is distributed in a straight line (in other embodiments, it may also be concave), that is, the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110 is a plane or a nearly plane. In this embodiment, the scan line is no longer formed by the emission of a single ultrasonic element, but is formed by the emission of an aperture 9 composed of multiple elements, and the number of elements in the aperture is usually not less than 2. Specifically, the direction of the scan line is regulated by controlling (regulating) the time or phase of the ultrasonic signal emitted by each element in the aperture 9, that is, by controlling the time delay or phase of the excitation of different elements in the aperture.

[0107] It is easy to understand that in this embodiment, the centers of all ultrasonic array elements of the linear array are in the same plane, and the emitted cross scan lines are crosses in the plane. The scanning timing of the scan lines can be scanned at different times, or some scan lines can be scanned at the same time (if the emission apertures have no overlapping parts, they can be scanned at the same time, see Fig.12In the embodiment shown). In this embodiment, all scan lines intersect at the same point, and the intersection point 3 is located on the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer 1 and also on the central axis of the sound-transmitting end 31. In this embodiment, all scan lines intersect at the same point, namely the intersection point 3. In other embodiments, at least two scan lines intersect. The two intersecting scan lines may also be two adjacent scan lines or two non-adjacent scan lines. In this embodiment, all scan lines intersect at the same point. The advantage of such a design is that it facilitates the post-processing of the scan line echo data. In other embodiments, it may not be the same point.

[0108] same Figure 5 As in the embodiment shown, Figure 7 In the illustrated embodiment, the area formed by the scan lines above the intersection 3 is the first imaging area 61, and the area formed by the scan lines below the intersection 3 is the second imaging area 62; the area of ​​the second imaging area is larger than that of the first imaging area.

[0109] The driver drives the sound-transmitting medium 20 alone, thereby driving the end 31 to vibrate or move alone (the ultrasonic transducer 1 remains stationary), which can produce at least three effects: 1. Driving the end 31 to vibrate to generate the shear wave required for transient elastic imaging; 2. The sound-transmitting medium 20 moves under the action of the driver, thereby changing the distance between the end face 32 and the detection face of the ultrasonic transducer 1. It is easy to understand that the change in this distance can further adjust the position of the intersection 3 relative to the target to be monitored; 3. The ultrasonic transducer 1 can work in a relatively static state, thereby improving the image guidance and elastic detection quality. The function of the connector 6 is to ensure that the detection face 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is at least connected to the end 31 of the sound-transmitting medium 20. Even if the end 31 vibrates alone, the distance between the detection face 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the end face 32 changes (because the sound-transmitting medium 20 is driven), and the propagation channel of the ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic transducer 1 between the detection face 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the end face 32 is unobstructed. Specifically, the connector 6 has the characteristics of sound-transmitting, deformable, and retractable. In this embodiment, the connector 6 includes an elastic membrane 28 and a sound-permeable liquid 282. In one embodiment, the elastic membrane 28 is filled with the sound-permeable liquid, and the connector 6 is placed in the cavity of the sound-permeable medium 20. The sound-permeable liquid can be water, glycerol, 1,3-butanediol, etc. The upper end surface of the elastic membrane 28 is tightly bonded and connected to the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 1, and the lower end surface of the elastic membrane 28 is tightly bonded and connected to the inner wall of the sound-permeable medium 20. In this embodiment, the elastic membrane 28 is a sealed membrane body. In other embodiments, the elastic membrane 28 only needs to have a first elastic membrane 281 that encloses the edge of the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the sound-permeable medium 20 (such as Figure 15-1As shown). The ultrasonic transducer 1 is fixed to the elastic detection handle through a fixing plate (not shown). It can be understood that when the driver acts on the sound-permeable medium 20 alone through the driving rod, driving the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20 to vibrate instantaneously, the ultrasonic transducer 1 can remain stationary. Through the sound-permeable, telescopic, and deformable effects of the connecting member 6, during the vibration of the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20, the sound-permeable medium 20 and the ultrasonic transducer 1 move relative to each other, and the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 can still maintain the connection with the sound-permeable medium 20, thereby not affecting the smooth propagation of the ultrasonic signal. Preferably, the sound-permeable liquid built into the connecting member 6 should be able to reduce the attenuation effect on the ultrasonic signal.

[0110] It can be understood that, with the help of the connecting piece 6, the distance between the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the end surface 32 of the sound-permeable medium 20 can be adjusted. Specifically, the driver acts on the sound-permeable medium 20 to allow the sound-permeable medium 20 to move up and down along the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer 1. The position of the intersection on its central axis can be adjusted through the movement, and the second imaging area 62 can be further adjusted, so as to better image or detect the target to be detected and improve the image guidance effect.

[0111] The end face 32 of the elastic detection device is also provided with a coupling layer (not shown in the figure). During the use of the elastic detection device, the coupling layer is between the end face 32 and the target to be detected. The coupling layer has at least two functions: one is to allow the ultrasonic signal to propagate more smoothly through the end face 32 to the inside of the target to be detected; the other function is to reduce the reflection phenomenon of the echo signal at the end face 32. It can be understood that because it is based on cross scanning, most of the echo signals of the cross scanning line are not perpendicular to the end face 32 and propagate to the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 1, but have a certain incident angle with the end face 32. The coupling layer can be composed of a sound-transmissive colloid, which is relatively hard and will not deform when mechanical vibration collides with the target to be detected. Optionally, the coupling layer can also be an independent component, which is placed between the end face 32 and the target to be detected during the use of the elastic detection device.

[0112] A sound-absorbing material may be provided inside the cavity of the sound-permeable medium 20 of the transient elastic detection device, which is also used to reduce the reflection effect of the ultrasonic signal in the cavity of the sound-permeable medium. The sound-absorbing material may be made of a material such as a sound-permeable membrane, and is provided in all or part of the inside of the cavity. The ultrasonic signal is actually a three-dimensional field distribution, and the function of the sound-absorbing material is to reduce the reflection effect of the inner wall of the sound-permeable cavity on the ultrasonic signal, so that more ultrasonic signals can either be directly transmitted to the outside through the sound-permeable medium, or the reflection phenomenon can be reduced to allow more energy to be transmitted to the inside of the target to be detected. In order to reduce the emission of ultrasonic signals inside the sound-permeable medium, in other embodiments, the sound-permeable medium can be set to a hollow structure (such as Figure 16-3 Example Figure 5 Example Figure 11-1 Example Figure 11-2 Examples, etc.).

[0113] See also Figure 8 In an embodiment of the instantaneous elastic detection device, the array element array of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is arranged in a curved shape, that is, the curvature of the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is not single. Specifically, the centers of the ultrasonic array elements in the curved arrangement are all in the same plane, all the normals of the array element emission surfaces are also in the same plane, and the plane where the center of each array element is located is the same plane as the plane where the normal of each array element emission surface is located. By using this curved ultrasonic array element array, planar two-dimensional imaging in the form of cross scanning can also be achieved. Preferably, the emission method of the scanning line in this embodiment is to form a cross scanning line based on aperture emission. The intersection point of the scanning line in this embodiment is one.

[0114] Combination Figure 9-1 and Figure 9-2 , the shape of the multi-element ultrasonic transducer array element array 101 can also be a cylindrical spiral, the center 802 of each array element on the cylindrical spiral is not in the same plane, and the emitting surface normal of each array element 800 is no longer in the same plane. In this embodiment, in order to facilitate the description of the distribution of array elements, the array element array 101 refers to the ultrasonic transducer. Specifically, the center points of multiple array elements 800 are spatially distributed, and the overall shape of the distribution is a cylindrical spiral. In order to make the ultrasonic transducer array element array with a cylindrical spiral distribution more obvious, Figure 9-1 The columnar spiral array element array distribution of two periods is given in FIG. (the array element array is in the form of a strip, and in practice has thickness), and the emission surface of each array element 800 faces the intersection 3 on the spiral center axis 10. The spiral diameter range of the columnar spiral distribution ultrasonic transducer array element array 101 is 2 mm to 30 mm, preferably, the spiral diameter is 10 mm; the spiral pitch is 1 mm to 20 mm, preferably, the spiral pitch is 5 mm, and the above parameters are measured based on the array element center 802. In this embodiment, the columnar spiral distribution array element array 101 (ultrasonic transducer) is as follows Figure 9-1 As shown. The distribution of the actual columnar spiral distribution of the ultrasonic array element array does not need to reach two periods, but only needs to be a part of the columnar spiral. In this embodiment, the columnar spiral ultrasonic array element array is distributed as shown by the mark 101 in the figure. In other embodiments, the distribution of the multi-element ultrasonic transducer array element array 101 can be approximately a columnar spiral distribution. The length of the columnar spiral array element array (the length of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110) is less than 35 mm.

[0115] In the present embodiment, the scanning line intersection is an in-plane intersection, and the number of intersection points is one. At this time, the normal line of the transmitting surface of each array element of the array element array 101 points to the intersection point. Specifically, each array element can emit a scanning line, and the emitted scanning lines intersect at the same point, namely, the intersection point 3. The intersection point 3 is located on the spiral central axis 10, and the position of the intersection point 3 is also on the ultrasonic transducer central axis 11. The ultrasonic transducer central axis 11 is coaxially arranged with the end central axis 311, that is, the position of the scanning line intersection point 3 is located at the intersection point 3 between the ultrasonic transducer central axis 11 and the spiral column central axis 10. It can be understood that in other embodiments, the scanning line intersection point 3 is not necessarily located on the spiral column central axis 10 / end central axis / ultrasonic transducer central axis 11. Figure 9-1 As shown. The emission time of the scan lines can be simultaneous emission or non-simultaneous emission. In other embodiments, the scan lines can be formed by aperture emission composed of multiple array elements. The acoustically transparent medium 20 (not shown) is at least partially disposed at least partially at the front end of the ultrasonic transducer (array element array 101) detection surface, and the above-mentioned cross scan lines at least partially pass through the end surface 32 (not shown).

[0116] When a spiral array of ultrasonic array elements is used and the scanning lines all intersect at the same intersection 3, it can be understood that the scanning lines can form a two-dimensional image, specifically a curved two-dimensional image (two-dimensional curved surface imaging), such as Figure 9-1 As shown. The scanning area is divided into a first imaging area 61 and a second imaging area 62. The data before the scanning line intersection 3 is used to construct the first imaging area 61, and the data after the scanning line intersection 3 is used to construct the second imaging area 62. The area of ​​the second imaging area 62 is larger than the area of ​​the first imaging area 61. The second imaging area 62 is mainly used to realize the observation and detection of the area of ​​interest of the target to be detected.

[0117] See also Fig.10 , this embodiment and Figure 9-1 The difference between the illustrated embodiments is that the scanning lines formed by the ultrasonic array element array with cylindrical spiral distribution are spatial cross scanning, and the common vertical lines of the spatial scanning lines are the same common vertical line; Fig.10 The components such as the acoustically transparent medium and its end faces are omitted. It can be understood that it is similar to the plane intersection. Fig.10 At least one pair of intersecting scanning lines of the spatial scanning line passes through the end surface after passing through the acoustically transparent medium.

[0118] Specifically, the scan line in this embodiment can be a scan line spatial intersection. The scan lines emitted by the cylindrical spiral ultrasound array element are respectively perpendicular and intersect at the spiral central axis 10, wherein the first common perpendicular intersection is 41 (other intersections are not marked). At this time, the normal lines of the emission surfaces of each array element array 101 are respectively perpendicular to the spiral central axis 10. It can be understood that the spiral central axis 10 is the common perpendicular line 4 of all array element emission scan lines, that is, the common perpendicular line 4 of the spatially crossed scan lines is the same common perpendicular line, and the common perpendicular line 4 coincides with the central axis of the spiral column, that is, the spiral central axis 10. It is easy to understand that, preferably, the common perpendicular line 4 is parallel to the end face 31 (not shown). Based on this case, the image formed by the scan line intersecting the spiral central axis 10 is also a two-dimensional image, specifically a two-dimensional curved surface 901. Specifically, the image has a first imaging area 61 and a second imaging area 62. The data before the intersection of the scan line is used for imaging the first imaging area; the data after the intersection of the scan line is used for imaging the second imaging area. The first imaging area and the second imaging area are divided or connected by a common perpendicular line. Usually, the area of ​​the second imaging region is larger than that of the first imaging region, and the imaging of the second imaging region is mainly for observing and detecting the region of interest of the target to be detected.

[0119] See also Figure 11-1 , Figure 11-1 It is shown that when the scanning line planes intersect, the number of intersections is 4, namely, the first intersection 301, the second intersection 302, the third intersection 303 and the fourth intersection 304. Specifically, the scanning lines a3 and a1 intersect to form the first intersection 301; the scanning lines a4 and a2 form the second intersection 302; the scanning lines a4 and a1 intersect to form the third intersection 303; the scanning lines a3 and a2 form the fourth intersection 304. Among them, the three intersections (the first intersection 301, the second intersection 302, and the third intersection 303) are all within the coverage of the sound-transmitting medium 20, and the two intersections (the first intersection 301 and the second intersection 302) are axially symmetrically distributed with the central axis of the end 31 of the sound-transmitting medium 20. In this embodiment, the central axis 11 of the ultrasonic transducer and the central axis of the end 31 are coaxially arranged. In other embodiments, the two can also be coaxially arranged. The intersecting scan lines a3 and a1, and the intersecting scan lines a2 and a4 are not adjacent scan lines. In other embodiments, the intersecting scan lines a3 and a1, and the intersecting scan lines a2 and a4 may be adjacent scan lines.

[0120] In other embodiments, the number of intersections of the plane intersections may be multiple (two or more), and the multiple intersections are at least partially located inside the sound-permeable medium 20. In other embodiments, the positions of the multiple intersections formed may also be distributed up and down along the central axis 11 of the ultrasonic transducer. It can be understood that in the embodiments, when the scan lines intersect in space, the scan line intersections are one pair or more pairs.

[0121] See also Fig.12 , Fig.12 In the embodiment, the emission time (timing control) of the scan line can be to scan the region of interest of the target to be detected in sequence according to the preset scanning direction from one end of the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1. When the array elements used to emit the scan lines are different or the array element apertures do not overlap, the scan lines can be emitted simultaneously or not simultaneously. Specifically, the first scan line 21 is formed by the aperture (abbreviated as aperture) TX1 composed of multiple array elements emitting the first ultrasonic beam 221, and the second scan line 22 is formed by the aperture TX2 emitting the second ultrasonic beam 222. The number of overlapping array elements of aperture TX1 and aperture TX2 is N. When N>=1, the first scan line 21 and the second scan line 22 cannot be emitted at the same time; when N=0, the first scan line 21 and the second scan line 22 can be emitted simultaneously or not simultaneously. The advantage of emitting simultaneously is that the scanning speed of the scan line can be increased, that is, the scanning of the scan line is completed at the same time or in a shorter time, thereby increasing the image frame rate. The first scan line 21 and the second scan line 22 can be adjacent scan lines or non-adjacent scan lines.

[0122] See also Figure 13-Figure 15 , showing that the image guidance function of cross scanning in transient elasticity detection is realized by three-dimensional images. That is, three-dimensional imaging is realized by a one-dimensional array. Specifically, a one-dimensional array is driven mechanically to move in different motion forms (linear scanning, such as Fig.13 ; Sector scanning, such as Fig.14 ; Rotational scanning, such as Fig.15 ) to achieve three-dimensional imaging in different forms. The above three scanning methods can be applied to the instantaneous elasticity detection device. Fig.15 The middle rotation scanning method is used as an example to illustrate. Fig.15 The concave array is mechanically driven to perform rotational scanning with the central axis 11 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 as the rotation axis, thereby achieving three-dimensional scanning and obtaining three-dimensional imaging. Specifically, Fig.15 , Figure 15-1 and Figure 15-2 The embodiment shown provides a transient elasticity detection device with three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging function based on cross scanning. Figure 7The difference between the illustrated embodiments is that the multi-element ultrasonic array in the present embodiment can realize three-dimensional imaging, and the image guidance and elastic detection functions in the transient elastic detection can be realized through three-dimensional imaging. Specifically, the way to realize three-dimensional imaging is to mechanically drive the one-dimensional array with the central axis 11 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 as the rotation center. When having the three-dimensional imaging function, the shape of the sound-permeable medium 20 arranged at the front end of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is truncated cone as a whole. The advantage of such a design is that it can cover the ultrasonic signal propagation channel when the ultrasonic transducer 1 performs three-dimensional imaging. Specifically, in one embodiment, the first driver 102 is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic transducer 1 through the first driving rod 201. In this embodiment, the detection surface 110 (not marked) of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is concave, and the curvature radius of the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is 4mm to 50mm, preferably 10mm. The first end of the first driving rod 201 is fixedly connected to the mover of the first driver 102 (not shown), and the second end of the first driving rod 201 is fixedly connected to the center of the one-dimensional ultrasonic element array 101. The first driver 201 drives the ultrasonic transducer 1 to rotate around the central axis 11 of the ultrasonic transducer through the first driving rod 201, and realizes three-dimensional imaging scanning based on the cross scanning form. The ultrasonic transducer 1 emits scanning lines to form cross scanning lines, and the intersection of the cross scanning lines is one and is located on the central axis of the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20. The advantage of this arrangement is that when the instantaneous elastic detection device is placed on the target to be detected, scattered scanning lines are emitted from the intersection to realize the detection and imaging of the target to be detected. In order to provide a rotating space for the ultrasonic transducer 1, a accommodating chamber 200 is set in the instantaneous elastic detection device, and the accommodating chamber 200 is built with the ultrasonic transducer 1, and the accommodating chamber 200 is filled with a sound-permeable liquid, such as water, glycerol, 1,3-butanediol, etc., and the ultrasonic transducer 1 is immersed in the sound-permeable liquid of the accommodating chamber 200. The first driving rod 201 passes through the upper end surface of the accommodating chamber 200 and is connected to the ultrasonic transducer 1. The connection between the first driving rod 201 and the accommodating chamber 200 can be a sliding sealing connection. The accommodating chamber 200, at least the portion disposed at the front end of the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1, has an acoustic permeability characteristic, which allows the ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic transducer 1 to pass through the accommodating chamber 200 and propagate to the inside of the target to be detected. Preferably, the curvature of the lower end surface 220 of the accommodating chamber is consistent with the curvature of the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 1. The advantage of such a design is that the scanning line emitted by the ultrasonic transducer 1 is exactly perpendicular to the lower end surface 220 of the accommodating chamber 200, thereby reducing the refraction of the scanning line at the junction of the acoustic permeable liquid and the accommodating chamber 200, allowing more ultrasonic signal energy to be transmitted to the target to be detected. A connecting member 6 is disposed between the lower end surface of the accommodating chamber 200 and the target to be monitored, and the method for disposing the connecting member 6 and the method for disposing the connecting member 6 are as follows. Figure 7The advantage of the independent arrangement of the accommodating cavity 200 and the connecting member 6 is that the ultrasonic transducer 1 can remain stationary relative to the movement of the sound-transmitting medium 20, that is, it can still perform three-dimensional imaging without being affected by the vibration of the end 31 of the sound-transmitting medium 20.

[0123] In other embodiments, the shape of the mechanically driven ultrasonic transducer 1 is not limited to a concave shape, and may also be a linear shape, a slightly convex shape, a curved shape, or the like.

[0124] Figure 13-Figure 15 In the present invention, the ultrasonic transducer 1 can be a one-dimensional multi-element ultrasonic transducer; the detection method using a one-dimensional element array transducer to detect and obtain multiple two-dimensional images to reconstruct a three-dimensional image requires the steps of original image data acquisition, image data post-processing, three-dimensional image reconstruction and three-dimensional image display.

[0125] Fig.13 In the embodiment, a concave ultrasonic transducer 1 is mechanically driven to perform linear scanning. It can be understood that the concave ultrasonic transducer can realize a two-dimensional image at each position. Through linear scanning, a three-dimensional image constructed based on multiple two-dimensional images can be realized. Fig.14 In the embodiment, a concave ultrasonic transducer 1 is mechanically driven to perform a sector scan with the intersection point as the rotation point, which can also form a three-dimensional image. Fig.13 The three-dimensional imaging formed in / 14 / 15 has two imaging areas, a first imaging area 61 and a second imaging area 62, which is different from the previous embodiment in that: Fig.13 / 14 / 15 In the embodiment, both the first and second imaging areas are three-dimensional imaging, i.e., volume imaging. Generally speaking, the second imaging area 62 is used to observe and detect the area of ​​interest of the target to be detected, and the volume of the second imaging area 62 is usually larger than the volume of the first imaging area 61 (plot). The first imaging area 61 is mainly composed of data before the intersection of the scan lines, and the second imaging area 62 is mainly composed of data after the intersection of the scan lines.

[0126] In other embodiments, in order to achieve three-dimensional imaging, the ultrasonic transducer 1 may no longer be composed of a one-dimensional multi-element ultrasonic transducer array mechanical motion form, but may be directly composed of a two-dimensional array of elements. These two-dimensional arrays of elements may be composed of a planar linear array splicing, or may be composed of a one-dimensional concave array of elements (one-dimensional concave ultrasonic transducer) splicing. The distribution shape of the two-dimensional array of elements may be planar or curved. When applied to a transient elastic detection device, preferably, the two-dimensional array of elements is distributed on the surface of a sphere. The advantage of such a design is that all the array element emission surfaces point to the same point, that is, the center of the circle, and such a structural design helps to achieve cross scanning. The distribution of the two-dimensional array of elements distributed on the surface of the sphere may be various. Specifically, it may be composed of a plurality of circular arrays of different sizes, or it may be composed of other distribution forms, such as a spiral distribution (similar to the shape of a spiral mosquito coil) on the surface of the sphere to form a two-dimensional array of elements (not shown).

[0127] The end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20 may also have a cylindrical outer shape (eg Figure 16-3 , Figure 15-2 , Figure 4 , Figure 16-13 ), truncated cone ( Figure 16-1 , 16-6, 16-12), or prism-shaped ( Figure 16-2 , Figure 16-9 ), or other shapes, such as Figure 16-4 to Figure 16-8 , Figure 16-10 , Figure 16-11 In one embodiment ( Figure 16-8 ), there is a relatively slow process from the end surface of the end to the end surface below. The truncated cone and prism shape can have different sizes to form different degrees of end effects. Preferably, the size M2 of the sound-permeable medium 20 can be larger than the size M4 of the width direction of the end surface 32 (such as Figure 16-10 ), or it can be equal to the width dimension (such as Figure 16-2 ); the dimension M1 of the sound-transmitting medium 20 may be larger than the dimension M3 of the length direction of the end face 32. The width direction of the end face is parallel to the width direction of the ultrasonic transducer, and the width direction of the end face is perpendicular to the length direction of the end face. The sound-transmitting medium 20 has an end 31, and at the same time, it is necessary to cover the propagation channel of the ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic transducer 1 with as small a volume as possible. The sound-transmitting medium is designed in an integrated manner (such as Figure 16-4 to Figure 16-12 The cross section of the end portion 31 gradually increases or remains unchanged from the end surface toward the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110. Specifically, the sound-permeable medium may be solid. When the sound-permeable medium is in the shape of a truncated cone, the cross section is circular. In other embodiments, the cross section of the sound-permeable medium may also be a transition process from circular to square (e.g. Figure 16-10), or it may be a transition between other different shapes (such as a process from a square end face to a round end face). In other embodiments, the cross section of the end portion 31 first decreases and then increases from the end face 32 toward the ultrasonic transducer detection surface 110 ( Figure 16-4 ), the intersection point formed by the cross scanning lines can be located near the minimum cross-sectional position. It can be understood that the cross scanning does not affect the propagation and imaging of the cross scanning lines. The cross-sectional area of ​​the end 31 can change linearly from the end surface 32 to the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 (e.g. Figure 16-1 ,16-2,16-6,16-9), or nonlinear changes (such as Figure 16-4 ,16-5,16-7,16-8,16-10). The prism is not limited to a quadrangular prism, but may be a triangular prism, a pentagonal prism or other prisms. The cross section of the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20 is circular, square, or elliptical or other shapes. When the end 31 is a hollow structure, the cross section of the end is a circular ring, a square ring, or an elliptical ring, etc. When the end 31 is a truncated cone or a prism, the angle between the side / side surface 321 of the end 31 and the central axis 311 of the end is less than 80 degrees. Preferably, the angle is less than 30 degrees. Specifically, when the end is a truncated cone (such as Figure 16-1 As shown), the angle α between the side of the end and the central axis of the end is less than 80 degrees, preferably, the angle is less than 30 degrees; when the end 31 is a prism, the angle between the side 321 of the end 31 and the central axis 311 of the end is less than 80 degrees, preferably, the angle is less than 30 degrees, the side 321 of the end 31 can be the side in the width direction of the end face 32, or the side in the length direction of the end face 32 (that is, all prism sides are referred to), as shown in FIG. Figure 16-6 , Figure 16-9 The requirement for the angle between the side surface 321 and the end center axis 311 is not limited to the above-mentioned truncated cone or prism, as long as the side surface is a plane, the requirement is met, such as in the embodiment (such as Figure 16-2 , 16-11), the angle α between the four faces and the central axis of the end is less than 80 degrees.

[0128] In one embodiment, the side surface 321 of the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20 has a clear boundary with the end surface 32, that is, the side surface 321 of the end 31 is located on one side of the plane where the end surface 31 is located. Figure 16-1 to Figure 16-3 .

[0129] like Figure 16-3As shown, the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20 transmits the driving force of the driver by symmetrically arranged support columns 500. In this embodiment, four support columns 500 are located on the four corners of the sound-permeable medium 20, and the four support columns 500 also form a hollow design of the sound-permeable medium 20. The support columns 500 are relatively hard and are used to transmit the driving force generated by the internal driver of the transient elastic detection device. The end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20 is driven by the support columns 500 to generate vibrations and then generate shear waves inside the target to be detected. It is easy to understand that the number of the support columns 500 is not limited to 4 (it can be 3, 5, or other numbers), as long as the driving force of the driver can be transmitted to the end surface 32. The four surfaces formed by the four support columns 500 may be formed by an acoustically transparent membrane 501 (when the support columns 500 and the acoustically transparent membrane 501 are not on the propagation path of the scanning line, it is not necessarily required that both have acoustically transparent characteristics). The four planar acoustically transparent membranes 501, the support columns 500 and the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 1 together form a sealed cavity, and an acoustically transparent liquid is placed inside the cavity, and the acoustically transparent liquid is in direct contact with the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 1. The acoustically transparent liquid may be water or glycerin, and is preferably a medium that reduces the attenuation of ultrasonic signals. The advantage of such a design is that it can reduce the refraction and reflection of the ultrasonic signal propagation caused by the surface or inner side of the acoustically transparent medium 20, thereby optimizing the ultrasonic imaging effect.

[0130] The shape and size of the lower end surface of the acoustically transparent medium 20 (corresponding to the end surface 32 of the acoustically transparent medium) are not limited, that is, they are not necessarily flat. Figure 4-1 ) or indirectly (e.g. Figure 7 ). The positional relationship between the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the sound-transmitting medium 20 may also be: the ultrasonic transducer 1 is embedded in the sound-transmitting medium 20, that is, the sound-transmitting medium 20 surrounds the ultrasonic transducer.

[0131] The core function of the ultrasonic transducer 1 in the present invention is to generate (transmit) and receive ultrasonic signals (scanning lines). The ultrasonic transducer can be composed of one array element or multiple array elements, and each array element can independently realize the ultrasonic signal transceiver function. When the ultrasonic transducer is a single-element ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer detection surface is composed of the emitting surface of a single array element; when the ultrasonic transducer is a multi-element array, the ultrasonic transducer detection surface is composed of the emitting surfaces of multiple array elements. It can be understood that when the ultrasonic transducer is a one-dimensional multi-element array, that is, the ultrasonic transducer is composed of a one-dimensional array element array, it can be said that the array element array 101 is the ultrasonic transducer, and the length of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface is the length of the array element array.

[0132] In the present invention, the ultrasonic transducer 1 includes a backing, a piezoelectric material layer, and an acoustic matching layer. Each transducer subarray includes a plurality of transducer elements with the same structure. Each transducer element includes a backing, a piezoelectric material layer, and an acoustic matching layer. At this time, the sound-transmitting medium is arranged at the front end of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface, which means that the sound-transmitting medium is arranged at the front end of the acoustic matching layer of the ultrasonic transducer. At this time, the sound-transmitting medium itself can have an acoustic lens effect.

[0133] In one embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer 1 in the present invention also includes an acoustic lens. In this case, the ultrasonic transducer detection surface refers to the surface of the acoustic lens, and the sound-transmitting medium is arranged at the front end of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface, that is, at the front end of the ultrasonic transducer acoustic lens.

[0134] In summary, the dimension of the end face 32 of the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20 in the length direction is smaller than the dimension of the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 in the length direction (the dimension of the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer in the length direction is the dimension of the array element in the length direction). The end face 32 is any one of a circle, an approximately circle, an ellipse, a polygon, a chamfered polygon, etc. The end face 32 is any one of a plane and an approximately plane (slightly convex / slightly concave). The cross-section of the end 31 gradually increases from the end face 32 toward the detection surface 110 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 or remains unchanged, or it may first decrease and then increase. The area range of the end face 32 is 10 square millimeters-200 square millimeters. The elasticity value of at least the end face 32 of the end 31 is greater than 50 kPa. The center position of the end face 32 is greater than or equal to 3 mm from the center position D of the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer 1. The height H of the end 31 (such as Figure 4-1 or Figure 5 The plane where the end face is located is perpendicular to the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer. The end 31 can also be a cavity structure.

[0135] like Fig.17As shown, the area of ​​the end face 32 is adjustable, and the instantaneous elasticity detection device also includes an adjustable portion 600 that can be selectively connected. The adjustable portion 600 is used to change the size of the end face 32 of the end 31. The change in the size of the end face 32 is used to meet the needs of elasticity detection of different types of patients. Specifically, when testing a child, a small-sized end face is required for detection, and when testing an obese patient, a large-sized end face is required for detection. It should be noted that when the end face size is changed, the ultrasonic signal emission frequency of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is preferably changed accordingly. For example: taking the end 31 as a cylindrical shape as an example, when testing a child, the diameter of the end 31 is 5mm, and the ultrasonic center frequency is 5MHz; when testing a regular adult, the diameter of the end 31 is 7mm, and the ultrasonic center frequency is 3.5MHz; when testing an obese patient, the diameter of the end 31 is 10mm, and the ultrasonic center frequency is 2.5MHz. In this embodiment, the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20 is in a prism shape (or other shapes), and the adjusting portion 600 is a structure that matches the shape of the end 31. The adjusting portion 600 has a hollow structure, and the hollow structure is used to accommodate the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20. When the adjusting portion 600 is mounted on the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20, the upper end surface of the adjusting portion 600, i.e., the adjusting surface 601, and the end surface 32 of the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20 form a plane, and the adjusting portion 600 and the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20 are detachably connected by snapping. The adjusting portion 600 is installed on the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20 to form a new end of the sound-permeable medium, thereby realizing the change of the end surface size of the end 31 of the sound-permeable medium 20.

[0136] In other embodiments, the shape of the adjustment portion is not limited to an approximately square shape, but may be other shapes that can match the shape of the end of the sound-permeable medium. For example, when the end of the sound-permeable medium is cylindrical, the adjustment portion is annular, and the annular shape can be fixedly and detachably connected to the cylindrical end by threading. The adjustment portion in other embodiments may not have a hollow structure, but may change the end face size of the end of the sound-permeable medium by directly capping the end. The ultrasonic transmission frequency range of the ultrasonic transducer is 1.5 MHz to 10 MHz.

[0137] See also Fig.18In the illustrated embodiment, the transient elasticity detection device includes a guide rail 700, a third driver 701 can move along the guide rail 700, and the ultrasonic transducer 1 is a single-element ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic transducer 1 is fixed on the mover of the third driver 701. Under the action of the third driver, the ultrasonic transducer 1 can be driven to move back and forth along the track 700 to achieve cross scanning (for example, the solid line and the dotted line of the first scanning line 21 are scanning lines emitted from different positions of the ultrasonic transducer, and the two cross each other. Of course, there may be one or more scanning lines between the dotted line and the solid line scanning line, which are also emitted when the ultrasonic transducer passes through different positions). The third driver 701 and the ultrasonic transducer 1 are both arranged in the accommodating chamber 200, and the acoustically transparent liquid is arranged in the accommodating chamber 200.

[0138] The invention provides an instantaneous elasticity detection method which can realize multiple elasticity measurements with one start.

[0139] In the classic fibroscan elasticity test, only one elasticity measurement can be achieved each time it is started. In order to improve the accuracy and reliability of elasticity testing, doctors are usually required to perform multiple measurements, and then integrate the results of multiple measurements to improve the reliability of elasticity testing. Requiring doctors to perform multiple measurements means that they need to repeatedly press the start switch multiple times, which increases the complexity of instantaneous elasticity testing operations. Each start means that the elasticity test is started by pressing the start button on the elasticity testing handle, or the start button on the touch screen, or by using a switch in the form of a foot pedal.

[0140] In order to improve the accuracy and reliability of elasticity detection and simplify the operation process, the present invention provides a method for performing instantaneous elasticity detection using the aforementioned instantaneous elasticity detection device. The method only needs to be started once to complete multiple instantaneous elasticity detections.

[0141] Step 1: Determine the location where elasticity testing is required based on the image guidance function achieved by cross scanning;

[0142] Step 2: After determining the detection position, the elasticity detection button of the instantaneous elasticity detection device is activated. At the same time as or after the elasticity detection button is turned on, the end of the sound-permeable medium is vibrated according to a preset instantaneous elasticity detection vibration number n under the action of the driver, that is, n instantaneous elasticity detection vibration cycles are continuously generated;

[0143] Step 3: When the elasticity detection button is turned on or after that, the ultrasonic transducer is used to track and detect the shear waves generated by the n elasticity detection cycle vibrations; the ultrasonic echo signal analysis can obtain n elastic shear wave vibration motion diagrams, shear wave velocity, liver stiffness, fatty changes and other information;

[0144] Step 4: After processing, the n measurement results are output and displayed.

[0145] Specifically, the instantaneous elastic detection vibration cycle described in the second step is the same as that in the classic fibroscan, that is, the end of the sound-permeable medium only needs to be vibrated instantaneously once to excite the shear wave field required for instantaneous elasticity, and then the shear wave generated by this vibration is tracked using the ultrasonic signal. The n times refers to repeating the elastic detection vibration cycle. The elastic detection vibration cycle includes the instantaneous vibration time of the sound-permeable medium and the time for detecting the shear wave generated by the vibration of the end of the sound-permeable medium using an ultrasonic transducer. It can be understood that the continuous generation of n elastic detection vibration cycles is used to achieve repeated and uninterrupted elastic detection of n times. The value of n is a pre-set positive integer, preferably it can be set between 8 and 15, and more preferably n=10.

[0146] In the fourth step, the n measurement results are processed, and the processing process may be averaging the n measurement results.

[0147] The processing process also includes evaluating each result of the n measurements to eliminate unreasonable invalid measurement data. The evaluation method can be to evaluate the shear wave motion shape, such as whether it is bent, whether there is tail swinging and other abnormal phenomena as invalid data. The invalid data is subtracted from the total number n. If the invalid data is equal to n, it is directly prompted that the test is invalid. Finally, the remaining valid measurement data is processed and integrated to output the instantaneous elastic measurement result.

[0148] The invention also provides a method for implementing real-time image guidance and transient elasticity detection.

[0149] Transient elasticity detection can realize elasticity detection of the liver. Through transient elasticity detection, liver hardness information and fatty change information can be obtained, providing clinicians with reliable lesion assessment information. Through the image guidance function, the liver structure can be observed. Through the transient elasticity detection results, the shear wave motion information map and liver hardness information or fatty change information can be obtained. Therefore, the image guidance function is very important in transient elasticity detection. The transient elasticity detection results are displayed on the display screen. In the existing transient elasticity detection technology with image guidance function, there are two working modes, either image guidance mode; or transient elasticity detection mode, that is, the image guidance mode and the transient elasticity detection mode cannot be performed at the same time, which will increase the problem of inaccurate transient elasticity detection to a certain extent. Further explanation, when performing transient elasticity detection, shear waves need to be generated by mechanical vibration, and this vibration process may cause the position of the transient elasticity detection device to change, and the mechanical vibration process is usually set after the transient elasticity detection mode is turned on (the image guidance mode has been turned off). The position of the transient elasticity detection device caused by mechanical vibration changes, further resulting in inaccurate transient elasticity detection. Especially when one-time start-up and multiple instantaneous elasticity tests are used, the phenomenon that the position of the instantaneous elasticity detection device is changed due to mechanical vibration will be more common, further increasing the risk of elasticity detection errors.

[0150] The present invention also provides a method for implementing real-time image guidance and transient elasticity detection, which is divided into the following steps:

[0151] Step 1: Determine the location where elasticity testing is required based on the image guidance function achieved by cross scanning;

[0152] Step 2: After determining the detection position, activate the elasticity detection button of the instantaneous elasticity detection device;

[0153] Step 3: After the elasticity detection button of the instantaneous elasticity detection device is activated, the elasticity detection trigger signal is received, and the ultrasonic transducer starts to work, and while performing elasticity detection, image guidance is realized in real time.

[0154] like Figure 19-1 to Figure 19-5 As shown, the present invention provides a method that can take into account both the image guidance mode and the transient elasticity detection mode, that is, when performing transient elasticity detection, the real-time image guidance function can also be realized. Specifically, at least three scanning lines (such as Figure 19-1When the ultrasonic transducer is used to realize the transient elastic detection function, it is only necessary to excite one or more array elements at the corresponding position of the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface to generate a scan line (such as the third scan line 23), and track and detect the shear wave propagation process of the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer along the depth direction of the target to be detected in the form of pulse-echo. Before the transient elastic detection, the default state of the transient elastic detection device is the pure imaging mode (such as Figure 19-3 elasticity detection trigger signal), the pure imaging mode refers to: only real-time image guidance (such as conventional B-mode imaging). After the liver position is selected, a trigger signal is generated through the elasticity detection button on the instantaneous elasticity detection device (or other activation methods, such as a foot switch, a touch screen switch, etc.), and the instantaneous elasticity detection process is started. At this time, the driver in the instantaneous elasticity detection device drives the end of the acoustically transparent medium to generate low-frequency vibrations. Preferably, the low-frequency vibration signal is a single-cycle signal of 50Hz), and a shear wave field is generated directly below the end along the depth direction of the target to be detected. In the present invention, the instantaneous elasticity detection process realizes two functions at the same time: one is real-time imaging, that is, the image guidance mode still exists; the second is to realize the detection of shear waves, that is, to realize the instantaneous elasticity detection function. Further explanation, the image guidance function in the conventional instantaneous elasticity detection technology precedes the elasticity detection function, that is, before the elasticity detection trigger signal is turned on, the two functions have a sequential process (cannot be performed at the same time), that is, when the elasticity detection is performed, the image guidance function is in a paused (frozen) state.

[0155] The imaging mode (image guidance) and the instantaneous elastic detection mode proposed in the present invention can be performed synchronously. The image guidance function can be performed not only before the elastic detection trigger signal, but also after the elastic detection trigger signal is turned on, accompanied by the instantaneous elastic detection function. Taking the elastic detection pulse-echo frame rate 1 / T as an example, while realizing elastic detection at this frame rate, image guidance is realized in real time. There are at least three main implementation methods, which are described as follows:

[0156] Method 1: All the data used for instantaneous elasticity detection comes from the data used for image-guided imaging. The number of scanning lines used to implement the image-guided function is at least three, such as Figure 19-1 , 19-2 As shown, it means that one frame of image is completed: Specifically, the first scanning line 21, the second scanning line 22, and the third scanning line 23 are used together to realize image-guided imaging; wherein, only the data of the third scanning line 23 is used for instantaneous elasticity detection, such as Figure 19-3 , the frame rates of image-guided and transient elastic detection are both 1 / T, or in other words, image-guided and transient elastic detection are performed simultaneously with a period of T;

[0157] Method 2: If Figure 19-4As shown, part of the data used for elasticity detection comes from the data used for image-guided imaging. The difference between Method 2 and Method 1 is that only part of the data used for instantaneous elasticity detection in Method 2 comes from the data used for image-guided imaging. Specifically, the data of the first scan line 21, the second scan line 22, and the third scan line 23 are used for image-guided imaging, and the data of the third scan line 23 is used for instantaneous elasticity detection. A part of the third scan line 23 comes from the image-guided imaging data, and a part of the third scan line 23 needs to be generated by a separate emission excitation. In the case of Method 2, the image-guided frame rate is less than the elasticity detection frame rate. For example, the frame rate of the instantaneous elasticity detection is 1 / T, and the image-guided frame rate is 1 / 2T; in other embodiments, the image-guided frame rate may also be lower than 1 / 2T.

[0158] Method 3: If Figure 19-5 As shown, the data for transient elastic detection and the data for image-guided imaging are obtained separately, that is, the image-guided emission and the transient elastic detection emission are set separately and independently. Specifically, the image-guided scanning lines and the elastic detection scanning lines are designed to be alternately interspersed; the image-guided scanning lines and the elastic detection scanning lines can also be designed to be non-alternatingly interspersed. Figure 19-5 In the illustrated embodiment, the frame rates of image guidance and transient elasticity detection are both 1 / T. When the image guidance scan line and the transient elasticity detection scan line are transmitted completely independently, the third scan line 23 used for transient elasticity detection can be the same as the third scan line 23 in image guidance, or can be completely different. Specifically, the third scan line 23 used for transient elasticity detection can be a scan line formed by a larger aperture. The advantage of such a design is that the signal-to-noise ratio of the transmitted ultrasonic signal is improved, which helps to improve the quality of transient elasticity detection.

[0159] exist Figure 19-1 to Figure 19-5 In the illustrated embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer is a concave ultrasonic transducer, and based on the cross scanning of the concave ultrasonic transducer, the emission time of the scanning line is set to be emitted simultaneously (to increase the frame rate). In other embodiments, when image guidance and transient elastic detection are implemented, the ultrasonic transducer is not limited to the concave type, but may be other types; the emission time of the scanning line may not be limited to simultaneous emission; the image guidance form is not limited to two-dimensional image guidance, but may also be three-dimensional image guidance. In the present invention, elastic detection and transient elastic detection are the same concept. It is easy to understand that in the above three methods, the frame rate of the two-dimensional image used for image guidance after the trigger signal can be further reduced according to actual needs. The most direct way to reduce the frame rate of the two-dimensional image is to reduce the emission and acquisition of the two-dimensional image at equal intervals.

[0160] The present invention also provides a transient elastic detection system. The system mainly includes a main control unit, a transceiver unit, a drive unit, a storage unit, a processing unit, a display unit, and the aforementioned transient elastic detection device of the present invention, which includes an ultrasonic transducer and a driver. The main control unit can control the ultrasonic transducer detection timing and recover the ultrasonic echo data by controlling the transceiver unit, and store the echo data in the storage unit. The control of the ultrasonic transducer detection timing is mainly used to realize the timing control of the image guidance function and the transient elastic detection timing control. The main control unit is also used to control the drive unit to realize the motion control of the driver in the transient elastic detection device, so as to drive the low-frequency vibration of the end of the sound-permeable medium to generate shear waves. The storage unit is mainly used to store the ultrasonic echo data obtained by the transceiver unit. The processing unit mainly processes and analyzes the ultrasonic echo data stored in the storage unit, and outputs the analysis results. The data processing process mainly includes image-guided imaging processing, i.e., conventional B-image processing, and also includes obtaining shear wave motion information from elastic detection ultrasound echo data, and further extracting information values ​​such as shear wave velocity that can reflect liver stiffness; and also includes obtaining liver fatty change information through attenuation information of ultrasound echo signals. The display unit is mainly used to display the processing results of the processing unit. These display results mainly include image-guided B-image imaging results, shear wave propagation process results, liver stiffness values, fatty change information values ​​and other information.

[0161] In other embodiments, the instantaneous elasticity detection device further includes a pressure sensor, which is used to monitor whether the pressure applied to the target to be detected during elasticity detection is appropriate, which helps to improve the quality of instantaneous elasticity detection.

[0162] It should be understood that the application of the present invention is not limited to the above examples. For ordinary technicians in this field, improvements or changes can be made based on the above description. All these improvements and changes should fall within the scope of protection of the claims attached to the present invention.

Claims

1. A transient elasticity detection device, comprising an ultrasonic transducer and a sound-transmissive medium, characterized in that: The sound-permeable medium is arranged at the front end of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface. The end of the sound-permeable medium away from the ultrasonic transducer detection surface has an end, and the end has an end surface. The ultrasonic transducer emits a scanning line, and at least part of the scanning line passes through the end surface in a cross-scanning form.

2. The instantaneous elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The scan lines participating in the cross scan are called cross scan lines.

3. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sound-transmitting medium is at least partially disposed at least partially at the front end of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface.

4. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least part of the scanning lines passes through the end surface in a cross-scanning manner and first passes through the acoustically transparent medium.

5. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ultrasonic transducer includes an acoustic lens.

6. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end portion is configured to vibrate to generate shear waves.

7. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end side surface has a clear boundary with the end surface.

8. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: An ultrasonic anti-attenuation medium is also provided, and the ultrasonic anti-attenuation medium is located on the ultrasonic propagation channel from the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer to the sound-permeable medium. At this time, at least part of the scanning line passing through the end surface also passes through the ultrasonic anti-attenuation medium.

9. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A connecting piece is provided between the sound-transmitting medium and the ultrasonic transducer detection surface. At this time, at least a portion of the scanning line passing through the end surface also passes through the connecting piece.

10. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The portion outside the end of the sound-permeable medium is composed of a support column and a sound-permeable membrane. The sound-permeable membrane, the side wall of the sound-permeable medium and the ultrasonic transducer detection surface together form a sealed cavity, and the cavity contains a sound-permeable liquid.

11. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least some of the intersection points formed by the intersection of the scan lines are located on the boundary or within the area of ​​the limit quadrilateral.

12. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ultrasonic transducer detection surface is in direct or indirect contact with the sound-transmitting medium.

13. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sound-permeable medium is a hollow structure.

14. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end of the sound-transmitting medium and the ultrasonic transducer move synchronously or independently.

15. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The acoustically transparent medium is Japan Mitsui Chemicals-TPXMX002O.

16. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end surface area is adjustable.

17. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also included is a selectively connectable adjustment portion.

18. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that: At least some of the intersecting scan lines are used to implement image guidance.

19. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 18, characterized in that: The image guidance is two-dimensional imaging or three-dimensional imaging.

20. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 19, characterized in that: The two-dimensional imaging is plane imaging or curved imaging; the three-dimensional imaging method is any one of linear scanning, sector scanning, and rotation scanning.

21. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ultrasonic transducer is also used for transient elasticity detection.

22. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The scanning line is an ultrasonic beam.

23. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ultrasonic transducer is a single-element ultrasonic transducer or a multi-element ultrasonic transducer.

24. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 22, characterized in that: The ultrasonic beam is formed by emission from a single array element or emission from an aperture formed by a plurality of array elements.

25. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ultrasonic transducer is also used to receive ultrasonic echo signals.

26. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ultrasonic transducer is a linear array, a phased array, or a convex array.

27. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the ultrasonic transducer is a one-dimensional multi-element array, the length of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface is less than 35 mm.

28. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the ultrasonic transducer is a one-dimensional multi-element array, the detection surface width of the ultrasonic transducer is less than 10 mm.

29. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least a portion of the sound-transmitting medium located on the scanning line channel emitted by the ultrasonic transducer has a sound-transmitting property.

30. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end portion is in a columnar or terraced shape.

31. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the end is in a truncated cone shape, the angle between the side of the end and the central axis of the end is less than 80 degrees; when the end is in a prism shape, the angle between the side of the end and the central axis of the end is less than 80 degrees.

32. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length dimension of the end face is smaller than the length dimension of the ultrasonic transducer detection face.

33. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end face is any one of a circle, a nearly circle, an ellipse, a polygon, and a chamfered polygon.

34. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the end surface is circular, the diameter of the end surface ranges from 4 mm to 12 mm.

35. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end face is either a plane or a nearly plane.

36. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross section of the end portion gradually increases from the end surface toward the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer, or remains unchanged, or first decreases and then increases.

37. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The area of ​​the end surface is 10 square millimeters to 200 square millimeters.

38. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The area of ​​the end surface is smaller than the area of ​​the detection surface of the ultrasonic transducer.

39. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plane where the end surface is located is perpendicular to the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer.

40. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elasticity value of at least the end surface of the end portion is greater than 50 kPa.

41. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The distance between the center position of the end surface and the center position of the ultrasonic transducer detection surface is greater than or equal to 3 mm.

42. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The height of the end portion is greater than 0.5 mm.

43. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The intersection is an in-plane intersection or a spatial intersection.

44. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that: At least part of the intersecting scan lines is formed by reflection.

45. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The intersecting scan lines are adjacent.

46. ​​The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Any two of the scan lines intersect each other.

47. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the ultrasonic transducer is a multi-element ultrasonic transducer, the scanning line emission times are the same or different.

48. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the intersection is an in-plane intersection, all the intersection scanning lines intersect at one point to form an intersection point.

49. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the intersection is a spatial intersection, all the intersection scanning lines intersect at the same common vertical line.

50. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 49, characterized in that: The common perpendicular line is parallel to the end surface.

51. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the planes intersect, the scanning lines have one or more intersection points; when the space intersects, the scanning lines have one or more pairs of intersection points.

52. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The intersection divides the scan line area into a first imaging area and a second imaging area, and at least the second imaging area is used for imaging.

53. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 52, characterized in that: The second imaging area is fan-shaped.

54. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The intersection point is located on the end center axis.

55. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The intersection point is located on the central axis of the ultrasonic transducer.

56. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The central axis of the ultrasonic transducer is coaxial with the central axis of the end portion.

57. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The intersection of the intersecting scan lines is at least partially located inside the acoustically transparent medium.

58. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The intersection point is adjustable relative to the position of the target to be detected.

59. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the ultrasonic transducer is a multi-element ultrasonic transducer, the center of each element of the ultrasonic transducer is in the same plane.

60. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the ultrasonic transducer is a single-element ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer reciprocates left and right along an arc-shaped track.

61. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ultrasonic transducer is a concave or approximately concave ultrasonic transducer.

62. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 61, characterized in that: The curvature radius of the concave ultrasonic transducer detection surface is 4 mm to 50 mm.

63. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 61, characterized in that: The detection surface of the concave ultrasonic transducer is arc-shaped, and the arc angle range of the arc is 10 degrees to 180 degrees.

64. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the ultrasonic transducer is a multi-element ultrasonic transducer, the multiple elements are arranged in a columnar spiral shape.

65. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the ultrasonic transducer is a multi-element ultrasonic transducer, the normal lines of the emitting surfaces of the ultrasonic transducer elements are not in the same plane.

66. The transient elasticity detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The invention also includes a coupling layer located on the end surface.

67. A method for elasticity detection, characterized in that: Using the elasticity detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 66, elasticity detection is performed according to the following steps: Step 1: Determine the location where elasticity testing is required based on the image guidance function achieved by cross scanning; Step 2: After determining the detection position, the elasticity detection button of the instantaneous elasticity detection device is activated. At the same time as or after the elasticity detection button is turned on, the end of the sound-permeable medium is vibrated according to a preset instantaneous elasticity detection vibration number n under the action of the driver, that is, n instantaneous elasticity detection vibration cycles are continuously generated; Step 3: When the elasticity detection button is turned on or after that, the ultrasonic transducer is used to track and detect the shear waves generated by the n elasticity detection cycle vibrations; the ultrasonic echo signal analysis can obtain n elastic shear wave vibration motion diagrams, shear wave velocity, liver stiffness, fatty changes and other information; Step 4: After processing, the n measurement results are output and displayed.

68. An image-guided and elasticity detection method, characterized in that: Using the elasticity detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 66, elasticity detection is performed according to the following steps: Step 1: Determine the location where elasticity testing is required based on the image guidance function achieved by cross scanning; Step 2: After determining the detection position, activate the elasticity detection button of the instantaneous elasticity detection device; Step 3: After the elasticity detection button of the instantaneous elasticity detection device is activated, the elasticity detection trigger signal is received, and the ultrasonic transducer starts to work, and while performing elasticity detection, image guidance is realized in real time.

69. An elasticity detection system, characterized in that: Comprising the elasticity detection device described in any one of claims 1-66.

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