Torque coil and imaging device

Abstract

To provide a torque coil that improves image quality of a captured image when being used in an imaging device, and the imaging device.SOLUTION: A torque coil 11 is long and has one end portion in a longitudinal direction mounted with an imaging unit 12. A signal line L1 for outputting a signal output from the imaging unit 12 to an image generation unit 31 forming an image on the basis of the signal, is inserted into the inside of the torque coil 11. The torque coil 11 is formed of an austenite stainless steel containing Mo.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a torque coil and an imaging device. [Background technology]

[0002] An ultrasound imaging system has been proposed that includes a catheter and an imaging core disposed inside the catheter and provided with a transducer at its tip, and captures an ultrasound image by detecting echo signals generated when ultrasound is emitted from the transducer while rotating the imaging core (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this ultrasound imaging system, the imaging core is rotationally driven by a drive unit via a cylindrical transducer connection member, and a signal detected by the transducer is transmitted to a control module via a transducer conductor inserted inside the transducer connection member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6850939 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in this type of ultrasound imaging system, there is a risk that the image quality of the ultrasound image may be degraded due to the influence of noise components contained in the signal input from the transducer to the control module via the transducer conductor.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide a torque coil and an imaging device that improve the quality of an image captured when used in the imaging device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the torque coil according to the present invention comprises: A torque coil having a long length, an imaging unit attached to one end in a longitudinal direction, and a signal line passing through the inside for outputting a signal output from the imaging unit to an image generating unit that forms an image based on the signal, It is made of austenitic stainless steel containing Mo. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the torque coil, into which the signal line is inserted, is made of austenitic stainless steel containing Mo. This makes it possible to suppress magnetization of the torque coil when the torque coil is formed by plastic processing of a wire, thereby reducing noise components in the signal caused by the torque coil being magnetized. As a result, it is possible to improve the quality of the image formed by the image generating unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] An imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The imaging device according to the embodiment includes an imaging unit, an image generating unit that forms an image based on a signal output from the imaging unit, and a long torque coil that has one end in the longitudinal direction to which the imaging unit is attached and the other end connected to the image generating unit, and through which a signal line for outputting a signal output from the image generating unit to the image generating unit is inserted. The torque coil is made of austenitic stainless steel containing Mo.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a long, bottomed cylindrical sheath 21, a long torque coil 11 disposed inside the sheath 21, an imaging unit 12 attached to one end of the torque coil 11 in the longitudinal direction and disposed inside the bottom end of the sheath 21, and an image generating unit 31. The imaging unit 12 has a piezoelectric element and is connected to the image generating unit 31 via signal lines L1 and L2. The signal lines L1 and L2 are, for example, twisted pair wires. The imaging unit 12 transmits ultrasonic waves from the piezoelectric element to the target by applying a pulse train voltage signal transmitted from the image generating unit 31 via the signal line L1 to the piezoelectric element. The imaging unit 12 receives ultrasonic waves reflected by the target, converts the received ultrasonic waves into a detection signal, and transmits the detection signal to the image generating unit 31 via the signal line L2.

[0011] The imaging device 1 also includes a main body 22 that is cylindrical and fixed to an end of the sheath 21 opposite to the bottom side, and a shaft 13 that is long and cylindrical and disposed inside the main body 22, one end of which is fixed to the other end of the torque coil 11 in the longitudinal direction. The main body 22 rotatably supports the shaft 13 via a bearing 23 disposed on its inner wall. A gear 14 is fitted to the end of the shaft 13 opposite to the end to which the torque coil 11 is fixed. The imaging device 1 also includes a shaft driving unit 40 for rotating the shaft 13. The shaft driving unit 40 includes a motor 41, a pulley 42 connected to the motor 41, and a belt 43 stretched between the gear 14 and the pulley 42. The shaft driving unit 40 rotates the pulley 42 to rotate the gear 14 and the shaft 13 on which the gear 14 is fitted, around the cylindrical axis of the shaft 13, as shown by the arrow AR1.

[0012] The image generating unit 31 generates a pulse train voltage signal and transmits it to the imaging unit 12 via the signal line L1, and also acquires a detection signal transmitted from the imaging unit 12 via the signal line L2, and forms an image based on the acquired detection signal. The image generating unit 31 generates image information indicating the formed image and transmits it to a display device (not shown) or the like.

[0013] The torque coil 11 is made of an austenitic stainless steel containing Mo. More specifically, the torque coil 11 is made of an austenitic stainless steel containing about 18% Cr, 11% to 14% Ni, and about 2.5% Mo. More specifically, the torque coil 11 is made of SUS316. The torque coil 11 may be made of an austenitic stainless steel containing at least one element selected from C (carbon), Cu, and N in addition to Cr, Ni, and Mo. That is, the torque coil 11 may be made of SUS216L, SUS316N, SUS316LN, SUS316J1, SUS316J1L, SUS317, SUS317J1, SUS317L, or the like.

[0014] Incidentally, the torque coil 11 is produced by plastically processing a wire. In this case, if the wire is made of an austenitic stainless steel that does not contain Mo, such as SUS304, the wire becomes magnetized due to martensitic transformation during plastic processing. For this reason, when a torque coil is produced from an austenitic stainless steel that does not contain Mo, a demagnetization process must be performed. On the other hand, a wire made of an austenitic stainless steel that contains Mo is less likely to become magnetized during plastic processing. In fact, when a torque coil is produced by plastically processing a wire made of SUS304, the wire becomes magnetized by about 0.3 mT, whereas when a torque coil is produced by plastically processing a wire made of SUS312, no magnetization of the torque coil is confirmed. Therefore, the torque coil 11 according to the present embodiment is produced by plastically processing a wire made of an austenitic stainless steel that contains Mo. As a result, demagnetization is not required in the process of producing the torque coil 11.

[0015] As described above, in this embodiment, the torque coil 11, into which the signal lines L1, L2 are inserted, is made of austenitic stainless steel containing Mo. This makes it possible to suppress magnetization of the torque coil 11 when the torque coil 11 is formed by plastic processing of a wire material, thereby reducing noise components in the signal caused by the torque coil 11 being magnetized. Therefore, the quality of the image formed by the image generating unit 31 can be improved.

[0016] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, the imaging unit 12 may have a visible light camera, an infrared camera, or the like.

[0017] Although the embodiment and the modified examples of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these. The present invention includes appropriate combinations of the embodiment and the modified examples, and appropriate modifications thereto. [Industrial Applicability]

[0018] The present invention is suitable as a torque coil used in an imaging device such as an endoscope camera. [Explanation of symbols]

[0019] 1: imaging device, 11: torque coil, 12: imaging unit, 13: shaft, 14: gear, 21: sheath, 22: main body, 23: bearing, 31: image generating unit, 40: shaft drive unit, 41: motor, 42: pulley, 43: belt, L1, L2: signal lines

Claims

1. A torque coil having a long length, an imaging unit attached to one end in a longitudinal direction, and a signal line passing through the inside for outputting a signal output from the imaging unit to an image generating unit that forms an image based on the signal, It is formed from an austenitic stainless steel containing Mo. Torque coil.

2. It is formed from an austenitic stainless steel containing 2% or more of Mo.

2. The torque coil of claim 1.

3. The steel is made of an austenitic stainless steel further containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of C, Cu, and N.

3. A torque coil according to claim 1 or 2.

4. An imaging unit; an image generating unit that forms an image based on a signal output from the imaging unit; a torque coil having an elongated length, one end of which is attached to the imaging unit in a longitudinal direction and the other end of which is connected to the image generating unit, and through which a signal line is inserted for outputting a signal output from the imaging unit to the image generating unit, The torque coil is made of an austenitic stainless steel containing Mo. Imaging device.

Images