Drive unit, diagnostic imaging device, and operation method

Abstract

To provide a drive unit, an image diagnostic device, and an actuation method capable of reducing a possibility to damage a catheter by a manual operation.SOLUTION: A drive unit 102 includes: a scanner unit 121 connectable with a catheter interpolating an imaging core to perform tomography; a pull-back unit 122 for supporting the scanner unit to be displaceable in a predetermined direction; a holding part for controlling a non-holding state where a displacement of the scanner unit is not regulated and a holding state where the displacement is regulated; a drive part 241 for rotatably driving the imaging core of the catheter; a changeover input part for receiving a changeover input of the holding state and the non-holding state; and a control part for rotatably driving the imaging core and then allowing the scanner unit to be in the non-holding state when the imaging core is not rotatably driven in a state where a changeover input operation from the holding state into the non-holding state is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a drive unit, a diagnostic imaging device, and a method of operation. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, as devices for diagnosing the intravascular lumen, an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) device, an optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) device, and the like are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-121831 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In an IVUS device, a catheter equipped with an imaging core that measures the state of the blood vessel lumen is connected to a scanner unit of a drive unit, and the imaging core can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the catheter by supplying current to a motor that displaces the position of the scanner unit. Some conventional IVUS devices are configured so that the supply of current to the motor can be stopped and the imaging core can be positioned manually by the user.

[0005] However, manually displacing the scanner unit may damage the internal mechanism of the catheter, especially in the case of a device capable of diagnosing the intravascular lumen using IVUS and OFDI, which uses an optical fiber as part of the internal mechanism of the catheter.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a drive unit, an imaging diagnostic device, and an operating method that can reduce the possibility of a catheter being damaged by manual operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A drive unit as a first aspect of the present disclosure is a drive unit comprising: a scanner unit to which a catheter having an imaging core inserted therein for performing tomographic imaging can be connected; and a pullback unit that supports the scanner unit so that it can be displaced in a predetermined direction, and the drive unit comprises: a hold section that controls a non-hold state in which displacement of the scanner unit relative to the pullback unit is not restricted; and a hold state in which displacement of the scanner unit relative to the pullback unit is restricted; a drive section that rotationally drives the imaging core of the catheter connected to the scanner unit; a switching input section that accepts switching input between the hold state and the non-hold state; and a control section that, when a switching input operation from the hold state to the non-hold state is detected on the switching input section, if the imaging core is not rotationally driven, rotationally drives the imaging core and then sets the scanner unit to the non-hold state.

[0008] In a drive unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control unit puts the scanner unit into the hold state when it determines that the scanner unit has not been displaced relative to the pull-back unit for a predetermined period of time since the control unit puts the scanner unit into the non-hold state from the hold state.

[0009] The drive unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure further includes a brake unit that limits the displacement speed of the scanner unit relative to the pull-back unit to a predetermined speed or less when the scanner unit is in the non-hold state.

[0010] An imaging diagnostic device as a second aspect of the present disclosure includes the catheter, the above-mentioned drive unit, and an image processing device that generates a tomographic image based on signals acquired by the tomography performed by the imaging core.

[0011] In the diagnostic imaging device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the imaging core is capable of performing optical tomography and ultrasonic tomography.

[0012] A third aspect of the present disclosure is an operating method for a drive unit that includes a scanner unit to which a catheter having an imaging core inserted therein for performing tomography can be connected, and a pullback unit that supports the scanner unit so that it can be displaced in a predetermined direction, and that can assume a non-hold state in which displacement of the scanner unit relative to the pullback unit is not restricted, and a hold state in which displacement of the scanner unit relative to the pullback unit is restricted, and includes the steps of detecting a switching input from the hold state to the non-hold state, detecting whether the imaging core is being rotationally driven when the switching input is detected, driving the imaging core to rotation if the imaging core is not being rotationally driven, and driving the imaging core to rotation and then setting the scanner unit to the non-hold state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a drive unit, an imaging diagnostic device, and an operating method that can reduce the possibility of a catheter being damaged by manual operation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the external configuration of an imaging diagnostic apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an imaging diagnostic apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the external configuration of the MDU in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the MDU of FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a switching process executed by the control unit of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 7 is a flowchart showing another example of the switching process executed by the control unit of FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to this embodiment has an IVUS function and an OFDI function.

[0016] <1. External configuration of the diagnostic imaging device> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the external configuration of an imaging diagnostic apparatus 100 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging diagnostic apparatus 100 includes a catheter 101, a scanner and pull-back unit (hereinafter referred to as an MDU (motor drive unit)) 102, an image processing apparatus 103 as a tomography apparatus, and a display device 113. The MDU 102 is a drive unit in the present disclosure. The MDU 102 and the image processing apparatus 103 are connected via a connector 105 and a cable 104 accommodating signal lines and optical fibers. Note that, although the present embodiment will be described assuming that the image processing apparatus 103 and the display device 113 are separate entities, the image processing apparatus 103 may be configured to include the display device 113.

[0017] The catheter 101 is inserted directly into a blood vessel. The catheter 101 has an imaging core inserted therein, the imaging core including an ultrasound transmitting / receiving unit that transmits ultrasound based on a pulse signal and receives reflected waves from within the blood vessel, and an optical transmitting / receiving unit that continuously transmits transmitted light (measurement light) into the blood vessel and continuously receives reflected light from within the blood vessel. The diagnostic imaging device 100 measures the state inside the blood vessel (obtains a tomographic image) using the imaging core. That is, the diagnostic imaging device 100 obtains a tomographic image by vascular tomography based on a return signal of the ultrasound signal from the catheter 101 and an optical coherence signal.

[0018] The catheter 101 is detachably attached to the MDU 102, and by driving a built-in motor, the MDU 102 regulates the longitudinal and rotational movement of the imaging core inserted into the catheter 101 within the blood vessel. The MDU 102 also acquires signals of reflected waves received by the ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit and signals of reflected light received by the optical transmitting and receiving unit within the imaging core, and transmits them to the image processing device 103.

[0019] The image processing device 103 has a function for inputting various setting values when performing measurements, and a function for processing ultrasound data and optical coherence data obtained by measurements and displaying various blood vessel images.

[0020] The device includes an image processing device 103 and a main body control unit 111. The main body control unit 111 generates line data from signals of reflected ultrasound waves obtained by measurement, and generates an ultrasonic tomographic image (IVUS image) of the blood vessel through interpolation processing. Furthermore, the main body control unit 111 generates interference light data by causing interference between reflected light from the imaging core and reference light obtained by separating light from the light source, generates line data based on the interference light data, and generates an optical tomographic image (OFDI image) of the blood vessel through interpolation processing.

[0021] The main body control unit 111 is equipped with a printer and DVD recorder 111-1. The printer and DVD recorder 111-1 prints out the processing results of the main body control unit 111 and stores them as data. The main body control unit 111 also has an operation panel 112. A user uses the operation panel 112 to input various setting values and instructions. The display device 113 includes, for example, an LCD monitor, and displays various cross-sectional images generated by the main body control unit 111. The main body control unit 111 also has a mouse 114 as a pointing device (coordinate input device), and operations performed on the operation panel 112 can also be performed on the LCD monitor screen.

[0022] <2. Functional configuration of diagnostic imaging equipment (mainly image processing equipment)> Next, the functional configuration of the diagnostic imaging apparatus 100 (mainly the image processing device 103) will be described. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the diagnostic imaging apparatus 100. Hereinafter, the functional configuration for realizing wavelength sweep type optical coherence tomography (OFDI) and ultrasonic tomography (IVUS) will be described using this figure.

[0023] In the figure, the image processing device 103 includes a signal processing unit 201 that controls the entire image diagnostic device 100. The signal processing unit 201 is composed of several circuits including a microprocessor. For example, the signal processing unit 201 includes an image acquisition unit 2010. The image acquisition unit 2010 acquires ultrasound tomographic images (IVUS images) and optical coherence tomographic images (OFDI images) captured by an imaging core 250 (described later). The signal processing unit 201 also includes a control unit 2011. The control unit 2011 performs various processes and controls display on the display device 113. The signal processing unit 201 also includes a memory 2012. The memory 2012 is composed of, for example, a random access memory (RAM). The image processing device 103 also includes a storage device 210. The storage device 210 is a non-volatile storage device typified by a hard disk, and stores various programs and data files executed by the signal processing unit 201.

[0024] The image processing device 103 includes a swept light source 203. The swept light source 203 is a light source that repeatedly generates light whose wavelength changes within a preset range along the time axis. The light output from the swept light source 203 is incident on one end of a first single-mode fiber 271 and transmitted toward the tip side. The first single-mode fiber 271 is optically coupled to a fourth single-mode fiber 275 via an optical fiber coupler 272 located midway.

[0025] Light that is incident on the first single mode fiber 271 and emitted to the distal end side from the optical fiber coupler 272 is guided to the second single mode fiber 273 via the connector 105. The other end of the second single mode fiber 273 is connected to the optical rotary joint 230 in the MDU 102.

[0026] On the other hand, the catheter 101 has an adapter 101a for connecting to the MDU 102. Furthermore, the MDU 102 has an adapter 101b for connecting to the catheter 101. By attaching the adapter 101a to the adapter 101b, the catheter 101 and the MDU 102 are connected, and the catheter 101 is stably held by the MDU 102. Furthermore, the catheter 101 is connected to the imaging core 250 and includes a shaft 106 connected to the catheter 101. The shaft 106 transmits the rotational motion of the MDU 102 about an axis that is the longitudinal direction of the imaging core 250. In other words, when the catheter 101 is connected to the MDU 102, the rotational motion of the MDU 102 is transmitted to the shaft 106, and the imaging core 250 is rotationally driven.

[0027] An end of a third single mode fiber 274 rotatably housed within the catheter 101 is connected to the optical rotary joint 230. As a result, the second single mode fiber 273 and the third single mode fiber 274 are optically coupled. The other end (toward the tip portion of the catheter 101) of the third single mode fiber 274 is provided with an imaging core 250 equipped with an optical transmitter / receiver unit composed of a mirror and a lens that emits light in a direction approximately perpendicular to the rotation axis.

[0028] As a result of the above, the light emitted by the wavelength swept light source 203 is guided through the first single mode fiber 271, the second single mode fiber 273, and the third single mode fiber 274, which serve as optical fibers, to the imaging core 250 provided at the end of the third single mode fiber 274. The optical transmitting and receiving unit of the imaging core 250 emits this light in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the fiber and receives the reflected light, which is then guided in the opposite direction and returned to the image processing device 103.

[0029] Meanwhile, an optical path length adjustment mechanism 220 for finely adjusting the optical path length of the reference light is provided at the opposite end of the fourth single mode fiber 275 coupled to the optical fiber coupler 272. The optical path length adjustment mechanism 220 functions as an optical path length changing means for changing the optical path length corresponding to the length variation so as to absorb the variation in the length of each catheter 101, for example, when the catheter 101 is replaced. For this purpose, a collimating lens 225 located at the end of the fourth single mode fiber 275 is mounted on a one-axis stage 224 that is movable in the direction of its optical axis, as indicated by arrow 226.

[0030] Specifically, when the catheter 101 is replaced, the single-axis stage 224 functions as an optical path length changing means having a variable range of the optical path length that is large enough to absorb variations in the optical path length of the catheter 101. Furthermore, the single-axis stage 224 also functions as an adjustment means for adjusting an offset. For example, even if the tip of the catheter 101 is not in close contact with the surface of the biological tissue, it is possible to set the tip of the catheter 101 to a state in which it interferes with the light reflected from the surface of the biological tissue by slightly changing the optical path length using the single-axis stage 224.

[0031] The optical path length is finely adjusted by the one-axis stage 224, and the light reflected by the mirror 223 via the grating 221 and lens 222 is guided again to the fourth single-mode fiber 275, where it is mixed with the light obtained from the second single-mode fiber 273 side in the optical fiber coupler 272 and received by the photodiode 204 as interference light.

[0032] In this way, the interference light received by the photodiode 204 is photoelectrically converted, amplified by an amplifier 205, and then input to a demodulator 206. The demodulator 206 performs demodulation processing to extract only the signal portion of the interfered light, and the output is input to an A / D converter 207 as an interference light signal.

[0033] The A / D converter 207 samples the interference light signal for 2048 points at, for example, 90 MHz to generate one line of digital data (interference light data). Note that the sampling frequency of 90 MHz is set on the premise that when the wavelength sweep repetition frequency is set to 40 kHz, approximately 90% of the wavelength sweep period (25 μsec) is extracted as 2048 points of digital data, but is not particularly limited to this.

[0034] The interference light data generated by the A / D converter 207 on a line-by-line basis is input to the signal processing unit 201 and temporarily stored in the memory 2012. The signal processing unit 201 then performs frequency resolution on the interference light data using FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) to generate depth direction data (line data), and by performing coordinate transformation on this data, constructs optical tomographic images at each position in the blood vessel and outputs them to the display device 113 at a predetermined frame rate.

[0035] The signal processing unit 201 is further connected to an optical path length adjustment drive unit 209 and a communication unit 208. The signal processing unit 201 controls the position of the one-axis stage 224 (optical path length control) via the optical path length adjustment drive unit 209.

[0036] The communication unit 208 incorporates several drive circuits and communicates with the MDU 102 under the control of the signal processing unit 201. Specifically, the communication unit 208 communicates with a radial scanning motor 241, an encoder unit 242, and a linear driving unit 243 provided in the rotation driving device 240 via the connector 105. More specifically, the communication unit 208 supplies a driving signal to the radial scanning motor 241 for rotating the third single mode fiber 274 by an optical rotary joint in the MDU 102, receives a signal from the encoder unit 242 for detecting the rotation position of the radial scanning motor 241, and supplies a driving signal to the linear driving unit 243 for pulling the third single mode fiber 274 at a predetermined speed.

[0037] The above processing in the signal processing unit 201 is realized by a computer executing a predetermined program.

[0038] When optical coherence scanning is performed using the diagnostic imaging apparatus 100 having the above configuration, the catheter 101 is positioned at a blood vessel (e.g., a coronary artery) to be diagnosed in a patient, and a transparent flushing liquid is injected into the blood vessel through a guiding catheter or the like toward the tip of the catheter 101 by a user's operation. This is to eliminate the influence of blood. When the user inputs a command to start scanning, the signal processing unit 201 drives the swept light source 203 and drives the radial scanning motor 241 and the linear driving unit 243 (hereinafter, the light irradiation and light reception process performed by driving the radial scanning motor 241 and the linear driving unit 243 is referred to as scanning). As a result, wavelength-swept light is supplied from the swept light source 203 to the imaging core 250 via the path described above. At this time, the imaging core 250, located at the tip of the catheter 101, rotates and moves along the rotation axis. Therefore, the imaging core 250 emits light to the blood vessel lumen surface and receives reflected light while rotating and moving along the blood vessel axis.

[0039] Next, the configuration and processing involved in image formation using ultrasound will be described. Ultrasonic scanning is performed simultaneously with the optical interference scanning described above. That is, while scanning is performed and the imaging core 250 is rotated and moved within the catheter sheath of the catheter 101, ultrasound waves are emitted from the ultrasound transmitter / receiver housed in the imaging core 250 and the reflected waves are detected. For this purpose, the imaging diagnostic device 100 must generate drive signals to drive the ultrasound transmitter / receiver housed in the imaging core 250 and receive detection signals of ultrasound output from the ultrasound transmitter / receiver. The ultrasound transmitter / receiver control unit 232 transmits the drive signals and receives the detected signals. The ultrasound transmitter / receiver control unit 232 and the imaging core 250 are connected via signal line cables 281, 282, and 283. As the imaging core 250 rotates, the signal line cables 282 and 283 are electrically connected via a slip ring 231 provided in the MDU 102. In FIG. 2, the signal line cables 281 to 283 are shown as being connected by a single line, but in reality, they may contain multiple signal lines.

[0040] The ultrasonic transmission / reception control unit 232 operates under the control of the signal processing unit 201, drives the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit housed in the imaging core 250, and generates ultrasonic pulse waves. The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit converts waves reflected from vascular tissue into electrical signals and supplies them to the ultrasonic transmission / reception control unit 232. The ultrasonic transmission / reception control unit 232 outputs the received ultrasonic signals to the amplifier 233. The amplifier 233 amplifies the ultrasonic signals. The amplified ultrasonic signals are supplied to the signal processing unit 201 as ultrasonic data via a detector 234 and an A / D converter 235, and are temporarily stored in the memory 2012. The A / D converter 235 samples the ultrasonic signals output from the detector 234 at, for example, 200 points at 30.6 MHz to generate one line of digital data (ultrasound data). Note that, although 30.6 MHz is used here, this is calculated assuming that 200 points are sampled at a depth of 5 mm when the speed of sound is 1530 m / sec. Therefore, the sampling frequency is not particularly limited to this.

[0041] The signal processing unit 201 converts the ultrasound data stored in the memory 202 into grayscale data to generate ultrasound images at each position within the blood vessel.

[0042] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the external configuration of the MDU 102 of FIG. 1, and is a diagram showing an example of the external configuration in more detail than FIG. 1. The MDU 102 includes a scanner unit 121 and a pull-back unit 122. As shown in FIG. 3, the scanner unit 121 is supported (placed) on the pull-back unit 122. The scanner unit 121 is displaceable in a predetermined direction on the pull-back unit 122. Specifically, the scanner unit 121 is displaceable in one direction relative to the pull-back unit 122, and in this embodiment, is displaceable in direction A indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3.

[0043] The scanner unit 121 includes a catheter connection part 123 that is connectable (detachable) to the catheter 101. The catheter connection part 123 is provided on one end side of the scanner unit 121 that is displaceable in one direction (i.e., the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3).

[0044] The scanner unit 121 is connected to a cable 104 at the other end opposite to the one end, and a connector 105 is connected to the tip of the cable 104. By connecting the connector 105 to the image processing device 103, the scanner unit 121 becomes able to communicate information with the image processing device 103 via the cable 104.

[0045] The scanner unit 121 includes a radial scanning motor 241 therein. The radial scanning motor 241 is an example of a drive unit in the present disclosure. The radial scanning motor 241 is a motor that rotates and drives an imaging core 250 inserted into a catheter 101 connected to a catheter connection unit 123 of the scanner unit 121, based on the control of a control unit 127 (described later).

[0046] The pullback unit 122 includes an input unit that accepts input operations by a user. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the pullback unit 122 includes, as input units, a switching input unit 124, a scan input unit 125, and a pullback input unit 126. In this embodiment, the switching input unit 124, the scan input unit 125, and the pullback input unit 126 may all be configured as pressable operation buttons (operation keys). However, the form of the input unit is not limited to pressable operation buttons. The input unit may be configured, for example, by a touch screen, and may display an input area for accepting operation input from the user on a part of the display device to accept touch operation input from the user. Furthermore, the input units are not necessarily limited to the switching input unit 124, the scan input unit 125, and the pullback input unit 126. The MDU 102 may include input units of an appropriate type, number, and arrangement depending on the functions that the MDU 102 can execute.

[0047] The switching input unit 124 is a button for switching the scanner unit 121 between a hold state and a non-hold state. The hold state and the non-hold state will be described later. The scan input unit 125 is a button for causing the diagnostic imaging apparatus 100 to perform scanning. The pullback input unit 126 is a button for causing the MDU 102 to perform pullback. Pullback is the act of displacing the scanner unit 121 supported by the pullback unit 122 in one direction relative to the pullback unit 122 by driving the linear drive unit 243, which is configured including a motor and the like. In this embodiment, pullback refers to displacing the scanner unit 121 from one end side to the other end side.

[0048] Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the MDU 102. As shown in Fig. 4, the MDU 102 includes, as functional blocks, a control unit 127, a hold unit 128, a brake unit 129, a switching input unit 124, a scan input unit 125, a pullback input unit 126, and a rotation drive device 240. The switching input unit 124, the scan input unit 125, the pullback input unit 126, and the rotation drive device 240 have been described above, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted here. The rotation drive device 240 includes a radial scanning motor 241, an encoder unit 242, and a linear drive unit 243.

[0049] The control unit 127 controls and manages the entire MDU 102, including each functional unit of the MDU 102. The control unit 127 includes at least one processor. The control unit 127 is configured with a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes a program that defines a control procedure, or a dedicated processor specialized for processing each function. Such programs are stored in a storage unit (not shown) included in the MDU 102 or in a storage medium external to the MDU 102.

[0050] The control unit 127 performs various controls based on an input operation by the user to the input unit. In this embodiment, the control unit 127 performs a process of switching between a hold state and a non-hold state by the hold unit 128 based on an input operation by the user to the switching input unit 124. Details of the switching process performed by the control unit 127 will be described later.

[0051] The hold unit 128 switches between a hold state and a non-hold state under the control of the control unit 127 .

[0052] Here, the hold state is a state in which displacement of the scanner unit 121 relative to the pull-back unit 122 is restricted. The state in which displacement is restricted refers to a state in which the positional relationship of the scanner unit 121 relative to the pull-back unit 122 does not change even if the user tries to move the scanner unit 121 by hand or the like. In other words, in the hold state, the position of the scanner unit 121 is fixed relative to the pull-back unit 122. However, when an input operation is received via the scan input unit 125 and the pull-back input unit 126 as input units, the control unit 127 can drive the radial scanning motor 241 or the linear drive unit 243 to displace the scanner unit 121 with the pull-back unit 122 even in the hold state. Therefore, the hold state refers to a state in which the user cannot freely displace the scanner unit 121 relative to the pull-back unit 122.

[0053] On the other hand, the non-hold state is a state in which the displacement of the scanner unit 121 relative to the pull-back unit 122 is not restricted. Therefore, in the non-hold state, the user can displace the scanner unit 121 relative to the pull-back unit 122 with their hands or the like.

[0054] The hold unit 128 may have any configuration capable of restricting the displacement of the scanner unit 121 relative to the pull-back unit 122. For example, the hold unit 128 may be configured with a mechanism capable of locking the scanner unit 121 relative to the pull-back unit 122, for example, by mechanically clamping the scanner unit 121. Alternatively, the hold unit 128 may be configured with a mechanism capable of locking the scanner unit 121 relative to the pull-back unit 122, for example, by an electromagnetic lock using an electromagnet. As an example, the hold unit 128 may restrict the displacement of the scanner unit 121 by the excitation force of a motor included in the linear drive unit 243. In this case, the hold unit 128 passes a current through the motor included in the linear drive unit 243, thereby exciting the motor and preventing the motor shaft from rotating. This allows the displacement of the scanner unit 121 to be restricted.

[0055] When the scanner unit 121 is in the non-hold state, the brake unit 129 limits the displacement speed of the scanner unit 121 relative to the pull-back unit 122 to a predetermined speed or less. The brake unit 129 can be configured with a known mechanism such as a disc brake or an eddy current brake.

[0056] For example, the brake unit 129 may stop the displacement of the scanner unit 121 when the displacement speed of the scanner unit 121 relative to the pull-back unit 122 exceeds a predetermined speed, or may control the displacement speed of the scanner unit 121 relative to the pull-back unit 122 so that it does not exceed the predetermined speed. The predetermined speed is preferably less than 70 mm / sec, and more preferably less than 40 mm / sec. This is because when the predetermined speed is less than 70 mm / sec, the shaft 106 can easily follow the displacement of the scanner unit 121, and when the predetermined speed is less than 40 mm / sec, the shaft 106 can more reliably follow the displacement of the scanner unit 121.

[0057] The brake unit 129 may be configured to operate only when the scanner unit 121 is displaced from the other end where the cable 104 is provided toward the one end where the catheter connection part 123 is provided. As will be described later, displacing the scanner unit 121 from the other end to the one end can cause a break in the internal mechanism of the catheter 101. Therefore, by limiting the displacement speed at least for the displacement of the scanner unit 121 from the other end to the one end, the possibility of damage to the internal mechanism of the catheter 101 can be reduced.

[0058] In the diagnostic imaging device 100, a user can move the scanner unit 121 with respect to the pull-back unit 122 by hand or the like by putting the scanner unit 121 into an unheld state. For example, by moving the scanner unit 121 while the catheter 101 is connected to the MDU 102, the position of the imaging core 250 can be adjusted or positioned. However, if the scanner unit 121 is moved to move the imaging core 250 in the longitudinal direction of the catheter 101 without rotating the internal mechanism of the catheter 101, the internal mechanism of the catheter 101 may be damaged. For example, if the scanner unit 121 is moved while the shaft 106 is bent inside the catheter 101, twisting may occur in the optical fiber (i.e., the third single-mode fiber 274) or the like, which is an internal mechanism of the catheter 101, and this may result in a breakage. In particular, when the scanner unit 121 is displaced from the other end where the cable 104 is provided toward the one end where the catheter connection portion 123 is provided, the degree of twisting increases, increasing the possibility of a breakage.

[0059] In contrast, if the imaging core 250 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the catheter 101 while the internal mechanism of the catheter 101 is rotationally driven, the possibility of damage to the internal mechanism, such as the optical fiber, can be reduced. Therefore, in this embodiment, the control unit 127 puts the scanner unit 121 into the non-hold state in a manner that makes it less likely that the internal mechanism of the catheter 101 will be damaged. Specifically, when the control unit 127 detects an input operation to switch from the hold state to the non-hold state, if the imaging core 250 is not rotationally driven, the control unit 127 rotationally drives the imaging core 250, and puts the scanner unit 121 into the non-hold state while the imaging core 250 is rotationally driven.

[0060] Here, details of the process of switching between the hold state and the non-hold state executed by the control unit 127 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the switching process executed by the control unit 127. At the start of Fig. 5, it is assumed that the scanner unit 121 is in the hold state.

[0061] First, the user presses the switching input unit 124 to change the scanner unit 121 from the hold state to the non-hold state. Then, the control unit 127 detects that the release of the hold state has been input as a result of the pressing of the switching input unit 124 (step S11).

[0062] Then, the control unit 127 determines whether the catheter 101 is connected to the scanner unit 121 (step S12). The control unit 127 can detect whether the catheter 101 is connected to the scanner unit 121 by any known method. The control unit 127 can detect whether the catheter 101 is connected to the scanner unit 121 by, for example, an electrical or mechanical method. Specifically, for example, a protrusion may be provided on the adapter 101a of the catheter 101, and when the catheter 101 is connected to the scanner unit 121, the protrusion may be configured to press a microswitch provided on the catheter connection unit 123. In this case, pressing the microswitch makes it possible to detect that the catheter 101 is connected to the scanner unit 121. However, the method for detecting whether the catheter 101 is connected to the scanner unit 121 is not limited to this, and any other method may be used.

[0063] When the control unit 127 determines that the catheter 101 is not connected to the scanner unit 121 (No in step S12), it releases the hold state of the scanner unit 121 (step S14). That is, the control unit 127 changes the scanner unit 121 from the hold state to the non-hold state. This is because, when the catheter 101 is not connected to the scanner unit 121, even if the user moves the scanner unit 121 in a predetermined direction with their hand, the internal mechanism of the catheter 101 will not be damaged.

[0064] In this case, it is assumed that the user presses the switching input unit 124 again to change the scanner unit 121 from the non-hold state to the hold state. The control unit 127 detects that the setting for the hold state has been input as a result of the pressing of the switching input unit 124 (step S15).

[0065] In response to the input of the hold state setting in step S15, control unit 127 sets the hold state (step S16). That is, control unit 127 changes scanner unit 121 from the non-hold state to the hold state.

[0066] On the other hand, when it is determined in step S12 that the catheter 101 is connected to the scanner unit 121 (Yes in step S12), the control unit 127 detects whether or not the MDU 102 is performing scanning (step S13). The control unit 127 can determine whether or not scanning is being performed based on whether or not scanning processing is being performed.

[0067] When the control unit 127 determines that the MDU 102 is performing scanning (Yes in step S13), it releases the hold state of the scanner unit 121 (step S14). That is, the control unit 127 changes the scanner unit 121 from the hold state to the non-hold state. When the MDU 102 is performing scanning, the radial scanning motor 241 is driven and the imaging core 250 is rotationally driven, so even if the hold state is released, the possibility of the internal mechanism of the catheter 101 being damaged is reduced.

[0068] In this case, it is assumed that the user presses the switching input unit 124 again to change the scanner unit 121 from the non-hold state to the hold state. The control unit 127 detects that the setting for the hold state has been input as a result of the pressing of the switching input unit 124 (step S15).

[0069] In response to the input of the hold state setting in step S15, the control unit 127 sets the hold state (step S16). That is, the control unit 127 changes the scanner unit 121 from the non-hold state to the hold state. At this time, the control unit 127 may cause the MDU 102 to continue scanning. That is, the radial scanning motor 241 may be maintained in a driven state. This allows scanning to continue.

[0070] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S13 that the MDU 102 is not performing scanning (No in step S13), the control unit 127 determines whether the shaft 106 is being rotationally driven (step S17). The control unit 127 can determine whether the shaft 106 is being rotationally driven based on whether the radial scanning motor 241 is being driven.

[0071] When the control unit 127 determines that the shaft 106 is being rotationally driven (Yes in step S17), the process proceeds to step S19.

[0072] On the other hand, when the control unit 127 determines that the shaft 106 is not being rotationally driven (No in step S17), it starts the rotational motion of the shaft 106 (step S18). Specifically, the control unit 127 starts the rotational motion of the shaft 106 by driving the radial scanning motor 241. This causes the imaging core 250 to be rotationally driven.

[0073] Then, the control unit 127 releases the hold state of the scanner unit 121 (step S19). That is, the control unit 127 changes the scanner unit 121 from the hold state to the non-hold state. This allows the user to move the scanner unit 121 in a predetermined direction by hand, etc. At this time, the shaft 106 is rotationally driven, which causes the imaging core 250 to be rotationally driven, and therefore the hold state is released in a state where the possibility of damage to the internal mechanism of the catheter 101 is reduced. This makes it easier to maintain the safety of the imaging diagnostic apparatus 100.

[0074] Assume that the user presses switch input unit 124 again to change scanner unit 121 from the non-hold state to the hold state. Control unit 127 detects that the hold state setting has been input as a result of switching input unit 124 being pressed (step S20).

[0075] In response to the input of the hold state setting in step S20, control unit 127 sets the hold state (step S21). That is, control unit 127 changes scanner unit 121 from the non-hold state to the hold state.

[0076] Furthermore, the control unit 127 stops the rotational driving of the shaft 106 (step S22). Specifically, the control unit 127 stops the rotational movement of the shaft 106 by stopping the radial scanning motor 241. In this way, when scanning is not being performed, the control unit 127 can stop the rotational movement of the shaft 106 when switching from the non-hold state to the hold state.

[0077] Note that, when control unit 127 is not executing scanning (No in step S13) and shaft 106 is rotationally driven (Yes in step S17), it is not necessary to stop the rotational movement of shaft 106 when releasing the hold state and then setting the hold state again. That is, in this case, it is not necessary to execute step S22. This allows the state to be restored to the same state as before the hold state was released when releasing the hold state and then setting the hold state again.

[0078] The control unit 127 does not necessarily have to execute the switching process in the procedure shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing another example of the switching process executed by the control unit 127.

[0079] In the flow shown in FIG. 6, steps S11 to S14 are the same as steps S11 to S14 described in FIG. 5, respectively, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0080] After releasing the hold state in step S14, control unit 127 determines whether scanner unit 121 has not been displaced relative to pull-back unit 122 for a predetermined time (step S23). The predetermined time is a time during which it is estimated that the user has no intention of displacing scanner unit 121 by hand or the like, and is determined appropriately. For example, the predetermined time can be set to a time ranging from several tens of seconds to several minutes.

[0081] When the control unit 127 determines that the state in which the scanner unit 121 is not displaced relative to the pull-back unit 122 has not continued for a predetermined time (No in step S23), the control unit 127 repeats step S23.

[0082] When the control unit 127 determines that the state in which the scanner unit 121 is not displaced relative to the pull-back unit 122 has continued for a predetermined time (Yes in step S23), the control unit 127 sets the hold state (step S16).

[0083] Similarly, in the flow shown in FIG. 6, steps S17 to S19 are the same as steps S17 to S19 described with reference to FIG. 5, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0084] After releasing the hold state in step S19, control unit 127 determines whether scanner unit 121 has not been displaced relative to pull-back unit 122 for a predetermined time (step S24). The predetermined time is a time during which it is estimated that the user has no intention of displacing scanner unit 121 by hand or the like, and is determined appropriately. The predetermined time in step S24 may be the same as or different from the predetermined time in step S23.

[0085] When the control unit 127 determines that the state in which the scanner unit 121 is not displaced relative to the pull-back unit 122 has not continued for a predetermined time (No in step S24), the control unit 127 repeats step S24.

[0086] If the control unit 127 determines that the scanner unit 121 has not been displaced relative to the pull-back unit 122 for a predetermined time (Yes in step S24), it sets the hold state (step S21) and stops the rotational drive of the shaft 106 (step S22).

[0087] As in steps S23 and S24, by setting the hold state when the scanner unit 121 has not been displaced for a predetermined time, it is possible to automatically transition from the non-hold state to the hold state when it is estimated that the user has no intention of displacing the scanner unit 121 by hand, etc. This reduces the possibility that the hold state will be maintained for a long period of time and the scanner unit 121 will be unintentionally displaced.

[0088] Note that control unit 127 may switch from the non-hold state to the hold state by combining the flows shown in Figures 5 and 6. That is, after releasing the hold state and switching to the non-hold state, control unit 127 may switch to the hold state when it detects a user's input to set the hold state, or when a state in which scanner unit 121 has not been displaced continues for a predetermined time.

[0089] As described above, according to the imaging diagnostic apparatus 100 of this embodiment, when the control unit 127 detects an input operation to switch from the hold state to the non-hold state, if the imaging core 250 is not rotationally driven, the control unit 127 rotationally drives the imaging core 250 and then sets the scanner unit 121 to the non-hold state. Therefore, the hold state can be released in a state where the possibility of damage to the internal mechanism of the catheter 101 is reduced.

[0090] In the above embodiment, when the imaging core 250 is not being rotationally driven, the imaging core 250 is rotationally driven and then the scanner unit 121 is placed in the non-hold state. However, the switching process by the control unit 127 is not limited to this. For example, when the control unit 127 detects an input to release the hold state in step 11 of FIGS. 5 and 6 , even if it determines that scanning is being performed (Yes in step S13) or that the shaft 106 is being rotationally driven (Yes in step S17), if the rotation speed of the shaft 106 is below a predetermined rotation speed, the control unit 127 may increase the rotation speed of the shaft 106 to the predetermined rotation speed and then release the hold state. The predetermined rotation speed may be a rotation speed that can reduce damage to the internal mechanism of the catheter 101 to a predetermined level. This more reliably reduces the possibility of damage when the hold state is released.

[0091] The present disclosure is not limited to the configurations specified in the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 100 Diagnostic imaging equipment 101 Catheter 101a, 101b adapters 102 Motor Drive Unit (MDU) 103 Image processing device 104 Cable 105 Connector 106 Shaft 111 Main unit control section 111-1 DVD recorder 112 Operation Panel 113 Display device 114 Mouse 121 Scanner unit 122 Pullback Unit 123 Catheter connection part 124 Switching input section 125 Scan input section 126 Pullback input section 127 Control Unit 128 Hold section 129 Brake section 201 Signal Processing Unit 202, 2012 memory 203 Wavelength swept light source 204 Photodiode 205 Amplifier 206 Demodulator 207 Converter 208 Communications Department 209 Optical path length adjustment drive unit 210 Storage device 220 Optical path length adjustment mechanism 221 Grating 222 Lens 223 Mirror 224 1-axis stage 225 Collimating Lens 226 Arrow 230 Optical Rotary Joint 231 Slip ring 232 Sound wave transmission / reception control section 233 Amplifier 234 Detector 235 Converter 240 Rotational Drive Unit 241 Radial scanning motor (drive unit) 242 Encoder section 243 Linear drive unit 250 Imaging Core 271 First Single-Mode Fiber 272 Optical Fiber Coupler 273 Second Single-Mode Fiber 274 Third Single-Mode Fiber 275 The fourth single-mode fiber 281, 282 signal line cable 2010 Image Acquisition Unit 2011 Control Unit

Claims

1. a scanner unit to which a catheter having an imaging core inserted therein for performing tomography can be connected; a pull-back unit that supports the scanner unit so that the scanner unit can be displaced in a predetermined direction; A drive unit comprising: a brake unit that limits the displacement speed of the scanner unit relative to the pull-back unit to a predetermined speed or less when the scanner unit is in a non-hold state in which displacement of the scanner unit relative to the pull-back unit is not restricted; The brake unit stops the displacement of the scanner unit when the displacement speed of the scanner unit relative to the pull-back unit exceeds the predetermined speed.

2. A scanner unit to which a catheter having an imaging core inserted therein for performing tomography can be connected; a pull-back unit that supports the scanner unit so that the scanner unit can be displaced in a predetermined direction; A drive unit comprising: a brake unit that limits the displacement speed of the scanner unit relative to the pull-back unit to a predetermined speed or less when the scanner unit is in a non-hold state in which displacement of the scanner unit relative to the pull-back unit is not restricted; The brake unit controls the displacement speed of the scanner unit relative to the pull-back unit so that it does not exceed the predetermined speed.

3. 3. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined speed is less than 70 mm / sec.

4. a catheter connection portion to which the catheter can be connected is provided at one end side of the scanner unit, The drive unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the brake portion is configured to operate only when the scanner unit is displaced relative to the pull-back unit from the other end side opposite the one end side toward the one end side.

5. the catheter; A drive unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4; an image processing device that generates a tomographic image based on a signal acquired by the tomography performed by the imaging core.

6. The imaging diagnostic device according to claim 5 , wherein the imaging core is capable of performing optical tomography and ultrasonic tomography.

7. A method for operating a drive unit including a scanner unit to which a catheter having an imaging core inserted therein for performing tomography can be connected, and a pull-back unit that supports the scanner unit so that the scanner unit can be displaced in a predetermined direction, the method comprising: the brake unit limits the displacement speed of the scanner unit relative to the pull-back unit to a predetermined speed or less when the scanner unit is in a non-hold state in which displacement of the scanner unit relative to the pull-back unit is not restricted; The brake unit stops the displacement of the scanner unit when the displacement speed of the scanner unit relative to the pull-back unit exceeds the predetermined speed.

8. A method for operating a drive unit comprising: a scanner unit to which a catheter having an imaging core inserted therein for performing tomography can be connected; and a pull-back unit that supports the scanner unit so that the scanner unit can be displaced in a predetermined direction, the brake unit limits the displacement speed of the scanner unit relative to the pull-back unit to a predetermined speed or less when the scanner unit is in a non-hold state in which displacement of the scanner unit relative to the pull-back unit is not restricted; The brake unit controls the displacement speed of the scanner unit relative to the pull-back unit so as not to exceed the predetermined speed.

Images