Subject information acquiring apparatus

Abstract

A subject information acquiring apparatus of the present invention includes a subject-holding member which holds a subject and a probe unit having a transducer which receives acoustic waves from the subject through the subject-holding member, a housing which accommodates the transducer, and a matching liquid-holding member configured to hold a matching liquid between the transducer and the subject-holding member, the probe unit being allowed to move relative to the subject-holding member. The probe unit has a guide which introduces the matching liquid to the subject-holding member, the matching liquid having been spilled from a space defined by the matching liquid-holding member, the transducer, and the subject-holding member onto the upper surface of the hosing and then flowed from the upper surface of the housing.

1 . A subject information acquiring apparatus comprising:
 a subject holding member which holds a subject; and   a probe unit having a housing having an opposing surface facing to the subject holding member and an upper surface connected to an upper edge of the opposing surface, a transducer provided on the opposing surface and a matching liquid storing member secured to the opposing surface and contacting the subject holding member so as to form a storing space storing a matching liquid between the opposing surface and the subject holding member,   wherein the opposing surface has a supply port being configured to supply the matching liquid to the storing space and the matching liquid storing member has an opening between the supply port and the upper surface, and   wherein the probe unit has a guide which directs the matching liquid overflowed from the storing space via the opening to the subject holding member.   
     
     
         2 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide is provided to the housing and introduces the matching liquid flowing from the upper surface to the subject holding member. 
     
     
         3 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cable extending from the transducer toward a direction in opposition to a direction toward the subject holding member,   wherein the guide restricts a flow of the matching liquid to the cable in order to prevent the matching liquid from being spilled on the cable.   
     
     
         4 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide includes a groove formed in the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the guide is deformed depending on the shape of the subject holding member being in a state in which a subject is held. 
     
     
         6 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the opposing surface has a liquid level sensor detecting a level of the matching liquid at the opposing surface. 
     
     
         7 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the liquid level sensor is located higher than the transducer so as to determine whether the storing space is filled with the matching liquid or not. 
     
     
         8 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the liquid level sensor is located lower than the opening. 
     
     
         9 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the liquid level sensor is located higher than the transducer so as to determine whether the matching liquid is stored enough to propagate acoustic waves from the subject to the transducer or not. 
     
     
         10 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the transducer receives acoustic waves from the subject through the subject holding member and the matching liquid stored in the storing space. 
     
     
         11 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the probe unit is moved relative to the subject holding member. 
     
     
         12 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening is provided at an upper side of the opposing surface so as to release an air bubble left in the matching liquid stored in the storing space. 
     
     
         13 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper edge is located at a highest end of the opposing surface in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         14 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a bed on which a subject testee can be in a prone position,
 wherein the bed has a through hole located above the subject holding member such that the subject of the subject testee is able to be inserted through the through hole downwardly. 
 
     
     
         15 . A subject information acquiring apparatus comprising:
 a subject holding member which holds a subject; and   a probe unit having a base member having an opposing surface facing to the subject holding member, a transducer provided on the opposing surface, a matching liquid storing member secured to the opposing surface and contacting the subject holding member so as to form a storing space storing a matching liquid between the opposing surface and the subject holding member and a supply port supplying the matching liquid into the storing space,   wherein the matching liquid storing member has an opening above the supply port, and   wherein the probe unit has a guide which directs the matching liquid overflowed from the storing space via the opening to the subject holding member.   
     
     
         16 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a cable extending from the transducer toward a direction in opposition to a direction toward the subject holding member,   wherein the guide restricts a flow of the matching liquid to the cable in order to prevent the matching liquid from being spilled on the cable.   
     
     
         17 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the probe unit has a liquid level sensor detecting a level of the matching liquid stored in the storing space. 
     
     
         18 . The subject information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the liquid level sensor is located higher than the transducer so as to determine whether the storing space is filled with the matching liquid or not. 
     
     
         19 . A subject information acquiring apparatus comprising:
 a bed having a through hole;   a holding member holding a subject below the through hole;   a probe unit facing and being scanned with respect to the holding member comprising:
 a base member having an opposing surface facing to and spaced apart from the holding member; 
 a matching liquid holder secured to the opposing surface so as to form a storing space to be stored an acoustic matching liquid within; 
 a transducer secured to the opposing surface to receive an acoustic wave from the subject via the acoustic matching liquid stored within the storing space; and 
   a supply port provided to the opposing surface, and   
       a matching liquid retrieving unit comprising:
 a tank reserving the matching liquid from the probe unit; and 
 a pump connected to the tank and the supply port so as to supply the matching liquid from the tank into the storing space, 
 wherein the matching liquid holder has an opening located closer to the bed than the transducer, and 
 wherein the probe unit has a guide which directs the matching liquid overflowed from the storing space via the opening toward the tank.