JP3101059B2 - Ultrasound diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly, to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of correcting high luminance near a focus point on an image to obtain an image with uniform luminance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a main part of an example of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 51, the keyboard 52 is for the user to set the transmission focus from among a plurality of focus points fn (n = 1,..., 5) in the depth direction.

An ultrasonic probe Pi used by a user
After setting (i = A, B,...) In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, for example, the focus point f1 is set to the transmission focus.
Is set, the ultrasonic probe Pi transmits an ultrasonic pulse signal while focusing on the focus point f1. In addition, a TGC control signal is output from the keyboard 52 to a TGC (Time Gain Control) curve generator 53, and a probe designation signal is output from the ultrasonic probe Pi to the probe correction data selector 55.

[0004] The TGC curve generator 53 receives the TGC control signal and generates a TGC curve for compensating the gain of the ultrasonic echo signal attenuated according to the elapsed time after the transmission of the ultrasonic pulse signal. Correction data storage unit 54
Stores probe correction data for each ultrasonic probe Pi (i = A, B,...). The probe correction data can correct high luminance near the focus point on the image when the transmission focus is, for example, the focus point f3.

[0005] Upon receiving the probe designating signal, the probe compensating data selecting section 55 selects the probe compensating data of the designated ultrasonic probe Pi from the compensating data storage section 54 and sends it to the TGC supplementary data creating section 57. Let it. T
The GC supplementary data creation unit 57 creates TGC supplementary data for supplementing the TGC curve based on the probe correction data.

[0006] The data adding section 58 sends to the signal gain control section 59 the supplementary TGC curve data obtained by adding the TGC supplementary data to the TGC curve data. The signal gain control unit 59 calculates the signal gain based on the supplementary TGC curve data.
The gain of the received ultrasonic echo signal is controlled.

[0007]

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the luminance of an image when focus points f1, f3, and f5 are set for transmission focus, respectively.
The brightness Bfn of the image is determined by the gain Ef of the ultrasonic echo signal.
n and the supplementary TGC curve data Rfn.

When the transmission focus is the focus point f3
However, when the transmission focus is other than the focus point f3, there is a problem that an image having uneven brightness is obtained. Further, when the combination focus is used, a boundary line due to the luminance unevenness may be generated at the boundary of the focus zone. It is an object of the invention is a this to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that images can be obtained with uniform brightness regardless of the focus point of the transmission focus.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an ultrasonic pulse signal is transmitted from a plurality of focus points in a depth direction, the transmission focus being adjusted to a set focus point. In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, a correction data storage unit that stores correction data for correcting high luminance near a focus point on an image for each focus point, and the correction data storage unit that corresponds to the correction data according to the focus point setting There is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising a correction data selecting means for selecting correction data.

According to a second aspect, the present invention corrects high brightness near an image focus point in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which transmits an ultrasonic pulse signal by adjusting transmission focus to a focus point set by a user. Correction data storage means for storing correction data for each of a plurality of predetermined focus points, and when any one of the predetermined focus points is selected and set, the correction data is stored in accordance with the setting. Correction data selecting means for selecting the correction data to be corrected, and when a focus point other than the predetermined focus point is set, the correction data is stored in the correction data storage means according to the setting. Based on the correction data of the focus point close to the set focus point To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized in construction by comprising a correction data calculation means for calculating correction data of the set focus point.

[0011]

According to the first aspect, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the correction data storage means stores correction data for correcting high luminance near a focus point on an image for each focus point. . That is, the correction data storage means stores all the correction data of the plurality of focus points.

The correction data selecting means selects the corresponding correction data from the correction data according to the setting of the focus point. Therefore, no matter which of the plurality of focus points is set as the transmission focus, an image with uniform luminance can be obtained regardless of the set focus point.

According to a second aspect, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the correction data storage means stores correction data for correcting high luminance near a focus point on an image for each of a plurality of predetermined focus points. I remember. When any one of the predetermined focus points is selected and set, the correction data selecting means selects the corresponding correction data from the correction data according to the setting.

When a focus point other than the predetermined focus point is set, the correction data calculating means sets the set data out of the correction data stored in the correction data storage means in accordance with the setting. The correction data of the set focus point is calculated based on the correction data of the focus point close to the focus point. In other words, since there is the corresponding correction data regardless of the set focus point,
An image with uniform brightness can be obtained.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited by this. FIG. 1 is a main block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1, the keyboard 2 allows the user to operate a plurality of focus points fn (n = 1,..., 5) in the depth direction.
This is for setting the transmission focus from the following.

The ultrasonic probe Pi used by the user
After setting (i = A, B,...) In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, for example, the focus point f1 is set to the transmission focus.
Is set, the ultrasonic probe Pi transmits an ultrasonic pulse signal while focusing on the focus point f1. Also, a TGC control signal from the keyboard 2
The focus setting signals are TGC curve generators 3 and 3, respectively.
It is output to the focus correction data selection unit 6, and a probe designation signal is output from the ultrasonic probe Pi to the probe correction data selection unit 5. The TGC curve generation unit 3
In response to the GC control signal, a TGC curve for compensating for the gain of the ultrasonic echo signal, which is attenuated according to the elapsed time after the transmission of the ultrasonic pulse signal, is generated.

As shown in FIG. 2, the correction data storage unit 4 stores probe correction data Di (i = A, B,...) For each ultrasonic probe Pi (i = A, B,...). ing. The probe correction data Di includes focus correction data Pi-fn (n = 1,...) For each focus point fn (n = 1,..., 5) for correcting high luminance near the focus point on the image. 5).

The probe correction data selecting section 5 receives the probe designation signal and receives probe correction data D corresponding to the designated ultrasonic probe Pi in the correction data storage section 4.
Select i. The focus correction data selector 6 receives the focus setting signal, selects the focus correction data Pi-f1 corresponding to the set focus point f1 from the selected probe correction data Di, and generates a TGC supplementary data generator 7. To send to.

The TGC supplementary data creating section 7 creates TGC supplementary data for supplementing the TGC curve based on the focus correction data Pi-f1. FIG.
An example of GC supplementary data will be described. Focus point fn
The position and size of the peak of the TGC supplementary data α [Pi-fn] differ depending on the depth of the data. Data adder 8
Adds the TGC supplementary data to the TGC curve data. The signal gain controller 9 controls the gain of the received ultrasonic echo signal based on the data of the TGC curve to which the data for supplementing the TGC has been added.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1, since the gain of the ultrasonic echo signal is controlled based on the focus correction data Pi-fn for each focus point fn, the transmission focus is set to any one of the focus points fn. Even if it is set, a good image in which the high luminance near the focus point is corrected can be obtained. Also, it is possible to obtain a good image in which no boundary line due to a luminance difference occurs at the boundary of the focus zone even in the case of combination focus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a main part of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. This ultrasonic diagnostic device 2
1 includes a keyboard 22 and a focus correction data selection / readout unit 26 in place of the keyboard 2 and focus correction data selection unit 6 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1, and further includes an interpolation data calculation unit 27. Has become. The keyboard 22 is different from the keyboard 2 in that an arbitrary focus point can be set from among consecutive focus points in the depth direction for transmission focus.

The ultrasonic probe Pi used by the user
After setting (i = A, B,...) In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, for example, the focus point f1 is set to the transmission focus.
It is assumed that a focus point f1.5 between f and f2 is set. Then, upon receiving the focus setting signal, the focus correction data selecting / reading unit 26 receives two focus points close to the set focus point f1.5 from the probe correction data Di selected by the probe correction data selecting unit 5. Focus correction data Pi-f1 and Pi-f2 corresponding to f1 and f2 (see FIG. 2)
Is read out and sent to the interpolation data calculation unit 27.

The interpolation data calculation unit 27 calculates the focus correction data corresponding to the focus point f1.5 from the focus correction data Pi-f1 and Pi-f2 by interpolation, and sends it to the TGC supplementary data creation unit 7. .
Based on the focus interpolation data, the TGC supplementary data creation unit 7 generates the TGC supplementary data α as shown in FIG.
[Pi-f1.5] is generated and sent to the data adding unit 8. The following operation is the same as that of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 and will not be described. The operation of the focus correction data selecting / reading unit 26 when the focus point fn (n = 1,..., 5) is set for the transmission focus is the same as that of the focus correction data selecting unit 6.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 21, even if a focus point that does not store focus correction data is set as a transmission focus, a good image in which high brightness near the focus point is corrected can be obtained. . Also, it is possible to obtain a good image in which no boundary line due to a luminance difference occurs at the boundary of the focus zone even in the case of combination focus. Conversely, since focus interpolation data corresponding to the set focus point can be calculated, less focus correction data needs to be stored.

[0025]

According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention according to the first aspect, the high brightness near the focus point is corrected regardless of which of the plurality of focus points in the depth direction is set as the transmission focus. It is possible to obtain an image with uniform brightness.

According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, even when a transmission focus is set at a focus point that does not store correction data, a uniform brightness corrected near the focus point is corrected. An image of brightness can be obtained. Conversely, correction data corresponding to the set focus point can be calculated, so that less correction data needs to be stored.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a correction data storage unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram of TGC supplementary data by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a main block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram of TGC supplementary data by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a main part of an example of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating luminance of an image according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 Keyboard 3 TGC curve generation part 4 Correction data storage part 5 Probe correction data selection part 6 Focus correction data selection part 7 Supplementary data creation part 9 Signal gain control part 26 Focus correction data selection / Readout unit 27 Interpolation data calculation unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 8/00-8/15

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for compensating for a gain of an ultrasonic echo signal attenuated according to an elapsed time after transmitting an ultrasonic pulse signal based on data output from a TGC curve generating means, Based on the type of ultrasonic probe used and a plurality of existing focus points, the TGC curve is used to correct high luminance in an ultrasonic image generated near each of the focus points when the ultrasonic probe is used. Supplementary data creating means for creating data for supplementing the TGC curve of the generating means, data adding means for adding data output from the TGC curve generating means and data output from the supplementary data creating means, The gain of the ultrasonic echo signal is controlled based on the data added by the data adding means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: 2. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for compensating for a gain of an ultrasonic echo signal attenuated according to an elapsed time after transmitting an ultrasonic pulse signal based on data output from a TGC curve generating means, Correction for storing data for correcting high luminance in an ultrasonic image generated near each of the focus points when the ultrasonic probe is used, based on the type of ultrasonic probe used and a plurality of existing focus points. Data for correcting high luminance in an ultrasonic image generated near a focus point that is not stored as data in the correction data storage unit, based on data output from the correction data storage unit. And calculating the TGC of the TGC curve generating means based on the calculated data.
Supplemental data creating means for creating data for supplementing a curve, data adding means for adding data output from the TGC curve generating means and data output from the supplementary data creating means, and the data adding means Control means for controlling the gain of the ultrasonic echo signal based on the data added in (1).