JPS6246181B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

This invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, in particular, for displaying an in-vivo tomographic image by electronic scanning ultrasound on a cathode ray tube, and when taking a medical ultrasonic tomogram photograph for diagnosis from the image, the observation image on the cathode ray tube is used. An electronic technology that allows multiple ultrasonic tomographic images to be recorded on a single photographic film without sacrificing the quality of images directly observed on a cathode ray tube. The present invention relates to a scanning ultrasonic diagnostic device. Generally, when taking images projected on the cathode ray tube of an electronic scanning ultrasonic tomography device, a Polaroid camera (trademark) is used because it is easy to load film in a bright room and it can be developed immediately after taking the image. It will be done. However, pictures taken with this Polaroid camera (trademark) are usually more expensive than pictures taken with a normal single-shot camera, and there is a problem in that the number of pictures taken is limited due to expense. In order to solve this problem, the display surface of the cathode ray tube is divided into an appropriate number of parts, such as four parts, and the image size of the observed image is reduced in advance to fit each of these display surface parts, so that multiple images can be created. A method is used in which a plurality of images are displayed on a single photographic film at the same time. However, in such conventional technology, when a CRT (cathode ray tube) screen S is divided into four parts and four images are photographed on one film, for example, as shown in _FIG . Display a video in the area indicated by and observe it, then set the image in S ₁ as a still image and at the same time display and observe another video in the area indicated in S ₂ , and do the same for the areas indicated in S ₃ and S ₄ . By repeating the observation and still image projection,
Finally, four different still images are projected in each part of S ₁ to S ₄ and taken on one photo film, so when observing a moving image in each part of S ₁ to S ₄ , However, since the observed image itself is displayed in a reduced size, it is very difficult to see and has the disadvantage of hindering observation. This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to reduce the image size only at the moment when the picture is taken, without reducing the size of the image when directly observing it on the cathode ray tube. Ultrasound allows multiple images to be captured on a single film without sacrificing the quality of the observed images, making it possible to obtain more diagnostic information with a limited amount of film. The objective is to provide diagnostic equipment. An example of the present invention will be described in detail below based on drawings illustrating embodiments. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, in which 1 is an ultrasonic probe in which n strip-shaped transducers #1 to #n are arranged in an array; 2 is a switching circuit that connects the n oscillators #1 to #n.
k (for example, k=5) vibrators are selected in order from among them, and connected to the next-stage wave transmission control circuit 3 and receiver 4 for operation. The wave transmission control circuit 3 creates a phase-controlled pulse group in order to focus the ultrasonic waves to be emitted by exciting the k transducers. The receiver 4 performs phase control on the echo signals received by each vibrator, synthesizes them, amplifies and detects them, and outputs them as a video signal.
Reference numeral 5 serves as a main control circuit for the entire circuit and generates a synchronizing signal, vertical and horizontal synchronizing signals for the cathode ray tube 9, and a blanking signal. The terminal Ic is an input terminal for the signal g of the synchronization contact of a camera (not shown) for photographing the image projected on the cathode ray tube 9, and the above-mentioned signals are input in synchronization with this signal g for each image to be photographed. Camera synchronized photography is performed by generating a photography end signal h from terminal Dc every time photography of one image is completed. A vertical deflection circuit 6 and a horizontal deflection circuit 7 are circuits that generate a vertical deflection signal Y and a horizontal deflection signal X for the cathode ray tube 9, respectively, in response to a vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal from the control circuit 5, and 8 is a video signal amplifier. , adjusts the degree of amplification of the video signal of the receiver 4, synthesizes it with the blanking signal generated from the main control circuit 5, and outputs the brightness modulation signal Z of the cathode ray tube 9. A sonic diagnostic tomography device is constructed. Next, 10 is a subtracter that presets the count number from preset input terminals A, B, and C. It is a binary representation of the number of images for 1 shot, 2 split shots (2 shots), and 4 split shots (4 shots). A code is specified and inputted, and the count number is outputted as a binary code signal from the output terminals Q _A , Q _B , Q _C and outputted from the terminal D _C of the control circuit 5 which is input from the countdown signal terminal. The countdown is performed sequentially using the shooting end signal h, and when the number reaches zero, that is, when the number of shooting end signals h reaches the number set at the beginning, a borrow signal is output from the borrow signal terminal B _r , and this borrow signal is cleared. Cleared by inputting to pin CL. The digital signal converter 11 inputs the sequentially subtracted binary code signals of the subtracter 10 from the terminals I ₁ to I ₃ and the binary code signals corresponding to the number of images to be preset from the terminals I ₄ to I ₆ , respectively. The signals are converted by the combination of signals, and the digital signals shown in the following table are output from the output terminals _O1 to _O6 .

[Table] In this example, the number of images that can be preset is three types: 1, 2, and 4, but there are other examples that can be preset to select any number of images. Of course it is possible. Output terminals O ₁ , O ₂ of digital signal converter 11
The output signals α ₁ and α ₂ from the terminal
The output signals β ₁ and β ₂ from O ₃ and O ₄ are used to determine the left and right sides of the screen, and the output signals γ ₁ and γ ₂ from terminals O ₅ and O ₆ are used as signals to determine the screen size and brightness to the vertical deflection circuit. 6. Horizontal deflection circuit 7 and video signal amplifier 8
given to. Signal α input to vertical deflection circuit 6
₁ , α ₂ and γ ₁ , γ ₂ are switched by switches S ₁ and S ₂ that drive the reference currents that determine the vertical movement of the vertical deflection current amplifier OP ₁ shown in FIG. 2 with signals α ₁ and α ₂ , The feedback resistances R ₁ and R ₂ that determine the degree of amplification are determined by the signal γ
It is switched by switches S ₃ and S ₄ which are driven by ₁ and γ ₂ .
Signals β ₁ , β ₂ and γ input to the horizontal deflection circuit 7
₁ and γ ₂ are the horizontal deflection current amplifiers shown in Figure 3.
The reference current that determines the horizontal movement of OP ₂ is the signal β ₁ , β
Switches S _{5 and} S ₆ driven by signals γ 1 and γ 2 are used to switch feedback resistors R ₃ and R ₄ , which determine the amplification degree, by switches S ₇ and S ₈ driven by signals γ ₁ and γ ₂ . In this way, the Y and X deflection system signals are converted into signals suitable for each of the single, double, and quadruple images shown in Figure 5 only at the moment a photo is taken. The signals are input to the cathode ray tube 9 as Y and X signals. In this case, compared to a normal tomographic image D ₀ , when a single tomographic image is used, the image D is slightly narrower, and when it is divided into two, it becomes D ₁ , D ₂ , and when it is divided into four, it becomes D ₁ , D ₂ , D ₃ ,D ₄
It will be gradually miniaturized as follows. The signals γ ₁ and γ ₂ input to the video signal amplifier 8 are switched by switches S ₉ and S ₁₀ that drive the output Zi of the luminance conversion circuit shown in FIG. 4 with the signals γ ₁ and γ ₂ to change the image size. It is changed to an output Z ₀ that matches the current value and inputted as the luminance signal Z of the cathode ray tube 9. Here, if we preset 4 shots, the cathode ray tube 9 in Fig. 7 will have P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ and
Images such as P ₄ are projected as a moving image and observed without reduction, but the moment the camera shutter is activated, a synchronizing signal g is input to the main control circuit 5 from terminal T in Figure 1, and at this moment Assuming that the image on the cathode ray tube 9 is P ₁ , the image P ₁ is reduced and at the same time moves to the position on the cathode ray tube 9 shown as D ₁ in FIG. When the image is taken, the CRT 9 returns to displaying the unreduced moving image as indicated by the arrow. Since this operation is performed in an extremely short time, the quality of the observed image on the cathode ray tube 9 is not impaired. Similarly, each time the camera shutter is activated, the operations shown by the arrows , , and are repeated, and finally four images P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ , P ₄ will be photographed. The time interval for taking each of these images is arbitrary; it is possible to start the shutter manually and thereby supply a synchronization signal, or it is possible to take multiple images in a very short time using an automatic shutter start mechanism. It is also possible to take pictures at a relatively slow speed, for example 4 pictures per second. Note that arrow C indicates switching between a moving image and a still image. With the above configuration, the apparatus of the present invention has a cathode ray tube 9.
Preset the image to be displayed on the screen of the camera for shooting.Create a partial image with different image positions, sizes, and brightness depending on single, 2-split, and 4-split shots at the instant you take the photo. This is then reduced and projected onto a single Polaroid (trademark) film.
By changing the type of image as appropriate depending on the diagnosis area, such as taking 1 photo, taking 2 photos, or taking 4 photos, it is possible to take more photos with a limited number of films without interfering with observation on the cathode ray tube. This has the effect that more diagnostic information can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention,
Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the entire structure.
Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the main part of the vertical deflection circuit, Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of the main part of the horizontal deflection circuit, Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of the main part of the video signal amplifier, Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of the cathode ray tube surface, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a conventional screen split photographing technique, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the photographing operation according to the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Ultrasonic probe, 2...Switching circuit, 3...Wave transmission control circuit, 4...Receiver, 5...Main control circuit, 6...Vertical deflection circuit, 7...Horizontal deflection circuit, 8...Video signal amplifier, 9 ... Braun tube, 10... Subtractor, 11... Digital signal converter, F... Film, P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ ,
_P4 ...Image.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An ultrasonic probe having a plurality of transducers, a transmission/reception control circuit that emits ultrasonic waves from the transducers and receives reflected echoes from within a living body;
A display circuit that modulates the brightness of the received signal from the receiver of the transmission/reception control circuit and converts it into a real-time video signal, a display that scans the video signal and displays an ultrasound image, and a display that displays an ultrasound image on the display. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is equipped with: a camera for taking pictures of images taken by the camera; Each time a shutter activation signal is input, the image being displayed on the display is instantaneously changed to a predetermined reduction ratio and brightness modulation rate to the photographing sequence position on the one film according to a command from the preset means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising means for outputting a command to the display circuit to move the image as a still image.