JPH0512934B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Technical field of invention] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems] The clinical application of ultrasound diagnostic devices has progressed significantly, and screening using ultrasound has become common even in the field of obstetrics, for example.

On the other hand, in ultrasound diagnostic equipment, in order to improve the quality of ultrasound images, the voltage applied to various probes such as linear probes and sector probes is increased to increase the irradiation power irradiated to the subject, and the S/N ratio is increased. There is a tendency to improve.

However, when the irradiation power is increased, there is a problem in that the influence on the subject, especially the fetus, cannot be ignored.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can contribute to recognizing the permissible limit of the total irradiation power to the subject by measuring and displaying the total irradiation power to the subject. The purpose is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device.

[Summary of the Invention] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic probe into a subject and receives the reflected signals to obtain an ultrasonic image. a main body, a total irradiation power measuring means for measuring the total irradiation power by calculating the product of preset irradiation power data corresponding to the ultrasonic probe and irradiation time, and displaying the output of the total irradiation power measuring means. The present invention is characterized by comprising a display means for displaying.

[Embodiments of the Invention] The principles and embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below.

FIG. 1 shows the principle of measuring the total irradiation power of ultrasonic waves.

Figure a shows the voltage f applied to the probe, which will be described later.
The waveform of (t) is shown as amplitude V, pulse width τ, and ultrasonic repetition frequency T, and the Fourier-transformed waveform F(f) of this voltage f(t) is shown in FIG.

In addition, the transfer function H(f) of the probe can be calculated as shown in Figure 1c if the acoustic characteristics of the transducer etc. of the probe are known.
It can be easily obtained as shown in .

Therefore, the transmitted sound pressure power P ₀ (f) of the ultrasound irradiated from the probe into the subject can be expressed by the following equation (1).

P ₀ (f)=F(f)・H(f) (1) Also, the irradiation power of the probe per unit time
P ₁ can be expressed by the following formula (2) based on formula (1).

P ₁ =∫F(f)·H(f)df (2) That is, it is sufficient to find the integral value of the shaded area in FIG. 1d.

In an ultrasound diagnostic device, the amplitude V, pulse width τ, and ultrasound repetition frequency T are variable (2)
The total irradiation power to the subject can be determined by calculating and storing the irradiation power per unit time using the formula in advance, and calculating the product _P1 ·t of this value and the ultrasound irradiation time t.

Next, an embodiment for realizing the above-mentioned principle will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, an ultrasound diagnostic device includes a probe 1, such as a linear probe or a sector probe, that transmits ultrasound waves into the subject and receives the reflected signals.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2 includes a total irradiation power measuring means 3, and a display means 4 for displaying the outputs of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2 and the total irradiation power measuring means 3.

The total irradiation power measuring means 3 includes a storage means (memory means) that stores irradiation power data such as the amplitude V of the voltage H(f) applied to the probe 1, the pulse width τ, and the ultrasonic repetition frequency T for each type of the probe 1. ROM) 5
and a time counter 6 for measuring the irradiation time of the ultrasonic waves irradiated from the probe 1 to the subject; and a multiplier 7 for multiplying the outputs of the storage means 5 and the time counter 6 and sending the result to the display means 4. It is configured with

The display unit 4 includes a monitor unit 8 that displays the image data of the subject output from the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body 2, and a total irradiation power display unit (for example, a digital counter) 9 that displays the output of the total irradiation power measurement unit. and a reset button 10 for resetting the display value of the total irradiation power display section 9.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the above configuration will be explained.

When irradiating ultrasonic waves into a subject, a probe 1 corresponding to the scanning method is first selected.

This switching signal when selecting the probe 1 is sent from the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus main body 2 to the storage means 5,
Irradiation power data corresponding to the probe 1 is read out and sent to the multiplier 7.

On the other hand, when ultrasonic waves are irradiated from the probe 1 into the subject, the irradiation time t is counted by the time counter 6, and this result is sent to the multiplier 7.

The multiplier 7 calculates the product P ₁ ·t, that is, the total irradiation power, and the result is sent to the total irradiation power display section 9 of the display means 4 and displayed.

The operator can recognize the total irradiation power to the subject from the displayed value on the total irradiation power display section 9.

In this way, the total irradiation power of each type of probe 1 can be known.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention.

For example, when the total irradiation power approaches a permissible value for the subject, ultrasonic irradiation from the probe may be automatically stopped.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the output of the total irradiation power measuring means and the output of the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus are respectively displayed on one display means was explained, but only the output of the total irradiation power measuring means is displayed. It is also possible to configure the display means as a separate body.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention detailed above, it is possible to measure and display the total irradiation power irradiated from the probe into the subject, thereby preventing the influence of ultrasound on the subject. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can perform

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 shows the principle of the present invention; Fig. 1a is a waveform diagram of the voltage applied to the probe, Fig. 1b is an explanatory diagram showing the Fourier transformed state of the waveform in Fig. 1a, and Fig. 1c is an illustration of the waveform of the voltage applied to the probe. An explanatory diagram showing the transfer function of the probe,
FIG. 2D is an explanatory diagram showing the irradiation power from the probe, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1...Probe, 2...Ultrasonic diagnostic device main body,
3...Total irradiation power measuring means, 4...Display means,
5... Memory means, 6... Time counter, 7...
Multiplier, 8...monitor section, 9...total irradiation power display section, 10...reset button.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body that transmits ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic probe into a subject and receives the reflected signals to obtain an ultrasonic image; It is characterized by comprising a total irradiation power measuring means for calculating the product of set irradiation power data and irradiation time to measure the total irradiation power, and a display means for displaying the output of the total irradiation power measuring means. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. 2. The total irradiation power measuring means measures the voltage applied to each of two or more types of ultrasonic probes having different characteristics in advance,
A storage means for storing irradiation power data having an ultrasound pulse width and an ultrasound repetition frequency, an irradiation time measuring means for measuring the irradiation time of the ultrasound irradiated from the ultrasound probe into the subject, and a driving ultrasound probe. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising calculation means for calculating the product of the irradiation power data read from the storage means and the irradiation time corresponding to the irradiation time. 3. The total irradiation power measuring means is characterized in that the ultrasonic irradiation from the ultrasound probe is stopped when the measured total irradiation power approaches a preset irradiation tolerance value of the total irradiation power for the subject. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.