JPH0653123B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that obtains diagnostic information such as a B-mode image by using ultrasonic waves and provides the diagnostic information for display, and more particularly, to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having an improved multi-stage focus function.

(Prior Art) In a biomedical diagnostic device using ultrasonic waves, an ultrasonic probe (array probe) having a large number of micro ultrasonic transducers arranged in parallel is used to scan an ultrasonic beam while electronically focusing on the object. However, there is an electronic scanning ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a B-mode image or a two-dimensional blood flow velocity image as an image format based on the echo data obtained by this, and provides it for display.

Here, generation of an image in the above apparatus will be described. That is, in the case of linear electronic scanning using an array probe, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are set as one unit, and
This is a method of transmitting an ultrasonic beam by exciting the ultrasonic transducer of a unit. For example, the position of the element of one unit is sequentially changed while shifting the pitch by one transducer. In this scanning, the position of the transmitting point of the ultrasonic beam is electronically shifted by moving the position.

Then, as the ultrasonic beam is focused, the ultrasonic transducers to be excited, the ones located at the center of the beam and those located laterally, the excitation timing is shifted by setting the delay time, The transmitted ultrasonic waves are focused (electronically focused) by using the phase difference between the generated ultrasonic waves of the ultrasonic transducer. Then, similarly, the reflected ultrasonic wave is received by the vibrator and converted into an electric signal (however,
The number of transducers used for transmission and reception is not always the same. ), Echo information by each transmitted / received wave is formed as, for example, a tomographic image, and is displayed on a TV monitor or the like.

Further, in the case of sector electronic scanning, the excitation timing of each transducer is changed to a desired direction by a delay time so that the ultrasonic beam transmission direction sequentially changes to a fan shape for one unit of the ultrasonic transducer group to be excited. It changes according to
The subsequent processing is basically the same as the linear electronic scanning described above. A typical B-mode image is a tomographic image obtained by synthesizing signals associated with ultrasonic wave transmission and reception.

The one-step focus in the B-mode sector scan will be described with reference to FIG. 3, and the multi-step focus in the B-mode sector scan will be described with reference to FIG. First, FIG. 3 (a) shows a situation in which an ultrasonic beam is transmitted and received to and from a subject by B-mode scanning by the sector scanning ultrasonic probe UP. Depths F1, F2 with different line (raster ri)
The case where the focus is set to each of F3 and F4 is shown.

FIG. 3B shows the amount of delay and the number of transducers (caliber) that determine the transmission timing and the reception timing of each transducer of the probe UP when the focus is set to the depth F1. At that time, the focus is formed at the depth F1, and at the time of reception, it becomes possible to collect data from the depth F1 at which the focus is formed. FIG. 3 (c) illustrates the amount of delay and the number of transducers (caliber) that determine the transmission timing and the reception timing of each transducer of the probe UP when the focus is set to the depth F2. At this time, the focus is formed at the depth F2, and at the time of reception, the data from the depth F2 at which the focus is formed can be collected.

FIG. 3D is a diagram showing the amount of delay and the number of transducers (caliber) that determine the transmission timing and the reception timing of each transducer of the probe UP when the focus is set to the depth F3. At that time, the focus is formed at the depth F3, and at the time of reception, the data from the depth F3 at which the focus is formed can be collected.

FIG. 3 (e) is a diagram showing the amount of delay and the number of transducers (caliber) that determine the transmission timing and the reception timing of each transducer of the probe UP when the focus is set to the depth F4. At this time, the focus is formed at the depth F4, and when receiving, the data from the depth F4 at which the focus is formed can be collected.

As shown in the figure, by changing the delay amount and the number of transducers (aperture), it is possible to form a focus at different depths for transmission and to obtain data from the focus formed at different depths for reception. Then, one raster for each focus depth can be obtained by one ultrasonic wave transmission / reception. In other words, in 1-step focus
One ultrasonic raster can be obtained at a rate. As a method of forming the focus at different depths,
In addition to the method of controlling both the delay amount and the number of transducers (caliber) described above, the same number of transducers may be changed only by the delay amount.

On the other hand, in the case of multi-stage focusing, FIG. 4 (a) shows a situation in which an ultrasonic beam is transmitted and received by a sector scanning ultrasonic probe UP to and from a subject by B-mode scanning. For example, the focus is set to different depths F2 and F4 of the vertical lower line (raster ri).

Then, at the first rate, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the depth F
Ultrasound transmission / reception for setting focus to 2 is performed, and ultrasonic transmission / reception for setting focus to depth F4 is performed at the second rate as shown in FIG. 4 (c). By these two ultrasonic transmissions, as a result, as shown in FIG. 4 (d), the focus is formed at the depths F2 and F4 during the transmission, and the depth at which the focus is formed during the reception. F
2, will be able to collect data from F4. Then, one raster at the focus depths F2 and F4 can be obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves twice. That is, in the n-stage focus, one ultrasonic raster can be obtained at the n rate of ultrasonic transmission / reception.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the focus switch and the focus depth of a device capable of setting 8-step focus. The focus switch 6 includes eight focus selection switches 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e,
6f, 6g, 6h, each having a focus depth F
1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7 and F8 are set. In this case, for example, the 1-step focus is 1
When the focus selection switch 6b of the two focus switches 6 is pressed, a focus having a depth F2 is formed in a predetermined range centered on the depth h2 of the subject during transmission, and a focus is focused on the depth h2 during reception. The data from the focus of the depth F2 formed in the predetermined range is collected.

Further, for example, when the focus selection switches 6b, 6d, and 6f of the focus switch 6 are pressed as multi-stage focus, that is, when three-stage focus is set, the depths h2, h4, and h6 of the subject are centered during transmission. Focuses with depths F2, F4, F6 are formed in a predetermined range, and upon reception, data from the focus with depths F2, F4, F6 formed in a predetermined range centered on the depths h2, h4, h6 are collected. Come to do.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, according to the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the focus can be set to one desired depth or a plurality of depths by the multi-stage focus. Can be diagnosed with high resolution. In this case, since the focus depth is fixed in advance for each focus selection switch, the focus depth that is initially set and appropriate is the focus switch operation (change of magnification of display image) or position switch. If the diagnosis site or the visual field range is changed due to the operation (shift of the display image), it may not be appropriate.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, it is assumed that the focus F2, F4, F6 is initially set near the center of the image.

Then, when the display image is set to n times by operating the scale switch in order to observe a large image, the focus F2, F4, F6 originally set at the center of the display image.
Is a focus F6 as shown in FIG. 6 (b).
Is out of the displayed image, and the desired position cannot be focused. Therefore, it is necessary to reset the focus, that is, to change the settings of F2, F3, and F4 so that the three focuses are set in the display image.

Further, when the display image is set to n times by operating the scale switch and the n times display image is shifted upward by d by operating the position switch in order to observe a large image, the focus originally set in the display image is set. F2
As shown in FIG. 6 (c), is out of the display image, and the desired position cannot be focused. Therefore, the focus is reset, that is, F4, F5, and F6 so that three focuses are set in the display image.
You have to change the settings. Therefore, there is a problem that a very complicated operation must be performed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which, even when the diagnosis site or the visual field range is changed, the interval of the multi-stage focus is automatically changed and set as much as possible for easy diagnosis. To provide.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention has a structure in which the following means are provided in order to solve the above problems and achieve the object. That is, the present invention is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates an ultrasonic image based on a reception signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject and displays the ultrasonic image on a display device, and at least one of transmitting and receiving waves. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, which is provided with a plurality of focus selection switches for respectively setting a plurality of focus with different focus depths, the focus of the number of focus steps selected by the operator is set in at least one of transmission and reception. An image conversion unit for performing at least one of moving, enlarging and reducing the ultrasonic image displayed on the display device; and an image conversion unit displayed on the display device when the image conversion unit is executed. Means for determining the depth range of the ultrasonic image; and the focus selection switch selected when executing the image conversion means. Selection of the focus selection switch so that the same number of focus steps as the set number of focus steps are set in the depth range when the total number of focus depths corresponding to the switch does not exist in the determined depth range. And means for changing the.

(Operation) According to such a configuration, based on the result of recognizing the display range of the image, the focus having the same number of steps as the number of steps of the focus set is set by changing the interval. Even when the focus is set outside the display image when the range is changed, for example, the multi-stage focus is automatically set in the display image, and the diagnosis can be easily performed.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, an array probe UP having a plurality of micro-vibrators arranged in parallel is transmitted / received by a transmitting / receiving circuit 1 by B mode scanning such as sector or linear.
The transmission / reception circuit 1 is timing-controlled by the transmission control circuit 2 and the reception control circuit 3 by setting a delay amount in transmission / reception. Further, the transmission control circuit 2 and the reception control circuit 3 are provided with focus control signals from a focus optimization unit 4, a display position recognition unit 5, a focus switch 6, a scale switch 7A, and a position switch 7B which form a focus control system. To be

The echo data obtained from the transmission / reception circuit 1 is A /
The D converter 8 converts the signal into a digital signal, and a DSC (digital scan converter) 9 converts the ultrasonic scan into a TV scan as a B mode image, and the D / A converter 1
After being converted into an analog signal by 0, the TV is displayed on the monitor 11.
The display is made by scanning.

Here, the focus control system, which is a feature of this embodiment, will be described in detail. That is, the focus switch 6 has the same configuration as that described with reference to FIG. 5, and the focus switch 6 includes eight focus selection switches 6
a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6h, and focus depths F1, F2, F3, F4, respectively.
F5, F6, F7, and F8 are set, and one-step focus,
2-step focus, 3-step focus, 4-step focus, 5
It is possible to set step focus, 6 step focus, 7 step focus, and 8 step focus in various combinations.

Then, when one or more of the focus selection switches 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6h of the focus switch 6 are pressed, the delay data for setting the corresponding focus depth is generated in the focus control system. Calculated or read from the memory, the delay data is given to the transmission control circuit 2 and the reception control circuit 3, where adjustment is made,
Control for performing B-mode scanning with focus is performed.

On the other hand, the display position recognizing unit 5 calculates the range of the image appearing on the screen based on the magnification and the shift amount. The focus optimizing unit 4 selects the focus selection switches 6a, 6b, 6c, such that multi-stage focus is set in the display image based on the display position data calculated by the display position recognizing unit 5.
6d, 6e, 6f, 6g and 6h are selectively changed.

With the above configuration, the focus selection switches 6b, 6d,
6f is pressed, and the display shown in FIG. 2 (a) in which the focus depths F2, F4 and F6 are set is made.
Here, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the scale switch 7A is operated to set the display image to n times, the display position recognition unit 5 obtains the display range f ′ by calculation, and the focus optimization unit 4 Then, it is determined whether or not the focus depths F2, F4 and F6 are present in the displayed image. In this example, since it is determined that F6 is out of the display image, the setting is changed to the focus depths F2, F3, and F4 located in the display image, and the change data is transmitted to the transmission control circuit 2 and the reception unit. It is given to the control circuit 3.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the scale switch A
Is operated to set the display image to n-fold and the position switch 7B is operated to shift the n-fold display image upward by d, the display position recognition unit 5 displays the display range f by d, l and l '. ″ Is calculated and the focus optimization unit 4
Then, it is determined whether or not the focus depths F2, F4 and F6 are present in the displayed image. In this example, since it is determined that F2 is out of the display image, the setting is changed to the focus depths F4, F5, and F6 located in the display image.
The change data is given to the transmission control circuit 2 and the reception control circuit 3.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, based on the result of recognizing the display range of the image, the focus having the same number of stages as the set number of stages is set by changing the mutual interval in the displayed image. Therefore, even when the diagnosis site or the visual field range is changed, the multi-stage focus is automatically set in the display image, and the diagnosis can be easily performed.

This means that the image can be enlarged or moved without being aware of the focus position, and the diagnostic efficiency can be improved.

In the above example, the example of the three-stage focus has been described. However, even when the focus of two or more stages is set, the display position is recognized in the same manner and the multi-stage focus is provided near the center of the display image. The focus setting can be changed so that the focus is set. Further, the focus setting change described above may be performed in at least one of the transmission focus and the reception focus.
Further, the invention can be applied to a down shift and a left / right shift accompanied by image enlargement, and a down shift and a left / right shift not accompanied by image enlargement. Further, in the above example, when any one of the multi-stage focus is set outside the display image, all the focus is automatically set in the display image. The interval may be changed. Besides, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, in the present invention, means for recognizing the display range of the image being displayed, and the focus having the same number of steps as the number of steps of the focus set based on the recognition result of this means are provided. And a means for changing the selection of the plurality of focus selection switches so that the focus is changed and set, the focus having the same number of steps as the set focus is based on the result of recognizing the display range of the image. However, since the setting is performed by changing the interval, even when the focus is set outside the display image when the diagnosis site or the visual field range is changed, for example, the multi-stage focus is automatically set in the display image. Thus, there is an effect that the diagnosis can be easily performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation of the same embodiment, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the principle of single-stage focusing, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the principle of multi-stage focusing, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a focus switch, and FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining the problems of the conventional example. UP ... probe, 1 ... transmission / reception circuit, 2 ... transmission control circuit, 3 ... reception control circuit, 4 ... focus optimization section, 5 ... display position recognition section, 6 ... focus switch, 7A ... Scale switch, 7B ... Position switch, 8 ... A / D converter, 9 ... DSC, 10 ...
D / A converter, 11 ... Monitor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for generating an ultrasonic image based on a reception signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject and displaying the ultrasonic image on a display device, in at least one of transmitting and receiving waves. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, which is provided with a plurality of focus selection switches for setting a plurality of focus with different focus depths, and in which the focus of the number of focus steps selected by the operator is set in at least one of transmission and reception, Image conversion means for executing at least one of moving, enlarging and reducing the ultrasonic image displayed on the display device; and an ultrasonic conversion image displayed on the display device when the image conversion means is executed. Means for obtaining the depth range of the sound wave image, and the focus selection switch selected when executing the image conversion means. When there are not all the corresponding depths of focus in the determined depth range, the selection of the focus selection switch is changed so that the same number of focuses as the set number of focus stages are set in the depth range. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising means.