JP2005324072A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a suitable image for giving accurate paracentesis in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided with particularly a function of guiding a puncture needle thrusted into a subject in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting ultrasonic wave into the subject, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject and returned, to acquire a received signal, and forming an image based on the received signal. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a guide member for guiding the puncture needle thrusted into the subject, and a vibrating mechanism for vibrating the tip of the puncture needle. Vibration of the puncture needle tip propagated to a transducer is received to detect the tip position of the puncture needle, and the transducer is driven to form ultrasonic beams of a frequency corresponding to the detected tip position of the puncture needle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits an ultrasonic wave in a subject, receives a reflected ultrasonic wave in the subject, receives a received signal, and generates an image based on the received signal. In particular, the present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of guiding a puncture needle to be inserted into a subject.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits an ultrasonic wave to a subject, particularly a human body, receives an ultrasonic wave reflected and returned from each tissue in the subject, and generates an image in the subject by the ultrasonic wave has been conventionally used. Therefore, it is useful for diagnosis of diseases in a subject.

  While observing an image of the affected area in the subject obtained using this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a part of the affected tissue is picked for diagnosis, or a chemical solution is injected into the affected area. A puncture needle may be inserted into the affected area.

  An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is generally composed of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body and an ultrasonic probe connected to the main body with a cable, and when a puncture needle is inserted into the subject, A guide member for guiding the puncture needle to be inserted is attached to the main body of the ultrasonic probe, inserted into the subject through the guide hole provided in the guide member, and the puncture needle is positioned at a desired position while viewing the image of the affected part. To reach.

  The puncture needle is a hollow tube like an injection needle. For example, the affected tissue is extracted through the puncture needle tube. The extracted tissue is used for pathological examination and the like, and is used for, for example, determination of malignancy or benignity. Here, it has been described that the guide member is attached to the ultrasonic probe main body, but there is also a case in which the ultrasonic probe main body and the guide member are originally configured integrally. However, also in the following description, the guide member is described as being detachable from the ultrasonic probe main body.

  FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic probe in a state in which a puncture needle is inserted into a subject, and FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of an ultrasonic image in that state.

  The ultrasonic probe 20 includes a main body 21 and a guide member 22 that is detachably attached to the main body 21. In the example shown in the figure, a plurality of (for example, 128) ultrasonic transducers 211 are arranged in an arc shape at the tip of the main body 21, and these ultrasonic transducers 211 are connected via a cable 212. It is connected to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body (not shown).

  In acquiring an ultrasound image, the tip of the ultrasound probe 20 is applied to the subject 1, and the ultrasound beam is sequentially transmitted along a plurality of scanning lines 2 extending from the tip of the ultrasound probe into the subject 1. Transmission / reception is performed, and scanning within the subject by transmission / reception of this series of ultrasonic beams results in a reception signal representing an ultrasonic image in the scanning region 3 defined by the plurality of scanning lines 2. This received signal is subjected to various processes and then sent to an observation monitor television (not shown), and an image in the scanning region 3 is displayed on a display screen 707a (see FIG. 22) of the observation monitor television.

When the puncture needle 30 is inserted into the subject, the guide member 22 is attached to the ultrasonic probe main body 21. As shown in FIG. 22, a diagram 30 a representing the passage of the puncture needle is displayed on the image so as to be superimposed on the image in the scanning region. Therefore, the position and direction of the ultrasonic probe 20 applied to the subject 1 are adjusted, and the diseased part 11 into which the puncture needle 30 is to be inserted and the diagram 30 representing the passage of the puncture needle are crossed. With such adjustment, the puncture needle 30 is inserted into the subject 1 while being guided through the guide hole 22a of the guide member 22. By doing so, the puncture needle 30 can be inserted into a desired position inside the subject with a certain degree of certainty. Here, it has been described that the diagram 30a representing the passage path of the puncture needle is displayed on the display screen 707a. However, there is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that does not have such a diagram display function.
JP 63-290550 A US Pat. No. 5,095,910

  When performing a puncture operation that inserts a puncture needle into the subject to remove the tissue in the subject or injects a chemical into the tissue in the subject, the puncture is inserted into the subject if the resolution of the image is low Since the position of the needle cannot be accurately grasped, it is difficult to align the tip of the puncture needle with a desired small point in the affected area 11, which is one of the factors that make accurate puncture difficult. Yes. Even if a diagram showing the passage of the puncture needle is displayed on the image, the puncture needle may bend slightly at the boundary between the tissues inside the subject, and it always proceeds according to the diagram. Absent. For this reason, it is necessary to accurately grasp the position of the puncture needle that is actually inserted, and if it cannot be accurately grasped, the blood vessel or organ other than the part where the puncture needle is to be inserted is damaged. There is also a risk of it.

  In order to solve these problems, a proposal has been made to make it easy to see the puncture needle on the image by performing image processing different from other image areas in a predetermined image area along the guide direction of the puncture needle. (See Patent Document 1).

  In this proposal, the request for displaying the puncture needle in an easy-to-view manner is known, but no solution has been proposed regarding what kind of image processing should be performed to make the puncture needle easier to see. Even if the puncture needle can be displayed easily by image processing, only the puncture needle is displayed so that the puncture needle can reach a desired point without damaging other blood vessels or organs. However, it is inconvenient, and it is necessary to display images other than the puncture needle such as blood vessels and organs inside the subject in an easy-to-see manner.

  Various types of image processing have been attempted, and conventionally, image processing has been performed so that both the blood vessels and organs inside the subject and the puncture needle are most visible within the scope of conventional image processing techniques. However, the problem that the position of the puncture needle is difficult to understand has been pointed out, and the proposal is merely to make the image processing different between the passing area of the puncture needle and other areas as described above. Then, it is impossible to realize an image that can accurately grasp the position of the puncture needle and allow the puncture needle to reach a desired point without damaging other blood vessels or organs.

  A normal observation image has a resolution (such as the density of the scanning line 2 shown in FIG. 21) determined in accordance with the frame rate, which is an index representing the number of images that can be acquired per unit time. In order to perform puncture, an image having a higher resolution than a simple observation image is required, and the observation image essentially lacks the resolution. However, when trying to increase the resolution of the image, the resolution is determined by the balance with the frame rate as described above, so this time the frame rate decreases and the image is moved at a speed at which the puncture needle is inserted into the subject. However, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to perform accurate puncture from the viewpoint of the frame rate.

  In addition, a technique has been proposed in which the tip position of the puncture needle is accurately detected by vibrating the tip of the puncture needle with a vibrator and picking up a change in signal caused by the vibration (see Patent Document 2). In this technique, the tip position of the puncture needle is detected by detecting the Doppler transition of the frequency of the ultrasonic wave reflected by the tip of the puncture needle, which is caused by the vibration of the tip of the puncture needle.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of generating an image suitable for performing accurate puncture.

A first ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above-described object is configured to repeat transmission and reception of an ultrasonic beam along each of a plurality of scanning lines extending into a subject. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that scans the inside of a specimen and generates an image in a scanning region defined by the plurality of scanning lines based on a reception signal obtained by the scanning,
A main body having an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting ultrasonic waves applied to the subject and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a puncture needle to be inserted into the subject An ultrasonic probe comprising a guide member for guiding;
The ultrasonic transducer is driven so that an ultrasonic beam traveling along each of the plurality of scanning lines is sequentially formed, and the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject and returned to the ultrasonic transducer is ultrasonicated. A transmission / reception unit that receives a reception signal by a vibrator and obtains a reception signal;
An image generation unit that generates an image based on the received signal,
In the first transmission / reception mode in which the transmission / reception unit scans the scanning region at a predetermined scanning line density, and in the predetermined first region including a part or all of the passage path of the puncture needle in the scanning region And a second transmission / reception mode in which scanning is performed at a higher scanning line density than in the second region excluding the first region in the scanning region.

  The first ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has a first transmission / reception mode in which a scanning region is scanned at a predetermined scanning line density, that is, a resolution that is balanced for image observation over the entire scanning region, as in the prior art. In addition to the transmission / reception mode that scans to obtain the frame rate, the first area including part or all of the passage path of the puncture needle has a higher scanning line density than the second area excluding the first area. The second transmission / reception mode for scanning, that is, the resolution of the passage path area (first area) is increased even if the resolution of the area (second area) other than the passage path area (first area) of the puncture needle is lowered. Because it has a transmission / reception mode, when performing puncture, the second transmission / reception mode improves the resolution of the passage path region of the puncture needle without significantly reducing the frame rate, and the puncture is actually performed. Wear The position of the needle position and the subject tissue can be grasped with sufficient accuracy, it is possible to obtain a picture that follows sufficiently to speed narrowing puncture of the puncture needle.

  The “scanning line density” refers to a scanning line density when one transmission / reception of an ultrasonic beam is counted as one scanning line. That is, as is well known, even with an ultrasonic beam traveling along the same path, the resolution of the image can be increased by sequentially transmitting and receiving a plurality of ultrasonic beams having different focal positions of the ultrasonic beam, Therefore, in the present invention, even if an ultrasonic beam traveling along the same path is transmitted and received a plurality of times within one image (frame), the number of scanning lines along the same path is , It is counted as the same number as the number of times of transmission / reception instead of one.

  In the second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the second transmission / reception mode in the first ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a higher scanning line density in the first area than in the second area. Instead of scanning, the second transmission / reception mode of the second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is the first transmission / reception mode including part or all of the passage of the puncture needle in the subject. The first region which is a scanning region narrower than the scanning region is a mode in which scanning is performed at a scanning line density higher than the scanning line density in the first transmission / reception mode.

  The second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention stops scanning itself for the second region referred to in the first ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention in the second transmission / reception mode. As with the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1, it is possible to provide an image having a resolution and a frame rate at which puncture can be easily performed.

  Here, in the first or second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, for switching between the first transmission / reception mode and the second transmission / reception mode, transmission / reception that switches between the first transmission / reception mode and the second transmission / reception mode. A mode switching operator may be provided, or the guide member is detachable from the main body, and the ultrasonic probe includes a sensor for detecting attachment / detachment of the guide member to / from the main body, The transmission / reception unit may be switched to the second transmission / reception mode or the first transmission / reception mode, depending on whether or not the sensor detects attachment of the guide member to the main body. . Further, in the case of a configuration including a sensor, the sensor detects attachment / detachment of the guide member to / from the main body portion, and determines the type of the guide member attached to the main body portion. The first area is preferably set according to the type of member.

  Since the puncture direction of the puncture needle into the subject is determined according to the guide member, in order to enable the puncture needle to be inserted at different depth positions in the subject, the direction of guiding the puncture needle However, a plurality of types of guide members that are detachable from the main body are required. In this case, it may be necessary to change the first region where the resolution should be improved according to the type of the guide member. Therefore, by providing the sensor with a function of determining the type of the attached guide member and setting the first area according to the attached guide member, for example, the first area is set as the first area. The operability is greatly improved as compared with the case where the operation member is operated and adjusted according to the mounted guide member.

  The first or second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a vibration mechanism that vibrates the tip of the puncture needle as another means for determining the first region, and the transmission / reception unit has propagated to the ultrasonic transducer. The first region may be set based on the detected puncture needle tip position by receiving vibration of the puncture needle tip to detect the puncture needle tip position.

  Alternatively, as yet another means for determining the first region, the ultrasonic probe includes a sensor for measuring the length of the tip side portion of the puncture needle that passes through the guide member, and the transmission / reception unit includes the sensor. The first area may be set according to the length measured by the above.

  Further, in the first to second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, the image generation unit has a function of superimposing a graphic representing the passage route of the puncture needle on an image based on the received signal, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is A graphic superposition switching operator for switching whether or not the graphic is superimposed on the image is provided, and the transmission / reception unit is switched according to whether the graphic superimposition switching operator is switched to a side for superimposing the graphic on the image. These may be switched to the second transmission / reception mode or the first transmission / reception mode, respectively.

  As described above, when an operation element for performing an operation related to the puncture operation is provided, the operability is improved by switching the plurality of operations related to the puncture operation simultaneously with one operation element.

  Furthermore, in the first or second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, the image generation unit generates a first image that represents the entire scanning region, and the scanning region includes: The dimension per unit area in the subject representing an enlarged area consisting of a partial area including at least part of the passage of the puncture needle or an entire area of the scanning area is larger than that of the first image. And a second image generation mode for generating a second image.

  In addition to the first image generation mode for generating an image having a normal size (first image) for the entire scanning region, a second image for generating an enlarged image (second image) for the enlarged region of the scanning region. Placing the image generation mode not only improves the resolution, but also provides an enlarged, easier-to-view image that is more favorable for puncture.

  In the aspect having the second image generation mode for generating the second image (enlarged image), the first transmission / reception mode and the first image generation mode are switched between the first image generation mode and the second image generation mode. As in the case of switching the second transmission / reception mode, an image generation mode switching operator for switching between the first image generation mode and the second image generation mode may be provided, or the guide member is detachably attached to the main body. The ultrasonic probe includes a sensor that detects attachment / detachment of the guide member to / from the main body, and the image generation unit detects attachment of the guide member to the main body by the sensor. Depending on whether or not, it may be switched to the second image generation mode or the first image generation mode, respectively. Further, in the case of a form including a sensor, the sensor detects attachment / detachment of the guide member to / from the main body part, and determines the type of the guide member attached to the main body part, and the image generation unit, It is preferable that the enlarged region is set according to the type of guide member.

  As described above, the guide direction of the puncture needle varies depending on the type of guide member, and in that case, it may be preferable to vary the enlarged region depending on the type of guide member. Therefore, the above-described sensor has a function of determining the type of the mounted guide member, and is configured to set the enlarged region according to the installed guide member, thereby manually setting the enlarged region one by one. Compared with the case, the operability is greatly improved.

  In the first and second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses having the first image generation mode and the second image generation mode, the tip of the puncture needle is vibrated as another means for determining the enlarged region. The transmitting / receiving unit detects vibration of the tip of the puncture needle transmitted to the ultrasonic transducer and detects the tip of the puncture needle, and the image generation unit is detected by the transmitter / receiver. The enlarged region may be determined based on the tip position of the puncture needle.

  Alternatively, as yet another means for determining the enlarged region, the ultrasonic probe includes a sensor for measuring the length of the tip side portion of the puncture needle that passes through the guide member, and the image generation unit uses the sensor. An enlarged region may be set according to the measured length.

  Further, in the case of the first or second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the first image generation mode and the second image generation mode, the image generation unit generates an image based on the received signal, It has a function to superimpose a graphic representing the path of passage of the puncture needle, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a graphic superimposing switching operator for switching whether to superimpose the graphic on the image. The switching operator may be switched to the second image generation mode or the first image generation mode, respectively, depending on whether or not the switch is switched to the side where the graphic is superimposed on the image.

  As in the case of switching between the first transmission / reception mode and the second transmission / reception mode described above, by switching between the first image generation mode and the second image generation mode with the graphic superimposing switching operator. , Operability is enhanced.

In addition, the third ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention repeats transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along each of a plurality of scanning lines extending into the subject, thereby moving the inside of the subject. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that scans and generates an image in a scanning region defined by a plurality of scanning lines based on a reception signal obtained by the scanning,
A main body having an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting ultrasonic waves applied to the subject and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a puncture needle to be inserted into the subject An ultrasonic probe comprising a guide member for guiding;
The ultrasonic transducer is driven so that an ultrasonic beam traveling along each of the plurality of scanning lines is sequentially formed, and the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject and returned to the ultrasonic transducer is ultrasonicated. A transmission / reception unit that receives a reception signal by a vibrator and obtains a reception signal;
An image generator for generating an image based on the received signal;
A vibration mechanism for vibrating the tip of the puncture needle,
The transmitter / receiver receives the vibration of the puncture needle tip propagated to the ultrasonic transducer to detect the puncture needle tip position, and an ultrasonic beam having a frequency corresponding to the detected puncture needle tip position is formed. It is characterized by driving an ultrasonic transducer.

  The resolution is improved when an ultrasonic beam having a high frequency is transmitted / received, but the ultrasonic beam having a high frequency is attenuated so that an image of a deep portion in the subject cannot be obtained. Therefore, when the tip of the puncture needle is detected and the tip of the puncture needle is at a shallow position in the subject according to the detected tip position of the puncture needle, the image resolution is improved by transmitting and receiving a high frequency ultrasonic beam. By transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam having a low frequency as the tip of the puncture needle is inserted into a deep position in the subject, an image with as high a resolution as possible can be generated as a whole.

In addition, the fourth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention repeats transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along each of a plurality of scanning lines extending in the subject, thereby moving the inside of the subject. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that scans and generates an image in a scanning region defined by a plurality of scanning lines based on a reception signal obtained by the scanning,
A main body having an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting ultrasonic waves applied to the subject and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a puncture needle to be inserted into the subject An ultrasonic probe comprising a guide member for guiding;
The ultrasonic transducer is driven so that an ultrasonic beam traveling along each of the plurality of scanning lines is sequentially formed, and the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject and returned to the ultrasonic transducer is ultrasonicated. A transmission / reception unit that receives a reception signal by a vibrator and obtains a reception signal;
An image generator for generating an image based on the received signal;
A vibration mechanism for vibrating the tip of the puncture needle,
The transmitter / receiver receives vibration of the puncture needle tip that has propagated to the ultrasonic transducer to detect the puncture needle tip position, and ultrasonic beams are sequentially formed at a period corresponding to the detected puncture needle tip position. Thus, the ultrasonic transducer is driven as described above. The frame rate can be improved by shortening the period of ultrasonic beam formation, and if the frame rate is kept constant, the number of scanning lines can be increased to improve the resolution. In order to transmit an ultrasonic beam up to and receive an ultrasonic wave reflected at a deep position, it takes time to propagate the ultrasonic wave, so there is a limit to shortening the cycle. Therefore, when the tip of the puncture needle is at a shallow position in the subject, the period of ultrasonic beam transmission / reception is shortened to improve the frame rate or resolution, and as the tip of the puncture needle is inserted deeper into the subject, By increasing the period of transmission / reception of the sound beam, an image adjusted with a high frame rate and high resolution as a whole can be obtained.

In addition, the fifth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention repeats transmission and reception of an ultrasonic beam along each of a plurality of scanning lines extending in the subject, thereby moving the inside of the subject. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that scans and generates an image in a scanning region defined by a plurality of scanning lines based on a reception signal obtained by the scanning,
A main body having an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting ultrasonic waves applied to the subject and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a puncture needle to be inserted into the subject An ultrasonic probe comprising a guide member for guiding;
The ultrasonic transducer is driven so that an ultrasonic beam traveling along each of the plurality of scanning lines is sequentially formed, and the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject and returned to the ultrasonic transducer is ultrasonicated. A transmission / reception unit that receives a reception signal by a vibrator and obtains a reception signal;
An image generator for generating an image based on the received signal;
A vibration mechanism for vibrating the tip of the puncture needle,
The transmission / reception unit receives the vibration of the puncture needle tip propagated to the ultrasonic transducer to detect the puncture needle tip position, and the focal length of the ultrasonic beam changes according to the detected puncture needle tip position. It is characterized by driving an ultrasonic transducer.

  When performing puncture, the region of most interest on the image is a region near the tip of the puncture needle, and it is preferable to improve the image resolution of that region. On the other hand, the beam diameter of the ultrasonic beam is not the same beam diameter everywhere in the longitudinal direction of the ultrasonic beam, and the focal point having the finest beam diameter is formed at a certain depth position in the ultrasonic beam. Here, the smaller the beam diameter, the higher the resolution, and by forming the focal point of the ultrasonic beam at a depth position corresponding to the tip position of the puncture needle, a high-resolution image suitable for puncture can be generated. .

Further, a sixth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention repeats transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along each of a plurality of scanning lines extending in the subject, thereby moving the inside of the subject. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that scans and generates an image in a scanning region defined by a plurality of scanning lines based on a reception signal obtained by the scanning,
A main body having an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting ultrasonic waves applied to the subject and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a puncture needle to be inserted into the subject An ultrasonic probe comprising a guide member for guiding;
The ultrasonic transducer is driven so that an ultrasonic beam traveling along each of the plurality of scanning lines is sequentially formed, and the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject and returned to the ultrasonic transducer is ultrasonicated. A transmission / reception unit that receives a reception signal by a vibrator and obtains a reception signal;
An image generation unit that generates an image based on the received signal,
The ultrasonic probe includes a sensor for measuring the length of the portion of the puncture needle on the tip side passing through the guide member,
The transmitting / receiving unit drives the ultrasonic transducer so that an ultrasonic beam having a frequency corresponding to the length measured by the sensor is formed.

  This sixth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus changes the frequency of the ultrasonic beam in accordance with the length of the portion where the puncture needle is inserted, and like the above-mentioned third ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, An image with as high a resolution as possible can be generated according to the insertion length of the puncture needle.

Furthermore, a seventh ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention repeats transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along each of a plurality of scanning lines extending in the subject, thereby moving the inside of the subject. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that scans and generates an image in a scanning region defined by a plurality of scanning lines based on a reception signal obtained by the scanning,
A main body having an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting ultrasonic waves applied to the subject and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a puncture needle to be inserted into the subject An ultrasonic probe comprising a guide member for guiding;
The ultrasonic transducer is driven so that an ultrasonic beam traveling along each of the plurality of scanning lines is sequentially formed, and the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject and returned to the ultrasonic transducer is ultrasonicated. A transmission / reception unit that receives a reception signal by a vibrator and obtains a reception signal;
An image generation unit that generates an image based on the received signal,
The ultrasonic probe includes a sensor for measuring the length of the portion of the puncture needle on the tip side passing through the guide member,
The transmitting / receiving unit drives the ultrasonic transducer so that the ultrasonic beam is sequentially formed at a period corresponding to the length measured by the sensor.

  According to the seventh ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, as in the above-described fourth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the puncture technique in which the frame rate and the resolution are adjusted at a high level by adjusting the period of ultrasonic beam formation. A suitable image can be obtained.

Further, an eighth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention scans the inside of the subject by repeating transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along each of a plurality of scanning lines extending in the subject. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates an image in the scanning region defined by the plurality of scanning lines based on the received signal obtained by the scanning,
A main body having an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting ultrasonic waves applied to the subject and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a puncture needle to be inserted into the subject An ultrasonic probe comprising a guide member for guiding;
The ultrasonic transducer is driven so that an ultrasonic beam traveling along each of the plurality of scanning lines is sequentially formed, and the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject and returned to the ultrasonic transducer is ultrasonicated. A transmission / reception unit that receives a reception signal by a vibrator and obtains a reception signal;
An image generation unit that generates an image based on the received signal,
The ultrasonic probe includes a sensor for measuring the length of the portion of the puncture needle on the tip side passing through the guide member,
The transmitting / receiving unit drives the ultrasonic transducer so that the focal length of the ultrasonic beam changes according to the length measured by the sensor.

  According to the eighth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the focal position of the ultrasonic beam is adjusted according to the puncture length of the puncture needle, which is suitable for puncture similarly to the above-described fifth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. A high-resolution image can be obtained.

  Here, the first to eighth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses may generate images in a two-dimensionally spread planar scanning region, but extend in the subject in a three-dimensional array. The inside of the subject is scanned by repeating the transmission and reception of the ultrasonic beam along each of the plurality of scanning lines, and is defined by the plurality of scanning lines based on the received signal obtained by the scanning. It is also a preferable aspect that an image within a three-dimensional scanning region is generated.

  As described above, the puncture needle may be slightly bent at the tissue boundary or the like, and may deviate from a predetermined passage path, but the direction in which the puncture needle is bent is not limited to the two-dimensional scanning plane, It may also bend in a direction away from the scan plane, resulting in a deviation from the image. Therefore, the tip position of the puncture needle can always be monitored by forming a three-dimensional scanning region and obtaining a three-dimensional image.

  In addition, since it usually takes a long time to construct a three-dimensional image, it is preferable to construct a three-dimensional image only in the region near the passage of the puncture needle.

  As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, an image suitable for puncture can be generated.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. Here, first, an outline of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to this block diagram. Hereinafter, the operation or function of each part will be described later. First, the configuration of this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus will be described.

  The main body 10 of this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is roughly composed of a control unit 100, an analog processing unit 200, a digital scan converter unit 300, a Doppler processing unit 400, a display control unit 500, and a biological signal amplifier unit 600. The control unit 100 includes a CPU unit 101, a beam scan control unit 102, and a transmission / reception memory 103. The CPU unit 101 includes an operation panel 701, an integrated touch panel 702, an EL display 703, and A floppy disk device 704 is connected.

  The analog processing unit 200 includes a transmission / reception unit 201, a reception delay control unit 202, a beamformer unit 203, a control interface unit 204, an analog signal processing unit 205, and a Doppler signal processing unit 206. The transmission / reception unit 201, the reception delay control unit 202, and the Doppler signal processing unit 206 are connected by a control line 207. The control interface unit 204 and the analog signal processing unit 205 are connected by a control line 208, and the reception delay control unit 202 and the beam former unit 203 are connected by a control line 209. Up to four ultrasonic probes 20 are detachably connected to the transmission / reception unit 201 constituting the analog processing unit 200, here.

  The digital scan converter unit 300 includes a black and white scan converter 301, a color scan converter 302, and a scroll scan converter 303.

  The Doppler processing unit 400 includes a pulse / continuous wave Doppler analysis unit 401 and a color Doppler analysis unit 402.

  Further, the display control unit 500 is shown here as one block, and a printer 705, a VTR (video tape recorder) 706, an observation television monitor 707, and a speaker 708 are connected to the display control unit 500. ing.

  Similarly to the display control unit 500, the biological signal amplifier unit 600 is also shown as one block. The biological signal amplifier unit 600 includes an ECG electrode unit 709, a heart sound microphone 710, and a pulse wave transducer. 711 is connected.

  Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with a power supply unit 800. The power supply unit 800 is connected to a commercial power supply and supplies necessary power to each unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  Further, the main body 10 has a CPU bus 901, and the CPU bus 901 includes a CPU unit 101 and a beam scan control unit 102 that constitute the control unit 100, and a control interface unit 204 that constitutes the analog processing unit 200. A black and white scan converter 301, a color scan converter 302, and a scroll scan converter 303 constituting the digital scan converter unit 300, and a pulse / continuous wave Doppler analysis unit 401 and a color Doppler analysis unit constituting the Doppler processing unit 400. 402 and an image display unit 500 are connected. The main body unit 10 includes an echo bus 902, and the echo bus 902 supplies image data generated by the analog signal processing unit 205 included in the analog processing unit 200 to the digital scan converter unit 300. Data generated by the pulse / continuous wave Doppler analysis unit 401 and the color Doppler analysis unit 402 constituting the Doppler processing unit 400 is also supplied to the digital scan converter unit 300 via the echo bus 902. Further, the main unit 10 has a video bus 903, and the video bus 903 includes a monochrome scan converter 301, a color scan converter 302, and a scroll scan converter 303 that constitute the digital scan converter unit 300. The video signal generated by either of them is transmitted to the display control unit 500.

  The operation panel 701 includes a keyboard having a large number of keys including a large number of operators 7011, 7012, 7013, 7014, 7015, 7016, and so on. A command corresponding to the operation information is transmitted to the beam scan control unit 102, the control interface unit 204, the digital scan converter unit 300, the Doppler processing unit 400, or the display control unit 500 according to the command. .

  The EL display unit 703 has a liquid crystal display screen, and the CPU unit 101 also serves as an EL line drawing creation unit that creates an EL line drawing to be displayed on the liquid crystal display screen of the EL display unit 703. The EL line drawing generated by the unit 101 is displayed on the liquid crystal display screen of the EL display unit 703. A touch panel 702 is provided on the liquid crystal display screen of the EL display unit 703. When the touch panel 702 is touched with a finger, position information indicating the position touched with the finger on the touch panel 702 is transmitted to the CPU unit 101. . When the touch panel 702 and the EL display 703 are instructed to set parameters related to a certain mode to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus by operating the operation panel 701, for example, the CPU 101 sets the parameters for that mode. A list of many parameters to be displayed is displayed on the EL display unit 703, and a desired parameter is set by touching the touch panel 702 with a finger. For example, various instructions to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be easily input. is there.

  The floppy disk device 704 is a device in which a floppy disk (not shown) is detachably loaded and accesses the loaded floppy disk. The CPU unit 101 is operated by the operator by operating the operation panel 701 or the touch panel 702. The instruction is written on the floppy disk loaded in the floppy disk device 704, and when the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is turned on or when the operation panel 701 is instructed to reset to the initial state, the floppy disk device Various instruction information written therein is input to the CPU unit 101 from the floppy disk loaded in 704, and the CPU unit 101 sets each unit to an initial state according to the instruction information. This is because there are a large number of parameters to be set from the operation panel 701 and the touch panel 702 necessary for operating the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. For example, each time the power is turned on, the large number of parameters must be reset. For this reason, the initial parameters etc. are written on the floppy disk, and when the power is turned on or the reset to the initial state is instructed, the parameters etc. written on the floppy disk are read and read. By setting each part according to the parameters, etc., the efficiency of setting the parameters, etc. is improved.

  As described above, the CPU unit 101 constituting the control unit 100 mainly plays the role of a man-machine interface, whereas the beam scan control unit 102 which also constitutes the control unit 100 is mainly composed of this super machine. I am in charge of controls that require real-time performance, such as the timing of ultrasound transmission / reception by the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. When performing transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves with this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, data for controlling each unit constituting the analog processing unit 200 is read from the transmission / reception memory 103, and the data read from the transmission / reception memory 103 is The beam scan control unit 102 is transmitted to the control interface unit 204 of the analog processing unit 200 via the CPU bus 901. The control interface unit 204 is connected to the transmission / reception unit 201 and the reception delay control unit via the control line 207. 202 and the Doppler signal processing unit 206, the control interface unit 204 controls the analog signal processing unit 205 via the control line 208, and the reception delay control unit 202 controls the control interface unit 204. In response Via the control line 209 controls the beamformer unit 203. Details of control of each unit of the analog processing unit 200 based on data read from the transmission / reception memory 103 will be described later.

  The ultrasonic probe 20 is connected to the transmission / reception unit 201. Examples of the ultrasonic probe include a linear scanning ultrasonic probe, a convex scanning ultrasonic probe, a sector scanning ultrasonic probe, and a special ultrasonic probe that is inserted into a body cavity, Furthermore, there are many types of ultrasonic probes such as types depending on the difference in the frequency of ultrasonic waves used. A connector (not shown) is used to attach the ultrasonic probe to the main body 10, but four connectors for connecting the ultrasonic probe are attached to the main body 10, as described above. Up to four of the various types of ultrasonic probes can be mounted simultaneously. When the ultrasonic probe is attached to the main body 10, information indicating which type of ultrasonic probe is attached can be recognized by the main body 10. The information includes the control line 207 and the control interface 204. And via the CPU bus 901 to the CPU unit 101. On the other hand, from the operation panel 701, when using this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus by operating the operation element 7011, this time, the ultrasonic probe connected to which of the four connectors on the main body 10 side is used. Instructions are entered. The instruction is transmitted to the beam scan control unit 102 via the CPU bus 901, and the beam scan control unit 102 reads out data corresponding to the ultrasonic probe to be used from the transmission / reception memory 103 and reads the data. Data is transmitted to the transmission / reception unit 201 via the CPU bus 901, the control interface unit 204, and the control line 207. The transmission / reception unit 201 will be described below with respect to the ultrasonic probe 20 instructed as described above. The high voltage pulse is transmitted, the ultrasonic wave is transmitted, and the signal received by the ultrasonic probe is received. Here, it is assumed that only one ultrasonic probe 20 shown in FIG. 1 is selected for ultrasonic transmission / reception.

  The ultrasonic probe 20 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called convex scanning type ultrasonic probe, and a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 211 are arranged on an arc at the tip thereof. The ultrasonic transducer 211 is applied to the body surface of 1 (particularly human body). In this state, each high voltage pulse for ultrasonic transmission is applied from the transmission / reception unit 201 to each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 211. Each high voltage pulse applied to each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 211 has a relative time difference adjusted by control of the control interface unit 204, and depends on how these relative time differences are adjusted. Thus, a focus is formed at a predetermined depth position inside the subject along any one of the plurality of scanning lines 2 extending from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 211 to the inside of the subject 1. The transmitted ultrasonic pulse beam is transmitted.

  The attributes of the ultrasonic pulse beam to be transmitted, that is, the direction of the ultrasonic pulse beam, the depth position of the focal point, the center frequency, and the like are originally stored in the transmission / reception memory 103. From the transducer 211, an ultrasonic pulse beam determined by data read from the transmission / reception memory 103 by the beam scan control unit 102 and transmitted to the control interface unit 204 via the CPU bus 901 is transmitted.

  The ultrasonic pulse beam is reflected at each point on the single scanning line while traveling inside the subject 1 and returns to the ultrasonic probe 20, and the reflected ultrasonic waves are received by the plural ultrasonic transducers 211. The A plurality of reception signals obtained by this reception are input to the transmission / reception unit 201, amplified by a plurality of preamplifiers (not shown) provided in the transmission / reception unit 201, and then input to the beamformer unit 203. The beamformer unit 203 is provided with an analog delay line (described later) having a large number of intermediate taps, and a plurality of received signals sent from the transmission / reception unit 201 are controlled by the reception delay control unit 202. Which intermediate tap of the analog delay line is input is switched, whereby the plurality of received signals are relatively delayed and current is added to each other. Here, by controlling the relative delay patterns related to the plurality of received signals, reflected ultrasonic waves in a direction along a predetermined scanning line extending inside the subject 1 are emphasized, and predetermined inside the subject 1 is emphasized. A so-called reception ultrasonic beam, which is focused at a depth position, is formed. Here, since the ultrasonic wave travels slowly in the subject 1 as compared with the speed of signal processing, it is at a deeper position in the subject while receiving the reflected ultrasonic wave along one scanning line. It is also possible to realize so-called dynamic focus, in which the focal point is moved sequentially, in this case, even during one reception corresponding to one transmission of the ultrasonic pulse beam, sequentially in time in the middle, The reception delay control unit 202 switches each tap of the analog delay line to which each reception signal obtained by each ultrasonic transducer is input.

  The attributes of the received ultrasonic beam, that is, the direction of the received ultrasonic beam, the focal position, and the like are also determined by data originally stored in the transmission / reception memory 103. That is, the data stored in the transmission / reception memory 103 is read by the beam scan control unit 102, transmitted to the control interface unit 204 via the CPU bus 901, and further received via the control line 207. 202, the reception delay control unit 202 controls the beamformer unit 203 based on the data thus transmitted.

  In the above description, it has been described that a high voltage pulse is applied to the ultrasonic transducer 211 and an ultrasonic pulse beam is transmitted, but in this case, as described above, the ultrasonic wave is slowly compared with the signal processing speed. In order to proceed through the specimen, the signal obtained at that time is measured depending on the time from when the high-frequency pulse is applied to the ultrasonic transducer 211 to the time when the ultrasonic transducer 211 receives the reflected ultrasonic wave. It is possible to know at which depth position in the specimen the signal corresponds to the reflected ultrasound. That is, since the transmitted ultrasonic wave is pulse-like, it has resolution in the depth direction of the subject. Normally, a high voltage pulse is applied to the ultrasonic transducer 211 as described above. However, in a special case, the ultrasonic transducer 211 is allowed to have no resolution in the depth direction in the subject. In some cases, a continuous high-frequency pulse train signal is applied to 211 to transmit an ultrasonic beam as a continuous wave into the subject.

  However, in the following description, it is assumed that a pulsed ultrasonic beam is transmitted except for the case where continuous waves are mentioned in the description of the pulse / continuous wave Doppler analysis unit 401 constituting the Doppler processing unit 400.

  The ultrasonic probe 20 shown in FIG. 1 is, like the conventional ultrasonic probe section described with reference to FIG. 21, a main body section 21 including arranged ultrasonic transducers 211, and is detachable from the main body section 21. It is comprised by the guide member 22 with which it is mounted | worn. The guide member 22 guides the puncture needle 30 so that the puncture needle 30 is inserted into the scanning region 3 defined by the plurality of scanning lines 2 inside the subject 1 and in a predetermined direction. A guide hole 22a is provided, and the puncture needle 30 is inserted into the guide hole 22a and is inserted toward the affected part 11 in the subject while being guided by the guide hole 22a.

  As described above, the transmission / reception unit 201 and the beamformer unit 203 sequentially transmit and receive the ultrasonic pulse beam along each of the plurality of scanning lines 2 inside the subject 1 and are generated thereby. Scan line signals representing received ultrasonic beams along the respective scan lines are sequentially input to the analog signal processing unit 205. In this analog signal processing unit 205, the input scanning line signal is logarithmically compressed and detected, and further, up to which depth region inside the subject 1 designated by operating the operation element 7012 of the operation panel 701. Filtering processing according to the designation of whether to display the image (that is, the designation of whether only the shallow area inside the subject should be displayed or how deep the image should be displayed), etc. Are further converted into digital image data by an A / D converter. The image data output from the analog signal processing unit 205 is input to the monochrome scan converter 301 constituting the digital scan converter unit 300 via the echo bus 902. In this black and white scan converter 301, interpolation calculation processing for generating data corresponding to each pixel for display is performed, and the input image data is converted into a video signal for display, and the video for display is converted. A signal is input to the display control unit 500 via the video bus 903. The display control unit 500 displays a B-mode image based on the ultrasonic reflection intensity distribution in the tomographic plane of the subject defined by the plurality of scanning lines 2 on the observation television monitor 707. At that time, the patient name, imaging date, imaging conditions, and the like input from the operation panel 701 are also superimposed and displayed on the B-mode image as necessary. As this B-mode image, a moving image representing the movement of the inside of the subject 1 can be displayed, or a still image at a certain point in time can be displayed. Based on the synchronization signal, an image at a certain phase of the motion of the heart synchronized with the motion of the human heart can be displayed.

  The biological signal amplifier unit 600 is connected with an ECG electrode unit 709 for obtaining an electrocardiographic waveform of the subject (human body) 1, a heart sound microphone 710 for picking up heart sounds, and a pulse wave transducer 711 for capturing a human body pulse. In the biological signal amplifier unit 600, a synchronization signal is generated based on any one or a plurality of these sensors, and is sent to the display control unit 500.

  In addition to the observation television monitor 707, a printer 705 and a VTR (video tape recorder) 706 are connected to the display control unit 500, and the display control unit 500 is in accordance with an instruction from the operator. The image displayed on 707 is output to the printer 705 or VTR 706.

  The description of the analog processing unit 200 starts again.

  When it is desired to know the temporal change of the ultrasonic reflection information on a single scanning line extending inside the subject, the ultrasonic wave is repeated along the single scanning line of interest in response to an instruction from the operator. Data transmitted / received and representing the received ultrasonic beam of the subject along the one scanning line is input to the scroll scan converter 303 via the echo bus 902. The scroll scan converter 303 has an ultrasonic reflection intensity distribution in the depth direction of the subject along the one scanning line in the vertical direction, and an image (M mode image) whose horizontal axis is a time axis and scrolls in the time axis direction. ) Is generated and input to the display control unit 500 via the video bus 903, and an image based on the video signal is displayed on the observation television monitor 707, for example. The display control unit 500 has a function of horizontally arranging a video signal representing the B-mode image sent from the monochrome scan converter 301 and a video signal representing the M-mode image sent from the scroll scan converter 303. In addition, it has a function of superimposing a color mode image, which will be described later, on the B-mode image, and a plurality of images are displayed side by side or a plurality of images are displayed on the observation television monitor 707 in accordance with an instruction from the operator. It is displayed superimposed.

  Returning to the description of the analog processing unit 200 once again.

  The Doppler signal processing unit 206 constituting the analog processing unit 200 is a component for obtaining the blood flow distribution in the subject 1 and the blood flow velocity on one point or one scanning line. In the processing unit 206, so-called quadrature detection is performed on the scanning line signal representing the received ultrasonic beam generated by the beam former unit 203, and further converted into digital data by A / D conversion. The data after quadrature detection output from the Doppler signal processing unit 206 is input to the Doppler processing unit 400. The Doppler processing unit 400 includes a pulse / continuous wave Doppler analysis unit 401 and a color Doppler analysis unit 402, and here, data output from the Doppler signal processing unit 206 is input to the color Doppler analysis unit 402. Shall be. In the color Doppler analysis unit 402, a region of interest (ROI) on the B-mode image designated by the operator by autocorrelation calculation based on data when ultrasonic transmission / reception is performed eight times along each scanning line, for example. Data representing the blood flow distribution in the interior is required. Data representing the blood flow distribution in the ROI is input to the color scan converter 302 via the echo bus 902. In the color scan converter 302, data representing the blood flow distribution in the ROI is converted into a video signal suitable for display, and the video signal is input to the display control unit 500 via the video bus 903. In the display control unit 500, for example, the blood flow in the direction approaching the ultrasonic probe 20 is red, the blood flow in the direction away from the ROI on the B-mode image sent from the black and white scan converter 301 is blue, and the brightness thereof. A color mode image representing the blood flow velocity is superimposed and displayed on the observation television monitor 707. Thereby, the outline of the blood flow distribution in the ROI can be grasped. Here, when the operator inputs a request to observe in detail the blood flow on one point or one scanning line in the ROI, this time, the transmission / reception unit 201 passes one point passing through the point. The data generated by the Doppler signal processing unit 206 based on the signal obtained by repeating transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves many times in the direction along the scanning line or one scanning line of interest is This is input to the pulse / continuous wave Doppler analysis unit 401 constituting the processing unit 400. When you are interested in blood flow at a certain point in the subject, a pulsed ultrasound beam is transmitted into the subject, allowing blood flow information on a single scan line to be averaged. When obtaining blood flow information with good S / N, an ultrasonic beam as a continuous wave is transmitted into the subject.

  The pulse / continuous wave Doppler analysis unit 401 performs blood flow at one point by FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) calculation based on data obtained by performing ultrasonic transmission / reception many times for one point or one scanning line. Information or average blood flow information on one scan line is obtained. Data representing the blood flow information obtained by the pulse / continuous wave Doppler analysis unit 401 is input to the scroll scan converter 303 via the echo bus 902. In the scroll scan converter 303, the vertical axis represents the blood flow velocity, A video signal representing an image whose horizontal axis is a time axis and scrolls in the time axis direction is generated. This video signal is input to the display control unit 500 via the video bus 903 and displayed on the observation television monitor 707 along with the B-mode image transmitted from the black-and-white scan converter 301, for example.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of data stored in the transmission / reception memory shown by one block in FIG.

  Here, a large number of scanning line data 1 to m and a large number of sequence data 1 to n are stored. Each one scanning line data is composed of a set of data defining attributes of a transmitting ultrasonic beam and a receiving ultrasonic beam along one scanning line of a certain ultrasonic probe. Specifically, A certain scanning line data (for example, scanning line data 1) is data suitable for one specific kind of ultrasonic probe, and a certain one of the plurality of scanning lines 2 in the ultrasonic probe 20 is used. The relative high voltage pulses applied to each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 211 to form a transmission ultrasonic beam of a certain frequency, which is transmitted in a direction along the scanning line and is focused at a certain depth position. The data defining the time difference (the entire relative time difference is referred to as a delay pattern), the pulse width and repetition period of the high voltage pulse applied to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 211, and the reception The relative delay time of each received signal obtained by each ultrasonic transducer 211 for defining the direction and focal position of the ultrasonic beam (the relative delay time as a whole is also referred to as a delay pattern). It consists of a set of prescribed data.

  Each piece of sequence data (for example, sequence data 1) is data defining the reading order of the scanning line data, and a plurality of scanning line data is sequentially read and read in the order determined by the sequence data. Transmission / reception of ultrasonic beams based on the output scanning line data is sequentially executed. That is, when it is instructed to use a certain ultrasonic probe by the operation of the operation element 7011 and further switching of a transmission / reception mode to be described later, sequence data suitable for them is transmitted from the transmission / reception memory 103 to the beam scan control unit 102. In the transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves, the beam scan control unit 102 first, for example, of the plurality of scanning lines 2 shown in FIG. The scanning line data for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic beam along the line is read out and sent to the analog processing unit 200 to perform transmission and reception of the ultrasonic beam along the scanning line, and then along the second scanning line from the left side. Scan line data for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam is read and sent to an analog processing unit. Reception of the ultrasonic beam is performed along the 査線. The same applies to the following, and transmission / reception of an ultrasonic beam along the rightmost scanning line is executed, whereby a reception signal for one frame is obtained, and one image of the scanning region 3 is generated. Next, in order to generate an image of the next frame, the process moves to transmission / reception of an ultrasonic beam along the leftmost scanning line again.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a delay pattern of high voltage pulses applied to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers.

  Compared to the ultrasonic transducers located at both ends (A) and (B) of the array, the ultrasonic transducers positioned at the center (O) of the array are temporally arranged on the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 211 arranged. A delayed high voltage pulse 212 is applied. In this way, by applying a high voltage pulse having a delay pattern to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 211, the transmission ultrasonic wave extends in a predetermined direction within the subject and has a focal point formed at a certain depth position. A pulse beam is formed.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing how high voltage pulses having different pulse widths and repetition periods are applied to the ultrasonic transducer.

  Comparing FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, a high voltage pulse having a wider pulse width and a longer repetition period is shown in FIG. 4B than in FIG. Is applied.

  In order to greatly change the frequency of ultrasonic waves used for transmission / reception, it is necessary to prepare an ultrasonic probe in which ultrasonic transducers adapted to the frequency are arranged for each frequency, but as shown in FIG. By adjusting the pulse width and repetition period of the high voltage pulse applied to the sonic transducer 211, the frequency of the ultrasonic wave can be adjusted within a certain range.

  FIG. 5 is a principle explanatory view showing how to form a reception ultrasonic beam in the beam former section.

  Here, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, delay lines 1001a,..., 1001m,..., 1001n having a plurality of taps, and selection switches 1002a,. Assume that a pair of 1002m,..., 1002n is provided corresponding to each ultrasonic transducer 211. Each of the selection switches 1002a,..., 1002m,..., 1002n receives one received signal obtained by one ultrasonic transducer 211, and each of the selection switches 1002a,. The received signal is input to the delay line from the tap corresponding to the control signal among the plurality of taps of the delay line. Each delay line 2001a,..., 2001m,..., 2001n delays the input received signal by a delay time corresponding to the tap to which the received signal is input and inputs it to the adder 1003. The adder 1003 adds the reception signals simultaneously input to the adder 1003 and outputs a scanning line signal representing the received ultrasonic beam.

  In FIG. 5, for ease of understanding, pairs of delay lines 1001a,..., 1001m,..., 1001n and selection switches 1002a,. , 1001m,..., 1001n are added to each other, and the configuration including the adder 103 has been described. A plurality of received signals obtained by a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are input to the delay line while controlling the input taps, and the plurality of received signals are delayed by a time corresponding to each input tap. Are added to each other in the delay line and received from the single delay line according to the controlled delay pattern and added together. Scan line signal is output directly.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship among the delay pattern, the direction of the scanning line, and the focal position.

  A plurality of ultrasonic transducers are arranged between A and B, and the midpoint between A and B is O. At this time, the high voltage pulse applied to each ultrasonic transducer is given a longer delay time to the ultrasonic transducer located on the B side as shown in FIG. When applied, a transmission ultrasonic beam is formed along a scanning line extending in a direction inclined from the middle point O toward the B side. As shown in FIG. A transmission ultrasonic beam is formed along a scanning line extending perpendicularly to the arrangement direction of the ultrasonic transducers 211, and has a longer delay time than the ultrasonic transducers located on the A side, as shown in FIG. When a given high voltage pulse is applied, a transmission ultrasonic beam tilted toward the A side is obtained. Further, even for transmission ultrasonic beams along the same scanning line, the focal position can be determined according to the delay pattern of the high voltage pulse. Specifically, as shown by broken lines in FIGS. 6A to 6C, an arc that touches a line segment between A and B with the focus at the center is considered. When the ultrasonic pulses transmitted from the respective ultrasonic transducers simultaneously reach the arc, the ultrasonic pulses advance so as to gather at the focal point. Therefore, for example, when a focal point is formed as shown in FIG. 6B, a high voltage pulse is simultaneously applied to the ultrasonic transducers positioned at the points A and B, and the points A and B are applied by the application of the high voltage pulse. When the ultrasonic pulse emitted from the ultrasonic transducer located at the point reaches the arc, a high voltage pulse is applied to the ultrasonic transducer located at the O point and the ultrasonic vibration located at the O point. An ultrasonic pulse is transmitted from the child. By doing so, a transmission ultrasonic pulse beam having the narrowest beam diameter is formed along the scanning line shown in FIG. 6B and at the focal position shown in FIG. 6B.

  Here, the plurality of ultrasonic transducers used for ultrasonic transmission arranged between A and B are, for example, the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 211 arranged in the ultrasonic probe 20 (see FIG. 1). Scanning is performed by moving a transmission aperture, which is a part of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers used for forming the transmission ultrasonic pulse beam, in the arrangement direction of the ultrasonic transducers 211 arranged in the ultrasonic probe 20. The line can be translated in the arrangement direction of the ultrasonic transducers 211. However, in the case of the ultrasonic probe 20 shown in FIG. 1, since the ultrasonic transducers 211 are arranged in an arc shape, the scanning line moves not in a parallel movement but in a circular arc.

  In this way, along the scanning line extending in any direction within the subject starting from an arbitrary point on the ultrasonic transducer 211 arranged in the ultrasonic probe 20, the focal point is on the arbitrary point on the scanning line. Transmitting ultrasonic beam with can be obtained.

  The formation of the reception ultrasonic beam is the same as that of the transmission ultrasonic beam.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 6 (A), the reception signals obtained by receiving the ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject and returning to the ultrasonic transducers by the ultrasonic transducers When a long delay time is given to the reception signals obtained by the ultrasonic transducers and added together, a reception ultrasonic beam along a scanning line inclined from the middle point O to the B side is formed. As shown in FIG. 6 (B), when a symmetric delay time is given and added together, a reception ultrasonic beam is formed along a scanning line extending perpendicularly to the arrangement direction of the ultrasonic transducers starting from the middle point O. As shown in FIG. 6C, when a long delay time is given to the received signals obtained by the ultrasonic transducer on the A side and added to each other, the scan tilted toward the A side with the point O as the starting point. A received ultrasound beam along the line is obtained. Further, even for reception ultrasonic beams along the same scanning line, the focal position can be determined according to the delay pattern. Specifically, the ultrasonic waves reflected at the focal point and directed to the respective points A, O, and B simultaneously reach the intersections of the line segments connecting the focal point and the respective points A, O, and B and the arc. Thus, a difference occurs in the time at which the ultrasonic waves reflected at the focal point are received by the respective ultrasonic transducers. Therefore, the received signals obtained by the ultrasonic transducer that the ultrasonic wave reflected at the focal point arrives first are delayed until the ultrasonic wave reaches the ultrasonic transducer that the ultrasonic wave reaches later, and then When added, a reception ultrasonic beam extending in the direction along the scanning line passing through the focal point and narrowed down at the focal point is formed.

  Here, as in the case of transmission, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers used for receiving reflected ultrasonic waves arranged between A and B are arranged, for example, in the ultrasonic probe 20 (see FIG. 1). A reception aperture, which is a part of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 211 and includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers used for receiving reflected ultrasonic waves, is arranged in the arrangement direction of the ultrasonic transducers 211 arranged on the ultrasonic probe 20. By moving, the scanning line can be translated in the direction of the arranged ultrasonic transducers 211. However, in the case of the ultrasonic probe 20 shown in FIG. 1, since the ultrasonic transducers 211 are arranged on an arc, the scanning line moves to draw an arc instead of parallel movement as in the case of transmission. Become.

  In this way, for both transmission and reception, along a scanning line extending in an arbitrary direction within the subject starting from an arbitrary point on the ultrasonic transducer 211 arranged in the ultrasonic probe 20, and on the scanning line An ultrasonic beam having a focal point at any point can be obtained.

  The overview of the entire ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment has been described above, and points characteristic of the present embodiment will be described below.

  In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, as will be apparent from the following description, not only the transmission / reception unit 201 but also the entire analog processing unit 200, the Doppler processing unit 400, and the analog processing unit of the control unit 100. 200 and the function of controlling the Doppler processing unit 400 correspond to the transmission / reception unit referred to in the present invention, the digital scan converter unit 300, the display control unit 500, the CPU unit 101, the function of generating a graphic image, and The combination of the functions of the control unit 100 for controlling the digital scan converter unit 300 and the display control unit 500, and the combination of the printer 705, the VTR 706, and the observation television monitor 707 are the image generation according to the present invention. It corresponds to the part.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating each example of scanning within a subject by ultrasonic waves in the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 7A, as in the conventional example shown in FIG. 21, the plurality of scanning lines 2 are spread uniformly in the scanning region 3. This corresponds to an example of the first transmission / reception mode according to the present invention. In addition, the point which attached | subjected the circle A and the circle B in FIG. 7 (A) is mentioned later.

  FIG. 7B shows that the first region 31 including the passage region of the puncture needle 30 in the scanning region 3 is higher than the second region 32 excluding the first region 31 in the scanning region 3. A state of scanning at the scanning line density is shown. This corresponds to an example of the second transmission / reception mode according to the present invention (second transmission / reception mode according to the first ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention).

  7C, the scanning region 3 itself is narrowed to the same region as the first region 31 shown in FIG. 7B, and the first region including the narrowed scanning region 3 is used. A state of scanning for 31 is shown. This also corresponds to an example of the second transmission / reception mode according to the present invention (second transmission / reception mode according to the second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention).

  The mode switching is performed by storing sequence data (see FIG. 2) corresponding to each mode in the transmission / reception memory 103 shown in FIG. 1 and operating the operation element 7013 of the operation panel 701. When the operation unit 7013 is operated to switch to any one of the transmission / reception modes, the beam scan control unit 102 reads out sequence data corresponding to the transmission / reception mode designated by the operation of the operation unit 7013, and transmits / receives the ultrasonic wave during transmission / reception. The transmission / reception mode is realized by sequentially reading the scanning line data (see FIG. 2) stored in the memory 103 according to the read sequence data.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an image displayed on the observation television monitor 707 shown in FIG.

  In the mode of FIG. 7A, the observation television monitor 707 displays an image of the entire wide scanning area 3 with a uniform resolution. In the mode of FIG. However, a high resolution image is displayed for the first region 31 and a low resolution image is displayed for the second region 32. In the mode of FIG. 7C, an image for the same scanning area as the first area 31, that is, a narrow scanning area is displayed.

  FIG. 8 also shows a diagram 30a representing the passage route of the puncture needle. Whether or not to display a diagram 30a indicating the passage route of the puncture needle is switched by the operator 7014 on the operation panel 701 shown in FIG. 1, and when the display is instructed, the CPU 101 displays the diagram. It is created and sent to the display control unit 500 via the CPU bus 901. In the display control unit 500, the diagram 30a is created by the monochrome scan converter 301 and sent to the display control unit 500 via the video bus 903. Superimposed on the input B-mode image.

  Here, the transmission / reception mode switching in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C is performed by the operator 7013, and the display / non-display switching of the diagram 30a shown in FIG. However, in the transmission / reception mode of FIG. 7A, the diagram 30a is not displayed, and in the transmission / reception mode of FIG. 7B or FIG. 30a may be displayed. This makes it impossible to independently select the transmission / reception mode and display / non-display of the diagram, but improves operability.

  When the affected part 11 is simply observed, the mode shown in FIG. 7A is employed so as to ensure a wide scanning area and to obtain a predetermined uniform resolution over the entire scanning area. Further, when the puncture needle 30 is to be inserted into the affected area 11, the high resolution image can be obtained in the region including the passage route of the puncture needle 30 as shown in FIG. 7B or FIG. The mode shown is adopted. The mode of FIG. 7B has an advantage that a wide scanning area can be ensured. The mode of FIG. 7C has a smaller scanning area than the mode of FIG. 7B, but the frame rate is improved accordingly. There is an advantage that can be made.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of an image displayed on the observation monitor television 707.

  Here, an enlarged image showing an area (enlarged area) around the affected area 11 is shown.

  In order to display the enlarged image as shown in FIG. 9 on the observation monitor television 707, the operator 7015 on the operation panel 701 shown in FIG. 1 is operated at the stage where the whole image as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. Then, ROI (Region Of Interest) designation is made as to which part (referred to as an enlarged area) is to be enlarged, and an instruction to enlarge is instructed. Then, the position information of the enlarged area is input from the CPU unit 101 to the black and white scan converter 301 via the CPU bus 901, and the black and white scan converter 301 performs an interpolation processing calculation so that an enlarged image is obtained for the enlarged area. An image representing only the enlarged region is generated. When the diagram 30a is superimposed, the CPU unit 101 generates a diagram suitable for the enlarged region.

  When the generation of such an enlarged image is combined with, for example, the transmission / reception mode shown in FIG. 7C, the resolution is improved and the enlarged image is displayed, and an image more preferable for puncture is obtained.

  Note that the enlarged image shown in FIG. 9 also shows a diagram 30a. However, whether or not to display the diagram 30a by matching the mode for generating and displaying the enlarged image with the mode for displaying the diagram 30a. The operator 7014 for switching between and the operator 7015 for instructing image enlargement are used together. When displaying an image with a normal size, the diagram 30a is not displayed, and the diagram 30a is displayed when an enlarged image is displayed. You may make it do. In this way, selection of the image generation mode and display / non-display switching of the diagram cannot be performed independently, but the operation is saved correspondingly.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an internal structure of a portion surrounded by a circle A in FIG. On the main body 21 side of the ultrasonic probe, two fixed contact pieces 21a_1 and 21a_2 and one movable contact piece 21b are provided, and whether the two fixed contact pieces 21a_1 and 21a_2 are electrically connected by the movable contact piece 21b. A detector 21c for detecting whether or not is provided.

  FIG. 10A shows a state where the guide member 22 is not attached to the main body portion 21 of the ultrasonic probe, and the two fixed contact pieces 21a_1 and 21a_2 are in a non-conductive state. FIG. 10B shows a state in which the guide member 22 is mounted on the main body portion 21 of the ultrasonic probe, and the movable contact piece 21b is pushed by the projection portion 22b of the guide member 22 and two fixed contact pieces. The connection between 21a_1 and 21a_2 is made conductive. The detector 21c detects whether the two fixed contact pieces 21a_1 and 21a_2 are in a conductive state or a non-conductive state. The information includes the transmitting / receiving unit 201, the control line 207, the control interface unit 204, and the CPU bus 901 shown in FIG. Is transmitted to the CPU unit 101 and the beam scan control 102. In the CPU unit 101, information on whether or not the guide member 22 is attached to the main body unit 21 of the ultrasonic probe is generated by generating a diagram 30a showing the passage route of the puncture needle shown in FIGS. In addition to the diagram 30a, it is used for displaying on the image that the guide member 22 is mounted on the main body 21 as information, and the beam scan control unit 102 uses a transmission / reception mode (FIG. 7 ( A) to (C) are used for switching.

  That is, here, as shown in FIG. 10, a sensor for detecting attachment / detachment of the guide member 22 to / from the main body 21 and for switching the transmission / reception mode as shown in FIGS. Instead of providing 7013, when this sensor detects that the guide member 22 is not attached to the main body 21, the transmission / reception mode shown in FIG. Is detected, the transmission / reception mode shown in FIG. 7B or 7C is switched. Alternatively, both the operation element 7013 and the sensor shown in FIG. 10 are provided, and an operation element 7016 for switching between the manual mode for enabling the operation element 7013 and the automatic mode for enabling the sensor shown in FIG. 10 is provided. May be.

  Further, instead of providing the operation panel 701 shown in FIG. 1 with an operation element 7015 for switching between generating and displaying an image with a normal size or generating and displaying an enlarged image, the sensor 12 When it is detected that the guide member 22 is not attached to 21, an image that displays the entire area of the scanning region 3 with normal dimensions as shown in FIG. 8 is generated (in the first image generation mode according to the present invention). When the sensor detects that the guide member 22 is attached to the main body 21, the enlarged image shown in FIG. 9 is generated (switched to the second image generation mode in the present invention). Also good. Alternatively, both the operation element 7015 and the sensor shown in FIG. 10 are provided, and the operation element 7016 is used to switch between enabling the operation element 7015 and enabling the sensor shown in FIG. In this way, the generation of the enlarged image may be performed manually or automatically.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the internal structure of a portion surrounded by a circle A in FIG.

  The main body portion 21 of the ultrasonic probe is provided with four fixed contact pieces 21a_1, 21a_2, 21a_3, 21a_4 and three movable contact pieces 21b_1, 21b_2, 21b_3, and further two fixed contact pieces 21a_1, 21a_2; There are provided three detectors 21c_1, 21c_2, and 21c_3 that detect whether or not a pair of 21a_2 and 21a_3; 21a_3 and 21a_4 is conductive. In addition, a maximum of three protrusions 22b_1, 22b_2, and 22b_3 are provided on the guide member 22 side according to the number of types of guide members. In the case of the guide member 22 shown here, two protrusions 22b_1 and 22b_2 are provided.

  FIG. 11A shows a state in which the guide member 22 is not attached to the main body portion 21 of the ultrasonic probe, and the pair of the two fixed contact pieces 21a_1, 21a_2; 21a_2, 21a_3; 21a_3, 21a_4 Both are in a non-conductive state. FIG. 11B shows a state in which the guide member 22 is mounted on the main body portion 21 of the ultrasonic probe, and each of the two fixed contact pieces 21a_1, 21a_2; Any one or two or more of the pairs 21a_3; 21a_3 and 21a_4 are in a conductive state. In the example shown in FIG. 11B, the pair of the fixed contact piece 21a_1 and the fixed contact piece 21a_2 is brought into conduction by the movable contact piece 21b_1, and the pair of the fixed contact piece 21a_2 and the fixed contact piece 21a_3 is the movable contact piece 21b_2. Is in a conductive state. The pair of the fixed contact piece 21a_3 and the fixed contact piece 21a_4 remains in a non-conductive state. The conduction / non-conduction state of each fixed contact pair is detected by the detectors 21c_1, 21c_2, and 21c_3. Information obtained by this detection includes information on whether or not the guide member 22 is attached to the main body portion 21 of the ultrasonic probe, and further, if the guide member 22 is attached to the main body portion 21, the information is attached. It includes information representing the type of guide member that is present.

  This information is transmitted to the CPU unit 101 and the beam scan control unit 102 in the same manner as described with reference to FIG.

  The type of the guide member 22 is a difference in the angle at which the puncture needle is guided, and the type depends on whether the puncture needle needs to be inserted into a shallow portion or a deep portion within the subject. Different guide members 22 are attached to the main body 21.

  Accordingly, the position and angle on the image of the diagram 30a showing the passage route of the puncture needle shown in FIGS. Then, a diagram corresponding to the attached guide member is created. Since the region on the image into which the puncture needle 30 is inserted differs according to the type of the guide member, the region (first region 31) to be improved in resolution shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C is the guide member. Depending on the type of guide member attached to the main body portion 21 of the ultrasonic probe, the beam scan control unit 102 can change the first region in FIGS. 7B and 7C. 31 is switched. This switching is performed by reading different sequence data from the transmission / reception memory 103 as described above.

  Similarly to the switching of the transmission / reception mode, regarding the generation of the enlarged image, the ROI is enlarged so that the region including the passage route of the puncture needle to be inserted by the guide member is enlarged according to the type of the attached guide member. Automatically changed. At this time, the ROI designation function is removed from the operation unit 7015, and the operation unit 7015 may be an operation unit only for generating an enlarged image, or the manual mode / automatic mode switching operation unit 7016 may be used. Depending on the operation, it may be switched whether the ROI designation of the enlarged image is performed by the operation element 7015 (manual mode) or by the information from the sensor shown in FIG.

  12 is a schematic diagram of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic probe, and FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view of the distal end portion of the puncture needle 30 indicated by a circle C in FIG.

  Here, the puncture needle 30 includes a hollow needle 31 and an inner needle 32 that is in sliding contact with the inner wall of the hollow needle 31. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a vibrator 40 that vibrates the inner needle 32 of the puncture needle 30 in the longitudinal direction (the direction of arrows ZZ shown in FIG. 13) is provided at the rear end of the puncture needle 30. Is provided. When vibration is applied to the inner needle 32 by the vibrator 40, the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer 211 of the ultrasonic probe 20 and reflected at the tip of the inner needle 32 is caused by the vibration of the inner needle 32. Will receive a Doppler transition. The ultrasonic wave reflected by Doppler transition at the tip of the inner needle 32 and returned to the ultrasonic vibrator 211 is reflected by the ultrasonic vibrator 211 in the same manner as the ultrasonic wave reflected and returned by another tissue in the subject. Although not related to the color display of the blood flow through the transmission / reception unit 201 and the beamformer unit 203 shown in FIG. 1 and further through the Doppler signal processing unit 206, the color Doppler analysis unit 402 Entered. The color Doppler analysis unit 402 detects the point where the ultrasonic wave has undergone Doppler transition, that is, the tip position of the puncture needle 30 by the same calculation as the calculation for obtaining the blood flow distribution described above. Information representing the tip position of the puncture needle 30 is input to the beam scan control unit 102 via the CPU bus 901, and the beam scan control unit 102 determines the puncture needle according to the position of the tip of the puncture needle 30. First regions 31 shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C are determined so that the region in the vicinity of the tip becomes a high-resolution image. Specifically, as described above, sequence data corresponding to the tip position of the puncture needle is read from the transmission / reception memory 103.

  In this way, by detecting the tip position of the puncture needle and determining the first region 31 described above, the resolution and frame rate of the image are higher than when the first region 31 is fixedly determined. Compared with the case where the operator can set the first area 31 by operating the operating element, the operation is saved and the usability is improved.

  Further, the position information of the tip of the puncture needle 30 may be used for specifying the ROI of the enlarged image. What is important in performing puncture is image information in the vicinity of the tip of the puncture needle 30. By automatically determining the ROI of the enlarged image so that the tip position of the puncture needle 30 is always included, the puncture needle 30 is inserted. In the middle of the course, the vicinity of the tip of the puncture needle 30 is always enlarged and displayed in an easy-to-see manner.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of a portion of the guide member 22 surrounded by a circle B in FIG.

  When the puncture needle 30 is inserted into a guide hole 22a provided in the guide member 22 for guiding the puncture needle 30, the puncture needle 30 is sandwiched between two rollers 22b_1 and 22b_2, and the puncture needle 30 is placed inside the subject. These two rollers 22b_1 and 22b_2 rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. A potentiometer 23 for measuring the rotation amount of the roller 22b_1 is connected to one of the two rollers 22b_1 and 22b_2. Therefore, the potentiometer 23 can know how much the puncture needle 30 has been inserted into the subject. The output of the potentiometer 23 is transmitted to the control unit 100 via the transmission / reception unit 201, the control line 207, the control interface unit 204, and the CPU bus 901, and the output of the puncture needle 30 described with reference to FIGS. As an alternative to the method of directly detecting the tip position, it is used for specifying the first region 31 shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C and for specifying the ROI when obtaining an enlarged image.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a frequency distribution of an ultrasonic beam transmitted from an ultrasonic transducer toward a subject. 15A and 15B, the horizontal axis represents the frequency f of the ultrasonic wave, and the vertical axis represents the power P of the frequency.

  15A and 15B are compared, the center frequency f0 in FIG. 15A is closer to the high frequency side than in FIG. 15B. The adjustment of the center frequency f0 is performed by adjusting the pulse width and repetition period of the high voltage pulse applied to the ultrasonic transducer 211 as described with reference to FIG.

  Here, in combination with the position detection method of the tip of the puncture needle 30 described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, when the tip of the puncture needle 30 is at a shallow position in the subject, FIG. As shown in FIG. 5B, the center frequency f0 becomes lower as the tip of the puncture needle 30 is deeply inserted into the subject. Transmission and reception of the ultrasonic wave approaching the side is performed. When high-frequency ultrasound is used, a high-resolution image can be obtained, but attenuation is severe, and when high-frequency ultrasound is used, only a shallow region within the subject can be observed, while low-frequency ultrasound is Although it penetrates to a deep region in the specimen, it is inferior in terms of resolution compared to high-frequency ultrasound. Therefore, here, by using ultrasonic waves having a frequency corresponding to the tip position of the puncture needle, it is possible to obtain an image with as high a resolution as possible according to the depth position of the tip of the puncture needle.

  The relationship between the tip position of the puncture needle and the ultrasonic frequency used for transmission / reception is determined in advance and stored in the transmission / reception memory 103, and the data stored in the transmission / reception memory 103 is read according to the position of the tip of the puncture needle. The high voltage pulse applied to the ultrasonic transducer 211 may be adjusted, or the relationship between the tip position of the puncture needle and the frequency of the ultrasonic wave used for transmission / reception is held in the form of a relational expression, and from the tip position of the puncture needle The frequency may be obtained by calculation, and the high voltage pulse may be adjusted so that the ultrasonic wave having the frequency is transmitted and received.

  Here, in order to recognize the position of the tip of the puncture needle, it has been described that the method described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 is adopted. However, the feeding length of the puncture needle 30 described with reference to FIG. By measuring, the frequency of the ultrasonic wave used for transmission / reception may be changed in relation to the feeding length.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a transmission cycle of an ultrasonic beam transmitted from an ultrasonic transducer toward a subject. 16A and 16B, the horizontal axis represents the time axis t, and it is assumed that an ultrasonic beam is transmitted into the subject at each time t0, t1, t2, t3,.

  Here, in combination with the position detection method of the tip of the puncture needle described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, when the tip of the puncture needle 30 is at a shallow position in the subject, it is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 16B, the transmission / reception interval of the ultrasonic beam is increased as the ultrasonic beam is transmitted / received in such a short period and the tip of the puncture needle 30 is deeply inserted into the subject.

  As described above, the ultrasonic wave travels slowly in the subject as compared with the signal processing speed. Therefore, when observing a shallow region in the subject, the period of ultrasonic beam transmission / reception can be shortened as shown in FIG. 16A. It is necessary to lengthen the transmission / reception cycle.

  If the period of ultrasonic beam transmission / reception is short, multiple transmission / receptions can be performed within the same time, and the resolution of the scanning lines is increased by that amount, or the frame rate is increased to follow the fast movement. Can be improved.

  Therefore, by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam at a cycle according to the tip position of the puncture needle, the resolution and the frame rate can be balanced in a dimension as high as possible according to the depth position of the tip of the puncture needle.

  The relationship between the tip position of the puncture needle and the transmission / reception cycle of the ultrasonic beam is stored in the transmission / reception memory 103 shown in FIG. 12, and data representing the cycle is read according to the tip position of the puncture needle, and the transmission / reception unit is used as the data. 201, the relationship between the tip position of the puncture needle and the period of ultrasonic beam transmission / reception is held in the form of a relational expression, and the reception period from the puncture needle tip position information to the ultrasonic beam is obtained by calculation, The transmission / reception unit 201 may be controlled based on data obtained by the calculation.

  In order to recognize the tip position of the puncture needle, it has been described here that the method described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 is adopted. However, the feeding length of the puncture needle 30 described with reference to FIG. May be adopted, and the period of ultrasonic beam transmission / reception may be changed in relation to the feeding length.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the beam shape of an ultrasonic beam. Here, it is assumed that the transmission ultrasonic beam and the reception ultrasonic beam have the same shape and are not particularly distinguished from each other.

  FIG. 17A shows an ultrasonic beam in which a focal point F with the narrowest beam diameter is formed at a relatively shallow position inside the subject 1, and FIG. An ultrasonic beam having a focal point F formed at a relatively deep position inside the specimen 1 is shown. Since the beam diameter of the ultrasonic beam is thin in the vicinity of the focal point F, an image with higher resolution can be obtained accordingly. The shapes of these ultrasonic beams can be adjusted by the method described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 to 6.

  Therefore, here, in combination with the position detection method of the tip of the puncture needle 30 described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, when the tip of the puncture needle 30 is at a shallow position in the subject, the shallow position As the ultrasonic beam having a focal point is formed and the tip of the puncture needle 30 is deeply inserted into the subject, an ultrasonic beam having a focal point at a deeper position is formed as shown in FIG. The

  As described above, the focal position of the ultrasonic beam is changed depending on which scanning line data is read out from a large number of scanning line data stored in the transmission / reception memory 103 shown in FIG.

  In this way, by forming an ultrasonic beam having a focal point at a position corresponding to the tip position of the puncture needle 30, a high-resolution image suitable for puncture can be obtained. Here, in order to recognize the position of the tip of the puncture needle, it has been described that the method described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 is adopted. However, the feeding length of the puncture needle 30 described with reference to FIG. A method of measuring the thickness may be adopted, and the focal position of the ultrasonic beam may be changed in relation to the feeding length.

  15, 16, and 17, the ultrasonic frequency, the ultrasonic transmission / reception cycle, and the focal position of the ultrasonic beam are respectively used according to the tip position or the feed length of the puncture needle 30. However, these may be realized independently of each other, or a plurality of them may be combined and realized simultaneously. Alternatively, they may be realized in combination with various methods described before them, for example, changing the density of scanning lines, setting an enlarged region, and the like.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers.

  Although the ultrasonic transducers 211 provided in the ultrasonic probe 20 are not particularly limited, the description so far has been mainly focused on being arranged in a line in an arc shape. The vibrators 211 may be arranged two-dimensionally. FIG. 18 shows ultrasonic transducers 211 arranged two-dimensionally in the X direction and the Y direction.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a scanning region when scanning is performed using ultrasonic probes in which ultrasonic transducers are two-dimensionally arranged as shown in FIG.

  In this case, the inside of the subject is scanned not only in the XX direction but also in the YY direction, and a three-dimensional scanning region 3 as shown in FIG. 19 can be obtained.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a stereoscopic image that expresses depth although it is difficult to understand on the drawing.

  Corresponding to the fact that the three-dimensional scanning region 3 can be obtained as shown in FIG. 19, a three-dimensional tomographic image in the subject can be displayed.

  When a puncture needle is inserted into a subject, the puncture needle does not always follow a predetermined passage route, and is bent at the boundary of the tissue in the subject due to the difference in the hardness of the tissue. In some cases, the route deviates from a predetermined passing route, and the way of deviating the route is not limited to the XZ plane shown in FIG. 19 and may deviate in the Y direction. In such a case, if a two-dimensional tomographic image is displayed, the tip of the puncture needle may deviate from the displayed image, leading to a result that the tip of the puncture needle cannot be sufficiently visually recognized. Accordingly, a three-dimensional scanning region 3 as shown in FIG. 19 is obtained by using an ultrasonic probe in which ultrasonic transducers 211 are two-dimensionally arranged as shown in FIG. By displaying the image, no matter what direction the tip of the puncture needle is bent, the tip of the puncture needle can be visually recognized and care can be taken not to damage other tissues.

  In addition, since it takes time to generate a stereoscopic image, it is preferable to generate a stereoscopic image only in the vicinity of the tip of the puncture needle. As a method for limiting the image generation region to the vicinity of the tip of the puncture needle, the ROI designation method for the enlarged image described so far can be employed as it is.

  Further, the various techniques described so far can be applied as they are to the case of generating a stereoscopic image described with reference to FIGS.

  In addition, although all embodiment described so far is an example which employ | adopted the ultrasonic probe provided with the arranged several ultrasonic transducer | vibrator, regarding an ultrasonic diagnosing device, it is equipped with a several ultrasonic transducer | vibrator. Instead, a single ultrasonic transducer having an acoustic lens on the front surface is provided, and the ultrasonic transducer is mechanically moved one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally while transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. A technique for scanning with an ultrasonic wave is also generally known. The present invention may be adopted in the present invention, and various techniques described so far may be realized as long as they do not contradict their properties. As a case contrary to the nature, when this technology is adopted, for example, the focal point of the acoustic lens is fixed, so that it is difficult to realize the method of changing the focal point according to the position of the tip of the puncture needle. .

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the data stored in the memory for transmission / reception shown by one block in FIG. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the delay pattern of the high voltage pulse applied to a some ultrasonic transducer | vibrator. It is the schematic diagram which showed a mode that the high voltage pulse from which a pulse width and a repetition period differ was applied to an ultrasonic transducer | vibrator. It is a principle explanatory view showing how to form a reception ultrasonic beam in the beam former. It is explanatory drawing which showed the relationship between a delay pattern, the direction of a scanning line, and a focus position. It is a schematic diagram which shows each example of the scan inside a subject by an ultrasonic wave. It is a schematic diagram of the image displayed on the television monitor for observation shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the other example of the image displayed on the monitor television for observation. It is a schematic diagram which shows the internal structure of the part enclosed by the circle A of FIG. 7 (A). It is a schematic diagram which shows the other example of the internal structure of the part enclosed by the circle | round | yen A of FIG. 7 (A). It is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic probe tip part. FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the distal end portion of the puncture needle 30 indicated by a circle C in FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of a portion of the guide member 22 surrounded by a circle B in FIG. It is a figure which shows frequency distribution of the ultrasonic beam transmitted toward the inside of a subject from an ultrasonic transducer | vibrator. It is a figure which shows the transmission period of the ultrasonic beam transmitted toward the inside of a subject from an ultrasonic transducer. It is a figure which shows the beam shape of an ultrasonic beam. It is a figure which shows the two-dimensional arrangement | sequence of an ultrasonic transducer | vibrator. It is the figure which showed the scanning area | region when it scans using the ultrasonic probe by which the ultrasonic transducer | vibrator was arranged two-dimensionally. It is a figure showing the stereo image expressing the depth. It is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic probe in a state where a puncture needle is inserted into a subject. It is a figure which shows the example of an image by the ultrasonic wave in the state in which the puncture needle is stabbed in the subject.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Subject 2 Scan line 3 Scan area | region 10 Main body part 11 Affected part 20 Ultrasonic probe 21 Main body part 22 Guide member 22a Guide hole 30 Puncture needle 100 Control part 101 CPU part 102 Beam scan control part 103 Memory for transmission / reception 200 Analog processing part 201 Transmission / reception unit 202 Reception delay control unit 203 Beamformer unit 204 Control interface unit 205 Analog signal processing unit 206 Doppler signal processing unit 207, 208, 209 Control line 211 Ultrasonic transducer 300 Digital scan converter unit 301 Black and white scan converter 302 For color Scan converter 303 Scroll scan converter 400 Doppler processing unit 401 Pulse / continuous wave Doppler analysis unit 402 Color Doppler analysis unit 500 Display control unit 600 Body signal amplifier 701 the operation panel 702 a touch panel 703 EL display unit 704 a floppy disk device 705 printer 706 VTR
707 Television monitor for observation 708 Speaker 709 ECG electrode unit 710 Heart sound microphone 711 Pulse wave transducer 800 Power supply unit 901 CPU bus 902 Echo bus 903 Video bus 7011, 7012, 7013, 7015, 7016,.

Claims (7)

The inside of the subject is scanned by repeating transmission and reception of the ultrasonic beam along each of the plurality of scanning lines extending into the subject, and the plurality of scannings are performed based on the received signal obtained by the scanning. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for generating an image in a scanning region defined by a line,
A main body having an ultrasonic transducer that transmits ultrasonic waves into the subject and receives ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject, and is inserted into the subject. An ultrasonic probe comprising a guide member for guiding a puncture needle;
The ultrasonic transducer is driven so that an ultrasonic beam traveling along each of the plurality of scanning lines is sequentially formed, and the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject and returned to the ultrasonic transducer A transmission / reception unit for receiving a received signal by the ultrasonic transducer;
An image generator for generating an image based on the received signal;
A vibration mechanism for vibrating the tip of the puncture needle,
The transmitter / receiver receives the vibration of the tip of the puncture needle that has propagated to the ultrasonic transducer to detect the tip position of the puncture needle, and forms an ultrasonic beam having a frequency corresponding to the detected tip position of the puncture needle The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is characterized in that the ultrasonic transducer is driven as described above. The inside of the subject is scanned by repeating transmission and reception of the ultrasonic beam along each of the plurality of scanning lines extending into the subject, and the plurality of scannings are performed based on the received signal obtained by the scanning. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for generating an image in a scanning region defined by a line,
A main body having an ultrasonic transducer that transmits ultrasonic waves into the subject and receives ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject, and is inserted into the subject. An ultrasonic probe comprising a guide member for guiding a puncture needle;
The ultrasonic transducer is driven so that an ultrasonic beam traveling along each of the plurality of scanning lines is sequentially formed, and the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject and returned to the ultrasonic transducer A transmission / reception unit for receiving a received signal by the ultrasonic transducer;
An image generator for generating an image based on the received signal;
A vibration mechanism for vibrating the tip of the puncture needle,
The transmission / reception unit receives the vibration of the tip of the puncture needle that has propagated to the ultrasonic transducer and detects the tip of the puncture needle, and an ultrasonic beam is formed at a cycle corresponding to the detected tip position of the puncture needle. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by driving the ultrasonic transducer as described above. The inside of the subject is scanned by repeating transmission and reception of the ultrasonic beam along each of the plurality of scanning lines extending into the subject, and the plurality of scannings are performed based on the received signal obtained by the scanning. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for generating an image in a scanning region defined by a line,
A main body having an ultrasonic transducer that transmits ultrasonic waves into the subject and receives ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject, and is inserted into the subject. An ultrasonic probe comprising a guide member for guiding a puncture needle;
The ultrasonic transducer is driven so that an ultrasonic beam traveling along each of the plurality of scanning lines is sequentially formed, and the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject and returned to the ultrasonic transducer A transmission / reception unit for receiving a received signal by the ultrasonic transducer;
An image generator for generating an image based on the received signal;
A vibration mechanism for vibrating the tip of the puncture needle,
The transmitter / receiver receives the vibration of the tip of the puncture needle that has propagated to the ultrasonic transducer and detects the tip position of the puncture needle, and the focal length of the ultrasonic beam is determined according to the detected tip position of the puncture needle. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that drives the ultrasonic transducer to change. The inside of the subject is scanned by repeating transmission and reception of the ultrasonic beam along each of the plurality of scanning lines extending into the subject, and the plurality of scannings are performed based on the received signal obtained by the scanning. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for generating an image in a scanning region defined by a line,
A main body having an ultrasonic transducer that transmits ultrasonic waves into the subject and receives ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject, and is inserted into the subject. An ultrasonic probe comprising a guide member for guiding a puncture needle;
The ultrasonic transducer is driven so that an ultrasonic beam traveling along each of the plurality of scanning lines is sequentially formed, and the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject and returned to the ultrasonic transducer A transmission / reception unit for receiving a received signal by the ultrasonic transducer;
An image generation unit that generates an image based on the received signal,
The ultrasonic probe includes a sensor that measures the length of the tip side portion of the puncture needle that passes through the guide member,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the transmission / reception unit drives the ultrasonic transducer so that an ultrasonic beam having a frequency corresponding to a length measured by the sensor is formed. The inside of the subject is scanned by repeating transmission and reception of the ultrasonic beam along each of the plurality of scanning lines extending into the subject, and the plurality of scannings are performed based on the received signal obtained by the scanning. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for generating an image in a scanning region defined by a line,
A main body having an ultrasonic transducer that transmits ultrasonic waves into the subject and receives ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject, and is inserted into the subject. An ultrasonic probe comprising a guide member for guiding a puncture needle;
The ultrasonic transducer is driven so that an ultrasonic beam traveling along each of the plurality of scanning lines is sequentially formed, and the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject and returned to the ultrasonic transducer A transmission / reception unit for receiving a received signal by the ultrasonic transducer;
An image generation unit that generates an image based on the received signal,
The ultrasonic probe includes a sensor that measures the length of the tip side portion of the puncture needle that passes through the guide member,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the transmission / reception unit drives the ultrasonic transducer so that an ultrasonic beam is sequentially formed at a period corresponding to a length measured by the sensor. The inside of the subject is scanned by repeating transmission and reception of the ultrasonic beam along each of the plurality of scanning lines extending into the subject, and the plurality of scannings are performed based on the received signal obtained by the scanning. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for generating an image in a scanning region defined by a line,
A main body having an ultrasonic transducer that transmits ultrasonic waves into the subject and receives ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject, and is inserted into the subject. An ultrasonic probe comprising a guide member for guiding a puncture needle;
The ultrasonic transducer is driven so that an ultrasonic beam traveling along each of the plurality of scanning lines is sequentially formed, and the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject and returned to the ultrasonic transducer A transmission / reception unit for receiving a received signal by the ultrasonic transducer;
An image generation unit that generates an image based on the received signal,
The ultrasonic probe includes a sensor that measures the length of the tip side portion of the puncture needle that passes through the guide member,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the transmission / reception unit drives the ultrasonic transducer so that a focal length of the ultrasonic beam changes according to a length measured by the sensor.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus scans the inside of the subject by repeating transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along each of a plurality of three-dimensionally arranged scanning lines extending into the subject. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein an image in a three-dimensional scanning region defined by the plurality of scanning lines is generated based on the received signal obtained. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment.

Images