JP2010005011A - Ultrasonic observation device and method for controlling operation thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the time required for switching displays of ultrasonic images. <P>SOLUTION: When a switching signal is input for switching displays of ultrasonic images, a control circuit 22 of the ultrasonic observation device 11 determines a waiting time by a waiting time determiner 28. When a new switching signal is input before the waiting time elapses, the waiting time determiner 28 calculates an average value of the input interval of the switching signals, and determines a new waiting time based thereon. When the waiting time elapses without the input of a subsequent switching signal, the control circuit 22 starts a display switching process corresponding to the last switching signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic observation apparatus that displays an ultrasonic image on a screen, and an operation control method of the ultrasonic observation apparatus.

  In recent years, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have been widely used in the medical field. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe that irradiates a living body with ultrasonic waves and receives an echo signal thereof, and an ultrasonic observation apparatus connected to the ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic observation apparatus performs various signal processing on the echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe to generate image data. At the time of medical diagnosis, an ultrasonic image based on the generated image data is displayed on a monitor or the like.

  The ultrasonic observation apparatus has a function of switching the display of an ultrasonic image on a monitor in accordance with the position of a region of interest such as a lesion. For example, it is possible to switch the display range (depth) in the depth direction, image rotation, image parallel movement, and the ultrasonic observation apparatus performs display according to the content of the operation when these switching operations are performed. A switching process is performed on the ultrasound image. Then, the ultrasonic image that has undergone the display switching process is displayed again on the monitor.

In order to facilitate the switching operation of ultrasonic images, for example, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus described in Patent Document 1, operations such as image rotation and parallel movement are performed continuously and stepwise with a trackball provided on an operation panel. It is possible to go to. In addition, an ultrasonic diagnostic system in which a dedicated switch for switching the display depth is provided on the operation panel has been proposed (see Patent Document 2).
JP 2002-315753 A JP 2007-313202 A

  As described above, in order to switch the display of the ultrasound image, display switching processing corresponding to the switching operation must be performed on the ultrasound image. When the display switching process starts, the ultrasound observation apparatus cannot accept the next switching operation until the process is completed. Therefore, the conventional ultrasound observation apparatus has a time difference for allowing the next switching operation after the switching operation is performed until the display switching process is started. For this reason, the time from when the switching operation is completed until the display of the ultrasound image is switched is the sum of the above-described time difference and the time required for the display switching process, and the display of the ultrasound image is performed by the amount of time difference. There was a problem that switching would be delayed, causing stress on the surgeon.

  In addition, when the interval of the switching operation is longer than the time difference, the switching operation is not accepted as described above, so that it takes a considerable time until the display desired by the operator is obtained. However, if the time difference is set to be long in order to reliably accept the switching operation until the end, of course, the time until the display is switched from the switching operation becomes longer.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an ultrasonic observation apparatus that can reduce the time required for switching the display of ultrasonic images and reduce the stress on the operator, and the ultrasonic observation apparatus of the present invention. An object is to provide an operation control method.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic observation apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit that displays an ultrasonic image, an operation input unit that inputs a switching signal that instructs display switching of the ultrasonic image, and an operation input. A detection unit that detects an operation input state of the unit, and a determination that determines a waiting time T from the end of the input of the switching signal to the start of the ultrasonic image display switching process based on the operation input state detected by the detection unit And a processing means for executing a display switching process in accordance with the switching signal after a waiting time T has elapsed since the end of input of the switching signal was detected by the detecting means.

  The operation input means preferably inputs a switching signal continuously and stepwise.

Furthermore, the sensing means, continuously and input interval Delta] t i before and after switching signal stepwise input _{(i = 1,2, ···, n} -1) preferably has a timer for counting a. The determination means preferably determines a waiting time T in accordance with the input interval Delta] t _i.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the detection means has a counter that counts the number of times n of switching signals input continuously and stepwise. In this case, it is preferable that the determining means determines the waiting time T according to the average value (ΣΔt _i ) / n−1 of the input interval Δt _i .

The determining means may determine the waiting time T according to the input interval Δt _n−1 of the switching signal input last and the switching signal input immediately before the input interval Δt _i , or The waiting time T may be determined according to the longest input interval Δt _max among the input intervals Δt _i .

Furthermore, determining means, the average value of the input interval _{Δt i (ΣΔt i) / n} -1, the input interval Delta] t _n-1 of the last input switching signal inputted immediately before the switching signal or the longest _input, The waiting time T is preferably obtained by adding the allowable time Tα to the interval Δt _max .

  Further, in another preferred embodiment of the present invention, when a new switching signal is input during the display switching process according to the previous switching signal, the processing means stops the processing and performs a new switching. The display switching process corresponding to the signal is started.

  Further, the detection means may detect whether or not the operation input means is being operated, and may detect the end of the switching signal input based on the detection result. In this case, the operation input means is a dial switch, and the detection means is attached to the rotary shaft of the dial switch, and the rotary disk provided with the detected portion at a pitch narrower than the pitch at which the input of the switching signal is detected; It is preferable to have a rotary encoder composed of a photoelectric sensor for detecting the detected part and detect whether or not the operation input means is being operated based on the presence or absence of the output of the photoelectric sensor.

  Moreover, it is preferable that a processing means performs any one of the change of the display depth of an ultrasonic image, rotation, and parallel movement as a display switching process.

  The ultrasonic observation apparatus of the present invention executes a display switching process in accordance with a display means for displaying an ultrasonic image, an operation input means for inputting a switching signal for instructing to switch display of the ultrasonic image, and the switching signal. The processing means starts the display switching process immediately after the input of the switching signal, and inputs a new switching signal during the display switching process according to the previous switching signal. In such a case, the process is stopped, and the display switching process corresponding to the new switching signal is started.

  The ultrasonic observation apparatus according to the present invention also includes a display unit for displaying an ultrasonic image, an operation input unit for inputting a switching signal for instructing switching of the display of the ultrasonic image, and whether or not a switching signal is input. First detecting means for performing, second detecting means for detecting whether or not the operation input means is being operated, and processing means for executing display switching processing according to the switching signal. If the first detection means detects the input of the switching signal and the second detection means detects that the operation input means is not operated, the display switching process is immediately started and the first detection means inputs the switching signal. When the second detection means detects that the operation input means is operated, the display switching process is not started.

  The operation input means is a dial switch, and the second detection means is attached to the rotary shaft of the dial switch, and the detected portions are provided at a pitch narrower than the pitch at which the input of the switching signal is detected by the first detection means. It is preferable to have a rotary encoder comprising a rotary disk and a photoelectric sensor for detecting the detected part. In this case, it is preferable that the second detection means detects whether or not the operation input means is being operated based on the presence or absence of the output of the photoelectric sensor.

  An operation control method for an ultrasonic observation apparatus according to the present invention includes a detection step for detecting an operation input state of an operation input unit for inputting a switching signal for instructing display switching of an ultrasonic image displayed on a display unit, Based on the operation input state detected in the step, the determination step for determining the waiting time T from the end of the input of the switching signal to the start of the ultrasonic image display switching process, and the end of the input of the switching signal in the detection step And a processing step of executing a display switching process corresponding to the switching signal after a waiting time T.

  According to the present invention, the waiting time T until the display switching process is executed is determined based on the operation input state of the operation input means. Alternatively, after the input of the switching signal or when the switching signal is input and the operation input unit is not operated after that, the display switching process is immediately executed. The waiting time is not uniformly increased as in the prior art, and the display switching process of the ultrasound image is started in a short time, and the time until the display of the ultrasound image is switched is shortened. Stress can be reduced.

  In FIG. 1, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 of the present invention includes an ultrasonic endoscope 10 and an ultrasonic observation apparatus 11 to which the ultrasonic endoscope 10 is connected. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 irradiates an observation site with ultrasonic waves and performs various signal processing on an echo signal that is a reverberation thereof, thereby generating an ultrasonic image that visualizes the internal state of the observation site. The ultrasonic image is displayed on a monitor 21 connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus 11 and used for medical diagnosis.

  The ultrasonic endoscope 10 includes a CCD (not shown) that captures an optical image of a site to be observed at the tip of an elongated insertion portion that is inserted into the body of a subject, and an ultrasound for obtaining an ultrasonic image. A sonic transducer 12 is arranged. The optical image obtained by the CCD is input to an endoscope processor device (not shown) connected to the ultrasonic endoscope 10, and after various processing, as an endoscope image on a monitor (not shown). Is displayed.

  For example, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 12 are provided at equal intervals on a convex curved backing material. The ultrasonic transducer 12 vibrates in accordance with the excitation signal input from the transmission unit 13 of the ultrasonic observation apparatus 11 and irradiates ultrasonic waves to the opposite observation site. Then, the echo signal of the ultrasonic wave reflected from the site to be observed is received and input to the receiving unit 14 of the ultrasonic observation apparatus 11. The transmitter 13 and the receiver 14 are connected to the ultrasonic transducer 12 via a multiplexer (MUX) 15. The MUX 15 selects several to several tens of adjacent blocks among the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 12 and drives them simultaneously. Further, the MUX 15 shifts one to several ultrasonic transducers 12 to be driven for each transmission / reception of the ultrasonic wave and the echo signal.

  The echo signal received by the receiving unit 14 is digitized by an A / D converter (A / D) 16 and input to a signal processing circuit 17. The signal processing circuit 17 delays a plurality of echo signals corresponding to the respective ultrasonic transducers 12 by a predetermined time, adjusts and adds the echo signals so that all the phases of the echo signals are aligned, and then removes the ultrasonic carrier component. Filter processing, logarithmic compression processing for adjusting gain and dynamic range, and the like are performed. Then, signal processing such as gain adjustment (STC: Sensitivity Time Control) corresponding to attenuation of the propagation distance (depth) of the ultrasonic wave is performed on the echo signal to generate ultrasonic image data.

  The ultrasonic image data is input to a digital scan converter (DSC) 18. The DSC 18 performs raster conversion on the ultrasonic image data, converts it to the NTSC system, and outputs it to the image memory 19. The D / A converter (D / A) 20 converts the ultrasonic image data stored in the image memory 19 into an analog signal again, and displays it on the monitor 21 as an ultrasonic image.

  The operation of the ultrasonic observation apparatus 11 is controlled by the control circuit 22. The control circuit 22 transmits a reference pulse to the transmission unit 13 and the reception unit 14 to control the transmission / reception timing of the excitation signal and the echo signal. In addition, when an operation for switching the display of the ultrasonic image is performed, the control circuit 22 controls the voltage of the excitation signal to change the ultrasonic penetration (ultrasonic power), or the signal processing circuit 17 The ultrasonic image data corresponding to the operation is generated by controlling the signal processing and the conversion processing in the DSC 18.

  A ROM 23, a RAM 24, and an operation console 25 are connected to the control circuit 22. The ROM 23 is composed of, for example, a flash memory, and stores various programs and data necessary for operating the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2. The control circuit 22 reads out necessary programs and data from the ROM 23 to the RAM 24, which is a working memory, and controls the operation of each unit. The ROM 23 further uses operating conditions (excitation signal voltage, transmission / reception timing, etc.) of the transmission unit 13 and the reception unit 14, signal processing conditions in the signal processing circuit 17, DSC 18, which are used in ultrasonic image display switching processing. A plurality of various conditions such as conversion processing conditions are stored.

  The console 25 is a user interface of the ultrasonic observation apparatus 11 and inputs various operation signals to the control circuit 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the console 25 includes a power switch 30 for turning on / off the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2, a character key group 31 operated when inputting various setting information, and a monitor 21. A trackball 32 that is operated when moving the cursor or pointer displayed on the screen, a set button 33 for determining the operation, a cancel button 34 for canceling the operation, and the like are provided.

  The console 25 is further provided with a depth switch 35 for switching the display range (display depth) of the ultrasonic image in the depth direction. The depth switch 35 is a well-known dial switch, and is set so that the display depth becomes deep when rotated clockwise, and the display depth becomes shallow when rotated counterclockwise. The depth switch 35 is clicked every time it rotates by a predetermined amount, and a switching signal is input to the control circuit 22 each time.

  The switching signal is, for example, a positive voltage signal in the clockwise direction and a negative voltage signal in the counterclockwise direction, and the control circuit 22 determines the display depth based on the rotation direction of the depth switch 35 and the number of times the switching signal is input. To do. The control circuit 22 reads various conditions according to the determined display depth from the ROM 23, and operates the transmission unit 13, the reception unit 14, the signal processing circuit 17, and the DSC 18 based on the read conditions. Thereby, an ultrasonic image corresponding to the display depth is displayed on the monitor 21.

  For example, when the display of the ultrasonic image on the monitor 21 is in the state shown in FIG. 3A, when the depth switch 35 is rotated clockwise by a certain amount, the control circuit 22 displays the display depth corresponding to the rotation amount. The ultrasonic power is increased so that the ultrasonic wave reaches a deeper part of the region of interest. Then, signal processing and conversion processing corresponding to the display depth are executed to generate ultrasonic image data, and an ultrasonic image is displayed on the monitor 21 based on this. Then, the display of the ultrasonic image is switched to the state shown in FIG. 3B, and the display depth is deepened.

  On the contrary, when the display of the ultrasonic image is in the state of FIG. 3B, when the depth switch 35 is rotated counterclockwise by a certain amount, the control circuit 22 weakens the ultrasonic power, Change signal processing and conversion processing conditions. Then, the display of the ultrasonic image is switched to the state shown in FIG. 3A, and the display depth becomes shallow. At the same time, the right scale indicating the scale of the ultrasonic image is also switched according to the display depth. Note that the depth switch 35 may be set so that the display depth decreases in the clockwise direction and the display depth increases in the counterclockwise direction.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the control circuit 22 includes a timer 26, a counter 27, and a standby time determination unit 28. When the first switching signal is input from the depth switch 35, the control circuit 22 starts measuring time with the timer 26. The counter 27 counts the number of switching signal inputs. The standby time determination unit 28 determines a standby time from when a switching signal is input until signal processing for display switching is started. This waiting time is a margin for receiving the next switching signal.

When the first switching signal is input, the standby time determination unit 28 determines a predetermined initial value stored in the ROM 23 as the standby time T ₀ . This initial value is set to 100 msec, for example, based on the average operation speed of the depth switch 35 obtained through experiments or the like. In a state where the next switching signal is not input, when the time count of the timer 26 exceeds the waiting time T ₀ , the control circuit 22 reads various conditions corresponding to the first switching signal from the ROM 23. Then, the display switching process is started according to this condition, and ultrasonic image data in which the display depth is changed is generated. The display depth is switched by displaying an ultrasonic image on the monitor 21 based on the ultrasonic image data generated in this way.

On the other hand, when the second switching signal is input before the time count of the timer 26 exceeds the standby time T ₀ , the control circuit 22 inputs the previous time count result of the timer 26 to the standby time determination unit 28. At the same time, the timer 26 is reset to start a new time measurement. When a switching signal is input before a waiting time T to be described later elapses, the control circuit 22 inputs the time measurement result of the timer 26 to the waiting time determination unit 28, resets the timer 26, and starts a new time measurement. Start operation.

The standby time determination unit 28 determines the standby time T _i according to the following procedure based on the input time measurement result. For example, when the switching signal is continuously input to the control circuit n times, the standby time determination unit 28 determines each input interval Δt _i (i = 1, 2,...) Of the switching signal from the first time to the nth time. Store n-1). Then, an average value (ΣΔt _i / n−1) of each input interval Δt _i is calculated, and a waiting time T {(ΣΔt _i / n−1) + Tα} obtained by adding a predetermined allowable time Tα to the average value. Determine as. The allowable time Tα is a margin when the input interval is delayed from the average value, and an appropriate numerical value is set.

The determination process of the standby time T is actually performed every time a switching signal is input. As shown in FIG. 4, when the second switching signal is input before the waiting time T ₀ has elapsed, the input interval Δt ₁ of the first and second switching signals is added with the allowable time Tα. It is determined as the waiting time _{T 1.} At this time, the input interval Δt ₁ is temporarily stored in the RAM 24, for example. When the third switching signal is input before the waiting time T ₁ has elapsed since the second switching signal is input, the waiting time determination unit 28 reads the input interval Δt ₁ stored in the RAM 24, The average value of the input intervals is calculated by dividing the sum of the input intervals Δt ₂ of the second and third switching signals by the number of times of input (2 minus 3 from 1). Then, to determine the waiting time T ₂ and the allowable time Tα added to the average value. At this time, the input interval Δt ₂ is temporarily stored in the RAM 24.

When the fourth switching signal is input before the waiting time T ₂ has elapsed since the third switching signal is input, the waiting time determination unit 28 reads the input intervals Δt ₁ and Δt ₂ stored in the RAM 24. The average value of the input intervals is calculated by dividing the sum of the input intervals Δt ₃ of the third and fourth switching signals by the number of times of input (3 minus 4 minus 1). Then, by adding the allowable time Tα to this average value is determined as the waiting time T _3. This determination process of the standby time T is repeated every time a new switching signal is input before the standby time elapses. Then, when the standby time T _n−1 has elapsed from the input of the nth switching signal, the display switching process corresponding to the nth switching signal is started. At the same time, the input interval stored in the counter 27 and the RAM 24 is reset. In consideration of the case where the average value of the input interval includes a value after the decimal point, the handling of the value after the decimal point is determined in advance, such as truncating the value after the decimal point.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. And depth switch 35 is operated and the first switching signal to the control circuit 22 is inputted (S1), the stored initial value ROM 23 (100 msec) is determined as a waiting time _{T 0,} the timer counting 26 Be started. If counting of the timer 26 without being entered second switching signal has exceeded the standby time T ₀ (S2 YES in), display switching processing according to the first switching signal is started (S8).

On the other hand, before clocking of the timer 26 exceeds the standby time T ₀ (NO in S2), if the second switching signal is input (S3 YES) of the wait time determining unit 28, an input interval of the switching signal Δt _i (Δt _{1 in} this case) is calculated (S4), and based on this, the waiting time T _i (T _{1 in} this case) is determined (S5). Thereafter, before the waiting time T elapses (NO in S6), when a new switching signal is input (YES in S7), steps S4 and S5 are performed each time, and a new waiting time T is determined. The When the standby time T has elapsed from the input of the switching signal (YES in S6), the display switching process corresponding to the last input switching signal is started (S8), and the display of the ultrasonic image is switched (S9). ).

Note that, as the waiting time T, in addition to the above-described average value, an input interval between the switching signal input last and the switching signal input immediately before it may be used. In this case, every time a switching signal is input, the allowable time Tα is set to the time measurement result of the timer 26 (that is, the input interval Δt _n−1 between the switching signal input this time and the switching signal input immediately before). In addition, this is determined as the waiting time T.

Alternatively, the standby time T may be determined using the longest input interval among the input intervals of each switching signal. In this case, similarly to the case of using the average value, when the standby time T ₁ is determined, the input interval Δt ₁ of the first and second switching signals is stored in the RAM 24. Then, only when the input interval of the switching signal input thereafter exceeds the input interval stored in the RAM, this input interval is overwritten and stored in the RAM 24 as the longest input interval Δt _max , and a new waiting time T is determined. . In this way, it is possible to omit the trouble of obtaining the average value of the input intervals. In the standby time determination process, any one of the above-described average value of the input intervals (ΣΔt _i / n−1), the last input interval (Δt _n−1 ), and the longest input interval (Δt _max ), The surgeon may arbitrarily select it.

  In the above embodiment, the standby time is changed. However, the time required for switching the display of the ultrasonic image can be shortened by eliminating the standby time. A processing flow in this case is shown in FIG. When the first switching signal is input (S1), the control circuit 22 immediately starts display switching processing (S2). During this process (NO in S3), if the next switching signal is input (YES in S4), the control circuit 22 stops the process so far and displays according to the new switching signal. Switching processing is started (S5). The control circuit 22 repeats step S5 each time a switching signal is input during the display switching process, and displays an ultrasonic image when the process is completed (S7). According to this configuration, the time required for display switching can be shortened without using the timer 26, the counter 27, and the standby time determination unit 28.

  Furthermore, you may combine this embodiment and embodiment which changes the above-mentioned waiting time. That is, when a new switching signal is input while the display time is elapsed after the standby time has elapsed (S8 in FIG. 5), the processing up to that point is stopped and the new switching signal is applied. Start processing. In this way, it is possible to efficiently cope with the input of a new switching signal while reducing the time required for display switching.

  Note that the time required for display switching can also be shortened by mechanically detecting the rotation of the depth switch. In this case, for example, two sets of rotary encoders including a rotary disk and a photoelectric sensor are used.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the depth switch 40 has a shaft portion 41 protruding into the console 25. A rotary disc 42 for detecting rotation and a rotary disc 43 for switching signal are attached to the middle and tip of the shaft portion 41. The rotary disks 42 and 43 have notches 46 and 47 whose outer peripheral edges are notched at a constant pitch along the circumferential direction. Further, the notches 46 of the rotary disk 42 are formed at a pitch shorter than the notches 47 of the rotary disk 43 (for example, a pitch that is 1/5 of the notches 47). A photoelectric sensor 44 for detecting rotation and a photoelectric sensor 45 for switching signal are arranged in accordance with the positions of the rotary disks 42 and 43. The rotary disks 42 and 43 and the photoelectric sensors 44 and 45 constitute a rotary encoder. The photoelectric sensors 44 and 45 are well-known transmissive sensors having a U-shaped cross section, and a light emitting element and a light receiving element are provided at positions where the peripheral edges of the rotary disks 42 and 43 are sandwiched from above and below. Reference numeral 48 denotes a collar for preventing the depth switch 40 from coming off. Further, in order to avoid complication, the notches 46 and 47 are 16 and 4 respectively, but in reality there are more than this.

  When the depth switch 40 is rotated by one click, the notch 47 of the rotary disk 43 for switching signal passes through the recess of the photoelectric sensor 45 once. As a result, the signal level of the photoelectric sensor 45 becomes High, and a switching signal is input to the control circuit 22. On the other hand, the notch 46 of the rotary disk 42 for rotation detection passes through the recess of the photoelectric sensor 44 four times while the depth switch 40 rotates by one click. Therefore, the signal level of the photoelectric sensor 44 becomes High four times. Even when a switching signal is input, the control circuit 22 determines that the operation is continued with the operator's hand on the depth switch 40 as long as the signal level of the photoelectric sensor 44 increases or decreases. The display switching process is not started so that the switching signal can be received. Then, when the signal level of the photoelectric sensor 44 does not increase or decrease, the control circuit 22 starts a display switching process corresponding to the switching process input last. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the time required for switching the display of the ultrasonic image according to the operation of the depth switch 40 without preparing an initial value of the standby time or performing a determination process of the standby time. be able to. The detection of whether or not the operation is completed is not limited to the rotary encoder. For example, a finger contact sensor is incorporated in the depth switch, and the operation (input) is detected when the operator's finger is separated from the switch. May be.

Further, the depth switch 40 may be combined with the first embodiment. That is, instead of determining the waiting time T each time a switching signal is input, the input interval Δt _i and the number of times of input are maintained while the signal level of the photoelectric sensor 44 increases or decreases even when the switching signal is input. Just remember. Then, when the signal level of the photoelectric sensor 44 no longer increases or decreases, the average value of the stored input interval Δt _i is obtained, and the waiting time T is determined. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the process of determining the standby time T and reduce the burden on the control circuit 22.

  Note that the present invention is suitable for all dial switches that are rotated, and in addition to the above-described depth switch, a rotation for rotating an ultrasonic image around the center of ultrasonic scanning on the screen of the monitor 21. The present invention can also be applied to a switch, a move switch for moving an ultrasonic image in the horizontal direction on the screen of the monitor 21, and the like. In this case, display switching processing (rotation or parallel movement) according to the operation may be performed on the ultrasonic image created by the DSC 18.

  Furthermore, a push-type depth switch can be used instead of the dial-type depth switches 35 and 40. As shown in FIG. 8, on the right hand side of the console 50, a plurality of push-type depth switches 51 are arranged in a vertical line. Each depth switch 51 corresponds to a predetermined display depth, and inputs a switching signal to the control circuit 22 when pressed. An LED lamp 52 is arranged on the right hand of each depth switch 51. The LED lamp 52 is turned on when the depth switch 51 is pressed, and indicates the currently selected display depth. According to this configuration, since a desired display depth can be selected immediately, operability is improved. Also, the current display depth can be easily confirmed. Furthermore, unlike the dial type, the display depth is uniquely determined, so there is no need to set a waiting time.

  In each of the above embodiments, a depth switch is provided on the console. However, as shown in FIG. 9, a display depth window 56 may be displayed on the screen of the touch panel monitor 55. In the display depth window 56, a scale 57 indicating the display depth and a pointer 58 indicating the current display depth are displayed. When the surgeon moves the pointer 58 up and down with a fingertip, a touch pen or the like, a switching signal is input to the control circuit 22, and an ultrasonic image having a display depth corresponding to the position of the pointer 58 is redisplayed on the monitor 55.

  In each of the above embodiments, an ultrasonic endoscope in which an ultrasonic transducer and an imaging unit are integrated has been described as an example. However, the present invention is also applicable to an ultrasonic probe that does not include an imaging unit. Can do. The ultrasonic probe may be an insertion type probe that is inserted into the body from the forceps port of the endoscope, or may be a contact type probe that is brought into contact with the body surface of the subject.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device of this invention. It is a top view of the console provided with the dial type depth switch. It is explanatory drawing which shows display switching of an ultrasonic image, (a) shows the case where a display depth is shallow, (b) shows the case where a display depth is deep, respectively. It is explanatory drawing which shows an input space | interval and waiting time. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which performs signal processing, changing standby time. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which performs a signal processing, without providing standby time. It is a perspective view around a depth switch showing a rotary disk and a photoelectric sensor. It is a top view of the console provided with the push type depth switch. It is explanatory drawing which shows the touchscreen type monitor in which the display depth window was displayed.

Explanation of symbols

2 Ultrasonic Diagnostic Device 10 Ultrasound Endoscope 11 Ultrasound Observation Device 13 Transmitter 14 Receiver 17 Signal Processing Circuit 21, 55 Monitor 22 Control Circuit 26 Timer 27 Counter 28 Standby Time Determination Unit 35, 40, 51 Depth Switch 42 , 43 Rotary disc 44, 45 Photoelectric sensor

Claims (15)

Display means for displaying an ultrasound image;
Operation input means for inputting a switching signal for instructing display switching of an ultrasonic image;
Detecting means for detecting an operation input state of the operation input means;
A determination unit that determines a waiting time T from the end of input of the switching signal to the start of the display switching process of the ultrasonic image based on the operation input state detected by the detection unit;
An ultrasonic observation apparatus comprising: a processing unit that executes a display switching process according to the switching signal after a waiting time T has elapsed after the detection unit detects the end of input of the switching signal.   The ultrasonic observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation input unit inputs a switching signal continuously and stepwise. The detection means includes a timer for measuring the input interval Δt _i (i = 1, 2,..., N−1) of the switching signal before and after being input continuously and stepwise.
The ultrasonic observation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines the waiting time T according to the input interval Δt _i . The detection means further includes a counter that counts the number of times n of switching signals input continuously and stepwise,
The ultrasonic observation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the determining unit determines the waiting time T according to an average value (ΣΔt _i ) / n−1 of the input interval Δt _i . The determining means determines a waiting time T according to an input interval Δt _n−1 of a switching signal inputted last and an input interval Δt _n−1 inputted immediately before of the input interval Δt _i. Item 4. The ultrasonic observation apparatus according to Item 3. The ultrasonic observation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the determining unit determines the waiting time T according to the longest input interval Δt _max among the input intervals Δt _i . Said determining means, the average value _{(ΣΔt i) / n-1} , the input interval Delta] t _n-1 of the last input switching signal inputted immediately before the switching signal or the longest input _interval, the input interval Delta] t _i The ultrasonic observation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a waiting time T is obtained by adding Δt _max to an allowable time Tα.   The processing means, when a new switching signal is inputted during the display switching process according to the previous switching signal, stops the processing and starts the display switching process according to the new switching signal. The ultrasonic observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   9. The detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects whether or not the operation input unit is being operated, and detects the end of input of the switching signal based on the detection result. Ultrasonic observation equipment. The operation input means is a dial switch,
The detection means is attached to a rotary shaft of the dial switch, and includes a rotary disk provided with a detected portion at a pitch narrower than a pitch at which an input of a switching signal is detected, and a photoelectric sensor that detects the detected portion. The ultrasonic observation apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a rotary encoder configured to detect whether the operation input unit is being operated based on presence or absence of an output of the photoelectric sensor.   The ultrasonic observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit executes any one of change, rotation, and parallel movement of a display depth of an ultrasonic image as a display switching process. Display means for displaying an ultrasound image;
Operation input means for inputting a switching signal for instructing display switching of an ultrasonic image;
Processing means for executing a display switching process according to the switching signal,
The processing means starts the display switching process immediately after the input of the switching signal, and cancels the processing when a new switching signal is input during the display switching process according to the previous switching signal. Then, an ultrasonic observation apparatus characterized by starting display switching processing in response to a new switching signal. Display means for displaying an ultrasound image;
Operation input means for inputting a switching signal for instructing display switching of an ultrasonic image;
First detection means for detecting the presence or absence of switching signal input;
Second detection means for detecting whether or not the operation input means is being operated;
Processing means for executing a display switching process according to the switching signal,
The processing means detects the input of a switching signal by the first detection means, and when the second detection means detects that the operation input means is not operated, immediately starts display switching processing, An ultrasonic observation apparatus characterized in that a display switching process is not started when a detection means detects a switching signal input and the second detection means detects that the operation input means is operated. The operation input means is a dial switch,
The second detection means is attached to a rotary shaft of the dial switch, and a rotary disk provided with detection parts at a pitch narrower than a pitch at which the input of a switching signal is detected by the first detection means, and a detection target A rotary encoder comprising a photoelectric sensor for detecting a part is detected, and whether or not the operation input means is being operated is detected based on the presence or absence of an output of the photoelectric sensor. 13. The ultrasonic observation apparatus according to 13. A detection step of detecting an operation input state of the operation input means for inputting a switching signal for instructing display switching of an ultrasonic image displayed on the display means;
A determination step for determining a waiting time T from the end of the input of the switching signal to the start of the ultrasonic image display switching process based on the operation input state detected in the detection step;
An operation control of the ultrasonic observation apparatus, comprising: a processing step of performing a display switching process in accordance with the switching signal after a waiting time T has been detected after detecting the input of the switching signal in the detection step. Method.

Images