JP5367431B2 - Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic probe system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic probe used in various styles in accordance with situations and an ultrasonic probe system. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic probe is equipped with a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, a signal processing unit for generating a transfer signal, a communication part configured to be connected to an arbitrary functional module out of a plurality of external functional modules for transmitting the transfer signal to the connected functional module, a housing part for housing types of the plurality of functional modules and motion setting data corresponding to the type by correlating them, a type determining part for determining the type of the connected functional module, and a control part for selecting the motion setting data from the housing part in accordance with the type of the connected functional module to perform the control corresponding to the type. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and an ultrasonic probe system including an ultrasonic probe and a functional module connectable to the ultrasonic probe.

  In the medical field, various imaging techniques have been developed in order to observe and diagnose the inside of a subject. In particular, ultrasonic imaging that acquires internal information of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves enables real-time image observation, and other medical uses such as X-ray photographs and RI (radio isotope) scintillation cameras. Unlike imaging technology, there is no radiation exposure. Therefore, ultrasonic imaging is used as a highly safe imaging technique in a wide range of areas including gynecological system, circulatory system, digestive system, etc. in addition to fetal diagnosis in the obstetrics field.

  The principle of ultrasonic imaging is as follows. Ultrasound is reflected at the boundary between regions having different acoustic impedances, such as the boundary between structures in the subject. Therefore, an ultrasonic beam is transmitted into a subject such as a human body, an ultrasonic echo generated in the subject is received, and a reflection position and a reflection intensity at which the ultrasonic echo is generated are obtained. The contour of an existing structure (for example, a viscera or a diseased tissue) can be extracted.

  In general, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic probe including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (vibrators) having an ultrasonic transmission / reception function is used. The ultrasonic echo received by the ultrasonic probe is converted into a transmission signal and transmitted to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body, and an image based on the transmission signal is generated in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body. In many cases, the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body are wiredly connected via a cable. However, wireless communication type ultrasonic waves that wirelessly perform information communication between the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body. A diagnostic device has also been developed. The wireless communication type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a great merit that the troublesomeness of using a cable can be eliminated, but the wired connection ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is more advantageous in terms of power supply to the ultrasonic probe. There is also.

  Conventionally, a large-sized ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is mainly installed in a dedicated examination room, but in recent years, a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has also been proposed. A portable ultrasound diagnostic device has the great advantage that a diagnostician can easily carry it and there is no need to move the subject to the place where the ultrasound diagnostic device is installed for ultrasound diagnosis. If the size is increased, it is inconvenient to carry. Therefore, when a detailed image is to be displayed on a large screen for diagnosis, a larger apparatus may be more advantageous.

  Thus, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has advantages and disadvantages in the wired communication type and the wireless communication type, and in the large size and the portable type. Depending on these merits and demerits, it is desired to use a wired communication type and a wireless communication type, a large type and a portable type.

As a related technique, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which one ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body can be adapted to a plurality of types of ultrasonic probes.
However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, even if a plurality of types of ultrasonic probes can be used, the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body side is the same, so that the wired communication type and the wireless communication type, the large size and the portable type, etc., should be used properly. I can't.

JP 2005-261595 A

  Therefore, in view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic probe system that can be used in various ways depending on the situation.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an ultrasonic probe according to one aspect of the present invention transmits a plurality of ultrasonic waves according to a plurality of drive signals, receives an ultrasonic echo, and outputs a plurality of reception signals. transducer and, connectable a signal processing unit for generating a transmission signal by performing signal processing on the plurality of reception signals outputted from the plural ultrasonic transducers, in any one of multiple functional modules Corresponding to the communication unit that transmits the transmission signal generated by the signal processing unit to the connected functional modules, and the operation setting data according to the types of multiple functional modules and the types of multiple functional modules a storage unit for storing put, determines the type of the connected functional module to the communication unit, the operation setting data corresponding to the type of the determined functional module Is read out from the storage unit, includes a control unit for controlling in accordance with an operation setting data read out from the storage unit, a storage unit, the type of functional modules is determined by the control unit is transmitted from the communication unit This is a wireless communication module that transmits a transmission signal transmitted from the communication unit to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body by wireless communication, rather than a wired communication module that transmits the transmission signal to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body by wired communication. In this case, operation setting data that can be set so that the number of simultaneously operating circuits among a plurality of circuits corresponding to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers is reduced is stored .

  According to the present invention, since the ultrasonic probe is connected to any one of a plurality of external functional modules, one ultrasonic probe is used in various ways depending on the situation. be able to.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the received signal processing part shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the wire communication module and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body which are shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the radio | wireless communication module and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body which are shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image display module shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation example of the ultrasonic probe which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the operation setting data according to the classification of a functional module. It is a figure which shows an example of the timing which receives operation | movement setting data.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same referential mark is attached | subjected to the same component and description is abbreviate | omitted.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention. An ultrasonic probe system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe 1 and a functional module that can be connected to the ultrasonic probe 1 (1) a wired communication module 3a and (2) a wireless communication module. 3b and (3) at least two of the image display modules 3c.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. The ultrasonic probe 1 may be an external probe such as a linear scan method, a convex scan method, or a sector scan method, or an ultrasonic endoscope probe such as a radial scan method.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic probe 1 includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 10 constituting a one-dimensional or two-dimensional transducer array, a transmission delay pattern storage unit 11, a transmission control unit 12, and a drive signal generation unit. 13, a reception control unit 14, a multi-channel reception signal processing unit 15, a parallel / serial conversion unit 16, a transmission circuit 17, an operation switch 21, a control unit 22, a storage unit 23, and a battery control unit. 24, a battery 26, a power receiving unit 27, a display control unit 28, and a display unit 29. Here, the reception signal processing unit 15 and the parallel / serial conversion unit 16 constitute a signal processing unit that generates a transmission signal by performing signal processing on a plurality of reception signals output from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 10. doing. The control unit 22 constitutes a type determination unit that determines the type of the connected functional module.

  The plurality of ultrasonic transducers 10 transmit ultrasonic waves according to a plurality of applied driving signals, receive propagating ultrasonic echoes, and output a plurality of reception signals. Each ultrasonic transducer 10 is, for example, a piezoelectric ceramic represented by PZT (Pb (lead) zirconate titanate), a polymer piezoelectric element represented by PVDF (polyvinylidene difluoride), or the like. It is comprised by the vibrator | oscillator which formed the electrode at the both ends of the material (piezoelectric body) which has the piezoelectricity.

  When a pulsed or continuous wave voltage is applied to the electrodes of such a vibrator, the piezoelectric body expands and contracts. By this expansion and contraction, pulsed or continuous wave ultrasonic waves are generated from the respective vibrators, and an ultrasonic beam is formed by combining the ultrasonic waves. Each vibrator expands and contracts by receiving propagating ultrasonic waves and generates an electrical signal. These electrical signals are output as ultrasonic reception signals.

  The transmission delay pattern storage unit 11 stores a plurality of transmission delay patterns used when an ultrasonic beam is formed by ultrasonic waves transmitted from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 10. The transmission control unit 12 selects one transmission delay pattern from among a plurality of transmission delay patterns stored in the transmission delay pattern storage unit 11 according to the transmission direction set by the control unit 22, and the transmission delay Based on the pattern, delay times given to the drive signals of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 10 are set. Alternatively, the transmission control unit 12 may set the delay time so that the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 10 reach the entire imaging region of the subject.

  The drive signal generation unit 13 includes, for example, a plurality of pulsers, and ultrasonic waves transmitted from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 10 form an ultrasonic beam based on the transmission delay pattern selected by the transmission control unit 12. As described above, the delay amounts of the plurality of drive signals are adjusted and supplied to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 10, or the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 10 reach the entire imaging region of the subject. A plurality of drive signals are supplied to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 10.

  The reception control unit 14 controls the operation of the reception signal processing unit 15 for a plurality of channels. The reception signal processing unit 15 of each channel generates a complex baseband signal by performing orthogonal detection processing or orthogonal sampling processing on the reception signal output from the corresponding ultrasonic transducer 10, and samples the complex baseband signal. As a result, sample data is generated, and the sample data is supplied to the parallel / serial converter 16.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the reception signal processing unit illustrated in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the reception signal processing unit 15 of each channel includes a preamplifier 151, a low-pass filter (LPF) 152, an analog / digital converter (ADC) 153, an orthogonal detection processing unit 154, and a sampling unit 155a. And 155b and memories 156a and 156b.

  The preamplifier 151 amplifies the reception signal (RF signal) output from the ultrasonic transducer 10, and the LPF 152 limits the band of the reception signal output from the preamplifier 151, thereby preventing aliasing in A / D conversion. To do. The ADC 153 converts the analog reception signal output from the LPF 152 into a digital reception signal.

  If data is serialized with an RF signal, the transmission bit rate becomes extremely high, and the communication speed and memory operation speed cannot keep up. On the other hand, serialization of data after reception focus processing can reduce the transmission bit rate, but the circuit for reception focus processing is large and difficult to incorporate in an ultrasonic probe. is there. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the transmission bit rate is reduced by performing orthogonal detection processing or the like on the received signal to reduce the frequency band of the received signal to the baseband frequency band and then serializing the data. Yes.

The quadrature detection processing unit 154 performs quadrature detection processing on the received signal to generate a complex baseband signal (I signal and Q signal). As shown in FIG. 3, the quadrature detection processing unit 154 includes mixers (multiplication circuits) 154a and 154b and low-pass filters (LPF) 154c and 154d. The mixer 154a multiplies the local oscillation signal cosω ₀ t with the received signal, and the LPF 154c performs low-pass filtering on the signal output from the mixer 154a, thereby generating an I signal representing a real component. On the other hand, the mixer 154b multiplies the received signal with the local oscillation signal sin ω ₀ t whose phase has been rotated by π / 2, and the LPF 154d applies a low-pass filter process to the signal output from the mixer 154b. A Q signal representing is generated.

  The sampling units 155a and 155b sample (resample) the complex baseband signals (I signal and Q signal) generated by the quadrature detection processing unit 154, thereby generating 2-channel sample data, respectively. The generated two-channel sample data is stored in the memories 156a and 156b, respectively.

  Referring to FIG. 2 again, the parallel / serial conversion unit 16 converts the parallel sample data generated by the reception signal processing unit 15 of a plurality of channels into serial sample data (transmission signal). For example, the parallel / serial conversion unit 16 converts parallel sample data such as 128 channels and 64 channels into serial sample data of 1 to 4 channels. This significantly reduces the number of transmission channels compared to the number of ultrasonic transducers 10.

  The transmission circuit 17 modulates the carrier based on the transmission signal to generate a transmission signal, and transmits the transmission signal to various modules connected to the ultrasonic probe 1. As the modulation scheme, for example, ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying), PSK (Phase Shift Keying), QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying), 16QAM (16 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), and the like are used. When using ASK or PSK, it is possible to transmit one channel of serial data with one system. When using QPSK, it is possible to transmit two channels of serial data with one system. When 16QAM is used, four channels of serial data can be transmitted in one system.

  The transmission circuit 17 also receives various control signals such as scanning control signals transmitted from various modules connected to the ultrasonic probe 1 and outputs the received signals to the control unit 22. The control unit 22 controls each unit of the ultrasonic probe 1 based on control signals transmitted from various modules.

  The operation switch 21 includes a switch for setting the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to the live mode or the freeze mode. Here, the live mode is a mode for displaying a moving image based on reception signals sequentially obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and the freeze mode is a reception signal stored in a memory or the like. It is a mode for displaying still images based on sound ray signals. The setting signal for the live mode or the freeze mode is included in the transmission signal together with the transmission signal, and is transmitted to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2. The switching between the live mode and the freeze mode may be performed in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2.

  The battery 26 supplies power to each unit such as the drive signal generation unit 13, the reception signal processing unit 15, the parallel / serial conversion unit 16, the transmission circuit 17, and the control unit 22 that require power. The battery control unit 24 controls whether or not power is supplied from the battery 26 to each unit based on the state of a power switch (not shown).

The power receiving unit 27 receives wireless power transmission by converting supply energy supplied wirelessly from a power supply unit 67 (described later) of other modules connected to the ultrasonic probe 1 or other power supply device into electrical energy. Consists of an electrical circuit. The power reception unit 27 generates an induced electromotive force from the magnetic field generated by the power supply unit 67 by configuring an LC resonance circuit with the power supply unit 67, for example. The battery 26 is charged by the generated induced electromotive force.
Alternatively, the power receiving unit 27 is configured by a charging terminal having one end connected to the charging circuit of the battery 26 and the other end exposed outside the casing of the ultrasonic probe 1. When the charging terminal is in contact with a power supply terminal as the power supply unit 67 of the various modules connected to the ultrasonic probe 1 or other external power supply terminals, the battery 26 is charged.

  The display control unit 28 causes the display unit 29 to display a module connection error or the like based on the control signal from the control unit 22. The display unit 29 includes, for example, a lighting device such as an LED or a display device such as an LCD, and displays a module connection error or the like under the control of the display control unit 28.

  In the above, the transmission control unit 12, the reception control unit 14, the quadrature detection processing unit 154 (FIG. 3), the sampling units 155a and 155b (FIG. 3), the parallel / serial conversion unit 16, the control unit 22, the battery control unit 24, and The display control unit 28 may be configured by a digital circuit, or may be configured by a central processing unit (CPU) and software (program) for causing the CPU to perform various processes. The above software (program) is stored in the storage unit 23. Alternatively, the quadrature detection processing unit 154 may be configured by an analog circuit. In that case, the ADC 153 is omitted, and the A / D conversion of the complex baseband signal is performed by the sampling units 155a and 155b. The storage unit 23 stores the type of each functional module in association with the operation setting data corresponding to the type.

Next, various modules connected to the ultrasonic probe will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the wired communication module and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 4, the wired communication module 3 a includes a transmission circuit 53 a, a control unit 62, a storage unit 63, a battery control unit 64, a battery 66, a power reception unit 57, and a power supply unit 67. Yes. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2 includes a transmission circuit 37a, a serial / parallel conversion unit 33, an image forming unit 34, a display control unit 35, a display unit 36a, an operation unit 41, a control unit 42, A storage unit 43, a power supply control unit 44, a power supply unit 46, and a power supply unit 47 are included.

  The transmission circuit 53a of the wired communication module 3a receives a transmission signal from the transmission circuit 17 of the ultrasonic probe 1, and transmits this transmission signal to a transmission circuit 37a (described later) of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 2. Further, the transmission circuit 53 a receives various control signals from the transmission circuit 37 a of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2 and transmits the control signals to the transmission circuit 17 of the ultrasonic probe 1. Further, the transmission circuit 53a adds information indicating that it is passing through the wired communication module 3a to the control signal and transmits it to the transmission circuit 17 of the ultrasonic probe 1.

  The battery 66 supplies power to each part of the wired communication module 3a. The battery control unit 64 controls whether power is supplied from the battery 66 to each unit of the wired communication module 3a based on the state of a power switch (not shown).

  The power feeding unit 67 supplies power to the power receiving unit 27 (FIG. 2) of the ultrasonic probe 1 by electromagnetic induction using an LC resonance circuit. Alternatively, the power supply unit 67 is configured as a power supply terminal connected to the battery 66 and supplies power in a wired manner by contacting a charging terminal as the power receiving unit 27 of the ultrasonic probe 1.

The power receiving unit 57 converts supply energy supplied wirelessly from the power supply unit 47 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2 or other power supply device into electric energy, or directly obtains electric energy by wire. The configuration of the power reception unit 57 is the same as the configuration of the power reception unit 27 of the ultrasonic probe 1. The battery 66 is charged by the electric energy obtained in the power receiving unit 57, or the ultrasonic probe 1 is fed directly through the power feeding unit 67.
The control unit 62 controls the transmission circuit 53a and the battery control unit 64.
The storage unit 63 stores an optimal operation mode of the ultrasonic probe 1 when the wired communication module 3 a is connected to the ultrasonic probe 1.

  The transmission circuit 37a of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2 receives a transmission signal from the transmission circuit 53a of the wired communication module 3a, demodulates the transmission signal, and obtains a complex obtained from reception signals output from a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. Serial sample data (transmission signal) representing the baseband signal is output to the serial / parallel converter 33. The transmission circuit 37a receives various control signals for controlling the control unit 22 of the ultrasonic probe 1 and the control unit 62 of the wired communication module 3a from the control unit 42, and receives the control signals from the transmission circuit of the wired communication module 3a. 53a.

  The serial / parallel converter 33 converts the serial sample data output from the transmission circuit 37a into parallel sample data corresponding to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers.

  Based on the parallel sample data output from the serial / parallel conversion unit 33, the image forming unit 34 generates a B-mode image signal and a CW image signal, which are tomographic image information related to the tissue in the subject. The image forming unit 34 includes a reception delay pattern storage unit 341, a phasing addition unit 342, a memory 343, and an image processing unit 344.

  The reception delay pattern storage unit 341 stores a plurality of reception delay patterns used when reception focus processing is performed on a complex baseband signal obtained from reception signals output from a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The phasing addition unit 342 selects one reception delay pattern from the plurality of reception delay patterns stored in the reception delay pattern storage unit 341 based on the reception direction set in the control unit 42, and receives the reception delay pattern. Based on the delay pattern, a reception focus process is performed by adding a delay to each of the plurality of complex baseband signals. By this reception focus processing, a baseband signal (sound ray signal) in which the focus of the ultrasonic echo is narrowed is generated.

  The memory 343 sequentially stores the sound ray signals generated by the phasing adder 342. The image processing unit 344 relates to the tissue in the subject based on the sound ray signal generated by the phasing addition unit 342 in the live mode and on the sound ray signal stored in the memory 343 in the freeze mode. A B-mode image signal that is tomographic image information is generated.

  The image processing unit 344 includes an STC (sensitivity time control) unit and a DSC (digital scan converter). The STC unit corrects the attenuation due to the distance according to the depth of the reflection position of the ultrasonic wave on the sound ray signal. The DSC converts the sound ray signal corrected by the STC unit into an image signal according to a normal television signal scanning method (raster conversion), and performs necessary image processing such as gradation processing to thereby obtain a B-mode image signal. And so on.

  The display control unit 35 displays an ultrasound diagnostic image on the display unit 36 a based on the B-mode image signal generated by the image forming unit 34. The display unit 36 a includes, for example, a display device such as an LCD, and displays an ultrasound diagnostic image and the like under the control of the display control unit 35.

  The control unit 42 controls each part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2 in accordance with the operation of the operator using the operation unit 41. The power supply control unit 44 controls on / off of the power supply unit 46 based on the state of a power switch (not shown). The power feeding unit 47 supplies power to the power receiving unit 57 of the wired communication module 3a by electromagnetic induction using an LC resonance circuit. Or the electric power feeding part 47 is comprised as a power supply terminal connected to the power supply part 46, and supplies electric power with a wire by contacting the charging terminal as the power receiving part 57 of the wired communication module 3a.

  In the above, the serial / parallel conversion unit 33, the phasing addition unit 342, the image processing unit 344, the display control unit 35, the control unit 42, and the power supply control unit 44 are connected to the central processing unit (CPU) and the CPU. Although it is configured by software (program) for performing processing, it may be configured by a digital circuit. The software (program) is stored in the storage unit 43. As a recording medium in the storage unit 43, a flexible disk, MO, MT, RAM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or the like can be used in addition to the built-in hard disk.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the wireless communication module and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 5, the wireless communication module 3b includes a transmission circuit 53b, a wireless communication unit 51, a communication control unit 52, a control unit 62, a storage unit 63, a battery control unit 64, a battery 66, and a power reception. Part 57 and power feeding part 67. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2 includes a wireless communication unit 31, a communication control unit 32, a serial / parallel conversion unit 33, an image forming unit 34, a display control unit 35, a display unit 36a, and an operation unit 41. A control unit 42, a storage unit 43, a power supply control unit 44, a power supply unit 46, and a power supply unit 47.

  The transmission circuit 53 b of the wireless communication module 3 b receives the transmission signal from the transmission circuit 17 of the ultrasonic probe 1 and outputs this transmission signal to the wireless communication unit 51. The transmission circuit 53 b transmits various control signals received by the wireless communication unit 51 to the transmission circuit 17 of the ultrasonic probe 1. Further, the transmission circuit 53b adds information indicating that the wireless communication module 3b is being transmitted to the control signal and transmits the information to the transmission circuit 17 of the ultrasonic probe 1.

  The configurations of the battery control unit 64, the battery 66, the power feeding unit 67, the power receiving unit 57, the control unit 62, and the storage unit 63 are as described in FIG.

The radio communication unit 31 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2 performs radio communication with the radio communication unit 51 of the radio communication module 3b, receives a transmission signal from the radio communication module 3b, demodulates the transmission signal, Serial sample data (transmission signal) representing a complex baseband signal obtained from reception signals output from a plurality of ultrasonic transducers is transmitted to the serial / parallel converter 33. The wireless communication unit 31 receives various control signals for controlling the control unit 22 of the ultrasonic probe 1 and the control unit 62 of the wireless communication module 3b from the control unit 42, and receives the control signals from the wireless communication module 3b. It transmits to the communication part 51.
The communication control unit 32 controls the wireless communication unit 31 to transmit various control signals under the control of the control unit 42.

  The configurations of the serial / parallel conversion unit 33, the image forming unit 34, the display control unit 35, the display unit 36a, the control unit 42, the power supply control unit 44, the power supply unit 46, and the power supply unit 47 are as described in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image display module shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 6, the image display module 3c includes a transmission circuit 37c, a serial / parallel conversion unit 33, an image forming unit 34, a display control unit 35, a display unit 36c, an operation unit 41, and a control unit 42. A storage unit 43, a power supply control unit 44, a power supply unit 46, and a power supply unit 47.

The transmission circuit 37c of the image display module 3c receives a transmission signal from the transmission circuit 17 of the ultrasonic probe 1, demodulates the transmission signal, and a complex baseband obtained from reception signals output from a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. Serial sample data (transmission signal) representing the signal is output to the serial / parallel converter 33. The transmission circuit 37 c receives various control signals from the control unit 42 and transmits the control signals to the transmission circuit 17 of the ultrasonic probe 1. This control signal includes information indicating that the signal is from the image display module 3c.
The storage unit 43 stores software (program) in the same manner as the storage unit 43 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2 described above. In addition, ultrasonic waves when the image display module 3c is connected to the ultrasonic probe 1 are stored. The optimum operation mode of the probe 1 is stored.

The configurations of the serial / parallel conversion unit 33, the image forming unit 34, the display control unit 35, the control unit 42, the power supply control unit 44, the power supply unit 46, and the power supply unit 47 are as described in FIG. Therefore, the image display module 3 c generates an ultrasound image based on the transmission signal from the ultrasound probe 1 without transmitting / receiving a signal to / from the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body 2.
The display unit 36c includes a display device having a smaller size than the display unit 36a of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2 shown in FIGS. Therefore, although it is not suitable for displaying a detailed image, the entire image display module 3c can be made small and carried easily. Compared to other medical diagnostic imaging devices (diagnostic devices using X-rays (including CT), MRI, endoscopes, etc.), the ultrasonic diagnostic devices are more suitable for special imaging rooms (such as X-ray shielding rooms) and sterilization. Since the degree of need for special consideration (such as endoscopy) is low, there is a peculiarity that diagnosis is possible at any place including the outdoors. Therefore, it can be said that the necessity of realizing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with high portability and operability is higher than that of other medical image diagnostic apparatuses.

For example, operability is more important than image quality when performing diagnosis in a relatively short period of time, such as periodic checkups, while image quality is more important than operability when performing detailed inspection. . As described above, the required degree of operability and high image quality varies depending on the scene.
Further, for example, when communication between the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body is performed by wireless communication, the troublesomeness of the cable is eliminated and the operability is good. However, in the case of wireless communication, it is desirable to provide a battery on the ultrasonic probe side, and it is necessary to reduce the size of the battery in order to maintain high operability. On the other hand, in order to obtain high image quality for detailed diagnosis, a large amount of power is required in the ultrasonic probe. Thus, it may be difficult to pursue both operability and high image quality with a single device.
The above-described wired connection module 3a is suitable for a case where high image quality is important, the wireless connection module 3b is suitable for a case where operability is important, and the image display module 3c performs an immediate observation at a diagnosis site. Suitable for important cases. Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to easily select a form that satisfies the operability and high image quality required according to the scene while using the same ultrasonic probe 1.

  Next, an operation method of the ultrasonic probe according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example of the ultrasonic probe according to the embodiment of the present invention.

When the operator of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus turns on a power switch (not shown) of the ultrasonic probe 1 in step S1, the control unit 22 of the ultrasonic probe 1 is received via the transmission circuit 17 in step S2. Based on the control signal, it is determined whether any of the various functional modules is newly connected.
When any of the various functional modules is newly connected, the control unit 22 of the ultrasonic probe 1 determines the type of the connected functional module in step S3.

When it is determined that the type of the functional module is the wired communication module 3a, the control unit 22 of the ultrasonic probe 1 loads the operation setting data for the wired communication module from the storage unit 23 in step S4, and this operation setting. Each part of the ultrasonic probe 1 is controlled according to the data.
When it is determined that the type of the functional module is the wireless communication module 3b, the control unit 22 of the ultrasonic probe 1 loads the operation setting data for the wireless communication module from the storage unit 23 in step S5, and this operation setting. Each part of the ultrasonic probe 1 is controlled according to the data.
When it is determined that the type of the functional module is the image display module 3c, the control unit 22 of the ultrasonic probe 1 loads the operation setting data for the image display module from the storage unit 23 in step S6, and this operation setting. Each part of the ultrasonic probe 1 is controlled according to the data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the operation setting data corresponding to the type of the functional module. The operation setting data 232 is stored in the storage unit 23 as a data table such as the number of channels of the ultrasonic transducer 10 to be driven and the clock frequency of the control unit 22 for each function module type 231. For example, when the wired communication module 3a is connected, power can be supplied by wire, so that the number of channels and the clock frequency can be set higher. Further, for example, when the wireless communication module 3b is connected, power cannot be supplied from the outside during use, so the operator can switch the number of channels depending on which of battery life and required image quality is important. The clock frequency can be set to a medium level. In addition, for example, when the image display module 3c is connected, power cannot be supplied from the outside during use, and the screen of the display unit 36c is small, so that the number of channels and the clock frequency can be set low. is there.
When the number of channels of the ultrasonic transducer 10 to be driven is switched, the power consumption in the ultrasonic transducer 10 can also be reduced by switching the number of circuits for simultaneous operation in the reception signal processing unit 15 accordingly.
Further, when the number of channels of the ultrasonic transducer 10 to be driven is switched, the power consumption in the image display module 3c can be further reduced by switching the number of channels of the phasing addition unit 342 of the image display module 3c accordingly. .
Since the ultrasonic probe has a large number of channels as shown in FIG. 8, reducing the number of channels used as described above has a great effect on reducing power consumption.
As the operation setting data 232, in addition to the number of channels of the ultrasonic transducer to be driven and the clock frequency of the control unit 22, the driving voltage of the ultrasonic transducer can be set. In the ultrasonic probe, a high driving voltage is required to drive the ultrasonic transducer. This voltage is related to the intensity of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic transducer, and when low image quality is acceptable, the power consumption can be reduced by lowering the voltage.

  Referring to FIG. 7 again, when it is determined that the type of the connected functional module is other than the above, that is, the functional module other than the wired communication module 3a, the wireless communication module 3b, and the image display module 3c, the ultrasonic probe 1 In step S <b> 7, the control unit 22 determines whether the functional module is a functional module assumed by the ultrasonic probe 1. For example, a list of functional modules that can be connected and used is stored in the storage unit 23, and the determination is made based on whether or not the type of the functional module connected exists in the list. Further, when the function module type cannot be determined, it may be determined that the function module is not assumed.

  When the functional module is a functional module assumed by the ultrasonic probe 1, the transmission circuit 17 receives the operation setting data stored in the storage unit 63 from the connected functional module in step S8. The received operation setting data is loaded by the control unit 22 and each part of the ultrasonic probe 1 is controlled according to the operation setting data. Further, operation setting data is stored in the storage unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2 connected via the functional module, and the operation setting data stored in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 2 is transmitted via the functional module. May be received.

  If the functional module is a function module that the ultrasonic probe 1 does not assume, the control unit 22 controls the display control unit 28 to display error information on the display unit 29 in step S9.

When operation setting data of a new functional module is loaded in the above steps S4, S5, S6, and S8, or when error information is displayed in step S9, the process returns to step S2, and other functional modules are newly connected. It is determined whether or not. When another functional module is newly connected, the operations after step S3 are performed again. If no other functional module is newly connected, it is determined in step S10 whether or not a power switch (not shown) has been turned off. If the power switch is not turned off, the process returns to step S2. If the power switch is turned off, the power is shut off in step S11 and the operation is terminated.
Note that the flowchart of FIG. 7 describes the operation setting according to the type of the functional module, and illustration of the ultrasonic imaging process is omitted.

  In the above-described example, the timing at which the operation setting data is received from the connected functional module by the transmission circuit 17 is immediately after the power is turned on or immediately after a new functional module is connected. A plurality of operation setting data may be stored in the storage unit 63, new operation setting data may be received while the ultrasonic probe 1 is being driven, and the operation setting may be changed as needed. When the operation setting data is received while the ultrasonic probe 1 is being driven, the operation setting data is received using the blanking period of the transmission signal transmitted by the transmission circuit 17 while the ultrasonic probe 1 is being driven. It is desirable. With this function, for example, diagnosis is initially performed with low image quality (low power consumption), and when a point of interest comes out, it is possible to switch to high image quality (however, power consumption increases) for diagnosis. Become.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of timing for receiving operation setting data. The transmission signal transmitted by the transmission circuit 17 includes a blanking period that does not include a signal component, for example, every time corresponding to one frame of a diagnostic image. By receiving operation setting data using this blanking period, the operation setting of the ultrasonic probe 1 can be changed at any time.

  In FIG. 1 described above, an example in which the ultrasonic probe 1 and the functional modules 3a, 3b, and 3c are connected by cables has been described. However, both connectors may be directly connected without using a cable. In FIG. 1, the cable connecting the ultrasonic probe 1 and each functional module 3a, 3b, 3c may be attached to either the ultrasonic probe 1 or each functional module 3a, 3b, 3c.

  The present invention performs imaging of organs and the like in a living body by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, transmits image data from an ultrasonic probe to an apparatus main body by wireless communication, and generates an ultrasonic diagnostic image used for diagnosis It can be used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic probe 2 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 3a Wired communication module 3b Wireless communication module 3c Image display module 10 Ultrasonic transducer 11 Transmission delay pattern memory | storage part 12 Transmission control part 13 Drive signal generation part 14 Reception control part 15 Reception signal processing part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 Parallel / serial conversion part 17 Transmission circuit 21 Operation switch 22 Control part 23 Storage part 24 Battery control part 26 Battery 27 Power receiving part 28 Display control part 29 Display part 31 Wireless communication part 32 Communication control part 33 Serial / parallel conversion part 34 Image Formation unit 35 Display control unit 36a, 36c Display unit 37a, 37c Transmission circuit 41 Operation unit 42 Control unit 43 Storage unit 44 Power supply control unit 46 Power supply unit 47 Power supply unit 51 Wireless communication unit 52 Communication control unit 53a, 53b Transmission circuit 57 Power reception Part 62 system Part 63 storage unit 64 battery control unit 66 battery 67 feeding part 151 a preamplifier 152 low pass filter (LPF)
153 Analog / Digital Converter (ADC)
154 Quadrature detection processing unit 154a, 154b Mixer (multiplication circuit)
154c, 154d Low-pass filter (LPF)
155a, 155b sampling unit 156a, 156b memory 341 reception delay pattern storage unit 342 phasing addition unit 343 memory 344 image processing unit

Claims (6)

A plurality of ultrasonic transducers for transmitting ultrasonic waves according to a plurality of drive signals, receiving ultrasonic echoes and outputting a plurality of received signals;
A signal processing unit that generates a transmission signal by performing signal processing on a plurality of reception signals output from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers;
A communication unit for transmitting the transmission signal are connectable to any one, generated by the signal processing unit to the connected functional module of the multiple function modules,
A storage unit that associates and stores types of the plurality of functional modules and operation setting data according to the types of the plurality of functional modules ;
Determines the type of the connected functional module to the communication unit, reads the operation setting data corresponding to the type of the determined function module from the storage unit, the control according to the operation setting data read from said storage unit A control unit to perform,
Equipped with,
The storage unit is more than the case where the type of the functional module determined by the control unit is a wired communication module that transmits a transmission signal transmitted from the communication unit to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body by wired communication. A circuit that operates simultaneously among a plurality of circuits corresponding to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers when the wireless communication module transmits a transmission signal transmitted from the communication unit to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body by wireless communication An ultrasonic probe that stores operation setting data that can be set so that the number of the probes becomes smaller . A plurality of ultrasonic transducers for transmitting ultrasonic waves according to a plurality of drive signals, receiving ultrasonic echoes and outputting a plurality of received signals;
A signal processing unit that generates a transmission signal by performing signal processing on a plurality of reception signals output from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers;
A communication unit configured to be connectable to any one of a plurality of functional modules, and transmitting a transmission signal generated by the signal processing unit to the connected functional module;
A storage unit that associates and stores types of the plurality of functional modules and operation setting data according to the types of the plurality of functional modules;
The type of the functional module connected to the communication unit is determined, operation setting data corresponding to the determined type of the functional module is read from the storage unit, and control is performed according to the operation setting data read from the storage unit. A control unit to perform,
Comprising
The storage unit is more than the case where the type of the functional module determined by the control unit is a wired communication module that transmits a transmission signal transmitted from the communication unit to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body by wired communication. In the case of an image display module that displays an ultrasonic image based on a transmission signal transmitted from a communication unit, the number of simultaneously operating circuits among a plurality of circuits corresponding to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers is An ultrasonic probe that stores operation setting data that can be set to be smaller. The storage unit further stores types of functional modules that can be used by connecting to the communication unit ,
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit outputs error information when the determined type of the functional module is not included in the types of functional modules that can be used by connecting to the communication unit. . A plurality of ultrasonic transducers that transmit ultrasonic waves according to a plurality of drive signals, receive ultrasonic echoes and output a plurality of reception signals, and a plurality of reception signals output from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers A signal processing unit that generates a transmission signal by performing signal processing, and is configured to be connectable to any one of a plurality of functional modules, and is generated by the signal processing unit for the connected functional modules A communication unit for transmitting a transmission signal; a storage unit for storing the types of the plurality of functional modules in association with operation setting data corresponding to the types of the plurality of functional modules; and a functional module connected to the communication unit The operation setting data corresponding to the determined function module type is read from the storage unit and read from the storage unit. An ultrasonic probe and a control unit for performing issued operations setting data thus control,
And the plurality of functional modules which can be selectively connected to the communication unit,
Equipped with,
The storage unit is more than the case where the type of the functional module determined by the control unit is a wired communication module that transmits a transmission signal transmitted from the communication unit to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body by wired communication. A circuit that operates simultaneously among a plurality of circuits corresponding to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers when the wireless communication module transmits a transmission signal transmitted from the communication unit to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body by wireless communication An ultrasonic probe system that stores operation setting data that can be set so that the number of the probe becomes small . A plurality of ultrasonic transducers that transmit ultrasonic waves according to a plurality of drive signals, receive ultrasonic echoes and output a plurality of reception signals, and a plurality of reception signals output from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers A signal processing unit that generates a transmission signal by performing signal processing, and is configured to be connectable to any one of a plurality of functional modules, and is generated by the signal processing unit for the connected functional modules A communication unit for transmitting a transmission signal; a storage unit for storing the types of the plurality of functional modules in association with operation setting data corresponding to the types of the plurality of functional modules; and a functional module connected to the communication unit The operation setting data corresponding to the determined function module type is read from the storage unit and read from the storage unit. An ultrasonic probe and a control unit which controls in accordance with an operation setting data issued,
The plurality of functional modules selectively connectable to the communication unit;
Comprising
The storage unit is more than the case where the type of the functional module determined by the control unit is a wired communication module that transmits a transmission signal transmitted from the communication unit to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body by wired communication. In the case of an image display module that displays an ultrasonic image based on a transmission signal transmitted from a communication unit, the number of simultaneously operating circuits among a plurality of circuits corresponding to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers is An ultrasonic probe system that stores operation setting data that can be set to be small. Wherein the communication unit of the ultrasonic probe, when the type of the connected functional module to the communication unit is not stored in the storage unit, by utilizing the blanking period of the transmission signal, the communication operation setting data The ultrasonic probe system according to claim 4, wherein the ultrasonic probe system receives the signal from a functional module connected to the unit .

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