KR101649272B1 - Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus, method for photographing ultrasonic image, probe, and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus, method for photographing ultrasonic image, probe, and computer-readable recording medium Download PDF

Info

Publication number
KR101649272B1
KR101649272B1 KR1020140127687A KR20140127687A KR101649272B1 KR 101649272 B1 KR101649272 B1 KR 101649272B1 KR 1020140127687 A KR1020140127687 A KR 1020140127687A KR 20140127687 A KR20140127687 A KR 20140127687A KR 101649272 B1 KR101649272 B1 KR 101649272B1
Authority
KR
South Korea
Prior art keywords
activation range
range
transducers
echo signal
activation
Prior art date
Application number
KR1020140127687A
Other languages
Korean (ko)
Other versions
KR20150082067A (en
Inventor
이형기
공동건
박준호
최기완
Original Assignee
삼성전자주식회사
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 삼성전자주식회사 filed Critical 삼성전자주식회사
Priority to US14/590,118 priority Critical patent/US10324065B2/en
Priority to PCT/KR2015/000118 priority patent/WO2015102474A1/en
Publication of KR20150082067A publication Critical patent/KR20150082067A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of KR101649272B1 publication Critical patent/KR101649272B1/en

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/08—Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/44—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
    • A61B8/4483—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
    • A61B8/4488—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer the transducer being a phased array
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/48—Diagnostic techniques
    • A61B8/485—Diagnostic techniques involving measuring strain or elastic properties
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/56—Details of data transmission or power supply
    • A61B8/565—Details of data transmission or power supply involving data transmission via a network
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B06—GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL
    • B06B—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, e.g. FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL
    • B06B1/00—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
    • B06B1/02—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy
    • B06B1/0207—Driving circuits
    • B06B1/0215—Driving circuits for generating pulses, e.g. bursts of oscillations, envelopes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
    • G01S15/88—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • G01S15/89—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications for mapping or imaging
    • G01S15/8906—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques
    • G01S15/8909—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques using a static transducer configuration
    • G01S15/8915—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques using a static transducer configuration using a transducer array
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S7/00—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/52—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00
    • G01S7/52017—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00 particularly adapted to short-range imaging
    • G01S7/52019—Details of transmitters
    • G01S7/5202—Details of transmitters for pulse systems
    • G01S7/52022—Details of transmitters for pulse systems using a sequence of pulses, at least one pulse manipulating the transmissivity or reflexivity of the medium
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S7/00—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/52—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00
    • G01S7/52017—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00 particularly adapted to short-range imaging
    • G01S7/52023—Details of receivers
    • G01S7/52036—Details of receivers using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation
    • G01S7/52042—Details of receivers using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation determining elastic properties of the propagation medium or of the reflective target
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S7/00—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/52—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00
    • G01S7/52017—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00 particularly adapted to short-range imaging
    • G01S7/52085—Details related to the ultrasound signal acquisition, e.g. scan sequences
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10K11/00—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
    • G10K11/18—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound
    • G10K11/26—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning
    • G10K11/34—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning using electrical steering of transducer arrays, e.g. beam steering
    • G10K11/341—Circuits therefor
    • G10K11/345—Circuits therefor using energy switching from one active element to another
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/44—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
    • A61B8/4405—Device being mounted on a trolley
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/44—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
    • A61B8/4444—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device related to the probe
    • A61B8/4472—Wireless probes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/46—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient
    • A61B8/467—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient characterised by special input means
    • A61B8/469—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient characterised by special input means for selection of a region of interest
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B06—GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL
    • B06B—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, e.g. FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL
    • B06B2201/00—Indexing scheme associated with B06B1/0207 for details covered by B06B1/0207 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • B06B2201/70—Specific application
    • B06B2201/76—Medical, dental

Abstract

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of imaging an ultrasound image using an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including a transducer array including n transducers, the method comprising: irradiating an ultrasound wave to a target object, ; Selecting a first activation range and a second activation range that are ranges of transducers activated among n transducers of the transducer array, depending on the object or measurement result; Irradiating the object with ultrasound using a transducer belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range and detecting an echo image from the target object; And measuring a propagation velocity of a transverse wave generated from the object from the echo image.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasound imaging method, a probe, and a computer readable recording medium,

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an ultrasound imaging method, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program for performing the ultrasound imaging method.

The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus irradiates an ultrasound signal generated from a transducer of a probe to a target object, receives information of an echo signal reflected from the target object, and obtains an image of a site inside the target object. In particular, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used for medical purposes such as observation of an object, foreign object detection, and injury measurement. Such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is more stable than the diagnostic apparatus using X-ray, is capable of displaying an image in real time, and is safe because there is no radiation exposure, so that it is widely used with other diagnostic apparatuses.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,

(n is a natural number) transducers, wherein transducers belonging to the first and second activation ranges, which are the ranges of the transducers activated among the n transducers, A probe for detecting an echo signal from the object; And

Wherein the control unit selects the first activation range and the second activation range in accordance with the object or the measurement result, generates an echo image from the echo signal, and generates a target body change speed that is a speed at which the change of the object moves from the echo image An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including a control unit for measuring an ultrasound echo signal is provided.

Wherein the probe irradiates an ultrasonic wave using a transducer belonging to the first activation range, detects an echo signal from the object, irradiates ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to the second activation range after a predetermined time interval, The echo signal is detected from the object, and the predetermined time interval may be determined according to the object or the measurement result.

Wherein the probe irradiates ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to the first activation range, detects an echo signal from the object, and detects the second activation range of the position shifted from the first activation range in accordance with the first movement speed And an echo signal is detected from the object, and the first moving speed may be determined according to the object or the measurement result.

The probe may detect ultrasonic waves of a plane wave from the transducers belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range and detect an echo signal from a transducer belonging to the activation range.

Wherein the probe moves from the transducers belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range to the focus beam while moving the irradiation position of the focus beam within each of the first activation range and the second activation range, It is possible to detect an echo signal corresponding to the irradiation position of the focus beam.

The first moving speed may be determined according to at least one of an inspection position and a medical record of the object.

Wherein the controller corrects the first moving speed when the measured moving speed of the object changes is greater than or equal to the first moving speed and the reference value and the probe moves the moving object at a position shifted according to the corrected first moving speed An ultrasonic wave is irradiated using a transducer belonging to the selected activation range and an echo signal can be detected from the object.

Wherein the control unit calculates a mutation image using two sequentially captured echo images, detects a change position of the object from the mutation image, and calculates the object change travel speed using the change position of the object .

Wherein the probe further comprises m multiplexers for coupling the selected transducer to a signal transmission channel connected to the controller, wherein a transducer belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range is coupled to the m multiplexers Lt; / RTI >

The controller may measure the moving speed of the object by using the probe, and may determine the first moving speed according to the measurement result.

The probe may generate a transverse wave at the target by irradiating ultrasonic waves to the target, the change of the target may be a transverse wave generated at the target, and the target change speed may be a progress speed of the transverse wave.

The probe may generate a transverse wave by irradiating ultrasonic waves of a focus beam to the object.

The probe may generate a transverse wave at a plurality of points of the object.

Wherein the controller selects the first activation range located at one end of the transducer array and selects the second activation range located at the other end of the transducer array, And an activation range of a position shifted in accordance with a first movement speed toward the center of the transducer array alternately from the second activation range to detect an echo signal from the object, May be determined according to the object or the measurement result.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of photographing an ultrasound image using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a transducer array including n (n is a natural number) transducers, Selecting a first activation range and a second activation range that are ranges of activated transducers of the n transducers of the transducer array; Irradiating the object with ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range and detecting an echo signal from the object; And measuring a change speed of the object, which is a rate at which the change of the object is shifted from the echo signal.

Wherein the step of selecting the first activation range and the second activation range further comprises the step of determining a predetermined time interval according to the object or the measurement result, wherein the step of detecting the echo signal comprises: Irradiating ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging thereto and detecting an echo signal from the object; And irradiating ultrasonic waves using the transducers belonging to the second activation range after the predetermined time interval and detecting an echo signal from the object.

Wherein the step of selecting the first activation range and the second activation range further includes the step of determining a first movement speed in accordance with the object or the measurement result, Irradiating an ultrasonic wave using a transducer belonging to the ultrasonic probe and detecting an echo signal from the object; And detecting the echo signal from the object by irradiating the ultrasonic wave using the second activation range of the position shifted from the first activation range according to the first movement speed.

The step of detecting the echo signal may include irradiating ultrasonic waves of a plane wave to the object from a transducer belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range; And detecting echo signals from m transducers belonging to the first activation range and the second activation range, respectively.

Wherein the step of detecting the echo signal includes the steps of moving the irradiating position of the focus beam within each of the first activation range and the second activation range while moving the irradiation position of the focus beam from the transducers belonging to the first activation range and the second activation range Irradiating the object with ultrasound of a focus beam; And detecting an echo signal corresponding to an irradiation position of the focus beam.

The first moving speed may be determined according to at least one of an inspection position and a medical record of the object.

The ultrasonic imaging method further comprises: correcting the first moving speed when the measured moving speed of the object varies from the first moving speed by a reference value or more; Detecting an echo signal from the object by irradiating ultrasonic waves to the object using a transducer belonging to an activated range selected at a position shifted according to the corrected first moving speed; And measuring the moving speed of the object from the echo signal detected based on the corrected first moving speed.

Wherein the step of measuring the moving speed of the object changes comprises: calculating a mutation image using two echo images sequentially photographed; Detecting a change position of the object from the variation image; And calculating the moving speed of the target body using the detected position of change of the target body.

Wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes m multiplexers for connecting a selected transducer to a signal transmission channel connected to the controller, wherein the transducers belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range include m It may be a transducer selected by a multiplexer.

The step of determining the first moving speed may include measuring the moving speed of the object by using the probe and determining the first moving speed in accordance with the measurement result.

Wherein the ultrasonic imaging method further comprises the step of generating a transverse wave at the object by irradiating ultrasonic waves to the object, wherein the change of the object is a transverse wave generated at the object, Speed.

The step of generating the transverse waves may generate a transverse wave by irradiating the object with an ultrasonic wave of a focus beam.

The generating of the transverse waves may include generating transverse waves at a plurality of points of the object.

Wherein the selecting of the first activation range and the second activation range comprises selecting the first activation range located at one end of the transducer array and selecting the second activation range located at the other end of the transducer array, Wherein the step of detecting the echo signal comprises the step of detecting the activation of the position shifted in accordance with the first movement speed toward the center of the transducer array alternately from the first activation range and the second activation range, And detecting an echo signal from the object, wherein the first moving speed can be determined according to the object or the measurement result.

According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,

a transducer array including n (n is a natural number) transducers;

A first activation range and a second activation range that are the ranges of the transducers to be activated among the n transducers are selected according to the object or the measurement result and the transducers belonging to the first activation range and the second activation range are used A control unit for irradiating ultrasonic waves and detecting an echo signal from the object; And

And a communication unit for transmitting the echo signal to another electronic device.

According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a computer program for performing a method of imaging an ultrasound image using an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including a transducer array including n transducers read out and executed by a processor A computer-readable recording medium storing program codes, the method comprising:

Selecting a first activation range and a second activation range that are ranges of transducers activated among n transducers of the transducer array according to the object or measurement result;

Irradiating the object with ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range and detecting an echo signal from the object; And

And measuring a change speed of the object, which is a rate at which the change of the object is shifted from the echo signal.

The present invention may be readily understood by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which reference numerals refer to structural elements.
1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment.
2 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000a according to an embodiment.
3 is a view showing a probe 20a according to one embodiment.
4 is a diagram for explaining a process of detecting the progress of change of the object.
5 is a flowchart illustrating an ultrasound imaging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an active range moving according to an embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an active range moving according to an embodiment.
8 is a view for explaining a process of obtaining an echo image in each activation range AR according to an embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a process of obtaining an echo image in each activation range AR according to an embodiment.
10 is a flowchart illustrating an ultrasound imaging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a view for explaining a process of generating a transverse wave in the object 10 according to an embodiment.
Fig. 12 is a view for explaining the progress of a transverse wave.
FIG. 13 is a view for explaining a process of photographing a variation of a tissue according to an embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a process of calculating a first movement speed when measuring a transverse wave propagation velocity according to an embodiment. FIG.
15 is a diagram for explaining a process of calculating a first moving speed according to an embodiment.
16 is a diagram for explaining a process of obtaining an echo image in each activation range AR according to an embodiment.
17 is a view for explaining a process of generating a transverse wave according to an embodiment.
18 is a view for explaining a transverse wave measuring process according to an embodiment.
19 is a view for explaining a transverse wave measuring process according to an embodiment.
20 is a flowchart illustrating an ultrasound imaging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
21 is a flowchart illustrating an ultrasound imaging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
22 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a transducer array 212 according to an embodiment.
23 is a view for explaining a mode in which the active range is shifted in the transducer array 212 according to an embodiment.
24 is a view for explaining a mode in which the active range is shifted in the transducer array 212 according to an embodiment.
25 is a view showing a probe 20b according to an embodiment.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Also, in certain cases, there may be a term selected arbitrarily by the applicant, in which case the meaning thereof will be described in detail in the description of the corresponding invention. Therefore, the term used in the present invention should be defined based on the meaning of the term, not on the name of a simple term, but on the entire contents of the present invention.

When an element is referred to as " including " an element throughout the specification, it is to be understood that the element may include other elements as well, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. In addition, the term " "... Module " or the like means a unit for processing at least one function or operation, which may be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

The term "ultrasound image " in the entire specification refers to an image of an object obtained using ultrasound. In addition, the subject may comprise a person or an animal, or a part of a person or an animal. For example, the subject may include a liver, a heart, a uterus, a brain, a breast, an organ such as the abdomen, or a blood vessel. In addition, the object may comprise a phantom, and the phantom may refer to a material having a volume very close to the biological density and the effective atomic number.

Also, throughout the specification, the term "user" may be a medical professional such as a doctor, a nurse, a clinical pathologist, a medical imaging specialist, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment includes a probe 20, an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 100, an image processing unit 300, a communication unit 400, a memory 500, an input device 600, And the various configurations described above may be connected to each other via the bus 800. [

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000 can be implemented not only as a cart type but also as a portable type. Examples of portable ultrasound diagnostic devices include, but are not limited to, a PACS viewer, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a PDA, a tablet PC, and the like.

The probe 20 transmits an ultrasonic signal to the object 10 according to a driving signal applied from the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving unit 100 and receives an echo signal reflected from the object 10. The probe 20 includes a plurality of transducers, and the plurality of transducers generate ultrasonic waves that are vibrated according to an electrical signal to be transmitted and are acoustical energy. The probe 20 may be connected to the main body of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000 in a wired or wireless manner. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000 may include a plurality of probes 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The transmission unit 110 supplies a driving signal to the probe 20 and includes a pulse generation unit 112, a transmission delay unit 114, and a pulsar 116. The pulse generation unit 112 generates a pulse for forming a transmission ultrasonic wave in accordance with a predetermined pulse repetition frequency (PRF), and the transmission delay unit 114 determines a transmission directionality And applies the delay time to the pulse. Each of the pulses to which the delay time is applied corresponds to a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators included in the probe 20, respectively. The pulser 116 applies a driving signal (or a driving pulse) to the probe 20 at a timing corresponding to each pulse to which the delay time is applied.

The receiving unit 120 processes the echo signal received from the probe 20 to generate ultrasonic data and includes an amplifier 122, an ADC (Analog Digital Converter) 124, a receiving delay unit 126, And may include a summation unit 128. The amplifier 122 amplifies the echo signal for each channel, and the ADC 124 analog-converts the amplified echo signal. The reception delay unit 126 applies the delay time for determining the reception directionality to the digitally converted echo signal and the summation unit 128 sums the echo signals processed by the reception delay unit 166 And generates ultrasonic data. Meanwhile, the receiving unit 120 may not include the amplifier 122 according to the embodiment. That is, when the sensitivity of the probe 20 is improved or the processing bit number of the ADC 124 is improved, the amplifier 122 may be omitted.

The image processing unit 300 generates and displays an ultrasound image through a scan conversion process on the ultrasound data generated by the ultrasound transmitting / receiving unit 100. On the other hand, the ultrasound image has a Doppler effect as well as an image of a gray scale obtained by scanning an object in an A mode (amplitude mode), a B mode (brightness mode) and an M mode And may include a Doppler image expressing a moving object by using the Doppler image. The Doppler image may include a blood flow Doppler image (also referred to as a color Doppler image) representing blood flow, a tissue Doppler image representing tissue motion, and a spectral Doppler image representing a moving velocity of the object as a waveform have.

The B mode processing unit 312 extracts and processes the B mode component from the ultrasonic data. The image generating unit 320 may generate an ultrasound image in which the intensity of the signal is expressed by the brightness based on the B mode component extracted by the B mode processing unit 312. [

Similarly, the Doppler processing unit 314 extracts the Doppler component from the ultrasound data, and the image generating unit 320 can generate the Doppler image that expresses the motion of the object in color or waveform based on the extracted Doppler component.

The image generating unit 320 may generate a 3D ultrasound image through a volume rendering process on volume data and generate an elastic image that imposes a degree of deformation of the object 10 according to the pressure It is possible. Further, the image generating unit 320 may display various additional information on the ultrasound image in text or graphics. The generated ultrasound image may be stored in the memory 500.

The display unit 330 displays and outputs the generated ultrasound image. The display unit 330 may display various information processed by the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000 on a screen through a GUI (Graphic User Interface) as well as an ultrasound image. Meanwhile, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000 may include two or more display units 330 according to an embodiment.

The communication unit 400 is connected to the network 30 by wire or wireless, and communicates with an external device or a server. The communication unit 400 can exchange data with other medical devices in a hospital server or a hospital connected through a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System). In addition, the communication unit 400 may communicate data in accordance with a DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standard.

The communication unit 400 can transmit and receive data related to diagnosis of a target object such as an ultrasound image, ultrasound data, and Doppler data of the target body 10 through the network 30 and can transmit and receive data to and from other medical devices such as CT, MRI, A medical image can also be transmitted and received. Furthermore, the communication unit 400 may receive information on the diagnosis history of the patient, the treatment schedule, and the like from the server and may use the diagnosis information in the diagnosis of the target body 10. Further, the communication unit 400 may perform data communication with a server or a medical device in a hospital, as well as with a doctor or a portable terminal of a patient.

The communication unit 400 may be connected to the network 30 by wire or wirelessly to exchange data with the server 32, the medical device 34, or the portable terminal 36. The communication unit 400 may include one or more components that enable communication with an external device and may include, for example, a local communication module 410, a wired communication module 420, and a mobile communication module 430 .

The short range communication module 410 means a module for short range communication within a predetermined distance. The local area communication technology according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a wireless LAN, a Wi-Fi, a Bluetooth, a zigbee, a Wi-Fi Direct, an ultra wideband (UWB) IrDA, Infrared Data Association), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), NFC (Near Field Communication), and the like.

The wired communication module 420 is a module for communication using an electrical signal or an optical signal. In the wired communication technology according to an exemplary embodiment, a pair cable, a coaxial cable, an optical fiber cable, an ethernet cable May be included.

The mobile communication module 430 transmits and receives a radio signal to at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. Here, the wireless signal may include various types of data depending on a voice call signal, a video call signal, or a text / multimedia message transmission / reception.

The memory 500 stores various pieces of information to be processed in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000. For example, the memory 500 may store medical data related to diagnosis of a target object such as input / output ultrasound data and ultrasound images, and may store an algorithm or a program executed in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000.

The memory 500 may be implemented by various types of storage media such as a flash memory, a hard disk, and an EEPROM. In addition, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000 may operate a web storage or a cloud server that performs a storage function of the memory 500 on the web.

The input device 600 means a means for receiving data for controlling the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000 from a user. The input device 600 may include hardware components such as a keypad, a mouse, a touch panel, a touch screen, a track ball, a jog switch, etc., but is not limited thereto. The input device 600 may include an electrocardiogram measurement module, a breath measurement module, A sensor, a fingerprint recognition sensor, an iris recognition sensor, a depth sensor, a distance sensor, and the like.

The controller 700 controls the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000 as a whole. That is, the control unit 700 controls the operation between the probe 20, the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 100, the image processing unit 300, the communication unit 400, the memory 500, and the input device 600 shown in FIG. can do.

Some or all of the probe 20, the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 100, the image processing unit 300, the communication unit 400, the memory 500, the input device 600 and the control unit 700 can be operated by a software module However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and some of the above-described configurations may be operated by hardware. At least some of the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 100, the image processing unit 300, and the communication unit 400 may be included in the control unit 700, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

2 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000a according to an embodiment.

The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000a according to the present embodiment includes a probe 20a and a control unit 220. [

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a according to the present embodiment measures the moving speed of the target body, which is the speed at which the target body moves. The change of the object includes a wave traveling in the object and a movement of the predetermined object in the object.

The wave propagating in the object includes, for example, a shear wave in the object tissue caused by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a, pulsation according to the flow of the blood, and the like. As the wave progresses in the object, the tissue of the object can move, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can measure the progress of the wave by capturing the movement of the tissue of the object. The user can estimate the characteristics of the tissue of the subject by measuring the speed of progression of the wave, and obtain information on the state of the tissue of the subject.

The movement of a predetermined object within the object means that a part or foreign matter of the object moves within the object. For example, the movement of a predetermined object in the object means that a part of the tissue of the object moves through a digestive organs such as a blood vessel of a subject, a lymphatic duct, a duct, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and the like. As another example, the movement of a predetermined object in the object means that the foreign object moves through the digestive organs such as a blood vessel, a lymphatic duct, a duct, an esophagus, a stomach, a small intestine,

The probe 20a transmits an ultrasonic signal to the object 10 in response to a drive signal and receives an echo signal reflected from the object 10. The probe 20a includes a transducer array 212 including n (n is a natural number) transducers. The n transducers may be arranged in a one-dimensional, 1.5-dimensional, or two-dimensional form, according to an embodiment.

The probe 20a according to an embodiment irradiates ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to an active range, which is a range of transducers activated among n transducers, and receives an echo signal reflected from the object 10. For example, the probe 20a can detect an echo signal from the object 10 by irradiating ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range.

First, the probe 20a can detect an echo signal from the object 10 by irradiating ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to the first activation range. Next, the probe 20a irradiates an ultrasonic wave using a transducer belonging to the second activation range after a predetermined time interval from the point of time when the transducer belonging to the first activation range is irradiated with the ultrasonic wave, Can be detected. At this time, the predetermined time interval may be determined according to the object or the measurement result.

Alternatively, the probe 20a can detect an echo signal from the object 10 by irradiating ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to the first activation range. The probe 20a can detect the echo signal from the object by irradiating the ultrasonic wave using the second activation range of the position shifted from the first activation range according to the first movement speed. At this time, the first moving speed may be determined according to the object or the measurement result.

The probe 20a according to an embodiment can receive ultrasonic waves and receive an echo signal using transducers having a plurality of activation ranges including m transducers out of n transducers. The probe 20a can receive ultrasonic waves and receive an echo signal using the selected activation range at a position shifted in accordance with the first movement speed. The probe 20a can move the position of the activation range to the first movement speed. In order to move the position of the activation range, the control unit 220 may output a control signal for selecting the activation range of the position moved at the first movement speed to the probe 20a.

Here, the fact that the transducer is activated means that an ultrasonic signal is transmitted using the transducer and an echo signal is detected. For example, only m transducers m (m is a natural number less than n), which are part of n transducers of the transducer array 212, are connected to the transceiving channels for transmitting and receiving signals, and m transducers It can be used to transmit ultrasound waves and detect echo signals. In this case, m transducers connected to the transmit and receive channels are activated.

The control unit 220 can select the range of the transducers to be activated, that is, the activation range, out of the n transducers of the transducer array 212. [ The control unit 220 can select a plurality of activation ranges according to the object or the measurement result. For example, the control unit 220 can select the first activation range and the second activation range. The control unit 220 may select an activation range to include a different number of transducers or select an activation range to include the same number of transducers, depending on the object or measurement result.

The probe 20a can detect an echo signal from a target object by irradiating ultrasonic waves to the target object for each activation range section. At this time, the probe 20a can transmit an ultrasonic wave using a transducer belonging to an active range selected by the controller 220, and can detect an echo signal. Each activation range period refers to a time period during which the probe 20a transmits an ultrasonic wave by using a transducer and receives an echo signal. The control unit 220 can select the activation range at the position shifted in accordance with the first movement speed. The probe 20a transmits an ultrasonic wave using an activated transducer for each active range and performs an operation of receiving an echo signal.

The control unit 220 can determine the first moving speed according to the object or the measurement result.

The first moving speed is determined according to the object. The first moving speed is determined based on information previously stored according to the type of the object. For example, the object may be classified into different kinds according to the body tissues such as bone, muscle, liver, stomach, heart, brain, blood vessel, etc., and the control unit 220 may classify So that the first moving speed can be determined.

The first moving speed is determined according to the measurement result. The first moving speed is determined by first measuring the speed at which the change of the object moves under predetermined conditions, and determining the first moving speed according to the measurement result . When the speed is firstly measured, it is possible to measure the speed while fixing the position of the range of the activated transducer, or to measure the speed while moving the position of the range of the transducer activated at a predetermined speed, according to the embodiment Do.

When the first movement speed is determined, the controller 220 generates a control signal for selecting the activation range at the moved position based on the first movement speed, and outputs the control signal to the probe 20a. For example, the control unit 220 can move the position of the selected activation range to the first movement speed by controlling the multiplexer connected between the probe 20a and the transmission / reception channel.

Further, the control unit 220 generates an echo image from the echo signal obtained by using the activation range of the transducer selected at different positions, and measures the object change moving speed, which is the speed at which the change of the object moves from the echo image . The object moving speed is the distance the object changes per hour. The moving distance of the change of the object can be obtained by measuring the position of the change of the object in the echo signal or the echo image. For example, when the transverse wave propagates in the object, the control unit 220 can measure the position of the change of the object by detecting the position of the tissue movement caused by the transverse waves.

Further, the control unit 220 can change the number of transducers belonging to the activation range and select the activation ranges including the changed number of transducers based on the object change movement speed. For example, when the moving speed of the object change is fast, the control unit 220 can select the activation ranges including a larger number of transducers. Alternatively, when the moving speed of the object change is slow, the control unit 220 can select the activation ranges including a smaller number of transducers.

That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can detect an echo signal by irradiating ultrasonic waves to a wide area inside the object, in order to detect a change of the object having a high speed. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a selects an activation range including a large number of transducers in order to detect an echo signal with respect to a wide area inside the object and irradiates ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to the selected activation ranges And an echo signal can be detected. On the other hand, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can detect an echo signal by irradiating ultrasonic waves to a narrow region inside the object, in order to detect a change in the object having a relatively slow velocity. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a selects an activation range including a small number of transducers in order to detect an echo signal with respect to a narrow area inside the object and irradiates ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to the selected activation ranges And an echo signal can be detected.

3 is a view showing a probe 20a according to one embodiment.

The probe 20a comes into contact with the surface of the object 10, emits ultrasonic waves to the object 10, and detects an echo signal. The probe 20a includes a transducer array 212 composed of a plurality of transducers 310. [ Each of the transducers 310 includes a piezoelectric element to generate ultrasonic waves from an electrical signal and to sense ultrasonic waves. The transducer array 212 may be implemented in the form of, for example, a one-dimensional array, a two-dimensional array, a three-dimensional array, or the like.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a has a transmitting end and a receiving end in fewer than the number of the transducers 310. [ The transmitting end may include a pulse generating unit, a transmission delay unit, a pulser, and the like. The receiving end may include an amplifier, an analog-digital converter (ADC), a receiving delay unit, and a summation unit. The transmitting end may be provided in the probe 20a or may be provided in the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving unit 100. [

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the transmitting end and the receiving end may be connected to the transducer 310 through a multiplexer. For example, when the probe 20a is provided with 256 transducers 310 and 128 transmitting and receiving ends are provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a, two transducers 310 are connected to each multiplexer , Each multiplexer can be connected to one transmitter and one receiver. In this case, the first transducer 310 and the 129th transducer 310 may be connected to the first multiplexer, and the second transducer 310 and the 130th transducer 310 may be connected to the second multiplexer. The controller 220 outputs a selection signal to each multiplexer to determine a transducer 310 to be connected to the transmitter and the receiver. Only the selected transducer 310 among the plurality of transducers 310 connected to each multiplexer is connected to the transmitting end or the receiving end and is activated.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a includes the same number of transmitting and receiving stages as the number of the transducers 310, and only the data output from the receiving stage connected to the activated transducer 310 is stored Or transmitted.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a according to the embodiments of the present invention activates only a part of the transducers 310 of a plurality of transducers 310 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a at the time of ultrasonic transmission and reception, Transmits the ultrasonic waves while changing the range of the ultrasonic waves 310, and detects the echo signals. The range of the transducer 310 activated here is referred to as the activation range. Also, the fact that the range of activation of the transducer 310 is shifted means that the range of the transducer 310 to be activated is changed, that is, the transducers at other positions are selected to be activated. For example, during the P1 interval, the first through tenth transducers are activated, during the P2 interval, the second through eleventh transducers are activated, and during the P3 interval, the third through twelfth transducers are enabled . In each of the P1 section, the P2 section, and the P3 section, an operation of transmitting the ultrasonic signal by the activated transducers and detecting the echo signal may be performed.

The time interval between the P1 section, the P2 section, and the P3 section may be determined by the minimum time required for ultrasonic transmission and echo signal detection. For example, the time interval between the P1 section, the P2 section, and the P3 section may be determined to be longer than the minimum time required for ultrasonic transmission and echo signal detection.

The interval between activated transducers 310 between P1 section, P2 section, and P3 section may be determined by the first moving speed. For example, if the first moving speed has a value, during the P1 section, the first to tenth transducers are activated, during the P2 section, the second to eleventh transducers are activated, during the P3 section, Th to twelfth transducers are activated and the first moving speed has a b value that is twice the value of a, the first to tenth transducers are activated during the P1 section, and the third to twelfth transducers are activated during the P2 section, The transducer is activated, and during the P3 interval, the fifth through 14th transducers can be activated.

4 is a diagram for explaining a process of detecting the progress of change of the object.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a irradiates the object 10 with ultrasound waves in step S402 and detects an echo signal corresponding thereto in step S404 so as to capture the image of the target object 10 . For example, when a transverse wave propagating in a target object is measured, the transverse wave propagates at a high speed of about 10 m / sec., So that an ultrasonic echo image is acquired and stored at a high speed of about 5000 Hz. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a captures the state of the transition of the tissue of the object 10 at high speed using the transducer array 212 of the probe 20a. At this time, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000a can acquire the B mode image.

The control unit 220 calculates a mutation image from two consecutive echo images, detects a point at which the mutation occurred in the object 10, and calculates the speed of movement of the mutation. For example, in order to measure the propagation velocity of a transverse wave, it is necessary to accurately calculate the transit of the tissue due to transverse waves. The control unit 220 compares the two consecutive echo images to calculate the extent to which the scatter changes, and detects the variation of the tissue.

According to one embodiment, the variation of the object 10 may be computed using, for example, a cross correlation technique. That is, the shifted image can be calculated by cross-correlating two consecutive echo images.

According to another embodiment, the shifted image can be calculated as a difference image of two consecutive echo images.

The variation calculated at every pixel is stored as a variation image. For example, the control unit 220 calculates the propagation velocity of the wavefront of the transverse waves in the displacement map, and calculates the velocity of the transverse waves at all the pixels of the image. The probe 20a according to an embodiment of the present invention moves the activation range of the transducer 310 of the transducer array 212 according to the first movement speed when photographing the echo image. As described above, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the ultrasonic transmitting end and the receiving end, which are fewer than the number of the transducers 310, 310 are activated. The probe 20a according to the present embodiment moves the activation range of the transducer 310 according to the first movement speed to acquire an echo image of the variation of the tissue in a wider area, The accuracy of the measurement can be improved.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an ultrasound imaging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The ultrasound imaging method according to the present embodiment can be performed by the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000a shown in FIG. The ultrasound imaging method according to embodiments of the present invention may be performed by various ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses in addition to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000a shown in FIG.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a selects a first activation range and a second activation range, which are the ranges of the transducers to be activated among the n transducers of the transducer array, according to the object or the measurement result (S502).

In the case where the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a selects a plurality of activation ranges according to the object or the measurement result, each activation range may be selected to include a different number of transducers, or may be selected to include the same number of transducers .

On the other hand, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can further determine the predetermined time interval or the first movement speed according to the object or the measurement result. For example, the first moving speed may be determined according to at least one of the examination position and the medical record of the object. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can determine the first movement speed according to the type of the object, primarily measure the object change movement speed, and determine the first movement speed according to the measurement result. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can determine the measured object change moving speed as the first moving speed.

Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can detect an echo signal in each activation range section (S504). The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can detect an echo signal from a target object by irradiating the object with ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range.

As an example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can irradiate an ultrasonic wave using a transducer belonging to the first activation range, and can detect an echo signal from a target object. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a irradiates the ultrasonic wave using a transducer belonging to the second activation range after a predetermined time interval from the point of time when the ultrasonic wave is irradiated by using the transducer belonging to the first activation range and detects an echo signal from the object can do.

As another example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can move the activation range of the transducer according to the first movement speed. For example, the range of the transducer connected to the transmitting end and the receiving end of the signal can be shifted according to the first moving speed. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can detect an echo signal from a target object by irradiating ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to the first activation range. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can detect an echo signal from a target object by irradiating the ultrasonic wave using the second activation range of the position shifted from the first activation range according to the first movement speed.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can detect an echo signal using a transducer belonging to each active range selected at a position shifted at the first movement speed. The transducers in the active range transmit ultrasonic signals and detect echo signals during the active range.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a may be configured to transmit different types of ultrasonic signals for each active range. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a irradiates an unfocused beam using a transducer belonging to the first activation range, and uses a transducer belonging to the second activation range to focus the focused beam, beam. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can determine what kind of ultrasonic signal is to be transmitted during each active range according to the object or the measurement result.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a measures the moving speed of the object change from the echo signal (S506). For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a generates an echo image from the echo signal, and calculates the progress speed of the object change using the echo images photographed for each activation period.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an active range moving according to an embodiment.

The probe 20a moves the activation range AR of the transducer according to the first movement speed, as shown in Fig. For example, when 256 transducers 310 are provided in the probe 20a, the 1 st through 128 th transducers 310 are activated for the first activation range period, and then 2 through 129 Th transducer 310 may be activated. If the first movement speed is faster than the example described above, the first to 128th transducers 310 are activated during the first activation range period, and then the third to 130th transducers 310 are activated during the second activation range Can be activated.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an active range moving according to an embodiment.

As shown in Fig. 7, the probe 20a repeatedly activates the transducer of the same activation range AR a times when the activation range AR is moved according to the first movement speed, Can be activated by repeating the transducer of the activation range (AR) a times. For example, the first to 128th transducers 310 are activated during the tenth to tenth active range from the first active range to the 10th to 138th transducers 310 Can be activated. According to the present embodiment, there is an effect that the load due to the movement of the activation range AR can be reduced.

6 and 7, the case where the activation range is selected at a position shifted in one direction according to one embodiment has been described as an example. However, the present disclosure is not so limited, and an activation range including various numbers of transducers at various positions of the transducer array may be selected depending on the object or measurement result.

6 and 7 show the case of selecting the activation ranges including the same number (i.e., 128) of transducers. However, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can select a plurality of activation ranges including different numbers of transducers, based on the object or measurement result.

For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can select an activation range including an increased number of transducers as the change of the object moves. When 256 transducers are provided in the probe 20a, the 1 st through 128 th transducers may be activated during the first activation range period, and then the 1 st through 130 th transducers may be activated during the second activation range period. During the 64th active range, the 1 st through 256 th transducers can be activated.

Further, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can select a plurality of activation ranges including a different number of transducers at the moved position, based on the object or the measurement result.

For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can select the activation range including the increased number of transducers at the moved position as the change of the object moves. When 256 transducers are provided in the probe 20a, the 1 st through 128 th transducers may be activated for the first activation range period, and then the 2 th through 130 th transducers may be activated for the second activation range period. During the 64th active range, the 64th through 256th transducers can be activated.

Further, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can select a plurality of activation ranges at irregular positions, based on the object or measurement result.

For example, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000a can select the activation range at irregularly shifted positions as the change of the object moves. When 256 transducers are provided in the probe 20a, the 1 st to 128 th transducers are activated for the first activation range period, then the 2 th to 129 th transducers are activated for the second activation range period, After the 128th to 255th transducers are activated during the range period, the 129th to 256th transducers can be activated during the fourth active range period.

8 is a view for explaining a process of obtaining an echo image in each activation range AR according to an embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a process of obtaining an echo image in each activation range AR according to an embodiment.

When irradiating the object 10 with ultrasonic waves, ultrasonic waves are irradiated using a plurality of transducers, which is referred to as a multi-beam method. The multi-beam system includes a plane wave system and a focus beam system. The plane wave method is a method of simultaneously transmitting ultrasonic waves from a plurality of transducers used for irradiating ultrasonic waves. The focus beam method is a method in which a time difference is provided between a plurality of transducers used for irradiating an ultrasonic wave, and the transmitted ultrasonic wave is focused at a specific point. The degree of focusing can be changed according to the embodiment of the focus beam method. For example, there is a case in which a focus beam is generated close to a plane wave without making a time difference between a plurality of transducers, while a focus beam is formed so that ultrasound is focused in a very narrow region to output an ultrasonic wave There are also cases. As the ultrasound is focused on a narrow region, the energy per unit area becomes larger. The size of the focused area of the focus beam may vary depending on the embodiment. In some cases, a focus beam near a plane wave or a plane wave may be referred to as an unfocused beam. The plane wave may be referred to as a parallel beam.

According to one embodiment, when obtaining an echo image in each activation range (AR), a scanning method using an ultrasonic wave of a focus beam can be used. As shown in Fig. 8, according to the present embodiment, the probe 20a can scan an object using a focus beam irradiated from a transducer belonging to each activation range AR. When the scan using the transducer belonging to the predetermined activation range is completed, the probe 20a can perform the scan using the transducers belonging to the other activation range. The probe 20a can detect the echo signal while scanning the object 10 using the focus beam irradiated from the transducer in the activation range as shown in Fig.

The position of the activation range can be moved in accordance with the first movement speed. The scan using the transducers belonging to the respective activation ranges proceeds to end within a predetermined time interval. For example, the scan using each activation range can be performed at the maximum speed supported by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20a.

10 is a flowchart illustrating an ultrasound imaging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a irradiates ultrasonic waves of a focus beam onto a target object 10 by using the probe 20a to generate a transverse wave in the tissue of the target object (S1002).

11 is a view for explaining a process of generating a transverse wave in the object 10 according to an embodiment. Fig. 12 is a view for explaining the progress of a transverse wave.

As shown in Fig. 11, when an ultrasonic wave of a focus beam is irradiated to the object 10, a force in the depth direction is applied to the object 10. When a force in the depth direction is generated, the tissue of the object 10 moves in the depth direction at the point where the force is generated as shown in Fig. 12 (S1202), and this movement pattern proceeds in the lateral direction perpendicular to the depth direction (S1204, S1206). The transverse movement of the movement pattern of the tissue is called a transverse wave.

Elastography, which uses ultrasound to measure the stiffness of a tissue, can be used for early diagnosis of various cancers. This cancer diagnosis method is a method of discriminating cancer by measuring the hardness of the tissue in consideration of the fact that the cancer is harder than the normal tissue. The transversely elasticity technique of measuring the shear modulus by generating the transverse wave and measuring the propagation velocity of the transverse wave has the advantage of quantitatively indicating the strength of the tissue. The present embodiment provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasonic imaging method capable of observing the propagation of a transverse wave at a high speed in a transversely elastic technique.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can measure the shear modulus of the object by measuring the propagation velocity of the transverse wave and can quantitatively display the strength of the tissue from the shear modulus. The shear modulus is calculated by multiplying the square of the transverse wave velocity by the density of the medium. The probe 20a irradiates ultrasonic waves of a focus beam to a target point of the object 10 to generate a transverse wave at the object 10. The target point may be part of the body tissue such as liver, kidney, and muscle.

Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a determines the first moving speed according to the object or the measurement result (S1004). The order of steps S1002 and S1004 may vary according to the embodiment, or may be performed in parallel.

Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a moves the activation range AR of the transducer 310 in accordance with the first movement speed (S1006), irradiates ultrasonic waves for each activation range and detects an echo signal (S1108) . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a according to the embodiment can move the activation range AR according to the first movement speed for each activation range section. That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can select the activation range so as to include the transducer at the moved position according to the first movement speed. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a according to another embodiment may repeat the operation of irradiating ultrasonic waves using the same activation range for a times of activating a times and irradiating ultrasonic waves using the activated range of the moved positions a times .

Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a measures the transverse wave propagation velocity as the object change progress velocity from the echo signal (S1010). For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a generates an echo image from the echo signal, calculates a mutation image from the echo image, determines the position of the transverse wave in the image from each mutation image, and measures the propagation velocity of the transverse wave (S1010). According to one embodiment, the disparity image can be calculated as a difference image between two consecutive echo images. According to another embodiment, the disparity image can be calculated as an image obtained by cross-correlating two consecutive echo images.

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining a process of photographing a variation of a tissue according to an embodiment.

During the transition of the tissue, the probe 20a can move the activation range of the transducer 310 within the range of the region of interest (ROI) according to the first movement speed. As the time advances to t1, t2, and t3, the activation range of the transducer 310 proceeds corresponding to the regions R1, R2, and R3.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a process of calculating a first movement speed when measuring a transverse wave propagation velocity according to an embodiment. FIG.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a measures the transverse wave propagation velocity, the first moving velocity can be calculated using data previously stored according to a target point of the object 10. [ For example, as shown in FIG. 14, Young's modulus and density for each organ of the body may be stored in advance. The Young's modulus and density may be stored, for example, in memory 500 (see FIG. 1). The first moving speed Cs can be calculated using the Young's modulus and the density of each organ and the following equation (1).

Figure 112014090848356-pat00001

Where E is the Young's modulus and ρ is the density.

15 is a diagram for explaining a process of calculating a first moving speed according to an embodiment.

According to one embodiment, the first moving speed may be determined based on the type of the object and the identification information of the object. When the patient is diagnosed using the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000a, the characteristics of the tissue may be changed depending on the personal characteristics of the patient or the degree of disease progression of the patient. For example, in patients with liver cancer, the intensity of the tissue may vary with the progression of the cancer. According to the present embodiment, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000a calculates the first moving speed in accordance with the identification information (A, B, etc.) of the target object indicating who the target object is and the imaging region. The information for calculating the first moving speed (for example, Young's modulus and density) or the information about the first moving speed is stored in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a, or the information about the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a .

16 is a diagram for explaining a process of obtaining an echo image in each activation range AR according to an embodiment.

According to one embodiment, ultrasonic waves of a plane wave are irradiated when an ultrasonic wave is irradiated to obtain an echo image in each activation range (AR). Since the propagation velocity of the transverse waves is very fast, the probe 20a must be photographed while moving the activation range AR at a very high speed. When the plane wave method is used, the time required for photographing in each activation range (AR) becomes very short, and the object can be photographed at a high speed. In the plane wave method, the transducer 310 in the predetermined activation range AR simultaneously irradiates ultrasonic waves, and after a predetermined time, the transducer 310 in the predetermined activation range AR senses the echo signal.

17 is a view for explaining a process of generating a transverse wave according to an embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can generate a transverse wave at a plurality of points. For example, as shown in Fig. 17, the probe 20a simultaneously irradiates a focus beam for generating a transverse wave at both ends to a target object, and at the position corresponding to both ends of the probe 20a, . Since the transverse waves are attenuated in size as they progress, it is possible to measure the transverse waves with a large amplitude in a short period of time by generating and measuring transverse waves at a plurality of points, thereby improving the accuracy of the transverse wave measurement and improving the SNR .

In order to measure transverse waves generated at a plurality of points, the probe 20a can select an active range at a position shifted in a plurality of directions.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can select a first activation range located at one end of the transducer array and a second activation range located at the other end of the transducer array.

The probe 20a irradiates the ultrasonic wave using the activation range of the position shifted in accordance with the first movement speed toward the center of the transducer array alternately from the first activation range and the second activation range and outputs the echo signal from the object Can be detected. That is, the probe 20a moves from the first activation range toward the center of the transducer array in the activation ranges of the position shifted in accordance with the first movement speed and from the second activation range toward the center of the transducer array, The ultrasonic waves can be irradiated by alternately using the activated ranges of the moved positions.

18 is a view for explaining a transverse wave measuring process according to an embodiment.

According to this embodiment, a transverse wave is generated at a plurality of points, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a moves the activation section AR alternately from both ends of the probe 20a to the transverse direction of the probe 20a, Can be obtained. That is, the active section AR can move in the first direction D1 proceeding from the left to the right of the probe 20a and in the second direction D2 proceeding from the right to the left. At this time, the proceeding of the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 proceeds alternately.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to detect a transverse wave generated at a plurality of points and detect a transverse wave having a large amplitude in the entire image area at the early stage of the echo signal detection time. Therefore, the transverse wave detection speed becomes faster and the accuracy of transverse wave detection improves .

19 is a view for explaining a transverse wave measuring process according to an embodiment.

According to this embodiment, a transverse wave is generated at a plurality of points, and the echo image can be obtained while the active section AR is alternately advanced from both ends of the probe 20a. That is, the active section AR can move in the first direction D1 proceeding from the left to the right of the probe 20a and in the second direction D2 proceeding from the right to the left. At this time, the proceeding of the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 proceeds alternately. According to the present embodiment, when the active range AR moves, the active range AR of the same transducer 310 is repeated a times in each of the directions (the first direction and the second direction) The activation range AR can be shifted while repeating the activation range AR in the range of the ducer 310 a times.

According to another embodiment, when the difference between the measured transverse wave propagation velocity and the first transit velocity is equal to or greater than the reference value, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a corrects the first transit velocity to the measured transverse wave propagation velocity, can do. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to more accurately capture the state of the transverse wave propagating at the corrected first moving speed, and it is possible to improve the accuracy of the transverse wave propagating velocity measurement.

20 is a flowchart illustrating an ultrasound imaging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a irradiates ultrasonic waves of a focus beam onto a target object 10 using a probe 20a, and generates a transverse wave in the tissue of the target object (S2002). Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a moves the activation range AR of the transducer 310 according to the first movement speed (S2004), irradiates the ultrasonic wave for each activation range section, and detects the echo image (S2006 ).

Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a calculates the mutation image from the echo image, determines the position of the transverse wave in the image from each side image, and measures the propagation velocity of the transverse wave (S2008). If the difference between the measured transverse wave propagation velocity and the first transit velocity is equal to or greater than the reference value (S2010), the first transit velocity is corrected to the measured transverse wave propagation velocity (S2012) and the transverse wave propagation velocity is measured again (S2002, S2004 , S2006, S2008).

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a can measure the transverse wave propagation velocity using the measured first movement velocity after measuring the first movement velocity. The process of measuring the first traveling speed can be finished more simply and quickly than the process of measuring the transverse wave propagation speed. For example, when measuring the first movement speed, it is possible to detect the progress of the transverse wave for a limited time in the fixed activation range AR without moving the activation range AR, and to measure the first movement speed.

21 is a flowchart illustrating an ultrasound imaging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a according to the present embodiment irradiates ultrasonic waves of a focus beam to a target 10 using a probe 20a to generate a transverse wave in the tissue of the target object (S2102). Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a irradiates the object 10 with ultrasonic waves, detects the echo image (S2104), and measures the transverse wave propagation velocity (S2106). Here, the measured transverse wave propagation velocity is set to the first movement velocity (S2108). The process of measuring the first traveling speed can be finished more simply and quickly than the process of measuring the transverse wave propagation speed. For example, when measuring the first movement speed, it is possible to detect the progress of the transverse wave for a limited time in the fixed activation range AR without moving the activation range AR, and to measure the first movement speed.

Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a irradiates the object 10 with ultrasound of the focus beam using the probe 20a to generate a transverse wave in the tissue of the object (S2110). Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a moves the activation range AR of the transducer 310 according to the first movement speed (S2112), irradiates the ultrasonic wave for each activation range section, and detects the echo image (S2114 ).

Next, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000a calculates the mutation image from the echo image, determines the position of the transverse wave in the image from each side image, and measures the propagation velocity of the transverse wave (S2116).

22 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a transducer array 212 according to an embodiment.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the transducer array 212 may have a one-dimensional linear structure, a 1.5-dimensional structure, or a two-dimensional structure. For example, as shown in Fig. 22, transducers may be arranged in a two-dimensional matrix form. The two-dimensional transducer array 212 may be arranged to transmit ultrasonic waves toward the surface of the probe 20a facing the object.

The two-dimensional transducer array 212 may be arranged in various forms such as a honeycomb shape and a radial shape in addition to the shape shown in FIG. In addition, the transducer array 212 according to one embodiment may include a convex array.

23 is a view for explaining a mode in which the active range is shifted in the transducer array 212 according to an embodiment.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a according to the present embodiment can move the activation range in the form of concentric circles or concentric ellipses as shown in Fig. 23 in the two-dimensional transducer array 212. [ For example, as shown in FIG. 23, an activation period R1, an activation period R2, an activation period R3, and an activation period R4 may proceed. In each activation period, a transducer belonging to the activation range of the type shown in Fig. 23 is activated. The center of the concentric circle or the concentric ellipse can be determined, for example, as a push position for generating a transverse wave.

According to another embodiment, the activation range may be implemented in various forms such as concentric triangles, squares, pentagons, and the like.

24 is a view for explaining a mode in which the active range is shifted in the transducer array 212 according to an embodiment.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a according to the present embodiment can move the activation range in a direction moving away from the push position in one direction as shown in Fig. 24 in the two-dimensional transducer array 212 have. For example, as shown in Fig. 24, the activation range can be linearly advanced in a direction away from the push position. The activation range may be in the form of a one-dimensional transducer array in which the transducers are arranged in a row, or in the form of a two-dimensional transducer array including a plurality of columns of transducers. The shape of the activation range can be determined in various forms such as a rectangle, a square, a circle, and an ellipse. In each activation period, a transducer belonging to the activation range of the type shown in Fig. 24 is activated.

25 is a view showing a probe 20b according to an embodiment.

The probe 20b according to the present embodiment includes a transducer array 2510, a control unit 2520, and a communication unit 2530.

The transducer array 2510 includes n transducers. The n transducers may be arranged in a one-dimensional, 1.5-dimensional, or two-dimensional form, according to an embodiment.

The control unit 2520 determines the first moving speed according to the measurement result or according to the object 10 and determines whether the m number of activated (m < n, m is a natural number) transducer activated among the n transducers The range is moved in accordance with the first moving speed and an echo signal is detected from the object 10 by irradiating ultrasonic waves using m transducers belonging to the active range for each activating range. The first moving speed can be determined according to the object 10 or the measurement result in the probe 20b itself of the probe 20b according to the present embodiment. The information for determining the first movement speed (for example, the first movement speed according to the type of the object) can be stored in the probe 20b or can be received from other electronic devices using the communication unit 2530 .

The communication unit 2530 transmits the echo signal to another electronic device. Other electronic devices include electronic devices such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000a, a server, a PC, a mobile phone, and a tablet PC. The communication unit 2530 communicates with another electronic device by wire or wirelessly. For example, the communication unit 2530 may include at least one of a short-range communication module, a wired communication module, and a mobile communication module.

The short-range communication module means a module for short-range communication within a predetermined distance. The local area communication technology according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a wireless LAN, a Wi-Fi, a Bluetooth, a zigbee, a Wi-Fi Direct, an ultra wideband (UWB) IrDA, Infrared Data Association), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), NFC (Near Field Communication), and the like.

The wired communication module refers to a module for communication using an electrical signal or an optical signal. The wired communication technology according to an exemplary embodiment may include a pair cable, a coaxial cable, an optical fiber cable, an ethernet cable, have.

The mobile communication module transmits and receives radio signals to and from at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. Here, the wireless signal may include various types of data depending on a voice call signal, a video call signal, or a text / multimedia message transmission / reception.

According to one embodiment, the control unit 2520 may generate an echo image from the detected echo signal, and may transmit the echo image to another electronic device. The other electronic device receives the echo signal or the echo image, and can calculate the object change progress speed.

According to another embodiment, the control unit 2520 measures the moving speed of the object change from the detected echo signal, and the communication unit 2530 can transmit information on the moving speed of the object change to another electronic device. According to the present embodiment, the probe 20b itself has a function of calculating the moving speed of the object changing while moving the active range of the transducer, thereby enabling the user to measure the moving speed of the object changing easily and accurately. Further, according to the present embodiment, there is an effect that the amount of communication between the probe 20b and another electronic device can be reduced.

The ultrasound imaging method according to embodiments of the present invention may be implemented with a software module or an algorithm. Methods implemented with software modules or algorithms may be stored on a computer readable recording medium as computer readable codes or program instructions executable on the processor. Here, the computer-readable recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium such as a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a floppy disk, a hard disk, ), And a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). The computer-readable recording medium may be distributed over networked computer systems so that computer readable code can be stored and executed in a distributed manner. The recording medium is readable by a computer, is stored in a memory, and can be executed in a processor. When the recording medium is connected to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 200, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 200 may be configured to perform the ultrasound imaging method according to the embodiments of the present invention.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the disclosed methods should be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (30)

(n is a natural number) transducers, wherein transducers belonging to the first activation range and the second activation range, which are the ranges of the transducers activated among the n transducers, A probe for irradiating ultrasonic waves to the object and detecting an echo signal from the object; And
The first activation range and the second activation range are selected on the basis of a measurement result obtained by measuring a target change speed at which the target or the target changes at a moving speed in accordance with a predetermined condition, And a control unit for generating the echo image and measuring the moving speed of the object from the echo image. The probe according to claim 1,
Irradiating an ultrasonic wave using the transducer belonging to the first activation range, detecting an echo signal from the object, irradiating an ultrasonic wave using a transducer belonging to the second activation range after a predetermined time interval, Respectively,
Wherein the predetermined time interval is determined according to the object or the measurement result. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the probe irradiates ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to the first activation range, detects an echo signal from the object, and detects the second activation range of the position shifted from the first activation range in accordance with the first movement speed An echo signal is detected from the object,
Wherein the first moving speed is determined according to the object or the measurement result. The probe according to claim 1,
Irradiates ultrasonic waves of a plane wave from the transducers belonging to the first activation range and the second activation range to the object and detects an echo signal from the transducers belonging to the activation range. The probe according to claim 1,
And irradiating the focus beam to the object from the transducers belonging to the first activation range and the second activation range while moving the irradiation position of the focus beam within the first activation range and the second activation range, And detects an echo signal corresponding to an irradiation position of the focus beam. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the first moving speed is determined according to at least one of an examination position and a medical record of the object. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the control unit corrects the first moving speed when the measured moving speed of the object varies from the first moving speed by a reference value or more,
Wherein the probe irradiates an ultrasonic wave using a transducer belonging to an active range selected at a position shifted according to the corrected first movement speed and detects an echo signal from the object. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the control unit calculates a mutation image using two echo images sequentially photographed, detects a change position of the object from the mutation image, and calculates the object change travel speed using the change position of the object , Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The method according to claim 1,
The probe further includes m multiplexers for coupling the selected transducer to a signal transmission channel connected to the controller,
Wherein the transducers belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range are transducers selected by the m multiplexers. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the control unit measures the moving speed of the object by using the probe and determines the first moving speed in accordance with the measurement result. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the probe generates ultrasonic waves on the object to generate a transverse wave on the object,
Wherein the change of the object is a transverse wave generated in the object,
Wherein the object change moving speed is a traveling speed of the transverse wave. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the probe generates a transverse wave by irradiating ultrasonic waves of a focus beam to the object. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the probe generates a transverse wave at a plurality of points of the object. 14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the controller selects the first activation range located at one end of the transducer array and selects the second activation range located at the other end of the transducer array,
Wherein the probe irradiates an ultrasonic wave using an activation range of a position shifted from the first activation range and the second activation range in accordance with a first movement speed toward the center of the transducer array and outputs an echo signal Respectively,
Wherein the first moving speed is determined according to the object or the measurement result. A method for imaging an ultrasound image using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a transducer array including n transducers (n is a natural number)
Which is a range of an active transducer among the n transducers of the transducer array, based on a measurement result of a subject or a change speed of a target which is a speed at which a change of the object moves, according to a predetermined condition, Selecting a range and a second activation range;
Irradiating the object with ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range and detecting an echo signal from the object; And
And measuring the moving speed of the object from the echo signal. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein selecting the first activation range and the second activation range comprises:
Further comprising the step of determining a predetermined time interval according to the object or the measurement result,
Wherein the step of detecting the echo signal comprises:
Irradiating ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to the first activation range and detecting an echo signal from the object; And
And irradiating ultrasonic waves using the transducers belonging to the second activation range after the predetermined time interval, and detecting an echo signal from the object. 16. The method of claim 15,
Further comprising the step of determining a first movement speed in accordance with the object or the measurement result,
The step of detecting the echo signal
Irradiating ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to the first activation range and detecting an echo signal from the object; And
And irradiating the ultrasonic wave using the second activation range at a position shifted from the first activation range according to the first movement speed, and detecting an echo signal from the object. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the step of detecting the echo signal comprises:
Irradiating ultrasonic waves of a plane wave to the object from a transducer belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range; And
Detecting echo signals from m transducers belonging to the first activation range and the second activation range, respectively. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein detecting the echo signal comprises:
Moving the irradiation position of the focus beam within each of the first activation range and the second activation range,
Irradiating an ultrasonic wave of a focus beam to the object from a transducer belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range; And
And detecting an echo signal corresponding to an irradiation position of the focus beam. 18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the first moving speed is determined according to at least one of an inspection position and a medical record of the object. 18. The method of claim 17,
Correcting the first moving speed when the measured moving speed of the object is different from the first moving speed by at least a reference value;
Detecting an echo signal from the object by irradiating ultrasonic waves to the object using a transducer belonging to an activated range selected at a position shifted according to the corrected first moving speed; And
And measuring the moving speed of the object from the echo signal detected based on the corrected first moving speed. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the step of measuring the moving speed of the object comprises:
Calculating a mutation image using two echo images sequentially photographed;
Detecting a change position of the object from the variation image; And
And calculating the moving speed of the target body using the detected change position of the target body. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises m multiplexers for coupling the selected transducer to the signal transfer channel and wherein the transducers belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range are selected by the m multiplexers Ultrasonic imaging method, which is a transducer. 18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the determining the first movement speed comprises:
Measuring the moving speed of the object using the probe, and determining the first moving speed according to the measurement result. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the ultrasonic imaging method further comprises the step of generating a transverse wave at the object by irradiating ultrasonic waves to the object,
Wherein the change of the object is a transverse wave generated in the object,
Wherein the moving speed of the object change is a traveling speed of the transverse wave. 26. The method of claim 25,
Wherein the step of generating the transverse waves generates a transverse wave by irradiating the object with an ultrasonic wave of a focus beam. 26. The method of claim 25,
Wherein generating the transverse waves comprises generating transverse waves at a plurality of points of the object. 28. The method of claim 27,
Wherein the step of selecting the first activation range and the second activation range comprises:
Selecting the first activation range located at one end of the transducer array and selecting the second activation range located at the other end of the transducer array,
Wherein the step of detecting the echo signal comprises:
Detecting an echo signal from the object by irradiating ultrasonic waves using an activation range of a position shifted from the first activation range and the second activation range in accordance with a first movement speed toward a center of the transducer array alternately Lt; / RTI &gt;
Wherein the first moving speed is determined according to the object or the measurement result. a transducer array including n (n is a natural number) transducers;
A first activation range which is a range of the transducers to be activated among the n transducers and a second activation range which is a range of activated transducers of the n transducers based on a measurement result obtained by measuring a target change speed at which the object, A control unit for selecting an activation range and irradiating ultrasound using the transducers belonging to the first activation range and the second activation range and detecting an echo signal from the target object; And
And a communication unit for transmitting the echo signal to another electronic device. There is provided a computer readable recording medium storing computer program codes for performing a method of imaging an ultrasound image using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a transducer array including n transducers, The ultrasound imaging method comprises:
Which is a range of an active transducer among the n transducers of the transducer array, based on a measurement result of a subject or a change speed of a target which is a speed at which a change of the object moves, according to a predetermined condition, Selecting a range and a second activation range;
Irradiating the object with ultrasonic waves using a transducer belonging to each of the first activation range and the second activation range and detecting an echo signal from the object; And
And measuring the object change speed from the echo signal.
KR1020140127687A 2014-01-06 2014-09-24 Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus, method for photographing ultrasonic image, probe, and computer-readable recording medium KR101649272B1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14/590,118 US10324065B2 (en) 2014-01-06 2015-01-06 Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, ultrasound image capturing method, and computer-readable recording medium
PCT/KR2015/000118 WO2015102474A1 (en) 2014-01-06 2015-01-06 Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, ultrasound image capturing method, and computer-readable recording medium

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR20140001503 2014-01-06
KR1020140001503 2014-01-06

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
KR20150082067A KR20150082067A (en) 2015-07-15
KR101649272B1 true KR101649272B1 (en) 2016-08-18

Family

ID=53793735

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
KR1020140127687A KR101649272B1 (en) 2014-01-06 2014-09-24 Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus, method for photographing ultrasonic image, probe, and computer-readable recording medium

Country Status (1)

Country Link
KR (1) KR101649272B1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012116364A1 (en) 2011-02-25 2012-08-30 Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research Ultrasound vibrometry with unfocused ultrasound
US20120302883A1 (en) 2011-05-25 2012-11-29 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Method and system for treatment and diagnosis using ultrasound
US20130131511A1 (en) 2009-11-25 2013-05-23 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Ultrasonic shear wave imaging with focused scanline beamforming
US20130218012A1 (en) 2007-10-01 2013-08-22 Donald F. Specht Determining Material Stiffness Using Multiple Aperture Ultrasound

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130218012A1 (en) 2007-10-01 2013-08-22 Donald F. Specht Determining Material Stiffness Using Multiple Aperture Ultrasound
US20130131511A1 (en) 2009-11-25 2013-05-23 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Ultrasonic shear wave imaging with focused scanline beamforming
WO2012116364A1 (en) 2011-02-25 2012-08-30 Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research Ultrasound vibrometry with unfocused ultrasound
US20120302883A1 (en) 2011-05-25 2012-11-29 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Method and system for treatment and diagnosis using ultrasound

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR20150082067A (en) 2015-07-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10324065B2 (en) Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, ultrasound image capturing method, and computer-readable recording medium
CN107666863B (en) Method of displaying elastographic image and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for performing the method
KR101649273B1 (en) Method for generatin an elastic image using a probe having a curved surface and an medical imaging apparatus thereof
EP3075320B1 (en) Ultrasound imaging apparatus and method of processing ultrasound image thereof
KR101579740B1 (en) Untrasound dianognosis apparatus, method and computer-readable storage medium
JPWO2015029651A1 (en) Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and elasticity evaluation method
US10292682B2 (en) Method and medical imaging apparatus for generating elastic image by using curved array probe
KR20160025083A (en) Untrasound dianognosis apparatus, method and computer-readable storage medium
US10163228B2 (en) Medical imaging apparatus and method of operating same
KR20170021558A (en) Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and operating method for the same
KR20150014315A (en) Method and apparatus for ultrasound diagnosis using shear waves
KR20160073168A (en) Untrasound dianognosis apparatus and operating method thereof
US20160089117A1 (en) Ultrasound imaging apparatus and method using synthetic aperture focusing
KR101630763B1 (en) Ultrasound image display appratus and method for displaying ultrasound image
JP6200589B2 (en) Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and operation method thereof
US11504087B2 (en) Ultrasonic diagnostic device and control method therefor
EP3412213B1 (en) Method for outputting speed of object and ultrasonic diagnosis device therefor
KR101643622B1 (en) Method and ultrasound apparatus for processing an ultrasound image
KR20170064362A (en) Method and apparatus for acquiring image using ultrasound
KR20150047416A (en) Ultrasound apparatus and method for setting tgc thereof
KR101868019B1 (en) Ultrasound Imaging Apparatus and Method for processing a ultrasound image thereof
KR101649272B1 (en) Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus, method for photographing ultrasonic image, probe, and computer-readable recording medium
KR101611443B1 (en) Method for Controlling Ultrasound Imaging Apparatus and Ultrasound Imaging Apparatus Thereof
KR102605151B1 (en) Method and beamformer for performing beamforming process
KR20160114487A (en) Elasticity measurement apparatus and method thereof

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
A201 Request for examination
E902 Notification of reason for refusal
AMND Amendment
E601 Decision to refuse application
AMND Amendment
X701 Decision to grant (after re-examination)
GRNT Written decision to grant
FPAY Annual fee payment

Payment date: 20190730

Year of fee payment: 4