JP2000185037A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent switching elements from being broken by application of high voltage pulses while no operating voltages are being supplied. SOLUTION: An ultrasonic probe 12 having switching circuits 2 for controlling the application of exciting pulses for exciting ultrasonic vibrators 1 and freely removably connected to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 11 is provided with a detector 21 for detecting operating voltages supplied to the switching elements of the switching circuits, and the supply of the exciting pulses to the switching elements is stopped when no operating voltages are detected. Thus, while no operating voltages are being supplied to the switching elements, the supply of the exciting pulses is stopped to prevent breaking of the switching elements.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of observing a tomographic image of a subject in real time using ultrasonic waves.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses are widely used as the most common image diagnostic apparatuses for detecting various diseases early and safely without causing any pain to patients and linking them to treatment. The diagnostic area with ultrasonic diagnostic equipment is wide,
For example, intracranial blood flow, thyroid gland, carotid artery, mammary gland, heart, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, stomach, uterus, ovary, kidney, etc. are expanding year by year. In order to cope with these expanding diagnostic areas, ultrasonic probes according to the application, such as linear probes, sector probes, convex probes, etc. are prepared, and plural ultrasonic probes can be used in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Each ultrasonic probe is connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body via a connector.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the operation of a linear electronic scanning system for electronically scanning an ultrasonic beam using a linear probe. That is, N ultrasonic transducers 1 are arranged in parallel at equal intervals in the ultrasonic probe, and each ultrasonic transducer 1 is connected to the signal source of the drive signal 3 via the switch 2. I have. By operating the switch 2, one block is formed by, for example, five ultrasonic transducers 1, and the drive signal 3 is applied to one block of the ultrasonic transducers 1 at the same time. The switches 2 are sequentially switched so that the children 1 are sequentially shifted one by one. That is, first, the corresponding switch 2 is turned on so that the drive signal 3 is applied to the first to fifth ultrasonic transducers 1 (the other switches 2 are turned off), and then the second to sixth ultrasonic transducers 1 are turned on. The corresponding switch 2 is turned on so that the drive signal 3 is applied to the first ultrasonic transducer 1 (the other switches 2 are turned off), and the third to seventh, fourth to eighth,... -Apply the drive signal 3 from the fourth to the nth. In this way, the blocks of the ultrasonic transducer 1 formed in units of five gradually move rightward while being shifted by one pitch.

The ultrasonic vibrator 1 to which the drive signal 3 is applied is excited, and ultrasonic waves having a radial spread are emitted from each excited ultrasonic vibrator 1. Since the ultrasonic waves are simultaneously emitted from the block formed by the child 1, the intensity of the ultrasonic beam UB at the central position is maximized. That is, when the first to fifth ultrasonic transducers 1 are excited, the intensity of the ultrasonic beam UB at the third position becomes maximum, and the second to sixth ultrasonic transducers 1 are excited. In this case, the intensity of the ultrasonic beam UB at the fourth position becomes the maximum, and the ultrasonic transducer 1 at the third, fourth,...
, The ultrasonic beam UB is sequentially emitted in the vertical direction, and gradually shifts rightward. In this way, the ultrasonic beam UB is electronically scanned.

A high-voltage pulse is used as the drive signal 3 for exciting the ultrasonic vibrator 1, and a high-voltage switching circuit is used as the switch 2 for controlling the application of the high-voltage pulse to the ultrasonic vibrator 1. Is done. FIG. 7 is a system diagram showing an example of a conventionally used high-voltage switching circuit, which will be described. That is, the high-voltage switching circuit includes a switching element 4 composed of, for example, an FET, a voltage switch 5 for switching and applying a positive operating voltage Vp and a negative operating voltage Vn to the switching element 4, and a voltage switch 5. Driving voltage V for driving
and a timing circuit 6 for supplying the signal d at a predetermined timing by a predetermined signal Sig.
Made of. The input terminal IN of the switching element 4 is supplied with a high-voltage pulse (equivalent to the drive signal 3 and will be described below with reference numeral 3).
Is connected to the ultrasonic transducer 1. The operating voltage V
An operating voltage for operating the switching element 4 including p, Vn, and the driving voltage Vd is referred to as an operating voltage.

FIG. 7 shows that a predetermined signal S
ig is supplied, and therefore, the drive voltage Vd is supplied from the timing circuit 6 to the voltage switch 5 so that the voltage switch 5
Indicates a state in which the switching element 4 is operated to supply a positive operating voltage Vp. Therefore, the switching element 4 is turned on, and the high-voltage pulse 3 supplied to the input terminal IN is applied to the ultrasonic vibrator 1 via the output terminal OUT, so that the ultrasonic vibrator 1 is excited and Generates sound waves. When the signal Sig supplied to the timing circuit 6 disappears, the timing circuit 6
No longer supplies the drive voltage Vd to the voltage switch 5, so that the voltage switch 5 supplies the negative operating voltage Vn to the switching element 4. Therefore, the switching element 4 is turned off, and the high voltage pulse 3 is input to the input terminal IN.
Is supplied to the output terminal OUT and no ultrasonic wave is generated from the ultrasonic transducer 1.

By such a high-voltage switching circuit (equivalent to the switch 2 and described below with reference numeral 2), the individual ultrasonic vibrators 1 are controlled so as to be selectively excited. Since the peak value of the high-voltage pulse 3 is, for example, about +160 V, Vp is set to about +180 V, Vn is set to about −10 V, and Vd is set to about +15 V.

[0008]

The high-voltage switching circuit 2 is necessary for selectively exciting the ultrasonic vibrator 1, and is used for generating the ultrasonic vibrator 1 and the high-voltage pulse 7. Suffices to be provided between the high-voltage pulse generator and the high-voltage pulse generator. Therefore, depending on various circumstances, the high-voltage switching circuit 2 may be provided in the ultrasonic probe or may be provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body.

However, when the high-voltage switching circuit 2 is provided on the ultrasonic probe side, the operating voltages Vp, Vn,
It is necessary to supply an operating voltage such as the driving voltage Vd to the ultrasonic probe via a connector. At this time, if the connector has a contact failure and the high voltage pulse 7 is applied without supplying the predetermined voltages Vp, Vn, Vd to the high voltage switching circuit 2, not only the ultrasonic transducer 1 is not excited but also the latch-up occurs. And the switching element 4 may be destroyed. As described above, if the ultrasonic transducer 1 is not excited, the image diagnosis cannot be performed, and if the switching element 4 is destroyed, the ultrasonic probe becomes unusable. The present invention has been made to solve such a problem.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an invention according to claim 1 is provided with a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and an excitation for exciting the ultrasonic vibrators. Probe having a switching element for controlling the application of an application pulse, a pulse generator for generating an excitation pulse to be applied to the ultrasonic transducer via the switching element, and an operating voltage for operating the switching element Detecting an operating voltage supplied to the switching element in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the ultrasonic probe detachably connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body having a power supply for supplying the ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic probe is provided with a detecting means for performing the detection.

Thus, it is possible to detect whether or not the operating voltage is supplied to the switching element. If the operating voltage is not supplied, the cause can be immediately investigated or the use of another ultrasonic probe can be switched. This makes it possible to prevent the switching element from being destroyed.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, when the detecting means detects that the operating voltage is not supplied to the switching element, the excitation pulse is supplied to the switching element. It is characterized by comprising control means for controlling to stop.

Thus, when the operating voltage is not supplied to the switching element, the supply of the excitation pulse is forcibly stopped, so that the destruction of the switching element can be reliably prevented.

[0014] The invention according to claim 3 provides the invention according to claim 1.
Alternatively, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a display unit that displays a detection status of the operating voltage supplied to the switching element, which is detected by the detection unit. It is assumed that.

[0015] With this arrangement, the supply state of the operating voltage to the switching element can be visually checked. If the operating voltage is not supplied, the cause can be more promptly investigated or the use of another ultrasonic probe can be switched. And the switching element can be prevented from being destroyed.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 is the same as the invention according to claim 3.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the above, wherein the display means is provided on the ultrasonic probe.

[0017] Thus, the state of supply of the operating voltage to the switching element is displayed on the ultrasonic probe to be actually used, so that the determination becomes easier. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third aspect, the display means is provided on an operation panel section of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body. is there.

As a result, the status of supply of the operating voltage to the switching element is displayed on the operation panel during operation, so that the judgment can be made easier and the response can be promptly made.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third aspect, the display means comprises:
The image is displayed on a monitor for displaying an image of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0020] With this, the supply status of the operating voltage to the switching element is displayed on the monitor on which the ultrasonic image is displayed, so that the abnormality can be visually confirmed very easily, and the judgment becomes easier. You can respond promptly.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and shows an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 11.
Side and the ultrasonic probe 12 side are shown on the left and right with the connector 13 in between. Then, the ultrasonic probe 12 is detachably connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 11 via the connector 13. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 11 includes a control unit 1
A high-voltage pulse generator 15 for generating an excitation high-voltage pulse 3 for exciting the ultrasonic vibrator 1 under the control of the control unit 14 is provided. Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 11 is supplied with an amplifier 16 for receiving and amplifying a reflection signal from the subject transmitted through the ultrasonic probe 12, and a reflection signal amplified by the amplifier 16. There are provided a signal processing circuit 17 for performing various processes such as zooming based on the observation conditions set by 14, and a monitor 18 for displaying a signal processed by the signal processing circuit 17 as an image. Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 11 is provided with a power supply 19,
1, and supplies the operating voltages Vp, Vn,
Vd is also supplied. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 11 includes:
An operation panel unit 20 having a keyboard and the like is provided.
, And can input patient information and the like.

On the other hand, the ultrasonic probe 12 includes the N ultrasonic transducers 1 already described with reference to FIGS.
A high-voltage switching circuit 2 connected to each of the ultrasonic vibrators 1 is provided. Each of the high-voltage switching circuits 2 has a high-voltage pulse 3 for exciting the ultrasonic vibrator 1.
Is connected via a connector 13. Further, operating voltages Vp, Vn and Vd for the high-voltage switching circuit 2 are supplied from the power supply 19 via the connector 13. Further, the operating voltages Vp, V
A detector 21 for detecting whether n and Vd are correctly supplied to the ultrasonic probe 12 side is provided on the ultrasonic probe 12 side, and operating voltages Vp and Vn at the detector 21 are provided. , Vd are also provided. The detection output of the detector 21 is supplied to the display 22 through the other connector 13.
It is also supplied to the control unit 14 on the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 11 side.

One embodiment of the detector 21 is shown in a system diagram in FIG. That is, the detector 21 detects the operating voltages Vp and Vn of the high-voltage switching circuit 2 and the driving voltage V
d is compared with the reference voltage E using the comparators 23p, 23n, and 23d. The reference voltage E is obtained from the standard voltage of, for example, +5 V supplied from the power supply 19 by the resistor Z1 and the Zener diode Z2. The operating voltages Vp and Vn to be supplied to the comparators 23p, 23n, and 23d to be compared with the reference voltage E, and the driving voltage V
d is converted into a predetermined voltage having the same ratio as the reference voltage E by the attenuators 24p, 24n, and 24d, and is supplied to the comparators 23p, 23n, and 23d. Therefore, the attenuator 24 with respect to the reference voltage E
If the voltage converted by p, 24n, and 24d is lower, the corresponding comparator 23p, 23n, and 23d outputs an H-level signal, and the output is supplied to the control unit 14 and the display 22 as a detection signal. You. Here, the display 22 is a light-emitting body such as an LED, for example.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above, and the operation will be described next. Normally, predetermined operating voltages Vp, Vn, and Vd are supplied to the high-voltage switching circuit 2 in a state where the ultrasonic probe 12 is connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 11 by the connector 13, and the ultrasonic vibration is generated by the high-voltage pulse 3. The transducer 1 is selectively excited, an ultrasonic beam UB is transmitted to the subject, and a reflected wave from the subject is received by the same ultrasonic transducer 1 and processed appropriately to form an image and monitor. 18
To be displayed. By the way, when any of the operating voltages Vp, Vn, and Vd is not supplied from the power supply 19 to the ultrasonic probe 12 due to a contact failure of the connector 13 or the like, the corresponding comparators 23p and 23 of the detector 21
Any one of the outputs n and 23d becomes H level. This H
The level signal is supplied to the display unit 22 of the ultrasonic probe 12 to display an alarm by, for example, emitting light from an LED, and to the control unit 14 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 11. The control unit 14 receives the H level signal from the detector 21 and stops the operation of the high voltage pulse generator 15 so that the high voltage pulse 3 is not applied to the high voltage switching circuit 2. By doing so, the predetermined operating voltages Vp, Vn, and Vd are applied to the high-voltage switching circuit 2.
Can be prevented from being applied without supplying the high-voltage pulse, and the switching element 4 can be prevented from being broken.

The display 22 provided on the ultrasonic probe 12 side may be provided on the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 11 side as shown in FIG. That is, the same effect can be obtained even when the output of the detector 21 supplied to the control unit 14 is supplied to the display 22 via the control unit 14. Here, FIG.
Since the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals,
The description of that part is omitted. In addition, this display 22
It may be provided on the operation panel unit 20 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 11, or may be displayed on the monitor 18 via the control unit 14. When displaying on this monitor 18,
It can be displayed as a message such as "No operating voltage supplied". Further, the display 22 may be provided on both the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 11 side and the ultrasonic probe 12 side.

The setting of the reference voltage E of the detector 21 is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 4, the measurement may be performed using a semiconductor such as the voltage reference 25. In FIG. 4, the same parts as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

Further, the operating voltage V
Instead of comparing p, Vn, Vd with reference voltage E,
As shown in FIG. 5, the attenuators 24p, 24n, 24
The operating voltages Vp, V converted into predetermined voltages by d.
n and Vd are converted into digital signals by AD converters 26p, 26n and 26d, and the digital signals are supplied to a detection voltage discrimination circuit 27 to discriminate a difference between a digital value indicating a prescribed voltage value and an input signal. You may make it. As a result, if the input signal is lower than the specified voltage value, it is determined that the predetermined operating voltages Vp, Vn, Vd are not supplied to the ultrasonic probe 12, and a signal indicating the determination result is displayed on the control unit 14 and the display. To the vessel 22.

[0028]

As described in detail above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to detect whether or not the operating voltage is supplied to the switching element. In addition, it is possible to investigate the cause of the problem and to switch to using another ultrasonic probe, and to prevent the switching element from being destroyed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the operating voltage is not supplied to the switching element, the supply of the excitation pulse is forcibly stopped, so that the destruction of the switching element is reliably prevented. be able to.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the supply status of the operating voltage to the switching element can be visually confirmed by the operator who operates the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the operating voltage is supplied. If not, it is possible to more promptly investigate the cause or to switch to using another ultrasonic probe, and to prevent the switching element from being destroyed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the state of supply of the operating voltage to the switching element is displayed on the ultrasonic probe to be actually used, it is easier for the operator to make a judgment. Become.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the status of supply of the operating voltage to the switching element is displayed on the operation panel during operation, so that the operator can more easily determine and respond. Can be taken promptly.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the state of supply of the operating voltage to the switching element is displayed on the monitor on which the ultrasonic image is displayed, the operator operating the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is displayed. The abnormality can be confirmed very easily by the user's own eyes, and the judgment can be made easier, and a prompt response can be taken. As a result, destruction of the switching element can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of a detector used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram showing another embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram showing another embodiment of the detector used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram showing still another embodiment of the detector used in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation of a linear electronic scanning method for electronically scanning an ultrasonic beam.

FIG. 7 is a system diagram showing an example of a conventionally used high-voltage switching circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic transducer 2 Switching circuit 3 High-voltage pulse 4 Switching element 11 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 12 Ultrasonic probe 13 Connector 14 Control part 15 High-voltage pulse generator 18 Monitor 19 Power supply 20 Operation panel part 21 Detector 22 Display

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 4C301 AA02 BB01 EE12 GA06 GB04 HH02 HH16 JA19 JB03 KK08 KK40 LL17

Claims (6)

[Claims] An ultrasonic probe having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a switching element for controlling application of an excitation pulse for exciting the ultrasonic transducer, and the switching element. A pulse generator for generating an excitation pulse to be applied to the ultrasonic transducer, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body having a power supply for supplying an operating voltage for operating the switching element,
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which the ultrasonic probe is detachably connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, a detecting unit for detecting an operation voltage supplied to the switching element is provided on the ultrasonic probe. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. 2. A control means for controlling the supply of the excitation pulse to the switching element when the detection means detects that no operating voltage is supplied to the switching element. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, comprising: 3. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display a detection state of the operating voltage supplied to the switching element detected by the detection unit. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to item 1. 4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said display means is provided on said ultrasonic probe. 5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said display means is provided on an operation panel of said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body. 6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display means is displayed on a monitor for displaying an image of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.