JP2003024331A - Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prepare three-dimensional image data by speedily scanning ultrasonic beams with an inexpensive constitution. SOLUTION: A reflection board 21 provided on an ultrasonic probe 100a has a reflection face for reflecting ultrasonic waves and is held rotatably around an axis by a case 20. An angle detector 22 detects the angle of a reflection face of the reflecting board 21. The reflecting board 21 is always pressed against the outer periphery of a reflection board driving member 24 by a spring 25 and when the driving member 24 is rotated by a motor 23, the reflection board 21 repeats reciprocating movement of rotating within a fixed range around a reflection board rotary shaft 21a. Thus, the angle of the reflecting face of the reflection board 21 is varied to perform scanning of the ultrasonic beams 1.

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 for diagnosing an object using an ultrasonic image and a probe thereof, and particularly to an ultrasonic wave suitable for acquiring three-dimensional image data of the object. The present invention relates to a probe and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used for observing the inside of a living body in the medical field. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic probe to the subject, receives reflected echoes from the subject with the ultrasonic probe, and creates image data of the subject from the detected signals. And is displayed on the display device. An ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves
A plurality of strip-shaped transducer elements are arranged in an array in a one-dimensional direction.

Conventionally, in order to acquire three-dimensional image data of an object with such a one-dimensional array type probe, the one-dimensional array type probe is mechanically moved by a drive system to generate ultrasonic waves. The beam had to be scanned.

On the other hand, by using a two-dimensional array type probe in which a plurality of rectangular transducer elements are arranged in a plane in a two-dimensional direction, a specific transducer element group is selectively operated to generate ultrasonic waves. It is also practiced to scan a beam to acquire three-dimensional image data of a subject.

[0005]

A conventional technique for acquiring three-dimensional image data of an object using a one-dimensional array type probe is to mechanically move the one-dimensional array type probe by a drive system. Therefore, the scanning speed of the ultrasonic beam is slow, and a large and expensive drive system is required.

On the other hand, the technique for acquiring the three-dimensional image data of the object using the two-dimensional array type probe is expensive because the two-dimensional array type probe has many parts and has a complicated structure. .

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic probe which can scan an ultrasonic beam at high speed with an inexpensive structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which can inexpensively generate three-dimensional image data at a high speed.

[0009]

An ultrasonic probe according to a first aspect of the present invention is an ultrasonic probe having a transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and one or more reflecting surfaces for reflecting the ultrasonic waves. Means and scanning means for changing the angle of the reflecting surface of the reflecting means,
And a detection means for detecting the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection means. The reflecting means reflects the ultrasonic beam transmitted from the transducer and radiates it to the subject, and reflects the echo reflected from the subject to be received by the transducer. The scanning means scans the ultrasonic beam by changing the angle of the reflecting surface of the reflecting means. Since the ultrasonic probe is not mechanically moved as in the conventional case but only the angle of the reflecting surface of the reflecting means is changed, the scanning speed of the ultrasonic beam is high. Further, unlike the conventional case, a large and expensive drive system for mechanically moving the ultrasonic probe and a complicated and expensive two-dimensional array type probe are not required.

An ultrasonic probe according to a second aspect of the present invention is the ultrasonic probe according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the reflecting means comprises a reflecting plate that is held rotatably around an axis. Thus, the scanning means can be realized with a simple configuration such as a motor and a driving member that comes into contact with the reflector while rotating with the motor, a stepping motor that is directly connected to the rotating shaft of the reflector, and a driver circuit thereof.

An ultrasonic probe according to a third aspect of the present invention is the ultrasonic probe according to the first aspect, wherein the reflecting means is a polyhedron having a plurality of reflecting surfaces that are held rotatably around an axis. Thus, the scanning means can be realized with a simple configuration such as a stepping motor directly connected to the rotation axis of the polyhedron and its driver circuit.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4 is
A transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a reflecting means having one or more reflecting surfaces for reflecting the ultrasonic waves, a scanning means for changing the angle of the reflecting surface of the reflecting means, and a reflecting surface of the reflecting means. An ultrasonic probe having a detecting means for detecting an angle; and a transmitting / receiving means for applying an electric signal to the transducer of the ultrasonic probe and receiving the electric signal from the transducer of the ultrasonic probe. , Processing means for processing the output signal of the transmitting / receiving means to create image data, and image data for a plurality of frames created by the processing means corresponding to the detection result of the detection means of the ultrasonic probe. The storage means for storing and a means for creating three-dimensional image data from the image data of a plurality of frames stored in the storage means. By providing an inexpensive ultrasonic probe with a high scanning speed of the ultrasonic beam,
3D image data can be created at high speed with an inexpensive structure.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of a case of an ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention is cut out. The present embodiment shows an example of an electronic linear scanning ultrasonic probe, and uses a reflection plate that is held rotatably around an axis as the reflection means. The ultrasonic probe 100a includes a transducer 11, a matching layer 12, an acoustic lens 13, a sound absorbing material 14, a flexible pattern circuit (hereinafter abbreviated as “FPC”) 15, an FPC connector 16, a cable connector 17, a cable 18, Sound transmission member 19, case 20a, reflector 21, angle detector 22, motor 23, reflector drive member 24, and spring 25.
It is configured to include.

The vibrator 11 converts a pulse of an electric signal into a mechanical vibration to generate an ultrasonic wave, and converts a mechanical vibration due to a reflection echo from a subject into a pulse of an electric signal. The strip-shaped transducer elements are arranged in an array in a one-dimensional direction. The ultrasonic waves generated from the upper surface of the oscillator 11 pass through the acoustic lens 13 via the matching layer 12 and become an ultrasonic beam that is focused by the acoustic lens 13 at a preset focus. The ultrasonic wave generated from the lower surface of the vibrator 11 is absorbed by the sound absorbing material 14.

The FPC 15 is a substrate provided with electric wiring, and each electric wiring on the substrate is connected to an electrode of each vibrator element of the vibrator 11. Cable 18
The FPC 15 connected to the vibrator 11 and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body are connected to each other to transmit an electric signal. FPC connector 1
The 6 and the cable connector 17 connect the FPC 15 and the cable 18.

The case 20a fixes the vibrator 11, and forms a space for accommodating the reflection plate 21 and the like together with the sound transmitting member 19. In FIG. 1, the left side wall of the case 20a is cut away so that the inside can be seen. A medium that propagates ultrasonic waves, such as oil, is filled in this space. The sound transmitting member 19 is made of a material having an acoustic impedance close to that of a living body, such as epoxy resin or silicon rubber.

The reflection plate 21 is used as a reflection means for reflecting ultrasonic waves. The reflection plate 21 has a reflection surface that reflects ultrasonic waves, and is held by the case 20a so as to be rotatable about its axis. The reflection plate 21 is made of a metal material such as aluminum or stainless steel, and reflects ultrasonic waves due to the difference in acoustic impedance between the ultrasonic wave and the medium that propagates the ultrasonic waves filled in the case 20a.

The angle detector 22 is used as a detecting means for detecting the angle of the reflecting surface of the reflecting means. The angle detector 22 is configured to calculate the angle of the reflection surface from the resistance value corresponding to the rotation angle of the reflection plate 21 using, for example, a variable resistance.

The motor 23 and the reflector driving member 24 are used as scanning means for changing the angle of the reflecting surface of the reflecting means. The motor 23 rotates the reflector driving member 24. The reflector driving member 24 is a cylinder having an elliptical cross section, and converts rotational movement into reciprocating movement by utilizing the difference in the distance from the center to the outer periphery.
It is in contact with 1. Therefore, when the reflection plate driving member 24 rotates, the reflection plate 21 repeats the reciprocating motion of rotating in a certain range around the rotation axis, and the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 changes. One end of the spring 25 is fixed to the case 20a,
The reflectors 21 attached to the multiple ends are always urged in a direction to be pressed against the outer periphery of the reflector drive member 24.

In the present embodiment, the angle detector 22
The motor 23 is installed in a space filled with a medium that propagates ultrasonic waves in the case 20a, but the angle detector 22 and the motor 23 are filled with a medium that propagates ultrasonic waves in the case 20a. It may be installed outside the open space.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the ultrasonic probe according to the embodiment shown in FIG. The ultrasonic waves generated from the vibrator 11 are generated by the matching layer 12 and the acoustic lens 1.
3 is radiated as an ultrasonic beam to a medium that propagates ultrasonic waves such as oil filled in the case 20a.
Then, the light is reflected by the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21, and the case 20a
The ultrasonic beam 1 is transmitted through the sound transmitting member 19 provided in the
Is radiated to the outside subject.

The ultrasonic beam reflected from the subject is again
Sound transmitting member 19, medium for propagating ultrasonic waves, reflector 2
1, the medium that propagates ultrasonic waves, the acoustic lens 13, and the matching layer 12 to reach the vibrator 11,
Is converted into an electric signal by. This electrical signal is FP
C15, FPC connector 16, cable connector 17,
And transmitted to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body via the cable 18.

The reflection plate 21 is constantly pressed against the outer periphery of the reflection plate drive member 24 by a spring 25, and the reflection plate drive member 24 is driven by the motor 23 to rotate the reflection plate drive member rotation shaft 24.
When it is rotated around a, the reflector 21 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the reciprocating motion of rotating the reflector rotating shaft 21a within a certain range is repeated. As a result, the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 changes, and
As shown in (a), FIG. 3 (b), and FIG. 3 (c), the ultrasonic beam 1 is scanned.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, by using the motor 23 and the reflecting plate driving member 24 as the scanning means, the angle of the reflecting surface of the reflecting plate 21 can be changed with an inexpensive structure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes the ultrasonic probe 100a and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 20 shown in FIG.
0 and the display device 300. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 200 includes a transmission / reception circuit 210, a phasing circuit 220, B
The mode processing circuit 230, the Doppler processing circuit 240, the M mode processing circuit 250, the digital scan converter (hereinafter abbreviated as “DSC”) 260, and the image memory 2.
70 are provided.

The transmission / reception circuit 210 includes the ultrasonic probe 100.
When a pulse of an electric signal is applied to the vibrator 11 of a, the vibrator 1
1 receives a pulse of an electrical signal. Phase adjusting circuit 220
Gives a predetermined delay time to the timing of the electric signal received by the transmission / reception circuit 210 to correct the time shift due to the position of the vibrator element of the vibrator 11, and superimposes the amplitude of the electric signal at the same timing. . B-mode processing circuit 23
0 processes the output signal of the phasing circuit 220 to create B-mode image data showing a tomographic image of the subject. The Doppler processing circuit 240 performs processing using the Doppler effect on the output signal of the phasing circuit 220, and creates image data indicating the component subjected to Doppler shift. The M-mode processing circuit 250 processes the output signal of the phasing circuit 220 to create M-mode image data showing a temporal change in the depth direction of the ultrasonic beam direction cross section of the subject. The DSC 260 stores each image data from the B-mode processing circuit 230, the Doppler processing circuit 240, and the M-mode processing circuit 250 in the image memory 270, and the image data read from the image memory 270 is a display device 300 such as a standard television signal. It is converted into data that can be displayed by and output to the display device 300. Display device 300
Receives an output signal from the DSC 260 and displays an ultrasonic image of the subject. The control circuit 26 includes the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 200 and the angle detector 2 of the ultrasonic probe 100a.
2 and the motor 23 are controlled, and the processing described later is performed while synchronizing with each other.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the processing of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment shown in FIG. First, the control circuit 26 sets a preset value of the number of constituent frames in one volume data set and stored in advance in the memory 2
7 is read (step 401). The number of constituent frames indicates how many frames make up one volume of the three-dimensional image. When the number of constituent frames is small, the processing time is short and the scanning is fast, but the image quality is poor.
Conversely, when the number of constituent frames is large, the processing time becomes long and the scanning becomes slow, but the image quality becomes good.

Next, the control circuit 26 calculates the angle of the reflection surface at the time of image acquisition (image acquisition angle) from the movable angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 and the number of constituent frames (step 40).
2). The image acquisition angle indicates at what angle the reflection surface becomes within the movable range of the reflection surface when the image is captured.

Next, the control circuit 26 stores the calculated image acquisition angles in the memory 27 (step 403). The image acquisition angle stored in the memory 27 is calculated by the angle detector 22.
It becomes reference data which is constantly compared with the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 detected in.

Next, the control circuit 26 stores the maximum and minimum values of the image acquisition angle in the memory 27 (step 40).
4). Maximum value of the image acquisition angle stored in the memory 27
The minimum value is the reflection plate 21 detected by the angle detector 22 so that it can be determined that the image data of the last frame for one volume is acquired when the image data is acquired.
It is the reference data that is constantly checked against the angle of the reflective surface of.

Next, the control circuit 26 calculates the frame surface angle from each image acquisition angle and stores it in the memory 27 as the reflection surface angle.
It is stored as a frame surface angle conversion table (step 405). The frame surface angle is the angle of the slice surface of the frame where the ultrasonic beam reflected by the reflecting surface of the reflecting plate 21 is actually emitted to the subject.

Next, the control circuit 26 drives the motor 23 to start driving the reflector 21 (step 40).
6). As a result, the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 changes.

Next, the angle detector 22 detects the angle of the reflecting surface of the reflecting plate 21 (step 407). Control circuit 2
6 stores the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 detected by the angle detector 22 in the memory 27.

Next, the control circuit 26 reads the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 and the image acquisition angle from the memory 27,
It is determined whether the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 is equal to the image acquisition angle (step 408). If the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 is not equal to the image acquisition angle, step 40
Return to 7. If the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 is equal to the image acquisition angle, the process proceeds to the next step.

Next, the control circuit 26 reads the frame surface angle corresponding to the current angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 from the reflection surface angle / frame surface angle conversion table stored in the memory 27 (step 409). The read frame surface angle becomes the frame surface angle at the time of image acquisition.

Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 200 drives the transducer 11 of the ultrasonic probe 100a to acquire an ultrasonic image for one frame. (Step 410).

Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 200 stores the image data of the acquired ultrasonic image in the image memory 270 at an address corresponding to the frame surface angle (step 4).
11). This is for address management so that the correspondence between the image data and the frame surface angle can be obtained.

Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 200 constructs three-dimensional volume data on the image memory 270 from the image data stored in the image memory 270 (step 412).

Next, the control circuit 26 reads the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 and the maximum and minimum values of the image acquisition angle from the memory 27, and the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 is the maximum of the image acquisition angle. It is determined whether the value is equal to the value or the minimum value (step 413). If the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 is not equal to the maximum value or the minimum value of the image acquisition angle, it means that the acquisition of one volume data has not been completed, and the process returns to step 407. If the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 is equal to the maximum value or the minimum value of the image acquisition angle, it means that the acquisition of one volume data is completed, and the process proceeds to the next step.

Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 200 acquires image data from the three-dimensional volume data constructed on the image memory 270, reconstructs an image corresponding to a set value such as a display angle, and The image is output to the display device 300 and the display image on the display device 300 is updated (step 414).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic probe according to another embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment shows an example of an electronic linear scanning ultrasonic probe similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. The motor 28 and its driver circuit 29 and controller circuit 30 are used.

FIG. 5A shows an example in which the reflector rotating shaft 21a is provided in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the reflector 21, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. On the other hand, FIG. 5B shows an example in which the reflector rotating shaft 21 b is provided near the center of the reflector 21. The stepping motor 28 uses the reflector 21.
Is directly connected to the reflector rotation shaft 21a of the reflector plate 2 and is controlled by the driver circuit 29 and the controller circuit 30.
1 can be arbitrarily rotated in the positive direction and the negative direction within a predetermined angle range. As a result, the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 is arbitrarily changed, and the ultrasonic beam is scanned.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the reflection surface of the reflection plate 21 can be accurately changed to an arbitrary angle by using the stepping motor as the scanning means. Moreover, since the reflector driving member 24 as in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is not interposed, the reflector rotating shaft 21a can be provided at an arbitrary position of the reflector 21, which increases the degree of freedom in design.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of a case of an ultrasonic probe according to still another embodiment of the present invention is cut out. The present embodiment shows an example of an electronic linear scanning ultrasonic probe similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. The point is that a polyhedron having a plurality of reflecting surfaces held rotatably around is used. In this embodiment, the reflecting column 41 serves as the reflecting means, and the angle detector 4 serves as the detecting means.
2. The motor 43 is used as the scanning means, and the other components are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG.

The reflecting column 41 is a quadrangular column (hexahedral) having four reflecting surfaces for reflecting ultrasonic waves, and is rotatably held by the case 20a about the reflecting column rotating shaft 41a.
The reflection column 41 is made of a metal material such as aluminum or stainless steel, and is different in acoustic impedance from the medium that propagates the ultrasonic waves filled in the case 20a.
Reflects ultrasonic waves.

The angle detector 42 is configured to calculate the angle of each reflecting surface from the resistance value corresponding to the rotation angle of the reflecting column 41 using, for example, a variable resistance.

The motor 43 is directly connected to the reflection column rotation shaft 41a of the reflection column 41, and changes the angle of each reflection surface of the reflection column 41 by rotating the reflection column 41 in one direction.

In this embodiment, the angle detector 42
While the motor 43 is installed in the space filled with the medium that propagates ultrasonic waves in the case 20a, the angle detector 42 and the motor 43 are filled with the medium that propagates ultrasonic waves in the case 20a. It may be installed outside the open space.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the ultrasonic probe according to the embodiment shown in FIG. The ultrasonic waves generated from the vibrator 11 are generated by the matching layer 12 and the acoustic lens 1.
3 is radiated as an ultrasonic beam to a medium that propagates ultrasonic waves such as oil filled in the case 20a.
Then, it is reflected by one of the reflecting surfaces of the reflecting column 41, and is radiated as an ultrasonic beam 1 to an external subject through the sound transmitting member 19 provided in the case 20a.

The ultrasonic beam reflected from the subject is again
Sound transmission member 19, medium for propagating ultrasonic waves, reflection column 4
1, the medium that propagates ultrasonic waves, the acoustic lens 13, and the matching layer 12 to reach the vibrator 11,
Is converted into an electric signal by. This electrical signal is FP
C15, FPC connector 16, cable connector 17,
And is transmitted to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 200 via the cable 18.

The reflecting column 41 is rotated in one direction about the reflecting column rotation axis 41a by the motor 43, and the angle of each reflecting surface of the reflecting column 41 is changed by the motor 43, as shown in FIG.
The ultrasonic beam 1 is scanned as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C.

According to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a quadrangular prism (hexahedron) having four reflecting surfaces is used as the reflecting means, so that the reflecting column 41 is rotated by one rotation.
One volume data can be acquired. However, the reflecting means is not limited to this, and may be a polyhedron having a plurality of reflecting surfaces.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment
The ultrasonic probe 100b and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 20 of FIG.
0 and the display device 300. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 200 includes a transmission / reception circuit 210, a phasing circuit 220, B
The mode processing circuit 230, the Doppler processing circuit 240, the M mode processing circuit 250, the DSC 260, and the image memory 27.
It has 0.

The transmission / reception circuit 210 includes the ultrasonic probe 100.
The pulse of the electric signal is applied to the vibrator 11 of FIG.
1 receives a pulse of an electrical signal. Phase adjusting circuit 220
Gives a predetermined delay time to the timing of the electric signal received by the transmission / reception circuit 210 to correct the time shift due to the position of the vibrator element of the vibrator 11, and superimposes the amplitude of the electric signal at the same timing. . B-mode processing circuit 23
0 processes the output signal of the phasing circuit 220 to create B-mode image data showing a tomographic image of the subject. The Doppler processing circuit 240 performs processing using the Doppler effect on the output signal of the phasing circuit 220, and creates image data indicating the component subjected to Doppler shift. The M-mode processing circuit 250 processes the output signal of the phasing circuit 220 to create M-mode image data showing a temporal change in the depth direction of the ultrasonic beam direction cross section of the subject. The DSC 260 stores each image data from the B-mode processing circuit 230, the Doppler processing circuit 240, and the M-mode processing circuit 250 in the image memory 270, and the image data read from the image memory 270 is a display device 300 such as a standard television signal. It is converted into data that can be displayed by and output to the display device 300. Display device 300
Receives an output signal from the DSC 260 and displays an ultrasonic image of the subject. The control circuit 46 includes the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 200 and the angle detector 4 of the ultrasonic probe 100b.
2 and the motor 43 are controlled, and the processing described later is performed in synchronization with each other.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the processing of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment shown in FIG. First, the control circuit 46 sets the preset value of the number of constituent frames in one volume data set and stored in advance in the memory 4
7 is read (step 501). The number of constituent frames indicates how many frames make up one volume of the three-dimensional image. When the number of constituent frames is small, the processing time is short and the scanning is fast, but the image quality is poor.
Conversely, when the number of constituent frames is large, the processing time becomes long and the scanning becomes slow, but the image quality becomes good.

Next, the control circuit 46 calculates the angle of the reflection surface at the time of image acquisition (image acquisition angle) from the effective angle of each reflection surface of the reflection column 41 and the number of constituent frames (step 50).
2). The image acquisition angle indicates at which angle the reflecting surface becomes within the effective range of each reflecting surface when the image is captured.

Next, the control circuit 46 stores the calculated image acquisition angles in the memory 47 (step 503). The image acquisition angle stored in the memory 47 is calculated by the angle detector 42.
It becomes reference data which is constantly collated with the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection column 41 detected in.

Next, the control circuit 46 stores the maximum and minimum values of the image acquisition angle in the memory 47 for each reflecting surface of the reflecting column 41 (step 504). In the present embodiment, since the reflective column 41 has four reflective surfaces, the maximum and minimum values of the image acquisition angles for the four surfaces are recorded. Memory 4
The maximum value and the minimum value of the image acquisition angle stored in 7 are set so that it is possible to determine that the image data of the last frame for one volume is acquired on each reflecting surface when the image data is acquired. The reference data is constantly compared with the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection column 41 detected by the detector 42.

Next, the control circuit 46 calculates the frame surface angle from each image acquisition angle, and stores it in the memory 47 as the reflection surface angle.
It is stored as a frame surface angle conversion table (step 505). The frame surface angle is the angle of the slice surface of the frame where the ultrasonic beam reflected by the reflecting surface of the reflecting column 41 is actually emitted to the subject.

Next, the control circuit 46 drives the motor 43 to start driving the reflecting column 41 (step 50).
6). As a result, the angle of each reflecting surface of the reflecting plate post 41 changes.

Next, the angle detector 42 is one of the reflecting surfaces of the reflecting column 41 which is currently reflecting the ultrasonic beam (hereinafter, simply referred to as "reflecting surface" in the description of the present embodiment). ) Is detected (step 507). The control circuit 46 stores the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection column 41 detected by the angle detector 42 in the memory 47.

Next, the control circuit 46 reads the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection column 41 and the image acquisition angle from the memory 47,
It is determined whether the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection column 41 is equal to the image acquisition angle (step 508). If the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection column 41 is not equal to the image acquisition angle, step 50
Return to 7. If the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection column 41 is equal to the image acquisition angle, the process proceeds to the next step.

Next, the control circuit 46 reads the frame surface angle corresponding to the current angle of the reflective surface of the reflective column 41 from the reflective surface angle / frame surface angle conversion table stored in the memory 47 (step 509). The read frame surface angle becomes the frame surface angle at the time of image acquisition.

Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 200 drives the transducer 11 of the ultrasonic probe 100a to acquire an ultrasonic image for one frame. (Step 510).

Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 200 stores the image data of the acquired ultrasonic image in the image memory 270 at an address corresponding to the frame surface angle (step 5).
11). This is for address management so that the correspondence between the image data and the frame surface angle can be obtained.

Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 200 constructs three-dimensional volume data on the image memory 270 from the image data stored in the image memory 270 (step 512).

Next, the control circuit 46 reads the angle of the reflecting surface of the reflecting column 41 and the maximum and minimum values of the image acquisition angle of the reflecting column from the memory 47, and the angle of the reflecting surface of the reflecting column 41 is imaged. Whether it is equal to the maximum value of the acquisition angle, or
It is determined whether it is equal to the minimum value (step 513).
If the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection column 41 is not equal to the maximum value or the minimum value of the image acquisition angle, it means that the acquisition of one volume data has not been completed on that reflection surface, and the process returns to step 407. If the angle of the reflection surface of the reflection column 41 is equal to the maximum value or the minimum value of the image acquisition angle, it means that the acquisition of one volume data is completed on that reflection surface, and the process proceeds to the next step.

Next, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 200 acquires image data from the three-dimensional volume data constructed on the image memory 270, reconstructs an image corresponding to a set value such as a display angle, and The image is output to the display device 300 and the display image on the display device 300 is updated (step 514).

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where a part of the case of an ultrasonic probe according to still another embodiment of the present invention is cut out. The present embodiment shows an example in which a conventional probe is used, and a reflection plate held rotatably around an axis is used as the reflection means. Ultrasonic probe 10
0c is the sound transmission member 19, the case 20b, the reflector 2
1, angle detector 22, motor 23, reflector drive member 2
4, a spring 25, a conventional probe 50, a water bag 51, and a sound transmitting member 52.

The conventional type probe 50 is an electronic linear scanning type probe having a one-dimensional array type transducer. Case 2
Reference numeral 0b has a fixing portion for sandwiching the conventional probe 50, and constitutes a space for accommodating the reflection plate 21 and the like together with the sound transmitting member 19. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the left side wall of the case 20b is cut off so that the inside can be seen. A medium that propagates ultrasonic waves, such as oil, is filled in this space. The sound transmitting member 19 is made of a material having an acoustic impedance close to that of a living body, such as epoxy resin or silicon rubber.

A water bag 5 is provided between the conventional probe 50 and the space of the case 20b filled with a medium for propagating ultrasonic waves.
1 and the sound transmitting member 52 are provided. Water bag 51
Is to reduce the propagation loss of the ultrasonic wave from the conventional probe 50 to the space filled with the medium that propagates the ultrasonic wave in the case 20b. Like the sound transmitting member 19, the sound transmitting member 52 is made of a material having an acoustic impedance close to that of a living body, such as epoxy resin or silicon rubber. The operations of the reflector 21, the angle detector 22, the motor 23, the reflector driving member 24, and the spring 25 are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, the angle detector 22
The motor 23 is installed in a space filled with a medium that propagates ultrasonic waves in the case 20b. The angle detector 22 and the motor 23 are filled with a medium that propagates ultrasonic waves in the case 20b. It may be installed outside the open space.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of the case of an ultrasonic probe according to still another embodiment of the present invention is cut out. This embodiment shows an example in which a conventional probe is used as in the other embodiment shown in FIG. 10. The difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. The point is that a polyhedron having a plurality of reflecting surfaces held rotatably is used. In this embodiment, the reflecting column 41 serves as the reflecting means, and the angle detector 4 serves as the detecting means.
2. The motor 43 is used as the scanning means, respectively, and the other components are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. Reflection column 41, angle detector 42, and motor 4
The operation of No. 3 is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, the angle detector 42
While the motor 43 is installed in the space filled with the medium that propagates ultrasonic waves in the case 20b, the angle detector 42 and the motor 43 are filled with the medium that propagates ultrasonic waves in the case 20b. It may be installed outside the open space.

According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, an ultrasonic probe capable of acquiring three-dimensional image data using a conventional probe can be realized at low cost. .

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 and FIG. 10 among the embodiments described above, the reflection plate 21 rotatably held around the reflection plate rotation shaft 21a as the reflection means. By using the motor 23 as the scanning means.
And the reflector driving member 24 or the stepping motor 2
8 and its driver circuit 29 and controller circuit 30 can be realized.

Further, according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, by using the reflection column 41 having a plurality of reflection surfaces held rotatably around the reflection column rotation axis 41a as the reflection means, The scanning means can be realized with a simple configuration of the motor 43.

Although all the embodiments described above show examples of the electronic linear scanning type ultrasonic probe, the present invention is not limited to this, and the electronic convex scanning type ultrasonic probe,
It can be applied to all scanning type ultrasonic probes such as an electronic sector scanning ultrasonic probe.

[0079]

According to the ultrasonic probe of the present invention, the ultrasonic beam can be scanned at high speed with an inexpensive structure.

According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention,
3D image data can be created at high speed with an inexpensive structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of a case of an ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention is cut out.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the ultrasonic probe according to the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an ultrasonic probe according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of a case of an ultrasonic probe according to still another embodiment of the present invention is cut away.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the ultrasonic probe according to the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a flowchart showing a process of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of a case of an ultrasonic probe according to still another embodiment of the present invention is cut out.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of a case of an ultrasonic probe according to still another embodiment of the present invention is cut out.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic beam, 11 ... Oscillator, 12 ... Matching layer, 13 ... Acoustic lens, 14 ... Sound absorbing material, 15 ... Flexible pattern circuit (FPC), 16 ... FPC connector, 17 ... Cable connector, 18 ... Cable, 19
... Sound transmission member, 20a, 20b ... Case, 21 ... Reflector, 21a, 21b ... Reflector rotating shaft, 22 ... Angle detector, 23 ... Motor, 24 ... Reflector driving member, 24a ... Reflector driving member rotating shaft , 25 ... Spring, 26 ... Control circuit, 2
7 ... Memory, 28 ... Stepping motor, 29 ... Driver circuit, 30 ... Controller circuit, 41 ... Reflecting column, 41
a ... Reflecting column rotation axis, 42 ... angle detector, 43 ... motor,
46 ... Control circuit, 47 ... Memory, 50 ... Conventional probe,
51 ... Water bag, 52 ... Sound transmission member, 100a, 100
b, 100c, 100d ... Ultrasonic probe, 200 ... Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, 210 ... Transceiver circuit, 220 ... Phase adjusting circuit, 230 ... B mode processing circuit, 240 ... Doppler processing circuit, 250 ... M mode processing Circuit, 260 ... Digital scan converter (DSC), 270 ... Image memory, 3
00 ... Display device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a reflecting means having one or more reflecting surfaces for reflecting the ultrasonic waves, and a scanning means for changing the angle of the reflecting surface of the reflecting means. An ultrasonic probe comprising: a detection unit that detects an angle of a reflection surface of the reflection unit. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting means is a reflecting plate held so as to be rotatable about an axis. 3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting means is a polyhedron having a plurality of reflecting surfaces held rotatably around an axis. 4. A vibrator for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a reflecting means having one or more reflecting surfaces for reflecting the ultrasonic waves, and a scanning means for changing the angle of the reflecting surface of the reflecting means. An ultrasonic probe having a detecting means for detecting the angle of the reflecting surface of the reflecting means, and an electric signal is applied to the transducer of the ultrasonic probe, and the transducer from the transducer of the ultrasonic probe is applied. A transmitting / receiving means for receiving an electric signal, a processing means for processing the output signal of the transmitting / receiving means to create image data, and the processing means corresponding to the detection result of the detecting means of the ultrasonic probe. Storage means for storing the image data for a plurality of frames created in 1. and means for creating a three-dimensional image data from the image data for a plurality of frames stored in the storage means. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment.