JP2005087637A - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide ultrasonic diagnostic equipment improving a volume rate by enhancing the speed of mechanical scanning. <P>SOLUTION: This ultrasonic diagnostic equipment is provided with a first array oscillator 2a and a second array oscillator 2b transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and the mechanical scanning angle of the respective array oscillators 2a and 2b are set to θ/2 respectively when an angle of visibility of a range to be scanned is set to θ, so as to reduce the mechanical scanning angle, increase the number of reciprocating times and improve the volume rate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs electronic scanning by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves using an array transducer, and mechanically moves the array transducer to obtain three-dimensional information in the body.

  An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that obtains two-dimensional information inside the body by repeatedly transmitting and receiving ultrasound within the body using an array transducer, and further obtaining three-dimensional information inside the body by mechanically scanning the array transducer. The principle of the probe is already known, and for example, the configuration described in Patent Document 1 is known.

  Hereinafter, this conventional probe will be described with reference to FIG.

  Using the array vibrator 2 in which a plurality of vibrators (eight vibrators 2-1 to 2-8 in FIG. 6A) are arranged as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the probe 1 is fixed to the rotor 3 that supports the array transducer 2, and the rotor 3 rotates around the rotation shaft 4 to perform mechanical scanning.

  As shown in FIG. 6C, since the mechanical scanning direction is orthogonal to the electronic scanning direction by the array transducer 2, two-dimensional scanning is possible and three-dimensional information inside the body can be obtained.

Although the above explanation is based on the mechanical scanning as a rotation, even when the mechanical scanning is performed in parallel, the two-dimensional scanning can be performed by making the axes of the electronic scanning direction and the mechanical scanning direction orthogonal to each other. It becomes possible.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 07-38851 (Fig. 2)

  However, in the probe of the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, there is a problem that it takes time to switch the scanning direction to perform mechanical scanning, and the number of images captured per unit time (volume rate) is limited. In a fast-moving organ such as the heart, there is a problem that the movement of the organ cannot be displayed faithfully. Although it depends on the mechanical configuration, the limit in mechanical scanning is supposed to be about 10 reciprocations per second.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that improves the volume rate when two-dimensional scanning is performed using both electronic scanning and mechanical scanning. It is in.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention performs electronic scanning by linear scanning or sector scanning using an array transducer and mechanically moves the array transducer in a direction orthogonal to the direction of electronic scanning. In a two-dimensional scanning that is moved or rotated in a moving manner, echo data is acquired using a plurality of array transducers and an image is displayed.

  With this configuration, the speed of mechanical scanning can be improved, and the volume rate can be improved.

  In addition, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has a configuration in which, when scanning is performed by mechanically moving a plurality of array transducers, the scanning planes of the plurality of array transducers are overlapped.

  With this configuration, it is possible to prevent deterioration in image quality.

  Furthermore, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has a configuration in which the geometric relative positional relationship between a plurality of array transducers is fixed.

  With this configuration, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the above advantages can be easily realized.

  Furthermore, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has a configuration in which a plurality of array transducers have geometrically different parallel rotation axes.

  With this configuration, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the above advantages can be easily realized.

  Furthermore, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has a configuration in which a plurality of arrayed transducers move geometrically on the same plane.

  With this configuration, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the above advantages can be easily realized.

  Furthermore, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has a configuration in which the mechanical scanning directions of a plurality of array transducers are interlocked.

  With this configuration, it is possible to prevent deterioration in image quality when a plurality of arrayed vibrators rotate around geometrically different parallel rotation axes or when they move geometrically on the same plane.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the speed of mechanical scanning and to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with an improved volume rate.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a probe of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1A, a first array transducer 2a and a second array transducer 2b that transmit and receive ultrasonic waves are supported and fixed to a rotor 3, and the rotor 3 is fixed to a rotating shaft 4, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. A probe 1 is configured.

  Next, the operation of the probe of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 1B in addition to FIG. 1A.

  When the viewing angle of the scanning range is θ, the beams in the mechanical scanning direction of the array transducer 2a and the array transducer 2b are fixed so as to have an angle θ / 2. The rotor 3 reciprocates around the rotation shaft 4, but the rotation angle is θ / 2. The array transducer 2a scans the visual field of θ1 to θ2 (indicated by θ2a in FIG. 1B), and the array transducer 2b scans the visual field of θ2 to θ3 (indicated by θ2b in FIG. 1B).

  As a result, the rotation angle of the rotor 3 can be halved compared to the conventional one, so that the speed of mechanical scanning can be increased and the volume rate can be improved.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2A, a first array transducer 2a and a second array transducer 2b that transmit and receive ultrasonic waves are supported and fixed to a rotor 3, and the rotor 3 is fixed to a rotating shaft 4, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A probe 1 is configured.

  Next, the operation of the probe of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 2B, 2C, and 2D in addition to FIG. 2A.

  When the viewing angle of the scanning range is θ, the beams in the mechanical scanning direction of the array transducer 2a and the array transducer 2b are fixed so as to have an angle θ / 2. The rotor 3 reciprocates around the rotation shaft 4, but the rotation angle is θ / 2. As shown in FIG. 2B, the array vibrator 2a scans the visual field of θ1 to θ2 (indicated by θ2a), and the array vibrator 2b scans the visual field of θ2 to θ3 (indicated by θ2b).

  However, in practice, when the rotation direction of the rotor 3 is reversed, the angular velocity is slowed down to stop, and the speed is gradually increased to a constant speed.

  Since the speed is not constant in this way, there is a problem that the joint portion of the scanning of the array transducers 2a and 2b is drawn differently from the other portions.

  In order to solve this problem, the rotor 3 is rotated extra as shown in FIG. 2D. The array transducer 2a can scan from θ1-α to θ2 + α, and the array transducer 2b can scan from θ2-α to θ3 + α. In actual transmission / reception, the scan range of the array transducer 2a is from θ1 to θ2, The scanning range 2b is set from θ2 to θ3. As a result, only the constant speed portion can be used, and the drawing near the joint between the arrayed vibrators 2a and 2b can be made smooth.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a probe of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3A, a first array transducer 2a that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves is supported and fixed to the rotor 3a, the rotor 3a is fixed to the rotating shaft 4a, and a second array vibration that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. The child 2b is supported and fixed to the rotor 3b, and the rotor 3b is fixed to the rotating shaft 4b to constitute the probe 1 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  Next, the operation of the probe of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 3B and 3C in addition to FIG. 3A.

  When the viewing angle of the scanning range is θ, the beams in the mechanical scanning direction of the first array transducer 2a and the second array transducer 2b are fixed so as to have an angle of approximately θ / 2. The rotor 3a reciprocates around the rotation shaft 4a, but the rotation angle is θ1 to θ21. The rotation angle of the rotor 3b is θ22 to θ3. As shown in FIG. 3B, the first array transducer 2a scans the visual field of θ1 to θ21 (indicated by θ2a), and the second array transducer 2b scans the visual field of θ22 to θ3 (indicated by θ2b). .

  Thereby, the rotation angle of mechanical scanning can be reduced, the number of reciprocations per unit time can be increased, and the volume rate can be improved.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3C, by making a space between θ21 and θ22 wide, a portion that can be scanned by both the first array transducer 2a and the second array transducer 2b can be intentionally provided. . According to this method, the scanning speed is doubled in the portion where the scanning overlaps, and for example, a smoother drawing can be provided for the portion of the organ drawing observed at a particularly high volume rate.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a plurality of array transducers in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 4A, a first array transducer 2a composed of a plurality of transducers 2a-1 to 2a-8 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves provided in a probe (not shown) of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, A second array transducer 2b composed of a plurality of transducers 2b-1 to 2b-8 that transmits and receives sound waves is shown. The mechanical scanning means of these array transducers is as described in the first to third embodiments.

  The first array transducer 2a and the second array transducer 2b perform mechanical scanning and perform two-dimensional scanning by changing the opening position in the array direction and performing transmission / reception. FIG. 4B shows the arrangement direction opening position (P) of the first array transducer 2a and the second array transducer 2b at this time.

  In FIG. 4B, the horizontal axis indicates the mechanical scanning angle, the vertical axis indicates the opening position in the arrangement direction, the arrangement direction opening position P2a of the first array transducer 2a is indicated by a bold line, and the array direction opening of the second array transducer 2b. The position P2b is indicated by a thin line. If transmission / reception is simultaneously performed from two array transducers, there is a problem in that an ultrasonic echo transmitted from one array transducer is mixed into the other reception echo. In order to solve this, as shown in FIG. 4B, the physical beam position is shifted by shifting the arrangement direction opening position P2a of the first array transducer 2a and the array direction opening position P2b of the second array transducer 2b. The image quality can be prevented from deteriorating by shifting and reducing the mixing of echoes.

  FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a modification of a plurality of array transducers in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates the case where the array direction is controlled by beam deflection. . FIG. 5B shows the array direction beam deflection angle (δ) of the first array transducer 2a and the second array transducer 2b.

  In FIG. 5B, the horizontal axis indicates the mechanical scanning angle, and the vertical axis indicates the beam deflection angle in the arrangement direction. The array direction beam deflection angle δ2a of the first array transducer 2a is indicated by a thick line, and the array direction beam deflection angle δ2b of the second array transducer 2b is indicated by a thin line. As shown in FIG. 5B, by shifting the array direction beam deflection angle δ2a of the first array transducer 2a and the array direction beam deflection angle δ2b of the second array transducer 2b to reduce the mixing of echoes, Deterioration can be prevented.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention can improve the volume rate in two-dimensional scanning, is useful for drawing a three-dimensional image of an organ that moves at high speed, and can be applied to medical uses.

The figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the probe of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the position (angle) with respect to the time of two arrangement | sequence vibrators in the probe of the ultrasonic diagnosing device shown to FIG. 1A. The figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the probe of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the position (angle) with respect to the time of two arrangement | sequence vibrators in the probe of the ultrasonic diagnosing device shown to FIG. 2A. The figure which shows the position (angle) with respect to the time of two arrangement | sequence vibrators in the probe of the ultrasonic diagnosing device shown to FIG. 2A. The figure which shows the position (angle) with respect to the time of two arrangement | sequence vibrators in the probe of the ultrasonic diagnosing device shown to FIG. 2A. The figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the probe of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the position (angle) with respect to the time of two arrangement | sequence vibrators in the probe of the ultrasound diagnosing device shown to FIG. 3A. The figure which shows the position (angle) with respect to the time of two arrangement | sequence vibrators in the probe of the ultrasound diagnosing device shown to FIG. 3A. The perspective view which shows one structural example of the some arrangement | sequence vibrator in the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the arrangement direction opening position (P) with respect to the mechanical scanning angle of two arrangement | sequence vibrators in the probe of the ultrasonic diagnosing device shown to FIG. 4A. The perspective view which shows the modification of the some array vibrator | oscillator in the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the array direction beam deflection angle ((delta)) with respect to the mechanical scanning angle of two array transducers in the probe of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown to FIG. 5A. The perspective view which shows the example of 1 structure of the arrangement | sequence vibrator in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. A perspective view showing a configuration example of a probe in a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus Schematic diagram showing the mechanical scanning direction and electronic scanning direction of the probe in a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Probe 2 Array transducer 2a 1st array transducer 2b 2nd array transducer 3, 3a, 3b Rotor 4, 4a, 4b Rotating shaft

Claims (6)

  In two-dimensional scanning in which electronic scanning is performed using an array transducer and the array transducer is mechanically moved or rotated in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the electronic scan, echo data is transmitted using a plurality of array transducers. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by acquiring and displaying an image.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the plurality of array transducers are mechanically moved and scanned, the scan planes of the plurality of array transducers are overlapped.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a geometric relative positional relationship between the plurality of array transducers is fixed.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of array transducers have geometrically different parallel rotation axes.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of array transducers move geometrically on the same plane.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein mechanical scanning directions of the plurality of array transducers are interlocked.

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