JP2005110934A - Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a miniaturized and inexpensive ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus, capable of easily avoiding the reduction of sensitivity in a mode of high transmission voltage by appropriately controlling prescribed transmission voltage without excess or deficiency relative to the driving waveform variable according to modes. <P>SOLUTION: A thinning control part 5 makes a transmission stopping part 4 transmit signals from whole channels without stopping transmission in a B mode with high transmission voltage and performs the thinning control in a D mode with low transmission voltage and in a two-dimensional doppler mode. As a result, the transmission power is controlled even if the transmission voltage in the latter mode is increased, and the transmission voltage in the B mode can be increased as well. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that improves the sensitivity of a diagnostic image in a combined mode.

  Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses often use a combination of B mode, M mode, Doppler mode (hereinafter referred to as D mode), and two-dimensional Doppler mode. At this time, the transmission output is controlled so that the ultrasonic wave generation means does not exceed a predetermined acoustic level with respect to the surface temperature of the part in contact with the living body or the living body. Transmission is performed using the frequency, amplitude, and wave number of the drive waveform determined for each mode. Therefore, the predetermined transmission output is appropriately controlled without excess or deficiency with respect to the drive waveforms that differ depending on the mode or other necessity.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In FIG. 4, the ultrasonic generator 1 includes a plurality of ultrasonic transmission / reception elements (vibrators) and transmits / receives ultrasonic signals to / from a subject. The element selection unit 2 selects an opening channel for transmitting / receiving among the plurality of ultrasonic transmission / reception elements of the ultrasonic generation unit 1. The element selection unit 2 is controlled by the switch control unit 8. The switch control unit 8 selects an acoustic scanning line number (SLN) generated by the scanning control unit 7 and a scanning method representing linear scanning, convex scanning, sector scanning, and the like. Based on the information (SSEL), the plurality of ultrasonic transmission / reception elements of the ultrasonic generation unit 1 are selected via the element selection unit 2 to determine the opening position.

  The delay pulse generator 9 synchronizes with the trigger pulse (TR) generated by the scanning controller 7, the acoustic scanning line number (SLN) generated by the scanning controller 7, the scanning method selection information SSEL, and the transmission to be generated. Based on the mode information (MODE) representing the signal mode, a delay time is given by the focus distance and deflection angle of the transmission signal, and transmission waveforms having different frequencies and wave numbers are generated for each mode. The drive unit 3 amplifies the waveform from the delay pulse generation unit 9 and drives the ultrasonic generation unit 1. The transmission power supply unit 6 determines the amplitude of the drive waveform generated by the drive unit 3 based on the mode information MODE generated by the scan control unit 7. The ultrasonic signal transmitted from the ultrasonic generator 1 and reflected within the subject and received by the ultrasonic generator 1 is amplified by the preamplifier 10 and becomes a diagnostic image in the subsequent processing.

  The delayed pulse generator 9 generates transmission waveforms with different frequencies and wave numbers for each mode. However, in the B mode, which emphasizes resolution, a waveform with a small wave number and a high amplitude peak is used. In the mode and the two-dimensional Doppler mode, in order to suppress the amplitude by increasing the wave number, the transmission power source 6 generates a voltage corresponding to each mode.

However, since the mode is switched for each transmission in the composite mode, for example, in the combination of the B mode and the D mode, it is necessary to keep the transmission output within the specified range, and it is difficult to instantaneously switch between the mode with a high transmission voltage and the mode with a low transmission voltage. Therefore, in a simple method, in order to keep the transmission power within the specified range, the voltage of the transmission power supply 6 is fixed to the D-mode voltage with a low transmission amplitude, and the B-mode transmission is also performed with this voltage. .
JP 2001-087263 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-0280674

  However, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, transmission in a mode with a high transmission voltage is performed in accordance with a transmission voltage with a low mode among the composite modes, so that the D Doppler mode or the two-dimensional Doppler mode and the B mode are combined. In the mode, the B mode transmission is insufficient and the sensitivity is lowered. Moreover, although the said problem can be solved by switching transmission voltage at high speed, there existed a problem that the transmission power supply part 6 became large and expensive.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and appropriately controls a predetermined transmission voltage without excess or deficiency with respect to a drive waveform different for each mode, and can easily avoid a decrease in sensitivity in a mode with a high transmission voltage. An object is to provide a small and inexpensive ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic wave generation unit including a plurality (N) of ultrasonic transmission / reception elements, and a plurality of drives for driving the ultrasonic wave generation unit. And a plurality of transmission stop means for stopping drive waveforms from the plurality of drive means, and a thinning control means for controlling stop of the plurality of transmission stop means individually or for each group. doing.

  With this configuration, it is possible to easily avoid a decrease in sensitivity by thinning and stopping a transmission channel in a mode having a low transmission voltage and increasing the transmission voltage with respect to a drive waveform that differs for each mode.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic wave generating means comprising a plurality (N) of ultrasonic transmitting / receiving elements, and a plurality of driving ultrasonic wave generating means. In the operation of the combined mode combining the driving means, the plurality of transmission stopping means for stopping the drive waveforms from the plurality of driving means, and various modes such as the B mode, the D mode, and the two-dimensional Doppler mode, A configuration comprising a plurality of transmission stop means, with a thinning control means that does not stop transmission when transmitting in a mode with a relatively high transmission level, and performs stop control individually or for each group in a mode with a low transmission level. Have.

  With this configuration, it is possible to easily avoid a decrease in sensitivity in the high voltage mode by thinning out and stopping the transmission channels in the low transmission voltage mode in real time in the composite mode for different drive waveforms.

  Further, in the first and second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, the thinning control unit collectively outputs drive waveforms to the elements at n intervals among the N ultrasonic transmission / reception elements sequentially arranged with respect to the transmission stop unit. Thus, the stop control is performed.

  With this configuration, it is possible to synchronize the thinning position with scanning during linear scanning or convex scanning with a simple configuration and control.

  Further, in the first and second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, the thinning-out control unit is arranged at an interval of n of the first half N / 2 of the N ultrasonic transmission / reception elements sequentially arranged with respect to the transmission stop unit. The drive waveforms to the elements are collectively controlled to stop, and the drive waveforms to the elements at n intervals among the N / 2 latter half of the N ultrasonic transmitting / receiving elements are collectively controlled to stop. Yes.

  With this configuration, it is possible to synchronize the thinning position with scanning during linear scanning or convex scanning with a simple configuration and control, and even during electronic sector scanning, among a plurality of ultrasonic transmission / reception elements, Channels that decimate transmissions can be arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the aperture.

  According to the present invention, a small and inexpensive ultrasonic wave that can easily avoid a decrease in sensitivity in a mode with a high transmission voltage by appropriately controlling a predetermined transmission voltage with respect to a drive waveform that differs for each mode without excess or deficiency. There is an extraordinary effect that a diagnostic device can be provided.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, parts having the same configuration and function as those of FIG. 4 referred to in the description of the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the present embodiment is different from the conventional example in that a transmission stop unit 4 (a plurality of transmission stop units) that blocks a waveform applied to the drive unit 3 by the delay pulse generator 9 and a group of channels are grouped. And a thinning control unit 5 (thinning control means) for controlling the transmission stop unit 4 is added, and the mode information MODE is not input to the transmission power supply unit 6, and a single voltage is supplied from the transmission power supply unit 6 to the drive unit. 3 is supplied to the point.

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

  2A, 2B, and 2C are main part configuration diagrams illustrating an operation in which the acoustic scanning lines sequentially move from FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C in the case of electronic linear scanning such as linear or convex with the configuration of FIG. It is. The configuration not shown is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and the configuration that is not important for the explanation of the operation is omitted.

  FIG. 2A illustrates a case where the center of the opening is set to the vibrator Y23. In FIG. 2A, the thinning-out control unit 5 switches S0, S2, S4 of the transmission stop unit 4 so that the transmission waveform is supplied only to the even-numbered channels of the drive unit 3 among the transmission waveforms from the delay pulse generation unit 9. , S6, S8, S10, S12, S14 are turned on, and the switches S1, S3, S5, S7, S9, S11, S13, S15 of the transmission stop unit 4 are turned off. The element selection unit 2 selects the transducers Y16 to Y30.

  FIG. 2B illustrates a case where the scanning line advances one from the state of FIG. 2A and the vibrator Y24 becomes the center of the opening. In FIG. 2B, the thinning control unit 5 stops transmission so that the transmission waveform is supplied only to the odd-numbered channel of the drive unit 3 among the transmission waveforms from the delay pulse generation unit 9, contrary to the state of FIG. 2A. The switches S1, S3, S5, S7, S9, S11, S13, and S15 of the unit 4 are controlled to be turned on, and the switches S0, S2, S4, S6, S8, S10, S12, and S14 of the transmission stop unit 4 are controlled to be turned off. To do. The element selection unit 2 selects the transducers Y17 to Y31.

  FIG. 2C illustrates a case where the scanning line advances from the state of FIG. 2B and the vibrator Y25 becomes the center of the opening. In FIG. 2C, the thinning-out control unit 5 transmits the transmission waveform only to the even-numbered channels of the drive unit 3 among the transmission waveforms from the delay pulse generation unit 9, as in the state of FIG. 2A. 4 switches S0, S2, S4, S6, S8, S10, S12, and S14 are turned on, and switches S1, S3, S5, S7, S9, S11, S13, and S15 of the transmission stop unit 4 are turned off. . The element selection unit 2 selects the transducers Y18 to Y32.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to control the acoustic output of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic wave generation unit 1 without changing the transmission amplitude by the transmission power supply unit 6 and to have a large azimuth resolution. There is no deterioration.

  Further, the thinning control unit 5 is configured to n (N in FIGS. 2A to 2C) out of N (N = 15 in FIGS. 2A to 2C) sequentially arranged with respect to the transmission stop unit 4. = 2) It has a configuration in which drive waveforms to elements at intervals are collectively controlled to stop. According to this configuration, it is possible to synchronize the thinning position with scanning during linear scanning or convex scanning with a simple configuration and control.

  3A and 3B are main part configuration diagrams illustrating operations when sector electronic scanning is performed with the configuration of FIG. 1. The configuration not shown in the figure is the same as that in FIG. Even in the sector scanning method, the configuration is the same as in FIG. 1, but the control pattern by the thinning control unit 5 is different from that in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C.

  Since the aperture is not moved in the sector scanning method, the transducer selected by the element selection unit 2 is fixed. The thinning control unit 5 divides the switch of the element selection unit 2 into the first half and the second half from the center of the opening (between the transducers Y23 and Y24) in order to transmit from the channel indicated by diagonal lines with the opening center symmetrical as shown in the figure. Thus, each even channel and odd channel are controlled as a pair. As a result, the thinned channel is symmetric from the center of the opening.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the thinned-out channels are the first half even-channel transducers Y16, Y18, Y20, Y22, the second odd-numbered channels Y25, Y27, Y29, Y31, or the first half as shown in FIG. 3B. Any of the vibrators Y17, Y19, Y21, Y23 of the odd-numbered channels and Y24, Y26, Y28, Y30 of the latter-numbered even-numbered channels may be used.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the thinning control unit 5 is in the first half of N ultrasonic transmission / reception elements sequentially arranged with respect to the transmission stop unit 4 (N = 16 in FIGS. 3A and 3B). The drive waveforms to the elements at intervals of n (n = 2 in FIGS. 3A and 3B) out of N / 2 (= 8) are collectively stopped and controlled, and n out of N / 2 in the latter half (In FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, n = 2) It has the structure which carries out stop control of the drive waveform to the element of a space | interval collectively.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to synchronize the thinning position with scanning during linear scanning or convex scanning with a simple configuration and control, and among the plurality of ultrasonic transmission / reception elements also during electronic sector scanning, Channels that decimate transmissions can be arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the aperture.

  In this embodiment, the thinning control unit 5 is controlled using the mode information MODE. However, in the B mode where the transmission voltage is high, transmission is not stopped and transmission is performed from all channels, and the D mode where the transmission voltage is low. In the two-dimensional Doppler mode, by performing the control shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, and FIGS. 3A and 3B, the transmission power can be suppressed even if the transmission voltage in the latter mode is increased. The transmission voltage of the mode is also increased and sensitivity degradation is suppressed.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The main part block diagram which illustrated the operation | movement in the case of performing electronic linear scans, such as a linear and a convex, by the structure of FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an operation in which the scanning line is advanced by one from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an operation in which the scanning line advances one from the state shown in FIG. 2B when electronic linear scanning such as linear or convex is performed with the configuration of FIG. Main part configuration diagram showing an operation example when sector scanning is performed with the configuration of FIG. Main part configuration diagram showing another example of operation when sector scanning is performed with the configuration of FIG. Block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Explanation of symbols

1 Ultrasonic generator (Ultrasonic generator)
2 Element selection unit 3 Drive unit (plural drive means)
4 Transmission stop unit (multiple transmission stop means)
5 Thinning control unit (thinning control means)
6 Transmission power supply unit 7 Scan control unit 8 Switch control unit 9 Delay pulse generation unit 10 Preamplifier

Claims (4)

An ultrasonic generation means comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transmission / reception elements;
A plurality of driving means for driving the ultrasonic wave generating means;
A plurality of transmission stop means for stopping drive waveforms from the plurality of drive means;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a thinning control unit that controls the plurality of transmission stop units individually or for each group. An ultrasonic generation means comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transmission / reception elements;
A plurality of driving means for driving the ultrasonic wave generating means;
A plurality of transmission stop means for stopping drive waveforms from the plurality of drive means;
When operating in a combined mode that combines various modes, the transmission is not stopped when transmitting in a mode with a relatively high transmission level for the plurality of transmission stop means, and individually or for each group in a mode with a low transmission level. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising thinning control means for performing stop control. 3. The super thinning control unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thinning control unit collectively controls the driving waveform to the elements at n intervals among the N ultrasonic transmission / reception elements arranged sequentially with respect to the transmission stop unit. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. The thinning control unit collectively controls to stop the transmission waveforms to the elements at intervals of n out of N / 2 of the first half of the N ultrasonic transmission / reception elements sequentially arranged. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive waveforms to the elements at intervals of n out of N / 2 in the latter half of the N ultrasonic transmitting / receiving elements are collectively stopped.

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