JP2005143838A - Ultrasonograph - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonograph capable of scanning a subject at a high speed by connecting a two-dimensional array probe and by connecting a one-dimensional array probe to enable a simultaneous transmission and reception by forming a plurality of openings. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonograph is equipped with a scanning switch 7 to which two-dimensional or one-dimensional reception signals from the probes are supplied, string direction delay adding circuits 8-11, extension switches 12, 13, row direction delay adding circuits 14, 15, a data pass 16, and a signal processing part 17. If the one-dimensional reception signals are supplied to the scanning switch 7, one-dimensional delay adding signals are acquired by extending the string direction delay adding circuits by extension switches and are supplied to the signal processing part through the data pass. If the two-dimensional reception signals are supplied to the scanning switch, two-dimensional delay adding signals are acquired by supplying output signals of the string direction delay adding circuits to the row direction delay adding circuits and are supplied to the signal processing part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a one-dimensional array probe and a two-dimensional array probe and scanning a subject two-dimensionally and three-dimensionally, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 6, the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a two-dimensional array 102, column direction delay addition circuits 103, 104, 105, and 106, and row direction delay addition circuits 107 and 108. In this conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the signal detected by the transducer 101 of the two-dimensional array 102 is subjected to delay addition in the previous stage by the column direction delay addition circuits 103 to 106, and the signal group obtained in this way is obtained. On the other hand, parallel reception in the row direction and the column direction is realized with a small circuit scale by performing subsequent delay addition by the row direction delay addition circuits 107 and 108 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-254120 (page 3, FIG. 1)

  However, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, when a one-dimensional array probe is connected to the delay addition circuit, it is difficult to scan a subject at high speed by forming a plurality of openings and performing simultaneous transmission / reception. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve such a conventional problem. A two-dimensional array probe can be connected, and a one-dimensional array probe can be connected and a subject can be scanned at high speed by simultaneous transmission and reception through a plurality of apertures. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of performing the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention receives a scan switch to which a one-dimensional reception signal or a two-dimensional reception signal is supplied from an electroacoustic conversion unit, and an output signal of the scan switch, A reception delay addition circuit that performs delay addition in a direction and a row direction, the reception delay addition circuit includes: a plurality of preceding delay addition circuits; and a subsequent delay addition circuit that receives output signals of the plurality of preceding delay addition circuits; And an extension means for the plurality of preceding delay addition circuits.

  With this configuration, two-dimensional reception signals can be delayed and added, and one-dimensional reception signals can be delayed and added, so that a two-dimensional array probe can be connected and a one-dimensional array probe can be connected and transmitted and received simultaneously by a plurality of openings. The subject can be scanned at high speed.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, the extension means has a configuration for extending the preceding delay addition circuit when a one-dimensional reception signal is supplied to the scanning switch.

  With this configuration, it is possible to delay and add a two-dimensional received signal and to delay and add a one-dimensional received signal.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, the plurality of preceding delay addition circuits include a plurality of delay addition circuits expanded by the expansion unit.

  With this configuration, it is possible to delay-add two-dimensional received signals and delay-add one-dimensional received signals from a plurality of receiving apertures.

  Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has a configuration including a data path for processing the output signal of the preceding delay addition circuit without passing through the subsequent delay addition circuit.

  With this configuration, it is possible to delay and add a two-dimensional received signal and to delay and add a one-dimensional received signal.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, the one-dimensional reception signal is composed of a plurality of reception signals, and at least one of the plurality of reception signals is supplied to the delay addition circuit extended by the extension means. It has the composition which is done. In this case, the one-dimensional reception signal is composed of reception signals from a plurality of simultaneous reception openings at different positions. A plurality of simultaneous transmission openings are provided corresponding to the plurality of simultaneous reception openings.

  With this configuration, it is possible to delay-add two-dimensional received signals and delay-add one-dimensional received signals from a plurality of receiving apertures.

  Furthermore, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a two-dimensional array in which a plurality of subarrays having a plurality of transducers arranged in at least two dimensions are arranged, and phasing addition of received signals from the plurality of transducers in the subarray The two-dimensional received signal is composed of output signals of a plurality of intra-group processors.

  With this configuration, the number of two-dimensional received signals can be reduced and the scale of the delay addition circuit can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can connect a two-dimensional array probe and can scan a subject at high speed by connecting a one-dimensional array probe and simultaneously transmitting and receiving through a plurality of openings. It has the special effect of becoming.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a receiving unit in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a one-dimensional reception signal or a two-dimensional reception signal output from a probe that is an electroacoustic conversion means is input to a scanning switch 7. The output signal of the scanning switch 7 is supplied to column-direction delay addition circuits 8, 9, 10, and 11 which are delay addition circuits in the previous stage. Row direction delay addition circuits 14 and 15 that are subsequent delay addition circuits are provided on the two parallel reception output sides of the column direction delay addition circuits 8 to 11, respectively, and output two-dimensional delay addition signals. Output signals from the row direction delay addition circuits 14 and 15 are supplied to the signal processing unit 17.

  Further, expansion switches 12 and 13 as expansion means are provided on the output side of the column direction delay addition circuits 8 and 10, respectively. Output signals from the expansion switches 12 and 13 are input to the column direction delay addition circuits 9 and 11, respectively. The one-dimensional delay addition signals output from the column direction delay addition circuits 9 and 11 are supplied to the signal processing unit 17 via the data path 16. The output signal of the signal processing unit 17 is sent to the display unit.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration when a two-dimensional array is connected as an electroacoustic conversion means to the scanning switch 7 of FIG. In FIG. 2, transducers 1 are arranged in two dimensions in the column direction and the row direction to form a two-dimensional array 2. The output signal of the transducer 1 is supplied to the scanning switch 7.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration when a one-dimensional array is connected to the scanning switch 7 of FIG. 1 as electroacoustic conversion means. In FIG. 3, the transducers 3 are arranged one-dimensionally in the major axis direction to form a one-dimensional array 4. The output signal of the transducer 3 is supplied to the scanning switch 7.

  Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, when the scanning switch 7 receives a two-dimensional reception signal from the two-dimensional array 2, the column direction delay addition circuits 8 to 11 are arranged in the direction of the ultrasonic beam transmitted from the two-dimensional array 2. Delay addition is performed so that the reception directivity is suitable. At that time, parallel delay addition is performed so as to have directivity in two directions slightly shifted in the column direction with respect to the direction of the transmitted ultrasonic beam. Of the two output signals of the column direction delay addition circuits 8 to 11, the output signal corresponding to one directivity is input to the row direction delay addition circuit 14, and the output signal corresponding to the other directivity is the row direction delay. Input to the adder circuit 15.

  The row direction delay addition circuits 14 and 15 perform parallel delay addition so as to have directivity in two directions slightly shifted in the row direction with respect to the direction of the transmitted ultrasonic beam, and output a two-dimensional delay addition signal. Is done. The expansion switches 12 and 13 output zero data and do not affect the operation of the column direction delay addition circuits 9 and 11. The two-dimensional delayed addition signal is processed by the signal processing unit 17 and then displayed on the display unit.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, when the scanning switch 7 receives a one-dimensional reception signal from the one-dimensional array 4, the scanning switch 7 has a plurality of columns for some of the reception signals from the transducer 3. The connection is switched so that it is output to the direction delay adder circuit. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, the one-dimensional array 4 forms two reception apertures R1 and R2 and outputs a one-dimensional reception signal.

  In the first transmission / reception, as shown in FIG. 4A, simultaneous transmission is performed by the transmission aperture T1 by the transducers P3 to P6 and the transmission aperture T2 by the transducers P7 to P10, and the scanning switch 7 is transmitted by the transducers P1 to P8. A reception opening R1 and a reception opening R2 formed by the transducers P5 to P12 are formed. In the second transmission / reception, as shown in FIG. 4B, the selection of the transducer is shifted by one, and simultaneous transmission is performed by the transmission aperture T1 by the transducers P4 to P7 and the transmission aperture T2 by the transducers P8 to P11. 7 forms a receiving opening R1 by the transducers P2 to P9 and a receiving opening R2 by the transducers P6 to P13. Similarly, the third and fourth transmissions are performed. In the fifth transmission / reception, as shown in FIG. 4C, simultaneous transmission is performed by the transmission opening T1 by the transducers P7 to P10 and the transmission opening T2 by the transducers P11 to P14, and the scanning switch 7 is transmitted by the transducers P5 to P12. The reception opening R1 and the reception opening R2 formed by the transducers P9 to P16 are formed, thereby completing the scanning of one acoustic frame. As described above, ten reception openings are formed by five transmissions and receptions, and high-speed scanning is possible.

  The output signal of the scanning switch 7 is supplied to the column direction delay addition circuits 8 and 9 (FIG. 3). The output signal of the column direction delay addition circuit 8 is supplied to the column direction delay addition circuit 9 via the expansion switch 12 (FIG. 3). Similarly, the output signal of the scanning switch 7 is supplied to the column direction delay addition circuits 10 and 11 (FIG. 3). The output signal of the column direction delay addition circuit 10 is supplied to the column direction delay addition circuit 11 via the expansion switch 13 (FIG. 3).

  The column direction delay addition circuits 8 and 9 perform delay addition so that the reception directivity is directed in the direction of the ultrasonic beam transmitted from the one-dimensional array 4 through the transmission opening T1. At that time, as shown in FIG. 4A, the directivity (1, 1) and directivity (1, 2) are arranged in two directions slightly shifted in the major axis direction with respect to the direction of the transmitted ultrasonic beam. Delay addition is performed. Similarly, the column direction delay addition circuits 10 and 11 perform delay addition so that the reception directivity is directed in the direction of the ultrasonic beam transmitted from the one-dimensional array 4 through the transmission aperture T2. At that time, as shown in FIG. 4A, the directivity (2, 1) and directivity (2, 2) are arranged in two directions slightly shifted in the major axis direction with respect to the direction of the transmitted ultrasonic beam. Delay addition is performed.

  The output signals of the column direction delay addition circuits 9 and 11 become a one-dimensional delay addition signal and are supplied to the signal processing unit 17 via the data path 16 without passing through the row direction delay circuits 14 and 15. The one-dimensional delayed addition signal is processed by the signal processing unit 17 and then displayed on the display unit.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the scanning switch 7, the column direction delay addition circuits 8 to 11, the expansion switches 12 and 13, the row direction delay addition circuits 14 and 15, and the data path 16 are provided. Thus, the two-dimensional reception signal from the two-dimensional array 2 and the one-dimensional reception signal from the one-dimensional array 4 can be delayed and added. In the case of the one-dimensional array, a plurality of reception openings are provided simultaneously. Scanning can be performed at high speed.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a two-dimensional array in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is an ultrasonic diagram using the two-dimensional array having the configuration of FIG. 5A. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus.

  In FIG. 5A, the two-dimensional array 2 includes subarrays 20 arranged in a plurality in the row direction and the column direction. As shown in FIG. 5B, one subarray 20 is composed of a plurality of transducers P1 to P4 arranged in the row direction and the column direction, and the output signals of the transducers P1 to P4 are supplied to the intra-group processor 21. Output signals of the intra-group processors 21 and 22 are supplied to the scan switch 7. The intra-group processors 21 and 22 are provided in the probe handle 23. The output signal of the intra-group processor is supplied to the scanning switch 7 via the cable 24 that transmits the two-dimensional received signal. The scanning switch 7 is provided inside the main body 25 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

  The intra-group processor 21 performs phasing addition on the output signals of the transducers P1 to P4. Since the in-group processor 21 has a small circuit scale, it can be provided in the probe handle 23 of a two-dimensional array. The scanning switch 7 is provided in the main body 25 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Therefore, by providing the intra-group processor 21 in the probe handle 23, the number of reception signal lines in the cable 24 connecting the probe and the main body can be reduced as compared with the case where the reception signal from the transducer is directly supplied to the scanning switch 7. It can be greatly reduced.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing the intra-group processor 21 in the probe handle 23, the number of reception signal lines connecting the probe and the main body can be greatly reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the one-dimensional received signal is described as being output from the one-dimensional array. However, the convex array in which the transducer is arranged in a convex manner in the major axis direction or the transducer is divided in the minor axis direction. Even if it is an output signal of a 1.5-dimensional array in which the received signals of the divided transducers are added in the short axis direction to form one received signal, or a mechanical three-dimensional probe that mechanically scans the various arrays described above good.

  As described above, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention can delay-add both the two-dimensional received signal from the two-dimensional array and the one-dimensional received signal from the one-dimensional array, and in particular, simultaneously add a plurality of signals to the one-dimensional array. It is useful as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that has a one-dimensional array and a two-dimensional array and scans a subject in two dimensions and at high speed in three dimensions.

The block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the receiving part in the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration when a two-dimensional array is connected to the scanning switch 7 of FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration when a one-dimensional array is connected to the scan switch 7 of FIG. Schematic diagram showing how the transmission aperture and the reception aperture are formed when the first transmission / reception is performed using the one-dimensional array of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing how the transmission aperture and the reception aperture are formed when the second transmission / reception is performed using the one-dimensional array of FIG. Schematic diagram showing how the transmission aperture and the reception aperture are formed when the fifth transmission / reception is performed using the one-dimensional array of FIG. The schematic diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the two-dimensional array in the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using a two-dimensional array having the configuration of FIG. 5A. Block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transducer 2 Two-dimensional array 3 Transducer 4 One-dimensional array 7 Scan switch 8-11 Column direction delay addition circuit (delay addition circuit of the front | former stage)
12, 13 Expansion switch (expansion means)
14, 15 Row direction delay addition circuit (later delay addition circuit)
16 Data path 17 Signal processing unit 20 Subarray 21, 22 Processor in group 23 Probe handle 24 Cable 25 Body

Claims (8)

A scanning switch to which a one-dimensional reception signal or a two-dimensional reception signal is supplied from the electroacoustic conversion means;
A reception delay addition circuit that receives an output signal of the scan switch and performs delay addition in the column direction and the row direction;
The reception delay adding circuit includes:
A plurality of preceding delay adder circuits;
A later-stage delay addition circuit that receives an output signal of the plurality of preceding-stage delay addition circuits;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising expansion means for the plurality of preceding delay addition circuits.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the expansion unit expands the preceding delay addition circuit when a one-dimensional reception signal is supplied to the scan switch.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of preceding delay addition circuits include a plurality of delay addition circuits expanded by the expansion unit.   4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a data path for processing an output signal of the preceding delay addition circuit without passing through the subsequent delay addition circuit. 5.   5. The one-dimensional reception signal is composed of a plurality of reception signals, and at least one reception signal among the plurality of reception signals is supplied to a delay addition circuit extended by the extension means. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one item.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the one-dimensional reception signal includes reception signals from a plurality of simultaneous reception openings at different positions.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of simultaneous transmission openings are provided corresponding to the plurality of simultaneous reception openings. A two-dimensional array in which a plurality of subarrays having a plurality of transducers arranged in at least two dimensions are arranged;
An intra-group processor for phasing and summing received signals from a plurality of transducers of the sub-array,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional received signal is composed of output signals of a plurality of intra-group processors.

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