JP2008113793A - Ultrasonic diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To process data according to a reception state of signals wirelessly transmitted to the main body of the system from an ultrasonic probe. <P>SOLUTION: The main body 200 of the system judges whether image data acquired from the wireless signals are valid or invalid from the reception state of the wireless signals by a wireless reception part 204 is received. For example, it is judged whether the image data acquired from the wireless signals are valid or invalid from the received power of the wireless signals received by the wireless reception part 204. The main body 200 of the system stores the image data judged as valid into a data memory part 216 but does not store the image data judged as invalid into the data memory part 216. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that wirelessly transmits and receives signals between an ultrasonic probe and an apparatus main body.

  There is known a wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that wirelessly transmits echo data or the like obtained by an ultrasonic probe to the apparatus main body (see Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  In the wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a radio signal modulated by an ultrasonic signal or the like is transmitted into space from a transmission antenna of an ultrasonic probe. Then, the radio signal is received by a receiving antenna provided in the apparatus main body, and the received signal is demodulated in the apparatus main body to perform image processing and the like.

  The wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can eliminate the probe cable that connects the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body, and is expected to dramatically improve the operability of the ultrasonic probe. However, it is also true that there are several problems to be overcome in realizing a wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  As an example, a problem regarding a wireless state between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body can be cited. For example, when the wireless state is poor, noise or the like may enter the image data of the ultrasonic image, and image data that cannot be used for diagnosis may be obtained. If such image data is stored in a storage device, for example, the storage capacity of the storage device is wasted.

  Also, when image data stored in the storage device is played back, if the storage device contains image data that cannot be used for diagnosis, there is a possibility that trouble such as deleting the image data may occur. .

JP 2004-141328 A JP 55-151952 A JP-A-53-108690

  Under these circumstances, the inventors of the present application have made studies on improved techniques for realizing a wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in the course of the research, and an object thereof is to process data in accordance with a reception state of a signal wirelessly transmitted from the ultrasonic probe to the apparatus main body.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a preferred aspect of the present invention is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that wirelessly transmits and receives signals between an ultrasonic probe and an apparatus main body, wherein the ultrasonic probe includes: A transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from a subject to acquire echo data, and a wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits a signal generated based on the echo data to the apparatus main body, Has a wireless receiving unit that receives a signal wirelessly transmitted from the ultrasonic probe, and an image forming unit that forms an ultrasonic image based on a received data string obtained from the signal received by the wireless receiving unit. The apparatus main body determines whether the received data string obtained from the signal is valid or invalid based on the reception state of the signal received by the wireless reception unit.

  In a preferred aspect, the apparatus main body stores the received data sequence determined to be valid in the data storage unit and does not store the received data sequence determined to be invalid in the data storage unit.

  In a preferred aspect, the apparatus main body displays an ultrasonic image of a received data sequence determined to be valid, and does not display an ultrasonic image of a received data sequence determined to be invalid.

  In a preferred aspect, the apparatus main body displays the ultrasound image of the received data sequence determined to be invalid when displaying a plurality of ultrasound images formed based on the received data sequence one after another. Instead of the ultrasonic image of the received data sequence, an ultrasonic image of the received data sequence determined to be valid is displayed.

  In a preferred aspect, the apparatus main body determines whether the received data string obtained from the signal is valid or invalid based on the reception power of the signal received by the wireless reception unit.

  In a preferred aspect, the apparatus main body determines whether a received data string obtained from the signal is valid or invalid based on a code error state of data restored from the signal received by the radio reception unit. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, data can be processed according to the reception state of a signal wirelessly transmitted from the ultrasonic probe to the apparatus main body.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the overall configuration thereof. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe 100 and an apparatus main body 200, and echo data acquired by the ultrasonic probe 100 is transmitted to the apparatus main body 200 as a wireless signal through various signal processes. .

  The ultrasonic probe 100 includes a plurality of transducers 102 that transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to and from a subject. An ultrasonic transmission circuit (not shown) is connected to each transducer 102, and ultrasonic pulses are transmitted from the plurality of transducers 102 toward the subject in accordance with signals output from the transmission circuit. The Then, a plurality of transducers 102 receive reflected waves (echoes) obtained from the subject.

  An amplifier 104 and an analog-digital converter (ADC) 106 are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of vibrators 102. Each amplifier 104 amplifies the reception result of the corresponding transducer 102 and outputs it to the corresponding ADC 106. As a result, the received signal obtained from each transducer 102 is digitized and output from the plurality of ADCs 106 to the digital beam former 108.

  The digital beam former 108 is a circuit that performs reception beam forming by phasing and adding reception data obtained from a plurality of ADCs 106. In the present embodiment, the digital beam former 108 performs a first-stage phasing addition process. That is, for a plurality of transducers 102, for example, 64 transducers 102, the phasing addition processing is performed for each transducer group including eight adjacent transducers 102. Then, phasing addition processing is performed for each of the eight transducer groups, and the phasing addition result of each transducer group is set as one channel, and phasing addition data of a total of eight channels is output from the eight transducer groups.

  Incidentally, the second-stage phasing addition processing is performed in the digital beam former 210 in the apparatus main body 200 described later, and the received data obtained from all the transducers 102 are collected as one beam data. Note that in the digital beam former 108 of the ultrasonic probe 100, the received data obtained from all the transducers 102 may be combined into one beam data. In that case, the digital beam former 210 in the apparatus main body 200 can be omitted.

  The PS conversion unit 110 receives the 8-channel phasing addition data formed in the digital beamformer 108 as parallel data, and converts the received 8-channel parallel data into serial data arranged in a line in the time axis direction. In this way, the phasing addition data for eight channels converted into serial data is output from the PS conversion unit 110.

  The digital beam former 108 performs phasing addition processing on the reception data output one after another for each reception beam. Therefore, the phasing addition results for the plurality of reception beams are output one after another from the digital beam former 108, and the phasing addition data for the plurality of reception beams are output one after another in time series from the PS conversion unit 110. In this process, synchronization data of each reception beam is inserted into a series of serial data output from the PS conversion unit 110, and a segment for each reception beam is provided in the serial data.

  The wireless transmission unit 112 performs digital modulation processing such as PSK (Phase Shift Keying) based on the serial data output from the PS conversion unit 110. Instead of PSK, digital modulation processing such as ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) and FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) may be used. Then, the modulated signal is power amplified and transmitted as a radio wave from the transmission antenna 114. The transmission antenna 114 is a planar antenna, for example.

  In this way, a radio signal (echo signal) modulated by the digital echo data converted into serial data is transmitted from the transmission antenna 114. For example, a one-channel radio signal having a transmission carrier frequency of 60 GHz and a band of about 1 GHz is transmitted.

  A radio signal (echo signal) transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 100 is received by the reception antenna 202 of the apparatus main body 200 and sent to the radio reception unit 204.

  The wireless reception unit 204 performs preamplification processing, power amplification processing, and the like on the received wireless signal. Further, demodulation processing is performed on a radio signal subjected to digital modulation processing such as PSK, and error correction processing is performed on data obtained by the demodulation processing. Thereby, the data before being modulated by the wireless transmission unit 112 of the ultrasonic probe 100, that is, the serial data output from the PS conversion unit 110 is reproduced.

  The reception state detection unit 205 detects the reception state of the signal received by the wireless reception unit 204. For example, the reception state detection unit 205 determines whether or not the data is normal data according to the code error state of the data obtained by the demodulation processing of the wireless reception unit 204. For example, when the code error rate is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the data is determined to be normal data, and when the code error rate is greater than a predetermined value, the data is determined to be abnormal data.

  Further, the reception state detection unit 205 may measure the reception power of the signal received by the wireless reception unit 204 and detect the reception state from the magnitude of the reception power.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the internal configuration of the reception state detection unit 205 when the reception power is measured. A reception signal received by the antenna 202, that is, an echo signal wirelessly transmitted from the ultrasonic probe to the apparatus main body is amplified by the amplifier 204a and supplied to the mixer 204b in the wireless reception unit (reference numeral 204 in FIG. 1). Is done.

  The mixer 204b is supplied with a reference signal from the transmitter 204c. In the mixer 204b, the received signal and the reference signal are multiplied, and the received signal is converted into an intermediate frequency band or a baseband frequency band. The signal output from the mixer 204b is further subjected to detection processing by the detection circuit 204d and output to a subsequent circuit in the wireless reception unit.

  The signal output from the mixer 204b is also supplied to the reception state detection unit 205, amplified by the log amplifier 205a, and supplied to the level determination circuit 205b. The level determination circuit 205b includes a comparator, an analog / digital converter, or the like, and detects the power of the signal output from the log amplifier 205a.

  Thus, the reception power of the radio signal (echo signal) wirelessly transmitted from the ultrasonic probe to the apparatus main body is detected by the reception state detection unit 205. Then, the reception state detection unit 205 determines whether the data obtained from the wireless signal is normal data according to the magnitude of the reception power of the wireless signal.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the SP conversion unit 206 converts the 8-channel phasing addition data included in the serial data reproduced by the wireless reception unit 204 into parallel data. At this time, the data is converted into 8-channel parallel data based on the synchronization data of the received beam included in the serial data.

  Thus, parallel data corresponding to the data formed by the digital beam former 108 of the ultrasonic probe 100 is stored in the memory 208. Data stored in the memory 208 is read at a timing corresponding to the subsequent processing of the memory 208. As the memory 208, for example, a first input first output (FIFO) type device is used.

  The digital beam former 210 reads the parallel data stored in the memory 208 and executes the second-stage phasing addition process. That is, parallel data corresponding to the data formed by the digital beamformer 108 is read from the memory 208, phasing addition processing is executed based on the read parallel data for eight channels, and the reception data obtained from all the transducers 102 is obtained. The wave data is collected to form one beam data. The beam data is sequentially formed for each received beam and output to the image forming unit 212.

  As described above, in the digital beam former 108 of the ultrasonic probe 100, received data obtained from all the transducers 102 may be combined into one beam data. In that case, the digital beam former 210 in the apparatus main body 200 is omitted, and for example, the image forming unit 212 reads the beam data collected from the memory 208 into one.

  The image forming unit 212 forms image data of ultrasonic images such as a B-mode image, an M-mode image, and a Doppler image based on beam data that is sequentially formed for each reception beam. Then, an ultrasonic image corresponding to the formed image data is displayed on the monitor 214.

  Note that probe setting data may be inserted into the serial data in the ultrasonic probe 100, and the probe setting data included in the serial data may be read out in the apparatus main body 200 to check the setting state of the ultrasonic probe 100. . For example, the diagnostic mode set on the ultrasonic probe 100 side is confirmed, and the diagnostic mode information is supplied to the image forming unit 212. Then, the image forming unit 212 forms image data by executing an image forming process corresponding to the diagnostic mode set on the ultrasonic probe 100 side, that is, an image forming process of a B-mode image, an M-mode image, or a Doppler image. You may do it.

  The data storage unit 216 is a storage device that stores the image data formed in the image forming unit 212. The data storage unit 216 is, for example, a hard disk device or an optical disk device. In FIG. 1, the data storage unit 216 is provided in the apparatus main body 200, but may be provided outside the apparatus main body 200.

  In the present embodiment, image data stored in the data storage unit 216 and an ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor 214 are appropriately selected according to the reception state detected by the reception state detection unit 205. Therefore, data processing according to the reception state will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following, the reference numerals in FIG. 1 are used for the portions (configurations) already shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of using the data storage unit 216 according to the reception state. FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the display images (1) to (9) arranged in chronological order, and a received data string corresponding to each display image.

  The reception data string is data obtained from a radio signal received by the radio reception unit 204 via the antenna 202. For example, serial data reproduced by the wireless reception unit 204, parallel data output from the SP conversion unit 206, beam data formed by the digital beam former 210, image data formed by the image forming unit 212, and the like. That is, the received data string may be data at any processing stage as long as it is data obtained from a radio signal (echo signal).

  In FIG. 3, normal data included in the received data string is data that is determined to be normal data by the reception state detection unit 205. For example, data without any code error or data obtained from a signal having a reception power larger than a predetermined value. On the other hand, the abnormal data included in the received data string is data that is determined to be abnormal data by the reception state detection unit 205. For example, data including a code error or data obtained from a signal whose received power is a predetermined value or less.

  The apparatus main body 200 determines that the received data string is valid when, for example, abnormal data is not included in the received data string. For example, when abnormal data is included in the received data string, it is determined that the received data string is invalid. The apparatus main body 200 may determine whether the received data string is valid or invalid according to the content rate of abnormal data included in the received data string. Validity / invalidity judgment criteria may be changed by the user, for example.

  First, control in the case of storing the received data string in the data storage unit 216 will be described. For example, when the abnormal data is not included in the received data string, the apparatus main body 200 determines that the received data string (for example, image data) is valid and stores it in the data storage unit 216. On the other hand, for example, when abnormal data is included in the received data string, it is determined that the received data string is invalid and is not stored in the data storage unit 216. That is, in FIG. 3, the received data string in the period A is not stored in the data storage unit 216.

  As a result, only the received data string determined to be valid is stored in the data storage unit 216, and the storage capacity of the data storage unit 216 can be used effectively. In addition, since the reception data string determined to be invalid is not stored, it is not necessary to delete the reception data string from the data storage unit 216.

  Next, control when reading the received data string stored in the data storage unit 216 will be described. For example, the apparatus main body 200 receives the received data sequence (image data) shown in FIG. 3 in the data storage unit 216 and stores the received data sequence determined to be invalid, that is, the period A in FIG. The partial received data string is not read from the data storage unit 216.

  Accordingly, for example, when a received data string is read from the data storage unit 216 and an ultrasonic image is formed by the image forming unit 212 and displayed on the monitor 214, the received data string is determined to be invalid. The ultrasonic image can be prevented from being displayed.

  Note that the reception data string is read from the data storage unit 216 regardless of whether it is valid or invalid, and for the reception data string determined to be invalid, the ultrasound image corresponding to the reception data string is not displayed on the monitor 214. (Alternatively, the background color of the ultrasonic image may be changed and displayed). Furthermore, when the read received data string is an invalid received data string, the received data string may be deleted from the data storage unit 216. The number of deleted received data strings (number of images), the deleted ratio (percent), and the like may be displayed.

  In addition to the image data, the serial data reproduced by the wireless reception unit 204, the parallel data output from the SP conversion unit 206, and the beam data formed by the digital beamformer 210 are used as the data storage unit 216 in place of the image data. It is good also as a structure memorize | stored in.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of displaying an ultrasonic image according to a reception state. FIG. 4 shows image data (1) to (9) arranged in chronological order, a schematic diagram of a display image, and a received data string corresponding to each image data.

  Similar to the case of FIG. 3, in FIG. 4, the received data string may be data at any stage as long as it is data obtained from a radio signal (echo signal). The normal data included in the received data sequence is data determined to be normal data by the reception state detection unit 205, and the abnormal data included in the reception data sequence is abnormal data in the reception state detection unit 205. It is the data determined to be.

  Similarly to the case of FIG. 3, in FIG. 4, the apparatus main body 200 also determines that the received data string is valid when, for example, abnormal data is not included in the received data string, and receives data If abnormal data is included in the column, it is determined that the received data column is invalid.

  When displaying a plurality of ultrasonic images formed based on a plurality of received data sequences one after another, the apparatus main body 200 displays the received data at the timing of displaying the ultrasonic image of the received data sequence determined to be invalid. Instead of the ultrasonic image of the row, the ultrasonic image of the received data row determined to be valid is displayed.

  That is, the apparatus main body 200 displays a display image of image data corresponding to the received data sequence for the received data sequence determined to be valid. In FIG. 4, display images (1) to (3) respectively correspond to image data (1) to (3) formed from valid received data sequences.

  Then, the apparatus main body 200 displays the image data corresponding to the immediately preceding received data sequence determined to be valid instead of the image data corresponding to the received data sequence for the received data sequence determined to be invalid. Display an image. In FIG. 4, the display images (6) to (8) corresponding to the image data (6) to (8) formed from the invalid reception data string are not displayed, and the valid reception data string is displayed in the period B. A display image (3) corresponding to the image data (3) formed from is displayed.

  In FIG. 4, the image data (4) and (5) are also formed from an invalid received data string, that is, a received data string including abnormal data. Therefore, in the period of the image data (4) (5), the display image (3) corresponding to the image data (3) is replaced with the display image (4) (5) corresponding to the image data (4) (5). ) May be displayed. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, during the period of the image data (4) (5), for example, the timing of the image data (6) is waited until the received data string is effectively recovered from invalidity and still does not recover. Therefore, the display image (3) may be displayed.

  Then, when the reception state is recovered and the received data string becomes valid from invalid, as shown in FIG. 4, the display image (9) corresponding to the image data (9) is restored at the timing of the image data (9). .

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the reception state deteriorates, it is possible to display (freeze display) a display image corresponding to the (latest) effective reception data string immediately before deterioration. Incidentally, while using the ultrasonic probe 100, an operation similar to the freeze operation can be realized by intentionally blocking the transmission of a radio signal (echo signal) with a hand or the like.

  When a display image corresponding to an effective received data string is used instead, a display mode informing the user of that fact may be applied to the display image. Further, instead of the display image corresponding to the immediately preceding valid received data string, a display image (freeze image) at the timing of the freeze operation previously performed by the user may be substituted.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described, embodiment mentioned above is only a mere illustration in all the points, and does not limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention includes various modifications without departing from the essence thereof.

1 is a functional block diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the internal structure of a receiving state detection part. It is a figure for demonstrating the utilization method of the data storage part according to a reception state. It is a figure for demonstrating the display method of the ultrasonic image according to a reception state.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Ultrasonic probe, 200 Apparatus main body, 205 Reception state detection part, 216 Data storage part.

Claims (6)

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that wirelessly transmits and receives signals between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body,
The ultrasonic probe is
A transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from a subject to acquire echo data;
A wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits a signal generated based on echo data to the apparatus body;
Have
The apparatus main body is
A wireless receiving unit for receiving a signal wirelessly transmitted from the ultrasonic probe;
An image forming unit that forms an ultrasonic image based on a received data sequence obtained from a signal received by the wireless receiving unit;
Have
The apparatus main body determines whether the received data string obtained from the signal is valid or invalid based on the reception state of the signal received by the wireless reception unit.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The apparatus main body stores the received data string determined to be valid in the data storage unit, and does not store the received data string determined to be invalid in the data storage unit.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The apparatus main body displays an ultrasonic image of the received data sequence determined to be valid, and does not display an ultrasonic image of the received data sequence determined to be invalid.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
When the apparatus main body sequentially displays a plurality of ultrasonic images formed based on a plurality of reception data strings, the reception data is displayed at a timing to display the ultrasonic image of the reception data string determined to be invalid. In place of the ultrasound image of the row, the ultrasound image of the received data row judged to be valid is displayed.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The apparatus body determines whether the received data string obtained from the signal is valid or invalid based on the reception power of the signal received by the wireless reception unit.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The apparatus main body determines whether the received data string obtained from the signal is valid or invalid based on the code error state of the data restored from the signal received by the wireless reception unit.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

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