JP2009106471A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of easily changing and optimizing a DGC condition different for each examiner and storing the optimum DGC condition different for each subject in relation with subject data, in order to solve conventional problems. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with: a gain varying means 4 for receiving transmitted ultrasonic pulses as echo signals and varying a gain according to the time lapse; a manual DG adjusting means 1 corresponding to a depth direction for having an operator adjust the gain corresponding to the depth; a user DGC storage means 5 for storing a depth-to-gain function generated by the manual DGC adjusting means 1; and a selecting means 11 for selecting the depth-to-gain function to be supplied to the gain varying means 4 from either one of the manual DGC adjusting means 1 and the user DGC storage means 5 or combining it from both. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus used in the medical field.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus receives the ultrasonic pulse transmitted as an echo signal and changes the gain as time elapses, and is associated with the depth direction so that the operator can Manual DGC (Depth Gain Control) adjustment means 101 for adjusting the gain according to the depth (for example, distance 0 to distance 7 in FIG. 3), and manual for generating the depth vs. gain function from the setting in the manual DGC adjustment means 101 The DGC function generating means 102 and the system DGC generating means 103 which is preset in the main body and stores a general-purpose depth vs. gain function are configured. The echo signal transmitted from the ultrasonic wave and reflected in the living body changes with time depending on the attenuation received by the medium being propagated and the reflection intensity of each living tissue, so that the gain is changed according to the distance.

  Most ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have a system DGC generation means 103, and a function in which the function as shown in FIG. 2A is adjusted so as to be suitable for many subjects is provided. 103, the gain of the gain varying means 104 is controlled. However, the function of the system DGC generation means 103 as described above may not be suitable depending on the subject or the region of interest of the examiner. In this case, a DGC means that can be optimized by fine adjustment of the function by the examiner. It is prepared. The most common method is to arrange a plurality of sliders on an operation console or operation screen so as to correspond to the distance and increase or decrease the gain for each distance.

  In FIG. 3, the manual DGC adjustment means 101 sets all the sliders to the center position A if the system DGC is optimal. However, if fine adjustment is required, the shallow distance is operated by the upper slider and the deep distance is operated by the lower slider. Move to the right to increase the gain and to the left to decrease the gain. The manual DGC function generating means 102 performs interpolation by associating with the distance of each slider and generates a user DGC function as shown in FIG. The user DGC function is synthesized (added or multiplied) by the system DGC generation means 103 and the synthesis means 109 to control the gain of the gain variable means 104. Depending on the system configuration, a total gain may be given to the gain control means 110 to control the gain over the entire distance (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In another conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an appropriate DGC is calculated from the amplitude intensity of the echo signal output from the gain variable means 104, and the examiner adjusts the manual DGC adjustment means 101 to control the gain variable means 104. There is one that saves time and effort, and automatic adjustment means 100 is further added to the above configuration. The echo signal output from the gain varying means 104 is imaged through the subsequent signal processing means. The correction value for the optimum image is calculated from the intensity and a depth vs. gain function is generated instead of the manual DGC adjusting means 101. , Transfer to the automatic DGC storage means 105. In response to this, the automatic DGC adjustment value generation means 106 generates a depth-to-gain function, performs an operation such as addition, addition, or multiplication with the output of the system DGC generation means 103, and combines it with the system DGC synthesis means 109. Control (for example, refer to Patent Document 2).
JP-A-10-234726 JP 10-328183 A

  However, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, since the optimal image luminance distribution and gain differ depending on the examiner, the system DGC prepared in advance is not necessarily optimal. In addition, since the attenuation and reflection intensity of the subject are different for each subject, it is necessary to adjust the manual DGC adjusting means 1 every time the subject is changed in order to obtain an optimal image, and a lot of diagnostic time is consumed. was there.

  In addition, since the DGC function is generated depending on the acquired image at the time of adjustment by automatic adjustment, even if the same subject is a slightly different image for each diagnosis, different functions are required each time automatic adjustment is performed. There was a problem that it was generated and reproducibility was lost.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the conventional problems. It is possible to easily change and optimize different DGC conditions for each examiner, and to associate different optimum DGC conditions for each subject with subject data. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of storing data.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention includes a gain variable means for receiving a transmitted ultrasonic pulse as an echo signal, and changing the gain according to the passage of time, and a gain corresponding to the depth. Manual DGC adjustment means for adjusting, user DGC storage means for storing the depth vs. gain function generated by the manual DGC adjustment means, and manual DGC adjustment means or user DGC storage means for providing the depth vs. gain function to the gain variable means And a selective addition means for synthesizing from at least one of the signals.

  With this configuration, the depth to gain desired by the examiner is set as a default setting by adjusting the manual DGC adjustment means, and this is stored in the user DGC storage means, and the slider of the manual DGC adjustment means is set as the default state of the center straight line. Will be able to use.

  Also, gain variable means for receiving the transmitted ultrasonic pulse as an echo signal and changing the gain as time elapses, and manual DGC adjustment associated with the depth direction and allowing the operator to adjust the gain according to the depth Means, selection / addition means for selecting either or both of manual DGC adjustment means and user DGC storage means for the depth vs. gain function given to the gain variable means, and depth vs. gain function output from the selection addition means And a user DGC storage means for storing.

  With this configuration, the depth to gain desired by the examiner is set as a default setting by adjusting the manual DGC adjustment means, and this is stored in the user DGC storage means, and the slider of the manual DGC adjustment means is set as the default state of the center straight line. At this time, the depth vs. gain function adjusted by the manual DGC adjusting means can be set to the default state.

  Furthermore, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention has a configuration in which the user DGC storage means can be read and written from the system control means.

  With this configuration, the DGC set at the time of diagnosis can be saved, and the setting can be read for each of the plurality of diagnostic sites for each examiner.

  Furthermore, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention has a configuration in which the user DGC storage means can be read / written from the system control means, and the depth vs. gain function is stored in a database associated with the patient ID and read / written.

  With this configuration, the DGC set at the time of diagnosis can be saved, and the setting can be read for each of the plurality of diagnostic sites for each examiner.

  The present invention relates to a gain variable means for receiving a transmitted ultrasonic pulse as an echo signal and changing the gain according to the passage of time, and a manual for an operator to adjust the gain according to the depth in association with the depth direction. One of the DGC adjustment means, the user DGC storage means for storing the depth vs. gain function generated by the manual DGC adjustment means, and the depth vs. gain function given to the gain variable means from either the manual DGC adjustment means or the user DGC storage means By providing selection addition means for selecting or combining from both, the default DGC setting condition of the system can be easily changed to the DGC setting condition desired by the examiner, and the adjustment of the DGC setting at the time of diagnosis can be saved. It is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having an effect of enabling efficient diagnosis.

  The present invention also provides a gain variable means for receiving a transmitted ultrasonic pulse as an echo signal and changing the gain over time, and is associated with the depth direction so that an operator can adjust the gain according to the depth. Manual DGC adjustment means, selection addition means for selecting or synthesizing either one of manual DGC adjustment means or user DGC storage means for the depth vs. gain function given to the gain variable means, and the depth output from the selection addition means By providing a configuration provided with a user DGC storage means for storing the gain function, the DGC setting conditions used at the time of diagnosis can be changed to the DGC setting conditions desired by the examiner, and the DGC setting at the time of diagnosis can be adjusted. Therefore, efficient diagnosis is possible. Furthermore, when a slight change occurs in the subsequent diagnosis, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having an effect that fine adjustment is possible based on the DGC setting saved in the past diagnosis.

  In addition, the present invention provides a configuration in which the user DGC storage means is configured to be readable and writable from a system control means such as a CPU, whereby the DGC set at the time of diagnosis can be saved, and a plurality of examiners can be stored. Therefore, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can read out the setting every time and has an effect of enabling more efficient diagnosis.

  In addition, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of the present invention is configured such that the user DGC storage means can be read and written from a system control means such as a CPU, and the depth vs. gain function is stored in a database associated with a patient ID and read and written. Therefore, since the optimal DGC setting used in the past diagnosis can be reproduced because the setting is read out for each diagnosis part for each of a plurality of patients, image reproducibility is good and adjustment is not necessary each time, so that efficient diagnosis is possible. It is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the effect of becoming.

  Hereinafter, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the stored value changeover switch 12 of FIG. 1 is connected to s0 (s0 = ON).

  In FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention receives a transmitted ultrasonic pulse as an echo signal and correlates the gain with variable gain variable means 4 in the depth direction over time. The manual DGC adjusting means 1 for the operator to adjust the gain according to the depth, the plurality of sliders of the manual DGC adjusting means manual 1, the position of each slider, and "distance 0 to 7" assigned to each slider Manual DGC function generating means 2 for generating a depth vs. gain function, and a manual DGC connection switch for selecting whether or not to use the depth vs. gain function generated by the manual DGC function generating means 2 for variable gain control of the variable gain varying means 4 7, a user DGC storage unit 5 that reads and outputs the depth-to-gain function stored and stored in the depth-to-gain function output from the manual DGC function generating unit 2, and a user D A user DGC generation unit 6 that generates and outputs a depth-to-gain function from DGC data read out from the C storage unit 5; A user DGC connection switch 8 for selecting whether or not to use the control, a selection adding means 11 for adding one or both of the depth vs. gain functions output from the manual DGC connection switch 7 and the user DGC connection switch 8; A system DGC generating means 3 for generating a default depth-to-gain function set in advance such as a factory setting, and a depth-gain function from the system DGC generating means 3 and the selective adding means 11 are added to obtain a total DGC. The system DGC synthesis means 9 to be generated and the gain of the mode that changes the gain of the entire image such as the B mode gain are added. It is configured to have a gain control means 10 that.

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

  First, in the initial procedure of diagnosis, all the sliders of the manual DGC adjusting means 1 are set to the center position A, the manual DGC connection switch 7 is turned on, and the user DGC connection switch 8 is turned off. At this time, the gain varying means 4 is controlled by the depth versus gain function from the system DGC generating means 3 and the manual DGC adjusting means 1, and the system DGC generating means 3 provides a depth versus gain function as shown in FIG. It is output and ultrasonic attenuation in the living body is appropriately corrected in most subjects.

  Next, the examiner adjusts the manual DGC adjusting unit 1 if necessary while observing the image, and sets a gain corresponding to the distance. For example, when the slider is set to the position B by the adjustment of the manual DGC adjustment unit 1 at this time, the output as shown in FIG. 2B is obtained from the manual DGC function generation unit 2. When an appropriate image is obtained after adjustment by the manual DGC adjustment means 1 and the examiner wants to set it as a default, the user DGC storage means 5 stores it by operating the keys provided on the console or the like. The DGC connection switch 8 is turned on and the manual DGC connection switch 7 is turned off. As a result, the position B of the DGC slider is output. Then, an optimum depth vs. gain function adjusted by the examiner at the slider position A is obtained.

  According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention as described above, the user DGC that stores the depth versus gain function output by the manual DGC function generation means 2 and reads and outputs the stored depth versus gain function. Output from the storage means 5, the user DGC generation means 6 for generating and outputting a depth vs. gain function from the DGC data read from the user DGC storage means 5, and the manual DGC connection switch 7 and the user DGC connection switch 8 By providing a selective addition means 11 for adding one or both of the depth vs. gain function and a system DGC generation means 3 for generating a default depth vs. gain function set in advance such as a factory setting, manual operation is provided. By adjusting the DGC adjustment means, the examiner sets a desired depth versus gain as a default setting, and this is set as the user DGC storage means. The slider of the manual DGC adjustment means can be stored and used as the default state of the center straight line, and the default DGC setting condition of the system can be easily changed to the DGC setting condition desired by the examiner. It is possible to save the trouble of adjusting the DGC setting and to have an effect that an efficient diagnosis is possible.

  Next, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the stored value changeover switch 12 of FIG. 1 is connected to s1 (s1 = ON).

  Also in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the second embodiment, each component performs the same operation as that of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the user DGC storage unit 5 stores the depth vs. gain function output from the selective addition unit 11 by connecting the stored value changeover switch 12 to s1.

  The operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. First, in the initial procedure of diagnosis, all the sliders of the manual DGC adjusting means 1 are set to the center position A, the manual DGC connection switch 7 is turned on, and the user DGC connection switch 8 is turned off. In the initial state, it is assumed that +/− 0 is written in the user DGC storage means 5 (that is, no correction value is written). At this time, the gain varying means 4 is controlled by the depth versus gain function from the system DGC generating means 3 and the manual DGC adjusting means 1, and the system DGC generating means 3 provides a depth versus gain function as shown in FIG. It is output and ultrasonic attenuation in the living body is appropriately corrected in most subjects.

  Next, the examiner adjusts the manual DGC adjusting unit 1 if necessary while observing the image, and sets a gain corresponding to the distance. For example, when the slider is set to the position B by the adjustment of the manual DGC adjustment unit 1 at this time, the output as shown in FIG. 2B is obtained from the manual DGC function generation unit 2. When an appropriate image is obtained after adjustment by the manual DGC adjustment means 1 and the examiner wants to set it as a default, the user DGC storage means 5 operates the selection addition means 11 by operating a key provided on the console or the like. Is stored. Next, the user DGC connection switch 8 is turned ON and the manual DGC connection switch 7 is turned ON. As a result, the position B of the DGC slider is stored. Then, an optimum depth vs. gain function adjusted by the examiner at the slider position A is obtained.

  Further, when the manual DGC adjustment unit 1 is changed and adjusted, the output of the manual DGC function generation unit 2 is added and output by the selection and addition unit 11. This is a trigger by operating a key provided in the, and the user DGC storage means 5 stores the output of the selective addition means 11 and the position B of the DGC slider. Then, an optimum depth vs. gain function adjusted by the examiner at the slider position A is obtained. Thereafter, the examiner can correct the depth vs. gain function used for diagnosis and set it as a default.

  According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention as described above, the user DGC storage unit that stores the depth-to-gain function output by the selective addition unit 11 and reads and outputs the stored depth-to-gain function. 5, user DGC generation means 6 that generates and outputs a depth vs. gain function from the DGC data read from the user DGC storage means 5, and the depth pair output from the manual DGC connection switch 7 and the user DGC connection switch 8. Manual DGC adjustment by providing a selective addition means 11 for adding either or both of the gain functions and a system DGC generation means 3 for generating a default depth-to-gain function set in advance such as a factory setting. By adjusting the means, the examiner sets the desired depth versus gain as the default setting and stores this in the user DGC storage means. The slider of the manual DGC adjustment means can be used as the default state of the center straight line, the system default DGC setting conditions can be easily changed to the DGC setting conditions desired by the examiner, and further used for repeated diagnosis It is possible for the examiner to correct the depth vs. gain function and set it as a default, thereby saving the trouble of adjusting the DGC setting and enabling an effective diagnosis. it can.

  Next, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention, data can be read from and written to the user DGC storage means 5 in the embodiment of FIGS.

  The depth vs. gain function stored in the user DGC storage unit 5 in the first and second embodiments is configured so that the user DGC storage unit 5 can read and write from the system control unit such as a CPU, so that a plurality of detection functions can be obtained. The setting can be read for each person, and more efficient diagnosis is possible.

  In addition, since the setting is read for each diagnosis part for each patient by associating with the patient ID, the optimal DGC setting used in the past diagnosis can be reproduced. This makes it possible to make an effective diagnosis.

  As described above, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention can change the default DGC setting condition of the system to the DGC setting condition desired by the examiner, and can save the trouble of adjusting the DGC setting at the time of diagnosis. This has the effect of enabling efficient diagnosis and is useful as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus used in the medical field.

Block diagram of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention DGC waveform diagram in block diagram of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention Block diagram of conventional ultrasonic diagnostic equipment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Manual DGC adjustment means 2 Manual DGC function generation means 3 System DGC generation means 4 Gain variable means 5 User DGC storage means 6 User DGC generation means 7 Manual DGC connection switch 8 User DGC connection switch 9 System DGC synthesis means 10 Gain control means 11 Selection addition means 12 Memory value change switch

Claims (4)

A gain variable means for receiving the transmitted ultrasonic pulse as an echo signal and changing the gain according to the passage of time; a manual DGC adjustment means associated with the depth direction and for the operator to adjust the gain according to the depth; A user DGC storage means for storing a depth vs. gain function generated by the manual DGC adjustment means, and a signal of at least one of the manual DGC adjustment means or the user DGC storage means for providing a depth vs gain function to the gain variable means An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided with a selective addition means for generating from the above. A gain variable means for receiving the transmitted ultrasonic pulse as an echo signal and changing the gain according to the passage of time; a manual DGC adjustment means associated with the depth direction and for the operator to adjust the gain according to the depth; A selection / addition means for selecting or synthesizing either one of the signals from the manual DGC adjustment means or the user DGC storage means and a depth output from the selection / addition means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided with user DGC storage means for storing a gain function. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the user DGC storage means is readable and writable from the system control means. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the user DGC storage means is readable / writable from the system control means, and the depth vs. gain function is stored and read / written in a database associated with patient data.

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