JP2010172551A - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, and control program for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide ultrasonic diagnostic equipment for collecting ultrasonic images with higher quality by exchanging ultrasonic waves through the use of appropriate ultrasonic vibrators when determining the ultrasonic vibrators for transmission and the ultrasonic vibrators for reception respectively so as to exchange the ultrasonic waves, and also to provide a control program for the ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic equipment includes: an image data collecting means for exchanging the ultrasonic waves with a subject through the use of the ultrasonic vibrators for transmission and the ultrasonic vibrators for reception, so as to collect ultrasonic echo signals from the subject, and generating ultrasonic image data, based on the collected ultrasonic echo signals; and an exchange channel control means for determining the ultrasonic vibrators not to exchange the ultrasonic waves in response to the levels of the ultrasonic wave echo signals. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that scans an ultrasonic beam and obtains an ultrasonic image in a subject in real time and a control program for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to a plurality of ultrasonic vibrations provided in an ultrasonic probe. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that uses a child divided into a transmission area and a reception area and a control program for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  One of diagnostic imaging apparatuses is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic image such as an ultrasonic tomographic image (B mode image) of the subject or an ultrasonic Doppler image indicating blood flow dynamics information can be collected in real time.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional real-time ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 has a configuration in which an ultrasonic probe 2 is connected to an apparatus main body 3. The ultrasonic probe 2 is configured by incorporating ultrasonic transducer groups 4 arranged in an array in a probe head 5.

  A timing signal indicating a delay time for deflecting the transmission ultrasonic beam is set in the transmission delay circuit 6 of the apparatus main body 3 corresponding to the ultrasonic transducer group 4, and the set timing signal is set in the pulser group 7. Amplified and applied to the ultrasonic transducer group 4 as a pulse voltage. As a result, ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer group 4, and a weak ultrasonic echo signal reflected at the boundary of the structure in the observed body such as the heart of the subject is received by the ultrasonic transducer group 4. . The received ultrasonic echo signal is output as an electrical signal to the preamplifier group 8 of the apparatus body 2, and the timing of the ultrasonic echo signal amplified by the preamplifier group 8 is adjusted by the phasing addition processing in the reception delay adding circuit 9. One ultrasonic echo signal is obtained.

  In recent years, a three-dimensional ultrasonic probe capable of generating a transmission pulse and amplifying an ultrasonic echo signal by incorporating an electronic circuit together with a two-dimensional array transducer has been developed.

  When displaying a B-mode image, signal processing including detection of an envelope of an ultrasonic echo signal is performed in the signal processing unit 10 to generate B-mode image data, and the generated B-mode image data is processed by image processing. Coordinate conversion in the unit 11 is converted into B-mode image data in a coordinate system suitable for the imaging section of the subject. Further, the image processing unit 11 performs image processing such as gradation processing for displaying the B-mode image data at a gradation suitable for image display, and the B-mode image data after the image processing is displayed on the display unit 12. The Then, by sequentially collecting such ultrasonic echo signals and performing signal processing, the shape information of the imaging target such as the heart can be displayed on the display unit 12 in real time as a B-mode image.

  In addition, when displaying an ultrasonic Doppler image, an ultrasonic Doppler signal is collected as an ultrasonic echo signal from the blood flow, and signal processing on the ultrasonic Doppler signal is performed in the signal processing unit 10, whereby blood flow. Ultrasonic Doppler image data representing blood flow dynamic information such as speed, power, and dispersion is generated. Then, necessary image processing for the generated ultrasonic Doppler image data is performed in the image processing unit 11 and displayed on the display unit 12 in real time.

  Ultrasonic Doppler image collection methods include a pulsed Doppler (PW) method and a continuous wave Doppler (CW) method. In the PW method, ultrasonic pulses are transmitted, and ultrasonic Doppler signals are collected as pulse waves. In the CW method, a continuous wave is transmitted, and an ultrasonic Doppler signal is collected as the continuous wave (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In particular, the CW method capable of deflecting an ultrasonic beam by electronic control is called an SCW (steerable continuous wave Doppler) method.

  In the PW method, the upper limit of the blood flow velocity that can be detected by the sampling theorem is 1/2 of the pulse repetition frequency (PRF), and aliasing occurs if there is a blood flow that has a velocity more than 1/2 the PRF. Observation becomes impossible. For this reason, when an abnormal blood flow such as a valve regurgitation is observed at a very high speed, scanning in the CW mode by the CW method in which aliasing does not occur in principle is executed.

  In the CW mode, since continuous waves are transmitted and received, it is difficult to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves using the same ultrasonic transducer. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic transducer group 4 is divided into a transmission region in which only continuous wave transmission is performed and a reception region in which only continuous wave reception is performed. In this case, a continuous wave with a large amplitude transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer 4T in the transmission region located near the boundary between the transmission region and the reception region is an ultrasonic transducer in the reception region located near the boundary between the transmission region and the reception region. There is a problem of being received by 4R. In addition, a clutter signal having a large amplitude from a tissue such as a heart wall having a motion other than the blood flow may be received by the ultrasonic transducer 4R in the reception region located near the boundary between the transmission region and the reception region. When a signal having a large amplitude is received by the ultrasonic transducer 4R in the reception area, the preamplifier of the reception channel is saturated and noise is generated. For this reason, it leads to the data degradation of the ultrasonic Doppler image collected by CW mode.

  As shown in the signal intensity distribution of FIG. 1, the level of the clutter signal is generally large in the vicinity of the center position of the ultrasonic transducer group 4, and gradually decreases as the distance from the center increases. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the operations of the ultrasonic transducers 4D in the transmission region and the reception region corresponding to about two to three shaded reception channels located near the boundary between the transmission region and the reception region are turned off. . That is, an area for prohibiting transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves is fixedly set near the boundary between the transmission area and the reception area.

  For this purpose, ON / OFF of the pulsar group 7 is controlled by a control signal from the transmission channel control circuit 13, and the shaded pulsars corresponding to the ultrasonic transducers 4R, 4D in the reception area and the transmission / reception prohibited area are OFF ( On the other hand, the pulser corresponding to the ultrasonic transducer 4T in the transmission region outside the transmission / reception prohibited region is switched to the ON (enable) state. On the other hand, ON / OFF of the preamplifier group 8 is controlled by a control signal from the reception channel control circuit 14, and the preamplifier corresponding to the ultrasonic transducer 4R in the reception area outside the transmission / reception prohibited area is switched to the ON (enable) state. The shaded preamplifiers corresponding to the ultrasonic transducers 4T and 4D in the transmission area and the transmission / reception prohibited area are switched to the OFF (disable) state.

  Further, power is supplied only from the transmission power supply 15 to the pulser switched to the ON state, and from the gain setting voltage generation circuit 16, reception for amplifying to a predetermined setting voltage only to the preamplifier switched to the ON state. Gain is output. In addition, the ultrasonic transducer 4T in the transmission region outside the transmission / reception prohibited region is electrically connected to the pulser by the switching operation of the transmission / reception changeover switch group 17, while the ultrasonic transducer 4R in the reception region outside the transmission / reception prohibited region is the preamplifier. And electrically connected.

  The transmission delay circuit 6, the reception delay addition circuit 9, the transmission power supply 15, the transmission channel control circuit 13, the reception channel control circuit 14, and the gain setting voltage generation circuit 16 of the apparatus body 3 are input by operating the operation panel 17. Overall control is performed by a control signal output from the control circuit 18 in accordance with the control information.

JP 2008-18087 A

  However, the generation area and amplitude of the clutter signal differ from subject to subject, and also vary depending on the tissue properties of the subject. For this reason, depending on the subject and the imaging part, the level of the clutter signal received by the ultrasonic transducer in the reception area outside the fixed transmission / reception prohibited area is still high, so that the reception channel is saturated or conversely In some cases, the transmission / reception prohibited area is set unnecessarily wide, so that ultrasonic transmission / reception may be performed without using an available reception channel. In other words, simply turning off the ultrasonic transducers for a certain number of reception channels cannot sufficiently avoid the influence of clutter signals, leading to quality degradation of ultrasonic Doppler images collected in SCW mode. .

  In particular, a two-dimensional (2D) array ultrasonic probe has an electronic circuit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in the handle portion, and this electronic circuit processes a signal from a fine ultrasonic transducer. The For this reason, the power that can be supplied to the electronic circuit is limited due to restrictions such as heat generation of the electronic circuit built in the 2D array ultrasonic probe. For this reason, there is no room in the dynamic range of the preamplifier, and there is a high possibility that the reception channel will be saturated due to the difference between the subject and the imaging region. On the other hand, if the transmission / reception prohibited area is set unnecessarily wide, the energy of the continuous wave transmitted may be reduced, and the level of the received signal may be reduced. Then, the quality of the ultrasonic Doppler image is deteriorated due to a decrease in the level of the received signal, and there is a possibility that the ultrasonic Doppler image cannot be obtained with sufficient accuracy for diagnosis.

  In other words, in scanning using the SCW mode, the ultrasonic transducer for transmission and the ultrasonic transducer for reception are set separately, and continuous ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received simultaneously. There is a problem that the level of the received signal received by the ultrasonic transducer varies with each imaging, so that the preamplifier may be saturated or the level of the received signal may be lowered. Such a problem is not limited to scanning in the SCW mode, but is a common problem when transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves by setting the ultrasonic transducer for transmission and the ultrasonic transducer for reception separately in advance. is there.

  The present invention has been made in order to cope with such a conventional situation. In the case of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves by respectively determining an ultrasonic transducer for transmission and an ultrasonic transducer for reception, the present invention is more suitable. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a control program for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can collect higher-quality ultrasonic images by performing transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves using an ultrasonic transducer.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a subject using a transmission ultrasonic transducer and a reception ultrasonic transducer. Ultrasonic data that collects ultrasonic echo signals from the image and generates ultrasonic image data based on the collected ultrasonic echo signals, and ultrasonic waves that do not transmit / receive ultrasonic waves according to the level of the ultrasonic echo signals And a transmission / reception channel control means for determining a vibrator.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the control program for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention uses an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as a subject using an ultrasonic transducer for transmission and an ultrasonic transducer for reception. An ultrasonic echo signal is collected from the subject by transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to the subject, and image data collecting means for generating ultrasonic image data based on the collected ultrasonic echo signal and the level of the ultrasonic echo signal Thus, it functions as a transmission / reception channel control means for determining an ultrasonic transducer that does not transmit / receive ultrasonic waves.

  According to the present invention, when transmitting and receiving ultrasonic transducers by respectively determining a transmitting ultrasonic transducer and a receiving ultrasonic transducer, transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves using a more appropriate ultrasonic transducer. By doing so, higher quality ultrasound images can be collected.

The block diagram of the conventional real-time ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. The figure which shows an example of the mode of the transmission / reception of the continuous wave in SCW mode by the ultrasonic diagnosing device shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the ultrasonic Doppler image acquired by SCW mode by the ultrasonic diagnosing device shown in FIG. The block diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on this invention.

  Embodiments of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus control program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1. First Embodiment (Configuration and Function)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 is configured by connecting an ultrasonic probe 22 to an apparatus main body 21. The ultrasonic probe 22 has a configuration in which a probe head 23 and a probe connector 24 are connected by a probe cable 25. The probe connector 24 is a member for connecting the ultrasonic probe 22 to the apparatus main body 21. An ultrasonic transducer group 26 is built in the probe head 23. The ultrasonic transducer group 26 is configured by arranging a plurality of ultrasonic transducers in an array.

  The apparatus main body 21 includes a main body side connector 27, a transmission delay circuit 28, a pulser group 29, a transmission / reception selector switch group 30, a preamplifier group 31, a reception delay addition circuit 32, a signal processing unit 33, an image processing unit 34, a display unit 35, A control circuit 36, an operation panel 37, a transmission power source 38, a transmission channel control circuit 39, a reception channel control circuit 40, a gain setting voltage generation circuit 41, a level detection circuit 42, and a prohibited channel control circuit 43 are provided. Then, the probe connector 24 is connected to the main body side connector 27.

  It should be noted that some or all of the components that perform digital signal processing and information processing may be configured by a computer having a program read therein. The program group in this case corresponds to a control program for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20.

  The transmission delay circuit 28 is formed by a plurality of ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer group 26, and controls a timing signal representing a delay time for forming and deflecting a transmission ultrasonic beam having a predetermined directivity. 36 has a function of setting each ultrasonic transducer in accordance with a control signal from 36 and a function of giving the set timing signal to the corresponding pulser. In particular, the transmission delay circuit 28 is configured so that a timing signal can be set so that an ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer group 26 as a continuous wave or a pulse wave. In other words, the transmission delay circuit 28 has a function of generating a timing signal for scanning in various modes such as the SCW mode and the PW mode.

  The pulsar group 29 includes a plurality of pulsars (drivers) respectively corresponding to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. Each pulser amplifies the timing signal acquired from the transmission delay circuit 28, and transmits a transmission signal having a predetermined transmission voltage as a drive signal to the corresponding ultrasonic transducer at a timing according to the timing signal via a signal line in the probe cable 25. It has a function to apply.

  The ultrasonic transducer has a function of transmitting a transmission signal applied from the pulser into the subject as an ultrasonic transmission signal, and a weak ultrasonic wave reflected at the boundary of the structure in the subject such as the heart in the subject. A function of receiving a sound wave echo signal and outputting it as an electrical signal to a corresponding preamplifier.

  The preamplifier group 31 includes a plurality of preamplifiers respectively corresponding to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. Each preamplifier has a function of amplifying an ultrasonic echo signal from a corresponding ultrasonic transducer with a predetermined reception gain and outputting the amplified ultrasonic echo signal to the reception delay adding circuit 32. In the preamplifier, there are cases where low noise amplification or buffering is performed to satisfactorily transmit an ultrasonic echo signal.

  The transmission / reception changeover switch group 30 includes a plurality of transmission / reception changeover switches respectively corresponding to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers. Each transmission / reception selector switch electrically connects the ultrasonic transducer and the pulsar when a transmission voltage is applied to the corresponding ultrasonic transducer, while an ultrasonic echo signal is received by the corresponding ultrasonic transducer. In this case, it has a function of performing a switching operation for electrically connecting the ultrasonic transducer and the preamplifier.

  The reception delay adding circuit 32 has a function of generating one ultrasonic echo signal whose timing is adjusted by performing phasing addition processing of ultrasonic echo signals output from a plurality of preamplifiers in accordance with a control signal from the control circuit 36. And a function of supplying the generated ultrasonic echo signal to the signal processing unit 33.

  The signal processing unit 33 performs signal processing such as detection processing for detecting an envelope of an ultrasonic echo signal, B-mode image generation processing, and ultrasonic Doppler image generation processing, thereby performing B-mode image data and ultrasonic Doppler processing. A function of generating ultrasonic image data such as image data; The B-mode image data is ultrasonic tomographic image data representing morphological information of a structure such as a heart in the subject. The ultrasonic Doppler image data is ultrasonic image data representing blood flow information such as blood velocity, power, and dispersion.

  The image processing unit 34 has a function of performing necessary image processing on ultrasonic image data such as B-mode image data and ultrasonic Doppler image data generated by the signal processing unit 33 and causing the display unit 35 to display them. Image processing includes coordinate conversion processing for aligning the coordinate system with the imaging section of the subject and gradation processing for setting gradation suitable for image display. In particular, time-series ultrasonic image data after image processing can be displayed on the display unit 35 as a moving image in real time.

  The display unit 35 is a display device that displays the ultrasonic image data after the image processing in the image processing unit 34 as an ultrasonic image.

  The operation panel 37 includes input devices such as hard keys, soft keys, and a mouse. The operation panel 37 has a function of inputting control instruction information necessary for collecting ultrasonic image data such as imaging conditions such as operation modes and image processing conditions to the control circuit 36. The operation mode includes a PW mode and the SCW mode described above, and can be arbitrarily selected by operating the operation panel 37.

  The transmission power supply 38 has a function of supplying power to the transmission channel according to the control signal from the prohibited channel control circuit 43 and adjusting the transmission voltage of the pulser of the channel set as the transmission channel. In particular, the transmission power supply 38 supplies power when a certain transmission channel is switched to a prohibited channel that does not transmit / receive ultrasonic waves or a reception channel that only receives ultrasonic waves according to a control signal from the prohibited channel control circuit 43. It has a function to switch the destination to another transmission channel.

  The transmission channel control circuit 39 has a function of switching a pulser of a channel set as a transmission channel to an operating state by giving a control signal to the pulser group 29 in accordance with a control signal from the prohibited channel control circuit 43.

  The reception channel control circuit 40 has a function of switching a preamplifier of a channel set as a reception channel to an operating state by giving a control signal to the preamplifier group 31 in accordance with a control signal from the prohibited channel control circuit 43.

  The gain setting voltage generation circuit 41 sets the operating conditions of each preamplifier such as a bias current by adjusting the control voltage of the gain of the preamplifier of the channel set as the reception channel according to the control signal from the prohibition channel control circuit 43. And a function of obtaining a desired reception gain.

  The level detection circuit 42 has a function of detecting the signal level of the ultrasonic echo signal output from the preamplifier of the channel set as the reception channel, and providing the signal level information of the detected ultrasonic echo signal to the prohibited channel control circuit 43. Have.

  The prohibited channel control circuit 43 is based on the conditions set for the signal level information of the ultrasonic echo signal acquired from the level detection circuit 42 and the signal level of the ultrasonic echo signal. A function for setting a transmission channel that performs only transmission of sound waves and a reception channel that performs only reception of ultrasonic waves, a transmission power supply 38, and a transmission channel control circuit using channel information representing the set prohibited channels, reception channels, and transmission channels as control signals 39, a function of controlling the reception channel control circuit 40 and the gain setting voltage generation circuit 41, and a function of giving the signal level information of the ultrasonic echo signal to the transmission power supply 38 and the gain setting voltage generation circuit 41 as control information.

  The prohibition channel, the reception channel, and the transmission channel can be automatically set by the prohibition channel control circuit 43 according to a condition that is arbitrarily set in advance according to the signal level of the ultrasonic echo signal. Conversely, when the setting instruction information for the prohibited channel, the receiving channel, and the transmitting channel is input from the operation panel 37 to the prohibited channel control circuit 43 through the control circuit 36, that is, by manually operating the operation panel 37, the prohibited channel and the receiving channel are manually input. It is also possible to set the transmission channel. The setting conditions of the prohibited channel, the receiving channel, and the transmitting channel according to the signal level of the ultrasonic echo signal are variably set by inputting condition information to the prohibited channel control circuit 43 through the control circuit 36 by operating the operation panel 37. It is configured to be able to.

  Further, the prohibited channel control circuit 43 has a function as a database for storing setting conditions of the prohibited channel, the reception channel, and the transmission channel. Therefore, a plurality of conditions relating to the level of the ultrasonic echo signal are stored in the prohibition channel control circuit 43, and selection information is input to the prohibition channel control circuit 43 through the control circuit 36 by operation of the operation panel 37, and an arbitrary condition is selected. By doing so, the prohibited channel, the reception channel, and the transmission channel can be easily set.

  In addition, the prohibited channel control circuit 43 controls the transmission power supply 38 by giving a control signal to switch the power supply destination to another transmission channel when a certain transmission channel is switched to the prohibited channel or the reception channel. Have

  The control circuit 36 has a function of performing overall control of the transmission delay circuit 28, the reception delay adding circuit 32, and the prohibited channel control circuit 43 in accordance with control information input by operating the operation panel 37.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 configured as described above transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave to and from the subject by using the transmitting ultrasonic transducer 26T and the receiving ultrasonic transducer 26R. A function of generating ultrasonic image data based on the collected ultrasonic echo signals and an ultrasonic transducer 26D that does not transmit / receive ultrasonic waves are determined according to the level of the ultrasonic echo signals. With functions.

(Operation and action)
Next, the operation and action of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 will be described. Here, scanning in the SCW mode will be described. In the scan in the SCW mode, for example, a main scan for real-time acquisition of ultrasonic Doppler image data is performed following a pre-scan for acquiring an ultrasonic echo signal for determining a transmission channel, a reception channel, and a prohibited channel that does not perform transmission / reception. To be implemented. However, the ultrasonic Doppler image data may be collected in real time while the prohibited channel is dynamically set based on the ultrasonic echo signal without being divided into the pre-scan and the main scan.

  First, in order to execute the pre-scan, the operator operates the operation panel 37 of the apparatus main body 21 to select the SCW mode as the imaging condition. Then, SCW mode selection information is input to the control circuit 36 from the operation panel 37. The control circuit 36 sets the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 to the SCW mode, and gives control information to the transmission delay circuit 28, the reception delay addition circuit 32, and the prohibited channel control circuit 43 so that the scan by the SCW mode is executed. Control over by.

  That is, according to the control information from the control circuit 36, the prohibited channel control circuit 43 sets the prohibited channel, the reception channel, and the transmission channel as defaults. Since the continuous wave is transmitted and received in the SCW mode as described above, the ultrasonic transducer for transmission 26T and the ultrasonic transducer for reception 26R are set separately. For example, the ultrasonic transducer included in one region divided by the center position of the ultrasonic transducer group 26 without the prohibited channel is set as the ultrasonic transducer 26T for the transmission channel, and the ultrasonic transducer included in the other region is included. The ultrasonic transducer is set to the ultrasonic transducer 26R for the reception channel. However, two to three ultrasonic transducers 26D that are close to both sides of the center position of the ultrasonic transducer group 26 may be set as prohibited channels.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the right side of the ultrasonic transducer group 26 is set to the ultrasonic transducer 26R for the reception channel, and the left side is set to the ultrasonic transducer 26T for the transmission channel. Therefore, the boundary position between the ultrasonic transducer for transmission channel 26T and the ultrasonic transducer for reception 26R is the center of the ultrasonic transducer group 26.

  Next, the prohibited channel control circuit 43 provides channel information representing the reception channel and the transmission channel to the transmission power source 38, the transmission channel control circuit 39, the reception channel control circuit 40, and the gain setting voltage generation circuit 41 as control signals.

  For this reason, the transmission channel control circuit 39 refers to the channel information and switches to the operation state by giving a control signal to the pulser corresponding to the ultrasonic transducer 26T for the transmission channel. Further, the transmission power source 38 refers to the channel information and sets the transmission voltage of the pulser corresponding to the ultrasonic transducer 26T for the transmission channel to a default value. The default value of the pulsar transmission voltage is the minimum value at which the signal strength resolution of the received ultrasonic echo signal can be sufficiently obtained to avoid saturation at the preamplifier, and the maximum value at which no saturation occurs clearly in the preamplifier. A value or any value between them. For this reason, the default value of the transmission voltage is a minimum value or a value obtained empirically. Further, the transmission channel ultrasonic transducer 26T is electrically connected to the corresponding pulser by the switching operation of the transmission / reception selector switch corresponding to the transmission channel ultrasonic transducer 26T.

  On the other hand, the reception channel control circuit 40 refers to the channel information and switches the operation state by giving a control signal to the preamplifier corresponding to the ultrasonic transducer 26R for the reception channel. The gain setting voltage generation circuit 41 sets the reception gain to a default value by adjusting the control voltage of the preamplifier corresponding to the ultrasonic transducer 26R for the reception channel. The default value of the receive gain is the minimum value at which the signal strength resolution of the received ultrasonic echo signal is sufficiently obtained in order to avoid saturation at the preamplifier, the maximum value at which saturation is not apparent at the preamplifier, or It is an arbitrary value between these. For this reason, the default value of the reception gain is a minimum value or an empirically obtained value. Furthermore, the reception channel ultrasonic transducer 26R is electrically connected to the corresponding preamplifier by the switching operation of the transmission / reception changeover switch corresponding to the reception channel ultrasonic transducer 26R.

  Next, the transmission delay circuit 28 transmits the transmission ultrasonic beam formed by the continuous wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer for transmission channel 26T according to the control information from the control circuit 36 so as to be deflected in a desired direction. A timing signal is set for each ultrasonic transducer 26T for the channel, and the set timing signal is given to the corresponding pulser. Then, the pulser of the transmission channel amplifies the timing signal to the transmission voltage set to the default value and applies it as a drive signal to the corresponding ultrasonic transducer 26T.

  As a result, continuous waves are transmitted from a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 26T set in the transmission channel to an observation object such as a heart in the subject. Then, the weak ultrasonic echo signals generated by the transmission continuous wave reflected in the observation object in the subject are received by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 26R set in the reception channel.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a state of continuous wave transmission / reception in the SCW mode by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, by transmitting continuous waves from a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 26T set in the transmission channel, an ultrasonic transmission beam is set at a focus position F set in an object to be observed such as a heart in the subject. Is sent. Then, the ultrasonic reception beam generated by the reflection of the ultrasonic beam on the interface with different acoustic impedance such as the boundary of the structure in the object to be observed is set in the reception channel as a plurality of weak continuous wave ultrasonic echo signals. Received by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 26R. Therefore, the received ultrasonic echo signal includes information on the form and movement of the structure in the observed body.

  When the ultrasonic echo signal is received by the ultrasonic transducer 26R of the reception channel, it is output as an electric signal to the corresponding preamplifier. In each preamplifier, the ultrasonic echo signal is amplified with a reception gain set to a default value, and the amplified ultrasonic echo signal is output to the level detection circuit 42. The level detection circuit 42 detects the signal level of the ultrasonic echo signal output from each preamplifier of the reception channel.

  Usually, a clutter signal having a large amplitude, which is a reflection component from tissue having a motion such as a heart wall, is superimposed on the ultrasonic echo signal. On the other hand, the intensity of the ultrasonic Doppler signal is extremely weak with respect to the intensity of the clutter signal. The intensity of the clutter signal is as shown in plot data in which the horizontal axis is the position of the receiving ultrasonic transducer 26R and the vertical axis is the intensity of the clutter signal as shown in FIG. That is, the level of the clutter signal is relatively large at the boundary position between the ultrasonic transducer for transmission channel 26T and the ultrasonic transducer for reception 26R, and tends to gradually decrease as the distance from the boundary position increases.

  The signal level information of the ultrasonic echo signal detected as the signal intensity distribution in this way is output to the prohibited channel control circuit 43. The prohibited channel control circuit 43 is a prohibited channel that does not perform transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves, based on the conditions set for the signal level information of the ultrasonic echo signal and the signal level of the ultrasonic echo signal, and transmission that only transmits ultrasonic waves. A reception channel that only receives a channel and an ultrasonic wave is set.

  In the SCW mode, an ultrasonic Doppler signal is received with sufficient signal strength, while a clutter signal or a continuous wave transmitted from the transmitting ultrasonic transducer 26T is received by the receiving ultrasonic transducer 26R and received by the preamplifier. It is important to avoid saturation of the preamplifier due to output. Therefore, based on the signal level information of the ultrasonic echo signal, the vicinity of the center position of the ultrasonic transducer group 26 in which a clutter signal or a transmission continuous wave having a relatively high intensity may be received, that is, for the current transmission channel. A channel connected to the ultrasonic transducer 26D near the boundary position between the ultrasonic transducer 26T and the receiving ultrasonic transducer 26R is set as a prohibited channel.

  For this purpose, for example, it is determined whether or not the level of the ultrasonic echo signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Then, the ultrasonic transducer 26T of the transmission channel that is line-symmetric or plane-symmetric is connected to the center position of the ultrasonic transducer 26R of the reception channel and the ultrasonic transducer group 26 that has received the ultrasonic echo signal of the level exceeding the threshold. Can be set as a prohibited channel. Alternatively, the frequency (times / time) at which an ultrasonic echo signal at a level exceeding the threshold is received by the same ultrasonic transducer 26R is counted, and the counted frequency exceeds the threshold predetermined for the frequency. A channel in which the ultrasonic transducer 26T of the transmission channel that is line-symmetric or plane-symmetric is connected to the center position of the ultrasonic transducer 26R of the channel and the ultrasonic transducer group 26 can be set as a prohibited channel.

  For this reason, the ultrasonic transducer 26R at each position in the direction away from the boundary starts from the ultrasonic transducer positioned at the boundary between the ultrasonic transducer 26T of the transmission channel and the ultrasonic transducer 26R of the reception channel. The range of the forbidden channel can be determined by sequentially performing threshold processing on the level of the received ultrasonic echo signal and threshold processing on the frequency. That is, the level of the ultrasonic echo signal for each position of the ultrasonic transducer 26R is analyzed in a direction away from the boundary between the ultrasonic transducer 26T of the transmission channel and the ultrasonic transducer 26R of the reception channel, and the signal level or frequency is determined. The first channel that does not exceed the threshold value is detected, and the channel that is symmetric with respect to the boundary side and the boundary position with respect to the detected channel can be determined as the prohibited channel.

  More specifically, when the frequency at which the level of the ultrasonic echo signal exceeds the threshold is set as the prohibited channel setting condition, the prohibited channel can be set according to the following control algorithm. First, the level of the ultrasonic echo signal received by the ultrasonic transducer 26R of the first reception channel closest to the center position of the ultrasonic transducer group 26 is compared with a threshold value. When the frequency at which the level of the ultrasonic echo signal exceeds the threshold value is equal to or greater than a certain number of times, a transmission channel symmetrical to the first reception channel and the first reception channel is set as a prohibited channel. Next, the level of the ultrasonic echo signal received by the ultrasonic transducer 26R of the reception channel closest to the center position of the ultrasonic transducer group 26 is compared with a threshold value. When the frequency at which the level of the ultrasonic echo signal exceeds the threshold is equal to or greater than a certain number of times, a transmission channel that is symmetric to the second reception channel and the second reception channel is set as a prohibited channel. Further, the range of the prohibited channel can be determined by performing similar signal level and frequency threshold processing in a direction away from the center position of the ultrasonic transducer group 26 until the frequency becomes less than a certain number of times.

  Thus, when determining the range of the prohibited channel in the direction away from the center position of the ultrasonic transducer group 26, the channel to be determined as to whether or not to set the prohibited channel is a certain range, for example, the ultrasonic transducer group It is also possible to limit the number of channels to one-half of the channels existing on one side of the center position of 26 (one-fourth of all channels). Furthermore, the ratio of the number of channels set as prohibited channels for reference to the total number of channels can be calculated and displayed on the display unit 35. As a result, it is possible to prevent the prohibited channel from being set inappropriately. Further, the operator can grasp the set prohibited channel range.

  The parameters such as the threshold for the signal level, the frequency, and the threshold for the frequency, which are the setting conditions for the prohibited channel, can be changed by inputting the condition information to the prohibited channel control circuit 43 through the control circuit 36 by operating the operation panel 37. Can be set. Further, the operation is appropriately performed by operating the operation panel 37 from a plurality of parameters such as a threshold for a signal level associated with different imaging conditions such as an imaging part and an imaging mode stored in advance in the prohibited channel control circuit 43, a frequency, and a threshold for frequency. Parameters can also be selected. Accordingly, it is possible to easily determine an appropriate prohibited channel setting condition according to the imaging condition.

  The setting of the prohibited channel, the reception channel, and the transmission channel by the prohibited channel control circuit 43 can be performed automatically or manually by operating the operation panel 37. When manually setting the prohibited channel, it is effective to display the reference level information on the signal level information of the ultrasonic echo signal on the display unit 35 so that the prohibited channel setting information can be input from the operation panel 37. is there. On the other hand, when the prohibited channel is automatically set, the automatic setting function can be switched ON / OFF by operating the operation panel 37. If the prohibited channel is automatically set, the prohibited channel can be set dynamically following the level of the clutter signal even if the level of the clutter signal changes with time.

  If the prohibited channel is automatically set dynamically, and when the automatically set prohibited channel becomes stable, switching to manual setting and fixing the prohibited channel for the main scan, the prohibited channel and the reception channel in the main scan And the transmission channel becomes constant. For this reason, information processing and control in the main scan are reduced, and real-time performance can be improved. On the contrary, in the state where the prohibition channel is dynamically set automatically, the ultrasonic Doppler image data can be collected in real time without distinguishing between the pre-scan and the main scan as described above.

  When the prohibited channel, the reception channel, and the transmission channel are set, the prohibited channel control circuit 43 uses the set prohibited channel, reception channel, and transmission channel as channel information to transmit power 38, transmission channel control circuit 39, and reception channel control circuit 40. And applied to the gain setting voltage generation circuit 41. Then, the transmission power supply 38, the transmission channel control circuit 39, the reception channel control circuit 40, and the gain setting voltage generation circuit 41 perform the operation as described above according to the new channel information. For this reason, the pulser and preamplifier of the channel changed from the reception channel and the transmission channel to the prohibited channel are switched to the OFF state.

  In FIG. 2, the shaded ultrasonic transducers 26D, pulsars, and preamplifiers are in an OFF (disabled) state. In addition, the ultrasonic transducers 26T and 26R, the pulser, and the preamplifier that are not shaded are in an ON (enabled) state.

  Further, the prohibited channel control circuit 43 gives the signal level information of the ultrasonic echo signal to the transmission power supply 38 and the gain setting voltage generation circuit 41 as control information. Then, the transmission power source 38 refers to the signal level information of the ultrasonic echo signal, and even if the ultrasonic echo signal collected in the newly set reception channel is received again in the same reception channel, the preamplifier is saturated. In addition, the transmission voltage of the pulser of the newly set transmission channel is controlled so that the continuous wave is transmitted with transmission power that is received at a higher signal level. Thereby, it is possible to reduce a decrease in power of the transmission continuous wave due to the setting of the prohibited channel. At this time, the transmission power source 38 can distribute the power supplied to the transmission channel set as the prohibited channel to the transmission channel not set as the prohibited channel. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in reception sensitivity without changing the power consumption in the entire channel.

  On the other hand, the gain setting voltage generation circuit 41 refers to the signal level information of the ultrasonic echo signal, and even if the ultrasonic echo signal collected in the newly set reception channel is received again in the same reception channel, the preamplifier Is corrected and the reception gain of the preamplifier of the newly set reception channel is corrected so that the signal is received at a higher signal level. Thereby, it is possible to reduce a decrease in reception sensitivity due to the setting of the prohibited channel.

  That is, an appropriate reception gain and continuous wave transmission voltage are set within the dynamic range of the preamplifier in accordance with the signal strength of the ultrasonic echo signal so that the signal strength of the ultrasonic echo signal becomes larger. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in reception sensitivity and transmission continuous wave power due to an increase in forbidden channels.

  Next, the timing signal corresponding to the new transmission channel is set again in the transmission delay circuit 28 in the state where the prohibited channel is set, and a new signal is transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer 26T of the new transmission channel in the same flow as described above. A continuous wave is transmitted with a high transmission voltage. Then, an ultrasonic echo signal is received by the ultrasonic transducer 26R of the new reception channel, and the prohibition channel is reset according to the signal level of the ultrasonic echo signal amplified by the new reception gain. At 43.

  Such dynamic automatic setting of the prohibited channel is performed by pre-scanning, and when the range of the prohibited channel is stabilized, the operator operates the operation panel 37 to switch the prohibited channel setting method to manual. Can be fixed within an appropriate range.

  Next, the main scan for collecting the ultrasonic Doppler image data using the fixed prohibition channel, the reception channel, and the transmission channel is executed in the same flow as the pre-scan. That is, when an ultrasonic beam having a center frequency f0 is irradiated from the ultrasonic transducer 26T of the transmission channel to the blood flow in the observed body, the Doppler shift fd is proportional to the blood flow velocity by the flowing blood cells. A weak ultrasonic Doppler signal having a frequency f0 + fd is generated. The ultrasonic Doppler signal having the frequency f0 + fd is superposed on a clutter signal having a large amplitude from a clutter having a very slow motion such as a heart or a blood vessel wall, and the ultrasonic transducer 26R of the reception channel as an ultrasonic echo signal. Is received. Then, the ultrasonic echo signal amplified by the reception gain is output from the preamplifier of the reception channel.

  Here, a channel that may receive a clutter signal or a transmission continuous wave having a different amplitude for each subject is set as a prohibited channel. For this reason, a clutter signal having a level exceeding the allowable value is not input to the preamplifier. As a result, saturation in the preamplifier is avoided, and the dynamic range can be used effectively. In addition, the continuous wave transmission voltage and reception gain are set so as to compensate for the decrease in transmission power and sensitivity due to the setting of the prohibited channel, respectively, so a weak ultrasonic echo signal superimposed on a clutter signal having a large amplitude Can be obtained as a signal of sufficient strength for signal processing.

  Next, the ultrasonic echo signal output from the preamplifier is given to the reception delay adding circuit 32. The reception delay adding circuit 32 gives an ultrasonic echo signal obtained by performing phasing addition processing of the ultrasonic echo signals output from the plurality of preamplifiers of the reception channel to the signal processing unit 33. Then, in the signal processing unit 33, ultrasonic Doppler image data is generated by signal processing on the ultrasonic echo signal in the SCW mode, and the generated ultrasonic Doppler image data is output to the image processing unit 34. Next, the image processing unit 34 performs necessary image processing on the ultrasonic Doppler image data and causes the display unit 35 to display the ultrasonic Doppler image.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an ultrasonic Doppler image collected in the SCW mode by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the frequency representing the blood flow velocity. As shown in FIG. 4, the Doppler shift frequency fd is detected from the ultrasonic Doppler signal having the frequency f0 + fd by the signal processing unit 33, and the temporal change of the detected Doppler shift frequency fd is dynamic as an ultrasonic Doppler image. Is displayed. Since this ultrasonic Doppler image is acquired by scanning in the SCW mode, aliasing does not occur even when the blood flow velocity is high. Furthermore, since the prohibited channel, the reception gain, and the continuous wave transmission voltage are set so that the preamplifier is not saturated, the occurrence of data distortion and noise due to the saturation of the preamplifier is suppressed.

  In the above, the example of performing the scan in the SCW mode has been described. However, in the case of performing the scan in the mode in which the ultrasonic transducer group 26 is divided into different target operation areas, the same ultrasonic echo signal is used. Forbidden channels can be set according to the level of each. For example, even when scanning in the PW mode is performed separately for the transmitting ultrasonic transducer 26T and the receiving ultrasonic transducer 26R, the prohibited channel is set according to the level of the ultrasonic echo signal as described above. It can be carried out.

  In the PW mode, the Doppler shift frequency fd is detected by the signal processing unit 33 from the ultrasonic Doppler signal having the frequency f0 + fd, and the detected Doppler shift frequency fd can be mapped two-dimensionally. Furthermore, in the PW mode, appropriate color conversion can be performed on the mapped Doppler shift frequency fd to be superimposed and displayed on a separately collected B mode image. That is, an image in the observed body including blood flow velocity information can be displayed as a color Doppler image in real time.

  That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 as described above detects the level of the ultrasonic echo signal when transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves using different ultrasonic transducers, and performs ultrasonic processing based on the detected level of the ultrasonic echo signal. The prohibited channel that does not transmit / receive sound waves can be variably set. Furthermore, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 sets the ultrasonic transmission voltage and the reception gain of the preamplifier according to the level of the ultrasonic echo signal in order to compensate for a decrease in transmission ultrasonic wave and reception sensitivity due to an increase in the number of prohibited channels. It is configured to control.

(effect)
For this reason, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20, even when the state of the subject, the imaging region, or the subject changes, more appropriate transmission and reception ultrasonic transducers are set to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves. It can be carried out. For example, in the SCW mode in which the ultrasonic probe 22 is divided into a transmission area and a reception flow area, even if a clutter signal having a different level is generated for each subject, an ultrasonic Doppler having a good quality with little noise difference. An image can be obtained. For this reason, it is possible to provide high quality diagnostic information.

  In addition to 1D array ultrasonic probes having ultrasonic transducers arranged one-dimensionally, 2D array ultrasonic probes having ultrasonic transducers arranged in a 2D array and a plurality of irregularly arranged probes The above-described processing can be performed even with other types of ultrasonic probes such as an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer. In particular, when a 2D array ultrasonic probe is used, it is particularly effective because it is considered that there is no room in the dynamic range of the preamplifier.

2. Second Embodiment (Configuration and Function)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20A shown in FIG. 5 is different from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 2 in that the ultrasonic probe 22 is an electronic circuit built-in probe 22A. Since other configurations and operations are not substantially different from those of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 2, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The probe 22A with a built-in electronic circuit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20A has a configuration in which a probe handle 50 and a probe connector 24 are connected by a probe cable 25. The probe handle 50 includes an ultrasonic transducer group 26, a probe side pulser group 51, a probe side preamplifier group 52, a probe side transmission / reception changeover switch group 53, a subarray beamformer group 54, and a probe handle control circuit 55. The probe connector 24 incorporates an electronic circuit group 57 having a preamplifier 56 and a probe connector control circuit 58.

  The probe handle control circuit 55 has a function equivalent to the functions of the transmission delay circuit 28, the transmission power supply 38, the transmission channel control circuit 39, the reception channel control circuit 40, and the gain setting voltage generation circuit 41 on the apparatus main body 21 side. That is, the in-probe handle control circuit 55 uses the channel information output from the prohibited channel control circuit 43 on the apparatus main body 21 side and the signal level information of the ultrasonic echo signal to the control circuit 36 on the apparatus main body 21 and the control circuit in the probe connector. And a function of controlling the probe-side pulsar group 51, the probe-side preamplifier group 52, and the sub-array beamformer group 54 based on the acquired channel information and signal level information of the ultrasonic echo signal.

  The probe side pulser group 51 is controlled in accordance with the timing signal generated for each pulser in the probe handle control circuit 55 and the ON / OFF operation switching signal and the transmission voltage adjustment information given as the control signal from the probe handle control circuit 55. It has the same function as the pulsar group 29 of the apparatus main body 21.

  The probe-side preamplifier group 52 is controlled according to the ON / OFF operation switching signal and reception gain setting information given as control signals from the probe handle control circuit 55, and has the same function as the probe-side preamplifier group 52 of the apparatus main body 21. Have. The probe-side preamplifier group 52 is configured to output the amplified ultrasonic echo signal to the subarray beamformer group 54.

  The probe-side transmission / reception changeover switch group 53 has the same function as the transmission / reception changeover switch group 30 of the apparatus main body 21.

  The subarray beamformer group 54 includes a plurality of subarray beamformers. Each subarray beamformer is connected to the output side of a predetermined number of preamplifiers. Then, the sub-array beamformer adds a reception delay time to the ultrasonic echo signals output from the preamplifiers for a predetermined number of channels and performs phasing addition to generate one ultrasonic echo signal, and the generated ultrasonic echo signal is It has a function to output. Therefore, the number of output signal lines corresponding to the number of ultrasonic transducers is reduced to the number of output signal lines corresponding to the number of subarray beamformers by the subarray beamformer group 54.

  The electronic circuit group 57 in the probe connector 24 includes a plurality of electronic circuits. Each electronic circuit is connected to the output side of the corresponding subarray beamformer. Each electronic circuit is provided with a preamplifier 56, and each electronic circuit performs signal processing on the ultrasonic echo signal such as amplification, buffering, and band adjustment of the ultrasonic echo signal output from the subarray beamformer as necessary. And a function of outputting the ultrasonic echo signal after the signal processing to the preamplifier of the apparatus main body 21.

  The probe connector internal control circuit 58 outputs the channel information and the signal level information of the ultrasonic echo signal output from the control circuit 36 of the apparatus main body 21 to the probe handle internal control circuit 55, and the control circuit 36 of the apparatus main body 21. The electronic circuit group 57 is controlled by outputting a control signal such as an ON / OFF operation switching signal to the electronic circuit group 57 in accordance with the control signal output from the electronic circuit group 57.

  That is, the electronic circuit built-in probe 22A incorporates a sub-array beamformer that reduces the number of output signal lines of the ultrasonic echo signal together with an electronic circuit such as a pulser or a preamplifier into the ultrasonic probe, so that the number of channels provided in the apparatus main body 21 is increased. More ultrasonic transducers can be arranged. In particular, all channels provided in the apparatus main body 21 can be used as reception channels. For this reason, in particular, a 2D array ultrasonic probe in which a large number of ultrasonic transducers are arranged is often the electronic circuit built-in probe 22A. FIG. 5 shows an example in which an electronic circuit such as a preamplifier is built in the probe handle 50, but it may be built in the probe connector 24.

  On the other hand, the control circuit 36 of the apparatus main body 21 has a function of transmitting control information including channel information acquired from the prohibited channel control circuit 43 and signal level information of the ultrasonic echo signal to the control circuit 58 within the probe connector.

  With the configuration as described above, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20A transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from the subject using the transmitting ultrasonic transducer 26T and the receiving ultrasonic transducer 26R. A function of generating ultrasonic image data based on the collected ultrasonic echo signals and an ultrasonic transducer 26D that does not transmit / receive ultrasonic waves are determined according to the level of the ultrasonic echo signals. With features.

(Operation and action)
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20A including the electronic circuit built-in probe 22A shown in FIG. 5 can also perform scanning in the same SCW mode as the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 shown in FIG.

  However, in the scan in the SCW mode using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20A, all the channels on the apparatus main body 21 side are used as reception channels in the pre-scan for collecting ultrasonic echo signals for setting prohibited channels. For this reason, all the pulsar groups 29 on the apparatus main body 21 side are turned off. Further, since the transmission delay circuit 28 is a circuit for driving the ultrasonic transducer group 26 provided in the ultrasonic probe that does not incorporate the electronic circuit, it is not used for the scan using the electronic circuit built-in probe 22A.

  The transmission channel is set by switching the ON / OFF state of the probe side pulser group 51 under the control of the probe handle control circuit 55 built in the electronic circuit built-in probe 22A. Therefore, the probe-side pulsar of the transmission channel is switched to the ON state.

  On the other hand, the setting of the reception channel and the prohibition channel is performed by switching the ON / OFF state of the probe side pulser group 51 and the probe side preamplifier group 52 under the control from the probe handle control circuit 55 incorporated in the electronic circuit built-in probe 22A, This is performed by switching the ON / OFF state of the preamplifier 56 in the electronic circuit group 57 and the ON / OFF state of the preamplifier group 31 in the apparatus main body 21 under the control of the control circuit 58 in the connector. Accordingly, all the preamplifiers on the reception channel are switched to the ON state. Conversely, the preamplifiers for the transmission channel and the prohibition channel are all switched to the OFF state.

  In FIG. 5, the shaded ultrasonic transducers 26D, pulsars, and preamplifiers are in an OFF (disabled) state. In addition, the ultrasonic transducers 26T and 26R, the pulser, and the preamplifier that are not shaded are in an ON (enabled) state.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20A, the ultrasonic echo signal received by the ultrasonic transducer 26R of the reception channel is output to the preamplifier in the electronic circuit built-in probe 22A, and the heart wall or the like is output from the preamplifier in the electronic circuit built-in probe 22A. An extremely weak ultrasonic Doppler signal that is superimposed on a clutter signal having a large amplitude, which is a reflection component from the structure, is amplified. Next, ultrasonic echo signals from several sub-arrays corresponding to several channels having substantially equal wavefront phases are output to a common sub-array beamformer. In each subarray beamformer, one ultrasonic echo signal is generated by reception delay addition processing for performing reception focusing and reducing the number of signal lines.

  Next, the ultrasonic echo signals for several channels output from each sub-array beamformer of the reception channel are amplified by the preamplifier 56 in the corresponding electronic circuit and the corresponding preamplifier of the apparatus main body 21. The prohibited channel control circuit 43 sets a prohibited channel based on the level of the ultrasonic echo signal output from the preamplifier of the apparatus main body 21.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20A, the transmission voltage of the pulser in the transmission channel in the electronic circuit built-in probe 22A is optimized according to the level of the ultrasonic echo signal by the control from the probe handle control circuit 55. On the other hand, the reception gains of the preamplifier on the reception channel in the probe 22A with built-in electronic circuit, the preamplifier in the electronic circuit on the reception channel in the probe connector 24, and the preamplifier on the reception channel in the apparatus main body 21 are respectively controlled within the probe handle. It is optimized according to the level of the ultrasonic echo signal by the control from the circuit 55, the probe connector internal control circuit 58 and the prohibited channel control circuit 43.

  That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20A as described above is included in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment in the electronic circuit built-in probe 22A in which electronic circuits such as the probe side pulser group 51 and the probe side preamplifier group 52 are built. While providing functions equivalent to the functions of the transmission channel control circuit 39, the reception channel control circuit 40, and the gain setting voltage generation circuit 41 provided, the channel information including the setting range of the prohibited channel from the apparatus main body 21 and the ultrasonic echo signal are provided. The level information can be transmitted to the control circuit 55 in the probe handle, and the ultrasonic transducer 26D that does not transmit / receive ultrasonic waves can be determined according to the level of the ultrasonic echo signal under the control of the control circuit 55 in the probe handle. It is what I did.

(effect)
For this reason, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20A, there are cases in which electronic circuits such as the probe-side pulser group 51 and the probe-side preamplifier group 52 are incorporated, and the electronic circuit-incorporated probe 22A including a large number of ultrasonic transducers is used. However, the same effect as the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 can be obtained.

20, 20A Ultrasonic diagnostic device 21 Device main body 22 Ultrasonic probe 22A Probe with built-in electronic circuit 23 Probe head 24 Probe connector 25 Probe cable 26 Ultrasonic transducer group 27 Main body side connector 28 Transmission delay circuit 29 Pulser group 30 Transmission / reception changeover switch group 31 Preamplifier Group 32 Reception Delay Addition Circuit 33 Signal Processing Unit 34 Image Processing Unit 35 Display Unit 36 Control Circuit 37 Operation Panel 38 Transmission Power Supply 39 Transmission Channel Control Circuit 40 Reception Channel Control Circuit 41 Gain Setting Voltage Generation Circuit 42 Level Detection Circuit 43 Prohibited Channel control circuit 50 Probe handle 51 Probe side pulser group 52 Probe side preamplifier group 53 Probe side transmission / reception selector switch group 54 Subarray beamformer group 55 Probe handle control circuit 56 Preamplifier 57 Electronic circuit 58 probe connector in the control circuit

Claims (14)

An ultrasonic echo signal is collected from the subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the subject using an ultrasonic transducer for transmission and an ultrasonic transducer for reception, and based on the collected ultrasonic echo signal Image data collection means for generating sonic image data;
A transmission / reception channel control means for determining an ultrasonic transducer that does not transmit / receive ultrasonic waves according to the level of the ultrasonic echo signal;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: The transmission / reception channel control means determines an ultrasonic transducer positioned at a boundary between the ultrasonic transducer for transmission and the ultrasonic transducer for reception as an ultrasonic transducer that does not transmit / receive the ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of Claim 1 comprised by these. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data collection unit is configured to transmit and receive a continuous wave accompanied by a deflection of an ultrasonic beam to the subject. The ultrasonic wave according to claim 1, wherein the transmission / reception channel control means is configured to switch a supply destination of power supplied to an ultrasonic transducer that does not transmit / receive the ultrasonic wave to a channel that transmits / receives the ultrasonic wave. Diagnostic device. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission / reception channel control means is configured to determine a gain of a preamplifier connected to the reception ultrasonic transducer according to a level of the ultrasonic echo signal. The ultrasonic wave according to claim 1, wherein the transmission / reception channel control means is configured to determine a transmission voltage applied to a pulser connected to the ultrasonic transducer for transmission according to a level of the ultrasonic echo signal. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. 2. The ultrasound according to claim 1, wherein the transmission / reception channel control means is configured to determine an ultrasound transducer that does not transmit / receive the ultrasound based on whether a level of the ultrasound echo signal exceeds a threshold value. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. The ultrasonic diagnosis according to claim 1, wherein the transmission / reception channel control means is configured to determine an ultrasonic transducer that does not transmit / receive the ultrasonic wave based on a frequency at which a level of the ultrasonic echo signal exceeds a threshold value. apparatus. The transmission / reception channel control means starts the ultrasonic transducer located at the boundary between the ultrasonic transducer for transmission and the ultrasonic transducer for reception, and starts ultrasonic vibration in a region moving away from the boundary. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a child is determined as an ultrasonic transducer that does not transmit and receive the ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data collection unit is configured to transmit and receive the ultrasonic waves using an ultrasonic probe having ultrasonic transducers arranged in a two-dimensional array. The ultrasonic wave according to claim 1, wherein the transmission / reception channel control means is configured to automatically determine an ultrasonic transducer that does not transmit / receive ultrasonic waves in accordance with a preset condition with respect to a level of the ultrasonic echo signal. Diagnostic device. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission / reception channel control unit is configured to be able to manually determine an ultrasonic transducer that does not transmit / receive ultrasonic waves according to instruction information from an input device. The transmission / reception channel control means stores a plurality of conditions relating to the level of the ultrasonic echo signal so that an ultrasonic transducer that does not transmit / receive ultrasonic waves can be determined according to the conditions selected according to the selection information from the input device. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 configured. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment,
An ultrasonic echo signal is collected from the subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the subject using an ultrasonic transducer for transmission and an ultrasonic transducer for reception, and based on the collected ultrasonic echo signal Image data collection means for generating acoustic image data, and transmission / reception channel control means for determining an ultrasonic transducer that does not transmit / receive ultrasonic waves according to the level of the ultrasonic echo signal,
A control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that functions as a computer program.

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