JP2010213884A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide improved constitution allowing channel reduction. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of element signal lines corresponding to a plurality of vibration elements 12 is arranged to be crossed each other with a plurality of element signal lines 22 corresponding to a plurality of element groups, within the first crosspoint switches 20, and the plurality of vibration elements 12 unified into one element group is connected electrically to the same element signal line 22. The plurality of element signal lines 22 obtained from the plurality of first crosspoint switches 20 is arranged to be crossed each other with a plurality of channel signal lines 32 corresponding to a plurality of channels 1, 2, 3 to M, within the second crosspoint switches 30, the plurality of element signal lines 22 correlated with one of the channels is connected electrically to the same channel signal line 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to a channel reduction technique.

  By using a 2D array transducer composed of a plurality of transducer elements arranged two-dimensionally, an ultrasonic beam is two-dimensionally electronically scanned to collect a plurality of echo data from a three-dimensional space. A dimensional ultrasonic image or the like can be formed.

  A 2D array transducer is generally composed of hundreds to thousands of vibration elements. Therefore, for example, if each vibration element and each channel on the apparatus main body are associated one-to-one, the number of channels corresponding to the number of vibration elements is required, and the number of wirings becomes enormous. Channel reduction is known as a technique for solving this problem.

  For example, the inventors of the present application described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are images that improve the beam profile regardless of the beam scanning direction when setting a plurality of subarrays on a 2D array transducer while realizing channel reduction. Proposing a periodical technology.

  Incidentally, the inventor of the present application proposes a technique of transmitting a transmission signal as a voltage signal and transmitting a reception signal as a current signal using one signal line in Patent Document 3. Patent Document 4 describes a technique for associating the same delay amount with a plurality of vibration elements arranged along a concentric circle on a 2D array transducer.

Japanese Patent No. 397826 Japanese Patent No. 3977827 Japanese Patent No. 3959048 US Pat. No. 5,563,346

  The inventors of the present application have further researched and developed channel reduction technology against the background of the technical circumstances described above. In particular, investigations have been made on innovative technological improvements described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

  The present invention has been made in the course of research and development, and an object thereof is to provide an improved configuration for realizing channel reduction.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a preferred aspect of the present invention includes an array transducer including a plurality of transducer elements, and the array transducer divided into a plurality of subarrays. A first switching unit that groups a plurality of vibration elements belonging to the subarray into a plurality of element groups, and a second switching unit that associates the plurality of element groups grouped for each subarray across the plurality of subarrays with a plurality of channels. And a beam forming unit that forms an ultrasonic beam using the plurality of channels.

  In a preferred aspect, the first switching unit is configured to group a plurality of vibration elements corresponding to the same delay amount among the plurality of vibration elements belonging to the sub-array for each sub-array into the same element group. .

  In a preferred aspect, the second switching unit associates a plurality of element groups corresponding to the same delay amount among the plurality of element groups grouped for each subarray across the plurality of subarrays with the same channel. It is characterized by.

  In a preferred aspect, the first switching unit includes a cross-point switch that selectively connects a plurality of vibration elements belonging to each sub-array and a plurality of group signal lines corresponding to a plurality of element groups of the sub-array. It is characterized by that.

  In a preferred aspect, the second switching unit includes a plurality of group signal lines corresponding to a plurality of element groups grouped for each subarray across a plurality of subarrays, and a plurality of channel signal lines corresponding to a plurality of channels. Are provided with a cross-point switch that selectively connects each other.

  In a preferred aspect, the array transducer is composed of a plurality of transducer elements arranged two-dimensionally, and a plurality of transducers corresponding to the same delay amount along a concentric circle with reference to the focal point of the ultrasonic beam. The vibration element is specified.

  In a preferred aspect, the array transducer is divided into a plurality of subarrays each having a square shape.

  In a preferred aspect, the beam forming unit performs a delay process on a reception signal obtained from the channel based on a delay amount corresponding to each channel, and applies the delay process to a plurality of reception signals after a delay process corresponding to a plurality of channels. A reception beam is formed on the basis of the reception beam.

  In a desirable mode, the beam forming unit performs delay processing on a transmission signal supplied to the channel based on a delay amount corresponding to each channel, and outputs a plurality of transmission signals after the delay processing to a plurality of channels. A transmission beam is formed by supplying.

  The present invention provides an improved configuration for realizing channel reduction. For example, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, an apparatus including a two-stage switching configuration of a first switching unit and a second switching unit is provided.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an outline thereof.

  The 2D array transducer 10 includes a plurality of vibration elements 12. The plurality of vibration elements 12 are two-dimensionally arranged as will be described later. The 2D array transducer 10 composed of a plurality of vibration elements 12 arranged two-dimensionally is divided into a plurality of subarrays 1, 2,. Each subarray is formed in a square shape by a total of 16 vibration elements 12, for example, four in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction. Other modes are possible for the number of vibrating elements 12 constituting each subarray and the shape of each subarray.

  The plurality of first crosspoint switches 20 divide the 2D array transducer 10 into a plurality of subarrays, and for each subarray, group the plurality of vibration elements 12 belonging to the subarray into a plurality of element groups. For example, each subarray and each first crosspoint switch 20 are associated one-to-one. In each first crosspoint switch 20, a plurality of element signal lines corresponding to the plurality of vibration elements 12 and a plurality of group signal lines 22 corresponding to the plurality of element groups are arranged so as to intersect each other. . A switch SW is provided at each intersection position where these signal lines intersect. Each element signal line and each group signal line 22 are electrically connected to each other or electrically disconnected in accordance with the on / off state of the switch SW. One group signal line 22 corresponds to one element group. Therefore, a plurality of vibration elements 12 collected in one element group are electrically connected to the same group signal line 22.

  The second crosspoint switch 30 associates a plurality of element groups collected for each subarray across a plurality of subarrays with a plurality of channels. A plurality of group signal lines 22 obtained from each of the plurality of first crosspoint switches 20 corresponding to the plurality of subarrays 1, 2,..., N are connected to the second crosspoint switch 30. In the second crosspoint switch 30, a plurality of group signal lines 22 obtained from the plurality of first crosspoint switches 20, and a plurality of channels corresponding to the plurality of channels 1, 2, 3,. The signal lines 32 are arranged so as to cross each other. At each intersection position where these signal lines intersect, a switch SW is provided, and each group signal line 22 and each channel signal line 32 are electrically connected to each other or electrically according to the on / off state of the switch SW. Separated. A plurality of group signal lines 22 associated with one channel are electrically connected to the same channel signal line 32.

  Note that a converter corresponding to switching between transmission and reception may be provided for each group signal line 22 between the first crosspoint switch 20 and the second crosspoint switch 30. As a specific example of the converter, for example, a circuit described in Patent Document 3 that transmits a transmission signal as a voltage signal and transmits a reception signal as a current signal through one signal line is suitable.

  The transmission / reception unit 40 has functions of a transmission beamformer and a reception beamformer. That is, the transmission / reception unit 40 supplies a transmission signal subjected to delay processing with a delay amount corresponding to each channel signal line 32 to the plurality of channel signal lines 32 to form a transmission beam. In addition, the transmission / reception unit 40 performs delay processing on a plurality of reception signals obtained from the plurality of channel signal lines 32 with a delay amount corresponding to each channel signal line 32, and based on the plurality of reception signals after the delay processing. To form a receiving beam. Thus, an ultrasonic transmission beam and a reception beam are formed by the function of the transmission / reception unit 40, and echo data along the reception beam is collected.

  The image forming unit 50 forms image data of an ultrasonic image based on the collected echo data, and an ultrasonic image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the display unit 60. Since the echo data can be collected three-dimensionally from the three-dimensional space via the 2D array transducer 10, a three-dimensional ultrasonic image may be formed, or the echo data in the tomographic plane is used. A B-mode image corresponding to the tomographic plane may be formed. Of course, Doppler information or the like may be realized by extracting Doppler information or the like from collected echo data.

  In the present embodiment, based on the delay amount corresponding to each channel signal line 32, the transmission signal and the reception signal are subjected to delay processing to form an ultrasonic beam (transmission beam and reception beam). In forming the ultrasonic beam, a plurality of vibration elements 12 corresponding to the same delay amount are specified along the circumference of a concentric circle with reference to the focal point of the ultrasonic beam. Therefore, the formation of the ultrasonic beam in this embodiment will be described in detail. In addition, about the structure (part) already shown in FIG. 1, the code | symbol of FIG. 1 is utilized also in the following description.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the delay setting based on the focal point. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing the 2D array transducer 10 and the ultrasonic beam BM formed thereby from the side surface side of the 2D array transducer 10, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the same 2D array transducer 10 and ultrasonic beam BM from the transducer surface side of the 2D array transducer 10. FIG. The focal point of the ultrasonic beam BM is the focal point FP. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the focal points FP are the same point. A broken line 70 indicates an ideal wavefront of the ultrasonic wave toward the focal point FP.

  As already described, the 2D array transducer 10 composed of a plurality of vibration elements 12 arranged two-dimensionally is divided into a plurality of subarrays. FIG. 2B shows the 2D array transducer 10 divided into a plurality of subarrays. That is, in FIG. 2B viewed from the transducer surface side, the 2D array transducer 10 is divided by a plurality of broken line lines, and each square cell surrounded by the broken line lines corresponds to one subarray. ing.

  In FIG. 2B, typically, the subarray SA1 and the subarray SA2 are enlarged. In FIG. 2B, each sub-array is formed in a square shape by a total of 16 vibrating elements 12 in the vertical and horizontal directions. For example, each of the 16 cells in the sub-array SA1 corresponds to the vibration element 12.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of vibration elements 12 corresponding to the same delay amount are specified along the circumference of a concentric circle with reference to the focal point FP of the ultrasonic beam BM. 2B is a concentric circle centered on a straight line that passes through the focal point FP and is perpendicular to the transducer surface of the 2D array transducer 10. A plurality of vibration elements 12 corresponding to the same delay amount are identified.

  For example, in the subarray SA1 shown in FIG. 2B, the same letter (alphabet) is associated with the plurality of vibration elements 12 corresponding to the same delay amount along the circumference of the concentric circle. Yes. For example, five vibration elements 12 with the letter A are associated with the same delay amount and grouped into one element group. Similarly, the four vibration elements 12 to which the letter B is attached are associated with the same delay amount and grouped into one element group. Also in the sub-array SA2, the same character is associated with the plurality of vibration elements 12 corresponding to the same delay amount along the concentric circle.

  As described with reference to FIG. 1, the grouping of element groups in each subarray is realized by each first crosspoint switch 20 corresponding to each subarray. For example, the first crosspoint switch 20 corresponding to the sub-array SA1 shown in FIG. 2B has five element signal lines corresponding to the five vibration elements of the letter A and one element line corresponding to the element group of the letter A. It is electrically connected to the group signal line 22 and electrically disconnected from the other group signal lines 22. Similarly, four element signal lines corresponding to the four vibration elements of the letter B are electrically connected to one group signal line 22 corresponding to the element group of the letter B, and the other group signal lines 22 are electrically connected. Separate. For other subarrays, for example, also for the subarray SA2 shown in FIG. 2B, the grouping of the element groups is realized by the first crosspoint switch 20 corresponding to the subarray SA2.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a plurality of element groups corresponding to the same delay amount are arranged in the same channel over a plurality of subarrays along the circumference of a concentric circle with reference to the focal point FP of the ultrasonic beam BM. Is associated with.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining setting of delays across a plurality of subarrays. 3 (I) and 3 (II) each show a part 10 ′ of the transducer surface of the 2D array transducer 10. FIG.

  FIG. 3I corresponds to the 2D array transducer 10 shown in FIG. Each square cell included in a part 10 ′ of the vibrator surface shown in FIG. 3I corresponds to one vibration element 12. Each subarray is formed in a square shape by a total of 16 vibrating elements 12 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of element groups corresponding to the same delay amount are associated with the same channel over a plurality of subarrays along the circumference of a concentric circle with reference to the focal point FP of the ultrasonic beam. It is done. That is, a plurality of vibration elements 12 corresponding to the same delay amount are specified along the arc shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 3I, the same number is associated with the plurality of vibration elements 12 corresponding to the same delay amount in a band-like region sandwiched between arcs adjacent to each other. For example, the plurality of vibration elements 12 with the number 2 included in the plurality of subarrays are associated with the same channel. Similarly, the plurality of vibration elements 12 with the numeral 3 included in the plurality of subarrays are also associated with the same channel.

  As described with reference to FIG. 1, the second crosspoint switch 30 associates a plurality of element groups grouped for each subarray across a plurality of subarrays with a plurality of channels.

  For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3I, the plurality of vibrating elements 12 assigned the numeral 2 is first, for each subarray, the element group (group signal) corresponding to the numeral 2 by the first crosspoint switch 20. Line 22). The second crosspoint switch 30 electrically connects the plurality of group signal lines 22 corresponding to the number 2 obtained from the plurality of first crosspoint switches 20 to one channel signal line 32 corresponding to the number 2. And electrically disconnected from other channel signal lines 32. Similarly, the plurality of vibration elements 12 denoted by numeral 3 are grouped into element groups (group signal lines 22) corresponding to numeral 3 by the first crosspoint switches 20, and by the second crosspoint switch 30, A plurality of group signal lines 22 corresponding to the numeral 3 are electrically connected to one channel signal line 32 corresponding to the numeral 3, and are electrically disconnected from the other channel signal lines 32.

  Thus, a plurality of vibration elements 12 corresponding to the same delay amount correspond to the same channel along the concentric circle with the focal point FP as a reference over the entire area of the transducer surface of the 2D array transducer 10. Attached. Of course, as shown in FIG. 3I, the same delay amount may be set in a band-like region sandwiched between adjacent arcs.

  Incidentally, FIG. 3 (II) shows a modification of the subarray shape. Instead of the square-shaped sub-array shown in FIG. 3I, a sub-array having a shape shifted obliquely in a stepwise manner as shown in FIG. 3II may be used. The subarray shape may be determined according to, for example, the position of the focal point FP of the ultrasonic beam, the scanning direction of the ultrasonic beam, and the like.

  As the subarray shape, for example, the shape shown in FIG. Further, the number of vibration elements 12 constituting the subarray is not limited to 16. For example, subarrays having various shapes shown in FIG. 5 of Patent Document 1 may be formed using 25 vibration elements 12.

  4 to 7 show configuration examples of the 2D array transducer 10 suitable for the present embodiment. Each of FIGS. 4 to 7 shows the transducer surface of the 2D array transducer 10.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an array configuration example (1). In this array configuration example (1), each subarray is formed in a square shape by 4 × 4 = 16 vibration elements, and a substantially circular array transducer surface is formed by 156 subarrays.

  In this array configuration example (1), the maximum value of the number of elements in the vertical direction is 56 elements, and the maximum value of the number of elements in the horizontal direction is also 56 elements. The maximum value of the number of elements in a direction inclined by 45 degrees obliquely with respect to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is 70 elements. Therefore, for example, when the ultrasonic beam is tilted in the direction of 45 degrees, 70 channels are required to set the delay amount in 70 steps with the pitch of one vibration element. If 70 channels are secured with respect to 45 degrees obliquely, 56 channels may be used in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an array configuration example (2). In this array configuration example (2), each subarray is formed in a square shape by 4 × 4 = 16 vibrating elements, and a substantially circular array transducer surface is formed by 128 subarrays.

  In this array configuration example (2), the maximum value of the number of elements in the vertical direction is 56 elements, and the maximum value of the number of elements in the horizontal direction is also 56 elements. The maximum value of the number of elements in a direction inclined at 45 degrees obliquely with respect to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is 63 elements. Therefore, 63 channels are required to set the delay amount at a pitch of one vibration element in the direction of 45 degrees obliquely. If 63 channels are secured, 56 channels may be used in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an array configuration example (3). In this array configuration example (3), each subarray is formed in a square shape by 5 × 5 = 25 vibrating elements, and a substantially circular array transducer surface is formed by 104 subarrays.

  In this array configuration example (3), the maximum value of the number of elements in the vertical direction is 60 elements, and the maximum value of the number of elements in the horizontal direction is also 60 elements. The maximum value of the number of elements in the direction inclined at 45 degrees obliquely with respect to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is 72 elements. Accordingly, 72 channels are required to set the delay amount at a pitch of one vibration element in the direction of 45 degrees obliquely. If 72 channels are secured, 60 channels may be used in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a modification of the array configuration example (1). In this modification, each subarray is formed of 4 × 4 columns = 16 vibrating elements, and each column is arranged while being shifted by one vibrating element.

  In this modification, the maximum value of the number of elements in the vertical direction is 56 elements, and the maximum value of the number of elements in the horizontal direction is also 56 elements. The maximum value of the number of elements in the direction inclined at 45 degrees obliquely with respect to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is 76 elements. Therefore, 76 channels are required to set the delay amount at a pitch of one vibration element in the direction of 45 degrees obliquely. If 76 channels are secured, 56 channels may be used in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  In the array configuration example (1) shown in FIG. 4, the number of channels (number of element groups) in the subarray in the direction inclined by 45 degrees is seven (7 groups), whereas FIG. In the illustrated modification, the number of channels (number of element groups) in the subarray in the direction inclined by 45 degrees can be reduced to four (four groups).

  FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show a configuration example of a probe suitable in the present embodiment. 8 and 9 show the structure inside the probe.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a transesophageal 2D array probe. The transesophageal 2D array probe includes a head part, an insertion tube, and an operation part, a probe cable extended from the operation part is connected to the probe connector, and the probe connector is further connected to the apparatus main body.

  A 2D array transducer 10 and a first crosspoint switch 20 are provided in the head portion, and a second crosspoint switch 30 is provided in the operation portion. Compared with the case where the second crosspoint switch 30 is provided in the head portion, the head portion can be reduced in size. In the present embodiment, since the total number of channels can be drastically reduced to about 70 (see FIGS. 4 to 7), the second crosspoint switch 30 may be provided in the head portion.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the body surface 2D array probe. The body surface 2D array probe includes a head portion, a probe cable extended from the head portion, and a probe connector, and is connected to the apparatus main body via the probe connector.

  A 2D array transducer 10, a first crosspoint switch 20, and a second crosspoint switch 30 are provided in the head portion. In the present embodiment, since the total number of channels can be drastically reduced to about 70 channels (see FIGS. 4 to 7), the head portion can be made relatively small.

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

1 is a functional block diagram showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the delay setting on the basis of a focal point. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting of the delay over several subarrays. It is a figure which shows an array structural example (1). It is a figure which shows an array structural example (2). It is a figure which shows an array structural example (3). It is a figure which shows the modification of an array structural example (1). It is a figure which shows the structural example of a transesophageal 2D array probe. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a body table 2D array probe.

  10 2D array transducer, 12 transducer elements, 20 first crosspoint switch, 30 second crosspoint switch, 40 transceiver.

Claims (9)

An array transducer composed of a plurality of transducer elements;
A first switching unit that divides the array transducer into a plurality of sub-arrays and collects a plurality of vibration elements belonging to the sub-array for each sub-array into a plurality of element groups;
A second switching unit associating a plurality of element groups grouped for each sub-array across the plurality of sub-arrays with a plurality of channels;
A beam forming unit that forms an ultrasonic beam using the plurality of channels;
Having
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The first switching unit collects a plurality of vibration elements corresponding to the same delay amount among the plurality of vibration elements belonging to the sub-array for each sub-array in the same element group.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2,
The second switching unit associates a plurality of element groups corresponding to the same delay amount among the plurality of element groups collected for each subarray across the plurality of subarrays, to the same channel.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3.
The first switching unit includes a cross-point switch that selectively connects a plurality of vibration elements belonging to each subarray and a plurality of group signal lines corresponding to a plurality of element groups of the subarray.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4,
The second switching unit selects a plurality of group signal lines corresponding to a plurality of element groups and a plurality of channel signal lines corresponding to a plurality of channels, which are grouped for each sub-array across the plurality of sub-arrays. With a crosspoint switch to connect automatically,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The array transducer is composed of a plurality of vibration elements arranged two-dimensionally,
A plurality of vibration elements corresponding to the same delay amount are identified along the circumference of a concentric circle based on the focal point of the ultrasonic beam.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6,
The array transducer is divided into a plurality of subarrays each having a square shape.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The beam forming unit performs delay processing on a received signal obtained from the channel based on a delay amount corresponding to each channel, and receives a received beam based on a plurality of received signals after delay processing corresponding to a plurality of channels. Forming,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The beam forming unit performs a delay process on a transmission signal supplied to the channel based on a delay amount corresponding to each channel, and supplies a plurality of transmission signals after the delay process to a plurality of channels. Form a transmit beam,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.