JP2011087841A - Ultrasonic diagnosis device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnosis device capable of easily knowing the position of the ultrasonic probe communicatively connected to a system body by a radio system. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnosis device is provided with a position detection means composed of a directive antenna for receiving the electric wave transmitted by the ultrasonic probe, a scanning means for scanning the direction of the directive antenna and a direction calculation means for calculating the positioning direction of the ultrasonic probe on the basis of the output of the directive antenna. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves into a living body to acquire information related to the tissue in the living body.

  2. Description of the Related Art Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses that acquire and receive information related to in vivo tissues by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves into the living body are widely used. The ultrasonic diagnostic device is composed of an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves into the living body and the main body of the device, and the user holds the ultrasonic probe by hand and makes contact with the measurement location of the subject. Ultrasound diagnosis is performed.

  In order to improve the handleability of such an ultrasonic probe, a technique has been proposed in which the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body are separated and wirelessly connected for communication.

  An electric signal transmitted by a conventionally used cable is replaced with a wireless radio signal as it is. By adopting wireless communication connection, the handling property of the ultrasonic probe is improved.

  However, when the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body are separated as described above, the location of the desired ultrasonic probe may be difficult to understand. Thus, a technique has been proposed in which a desired ultrasonic probe emits light or sound to notify the user of the location (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-61938 A

  In the case of the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the ultrasonic probe is located at a position far away from the apparatus main body, sound and light cannot be recognized by the user, and the existence position cannot be known. There is.

  Furthermore, when the presence position is indicated only by the light emitting device, there is a disadvantage that the existence position cannot be specified at all when the ultrasonic probe is hidden behind the object or stored in a box.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can easily know the position of an ultrasonic probe that is wirelessly connected to the apparatus body.

  The above object is achieved by the invention described below.

1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having at least one ultrasonic probe and an apparatus body,
In the ultrasonic probe,
A vibration unit that transmits an ultrasonic wave to the subject, receives a reflected wave from the subject, and outputs a received signal;
A receiving wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating with the apparatus body;
Is provided,
In the device body,
A signal processing unit that executes predetermined signal processing according to an operation mode for the received signal;
Position detection means for detecting a radio wave transmitted by the ultrasonic probe and detecting a position of the ultrasonic probe;
Display means for displaying the position of the ultrasonic probe;
A transmitting wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating with the ultrasonic probe;
Is provided,
Either of the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body,
An ultrasonic transmission unit that outputs a vibration unit drive signal for driving the vibration unit;
An ultrasonic receiver for processing the received signal;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

2. The position detection means
A directional antenna for receiving radio waves transmitted by the ultrasonic probe;
Scanning means for scanning the direction of the directional antenna;
Direction calculating means for calculating the direction in which the ultrasonic probe is located based on the output of the directional antenna;
With
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to 1, wherein the display unit displays a direction in which the ultrasonic probe is located.

3. In the ultrasonic probe,
A storage unit for storing identification data assigned to each ultrasound probe;
A signal extraction unit for extracting the identification data from transmission data transmitted from the apparatus body;
Position signal transmission means for performing position signal transmission processing for informing the user of the position;
Is provided,
In the device body,
A selection means by which at least one user can select the identification data;
Is provided,
The signal extraction unit determines whether the identification data selected by the user using the selection unit matches the identification data assigned to each ultrasound probe. 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to 1 or 2, wherein the transmission unit performs position signal transmission processing.

4). In the apparatus main body, a signal generation unit that generates an identification transmission signal including a plurality of units each including a synchronization signal transmitted first and identification data transmitted continuously to the synchronization signal as a unit; Is provided,
The synchronization signal is stored in the storage unit,
The signal extraction unit
A first signal, which is data having the same data length as that of the synchronization signal, is extracted from the identification transmission signal a plurality of times for each unit of data length, and the first signal is continuously stored a predetermined number of times in the storage unit. A second signal corresponding to a predetermined data length is extracted immediately after the first signal when the synchronization signal matches the identification signal, and the data constituting the second signal matches the identification data. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the position signal transmission unit performs position signal transmission processing.

  An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can easily know the position of the ultrasonic probe can be provided.

1 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to an embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to an embodiment. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of an external appearance of a planar antenna 51. FIG. 3 is a graph showing the directivity of reception characteristics of a planar antenna 51. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of scanning by a scanning unit 52 in the direction of a receiving surface 511 of a planar antenna 51. FIG. It is a graph showing the receiving characteristic for every direction. It is a display example which displays the direction where the ultrasound probe 12 is located. 1 is an external configuration perspective view of an ultrasonic probe 12. FIG. FIG. 8A is a diagram viewed from diagonally above, and FIG. 8B is a diagram viewed from diagonally below. FIG. 8C is a diagram showing a state in which the ultrasonic probe 12 is loaded in the ultrasonic probe holder 5. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a transmission beam former 18 and the like in the ultrasonic probe 12. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a reception beam former 22 and a reception radio signal transmission unit 24 in the ultrasonic probe 12. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the identification transmission signal which consists of 1 unit of transmission data for detecting the ultrasonic probe 12 which the signal generation part 35 produces | generates. It is a schematic diagram of an identification transmission signal in which two units of transmission data are connected. 3 is an electrical block diagram of a signal extraction unit 15. FIG. It is a flowchart figure showing a position signal transmission process. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for detecting the direction in which the ultrasound probe 12 is located.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. In addition, the structure which attached | subjected the same code | symbol in each figure shows that it is the same structure, The description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 includes an apparatus main body 14 and an ultrasonic probe 12.

  The ultrasonic probe 12 transmits an ultrasonic wave to the subject H, receives a reflected wave reflected by the subject H, and outputs a received signal.

  The apparatus main body 14 is connected to the ultrasonic probe 12 via radio, receives a received radio signal corresponding to the received signal, and displays an ultrasonic image corresponding to the operation mode; The operation input unit 11 operated by the user, the planar antenna 51, the ultrasonic probe holder 5, and the like are provided.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the embodiment. The wireless communication connection between the ultrasonic probe 12 and the apparatus main body 14 is performed by a radio signal, particularly a 2.4 GHz radio signal. Since the frequency is large, the communication band is wide, so that the communication capacity can be increased, which is preferable.

  The apparatus main body 14 includes a transmission beamformer control unit 30, a transmission radio signal transmission unit 32, a reception radio signal reception unit 34, a signal generation unit 35, a signal processing unit 36, a display processing unit 38, a display unit 40, a power source 42, The storage unit 43, the operation input unit 11, the position detection unit 50, and a main body control unit 44 that controls these units.

  The operation input unit 11 is a selection unit that allows the user to input various operations to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 and allows the user to select identification data assigned to each of the at least one ultrasound probe 12 to be used. It has the function of. Specifically, the identification data of each ultrasonic probe on a high-resolution display such as a liquid crystal display is displayed, and the user uses the keyboard or mouse to enter the identification data of the desired ultrasonic probe. A configuration that can be selected can be adopted.

  The power source 42 supplies power to each part of the apparatus main body 14.

  The transmission beamformer control unit 30 functions as a transmission control unit, and controls the transmission beamformer 18 in the ultrasonic probe 12 by outputting a transmission control signal via the transmission radio signal transmission unit 32. Transmission control of the ultrasonic wave 28 transmitted from the vibration unit 20 is performed.

  The transmission radio signal transmission unit 32 transmits a transmission control radio signal corresponding to the transmission control signal output from the transmission beamformer control unit 30 to the ultrasonic probe 12.

  The received radio signal receiver 34 receives the received radio signal transmitted from the ultrasound probe 12, performs a process of converting the radio signal into an electric signal, and converts the obtained received electric signal into a signal processor. To 36.

  The transmission radio signal transmission unit 32 and the reception radio signal reception unit 34 constitute a transmission radio communication unit that performs radio communication with the ultrasonic probe 12.

  The storage unit 43 stores a program that operates on the apparatus main body 14.

  The main body control unit 44 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), calls a program for performing a series of operations used for operation from the storage unit 43, and expands it on a RAM (not shown) in the main body control unit 44. To control each part.

  The signal generation unit 35 has a function of generating identification data and the like necessary for identifying the ultrasound probe 12. Details will be described later.

  The signal processing unit 36 performs signal processing corresponding to various modes, for example, B-mode signal processing or Doppler mode signal processing, based on the received electrical signal output from the received wireless signal receiving unit 34.

  The signal detection unit 50 includes a planar antenna 51, a scanning unit 52, and a direction calculation unit 53.

  The planar antenna 51 is a directional antenna whose conversion efficiency for converting a received radio wave into an electric signal depends on a reception angle. Any antenna system may be used as long as it is a directional antenna. For example, a parabolic antenna may be employed. The planar antenna has an advantage that the receiving surface is flat, so that the mounting location is not limited, and the parabolic antenna has an advantage that the cost is low.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of the appearance of the planar antenna 51. The planar antenna 51 is provided with a receiving surface 511 that receives radio signals.

  FIG. 4 is a graph showing the directivity of the reception characteristics of the planar antenna 51. In the direction where the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate are 0, the directivity has the highest efficiency (reception sensitivity) for receiving radio waves and converting them into electrical signals. The reception characteristics can also be expressed by directions (θ direction, φ direction) from the reception surface 511. Since the reception sensitivity of the radio signal from the normal direction of the reception surface 511 is the highest, the planar antenna 51 outputs the largest electrical signal when the ultrasonic probe 12 exists in the normal direction of the reception surface 511. Will be.

  The scanning unit 52 has a function of scanning the reception direction (θ direction and φ direction) of the reception surface 511 of the planar antenna 51. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the scanning means 52 scanning the direction of the receiving surface 511 of the planar antenna 51. For the scanning means 52, for example, a mechanism that rotates using a motor can be employed.

  The direction calculation means 53 has a function of detecting at which position the ultrasonic probe 12 is present with respect to the position of the planar antenna 51. As the scanning unit 52 scans the planar antenna 51, it is an electric circuit that determines in which direction the magnitude of the radio signal is maximized from the output in each direction output from the planar antenna 51.

  FIG. 6 is a graph showing reception characteristics for each direction. As the scanning unit 52 scans the planar antenna 51, an output as shown in FIG. 6 is obtained. When measuring the relationship between the output and the θ direction, the φ direction is set to a constant angle (for example, 0 degrees). Similarly, when measuring the relationship between the output and the φ direction, the θ direction is a fixed angle. (For example, 0 degree). The direction calculation means 53 is provided with storage means (for example, RAM) capable of storing an output corresponding to θ, and after scanning the planar antenna 51 through the θ direction, the value of θ having the largest output is measured, and the ultrasonic wave is measured. It is determined in which θ direction the probe 12 exists. Also in the φ direction, the direction in which the ultrasonic probe 12 exists can be detected by the same method.

  In this way, the direction in which the ultrasonic probe 12 is located is detected, and the values of θ and φ are displayed on the display unit 40. FIG. 7 is a display example that displays the direction in which the ultrasound probe 12 is positioned.

  FIG. 7 shows an example in which the values of θ and φ are displayed, and the direction in which the ultrasonic probe 12 is positioned is displayed in the coordinate system of the θ coordinate and φ coordinate. When searching for the position of the ultrasound probe 12 to be newly used while displaying the B-mode ultrasound image 79 (82 is an organ) photographed using the ultrasound probe 12 currently used. , Displayed on the B-mode ultrasonic image 79. The ultrasonic probe 12 can be searched for while performing the ultrasonic diagnosis.

  The display processing unit 38 forms image data obtained by performing image display processing on the output of the signal processing unit 36 and outputs the image data to the display unit 40.

  The display unit 40 displays an ultrasonic image based on the image data formed by the display processing unit 38. It is desirable to employ a high resolution display such as a liquid crystal display for the display unit 40.

  The power source 42 supplies power to each part of the apparatus main body 14.

  Next, the ultrasonic probe 12 will be described. FIG. 8 is an external configuration perspective view of the ultrasonic probe 12. FIG. 8A is a diagram viewed from diagonally above, and FIG. 8B is a diagram viewed from diagonally below. FIG. 8C is a diagram showing a state in which the ultrasonic probe 12 is loaded in the ultrasonic probe holder 5.

  Reference numeral 90 denotes a window that contacts the subject H and transmits ultrasonic waves. Reference numeral 92 denotes a window for transmitting a received radio signal. The ultrasonic probe 12 includes a charging terminal 93 that is charged in electrical contact with the apparatus main body 14. The ultrasonic probe holder 5 is provided with a contact terminal 96 for charging the battery 26 of the ultrasonic probe 12. When the user loads the ultrasonic probe 12 into the ultrasonic probe holder 5, electric power is supplied to the ultrasonic probe 12 from the apparatus main body via the charging terminal 93, and the supplied electric power is supplied to the battery 26. Stored in Since there is no cable between the ultrasonic probe 12 and the apparatus main body, the troublesomeness of the cable at the time of diagnosis can be eliminated.

  The ultrasonic probe 12 includes a signal extraction unit 15, a transmission radio signal reception unit 16, a transmission beam former 18, a vibration unit 20, a reception beam former 22, a reception radio signal transmission unit 24, a battery 26, and a position detection unit. The signal generator 48 is configured.

  The transmission radio signal reception unit 16 receives a transmission radio signal transmitted from the apparatus main body 14 and outputs a transmission control electric signal subjected to electrical conversion processing to the signal extraction unit 15.

  The transmission radio signal reception unit 16 includes a reception element 81 and a reception circuit 83 that drives the reception element 81. The radio signal is, for example, a radio signal that is binary intensity modulated corresponding to each of a high level and a low level.

  The transmission radio signal reception unit 16 and the reception radio signal transmission unit 24 described later constitute a reception radio communication unit that performs radio communication with the apparatus main body.

  The signal extraction unit 15 of the present invention has a function of extracting identification data and the like generated by the signal generation unit 35. Details will be described later.

  The transmission beam former 18 functions as an ultrasonic transmission unit that generates a vibration unit drive signal based on the transmission control electric signal.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the transmission beam former 18 and the like in the ultrasonic probe 12. The transmission beamformer 18 includes a delay table selection unit 60, a memory 62, and a delay pulse generation circuit 64. Based on the delay table, each of a plurality of vibration elements 66 is driven by an oscillation unit via an amplifier 68. Output a signal. The delay table is a table that defines a delay table (delay adjustment amount for each vibration element) that defines the transmission timing of the ultrasonic wave 28 for each vibration element 66, and a plurality of delay tables are registered in the memory 62 in advance. ing. The delay table selection unit 60 selects from the memory 62 a delay table specified by the transmission control signal converted into the electrical signal output from the transmission radio signal reception unit 16.

  The position detection signal generation unit 48 is an electrical signal for causing the received radio signal transmission unit 24 to generate a position detection radio signal for the ultrasonic probe 12 to detect the position of the ultrasonic probe 12 itself. And an electric circuit having a function of generating a position detection signal.

  For example, the position detection signal may have a predetermined time profile for each ultrasonic probe 12. Specifically, the profiles may have different generation times for each ultrasonic probe 12. In the apparatus main body 14, it is possible to determine which ultrasonic probe 12 the radio signal is from by measuring the duration of the radio signal transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 12 side.

  The received radio signal transmitter 24 may have the function of the position detection signal generator 48.

  The vibration unit 20 transmits the ultrasonic wave 28 into the living body of the patient who is the subject based on the vibration unit driving signal, and receives the reflected wave from the living body and outputs a received signal.

  The reception beamformer 22 functions as an ultrasonic reception unit that performs reception processing such as phasing addition processing on the reception signal output from the vibration unit 20.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the reception beam former 22, the received radio signal transmission unit 24, etc. in the ultrasonic probe 12. The reception beamformer 22 includes an amplifier 76, a phasing adder 72, and an analog / digital converter 74. Each vibration element 66 receives an ultrasonic wave reflected from the living body of the subject H and outputs a received signal. The received signal is amplified by an amplifier 76 provided for each vibration element 66, converted into a digital signal by an analog-digital converter 74, and output to the reception beam former 22. The reception beamformer 22 performs a delay adjustment for each received signal output from each vibration element 66 and performs a so-called phasing addition process of adding the received signal after the delay adjustment.

  The received signal after the phasing addition output from the phasing addition unit 72 is output to the received radio signal transmission unit 24.

  The received radio signal transmission unit 24 includes a transmission element 80 and a transmission circuit 82 that drives the transmission element 80. The received signal after the phasing addition is converted by the transmitting element 80 into a received radio signal. The received radio signal is, for example, a radio signal subjected to binary intensity modulation. The output of the transmission element 80 is transmitted to the apparatus main body 14.

  The battery 26 supplies power to each part in the ultrasonic probe 12. The battery 26 may be configured to be attached to and detached from the ultrasound probe 12.

  Next, the signal generation unit 35 of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an identification transmission signal that is generated by the signal generation unit 35 and includes one unit of transmission data for detecting the ultrasound probe 12.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an identification transmission signal in which two units of transmission data are connected.

  The signal generation unit 35 generates an identification transmission signal including transmission data for detecting the ultrasonic probe 12.

  The identification transmission signal includes a frame synchronization signal A, identification data B, and a data group C. The frame synchronization signal is a signal for synchronizing transmission data.

  The identification data B is a number that is determined for each ultrasound probe 12 and identifies the ultrasound probe 12.

  The data group C includes data necessary for controlling the ultrasonic probe 12 from the apparatus main body 14, for example, an error correction code.

  When the frame synchronization signal A is 8 bits, it is defined as 11011010, for example.

  For example, the frame synchronization signal A has N-bit data, the identification data B has M-bit data, the data group C has L-bit data, and all data is added from K-bit data. Shall be.

  The frame synchronization signal A, the identification data B, and the data group C constitute one unit of transmission data, and a plurality of units of identification transmission signals are transmitted from the transmission radio signal transmission unit 32 of the apparatus body 14. For example, in the case of two units of transmission data, two units of transmission data are continuously transmitted as shown in FIG.

  Next, the signal extraction unit 15 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 13 is an electrical block diagram of the signal extraction unit 15.

  The signal extraction unit 15 includes a synchronization signal detection device 151, a data counter 152, a synchronization signal continuous detection device 153, an identification data extraction device 154, an identification data storage device 155, a comparison device 156, and a detection mode flag detection / identification device 157. The

  The synchronization signal detection device 151 is an electric circuit having a function of extracting the frame synchronization signal A from the identification transmission signal.

  The data counter 152 is an electric circuit having a function of counting the number of bits of transmission data transmitted after the frame synchronization signal.

  The synchronization signal continuous detection device 153 is an electric circuit having a function of detecting a frame synchronization signal continuously transmitted after the first detection of the frame synchronization signal.

  The identification data extraction device 154 is an electric circuit that extracts identification data B transmitted continuously after the frame synchronization signal.

  The identification data storage device 155 is a non-volatile storage device such as an EPROM that stores identification data B determined for each ultrasound probe 12, and an electric circuit or the like can be employed.

  The comparison device 156 is an electric circuit that compares the identification data B extracted by the identification data extraction device 154 with the identification data B individually assigned to the ultrasound probe 12 stored in the identification data storage device 155. is there.

  The detection mode flag detection and identification device 157 is a circuit that detects and identifies a detection mode flag from the mode setting data D stored in the data group. The detection mode flag is a flag for determining whether the identification transmission signal is data for searching for the ultrasonic probe 12 or different data. For example, when the detection mode flag is 1, this identification transmission signal indicates that there is data to search for the ultrasonic probe 12, and when the detection mode flag is 0, this identification transmission signal is the ultrasonic probe 12. A rule is set to indicate that the data is not for searching for data but for other purposes.

  Next, a specific flow of position signal transmission processing using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the position signal transmission process. In step S <b> 1, the user selects identification data B of the ultrasonic probe 12 to be searched using the operation input unit 11. The signal generation unit 35 generates a frame synchronization signal and identification data B necessary for identifying the ultrasonic probe 12 and transmits the frame synchronization signal and identification data B to the ultrasonic probe 12. The main body control unit 44 also functions as a signal control unit that controls the signal extraction unit 15 and the signal generation unit 35.

  In step S <b> 2, the synchronization signal detection device 151 in the ultrasonic probe 12 always searches for the frame synchronization signal A in the transmission data transmitted from the device body 14.

  The synchronization signal detection device 151 always searches for the frame synchronization signal A in the transmission data based on the frame synchronization signal A stored in the identification data storage device 155 or the like.

  Specifically, an 8-bit (N-bit) signal (first signal) having a data length determined in advance every other bit is detected from K-bit transmission data, and the detected first signal is determined in advance. It is compared whether or not it is the same as predetermined data, for example, 11011010, and if it is the same, it is determined that it is a frame synchronization signal. Whether or not the first signal is the same as 11011010 is compared. If it is not the same, the data for one bit is shifted, and similarly whether or not the first signal is the same as 11011010 is compared.

  Note that the predetermined data whose data is determined in advance as the frame synchronization signal is stored in a storage device such as a ROM (not shown), and the synchronization signal detection device uses the value of the frame synchronization signal determined from the storage device. Read and compare with the first signal detected from the transmission data.

  Even if predetermined 8-bit data can be found in this way, the data may be the same as other data. Therefore, the first signal is similarly detected for each unit of transmission data to determine whether the data is similarly predetermined 8-bit data, thereby improving the accuracy of frame synchronization signal detection.

  Specifically, in step S3, the data counter 152 counts the number of data M + L bits obtained by adding M bits, which is the number of data of the identification data B, and L bits, which is the number of data in the data group C. Thereafter, in step S4, the synchronization signal continuation detecting apparatus extracts 8-bit data starting from the first data of the next one unit of transmission data, and detects the frame synchronization signal.

  Similarly, the detected frame synchronization signal is compared to determine whether the detected 8-bit data is the same as 11011010.

  In this way, if the detection result of the two frame synchronization signals is the same value as the predetermined value, it is determined that the detected frame synchronization is genuine, and in step S5, the identification data extracting device In the transmission data, data is extracted as identification data B from an M-bit signal (second signal) immediately following the frame synchronization signal. Needless to say, if the frame synchronization signal is detected more than twice, the frame synchronization signal can be determined more accurately. It is predetermined that the frame synchronization signal is detected a predetermined number of times.

  The identification data B is any one of the identification data B of the plurality of ultrasonic probes 12 that can be connected to the apparatus main body 14. Therefore, in step S 6, the comparison device 156 determines whether each ultrasonic probe 12 is the same as the identification data B assigned to it, and the comparison device 156 stores the identification data stored in the identification data storage device 155. Data B is called and compared with the identification data B obtained by the identification data extraction device 154.

  As a result of comparison, if it is different from the self identification data B, the self ultrasonic probe 12 has not been searched. Therefore, the process returns to step S1, and then the self ultrasonic probe 12 is searched. Therefore, the operation for detecting the frame synchronization signal is started.

  If it is the same as the identification data B as a result of the comparison, the detection mode flag stored in the data group C is detected in step S7.

  When the detection mode flag is 0, it indicates that this transmission data is not data for searching for the ultrasound probe 12 but data for another purpose, so that the purpose is, for example, transmission of data such as an error code. If there is, a predetermined operation such as storing the data in a storage device (not shown) is performed. When the detection mode flag is 1, this transmission data indicates that there is data for searching for the ultrasonic probe 12, and therefore the position detection signal generation unit 48 performs position signal transmission processing in step S8. This is the end of the flow.

  Next, a specific flow for detecting the direction in which the ultrasound probe 12 is positioned will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S <b> 11, the main body control unit 44 transmits a radio signal to the transmission radio signal transmission unit 32 toward the transmission radio signal reception unit. This radio signal is a signal for operating the position detection signal generator 48.

  The position detection signal generator 48 which has started to operate generates a position detection signal set for each ultrasonic probe 12, and the received radio signal transmitter 24 transmits a position detection radio signal. (Step S12).

  The main body control unit 44 transmits the radio signal to the transmission radio signal transmission unit 32 toward the transmission radio signal reception unit, and then operates the scanning unit 52 to drive the planar antenna 51 (step S13).

  The main body control unit 44 activates the direction calculation unit 53 and measures the direction of the planar antenna 51 (step S14).

  The main body control unit 44 indicates the direction in which the ultrasound probe 12 is located on the display unit 40 in the θ coordinate and φ coordinate coordinate system together with information on the θ and φ values. The direction in which is located is displayed.

  As described above, by providing the position detection means for detecting the position of the ultrasonic probe 12, even in the case of wireless connection in which the ultrasonic probe 12 and the apparatus main body 14 are not connected by wire, the user can The position of the ultrasound probe 12 can be easily known.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Ultrasonic probe holder 10 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 11 Operation input part 12 Ultrasonic probe 14 Apparatus main body 15 Signal extraction part 16 Transmission radio signal reception part 18 Transmission beam former 20 Vibrating part 22 Reception beam former 24 Reception Radio signal transmitter 26 Battery 28 Ultrasound 30 Transmit beamformer controller 32 Transmit radio signal transmitter 34 Receive radio signal receiver 35 Signal generator 36 Signal processor 38 Display processor 40 Display unit 42 Power supply 43 Storage unit 44 Main body control unit 48 Position detection signal generation unit 50 Position detection unit 51 Planar antenna 52 Scan unit 53 Direction calculation unit 60 Delay table selection unit 62 Memory 64 Delay pulse generation circuit 66 Vibration element 68 Amplifier 72 Phased addition unit 74 Analog to digital converter 76 Amplifier 79 Ultrasonic image 80 Transmitting element 8 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reception element 82 Transmission circuit 83 Reception circuit 93 Charging terminal 96 Contact terminal 151 Synchronization signal detection apparatus 152 Data counter 153 Synchronization signal continuous detection apparatus 154 Identification data extraction apparatus 155 Identification data storage apparatus 156 Comparison apparatus 157 Detection mode flag detection identification apparatus 511 Reception surface

Claims (4)

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having at least one ultrasonic probe and an apparatus body,
In the ultrasonic probe,
A vibration unit that transmits an ultrasonic wave to the subject, receives a reflected wave from the subject, and outputs a received signal;
A receiving wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating with the apparatus body;
Is provided,
In the device body,
A signal processing unit that executes predetermined signal processing according to an operation mode for the received signal;
Position detection means for detecting a radio wave transmitted by the ultrasonic probe and detecting a position of the ultrasonic probe;
Display means for displaying the position of the ultrasonic probe;
A transmitting wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating with the ultrasonic probe;
Is provided,
Either of the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body,
An ultrasonic transmission unit that outputs a vibration unit drive signal for driving the vibration unit;
An ultrasonic receiver for processing the received signal;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: The position detection means
A directional antenna for receiving radio waves transmitted by the ultrasonic probe;
Scanning means for scanning the direction of the directional antenna;
Direction calculating means for calculating the direction in which the ultrasonic probe is located based on the output of the directional antenna;
With
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a direction in which the ultrasonic probe is located. In the ultrasonic probe,
A storage unit for storing identification data assigned to each ultrasound probe;
A signal extraction unit for extracting the identification data from transmission data transmitted from the apparatus body;
Position signal transmission means for performing position signal transmission processing for informing the user of the position;
Is provided,
In the device body,
A selection means by which at least one user can select the identification data;
Is provided,
The signal extraction unit determines whether the identification data selected by the user using the selection unit matches the identification data assigned to each ultrasound probe. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit performs position signal transmission processing. In the apparatus main body, a signal generation unit that generates an identification transmission signal including a plurality of units each including a synchronization signal transmitted first and identification data transmitted continuously to the synchronization signal as a unit; Is provided,
The synchronization signal is stored in the storage unit,
The signal extraction unit
A first signal, which is data having the same data length as that of the synchronization signal, is extracted from the identification transmission signal a plurality of times for each unit of data length, and the first signal is continuously stored a predetermined number of times in the storage unit. A second signal corresponding to a predetermined data length is extracted immediately after the first signal when the synchronization signal matches the identification signal, and the data constituting the second signal matches the identification data. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position signal transmitting unit performs position signal transmission processing.

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