JP2014212872A5 - - Google Patents

Description

An ultrasonic image construction method according to an embodiment of the present invention outputs an ultrasonic wave from a first sound source separated from the surface of a medium to be measured by a focused ultrasonic wave generation unit, and is focused by a focusing point alignment unit. A second sound source is formed so as to connect the acoustic focal point of the first sound source to the surface of the measurement medium, and a propagating ultrasonic wave propagating through the medium to be measured is generated by the second sound source. An ultrasonic diagnostic image is constructed by receiving propagating ultrasonic waves and performing signal processing for image formation.
In an ultrasonic image construction method according to another embodiment of the present invention, ultrasonic waves are output from a first sound source separated from the surface of a medium to be measured by focused ultrasonic wave generation means, and focused point alignment means A step of forming a second sound source so as to connect the acoustic focus of the first sound source to the surface of the medium to be measured and storing the surface shape of the medium to be measured, and a medium to be measured stored by the focusing point alignment means A second sound source is formed again along the surface of the substrate, a propagation ultrasonic wave propagating through the medium to be measured is generated by the second sound source, the propagation ultrasonic wave is received, and signal processing for image formation is performed. Constructing an ultrasound diagnostic image by performing.

According to a first aspect of the present application, a focused ultrasonic wave generation unit that generates a focused ultrasonic wave as a primary sound source that is disposed at a position separated from the surface of the medium to be measured, and the focused ultrasonic wave generation unit emits light. And a focusing point alignment unit that controls the focused ultrasound so as to have a focusing point immediately below the surface of the medium to be measured.
A second invention according to the present application includes a plurality of focused ultrasound control circuit units each including the focused ultrasound generation means and the focus point alignment means, and the plurality of focused ultrasound control circuit units includes the plurality of focused ultrasound control circuit units. A synthetic wavefront formed by secondary transmission ultrasonic waves that are propagated in the medium to be measured based on the secondary sound source is formed by focusing ultrasonic waves on the surface of the medium to be measured. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising transmission beam forming means for controlling.
Furthermore, the third invention according to the present application is characterized in that the focusing point positioning means includes focusing point position varying means for varying the position of the focusing point along the propagation direction of the focused ultrasound. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first invention.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the focusing point position varying unit includes a phase difference control unit that gives a phase difference for each signal that drives a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements constituting the ultrasonic transducer array. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention.
Further, according to a fifth aspect of the present application, the ultrasonic transducer array includes a curved composite piezoelectric vibrator having a two-dimensional array structure, and a curved and bonded arrangement with the same curvature on the ultrasonic transmission / reception side of the composite piezoelectric vibrator. The surface of the acoustic matching layer and the surface opposite to the ultrasonic transmission / reception side of the composite piezoelectric vibrator have a concave curved surface having the same radius of curvature, and the surface opposite to the ultrasonic transmission / reception side of the composite piezoelectric vibrator The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth aspect, further comprising a backing layer bonded to the substrate.
According to a sixth invention of the present application, the ultrasonic transducer array is a linear array, a sector array, an annular array, or a structure capable of performing beam scanning combining these. 4 is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the invention.
Further, according to a seventh aspect of the present application, the focusing point alignment unit further includes a separation distance measuring unit that measures a distance between the ultrasonic transducer array and the surface of the medium to be measured. The distance measuring means is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth invention, wherein the distance is measured by feeding back the distance information to the phase difference control means.
Further, an eighth invention according to the present application is directed to a synthetic ultrasonic beam composed of a synthetic wavefront of the secondary transmission ultrasonic wave transmitted through the measured medium, on a surface opposite to the surface of the measured medium, The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second aspect, further comprising non-contact detection means for detecting non-contact as transmitted ultrasonic waves.
Furthermore, a ninth invention according to the present application detects, in a non-contact manner, a pulse echo signal obtained by reflecting a synthetic ultrasonic beam propagating through the measured medium at an acoustic impedance boundary on the surface side of the measured medium. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, further comprising non-contact detection means.
The tenth invention according to the present application is characterized in that the focused ultrasonic wave generating means includes an ultrasonic transducer and drive control means for applying an amplitude modulation voltage signal to the ultrasonic transducer. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention.
Furthermore, an eleventh invention according to the present application is directed to a focused ultrasonic wave generating means for generating a focused ultrasonic wave and the focused ultrasonic wave irradiated by the focused ultrasonic wave generating means so that the focused ultrasonic wave is located immediately below the surface of the measured medium. Focusing point alignment means for controlling, and a secondary transmission ultrasonic pulse propagating in the measured medium based on a secondary sound source formed immediately below the surface of the measured medium by the focusing point alignment means, A one-dimensional or two-dimensional scan with respect to a region of interest inside the measured medium, and a transmitted ultrasonic pulse to the back surface of the secondary transmission ultrasonic pulse in the region of interest, or a pulse reflected at an acoustic impedance boundary An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image based on a feature value of an echo signal.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, the characteristic value includes a maximum amplitude value of the transmitted ultrasonic pulse or the pulse echo signal. It is.
Furthermore, in a thirteenth aspect of the present application, the feature value includes a maximum amplitude value of a harmonic component of the transmitted ultrasonic pulse or the pulse echo signal. This is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the eleventh aspect, the feature value includes a phase detection value of a fundamental component of the transmitted ultrasonic pulse or the pulse echo signal. This is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
Furthermore, a fifteenth aspect of the present invention is the fifteenth aspect according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the characteristic value includes a phase detection value of a harmonic component of the transmitted ultrasonic pulse or the pulse echo signal. This is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present application, the focused ultrasonic wave generating means for forming a secondary point sound source directly below the surface of the object from an aerial position separated from the surface of the object, and the secondary point sound source described above. Means for generating a secondary transmission ultrasonic pulse toward a deep part of the object, and a transmitted ultrasonic pulse transmitted through the object and reaching the back surface of the object by the secondary transmission ultrasonic pulse. Means for receiving a pulse echo signal reflected at an acoustic impedance boundary inside the object or on the surface side of the object and converting it to an electric signal, and storing a characteristic value of the electric signal And a relative movement mechanically while the in-plane coordinates of the focal point are stored in the storage means in the orthogonal direction in the plane within the region of interest on the surface of the object. And mechanical storage means for storing the storage means Feature value of the stored electrical signals and by taking the correlation between the in-plane coordinates of secondary point source is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising an image construction means for constructing an ultrasonic image.
Furthermore, in a seventeenth aspect of the present application, ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the first sound source spaced from the surface of the medium to be measured by the focused ultrasonic wave generating means, and the measurement medium is measured by the focusing point alignment means. A second sound source is formed so that the acoustic focal point of the first sound source is connected to the surface, and a transmitted or reflected ultrasonic pulse propagating through the measured medium is generated by the second sound source and received. An ultrasonic image construction method for constructing an ultrasonic diagnostic image by receiving transmitted or reflected ultrasonic pulses by means and performing signal processing for image formation.
The eighteenth invention according to the present application is characterized in that the generated secondary transmission ultrasonic wave is scanned one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally with respect to a region of interest inside the measured medium. An ultrasonic image construction method according to the seventeenth invention.
Further, according to a nineteenth aspect of the present application, the second sound source is based on an acoustic radiation pressure using a focused ultrasonic wave generated by the first sound source. This is a sound image construction method.
According to a twentieth aspect of the present application, ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the first sound source spaced from the surface of the medium to be measured by the focused ultrasonic wave generation means, and the measurement medium is measured by the focusing point alignment means. Forming a second sound source so as to connect the acoustic focus of the first sound source to the surface and storing the surface shape of the measured medium; and storing the measured medium by the focusing point alignment means A second sound source is formed again along the surface of the substrate, an ultrasonic wave propagating through the medium to be measured is generated by the second sound source, a transmitted or reflected ultrasonic pulse is received, and an image is formed. And constructing an ultrasound diagnostic image by performing the signal processing.

Claims (6)

A focused ultrasonic wave generating means arranged to be separated from the surface of the medium to be measured and generating a focused ultrasonic wave as a primary sound source;
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: a focusing point alignment unit configured to control the focused ultrasound irradiated by the focused ultrasound generation unit so as to have a focusing point immediately below the surface of the medium to be measured. A plurality of focused ultrasound control circuit units each including the focused ultrasound generating means and the focused point alignment means;
The plurality of focused ultrasonic control circuit units focus ultrasonic waves on the surface of the measured medium to form a plurality of secondary sound sources, and a secondary that propagates inside the measured medium based on the secondary sound sources. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising transmission beam forming means for controlling a synthetic wavefront formed by transmission ultrasonic waves.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the focusing point alignment unit includes a focusing point position varying unit that varies a position of the focusing point along a propagation direction of the focused ultrasound. Focused ultrasound generating means for generating focused ultrasound;
Focusing point alignment means for controlling the focused ultrasonic wave irradiated by the focused ultrasonic wave generating means to be positioned immediately below the surface of the medium to be measured;
A secondary transmission ultrasonic pulse propagating through the inside of the measurement medium based on a secondary sound source formed immediately below the surface of the measurement medium by the focusing point alignment means is used to generate a region of interest inside the measurement medium. Image based on the characteristic value of the transmitted ultrasonic pulse to the back surface of the secondary transmission ultrasonic pulse in the region of interest or the pulse echo signal reflected at the acoustic impedance boundary. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising image forming means for forming. A focused ultrasonic wave generating means for forming a secondary sound source from an aerial position separated from the surface of the object directly below the surface of the object;
Means for generating a secondary transmission ultrasonic pulse from the secondary point sound source toward the deep part of the object;
The transmitted ultrasonic pulse transmitted through the object and reaching the back surface of the object is reflected on the back surface side of the object or at an acoustic impedance boundary inside the object. Means for receiving the converted pulse echo signal on the surface side of the object and converting it into an electrical signal;
Storage means for storing the characteristic value of the electric signal;
Mechanical moving means for mechanically moving the focal point of the secondary sound source in the region of interest on the surface of the object in a direction orthogonal to the plane while storing the in-plane coordinates of the focal point in the storage means When,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an image construction unit that constructs an ultrasonic image by taking a correlation between a feature value of an electrical signal stored in the storage unit and in-plane coordinates of a secondary point sound source. The ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the first sound source separated from the surface of the medium to be measured by the focused ultrasonic wave generating means,
A second sound source is formed by converging the focal point of the first sound source on the surface of the medium to be measured by the focusing point alignment means,
The second sound source generates a transmission or reflection ultrasonic pulse propagating through the measured medium,
An ultrasonic image construction method for constructing an ultrasonic diagnostic image by receiving a transmission or reflection ultrasonic pulse by a receiving means and performing signal processing for image formation.