JP2014226296A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which can use one probe as a convex probe of a large opening, a micro convex probe of a small opening or a sector probe.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe 2 which transmits an ultrasonic wave from an ultrasonic vibrator to an analyte; and a scan control part which controls scanning of the ultrasonic wave by the ultrasonic probe 2, and performs changeover between a first mode in which scanning of the ultrasonic wave in a curved linear scan system is performed, and a second mode in which the opening of the ultrasonic vibrator used for scanning of the ultrasonic wave for creating an ultrasonogram of one frame is smaller than that in the first mode and scanning of the ultrasonic wave in a sector scan system is performed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of switching between two types of modes of ultrasonic scanning.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, various ultrasonic probes are used in accordance with the diagnostic site. For example, even when an ultrasound image of the liver is obtained, ultrasound is transmitted / received from below the eyelid or ultrasound is transmitted / received from the intercostal space, depending on the portion to be viewed. In many cases, a convex probe having a relatively large aperture is used for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves under the bow. On the other hand, in the intercostal space, ultrasound must be transmitted and received through a limited gap, and when inserting a puncture needle, it is necessary to capture the puncture needle near the body surface with an ultrasound image For this reason, a micro convex probe or a sector probe having a relatively small aperture is often used (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Micro-convex probes and sector probes have a small aperture and can ensure a viewing angle of an ultrasonic image, so that ultrasonic waves can be transmitted and received through a limited gap, and a puncture needle near the body surface Can be captured with an ultrasonic image.

JP 2006-87668 A (page 3)

  In this way, since different types of ultrasonic probes are used according to the diagnostic site, when inspecting multiple diagnostic sites with a single ultrasonic examination, the ultrasonic probe must be changed according to the diagnostic site. It must be complicated. Further, the micro-convex probe or the sector probe having a small opening is a dedicated probe specialized for a specific part or a specific application. Therefore, the user of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus needs to purchase and possess the micro convex probe or the sector probe in addition to the large aperture convex probe that is a general-purpose probe.

  One aspect of the invention made in order to solve the above-described problems is a convex probe that transmits ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic transducer to a subject, and a scan control unit that controls scanning of ultrasonic waves by the convex probe. The first mode of performing ultrasonic scanning by a curved linear scan method and the opening of the ultrasonic transducer used for ultrasonic scanning for creating an ultrasonic image of one frame are the first mode. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a scan control unit that is smaller than one mode and that switches to a second mode in which ultrasonic scanning is performed by a sector scan method.

  In another aspect of the invention according to the first aspect of the invention, the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface of the convex probe is based on an echo signal obtained from the subject by transmission of ultrasonic waves in the first mode. And a controller for specifying the contact portion with the subject, wherein the control section causes the ultrasound scan in the second mode having an opening including the contact portion specified by the specifying portion. This is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, the first mode for performing ultrasonic scanning by the curved linear scanning method and the second mode for performing ultrasonic scanning by the sector scanning method having a smaller aperture than the first mode. Therefore, one probe can be used as a convex probe having a relatively large scanning aperture, and can also be used as a microconvex probe or a sector probe having a relatively small scanning aperture.

  According to the invention of the above other aspect, since the scan in the second mode is performed at the opening including the contact portion specified by the specifying unit, the opening in the second mode can be easily placed at an arbitrary position. Can be set to

It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device in embodiment (1st embodiment and 2nd embodiment) of this invention. It is an enlarged view which shows an example of an ultrasonic probe. It is a figure explaining the 1st mode curved linear scan. It is a figure explaining the scan center of the ultrasonic wave in the curved linear scan of a 1st mode. It is a figure explaining the sector scan of a 2nd mode. It is a figure explaining the scan center of the ultrasonic wave in the sector scan of a 2nd mode. It is a figure which shows the ultrasonic probe which has an indicator. It is a figure which shows the state which inserted the puncture needle with respect to the subject in the modification of 1st embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control part in 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state which inclined the ultrasonic probe in 1st mode. It is a figure explaining transmission of the ultrasonic wave by the sector scan system of the 2nd mode. It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device of 3rd embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control part in 3rd embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an ultrasonic probe 2, a transmission / reception beam former 3, an echo data processing unit 4, a display control unit 5, a display unit 6, an operation unit 7, a control unit 8, and a storage unit 9.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic probe 2 is a convex probe, and the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 2a is a convex curved surface. The ultrasonic probe 2 includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 2b arranged in an array, and transmits ultrasonic waves to the subject through the ultrasonic transducers. Receive. The ultrasonic transducer 2b is arranged in a convex shape along the transmission / reception surface 2a.

  The transmission / reception beamformer 3 performs a scan for forming an ultrasonic transmission beam and a reception beam in any one of a first mode and a second mode, as will be described later, according to a control signal from the control unit 8. Do.

  The transmission / reception beamformer 3 transmits an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic transducer 2b with a predetermined transmission parameter to form a transmission beam. The transmission / reception beamformer 3 performs signal processing such as phasing addition processing on the echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe 2 with a predetermined reception parameter to form a reception beam. Then, the transmission / reception beamformer 3 outputs the echo data after the signal processing to the echo data processing unit 4.

  The echo data processing unit 4 performs signal processing for creating an ultrasound image on the echo data output from the transmission / reception beamformer 3. For example, the echo data processing unit 4 performs B mode processing. The B mode processing includes logarithmic compression processing, envelope detection processing, and the like. B mode data is created by the B mode processing.

  The echo data processing unit 4 may generate color Doppler data by performing color Doppler processing including orthogonal detection processing, MTI filter (Moving Target Indication filter) processing, autocorrelation calculation processing, and the like.

  The display control unit 5 scan-converts the data obtained by the echo data processing unit 4 using a scan converter to create ultrasonic image data. For example, the image data creation unit 51 scans the B-mode data to create B-mode image data, or scan-converts the color Doppler data to create color Doppler image data.

  Further, the display control unit 5 causes the display unit 6 to display an ultrasonic image based on the ultrasonic image data. For example, the ultrasonic image is a B-mode image or a color Doppler image.

  The display unit 6 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), or the like. Although not particularly illustrated, the operation unit 7 includes a keyboard, a dial, a pointing device, and the like for an operator to input instructions and information. The operation unit 7 is an example of an embodiment of an input unit in the present invention.

  The control unit 8 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), reads a control program stored in the storage unit 9, and executes functions in each unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1. The control unit 8 switches between the first mode and the second mode. The control unit 8 is an example of an embodiment of a scan control unit in the present invention.

  The storage unit 9 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a semiconductor memory.

  Now, transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of this example will be described. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of the present example, one of the two modes, the first mode and the second mode, is selected, and ultrasonic scanning is performed. Switching between the first mode and the second mode is performed by the control unit 8 based on an input from the operation unit 7.

  First, the first mode will be described. In the first mode, as shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic probe 2 in contact with the body surface B of the subject is used to generate ultrasonic waves by a curved linear scan method, in other words, a convex scan method. A scan is performed.

  In the curved linear scan in the first mode, only one part of all the ultrasonic transducers 2b is used to form an ultrasonic transmission beam and a reception beam for one acoustic line. Then, a transmission beam and a reception beam are sequentially formed in the arrangement direction (azimuth direction) of the ultrasonic transducers 2b, and when all the ultrasonic transducers 2b are used, an ultrasonic image of one frame is created. For completing the ultrasound scan. In FIG. 3, reference numeral S <b> 1 indicates an ultrasonic scan area for one frame. In FIG. 3, the ultrasonic transducer 2b that forms a transmission beam and a reception beam for one sound ray is enclosed in parentheses. Moreover, the arrow has shown the sound ray.

  In the curved linear scan of the first mode, the ultrasonic scan center line M1 is the center of the array width of the ultrasonic transducers 2b as shown in FIG. The ultrasonic scan center line M1 bisects the viewing angle θ1 of the scan region S1. The scan center line M1 is an example of an embodiment of an ultrasonic scan center in the present invention.

  Next, the second mode will be described. In the second mode, as shown in FIG. 5, a scan of ultrasonic waves by a sector scan method is performed. In the sector scan in the second mode, an ultrasonic scan for creating an ultrasonic image for one frame is performed by using only a part of the ultrasonic transducers 2b. In FIG. 5, reference numeral S <b> 2 indicates an ultrasonic scan area for one frame. In FIG. 5, the ultrasonic transducer 2b used for scanning one frame of ultrasonic waves is enclosed in parentheses. Moreover, the arrow has shown the sound ray.

  In the sector scan of the second mode, the opening of the ultrasonic transducer 2b used for the ultrasonic scan for creating an ultrasonic image of one frame is smaller than the curved linear scan of the first mode. Yes. For example, the opening of the second mode has a size (width in the azimuth direction) of 40% or less than the opening of the first mode. More preferably, the opening of the second mode is 20% or more and 40% or less of the opening of the first mode.

  In the sector scan in the second mode, the ultrasonic scan center line M2 is at a position different from the scan center line M1 in the first mode. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the scan center line M2 that bisects the viewing angle θ2 of the scan region S2 is super It is located on the end side of the acoustic probe 2. Accordingly, the scan center line M2 intersects the central axis A of the ultrasonic probe 2 in the azimuth direction. Incidentally, the central axis A passes through the center of the array width of the ultrasonic transducers 2b. The scan center line M2 is an example of an embodiment of a scan center in the present invention.

  The ultrasonic transducer 2b used for transmitting ultrasonic waves in the second mode may be set in advance. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, an indicator In indicating the position of the ultrasonic aperture in the second mode may be displayed on the surface of the casing of the ultrasonic probe 2. In this example, the indicator In is a belt-like arc corresponding to the transmission opening.

  The viewing angle θ2 (see FIG. 6) of the ultrasound scan region S2 in the second mode is substantially the same as the viewing angle θ1 of the ultrasound scan region S1 in the first mode. Therefore, in the second mode, it is possible to ensure substantially the same viewing angle as that in the first mode while having a relatively small transmission aperture.

  When the operator uses the ultrasound probe 2 as a convex probe having a relatively large transmission aperture, for example, when performing ultrasound scanning under the subject's bow, the operator selects the first mode in the operation unit 7. Make an input. In response to an input from the operation unit 7, the control unit 8 performs control so that ultrasonic scanning is performed in the first mode.

  On the other hand, when the operator uses the ultrasonic probe 2 as a microconvex probe or a sector probe having a relatively small transmission aperture, for example, when performing an ultrasonic scan between the subject's ridges, Input to select the second mode. In response to an input from the operation unit 7, the control unit 8 performs control so that ultrasonic scanning is performed in the second mode. In the second mode, as shown in FIG. 5, the operator abuts the ultrasonic probe 2 on the body surface B with the central axis A (not shown in FIG. 5) tilted. Perform a sound wave scan.

  According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of the present example described above, one ultrasonic probe 2 can be used as a convex probe having a relatively large opening, and can also be used as a micro convex probe or a sector probe having a relatively small opening. be able to. Therefore, for example, even when ultrasonic inspection under the bow and ultrasonic inspection of the intercostal space are performed in a single inspection, there is no need to change the ultrasonic probe.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where both the transmission beam formation and the reception beam formation are controlled in the first mode or the second mode has been described. For formation only, control in the first mode or the second mode, that is, ultrasonic transmission by the curved linear scan method is performed in the first mode, and in the second mode, the aperture is smaller than that in the first mode. Then, ultrasonic transmission by the sector scan method may be performed. Further, only the formation of the reception beam is controlled by the first mode or the second mode, that is, ultrasonic waves are received by the curved linear scan method in the first mode, and the first mode is used in the second mode. You may receive the ultrasonic wave by a sector scan system with an opening smaller than a mode. In the present invention, the term “scan” includes a case where only the transmission beam is formed and a case where only the reception beam is formed.

  Next, a modification of the first embodiment will be described. In this modification, as shown in FIG. 8, a puncture needle N is inserted from the body surface B of the subject. The puncture needle N may be attached to a puncture guide jig (not shown) attached to the ultrasonic probe 2.

  When the puncture needle N is inserted, the second mode is selected. The ultrasonic scan center line M2 in the second mode is located on the puncture needle N side with respect to the ultrasonic scan center line M1 in the first mode. By performing the sector scan in the second mode, the puncture needle N can be captured with an ultrasound image from a position close to the body surface B as compared with the convex scan.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. However, the description of the same matters as in the first embodiment is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the present example, the control unit 8 has a specifying unit 81. The specifying unit 81 is an example of an embodiment of the specifying unit in the present invention.

  Based on the echo signal obtained from the subject by the transmission of the ultrasonic wave in the first mode, the specifying unit 81 determines the contact portion with the body surface B of the subject on the transmission / reception surface 2a of the ultrasonic probe 2. Identify. The identification of the contact portion will be specifically described with reference to FIG. For example, if the operator tilts the ultrasonic probe 2 from the state perpendicular to the body surface B as shown in FIG. 10 in the first mode, the transmission / reception surface 2 a In contact. Incidentally, a region ss indicated by hatching in FIG. 10 is a region where an echo signal is obtained.

  When the contact portion with the body surface B on the transmission / reception surface 2a is T, the specifying unit 81 specifies the contact portion T as follows. First, the specifying unit 81 specifies the ultrasonic transducer 2bb from which an echo signal is obtained from the subject among all the ultrasonic transducers 2b in the ultrasonic probe 2. This ultrasonic transducer 2bb is an ultrasonic transducer in a portion surrounded by a circle in FIG.

  Next, the specifying unit 81 specifies the contact portion T based on the position of the ultrasonic transducer 2bb. More specifically, the specifying unit 81 specifies the contact portion T based on the distance between the ultrasonic transducer 2b and the transmitting / receiving surface 2a and the sound ray direction of the ultrasonic wave.

  When the operator performs an input for selecting the second mode in the operation unit 7, the control unit 8 has an opening including the contact portion T specified by the specifying unit 81, as shown in FIG. Ultrasound scan by sector scan method is performed. Here, the “aperture” means an aperture in a scan for creating an ultrasonic image of one frame.

  According to this example, when switching from the first mode to the second mode, the opening is automatically set so as to include the contact portion T with the body surface B specified on the transmission / reception surface 2a. Therefore, the opening in the second mode can be easily set at an arbitrary position.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described. However, description of the same matters as those in the first and second embodiments will be omitted.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 12, the ultrasonic probe 2 is provided with a magnetic sensor 10 composed of, for example, a Hall element. The magnetic sensor 10 detects the magnetism generated from the magnetic generator 11 composed of, for example, a magnetic generating coil. A detection signal in the magnetic sensor 10 is input to the control unit 8.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 8 includes an inclination detection unit 82. Based on the magnetic detection signal from the magnetic sensor 10, the inclination detector 82 calculates information on the inclination of the ultrasonic probe 2 in a coordinate system with the magnetic generator 11 as the origin in a three-dimensional space. Based on the magnetic detection signal, position information of the ultrasonic probe 2 may be calculated. The inclination detector 82 is an example of an embodiment of a detector in the present invention.

  After the input for selecting the second mode is performed in the operation unit 7, the control unit 8 and the transmission / reception beamformer 3 are set to the inclination of the ultrasonic probe 2 detected by the inclination detection unit 82. Based on this, the ultrasonic transducer 2b used for ultrasonic transmission is determined. The ultrasonic transducer 2 b used for transmission is set in advance according to the inclination of the ultrasonic probe 2. The storage unit 9 may store a table that defines the inclination of the ultrasonic probe 2 and the ultrasonic transducer 2b used for transmission. In this case, the control unit 8 and the transmission / reception beamformer 3 determine the ultrasonic transducer 2b used for transmission with reference to the table.

  The ultrasonic transducer 2b used for transmission is set so that the contact portion T with the body surface B of the subject on the transmission / reception surface 2a becomes an opening when the ultrasonic probe 2 is tilted.

  According to this example, when the ultrasonic probe 2 is tilted in the second mode, the contact portion T with the body surface B on the transmitting / receiving surface 2a is automatically opened according to the tilt. The ultrasonic transducer 2b used for scanning is determined. Therefore, the opening in the second mode can be easily set at an arbitrary position.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by the said embodiment, of course, this invention can be variously implemented in the range which does not change the main point.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 Ultrasonic probe 2a Transmission / reception surface 2b Ultrasonic transducer 7 Operation part (input part)
8 Control unit (scan control unit)
81 Specific part 82 Inclination detection part (detection part)

Claims (8)

A convex probe that transmits ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic transducer to a subject;
A scan control unit for controlling ultrasonic scanning by the convex probe, the first mode for performing ultrasonic scanning by a curved linear scanning method, and the ultrasonic scanning for creating an ultrasonic image of one frame A scanning control unit for switching to a second mode in which an opening of the ultrasonic transducer used in the first mode is smaller than the first mode and the ultrasonic scanning is performed by a sector scanning method;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: Based on an echo signal obtained from the subject by transmission of ultrasonic waves in the first mode, comprising a specifying unit that identifies a contact portion with the subject on the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface of the convex probe,
The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the ultrasound scan in the second mode having an opening including a contact portion specified by the specifying unit.   The specifying unit specifies an ultrasonic transducer from which an echo signal is obtained from the subject by transmitting ultrasonic waves in the first mode, and specifies the contact portion based on the position of the ultrasonic transducer The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2. A detection unit for detecting the inclination of the convex probe in a three-dimensional space;
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scan control unit sets a scanning aperture in the second mode based on an inclination detected by the detection unit.   The ultrasonic scan center according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic scan center in the second mode is a position different from the ultrasonic scan center in the first mode. Diagnostic device. The ultrasonic scan center in the first mode is the center of the array width of the ultrasonic transducers in the convex probe,
The ultrasonic scan center in the second mode is located on the side of the puncture needle inserted into the subject with respect to the ultrasonic scan center in the first mode. 5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to 5.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator that indicates a position of an ultrasonic wave opening in the second mode on a surface of the convex probe. An input unit for performing an input for selecting one of the first mode and the second mode;
The scan control unit causes an ultrasound scan to be performed in either the first mode or the second mode selected by the input unit. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one item.

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