JP2500304Y2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Industrial Application Field The invention of the main body relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of individually freezing left and right display images in a two-screen display mode.

(B) Conventional technology and its problems In general, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus radiates ultrasonic waves into a living body and receives echoes reflected from the living body and stores echo data obtained in an image memory. After that, this is read out in synchronism with the TV scanning speed and displayed on the CRT.

Conventionally, there is a dual display mode as an image display method in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In this dual display mode, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, B / B mode in which two B-mode images are simultaneously displayed, and B as shown in FIG.
There are a B / D mode that simultaneously displays a mode image and a D mode image, and a B / M mode that simultaneously displays a B mode image and an M mode image.

However, in the conventional dual display mode, since both images are displayed in real time, in the above B / B mode, for example, specific time phases of the diastole and systole of the heart are selectively extracted and directly extracted. It is difficult to compare and observe. Also, in the B / D mode, it is convenient to set the sampling point of the Doppler signal while comparing the two images, but it is convenient for the ultrasonic wave to display the image data for each display of the B mode image and the D mode image. Since they are fired alternately in order to obtain, the maximum detected flow velocity of the Doppler signal is halved compared to the case where the D mode display is independently performed, and the B mode image also has a poor frame rate because the frame rate is insufficient. Therefore, conventionally, in order to observe the B-mode image or the D-mode image in detail, it is necessary to switch to the single display mode of the B-mode image or the D-mode image.
There has been a complicated operation of switching the mode image.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to display an optimum image in the dual display mode without switching the mode display, and if necessary, to display a specific time phase. The purpose is to take out an image so that it can be directly compared and observed.

(C) Means for Solving Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image memory for storing echo data based on transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves as image data, and an image stored in the image memory. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a display for displaying data, an image freeze key is individually provided corresponding to each of the left and right display images in the dual display mode, while determining whether or not each image freeze key is operated. A circuit and an image freeze circuit for individually blocking or resuming the writing of both echo data for dual display to the image memory based on the discrimination signal output from this discrimination circuit corresponding to each image freeze key; Is equipped with.

(D) Operation According to the above configuration, when one of the image freeze keys is operated, the key operation is determined by the determination circuit, and the determination circuit outputs a determination signal corresponding to the image freeze key. The image freeze circuit prevents writing of both echo data for dual display to the image memory based on the discrimination signal of the discrimination circuit, so that the display image dually displayed is individually accompanied by the operation of the image freeze key. Frozen.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain an optimum image in the dual display mode without switching to the single display mode of the B mode image or the D mode image as in the conventional case. Further, if necessary, an image of a specific time phase can be taken out and directly compared and observed.

(E) Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall structure of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 represents the whole ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, 2 is a probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, 4 is a wave transmission circuit for generating drive pulses for driving the probe 2 for excitation, and 6 is a wave transmission circuit. 4 is a control circuit that outputs a timing signal for setting the ultrasonic wave emission timing to 4 and performs various controls described later.

Reference numeral 8 is a wave receiving circuit for receiving and amplifying an echo signal received by the ultrasonic echo from the probe 2, 10 is a wave detecting circuit for detecting the echo signal passing through the wave receiving circuit 8, and 12 is a wave detecting circuit 10. A / D converter that digitizes the output of the, 14 is an image memory that stores the echo data from the A / D converter 12 as image data, and 16 is the image data read from the image memory 14 at the TV scanning speed. Display circuit for converting to display signal, 18
Is a display (CRT).

Further, 20a, 20b, 20c are image freeze keys that are operated when freezing the display image in the dual display mode.20a is for freezing the left display image and 20b is for freezing the right display image. Further, 20c are individually provided for simultaneous freezing of the left and right display images. Reference numeral 22 is a key signal generator that generates a signal according to a key operation of each image freeze key 20a, 20b, 20c, and is composed of first and second OR gates 24a, 24b and first and second D flip-flops 26a, 26b. Therefore, the output of the key signal generator 22 returns to the original state when each image freeze key 20a, 20b, 20c is operated twice consecutively.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a discriminating circuit for discriminating the presence / absence of a key signal generated by the key signal generating section 22 by the key operation of each image freeze key 20a, 20b, 20c. Also, 30 is an electrocardiograph (ECG), 31
a and 31b are first and second timer circuits activated by the R wave signal included in the electrocardiogram signal output from the electrocardiograph 30, and both timer circuits 31a and 31b can set the time-up time arbitrarily. It is provided. Reference numerals 32a and 32b denote first and second address registers to which a write address given from the control circuit 6 is set when the echo data is written in the image memory 14 in the dual display mode. The first address register 32a displays the image on the left side. A second address register 32b is provided for displaying the image on the right side.

Reference numeral 34 denotes an image freeze circuit that blocks writing of echo data for dual display to the image memory 14 in response to a gate signal output from the control circuit 6 based on a determination signal provided from the determination circuit 28. , First and second gates 36a and 36b, an OR gate 38 and an AND gate 40.

 Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 will be described.

When a timing signal is output from the control circuit 6, a drive pulse is output from the wave transmission circuit 4 in response to this, and this drive pulse is given to the probe 2, so that the probe 2
Is excited and ultrasonic waves are emitted to the subject. In the dual display mode, for example, the B / D mode, pulse emission is performed during ultrasonic beam scanning to obtain image data of the B mode image and the D mode image. In the B / B mode, beam scanning is alternately performed.

When the ultrasonic echo reflected inside the subject is received by the probe 2, an echo signal is output, so this echo signal is amplified by the receiving circuit 8 and then detected by the detection circuit 10, Digitized by A / D converter 12. Then, the echo data from the A / D converter 12 is given to the image memory 14.

When none of the image freeze keys 20a, 20b, 20c are operated, the control circuit 6 sets the write address in the first and second address registers 32a, 32b. Further, since the control circuit 6 alternately outputs the first and second gate signals L and R to the first and second gates 36a and 36b,
The write addresses set in the first and second address registers 32a and 32b are alternately applied to the image memory 14. Also, since the AND gate 40 is opened every time the first and second gate signals L and R are output, the write clock from the control circuit 6 is applied to the image memory 14 during that period. Therefore, the echo data for left side display and the echo data for right side display are written in the image memory 14 alternately at different positions.

When the echo data is stored in the image memory 14, the control circuit 6 reads these echo data in synchronization with the TV scanning speed, and sends this echo data to the display circuit 16.
Then, after being converted into a luminance signal by the display circuit 16, the CRT1
Output to 8. Therefore, two images are displayed in parallel on the screen of the CRT 18.

If you want to freeze one of the two images displayed on the screen of the CRT18, for example the left image,
When the corresponding image freeze key 20a is pressed, a key signal is output from the key signal generator 22 in response to the key operation, and this is input to the determination circuit 28. The discrimination circuit 28 is
This key signal is discriminated and a discrimination signal corresponding to the image freeze key 20a is given to the control circuit 6. The control circuit 6 fixes the output of the first gate signal L at a low level in response to this determination signal, so that the first gate 36a is closed and the output of the first address register 32a is cut off. Therefore, the echo data for image display on the left side is not written in the image memory 14. On the other hand, since the second gate signal R is output at the timing when the echo data for displaying the right side image is input to the image memory 14, the second gate 36b is opened and set in the second address register 32b at that time. Since the write address that has been written is given to the image memory 14 and the write clock passes through the AND gate 40 and is given to the image memory 14, only the echo data for displaying the right side image is stored in the image memory 14. For this reason, CRT1
Of the left and right display images displayed in 8, the left image is frozen, while the right image is displayed in real time.

If you want to freeze both images dually displayed on the screen of the CRT18, the corresponding image freeze key 20
When c is pressed, the control circuit 6 responds to the key operation by the discrimination circuit 2
Both the first and second gate signals L and R outputs are fixed to the low level based on the discrimination signal output from 8. Therefore, since the first and second gates 36a and 36b are both closed and the AND gate 40 is also closed, the write address and the write clock are not given to the image memory 14. Therefore, since the echo data is not written in the image memory 14, the left and right display images of the CRT 18 are both frozen. In this case, in the B / D mode display, if the D-mode image is frozen, the frame rate of the B-mode image becomes double that in the case of dual display in real time, so that the displayed image is easy to see. Also, if you freeze the B-mode image,
Since the number of times the ultrasonic pulse is emitted to obtain the D-mode image increases, the maximum detected flow velocity becomes high and the D-mode image becomes easy to see.

Although it is not directly related to the operation of the image freeze key, if you want to freeze the image at a specific time phase of the diastole and systole in the B / B mode, you can use the electrocardiograph.
Use 30. That is, when the R wave signal is output from the electrocardiograph 30, in response to this, the first and second timer circuits 31a, 3
1b is activated. The first timer circuit 31 then outputs a time-up signal after a lapse of T ₁ time. Further, the second timer circuit 31b outputs a time-up signal after a lapse of T ₂ time from the activation. The determination circuit 28 sends the determination signal to the control circuit 6 each time the time-up signals from the first and second timer circuits 31a and 31b are input, so that the control circuit 6 responds to each determination signal. , First gate signal L
Then, the second gate signal R is fixed to the low level. Therefore, of the images dually displayed on the CRT 18, the left image is frozen first, and then the right image is frozen. Therefore, it is possible to selectively take out the B-mode image of a specific time phase after a lapse of T ₁ and T ₂ from the R wave signal of the electrocardiograph 30 for direct comparison observation.

(F) Effect As described above, according to the present invention, the left and right display images in the dual display mode can be individually frozen, so that the optimum image can be displayed in the dual display mode without switching to the single display mode. Obtainable. Also,
Image freeze keys are provided separately for the left and right display images in the dual display mode, so B / B mode, B
In dual display mode of various combinations such as / D mode and B / M mode, each display image can be frozen individually for both or both right and left, the selection of the display screen is expanded, and the convenience of diagnosis is improved. When only one of the images is frozen, the frame rate for the image that is not frozen can be improved. Further, an excellent effect is exhibited such that an image of a specific time phase can be taken out and directly subjected to comparative observation, if necessary.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall structure of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a display image in B / B mode, and FIG. 3 is a display image in B / D mode. It is an explanatory view shown. 1 ... Ultrasonic diagnostic device, 14 ... Image memory, 20a, 20b,
20c: Image freeze key, 28: Discrimination circuit, 34: Image freeze circuit.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having an image memory for storing echo data based on transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves as image data, and a display for displaying the image data stored in the image memory, in a dual display mode. An image freeze key is provided for each of the left and right display images, and a discriminating circuit for discriminating the freeze operation of each image freeze key and a discriminating signal output from this discriminating circuit for each image freeze key are provided. And an image freeze circuit that individually blocks or resumes writing of both echo data for dual display to the image memory based on the above.