JP2814899B2 - Ultrasound diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which irradiates a living body with ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic probe and obtains a tomographic image by a reflected wave from the living body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus will be described with reference to a schematic block diagram shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, an electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe 1, a pulse generator 2, a transmission delay circuit 3, a driver 4, a preamplifier 5, a delay circuit group 6a, and a delay circuit group. 6b, a focus changeover switch 7, a signal processing unit 8, a display unit 9, and a motherboard 40.

In FIG. 1, first, a transmission trigger pulse is generated from a pulse generator 2, transmission focus is performed by a transmission delay circuit 3, and a plurality of strip-shaped transducers arranged in the ultrasonic probe 1 by a driver 4. To generate ultrasonic waves. The echo signal from the living body is received by the transducer of the ultrasonic probe 1, amplified by the preamplifier 5, and then sent simultaneously to two delay circuit groups 6a and 6b mounted on the same surface of the motherboard 40. Here, an appropriate delay time is given to the echo signal of each channel, and the ultrasonic beams are focused on a predetermined point by synthesizing (delay synthesizing) them.

[0005] One of the two delay circuit groups 6a and 6b is selected by the focus switch 7, and the selected delay circuit group 6a or 6b receives an echo signal.
During the delay synthesis, the other delay circuit group 6b or 6a mounted on the same surface of the motherboard 40 performs the operation of setting the delay time data of the next focus point.
Thereafter, the focus changeover switch 7 is switched, and the same processing is performed on the echo signal from the next focus point. By alternately switching these, the focus points are changed one after another, and the echo signals received from each point are delayed and synthesized. The delay-combined reception echo signal is signal-processed by the signal processing unit 8 and displayed on the display unit 9 as a tomographic image.

As described above, in the delay circuit groups 6a and 6b, the focus point is dynamically moved in the depth direction by sequentially changing the delay time, and a narrow beam is formed from the shallow part to the deep part, and the resolution is improved. An excellent tomographic image can be obtained.

[0007]

However, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus described above, since both of the two delay circuit groups 6a and 6b are mounted on the same surface of the motherboard 40, the setting of the delay time data is performed. Electromagnetic noise caused by a digital signal generated from one of the delay circuit groups 6a or 6b performing the operation affects the other delay circuit group 6b or 6a performing the delay synthesis of the echo signal. As a result, a problem of deteriorating the S / N of the image occurs.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. Electromagnetic noise caused by setting of delay time data in one delay circuit group causes the other delay circuit to focus on an echo signal. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of reducing the influence on a group and improving the S / N of an image.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the technical means of the present invention is to provide a motherboard on which a substrate can be mounted on both sides, and first and second means for providing delay time data so as to focus a received echo signal. A second delay circuit group;
While the first or second delay circuit group is receiving the echo signal, the other delay circuit group is caused to perform the operation of setting the delay data, and is alternately switched over time according to the reception depth of the echo signal. Control means for controlling the focus switching means, wherein the two delay circuit groups focus on an echo signal from electromagnetic noise caused by a digital signal which operates when delay time data is set in one of the delay circuit groups. Are separately arranged on both sides of the motherboard so as to be shielded by the motherboard.

Another technical means of the present invention for achieving the above object is the above technical means, wherein a first memory storing delay time data given to a first delay circuit group;
A second memory for storing delay time data to be given to the second delay circuit group, identification means for recognizing a motherboard surface provided with a delay circuit group provided on each surface of the motherboard; Selecting means for selecting delay time data to be set by changing the read or write address of the first or second memory from the information.

[0011] Then, the above motherboard has a solid G
ND is inserted, or the motherboard is on one side,
Alternatively, it is preferable that sheet metal is attached to both sides.

[0012]

According to the present invention, an electromagnetic noise caused by a digital signal generated from one of the delay circuit groups performing the operation of setting the delay time data is shielded by the motherboard, and the other delay circuit which focuses the echo signal. The circuit group can be prevented from being affected.

Further, the selection means can select the delay time data to be set only by changing the read or write address of the memory storing the delay time data in each delay circuit group from the information of the identification means. It is sufficient to prepare two delay circuits having exactly the same configuration.

[0014]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an array of a plurality of strip-shaped transducers, which emits ultrasonic waves to a living body,
An ultrasonic probe for receiving an echo signal from a living body, a pulse generator for generating an ultrasonic transmission pulse, a delay circuit for performing transmission focus, and an ultrasonic probe for generating an ultrasonic wave 1 is a driver for driving the transducer, 5 is a preamplifier for amplifying the echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe 1, 6a and 6b are delay circuits for performing reception dynamic focus, 7 is two delay circuits 6a, A focus changeover switch for selecting one of 6b, a signal processing unit 8 for digitally performing signal processing, a display unit 9 for displaying an image as a tomographic image, and a mother board 10 capable of mounting substrates on both sides. The two delay circuit groups 6a and 6b are separately arranged. Numeral 12 is on the motherboard 10, and identification means for recognizing which surface of the motherboard 10 has the two delay circuit groups 6a and 6b mounted thereon. Reference numerals 11a and 11b denote the respective delay circuit groups 6a and 6b from the information of the identification means 12. And selecting a delay time data to be set by changing a read address or a write address of each memory (not shown) storing the delay time data given to the memory.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. First, a transmission trigger pulse is generated from the pulse generator 2, transmission focus is performed by the transmission delay circuit 3, and the driver of the ultrasonic probe 1 is driven by the driver 4 to move the ultrasonic wave to a predetermined focus point in the living body. Focus the beam. The echo signal from the living body is the ultrasonic probe 1
, And amplified by the preamplifier 5, and then sent to two delay circuit groups 6a and 6b mounted on both sides of the motherboard 10 at the same time to be delay-combined. One of the delay circuit groups 6a and 6b is selected from the outputs from the delay circuit groups 6a and 6b by the focus changeover switch 7. One of the selected delay circuit groups 6a,
Alternatively, a delayed echo signal is output from 6b. In the other delay circuit group 6b or 6a that has not been selected, the delay time at the next focus point is set.

In this way, the delay circuit group 6b or 6a for setting the delay time is alternately switched over time according to the reception depth of the echo signal. Then, in order to alternately set the delay time, the delay data of the delay circuit groups 6a and 6b separately arranged on both sides of the motherboard 10 are stored in the memory, and the identification means is used to perform the focus switching control. 12, these two delay circuit groups 6
a and 6b are identified on which side of the motherboard 10 are mounted, and from the information of the identification means 12, the selection means 1
1a and 11b select the delay data to be set by changing the read or write address of the memory. The received echo signal delayed and synthesized as described above is signal-processed by the signal processing unit 8 and displayed on the display unit 9 as a tomographic image.

As described above, according to the first embodiment,
Since the electromagnetic noise due to the digital signal of the delay circuit group 6a or 6b that operates at the time of setting the delay time data is shielded by the motherboard 10, the electromagnetic noise is transmitted to the delay circuit group 6b or 6a focusing on the echo signal. The effect can be reduced. In addition, since the selectors 11a and 11b and the identifier 12 are provided, the data of the delay circuits 6a and 6b in the delay circuit groups 6a and 6b can be read from the memory storing the delay time data or the delay time data can be changed simply by changing the write address. Can be selected. Therefore, it is sufficient to prepare two delay circuit groups 6 having exactly the same configuration, so that the cost can be reduced.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The feature of this embodiment is that, as shown in FIG.
Is used using the motherboard 20 in which is inserted.

According to the above configuration, the electromagnetic noise caused by the digital signal generated from the delay circuit group 6a or 6b performing the setting operation of the delay time data is shielded by the solid GND 13 on the inner layer of the motherboard 20, so that the electromagnetic noise is prevented. It is possible to further reduce the effect of the target noise on the delay circuit group 6b or 6a focusing the echo signal.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing an electronic scanning type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The feature of this embodiment is that, as shown in FIG. 3, a motherboard 30 having a sheet metal 14 mounted on one or both sides is used.

According to the above configuration, since the electromagnetic noise due to the digital signal generated from the delay circuit group 6a or 6b performing the setting operation of the delay time data is shielded by the sheet metal 14 mounted on the motherboard 30, this electromagnetic It is possible to further reduce the effect of the target noise on the delay circuit group 6b or 6a focusing the echo signal.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, 2
Since one delay circuit group is arranged on both sides of the motherboard, one delay circuit group focuses on echo signals from electromagnetic noise due to digital signals that operate when delay time data is set. Can be shielded by motherboard. Therefore, the S / N of an image can be significantly improved.

Further, by providing the selection means and the identification means, the selection means should be set only by changing the read or write address of the memory storing the delay time data in each delay circuit group from the information of the identification means. Since the delay time data can be selected, two delay circuits having exactly the same configuration may be prepared, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

If a solid GND is inserted into the inner layer of the motherboard, the effect of shielding electromagnetic noise can be further enhanced.

By mounting a sheet metal on one or both sides of the motherboard, the effect of shielding electromagnetic noise can be further enhanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ultrasonic probe 2 pulse generator 3 transmission delay circuit 4 transmission driver 5 preamplifier 6 a delay circuit group 6 b delay circuit group 7 focus switch 8 signal processing unit 9 display unit 10 motherboard 11 a selection unit 11 b selection unit 12 identification Means 13 Solid GND layer 14 Sheet metal 20 Motherboard 30 Motherboard

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-56-112234 (JP, A) JP-A-3-36796 (JP, A) JP-A-3-13795 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A61B 8/14 G01N 29/06

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A motherboard on which substrates can be mounted on both sides, a first and a second delay circuit group for providing delay time data so as to focus a received echo signal, and one of the first and second delay circuits While receiving the echo signal in the circuit group, the other delay circuit group performs the setting operation of the delay time data, and focus switching means for alternately switching control over time according to the reception depth of the echo signal, The two delay circuit groups are so arranged that the other delay circuit group focusing on the echo signal from the electromagnetic noise caused by the digital signal operating when setting the delay time data in one of the delay circuit groups can be shielded by the motherboard. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment placed separately on both sides of the motherboard. 2. A first memory storing delay time data to be applied to a first delay circuit group, a second memory storing delay time data to be applied to a second delay circuit group, and respective surfaces of a motherboard. Identification means for recognizing a motherboard surface on which a delay circuit group provided in the first and second memories is read out from information of the identification means;
2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects a delay time data to be set by changing a write address. 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motherboard has a solid GND inserted in an inner layer. 4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motherboard is provided with a sheet metal on one side or both sides.