JP3224399B2 - 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 a method of transmitting ultrasonic waves to a subject and receiving reflected waves of the ultrasonic waves, so that when imaging the subject, the returning ultrasonic waves having a slow return time from the transmission to the reception are distant and weak. More particularly, the present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs a time gain control (TGC) process for receiving data with a higher gain, and has a function of storing TGC data related to the TGC process and a function of displaying the TGC data on a display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus does not have a function of storing TGC data with respect to storing data of imaging conditions such as a switch state at the time of operation, a set value of a volume, and a display mode.

[0003]

When the operator is a novice, when many receiving probes are exchanged and used, or when the same patient is frequently re-examined, past examination data can be displayed. Doing so is important for improving operability.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to store TGC data in addition to imaging condition data that can be stored conventionally, so that a past imaging environment can be accurately and easily reproduced.

[0005]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a subject, 2 denotes a transmitting device, 3 denotes a receiving device, 4 denotes a TGC processing unit, 5 denotes an image processing unit, 6 denotes an output device, 7 denotes a setting device, 10 denotes a TGC data control unit, and 20 denotes a TGC data control unit.
Is a TGC display control unit, 30 is a TGC memory, and 40 is a TG
C register, 60 is a TGC data set value storage controller, 7
0 indicates a display.

The transmitting device 2 transmits an ultrasonic wave toward the subject 1, and the receiving device 3 receives the ultrasonic wave that is reflected back from the subject 1.

[0007] The TGC processing unit 4 performs time gain control processing for increasing the gain and receiving the farther and weaker ultrasonic waves with a later returning time.

[0008] The setting device 7 is a device for an operator to set TGC data.

The image processing unit 5 converts the signal subjected to the TGC processing into an image, and the output device 6 outputs the image.

The TGC data control unit 10 responds to a command by
The GC data is read from the TGC register 40, and the TG
Control is performed so as to be stored in the C memory 30.

The TGC display control unit 20 responds to a command by
Old TGC data and TGC stored in the C memory 30
Control is performed so that the TGC data at the time of operation stored in the register 40 is read and displayed on the display 70, the setting device 7, or the output device 6.

The TGC memory 30 stores TGC data, and the TGC register 40 sequentially stores TGC data at the time of operation. Needless to say, the number of TGC data stored in the TGC memory 30 is not limited to one.

The TGC data set value storage controller 60 controls the TGC register to sequentially store TGC data at the time of operation.

The display 70 is a device for displaying the old TGC data and the TGC data at the time of operation. However, the display 70 does not have to be provided separately from the output device 6 or the setting device 7. May be provided, and the setting device 7 may be provided with a display function.

[0015]

When a command for storing TGC data is issued by an operator by operating an operation member (not shown ) , TGC data is stored.
The GC data control unit 10 causes the TGC memory 30 to store the current TGC data stored in the TGC register 40.

The old TGC is operated by operating a not-shown operator.
When a data display command is issued, the TGC display control unit 20 transmits the old TGC data corresponding to the display command to the TG
The data is read out from the C memory 30 and displayed, and the TGC data at that time is displayed.

[0017]

FIG. 2 shows a data display example (1) of the present invention. Here, five TGC data are adjusted. In the setting device, a plurality of lamps 80-i and volume switches 90-i are prepared for each data. Past TG
In accordance with the C data display command, the past TGC data is displayed by a lamp. For example, as shown in the figure, the second lamp from the left is turned on for data 1, the third lamp from the right is turned on for data 2, ..., and the third lamp from the right is turned on for data 5. Then, the operator completes the adjustment of the TGC data by moving each volume switch 90-i to the position of the lamp as shown by the arrow in the figure. Further, when the difference between the past TGC data and the TGC data at the time of operation becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the lamp for the data is turned off, so that more accurate adjustment can be performed.

FIG. 3 shows a data display example (2) of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the TGC data is displayed on the setting device, but in FIG. 3, it is displayed on the output device together with the photographed image of the subject. TGC data is numerically displayed, and the left represents past data and the right represents current data. If the operator adjusts the current data so that the right value and the left value become equal, the adjustment of the TGC data is completed.

FIG. 4 shows a data display example (3) of the present invention. The TGC data is indicated by a polygonal line, with a solid line indicating past data and a dotted line indicating current data. The operator adjusts the data as in the case shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a data display example (4) of the present invention. The TGC data is displayed in a bar graph. The upper black bar indicates past data, and the lower white bar indicates current data.

In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a timer is provided to delete the display of the TGC data after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of the display, or to display the TGC data of the past operation and the TGC data at the time of operation.
If the display of the TGC data is erased when all the differences from the GC data become equal to or less than a predetermined value, the screen of the output device can be largely used after the data adjustment.

[0022]

According to the present invention, by providing a function of storing and displaying past TGC data, past data can be called, and past inspection conditions can be easily reproduced, and operability can be improved. improves.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a data display example (1) of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a data display example (2) of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a data display example (3) of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a data display example (4) of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 subject 2 transmitting device 3 receiving device 4 TGC processing unit 5 image processing unit 6 output device 7 setting unit 10 TGC data control unit 20 TGC display control unit 30 TGC memory 40 TGC register 60 TGC data set value storage control unit 70 display

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 8/00-8/15 Practical file (PATOLIS) Patent file (PATOLIS)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A transmitting device for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject;
A receiving device for receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected back from the subject and a time gain control (TG) for adjusting the gain according to the return time from transmission to reception to receive the ultrasonic wave;
C) a processing unit, a setting device for setting TGC data relating to the TGC process, an image processing unit for converting the signal subjected to the TGC process into an image, and an output device for outputting the image; A TGC register in which current TGC data corresponding to a current setting state of the setting device is stored; and a current TGC data corresponding to a current setting state of the setting device in the TGC register. T to control
A GC data set value storage control unit, a TGC memory for storing old TGC data corresponding to a past setting state of the setting device, and a current TGC data stored in the TGC register
Is stored in the TGC memory as old TGC data.
A first operator for instructing to, upon receiving an operation of the operator's first operator, before Symbol T
Table reads the current TGC data stored in the GC register, before Symbol TGC memory, and TGC data control unit for controlling so as to store the old TGC data, the old TGC data stored in the TGC memory As shown in the figure, it is integrated with the setting device or the output device.
The setting device and the output device
The display unit that is configured independently of the shift and the old TGC data stored in the TGC memory are
Receiving a second operator instructing display on the display unit and an operation of the second operator by the operator,
Read old TGC data stored in GC memory
And a TGC display control unit for displaying on the display unit. 2. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display unit stores the TGC register.
The stored current TGC data is stored in the TGC memory.
This is displayed together with the stored old TGC data.
Thus, the TGC control unit operates the second operator by the operator.
Receiving the old TGC stored in the TGC memory
Data and the current TGC stored in the TGC register
Read both the data and the old TGC data
Data and the current TGC data are displayed on the display unit.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is configured to perform the operation . 3. The TGC display control section controls the old TGC data.
Data and the current TGC data are smaller than a predetermined value.
Request to erase the display on the display unit when
Item 7. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Item 1.