JP3308621B2 - 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 hardware configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus used for medical diagnosis, and in particular, a circuit constituting the apparatus is divided into two parts, and data is exchanged between the two parts. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transferring.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, all circuits of the apparatus are integrated into one, and a housing for accommodating all the circuits is placed at a place where the apparatus is used. An example is the Medical Ultrasound Equipment Handbook (page 100, Corona). JP-A-57-170230 discloses an example in which most of the signal processing circuit of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is integrated in a probe.

[0003]

In the prior art, since the entire circuit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is placed at the place where the apparatus is used, the circuit scale and power consumption of the apparatus are limited depending on the place of use. For example, if a hospital examination room is small and the allowable power is small, a large-sized, high-power-consumption ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus cannot be installed. Also, when a new function is added to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the circuit scale and the power consumption are limited. If the restriction is not satisfied, it is difficult to add a new function. Therefore, in order for the device to be usable in any diagnostic location,
It needs to be compact and high-performance. However, the high performance and compactness of the device
In general, they are in conflict. In other words, the higher the performance, the larger the circuit scale and power consumption, while the smaller the size, the more the performance is limited. One solution to this problem is circuit integration. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-170230, most of the device circuits are integrated in a probe, and according to this method, a compact and high-performance device can be realized. However, there is a limit to the integration of the circuit, and even if the circuits of the high-performance ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus are integrated as much as possible, the conditions of the circuit scale and power consumption imposed depending on the place of use may not be satisfied.

An object of the present invention is to provide a compact and high-performance ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which satisfies conditions of a circuit scale and power consumption imposed by a place of use by a method other than high integration of circuits. is there.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, a probe for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from a subject, and a voltage is applied to the probe. A transmitting circuit, an amplifier circuit for amplifying a plurality of reflected ultrasonic signals received by the probe, an AD converter for digitizing the amplified plurality of received signals, and a plurality of digitized received signals Phase-adjusting circuit, an adding circuit that adds a plurality of signals that have been adjusted in phase, a detection circuit that converts the added signal into an image signal, and a Doppler circuit that converts the added signal into a blood flow signal. A display circuit for displaying an image signal and a blood flow signal; a control circuit for controlling the entire circuit of the device; and a console used by a user of the device for diagnosis, a probe, a transmission circuit, and an amplifier circuit. , AD converter, display circuit and console in the first case The phasing circuit, the addition circuit, the detection circuit, the Doppler circuit, and the control circuit are housed in a second housing, and data transfer from the first housing to the second housing is performed in the first housing. A first modulation circuit that modulates the output signal of the first case, a first transfer unit that transfers the modulated signal, and a first demodulation circuit that demodulates the transferred data and uses it as an input signal to the second housing. The data transfer from the second housing to the first housing is performed by a second modulation circuit that modulates an output signal of the second housing, and a second transfer that transfers the modulated signal. Means and a second demodulation circuit which demodulates the transferred data and makes it an input signal to the first housing.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the entire circuit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is divided into two parts, the first part is placed at the place of use of the apparatus, the second part is placed at a place other than the place of use of the apparatus, and digital data is placed between the parts. Perform a transfer. As a result, a device that looks compact at the place of use can operate with high performance by transferring data with a separately installed circuit.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, U1 is a first housing, U2 is a second housing, PB is a probe, TR is a transmission circuit, AMP is an amplification circuit, A / D is an AD converter, and PC is a phasing circuit. , SU is an addition circuit, DT is a detection circuit, DOP is a Doppler circuit, CRT is a display circuit, OP is a console, CNT is a control circuit, M1 is a first modulator, T1 is first transfer means,
D1 is the first demodulator, M2 is the second modulator, T2 is the second demodulator
D2 is the second demodulator, ADS is the output signal of the AD converter, OPS is the output signal of the console, DTS is the output signal of the detection circuit, DOPS is the output signal of the Doppler circuit, C
NTS1 is an output signal of a control circuit that controls all circuits included in the housing 1, and CNTS2 is an output signal of a control circuit that controls all circuits included in the housing 2. ADS, OPS, D
TS, DOPS, CNTS1, CNTS2 are all digital signals.

A probe PB, a transmitting circuit TR, an amplifying circuit AMP, an AD converter A / D, and a display circuit C are provided in a first housing U1.
The RT and the console OP are housed, and the phasing circuit PC, the adding circuit SU, the detecting circuit DT, and the Doppler circuit DO are provided in the second housing U2.
P, which stores the control circuit CNT. Data transfer from the first case U1 to the second case U2 is performed by a first modulation circuit M1 for modulating an output signal of the first case and a first transfer unit for transferring the modulated signal. This is performed by T1 and a first demodulation circuit D1 which demodulates the transferred data and uses it as an input signal to the second housing. Data transfer from the second housing to the first housing is performed by a second modulation circuit M that modulates an output signal of the second housing.
2 and second transfer means T2 for transferring the modulated signal.
And a second demodulation circuit D2 which demodulates the transferred data and uses it as an input signal to the first case.

The PB to which the transmission voltage has been applied by the TR transmits an ultrasonic wave to the subject. The same PB receives a plurality of reflection signals from the subject. After a plurality of received signals are amplified by AMP, they are digitized by A / D and become ADS. The ADS is modulated by M1, transferred by T1, demodulated by D1, and becomes an input signal of the PC. The PC adjusts the phases of the plurality of received signals, and adds the signals having the same phase using the SU.
DT converts the added signal into an image signal DTS,
Converts the added signal into a blood flow signal DOPS. DTS
And DOPS are modulated by M2, transferred by T2, demodulated by D2, and become an input signal of a CRT. DTS and D on CRT
Display OPS.

The user of the device controls the device from the console. The output signal OPS of the console is M1, T1, D like ADS.
The signal is transferred to U2 via 1 and becomes an input signal of CNT. C
NT converts the OPS into a control signal. The control signal that does not require an instruction from the user is automatically generated by the CNT. U
The circuit in U1 is CNTS1 and the circuit in U2 is CNT
It is controlled by S2. CNTS1 is DTS, DOPS
Similarly, it is transferred to U1 via M2, T2 and D2. In FIG. 1, to make the block diagram easier to see, CNTS in U1
1, Although the control destination of CNTS2 in U2 is not specified,
Actually, it controls all circuits in each case. In FIG. 1, O
The PS is converted into a control signal in the CNT, but the OPS can be directly used as a control signal for circuits in U1 and U2.

It is desirable that the number of elements be large in order for the tomographic image to be high definition, and that the number of AD converters be the same as the number of elements in order for the apparatus to have a high frame rate. For example, if the number of elements is 128, the AD converter is 1
You need 28. At this time, the output signal AD of the AD converter
When S is directly transferred from U1 to U2, (128 × A /
(The number of bits of D) is required, and the scale of T1 becomes enormous. Therefore, the signal is modulated. Optical communication is one of the modulation methods for reducing the number of signal lines. In this case, the modulation circuits M1 and M2 are light emitting circuits, the transfer means T1 and T2 are optical fibers, and the demodulation circuits D1 and D2 are light receiving circuits.

U1 is installed at a place where the apparatus is used, and U2 is installed at a place other than the place where the apparatus is used. U1 has a compact configuration so that it can cope with a case where the installation place is small and the power consumption is small. Therefore, in the present invention, the circuits housed in U1 are limited to only those circuits that are essential in the place where the device is used. In a normal ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the phasing unit, the Doppler unit, and the control unit have a large circuit scale and large power consumption. In the present invention, these three are housed in U2, so that U1 can be designed to be compact and highly integrated.

U2 accommodates all the circuits that cannot be accommodated in U1. Since all data transfer between the housings is performed digitally, there is no information deterioration at the time of transfer even if U1 and U2 are separated by a long distance. Therefore, U2 is placed in an installation place, a basement room where power consumption is sufficient, or the like. As a result, for the circuit of U2, the performance is emphasized, and the circuit scale and the power consumption are not considered so much.
Various functions can be added. In a normal ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the function of the function greatly changes the performance of the apparatus in the phasing unit and the Doppler unit. In the present invention, these two are housed in U2, so that the performance of the device can be easily improved.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a method of connecting U1 and U2. U1C is a connector attached to U1, U1RC is a connector attached to a place where U1 is installed, U2C is a connector attached to U2, and U2RC is a connector attached to a place where U2 is installed. U1 and U2 are connectors U to the optical fiber, respectively.
1C and U2C are provided on the surface of the housing. For example, U1 is placed in the examination room and U2 is placed in the basement. In the examination room where U1 is used, for example, optical fibers T1 and T2 emerge from a wall or the like, and the end of the fiber is a connector U1R provided in the examination room.
C. Even in the basement where U2 is installed, the optical fibers T1 and T2 protrude from walls and the like, and the end of the fiber is a connector U2RC provided in the basement.
When using the device, U1RC is connected to U1C and U2RC
Are connected to U2C, and mutually transfer data.

If U2 is not moved from the installation location, the optical fiber coming out of the basement wall or the like is directly connected to U2 without using a connector. On the other hand, since U1 is compact, it is easy to move. Therefore, each hospital room, each operating room, etc.
Install 1RC. The user moves U1 to the place of use as appropriate, connects U1RC and U1C at the place of use, performs data transfer with U2, and performs imaging.

U1 accommodates only essential circuits in the place where the apparatus is used and is integrated as much as possible, so that it can be manufactured at a low price. Therefore, it is possible to configure a system with a plurality of U1s and one U2. This is shown in FIG. SW is a switch. In FIG. 3, there are four U1, and they are U11, U12, U13, and U14, respectively. At this time, each U1 must form a tomographic image in real time. If U2 can simultaneously process the four signals U11 to U14 in real time, it is possible to operate U1 in four places at the same time without the need for SW. However, if U2 can process only one U1 signal, one U1 is selected by SW, and only the selected U1 performs imaging. In this case, only one U1 can be operated at the same time. For example, if U1 is held at each floor of the hospital, there is no need to move U1 between each floor.

Further, by mounting U2 on a patrol car and bringing U1 to a private residence, it can be applied to home medical treatment and patrol diagnosis. This example is shown in FIG. CAR is a patrol car, HO
ME is a private residence. Leave the large U2 in the car and put the compact U1 in the house. U2 power is supplied by the patrol car. Thereby, the patient can perform high-performance ultrasonic diagnosis even in a private residence without going to the hospital. Schools, nursing homes, etc. may be considered as destinations for bringing U1.

The configuration of the data transfer section will be described. ADS has the largest amount of data. For example, the A / D amplitude resolution is 8 bits, and the time resolution is 40 nsec (25 MHz).
z), if the number of elements is 128, the total data transfer amount is 25 Gb
It / sec. One optical fiber is 2Tbit / sec
Since T1 can be transferred, T1 can be constituted by one optical fiber. However, one set of light emitting circuit and light receiving circuit requires 25 Gbit
/ Sec is difficult to transfer, and a plurality of light emitting circuits and light receiving circuits are required. For example, if one set of light emitting circuit and light receiving circuit has a transfer rate of 2 Gbit / sec, M1 requires 13 light emitting circuits and D1 requires 13 light receiving circuits.

At this time, it is possible to transfer the signals of a plurality of light emitting circuits with one optical fiber, and it is also possible to transfer the signals of one light emitting circuit with one optical fiber. However, considering the operability of U1RC, it is better that the number of optical fibers constituting T1 is small. OPS, DT
The data amount of S, DOPS and CNTS1 is ADS
Since the OPS can be transferred by the same circuit as the ADS since it is smaller by two digits or more, a single set of a light emitting circuit and a light receiving circuit is sufficient for transferring DTS, DOPS, and CNTS1. Further, if bidirectional optical communication is possible, T1 and T2 can be combined into one optical fiber.

Further, according to the present invention, if the device is upgraded only by modifying the circuit of U2, only U2 needs to be replaced at the time of upgrading, so that upgrade is possible.

[0021]

According to the present invention, the entire circuit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is housed in two housings, and the first housing, which is compact, is placed at the place where the apparatus is used, and the large scale necessary for high-performance imaging is obtained. The second housing having a simple circuit is placed at a place other than the place where the apparatus is used, and digital data is transferred between the housings. As a result, a compact and high-performance ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be realized at the place of use without high integration of the circuit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram in a case where a first housing and a second housing are connected by an optical fiber.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram in a case where a plurality of first housings is connected to one second housing.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a case where a first housing is brought into a private residence and a second housing is installed on a patrol car.

[Explanation of symbols]

U1: first housing, U2: second housing, PB: probe,
TR: transmission circuit, AMP: amplification circuit, A / D: AD converter, PC: phasing circuit, SU: addition circuit, DT: detection circuit, DOP: Doppler circuit, CRT: display circuit, OP: console, CNT: control circuit, M1: first modulator, T1 ...
First transfer means, D1 first demodulator, M2 second modulator, T2 second transfer means, D2 second demodulator.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masao Kan 1-280 Higashi Koigakubo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo Central Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-5-130993 (JP, A) JP-A-5 JP-A-228139 (JP, A) JP-A-4-208141 (JP, A) JP-A-61-113435 (JP, A) JP-A-2-98344 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-201517 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 8/00-8/15

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A probe for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from a subject;
A wave transmitting circuit that applies a voltage to the probe, an AD converter that digitizes a plurality of amplified received signals, and a signal that is obtained by processing an ultrasonic signal received by the probe. A display circuit for displaying image signals, a console,
A first modulator for modulating an output signal of the console or the AD converter;
A first housing accommodating the above-mentioned modulation circuit, an amplification circuit for amplifying a plurality of reflected ultrasonic signals received by the probe, and a phasing for phasing the phase of an output signal of the AD converter. A phase circuit, an addition circuit that adds the output signals of the phasing circuit, and a detection circuit that converts the added signal into an image signal,
A Doppler circuit for converting the signal after addition into a blood flow signal, a circuit stored in the first housing, a control circuit for controlling the amplification circuit, the phasing circuit, the addition circuit, the detection circuit, and the Doppler circuit; A second housing in which the detection circuit or the Doppler circuit or a second modulation circuit for modulating an output signal of the control circuit is housed. The first housing further includes the first housing. A first transfer unit that transfers an output signal of the modulation circuit to the second housing; and a second demodulation circuit that demodulates an input signal from the second modulation circuit; The body further includes a second transfer unit that transfers an output signal of the second modulation circuit to the first housing, and a first demodulation circuit that receives an output from the first transfer unit as an input. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: 2. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an optical fiber as said first transfer means and said second transfer means, wherein a light emitting element is provided in said first housing and said second housing. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a light receiving element;