JP3431997B2 - 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, and more particularly, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which scans a living body three-dimensionally with ultrasonic pulses and receives ultrasonic echoes to obtain a three-dimensional ultrasonic tomographic image. The present invention relates to a diagnostic device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses of this kind have been proposed in the past, and the applicant of the present invention has also proposed, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-265.
In Japanese Patent No. 536, as shown in FIG. 6, the ultrasonic transducer 2 is rotated via a shaft 3 in the ultrasonic probe 1 for radial scanning, and the ultrasonic transducer 2 is synchronized with the radial scanning. Has been proposed in which the body cavity wall 4 is spirally three-dimensionally scanned to obtain a three-dimensional ultrasonic image by linearly scanning the ultrasonic probe 1 in the axial direction of the ultrasonic probe 1.

[0003]

According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus proposed by the applicant of the present invention, since the radial scanning and the linear scanning are performed in synchronization with each other, the relative speed between the two is changed even if the scanning speed is changed. Does not change and is therefore always 3 under constant conditions.
There is an advantage that a three-dimensional ultrasonic image signal can be obtained.

However, according to the study by the present inventor, it has been found that the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus described above has some points to be improved as described below. That is, in order to obtain a three-dimensional ultrasonic image signal, it is necessary to confirm by radial scanning whether or not the region of interest 5 such as a lesion can be accurately extracted before the spiral three-dimensional scanning.
Dimensional scanning is started to acquire an ultrasonic image signal. However, when the region of interest 5 is located at the end of the three-dimensional scanning range as shown in FIG. 6 during the confirmation by the radial scanning, even if the three-dimensional scanning is carried out thereafter, only the shaded portion is 3 There arises a problem that the three-dimensional ultrasonic image signal cannot be captured. Further, even if the operator accurately extracts the region of interest 5 at the origin of image acquisition (probe tip side) of three-dimensional scanning, the origin position is the end of the three-dimensional scanning range. There arises a problem that the three-dimensional ultrasonic image signal including the entire area 5 cannot be captured.

As a method for solving such a problem, 3
It is conceivable that the operator estimates the amount of movement of the ultrasonic probe 1 and moves the ultrasonic probe 1 manually so that the region of interest 5 is located in the approximate center of the dimensional scanning range. However, since the operation becomes troublesome and it is not guaranteed that the entire region of interest 5 is included in the three-dimensional scanning range, the same problem may occur. It is also conceivable to construct a three-dimensional image once, and confirm from the displayed image whether or not the region of interest 5 is within the three-dimensional scanning range, and then record the image. Since a three-dimensional image is constructed prior to the above, there is a problem that it takes too long before confirmation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus appropriately configured so that a three-dimensional ultrasonic image signal of the entire region of interest can be easily and quickly obtained. .

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ultrasonic transducer by combining a first scan by a first scan drive means and a linear scan by a second scan drive means. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that scans to obtain an ultrasonic image, a stop position detection unit that detects a stop position at which the linear scan is stopped in the middle of a scanning range of the linear scan by the second scan drive unit, Image capture start means for outputting an image capture start signal, and the linear scan is stopped at the stop position to repeatedly perform the first scan, and output while the linear scan is stopped at the stop position. In response to the image capture start signal, the first and second linear scans are performed so that the stopped state of the linear scan is released and the first scan and the linear scan are performed. It is characterized in that a control means for controlling the 査 drive means.

It is preferable that the first scanning by the first scanning driving means is a radial scanning in order to simplify the structure of each scanning driving means.

It is preferable that the stop position is set substantially at the center of the scanning range of the linear scanning by the second scanning driving means, because the three-dimensional ultrasonic image signal of the entire region of interest can be obtained more reliably. .

[0010]

According to the present invention, the ultrasonic transducer is linearly scanned by the second scanning driving means detected by the stop position detecting means until the image capturing start signal is input from the image capturing start means to the control means. When the first scan is repeatedly performed by the first scan driving unit at the stop position in the middle of the scanning range, and the image capture start signal is input while the linear scan is stopped at the stop position, the first scan is started. Scanning is performed by a combination of first scanning by the scanning driving means and linear scanning by the second scanning driving means.

[0011]

1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an ultrasonic probe 11 is provided with a shaft 14 extending into a sheath 13 forming an insertion portion thereof, and an ultrasonic transducer 12 is fixed to a tip portion of the shaft 14. A rear end portion of the shaft 14 is connected to a connector 15 that rotates integrally with the shaft 14 in a probe outer frame 18 provided at a proximal end portion of the ultrasonic probe 11 that is detachably coupled to the drive portion 16.

The drive unit 16 is provided with a motor 19 constituting a first scanning drive means, and a connector 17 is connected to the motor 19 via a drive transmission shaft 20. The connector 17 is detachably connected to the connector 15 on the ultrasonic probe 11 side, and a mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the drive transmission shaft 20 to the ultrasonic transducer 12 via the connector 15 and the shaft 14, and the connector 15. In the connected state, the drive transmission shaft 20
It moves without rotating in the axial direction of the connector 15,
The shaft 14 and the ultrasonic transducer 12 are configured to move integrally in the axial direction in a rotated state. Further, the connector 17 is provided with a flange 21 on an outer portion which is movable only in the axial direction, and a ball screw 22 connected to an output shaft of a stepping motor 23 which constitutes a second scanning drive means is screwed into the flange 21. .

Further, inside the drive unit 16, a connector 17 is provided.
In order to detect the axial position of the ultrasonic transducer 12, that is, the position of the ultrasonic transducer 12 in the rotational axis direction.
The three photo interrupters 26, 27 and 28 are provided along the axial direction so that the position of the photo interrupter can be detected. In addition,
These photo interrupters 26, 27 and 28 are located at the tip end side of the photo interrupter 26 when viewed from the motor 19.
And a photo interrupter 27 on the rear end side and a photo interrupter 28 in the middle of them, and
An active (H) signal is output when the flange 21 is detected, and a non-active (L) signal is output when the flange 21 is not detected.

On the other hand, the connectors 15 and 17 are provided with contacts (not shown) which come into contact with each other by their connection, and signal lines (not shown) of the ultrasonic transducer 12 are provided.
Is connected to the contact of the connector 15 through the shaft 14, and the contact of the connector 17 is connected to a cable (not shown).
Also, the ultrasonic transducer 12 and the observation device 25 are connected by connecting to the observation device 25 via the slip ring 24 connected to the drive transmission shaft 20. Also,
Motor 19, stepping motor 23 and observation device 2
5 is controlled by the drive control circuit 40, and the outputs of the photo interrupters 26, 27 and 28 are supplied to the drive control circuit 40. Further, an image capture start switch 80 is connected to the drive control circuit 40.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the image capturing switch 80 and the drive control circuit 40 shown in FIG.
The image capturing switch 80 is configured by a residual contact type that does not recover even if the contact 81 is released. This switch 80 has a non-inverting input terminal of the AND gate 41, A
It is connected to the inverting input terminal of the ND gate 42, one non-inverting input terminal of the NAND gate 43, the inverting input terminal of the AND gate 44, and the inverting input terminal of the AND gate 45, respectively. The output terminals of the AND gates 41 and 42 are O
The output terminals of the OR gate 46 are connected to the input terminals of the R gate 46 and the switching terminals of the selector 47, respectively.

The selector 47 selects a clock input to one input terminal and a higher speed clock input to the other input terminal.
The high-speed clock is selected in the case of, and the clock is selected in the case of L, and its output is supplied to one non-inverting input terminal of the AND gate 48. The output terminal of the AND gate 48 is connected to the clock input terminal of the motor driver 49 that drives the stepping motor 23 so that the stepping motor 23 is driven by the input of the clock.

On the other hand, the output of the photo interrupter 28 is
It is supplied to the inverting input terminal of the AND gate 41 and the other non-inverting input terminal of the NAND gate 43, and the output of the photo interrupter 26 is supplied to one non-inverting input terminal of the NOR gate 50 and the non-inverting input terminal of the AND gate 44. The output of the photo interrupter 27 is the NOR gate 5
It is supplied to the other non-inverting input terminal of 0 and the non-inverting input terminal of the AND gate 45. The output terminal of the NAND gate 43 is connected to the other non-inverting input terminal of the AND gate 48. The output terminal of the NOR gate 50 is connected to the clock input terminal of the JK flip-flop 51. This JK flip-flop 51 pulls up its J and K input terminals to the power supply voltage + V, and connects its Q output terminal to the non-inverting input terminal of the AND gate 42 and the rotation direction control terminal of the motor driver 49.

Further, the output terminal of the AND gate 44 is
The recording start signal terminal of the memory control circuit 52 provided in the observation device 25 shown in FIG. 1 is connected, and the output terminal of the AND gate 45 is connected to the recording end signal terminal of the memory control circuit 52. An ultrasonic image signal obtained by processing the echo signal from the ultrasonic transducer 12 shown in FIG. 1 is supplied to the memory control circuit 52, and the ultrasonic image signal is supplied to a recording start signal terminal and a recording end signal. It is configured to write to the image memory 53 based on the signal supplied to the terminal.

In this embodiment, a signal from an oscillator (not shown) provided in the observation device 25 is supplied to the ultrasonic transducer 12 to transmit ultrasonic waves to the subject, The reflected wave is received by the ultrasonic transducer 12, the echo signal is processed by the observation device 25, and an ultrasonic image of the subject is displayed on a monitor (not shown). Further, the ultrasonic transducer 12 includes a drive transmission shaft 20, a connector 17, and a connector 1 driven by a motor 19.
5 and the shaft 14 to rotate and perform radial scanning, and the stepping motor 23 axially reciprocates integrally with the connector 15 and the shaft 14 via the ball screw 22, the flange 21 and the connector 17 to perform linear scanning. Then, the whole is three-dimensionally scanned in a spiral shape.

When the contact 81 of the capture start switch 80 is off, its output, that is, the image capture start signal A becomes H. In this state, the photo interrupter 2
If 8 does not detect the flange 21 of the connector 17, its output is L, so the output of the AND gate 41 becomes H, and the signal of H is input to the switching terminal of the selector 47 via the OR gate 46. It Therefore, the selector 47 selects the high speed clock, and the high speed clock is input to one non-inverting input terminal of the AND gate 48. Further, in this state, the output of the NAND gate 43 is H, so the AND gate 48 is opened, and as a result, the high speed clock is input to the clock input terminal of the motor driver 49, and the stepping motor 2
3 rotates at high speed, and the ultrasonic transducer 12 moves at high speed in the axial direction of the ultrasonic probe 11 while performing radial scanning to perform linear scanning.

After that, when the flange 21 is detected by the photo interrupter 28, the output of the NAND gate 43 becomes L, the AND gate 48 is closed, and the rotation of the stepping motor 23 is stopped. Therefore, in the ultrasonic transducer 12, the flange 21 has the photo interrupter 28.
Only the radial scan is performed by the motor 19 at the position detected by.

In this state, when the contact 81 of the capture start switch 80 is turned on, the image capture signal A becomes L and the output of the NAND gate 43 becomes H. As a result, the AND gate 38 is opened, the high speed clock is input again to the clock input terminal of the motor driver 49, the stepping motor 23 rotates at high speed, and the ultrasonic transducer 12 again performs ultrasonic scanning while performing radial scanning. The sonic probe 11 moves in the axial direction at high speed to perform linear scanning.

After that, when the flange 21 is detected by the photo interrupter 26 or 27, the NOR gate 5 is detected.
The output of 0 becomes L, and the Q of the JK flip-flop 51 becomes
The output switches from H to L. As a result, the input signal of the rotation direction control terminal of the motor driver 49 becomes L,
The stepping motor 23 rotates in the opposite direction, and the linear scanning direction of the ultrasonic transducer 12 is reversed. After the reversal of the linear scanning direction, the output of the photo interrupter 26 or 27 that has detected the flange 21 returns to L.

By repeating the above operation to perform linear scanning, it is possible to perform spiral three-dimensional scanning within the scanning range shown in FIG. 1 together with radial scanning by the motor 19.

In the above three-dimensional scanning, JK
When the Q output of the flip-flop 51, that is, the input signal to the rotation direction control terminal of the motor driver 49 is H, the flange 21 is in the direction of the photo interrupters 27 to 26 in FIG. 1, that is, the ultrasonic transducer 12 is the ultrasonic probe 11. Of the image capture signal A when the contact 81 of the capture start switch 80 is ON.
Is L, so when moving in this direction, AND
The output of the gate 42 becomes H, the high-speed clock is selected by the selector 47, and the ultrasonic transducer 12 performs high-speed linear scanning. On the other hand, when the Q output of the JK flip-flop 51 is L and the ultrasonic transducer 12 moves to the drive unit 16 side, the AND gates 41 and 42.
Are both L, and the input signal to the switching terminal of the selector 47 is L, so that a normal clock is selected,
The ultrasonic transducer 12 is linearly scanned at a low speed.

On the other hand, in capturing the image in the three-dimensional scanning, the contact 8 of the capture start switch 80 is used.
First, when the flange 21 is detected by the photo interrupter 26 in the ON state of 1, the output of the AND gate 44 becomes H, and the recording start signal B is input to the recording start signal terminal of the memory control circuit 52. Thus, the ultrasonic image signal D obtained by processing the echo signal from the ultrasonic transducer 12 starts to be recorded in the image memory 53. afterwards,
When the flange 21 is detected by the photo interrupter 27, the output of the AND gate 45 becomes H, and the recording end signal C is input to the recording end signal terminal of the memory control circuit 52, whereby the image of the ultrasonic image signal D is obtained. Memory 53
The recording to is completed. In this way, the ultrasonic transducer 1
While 3 performs the three-dimensional scanning of the three-dimensional scanning range of FIG. 1 toward the drive unit 16, the three-dimensional ultrasonic image signal of this range is recorded in the image memory 53 as the ultrasonic image signal.

According to this embodiment, since the photo interrupter 28 for determining the radial scanning position is arranged at the center of the photo interrupters 26, 27 for determining the three-dimensional scanning range, the operator sets the image capturing start switch 80. Until the operation, in the center of the three-dimensional scanning range, the B-mode ultrasonic image obtained only by the radial scanning can be referred to, and thus it can be confirmed that the region of interest exists within the three-dimensional scanning range. Therefore, by operating the image capture start switch 80 after confirmation, a three-dimensional ultrasonic image signal of the entire region of interest can be obtained.

Further, except when the ultrasonic image signal is recorded in the image memory 53 by the three-dimensional scanning, the stepping motor 23 rotates at a high speed and the ultrasonic transducer 12 linearly scans at a high speed. Subjects who have to stop breathing can reduce the time to stop breathing,
Therefore, the burden on the subject can be reduced.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the photo interrupter 28 for determining the radial scanning start position is arranged at the center of the photo interrupters 26, 27 for determining the three-dimensional scanning range, but it is not completely arranged at the center. However, the above effects are not impaired. Further, the detection of the flange 21 can be performed by using another detector such as a limit switch instead of the photo interrupter.

Further, an image capture start switch 80
Can be integrally provided with the ultrasonic probe 11, the drive unit 16, the observation device 25, or the drive control circuit 40.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer 12 records the ultrasonic image signal in the image memory 53 by performing three-dimensional scanning from the tip of the ultrasonic probe 11 toward the drive unit 16 side. Conversely, the ultrasonic image signal may be recorded in the image memory 53 by three-dimensional scanning from the drive unit 16 side toward the tip side of the ultrasonic probe 11.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the photo interrupters 26, 27, 28 are removed and an image capture start signal generation circuit 90 is provided instead of the image capture start switch 80.

FIG. 4 shows a circuit configuration of an example of the image capture start signal generating circuit 90 and the drive control circuit 40 shown in FIG. Image capture start signal generation circuit 90
Is provided with a return contact 91 that is normally energized to the ON side,
The ON-side terminal is connected to the preset terminal of the flip-flop 92, and the OFF-side terminal is connected to the clear terminal of the flip-flop 92. Q of this flip-flop 92
The output terminal is the reset terminal of the timer circuit 93 and the AN.
Connect to one non-inverting input terminal of D-gate 94. The output terminal of the timer circuit 93 passes through the inverter 95 and is connected to JK.
It is connected to the clock input terminal of the flip-flop 96.
Further, the image capture start signal generation circuit 90 is provided with a power-on preset circuit 97, and its output terminal is ANDed.
Connect to the other non-inverting input terminal of the gate 94
The output terminal of the D gate 94 is connected to the JK flip-flop 96.
Connect to the preset terminal of. The JK flip-flop 96 pulls up its J and K input terminals to the power supply voltage + V, and connects its Q output terminal to the input terminal of the gate circuit 54 of the drive control circuit 40 and the inverting input terminal of the AND gate 58. To do.

In the drive control circuit 40, the gate circuit 5
A clock is input to the clock input terminal of No. 4, and its output terminal is connected to the clock input terminal of the motor driver 49 that drives the stepping motor 23, the clock input terminal of the gate circuit 55, and the clock input terminal of the counter 56, respectively. . The output terminal of the counter 56 is connected to the gate opening / closing terminals of the gate circuits 54 and 55, respectively. The output terminal of the gate circuit 55 is connected to the clock input terminal of the JK flip-flop 57. J-
The K flip-flop 57 pulls up its J and K input terminals to the power supply voltage + V, and its Q output terminal has a rotation direction control terminal of the motor driver 49, an addition / subtraction control terminal of the counter 56, and a non-inverting input of the AND gate 58. Connect to each terminal.

Further, the output terminal of the AND gate 58 is
It is connected to the recording signal terminal of the memory control circuit 52 provided in the observation device 25 shown in FIG. This memory control circuit 4
2 is supplied with an ultrasonic image signal D obtained by processing the echo signal from the ultrasonic transducer 12 shown in FIG. 2, and this ultrasonic image signal D is based on the signal supplied to the recording signal terminal. Writing to the image memory 53.

Also in this embodiment, a signal from an oscillator (not shown) provided in the observation device 25 is transmitted to the ultrasonic transducer 12
To the subject, ultrasonic waves are transmitted toward the subject, reflected waves from the subject are received by the ultrasonic transducer 12, and the echo signals are processed by the observation device 25 and are received by a monitor (not shown). The ultrasonic image of the sample is displayed. In addition, the ultrasonic transducer 12 is
The motor 19 rotationally drives the drive transmission shaft 20, the connector 17, the connector 15 and the shaft 14 for radial scanning, and the stepping motor 23 drives the ball screw 22, the flange 21 and the connector 17 together with the connector 15 and the shaft 14. Three-dimensional scanning is performed as a whole spirally by reciprocating integrally in the axial direction and performing linear scanning.

First, the image capture start signal generation circuit 90
The operation of will be described. The power-on preset circuit 97 is
When the power is turned on, the output gradually rises and finally becomes H, whereby the JK flip-flop 96 is preset via the AND gate 94, and the output (image capture start signal) A of its Q output terminal is It becomes H. In this state, when the return contact 91 is manually turned off and then turned on again, a falling signal is supplied to the reset terminal of the timer circuit 93, whereby the timer circuit 93 is reset.
Is output for a fixed time L. The output of the timer circuit 93 passes through the inverter 95 and is output as a falling signal J-.
It is supplied to the clock input terminal of the K flip-flop 96, whereby the image capture start signal A changes from H to L.

Next, the operation of the drive control circuit 40 will be described. In the drive control circuit 40, when the image capture start signal A from the image capture start signal generation circuit 90 is H, the count value from the counter 56 input to the gate opening / closing terminal of the gate circuit 54 is Set value γ
The gate is opened and the clock supplied to the clock input terminal is output until it matches. This clock is supplied to the clock input terminal of the motor driver 49, whereby the stepping motor 23 rotates and the ultrasonic transducer 12 linearly scans in the axial direction of the ultrasonic probe 11. The clock output from the gate circuit 54 is supplied to the clock input terminal of the gate circuit 55 and also supplied to the clock input terminal of the counter 56 to be counted. The count value of the counter 56 is
When the set value γ in the gate circuit 54 matches, the gate of the gate circuit 54 is closed, the clock is not supplied to the clock input terminal of the motor driver 49, and the rotation of the stepping motor 23 is stopped. Therefore, the ultrasonic transducer 12 stops the linear scanning, and the motor 19 performs only the radial scanning at the position where the count value of the counter 56 matches the set value γ of the gate circuit 54.

On the other hand, when the return contact 91 of the image capture start signal generating circuit 90 is once turned off and the image capture start signal A becomes L, the gate circuit 54 supplies the counter 56 to the gate opening / closing terminal. It will be open regardless of the count value from. Therefore, a clock is supplied to the clock input terminal of the motor driver 49 to rotate the stepping motor 23, and the ultrasonic transducer 12 linearly scans in the axial direction of the ultrasonic probe 11.

On the other hand, the gate circuit 55 has set values α and β (α <γ <β), and the count value from the counter 56 input to its gate opening / closing terminal matches the set values α and β. Only at each time, the gate is opened and a one-pulse clock is applied to the JK flip-flop 57.
Supply to the clock input terminal of. As a result, the Q output of the JK flip-flop 57 is inverted, so that the rotation of the stepping motor 23 is inverted and the ultrasonic transducer 12 linearly scans in the opposite direction. Further, since the Q output of the JK flip-flop 57 is also supplied to the addition / subtraction control terminal of the counter 56, when the Q output is inverted,
The counting operation of the counter 56 is also reversed from the addition operation to the subtraction operation or from the subtraction operation to the addition operation, and the change in the count value is also reversed. Therefore, the count value of the counter 56 reciprocates between the set values α and β, which causes the ultrasonic transducer 12 to perform spiral three-dimensional scanning within the three-dimensional scanning range shown in FIG. Will be done.

When the image is captured in the three-dimensional scanning described above, the AND gate 58 receives the image capture start signal A and the Q output of the JK flip-flop 57. During the three-dimensional scanning in which the acquisition start signal A is at L, the ultrasonic transducer 1
The output (recording signal) E becomes H only during the linear scanning in one direction of 2, and the memory control circuit 52 causes the ultrasonic wave to be generated during the period when the recording signal E input to the recording signal terminal is H. The ultrasonic image signal D obtained by processing the echo signal from the vibrator 12 is recorded in the image memory 53. Therefore, in the image memory 53, the ultrasonic image signal D for one way of the ultrasonic transducer 12 reciprocating in the axial direction of the ultrasonic probe 11 and performing three-dimensional scanning is recorded.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to determine the three-dimensional scanning range and the radial scanning position without using the photo interrupters 26, 27 and 28 as in the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, if the set value γ in the gate circuit 54 that determines the radial scanning position is the center of the set values α and β in the gate circuit 55 that determines the three-dimensional scanning range, the operator , Until the return contact 91 is operated, in the center of the three-dimensional scanning range,
Since it is possible to refer to the B-mode ultrasonic image obtained by only the radial scanning, it can be confirmed that the region of interest exists within the three-dimensional scanning range. Therefore, by operating the return contact 91 after confirmation, a three-dimensional ultrasonic image signal of the entire region of interest can be obtained.

The above-mentioned effect is impaired even if the set value γ in the gate circuit 54 for determining the radial scanning position is not completely centered between the set values α, β in the gate circuit 55 for determining the three-dimensional scanning range. There is no such thing. In addition, the image capture start signal generation circuit 90 is
1, drive unit 16, observation device 25 or drive control circuit 4
It can also be provided integrally with 0. Furthermore, the gate circuit 5
The set value γ in 4 and the set values α and β in the gate circuit 55 may be prepared in the observing device 25, for example, and preset according to the site of the subject or the ultrasonic probe used. it can.

In the third embodiment of the present invention, in the structure shown in the first embodiment or the second embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer 12 is vibrated in a sector shape in a certain angular range by the motor 19 to perform sector scanning. By the sector scanning and the linear scanning by the stepping motor 23, an ultrasonic image signal in the three-dimensional scanning area shown in FIG. 5 is obtained.

Even in the three-dimensional scanning by the combination of the sector scanning and the linear scanning, a three-dimensional ultrasonic image signal can be obtained as in the three-dimensional scanning by the combination of the radial scanning and the linear scanning described above. You can
It is possible to obtain the same effect as in the above-described first and second embodiments.

[0045]

[0046]

According to the present invention, until the image capturing start means outputs the image capturing start signal, the operator is
To confirm that the region of interest exists within the three-dimensional scanning range by referring to the B-mode ultrasonic image of the first scanning at a stop position in the middle of the scanning range of the linear scanning by the second scanning driving means. Therefore, a three-dimensional ultrasonic image signal of the entire region of interest can be easily and quickly obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial detailed view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial detailed view of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Ultrasonic probe 12 Ultrasonic transducer 13 sheath 13 14 shaft 15 connectors 16 Drive 17 connector 18 Probe outer frame 19 motor 20 Drive transmission shaft 21 flange 22 Ball screw 23 Stepping motor 24 slip rings 25 observation equipment 26, 27, 28 Photointerrupter 40 Drive control circuit 80 Image acquisition start switch

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for scanning an ultrasonic transducer by a combination of a first scanning by a first scanning driving means and a linear scanning by a second scanning driving means to obtain an ultrasonic image. A stop position detecting means for detecting a stop position for stopping the linear scanning in the middle of the scanning range of the linear scanning by the second scan driving means, an image capturing start means for outputting an image capturing start signal, and the stop The linear scan is stopped at the position and the first scan is repeatedly performed, and the linear scan is stopped in response to the image capture start signal output during the stop of the linear scan at the stop position. The first scan and the linear scan to perform the first scan and the linear scan.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: and a control unit that controls the second scanning drive unit. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first scanning by the first scanning driving means is radial scanning. 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stop position is set substantially at the center of the scanning range of the linear scanning by the second scanning driving means.