JP3645048B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, various ultrasonic probes have been devised that can be inserted into a body cavity to obtain a tomographic image inside the body. With the development of such an intracorporeal ultrasound probe, it has become possible to observe deep organs that were difficult to diagnose with an extracorporeal ultrasound probe. In particular, in the diagnosis of tumors that can occur in the digestive tract such as the esophagus and stomach, it can be diagnosed up to how deep the tumor has invaded the wall of the digestive tract, and its usefulness has been recognized.
[0003]
Conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses using such an ultrasonic probe mainly display an image obtained by a single scanning method such as linear scanning or radial scanning. However, there is a demand for grasping the three-dimensional size of the tumor by simultaneously observing the spread in the plane direction along with the degree of infiltration in the depth direction of the tumor.
[0004]
Therefore, in order to meet such a demand, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 6A, the ultrasonic probe 101 having the ultrasonic transducer 102 on one side is rotated once and advanced and retracted at the same time. An image and linear image have been devised that can be obtained simultaneously. As an apparatus capable of simultaneously obtaining a radial image and a linear image in this way, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-9439 or Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 63-74108, an ultrasonic probe can be scanned radially, and An apparatus is disclosed that is axially movable.
[0005]
As a scanning method for simultaneously displaying a radial image and a linear image, as shown in FIG. 6B, the ultrasound probe 101 is rotated while the ultrasound probe 101 is being advanced and retracted as needed. An apparatus for performing spiral scanning has been proposed.
[0006]
The present applicant has also proposed an apparatus in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-265536, in which the rotational drive and advance / retreat drive of an ultrasonic probe are controlled in synchronization as shown in FIGS. The configuration of this conventional example will be described below.
[0007]
As shown in FIG. 7, in the ultrasonic probe 110, an ultrasonic transducer 111 serving as an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit is connected to an axial drive transmission unit 112. It is stored in the tube 113. A sealing material 114 and an O-ring 115 are provided on the distal end side inside the outer cylinder 113, thereby holding the drive transmission unit 112. In addition, the acoustic medium 116 is filled in a space in the distal end portion of the outer cylinder 113 sealed by the outer cylinder 113, the sealing material 114, and the O-ring 115.
[0008]
A rear end portion of the drive transmission portion 112 extends from a rear end portion of the outer cylinder 113 and is connected to a stepping motor 118 via a connection portion 117. The stepping motor 118 is configured in combination with an encoder 119 that detects the rotational position of the stepping motor 118, and these are housed and held in the rotary motion unit exterior 120. The rotary motion portion exterior 120 is attached to an advance / retreat motion transmission portion 121, and the advance / retreat motion transmission portion 121 is screwed into an advance / retreat mechanism portion 122 formed of a ball screw. The advance / retreat mechanism 122 is connected to a drive unit of the stepping motor 123 and is rotated by the stepping motor 123. The stepping motor 123 is configured in combination with an encoder 124 that detects the rotational position of the stepping motor 123.
[0009]
The connecting portion 117, the stepping motor 118, the encoder 119, the rotary motion portion exterior 120, the forward / backward motion transmission portion 121, the forward / backward mechanism portion 122, the stepping motor 123 and the encoder 124 are surrounded by the exterior 125, and the rear end of the outer cylinder 113 The part is fixed to the exterior 125. Further, the stepping motor 123 is fixed to the exterior 125.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 8, the control system of the ultrasonic probe inputs a control circuit 130 for controlling the rotation and advance / retreat of the ultrasonic vibrator 111, and a start signal str from the control circuit 130, and outputs a clock clk. And a delay circuit 132 that receives the clock clk from the clock oscillator 131 and outputs a signal DLY delayed by a quarter of the period T from the clock clk.
[0011]
The clock clk and the signal DLY are input to the stepping motors 118 and 123 via the changeover switch 133 as two-phase drive signals, respectively. The change-over switch 133 is controlled by the control signal J from the control circuit 130, and has a state in which the clock clk is in the A phase and the signal DLY is in the B phase, and a state in which the clock clk is in the B phase and the signal DLK is in the A phase. It is supposed to switch to.
[0012]
The A-phase output C of the encoder 119 connected to the stepping motor 118 and the Z-phase output Z output every rotation are input to the control circuit 130. Similarly, the A-phase output G and the Z-phase output H of the encoder 124 connected to the stepping motor 123 are input to the control circuit 130.
[0013]
In such a configuration, by performing control by synchronizing the rotational drive and advance / retreat drive of the ultrasonic probe, radial scanning, linear scanning, and spiral scanning are possible, and a radial image and a linear image are obtained by these scannings. be able to.
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning as described above, spiral scanning that combines radial scanning and linear scanning is possible, and the conventional radial scanning only or linear scanning only is used. It is also possible.
[0015]
When spiral scanning is performed in such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to obtain three-dimensional data, dozens of radial images must be captured in one scanning, and thus scanning takes time. However, if a long time is taken for scanning, the patient's body may move during the scanning, and the captured data may become discontinuous, causing problems such as failure of scanning.
[0016]
For this reason, it is necessary to increase the number of rotations of the stepping motor 118 and the stepping motor 123 so as to shorten the time required for scanning as much as possible. However, when the motor is rotated at a high speed, not only the life of the motor itself is shortened, but also mechanical parts such as a shaft and a bearing are consumed quickly, and there is a problem that the life of the apparatus is shortened.
[0017]
The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and when performing three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning, the scanning time can be shortened, and the life of the apparatus can be kept long by suppressing the consumption of mechanical parts. An object is to provide a possible ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
[0018]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic transducer that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, first scanning means that mechanically scans the ultrasonic transducer in a radial manner, and mechanically linearly scans the ultrasonic transducer. Second scanning means, a first mode in which the ultrasonic transducer is driven in a radial scan at a first speed, and the linear scanning while driving the radial scan at a second speed higher than the first speed. Drive instruction means for instructing switching to a second mode for scanning drive; and control means for controlling scanning of the ultrasonic transducer in response to an instruction from the drive instruction means. .
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a drive unit of an ultrasonic probe in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a drive control unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. FIG.
[0020]
First, the configuration of the drive system in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0021]
In the ultrasonic probe 1, an ultrasonic transducer 2 serving as an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit is fixed to the distal end of an axial drive transmission unit 3, and these are accommodated in an outer cylinder 4 whose distal end is closed in a spherical shape. ing. A sealing material 5a and an O-ring 5b are provided on the distal end side inside the outer cylinder 4, and the drive transmission unit 3 is held by them. In addition, the space inside the distal end portion of the outer cylinder 4 sealed by the outer cylinder 4, the sealing material 5 a, and the O-ring 5 b is filled with the acoustic medium 6. In addition, the said drive transmission part 3 and the outer cylinder 4 are comprised with the member which has flexibility so that it may be suitable for oral intracavity insertion.
[0022]
A rear end portion of the drive transmission portion 3 extends from the rear end portion of the outer cylinder 4 and is connected to a DC motor 8 via a connection portion 7. The DC motor 8 is mechanically coupled to an encoder 9 that detects the rotational position of the DC motor 8, and these are housed and held in a rotary motion unit exterior 10. The ultrasonic vibrator 2 is rotationally driven by the DC motor 8 via the drive transmission unit 3 and at the same time, the rotational motion of the DC motor 8 can be transmitted to the encoder 9.
[0023]
The rotary motion portion exterior 10 is attached to an advance / retreat motion transmission portion 11, and this advance / retreat motion transmission portion 11 is screwed into an advance / retreat mechanism portion 12 formed of a ball screw. The advance / retreat mechanism unit 12 is mechanically connected to a stepping motor 13 so as to advance and retreat by the rotation of the stepping motor 13.
[0024]
The connecting portion 7, the DC motor 8, the encoder 9, the rotary motion portion exterior 10, the advance / retreat motion transmission portion 11, the advance / retreat mechanism portion 12, and the stepping motor 13 are surrounded by the exterior 15, and the rear end portion of the outer cylinder 4 is this It is fixed to the exterior 15. A stepping motor 13 is fixed to the exterior 15.
[0025]
Next, the configuration of the control system in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the drive control unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
[0026]
The drive control unit of the present embodiment controls a control circuit 22 that controls the stepping motor 13 that moves the ultrasonic transducer 2 back and forth, a DC power source 19 that supplies DC power to the DC motor 8, and controls the voltage of the DC power source 19. Thus, a DC motor control circuit 20 that controls the rotation of the DC motor 8 and an operation console 16 that performs a scanning mode switching operation are provided.
[0027]
The DC motor control circuit 20 receives the A phase signal A output from the encoder 9. Since the phase of the A phase signal A changes according to the rotational speed of the DC motor 8, the rotational speed of the DC motor 8 is always kept constant by controlling the motor drive voltage according to the periodic change of the A phase signal A. I try to keep it.
[0028]
The A-phase signal A output from the encoder 9 is also input to the control circuit 22 at the same time. The control circuit 22 divides the A-phase signal A to rotate control signals B and C of the stepping motor 13. Is supposed to generate.
[0029]
The console 16 is provided with a changeover switch 17, and a linear scanning ON / OFF signal output from the console 16 is input to the control circuit 22 and the DC motor control circuit 20. When the changeover switch 17 is turned on, the linear scanning ON / OFF signal becomes low level. When the changeover switch 17 is turned OFF, the linear scanning ON / OFF signal becomes high level.
[0030]
When the linear scanning ON / OFF signal is at a low level, the control circuit 22 rotates the stepping motor 13. The DC motor control circuit 20 rotates the DC motor 8. Since the stepping motor 13 is mechanically connected to the advance / retreat mechanism section 12, when the linear scanning ON / OFF signal is at a low level, the ultrasonic transducer 2 rotates while moving forward and backward to perform spiral scanning. . At this time, the DC motor control circuit 20 rotates the DC motor 8 at high speed.
[0031]
When the linear scanning ON / OFF signal is at a high level, the control circuit 22 stops the rotation of the stepping motor 13 and the DC motor control circuit 20 rotates the DC motor 8. Therefore, when the linear scanning ON / OFF signal is at a high level, the ultrasonic transducer 2 does not move back and forth, and only radial scanning is performed. At this time, the DC motor control circuit 20 rotates the DC motor 8 at a low speed.
[0032]
As described above, the rotation control signals B and C of the stepping motor 13 are generated based on the A-phase signal A output from the rotary encoder 9 connected to the DC motor 8. When it is rotated at a high speed, the stepping motor 13 is also rotated at a high speed.
[0033]
When performing spiral scanning, for example, it is appropriate to set the interval for each captured image to be about 1 mm, and continuously capture about 40 images, and scan the ultrasonic transducer 2 by moving back and forth about 4 cm. is there. If the scanning range is shorter than this, the probability that the entire picture of the tumor or the like cannot be captured increases. If the scanning range is longer than this, it becomes difficult to keep the outer cylinder 4 of the ultrasonic probe 1 in a body cavity in a straight line, and an accurate three-dimensional image cannot be constructed. When capturing 40 images, if the rotational speed of the ultrasonic transducer 2 is set to 20 rotations or more per second and the 40 images are captured within 2 seconds, the influence of the movement of the patient's body can be reduced. It can be made difficult to receive.
[0034]
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above, only the radial scan is performed or the spiral scan combining the radial scan and the linear scan is performed according to the operation of the changeover switch 17 provided on the console 16. To switch between. Further, the rotational speed of the DC motor 8 for rotating the ultrasonic vibrator 2 is switched according to the operation of the changeover switch 17. At this time, when only radial scanning is performed, scanning is performed with the rotation of the DC motor 8 slowed down, and when spiral scanning combining radial scanning and linear scanning is performed, scanning is performed at a high speed of the DC motor 8.
[0035]
Accordingly, when performing three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning such as spiral scanning, the DC motor 8 and the stepping motor 13 rotate at high speed, and the scanning speed in the radial direction becomes high, so that the scanning is completed in a short time. It becomes like this. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the scanning time when performing three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning, and it is difficult for image discontinuity to occur due to the movement of the patient's body and the like, thereby preventing problems during scanning.
[0036]
Further, when only radial scanning is performed, the DC motor 8 rotates at a low speed, and the rotational speed of the ultrasonic transducer 2 becomes low. Therefore, the degree of wear of the mechanical parts such as the shaft of the motor, the drive transmission unit, and the bearings. Can be kept low, and the lifetime can be kept long.
[0037]
In the intra-body-cavity scanning ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as in the present embodiment, there has been a desire to display and observe an ultrasonic image and an endoscopic image on one monitor at the same time, or to record them. For this purpose, a parent / child screen display unit that displays an ultrasonic image and an endoscopic image at the same time on a parent / child screen is used. Such a parent-child screen display unit is usually provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus or is prepared as an external unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
[0038]
Examples of the configuration of a parent-child screen display unit that simultaneously displays an ultrasound image and an endoscopic image provided in an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus or the like are shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the parent-child screen display unit, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the conventional parent-child screen display, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the parent-child screen display in this configuration example.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 3, the parent / child screen display unit includes a child screen image input terminal 31, a buffer amplifier 32, a synchronization separation circuit 33, a PLL circuit 34, an A / D converter 35, a field memory 36, a masking circuit 37, a D / D A sub-screen image processing system comprising an A converter 38; a parent screen image processing system comprising a parent screen image input terminal 40 and a buffer amplifier 41; and a mixing circuit 39 for synthesizing the sub-screen image signal and the parent screen image signal; And a parent / child screen output terminal 42.
[0040]
The video signal input from the small-screen image input terminal 31 passes through the buffer amplifier 32 and is input to the A / D converter 35 and the synchronization separation circuit 33, respectively. The synchronization separation circuit 33 separates the synchronization signal from the input video signal, and the PLL circuit 34 generates a clock signal that is phase-synchronized with the synchronization signal separated by the synchronization separation circuit 33. The A / D converter 35 samples the input video signal with the clock signal from the PLL circuit 34 and converts it into a digital signal.
[0041]
The video signal converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 35 is once written in the field memory 36 and then read out. At that time, when the data is read from the field memory 36, the digitized video signal is reduced by reading out the data. The masking circuit 37 masks the character information display area of the reduced video signal and cuts out only the image display area. The video signal cut out only from the image display area is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 38 and then input to one input terminal of the mixing circuit 39.
[0042]
On the other hand, the video signal input from the main screen image input terminal 40 passes through the buffer amplifier 41 and is input to the other input terminal of the mixing circuit 39. The mixing circuit 39 synthesizes the reduced and masked child screen video signal and the parent screen video signal from the parent screen image input terminal 40. Thereafter, the video signal of the parent / child screen synthesized by the mixing circuit 39 is output to the outside from the parent / child screen output terminal 42. The video signal of the parent-child screen is sent to a monitor (not shown) of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and an observation image having, for example, an ultrasonic image and an endoscopic image as a parent-child screen is displayed on the monitor.
[0043]
In the conventional parent-child screen display unit, as shown in FIG. 4, when the parent-child screen is displayed with the ultrasound image as the parent screen and the endoscope image as the child screen, the image as the child screen (in this case, the endoscope image) is displayed. The character information in the character information display area is also reduced and displayed together with the observation image in the image display area. When the character information is reduced, the character information cannot be determined, becomes unnecessary garbage on the screen, and makes the screen unsightly.
[0044]
Therefore, in the parent-child screen display unit of the present configuration example, the masking circuit 37 cuts out only the image display area in the image reduced as the child screen image as described above, and then the image is combined with the parent screen image and output. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, only the image of the child screen image in the parent / child screen display screen is reduced and displayed.
[0045]
As described above, in this configuration example, only the image display area of the reduced child screen image is cut out and displayed on the parent child screen, so that the reduced character information remains as unnecessary garbage on the child screen when the parent child screen is displayed. This makes it possible to obtain a good observation image even when the parent-child screen display is performed.
[0046]
In this configuration example, a blanking area in which neither character information nor an image is displayed in advance is provided in the ultrasonic image or endoscopic image serving as the main screen, and the sub-screen image is displayed in this blanking area. If this is done, information will not be lost when the parent-child screen is displayed, so that a better and more useful observation image can be obtained.
[0047]
[Appendix]
(1) an ultrasonic transducer that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves;
First scanning means for mechanically scanning the ultrasonic transducer in a first direction;
Second scanning means for mechanically scanning the ultrasonic transducer in a second direction different from the first direction;
Drive instruction means for instructing driving of the first scanning means and the second scanning means;
Control means connected to the first scanning means and the second scanning means for changing the scanning direction of the ultrasonic transducer and changing and controlling the ultrasonic scanning speed in accordance with the input of the drive instruction means. When,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:
[0048]
(2) The control unit may perform scanning in one of the first direction and the second direction, scanning in the first direction, and the second in accordance with an input from the driving instruction unit. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the scanning is combined with scanning in combination with scanning in the direction.
[0049]
(3) One of the first direction and the second direction is a scan in a radial direction in which at least a part is scanned in a circular manner around the ultrasonic transducer, and the other is substantially the same as the radial direction. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is a linear scan that vertically scans in a line shape.
[0050]
(4) an ultrasonic transducer that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves;
First scanning means for mechanically scanning the ultrasonic transducer in a radial direction;
Second scanning means for mechanically scanning the ultrasonic transducer in a linear direction;
Drive instruction means for instructing driving of the first scanning means and the second scanning means;
Control means connected to the first scanning means and the second scanning means for changing the scanning direction of the ultrasonic transducer and changing and controlling the ultrasonic scanning speed in accordance with the input of the drive instruction means. When,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:
[0051]
(5) The control unit switches between the scanning in the radial direction only and the scanning in which the scanning in the radial direction and the scanning in the linear direction are combined according to the input of the driving instruction unit, and the radial direction and linear The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 3, wherein the scanning speed in either the radial direction or the linear direction is changed when scanning is performed in combination with a direction.
[0052]
(6) an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves;
First scanning means for mechanically scanning in the radial direction by rotating the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit;
Second scanning means for mechanically scanning in the linear direction by moving the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit forward and backward;
Drive instruction means for instructing driving of the first scanning means and the second scanning means;
An aspect that is connected to the first scanning unit and the second scanning unit and that drives only the first scanning unit in response to an input of the drive instruction unit and performs scanning only in the radial direction; and A mode in which both the first scanning unit and the second scanning unit are driven at the same time to perform scanning in which the scanning in the radial direction and the scanning in the linear direction are combined is switched, and the first scanning unit is switched when the scanning mode is switched. Control means for changing the scanning speed in the radial direction by the scanning means;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:
[0053]
(7) When the first scanning means and the second scanning means are both driven simultaneously, the control means is compared with the case where the first scanning means is driven alone. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 6, wherein the scanning speed in the radial direction is increased.
[0054]
(8) When the control unit drives both the first scanning unit and the second scanning unit at the same time, the rotation speed of the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit by the first scanning unit is set to 20 rotations or more per second. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 6, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is characterized.
[0055]
(9) When the control means drives both the first scanning means and the second scanning means at the same time, a range in which the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit is advanced and retracted by the second scanning means is set to about 4 cm. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 6, characterized in that:
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when performing three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning, the scanning time can be shortened, and the life of the apparatus can be kept long by suppressing the consumption of mechanical parts. There is.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a drive unit of an ultrasonic probe in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a drive control unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment. Block diagram [FIG. 3] Block diagram showing a configuration example of a parent-child screen display unit [FIG. 4] Explanatory diagram showing a conventional parent-child screen display [FIG. 5] Explanatory diagram showing a parent-child screen display in this configuration example [FIG. 6] Radial FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a scanning method for obtaining an image and a linear image. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a driving system of an ultrasonic probe in a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Block diagram showing the structure of the [Description of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic probe 2 ... Ultrasonic transducer 3 ... Drive transmission part 8 ... DC motor 11 ... Forward / backward movement transmission part 13 ... Stepping motor 16 ... Console 17 ... Changeover switch 20 ... DC motor control circuit 22 ... Control circuit

Claims (1)

An ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves;
First scanning means for mechanically radial scanning the ultrasonic transducer;
Second scanning means for mechanically linearly scanning the ultrasonic transducer;
A first mode, a second mode in which the linear scan driver while driving the radial scan by the higher than first speed second speed for radial scanning driving the ultrasonic transducer at a first speed Drive instruction means for instructing switching,
Control means for controlling scanning of the ultrasonic transducer in response to an instruction from the drive instruction means;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

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