JP3658429B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and in particular, when a transmission / reception circuit for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic signals has an abnormality or failure, an improvement of a self-diagnosis type ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus that detects and displays the state of the abnormality or failure. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having means for dealing with abnormalities and failures in a transmission / reception circuit has been known with the configuration shown in FIG.
[0003]
  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a probe 100, a transmission / reception unit 101, a DSC (digital scan converter) 102, and a display system 103. The transmission / reception unit 101 includes a transmission drive circuit 110 as a transmission system, a reception delay circuit 111 as a reception system, and a phasing adder 112. Each of the transmission drive circuit 110 and the reception delay circuit 111 has, for example, 128 channels (ch), is connected to the probe 100 via the cable 104, and transmits and receives an ultrasonic pulse signal via the probe 100. The transmission / reception unit 101 also includes a signal processing circuit 113 that performs signal processing such as envelope detection for converting the output signal of the phasing adder 112 into, for example, a B-mode image signal, and this processing signal is transmitted via the DSC 102. Sent to the display system 103. Thereby, for example, a B-mode tomographic image of the subject is displayed on the TV monitor of the display system 103.
[0004]
  Further, the transmission / reception unit 101 is provided with an abnormality / failure detection circuit 114 as self-diagnosis means for detecting an abnormality or failure in the transmission / reception system. The detection circuit 114 indicates the operation state of the pulsar of the cable 104 and the transmission drive circuit 110. For example, monitoring signals M1 to M3 of voltage level to be monitored are given. The abnormality / failure detection circuit 114 constantly monitors these monitoring signals M1 to M3, and determines abnormality or failure for each channel based on, for example, an unexpected change in the voltage level. At the same time, the operation stop signal C1 and the safety protection circuit activation signal C2 are sent to the transmission drive circuit 110 and the reception delay circuit 111, and the drive of these circuits 110 or 111 is stopped or the safety protection circuit built in is operated. In parallel with this, a display signal D related to the abnormality / failure state is sent from the detection circuit 114 to the display system 103 to display that there is an abnormal channel on the TV monitor. As a result, the influence on the diagnostic ability is minimized and an attempt is made to eliminate a situation such as a voltage leak to the subject.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  However, in the above-described ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, when an abnormality or failure occurs, that fact is displayed, but the judgment and information on how much the abnormality or failure affects the diagnostic ability is lacking. There is no indication of whether or not to conduct a medical examination or not. For this reason, after such display, diagnosis must be stopped as a safety measure, and the cause of the occurrence of an abnormality or failure must be removed. In other words, because the ultrasound diagnostic device must be stopped regardless of the degree of abnormality or failure, the time required to complete the diagnosis increases due to re-diagnosis and prolonged downtime of the device. Decrease in efficiency and efficiency of diagnostic work. In addition, since the apparatus is not restored until the manufacturer engineer repairs the abnormality or failure, the above inconvenience cannot be avoided in most cases.
[0006]
  On the other hand, in the case of the above-described conventional apparatus, even if an abnormality is found in a certain transmission / reception channel as a result of diagnosis, there is no alternative means for the function of the channel causing the abnormality.
[0007]
  The present invention has been made in view of the disadvantages of the above-described conventional apparatus. When a transmission or / and reception channel in an abnormal state is detected, a diagnosis may be performed using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, or the diagnosis may be continued. Its purpose is to provide information on what is good.
[0008]
  Another object is to automatically restore an abnormal channel when a transmission or / and reception channel in an abnormal state is detected.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic wave connected to the ultrasonic probe via a cable and ultrasonic waves for each channel between the ultrasonic probe and a subject. A multi-channel transmission / reception circuit for transmitting and receiving signals; andIn this transceiver circuit Therefore, image generation means for processing the received ultrasonic signal to generate an image, andOf transmission / reception circuitAbnormalities related to at least one of the transmission and receptionAn abnormality detecting means for detecting each channel, and the abnormality detecting meansabnormalWhen detectedDetermining means for determining how much the channel in which the abnormality has occurred is involved in the overall generation of the image;Display means for displaying the judgment result of this judgment meansAnd comprising.
[0010]
  For example, the determination means is determined by the abnormality detection means.First determination means for determining, based on a connection relationship between the plurality of channels and the ultrasonic probe, whether an abnormal channel is involved in the generation of the image when an abnormality is detected; When the first determination means determines that the abnormal channel is involved in the generation of the image, the influence of the abnormal channel among all the channels on the generation of the image Second judging means for judging based on the positional relationship between the channel in which the abnormality has occurred and at least one of the transmission and reception channel areas, and the display means includes the first and second display means. It is a means comprised so that the judgment result of 2 judgment means might be displayed.
[0011]
  Also,Stop means for stopping the operation of the transmission / reception circuit is provided when it is determined by the second determination means that the influence of the abnormal channel among all the channels on the generation of the image is unacceptable. May.
[0012]
  As another aspect,When an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection means, the channel in which the abnormality has occurred is automatically set to a normal state.An automatic recovery means for recovering is further provided.
[0013]
[Action]
  According to the present invention,When an abnormality occurs in the transmission / reception circuit, the abnormal state is detected by the abnormality detection means for each channel,To what extent is the channel causing the abnormality involved in the overall generation of the image?It is judged by the judging means. The determination result of this determination means is displayed by the display means.
[0014]
  For example,In the judging means, the abnormality detecting meansBased on the connection relationship between the plurality of channels and the ultrasonic probe, the first determination unit determines whether the channel in which the abnormality has occurred is involved in the generation of the image when an abnormality is detected. To be judged. When it is determined by the first determination means that the channel in which the abnormality has occurred is involved in the generation of the image, the channel in which the abnormality has occurred among all the channels is determined by the second determination means. The influence on image generation is determined based on the positional relationship between the channel in which the abnormality has occurred and at least one of the transmission and reception channel areas. The judgment results of the first and second judgment means are displayed respectively.
[0015]
Also, for example, when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection means, the channel in which the abnormality has occurred is automatically set to a normal state by the automatic recovery means.It will be restored.
[0016]
【Example】
    (First embodiment)
  Hereinafter, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0017]
  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a probe 1 used in contact with a subject, a transmission / reception unit 2 connected to the probe 1, and a DSC (connected to a reception system output terminal of the transmission / reception unit 2). A digital scan converter) 3 and a display system 4 connected to the DSC 3 and the transmission / reception unit 2.
[0018]
  The probe 1 has a function of transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic signal to and from a subject, and is, for example, an array type probe in which transducers made of a plurality of piezoelectric bodies are arranged in an array. The number of transducers varies depending on the type of probe 1 used, and the number of signal lines in the cable 1a of the probe 1 also varies depending on the number of transducers. The other end of the cable 1a is connected to a connector plug 1b having a set number of channels (for example, 128 channels). ConnectedIs. For this reason, when the number of transducers (corresponding to channels) of the probe 1 is different, the number of used and unused channels and the position (connector pin position) in the connector 1b are also changed.
[0019]
  The transmission / reception unit 2 includes a transmission drive circuit 10 as a transmission system, a reception delay circuit 11 as a reception system, a phasing adder 12, and a signal processing circuit 13. The transmission drive circuit 10 has delay lines and pulsers for the set number of channels, and the output terminals of the pulsers for the set number of channels are respectively connected to the pins of the connector socket 2a.
[0020]
  The reception delay circuit 11 also has a circuit comprising a set of preamplifiers and delay lines for the set number of channels, and each signal pin of the connector socket 2a is connected to each preamplifier. The output side of the delay line for the set number of channels reaches the phasing adder 12, and the phasing adder 12 performs reception beam forming by phasing addition. The output terminal of the phasing adder 12 reaches the signal processing circuit 13, where the received beamforming output is detected by, for example, envelope detection and converted into a B-mode image signal, and the image signal is supplied to the DSC 3.
[0021]
  DSC3 has an A / D converter, a frame memory, a D / A converter, a writing / reading control circuit, etc., and various scanning methods for inputting by independently writing to and reading from the frame memory. Are converted into standard television scanning image signals. The converted signal of the DSC 3 is sent to the TV monitor 4a of the display system 4 and displayed.
[0022]
  The transmission / reception unit 2 responds to an abnormality detection circuit 14 as self-diagnosis means for detecting an electrical abnormality or failure (hereinafter simply referred to as “abnormality”) in the transmission / reception system, and a detection signal of the abnormality detection circuit 14. A determination circuit 15 for determining the degree of influence of the abnormal state on the entire apparatus, and a protection circuit 16 for stopping the transmission / reception channel in response to the determination result of the determination circuit 15 are provided. The abnormality detection circuit 14 includes a monitoring signal M1 for monitoring the operation state for each channel from the transmission / reception path including the probe cable 1a and the connectors 1b and 2a, and the operation state from the delay line and pulser of the transmission drive circuit 10. Monitoring signals M2 and M3 for monitoring each channel are given. The monitoring signals M1 to M3 are supplied as voltage values or current values, for example.
[0023]
  The abnormality detection circuit 14 is configured to include, for example, a microprocessor, constantly monitors the voltage level and current value for each channel, detects an abnormal state including a failure state from the change, and detects an abnormal channel number. A notification signal is sent to the decision circuit 15.
[0024]
  The determination circuit 15 includes a microprocessor (MPU) 15a that performs the processing shown in FIG. 2 and a memory 15b that stores various types of information. The degree of abnormality in this judgment circuit 15JudgeIn addition to the program of the microprocessor 15a, the memory 15b has a data table for probe information such as the connection relationship between each transducer of the probe 1 to be used and the setting channel, and the driving conditions of the probe 1. Remember as. As probe information, for example, for a transmission / reception system with a set number of channels = 128, when the probe 1 used has 64 transducers, the 64 transducers use the first to 64th channels. Given as content.
[0025]
  Here, the processing of FIG. 2 executed by the microprocessor 15a will be described. The microprocessor 15a always monitors whether the apparatus is turned on or when the probe is switched (the probe 1 is switched to another one) using a signal separately supplied in the apparatus (step S1). If YES is determined in step S1, a signal of the detection result of the abnormality detection circuit 14 is read in step S2, and an abnormality occurs in any one or a plurality of transmission / reception channels from the content of the detection signal in step S3. Determine whether or not. If NO in this determination, that is, if there is no abnormal channel, the process proceeds to step S4, and a message “There is no abnormality in the channel” is displayed on the TV monitor 4a, for example, as shown in FIG.
[0026]
  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that there is an abnormality in any channel, the process proceeds to step S5, where probe information of the currently connected probe 1 (for example, “number of transducers = 64, first to 64th”). The information “use channel” is read from the memory 15b. Next, in step S6, on the basis of the read probe information, a channel in which the currently connected (used) probe 1 is in an abnormal state is selected.Are you going to useJudge whether or not. If the result of this determination is NO, that is, if the channel is in an abnormal stateDoes not containIf it is determined (for example, “the first to 64th channels are being used and the abnormal channel is the 80th channel”), a message is also displayed on the TV monitor 4a in step S7. The display content is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, “Abnormality is observed in the 80th channel, but this probe can be used without affecting the diagnosis because it does not use the abnormal channel”.
[0027]
  However, when the determination in step S6 is YES, that is, the transmission / reception channel in which the transducer of the probe 1 currently connected is in an abnormal state.Including useIf so, the processes of steps S8 to S12 are then performed. For example, the first to 64th channels are being used, but (Example 1) the transmission channel of the 62nd channel is abnormal, or (Example 2) the reception channel of the 32nd channel is abnormal. To do.
[0028]
  In such a case, first, in step S8, the influence of the microprocessor 15a on the display image due to the inability to use the abnormal channel, in other words, which abnormal channel is used to reconstruct one frame image. Used at a rate (%), or the transmission / reception aperture(Corresponds to the channel used)And probe informationAs appropriate based onCalculation(Ie estimation operation)To do. For example, in the case of Example 1 described above, since the abnormal channel is a position near the end of the used channel area and is a transmission channel, even if the 62nd transmission channel is lost, the effect is slight, so step S8. The calculated value at is small. On the other hand, in the case of Example 2, since the abnormal channel is almost in the middle of the used channel area and is also a reception channel, the loss of the 32nd reception channel is serious, and the calculated value in step S8 also increases. .
[0029]
  In step S9, it is determined whether or not the degree of influence on the image in step S8 exceeds the allowable value (for example, 5%). When this determination result is No, the loss of the abnormal channel has an effect on the image, but the degree is low. At this time, the process proceeds to step S10, and the message shown in FIG. 5 or 6 is displayed on the TV monitor 4a. The message shown in FIG. 6 is particularly a case where anomalies in a plurality of channels are found, but all messages are “discovered an anomalous channel, but its influence is small so that it can be diagnosed as it is”.
[0030]
  On the other hand, if YES in step S9 (degree of influence> allowable value), an image that may cause misdiagnosis due to the occurrence of an abnormal channel may be displayed. Therefore, in step S11, the protection circuit 16 is immediately displayed. A control signal for instructing stop of transmission / reception is sent.
[0031]
  In response to the control signal, the protection circuit 16 outputs these operation stop signals (or operation command signals for the built-in safety protection circuit) S1 and S2 to the transmission drive circuit 10 and the reception delay circuit 11, respectively. Thereby, the operation of the transmission drive circuit 10 and / or the reception delay circuit 11 is automatically stopped (or their safety protection circuit is activated).
[0032]
  Finally, in step S12, for example, the message shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 is displayed on the TV monitor 4a. The message in FIG. 8 is a case where an abnormality has occurred in a plurality of channels. Each message conveys "occurrence of abnormal channel, automatic stop of transmission / reception system, and action content requested of operator".
[0033]
  When the message display in steps S4, S7, S10, and S12 is completed in this way, the processing of the microprocessor 15a is returned to step S1, and the above-described processing is repeated as necessary as long as the power of the apparatus is ON. .
[0034]
  That's itSea urchinAccording to the first embodiment, when the power is turned on or when the probe is switched, the abnormality detection circuit 14 automatically performs an abnormality (failure) / normal self-diagnosis for each transmission / reception channel, and the determination circuit 15 determines the device based on the diagnosis result. The pros and cons of subsequent use are judged. Then, not only the result of the self-diagnosis, but also the judgment result of use is displayed together. Based on the display contents, the operator can engage in diagnosis with certainty when the transmission / reception channel is normal, and can perceive the degree of abnormality even when an abnormal channel occurs. When the deterioration of the diagnostic ability is slight, a message indicating that it can be used can be received. That is, it is possible to quickly determine whether or not the apparatus can be used continuously.
[0035]
  Accordingly, the operator can provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that is easy to use and highly reliable without being hesitant about the use / non-use of the apparatus due to the occurrence of an abnormality in the transmission and / or reception channel. . In addition, as soon as it can be determined that it cannot be used, the abnormality (failure) can be restored quickly.
[0036]
  In the first embodiment, the abnormality detection circuit 14 for self-diagnosis and the determination circuit 15 for use / non-use determination may be configured as the same circuit also serving as an MPU. Further, the protection circuit 16 may be further incorporated in the same circuit.
[0037]
  In addition to the case where the abnormal channel is detected for both the transmission system and the reception system as in the first embodiment, only one of them is detected, and it is determined whether it can be used or not. Also good.
[0038]
  (Second embodiment)
  An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As in the first embodiment, this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus detects an abnormal state (failure) of a transmission / reception channel, and can automatically recover when an abnormal state is found. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same or identical components as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0039]
  The transmission / reception unit 2 of this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a transmission / reception circuit with a set number of channels, for example, as in the first embodiment. In FIG. 9, a transmission / reception circuit is represented for each printed circuit board on which the circuit is mounted. If the number of set channels is 128 channels, if a 16-channel transmission system or reception system circuit is mounted on one printed circuit board, the printed circuit board becomes 8 for each transmission / reception. The transmission / reception unit 2 includes transmission printed circuit boards PT1 to PT8 allocated as described above, and the transmission drive circuit 10 described in FIG. 1 is mounted for 16 channels on each of the circuit boards PT1 (to PT8). In this embodiment, one spare printed circuit board PTspa on which the 16ch transmission drive circuits 10 are mounted is provided in parallel.
[0040]
  The same applies to the reception system, and the transmission / reception unit 2 includes the reception system printed circuit boards PR1 to PR8, and the reception delay circuit 11 described in FIG. 1 is mounted for 16 channels on each circuit board PR1 (to PR8). Also, one spare printed circuit board PRspa on which the reception delay circuits 11 for 16 channels are mounted is provided in parallel.
[0041]
  Each of the mounting circuits of the printed circuit boards PT1 to PT8 and PR1 to PR8 is connected to the connector socket 2a of the transmission / reception unit 2 via an independent switching terminal of an electronic switching switch (for example, an n × m switching type multiplexer) 20 for each channel. Has been. The 128ch transmission / reception path of the connector socket 2a is connected to one printed circuit board PTspa for the spare transmission system and one printed circuit board PRspa for the spare reception system via another 128ch switching terminal of the electronic changeover switch 20. ing. Each of the printed circuit boards PTspa and PRspa of the spare transmission system and the spare reception system is connected to 16 common switching terminals as shown in the figure, and these 16 switching terminals are 16 counterparts obtained by dividing 128 channels into eight. It can be connected to the switching terminal.
[0042]
  Further, the transmission / reception unit 2 includes a phasing adder 12 and a signal processing circuit 13, and the phasing adder 12 includes “128 ch + 16 ch” of eight reception system printed circuit boards PR 1 to PR 8 and one preliminary reception system printed circuit board PRspa. The reception delay output terminal is connected.
[0043]
  Further, the transmission / reception unit 2 includes a switching control circuit 21 incorporating a microprocessor in addition to the abnormality detection circuit 14 similar to that of the first embodiment. The abnormality detection circuit 14 receives the transmission / reception path, transmission system and reception system monitoring signals M1, M2, and M4, and detects an abnormal state for each channel as in the first embodiment. The switching control circuit 21 reads an abnormality detection signal and controls the electronic changeover switch 20 and sends necessary display data to the display system 4.
[0044]
  More specifically, when the abnormality detection circuit 14 detects a transmission or / and reception abnormal channel, the switching control circuit 21 transmits the transmission system printed circuit board PT1 (to PT8) or / and reception system print that has the abnormal channel. The substrate PR1 (to PR8) is determined. In this indexing, for example, the switching control circuit 21 turns on / off the switching end of the electronic switch 20 on the transmission / reception system printed circuit board side, and changes in the monitoring signals M1, M2, and M4 at that time are detected as an abnormality detection circuit. This is done by checking at 14.
[0045]
  The result of indexing the printed circuit board PTfail or PRfail that holds the abnormal channel is passed to the switching control circuit 21 again. Next, the switching control circuit 21 again controls the electronic changeover switch 20 to turn off the switching terminals corresponding to 16 channels of the determined printed circuit board PTfail or / and PRfail, and the preliminary transmission system or / and the preliminary reception system printed circuit board PTspa or / and. Switch on the switching terminals for 16 channels of PRspa. As a result, the printed circuit board PTfail or / and PRfail having the abnormal channel is replaced with the spare printed circuit board PTspa or / and PRspa, and when the abnormal channel is found, the replacement can be automatically performed.
[0046]
  During this recovery, the switching control circuit 21 takes measures to prohibit the operation of the device, although not specifically shown, and the display system 4 reads “A channel error has been found. The recovery is in progress. Please wait for a while. The display data representing the message "is sent and this message is displayed on the TV monitor 4a.
[0047]
  After the restoration, for example, the message “Recovery is completed using the spare board. It can be used.” Is displayed on the TV monitor 4a.
[0048]
  The number of transmission / reception channels and the number of spare printed circuit boards are not limited to those described above, and may be determined as appropriate in view of the failure rate.
[0049]
  Further, regarding the determination of the printed circuit board having the abnormal channel, the switching control circuit 21 may directly calculate the calculation from the detection signal of the abnormality detection circuit 14. For example, in the above example, if an abnormality occurs in the 17th channel, the mounted printed circuit board is determined to be the second.
[0050]
  (Third embodiment)
  FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment has a transmission system connected to the transmission system printed circuit boards PT1 to PT8 and / or the reception system printed circuit boards PR1 to PR8 instead of the spare printed circuit board PTspa and / or PRspa described in FIG. The spare channel circuit CTspa and / or the reception spare channel circuit CRspa are respectively mounted in advance. On the other hand, for example, an abnormal state occurring in each transmission / reception system channel of 128ch is detected by the abnormality detection circuit 14 as in the second embodiment, and the abnormal channel is set to the spare channel circuit CTspa or / and CRspa by the switching control of the switching control circuit. Can be switched to. As a result, automatic replacement restoration within the printed circuit boards PT1 to PT8 and PR1 to PR8 becomes possible.
[0051]
  The number of transmission / reception channels and the number of printed boards are not limited to those illustrated, but are arbitrary. In addition, the spare channel circuit mounted in advance on each printed circuit board may be a plurality of circuits in view of the failure rate.
[0052]
  In addition, the operation channel can be switched and rotated for the purpose of averaging the failure rate of the transmission / reception circuit over the entire channel, and it operates in the entire channel including the spare transmission / reception circuit for complementing / substituting the abnormal channel. Channels can be switched and rotated.
[0053]
  Furthermore, the modification of this invention is demonstrated.
[0054]
  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 does not include a spare printed circuit board, a spare channel, and an electronic switch as in the second and third embodiments, but a waiting control circuit instead of the switching control circuit described above. 30. When an abnormal channel is detected by the abnormality detection circuit 14, a weighting (weighting factor) control signal for making the diameter of the reception beam zero is output from the waiting control circuit 30 to each reception circuit of the reception system printed circuit boards PR1 to PR8. As a result, when an abnormal channel is detected, the reception can be forcibly set to be off, and a message to that effect may be displayed to notify the operator.
[0055]
  Further, another modification will be described based on FIGS. This modification automatically restores when an abnormal channel is detected, and is particularly suitable when the reception system channel is abnormal, and can be used when the influence on the entire reception is slight. An essential part of this modification is an interpolation circuit 40, which is incorporated, for example, in the reception delay circuit 11 of the entire apparatus shown in FIG.
[0056]
  Assume that the abnormality detection circuit 14 detects an abnormality in the i-channel of the reception system. In response to this detection, the determination circuit 15 may determine that the reception i channel abnormality has little influence on the entire reception and that the reception data can be reproduced by interpolation. For example, this is the case where the probe 1 of 64 transducers is connected to the first to 64th channels of a 128-channel transmission / reception circuit and the reception system of the 62nd channel is abnormal. In such a case, the interpolation circuit 40 that has received a command from the determination circuit 15 inputs the channel data Ci-1 (t) and Ci + 1 (t) of the adjacent i-1 and i + 1 channels, for example, by addition. Simple channel Ci (t) = {Ci + 1 (t-([tau] i- [tau] i + 1)) + Ci-1 (t-([tau] i- [tau] i-1))}} / 2 is calculated to receive i-channel received data Ci The interpolation of (t) is performed as shown in FIG. Here, τi−1, τi, and τi + 1 are delay times given to the respective channel elements.
[0057]
  As a result, it is possible to create higher quality image data than to abandon the received data of the i channel in which an abnormality is found. Of course, other methods may be employed for the calculation method for interpolation.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above, transmission and / or reception channelsIs abnormalWhen detectedWe ’ll determine how much of the channel that ’s anomalous is involved in the overall image generation and display the results,The user of the device is automatically given not only the detection of an abnormality, but also the determination of whether the device can be used or used continuously.It is. For this reasonHowever, it is not necessary to stop the examination just because there is an abnormal channel, shortening the downtime of the device and increasing the patient throughput, but an abnormality that significantly affects the image generation occurs. If this happens, the treatment can be speeded up.
[0059]
  Also,To automatically restore the channel where the error occurred to normalTransmission / reception channel error inAt timesIt is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that does not require deterioration of an image, has high reliability, has excellent diagnostic ability, and has almost no downtime even when an abnormality occurs.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of a determination circuit according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display example associated with channel normality determination according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example associated with channel abnormality determination according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another display example associated with the channel abnormality determination according to the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another display example associated with the channel abnormality determination according to the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another display example associated with the channel abnormality determination according to the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another display example associated with channel abnormality determination according to the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a modification of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an interpolation circuit provided in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a modification of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the operation of an interpolation circuit.
FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram showing a conventional apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Probe
1a cable
2 Transmission / reception unit
3 DSC
4 Display system
10 Transmission drive circuit
11 Reception delay circuit
14 Anomaly detection circuit
15 Judgment circuit
20 Electronic selector switch
21 Switching control circuit
40 Interpolation circuit
PTspa, PRspa Preliminary printed circuit board
CTspa, CRspa Reserve circuit

Claims (8)

An ultrasonic probe, a multi-channel transmission / reception circuit connected to the ultrasonic probe via a cable and transmitting / receiving ultrasonic signals for each channel between the ultrasonic probe and the subject, and received by the transmission / reception circuit In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an image generation means for processing an ultrasonic signal generated to generate an image; and an abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality related to at least one of the transmission and reception of the transmission / reception circuit for each channel;
A determination unit that determines how much the channel in which the abnormality has occurred is involved in the overall generation of the image when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection unit ;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays a determination result of the determination unit. The determination means includes
When an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection means, a determination is made based on the connection relationship between the plurality of channels and the ultrasonic probe whether or not the channel in which the abnormality has occurred is involved in the generation of the image. 1 judging means,
When it is determined by the first determination means that the channel in which the abnormality has occurred is involved in the generation of the image, the influence of the channel having the abnormality in all the channels on the generation of the image is A second judging means for judging based on a positional relationship between the channel in which the abnormality occurs and at least one of the transmission and reception channel areas,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the display means is configured to display the determination results of the first and second determination means. Stop means for stopping the operation of the transmission / reception circuit when it is determined by the second determination means that the influence of the abnormal channel among all the channels on the generation of the image is unacceptable The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an automatic restoration unit that automatically restores a channel in which the abnormality has occurred to a normal state when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection unit. The automatic recovery means includes a spare circuit for at least one of the transmission circuit and the reception circuit in the transmission / reception circuit, and a circuit of a channel that has caused the abnormal state when the abnormal state is detected in the spare circuit. 5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising switching control means for automatically switching. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a recovery state display unit that displays that the recovery is being performed while the automatic recovery unit is recovering . When it is determined by the second determination means that the influence of the abnormal channel among all the channels on the generation of the image is acceptable , the data of the abnormal channel is in a normal state. Moreover ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 Symbol placement with an interpolation means for automatically interpolated using channel data. The abnormality detecting means, determining means, and according to any one of claims 1 to 7 by the Uni configured to automatically operate the display means when switching the power-on or the ultrasonic probe of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus Ultrasound diagnostic equipment.

Images