JP4532209B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for sharing transmission / reception control information among a plurality of ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses.

  In recent years, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are used not only for diagnosis of organs and the like but also for support during surgical operations. In many cases, a plurality of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are used together as support during surgery. For example, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that acquires a detailed ultrasonic image of a surgical part, and an ultrasonic diagnostic that acquires a relatively wide range of ultrasonic images for confirming the position of the probe or surgical part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A device and two ultrasound diagnostic devices are used.

  Incidentally, a technique using a plurality of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses has been conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-10-137243

  When an ultrasonic image regarding the same surgical part is acquired using a plurality of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses together, interference between probes becomes a problem. For example, the mutual interference of ultrasonic waves corresponding to each of the two probes cannot be denied. That is, there is a possibility that the reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave generated by one probe is received by the other probe and appears as noise on the ultrasonic image.

  Incidentally, the transmission / reception driving of the two probes is alternately performed in a time division manner for each frame, for example, so that interference between the two probes can be reduced. However, the transmission / reception rate of each probe is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to suppress mutual interference between transmission and reception waves between a plurality of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a preferred aspect of the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, and a transmission signal generation that supplies a transmission signal to the ultrasonic probe. Connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a reception signal processing unit that processes a reception signal acquired from the ultrasonic probe, an image configuration unit that forms an ultrasonic image based on the processed reception signal, and A communication unit that acquires transmission / reception control information related to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus from the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and the transmission signal based on the acquired transmission / reception control information related to the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus By controlling the generation unit and the reception signal processing unit, mutual interference between transmission and reception waves between the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is suppressed.

  Preferably, the transmission signal generation unit generates a transmission signal having a frequency characteristic different from that of the transmission signal of the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus based on the transmission / reception control information, and thereby the main signal is generated from the ultrasonic probe. Ultrasound having a frequency characteristic peculiar to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is transmitted, and the received signal processing unit includes a filter processing unit that performs a filtering process on the received signal, and the filter processing unit includes the transmission / reception control information. Based on this, filter characteristics are set, and a received signal component corresponding to the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is extracted from the received signal.

  Preferably, the filter processing unit extracts the reception signal component by a filter corresponding to the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Preferably, the filter processing unit sets a band of the filter according to an image mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  Preferably, the transmission signal generation unit supplies a transmission signal to the ultrasonic probe in synchronization with a transmission signal supply timing in the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus based on the transmission / reception control information. Features. Preferably, a predetermined delay time is provided between the transmission signal supply timing in the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the transmission signal supply timing in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  Preferably, the communication unit acquires ultrasonic image data related to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus from the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and the image configuration unit is formed based on the ultrasonic image data. The ultrasonic image of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the ultrasonic image of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus are arranged to form a display image.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress mutual interference of transmission and reception waves between a plurality of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration thereof.

  The probe 12 is an ultrasonic probe that acquires ultrasonic data by transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a target tissue, and has a plurality of vibration elements. And the transmission timing of the ultrasonic pulse output from each vibration element is appropriately controlled, and the scanning of the ultrasonic beam by the electronic scanning method is realized. Examples of the electronic scanning method include linear scanning and sector scanning. A single vibration element type probe may be used for the probe 12 according to the target tissue and the purpose of use. Further, a probe for acquiring continuous wave Doppler information may be used. Of course, a mechanical scanning probe may be used instead of the electronic scanning probe.

  The probe 12 may be a B-mode image probe or a Doppler information acquisition probe. Of course, it may be either for obtaining a three-dimensional image or for obtaining a two-dimensional image. Furthermore, the probe 12 can be of various types, such as those that transmit and receive ultrasonic waves from the patient's body surface into the body, those that are inserted into the patient's body, and those that are applied to the organ surface during surgery.

  The transmitter 16 supplies a transmission signal corresponding to the transmission waveform to the probe 12. That is, the transmission unit 16 supplies a transmission pulse corresponding to each vibration element of the probe 12 based on, for example, electronic scanning control according to the type of the probe 12. On the other hand, the receiving unit 14 performs, for example, a detection process on the reception signal output from the probe 12 and outputs the processed reception signal (echo data) to the phasing addition unit 18.

  The phasing addition unit 18 performs processing such as amplification and phasing addition on the echo data output from the reception unit 14. The transmission unit 16, the reception unit 14, and the phasing addition unit 18 are controlled by the control unit 20. As a result, formation of a transmission beam and formation of a reception beam according to the type of the probe 12 are realized. The control unit 20 controls each unit in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 as well as the transmission unit 16, the reception unit 14, and the phasing addition unit 18.

  The control unit 20 controls the transmission unit 16, the reception unit 14, and the phasing addition unit 18 to steer the ultrasonic beam to form a scanning surface. As a result, echo data (echo data after phasing addition) for each ultrasonic beam in the scanning plane is output from the phasing addition unit 18. If the probe 12 is a probe for obtaining three-dimensional echo data, the control unit 20 steers the ultrasonic beam three-dimensionally in the three-dimensional space to obtain volume data. In the case where the probe 12 is a single vibration element type, the phasing addition unit 18 may be omitted.

  The filter 22 performs a filtering process on the echo data after the phasing addition output from the phasing addition unit 18. The filter 22 executes a filtering process corresponding to the probe 12 to obtain components of other probes (probes of other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus) included in the echo data after the phasing addition. Remove. The filter 22 performs a filtering process based on a filter setting corresponding to the center frequency of the probe 12. Specific methods for setting the filter include, for example, a method in which the control unit 20 calculates a passband including the center frequency and sets it in the filter 22, or a memory (not shown) in which passband information is stored in advance. Examples include a method in which the control unit 20 reads out information of a pass band corresponding to the center frequency and sets the information in the filter 22. The filter processing in the filter 22 will be described in detail later using FIG.

  The image construction unit 24 forms an ultrasonic image corresponding to the probe 12 based on the echo data filtered by the filter 22. For example, if the probe 12 is a probe for B-mode images, a B-mode image is formed based on echo data output from the filter 22. A well-known technique is used for the B-mode image forming process, and a pixel value corresponding to the amplitude of each echo data is assigned to form a B-mode image.

  For example, if the probe 12 is a probe for acquiring Doppler information, the Doppler information is extracted from the echo data output from the filter 22 and the velocity information of the target tissue (blood flow or the like) is acquired. Then, based on the acquired velocity information of the target tissue, for example, a color Doppler image is formed. A well-known technique is used for the color Doppler image forming process. That is, for example, blood flow velocity information is extracted from echo data corresponding to the blood flow, and a color Doppler image is formed by performing a coloring process corresponding to the velocity of each part in the blood flow on the B-mode image. The

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the type of the probe 12 is not limited to B-mode image acquisition or Doppler information acquisition. The image construction unit 24 executes processing according to the type of the probe 12.

  Note that another ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 via the external communication unit 26. When another ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is connected, transmission / reception control information and ultrasonic image data regarding the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus are acquired via the external communication unit 26.

  The image construction unit 24 is obtained from an ultrasound image of another ultrasound diagnostic apparatus formed based on the ultrasound image data acquired via the external communication unit 26 and echo data filtered by the filter 22. A display image in which the ultrasonic images of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 are arranged side by side is formed.

  The display image formed in the image configuration unit 24 is displayed on the display unit 28. The display unit 28 simultaneously displays two images, for example, an image of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 (for example, a three-dimensional image) and an image of another ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (for example, a two-dimensional B-mode image) according to a user operation. The displayed display image is output. The display image displayed on the display unit 28 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a usage form of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention is connected to another ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus via an external communication unit (reference numeral 26 in FIG. 1).

  FIG. 2A shows an example in which a plurality of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are connected using a cable 30. The apparatus 1 which is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention and other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are used. A device 2 is connected by a cable 30. The devices 1 and 2 each have the configuration shown in FIG. One end of the cable 30 is connected to the external communication unit of the device 1, and the other end of the cable 30 is connected to the external communication unit of the device 2.

  The devices 1 and 2 can exchange information such as transmission / reception control information and ultrasonic image data with each other. That is, the device 1 can acquire transmission / reception control information and ultrasonic image data related to the device 2, and the device 2 can acquire transmission / reception control information and ultrasonic image data related to the device 1.

  In addition, the connection between apparatuses is not limited to two apparatuses. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, another apparatus 3 that is another ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may be connected to each of the apparatus 1 and the apparatus 2. In this case, for example, a cable branch portion 31 is provided in the cable 30, one end of the additional cable 30 ′ is connected to the cable branch portion 31, and the other end of the additional cable 30 ′ is connected to the device 3. By providing the cable branch portion 31, each ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus need only have one cable connection terminal. Of course, each ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may be provided with a plurality of cable connection terminals and connected to a plurality of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses via the plurality of cable connection terminals. Further, the number of connected devices may be three or more.

  FIG. 2B shows an example in which a plurality of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are connected using infrared rays. The apparatus 1 which is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention and an apparatus which is another ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. 2 are connected for communication by infrared rays 32. The apparatus 1 and the apparatus 2 can exchange information such as transmission / reception control information and ultrasonic image data by communication using the infrared ray 32. That is, the device 1 can acquire transmission / reception control information and ultrasonic image data related to the device 2, and the device 2 can acquire transmission / reception control information and ultrasonic image data related to the device 1. Of course, the number of devices connected by infrared rays 32 may be two or more. In place of the infrared ray 32, wireless communication means such as radio waves may be used.

  As described with reference to FIG. 2, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (apparatus 1) according to the present invention is connected to another ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (apparatus 2 or apparatus 3) connected via an external communication unit. Thus, transmission / reception control information and ultrasonic image data can be exchanged. The devices connected to each other, for example, the device 1 and the device 2 are used together during surgery. That is, for example, the apparatus 1 is used for acquiring a detailed ultrasonic image of the surgical part, and the apparatus 2 displays an ultrasonic image in a relatively wide range for confirming the position of the probe and the surgical part of the apparatus 1. Used to get. When the apparatus 1 and the apparatus 2 are used together to acquire an ultrasonic image related to the same surgical part, interference between probes becomes a problem. Therefore, the device 1 and the device 2 perform an operation of suppressing mutual interference between transmission and reception waves by exchanging transmission / reception control information.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of suppressing transmission / reception wave mutual interference, and is a diagram for explaining a band-pass filter (BPF) process executed by a filter (reference numeral 22 in FIG. 1). That is, in order to explain the process executed by the filter of the apparatus 1 that is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention and the process executed by the filter of the apparatus 2 that is another ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus connected to the apparatus 1. FIG. The case where the center frequency of the probe of the apparatus 1 is f1 and the center frequency of the probe of the apparatus 2 is f2 will be described as an example. The center frequency f1 and the center frequency f2 are set to different frequencies.

  FIG. 3A shows filter settings when both the device 1 and the device 2 are in the B mode. The filter of the device 1 is set to the BPF 40 of the device 1 including the frequency f1 in the pass band, and the filter of the device 2 is set to the BPF 42 of the device 2 including the frequency f2 in the pass band. For this reason, for example, even if the device 1 acquires a multiple received signal including the reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the device 1 itself and the reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the device 2, In the filter, only the reflected wave component of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the device 1 itself is extracted by the BPF 40 of the device 1 corresponding to the center frequency f1.

  Similarly, for the device 2, only the reflected wave component of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the device 2 itself is extracted by the BPF 42 of the device 2 corresponding to the center frequency f2. In this way, the received signal components of other devices can be removed in the filters of the devices 1 and 2. In FIG. 3A, since both the device 1 and the device 2 are in the B mode, the BPF 40 of the device 1 and the BPF 42 of the device 2 are set to substantially the same bandwidth.

  Each control unit of the device 1 and the device 2 performs filter setting based on transmission / reception control information exchanged via the external communication unit. That is, the control unit of the device 1 recognizes from the transmission / reception control information of the device 2 that the center frequency of the probe of the device 2 is f2, the image mode of the device 2 is the B mode, and the probe of the device 1 itself. In consideration of the fact that the center frequency of f1 is f1 and the image mode of the device 1 itself is the B mode, as shown in FIG. Thus, the BPF 40 of the apparatus 1 is set.

  On the other hand, the control unit of the device 2 recognizes from the transmission / reception control information of the device 1 that the center frequency of the probe of the device 1 is f1, the image mode of the device 1 is the B mode, and the probe of the device 2 itself. In consideration of the fact that the center frequency of f2 is f2 and that the image mode of the device 2 itself is the B mode, as shown in FIG. Thus, the BPF 42 of the apparatus 2 is set.

  FIG. 3B shows filter settings when the image mode of the apparatus 1 is the B mode and the image mode of the apparatus 2 is the color Doppler mode. Also in this case, each filter of the device 1 and the device 2 performs filter setting based on the transmission / reception control information.

  The filter of the device 1 is set to the BPF 44 of the device 1 including the frequency f1 in the pass band, and the filter of the device 2 is set to the BPF 46 of the device 2 including the frequency f2 in the pass band. Therefore, similarly to the case of FIG. 3A, in the device 1, only the reflected wave component of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the device 1 itself is extracted by the BPF 44 of the device 1, and in the device 2, the device 2 is extracted by the BPF 46 of the device 2. Only the reflected wave component of the ultrasonic wave emitted from 2 itself is extracted. In FIG. 3B, the bandwidth of the BPF 44 of the device 1 corresponding to the B mode is widened, and the bandwidth of the BPF 46 of the device 2 corresponding to the color Doppler mode is narrowed. Thus, one bandwidth may be widened according to the image mode.

  FIG. 3C shows filter settings when the image mode of the apparatus 1 is the color Doppler mode and the image mode of the apparatus 2 is the B mode. Also in this case, each filter of the device 1 and the device 2 performs filter setting based on the transmission / reception control information.

  The filter of the device 1 is set to the BPF 48 of the device 1 including the frequency f1 in the pass band, and the filter of the device 2 is set to the BPF 50 of the device 2 including the frequency f2 in the pass band. Therefore, as in the case of (a) and (b) of FIG. 3, in the device 1, only the reflected wave component of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the device 1 itself is extracted by the BPF 48 of the device 1. Only the reflected wave component of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the apparatus 2 itself is extracted by the BPF 50. In FIG. 3C, the bandwidth of the BPF 48 of the device 1 corresponding to the color Doppler mode is narrowed, and the bandwidth of the BPF 50 of the device 2 corresponding to the B mode is widened.

  FIG. 3 shows an example in which both the device 1 and the device 2 are in the B mode, or one is in the B mode and the other is in the color Doppler mode. May be. A filter (band pass filter) in each apparatus is set according to the probe type. Further, in the device 1 and the device 2, the filter may be executed by other filter processing such as low-pass filter processing or high-pass filter processing in addition to the band-pass filter processing.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining synchronous transmission by a plurality of apparatuses, and shows output timings of transmission signals in each of three ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses connected to each other. Three ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses (the apparatus 1, the apparatus 2, and the apparatus 3) are connected as shown in FIG. 2A, for example.

  FIG. 4A shows synchronous transmission when all the transmission periods of the three ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are the same, and the transmission timings of the apparatuses 1 to 3 are shown. Each transmission timing has a horizontal axis as a time axis, and a transmission signal is supplied at the time when the rectangular pulse 60 is generated. That is, each of the device 1, the device 2, and the device 3 transmits an ultrasonic wave corresponding to the generation time of the rectangular pulse 60.

  In FIG. 4A, the three ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses of the apparatus 1, the apparatus 2 and the apparatus 3 have the same transmission cycle (a period between two adjacent rectangular pulses 60), and the rectangular pulse 60 All three units occur at the same time. That is, the device 1, the device 2, and the device 3 simultaneously transmit an ultrasonic wave to acquire the reflected wave, and simultaneously transmit an ultrasonic wave at the next transmission timing, and repeat this to obtain an ultrasonic image. Form.

  Each of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 realizes synchronous transmission based on a transmission timing signal included in transmission / reception control information exchanged via an external communication unit (reference numeral 26 in FIG. 1). . For example, a transmission timing signal corresponding to the transmission timing of the device 1 shown in FIG. 4A is output from the device 1, and the devices 2 and 3 transmit synchronization using the transmission timing signal output from the device 1. Is realized.

  FIG. 4B shows synchronous transmission when the three ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have different transmission periods. As in FIG. 4A, each transmission timing has a horizontal axis as a time axis, and a transmission signal is supplied at the time when the rectangular pulse 60 is generated.

  In FIG. 4B, the transmission cycle of the device 2 is ½ of the transmission cycle of the device 1, and the transmission cycle of the device 3 is ½ of the transmission cycle of the device 2, that is, the transmission cycle of the device 1. 1/4. In this way, synchronous transmission is realized even when the three ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have different transmission periods. That is, the rectangular pulse 60 is generated in the device 2 and the device 3 at the generation time of the rectangular pulse 60 at the transmission timing of the device 1. Further, the rectangular pulse 60 of the device 3 is generated at the generation time of the rectangular pulse 60 of the device 2. Each of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 realizes synchronous transmission based on a transmission timing signal included in transmission / reception control information exchanged via an external communication unit (reference numeral 26 in FIG. 1). .

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining synchronous transmission with a delay time, and shows output timings of transmission signals in each of three ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses connected to each other.

  FIG. 5A shows synchronous transmission in the case where all the transmission periods of the three ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are the same, and the transmission timings of the apparatuses 1 to 3 are shown. Each transmission timing has a horizontal axis as a time axis, and a transmission signal is supplied at the time when the rectangular pulse 60 is generated. That is, each of the device 1, the device 2, and the device 3 transmits an ultrasonic wave corresponding to the generation time of the rectangular pulse 60.

  In FIG. 5 (a), the three ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, apparatus 1, apparatus 2 and apparatus 3, have the same transmission cycle (a period between two adjacent rectangular pulses 60). Then, after the rectangular pulse 60 of the device 1 is generated, the rectangular pulse 60 of the device 2 is generated after the delay time a elapses, and further, the rectangular pulse 60 of the device 3 is generated after the delay time a elapses. Yes. Thus, transmission synchronization may be realized by providing the delay time a.

  Each of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 delays based on transmission timing signals and delay time information included in transmission / reception control information exchanged via an external communication unit (reference numeral 26 in FIG. 1). Realize synchronous transmission with time. For example, a transmission timing signal corresponding to the transmission timing of the device 1 shown in FIG. 5A is output from the device 1, and the devices 2 and 3 use the transmission timing signal output from the device 1 to delay. The transmission synchronization shown in FIG. 5A is realized by adding the time and generating the rectangular pulse 60.

  Note that the delay time a is appropriately set so that, for example, the influence of noise appearing on the ultrasonic image is reduced.

  FIG. 5B shows synchronous transmission with a delay time when the three ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have different transmission periods. Similarly to FIG. 5A, each transmission timing has a horizontal axis as a time axis, and a transmission signal is supplied at the generation time of the rectangular pulse 60.

  In FIG. 5B, the transmission cycle of device 2 is 1/2 of the transmission cycle of device 1, and the transmission cycle of device 3 is 1/2 of the transmission cycle of device 2, that is, the transmission cycle of device 1. 1/4. In this way, synchronous transmission is realized even when the three ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have different transmission periods. That is, the rectangular pulse 60 is generated in the device 2 after the delay time a from the generation time of the first rectangular pulse 60 (the leftmost rectangular pulse in the figure) at the transmission timing of the device 3, and From the generation time of the rectangular pulse 60, the rectangular pulse 60 is generated in the device 1 after the delay time a.

  Each of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 delays based on a transmission timing signal and delay time information included in transmission / reception control information exchanged via an external communication unit (reference numeral 26 in FIG. 1). Realize synchronous transmission with time.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a display image of each device when a plurality of devices are connected and used.

  As described with reference to FIG. 2, each ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits ultrasonic image data to and from another ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus connected via an external communication unit (reference numeral 26 in FIG. 1). Can communicate. And the image structure part (code | symbol 24 of FIG. 1) of each ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is an ultrasonic image based on the ultrasonic image based on the echo data obtained by the apparatus, and the ultrasonic image data acquired from the other apparatus. Are formed side by side to form a display image.

  FIG. 6A shows an example of a display image when two devices, the device 1 and the device 2, are connected. The display image 70 of the device 1 is an image in which the image of the device 1 based on the echo data obtained by the device 1 and the image of the device 2 based on the image data acquired from the device 2 are arranged side by side. Similarly, the display image 70 of the device 2 is an image in which the image of the device 2 and the image of the device 1 are arranged side by side. Thereby, the user can observe the ultrasonic image by two apparatuses simultaneously by seeing which one of apparatus 1 and apparatus 2 is easy to see.

  FIG. 6B shows an example of a display image when three devices, the device 1, the device 2, and the device 3, are connected. The display image 70 of the apparatus 1 includes the image of the apparatus 1 based on the echo data obtained by the apparatus 1, the image of the apparatus 2 based on the image data acquired from the apparatus 2, and the apparatus 3 based on the image data acquired from the apparatus 3. The three images are arranged side by side. Similarly, three images of the devices 1 to 3 are displayed on the display images 70 of the devices 2 and 3. In this case, for example, the image of the device itself is displayed larger than the image of another connected device. Further, if necessary, at least one of the three images may be selected to display only the selected image.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described, embodiment mentioned above is only a mere illustration in all the points, and does not limit the scope of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the utilization form of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the suppression operation | movement of the mutual interference of a transmission / reception wave. It is a figure for demonstrating the synchronous transmission by a some apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the synchronous transmission accompanied by delay time. It is a figure for demonstrating the display image of each apparatus in the case of connecting and using a some apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, 12 Probe, 14 Receiving part, 16 Transmission part, 20 Control part, 22 Filter, 24 Image structure part, 26 External communication part

Claims (6)

An ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves;
A transmission signal generator for supplying a transmission signal to the ultrasonic probe;
A received signal processing unit for processing a received signal acquired from the ultrasonic probe;
An image forming unit that forms an ultrasound image based on the processed received signal;
A communication unit that acquires transmission / reception control information related to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus from another ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus;
Have
By controlling the transmission signal generation unit and the reception signal processing unit based on the transmission / reception control information related to the acquired other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, between the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus To reduce the mutual interference of transmission and reception in
It is characterized by
The transmission signal generation unit generates a transmission signal having a frequency characteristic different from that of the transmission signal of the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus based on the transmission / reception control information, and thereby the ultrasonic diagnosis is performed from the ultrasonic probe. Ultrasound with frequency characteristics peculiar to the device is transmitted,
The received signal processing unit includes a filter processing unit that performs a filtering process on the received signal, the filter processing unit sets a filter characteristic based on the transmission / reception control information, and from the received signal, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus The received signal component corresponding to the ultrasonic wave transmitted by is extracted.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The filter processing unit extracts the reception signal component by a filter corresponding to the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 ,
The filter processing unit sets a band of the filter according to an image mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The transmission signal generation unit supplies a transmission signal to the ultrasonic probe in synchronization with a transmission signal supply timing in the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus based on the transmission / reception control information.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4 ,
A predetermined delay time is provided between the transmission signal supply timing in the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the transmission signal supply timing in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The communication unit acquires ultrasonic image data related to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus from the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus,
The image forming unit forms a display image in which an ultrasonic image of the other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus formed based on the ultrasonic image data and an ultrasonic image of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus are arranged side by side;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

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