JPH02206442A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform no automatic freeze even when panel operation is not performed for a long time during diagnosis by providing a freeze control means automatically setting a freeze state based on the output of a level difference detection means even at a time when an ultrasonic wave emitting state is allowed to stand. CONSTITUTION:The echo signal A from an examinee and the ultrasonic wave receiving signal B at a time when a probe 1 is allowed to stand become a level equal to or more than that of the ultrasonic wave receiving signal B at a time when the level of the echo signal A from the examinee is allowed to stand after the elapse of a certain time. This level difference is detected by a CPU 8 and, when the level of the image data of a frame memory 4 is larger, it is judged that diagnosis is performed and an ultrasonic wave receiving circuit 2 is controlled so that the receiving wave of an ultrasonic wave is continued as it is. Contrarily, when the level of the echo signal A from the examinee becomes equal to or more than that of the ultrasonic wave receiving signal B at the time of standing, the control circuit 8 judges that no diagnosis is performed to control the ultrasonic wave receiving circuit 2 so that the transmission of an ultrasonic wave is stopped and an image is made stationary.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus suitable for diagnosis that takes a little time such as screening.

[Prior art]

Conventional ultrasound diagnostic equipment assumes that not operating the panel is equivalent to not using the equipment, and automatically stops emitting ultrasound waves without any warning after a certain amount of time has passed.1 It is designed to freeze the image. This is an increase in the temperature of the probe.

This is done as a measure to prevent deterioration.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, no consideration is given to the case where diagnosis is performed for a considerable period of time without any panel operations, such as screening diagnosis, even when the device is actually in use. First, there was a problem that the image suddenly stopped during the diagnosis.

In addition, although it is possible to stop the automatic freeze mechanism, there is a concern that the temperature of the probe will rise and deteriorate when left in an ultrasonic emission state when the automatic freeze mechanism is stopped. Many users do not want to leave it disabled.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can prevent automatic freezing during diagnosis even if the panel is not operated for a long time.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having means for automatically freezing a displayed image and means for stopping transmission of ultrasonic waves when the displayed image is frozen. Level difference detection means for comparing the level of the reference pattern of the signal and the level of the ultrasound reception signal from the subject to detect a level difference between the two; The most important feature is that it is provided with a freeze control means that automatically puts it into a freeze state.

[Effect]

According to the aforementioned means, before performing an automatic freeze.

The level of a predetermined reference pattern of the ultrasonic reception signal and the level of the ultrasonic reception signal from the subject are compared to detect the level difference between the two, and based on this level difference, when left in the ultrasonic emission state By controlling the system to automatically freeze, it is possible to prevent automatic freezing during diagnosis, and to perform automatic freezing during periods other than diagnosis. The image will no longer suddenly freeze.

As a result, during diagnosis, automatic freezing can be prevented even if the panel is not operated for a long time.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described using the drawings.

In addition, in all the figures for explaining the embodiment, parts having the same functions are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the schematic configuration of an embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the waveform of an ultrasonic reception signal by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1. (A) is the waveform of the reflected ultrasound signal from the subject being diagnosed (hereinafter referred to as an echo signal), and (B) is the waveform of the ultrasound signal from the probe when not being diagnosed (in an unfrozen state). This is the waveform of the received signal (when the sound wave radiation is left unattended).

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, during one diagnosis, ultrasonic waves emitted from the probe 1 toward a subject (for example, a living body) are reflected by the subject. . This echo signal is received by the probe 1, received and phased and synthesized by the ultrasonic transceiver circuit 2, and converted into analog/digital (A/D) signal.
) After being converted into a digital signal by the converter 8, it is stored in the frame memory 4 as image data. The image data stored in the frame memory 4 is read out, converted into a digital signal by a digital/analog (D/A) converter 5, and displayed as an image on a CRT display 6.

Here, for example, ROM (Read Only Me
The received signal pattern (B
) to be memorized. This received signal pattern (B) is
For example, as shown in FIG. 2(B), the ultrasonic reception signal in the ultrasonic emission state without a subject when the probe 1 is installed is used. That is, a predetermined ultrasonic reception signal is used before diagnosis.

Then, when automatic freezing occurs or when a necessary time comes, a control circuit (CPU) 8 consisting of a microcomputer inputs each image data from the memory 7 and frame memory 4 to a comparison circuit 9, and compares the respective levels. I do. At this time, as shown in Figure 2, the echo signal (A) from the subject (living body) and the ultrasonic reception signal (B) when the probe 1 is left The level of the echo signal (A) from the (living body) is equal to or higher than the level of the ultrasonic reception signal (B) when left unused. The CPU 8 detects this level difference, and the frame memory 4
If the level of the image data is higher than the level of the image data, it is determined that a diagnosis is being made, and the ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving circuit 2 is controlled to continue transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. Further, the control circuit 8
Conversely, if the level of the echo signal (A) from the subject (living body) is lower than the level of the ultrasound reception signal (B) when left unattended, it is determined that diagnosis is not in progress, and the ultrasound transmission and reception is performed. The circuit 2 is controlled to stop the emission (transmission) of ultrasonic waves and to keep one image still.

As can be seen from the above description, according to this embodiment, even if a certain period of time has elapsed without any key operation on the panel, if one diagnosis is in progress, the diagnosis can be continued without automatic freezing.

As a result, during diagnosis, automatic freezing can be prevented even if the panel is not operated for a long time.

Note that although the detection means in this embodiment is composed of a ROM and a microcomputer, it is also possible to use only a ROM or other storage means, such as a disk memory. Further, if the detection points are limited to deep parts, fixed data at a certain level can be obtained, so there is no need to use a storage means.

Furthermore, the data input to the comparison circuit may not be from the frame memory, but may be data from, for example, a buffer memory or the like.

The present invention has been specifically explained above based on examples, but
It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit thereof.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, as long as the diagnosis is in progress, it is possible to perform the diagnosis without worrying about automatic freezing without performing any panel operation, and there is a function to automatically freeze when the wave transmission operation is left unattended. This makes it possible to provide an ultrasonic device suitable for screening, etc.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the schematic configuration of an embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the waveform of an ultrasonic reception signal by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a diagram. In the figure, 1... Probe, 2... Ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving circuit, 3
... A/D converter, 4... Frame memory, 5...
・D/A converter, 6...CRT display, 7...
-Memory, 8...control circuit (CPU), 9...comparison circuit. Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that has a means for automatically freezing a displayed image and a means for stopping ultrasonic wave transmission when frozen, the level of a reference pattern of a predetermined ultrasonic reception signal and the subject A level difference detection means for comparing the level of an ultrasonic reception signal from the ultrasonic wave receiving signal and detecting a level difference between the two, and an output of the level difference detection means automatically freezes the ultrasonic wave even when left in an ultrasonic emission state. An ultrasonic diagnostic device characterized by being provided with freeze control means.