JPH0224533B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can simultaneously provide moving images by high-speed scanning and still images by manual scanning.

Devices for obtaining ultrasound tomographic images can be roughly divided into manual scanners, which manually scan an ultrasound probe to obtain still images, and mechanical scanning ultrasound devices, which mechanically scan a probe to obtain moving or still images. There are three types of ultrasound diagnostic equipment: an electronic scanning ultrasound diagnostic equipment that uses a fixed ultrasound probe and electronically scans ultrasound waves to obtain moving images.

The manual scanner has a support arm 5 as shown in FIG.
A pulse signal from a transmitter 7 is applied to the probe 1 held at the probe 1 to cause the ultrasonic wave 3 to advance into the body 2. The reflected signal 4 from the tissue inside the body is received again by the probe 1, amplified by the receiver 8, and passed to the signal processor 10 for manual scanning. The position and angle of the probe 1 are detected by a position detection potentiometer 6 and inputted to a manual scanning signal processor 10 through a position detection converter 9. For example, scan conversion is performed in the signal processor 10. This can be taken out as a television signal by digitizing the input analog signal with an A/D converter, inputting it to an image storage device, and reading it out in the same manner as the scanning method of television. Here, the position detection signal is digitized and used as a control signal for determining in which part of the storage device the data is stored.
These signals are input to the video signal mixer section 13 and displayed on the monitor 14 together with the marker signal from the marker generator 12. Here, the controller 11
is used to process timing signals for transmission and reception, and to generate timing signals for marker generation. Advantages of this manual scanner include the ability to cover a wide area to be examined, making it easy to grasp the overall image, and the ability to obtain high-quality images with a high ultrasonic scanning line density. On the other hand, the disadvantages are that you cannot obtain a moving image but a still image, that it takes several seconds to manually scan the probe 1 to obtain a single image, and that in order to obtain a desired part, It is necessary to repeat this scan many times, and diagnosis takes time.

Devices that mechanically scan the probe have improved the operational disadvantages of manual scanning, such as arc scanning machines used for diagnosis of breasts and the like.

FIG. 2 shows this arc scanner. The probe 1 is scanned in an arc shape within a scanning guide 20 by a motor or the like. The operations of this device, such as transmitting and receiving the probe, are the same as the manual scanning type described above.

On the other hand, in order to eliminate the drawback of not being able to obtain moving images, there is a method that obtains tomographic images by rotating or deflecting the probe 1 at high speed to scan the ultrasonic waves 3 in a fan shape, as shown in Fig. 3. . This is called a mechanical sector scanning device.

On the other hand, a linear scanning type and a sector scanning type are known as devices that electronically scan ultrasonic waves with a fixed probe. For example, in the fan-shaped scanning device shown in FIG. A high-frequency signal delayed by 100 seconds is applied to generate ultrasonic waves 3 that travel in a certain direction in the body 2, and reflected echoes 4 from the body tissues are generated.
is received again by this probe 1. The ultrasonic waves received by each transducer are converted into electrical signals, which are further amplified by the receiver 8, and then added by the delay unit 15 with the delay time controlled by the control signal from the controller 11. The signal is passed to a high speed signal processor 10'.
Here, deflection scanning is performed by changing the delay time between transmission and reception to an appropriate value and changing the directivity of the transmitted and received ultrasonic beams. By this electronic fan-shaped scanning, a fan-shaped tomographic image similar to that shown in FIG. 3 can be obtained. Similar to a manual scanner, the high-speed signal processor 10' scan-converts the signal to a television output system, passes through the mixer section 13, and displays it on the monitor. This fan-shaped electronic scanning diagnostic device can perform ultrasonic sweeps at high speed (for example, 1/30 seconds) and can obtain almost real-time video. However, in an electronic scanning ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the test width is not as wide as in a manual scanner, and the number of scanning lines is also small.

The present invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that retains the advantages of such manual scanners and electronic scanners and eliminates the disadvantages thereof. An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below.

FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment of the present invention, in which composite scanning of fan-shaped scanning and manual scanning is performed using a fan-shaped electronic scanning type ultrasonic probe. It is possible to display a still image showing the area to be examined on different monitors.
In FIG. 5, the sector-shaped scanning probe 1 is held by the support arm 5, and the sector-shaped scanning surface 21 is, for example,
It is set on the same plane as the cross section 22 through which the probe 1 can be manually scanned. A moving image by fan-shaped scanning is obtained by a fan-shaped scanning operation substantially similar to the example shown in FIG. The relationship between the timing signal for scanning and the fan-shaped image and manually scanned image controlled by the timing signal is shown in the sixth section.
As shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 6 shows control timing signals, and the fan-shaped scanning moving image is based on the timing signals n, n+1, n in FIG. 6a.
It is obtained by sequentially emitting ultrasonic waves in a fan shape at the timing of +2... and receiving the reflected sound waves (Fig. 6b).

The ultrasonic waves n, n+1, and n+2 emit and receive ultrasonic waves in directions corresponding to n, n+1, and n+2 of the moving image shown in FIG. 7a, respectively, and display them. The image shown in FIG. 7a obtained in this way can be obtained at a depth of 15 cm and at least 30 images per second if the number of scanning lines is approximately 100, resulting in a dynamic image. On the other hand, at the timings of A _o , A _{o +1} , ... in Fig. 6 a, there is always a specific direction A in Fig. 7 a (30 in Fig. 5).
corresponds to ) and receive it from the same direction. This direction A can be determined by appropriately setting the delay time of the transmitted and received signals given to each vibrator in the probe 1 by the controller 11. Further, this direction can be freely moved by moving the probe 1 within the plane defined by the arm 5, and manual scanning can be performed. The received signals thus obtained (FIG. 6c) are manually scanned to match the timings of A _o , A _o+1 , A _o+2 . . . to the positions and directions shown in FIG. 7 b.

In order to display this at a corresponding position in the still image, the signals (position and direction of the X and Y axes) of the position detector 9 shown in FIG. 5 are detected and displayed as shown in FIG. 7b. Here, the signal received by probe 1 is transmitted to receiver 8
As in the case of the fan-shaped scanner shown in FIG. 4, the signals from each vibrator are controlled and summed using a delay line 15 in order to match the phases and add the signals. After this, the received signal for sector scanning in FIG. 6b and the signal for manual scanning in FIG. 6c are applied to different signal processors 10' and 10, respectively. There is no signal from the position detector 9 for the fan-shaped scanning signal, and a fan-shaped moving image at any position is displayed as it is on the mixer 13' and the monitor 14'. On the other hand, the manual scanning signal receives the position specification of the reflected signal by the signal from the position detector 6 in the support arm in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1, and is displayed on a different monitor 14 as shown in Fig. 7b. be done. In this way, one monitor 14' can display a moving image scanned in a fan shape, and the other monitor 14 can display a still image scanned manually.

Therefore, the cross section of a still image can be determined while observing a moving image. Furthermore, it has excellent features such as the ability to emit and scan ultrasonic waves from the optimal direction to target areas by watching the video even during manual scanning. Also, since it is a fan-shaped scan, it has the advantage of widening the diagnostic area in deep areas in the video.

Note that in a probe using a phase array vibrator, when the deflection angle becomes large, the directivity becomes worse than that of a single vibrator. However, near the front, almost the same directivity as a single vibrator can be obtained. Therefore, it is preferable to set the direction A in Fig. 7a in an area close to the normal direction of the probe surface, for example, within ±10° from the normal direction.In this way, the still image will have a very high resolution. A good image can be obtained.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the fan-shaped scanning surface of the fan-shaped scanning probe shown in FIG. 5 is different from the manual scanning surface. In this case, the cross section 2 which is not within the plane 22 to be cut by manual scanning
Since one fan-shaped scanned image is obtained, the cutting plane can be considered three-dimensionally, and the position of the next cutting plane can be easily estimated.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment.

In this embodiment, a plurality of cross sections, for example two cross sections, can be obtained in one manual scan, and as shown in FIG. Ultrasonic waves are emitted, received and displayed in two directions at a certain timing (b in the same figure).In this case, the received signal c is delayed and added and then divided into signals d, e, and f, respectively. After that, the signal is processed and displayed through a mixer.In this way, one moving image and still images of two different sections 22' and 22'' can be obtained at the same time. This allows for a more three-dimensional consideration of the diagnostic site. Note that these two still images can also be displayed on the same monitor, not on different monitors.

FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, as in Embodiment 1, the manual scanning plane and the fan-shaped scanning plane are the same, the transmission and reception signals for manual scanning are scanned in multiple directions from the same point, and the obtained reception signals are used in the same manner as in composite scanning. The data is stored and reproduced in the scan converter using the following method. FIGS. 10a and 10b show the state when ultrasonic waves are scanned in two directions. 31,3
2, 31', and 32' indicate the scanning direction.

According to this method, the manually scanned image is multi-written as shown in FIG. 5B, and the same point can be viewed and displayed from multiple directions, reducing the loss of information and improving the image quality.

FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment.

In this embodiment, the fan-shaped scanning ultrasonic probe of the above embodiment is replaced with a high-speed mechanical scanning probe.

In this embodiment, a high-speed mechanical scanning probe 1 attached to a support arm 5 as shown in FIG. 11 is used. This probe 1 is controlled by the controller 11.
The scanning angle, speed, etc. are controlled using a rotation controller 25 that controls the rotation of. The manual scanning method can be performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The received signal from the probe 1 is amplified by the receiver 8 and then sent to the gate section 2.
Enter 6. Here, the high-speed scanning signal and the manual scanning signal are separated by a signal from the controller 11.
This separation method is possible by separating the received signals using the gate circuit 26 when the probe 1 reaches a specific rotation angle. After being separated into high-speed scanning signals and manual scanning signals in this manner, the signals are processed by signal processors 10, 10' and displayed on monitors 14, 14' in the same way as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, high-quality images can be obtained at relatively low cost. FIG. 11 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the first to fourth fan-shaped scanning ultrasonic probes are replaced with linear scanning probes. In this embodiment, when the linear scanning probe 1 attached to the support arm 5 performs the well-known high-speed linear scanning and transmits/receives the transducer array at a specific position within the probe, this received signal is used. It is separated at gate 26 as a manual scanning signal. These operating principles are similar to those of the first and fifth embodiments, and as a result, a still tomographic image of the cross section 22 by manual scanning and a real-time tomographic image of the cross section 21 by high-speed scanning can be obtained simultaneously. The use of this linear scanning probe has the advantage of producing particularly good images of short distances in moving images.

As described above, the present invention includes a high-speed scanning type ultrasonic probe and a support base having a mechanism for holding the ultrasonic probe and detecting its position. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that obtains a moving image and manually scans the image by emitting ultrasonic waves in a predetermined position and direction to obtain a still image tomographic image, and uses the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. The following effects can be obtained.

1. By using various high-speed scanning probes, you can view videos, and at the same time, by manually scanning the probe, you can obtain high-quality tomographic images of a wide area to be examined. .

2. By looking at tomographic images with different cut planes, the necessary part can be inserted quickly and the body tissues can be judged three-dimensionally.

3. By using a fan-shaped electronic scanning probe, a composite scanning method becomes possible and the field of view in deep areas becomes wider in high-quality still images and moving images.

4. By using a high-speed mechanical scanning probe,
An inexpensive device with good image quality can be obtained.

5. By using a linear scanning probe, a device with good image quality in the short-distance portion of moving images can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a conventional manual scanning ultrasonic diagnostic device, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the probe portion of a conventional arc scanning ultrasonic diagnostic device, and Fig. 3 is a diagram of a conventional mechanical scanning ultrasonic diagnostic device. An explanatory diagram of the probe part of the ultrasound diagnostic device,
FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a conventional fan-shaped electronic scanning ultrasonic diagnostic device, and FIG. 5 is a first embodiment of the present invention.
An overall configuration diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using a fan-shaped electronic sporane scanning probe, FIG. 6 a, b, c and FIG. 7 a, b are waveforms for explaining the operation of the apparatus in FIG. 5. Figures and explanatory diagrams of display methods; Figure 8 is a partial configuration diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention in which the fan-shaped scanning direction is different from the manual scanning direction; Figure 9a is a still image obtained by manual scanning in two sections; Partial configuration diagram of the third embodiment, same b
~f is a waveform diagram explaining the operation, FIG. 10a is a schematic diagram showing a fourth embodiment that incorporates composite scanning in manual scanning, FIG.
This figure is an overall configuration diagram of a fifth embodiment using a high-speed mechanical scanning type probe, and FIG. 12 is an overall configuration diagram of a sixth embodiment using a linear scanning type probe. 1... Probe, 2... Subject, 5... Support arm, 6... Potentiometer, 7... Transmitter, 8
... Receiver, 9 ... Position detection converter, 10,1
0'...Signal processor, 11...Controller, 13,1
3'...Mixer, 14, 14'...Monitor, 15...
...Delay part, 21... Fan-shaped scanning section, 22, 22',
22″...Manual scanning section, 25...Rotation controller,
26... Gate section, 30, A... Ultrasonic scanning line for manual scanning, 31, 31', 32, 32'... Scanning direction.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A high-speed scanning ultrasonic probe, a support base having a mechanism for movably holding the probe and detecting the position of the probe, and producing a moving image by scanning the probe at high speed. A means for obtaining an image, while manually scanning the probe, emitting ultrasonic waves in a predetermined direction at a transmission/reception timing different from the transmission/reception timing for obtaining the moving image, and transmitting the received signal and the ultrasonic wave of the probe. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising means for obtaining a still image based on a position detection signal, a transmission/reception control means for simultaneously displaying the moving image and the still image, and a display means. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic emission direction when obtaining a still image is within ±10° with respect to the normal direction of the probe surface. 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high-speed scanning ultrasonic probe is a fan-shaped electronic scanning ultrasonic probe. 4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the fan-shaped scanning plane and the manual scanning plane are the same. 5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the fan-shaped scanning plane and the manual scanning plane are different. 6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of manual scanning planes are set. 7. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the ultrasonic waves are emitted in a plurality of directions during manual scanning. 8. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high-speed scanning ultrasonic probe is a high-speed mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe. 9. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high-speed scanning ultrasonic probe is a linear scanning ultrasonic probe.