JPH024352A - Ultrasonic diagnosing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate operation and to execute B-mode diagnosis under a focus condition to correspond to a diagnosing part or a vision range by providing a means to preset the focus condition of a selected switch out of plural focus selecting switches. CONSTITUTION:For example, when a focus selecting switch 5b of a focus switch 5 is pushed, focus depth is F2. However, at such a time, by pushing a preset switch 10, delay data concerning the focus depth F2 or focus condition data such as a frame number, etc., are held. With the change of the diagnosing part or vision range, when the preset switch 10 is pushed again even after the focus selecting switch 5b of the focus switch 5 is pushed, a controller 4 ignores the selection of a focus selecting switch 5c and reproduces the held focus condition data concerning the focus depth F2. Then, the data are given to a transmission control circuit 2 and a reception control circuit 3 and B-mode scan can be executed by the same focus condition.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that uses ultrasonic waves to obtain diagnostic information such as a B-mode image and displays this information. , relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic device with improved multi-stage focus function.

(Conventional technology) Biodiagnostic equipment that uses ultrasound uses an ultrasound probe (array probe) in which a large number of micro ultrasound transducers are arranged in parallel to scan an ultrasound beam while electronically focusing it on the subject. However, there is an electronic scanning ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a B-mode image or a two-dimensional blood velocity image as an image format from the echo data obtained thereby and displays the image.

Here, generation of an image in the above-mentioned apparatus will be explained. In other words, in the case of linear electronic scanning using an array probe, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are considered as one unit, and this one
This is a method of transmitting an ultrasonic beam by exciting a unit of ultrasonic transducers. For example, by sequentially shifting the pitch by one transducer, the excitation is performed by sequentially changing the position of each unit of elements. This is scanning in which the transmission point position of the ultrasonic beam is electronically shifted by changing the position of the ultrasonic beam.

Then, so that the ultrasonic beam is focused, the excitation timing of the excited ultrasonic transducers is shifted by setting a delay time between those located in the center of the beam and those located on the sides. Focuses the transmitted ultrasound using the phase difference between the ultrasound waves generated by the ultrasound transducer (
electronic focus). Similarly, the reflected ultrasound is received by a transducer and converted into an electrical signal (however, the number of transducers used for transmission and reception is not necessarily the same), and the echo information from each transmitted and received wave is transmitted. For example, the image is formed as a tomographic image and displayed on a TV monitor or the like.

In addition, in the case of sector electronic scanning, the excitation timing of each transducer is set in the desired direction using a delay time so that the transmission direction of the ultrasonic beam sequentially changes in a fan shape for one unit of excited ultrasonic transducers. It will change depending on the
The subsequent processing is basically the same as the linear electronic scanning described above. A typical example of the imaging method is B-mode imaging, in which signals accompanying ultrasound transmission and reception are combined to form a tomographic image.

Here, single-stage focusing in B-mode sector scanning will be explained with reference to FIG. 3, and multi-stage focusing in B-mode sector scanning will be explained with reference to FIG. 4. First, Figure 3 (
a) shows a situation in which the sector scanning ultrasound probe UP is transmitting and receiving ultrasound beams to the subject by B-mode scanning; Different depths Fl, F2゜F
3. A case is shown in which the focus is set on F4.

FIG. 3(b) illustrates the delay amount and the number of transducers (aperture) that determine the transmission timing and reception timing of each transducer of the probe UP when the focus is set at depth Fl. At this time, the focus is formed at the depth Fl, and at the time of reception, it becomes possible to collect data from the depth Fl at which the focus is formed. FIG. 3(C) illustrates the delay amount and the number of transducers (aperture) that determine the transmission timing and reception timing of each transducer of the probe UP when the focus is set at depth F2. At this time, the focus is formed at the depth F2, and at the time of reception, it becomes possible to collect data from the depth F2 at which the focus is formed.

FIG. 3(d) illustrates the delay amount and the number of transducers (aperture) that determine the transmission timing and reception timing of each transducer of the probe UP when the focus is set at depth F3. At this time, the focus is formed at the depth F3, and at the time of reception, it becomes possible to collect data from the depth F3 at which the focus is formed.

FIG. 3(e) illustrates the delay amount and the number of transducers (aperture) that determine the transmission timing and reception timing of each transducer of the probe UP when the focus is set at depth F4. At this time, the focus is formed at the depth F4, and at the time of reception, it becomes possible to collect data from the depth F4 at which the focus is formed.

As shown in the figure, by changing the delay amount and the number of transducers (aperture), it is possible to form focuses at different depths in transmission, and data can be obtained from focuses formed at different depths in reception. One rusk for each focus depth can be obtained by one ultrasonic transmission/reception. In other words, with one-stage focus, the ultrasonic transmission and reception rules are
One ultrasonic raster can be obtained in one step. In addition to the method of controlling both the delay amount and the number of transducers (aperture) as described above, methods for forming focuses at different depths include changing only the delay amount for the same number of transducers. It can also be implemented as follows.

On the other hand, regarding multi-stage focusing, FIG. 5(a) shows a situation where the sector scanning ultrasound probe UP is transmitting and receiving the ultrasound beam to the subject by B-mode scanning, and here the probe UP For example, the vertical bottom line (
raster rl) at different depths F2. This shows a case where the focus is set to F4.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5(b) at the root, the depth is F2.
At the second rate, ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received to set the focus at depth F4 as shown in FIG. 5(C). As a result of these two ultrasound transmissions, as shown in FIG. 5(d), the depth F2. The focus is formed at F4, and upon reception, data can be collected from the depth F2°F4 where the focus is formed.

And focus depth F2. One raster at F4 can be obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasound twice. In other words, 0
With stage focus, one ultrasonic raster can be obtained at n rates of ultrasonic transmission and reception.

FIG. 6 schematically shows the relationship between the focus switch and focus depth of an apparatus capable of setting four-stage focus, and the focus switch 5 includes four focus selection switches 5a.

5b, 5c, and 5d, each with a focus depth Fl.
, F2. F3. F4 is set. In this case, for example, when the focus selection switch 5b of one focus switch 5 is pressed as a first-stage focus, the depth F is set in a predetermined range centered on the depth h2 of the subject during transmission.
2 foci are formed, and upon reception, data is collected from the foci of depth F2 formed in a predetermined range centered on depth h2.

In addition, when the focus selection switches 5b and 5d of the focus switch 5 are pressed as multi-stage focusing, that is, when two-stage focusing is set, the depth h2 of the subject is set at the time of transmission. A depth F2. A focus of F4 is formed, and upon reception, data is collected from the focus of depth F2°F4 formed in a predetermined range centered on depth h2°h4.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, according to the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the focus can be set at one desired depth or multiple depths by multi-stage focusing, so that the focus area can be diagnosed with high resolution.

If you change the diagnosis area or visual field range, the initially set and appropriate focus depth may no longer be appropriate due to the change in the diagnosis area or visual field range, and you may need to reset the focus. The need will arise. If you undo the changes to the diagnosis area or visual field range, you will need to reset the focus. As described above, the B-mode diagnosis in which the focus is set has a problem in that very complicated operations such as setting the focus must be performed frequently as the diagnosis site or visual field range is changed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to perform B-mode diagnosis under focus conditions according to the diagnostic site and visual field range by making the operation easy even when the diagnostic site and visual field range are changed. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention has a structure in which the following means are taken to solve the above problems and achieve the objects.

That is, in the present invention, the ultrasonic beam is directed to the subject by
It transmits and receives waves by mode scanning, and generates a B-mode image from the echoes obtained thereby and provides it for display,
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with a plurality of focus selection switches each setting a specific focus depth, and one or more focuses are formed at least in wave transmission by selectively operating the focus selection switches. The present invention is characterized by comprising means for presetting the focus condition of the selected focus selection switch among the plurality of focus selection switches.

(Function) According to such a configuration, the preset focus conditions can be reproduced even if the focus conditions change due to changes in the diagnostic region or visual field range, making the operation easier. B-mode diagnosis can now be performed under focus conditions depending on the diagnosis site and visual field range.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the array probe UP, which is made up of a plurality of micro-oscillators arranged in parallel, is driven by a transmitting/receiving circuit 1 to transmit and receive by sector or linear B-mode scanning.

This transmitting/receiving circuit 1 is subjected to timing control by a transmitting control circuit 2 and a receiving control circuit 3 by setting a delay amount in transmitting and receiving.

Further, the transmission control circuit 2 and the reception control circuit 3 include a controller 4 which forms a focus control system. Focus switch5. A focus control signal from a preset switch 10 is provided.

In addition, the echo data obtained from the transmitter/receiver circuit 1 is
It is converted into a digital signal by a D converter 6, converted into a B-mode image from ultrasonic scanning to TV scanning by a DSC (digital scan φ converter) 7, and then sent to a D/A converter 8.
After the signal is converted into an analog signal, it is displayed on the monitor 9 by TV scanning.

Here, the focus control system, which is a feature of this embodiment, will be explained in detail. That is, the focus switch 5 has the same configuration as that explained in FIG. 6, and this focus switch 5 has four focus selection switches 5.
a, 5b, 5c.

5d, respectively with focus depth Fl, F2°F3
．． F4 is set, 1 step focus, 2 step focus,
Three-stage focus and four-stage focus can be set in various combinations.

Then, when one or more of the focus selection switches 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d of the focus switch 5 is pressed, the controller 4 calculates or reads out delay data for setting the corresponding focus depth, and calculates the delay data for setting the corresponding focus depth. The data is given to a transmission control circuit 2 and a reception control circuit 3, where adjustments are made and control for performing focused B-mode scanning is implemented.

On the other hand, the preset switch 10 is provided close to the focus switch 5 on the console of the device (not shown),
When the preset switch 10 is pressed, the controller 4
Delay data regarding the focus depth at that time and focus condition data such as the number of frames are held. Then, when the preset switch 10 is pressed again, the controller 4 selects the focus selection switch 5a of the focus switch 5.
.

Even if 5b, 5c, and 5d are selected singly or in a certain combination, this is ignored and the aforementioned retained focus condition data is reproduced and given to the transmission control circuit 2 and reception control circuit 3 as control data. ing.

According to the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, when the focus selection switch 5b of the focus switch 5 is pressed, the focus depth is F2; , hold delay data regarding focus depth F2 and focus condition data such as the number of frames.

If the preset switch 10 is pressed again even after the focus selection switch 5C of the focus switch 5 has been pressed to change the diagnosis area or visual field range, the controller 4 ignores the selection of the focus selection switch 5C and The focus condition data regarding the retained focus depth F2 is reproduced and provided to the transmission control circuit 2 and the reception control circuit 3, so that B-mode scanning can be performed under the same focus condition. Note that examples of focus conditions that can be preset are shown in FIGS. 3(a) to 3(n).

According to this embodiment, the preset switch 10
With this operation, various focus conditions can be maintained and reproduced. Therefore, the preset focus conditions can be reproduced even if the focus conditions change due to changing the diagnosis area or visual field range, making it easy to operate and adjusting the focus condition according to the diagnosis area or visual field range. B-mode diagnosis can now be performed under focus conditions.

Note that although the above example is an example of application to a device that can set four focus depths, it does not specify the number of conditions that can be set. Also, one preset switch 1
0, or a plurality of preset switches may be provided so that a plurality of focus conditions can be preset at the same time. Furthermore, the form of the preset switch is not necessarily the same, but may be of any type as long as it can easily maintain and reproduce the focus condition. Further, the preset function may be applied only to the transmission focus. The invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, in the present invention, by providing a means for presetting the focus condition of the selected focus selection switch among the plurality of focus selection switches, the preset focus condition can be adjusted depending on the diagnosis area or visual field range. Even if the focus conditions change due to a change in the focus conditions, it can be reproduced, making it easy to operate and allowing B-mode diagnosis to be performed under focus conditions appropriate for the diagnosis area and visual field range. There is an I effect that becomes like this.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the operation of the embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the form of focus conditions that can be preset in the embodiment. 4 is a diagram showing the principle of single-stage focusing, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the principle of multi-stage focusing, and FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining a conventional example. UP...Probe, 1...Transmission/reception circuit, 2...Transmission control circuit, 3...Reception control circuit, 4...Controller, 5...Focus switch, 6...A/D conversion device, 7...DSC, 8...D/A converter, 9...
・Monitor, 10...Preset switch. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 6 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] Ultrasonic beams are sent and received to and from the subject by B-mode scanning, and the resulting echoes are used to generate B-mode images for display, with multiple focuses each having a specific focus depth. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a selection switch and configured to form one or more focuses at least in wave transmission by selectively operating the focus selection switch, the focus selection switch is selected from among the plurality of focus selection switches. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising means for presetting focus conditions of an object.