JPH024353A - Ultrasonic diagnosing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically set a multi-step focus near the center of a picture, which is easily observed, even when a diagnosing part or a vision range is changed by setting the focus of a same step number as a focus, which is set based on a result to recognize the display range of a picture, near the center of the displayed picture. CONSTITUTION:When one or more of focus selecting switches 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g and 6h of a focus switch 6 are pushed, delay data to set correspondent focus depth are calculated or read out of a memory in a focus control system and the delay data are given to a transmission control circuit 2 and a reception control circuit 3. Then, adjustment is added to the data and control is executed to execute B-mode scan with focus. On the other hand, in a display position recognizing part 5, the range of a picture, which appears on a screen, is calculated by magnification and shift quantity. In a focus optimumizing part 4, the selection change of the focus selecting switches 6a-6h is executed based on the display position data, which are calculated in the display position recognizing part 5, so that the multi-step focus can be set near the center of the picture.

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, the pitch of each unit of ultrasonic transducers is sequentially shifted by one transducer and the position of each unit of element is sequentially changed. This is a scanning in which the transmission point position of the ultrasound beam is electronically shifted by moving the ultrasound 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 ultrasonic waves are received by a transducer and converted into electrical signals (however, the number of transducers used for transmission and reception is not necessarily the same), and echo information from each transmitted and received wave is collected. For example, it 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, -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, FIG. 3(a) shows a situation where the sector-scanning ultrasound probe UP is transmitting and receiving an ultrasound beam to the subject by B-mode scanning. Different depths of lines (raster ri) Fl, F2°F3. 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, data can be collected from the depth PL where 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. In this case, the focus is formed at the depth F3, and when it comes to reception, it becomes possible to collect data from the depth F3 where the focus is formed.

FIG. 3(e) illustrates the amount of delay and the number of transducers (aperture) that determine the transmission timing and reception timing of each transducer of probe UP when the funer casing is set at depth F4. When transmitting, the focus is formed at the depth F4, and when receiving, it becomes possible to collect data from the depth F4 where 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. 4(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. For example, the vertical bottom line (
raster ri) at different depths F2. This shows a case where the focus is set to F4.

Then, as shown in Fig. 4(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. 4(c). As a result of these two ultrasound transmissions, as shown in FIG. 4(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. 5 schematically shows the relationship between the focus switch and the focus depth of an apparatus capable of setting eight steps of focus, and the focus switch 6 is composed of eight focus selection switches 5a.

6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6h, and have focus depths Fl, F2 . F3°F4. F5.
FB, F7. F8 is set.

In this case, for example, when the focus selection switch 6b of one focus switch 6 is pressed as a first-stage focus, a focus of depth F2 is formed in a predetermined range centered on the depth h2 of the subject during transmission, and reception In this case, the depth F formed in a predetermined range centered on the depth h2
Data from focus 2 will now be collected.

Furthermore, when the focus selection switches 6d and 6e of the focus switch 6 are pressed as a multi-stage focus, that is, two-stage focus is set, the depth h4 of the object is set at the time of transmission. The depth F4. A focus of F5 is formed, and upon reception, data is collected from the focus of depth F4F5 formed in a predetermined range centered on depth h4h5.

(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・It will be possible to diagnose with high resolution. In this case, the focus depth is fixed in advance for each focus selection switch, so the initially set and appropriate focus depth can be changed by operating the scale switch (changing the magnification of the displayed image) or by changing the position switch. If the diagnostic site or visual field range changes due to operation (shifting of the displayed image), it may no longer be appropriate.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6(a), initially the focus F4. Assume that F5 is set.

Then, when the display image is set to n times by operating the scale switch in order to observe a larger image, the focus F4, which was originally set at the center of the display image. As shown in FIG. 6(b), F5 is off the center of the displayed image and is positioned downward in the illustration, making it impossible to focus on the desired position. Therefore, the focus is reset so that the two focuses are set near the center of the displayed image, that is, F2. You have to change the settings in F3.

Also, in order to observe a larger image, when the display image is set to n times by operating the scale switch and the n times display image is shifted upward by d by operating the position switch, the image was originally set at the center of the display image. Focus F4. As shown in FIG. 6(c), F5 is off the center of the displayed image and upwards in the illustration, and the desired position is not in focus. Therefore, so that the two focuses are set near the center of the displayed image,
Reset focus, ie F5. You have to change the settings on F6. Therefore, there was a problem in that very complicated operations had to be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which multi-stage focus is automatically set near the center of a displayed image that is easy to observe even when the diagnostic region or visual field range is changed. be.

[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 an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a plurality of focus selection switches each setting a specific focus depth, and by selectively operating the focus selection switches, one or more stages of focus is formed at least in wave transmission. means for recognizing the display range of the displayed image; and a means for recognizing the display range of the displayed image; and means for changing the selection of the focus selection switch.

(Function) According to this configuration, the focus of the same number of steps as the focus step set based on the result of recognizing the display range of the image is set near the center of the displayed image. Even when the body part or visual field range is changed, multi-stage focus is automatically set near the center of the image where observation is easy, making diagnosis easier.

(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.

The transmission control circuit 2 and the reception control circuit 3 also include a focus optimization section 4, a display position recognition section 5. Focus switch 6° Scale switch 7
A, a focus control signal from position switch 7B is given.

In addition, the echo data obtained from the transmitter/receiver circuit 1 is
A D converter 8 converts the signal into a digital signal, a DSC (digital scan converter) 9 converts it from ultrasonic scanning to TV scanning as a B mode image, and a D/A converter 1
After being converted into an analog signal by 0, the TV is displayed on the monitor 11.
Display is performed by scanning.

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

6d, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6h, and have focus depths Fl, F2. F3. F4. F5°F6. F7.
F8 is set and 1 step focus.

2-step focus, 3-step focus, 4-step focus, 5
Various combinations of step focus, 6 step focus, 7 step focus, and 8 step focus can be set.

And focus selection switches 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f of the focus switch 6.

When one or more of 6g and 6h is pressed, the focus control system calculates or reads out delay data for setting the corresponding focus depth, and the delay data is sent to the transmission control circuit 2 and reception control circuit 3. where adjustments are made and controls are implemented to perform a focused B-mode scan.

On the other hand, the display position recognition unit 5 calculates the range of the image appearing on the screen based on the magnification and shift amount. The focus optimization unit 4 uses focus selection switches 5a, 6b, and 6 such that multi-stage focus is set near the center of the image based on the display position data calculated by the display position recognition unit 5.
c, 6d.

Change the selection of 6e, 6f, 6g, and 6h.

Under the above configuration, the focus selection switch 6d.

6e is pressed and focus depth F4. Assume that the display shown in FIG. 2(a) is displayed with F5 set. Here, as shown in FIG. 2(b), when the scale switch 7A is operated to set the display image to n times, the display position recognition section 5 calculates the display range f', and the focus optimization section 4 Now focus depth is F4. It is determined whether F5 is located at the center of the image. In this example, F4. Since it is determined that F5 is located below the center of the displayed image,
Focus depth F2 located near the center of the displayed image. F
3 and provides the changed data to the transmission control circuit 2 and reception control circuit 3.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2(C), the scale switch 7
When the display image is set to n times by operating A and the n times display image is shifted upward by d by operating the position switch 7B, the display position recognition unit 5 is set to d, no. e', the display range f is calculated, and the focus optimization unit 4 calculates the focus depth F4. It is determined whether F5 is at the center of the image. In this example, F4. Since it is determined that F5 is located above the center of the image, the setting is changed to focus depth F5°F6, which is located near the center of the image, and the changed data is sent to the transmission control circuit 2 and the reception control circuit. Give to 3.

As described above, according to this embodiment, based on the result of recognizing the display range of the image, the focus of the same number of steps as the set number of focus steps is set so as to sandwich the center of the displayed image. Even if the diagnosis site or visual field range is changed, multi-stage focus is automatically set near the center of the image where observation is easy, making diagnosis easier. This means that the image can be enlarged and moved without being conscious of the focus position, and diagnostic efficiency can be improved.

In the above example, we explained an example of two-stage focus, but even when three or more stages of focus are set, the display position is recognized in the same way, and multi-stage focus is applied near the center of the image. It is possible to change the focus setting so that it is set. Further, the above-mentioned focus setting change may be performed on at least one of the transmission focus and the reception focus. moreover,
It can also be applied to a downward shift or a left-right shift that involves image enlargement, or a downward shift or a left-right shift that does not involve image enlargement. The invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention includes a means for recognizing the display range of a displayed image and a focus having the same number of focus steps as the number of focus steps set based on the recognition result of this means. The number of focus steps is the same as the number of focus steps set based on the result of recognizing the display range of the image. The focus is set near the center of the displayed image, so even if the diagnosis area or field of view is changed, the multi-step focus is automatically set near the center of the image for easy observation. This has the effect of making diagnosis easier.

[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 same embodiment, FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the principle of multi-stage focusing, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a focus switch, and FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining problems in the conventional example. UP...Probe, 1...Transmission/reception circuit, 2...Transmission control circuit, 3...Reception control circuit, 4...Focus optimization unit, 5...Display position recognition unit, 6...・Focus switch, 7A...Scale switch, 7B...
・Position switch, 8... A/D converter, 9...
・DSC. 10...D/A converter, 111...monitor. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue

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 selectively operating the focus selection switch to form one or more stages of focus at least in transmission, means for recognizing a display range of a displayed image; and means for changing the selection of the plurality of focus selection switches so that the same number of focus stages as the number of focus stages set based on the recognition result of the means is set near the center of the displayed image. An ultrasonic diagnostic device characterized by comprising: