JPH03234248A - Ultrasonic tomography device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute image diagnosis and image recording without being influenced by an image pickup time of a video printer by providing plural pieces of recording memories for image data, switching the recording memories in accordance with the image pickup time of the video printer, and also, sending a print signal to the video printer. CONSTITUTION:The ultrasonic tomography device is provided with plural image recording memories 14a-14n for storing image data from a frame memory 7, and provided with a control circuit 15 for switching the memories 14a-14n in accordance with an image pickup time of a video printer 12, and also, sending out a print signal to the video printer 12. By plural pieces of memories 14a-14n, image data read out of the frame memory 7 of the inside of an image processing means is stored, and by the control circuit 15, the image data is read out by switching the memories 14a-14n in accordance with the image pickup time of the video printer 12, and also, a print signal S2 is sent out to the video printer 12. Accordingly, since the image recording operation by a print key 13 can be executed without waiting for the image pickup time of the video printer 12, the image diagnosis and the image recording can be executed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention transmits ultrasound waves into a subject, receives reflected echoes from a diagnostic site, obtains an ultrasound image using the echo signals, and further The present invention relates to an ultrasonic tomography apparatus to which a video printer can be connected, and particularly to an ultrasonic tomography apparatus that can perform image diagnosis and record images without being affected by the imaging time of the video printer.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, diagnosis has been made using ultrasound images obtained with an ultrasound tomography device, and the images have been photographed using an instant camera or the like to record them. However, the unit price of the film is high, making it uneconomical, and it is inconvenient to handle and organize.

In contrast, recently, video printers have been used to record images on thermal paper or the like. As shown in Fig. 4, such an ultrasonic tomography device includes a probe 1 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, and a probe 1 that is controlled to emit ultrasonic waves and receive signals of reflected echoes. A wave transmitting/receiving control means for processing, an image processing means for digitizing the echo signal from the wave transmitting/receiving control means, writing it into an internal storage device (7), reading it out, and converting it into analog; A display device 1 for displaying a sound wave image and a print key 13 for recording the displayed image are provided, and a video printer 12 can be connected thereto.

The above-mentioned wave transmission/reception control means includes a wave transmission/reception control circuit 3 that controls the transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves from the probe 1 according to instructions from a central processing unit (CPU) 2, and a wave transmission/reception control circuit 3 that controls the transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves from the probe 1 according to instructions from a central processing unit (CPU) 2. A wave transmission focus circuit 4 controls transmission so that the sound waves are focused at a certain depth inside the subject, and signals from the wave transmission/reception control circuit 3 are used to focus the reception signal of the reflected echo at a predetermined position. Wave reception focus circuit 5 for wave reception control
It consists of Further, one image processing means includes an A/D converter 6 for digitizing the echo signal from the reception focus circuit 5, a frame memory 7 for storing image data from the A/D converter 6, and a character generator. times j18 and
It consists of an adder 9 and a D/A converter 10 that converts the image data from the adder 9 into analog. Furthermore, one display device 1 consists of, for example, a CRT. And this display bag! ! A video printer 12 is connected in parallel with 11, and a print key 13 is directly connected to this video printer 12.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in such conventional ultrasonic tomography devices,
The analog image signal sent to the video printer 12 is the same as the image signal sent to the display device 11, and since the print key 3 is directly connected to the video printer 12, the operation of the print key 13 The image displayed on the display device 11 is instantaneously recorded in the built-in memory of the video printer 12, but the recording method of the video printer 12 is, for example, a thermal type, and the image capturing actually ends. It took several tens of seconds. For this reason, when an image is being recorded by the video printer 12, the print key 13 for recording the next image must be pressed until the imaging of that image is completely completed.
It was impossible to press. Therefore, it was necessary to wait until the previous image was captured.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, let the imaging time of the video printer 12 be T, and for example, three images 12. Ii, r□
Let's say you want to make a diagnosis and record the images. At this time, let tl be the time when the first image was diagnosed in a moving image state.

After the diagnosis is completed, the freeze key F1 is pressed to freeze the image, and the print key P1 is pressed to capture the first image (step □'). During this time, the next image □ is displayed on the display device 11, and this second image I
Let t2 be the time when z was diagnosed. After the diagnosis is completed, the freeze key F2 is pressed to freeze the image, but as shown in the figure, at this time the video printer 12 is still capturing the first image, so the print key 13 is pressed. I can't press it. After that, when the imaging (step □') of the first image is completed, press the print key.
Press 2 to capture (zz') the second image above. Furthermore, during this time, the next image is displayed in the first display bag gill, and the time when this third image I is diagnosed is defined as t. After the diagnosis is completed, Freeze Key F
Press □ to freeze the image, but at this time the video printer 12 is still capturing the second image 8, and the print key 13 cannot be pressed. After that, when the second image (I,') has been captured, press the print key P to capture the third image (I3').
), Therefore, the total diagnostic time t required for the three images I, , I, , I, always includes the waiting time α from the freeze key operation to the print key operation for both intermediate images, t ” t L + t z + t a + α. Therefore, the total diagnosis time t becomes longer,
This puts a burden on the patient and reduces diagnostic efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve these problems and provide an ultrasonic tomography apparatus that can perform image diagnosis and record images without being affected by the imaging time of a video printer.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above objects, an ultrasonic tomography apparatus according to the present invention includes a probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, and controls the probe to emit ultrasonic waves and processes received signals of reflected echoes. A wave transmitting/receiving control means, an image processing means for digitizing the echo signal from the wave transmitting/receiving control means, writing image data into an internal storage device, reading it out, and converting it into analog, and converting the image signal from the image processing means into an ultrasonic image. In an ultrasonic tomography apparatus that is equipped with a display device for displaying images, a print key for recording the displayed images, and to which a video printer can be connected, an image recording memory for storing image data from the storage device is provided. Provide multiple
A control circuit is provided that switches the image recording memory in accordance with the imaging time of the video printer and sends a print signal to the video printer.

[For production]

The ultrasonic tomography apparatus configured in this way stores the image data read out from the storage device inside the image processing means using a plurality of image recording memories, and adjusts the image data to the imaging time of the video printer using the control circuit. The image recording memory is switched to read image data, and a print signal is sent to the video printer. As a result, image recording can be performed using the print key without waiting for the video printer to take an image.

〔Example〕

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic tomography apparatus according to the present invention. This ultrasonic tomography device transmits ultrasonic waves into the subject, receives reflected echoes from the diagnostic site, and obtains ultrasonic images using the echo signals.As shown in the figure, a probe 1 , a wave transmission/reception control means, an image processing means, a display device 11, and a print key 13,
A video printer 12 can be connected.

The probe chip transmits and receives ultrasonic waves within the subject, and has a built-in transducer that serves as the source of the ultrasonic waves and also receives reflected echoes and converts them into electrical signals. . The wave transmission/reception control means controls the probe 1 to emit ultrasonic waves and processes the received signal of the reflected echo. A wave transmission/reception control circuit 3 that controls the transmission and reception of ultrasound waves, and a wave transmission focus circuit [4 and , a reception focus circuit ji! which controls the reception so that the reception signal of the reflected echo is focused on a predetermined position by the signal from the transmission/reception control circuit 3. From 5 onwards. Further, 1 image processing means digitizes the echo signal from the wave transmission/reception control means, writes image data into an internal storage device, reads it out, and performs analog conversion, and digitizes the echo signal from the wave reception focus circuit 5. A/D conversion conversion 6 A frame memory 7 that stores image data from the A/D converter 6, a character generation circuit 8 that generates data such as characters and scales, and image data from the frame memory 7. and the character data from the character generation time j18, and a D/A converter 10 that converts the image data from the adder 9 into an analog video signal. Further, the display device 11 displays the image signal from the image processing means as an ultrasonic image, and is composed of, for example, a CRT. The print key 13 is an operation switch for recording an image displayed on the display device 11, and the print key 13 is an operation switch for recording an image displayed on the display device 11.
Connected to PU2.

Here, in the present invention, a plurality of image recording memories 14a and 14b are provided on the output side of the adder 9.

. . , 14n are provided, and a control circuit 15 is also provided which sends out required control signals in response to instructions from the CPU 2. The above image recording memories 14a to 14n
are used to temporarily store the image data output from the adder 9 for each image, and are provided with, for example, four pieces. A D/A converter 16 is commonly provided on the output side of these image recording memories 14a to 14n, and converts the image data read from the image recording memories 14a to 14n into analog video signals. It is supposed to be converted. Then, on the output side of the D/A converter 16,
A video printer 12 is connected which inputs the image signal and records the image on thermal paper or the like. Also,
The control circuit 15 switches the image recording memories 14a to 14n according to the imaging time of the video printer 2, and causes the video printer 12 to perform a printing operation. The control signal S for switching, writing and reading is sent to the video printer 12, and a print signal S2 is also sent to the video printer 12.

Next, the image recording operation in the ultrasonic tomography apparatus configured as described above will be explained with reference to FIG. 2. First, in the normal image display, the probe 1 is
Ultrasonic image data collected by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from the D/
The A converter 10 converts the signal into an analog video signal and displays it on the display device 11. In this state, doctors etc. use the above display device!
Diagnosis is made while viewing the images displayed on the screen 11, and the required images are recorded by the video printer 12.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the imaging time of the video printer 12 is T, and for example, three images I0. I2. I,
Let's say you want to make a diagnosis and record the images. First, let tl be the time when the first image □ was diagnosed in a moving image state. After the diagnosis is completed, the user presses the freeze key F1 to freeze the image, and presses the print key P. Then, a signal is input to the CPU 2 from the print signal 3 shown in FIG.
Send control commands to. As a result, the control circuit 5
sends a control signal S1 to the image recording memory group, the content of which is to write the image data output from the adder 9 into the first image recording memory 14a. Then, the image data output from the adder 9 is written into the first image recording memory 14a, and is then read out.

The image data is converted into an analog video signal by a D/A converter 16 and then input to the video printer 12. At the same time, the control circuit 15 sends a print signal S2 to the video printer 12, and the video printer 12 records an image (PL'), whereby the first image I□ is captured (It'). be done. At this time, the control circuit 15 counts the imaging time T from the time when it sends out the print signal S2 for the first image.6 During the imaging of the first image, the display device W11 displays the following: 2 is displayed, and the time at which this second image 2 is diagnosed is defined as t2. After the diagnosis is completed, the user presses the freeze key F2 to freeze the image, and then presses the print key P2. Then, in the same way as above, the control circuit 15 sends a control signal S□ whose content is to write the image data output from the adder 9 to the second image recording memory 14b to the image recording memory group. sent to. As a result, the image data output from the adder 9 is written into the second image recording memory 14b. When this writing is completed, the second image recording memory 14b replaces the first image recording memory 14a, and the read image data is transferred to the D/A converter 16. After being converted into an analog video signal, it is input to a video printer 128. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the video printer 12 is still in the process of capturing (rt') the first image 1.

The control circuit 15 counts the imaging time T. When the preset imaging time T has been counted, the second print signal S2 is sent from the control circuit 5 to the video printer 12. As a result, the video printer 12 records an image (P2''),
The second image 2 is captured (L').

Further, while the second image Iz is captured, the next image is displayed on the first display device 1, and the time when this third image is diagnosed is defined as t3.

After the diagnosis is completed, the user presses the freeze key F1 to freeze the image, and presses the print key P.

Thereafter, in the same manner as above, the third control signal S1 is sent from the control circuit 15 to the image recording memory group, and
The third print signal S2 is sent to the video printer 12. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the video printer 12 automatically records the image (P3') when the second image I2 has been captured (I'), and records the third image. The upper part is imaged (L'). Thereafter, this operation is repeated for the required number of images to be recorded.

In this case, 1, for example, the above three images 11. As is clear from FIG. 2, the total diagnostic time t' required for the yLy machine 3 is t'==t□+1. +1. But it will happen. Therefore, the total diagnostic time t' is shorter than in the conventional case.

Note that in one or more of the explanations, the image recording memory 14
Although a = 14 n has been described as, for example, four, the present invention is not limited to this, and the imaging time T of the video printer 2
If it is short, 2 to 3 pieces may be sufficient, and if it is long, for example, about 10 pieces may be provided. In this way, when a large number of image recording memories 14 a = 14 n are provided, two to three written images precede the image read out for imaging.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a time setting means 17 is connected to the control circuit 15. This time setting means 17 allows the user to arbitrarily set the imaging time T when the imaging time T of the video printer 12 differs from one to another.

For example, it consists of a rotary switch or a keyboard switch. At this time, the control circuit 15 compares the imaging time T arbitrarily set by the time setting means 17 with the count time since sending out the previous print signal S2, and
It operates to send out the next print signal S2.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the plurality of image recording memories 14a to 14n are provided on the main body side of the ultrasonic tomography apparatus, but instead of this, they are provided inside the video printer 2. A plurality of image recording memories may be provided. In this case, the print key 13 may be provided on the video printer 12 side.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the image data read out from the storage device (7) inside the image processing means is stored in the plurality of image recording memories 14a''l4n, and the image data is controlled. Video printer 1 by circuit 15
The image recording memory 14a according to the imaging time T of 2.
14n can be switched to read out the image data and at the same time send the print signal S2 to the video printer 12.

Thereby, the image recording operation using the print key 13 can be performed without waiting for the imaging time T of the video printer 12. Therefore, one-image diagnosis and image recording can be performed without being affected by the imaging time T of the video printer 2. As a result, the total diagnostic time t' for a plurality of images becomes shorter than in the past, reducing the burden on the patient and improving diagnostic efficiency.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the ultrasonic tomography apparatus according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a timing diagram for explaining its image recording operation, and Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional ultrasonic tomographic apparatus, and FIG. 5 is a timing diagram for explaining the image recording operation in the conventional example. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Probe, 2... CPU, 3... Wave transmission/reception control circuit, 4... Wave transmission focus circuit, 5...
- Receiving focus circuit, 6... A/D converter, 7
... Frame memory, 10, 16... D/A converter, 11... Display device, Engineering 2... Video printer, 13... Print key 14a to 14n.
...image recording memory, 15...control circuit, 17
・・・Time setting means・

Claims (1)

[Claims] A probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a wave transmitting and receiving control means that controls the probe to emit ultrasonic waves and processes received signals of reflected echoes, and digitally converts the echo signals from the wave transmitting and receiving control means. an image processing means for writing image data into an internal storage device, reading it out, and converting it into analog; a display device for displaying the image signal from the image processing means as an ultrasound image; and a display device for recording the displayed image. In an ultrasonic tomography apparatus that is equipped with a print key and can be connected to a video printer, a plurality of image recording memories for storing image data from the storage device are provided, and the image recording memory is stored in accordance with the imaging time of the video printer. An ultrasonic tomography apparatus characterized in that it is provided with a control circuit that switches between the two and sends a print signal to the video printer.