JPH04156834A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To test degradation of the picture quality at the site, which is causes by secular change of a delay line by feeding the output of a continuous wave generating circuit to a delay circuit instead of the output of a receiver, and testing the delay line with the image displayed at the time on an image display device. CONSTITUTION:In a delay line circuit 36, the output of a signal changeover circuit 26 is given to a delay line 54 through switch circuits 50-1, 50-2...50-i, and the output from this delay line 54 is fed to an analog signal processing circuit 38. If a command for testing the delay line 54 at 100-nsec intervals is fed to a delay control circuit 32 from an operational input part 34, white indication is given when no secular change of delay line 54 is generated between taps, and black indication is given when secular change is generated. Thus degradation of the picture quality due to secular change of the delay line 54 can be tested by the single body of device from indication given on an image display device 42.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention] [Table of Contents Overview Industrial Application Fields Prior Art Problems to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problems Actions Examples Effects of the Invention [41! [Required] Regarding ultrasonic diagnostic equipment that displays diagnostic images by delaying the received signal of an ultrasound beam with a delay line, it is desirable to provide a device that makes it possible to test on the spot the deterioration of image quality due to changes in the delay line over time. A receiver group that receives the outputs of the beam ultrasonic element groups, a continuous wave generation circuit that outputs multiple continuous waves with different phases, and a continuous wave generation circuit that outputs the outputs of the receiver group and the continuous wave generation circuit. a signal switching circuit to which an output is supplied; a delay line circuit to which the switching output of the signal switching circuit is supplied to a delay line via a switch circuit group; an analog signal processing circuit that processes the output of the delay line circuit; A digital signal processing circuit that processes the output of the processing circuit, and an image display device that displays an image using the output of the digital signal processing circuit, and when a Doppler transmission circuit is provided, this is used as described above. Used as a continuous wave generation circuit.

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays a diagnostic image by delaying a received signal of an ultrasonic beam using a delay line.

In this type of apparatus, the quality of diagnostic images deteriorates due to changes in the delay line over time.

Therefore, delay line tests are being conducted.

[Prior Art] FIG. 6 shows a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, in which beam ultrasonic elements 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, . . .
20-i is transmitter 21-1.21-2.21-
3...21-1, Doppler ultrasound element 22-1.
*22-j are each driven by the CW Doppler transmission circuit 30.

And transmitter 21-1.21-2゜21-3
...21-1 is the transmitter/delay control circuit 4
As a result, the ultrasonic beam is controlled by the ultrasonic elements 20-1.20-2.20-3...-20-i
Sent from.

In addition, ultrasonic elements 20-1.20-2.20-3...
The received signal of the ultrasonic beam obtained by 20-1 is supplied to receivers 24-1.24-2.24-3 and 24-1, and these receivers 24-1.24-2.24-3 and 24-1 −
- The output of 24-1 is given to the delay line circuit 36.

The delay line circuit 36 is controlled by a transmitter/delay control circuit 44, and the delay line provided in the delay line circuit 36 is used to control the receiver 24.
A delay is applied to each of the outputs of -1.24-2.24-3- and -24-1.

Further, the output of the delay line circuit 36 is processed by an analog signal processing circuit 38, and the processed output is supplied to a digital processing circuit 40.

The digital processing circuit 40 is provided with an 080 circuit, and the processing results (tomographic images, etc.) are displayed on the image display device 114.
Displayed as 2.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] When this device is shipped as a product, the delay line will not be tested unless the image quality of the diagnostic image is significantly degraded.
If the quality of the diagnostic image has significantly deteriorated, the board on which the delay line is mounted is removed from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and tested by the manufacturer.

That is, conventionally, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have been used without being able to confirm the deterioration in the quality of diagnostic images due to changes in the delay line over time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an apparatus that makes it possible to test on the spot the deterioration of image quality due to changes in delay lines over time.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus according to the present invention is configured as follows.

In FIG. 1, the receiver 24-1.24-2゜24-
3. 24-1 is the beam ultrasonic element 20-1.20
-2, 20-3...20-i, and the continuous wave generation circuit 30 (CW Doppler transmission circuit 30) outputs a plurality of continuous waves having mutually different phases.

And receiver 24-1.24-2.24-3...2
4-1 and the output of the continuous wave generation circuit 30 are supplied to the signal switching circuit 26, and the switching output of the signal switching circuit 26 is supplied to the switch circuit 50-1.4-1 within the delay line circuit 36 as shown in FIG. It is supplied to the delay line 54 via 50-2*@50-i.

Note that the analog signal processing circuit 38 processes the output of the delay line circuit 36, the digital signal processing circuit 40 processes the output of the analog signal processing circuit 38, and the image display device 42 displays an image using the output of the digital signal processing circuit 40. Do the following.

[Function] In the present invention, the receiver 24-1.24-2.24-3.
・Continuous wave generation circuit 30 (C
The output of the W Doppler transmission circuit 30) is input to the delay line circuit 36, and the delay line 54 (change over time, that is, deterioration in image quality) is tested using the image displayed on the image display device 42 at that time.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the apparatus according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

In FIG. 1, the receiver 24-1.24-2゜24-
3...24-1 is supplied to the delay line circuit 36 via the signal switching circuit 26, and the output of the CW Doppler transmission circuit 30 is supplied to the ultrasonic elements 22-1 and 24-1 via the signal switching circuit 26. - Supplied to φ22-j or the delay line circuit 36.

And transmitter 21-1.21-2゜21-3
...21-i is a transmitter control circuit 28, a signal switching circuit 26. The delay line circuits 36 are each controlled by the delay control circuit 32.
Commands such as mode switching are given from the operation input section 34.

When a command to switch to the test mode is given to the delay control circuit 32 from the operation input section 34, the internal changeover switch of the signal changeover circuit 26 is controlled as shown in FIG. The signal is applied to the delay line circuit 36 via the circuit 26.

In FIG. 2, in the delay line circuit 36, the output of the signal switching circuit 26 is switched to the switch circuit 50-1゜50-2@.
- It is supplied to the delay line 54 via 50-1, and the output of this delay line 54 is supplied to the analog signal processing circuit 38.

Here, when a command to test the delay line 54 every 100 nSec is given from the operation input section 34 to the delay control circuit 32, the result is shown in FIG. 4(A).

Continuous waves P (0°/2°5M) with different phases as shown in (B)
Hz), Q (-90nSec/2.5MHz)
However, as shown in FIG. 3, through the signal switching circuit 26,
Each is sent to CH2.

Further, the switch circuits 50-1 and 50-2 in FIG. 2 are simultaneously controlled by the delay control circuit 32, and the delay line 5
CHI and CH2 are connected to the 0 nSec tap and the 100 nSec tap provided in 4.

In this embodiment, if the delay line 54 does not change over time between those taps, the final delay output will be at the minimum black and white level, and the image display in FIG. 5(A) will be displayed on the image display device 42. It is done.

On the other hand, if the delay line 54 changes over time between those taps, the final delay output will be at a considerable black and white level, and the 51st! I (B) is displayed.

Therefore, it is possible to test the deterioration of image quality due to changes in the delay line 54 over time from the display on the image display device 42 using the device alone.

Note that each time a tap switching command is given to the delay control circuit 32 from the operation input unit 34, a similar test is repeated at tap intervals of 100 nSee. For example, when the first tap switching command is input, CHI and CH2 are 100 nSee.
The test is conducted by connecting to the nSec and 200nSec taps respectively.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, the image display device 4
Since deterioration in image quality due to changes in the delay line 54 over time can be tested by the device alone from the display in step 2, it is possible to always display images of good quality and perform accurate diagnosis.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, by preparing a continuous wave generation circuit and providing a signal switching circuit, deterioration of image quality due to changes in the delay line over time can be tested by the device itself. , it becomes possible to always maintain good image display quality and perform error-free and accurate diagnosis.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the embodiment, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the delay line circuit, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the signal switching circuit, and Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the phase relationship between continuous waves P and Q. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the display screen during testing, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of a conventional example. 20-1, 20-2, 20-3...20-ie@Fist beam ultrasonic element 21-1. 21-2. 2l-3-21-illo. Transmitter 22-1. ...22-j... Doppler ultrasound element 24-1. 24-2. 24-3...24-1m5
・Receiver 26...Signal switching circuit 28・Φ・Transmitter control circuit 30...Doppler transmission circuit for CW 32...Delay control circuit 34...Operation input section 36...Delay line circuit 38...Φ Analog signal processing circuit 40...Digital signal processing circuit 42...Image display device 50 1.50-2-.50-i11eo switch circuit 54...Delay line, C-inode delay line circuit configuration explanatory diagram No. Diagram 2 Condolence 3 Evil 0 ■ Diagram 5

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1), Beam ultrasonic element group (20-1, 20-2, 20-3
...20-i), each receiving the output of the receiver group (20-i).
4-1, 24-2, 24-3...24-i), a continuous wave generation circuit (30) that outputs a plurality of continuous waves with mutually different phases, and a receiver group (24-1, 24-2). , 24-3...24
-i) and the output of the continuous wave generating circuit (30) are supplied to the signal switching circuit (26), and the switching output of the signal switching circuit (26) is supplied with the switching circuit group (50-1, 50-2...・
50-i), an analog signal processing circuit (38) that processes the output of the delay line circuit 36, and an analog signal processing circuit (38) that processes the output of the delay line circuit 36. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a digital signal processing circuit (40) that processes output; and an image display device (42) that displays an image using the output of the digital signal processing circuit (40). (2), Beam ultrasonic element group (20-1, 20-2, 20-3
...20-i), each receiving the output of the receiver group (20-i).
4-1, 24-2, 24-3...24-i), a Doppler transmitting circuit (30) that outputs a plurality of continuous waves with mutually different phases, and a receiver group (24-1, 24-2, 24-3...24
-i) and the output of the Doppler transmitting circuit (30) are supplied, and the output of the signal switching circuit (26) is connected to the switch circuit group (50-1, 50-2...50).
-i), an analog signal processing circuit (38) that processes the output of the delay line circuit 36, and an output of the analog signal processing circuit (38). An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a digital signal processing circuit (40) for processing; and an image display device (42) for displaying an image using the output of the digital signal processing circuit (40).