JPH04200455A - Ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve resolutions at positions of bearing in a tomographic image and those at depth-wise positions by reading out a weight coefficient from a correlation coefficient memory means by an ultrasonic transmission/reception control means corresponding to various output information which corresponds to, positions of the tomographic image obtained from on a monitor to be inputted into an interpolation means. CONSTITUTION:A correlation coefficient determining circuit 3 is provided with a correlation coefficient memory section comprising a ROM or RAM and the correlation coefficient memory section stores a weight coefficient corresponding to positions of a tomographic image to be obtained on a monitor as image display device 9. A weight coefficient is read out of a correlation coefficient memory section 21 with an ultrasonic transmission/reception control means 1 corresponding to various output information which corresponds to positions of the tomographic image to be obtained on the monitor as output information from an ultrasonic probe and the weight coefficient thus read out is inputted into an interpolation circuit 7. Thus, a correlation processing is performed using a proper weight coefficient at positions of the tomographic image obtained thereby enabling the improving of resolutions at positions of bearing in the tomographic image and resolutions at depth-wise positions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus equipped with interpolation means.

[Conventional technology]

The interpolation means in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus outputs output information from the ultrasonic probe, output information delayed by one line, and output information subjected to correlation processing from each of these output information and weighting coefficients. It consists of a configuration that outputs.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus equipped with an interpolation means configured in this manner is effective for improving one resolution.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the weighting coefficient in the interpolation means is, for example.

The coefficients were determined depending on the type of ultrasound probe and were always fixed, so that exactly the same interpolation was performed at all positions of the tomographic image obtained on the monitor.

In this case, for example, since the tomographic image on the monitor is formed by a beam beam that has its apex at the top of the monitor and spreads downward, it is possible that the tomographic image has high resolution in the upper part and low resolution in the lower part. It will happen.

For a variety of other reasons, the resolution in the azimuth direction and the resolution in the depth direction of a tomographic image obtained on a monitor are usually uneven.

Furthermore, if the type of ultrasound probe is changed,
Or, if a zoom magnification is used and this magnification is changed, the weighting factor mentioned above is fixed, so
Depending on the change, the optimum resolution may not be obtained.

Therefore, the present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to solve the problem when changing the type of ultrasonic probe or using the zoom magnification. However, the present invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can improve the resolution of each position in the azimuth direction and the resolution of each position in the depth direction in a tomographic image obtained on a monitor.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve such an objective, the present invention basically combines output information from an ultrasonic probe and this output information into one.
In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus equipped with an interpolation means that outputs output information delayed by a line and output information subjected to correlation processing from each of these output information and a weighting coefficient, each position of a tomographic image obtained on a monitor is used. a correlation coefficient storage means storing weighting coefficients in correspondence with each other; means for changing each weighting coefficient stored in the correlation coefficient storage means according to a probe type signal or a zoom magnification signal; A weighting coefficient in the correlation coefficient storage means corresponding to each output information from the probe and corresponding to each position of a tomographic image obtained on the monitor is inputted to the interpolation means. The apparatus is characterized by comprising an ultrasonic transmission/reception control means.

[For production]

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured in this manner is first equipped with a correlation coefficient storage means that stores weighting coefficients corresponding to each position of a tomographic image obtained on a monitor.

Then, the ultrasound transmission/reception control means stores weighting coefficients corresponding to each piece of output information from the ultrasound probe corresponding to each position of the tomographic image obtained on the monitor in the correlation coefficient storage means. , and the read weight coefficients are input to the interpolation means.

For this reason, one weighting coefficient is not the same at each position of a tomographic image obtained on a monitor as in the past, but correlation processing is performed using an appropriate weighting coefficient at each position.

Therefore, it becomes possible to improve the resolution of each position in the azimuth direction and the resolution of each position in the depth direction in the tomographic image obtained on the monitor.

Furthermore, the weighting coefficients stored in the correlation coefficient storage means are:
This can be changed using the probe type signal or zoom magnification signal, so even if you change the type of ultrasound probe or use the zoom magnification, you can still see the information on the monitor. It becomes possible to improve the resolution of each position in the azimuth direction and the resolution of each position in the depth direction in the tomographic image.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

In the figure, there is a probe (ultrasonic probe) 4, which is driven by the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver 2. The driven probe 4 detects a reflected echo from a subject (not shown), and its output is input to the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver 2.

The output from the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver 2 is input to an A/D converter 5, where it is converted into a digital signal. The output from the A/D converter 5 converted into a digital signal is input to an interpolation circuit 7 via a buffer memory 6.

This interpolation circuit 7 outputs information from the probe 4.

Output information obtained by delaying this output information by one line and output information subjected to correlation processing from each of these output information and weighting coefficients are output. and,
In this embodiment, as will be described in detail later, weighting coefficients that are appropriately set and have different values are successively input from the correlation coefficient determination circuit 3.

In this way, the above-mentioned output information is outputted from the interpolation circuit 7 and input into the TV conversion frame memory 8. This TV conversion frame memory 8 stores information corresponding to pixels of a monitor consisting of an image display device w9 to be described later.

Then, the output from the TV conversion frame memory 8 is input to an image display device 9, so that, for example, an ultrasonic tomographic image is displayed.

On the other hand, the correlation coefficient determining circuit 3 is controlled together with the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving section 2 by an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving control circuit 1L.

, Koni describes the detailed configuration of the correlation coefficient determining circuit 3 in the second section.
This will be explained using figures.

The correlation coefficient determination circuit 3 is equipped with a correlation coefficient storage unit 21 consisting of, for example, ROM or RAM.
First, a probe shape discrimination signal and a Goo 12 magnification signal are input to this correlation coefficient storage section 21. Both the probe shape discrimination signal and the zoom magnification signal are input from, for example, a keyboard (operation console) not shown.

Then, for example, a memory cell is selected according to the probe shape discrimination signal or the zoom magnification signal.

Further, the weighting coefficients stored in the selected memory cell are sequentially read out by inputting a beam address signal and beam depth information.

The beam address signal is taken out as an output from the beam address generation section 22 into which the X-5YNC signal and the Y-5YNC signal from the ultrasonic transmission/reception control circuit 1 are manually input.

In addition, the beam depth information is the ultrasonic transmission/reception control circuit]
The Y-3YNC signal and the SCK signal are taken out as an output from the beam depth information creation section 23 to which the SCK signal is input.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating memory cells in the correlation coefficient storage unit 21 selected according to the probe shape discrimination signal or the zoom magnification signal. Figure 3 (,)
For example, 3×4 weighting coefficients a, b, c, d,...
, J are stored.

In the figure, addresses on the horizontal axis can be specified using beam addresses, and addresses on the vertical axis can be specified using beam depth information.

The storage locations of the weighting coefficients at b, e, dt, . . . correspond to the display screen shown in FIG. 3(b). In FIG. 3(b), the tomographic image obtained on the monitor is divided into 3×4 sections, and the division locations are T, bJ, cj, and d'.

..., 1'.

In this case, at the location corresponding to a' on the monitor, the weighting coefficient a is transferred from the memory cell shown in FIG.
is now read out.

In this way, weighting coefficients corresponding to each piece of output information from the probe 4 corresponding to each position of the tomographic image obtained on the monitor are sequentially input to the interpolation circuit 7. .

Note that synchronization in this case is performed by the ultrasonic transmission/reception control circuit.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a specific configuration of the interpolation circuit 7. In FIG.

The output information from the buffer memory 6 shown in FIG. 1 is input to the correlation processing circuit 6A, and this correlation processing circuit 6
In A, the output information is transferred to a one-line delay shift register 6.
Output information delayed by one line by B is input.

Further, the correlation processing circuit 6A receives weighting coefficients k (a + b * C + d,
..., 1) are input, and correlation processing is performed based on each of the above output information.

The output from the interpolation circuit 7 subjected to the correlation processing in this manner is output to the image display device 9 via the TV conversion frame memory 8 shown in FIG. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3(b), each position (a/
, bJ, cl, d/.

..., 1'), an interpolation coefficient (atbl
c, d, . . . , l).

According to the embodiment described above, it is a single image display device! A correlation coefficient storage unit 21 is provided which stores weighting coefficients corresponding to each position of a tomographic image obtained on a monitor 9.

Then, the ultrasound transmission/reception control means 1 stores the weighting coefficients corresponding to the output information from the ultrasound probe and corresponding to each position of the tomographic image obtained on the monitor as the correlation coefficients. 21, and the read weight coefficients are input to the interpolation circuit 7.

For this reason, one weighting coefficient is not the same at each position of a tomographic image obtained on a monitor as in the past, but correlation processing is performed using an appropriate weighting coefficient at each position.

Therefore, it becomes possible to improve the resolution of each position in the azimuth direction and the resolution of each position in the depth direction in the tomographic image obtained on the monitor.

Furthermore, the weighting coefficients stored in the correlation coefficient storage means are:
Since it can be changed using the probe type signal (probe shape distinction signal) or zoom magnification signal,
Even when changing the type of ultrasound probe or using a zoom magnification, the resolution of each position in the azimuth direction and the resolution of each position in the depth direction in the tomographic image obtained on the monitor cannot be changed. be able to improve.

In the embodiment described above, the present invention is applied to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which the interpolation circuit 7 is arranged before the TV conversion frame memory 8. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to those placed after the TV conversion frame memory 8.

In this case, the correlation coefficient storage section 21 in the correlation coefficient determining circuit 3
For the aftres signal input to the TV, the horizontal address of the TV can be used instead of the beam address described above, and the vertical address of the TV can be used instead of the beam depth information described above. Note that each TV address is created within the TV conversion frame memory 8.

It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a color flow mapping device, and the embodiment in this case will be described in the sixth embodiment.
This will be explained using figures. In this figure, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 indicate the same circuits. The configuration different from Figure 1 is
The ultrasonic transmitter/receiver 2 is configured such that a Doppler signal is input to a Doppler signal detector 10 . Then, a color two-dimensional velocity/dispersion/intensity calculation section 11 calculates various color information. Further, the data is temporarily stored in a buffer memory 12, and then optimal interpolation processing is performed in an interpolation circuit 13. The weighting coefficients input to the interpolation circuit 13 at this time are as follows.

The signals are sequentially output by a correlation coefficient determining circuit 3' having a configuration similar to that of the correlation coefficient determining circuit 3 described above. The data converted to TV in the TV conversion frame memory 14 is mixed with a black and white image in a MIX circuit 15, and then displayed on the image display device 9.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above explanation, according to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, even when changing the type of ultrasound probe or using the zoom magnification,
This makes it possible to improve the resolution of each position in the azimuth direction and the resolution of each position in the depth direction in the tomographic image obtained on the monitor.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plot configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a correlation coefficient determination circuit provided in an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the correlation coefficient storage unit provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention; FIG. Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing another embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. -In the figure. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Ultrasonic transmission/reception control circuit, 3... Correlation coefficient determination circuit, 6A... Correlation processing circuit, 6B... 1 line delay shift register, 7... Interpolation circuit, 21...
・Correlation coefficient No. 3 Figure Pig correlation coefficient No. 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Output information from the ultrasound probe and this output information 1.
In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus equipped with an interpolation means that outputs output information delayed by a line and output information subjected to correlation processing from each of these output information and a weighting coefficient, each position of a tomographic image obtained on a monitor is used. a correlation coefficient storage means storing weighting coefficients in correspondence with each other; means for changing each weighting coefficient stored in the correlation coefficient storage means according to a probe type signal or a zoom magnification signal; A weighting coefficient in the correlation coefficient storage means corresponding to each output information from the probe and corresponding to each position of a tomographic image obtained on the monitor is inputted to the interpolation means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: ultrasonic transmission/reception control means.