JPH04292155A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the ultrasonic diagnostic device which can stop recording of an ultrasonic image to an auxiliary recorder in the beginning and the end periods of a linear scanning, inputs automatically only a cross section image of an equal interval, and can execute exactly a three-dimensional image processing. CONSTITUTION:The ultrasonic diagnostic device is provided with a control circuit 22 for controlling a rotation and a movement of an ultrasonic vibrator, a CD power source 19 for supplying power to a DC motor 8 for rotating the ultrasonic vibrator, and a DC motor control circuit 20 for controlling a voltage of the DC power source 19. As for the control circuit 22, position detecting signals K, L of a photo-interrupter 16 are inputted in advance, and the circuit controls a rotation of a stepping motor 13 for moving forward and backward the ultrasonic vibrator. To a recording controller 24, an auxiliary storage device 25 is connected. By synchronizing with a synchronizing signal M which is not outputted in the beginning and the end periods of a linear scanning from the control circuit 22, a write command can be transmitted.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional example will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 8 to 10 relate to a conventional example, and FIG.
is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conventional scanning method for obtaining a radial image and a linear image, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a drive unit of a conventional ultrasound probe, and FIG. 10 is a control diagram of a conventional ultrasound probe. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the system.

Conventionally, various ultrasound probes have been devised that are capable of being inserted into body cavities to obtain tomographic images inside the body. Such conventional ultrasonic probes mainly display information using a single scanning method such as a linear scanning method or a radial scanning method.

However, when observing plaques in blood vessels, there has been a desire to simultaneously display a linear image and a radial image to obtain a three-dimensional image.

[0006] Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 8A, an ultrasonic probe 101 having an ultrasonic transducer 102 on one side is rotated once and moved back and forth, thereby changing the image of the cross section. A technique used was to capture images, process them, and display linear and radial images.

[0007] As an apparatus capable of obtaining a radial image and a linear image in this way, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 57-9439 and Japanese Utility Model Application No. 63-74108 disclose an ultrasonic probe capable of radial scanning. , and an axially movable device is disclosed.

Furthermore, as a scanning method for simultaneously displaying a radial image and a linear image, there is a spiral method in which the probe 101 is moved forward and backward at any time, and the probe is rotated accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8(B). There is something.

[0009] The present applicant also has published Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2-2655.
No. 36 proposes a device that synchronizes and controls the rotational drive and forward/backward drive of an ultrasonic probe as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

As shown in FIG. 9, the conventional three-dimensional scanning drive section 110 includes an ultrasonic transducer 11 serving as an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving section.
1 is connected to the shaft-shaped drive transmission section 112, and these are:
It is housed in an outer cylinder 113 whose tip end is closed in a spherical shape. A sealing material 1 is provided on the inner tip side of the outer cylinder 113.
14 and an O-ring 115 are provided, and by these,
The drive transmission section 112 is held. In addition, an acoustic medium 1
16 is filled.

The rear end of the drive transmission section 112 extends from the rear end of the outer cylinder 113 and is connected to a stepping motor 118 via a connecting section 117. This stepping motor 118 is similar to this stepping motor 1
It is configured in combination with an encoder 119 that detects the rotational position of 18, and these are housed and held within a rotary movement unit exterior 120.

The rotary motion section exterior 120 is attached to a forward/backward movement transmitting section 121, and the forward/backward motion transmitting section 121
is screwed into an advancing/retracting mechanism section 122 consisting of a ball screw. The advancing/retracting mechanism section 122 includes a stepping motor 12
This stepping motor 123
It is designed to be rotated by Further, the stepping motor 123 is connected to the stepping motor 12
It is configured in combination with an encoder 124 that detects the rotational position of No. 3.

[0013] The connecting portion 117 and the stepping motor 1
18, the encoder 119, the rotary motion unit exterior 120, the forward/backward motion transmission unit 121, the forward/backward movement mechanism 122, the stepping motor 123, and the encoder 124 are surrounded by the exterior 125, and the rear end of the outer cylinder 113 is fixed to this exterior 125. has been done. Further, the stepping motor 123
is fixed to the exterior 125.

As shown in FIG. 10, the ultrasonic probe has the following features:
A control circuit 130 that controls the rotation and forward/backward movement of the ultrasonic transducer 111, and a start signal st from this control circuit 130.
A clock oscillator 131 that inputs r and outputs a clock clc, and a clock c from the clock oscillator 131.
A delay circuit 132 is provided which inputs the clock clc and outputs a signal DLY obtained by delaying the clock clc by 1/4 of the period T.

The clock clc and signal DLY are connected to the stepping motor 118 via a changeover switch 133.
, 123, respectively, as two-phase drive signals. The changeover switch 133 is
It is controlled by the control signal J from the control circuit 130, and is switched between a state in which the clock clc is in the A phase and the signal DLY is in the B phase, and a state in which the clock clc is in the B phase and the signal DLY is in the A phase. There is.

The A-phase output C of the encoder 119 connected to the stepping motor 118 and the Z-phase output Z output every rotation are input to the control circuit 130. Similarly, the stepping motor 12
The A-phase output G and Z-phase output H of the encoder 124 connected to the encoder 3 are input to the control circuit 130.

[0017]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, since such an ultrasonic probe needs to be inserted into a living body such as a digestive tract or a blood vessel, the drive transmission section 112 is made of a flexible and bendable material. . Therefore, even if the forward/backward motion transmitting section 121 starts moving forward or backward, the ultrasonic transducer 111 does not follow immediately because the drive transmitting section 112 expands and contracts.

Therefore, even when performing spiral scanning with such a conventional three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the amount of movement of the ultrasonic transducer 111 is small near both ends of linear scanning (scanning that moves forward and backward in the longitudinal direction). Advance/retreat motion transmission section 1
There was a problem in that the distance between the ultrasound images obtained by three-dimensional scanning did not match the movement amount of 21, and the intervals between the ultrasound images obtained by three-dimensional scanning became irregular.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and automatically captures equally spaced cross-sectional images to create accurate three-dimensional images.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device capable of dimensional image processing.

[0020]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe that is rotatable and can move forward and backward and has an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver section that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, and a first probe that rotates the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver section. a driving means, a second driving means for moving the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving section forward and backward, an auxiliary recording means for recording the signal from the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving section, and a second driving means for moving the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving section forward and backward; a detection means for detecting that the transmitting/receiving section is located; and a recording control means for controlling the output of a recording control signal for controlling the auxiliary recording means in synchronization with the first driving means and the second driving means, by the detection means. It is equipped with

[0021]

[Operation] The output of the recording control signal is stopped at the beginning and end of the linear scan, and the ultrasonic image is not recorded on the auxiliary recording means at the beginning and end of the linear scan.

[0022]

[Embodiment] Figures 1 to 5 relate to the first embodiment, and Figure 1 to Figure 5 relate to the first embodiment.
2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the drive unit of the ultrasonic probe, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the photointerrupter, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control system of the ultrasonic probe, and FIG. 4 shows input/output signals of the microcomputer. FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the timing of input/output signals of the microcomputer.

First, the configuration of the drive system of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the first embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, an ultrasonic probe 1 of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer 2 serving as an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving section.
is connected to a shaft-shaped drive transmission section 3, which is housed in an outer cylinder 4 whose tip end is closed in a spherical shape. A sealing material 5a and an O-ring 5b are provided on the inner tip side of the outer cylinder 4, and the drive transmission section 3 is held by these. In addition, the outer cylinder 4 and the sealing material 5a, O
The space inside the tip of the outer cylinder 4 that is sealed by the ring 5b is filled with an acoustic medium 6. Incidentally, the drive transmission section 3 and the outer cylinder 4 may be made flexible.

The rear end portion of the drive transmission section 3 is connected to the outer cylinder 4.
It extends from the rear end of the motor and is connected to a DC motor 8 via a connecting part 7. This DC motor 8 is mechanically connected to an encoder 9 that detects the rotational position of this DC motor 8, and these are housed and held within a rotary movement section exterior 10. The ultrasonic transducer 2 is rotationally driven by a DC motor 8 via a drive transmission section 3.
The rotational motion of the encoder 9 can be transmitted to the encoder 9.

The rotary motion section exterior 10 is attached to a forward/backward movement transmitting section 11, which is screwed into a forward/backward movement mechanism section 12 made of a ball screw, and is provided with a light shielding plate 17. The advancing/retracting mechanism section 12 is connected to a driving section of a stepping motor 13, and is rotated by the stepping motor 13.

The connecting portion 7, the DC motor 8, the encoder 9, the rotary motion unit exterior 10, the forward/backward motion transmitting unit 11, the forward/backward movement mechanism 12, and the stepping motor 13 are surrounded by the exterior 15, and the rear end of the outer cylinder 4 is is fixed to this exterior 15. Furthermore, the stepping motor 13 is fixed to the exterior 15. Furthermore, photointerrupters 16 for detecting movement of the forward/backward motion transmitting section 11 are fixed to the exterior 15 at positions corresponding to both ends of the forward/backward movement mechanism section 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, this photointerrupter 16 has a light emitting section 18a and a light receiving section 18b facing each other with a slit in between. Normally, the phototransistor in the light receiving part 18b is brought into conduction by the light emitted from the LED in the light emitting part 18a. When the light shielding plate 17 enters the slit between the light emitting part 18a and the light receiving part 18b,
The light emission of the LED in the light emitting section 18a is blocked, and the phototransistor becomes non-conductive.

Therefore, for example, the forward and backward motion transmitting section 11
moves forward and when the light shielding plate 17 fixed to the forward/backward motion transmitting section 11 enters the slit of the photointerrupter 16, the photointerrupter 1, which had been in a conductive state until then,
The phototransistor of the light receiving section 18b of No. 6 becomes non-conductive, and it is possible to detect that the forward/backward movement transmitting section 11 has reached the front end of the forward/backward movement mechanism section 12.

That is, by monitoring the conducting/non-conducting state of the phototransistor of the light receiving section 18b of the photointerrupter 16, the advancing/retracting motion transmitting section 11 is controlled to move forward/backward movement mechanism section 1.
2 to the front and rear ends can be detected.

Next, the configuration of the control system of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the first embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is composed of a drive control section 28 and an image recording control section 29. A control circuit 22 that controls the DC motor 8 , a DC power supply 19 that supplies power to the DC motor 8 , and a control signal from the control circuit 22 is inputted to control the voltage of the DC power supply 19 to control the DC motor 8 . DC motor control circuit 20
It is equipped with

The DC motor control circuit 20 receives the A-phase signal C output from the encoder 9, and the D
Since the period of the A-phase signal C changes according to the rotational speed of the C-motor 8, the rotation of the DC motor 8 can be kept constant by controlling the motor drive voltage according to the change in the period of the A-phase signal C. It is set as.

Furthermore, the A-phase signal C output from the encoder 9 is simultaneously input to the control circuit 22, and this control circuit 22 frequency-divides the A-phase signal C to generate a control signal A for the stepping motor 13. It is designed to generate B.

Furthermore, position detection signals K and L from the photointerrupter 16 are also input to the control circuit 22. By inverting the phases of the control signals A and B of the stepping motor 13 and reversing the rotation of the stepping motor 13, forward and backward movement of the forward and backward movement transmission section 11 is switched.

The synchronizing signal M from the control circuit 22 is output to a recording control device 24 constituted by, for example, a personal computer. This recording control device 24 stores an auxiliary storage device 25, such as an optical disc, that can record images, using, for example, RS-232C.
The auxiliary storage device 25 can be controlled via a general-purpose interface such as GP-IB.

The recording control device 24 is capable of transmitting a write command to the auxiliary storage device 25 via an interface in synchronization with the synchronization signal M.

Here, for example, a ball screw with a pitch of 1 mm is used as the advancing/retracting mechanism section 12, and the rotation of the ball screw (
In other words, the control circuit 22 outputs a synchronization signal M to the recording control device 24 in accordance with the rotation of the stepping motor. That is, for example, it is possible to output a signal once per revolution and capture ultrasound images every 1 mm, or to output a signal once per two revolutions and capture ultrasound images every 2 mm into the auxiliary recording device 25. It is now possible to do so.

Further, the auxiliary storage device 25 is connected to a display device 26 that can display images written to the auxiliary storage device 25 or images read from the auxiliary storage device 25.

The circuit section for generating the synchronizing signal M in the control circuit 22 is constituted by, for example, a microcomputer 31, as shown in FIG.

The microcomputer 31 receives the A-phase signal C output from the encoder 9, counts this A-phase signal C, and generates a control signal A for the stepping motor 13.
, B are output.

The microcomputer 31 also receives the signals K and L output from the photointerrupter 16, and each time it detects the signals K and L, it outputs the control signals A and L.
By reversing the phase of B and reversing the rotation of the stepping motor 13, forward and backward movement of the ultrasonic transducer 1 can be switched.

Furthermore, the microcomputer 31 outputs the A-phase signal C and the signal K to the recording control device 24.
A synchronization signal M synchronized with L is generated.

The timings of these A-phase signal C, signals K, L, and synchronization signal M are shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5(A), the microcomputer 31 counts the A-phase signal C and outputs control signals A and B, and when the forward/backward motion transmitting section 11 reaches the tip of the forward/backward mechanism section 12. When the forward/backward movement transmitting section 11 reaches the rear end of the forward/backward movement mechanism section 12, a signal L is output. Furthermore, when the microcomputer 31 detects the signal K or the signal L, it inverts the phases of the control signals A and B. Furthermore, the microcomputer 31 does not output the synchronization signal M at the beginning and end of the linear scan, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 5(B).

The operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the first embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

When the photointerrupter 16 fixed at positions corresponding to both ends of the forward/backward movement mechanism section 12 detects that the forward/backward movement transmission section 11 moves to both ends of the forward/backward movement mechanism section 12, it sends a signal L to the microcomputer 31. Or K
Send. The microcomputer 31 inverts the phases of the control signals A and B using the signal K or the signal L. As a result, the rotation of the stepping motor 13 controlled by the control signals A and B is reversed, and the movement of the ultrasonic transducer 2 is controlled.

On the other hand, since the microcomputer 31 does not output the synchronization signal M at the beginning and end of linear scanning, the recording control device 2 which controls the synchronization signal M is synchronized with the synchronization signal M.
4 stops sending write commands to the auxiliary storage device 25 via the interface during this period.

Therefore, for example, if the linear scanning range is 30
If the distance is approximately 20 mm, the output of the synchronizing signal M is stopped within a range of 5 mm at both ends of the linear scan, and the range recorded on the auxiliary recording device is approximately 20 mm, so that the drive transmission unit 2
It is possible to record evenly spaced ultrasound images without being affected by the expansion and contraction of the

As described above, according to the first embodiment, since ultrasonic images whose intervals between the beginning and end of linear scanning are irregular are not recorded in the auxiliary recording device 25, only ultrasonic images arranged at equal intervals are auxiliary recorded. It becomes possible to record on the device 25.

In the first embodiment, the circuit section that generates the synchronization signal in the control circuit 22 is connected to the microcomputer 31.
Although the configuration is not limited to this, for example, it may be configured using a PLD or a TTL circuit.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the timing of input and output signals of the microcomputer according to the second embodiment.

The second embodiment differs only in the timing of the synchronization signal M generated by the microcomputer 31 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and the other configurations are the same as the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted. do.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the microcomputer 31a of the second embodiment (see FIG. 4) operates from the time when the position detection signal K of the photointerrupter 16 is detected until the position detection signal L is detected. period (period during which the ultrasonic transducer 2 is moving away from the tip), synchronization signal M'
During the period from when the signal L is detected until the signal K is detected (the period during which the ultrasonic transducer 2 moves toward the tip), the synchronizing signal M' is not output.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the second embodiment, an ultrasonic image is recorded on the auxiliary recording device 25 only when the ultrasonic transducer 2 is moving away from the tip. Ultrasonic images are always recorded in the recording device 25 in order from the distal end side. Therefore, the direction in which the images are lined up does not become inconsistent, and three-dimensional image processing can be performed.

Incidentally, the ultrasonic image may be recorded on the auxiliary recording device 25 only during the period when the ultrasonic transducer 2 moves toward the tip.

Other functions and effects are the same as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating input/output signals of the microcomputer according to the third embodiment.

The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4 only in a part of the signal input to the microcomputer 31, and the other configurations are the same as the first embodiment, so the explanation will be omitted. Omitted.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the microcomputer 31b of the third embodiment is connected to the linear scan stop switch 32, and when the linear scan stop switch 32 is ON, the control signal A is , B and synchronization signal M
is output, and in the case of OFF, control signals A, B and synchronization signal M are stopped.

According to the third embodiment, when the linear scan is stopped and an ultrasound image of the same cross section is viewed, this image is recorded on the auxiliary recording device by turning off the linear scan stop switch 32. Because there is no need to worry about
The recording area of the auxiliary recording device is not consumed unnecessarily.

Other functions and effects are the same as in the first embodiment.

[0063]

[Effects] As explained above, according to the present invention, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe that can rotate and move forward and backward and has an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving unit that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves;
A first driving means for rotating this ultrasonic transmitting and receiving section, a second driving means for moving this ultrasonic transmitting and receiving section forward and backward, an auxiliary recording means for recording a signal from this ultrasonic transmitting and receiving section, and a second driving means for rotating this ultrasonic transmitting and receiving section. A detecting means for detecting that the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver is located at an end of the advance/retreat range, and an output of a recording control signal for controlling the auxiliary recording means in synchronization with the first driving means and the second driving means. , recording control means controlled by the detection means, it is possible to stop the recording of ultrasound images on the auxiliary recording means during the beginning and end periods of linear scanning, and automatically record cross-sectional images at equal intervals. Accurate 3D image processing can be performed by capturing only 3D images.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a driving section of an ultrasound probe according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the photointerrupter according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the ultrasound probe according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating input/output signals of the microcomputer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the timing of input/output signals of the microcomputer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the timing of input/output signals of the microcomputer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating input/output signals of a microcomputer according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conventional scanning method for obtaining a radial image and a linear image according to a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a driving section of an ultrasound probe according to a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control system of an ultrasound probe according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

2...Ultrasonic vibrator 8...DC motor 9...Encoder 11...Advancing/retracting motion transmission section 13...Stepping motor 16...Photo interrupter 20...DC motor control circuit 22...Control circuit 24... Recording control device 25...Auxiliary recording device 31...Microcomputer

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claims: 1. An ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver that can rotate and move back and forth and that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves; a first drive means that rotates the ultrasonic transmitter and receiver; 2 driving means, auxiliary recording means for recording signals from the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving section, and detecting means for detecting that the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving section is located at an end of the advancing/retreating range of the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving section; An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: recording control means for controlling output of a recording control signal for controlling the auxiliary recording means by the detection means in synchronization with the first driving means and the second driving means. .