JPH05285146A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute switching to a still image from a B mode image, etc., with high responsiveness and with high accuracy by providing additionally a prescribed switching means, in the device for displaying a still image of a B mode by executing a turn-on operation of a freeze button, at the time of displaying a real time B mode image. CONSTITUTION:A system controller 1 executes driving control of a transmitting/ receiving part 2, a signal processing part 3, and a DSC 4, respectively. In such a state, by an ultrasonic probe 5, an ultrasonic wave is transmitted and received to and from an examinee, and also, a transmitting/receiving signal received by the transmitting/receiving part 2 is A/D-converted by an A/D converter 6. Thereafter, a converted signal is supplied successively to the signal processing part 3, the DSC 4 and a D/A converting part 7, and in the end, an ultrasonic image is displayed on a display part 8. In this case, in the system controller 1, a scan control means 9 is provided additionally. In such a state, by operating a freeze button of an operating part 10, a real time B mode image is switched to a still image. Also, a single focus is switched to a combination focus.

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 for obtaining a tomographic image (B-mode image) of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the subject.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus performs combination focus, high-density scanning, compound scanning, etc. when transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject,
A high-quality B-mode image is obtained.

The combination focus makes it possible to focus the ultrasonic beam from a shallow region to a deep region by making the transmission focus multistage. The high-density scan can improve the resolution by increasing the density of scanning lines (for example, doubling). The compound scan is to add ultrasonic beams from a plurality of directions to form one scan line.

[0004]

However, in any of the above-mentioned conventional techniques, the frame rate is sacrificed in order to obtain a high-quality B-mode image, which deteriorates the responsiveness. There was a problem that it would end up.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art, and its object is to provide a high-quality still image without impairing the responsiveness when displaying a real-time B-mode image. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can obtain

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, when a real-time B-mode image is displayed, a freeze image can be displayed by turning on a freeze button. The sonic diagnostic apparatus is characterized by comprising means for switching from a real-time B-mode image to a still image and switching from single focus to combination focus. Also, when performing real-time B-mode image display, click the freeze button
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying a B-mode still image by performing N is provided with means for switching the real-time B-mode image to the still image and switching the scanning line density to a higher density than in real time. .
Further, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of constantly displaying the B-mode still image by turning on the freeze button when displaying the real-time B-mode image, a means for switching from the real-time B-mode image to the still image and to the compound scan is provided. It is characterized by doing.

In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying a real-time B-mode image and displaying a B-mode still image by turning on a freeze button, the real-time B-mode image is switched to a still image and the combination focus is switched. Means, means for switching to the high-density scan, and means for switching to the compound scan are arbitrarily combined for scanning.

[0008]

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention having the above structure, when displaying a real-time B-mode image,
To focus on the frame rate, single focus,
An image with good responsiveness is displayed without raising the image quality by a normal scan (the density of scanning lines is low).

On the other hand, when the freeze button is turned on to display a still image, combination focus, high-density scanning (scan line density is high), and compound scanning are performed. Any one of these scans may be performed, or these scans may be arbitrarily combined. Since it is not necessary to improve the responsiveness of a still image, these scans are performed to obtain a high quality still image.

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a system controller 1 as a control center of the entire system, and under the control of the system controller 1, a transmission / reception unit 2, a signal processing unit 3, a digital scan converter (hereinafter referred to as DSC). ) Operate each part such as 4. Thereby, the ultrasonic probe 5 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from the subject (not shown),
The A / D converter 6 receives the transmission / reception signal received by the transmission / reception unit 2.
/ D conversion. Then, this signal is sent to the signal processing unit 3 for signal processing, then converted into an image display signal by the DSC 4, D / A converted by the D / A converter 7, and an ultrasonic image is displayed on the screen of the display unit 8. It can be displayed.

Further, the system controller 1 is provided with a function as a scan control means 9, and the operation unit 1
By operating a freeze button (not shown) provided at 0, the real-time B-mode image and the still image can be switched. Then, when switching from the real-time B-mode image to the still image, the single focus is changed to the combination focus, the normal scan is changed to the high density scan (the scan line density is changed from low to high).
In addition, the compound scan can be switched from OFF to ON.

The combination focus makes it possible to focus the ultrasonic beam from a shallow region to a deep region by making the transmission focus multistage. FIG. 2B shows a case of a two-step combination focus.
Since the transmission needs to be performed once, the response is deteriorated as compared with the case of the single focus shown in FIG. 2A, but the resolution is improved. In high-density scanning, as shown in FIG. 3, increasing the density of scanning lines (for example, doubling or more) reduces the response, but can improve the resolution.

As shown in FIG. 4, the compound scan is performed in a plurality of directions, for example, in the A direction, to form one scan line.
It adds the ultrasonic beams from the B and C directions,
In the image obtained by this, since the frame rate is sacrificed, the response is deteriorated, but the graininess is improved.

When performing a scan with such a configuration,
When displaying a real-time B-mode image, the freeze button is OFF, single focus, normal scan (scan line density is low) according to the signal from the scan control means 9, and compound scan is not performed. Do a scan. In this way, high image quality cannot be expected, but responsiveness is not impaired.

On the other hand, when displaying a still image, the freeze button is turned on. At this time, scanning is performed by combining combination focus, high-density scanning (scan line density is high), and compound scanning according to the signal from the scan control means. Since it is necessary for a still image to have a high image quality rather than responsiveness, such a scan is performed to obtain a high image quality B.
The data of the mode image can be retained.

As described above, when the real-time B-mode image is scanned, the responsiveness is emphasized, and the image quality is emphasized during the freezing. A high-quality still image can be obtained as the remaining data. Performing such a scan is particularly useful when scanning the heart where responsiveness is important. Also,
Since a high-quality still image can be obtained simply by operating one freeze button, the image adjustment work is facilitated and the operator's burden can be reduced.

[0018]

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration and operation. When displaying a real-time B-mode image, a freeze button is used to display a still image without impairing responsiveness. Therefore, a high quality image can be obtained. Therefore, the work for adjusting the image is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a case where ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received by single focus and (b) two-stage combination focus.

3A is a diagram showing a case where a scanning line density is low, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a case where ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received with a scanning line density being high.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a case where ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received by a compound scan.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 System Controller 2 Transmitter / Receiver 3 Signal Processor 4 Digital Scan Converter 5 Ultrasonic Probe 6 A / D Converter 7 D / A Converter 8 Display 9 Scan Control Means (Means to Change to Combination Focus, Means to Change to High Density Scan, Compound) Means for switching to scan) 10 Operation unit

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying a B-mode still image by turning on a freeze button when displaying a real-time B-mode image, wherein the real-time B-mode image is switched to the still image and a combination from single focus is performed. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising means for switching to focus. 2. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying a B-mode still image by turning on a freeze button when displaying a real-time B-mode image, the real-time B-mode image is switched to the still image and the scanning line density is changed. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, characterized in that it is provided with means for switching to a higher density than in real time. 3. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of constantly displaying a B-mode still image by turning on a freeze button when displaying a real-time B-mode image, and switches from the real-time B-mode image to the still image and to compound scan. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising means. 4. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying a real-time B-mode image and displaying a B-mode still image by turning on a freeze button, the real-time B-mode image is switched to a still image and the combination focus is switched. means,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, characterized in that the means for switching to the high-density scan and the means for switching to the compound scan are arbitrarily combined for scanning.