JPH0542151A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the use efficiency of an image memory, and to execute a variegated display by constituting the device so that the image memory stores image information, based on memory address information selected from the memory address information by two different space coordinate systems. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with a first write address generating circuit 35 for generating a write address corresponding to a radial display, and a second write address generating means 36 for generating a write address corresponding to a linear display. Subsequently, the write addresses generated by the address generating circuits 35, 36 are selected by an address switching circuit 37 and supplied to an image memory 34. Next, the image memory 34 stores image information from an A/D converter 33, based on the selected write address. In such a way, the radial display and the linear display can be switched and displayed by one image memory.

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 improvement of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for performing three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an ultrasonic probe for obtaining a tomographic image in the body from the inside of a body cavity, but in the conventional ultrasonic probe, display by a single scanning method such as a linear image or a radial image is mainly used. ..

However, when observing plaque or the like in a blood vessel, there has been a demand for displaying a linear image and a radial image at the same time and capturing the image three-dimensionally.

A conventional example will be described below with reference to the drawings.

11 to 13 relate to a conventional example, FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a scanning system for obtaining a radial image and a linear image, FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing display of a radial image and a linear image, and FIG. It is a circuit block diagram which shows the structure of the image information processing circuit which performs image information processing of a radial image and a linear image.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 11A, an ultrasonic probe 401 having an ultrasonic transducer 402 on one side.
In this method, a number of sliced images are taken in by rotating once and moving back and forth, and these are image-processed to display a linear image and a radial image.

As an apparatus capable of obtaining a radial image and a linear image in this way, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-9439 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-74108, an ultrasonic probe can be radially scanned. , And a device that is movable in the axial direction is disclosed.

As a scanning method for simultaneously displaying a radial image and a linear image, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), a probe 401 is referred to as a spiral method in which the probe 401 is moved forward and backward at any time. There is something.

As shown in FIG. 12 (a), one scan captures radial planes 1 to 8, and FIG.
As in the image on the left side of the display image shown in (b), only the fourth radial image is projected, or one scanning line in the radial planes 1 to 8 is sequentially captured, and the display image shown in FIG. A linear image is projected like the image on the right side of. By repeating such an operation, the radial image and the linear image are displayed on one screen.

Conventional image information processing relating to such a radial image and a linear image will be described.

In the conventional ultrasonic observation apparatus, as shown in FIG. 13, ultrasonic waves are emitted from the ultrasonic probe 31 into the subject. The transmission / reception circuit 32 applies an electric pulse to the ultrasonic probe 31 to cause the ultrasonic probe 31 to emit ultrasonic waves toward the inside of the subject, and at the same time, the ultrasonic probe 3
The echo signal of the ultrasonic wave received in 1 is amplified and detected. A series of ultrasonic echo signals extracted from the transmission / reception circuit 32 are sequentially sampled by the A / D converter 33 at a constant cycle and digitized. This A /
The signal digitized by the D converter 33 is written in the image memories 101 and 102. The writing of a signal to the image memory 101 is performed by the first write address generation circuit 1
03 is generated according to the write address, and similarly, writing to the image memory 102 is performed according to the write address generated by the second write address generation circuit 104.

Here, the first write address generation circuit 103 generates a write address corresponding to the digital display, and the second write address generation circuit 104,
Writing corresponding to linear display is generated respectively.

The signals written in the image memories 101 and 102 are generated by the read address generating circuit 38.
The data is read according to the read address in synchronization with the V signal, temporarily stored in the buffer circuit 105, and then D /
The analog signal is converted by the A converter 39, and the display device 40
Displayed in. Control of writing and reading of the image memory is performed by a memory control signal generated by the memory control circuit 41, but by controlling the memory control signal of the memory control circuit 41 by the console 42, which radial image is projected. It is possible to select such as.

[0014]

According to the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the above-described structure, a three-dimensional spiral scan is performed to capture an image and simultaneously display a radial image and a linear image.

However, in such a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, even though the image memory has two screens, each of them is dedicated to the radial display and the linear display, so that only the radial image is observed. In this case, the image memory dedicated to the linear display becomes unnecessary, and even though there are two image memories, there are two image memories such as the fourth radial image and the sixth radial image. It is impossible to display the radial images at the same time and compare them, and thus the use of the image memory is not efficient.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which the image memory can be used efficiently and which enables more versatile display.

[0017]

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transmitting / receiving unit capable of rotating and advancing and retreating, and one or a plurality of ultrasonic probes for storing image information from the ultrasonic probe. An image memory, a first address generating means for generating memory address information according to a first spatial coordinate system, and a second address generating means for generating memory address information according to a second spatial coordinate system different from the first spatial coordinate system. One or a plurality of address generating means, memory address information generated by the first address generating means, and memory address information generated by the second address generating means are selected and supplied to the image memory. And an address switching means.

[0018]

[Operation] Memory address information based on a first spatial coordinate system generated by the first address generating means and memory address information based on a second spatial coordinate system generated by the second address generating means It is selected by one or a plurality of address switching means and supplied to the one or a plurality of image memories, and the image memory stores the image information based on the selected memory address information.

[0019]

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

1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a configuration of an image information processing circuit for performing image information processing of a radial image and a linear image, and FIG. 2 is an ultrasonic wave. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the probe drive system, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the ultrasonic probe.

First, referring to FIG. 2, the structure of the drive system of the ultrasonic probe of this embodiment will be described.

The ultrasonic transducer 1, which serves as an ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver,
It is connected to the shaft-shaped drive transmission unit 2, and these are housed in an outer cylinder 3 whose distal end is spherically closed. A seal member 4 and an O-ring 5 are provided on the tip side inside the outer cylinder 3, and the drive transmission unit 2 is held by these. An acoustic medium 6 is filled in the space inside the distal end portion of the outer cylinder 3 which is sealed by the outer cylinder 3, the sealing material 4, and the O-ring 5. The drive transmission unit 2 and the outer cylinder 3
May have flexibility.

The rear end portion of the drive transmission portion 2 has the outer cylinder 3
It extends from the rear end portion and is connected to a rotary motion unit (1) 8 composed of a stepping motor via a connection unit 7. The rotary motion part (1) 8 is a rotary motion part (1).
It is configured in combination with a position detector (1) 9 composed of an encoder for detecting the rotational position of 8, and these are housed and held in a rotary motion part exterior 10.

The rotary motion part exterior 10 is attached to an advancing / retreating motion transmitting part 11, and this advancing / retreating motion transmitting part 11 is screwed into an advancing / retreating mechanism part 12 made of a ball screw. The advancing / retreating mechanism part 12 is connected to a driving part of a rotary motion part (2) 13 composed of a stepping motor, and is rotated by the rotary motion part (2) 13. The rotary motion unit (2) 13 is configured in combination with a position detector (2) 14 which is an encoder for detecting the rotational position of the rotary motion unit (2) 13.

The connecting part 7, the rotary motion part (1) 8, the position detector (1) 9, the rotary motion part exterior 10, the forward / backward motion transmission part 11, the forward / backward motion part 12, the rotary motion part (2) 13 and the position. The detector (2) 14 is surrounded by an outer casing 15, and the rear end portion of the outer cylinder 3 is fixed to the outer casing 15. Also,
The rotary motion part (2) 13 is fixed to the exterior 15.

Next, the configuration of the control system of the ultrasonic probe will be described with reference to FIG.

The ultrasonic probe includes a control circuit 20 for controlling rotation and advance / retreat of the vibrator 1, a clock oscillator 21 for inputting a start signal str from the control circuit 20 and outputting a clock clc, and the clock oscillator. The delay circuit 22 receives the clock clc from the input terminal 21 and outputs the signal DLY which is obtained by delaying the clock clc by ¼ of the cycle T. The clock clc and the signal DLY
Through the changeover switch 23, the rotary motion unit (1)
8 stepping motor and rotary motion part (2) 13
To the stepping motors, which are two-phase drive signals. The changeover switch 23 is controlled by the control signal J from the control circuit 20, and sets the clock clc to the A phase to generate the signal DLY.
Is the B phase, and the clock clc is the B phase and the signal D
It is adapted to switch to a state in which LY is the A phase.

The A-phase output C of the encoder, which is the position detector (1) 9 connected to the rotary motion unit (1) 8, and the Z-phase output Z output for each rotation are input to the control circuit 20. It is supposed to be done. Similarly, the A-phase output G and the Z-phase output H of the encoder which is the position detector (2) 14 connected to the rotary motion unit (2) 13 are input to the control circuit 20. ..

Next, an image information processing circuit for performing image information processing of a radial image and a linear image will be described.

In the first embodiment of the present application, the display system of one image memory can be switched between radial display and linear display.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic observation apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe 31 for irradiating the inside of a subject with ultrasonic waves, and an electric pulse is applied to the ultrasonic probe 31 to generate ultrasonic waves. A transmission / reception circuit 32 that radiates ultrasonic waves from the inside of the subject into the object and amplifies and detects the echo signals of the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic probe 31.
And an A / D converter 33 for sequentially sampling and digitizing a series of ultrasonic echo signals extracted from the transmission / reception circuit 32 at a constant cycle, and a signal digitized by the A / D converter 33. Image memory 3 to store
4, a first write address generation circuit 35 and a second write address generation circuit 36 which generate a write address for controlling the writing of a signal to the image memory 34.
And the first write address generation circuit 35 and the second
Address switching circuit 37 for switching the write address generated by the write address generating circuit 36 of
And a read address generating circuit 38 for generating an address synchronized with a TV signal for reading the signal written in the image memory 34, and a signal read according to the address of the read address generating circuit 38 is D / A converted. A D / A converter 39 for controlling and a display device 40 for displaying an image by the analog signal converted by the D / A converter 39, and a memory control signal for controlling writing and reading of the image memory 34 are generated. Memory control circuit 41
And a console 42 for controlling the memory control signal of the memory control circuit 41 to select, for example, which radial image is projected.

Here, the first write address generation circuit 35 generates a write address corresponding to the digital display, and the second write address generation circuit 36.
Generates a write address for linear display.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus constructed as described above is
Ultrasonic waves are radiated from the ultrasonic probe 31 into the subject. The transmission / reception circuit 32 applies an electric pulse to the ultrasonic probe 31 to emit ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic probe 31 toward the inside of the subject, and amplifies the echo signal of the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic probe 31, Perform processing such as detection. A series of ultrasonic echo signals extracted from the transmission / reception circuit 32 are sequentially sampled by the A / D converter 33 at a constant cycle and digitized. The signal digitized by the A / D converter 33 is written in the image memory 34. To write a signal to the image memory 34,
This is performed according to the address switching circuit 37 that switches the write address generated by the first write address generation circuit 35 or the second write address generation circuit 36. The signal written in the image memory 34 is read according to the read address synchronized with the TV signal generated by the read address generation circuit 38, and the D / A converter 39 is read.
Is converted into an analog signal and displayed on the display device 40.

Therefore, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment can switch between the radial display and the linear display even if there is only one image memory. That is,
Since radial display and linear display are possible without preparing two image memories, it is possible to contribute to downsizing, cost reduction, and power saving of the device.

4 and 5 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a configuration of an image information processing circuit for performing image information processing of a radial image and a linear image, and FIG. 5 is a display device. It is explanatory drawing explaining the image displayed on.

The second embodiment of the present application is one in which two image memories are used and each of them can be switched between radial display and linear display.

Since the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the second embodiment is almost the same as the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the first embodiment, only different constructions will be described, the same constructions will be given the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first image memory 51
To the first write address generation circuit 35 or the second
The write address generated by the write address generating circuit 36 is switched by the first address switching circuit 52 and input. Similarly, in the second image memory 53,
The write address generated by the first write address generation circuit 35 or the second write address generation circuit 36 is switched by the address switching circuit 54 and input. The signal read according to the address generated by the read address generation circuit 38 is temporarily stored in the buffer circuit 55, converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 39, and displayed on the display device 40.

Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

As described above, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the second embodiment can simultaneously display the radial display and the linear display on one display device, as in the conventional example shown in FIG. 13 (b). Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the radial display can be simultaneously displayed on two screens, and similarly, the linear display can be simultaneously displayed on two screens as in FIG. 5B.

That is, similar to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the first embodiment, it is possible to switch and display the radial display and the linear display with one image memory, and by using two image memories, the radial display, It is possible to switch between linear display and use freely.

6 to 9 relate to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a configuration of an image information processing circuit for performing image information processing of a radial image and a linear image, and FIG. 7 is a display device. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view for explaining an image displayed in FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a first explanatory view for explaining a caliper measurement when a plurality of radial images are displayed, and FIG. 9 is a caliper measurement when a plurality of radial images are displayed. It is the 2nd explanatory view explaining.

In the third embodiment of the present application, four image memories are used and each of them can be switched between radial display and linear display.

Since the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the third embodiment is almost the same as the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the second embodiment, only different constructions will be described, the same constructions will be given the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, image memories 61 to 64 are provided.
To the first write address generation circuit 35 or the second
The write address generated by the write address generating circuit 36 is switched by the address switching circuits 65 to 68 and input.

The other structure is the same as that of the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the third embodiment configured as described above can display, for example, three radial displays and one linear display at the same time. If a plurality of radial images and linear images can be displayed at the same time, it becomes easier to intuitively understand the spread of a lesion such as a tumor, which is further useful.

The caliper measurement when a plurality of radial images are displayed as shown in FIGS. 5A and 7 is performed as follows, for example.

The two images as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b) are, for example, the maximum part and the minimum part of the same lesion part captured by spiral scanning. When measuring the distance between the point a in the image of FIG. 8A and the point b in the image of FIG. 8B, the caliper is set to the point a of the image of FIG. 8A as shown in FIG. When A is displayed, the caliper A ′ is displayed at a position corresponding to the point a in the image of FIG. 8B, and the distance to the caliper B displayed at the point b is displayed.

By doing so, a lesion area having a spread such as a tumor is captured by three-dimensional scanning, two images are displayed, and the deviation of the lesion area between the two images can be easily measured. ..

The other operations are the same as those in the second embodiment.

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the third embodiment, in addition to the effect of the second embodiment, it is possible to freely switch and use the four image memories respectively for the radial display and the linear display. Becomes

In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the number of image memories is one, two, and four has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration using an arbitrary plurality of image memories is provided. However, the memory address information based on the first spatial coordinate system and the memory address information based on the second spatial coordinate system may be switched, and the image information may be stored in each of these image memories based on the memory address information.

By the way, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of each embodiment of the present application may be constructed as shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a modified example of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

In FIG. 10A, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 7
A tank 72 and a pump 73 for irrigation are provided in the exterior 15 of No. 1, and a liquid 74 having good ultrasonic wave propagation characteristics such as degassed water or sucrose solution and a water that has no affinity with water are provided in the tank 72. It is filled with oil 75 having a lower specific gravity.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 70 of the modified example configured as described above, when the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 70 is used, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 70 is set upright as shown in FIG. The pump 73 is operated so that the inside of the tip portion of 3 is filled with the liquid 74 that is the acoustic medium. Figure 10 during storage
As shown in (b), the pump 73 is set upside down, and the pump 73 is operated before the storage so that the inside of the tip of the outer cylinder 3 is filled with the oil 75.

Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the first embodiment.

By doing so, since the inside of the distal end portion of the outer cylinder 3 is filled with the liquid 42 at the time of use, good ultrasonic diagnosis can be performed. At the time of storage, the inside of the tip portion of the outer cylinder 3 is filled with 43, so that there is an effect that there is no fear that the metal portion in 6 will be corroded.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention includes the memory address information based on the first spatial coordinate system generated by the first address generating means and the second address. The memory address information by the second spatial coordinate system generated by the generating means is selected by one or a plurality of address switching means and supplied to one or a plurality of image memories, and the image memory is selected by the memory. Since the image information is stored based on the address information,
There is an effect that the image memory is efficiently used and more versatile display can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a configuration of an image information processing circuit for performing image information processing of a radial image and a linear image according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a drive system of the ultrasonic probe according to the first embodiment.

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

FIG. 4 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a configuration of an image information processing circuit for performing image information processing of a radial image and a linear image according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an image displayed on the display device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a configuration of an image information processing circuit for performing image information processing of a radial image and a linear image according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an image displayed on a display device according to a third example.

FIG. 8 is a first explanatory diagram illustrating caliper measurement when a plurality of radial images according to the third embodiment are displayed.

FIG. 9 is a second explanatory diagram illustrating caliper measurement when a plurality of radial images according to the third embodiment are displayed.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a modified example of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to each embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a scanning method for obtaining a radial image and a linear image according to a conventional example.

FIG. 12 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a configuration of an image information processing circuit for performing image information processing of a radial image and a linear image according to a conventional example.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing display of a radial image and a linear image according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 31 ... Ultrasonic probe 32 ... Transmitting / receiving circuit 33 ... A / D converter 34 ... Image memory 35 ... First write address generating circuit 36 ... Second write address generating circuit 37 ... Address switching circuit 38 ... Read address generating circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transmitting / receiving unit capable of rotating and advancing and retracting, one or more image memories for storing image information from the ultrasonic probe, and a memory address by a first spatial coordinate system. First address generating means for generating information, second address generating means for generating memory address information in a second spatial coordinate system different from the first spatial coordinate system, and the first address generating means And a memory address information generating unit for selecting the generated memory address information and the memory address information generated by the second address generating unit and supplying the selected memory address information to the image memory. Sound wave diagnostic device.