JPH0548906U - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Detects partial damage to the probe and sensitivity deterioration, and corrects or displays a warning according to the degree of the damage so that the device performance can always be optimized. [Structure] An ultrasonic phantom 6 is built in the device, and
The echo signal from the ultrasonic phantom at the beginning of use of the probe 1 is stored, and this is compared with the echo signal from the ultrasonic phantom at the time of using the probe thereafter, and the difference is calculated, which is the predetermined allowable value. When the value is exceeded, a warning is issued, and when the value is not exceeded, the probe sensitivity can be corrected according to the magnitude of the difference signal. Set up.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of checking a probe.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, and an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving circuit that transmits ultrasonic waves to this probe and that receives and amplifies the echo signal received by the probe. And a digital scan converter that digitizes the amplified echo signal, captures it in memory, and then converts it into a video signal, and an image display that displays the image by receiving the video signal from this digital scan converter. Monitor for use.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 With conventional ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, as long as there is no visual abnormality such as cracks or cracks in the case of the probe being used, or artifacts that can be seen at a glance in the diagnostic image due to the appearance of the probe, some Inspectors rarely notice a decrease in sensitivity or partial damage. Especially in recent years, it has become difficult for the inspector to discriminate the inconvenience due to the improvement of the interpolation circuit and the development of the focus technology due to the increase in the diameter of multiple elements, and the device performance cannot be used in the optimum state. There was a problem that it happened. The causes of the decreased sensitivity of the probe include structural deformation of the material due to high-temperature sterilization treatment, corrosion short circuit of the internal electrical system due to water infiltration such as washing with water, and mechanical or electrical failure of the material due to drop.

An object of the present invention is to ensure that the probe can be used in an optimal state of device performance at all times even if the probe has a slight decrease in sensitivity, and that the probe becomes abnormal or affects diagnosis. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of promptly notifying an inspector of a serious situation.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The purpose of the above is to provide a probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving circuit that transmits ultrasonic waves to this probe and that receives and amplifies the echo signal received by the probe. Equipped with a digital scan converter that digitizes the echo signal that has been captured and stores it in a memory, and then converts it into a video signal, and an image display monitor that receives the video signal from this digital scan converter and displays an image. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the ultrasonic phantom, a memory circuit for storing an echo signal from the ultrasonic fan when the probe is initially used, and the ultrasonic phantom when the probe is used Of the ultrasonic phantom echo signal intensity stored in the storage circuit as a reference, and the difference signal between the comparison difference circuit and the difference signal from this comparison difference circuit. There warn when exceeding a predetermined allowable value, when not exceeding the warning that the probe sensitivity correction probe according to the magnitude of the difference signal is accomplished by Rukoto provided a correction means.

[0006]

[Action]

 The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with the above-mentioned configuration hits the probe on the built-in ultrasonic phantom and views the image on the image display monitor, so that the inspector can visually check the probe that he is using at any time. You can check. In addition, the echo signal from the phantom can be taken into the memory circuit as a reference signal when the probe is newly started, and the echo signal from the phantom and the memory circuit when the probe is checked thereafter The comparison difference with the output can be obtained by the comparison difference circuit. The warning / correction means corrects the sensitivity based on the difference when the difference is within a predetermined allowable range, and issues a warning when the difference exceeds the allowable range. As a result, even if the probe has a slight decrease in sensitivity, the device performance can always be used in an optimal state, and it is possible to quickly inspect situations where the probe becomes abnormal or affects diagnostics. Will be able to inform the person.

[0007]

【Example】

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is an ultrasonic probe, and this ultrasonic probe 1 is equipped with a large number of transducers that convert electric signals and mechanical vibrations in both directions, and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. To do.

The ultrasonic wave transmission / reception circuit 2 sends an electric signal to the probe 1 to send an ultrasonic wave, and the probe 1 receives a reflected ultrasonic wave to become a received signal (echo signal). ) Is received and is amplified. The digital scan converter 3 comprises an A / D converter 3A, a frame memory 3B and a D / A converter 3C. In this case, the A / D converter 3A digitizes the amplified echo signal from the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving circuit 2. The frame memory 3B stores the digitized echo signal. The D / A converter 3C converts the data stored in the frame memory 3B into a standard video signal.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a TV monitor 4 for displaying an image, which is provided with a standard video signal from the D / A converter 3C and displays an image.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an operation control console which controls whether or not the probe 1 transmits / receives ultrasonic waves, and prohibits data writing to the frame memory 3B when ultrasonic waves are not transmitted / received. .. In this case, the same image written immediately before is read and displayed. In addition, there are keys and knobs for controlling the operation of the device, such as a freeze key for turning a displayed image into a still image and a switch for turning on / off the device power.

The above is not particularly different from the conventional apparatus, and in the present invention, in addition to this, the ultrasonic phantom 6 is incorporated in the apparatus casing. In addition, the memory circuit 7A that stores the echo signal from the ultrasonic phantom 6 when the probe 1 is first used and the echo signal from the ultrasonic phantom 6 when the probe 1 is used are stored in the memory circuit 7A. A switch for comparing the generated ultrasonic phantom echo signal strength with a reference and having a comparison and difference circuit 7B for taking the difference, and selecting which of these circuits 7A and 7B is to input the output of the frame memory 3B. It has a container 7C. Further, a discrimination circuit 7D for discriminating whether or not the output of the comparison / difference circuit 7B exceeds a predetermined allowable value, a difference data output of the comparison / difference circuit 7B, and an output from the determination circuit 7D indicating that the allowable value is not exceeded. Sensitivity correction circuit 7E that corrects the probe sensitivity, and a warning display circuit that causes a warning lamp ((not shown)) on the operation control console 5 to emit light with an output from the determination circuit 7D indicating that the allowable value is exceeded. 7F and.

Next, the operation of the device of the present invention will be described. First, before the inspection, it is checked whether there is any abnormality in the probe 1, the probe 1 is applied to the ultrasonic phantom 6 built in the apparatus housing, and the image of the ultrasonic phantom 6 is displayed on the TV monitor 4. Display and confirm. If the probe 1 is impacted by being dropped or the like and its transducer is damaged, it can be recognized by black spots in the image displayed on the TV monitor 4.

Further, in order to check the overall sensitivity decrease, etc., an image of the ultrasonic phantom 6 stored in the memory circuit 7A when the probe 1 is used for the first time and the subsequent probe check. It is compared with that at the time by the operation of the switching device 7C by the comparison difference circuit 7B, and the judgment circuit 7D judges whether or not the difference exceeds a predetermined allowable value. If a difference exceeding the allowable value is recognized, the warning display circuit 7F turns on the warning lamp on the operation control console 5 to notify the abnormality. If the allowable value is not exceeded, the sensitivity of the probe 1 is corrected by the sensitivity correction circuit 7E based on the difference so that the display image is not affected by the decrease in the sensitivity of the probe 1.

[0014]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, by incorporating the ultrasonic phantom, the ultrasonic phantom image by the probe being used can be visually confirmed at any time, and the probe by the external impact can be used. Abnormality can be easily confirmed. In addition, if the probe sensitivity falls within a range that the device can correct (a range that does not exceed the predetermined allowable value), it can be corrected and used, and the image sensitivity will be constant from the beginning when the probe is used. It can be inspected and the reliability of the equipment can be improved. Furthermore, if there is a drop in the probe sensitivity that cannot be corrected by the device, it is possible to immediately notify the inspector of this.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ultrasonic probe 2 Ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving circuit 3 Digital scan converter 3A A / D converter 3B Frame memory 3C D / A converter 4 TV monitor 5 Operation control console 6 Ultrasonic phantom 7A Memory circuit 7B Comparison difference Circuit 7C Switching device 7D Discrimination circuit 7E Sensitivity correction circuit 7F Warning display circuit

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and an ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving circuit for transmitting ultrasonic waves to the probe and for receiving and amplifying echo signals received by the probe. Equipped with a digital scan converter that digitizes the echo signal, captures it in a memory, and then converts it into a video signal, and an image display monitor that receives the video signal from this digital scan converter and displays an image. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic phantom, a memory circuit that stores an echo signal from the ultrasonic phantom when the probe is first used, and an echo signal from the ultrasonic phantom when the probe is used. Is compared with the ultrasonic phantom echo signal intensity stored in the storage circuit as a reference, and a comparison difference circuit that takes the difference and a difference signal from this comparison difference circuit are obtained. Of a warning when exceeding the allowable value, when not exceeding the warning that the probe sensitivity correction probe according to the magnitude of the difference signal, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising a correction means.