JPH0698132B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that irradiates a subject with ultrasonic waves and obtains a tomographic image of the subject from the reflection information.

[Conventional technology]

As a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, there is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus described in JP-A-56-70757. This device electronically scans ultrasonic waves in the transverse section of the subject electronically by an electronic scanning type ultrasonic probe provided outside the subject, and from the reflection information, one lateral image of the subject is detected. Obtain a tomographic image. Then, the ultrasonic probe is moved in the vertical direction of the subject (secondary scanning)
Then, a transverse layer image of the subject is obtained at each secondary scanning position, and a plurality of transverse layer images are three-dimensionally displayed.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Generally, ultrasonic waves are attenuated while propagating in air or bone. In the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, the ultrasonic probe is provided outside the body and irradiates the subject with ultrasonic waves from the outside of the body, so the air in the lungs and ribs interfere with the heart in all cross-sections. No tomographic image was obtained and it was impossible to display a complete three-dimensional image.

In addition, there is a drawback that a large-scale scanning mechanism for secondarily scanning the ultrasonic probe is required.

Furthermore, since the subject is irradiated with ultrasonic waves from outside the body, there is a distance between the probe and the subject, and the frequency of the ultrasonic waves cannot be increased, resulting in poor resolution.

This invention has been made to deal with the above-mentioned circumstances,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of increasing the frequency of ultrasonic waves and obtaining a high-resolution tomographic image.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of performing a complete three-dimensional display of a subject.

[Means for solving problems]

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has an ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving unit that can be inserted into a body cavity of a subject, transmits ultrasonic waves to be scanned in a predetermined direction from the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving unit, and performs primary scanning. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for obtaining the ultrasonic image signal, a plurality of the ultrasonic image signals can be stored in the memory unit, and the ultrasonic wave when scanning in a secondary scanning direction different from the primary scanning direction. Secondary scanning position detecting means for detecting the secondary scanning position, biological information detecting means for detecting biological information that changes substantially periodically in the subject, and secondary scanning detected by the secondary scanning position detecting means. Based on the position information and the biological information detected by the biological information detecting means, a plurality of ultrasonic image signals of the same phase in the cycle of the subject are associated with the secondary scanning position information from the output of the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving means. Generate and before The memory means is provided with a control means, and an image construction section for generating a three-dimensional ultrasonic image signal based on a plurality of simultaneous phase ultrasonic image signals stored in the memory means.

(Operation) According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, instead of the conventional scanning from the outside of the body, the subject is irradiated with ultrasonic waves from the inside of the body cavity, so that the subject is not affected by air or ribs. It is possible to obtain tomographic images at all cross-sections, and as a result, complete three-dimensional display is possible and ultrasonic waves are radiated from a portion close to the subject, so ultrasonic waves can be made higher in frequency, and therefore resolution is increased. You can also raise it. Further, since the secondary scanning for changing the primary scanning cross section of ultrasonic waves is performed by the operator pulling out the endoscope, the secondary scanning mechanism is simple and safe. Further, the detector for detecting the insertion depth of the endoscope detects the secondary scanning position and captures the tomographic image in synchronization with the output of the electrocardiograph, so that accurate three-dimensional information can be obtained.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of this embodiment. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic endoscope 1 and an observation apparatus (which has a signal processing circuit built therein). The ultrasonic endoscope 1 is a fiberscope having an ultrasonic transmitting / receiving element 3 built in at its tip. The ultrasonic transmitting / receiving element 3 is rotated about the axial direction of the ultrasonic endoscope 1 by a motor (not shown), and the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving element 3 is radially scanned (primary scanning). The ultrasonic endoscope 1 is inserted into the esophagus 5 via the mouthpiece 4 and irradiates a target site, for example, the heart 18 with ultrasonic waves via the esophageal wall. The reflected ultrasonic wave is received by the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving element 3, and the received signal representing the transverse layer image 19 is sent to the transmitting / receiving circuit 6 in the observation apparatus via the connector 2 of the ultrasonic endoscope 1. The output of the transmission / reception circuit 6 is supplied to the memory 9 via the signal processing unit 7 and the analog / digital (A / D) converter 8.

The tip of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope 1 is brought into close contact with the esophagus wall as shown in FIG. 2, and the axis of the endoscope and the tube axis of the esophagus are aligned.
In the method shown in FIG. 2A, the balloons 21 and 22 attached to the tip of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope 1 are filled with water so that the tip of the insertion portion is brought into close contact with the esophageal wall. The ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving element 3 is applied to the subject through the water in the balloon 22. In the method shown in FIG. 2 (b), water is filled in the gap between the balloons 21 and 22 attached to the tip of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope 1 so that the tip of the insertion portion is brought into close contact with the esophageal wall. . The ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving element 3 is applied to the subject through the water filled in the gap between the balloons 21 and 22.

The output of the electrocardiograph (ECG) 13 is supplied to the control circuit 12 in order to write the transverse layer image from the signal processing circuit 7 in the memory 9 in synchronization with the movement of the heart. Here, the writing of the transverse layer image in the memory 9 is controlled, for example, in synchronization with the P, R, T, and U waves of the electrocardiogram.

When the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving element 3 is rotated by a motor, ultrasonic waves are radially scanned (primary scan) to obtain one transverse layer image. However, in order to display the heart three-dimensionally, a plurality of transverse sections are used. It is necessary to obtain a tomographic image of. Therefore, in this embodiment, the operator pulls out the ultrasonic endoscope 1 and changes the insertion depth of the ultrasonic endoscope 1 to perform the secondary scanning of the ultrasonic waves. The insertion depth of the ultrasonic endoscope 1 can be read by a reflection type optical sensor 24 in which a bar code printed on the outside of the ultrasonic endoscope 1 is incorporated in the mouthpiece 4 as shown in FIG. Can be easily detected. The output of the optical sensor 24 is supplied to the control circuit 12 via the insertion depth detector 11.

The transverse layer images at different insertion depths stored in the memory 9 are three-dimensionally processed by the digital signal processor (DSP) 10 to form a stereoscopic image. The output of the digital signal processor 10 is a digital / analog (D / A) converter 14,
The image is displayed on the CRT monitor 16 via the image signal generation unit 15.
Alternatively, the output information of the digital signal processor 10 is filed in the optical disc device 17.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. An example will be given in which an ultrasonic image of the heart is taken while the ultrasonic endoscope 1 is pulled out. The operator inserts the ultrasonic endoscope 1 to the lowermost part of the esophagus 5.
The ultrasonic endoscope 1 is brought into close contact with the esophagus wall by the method shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), and the axis of the endoscope and the tube axis of the esophagus are aligned. After that, the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving element 3 is rotated and the ultrasonic wave is radially operated. From this reflected signal, the signal processing circuit 7 obtains a transverse layer image of the lowermost part of the heart. Based on the output of the electrocardiograph 13, the transverse layer image is written in the memory 9 in synchronization with the movement of the heart. Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the transverse layer image 7 at the timing synchronized with the P, R, T, and U waves of the electrocardiogram.
1, 72, 73, 74 are stored in the memory 9.

Next, based on the output of the insertion depth detector 11, the ultrasonic endoscope 1 is pulled out by a distance d, and the images 61, 62, 63 and 64 are also synchronized with the P, R, T and U waves. Captured and stored in the memory 9. Hereinafter, in the same manner, while pulling out the ultrasonic endoscope 1 by the distance d, 51 to 54, 41 to 41 in synchronization with P, R, T, and U waves
Images of 44, 31 to 34, 21 to 24, and 11 to 14 are fetched and stored in the memory 9.

The images 11 to 74 taken in the memory 9 are, for example, three-dimensional images of 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71 if the images synchronized with the P wave are to be viewed using the digital signal processor 10. Process and process the stereoscopic image through the video signal creation unit 15 of the D / A converter 14.
It can be displayed on the RT monitor 16.

A stereoscopic image synchronized with the R, T, and U waves can be similarly created.

Further, when the display of P to U waves is switched on the CRT monitor 16 quickly, the person is also displayed as if the heart is contracting.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various conversions are possible. For example, instead of four images per cross section, if you capture an image within one cross section regardless of the electrocardiograph at, for example, 30 frames / second, more detailed information can be obtained and the interval d can be reduced. Even if the same effect is obtained. The primary scanning may be sector scanning instead of radial scanning. That is, the ultrasonic wave may be scanned in the vertical direction along the tube axis of the endoscope to obtain a longitudinal tomographic image by the primary scanning. In this case, the secondary scanning is performed not by pulling out the ultrasonic endoscope, but by rotating the ultrasonic endoscope about the axial direction.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, since the subject is irradiated with ultrasonic waves from inside the body cavity, a tomographic image of all cross-sectional positions of the subject is obtained without being affected by air or ribs. As a result, a complete three-dimensional display can be achieved, and since ultrasonic waves are emitted from a portion close to the subject, it is possible to increase the frequency of the ultrasonic waves and thus increase the division ability. Further, since the secondary scanning is performed by the operator pulling out the endoscope while detecting the insertion depth of the endoscope, the scanning mechanism is simple and safe. Further, since the tomographic image is captured in synchronization with the output of the electrocardiograph, accurate three-dimensional information can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) are views showing a mechanism for holding an endoscope so as to match the tube axis of the esophagus, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a mechanism for detecting the insertion depth of the endoscope, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of three-dimensional display of the heart according to this embodiment. 1 ... Ultrasound endoscope 2 ... Connector 3 ... Ultrasound transmitter / receiver 4 ... Mouthpiece 9 ... Memory 11 ... Insertion depth detector 12 ... Control circuit 13 ... Electrocardiograph 16 ... CRT monitor

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic image primarily scanned by having an ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving means that can be inserted into a body cavity of a subject, and transmitting ultrasonic waves to be scanned in a predetermined direction from the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving means. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for obtaining a signal, a memory means capable of storing a plurality of the ultrasonic image signals, and a secondary scanning of the ultrasonic waves when scanning in a secondary scanning direction different from the primary scanning direction. Secondary scanning position detecting means for detecting a position, biological information detecting means for detecting biological information that changes substantially periodically in the subject, secondary scanning position information detected by the secondary scanning position detecting means, and On the basis of the biological information detected by the biological information detecting means, a plurality of ultrasonic image signals of the same phase in the cycle of the subject are generated from the output of the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving means in association with the secondary scanning position information, Store in memory means An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, comprising: a control unit for controlling a plurality of ultrasonic image signals of the same phase stored in the memory unit; and an image constructing unit for generating a three-dimensional ultrasonic image signal based on a plurality of ultrasonic image signals of the same phase. 2. The ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving means is provided at the tip of the insertion portion of the endoscope, and the primary scanning is performed by rotating the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving means about the axial direction of the endoscope. The detection means comprises a bar code which is provided on the outside of the insertion portion of the endoscope and indicates the insertion depth of the endoscope, and an optical sensor which is provided on the mouthpiece and detects the bar code. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to item 1. 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope is in close contact with the wall of the body cavity via a balloon filled with water. 4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biological information is an electrocardiogram waveform.