JPH08112279A - Control method of ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a control method of an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus which enable variable control of a caliber with a wider varying range. CONSTITUTION: The number of vibrators to be connected to one channel of a beam former is switched at least in two stages with a matrix switch 10 to perform a variable control of a caliber. For example, when eitht of vibrators (e1+e2), (e3+e4), (e5+e6) and (e7+e8) are connected to channels ch1, ch2, ch3 and ch4 of the beam former respectively, the caliber becomes eight times as large as the pitch of the vibrator. Four of the vibrators e1, e2, e3 and e4 are connected to the channels ch1, ch2, ch3 and ch4, the caliber becomes four times as large as the pitch of the vibrator. This enables the expanding of the range of depth thereby allowing the obtaining of a sufficient bearing resolving power.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe control method and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic probe control method capable of performing variable aperture control over a wide variable width. And an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of suitably implementing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 500 is
The ultrasonic probe 51, the beam former 2, the received signal processing unit 3, the DSC (Digital Scan Converter) 4, the switch control unit 55, the system control unit 6, and the input device 7.
And a CRT 8 are provided. The ultrasonic probe 51 includes a large number of transducers e1, e2, ..., En,
Among these oscillators e1, e2, ..., En, m (≦
n) select each channel ch of the beamformer 2
, Ch2, ..., And chm, respectively.

The operator uses the input device 7 to display a display mode (B mode, Doppler mode, etc.) and display depth (Fie).
ld Of View) and parameters such as focus.
The system control unit 6 controls the switch control unit 55, the beam former 2, the reception signal processing unit 3 and the DSC 4 based on the input parameters. The ultrasonic probe 51
The beam former 2 transmits an ultrasonic pulse to the subject, receives an ultrasonic echo signal from the subject, and passes the received signal to the reception signal processing unit 3. The received signal processing unit 3
Processes the received signal to generate image data in the instructed display mode, and passes the image data to the DSC 4. The DSC4
Displays an image on the CRT 8 based on the image data.

FIG. 8 shows details of the switch section 60. For convenience of illustration, there are 12 transducers and 4 channels. The switch section 60 includes switches 21 to 2 for variable apertures.
4 and the aperture moving multiplexers 61 to 64. As shown in FIG. 8, the variable aperture switches 21 to
24 are all turned on, and aperture moving multiplexers 61 to 6
4 is connected as shown by the broken line in FIG.
Four channels 2, e3 and e4 are channels c of the beamformer 2.
They are connected to h1, ch2, ch3 and ch4, respectively.
At this time, the center position of the opening α is in the middle of the vibrators e2 and e3, and the diameter is 4d (4 times the vibrator pitch d).
As shown in FIG. 9, when only the variable aperture switches 22 and 23 are turned on and the aperture moving multiplexers 61 to 64 are connected as shown by the broken line in FIG. 9, two transducers e2 and e3 are channels of the beamformer 2. It is connected to ch2 and ch3 respectively. At this time, the center position of the opening α is set to the vibrators e2, e.
It is in the middle of 3, and the diameter is 2d (twice the oscillator pitch d).
Becomes As shown in FIG. 10, the variable aperture switch 21
To 24 are all turned on, and aperture moving multiplexers 61 to
If 64 is connected as shown by the broken line in FIG.
Four channels 2, e3, e4, e5 are connected to the channels ch2, ch3, ch4, ch1 of the beam former 2, respectively. At this time, the center position of the opening α is set to the vibrators e3 and e4.
And the aperture is 4d. In this manner, the switch control unit 55 turns on / off the variable aperture switches 21 to 24.
The variable aperture control is realized by turning it off, and the aperture movement control is realized by switching the connections of the aperture movement multiplexers 61 to 64. The variable aperture control and the aperture movement control as described above are described in "Medical Ultrasonic Equipment Handbook: Japan Electronic Machinery Industry Edition: Corona Company: No. 13".
P. 7 and p. 29 ".

FIG. 11 shows a switch section 60 'in the case where two vibrators are connected and handled as one vibrator.
Details of (deformation of the switch unit 60) will be described. Switch part 6
Reference numeral 0'includes variable aperture switches 21 to 24 and aperture moving multiplexers 71 and 72. As shown in FIG. 11, all the variable aperture switches 21 to 24 are turned on,
When the aperture moving multiplexers 71 and 72 are connected as shown by the broken line in FIG. 11, the oscillators (e1 + e2) and (e3 +
e4), (e5 + e6), and (e7 + e8) are eight channels ch1, ch2, ch3, and ch of the beamformer 2.
4 are connected respectively. At this time, the center position of the opening α is in the middle of the vibrators e4 and e5, and the diameter is 8d (8 times the vibrator pitch d). As shown in FIG. 12, when only the variable aperture switches 22 and 23 are turned on and the aperture moving multiplexer 72 is connected as shown by the broken line in FIG. 12, four transducers (e3 + e4) and (e5 + e6) are formed in the beam former 2. Channels ch2 and ch3.
At this time, the center position of the opening α is in the middle of the vibrators e4 and e5, and the diameter is 4d (4 times the vibrator pitch d).
Although not shown, the opening α can be moved by switching the connection of the multiplexers 71 and 72 for moving the opening.

[0006]

In the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 500 shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the minimum diameter is 2d and the maximum is 4d, and its variable width is narrow. Also, FIGS.
In the second modified example, the aperture is 2d at the minimum and 8d at the maximum, and the variable width is narrow. However, when the variable width of the variable aperture control is narrow, there is a problem that the depth range in which sufficient lateral resolution is obtained is narrowed. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe control method capable of performing variable aperture control over a wide variable width, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of suitably implementing the method.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the present invention has a plurality of transducers connected to each channel of a beamformer, and those transducers transmit or receive ultrasonic waves. A method of controlling an acoustic probe, wherein the number of transducers connected to one channel of the beamformer is set to a
There is provided a method for controlling an ultrasonic probe, characterized in that the size of the aperture of the ultrasonic probe is changed by switching to at least two stages of 1 and a2 (> a1).

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasonic probe having a large number of transducers, and a beam former for connecting each channel to the transducers. The number of transducers connected to one channel of the former is at least 2 of a1 and a2 (> a1).
There is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising a switch means for switching to a stage.

[0009]

In the ultrasonic probe control method according to the first aspect and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second aspect, the number of transducers connected to one channel of the beam former is a.
The size of the aperture of the ultrasonic probe is changed by switching to at least two stages of 1 and a2 (> a1). According to this, for example, the number of channels is m, the oscillator pitch is d, the minimum number of channels forming the aperture is k, and a
When switching to two stages of 1 and a2 (> a1), the variable width of the aperture becomes minimum d × k × a1 and maximum d × m × a2, which can be made wider than before. That is, according to the conventional example of FIG. 7, m = 4, k = 2, and a1 = 1, a2 = 2.
Then, the variable width of the diameter is 2d at the minimum and 8d at the maximum, which can be wider than the conventional minimum 2d and maximum 4d. If k = 1 and a1 = 1, the minimum variable width of the aperture can be set to d.

[0010]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. This ultrasonic diagnostic device 1
Reference numeral 00 includes an ultrasonic probe 1, a beam former 2, a received signal processing unit 3, a DSC 4, a switch control unit 5, a system control unit 6, an input device 7, and a CRT 8. Has been done. The ultrasonic probe 1 includes a large number of transducers e1, e2, ..., En and their transducers e1, e.
, ..., En, and is connected to each channel ch1, ch2, ..., chm of the beam former 2 by a matrix switch 10.

The operator uses the input device 7 to display the display mode (B mode, Doppler mode, etc.) and display depth (Fie).
ld Of View) and parameters such as focus.
The system control unit 6 controls the switch control unit 5, the beam former 2, the received signal processing unit 3 and the DSC 4 based on the input parameters. The ultrasonic probe 1 and the beam former 2 transmit an ultrasonic pulse to the subject, receive an ultrasonic echo signal from the subject, and pass the received signal to the reception signal processing unit 3. The received signal processing unit 3 is
The received signal is processed to generate image data in the designated display mode, and the image data is passed to the DSC 4. The DSC 4 displays an image on the CRT 8 based on the image data.

FIG. 2 shows the details of the matrix switch 10. For convenience of illustration, there are 12 transducers and 4 channels. As shown in FIG. 2, when the switch control unit 5 connects the four transducers e1, e2, e3, and e4 to the channels ch1, ch2, ch3, and ch4 of the beam former 2, respectively, the center position of the aperture α is the transducer. e2
It is in the middle of e3, and the diameter is 4d (4 of oscillator pitch d).
Times). As shown in FIG. 3, when the switch control unit 5 connects the two transducers e2 and e3 to the channels ch2 and ch3 of the beam former 2, respectively, the center position of the opening α becomes the middle of the transducers e2 and e3, and the aperture Is 2d. As shown in FIG. 4, the switch control unit 5 controls the transducers (e1 + e2), (e3 + e4), (e5 + e).
6) and (e7 + e8) are connected to the channels ch1, ch2, ch3, and ch4 of the beam former 2, respectively, the center position of the opening α is in the middle of the transducers e4 and e5, and the aperture is 8d. In this way, the matrix switch 10 is controlled by the switch controller 5 to increase or decrease the number of channels to be used, and the number of transducers connected to one channel of the beamformer 2 is set to two levels of "1" or "2". By switching, the minimum variable width is 2d,
The maximum is 8d. If the number of transducers connected to one channel of the beam former 2 is "3" or more, the aperture can be further expanded.

The switch control section 5 controls the matrix switch 10 under the following conditions to perform variable aperture control. 1) Display Depth (Field Of View) For example, as the FOV is larger, the number of transducers connected to one channel of the beam former 2 is increased. 2) Depth of focus For example, the number of transducers connected to one channel of the beam former 2 is increased as the depth of focus is farther from the transducer. 3) Display Mode For example, in the B mode, importance is attached to overall uniformity, and the number of transducers connected to one channel of the beam former 2 is relatively small (for example, “2”). On the other hand, in the Doppler mode, the one-point concentration is emphasized, and the number of transducers connected to one channel of the beam former 2 is relatively large (for example, “3”). 4) Operator's instruction The number of transducers connected to one channel of the beamformer 2 is determined by the operator's instruction. 5) F-number For example, the number of transducers connected to one channel of the beamformer 2 is determined so that the F-number becomes constant in conjunction with the reception dynamic focus. 6) Sidelobe The number of transducers connected to one channel of the beamformer 2 is determined so that the sidelobe does not exceed a predetermined value. 7) Channel For example, the number of transducers connected to one channel of the beam former 2 is relatively small at the end of the opening, and the number of transducers connected to one channel of the beam former 2 is relatively small at the center of the opening. Do more.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the opening movement control. The switch control unit 5 controls the vibrators e2, e3, e4, e5.
Beamformer 2 channels ch2, ch3
When connected to ch4 and ch1, respectively, the center position of the opening α moves to the middle of the transducers e3 and e4.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of FIG.
Beamformer 2, matrix switch 1
0 and the switch control unit 5 are provided with a transmission beamformer 2s, a transmission matrix switch 10s, a reception beamformer 2r, a reception matrix switch 10r, and a control unit 5 ', and variable aperture control is separately performed for transmission and reception. Is to do. Therefore, it becomes possible to cope with a high pulse rate.

[0016]

According to the ultrasonic probe control method and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, variable aperture control can be performed in a wide variable width. Therefore, it is possible to widen the depth range in which sufficient lateral resolution can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a detailed explanatory diagram of a matrix switch in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the reduction of the aperture by a matrix switch.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of enlargement of a diameter by a matrix switch.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of movement of an opening by a matrix switch.

FIG. 6 is a principal block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

8 is a detailed explanatory diagram of a switch unit in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the reduction of the aperture by the variable aperture switch.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of movement of an aperture by an aperture movement multiplexer.

FIG. 11 is a principal block diagram showing another example of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

12 is an explanatory diagram of movement of an opening in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 ultrasonic probe 2 beam former 3 received signal processing unit 4 DSC 5 switch control unit 6 system control unit 7 input device 8 CRT 10 matrix switch ch1 to chm channel e1 to en transducer α aperture

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method of controlling an ultrasonic probe, comprising: a plurality of transducers connected to respective channels of a beamformer, wherein the transducers transmit or receive ultrasonic waves. A method of controlling an ultrasonic probe, wherein the number of transducers connected to one channel is switched to at least two stages of a1 and a2 (> a1) to change the size of the aperture of the ultrasonic probe. . 2. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising an ultrasonic probe having a large number of transducers, and a beamformer for connecting each channel to those transducers, wherein the ultrasonic probe is connected to one channel of the beamformer. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising switch means for switching the number of transducers in at least two stages of a1 and a2 (> a1).