JPH0938079A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten time for processing such as movement or enlargement by scanning data at a second frame rate which is higher than a first frame rate and switching the display of an image during the period of processing including the movement or enlargement of an image display range in a display page. SOLUTION: CPU 11 controls a sending delay circuit 4 and a receiving delay circuit 7 in such a manner that the cross section of a specimen is repeatedly scanned, e.g. by a first frame rate at 1/30sec, and also controls an imaging part 8 so that a B-mode image equal to single frame data is produced at the first frame rate. In addition, CPU 11 controls a digital scan converter 9 in such a manner that B-mode image data equal to single frame data is written and read at the first frame rate. If a process command for the B-mode movement or enlargement at the first frame rate is entered through a console, CPU 11 controls the process at a second frame rate, for example, which is 1/50sec, or higher than the first frame rate.

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 capable of moving (PAN) or expanding (EXPAND (also referred to as ZOOM)) a display range of an image on a display screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various medical applications of ultrasonic waves, the mainstream of which is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for obtaining a tomographic image of a soft tissue of a living body using an ultrasonic pulse reflection method. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is a non-invasive examination method and displays a tomographic image of a tissue. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus, X-ray CT apparatus, MR
Compared to other diagnostic devices such as I and nuclear medicine diagnostic devices,
It has the features that real-time display is possible, the device is small and inexpensive, there is no exposure to X-rays, etc., and safety is high, and blood flow imaging is possible by the ultrasonic Doppler method. Therefore, ultrasonic diagnosis is widely performed in the heart, abdomen, mammary gland, urology, obstetrics and gynecology. In particular, you can get real-time display of heart beats and fetal movements by simply applying an ultrasonic probe from the body surface, and because it is highly safe, you can repeat tests and move to the bedside. It is convenient because it can be easily tested.

In such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, movement (PAN) and enlargement (EXPA) of the display range of an image on the display screen are performed.
The ND (also referred to as ZOOM)) processing provides a display area for various parameters such as scan conditions and image quality conditions, is useful for more detailed diagnosis of a part, and is widely used. However, PAN processing and EXPAND processing have low responsiveness, so there was a problem that it took a long time to complete the processing of PAN and EXPAND.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of shortening the processing time of PAN, EXPAND, and the like.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a cross section of a subject is repeatedly scanned with an ultrasonic beam at a first frame rate, an image is repeatedly generated based on the obtained echo signal, and the image is repeatedly generated. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that sequentially switches images at the first frame rate and displays them in real time, a second faster than the first frame rate during a processing period including movement or expansion of a display range of the image within a display screen. It is characterized in that scanning and image switching display are performed at the frame rate.

Therefore, rather than performing scanning and image switching display with the first frame rate as it is by a process including moving or enlarging the display range of the image on the display screen,
Processing time is reduced.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured as follows with the CPU 11 as a control center of the entire system. CPU11
The console 12 is equipped with switches and trackballs for the operator to input PAN and EXPAND commands and their movement amount and enlargement ratio, and various switches for setting scan conditions and image quality conditions. Are connected.

The ultrasonic probe 1 is equipped at its tip with a vibrator array in which a plurality of vibrators as a reversible conversion element for mechanical movement / electrical signals such as piezoelectric ceramics are one-dimensionally arranged. The clock generator 2 generates a clock pulse. The rate pulse generator 3 divides the clock pulse to generate a rate pulse of, for example, 5 KHz. This rate pulse is distributed to the number of channels, the transmission delay circuit 4 converges ultrasonic waves into a beam, and a delay time necessary for swinging the ultrasonic beam in a predetermined direction is given to each channel. Sent to. Pulsa 5
A high frequency voltage pulse is output for each channel at the timing of receiving the rate pulse. This voltage pulse is supplied to the ultrasonic probe 1 via a cable (not shown). As a result, ultrasonic pulses are transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 1 into the subject. The transmitted ultrasonic pulse is reflected at the boundary of the acoustic impedance. The reflected wave is received by the ultrasonic probe 1 and converted into an electric signal. This electric signal is sent to the reception delay circuit 7 via the preamplifier 6 for each channel, is given a delay time for each channel, and is added. As a result, an echo signal in which the reflected wave from the direction corresponding to the transmission delay and the reception delay is emphasized can be obtained.

The echo signal from the reception delay circuit 7 is detected by the imaging unit 8 and digitized. As a result, B-mode image data is generated. This B-mode image data is a digital scan converter (D
It is sent to the display 10 via the (SC) 9 and is displayed as a moving image visually in real time in gray scale.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 shows a time chart for explaining the operation, and FIG. 3 shows a supplementary diagram thereof. In the steady state without interruption of processing such as PAN and EXPAND, the cross section of the subject is repeatedly scanned at the first frame rate of 1/30 sec, for example, and the B-mode images are switched and displayed. On the other hand, PAN and EXPA
During the processing period such as ND, the cross section of the subject is repeatedly scanned at a second frame rate higher than the first frame rate, for example, 1/50 sec, and the B-mode images are switched and displayed. As a result, the processing time required from the start of the processing to the completion of the processing is shortened as compared with the case where the processing such as PAN and EXPAND is performed while the scanning and the switching display of the images are kept at the first frame rate.

The CPU 11 controls the transmission delay circuit 4 and the reception delay circuit 7 so that the cross section of the subject is repeatedly scanned at a first frame rate of 1/30 sec, for example, in the steady state, and also at the first frame rate. To control the imaging unit 8 so as to generate a B-mode image for one frame, and to control the digital scan converter 9 so that the B-mode image data for one frame is written and read at the first frame rate. , The display 10 is controlled so that the B-mode images are sequentially switched and displayed at the first frame rate.

When a processing command such as PAN or EXPAND is input through the console 12, the CPU 11
The transmission delay circuit 4 and the reception delay circuit 7 are controlled so that the cross section of the subject is repeatedly scanned at the second frame rate of 1/50 sec, and a B-mode image for one frame is generated at the second frame rate. As described above, the imaging unit 8 is controlled so that one frame of B is displayed at the second frame rate.
The digital scan converter 9 is controlled so that the mode image data is written and read, and the display 10 is controlled so that the B mode image is sequentially switched and displayed at the second frame rate. Also, PAN and EXPAND
Is performed by changing the write address or read address of the B mode image data from the CPU 11 to the digital scan converter 9 from the steady state.

In order to increase the scan frame rate from the first frame rate to the second frame rate, the CPU 11 controls the transmission delay circuit 4 and the reception delay circuit 7, and if necessary, Only during the PAN or EXPAND processing period, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the raster density of one frame is changed to be coarse, and the and / or field of view is narrowed. In order to increase the speed of writing and reading the B-mode image data to and from the digital scan converter 9, following the increase in the scan frame rate from the first frame rate to the second frame rate. , The CPU 11 normally operates the digital scan converter 9 only during the PAN or EXPAND processing period.
The interpolation processing provided in the input stage or the output stage of is passed. When the scan for the B mode and the scan for the color Doppler mode are alternately performed on a frame-by-frame basis in a time-division manner, the CPU 11 controls the transmission delay circuit 4 and the reception delay circuit 7, and if necessary, , PAN and EXPAND
Only during the processing period, the scanning of the color Doppler mode is stopped and only the scanning for the B mode is executed independently.

As described above, the processing time of PAN and EXPAND is shortened as compared with the case of performing PAN and EXPAND processing with the scan and image switching display at the first frame rate. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified in various ways.

[0015]

According to the present invention, a cross section of a subject is repeatedly scanned with an ultrasonic beam at a first frame rate, an image is repeatedly generated based on an echo signal obtained, and the repeated image is generated by the above-mentioned method. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that sequentially switches and displays in real time at a frame rate of 1, a second frame rate faster than the first frame rate is used during a processing period including movement or expansion of a display range of an image on a display screen. It is characterized in that scanning and image switching display are performed.

Therefore, rather than performing scanning and switching display of images at the first frame rate with a process including moving or enlarging the display range of the image within the display screen,
Processing time is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a time chart for explaining the operation.

FIG. 3 is a supplementary diagram for explaining the operation.

FIG. 4 shows a raster density at a first frame rate and a second raster density.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the raster density at the frame rate of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic probe, 2 ... Clock generator, 3 ... Rate pulse generator, 4 ... Transmission delay circuit, 5 ... Pulser, 6 ... Preamplifier, 7 ... Reception delay circuit, 8 ... Imaging part, 9 ... Digital scan converter, 10 ... Display.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yoshihisa Yoshioka 1385-1 Shimoishigami, Otawara-shi, Tochigi Stock company Toshiba Nasu factory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first section of an object is examined by an ultrasonic beam.
In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that repeatedly scans at a frame rate, repeatedly generates an image based on the obtained echo signal, and sequentially displays the repeatedly generated image at the first frame rate in real time, The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is characterized in that scanning and image switching display are performed at a second frame rate higher than the first frame rate during a processing period including movement or enlargement of the image display range.