JPS60163646A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention provides image display based on echo data sequentially performed by transmitting multi-stage focusing that transmits and receives ultrasound by changing the position of the focal point on one line of ultrasound beams. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic device that performs.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems] Transmission multi-stage focusing changes the number of transducers to transmit waves and delays the timing of transmitting waves by each transducer by a predetermined period of time to focus by changing the position from the shallow part to the deep part. However, even if echo data is obtained using this method, it can only obtain highly reliable echo data in the depth direction of the ultrasound beam. For this reason, in order to obtain a fine image by increasing the density of pixels containing display data on the display screen, for example, in the case of sector-type scanning, it is necessary to embed interpolated data in the area between adjacent ultrasound beams. I was worried. This type of embedding of interpolated data is called circular interpolation, in which interpolated data is calculated based on echo data of the same depth obtained from adjacent ultrasound beams, and the calculated interpolated data is inserted between ultrasound rusks. This is done by embedding it on empty pixels.

When performing the above circular interpolation based on echo data obtained by conventional transmission multi-stage focusing, at least 2n
+1 line memory is required, where n is the number of transmission stages when performing multi-stage transmission focusing). In order to sequentially store echo data for two lines of adjacent ultrasonic beams for each focal point, a number of line memories equivalent to twice the number of transmission stages is required. This is because one line memory is required to store the next echo data obtained while calculating interpolated data based on echo data for two lines of ultrasound beams.

Therefore, in conventional ultrasonic diagnostic equipment that performs the above-mentioned circular interpolation and displays images based on echo data obtained by multi-stage transmission focusing, the scale of the storage means must be increased in accordance with the number of stages of transmission focusing. There was a problem.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to store pixels from adjacent ultrasound beams in empty pixels between ultrasound rasters without increasing the scale of the storage means. To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can embed interpolated data calculated by appropriately weighting based on obtained echo data of the same depth, and can contribute to clear image display.

[Summary of the Invention] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention converts echo data sequentially obtained by a transmitting multi-stage focus system that transmits and receives ultrasound by changing the position of a focal point on one line of an ultrasound beam into an ultrasound beam. Each line is stored in the first storage means, and the echo data of one line of the ultrasound beam is stored in the first storage means.
Each time the echo data is stored in the storage means, this echo data is addressed and transferred to the second storage means, and further, the echo data of the adjacent ultrasound beams stored in the first storage means are Then, interpolated data of the region between both ultrasonic beams is calculated, addressed and stored in the second storage means, and an image is displayed based on the echo data and interpolated data stored in the M2 storage means. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a data synthesizing means stores echo data in a first storage means while synthesizing echo data having different focal point positions on one line of ultrasonic beam sequentially obtained by the transmission multi-stage focusing; Calculating the interpolated data within the start interval time of each transfer operation in which the echo data stored in the first storage means is sequentially transferred to the second storage means via the synthesis means and storing it in the second storage means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is constructed by providing an arithmetic control means for storing data in the means.

[Embodiments of the invention] Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. One embodiment of the device described here obtains echo data while performing multi-step transmission focusing through sector scanning, and displays an image in B mode based on this echo data and circular interpolation data calculated from this echo data. It is something.

What is indicated by 1 in the figure is a transducer group in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are arranged in parallel, and this transducer group generates an ultrasonic beam with a desired deflection angle and focusing position. part 2, a detection part 3 which detects the echo of the transmitted ultrasonic wave when it is received by the transducer group 1°, and an A/D conversion which converts the data into digital data; section 4, first storage means 5 for storing the echo data digitally converted by the A/D conversion section 4 for each line of ultrasound beam, the echo data and circular interpolation data stored in the first storage means 5; an address designation section 12 that designates an address on the display screen for the address designation section 12; and a second storage means (hereinafter simply referred to as frame memory) that stores echo data and circular interpolation data based on the address designation from the address designation section 12. 6. Output buffer 7 memory 7 that temporarily stores the echo data read out from the frame memory 6 in accordance with the horizontal scan on the display screen; D/A that converts the output from the output buffer 1 to buffer memory 7 into analog; a converting unit 8, a television monitor that displays an image on a display screen based on the output from this D/A converting unit
A TV monitor (hereinafter simply referred to as a TV monitor) 9 is provided.

The first storage means 5 has a capacity capable of storing echo data for three lines of ultrasound beams, and is composed of a first line memory 5A, a second line memory 5B, and a third line memory 5C. has been done. Each of the line memories 5A, 5B, and 5C stores echo data for each ultrasound beam line, which is a combination of echo data with different focal point positions on one ultrasound beam line. In order to memorize, each line memory 5 is synthesized by combining echo data with different focal point positions on one line of ultrasonic beams that are sequentially created by multi-stage transmission focusing.
A data synthesis means (hereinafter simply referred to as a line memory controller) 10 is provided for storing data in A, 5B, and 5G. Each time the echo data for one line of ultrasound beams synthesized via this line memory controller 10 is stored in one line memory, it is transferred to the frame memory 6. During the start-to-end interval of each transfer operation that sequentially transfers the echo data stored in the frame memory 6 to the frame memory 6, the echo data of the adjacent ultrasonic beams stored in any two line memories are transferred to the frame memory 6. Calculation control means 11 is provided for calculating circular interpolation data in the region between ultrasound beams and storing it in the frame memory 6.

Here, the configuration of the calculation control means 11 will be explained in further detail. For example, if the echo data of the i-th ultrasound beam line is stored in the first line memory 5A and the echo data of the +i-th ultrasound beam line is stored in the second line memory 5B, then The echo data of the +2nd ultrasonic beam line will be combined and stored in the third line memory 5C, but during this combined storage operation, the echo data of the second ultrasonic beam line will first be stored in the second line memory 5B. The echo data is transferred to the frame memory 6, and after the transfer is completed, the echo data is transferred to the first line memory 5A and the second line memory 5B.
calculates circular interpolation data based on the echo data stored in and stores it in the frame memory 6;
This arithmetic storage operation is configured to be completed before the combined storage of the echo data in the third line memory 5C is completed and the transfer of the echo data to the frame memory 6 is started.

Note that the echo data used in the calculation of interpolation data are sequentially erased in order to synthesize and store the next echo data. In the above configuration, for example, the calculation weighting that determines the value to be weighted on echo data when calculating circular interpolation data is performed by the controller 11A, and the calculation weighting determined by the controller 11A is sequentially performed from the value and line memory. Specifically, it includes a calculation unit 11B that calculates circular interpolation data based on echo data that is read out.

Here, the contents of the calculation by the calculation control means 11 will be explained. FIG. 2(A) shows an ultrasonic sector image consisting of a plurality of ultrasonic rasters on the display screen of the TV monitor 9 when circular interpolation is not performed. For example, the second +
When the first ultrasonic raster is pixelized on the display screen of the TV screen 9, it can be shown as shown in FIG. 2(B) (the intersection of each grid corresponds to a pixel).

In this figure, the * marks are the vixels that make up the image of the ultrasonic raster. O is an empty vixele with no data, and 2
The horizontal distribution of sky pixels between the ultrasonic rasks of the book takes a distribution area as shown in Figure 2 (C) depending on the sector angle, and the number of sky pixels increases in the area near the tail. . That is, the number of empty pixels in the horizontal direction between two ultrasonic rusks is distributed as follows: 1 in the 01S1 region, 2 in the S2 region, 3 in the S3 region, and 4 in the S4 region in the SO region.

The arithmetic control means 11 obtains circular interpolation data to be embedded in the empty pixels. For example, if the set of echo data possessed by the th ultrasonic raster is A, and the echo data possessed by the 1st ultrasonic raster is B, then for the empty pixel between both ultrasonic rasters, Fig. 2 (C) The distribution area explained in $1.32. Circular interpolation data is obtained by weighting as shown in Figure 2 (D>) according to the number of empty pixels in Sa, Sa, ..., Sn.When obtaining circular interpolation data, the weighting target The echo data A and B used are those at the same depth, that is, those at the same position along the horizontal direction of the ultrasonic raster.The distribution state of empty pixels is determined by the sector angle as shown in Figure 2 (C). In other words, since it differs depending on the position of the ultrasonic raster, the positions V, W, X, and Y of empty pixels, which are the starting points for circular interpolation, are variable pulled according to the sector angle to match the distribution shown in Figure 2 (C). It is controlled so that it can change.

Next, the operation of the apparatus of the above embodiment will be explained.

First, the transmission multi-stage focus is for near area N and far area F.
As shown in Figure 3, the apex of the sector is Bo, the boundary between both areas N and F is 81, and the ultrasound beam line numbers corresponding to the ultrasound raster are sequentially set to 0.1.
,2. ..., n.

FIG. 4 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the apparatus of the above embodiment. Ultrasonic waves are transmitted via the ultrasonic transducer group 1 and the wave transmitter 2 according to the ultrasonic rate. This wave transmission is performed along the ultrasound beam lines numbered from number 0 to number 0 shown in Figure 3, and is performed for the near region N and far region F for each ultrasound beam line. . First, when the ultrasonic wave for the near region N is transmitted to the ultrasonic beam line numbered 〇, the echo signal ON is detected by the detection unit 3. It will be sent to the first line memory 5A via the A/D converter 4. At this time, the line memory controller 10 turns on the echo signal.
Among them, only the portion of the echo data corresponding to the near area N is stored in the first line memory 5A. Next number O
When the ultrasonic wave for the far region F is transmitted to the ultrasonic beam line of , the echo signal OF is sent to the detection section 3. It will be sent to the first line memory 5A via the A/D converter 4. At this time, the line memory controller 10 stores only the echo data of the portion corresponding to the far region of the echo signal OF in the first line memory 5A following the already stored echo data of the near region.
to be memorized. In this way, the first line memory 5A
The echo data synthesized and memorized passes through the arithmetic control unit 11, receives address designation on the display screen by the address designation unit 12, and is transferred to the frame memory 6 (the echo data thus transferred is transferred to the frame memory 6). D (0) of the 4th cause
). When this echo data D ( ) is being transferred to the frame memory 6, the same multi-stage transmission focus as described above is performed for the number 1 ultrasound beam line, and the data is synthesized and stored on the second line memory 5B.

After the synthetic memory is completed, the near area N and the far area F
1 code data is addressed to frame memory 6
(The echo data thus transferred is indicated by D(1) in the fourth factor).

When this echo data D(1) is being transferred to the frame memory 6, the same multi-stage transmission focusing as described above is performed on the number 2 ultrasound beam line, and the third
1 of the near area N and far area F on the line memory 5C of
The code data will be stored in combination, but the above process]-
After the transfer of data D(1) is completed, the third line memory 5C
During the interval time T until the echo data synthesized and stored above is transferred to the frame memory 6 (the echo data transferred to the frame memory is indicated by D(2) in the fourth factor), the arithmetic control section 11 Calculate circular interpolation data to be interpolated on empty pixels located between the ultrasound raster corresponding to the ultrasound beam line number 〇 and the ultrasound raster corresponding to the ultrasound beam line number 1,
And the calculated circular interpolation data is stored in the frame memory 6 (the circular interpolation data stored in this manner is indicated by Go (f (0,1)) in FIG. 4). Note that this circular interpolation data Go (f (0, 1)) is stored in response to address designation on the display screen by the address designation section 12. The same operation will be performed sequentially for the ultrasonic beam lines numbered 3 and onwards. That is, until the synthetically stored echo data on the first line memory 5A for the ultrasound beam line number 3 is transferred to the frame memory (the transferred echo data is transferred at D(3) in FIG. 4). ) interval time T
In the interpolated data Go (f (1, 2)) (empty pixel located between the ultrasound raster corresponding to the number 1 ultrasound beam line and the ultrasound raster corresponding to the number 2 ultrasound beam line) The echo data D (to be interpolated above) is calculated and stored, and the echo data D (
4), ..., D(l and circular interpolation data Co (f
(2, 3) L = -, Co (f (n-1, n)) is stored.

Then, echo data D(0), . . . , D(l) and circular interpolation data Co (f (0, 1)), .

(f (n-1, n)) is sent to the output buffer memory 7 in conjunction with the horizontal scanning of the TV monitor 9, and the image is displayed on the TV monitor 9 via the D/A converter 8. That will happen.

As described above, the present embodiment apparatus combines the echo data of the near region N and the far region F for one ultrasound beam line, and stores the combined echo data in one line memory, and also stores the echo data of two adjacent lines in two line memories. When the echo data of the main ultrasound beam line is combined and stored, the echo data to be combined and stored next is based on the above two echo data within the free time (interval time T) until it is transferred to the frame memory. Since the circular interpolation data is calculated and stored, the capacity of the first storage means 5 is sufficient to store echo data for three lines of ultrasonic beams, and the size of the storage means can be reduced. can do. Furthermore, since circular interpolation data is embedded in empty pixels between ultrasonic rusks, a clear image can be displayed without reducing the number of frames (however, the number of frames may be reduced due to multiple transmission stages).

Note that the above-mentioned embodiment is merely an example, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. Although the above embodiment describes the case where sector scanning is performed, the present invention is not limited to this, but is applicable to various types of scanning such as linear scanning, trapezoidal scanning, and convex scanning.

Further, although the device of the above embodiment performs only B-mode display, it is also possible to use a device with an M-mode or D-mode display function added. In this case, for D mode display or M
Either provide another line memory for mode display, or
Alternatively, the line memories 5A to 5C in the first storage means 5 may be appropriately controlled by the arithmetic control means 11 so as not to calculate interpolated data using a combination such as a B mode image and an M mode image or a B mode image and a D mode image. It is necessary to do so. Also, how to weight interpolated data is shown in Figure 2 (D).
Appropriate weighting is possible without being limited to the method shown in .

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, data obtained from adjacent ultrasonic beams to empty pixels between ultrasonic rasters can be stored without increasing the scale of the storage means. This has excellent effects such as being able to embed interpolated data calculated with appropriate weighting based on echo data at the same depth, and contributing to clear image display.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing a device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the calculation contents by the calculation control means, FIG. 2 (A) is an explanatory diagram showing a sector image when circular interpolation is not performed, and FIG. (C) is an explanatory diagram showing the horizontal distribution of empty pixels between ultrasonic rasks. (D) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of weighting. FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a sector image for explaining the operation of the embodiment apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the embodiment apparatus. 5... First storage means 6... Second storage means 10... Data synthesis means 11... Arithmetic control means (C) k+5 (D) 5 k+1

Claims (1)

[Claims] The echo data sequentially performed by the transmission multi-stage focus that transmits and receives ultrasound by changing the position of the focal point on one ultrasound beam line is stored in the first storage means for each ultrasound beam line, and the ultrasound beam 1 Each time echo data of a line is stored in this first storage means, this echo data is addressed and transferred to a second storage means, and Interpolated data of the region between both ultrasonic beams is calculated based on the echo data of the acoustic beam, and this data is addressed and stored in the second storage means, and the echo data stored in the second storage means and In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays an image based on interpolated data, echo data of different focal point positions on one line of ultrasonic beam sequentially performed in the transmission multi-stage focusing is synthesized and stored in a first storage means. and data synthesis means for calculating the interpolated data within the start interval time of each transfer operation for sequentially transferring the echo data stored in the first storage means to the second storage means via the data synthesis means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising: arithmetic control means for causing the calculation to be performed and storing it in the second storage means.