JPS61247437A - 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] (b) Industrial application fields The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

(B) Conventional technology and its problems In general, when ultrasound is emitted to a subject, the ultrasound echoes reflected from within the subject are less affected by absorption attenuation within the subject if they are from a short distance. It is strong, and those from long distances become weaker due to absorption and attenuation along the way. Therefore, if we detect ultrasonic echoes with such depth-direction characteristics and output the received signals obtained from them as they are to an image display, the displayed image will be affected by the depth of the subject and will not be clear. I can't get an image. Therefore, in order to correct this, conventional ultrasonic diagnostic equipment has a system that temporally controls the gain of echo signals based on ultrasound echoes.
T C (S intensity'vity T tIII
e Control) Some models are equipped with a control circuit.

In such devices, the absorption and attenuation of ultrasound echoes differs depending on the ultrasound frequency and the acoustic characteristics of the diagnostic site, so the STC curve is set by operating the STC control circuit, for example, the STC volume, while looking at the displayed image. Adjustments are made so that uniform images can be obtained from shallow to deep areas.

Incidentally, some recent ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are configured so that various types of probes can be exchanged depending on the purpose. For example, in the case of electronic linear scanning type probes, probes with different apertures and frequency bands can be selected as appropriate. In such ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, the absorption and attenuation characteristics of ultrasonic waves differ depending on the diameter and frequency band of the probe.
The STC curve must be reset every time the probe is replaced. Therefore, the STC curve setting operation becomes extremely complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable automatic setting of an appropriate STC curve at all times even when the probe is replaced.

(C) Means for solving the problem In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes a code generation circuit that generates a code corresponding to the type of probe, and an STC volume that reads the value set by the STC volume. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a reading circuit and an STC curve creation circuit that creates an STC curve based on code data given from the code generation circuit and STC volume data given from the STC volume reading circuit. .

(D) Function In this ultrasonic diagnostic device, when a probe is selected, code data corresponding to the selected probe is generated from the code generation circuit, and this code data is sent to the STC curve creation circuit. Given.

The STC curve generation circuit creates an STC curve based on the code data given from the code generation circuit. Then, the ST created by this STC curve creation circuit
The gain of the echo signal output from the probe is automatically time-controlled based on the C-curve data. Therefore, there is no need to create an STC curve from the beginning. Furthermore, when the gain of the echo signal is manually adjusted using the STC volume, the set value is read by the STC volume reading circuit, and the previous STC curve is finely adjusted based on the read STC volume data.

(e) Examples Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on examples shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates an ultrasonic diagnostic device, and 2
The probe 2.4 transmits and receives the ultrasonic beam and outputs a drive signal to the probe 2, and also outputs an echo signal corresponding to the echo of the ultrasonic wave received by the probe 2. This is a wave transmitting/receiving control circuit 4 that detects waves. Further, 6 is an STC amplifier circuit that time-controls the gain of the echo signal that has passed through the wave transmitting/receiving control circuit 4 in the depth direction with respect to the subject, and 8 is an ST
This is a display that displays the echo signal amplified by the C amplifier circuit 6 as a diagnostic image.

10 is a code generation circuit that generates a code corresponding to the type of probe 2. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example, when the connector to which the probe 2 is connected has 35 pins, four of the pins are for code numbers. is set as . On the other hand, when setting the code number of the probe 2 connected to this connector to, for example, 9, E2 and E3 of the female connectors of the probe 2 connected to the above four pins.
Ground in advance. With this configuration, the probe 2
When the female connector is connected to the pins of the connector, the code generating circuit IO automatically generates a code corresponding to the type of probe 2.

12a=12n is an STC volume for manually adjusting the gain of the echo signal output from the probe 2 to adapt it to the depth of the object. 14 is STC volume 12
This is an STC volume reading circuit that reads each part set at a=12n.

This STC volume reading circuit 14 includes a volume selection circuit 16 that sequentially switches connections with the STC volumes 12a to 12n, and an A/D converter that digitizes the volume values sequentially selected and read by the volume selection circuit 16. It consists of 18.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an STC curve creation circuit that creates an STC curve based on code data given from the code generation circuit 10 and STC volume data given from the STC volume reading circuit 14. This S
The TC curve creation circuit 20 generates recommended STC curves C8 to STC curves suitable for the selected probe 2 as shown in FIG.
A data memory 22 in which STC data of multiple points located on Cll1 is stored in advance, and STC data read from the data memory 22 are interpolated to create STC curve data, and the STC volume given from the STC volume reading circuit 14 is Based on the data
An arithmetic control circuit 24 that corrects the TC curve data, an STC curve storage circuit 26 that stores the STC curve data after being corrected by the arithmetic control circuit 24, and a write address counter 28 that controls the write address of the STC curve storage circuit 26. , a read address counter 30 that controls the read address of the STC curve storage circuit 26, a switching circuit 32 that switches between both address counters 28 and 30, and D that converts the STC curve data read from the STC curve storage circuit 26 into analog. /A converter 3
It consists of 4.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus I having the above configuration, the operation of each part when controlling the gain of the echo signal output from the probe 2 over time will be described.

First, when the female connector of the probe 2 is connected to a pin of the connector, code data corresponding to the type of the probe 2 is generated from the code generation circuit IO, and the code data is given to the arithmetic control circuit 24. .

Based on this code data, the arithmetic control circuit 24 reads data at a plurality of points corresponding to the code data from the data memory 22, and creates recommended STC curve data suitable for the probe based on the read data. and,
In this case, if all the STC volumes 12a-12n are set, for example, at the center position, the arithmetic control circuit 24
sends the created recommended STC curve data as it is to the STC curve storage circuit 26 without correction.

Furthermore, the arithmetic control circuit 24 converts the STC curve data into
The write address counter 28 is operated in synchronization with the timing of sending one signal to the TC curve storage circuit 26, and the switching circuit 32 is connected to the write address counter 28 side. As a result, the created STC curve data is stored in the STC curve storage circuit 26.

On the other hand, when the wave transmission/reception control circuit 4 outputs a wave transmission synchronization signal to the probe 2, the probe 2 is driven and an ultrasonic beam is emitted into the subject. The echoes of the ultrasound beams reflected from various parts within the subject are received again by the probe 2, and the probe 2 outputs echo signals corresponding to the echoes of the received ultrasound waves.

The echo signal output from the probe 2 is sent to the wave transmission/reception control circuit 4.
After the signal is detected, it is sent to the next stage STC amplifier circuit 6.

The transmission synchronization signal outputted from the transmission and reception control circuit 4 is as follows:
It is also applied to the arithmetic control circuit 24 at the same time.

The arithmetic control circuit 24 operates the readout address counter 30 in response to this transmission synchronization signal, and also causes the switching circuit 32 to operate the readout address counter 30 and transfer the number of tiles 1 to 2 (.A-qTC The STC curve data already stored in the curve storage circuit 26 is sequentially read out, and the read STC curve data is sent to the D/A converter 3.
4 becomes analog. And analog ST
The C curve data is given to the STC amplifier circuit 6 as a gain control signal. Thereby, the gain of the echo signal is time-controlled. Next, the echo signal whose gain has been adjusted in the depth direction of the subject by the STC amplifier circuit 6 is sent to the next stage display. Thereby, a diagnostic image based on the echo signal whose gain has been controlled to match the type of probe 2 is automatically displayed on the display 8. Normally, this provides a sufficiently clear diagnostic image, but in addition, STC
When finely adjusting the curve, the STC volumes 12a to 12n are operated without looking at the diagnostic image displayed on the display 8. STC volume 12a~! 20 and set it in a predetermined position, the volume selection circuit 16
Since the connection with the STC volumes 12a to 12n is sequentially switched, the values set in the STC volumes 12a to 12n are sequentially read, and after this STC volume data is digitized by the A/D converter 18, the arithmetic control circuit 24. The arithmetic control circuit 24 uses the STC volume data and the ST read out from the data memory 22.
Create STC curve data corrected based on the C data. Then, the corrected STC curve data is stored in the STC curve storage circuit 26 in the same manner as in the above case. Therefore, the gain of the echo signal is controlled based on the corrected STC curve data read out from the STC curve storage circuit 26.

In the above embodiment, the STC curve creation circuit 20 is constructed of a digital circuit, but is not limited to this, and may be constructed of an analog circuit as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

In FIG. 5, 40a to 40n are STC volumes for manually adjusting the gain of the echo signal output from the probe, 42 is a volume selection circuit that sequentially switches the STC volumes 40a to 40n, and 44 is a volume selection circuit 42. Amplify the volume difference before and after the selected S
This is a differential amplifier that outputs a TC curve correction signal.

Further, 46a to 46m are amplifiers provided to be compatible with various types of probes 2, and 48 is an amplifier 46a to 46m based on code data given corresponding to the type of probe 2.
This is a first selection circuit that selects one of the following.

50a to 50++ are recommended S that are compatible with various types of probes 2.
An STC curve generation circuit configured to generate a TC curve; 52 is a second selection for selecting one of the STC curve generation circuits 50a to 50m based on code data corresponding to the type of the probe 2; The circuit 54 is a multiplier that multiplies the STC curve generation signal provided via the second selection circuit 52 and the STC curve correction signal provided via the first selection circuit 48.

In this STC curve creation circuit, when code data corresponding to the probe is sent from a code generation circuit (not shown), the 11th and second selection circuits 48 and 52 are switched to select an amplifier suitable for the probe, for example 46a. and an STC curve generating circuit, for example, 50a. Next, when the transmission synchronization signal for exciting and driving the probe is given to the selected STC curve generation circuit 50a, the STC curve generation circuit 50
a outputs an STC curve generation signal, and the output signal is sent to the multiplier 54 via the second selection circuit 52.

In this case, when all the STC volumes 40a to 40n are set, for example, to the center position, the STC curve generation signal is not corrected by the multiplier 54 and is directly sent to the STC amplifier circuit (not shown). Therefore, the gain of the echo signal is automatically time-controlled based on the STC curve generation signal.

If it is desired to finely adjust the STC curve while viewing the diagnostic image, the levels of the previous and subsequent STC volumes that have been set are sequentially applied to the differential amplifier 44 via the volume selection circuit 42. Therefore, the differential amplifier 44 sequentially outputs a signal corresponding to the volume difference, and this signal is sent to the already selected amplifier 46a as an STC curve correction signal. Soj, A Monk Mei AR2? s row sail six banner QTn
The nap correction signal is applied to the multiplier 54 via the first selection circuit 48. Therefore, the multiplication calculator 42 is ST
The STC curve generation signal generated by the C curve generation circuit 50a is multiplied by the STC curve correction signal applied via the first switching circuit 48. As a result, the STC curve is corrected, and the corrected signal is sent to an STC amplifier circuit (not shown).

(f) Effects As described above, according to the present invention, even when the probe is replaced, an appropriate STC curve is immediately and automatically set.

After that, all you have to do is make fine adjustments while looking at the displayed diagnostic image. Therefore, it is extremely easy to set the STC curve, and unlike the conventional method, each time the probe is replaced, -
This eliminates the trouble of having to reset the STC curve.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic device, Fig. 2 is a front view of a connector to which a probe is connected, and Fig. 3 is a configuration of a code generation circuit. 4 are explanatory diagrams of STC curves suitable for various types of probes stored in the data memory, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an STC curve creation circuit showing another embodiment. ■...Ultrasonic diagnostic device, lO...Code generation circuit, 14...STC volume reading circuit, 20
...STC curve creation circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A code generation circuit that generates a code corresponding to the type of probe, an STC volume reading circuit that reads the value set by the STC volume, and a code data given from the code generation circuit and the STC volume reading circuit. an STC curve creation circuit that creates an STC curve based on STC volume data given from the probe, and a gain of an echo signal output from the probe based on the STC curve data created by the STC curve creation circuit. An ultrasonic diagnostic device characterized by time-controlled.