JPS62217948A - 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 [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention is an object of the present invention to detect a subject based on reflected components (echo signals) from the subject of ultrasonic waves transmitted toward the subject. The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic device that visualizes ultrasound images for diagnosis.

(Prior Art) In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that employs an electronic scanning method, ultrasonic transmission called multi-stage transmission (multi-stage focus) is performed in order to improve the resolution in the azimuth direction. FIGS. 2 and 3 are for explaining this multi-stage transmission.

In FIG. 2, scan vA1. 2. 3. ..., S
Assuming that one frame is formed by
, c, the ultrasonic waves are transmitted a plurality of times. D
indicates the depth direction, and ■, ■, and ■ indicate observation areas by multi-step focusing. The ultrasonic transmission and reception timing for obtaining one scanning line is performed as shown in FIG.

When control C is at a high level, the ultrasonic beam is focused (focus) a, b in the transmission system.
, c, an ultrasound beam having a predetermined focus is transmitted toward the subject at the fall timing of control C, and a reflected component of the transmitted ultrasound is received within a predetermined time. Ru. In other words, when transmitting from focal point a, reflected components from observation area ■ are received, when transmitting from focal point A, reflected components from observation area ■ are received, and when transmitting from focal point C, reflected components from observation area ■ are received. The reflected components of the signal are received.

The ultrasonic propagation velocity in the subject (living body) is 1530 m/
Let s be f$ and time t is 30//! 1, the time required for one scanning line to observe up to a depth of 15 cm is = 226 Cμs if there is one transmission stage.]
...(1), and if there are two transmission stages, t = 354 Cμ3]. In the case of three transmission stages as shown in Figures 2 and 3, tc ” 30 (ps)
...(2) bau 0, 1 X 2 XIO", so the time required for one scanning line is t, = 3x
tC+t■+t■+t■ =482 Cμs] ...(6)
becomes. Therefore, the greater the number of transmission stages, the longer it will take to collect data.

Also, if the number of scanning lines in one image is 100, then 1
The number of images per second (number of frames) FN is 1 if there is one transmission stage, FN2 = 28 if there are two transmission stages, FN3 = 20 if there are three transmission stages, and decreases as the number of transmission stages increases. .

Furthermore, in the case of one stage of transmission, the number of frames per second FN is
If the number of scanning lines in one image is 2.00, FNI=2
2, and if the number of scanning lines is 300, FN+ = 14
and decreases as the number of scanning lines increases.

Generally, it is said that 30 frames per second are required for moving images.
The smaller the number of frames FN, the more unnatural the motion becomes.

In conventional devices, it is possible to switch between moving image display and still image (freeze) display by operating a freeze switch provided on the operation panel, but the above-mentioned number of transmission stages, number of scanning lines, and number of frames The following problems arise due to the relationship.

If the number of transmission stages or the number of scanning lines is set to be small in order to give priority to the motion of a moving image, the image quality of still image display will deteriorate, which will impede diagnosis.

On the other hand, if the number of transmission stages or the number of scanning lines is set to be large with priority given to image quality, movement will become unnatural in the moving image display, and in this case as well, diagnosis will be hindered.

It goes without saying that a moving image is a moving image not only when the subject itself is moving (but also when the subject is stationary) when the observer changes the observed part.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional device, when priority is given to the motion of displaying moving images, there is a problem of deterioration in the image quality of still images.
Conversely, if priority is given to the image quality of still images, the movement of moving images becomes a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying ultrasonic images with excellent movement in moving images and excellent image quality in still images. be.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a scanning condition setting section, reduces the number of transmission stages or scanning lines when displaying a moving image, and transmits when displaying a still image. The number of stages or scanning lines is increased.

(Function) When displaying a moving image, the number of transmission stages or the number of scanning lines is reduced by the condition setting by the scanning condition setting section, and as a result, the number of frames is increased, so that a moving image with excellent motion is displayed.

Next, when a signal to stop the image is input to the scanning condition setting section, the scanning condition setting section sets the transmission conditions to increase the number of transmission stages or scanning lines, thereby improving the image quality. Excellent still image display becomes possible.

(Example) The present invention will be specifically described below based on the example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes an ultrasonic probe formed by arranging a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (hereinafter referred to as transducers) 5-1 to 5-n in an array;
is a transmission delay unit that delays the vibration timing of the vibrators 5-1 to 5-n, and 3-1 to 3-m are the transmission delay parts of the vibrators 5-1 to 5-n.
This is a balsa that generates excitation pulses for excitation of ~5-n. 4 is a high voltage switch for switching and connecting the vibrator, 7
There are thousands of them. 6-1 to 6-m are vibrators 5-1 to 5-n
This is a preamplifier that amplifies the ultrasonic echo signal (ultrasonic information) inputted from the high voltage switch group 4 through the high voltage switch group 7.
-1 to 7-m are reception delay units that delay the outputs of the preamplifiers 6-1 to 6-m, and 8 is this reception delay unit 7-1.
This is an adder that adds the outputs of ~7-m. Further, 9 is an echo signal processing unit that takes in the output of this adder 8 and processes the echo signal, 10 is a digital scan converter mainly configured with a frame memory, and 1
1 is a display unit that visualizes the output of this digital scan converter 10. Reference numeral 12 denotes a transmission/reception control section, and the high voltage switch group 4゜transmission delay sections 2-1 to 2-m, reception delay sections 7-1 to 7-m, and echo signal processing section 9 are under the control of this transmission/reception control section 12. It is in.

Further, 13 has a first setting mode in which the number of transmission stages or the number of scanning lines is decreased, and a second setting mode in which the number of transmission stages or the number of scanning lines is increased. This is a scanning condition setting section that sets scanning conditions in a setting mode and sets scanning conditions in the second setting mode when displaying a still image. This scanning condition setting section 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a condition setting control means 15 that controls the transmission/reception control section 12 to set scanning conditions, and first scanning condition data 16a and second scanning condition data relating to the first setting mode.
and a storage means 16 in which second scanning condition data 16b regarding the setting mode of is stored. This storage means 16 is under the control of the condition setting control means 15. 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a freeze switch (switching means), and the freeze switch 14 can be used to switch between moving image display and still image display. A switching signal from this freeze switch 14 is taken into the condition setting control means 15.

Next, the operation of the embodiment device configured as above will be explained.

First, scanning conditions are preset. The scanning conditions can be preset using a switch on an operation panel (not shown), and the manually entered scanning conditions are written into the storage means 16 via the condition setting control means 15. The preset scanning conditions include the number of transmission stages and the number of scanning lines.

For video display, for example, 30 frames/second or more is sufficient. Therefore, the scanning condition (first setting mode) for video display is a transmission stage number that satisfies 30 frames/second or more. , preset the number of scanning lines. In addition, the scanning conditions (second setting mode) for displaying still images are as follows:
The number of transmission stages and the number of scanning lines are preset to satisfy less than 30 frames/second. For convenience of presetting, the number of frames may be input, such as 30 frames/second or 15 frames/second. The number of transmission stages and the number of scanning lines corresponding to the number of input frames can be recognized by software in the condition setting control means 15.

Next, the ultrasonic probe 21 is brought into contact with the subject (not shown) and transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves is started.

When the freeze switch 14 is in the open state, the first scanning condition data is read out from the storage means 16 under the control of the condition setting control means 15, and based on this data, the first scanning condition data is sent to the transmission/reception control section 12. Scanning conditions are set using the setting mode. Then, the transmission/reception control unit 12 activates the high voltage switch 4 according to the set scanning conditions. Transmission delay unit 2-1
-2-m, etc., and start collecting ultrasound information from the subject. Ultrasonic information is detected by the ultrasonic probe 21, and the high pressure switch 4. Preamplifier 6-1~
6-m, adder 8. The signal is displayed on the display section 11 via the echo signal processing section 9 and the digital scan converter 10. Here, the display section 11 displays 30 frames/
It takes more than a second, resulting in a moving image display with a focus on movement.

Then, once the part to be observed in detail or the part to be memorized has been determined, the freeze switch 14 is closed. Then, the condition setting control means 15 sets the second scanning condition data 16
b is read out, and based on this, scanning conditions are set for the transmission/reception control unit 12 in the second setting mode. As a result, the number of transmission stages and the number of scanning lines are increased compared to the first setting mode, and the still image visualized on the display unit 11 based on the collected ultrasonic information has high resolution and density, and has excellent image quality. It becomes something.

As described above, in the device of this embodiment, the first. A scanning condition setting section 13 having a second setting mode is provided, and the number of transmission stages or scanning lines is decreased when displaying a moving image, and the number of transmission stages or scanning lines is increased when displaying a still image. Therefore, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can automatically display ultrasonic images with excellent movement in moving image display and excellent image quality in still image display.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and it goes without saying that modifications of the seed planting are possible.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can display ultrasonic images with excellent motion in moving images and excellent image quality in still images.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are explanatory diagrams of multiple transmission stages. 13...Scanning condition setting unit, 15...Condition setting control means, 16...Storage means. Agent Patent Attorney Ken Nori Chika Kanshu Norio Ogo Figure 2 ↑ 4 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that displays a moving image and a still image of an ultrasound image based on ultrasound information obtained by performing ultrasound beam scanning using multiple transmission stages, the first method is to reduce the number of transmission stages or the number of scanning lines. and a second setting mode in which the number of transmission stages or scanning lines is increased.When displaying a moving image, the scanning conditions are set according to the first setting mode, and when displaying a still image, the scanning conditions are set according to the first setting mode. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a scanning condition setting section that sets scanning conditions in a second setting mode.