JPS62286448A - 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] 3. Detailed Description of the Invention [Purpose of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention is based on the reflected components of the ultrasound waves transmitted toward the specimen from the specimen. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that visualizes an ultrasonic image of a subject for diagnosis, and particularly relates to an improved DSC (digital scan converter).

(Conventional technology) The basic configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is shown in FIG.

This device consists of an ultrasonic probe 1. Ultrasonic transmitting and receiving system 2, D
SC3, television (TV) monitor 4. It has a system controller 5.

The ultrasonic probe 1 holds an ultrasonic sensor and transmits ultrasonic waves toward a subject (not shown), and receives reflected components from the subject, and is capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. Connected to system 2. This ultrasonic transmitting/receiving system 2 generates excitation pulses to be applied to the ultrasonic probe 1 and collects ultrasonic echoes received by the probe 1. It is now imported into the DSC3.

The DSC 3 has a function of converting ultrasonic beam scanning into television display scanning, and is mainly configured with one or two frame memories. The system controller 5 includes a scanning synchronization signal generator 5a that generates a beam generation rate signal and a frame rate signal, and a TV synchronization signal generator 5b that generates a horizontal synchronization signal, a vertical synchronization signal, and a field index signal. Each signal is taken into the DSC3. The timing relationship of each of the above signals is as follows.
As shown in the figure. The output of the DSC 3 is taken in to a TV monitor 4 arranged in the rear stage, and the ultrasound image is visualized here.

When there is only one frame memory in DSCa, ultrasound beam scanning and television display scanning can be made asynchronous, but in this case, the data read from the frame memory may include temporally shifted frames. Data (corresponding to ultrasound frames tn and tn-t) are mixed. Therefore, on the display screen of the TV monitor 4, as schematically shown in FIG. 5, a discontinuous surface 6 is created in the ultrasonic image 4a due to the old and new frames, especially when the display target area moves rapidly. An unnatural step 7 will occur on the discontinuous surface.

Such a phenomenon is not much of a problem when displaying moving images, but it causes problems for diagnosis when displaying still images (frozen image display).Therefore, when displaying still images, it is necessary to store one frame in the frame memory. It is necessary to wait until data writing for the frame memory is completed before stopping writing to the frame memory.For this reason, in conventional devices,
Depending on the timing at which the operator turns on the freeze switch on the operation panel, writing to the frame memory may not be stopped promptly, resulting in a problem of poor freeze response. Incidentally, there are cases in which frame images are continuously recorded on a VTR (video tape recorder) while scanning the ultrasonic beam, and still images are displayed using the still function of the VTR during playback. In this case, it is not possible to take measures such as stopping writing to the frame memory until data writing for one frame is completed, so the appearance of the discontinuous surface 61 step 7 is inevitable.

In order to solve these problems, conventional equipment
As shown in FIG. 6, two frame memories 3a, 3b and switches 8, 9 are provided in the DSC 3, and as shown in FIG. 7, the timing relationship between the ultrasonic frame rate and the field index. 1. By alternately performing write and read operations in the second memories 3a and 3b, the discontinuous surface 6 is prevented from occurring on the display screen.

However, in the above configuration, it is necessary to always synchronize the ultrasound frame rate and the display frame rate, which is not preferable because it limits the ultrasound frame rate period and limits the ultrasound scanning method. However, if the ultrasound frame rate and the display frame rate are made asynchronous, even though there are two frame memories, the frame memory 1
This will cause the same inconvenience as in the case of single sheets.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, in the conventional device, when the DSC 3 has only one frame memory, discontinuous surfaces 62 and steps 7 occur in the displayed image, and the freeze response is poor. However, when there are two frame memories in the DSC 3, there is a problem in that the ultrasonic scanning method is limited.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to prevent the occurrence of a single level difference in the discontinuous surface on the displayed image, to provide excellent freeze response, and to provide a rough response to ultrasonic waves. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device that does not impose restrictions on operating methods.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a DSC (DSC) equipped with at least three frame memories that form ultrasound images by writing ultrasound echo data. The system controller includes a digital scan converter (digital scan converter), and a system controller that controls data loading and data reading into each of the frame memories.

(Function) Writing of echo data is performed sequentially to each of the above frame memories at the timing of the ultrasound frame rate.
The written echo data is read from the frame memory in which data writing has been completed. This speculative reading is controlled by the system controller.

In this way, if at least three frame memories are provided, even if the ultrasonic frame rate and the display frame rate are asynchronous, it is possible to keep any one of the frame memories in the writing completed state. Because you can
In image display based on the echo data read from the memory, no two-step discontinuous surface difference occurs on the display screen.

Furthermore, since the freeze timing can be performed without waiting for the completion of one frame, the freeze responsiveness is improved.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to Examples.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts of the device of this embodiment.
0 is a DSC, and 50 is a system controller.

The DSC 30 is the first. Second. Third frame memory 30
a, 30b, 30c, and switches 80° and 90. The switch 80 is for switching the transmission path of the echo data output from the ultrasound transmitting/receiving system 2, and the switch 90 is for switching the transmission path of the echo data taken into the TV monitor 4. That is, the echo data output from the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving system 2 is sent via the switch 80 to the first. Second. Third frame memory 30a.

30b and 30c, and the data read out from each of the frame memories is passed through a switch 90 to T
It is designed to be taken into the V monitor 4.

This DSC 30 is under the control of the system controller 50, and the first DSC 30 is under the control of the system controller 50. Second. Third frame memory 30a, 30
b, 30C write/read control and switch 80
．． The switching control of 90 is performed by the system controller 50.

Note that the components other than the DSC 30 and the system controller 50 are the same as those of the conventional device, so their explanation will be omitted.

The operation of the embodiment device having the above configuration will be explained with reference to the timing diagram of FIG. 2.

For example, at the timing of the ultrasound frame rate output from the system controller 50, the first. Ultrasonic images are formed in each frame memory in the order of the second and third frame memories 30a, 30b, and 30C. That is, first, echo data is written into the first frame memory 30a, and when an ultrasound image is formed in the memory 30a, the echo data is then written into the second frame memory 30b at the rising timing of the next frame rate. An ultrasound image is formed in the memory 30b. Then, at the rising timing of the next frame rate, the echo data is loaded into the third frame memory 30C, and an ultrasound image is formed in the memory 30G. The above write operation is repeated.

On the other hand, data reading from the frame memory is performed as follows. For example, the echo data in the third frame memory 30C is read out at the falling timing of the field index closest to the time when data writing to the third frame memory 30G is completed, and from then on, the echo data in box 1. Second. Echo data is read out in the order of third frame memories 30a, 30b, and 30C.

By controlling readout in this way, the first
．． Second. Third frame memory 30a.

Since there is an ultrasonic image for which writing has been completed for either of 30b and 30G, by visualizing the ultrasonic image, a one-step difference in discontinuity is created on the display screen of the TV monitor 4. Never. Furthermore, since the freeze timing can be performed without waiting for the completion of one frame, the freeze response is improved compared to conventional devices.

In this way, when using the device of this embodiment, the first step is as follows. 2nd, 3rd
The DS has frame memories 30a, 30b, and 30C.
Since the system controller 50 controls the writing and reading of data into and out of each frame memory, even if the ultrasound frame rate and the display frame rate are asynchronous, the There is no difference in two levels between discontinuous surfaces, and the freeze response is excellent. Further, since the ultrasound frame rate and the display frame rate may be asynchronous, there is no restriction on the ultrasound scanning method.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and that various modifications can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, there are three frame memories (
30a, 30b, 30c), the DSC may be configured with four or more frame memories.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, there is no occurrence of a two-step difference in discontinuous surfaces on the displayed image, the freeze response is excellent, and there are no restrictions on the ultrasonic operation method. It is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device that does not

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a timing diagram thereof, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional device, FIG. 4 is a timing diagram thereof, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display of a conventional device, FIG. 6 is a block diagram when a DSC is configured with two frame memories in the conventional device, and FIG. 7 is a timing diagram in that case. 2... Ultrasonic transmission/reception system, 4... TV monitor, 30.
...DSC (digital scan converter), 30a, 30b, 3oc...frame memory, 50
...System controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] an ultrasound transmitting and receiving system that collects ultrasound echo data of a subject by scanning the ultrasound beam transmitted toward the subject;
In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a television monitor that visualizes an ultrasonic image of a subject based on collected ultrasonic echo data, at least three frame memories are provided to form an ultrasonic image by writing ultrasonic echo data. An ultrasound system comprising: a digital scan converter that converts ultrasound beam scanning into television display scanning; and a system controller that controls data writing and data reading into each frame memory. Diagnostic equipment.