JPS624977B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, particularly an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of observing an A or M mode image simultaneously with a B mode image.

Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment that emits an ultrasonic beam into a subject and observes the internal tissues of the subject using reflected echoes obtained from parts of the subject with different acoustic impedances is well-known, especially electronic scanning high-speed B-mode devices, in which a probe scans an ultrasound beam along a desired tomographic plane, have been widely put into practical use, and have the advantage of being able to observe a desired tomographic image of a subject in real time. However, the above-mentioned B-mode ultrasonic diagnostic device has a problem in that it is not possible to observe a part of the tomographic image in detail, and conventional improved devices cannot observe a desired part of the tomographic image. Devices have been proposed that display images separately and simultaneously as an A-mode image or an M-mode image.
The A-mode image is a beam emitted with the ultrasound beam fixed at a predetermined position without scanning, and the reflected echo in the depth direction at this time is displayed, and the M-mode image is a temporal image of the A-mode image. This is a brightness modulation display as a changing motion image.

Fig. 1 shows an example of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic device that can simultaneously observe B-mode images and A or M-mode images, and Fig. 2 shows waveform diagrams of each part of the ultrasound diagnostic equipment. The operation is shown in FIG. 3, and the display image of each mode is shown in FIG. 4.

The repetitive pulse generator 10 outputs a rectangular repetitive pulse as shown by a waveform 101 in FIG. 2 in order to determine the ultrasonic beam transmission/reception timing of the electronic scanning high-speed probe. The output 101 of the repetitive pulse generator 10 is supplied to the vibrating element control signal generator 14 via the B-mode switching signal generator 12. The vibrating element control signal generator 14 supplies transmission/reception control signals to the electronic scanning probe 18 via the transceiver 16, and repeatedly applies pulses 101 from a plurality of vibrating elements arranged in the scanning direction of the probe 18. A plurality of vibrating elements selected according to a predetermined program are excited and controlled each time, and a repetitive pulse of 10
1, an ultrasonic beam is emitted from the probe 18 into the subject. FIG. 3 shows a probe 1 consisting of n vibrating elements arranged along the scanning direction A.
8 is shown, and a state is shown in which five vibration elements are excited in synchronization with the repetitive pulse 101 in the order selected by the vibration element control signal generator 14,
In the conventional device shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic pulse beam is moved and scanned one vibrating element at a time along the scanning direction A in synchronization with the repetitive pulse 101.

Through the above scanning, a tomographic image in B mode can be obtained. However, in the conventional apparatus shown in Fig. 1, ultrasound is transmitted and received multiple times at a desired scanning position during one scanning operation, An A-mode or B-mode image at the scanning position can be detected. To obtain an ultrasonic beam for A mode or M mode, the output 101 of the repetitive pulse generator 10 is fed to an A or M mode signal detection rate generator 20, which detects A once for every arbitrary number of repetitive pulses 101. Alternatively, the ultrasonic beam for M mode is controlled to be interrupted during B mode scanning. In the figure, the ultrasonic beam for A or M mode is emitted once for every five repetition pulses 101, and the output 103 of the detection rate generator 20 is supplied to the transducer element control signal generator 14. Alternatively, when the M mode control signal is applied, the vibration element control signal generator 14 is switched to the B mode switching signal generator 12.
Detection rate generator 2
A or M mode detection position selector 2 synchronized with 0
The probe 18 is activated by the A or M mode control signal of 2.
control. A or M mode detection position selector 2
2 can manually determine the desired A or M mode scanning position, and in FIG. 3, the vibrating element "16" position is selected as the A or M mode detection position. In FIG. 3, even when detecting mode A or B, the number of vibrating elements of the probe 18 is 5.
The vibration element "16" is created by exciting the elements.
Ultrasonic beam radiation is performed at the position, and the number of vibrating elements to be excited at this time can be set arbitrarily. As described above, the A or M mode signal detection rate generator 20
When the mode is selected, the excitation element control signal generator 14 excites and drives the probe 18 according to the control signal set by the A or M mode detection position selector 22, and emits an ultrasonic beam at a desired scanning position. will be held.

After the reflected echo from the object is received by the probe 18, it is detected by the detector 24, and this detection output 100 is sent to the B-mode brightness modulation voltage generator 2.
6. Brightness modulation voltage generator 28 and A for M mode
The signal is supplied to the mode signal amplifier 30. The control signal 103 of the A or M mode signal detection rate generator 20 is supplied to the brightness modulation voltage generator 28 for M mode and the signal amplifier 30 for A mode, and the detection of the detector 24 is performed only when an A or B mode image is detected. Output is received. The output of each voltage generator 26, 28 and amplifier 30 is shown by waveforms 105, 106 and 107 in FIG.

In order to obtain the sweep signal necessary for the display operation, the output 101 of the repetitive pulse generator 10 is supplied to the depthwise sweep wave generator 32, and for each repetitive pulse 101, a triangular wave as shown by the waveform 102 in FIG. 2 is generated in B mode. Indicator 34 and A or M mode indicator 3
6 to each Y-axis sweep terminal. The repetitive pulse 101 is also supplied to a beam position indicating voltage generator 38 to obtain an X-axis sweep signal of the B-mode indicator 34 shown by a waveform 104. The X-axis sweep signal 104 corresponds to the center position of the ultrasound beam that sequentially moves in the A direction shown in FIG. Determine the display sweep position. As described above, the B-mode display 34 displays a B-mode tomographic image on the screen based on the detection signal 105 of the B-mode brightness modulation voltage generator 26, and an example of this B-mode image is shown in FIG. Shown on the left.

On the other hand, the outputs 106 and 10 of the brightness modulation voltage generator 28 for M mode and the signal amplifier 30 for A mode
7 is supplied to the A or M mode display 36 via the changeover switch 40, and the detected image of the selected mode is displayed. The Y-axis direction sweep of the A or M mode display 36 is performed by the output 102 of the depth direction sweep wave generator 32, and the X-axis direction sweep signal in the M mode display is performed by the output of the time domain sweep wave generator 42. The modulation voltage in the case of A-mode display is obtained from the A-mode modulation voltage generator 44. An example of an M-mode image is shown in the center of FIG. 4, and an example of an A-mode image is shown on the right side.

As described above, with conventional ultrasound diagnostic equipment, it is possible to observe tomographic images of very fast-moving organs such as the heart as dynamic images, and to convert A-mode or M-mode images at any scanning position into B-mode images. It can be observed simultaneously with the image, making it possible to obtain extremely highly accurate diagnostic information.

However, in the conventional apparatus, the selection of the A or M mode image detection position can be performed only in the scanning direction, and there is a drawback that an arbitrary observation position cannot be set in the depth direction of the ultrasound beam.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to provide an improved ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can arbitrarily set an A-mode or M-mode image at an arbitrary scanning position and depth in a B-mode image. Our goal is to provide the following.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized by having an A or M mode display depth adjuster that can arbitrarily set the display depth of an A or M mode image.

According to the present invention, it is possible to detect an A or M mode image of an ultrasonic beam emitted from a probe at any depth, and by setting a display depth width of a narrow width, an A or M mode image within this depth width can be detected. Or, the M mode image can be enlarged and displayed on the display.
Very detailed A or M mode images can be obtained, and it is also possible to display multiple A or M mode images at different scanning positions on the same display.

In the present invention, in order to synchronously control the set display depth and the Y-axis sweep of the A or M mode display, a sweep wave generator for B mode that supplies a sweep signal in the depth direction to the B mode display is provided separately. An A or M mode sweep wave generator is provided which supplies a sweep signal in the depth direction to the A or M mode display, and the sweep characteristics of the A or M mode sweep wave generator are adjusted to adjust the A or M mode display depth. It can be made adjustable according to the set depth of the device.

In the present invention, the set depth in the B-mode image set for A or M-mode image display can be displayed as a high brightness signal on the B-mode display.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and the same members as those of the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. A characteristic feature of the present invention is that the depth direction range of the ultrasonic beam for detecting the A or M mode image is
Alternatively, any depth and range can be manually set using the M mode display depth adjuster 46.
The A or M mode display depth adjuster 46 is composed of a voltage comparison circuit, and a first comparison input terminal is supplied with the triangular wave output 102 of the B-mode sweep wave generator 32, and a second comparison input terminal is an external A desired depth range setting signal is manually input to the input terminal 48 . Dashed line 20 for triangular wave 102 in FIG.
1,202 indicates the display depth setting voltage. Therefore, a comparison output 203 between the triangular wave 102 and the set voltages 201 and 202 is obtained from the A or M mode display depth adjuster 46, and this comparison output 203 is the B
It is supplied to a mode blanking signal generator 50 and an A or M mode blanking signal generator 52. both blanking signal generators 50,
52 is a gate circuit, and the other input terminal is connected to an A or M mode signal detection rate generator 20.
output signal 103 is supplied, and both input signals 203
and 103, the A or M mode detection gate pulse 204 is supplied to the B mode brightness modulation voltage generator 26, the M mode brightness modulation voltage generator 28, and the A mode signal amplifier 30. .

As in the prior art, a reflected echo signal 100 is output from the detector 24 and supplied to each voltage generator 26, 28 and an amplifier 30. In the illustrated embodiment, when the gate pulse 204 is applied, the B-mode brightness modulation voltage generator 26 outputs a white-level high-brightness modulation voltage 105 regardless of the magnitude of the reflected echo signal 100. The signal is supplied to the display 34. On the other hand, the brightness modulation voltage generator 28 for M mode and the signal amplifier 30 for A mode receive the reflected echo signal 100 only when the gate pulse 204 is applied.
6,107 is output to the changeover switch 40. Therefore, waveforms 105, 106 and 10 in FIG.
7, the B mode image becomes white level only when the gate pulse 204 is applied, and the A or M mode image becomes white level only when the gate pulse 204 is applied.
The mode image is displayed on the A or M mode display 36 using waveforms 106 and 107.

In the present invention, the A or M mode display depth adjuster 46 can obtain an A or M mode image at a desired display depth and range by arbitrarily changing its comparison voltages 201 and 202.
For example, when the display depth range is set extremely narrow as in the comparison voltages 201a and 202a in FIG. 6, as shown by display waveforms 105, 106, and 107, A or It becomes possible to obtain an M-mode image. In the B-mode image shown on the left side of FIG. 7, the depth range set by the comparison voltages 201a and 202a in FIG.
The detected position of the A or M mode image is displayed extremely clearly on the B mode, making it easy to see the relative relationship between the mode images. It becomes possible to know.

In the present invention, since the A or M mode display range can be adjusted arbitrarily, it is preferable that the Y-axis sweep of the A or M mode display 36 is also set separately from the B mode display 34. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the A or M mode display depth adjuster 4 is operated by the A or M mode sweep wave generator 54.
It is possible to obtain sweep characteristics according to the set depth of No. 6. The sweep characteristics of the A or M mode sweep wave generator 54 can be manually set arbitrarily by a control signal applied from an external input terminal 56, and the comparison output of the A or M mode display depth adjuster 46 can also be set manually. It is also possible to perform synchronous control using 203. In the case of manual control, it is preferable that the external input terminal 56 simultaneously controls the external input terminal 48 of the A or M mode display depth adjuster 46, and the A or M mode display 36 depending on the set display depth. The Y-axis sweep characteristics of can be synchronously adjusted. A waveform 205 in FIG. 6 shows the sweep signal of the A or M mode sweep wave generator 54, and its sweep characteristics correspond to the display depth width set by the A or M mode display depth generator 46, and the display depth width When the depth of field is large, the slope becomes gentle, and when the display depth range is narrow, the slope becomes steep. Therefore, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the A or M mode image within the arbitrarily selected display depth range is displayed fully enlarged in the Y-axis direction of the A or M mode display 36. , this state can be understood from the M-mode image shown in the center of FIG. 7 and the A-mode image shown on the right side.

As described above, according to the present invention, any position and range in the depth direction of the ultrasonic beam can be set for A or M mode detection, and this can be used to detect a plurality of A or M modes at different scanning positions.
Alternatively, it is also possible to display the M mode image on the same A or M mode display. In Figure 8,
Two different positions 401, 40 in the scanning direction
2 shows the scanning characteristics of an ultrasonic beam for detecting an A or M mode image, and each mode image at that time is shown in FIG. High brightness display 501, 502 in the B-mode image shown on the left side of FIG.
are A or M mode detection positions 401 and 4, respectively.
02, the A or M mode image at this time is displayed on the screen, and various complex diagnostic information can be provided.

As described above, in the present invention, it is possible to detect the A or M mode image from any display depth by adjusting the A or M mode display depth adjuster while observing the B mode image. Alternatively, the sweep characteristics of the M mode display can be changed in synchronization with the set display depth, or can be adjusted independently from the display depth, allowing you to obtain an arbitrarily enlarged A or M mode image. I can do it.

In the illustrated embodiment, an apparatus using a linear electron scanning probe was explained, but the same effect can be obtained by using a sector electron scanning probe, and A or M mode images can be obtained. The scanning position to be detected is replaced by the scanning direction of the sector electronic scanning probe.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform the A or M mode image detection function at any depth and range of the ultrasound beam, and it is possible to obtain extremely detailed diagnostic information.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, an A or M mode image can be enlarged and displayed on a display with arbitrary sweep characteristics, and even if a particularly narrow range of display depth width is set,
The A or M mode image within this depth range is enlarged and displayed on the display, making it possible to obtain an extremely detailed A or M mode image.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a block circuit diagram showing an example of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic device that can display A or M mode at the same time as B mode, Figure 2 is a waveform diagram of each part of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is the same as that of Figure 1. An explanatory diagram showing the scanning action of the probe,
4 is an explanatory diagram showing images of each mode of the conventional device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic device according to the present invention, and FIG.
7 is an explanatory diagram showing each mode image of the device of the present invention in FIG. 5, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another scanning action of the probe according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing each mode image in FIG. 8. FIG. 18...Electronic scanning probe, 32...B-mode swept wave generator, 34...B-mode indicator, 36
... A or M mode indicator, 46 ... A or M mode display depth adjuster, 54 ... A or M mode sweep wave generator.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electronic scanning type high-speed probe that receives ultrasonic waves multiple times at a desired scanning position during electronic scanning to obtain a B-mode image, and simultaneously receives an A or M-mode image. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can observe mode images, there is an A or M mode display depth adjuster that can arbitrarily set the display depth and range of the A or M mode image, and a B mode display that displays the depth direction. an A or M mode sweep wave generator that supplies a sweep signal in the depth direction to an A or M mode display separately from a B mode sweep wave generator that supplies a sweep signal; An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized in that the sweep characteristics of the sweep wave generator can be adjusted according to the set depth and range of the A or M mode display depth adjuster. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position where the A or M mode display is performed is displayed on the B mode display with a high-intensity signal.