WO2010004967A1 - Ultrasonographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

An ultrasonographic device S includes: an image processing unit (14) which forms an image in an examinee according to a higher harmonic component contained in a second ultrasonic signal coming from the examinee and based on a first ultrasonic signal transmitted into the examinee; and a reception unit (13) which analog-processes a plurality of analog signals obtained by sampling, at a predetermined time interval, an output of an ultrasonic probe (2) which has received the second ultrasonic signal upon formation of the image by the image processing unit (14), thereby extracting the higher harmonic component.

Description

Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment

In the present invention, the first ultrasonic signal is transmitted into the subject, the second ultrasonic signal coming from the subject based on the first ultrasonic signal is received, and the second ultrasonic signal based on the second ultrasonic signal is received. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that forms an image in a subject, and in particular, forms an image in the subject based on a harmonic component of a second ultrasonic signal when the frequency of the first ultrasonic signal is a fundamental frequency. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

Ultrasonic waves usually mean sound waves of 16000 Hz or higher and are applied to various fields such as defect inspection and disease diagnosis because they can be examined non-destructively, harmlessly and in real time. For example, an ultrasound that scans the inside of the subject with ultrasound and images the internal state of the subject based on a reception signal generated from the reflected wave (echo) of the ultrasound coming from inside the subject. There is a diagnostic device. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is smaller and less expensive for medical use than other medical imaging apparatuses, has no radiation exposure such as X-rays, is highly safe, and has a blood flow utilizing the Doppler effect. It has various features such as display capability. For this reason, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a circulatory system (for example, coronary artery of the heart), a digestive system (for example, gastrointestinal), an internal system (for example, liver, pancreas and spleen), and a urinary system (for example, kidney and bladder). Widely used in obstetrics and gynecology.

Further, in recent years, an image of the internal state in the subject is not represented by the harmonic frequency component (harmonic component), but by the frequency (fundamental frequency component) of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic probe into the subject. Harmonic Imaging technology is being researched and developed. In this harmonic imaging technology, the side lobe level is small compared to the level of the fundamental frequency component (fundamental wave component), the S / N ratio (signal to noise ratio) is improved, the contrast resolution is improved, and the frequency is high. As a result, the beam width is narrowed and the lateral resolution is improved, the sound pressure is small and the fluctuation of the sound pressure is small at a short distance, so that multiple reflections are suppressed, and attenuation beyond the focal point is fundamental. Compared with the case where the fundamental wave is a high frequency, it has various advantages such as a greater depth speed.

This harmonic imaging technology can be broadly divided into two methods: a filter method and a phase inversion method (pulse inversion method). This filter method is a method of separating a fundamental wave component and a harmonic component by a harmonic detection filter, extracting only the harmonic component, and generating an ultrasonic image from the harmonic component. Further, this phase inversion method transmits first and second transmission signals whose phases are successively inverted in the same direction, and first and second reception signals corresponding to the first and second transmission signals are transmitted. In this method, a harmonic component is extracted by addition and an ultrasonic image is generated from the harmonic component. Although the fundamental wave components in the first and second received signals are inverted in phase, the second harmonic component of the harmonic, for example, is in phase, so this can be achieved by adding the first and second received signals. Second harmonic components are extracted (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (D1)).

Further, as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that forms an image of an internal state in a subject using harmonic frequency components, for example, there is also an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 (D2). In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, in view of the fact that the harmonic component is generated according to the amplitude of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic probe into the subject, the ultrasonic wave having a relatively large amplitude. By transmitting an ultrasonic wave having a relatively small amplitude from a reflected wave of an ultrasonic wave (a reflected wave including a harmonic component) coming from within the object by transmitting the signal into the object. The second harmonic component is extracted by subtracting the reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave (reflected wave not including the harmonic component) from the same wave after making the amplitudes of the reflected waves equal to each other. An ultrasonic image is formed based on the second harmonic component.

Here, since various kinds of image processing are usually performed with digital signals when forming an ultrasonic image, it is necessary to convert the output of the ultrasonic probe into a digital signal by analog / digital conversion. However, the harmonic component in the ultrasonic signal from within the subject has a weak signal level compared to the signal level of the fundamental component, so the output of the ultrasonic probe is directly converted to analog / digital for harmonics. When the wave component is extracted, only a part of the resolution (the number of bits representing the output level) of the analog-digital converter is used, so that the gradation of the ultrasonic image is lowered.

On the other hand, in order to avoid this, the use of the phase inversion method of Patent Document 1 or the method disclosed in Patent Document 2 requires two transmissions / receptions to one place in the subject, so the frame rate decreases. Resulting in.

In order to avoid this, if the filter method of Patent Document 1 is used, attenuation loss may occur due to propagation of an electric signal, or ringing may occur due to an increase in the cutoff characteristics of the filter. .

JP 2001-286472 A JP 2000-093430 A

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of forming an ultrasonic image with higher gradation.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, the image in the subject is based on the harmonic component contained in the second ultrasonic signal coming from within the subject based on the first ultrasonic signal transmitted into the subject. The harmonic component is obtained by analog processing a plurality of analog signals obtained by sampling the output of the ultrasonic probe that has received the second ultrasonic signal at a predetermined time interval. Extracted. For this reason, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention can form an ultrasonic image with higher gradation.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition which extracts the harmonic component in the ultrasonic diagnosing device shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation of dividing one charge into two equal charges in the basic configuration shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation of integrating two charges into one charge in the basic configuration shown in FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows the structure of the receiving part in the ultrasonic diagnosing device shown in FIG. It is a time chart which shows a part of operation | movement of the receiving part shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the harmonic component contained in the received wave of this ultrasonic probe in this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and this received wave. It is a figure which shows the fundamental wave component (1st) extracted from the received wave of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 8, a 2nd harmonic component (2nd), and a 3rd harmonic component (3rd).

Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the structure which attached | subjected the same code | symbol in each figure shows that it is the same structure, The description is abbreviate | omitted. Further, in this specification, as appropriate, a generic reference is used to indicate a reference numeral without a suffix, and an individual configuration is indicated by a reference numeral with a suffix.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus S transmits an ultrasonic wave (first ultrasonic signal) to a subject such as a living body (not shown) and reflects the ultrasonic wave reflected by the subject. The ultrasonic probe 2 that receives the reflected wave (echo, second ultrasonic signal) is connected to the ultrasonic probe 2 via the cable 3 and connected to the ultrasonic probe 2 via the cable 3. By transmitting the transmission signal of the electrical signal, the ultrasonic probe 2 transmits the first ultrasonic signal to the subject, and the second received from the subject received by the ultrasonic probe 2. And an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 1 that images the internal state of the subject as an ultrasonic image based on the received signal of the electrical signal generated by the ultrasonic probe 2 in accordance with the ultrasonic signal. The

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 1 includes an operation input unit 11, a transmission unit 12, a reception unit 13, an image processing unit 14, a display unit 15, and a control unit 16. Configured.

The operation input unit 11 receives, for example, an input of a command instructing the start of diagnosis and an input of data such as personal information of a subject, and is, for example, an operation panel or a keyboard provided with a plurality of input switches.

The transmission unit 12 is a circuit that supplies a transmission signal of an electrical signal to the ultrasonic probe 2 via the cable 3 under the control of the control unit 16 and causes the ultrasonic probe 2 to generate a first ultrasonic signal. is there. The transmission unit 12 includes, for example, a high voltage pulse generator that generates a high voltage pulse.

The reception unit 13 is a circuit that receives a reception signal of an electrical signal from the ultrasound probe 2 via the cable 3 under the control of the control unit 16 and extracts a harmonic component from the received reception signal by analog processing. Yes, the harmonic component of the received signal extracted by this analog processing is converted into a digital signal and output to the image processing unit 14. The receiving unit 13, for example, an amplifier (preamplifier) that amplifies the reception signal with a predetermined amplification factor set in advance, and a harmonic component from the reception signal amplified by the amplifier by analog product-sum operation processing based on the CCD principle. A harmonic component extraction circuit for extraction and an analog-digital converter for converting the extracted harmonic component from an analog signal to a digital signal are configured. The receiving unit 13 will be described in detail later.

The image processing unit 14 is a circuit that generates an image (ultrasonic image) of the internal state in the subject by known signal processing based on the harmonic component of the received signal extracted by the receiving unit 13 under the control of the control unit 16. It is.

The display unit 15 is a device that displays an ultrasonic image of the subject generated by the image processing unit 14 under the control of the control unit 16. The display unit 15 is, for example, a display device such as a CRT display, LCD, organic EL display, or plasma display, or a printing device such as a printer.

The control unit 16 includes, for example, a microprocessor, a storage element, and peripheral circuits thereof. The operation input unit 11, the transmission unit 12, the reception unit 13, the image processing unit 14, and the display unit 15 are configured according to the function. These are the circuits that perform overall control of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus S by controlling each of them.

The ultrasonic probe (ultrasonic probe) 2 is a device that transmits a first ultrasonic signal into a subject and receives a second ultrasonic signal coming from within the subject based on the first ultrasonic signal. . The ultrasonic probe 2 includes, for example, a piezoelectric material, and includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements that can mutually convert signals between an electric signal and an ultrasonic signal by using a piezoelectric phenomenon. The plurality of piezoelectric elements are arranged in, for example, a line (one-dimensional array) or a two-dimensional matrix (two-dimensional array). In the case where the piezoelectric element transmits the first ultrasonic signal into the subject, the piezoelectric element uses the electrical phenomenon of transmission input from the transmission unit 12 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 1 via the cable 3 using the piezoelectric phenomenon. Is converted into a first ultrasonic signal, and the first ultrasonic signal is transmitted into the subject. When the piezoelectric element receives the second ultrasonic signal coming from within the subject, the piezoelectric element is used to convert the received second ultrasonic signal into an electric signal, and the received signal is converted into a cable. 3 to the receiving unit 13 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 1. By applying the ultrasonic probe 2 to the subject, the first ultrasonic signal generated by the piezoelectric element is transmitted into the subject, and the second ultrasonic signal from within the subject is received by the piezoelectric element. The

The second ultrasonic signal coming from within the subject is not only a reflected wave (echo) reflected by the first ultrasonic signal in the subject due to mismatch of acoustic impedance in the subject, but also, for example, microbubbles (micro When an ultrasonic contrast agent (contrast agent) such as a bubble is used, ultrasonic waves generated by the microbubbles of the ultrasonic contrast agent based on the first ultrasonic signal transmitted into the subject are also used. is there. When an ultrasonic contrast agent is irradiated with ultrasonic waves, the microbubbles of the ultrasonic contrast agent resonate or resonate, and further collapse or disappear at a sound pressure above a certain threshold. In the ultrasonic contrast agent, ultrasonic waves are generated by resonance of microbubbles or by collapse or disappearance of microbubbles.

The piezoelectric element may include, for example, a first piezoelectric element for transmission and a second piezoelectric element for reception stacked on the first piezoelectric element in the sound axis direction.

The first piezoelectric element for transmission uses, for example, an inorganic piezoelectric material as its piezoelectric material. Examples of the inorganic piezoelectric material include so-called PZT, quartz, lithium niobate (LiNbO ₃ ), potassium niobate tantalate (K (Ta, Nb) O ₃ ), barium titanate (BaTiO ₃ ), lithium tantalate (LiTaO _3). And strontium titanate (SrTiO ₃ ). By using an inorganic piezoelectric material for the first piezoelectric element in this way, it becomes possible to increase the transmission power with a relatively simple structure. A sound wave signal can be transmitted.

The second piezoelectric element for reception uses, for example, an organic piezoelectric material as the piezoelectric material. As the organic piezoelectric material, for example, a polymer of vinylidene fluoride can be used. Further, for example, a vinylidene fluoride (VDF) copolymer can be used as the organic piezoelectric material. This vinylidene fluoride copolymer is a copolymer (copolymer) of vinylidene fluoride and other monomers. Examples of the other monomers include ethylene trifluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether ( PFA), perfluoroalkoxyethylene (PAE), perfluorohexaethylene, and the like can be used. In the vinylidene fluoride copolymer, the electromechanical coupling constant (piezoelectric effect) in the thickness direction varies depending on the copolymerization ratio. For example, an appropriate copolymerization ratio is adopted according to the specifications of the ultrasonic probe, etc. . For example, in the case of a vinylidene fluoride / ethylene trifluoride copolymer, the copolymerization ratio of vinylidene fluoride is preferably 60 mol% to 99 mol%, and in the case of a composite element in which an organic piezoelectric element is laminated on an inorganic piezoelectric element, The copolymerization ratio of vinylidene is more preferably 85 mol% to 99 mol%. In the case of such a composite element, other monomers are preferably perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether (PFA), perfluoroalkoxyethylene (PAE), and perfluorohexaethylene. For example, polyurea can be used for the organic piezoelectric material. In the case of this polyurea, it is preferable to produce a piezoelectric body by vapor deposition polymerization. As a monomer for polyurea, there can be mentioned a general formula, H ₂ N—R—NH ₂ structure. Here, R may include an alkylene group, a phenylene group, a divalent heterocyclic group, or a heterocyclic group which may be substituted with any substituent. The polyurea may be a copolymer of a urea derivative and another monomer. Preferred polyureas include aromatic polyureas using 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA) and 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI). In the present embodiment, an organic piezoelectric element having such a characteristic that ultrasonic waves can be received over a relatively wide frequency is used for the second piezoelectric portion 223. Thus, by using an organic piezoelectric material for the second piezoelectric element, the frequency band can be widened with a relatively simple structure, and the harmonic component of the received signal can be received.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus S having such a configuration, for example, when an instruction to start diagnosis is input from the operation input unit 11, a transmission signal of an electrical signal is generated by the transmission unit 12 under the control of the control unit 16. The generated electrical signal transmission signal is supplied to the ultrasonic probe 2 via the cable 3. More specifically, the transmission signal of the electric signal is supplied to each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements in the ultrasonic probe 2. The electric signal transmission signal is, for example, a voltage pulse repeated at a predetermined cycle. Each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements expands and contracts in the thickness direction when a transmission signal of the electric signal is supplied, and ultrasonically vibrates according to the transmission signal of the electric signal. By this ultrasonic vibration, the ultrasonic probe 2 radiates an ultrasonic wave (first ultrasonic signal). For example, when the ultrasonic probe 2 is in contact with the subject, the first ultrasonic signal is transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 2 to the subject.

Note that the ultrasound probe 2 may be used in contact with the surface of the subject, or may be used by being inserted into the subject, for example, being inserted into a body cavity of a living body. .

The first ultrasonic signal transmitted to the subject is reflected by one or a plurality of boundary surfaces having different acoustic impedances inside the subject, and becomes an ultrasonic reflected wave (second ultrasonic signal). Alternatively, the first ultrasonic signal generates a second ultrasonic signal by an ultrasonic contrast agent. The second ultrasonic signal includes not only the frequency (fundamental fundamental frequency) component of the transmitted first ultrasonic signal but also a harmonic frequency component that is an integral multiple of the fundamental frequency. For example, second harmonic components such as twice, three times, and four times the fundamental frequency, third harmonic components, fourth harmonic components, and the like are also included. This second ultrasonic signal is received by the ultrasonic probe 2. More specifically, the second ultrasonic signal is received by each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements, and mechanical vibrations are converted into electric signals by the piezoelectric elements and are extracted as received signals. The received electric signal is received by the receiving unit 13 controlled by the control unit 16 via the cable 3. The receiving unit 13 performs reception processing on the input reception signal, more specifically, for example, after amplification, extracts a harmonic component by analog product-sum operation processing based on the CCD principle, and converts the harmonic component to an analog signal. To a digital signal and output to the image processing unit 14.

Here, in the above description, the first ultrasonic signal is sequentially transmitted from each piezoelectric element toward the subject, and the second ultrasonic signal reflected by the subject is received by each piezoelectric element.

Then, the image processing unit 14 controls the subject by performing known signal processing based on the harmonic component of the reception signal extracted by the reception unit 13 based on the harmonic component of the reception signal extracted from the reception unit 13 under the control of the control unit 16. An internal state image (ultrasonic image) is generated, and the display unit 15 displays the ultrasonic image in the subject generated by the image processing unit 14 under the control of the control unit 16.

Next, the receiving unit will be described in further detail. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration for extracting harmonic components. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation of dividing one charge into two equal parts. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation of integrating two charges into one charge.

First, the principle of extracting harmonic components will be described. The received signal f (t) including the harmonic component can be generally expressed by Equation 1.

Here, _{a 0} is a constant term (a DC component), _{a n} is the amplitude of the sin component at the n-th harmonic (sine component), _{b n} is cos component in the n-th harmonic ( Cosine component), ω is the angular frequency, and t is time. n is an integer starting from 1 (n = 1, 2, 3,...), and Σ is the sum from n = 1 to n = ∞.

The second-order differentiation of Expression 1 is expressed as Expression 2, and when suppressing the fundamental wave (n = 1), for example, the operation g (t) of Expression 3 can be considered.

Here, since the oscillation frequency is determined when the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus S is in operation, ω ² can be set to a constant equal to or greater than 1. Therefore, Expression 3 can be rewritten as Expression 4.

Here, c is a constant from 0 to 1 (0 <c <1).

When the differential equation of Equation 4 is rewritten as a difference equation, Equation 4 is rewritten as Equation 5.

Here, T is the period of the fundamental wave (n = 1) (ωT = 2π), and Δt corresponds to the sampling period.

In order for the waveform sampled by the sampling period Δt to maintain the original waveform before sampling, the sampling period Δt needs to be sufficiently smaller than the period T of the fundamental wave. Therefore, Expression 5 becomes Expression 6, and becomes Expression 7 excluding the magnification.

Thus, the harmonic component can be expressed by a functional expression of the fundamental wave, and this expression 7 can be realized by the circuit shown in FIG. 3, for example. That is, in FIG. 3, the harmonic extraction unit H performs analog processing on a plurality of analog signals obtained by sampling the output of the ultrasonic probe 2 that has received the second ultrasonic signal at predetermined time intervals. Thus, a circuit for extracting harmonic components when the frequency of the first ultrasonic signal is the fundamental frequency is extracted from the second ultrasonic signal, for example, a plurality of charge holding units 21 (21-1 to 21-3). ), A plurality of analog multipliers 22 (22-1 to 22-3) provided corresponding to each of the plurality of charge holding units 21, an analog adder 23, and a timing generator 24. Is done.

The timing generator 24 is a circuit that generates operation timings of the charge holding unit 21, the analog multiplier 22, and the analog adder 23, and outputs the generated operation timings to these units.

The charge holding unit 21 is a circuit that holds the output of the ultrasound probe 2 at a predetermined time with charges. That is, the charge holding unit 21 is a circuit that holds a charge amount corresponding to the output value of the ultrasonic probe 2 at a predetermined time. The charge holding units 21 are provided in a number (= rank + 1) corresponding to the rank of the expression representing the harmonic component of the received signal, and the plurality of charge holding units 21 are connected in series. For example, when the expression representing the harmonic component of the received signal is a second-order difference equation such as Expression 6 and Expression 7, in order to obtain a solution of the second-order difference equation, time t and time (t− Since each output from the three ultrasonic probes 2 at (t) and time (t-2Δt) is necessary, three charge holding units 21 (21-1 to 21-3) are provided. It is done. The plurality of charge holding units 21 (21-1 to 21-3) are obtained by sampling the output of the ultrasonic probe 2 that has received the second ultrasonic signal at predetermined time intervals. Each of the plurality of analog signals at a plurality of predetermined times is held, operates in response to the operation timing output from the timing generation unit 24, and own charge holding unit 21 at a timing according to the operation timing from the timing generation unit 24. Are sequentially transferred to the subsequent charge holding unit 21. Such a plurality of charge holding portions 21 include, for example, a semiconductor, an insulator layer formed on the semiconductor, and a plurality of electrodes (gate electrodes) formed on the insulator layer so as to be continuously arranged. A charge transfer device (charge coupled device) that sequentially transfers charges accumulated in a potential well under a certain electrode to a potential well under a subsequent electrode by applying a driving voltage of a predetermined pattern to each of the electrodes. , Charge-Coupled Devices, CCD).

A plurality of analog multipliers 22 are provided corresponding to the charge holding units 21 (21-1 to 21-3), and the analog signals held in the charge holding units 21 are weighted M (0 ≦ M) by analog processing. This is a circuit that performs <1) and performs multiplication. More specifically, the analog multiplier can be expressed as M × Q = m ₁ × 2 ⁻¹ Q + m ₂ × 2 ⁻² Q + m ₃ × 2 ⁻³ Q +... + M _n × 2 ⁻ⁿ Q 22, the charge amount Q corresponding to the output value of the charge holding unit 21 (analog signal held in the charge holding unit 21) is divided into two equal parts, and one is further divided into two equal parts. ⁻¹ Q, 2 ⁻² Q, 2 ⁻³ Q,..., 2 ⁻ⁿ Q are generated, and each of these charges is a binary representation m ₁ , m ₂ , m of weighting (multiplier) M ₃ ,..., M _n , and the picked up charges are integrated into one, and M × Q multiplication is performed by analog processing.

Such an analog multiplier 22 can be configured using a charge transfer device (charge coupled device). For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the charge dividing unit CD that divides the charge Q into two charges is divided into a semiconductor 31, an insulator layer 32 formed on the semiconductor 31, and an insulator layer 32. A plurality of continuously formed electrodes (gate electrodes) 33 (33-1 to 33-6), and one divided portion CDk is formed including a set of three electrodes 33; FIG. 4 shows a first divided portion CD1 including the electrodes 33-1 to 33-3 and a second divided portion CD2 including the electrodes 33-4 to 33-6. Further, signal lines P1 to P3 for applying a voltage to the electrode 33 are connected to the electrodes 33 (33-1 to 33-6). In such a charge dividing section CD, a potential well PW is formed in the semiconductor 31 under the electrode 33 by applying a voltage to the electrode 33 from the outside. The depth of the potential well PW is controlled by the potential applied to the corresponding electrode 33 from the outside. In such a charge dividing unit CD, a first pattern driving voltage is applied to the electrodes 33-1 to 33-3; 33-4 to 33-6 in the first and second dividing units CD1 and CD2, thereby providing a first pattern. The charge Q held in one divided part CD1 is divided into two equal parts, Q1 and Q2 (Q1 = Q2 = Q / 2), and each charge Q1 and Q2 is divided into the first and second divided parts CD1, It is held on CD2. For example, at time t11, the first state of the first divided portion CD1 formed by applying a voltage to the third electrode 33-3 of the first divided portion CD1 as an initial state (before being divided into two equal parts and before being divided). A charge Q is held in the potential well PW3. At time t12 of the next operation timing, a voltage is applied to each of the second and third electrodes 33-2 and 33-3 of the first division unit CD1 and the first electrode 33-4 of the second division unit CD2. As a result, the first potential well PW3 of the first division part CD1 is not only under the third electrode 33-3 but also under the second electrode 33-2 of the first division part CD1 and the first electrode 33-4 of the second division part CD2. The charge Q is held in the potential well PW234 formed under these electrodes 33-2 to 33-4. At time t13 of the next operation timing, the voltage applied to the third electrode 33-3 of the first division unit CD1 is eliminated, and the second electrode 33-2 and the second division unit of the first division unit CD1 are removed. By applying a voltage to the first electrode 33-4 of CD2, a charge Q is formed below the second electrode 33-2 of the first divided portion CD1, and the first electrode of the second divided portion CD2 Each of them is divided and held in a potential well PW4 formed under 33-4. The charge Q accumulated in one potential well PW3 in this way is divided into two equal parts to potential wells PW2 and PW4 adjacent to the potential well PW3 by applying a drive voltage of a predetermined pattern to the electrode 33. Retained. Subsequently, in FIG. 4, at the time t14 of the next operation timing, the first division unit CD1 applies a voltage to the first and second electrodes 33-1 and 33-2, so that the first division unit CD1. The second potential well PW2 extends not only under the second electrode 33-2 but also under the first electrode 33-1, and the charge Q1 (= Q / 2) is transferred to the first and second electrodes 33-1 and 33-. 2 is held in the potential well PW12 formed below. In the second divided portion CD2, a voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes 33-4 and 33-5, so that the first potential well PW4 of the second divided portion CD2 is below the first electrode 33-4. In addition to this, it spreads under the second electrode 33-5, and the charge Q2 (= Q / 2) is held in the potential well PW45 formed under the first and second electrodes 33-4 and 33-5. At time t15 of the next operation timing, in the first division unit CD1, the voltage applied to the second electrode 33-2 of the first division unit CD1 is canceled and the first electrode 33 of the first division unit CD1 is released. −1 is applied with a voltage, the charge Q1 divided in half is held in the first potential well of the first divided portion CD1 formed under the first electrode 33-1 of the first divided portion CD1. . In the second division unit CD2, the voltage applied to the first electrode 33-4 of the second division unit CD2 is eliminated, and the voltage is applied to the second electrode 33-5 of the second division unit CD2. As a result, the charge Q2 divided into two equal parts is held in the second potential well of the second divided portion CD2 formed under the second electrode 33-5 of the second divided portion CD2. In this way, the charge dividing unit D applies the driving voltage of a predetermined pattern to each electrode 33, thereby dividing the charge Q held in the third potential well PW3 of the first dividing unit CD1 into two equal parts, By guiding and holding each of the second potential well PW2 (first potential well PW1) of the divided portion CD1 and the second potential well PW5 (third potential well PW6) of the second divided portion CD2, two charges Q are stored. The charge can be divided into two equal parts.

Further, for example, the charge integration part SD that integrates a plurality of charges into one charge has a semiconductor 41 and an insulator layer 42 formed on the semiconductor 41 as shown in FIG. And a plurality of electrodes (gate electrodes) 43 (43-1 to 43-6) continuously formed on the insulator layer 42, and one electrode including one set of three electrodes 43. FIG. 5 illustrates a first integration unit SD1 including electrodes 43-1 to 43-3 and a second integration unit SD2 including electrodes 43-4 to 43-6. Yes. Further, signal lines P1 to P3 for applying a voltage to the electrode 43 are connected to the electrodes 43 (43-1 to 43-6). In such a charge integration part SD, a potential well PW is formed in the semiconductor 41 under the electrode 43 by applying a voltage to the electrode 43 from the outside. The depth of the potential well PW is controlled by the potential applied to the corresponding electrode 43 from the outside. In such a charge integration unit SD, a first pattern drive voltage is applied to the electrodes 43-1 to 43-3; 43-4 to 43-6 in the first and second integration units SD1 and SD2, thereby providing a first pattern. The first charge Q1 held in one integration unit SD1 and the second charge Q2 held in the second integration unit SD2 are combined and integrated into one charge Q (Q = Q1 + Q2). Is held in the first integration unit SD1 (second integration unit SD2). For example, at time t21, as an initial state (before the addition process), the voltage is applied to the first potential well PW1 of the first integration unit SD1 formed by applying a voltage to the first electrode 43-1 of the first integration unit SD1. The first charge Q1 is held, and the second charge Q2 is held in the second potential well PW5 of the second integration part SD2 formed by applying a voltage to the second electrode 43-5 of the second integration part SD2. ing. At time t22 of the next operation timing, the first integration unit SD1 applies a voltage to the first and second electrodes 43-1 and 43-2 of the first integration unit SD1, thereby causing the first integration unit SD1 to The first potential well PW1 extends not only under the first electrode 43-1 but also under the second electrode 43-2, and a first charge Q1 is formed under the first and second electrodes 43-1 and 43-2. Held in the potential well PW12. In the second integration unit SD2, a voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes 43-4 and 43-5 of the second integration unit SD2, so that the second potential well PW5 of the second integration unit SD2 Not only under the two electrodes 43-5 but also under the first electrode 43-4, the second charge Q2 is held in the potential well PW45 formed under the first and second electrodes 43-4 and 43-5. The At time t23 of the next operation timing, in the first integration unit SD1, the voltage applied to the first electrode 43-1 of the first integration unit SD1 is eliminated, and the voltage is applied to the second electrode 43-2. As a result, the first charge Q1 held in the potential well PW12 formed under the first and second electrodes 43-1 and 43-2 becomes the first integration formed under the second electrode 43-2. It is moved and held in the second potential well PW2 of the part SD1. In the second integration unit SD2, the voltage applied to the second electrode 43-5 of the second integration unit SD2 is eliminated, and the voltage is applied to the first electrode 43-4, whereby the first integration unit SD2 The second charge Q2 held in the potential well PW45 formed under the second electrodes 43-4 and 43-5 is the first potential well PW4 of the second integrated portion formed under the first electrode 43-4. Moved to and held. By such an operation, the first charge Q1 of the first integration unit SD1 approaches the second integration unit SD2, and the second charge Q2 of the second integration unit SD2 approaches the first integration unit SD1, and the first integration unit SD1 The first charge 43-1 and the second charge 43-2 of the second integration part SD2 are arranged with one electrode (the third electrode 43-3 of the first integration part) 43 therebetween. Then, at the time t24 of the next operation timing, the third electrode 43-3 of the first integration unit SD1 that separates the first charge Q1 of the first integration unit SD1 from the second charge Q2 of the second integration unit SD2. The same voltage as that applied to the second electrode 43-2 of the first integration unit SD1 and the first electrode 43-4 of the second integration unit SD2 is applied to the first integration unit SD1. The second potential well PW2 extends not only under the second electrode 43-2 but also under the third electrode 43-3, and the first potential well PW4 of the second integration part SD2 is not only under the first electrode 43-4. As a result of extending below the third electrode 43-3 of the first integration part SD1, the second and third electrodes 43-2 and 43-3 of the first integration part SD1 and the first electrode 43-3 of the second integration part SD are also obtained. Potential well PW over 4 34 is formed, a first charge Q1 of the first integrated portion SD1 and the second charge Q2 of the second integration section SD2 is integrated. Then, at time t25 of the next operation timing, the voltage applied to the second electrode 43-2 of the first integration unit SD1 is canceled and applied to the first electrode 43-4 of the second integration unit SD2. And the voltage is applied to the third electrode 43-3 of the first integration unit SD1, thereby the first charge Q1 of the integrated first integration unit CD1 and the second integration unit SD2. The second charge Q2 is held in the third potential well PW3 of the first integration part SD1 formed under the third electrode 43-3 of the first integration part SD1, and the first charge Q1 and the first charge Q1 of the first integration part SD1 2 The second charge Q2 of the integration unit SD2 and the addition result Q (= Q1 + Q2). In this way, the charge integration unit SD applies the drive voltage of a predetermined pattern to each electrode, thereby causing the first charge Q1 held in the potential well PW of the first integration unit SD1 and the potential well of the second integration unit SD2. The second charge Q2 held in PW is guided to and integrated with one potential well PW, whereby the first charge Q1 of the first integration unit SD1 and the second charge Q2 of the second integration unit SD2 are combined. Can be added as is. That is, the charge integration unit SD can add the first charge Q1 of the first integration unit SD1 and the second charge Q2 of the second integration unit SD2 in an analog manner.

The analog multiplying unit 22 includes, for example, a plurality of charge dividing units CD connected in series and a charge integrating unit SD, and the charge dividing unit CD sets the charge amount Q corresponding to the output value of the charge holding unit 21 to 2. Divide into two equal parts by the charge dividing unit CD and repeat this to obtain a plurality of charges of 2 ⁻¹ Q, 2 ⁻² Q, 2 ⁻³ Q,..., 2 ⁻ⁿ Q .., And divide these charges according to the binary representations m ₁ , m ₂ , m ₃ ,..., M _{n of} weighting M, and integrate the picked-up charges in the charge integration unit SD. XQ multiplication can be performed in analog.

Such an analog multiplier 22 is, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-237173 (Japanese Patent No. 2599679), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-350453 (Japanese Patent No. 2955734), and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-335866 (Patent Document). No. 2665726) and JP-A-08-050546 can also be referred to.

The weight M of the analog multiplier 22 is set based on a coefficient of a functional expression that expresses the harmonic component with the fundamental wave of the first ultrasonic signal. For example, in the case of extracting the second harmonic component, the second harmonic component is expressed by the functional expression of Expression 7, and therefore the weight M of the term of f (t−Δt) is 0.5. And the term of f (t) is such that its weight M is a (= 1−2 × ((π × Δt) / T) ² ), and the term of f (t + Δt) is The weight M is 0.5.

The analog adder 23 is a circuit that adds the outputs (multiplication results) of the plurality of analog multipliers 22 by analog processing. For example, the charges held as the multiplication results of the analog multipliers 22 are integrated into one. By doing so, each multiplication result of the plurality of analog multipliers 22 can be added by analog processing. The analog adder 23 is configured by, for example, a charge integration unit SD shown in FIG. 5 and is configured using a charge transfer element (charge coupled element).

Thus, the charge holding unit 21, the analog multiplication unit 22, and the analog addition unit 23 can be configured using charge transfer elements (charge coupled devices) based on the CCD principle.

Next, a more specific configuration of the receiving unit 13 will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a receiving unit in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a time chart showing a part of the operation of the receiving unit.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the reception unit 13 includes a preamplifier unit 51, an absolute value conversion unit 52, a sample hold unit (SH unit) 53, a charge storage unit 54, an analog multiplication unit 55, and an analog addition. A unit 56, an analog-digital conversion unit 57, and a timing generation unit 58 are provided. The harmonic extraction unit H corresponds to the charge holding unit 54, the analog multiplication unit 55, and the analog addition unit 56.

The preamplifier unit 51 is an amplification circuit that is connected to the ultrasound probe 2 and linearly amplifies the output of the ultrasound probe 2 based on the second ultrasound signal coming from within the subject with a predetermined amplification factor. . Note that the preamplifier unit 51 can be omitted when a signal having a level sufficient to execute subsequent signal processing is output from the ultrasonic probe 2.

The absolute value converting unit 52 is connected to the preamplifier unit 51, outputs the absolute value of the output of the preamplifier unit 51 (output of the ultrasonic probe 2), and the positive and negative signs (code bit string) in the output of the preamplifier unit 51. It is a circuit to output. Since the charges processed by the charge holding unit 21, the analog multiplication unit 22, and the analog addition unit 23 configured using a charge transfer element (charge coupled device) based on the CCD principle are positive values, the reception is performed. In order for the unit 13 to process both positive and negative, it is necessary to divide the output of the ultrasound probe 2 into its size and sign. For this reason, the output of the preamplifier unit 51 is converted into an absolute value by the absolute value converting unit 52 and output, and the sign thereof is output. This code (code bit string) is subsequently propagated through each part of the SH unit 53, the charge holding unit 54, the analog multiplication unit 55, and the analog addition unit 56 in accordance with the output of the ultrasonic probe 2 converted into an absolute value. .

The SH unit 53 is connected to the absolute value converting unit 52 and outputs the output of the absolute value converting unit 52 (the ultrasonic probe 2 converted into an absolute value) at a sampling period Δt according to the operation timing from the timing generating unit 58. Of the output). The SH unit 53 outputs the charge corresponding to the held output of the absolute value unit 52 to the charge holding unit 54 at a timing according to the operation timing.

The charge holding unit 54 is connected to the SH unit 53 and corresponds to the charge holding unit 21 described above, and is a circuit that holds a charge amount corresponding to the output value of the ultrasonic probe 2 at a predetermined time. The charge holding unit 54 includes at least three charge holding units 54-1, 54-2, and 54-3 in order to extract the second harmonic component from the output of the ultrasound probe 2. . Each of these charge holding units 54-1, 54-2, 54-3 is connected in series, and the charge held in its own charge holding unit 54 at a timing according to the operation timing from the timing generation unit 58. Are sequentially transferred to the charge holding unit 54 in the subsequent stage. That is, a plurality (three in this example) of charge holding units 54 constitutes a charge transfer element (charge coupled element). With this configuration, each of the charge holding units 54-1, 54-2, and 54-3 has the three ultrasonic probes 2 at time (t + Δt), time t, and time (t−Δt). The output values f (t + Δt), f (t), and f (t−Δt) are held.

The analog multiplication unit 55 corresponds to the analog multiplication unit 22 described above, divides the charge amount Q corresponding to the output value of the charge holding unit 21 into two equal parts, further divides one into two equal parts, and repeats this to obtain 2 ⁻¹ Q, 2 ⁻² Q, 2 ⁻³ Q,..., 2 ⁻ⁿ Q generate a plurality of charges, and each of these charges is expressed as a binary of weight (multiplier) M (0 ≦ M <1) expression _{m 1, m 2, m 3} , and sifting., according to _{m n,} by integrating the picked charges, a circuit for multiplying the M × Q by analog processing. A plurality (three in this example) of analog multipliers 55 (55-1 to 55-3) are provided corresponding to the charge holding units 21 (21-1 to 21-3). These analog multipliers 55-1 to 55-3 are connected to the corresponding charge holding units 21-1 to 21-3, respectively.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, since the second harmonic component is extracted, it is necessary to calculate Equation 6 or Equation 7 described above. As described above, each of the charge holding units 54-1, 54-2, and 54-3 includes the three ultrasonic probes 2 at time (t + Δt), time t, and time (t−Δt). Since the output values f (t + Δt), f (t), and f (t−Δt) are held, the analog calculation unit 55-1 connected to the charge holding unit 54-1 has 0.5 × An analog calculation unit 55-2 that calculates f (t + Δt) and is connected to the charge holding unit 54-2 calculates a × f (t) and is connected to the charge holding unit 54-3. The analog calculation unit 55-3 needs to calculate 0.5 × f (t−Δt). The multiplier a is determined based on the sampling period Δt and the fundamental wave period T, as can be seen from Equation 6. More specifically, the multiplier a is proportional to the square of the sampling period Δt and inversely proportional to the square of the period T of the fundamental wave. Here, if the transmission frequency (frequency 1 / T of the fundamental wave) is 4 MHz, the number of samplings for one wavelength of the fundamental wave is 100.5 points (pieces), that is, the sampling frequency (1 / Δt) is 402 MHz, Multiplier a = 1−2 × ((π × 1 / 402M) / (1 / 4M)) ² ≈1-2 ⁻⁹ = 511/512. Therefore, the analog multiplier 55-1 can be configured by a circuit that bisects the charge amount Q corresponding to the output value of the charge holding unit 54-1, that is, a circuit that realizes 1 × 2 ⁻¹ Q. . The analog multiplication unit 55-2 sets the charge amount Q corresponding to the output value of the charge holding unit 54-2 to 1 × 2 ⁻¹ Q + 1 × 2 ⁻² Q + 1 × 2 ⁻³ Q + 1 × 2 ⁻⁴ Q + 1 × 2 ⁻⁵ Q + 1 × 2 ⁻⁶ Q + 1 × 2 ⁻⁷ Q + 1 × 2 ⁻⁸ Q + 1 × 2 ⁻⁹ Q The analog multiplier 55-3 can be configured by a circuit that bisects the charge amount Q corresponding to the output value of the charge holding unit 54-3, that is, a circuit that realizes 1 × 2 ⁻¹ Q.

More specifically, the analog multiplication unit 55-1 transfers the charge amount Q of the charge holding unit 54-1 through the sensing floating gate 541-1, and the charge equal to the charge amount Q of the charge holding unit 54-1. A charge transfer unit 61-1 for holding the quantity Q, a charge split unit 621-1 for dividing the charge amount Q of the charge transfer unit 61-1 into two equal parts, such as the charge split unit CD described above, and a charge split unit 621 And 8-stage charge transfer units 631-1 to 638-1 for sequentially transferring one charge Q2 (= Q / 2) equally divided by -1 in accordance with the operation timing from the timing generation unit 58. Is done. The sensing floating gate 541-1 is a detection floating gate that detects the charge amount Q of the charge holding unit 54-1 in a non-destructive manner. For example, the sensing floating gate 541-1 is connected to the semiconductor in an electrode provided on the semiconductor via an insulator layer. By detecting the potential, the amount of charge accumulated in the semiconductor is detected nondestructively, and the same applies to sensing floating gates 541-2 and 541-3 described later. Similarly to the charge dividing unit CD described above, the charge dividing unit 621-1 includes the first and second dividing units, and the charge Q2 held in one of the dividing units, for example, the second dividing unit, is divided into eight stages. Are transferred by the charge transfer units 631-1 to 638-1. The eight-stage charge transfer units 631-1 to 638-1 of the analog multiplier 55-1 are required to synchronize the output of the analog multiplier 55-1 and the output of the analog multiplier 55-2. It is.

The analog multiplying unit 55-2 transfers the charge amount Q of the charge holding unit 54-2 via the sensing floating gate 541-2, and holds the charge amount Q equal to the charge amount Q of the charge holding unit 54-2. The transfer unit 61-2, the charge division units 621-2 to 629-2 that sequentially divide the charge amount Q of the charge transfer unit 61-1 into two equal parts, such as the charge division unit CD described above, Transfer sequentially according to the operation timing from the timing generator 58 while adding one charge Q1 (= 2− ^k Q, k = 1 to 9) divided in half by the charge dividing units 621-2 to 629-2. And eight stages of charge addition units 642 to 649. Similarly to the above-described charge dividing unit CD, the charge dividing units 621-2 to 629-2 include first and second dividing units, and the charge held in one of the divided units, for example, the second dividing unit. Q2 is further divided into two equal parts by the next-stage charge dividing units 622-2 to 628-2, and the charge Q1 held in the other divided part, for example, the first divided part is changed to the next-stage charge adding parts 642 to It is added at 649. Similarly to the charge addition unit SD, the charge addition units 642 to 649 include first and second addition units, and one of them, for example, the second addition unit is the charge division units 621-2 to 629-2 in the preceding stage. The other division unit (first division unit) is also used, and the other, for example, the first addition unit is connected in series with the first addition unit in the next stage, and the timing generation unit 58 The charges held in the first adder of its own are sequentially transferred to the first adder in the next stage at a timing according to the operation timing.

The analog multiplying unit 55-3 transfers the charge amount Q of the charge holding unit 54-3 via the sensing floating gate 541-3, and holds the charge amount Q equal to the charge amount Q of the charge holding unit 54-3. Like the transfer unit 61-3 and the charge division unit CD described above, the charge division unit 621-3 that divides the charge amount Q of the charge transfer unit 61-3 into two equal parts and the charge division unit 621-3 into two equal parts And eight stages of charge transfer units 631-3 to 638-3 that sequentially transfer one of the charges Q1 (= Q / 2) according to the operation timing from the timing generation unit 58. The charge dividing unit 621-3 includes the first and second dividing units similarly to the above-described charge dividing unit CD, and the charge Q1 held in one of the dividing units, for example, the first dividing unit, is 8 stages. Are transferred by the charge transfer units 631-3 to 638-3. The eight-stage charge transfer units 631-3 to 638-3 of the analog multiplier 55-3 are also necessary for synchronizing the output of the analog multiplier 55-3 and the output of the analog multiplier 55-2. It is.

The analog adder 56 corresponds to the analog adder 23 described above, and is a circuit that adds the multiplication results of the plurality of analog multipliers 55 (55-1 to 55-3) by analog processing. For example, each analog multiplier By integrating the charges held as the multiplication results of the unit 55 (55-1 to 55-3) into one, the multiplication results of the plurality of analog multiplication units 55 (55-1 to 55-3) are converted into analog It is a circuit for adding in processing. More specifically, the analog adder 56, when the sign in the output of the ultrasound probe 2 calculated by the analog multiplier 55 is positive (+), each analog multiplier 55-1 to 55. −3 when the sign of the output of the ultrasound probe 2 calculated by the charge integrating unit 71 and the analog multiplying unit 55 is negative (−). A charge integration unit 72 that integrates each charge, which is a multiplication result of the units 55-1 to 55-3, and an analog subtraction circuit 73 are provided. The charge integration units 71 and 72 are configured in the same manner as the above-described charge integration unit SD, and integrate three charges. The output of the charge integration unit 71 is connected to the positive input terminal (+) of the analog subtraction circuit, and the output of the charge integration unit 72 is connected to the negative input terminal (−) of the analog subtraction circuit. Therefore, when the sign of the output of the ultrasound probe 2 calculated by the analog multiplier 55 is positive (+), the output value of the charge integrating section 71 having a plus sign is the analog subtractor circuit 73. When the sign of the output of the ultrasound probe 2 outputted from the signal and the analog multiplier 55 is negative (−), the output value of the charge integrating unit 72 having a minus sign is analog subtracted. Output from the circuit 73.

The analog-digital converter 57 is a circuit that is connected to the analog adder 56 and converts the output value of the analog adder 56 from an analog signal to a digital signal. The output of the analog-digital conversion unit 57 is the output of the reception unit 13 and is output to the image processing unit 14.

In such a receiving unit 13, the preamplifier unit 51, the absolute value converting unit 52, the SH unit 53, the charge holding unit 54 (54-1 to 54-4), the analog multiplication unit 55 (55-1 to 55-3), Each of the analog adder 56 and the analog-digital converter 57 is supplied with an operation clock from the timing generator 58 and operates at a predetermined operation timing. Further, in the analog multiplication unit 55, the charge division units 621-1, 621-2 to 629-2, 621-3, the charge transfer units 631-1 to 638-1, 631-3 to 638-3, and the charge addition unit 642 to 649 are also operated at the predetermined operation timing.

Then, the second ultrasonic signal coming from within the subject based on the first ultrasonic signal transmitted into the subject is received by the ultrasonic probe 2, and the output of the ultrasonic probe 2 is sent to the preamplifier unit 51. Entered. The output of the ultrasound probe 2 is linearly amplified by the preamplifier unit 51 at a predetermined amplification factor and input to the absolute value unit 52. The output of the preamplifier unit 51 is shown, for example, in the uppermost stage of FIG. In FIG. 7, the output from the preamplifier unit 51 (first stage), the output from the absolute value unit 52 (second stage), and the SH unit 53 in order from the first stage at the top to the seventh stage at the bottom. Output (third stage), charge holding section 54-1 (fourth stage), charge holding section 54-2 (fifth stage), charge holding section 54-3 (sixth stage) and charge holding section 54-4 (Seventh stage) is shown.

The output of the preamplifier unit 51 is converted into an absolute value by the absolute value converting unit 52 (negative is turned around on the axis to be positive) and input to the SH unit 53 as shown in the second stage of FIG. As shown in the third stage of FIG. 7, the output of the absolute value converting unit 52 is sampled by the SH unit 53 at the predetermined operation timing (sampling period) Δt, and the charge amount and sign are stored in the charge holding unit 54-1. Is input. The output of the SH unit 53 is held by the charge holding unit 54-1, as shown in the fourth stage of FIG.

Then, in the four charge holding units 54-1 to 54-4, as shown in the fourth to seventh stages in FIG. 7, the own charge holding unit 54 at a timing corresponding to the predetermined operation timing Δt. Are sequentially transferred to the subsequent charge holding unit 54 together with the sign (+ or −). For example, the charge holding unit 54-1 sequentially stores the charges held in its own charge holding unit 54-1 at the timing according to the predetermined operation timing Δt together with the sign thereof. Forward to.

In the analog multiplier 55-1, the charge Q (t + Δt) of the charge holding unit 54-1 is transferred to the charge transfer unit 61-1 along with its sign, and the charge Q (t + Δt) is transferred to the charge dividing unit. 621-1 is divided into two equal parts, and one charge Q2 (= 0.5 × Q (t + Δt)) is transferred from the first-stage charge transfer section 631-1 to the eighth-stage charge transfer together with its sign. The data is sequentially transferred to the unit 638-1 at a timing corresponding to the predetermined operation timing Δt. In the analog multiplier 55-1, when the sign is positive, the output (the output of the charge transfer unit 638-1) is input to the charge integrating part 71 of the analog adder 56, and the sign is negative. In this case, the output (the output of the charge transfer unit 638-1) is input to the charge integration unit 72 of the analog addition unit 56.

In the analog multiplier 55-2, the charge Q (t) of the charge holding unit 54-2 is transferred to the charge transfer unit 61-2 together with the sign thereof, and the charge Q (t) is transferred to the first-stage charge dividing unit. The first charge Q1 (= 2 ⁻¹ × Q (t)) is divided into two equal parts by the unit 621-2, and at the timing corresponding to the predetermined operation timing Δt, the first stage charge addition is performed together with the sign thereof. The charge Q2 (= 2 ⁻¹ × Q (t)) on the other side is transferred to the charge division unit 622-2 in the second stage. In the second-stage charge dividing unit 622-2, this charge 2 ⁻¹ × Q (t) is divided into two equal parts, and one charge Q1 ( = 2 ⁻² × Q (t)) is transferred to the second-stage charge adding unit 643, and the other charge Q2 (= 2 ⁻² × Q (t)) is transferred to the third-stage charge division. Then, the charge 2 ⁻¹ × Q (t) of the first stage charge adder 642 is transferred to the second stage charge adder 643 together with its sign. In the second stage charge adding unit 643, the transferred charges 2 ⁻¹ × Q (t) and charges 2 ⁻² × Q (t) are added (2 ⁻¹ × Q (t) +2 ⁻² ). × Q (t)), and the charge division unit 623-2 in the third stage divides this charge 2 ⁻² × Q (t) into two equal parts. Then, at the timing according to the predetermined operation timing Δt, one charge Q1 (= 2 ⁻³ × Q (t)) in the third-stage charge dividing unit 623-2 is added to the third-stage charge. And the other charge Q2 (= 2 ⁻³ × Q (t)) is transferred to the fourth-stage charge dividing unit 624-2, and the second-stage charge addition unit The charge 2 ⁻¹ × Q (t) +2 ⁻² × Q (t) of 643 is transferred to the charge addition unit 644 at the third stage together with its sign. Thereafter, the same operation is performed at each timing according to the predetermined operation timing Δt, and the charge division unit 629-2 in the ninth stage has a charge of 2 ⁻⁹ × Q (t) = (1/512). × Q (t) is held, and the charge addition unit 649 in the eighth stage stores the charge 2 ⁻¹ × Q (t) +2 ⁻² × Q (t) +2 ⁻³ × Q (t) +2 ⁻⁴ × Q (t) +2 ⁻⁵ × Q (t) +2 ⁻⁶ × Q (t) +2 ⁻⁷ × Q (t) +2 ⁻⁸ × Q (t) +2 ⁻⁹ × Q (t) = (511/512) XQ (t) is retained along with its sign.

In the analog multiplier 55-2, when the sign is positive, the output (the output of the charge adder 649) is input to the charge integrating part 71 of the analog adder 56, and when the sign is negative. The output (the output of the charge adding unit 649) is input to the charge integrating unit 72 of the analog adding unit 56.

In the analog multiplier 55-3, the charge Q (t−Δt) of the charge holding unit 54-3 is transferred to the charge transfer unit 61-3 together with its sign, and the charge Q (t−Δt) is transferred to the charge transfer unit 61-3. The electric charge Q1 (= 0.5 × Q (t−Δt)) is divided into two equal parts by the division unit 621-3, and the charge transfer unit 631-3 at the first stage transfers the charge at the eighth stage. The data is sequentially transferred to the unit 638-3 together with the code at a timing corresponding to the predetermined operation timing Δt. In the analog multiplier 55-3, when the sign is positive, the output (the output of the charge transfer unit 638-3) is input to the charge integrating unit 71 of the analog adder 56, and the sign is negative. In this case, the output (the output of the charge transfer unit 638-3) is input to the charge integration unit 72 of the analog addition unit 56.

Then, in the analog adder 56, when the sign of the charge to be processed is positive, the outputs of the analog multipliers 55-1 to 55-3 are integrated and added by the charge integrator 71, and an analog subtractor circuit is added. 73 is input to the positive input terminal (+). On the other hand, when the sign of the charge to be processed is negative, the outputs of the analog multipliers 55-1 to 55-3 are integrated and added by the charge integration unit 72, and the negative input terminal of the analog subtraction circuit 73 is added. Input to (-). When the sign of the charge to be processed is positive (+), the output value of the charge integration unit 71 having a plus sign is output from the analog subtraction circuit 73, and the sign of the charge to be processed is negative ( In the case of −), the output value of the charge integration unit 72 having a minus sign is output from the analog subtraction circuit 73. The output of the analog subtraction circuit 73 is the output of the analog addition unit 56 and is input to the analog-digital conversion unit 57.

Then, in the analog-digital conversion unit, the output of the analog addition unit 56 is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal and used as the output of the reception unit 13.

By operating in this manner, the receiving unit 13 performs harmonic processing from the second ultrasonic signal by performing analog processing (signal processing as analog) on the output (second ultrasonic signal) of the ultrasonic probe 2. The component is extracted, and the harmonic component of the second ultrasonic signal extracted by the analog processing is converted into a digital signal and output to the image processing unit 14.

In the above description, the case of the second harmonic component as the harmonic component has been described. Similarly, the case of the higher harmonic component such as the third harmonic component and the fourth harmonic component is similarly applied. Can be explained.

As described above, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus S of the present embodiment, a plurality of analog signals having a predetermined time difference in the ultrasonic probe 2 are analog-processed, that is, the plurality of analog signals are analog signals. By processing, a harmonic component of the second ultrasonic signal is extracted, and an ultrasonic image of the subject is formed based on the harmonic component. Therefore, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus S does not need to transmit / receive twice in one place in the subject, and extracts harmonic components from the second ultrasonic signal with higher resolution by analog processing. An ultrasonic image with higher gradation can be formed without lowering. Further, since the harmonic component is not extracted by the filter, no attenuation loss occurs due to propagation of the electric signal, and no ringing occurs.

Also, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus S, as described above, the harmonic component is expressed as a function by the fundamental wave of the first ultrasonic signal, and the harmonic extraction unit H is simply configured by a circuit that performs analog processing.

Further, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus S, since the charge holding units 21 and 54, the analog multiplication units 22 and 55, and the analog addition units 23 and 56 are configured using charge transfer elements (charge coupled devices), harmonic extraction units H is configured more simply, and the harmonic extraction unit H can be made into an IC chip.

Further, since the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus S is configured using the charge dividing unit CD that divides the charge into two equal parts and the charge integration unit SD that integrates the two charges into one, the harmonic extraction unit H includes It is configured more simply. Further, since the analog signal is analog-processed by the charge division and integration, the harmonic extraction unit H can execute analog arithmetic processing with relatively high accuracy, and can generate harmonic components with relatively high accuracy. Can be extracted.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the received wave of the ultrasonic probe and the harmonic components included in the received wave. FIG. 9 is a fundamental wave extracted from the received wave of the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows a component (1st), a 2nd harmonic component (2nd), and a 3rd harmonic component (3rd). In FIG. 8, the horizontal axis represents time, the left vertical axis represents the amplitude level of the received wave, and the right vertical axis represents the amplitude level of the harmonic component. A solid line indicates a received wave, and a broken line indicates a harmonic component. In FIG. 9, the horizontal axis represents frequency, the left vertical axis represents the amplitude level of the fundamental wave component (1st), and the right vertical axis represents the amplitude level of the harmonic component (2nd, 3rd). The solid line indicates the fundamental wave component (1st), and the broken line indicates the second harmonic component (2nd) and the third harmonic component (3rd). 8 and 9 show the results obtained by simulation.

As can be seen from FIG. 8, the harmonic component contained in the received wave has an amplitude level that is significantly smaller than the amplitude level of the received wave, but as can be seen from FIG. The fundamental wave component is almost completely suppressed. Therefore, when converting a harmonic component from an analog signal to a digital signal, the entire dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter can be used, and the harmonic component is converted with high resolution. Tonality is improved.

This specification discloses various modes of technology as described above, and the main technologies are summarized below.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an aspect forms an image in the subject based on a second ultrasonic signal coming from the subject based on a first ultrasonic signal transmitted into the subject. An apparatus that performs analog processing on a plurality of analog signals obtained by sampling the output of the ultrasonic probe that has received the second ultrasonic signal at a predetermined time interval, thereby enabling the second ultrasonic wave to be processed. A harmonic extraction unit that extracts a harmonic component in the case where the frequency of the first ultrasonic signal is a fundamental frequency from a signal, and the inside of the subject based on the harmonic component extracted by the harmonic extraction unit An image processing unit for forming an image. More specifically, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one aspect is based on a transmission unit for transmitting a first ultrasonic signal into a subject via an ultrasonic probe, and the first ultrasonic signal. By analog processing a plurality of analog signals obtained by sampling the output of the ultrasonic probe that has received the second ultrasonic signal coming from within the subject at a predetermined time interval, the second A receiving unit that extracts a harmonic component when the frequency of the first ultrasonic signal is a fundamental frequency from an ultrasonic signal, and an image in the subject based on the harmonic component extracted by the receiving unit. And an image processing unit to be formed.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having such a configuration, the harmonic extraction unit performs analog processing on a plurality of analog signals having a predetermined time difference in the ultrasonic probe, that is, the plurality of analog signals are analog signals. By processing, the harmonic component of the second ultrasonic signal is extracted, and the image processing unit forms an image in the subject based on the harmonic component. Therefore, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having such a configuration does not require transmission / reception twice for one place in the subject, and extracts a harmonic component from the second ultrasonic signal by analog processing. An ultrasonic image with higher gradation can be formed without lowering.

According to another aspect, in the above-described ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the reception unit corresponds to each of the plurality of charge holding units that hold the plurality of analog signals and the plurality of charge holding units. A harmonic extraction unit including a plurality of analog multiplication units provided and an analog addition unit that adds the outputs of the plurality of analog multiplication units by analog processing, and the analog multiplication unit is held in the charge holding unit The analog signal is weighted by analog processing, and the weighting is set based on a coefficient of a functional expression in which the harmonic component is expressed by a fundamental wave of the first ultrasonic signal.

According to this configuration, the harmonic component is expressed as a function by the fundamental wave of the first ultrasonic signal, and the harmonic extraction unit can be easily configured with a circuit that performs analog processing.

According to another aspect, in the above-described ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the plurality of charge holding units are connected in series and receive analog signals held by their own charge holding units in response to a predetermined operation timing. The analog multiplying unit is a multiplier using a charge transfer element, and the analog adder is an adder using a charge transfer element.

According to this configuration, since the charge holding unit, the analog multiplication unit, and the analog addition unit are configured using the charge transfer element (charge coupled device), the harmonic extraction unit can be configured more easily, The extraction unit can be made into an IC chip.

According to another aspect, in the above-described ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the analog multiplying unit divides the electric charge into two equal parts and respectively holds them in the first and second dividing units, and a plurality of electric charges connected in series. A division unit and a charge integration unit that integrates a plurality of charges into one charge, and the charge division unit divides the charge amount Q corresponding to the analog signal held by the charge holding unit into two equal parts, One of the two is divided into two equal parts in the subsequent charge dividing unit, and by repeating this, a plurality of n charges of 2 ⁻¹ Q, 2 ⁻² Q, 2 ⁻³ Q,..., 2 ⁻ⁿ Q are generated. These charges are discarded according to the binary expression m ₁ , m ₂ , m ₃ ,..., M _{n of the} weight M, and the taken-up charges are integrated by the charge integration unit.

According to this configuration, since the charge dividing unit that divides the charge into two equal parts and the charge integration unit that integrates two charges into one, the harmonic extraction unit can be configured more easily. Become. In addition, since the analog signal is processed in analog by charge division and integration, the harmonic extraction unit can execute analog calculation processing with relatively high accuracy and extract harmonic components with relatively high accuracy. can do.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-179755 filed on July 10, 2008, the contents of which are included in this application.

In order to express the present invention, the present invention has been properly and fully described through the embodiments with reference to the drawings. However, those skilled in the art can easily change and / or improve the above-described embodiments. It should be recognized that this is possible. Accordingly, unless the modifications or improvements implemented by those skilled in the art are at a level that departs from the scope of the claims recited in the claims, the modifications or improvements are not covered by the claims. It is interpreted that it is included in

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can form an ultrasonic image with higher gradation without reducing the frame rate.

Claims (4)

1. A transmission unit for transmitting the first ultrasonic signal into the subject via the ultrasonic probe;
   A plurality of analog signals obtained by sampling the output of the ultrasonic probe that has received the second ultrasonic signal coming from within the subject based on the first ultrasonic signal at predetermined time intervals are analogized. A receiver that extracts a harmonic component when the frequency of the first ultrasonic signal is a fundamental frequency from the second ultrasonic signal by processing;
   An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an image processing unit that forms an image in the subject based on the harmonic component extracted by the receiving unit.
2. The receiving unit includes a plurality of charge holding units that hold the plurality of analog signals, a plurality of analog multiplication units provided corresponding to the plurality of charge holding units, and a plurality of analog multiplication units, A harmonic extraction unit including an analog addition unit that adds each output by analog processing,
   The analog multiplication unit weights the analog signal held in the charge holding unit by analog processing,
   2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the weighting is set based on a coefficient of a functional expression in which the harmonic component is expressed by a fundamental wave of the first ultrasonic signal.
3. The plurality of charge holding units are connected in series and sequentially transfer analog signals held by the charge holding unit in response to a predetermined operation timing to the subsequent charge holding unit,
   The analog multiplier is a multiplier using a charge transfer element,
   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the analog adder is an adder using a charge transfer element.
4. The analog multiplier is
   A plurality of charge dividers connected in series, each of which is divided into two equal parts and held in the first and second dividers;
   A charge integration unit that integrates a plurality of charges into one charge;
   The charge amount Q corresponding to the analog signal held in the charge holding portion bisected by the charge division unit, and bisecting the one in a subsequent charge division unit, by repeating this, 2 ^-1 Q, 2 ⁻² Q, 2 ⁻³ Q,..., 2 ⁻ⁿ Q, a plurality of n charges are generated, and each of these charges is represented by a binary expression m ₁ , m ₂ , m ₃ , The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is arranged according to _{mn and} the electric charges taken up are integrated by the electric charge integration unit.

Images