JP2000014669A - Ultrasound diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of performing asynchronous operation for each block. SOLUTION: At least two or more blocks 101, 102
In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which information is transmitted between blocks, time information is added to signals transmitted between blocks by time information adding units 107, 108, and 109, and asynchronous operation for each block is performed. Making it possible. Clock transmission between blocks becomes unnecessary, and it becomes possible to connect between blocks with an inexpensive long cable 100.
The operation unit 101 can be reduced in size, and the necessary image processing unit 102 can be installed at a location away from the diagnosis area.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly, to a problem when the configuration of the apparatus is separated into two or more in order to improve accessibility to a subject. It will improve.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A staggering ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which is becoming larger has a problem that it is difficult to install it on a narrow bedside. In order to solve this, conventionally, a separation type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has been developed, which is described in, for example, JP-A-5-228139 and JP-A-6-225874.

As shown in FIG. 7, this apparatus is separated into a main body 1 and an operation section 2 which can be moved independently. The operation section 2 is provided with a plurality of probes 3 and 3a, and for setting conditions and controlling probes. An operation panel 4 for performing a selection operation, etc., a monitor 5 for displaying the obtained ultrasonic image, a probe switch 17 for performing a probe switching operation, a transmission unit 18 for supplying a transmission signal to the probe, Amplifying preamplifier 19
A reception delay unit 20 for integrating signals from a plurality of piezoelectric elements of the probe into one signal; a control circuit 16 for controlling operations of the transmission unit 18, the reception delay unit 20 and the probe switch 17; And a switching device 15 for switching the destination of a signal sent from the like.

On the other hand, the main body 1 includes a power supply circuit 11 for supplying power to the operation unit 12 via a cable 12 and a reference signal generator 13 for transmitting a reference clock pulse to the operation unit 2 via a reference signal supply cable 14. And a B-mode signal processing unit 22 and a Doppler unit 23 for processing a reception signal sent from the operation unit 2.
And a DSC 24 that converts ultrasonic scanning signals into television scanning.
A CPU 26 for performing arithmetic processing required by the Doppler unit 23 or the DSC 24 or the reception delay unit 20 of the operation unit 2;
A switch 26 for switching the path of a signal to be input to the PU 26 or a signal to be output to the PU 26;

In this apparatus, the reference clock generated by the reference signal generator 13 of the main unit 1 is transmitted to the operation unit 2 via the reference signal supply cable 14 in order to synchronize the operations of the main unit 1 and the operation unit 2. Can be

The received data processed by the operation unit 2 is transmitted to the main unit 1 via the reception signal cable 21, and the monitor signal generated by the main unit 1 is operated via the monitor cable 25. It is transmitted to the unit 2.

Further, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 8, each of the operation unit and the main body includes a modulator for modulating data into an optical signal and a demodulator for demodulating the optical signal into an electric signal. The data is transmitted between the operation unit and the main body by optical communication.

[0008]

However, in the conventional separated ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, it is necessary to transmit a clock signal to each block in order to synchronize the operations between the blocks. There is a problem that a large-capacity transmission system is required for information transmission, and it is difficult to simultaneously connect a plurality of blocks on the signal transmission path of the first system gun.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem, realizes an asynchronous operation for each block, reduces the amount of information required for transmission, and provides a plurality of signal transmission lines on one system. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which blocks can be connected simultaneously.

[0010]

Therefore, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, time information is added to a signal transmitted between the separated blocks.

Also, a signal transmitted between the separated blocks is compressed.

Further, self-identifying information (such as an ID number) is added to a signal transmitted between the separated blocks.

[0013] Therefore, the addition of time information to the transmission signal enables asynchronous operation of each block, and the compression of the transmission signal can reduce the amount of transmission information between blocks. By adding the self-recognition information, it is possible to simultaneously connect a plurality of blocks of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus on a single signal transmission path.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which at least two or more blocks are separated and information is transmitted between the blocks, the information is transmitted between the blocks. Since time information is added to the signal to enable asynchronous operation for each block, transmission of a clock between blocks is not required.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which is divided into at least two or more blocks and information is transmitted between the blocks, a compressed signal is transmitted between the blocks and the signal is transmitted. The received signal is decompressed and restored in the received block, and the amount of information transmitted between blocks can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which at least two or more blocks are separated and information is transmitted between the blocks, self-identifying information is added to a signal transmitted between the blocks. In addition, a plurality of blocks of different devices can be connected simultaneously on one signal transmission path, and the number of communication paths can be reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment can perform an asynchronous operation for each block.

This apparatus is separated into an operation unit 101 installed on the subject's side for performing ultrasonic diagnosis, and a processing unit 102 for processing, processing, and retransmitting information obtained by the operation unit 101. The operation unit 101 and the processing unit 102 are
Are electrically (or optically) connected.

The operating unit 101 includes an ultrasonic transmitting / receiving unit 105, a time information adding unit 108 for adding time information to an echo signal output from the transmitting / receiving unit 105, and a reference clock for generating a reference clock. A reference clock generator 123 to supply;
An operation console 104 for performing an instruction operation, and a time information adding unit 107 for adding time information to instruction information output from the operation console 104
A reference clock generator 122 for generating a reference clock and supplying it to the time information adding unit 107, and a time information extracting unit 106 for extracting time information from the image information received from the processing unit 102
, A reference clock generator 121 that generates a reference clock and supplies it to the time information extracting unit 106, and a monitor 103 that displays an inspection image.

On the other hand, the processing unit 102 extracts the time information from the instruction information received from the operation unit 101.
0, a reference clock generator 125 that generates a reference clock and supplies it to the time information extracting unit 110, and a time information extracting unit that extracts time information from the echo signal received from the operation unit 101
111, a reference clock generator 126 for generating a reference clock and supplying it to the time information extracting unit 111, an information processing unit 112 for processing an echo signal and converting it into image information, and an information processing unit 1
A time information adding unit 109 for adding time information to the image information output from 12 and a reference clock generator 124 for generating a reference clock and supplying the generated reference clock to the time information adding unit 109 are provided.

In this device, the received echo signal is
After being subjected to amplification and necessary analog processing in the transmission / reception unit 105 of the operation unit 101, the data is A / D converted and input to the time information addition unit 108 as digital information.

The time information adding unit 108 converts the echo signal into an information sequence of one packet in synchronization with the clock signal supplied from the reference clock generator 123, as shown in FIG. At this time, time information is added to the first few data (two data in FIG. 4) and then transmitted to the communication cable 100.

The time information extracting section 111 of the processing section 102 receives the information sequence of this echo signal in synchronization with the clock signal supplied from the reference clock generator 126, cuts out the first time information, This information sequence is sent to the information processing unit 112 according to the information. The echo information input to the information processing unit 112 is subjected to various kinds of signal processing, converted into image information, and output to the time information adding unit 109. The time information adding unit 109 synchronizes the input image data with the clock signal supplied from the reference clock generator 124,
As shown in FIG. 4, it is converted into an information sequence of one packet. At this time, time information is added to the first few data (two data in FIG. 4) and then transmitted to the communication cable 100.

The time information extracting unit 106 of the operation unit 101 receives the information sequence of the image information in synchronization with the clock signal supplied from the reference clock generator 121, and extracts the leading time information. This image information is then converted into a standard TV signal or the like according to the extracted time information, and
Displayed in 3.

Switching of the diagnostic mode and the like are performed on the operation console.
When instructed from 104, the instruction information is transmitted to time information adding section 107.
In synchronization with the clock signal supplied from the reference clock generator 122, the time information adding unit 107 converts the instruction information into an information sequence of one packet, as shown in FIG. At this time, time information is added to the first few data (two data in FIG. 4) and then transmitted to the communication cable 100.

The time information extracting unit 110 of the processing unit 102 receives the information sequence of the instruction information in synchronization with the clock signal supplied from the reference clock generator 125, and extracts the leading time information. Then, the information sequence is transmitted to the information processing unit 112 according to the extracted time information. Information processing unit 112
Changes the image processing method and display mode according to the input instruction information.

As described above, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment, when a signal is transmitted from each of the separated blocks, time information is added to the signal. It becomes possible and transmission of a clock signal between blocks becomes unnecessary.

When each block performs an asynchronous operation, the quality requirement of the communication cable 100, which is generally easy to mix noise and radiates noise, can be reduced, and the length of the cable can be reduced. It can be easily extended. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the operation unit 101 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus installed on the side of the subject, and to install a necessary image processing unit at a location away from the diagnosis area. In addition, if a communication cable can be prepared for each room, it would be possible to carry a small operation unit (minimum necessary for diagnosis) in each room with the information processing unit with high processing capacity installed in a specific place. Become.

In the first embodiment, a total of six reference clock generators are prepared for each block.
Similar effects can be obtained even if one is set for one and one is set for the processing unit 102. The clock frequencies generated by each reference clock generator need not be the same. If the functions of adding and separating information are incorporated in the operation unit 101 and the processing unit 102, the time information added by each of the operation unit 101 and the processing unit 102 can be reduced to one.

The time information to be added does not need to be in a specific format as long as the information of elapsed time can be identified, such as an absolute time, a relative time, and a time mark (for each time unit). Further, the place where the time information is added to the information sequence does not have to be at the head of the information sequence as in the first embodiment, and the same effect can be obtained by mixing it in the information.

(Second Embodiment) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment can reduce the amount of information transmitted between blocks.

In this apparatus, the operation unit 201 includes a transmission / reception unit 205
, An information compression unit 208 that compresses the information amount of the instruction information output from the console 204, and a compressed image received from the processing unit 202. Monitor 203 by restoring the information to the original information
The information restoring unit 206 restores the compressed instruction information received from the operation unit 201 to the original instruction information and outputs the original instruction information to the information processing unit 212. 210, an information restoring unit 211 that restores the compressed echo information received from the operation unit 201 to the original echo information and outputs the original echo information to the information processing unit 212, and an information amount of image information output from the information processing unit 212 And an information compression unit 209 for compressing the information.

The information compression units 207, 208, and 209
As shown in FIG. 2, two information storage units 225 and 226, a switch 224 that alternately outputs input information to the information storage unit 225 or the information storage unit 226, and information stored in the information storage units 225 and 226. The information restoring units 206, 210, and 211 include a difference data receiving unit 228 and an information storage unit 2 that stores the previous restoration information.
29 and a restorer 230 for restoring the original information from the difference information and the previous restore information.

In this device, the received echo signal is
After being subjected to amplification and necessary analog processing in the transmission / reception unit 205, the data is subjected to A / D conversion and converted into digital information by the information compression unit 20.
Enter 8

The information input to the information compression section 208 is stored in the information storage 225 (for example) by the switch 224 shown in FIG. Therefore, the differentiator 227 calculates the difference between the storage 226 in which the previous information is stored and the other storage 225, and sends out the difference to the communication cable 200.

The difference information 228 input to the information restoring unit 211 through the communication cable 200 is converted by the restoring unit 230 into the immediately preceding information.
229 is added to the original information and returned to the coast information processing unit 212. The echo information input to the information processing unit 212 is subjected to various signal processings, converted into image information, and output to the information compression unit 209.

The image data input to the information compression unit 209 is
The information is compressed by the method shown in FIG. The information received by the information restoring unit 206 through the communication cable 200 is restored by the method shown in FIG. 5, converted into a standard TV signal, and displayed on the monitor 203.

Switching of the diagnostic mode and the like are performed on the operation console.
When instructed from 204, the instruction information is compressed in the information compression unit 207 by the method shown in FIG.
Sent to 200. Information restoration unit through communication cable 200
The instruction information received by 210 is restored by the method shown in FIG. The information processing unit 212 changes the image processing method and the display mode according to the input instruction information.

As described above, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment, the amount of communication information is reduced by utilizing information compression (or differential transmission) when transmitting signals between blocks. Therefore, a low-speed transmission path can be used, and a system can be constructed under an inexpensive communication environment. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size of the operation unit 201 and to install a necessary image processing unit in a location away from the diagnosis area. It is also possible to adopt a system in which a small operating unit (minimum necessary for diagnosis) is carried around in each hospital room while being installed in the hospital.

In the second embodiment, difference extraction is performed to reduce the amount of information. However, a similar effect can be obtained by a general lossless compression method. Further, even in the case of performing the difference extraction, it is possible to select the range in which the effect is obtained most, such as the unit of the difference information, such as one frame unit, one scanning unit, and several data units of the ultrasonic image.

If the functions of summing and separating information are incorporated in the operation unit 101 and the processing unit 102, the information compression unit and the information decompression unit can be provided in each of the operation unit 101 and the processing unit 102. it can.

(Third Embodiment) In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment, a plurality of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses can be connected to a single signal transmission path.

FIG. 3 shows three separate ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses.
This shows a state where 301, 302, and 303 are connected to the communication cable 300. Each ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an operation unit and a processing unit. Each operation unit includes an ID addition unit 3 that adds an ID of the transmission / reception unit 305 to an echo signal output from the transmission / reception unit 305.
08, an ID adding unit 307 that adds the ID of the console 304 to the instruction information output from the console 304, and recognizes the ID information added to the received information and outputs only necessary image information to the monitor 303. And an ID recognition unit 306 that performs
Each processing unit recognizes the ID information added to the received information and outputs only necessary instruction information to the information processing unit 312.
A D recognition unit 310, an ID recognition unit 311 that recognizes the ID information added to the received information and outputs only necessary echo information to the information processing unit 312, and an image information output from the information processing unit 312. ID adding section 309 for adding the ID of processing section 312
And

The echo signal received by the probe of each ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is subjected to A / D conversion after being subjected to amplification and necessary analog processing by the transmission / reception section 305 of the operation section, and is converted to digital information by the ID addition section 308. input. ID adding unit 308
Converts the echo signal into an information sequence of one packet as shown in FIG. At this time, ID information (103) unique to the transmission / reception unit 305 is added to the first few data (two data in FIG. 6), and then transmitted to the communication cable 300.

The echo information arriving at the ID recognizing unit 311 via the communication cable 300 is first cut out of the ID information, and when it is confirmed that the ID is the unique ID number (103) of the transmitting / receiving unit 305, Recognition unit 311 to information processing unit 312
Sent to

The echo information input to the information processing section 312 is
After being subjected to various signal processing, it is converted into image information,
Output to D adding section 309. The ID adding unit 309 converts the input image data into an information sequence of one packet as shown in FIG. At this time, the ID data (104) unique to the information processing unit 312 is added to the first few data (two data in FIG. 6), and then transmitted to the communication cable 300.

The information received by the ID recognizing unit 306 through the communication cable 300 is obtained by first cutting out the ID information at the beginning.
When it is confirmed that the ID is the unique ID number (104) of the information processing unit 312, the ID is converted into a standard TV signal or the like by the ID recognition unit 306 and displayed on the monitor 303.

Switching of the diagnostic mode and the like can be performed on the operation console.
When instructed by the instruction information 304, the ID adding unit 307 that has received the instruction information converts the instruction information into an information sequence of one packet as shown in FIG. At this time, the leading numerical data (2 in FIG. 6)
After adding ID information (102) unique to the console 304 to the data), the data is transmitted to the communication cable 300.

The instruction information that has reached the ID recognition unit 310 via the communication cable 300 is obtained by first cutting out the top ID information and confirming that the ID is the unique ID number (102) of the console 304. The instruction information is sent to the information processing unit 312. The information processing unit 312 changes the image processing method and the display mode according to the input instruction information.

As described above, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment, self-recognition information (such as an ID number) is transmitted for each block, so that a plurality of blocks are provided on one signal transmission path. Even if they are connected at the same time, information can be transferred without any trouble. In addition, there is no need to limit the insertion location of the blocks connected on the signal transmission path and the connection order. Therefore, the number of communication paths can be reduced, and a low-speed transmission path can be used.

Further, since each unique ID is clear, there is no necessity that the transmission (ID addition) side and the reception (ID recognition) side are one-to-one. That is, when the processing capacity of the information processing unit is high or when a plurality of diagnoses are not performed at once, a centralized processing system including one information processing unit and a plurality of operation units can be configured. Therefore, if a communication cable can be prepared for each hospital room, it becomes possible to install a plurality of operation units necessary for diagnosis in each hospital room while keeping the information processing unit having a high processing capacity at a specific place.

Further, in the third embodiment, a state in which a plurality of ID recognition units (or ID addition units) are incorporated in each block has been described. However, one ID recognition unit (or ID addition unit) is provided for each operation unit. The same effect can be obtained even if the method has the parentheses.

The location of the information sequence to which the ID information is added may be other than the head.

[0055]

As is clear from the above description, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention has the following effects.

In a device for adding time information to a transmission signal,
Asynchronous operation of each block becomes possible, and transmission of a clock signal between blocks becomes unnecessary. In addition, it is possible to connect the blocks with a long and inexpensive cable,
It is possible to reduce the size of the operation unit and to install a necessary image processing unit at a location away from the diagnosis area.

In a device for compressing and transmitting a signal,
The amount of communication information can be reduced, a low-speed transmission path can be used, and a system can be constructed under an inexpensive communication environment.

In a device for adding self-identification information to a transmission signal, a plurality of blocks can be connected simultaneously on one signal transmission path, thereby reducing the number of communication paths and using a low-speed transmission path. Becomes possible. Also, a centralized processing system can be constructed by combining one information processing unit and a plurality of operation units.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of addition of time information according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information compression and decompression according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of addition of ID information according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 Communication cable 101 Operation unit for ultrasonic diagnosis 102 Processing unit 103 Monitor 104 Console 105 Ultrasound transmission / reception unit 106, 110, 111 Time information extraction unit 107, 108, 109 Time information addition unit 112 Information processing unit 121, 125 , L26 Reference clock generator 122, 123, 124 Reference clock generator 200 Communication cable 201 Operation unit for ultrasonic diagnosis 202 Processing unit 203 Monitor 204 Operation console 205 Transmission / reception unit 206, 210, 211 Information restoration unit 207, 208, 209 Information compression unit 212 Information processing unit 221 Information compression unit 222 Information restoration unit 224 Switch 225 Information storage unit 226 Information storage unit 227 Difference unit 228 Difference data reception unit 229 Previous information storage unit 230 Restorer 300 Communication cable 301 , 302, 303 One set of diagnostic devices 303 Monitor 304 Operator console 305 Ultrasound transceiver 306, 310, 311 ID recognition unit 307, 308, 309 ID information unit 312 Information processing unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which is divided into at least two or more blocks and information is transmitted between the blocks, wherein time information is added to a signal transmitted between the blocks, and an asynchronous operation for each block is performed. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized in that: 2. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which is separated into at least two or more blocks and in which information is transmitted between each block, wherein a compressed signal is transmitted between each block, and a received signal is received by a block which has received the signal. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by performing extension and restoration. 3. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which is separated into at least two or more blocks and information is transmitted between each block, wherein self-recognition information is added to a signal transmitted between each block,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus wherein blocks of a plurality of different apparatuses can be connected simultaneously on a single signal transmission path.