JP2000325344A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To receive ultrasonic beams in plural directions simultaneously by transmitting ultrasonic beams at a time in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for obtaining the ultrasonic image of a part to be examined in real time by forming ultrasonic beams at two-dimensionally arranged vibrators and scanning the part to be examined. SOLUTION: This diagnostic apparatus has a probe 10 with plural vibrators 19 arranged two-dimensionally for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves. The aperture for ultrasonic transmission/receiving is formed with multiple rings consisting of the two-dimensionally arranged vibration bundled concentrically, applying the delay to the gap between each ring of the multiple rings to transmit/receive ultrasonic beams, moving the aperture, so that an ultrasonic image is formed. In this case, the probe 10 has plural apertures 20a, 20b for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves formed in the multiple rings, and can receive beams in plural directions simultaneously by transmitting ultrasonic beams from these apertures at a time. Therefore, the frame rate of the ultrasonic image to be obtained can be improved with the improved real-time response.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which forms and scans an ultrasonic beam with a two-dimensionally arranged transducer and obtains an ultrasonic image of a diagnostic site inside a subject in real time. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of simultaneously obtaining a reception beam in a plurality of directions by transmitting an ultrasonic beam.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is known which has a plurality of transducers arranged two-dimensionally, has only one ultrasonic transmission / reception aperture, and scans a sector in an arbitrary direction. In such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, for example, 64 × 64
In the case of the two-dimensional array transducer, the ultrasonic scanning is performed by independently controlling the delay of each transducer by 4096 elements. In that case, a delay circuit of 4096 channels (hereinafter referred to as a “phasing circuit”) is required.
Since it is difficult to realize such a multi-channel phasing circuit, the number of channels of the phasing circuit is reduced by thinning out the elements. However, since the S / N is degraded by thinning out the elements, it is realized by a phasing circuit having as many channels as possible. For example, 256 channels for transmission and 25 channels for reception
Although there is an example of six channels, the field of view is still narrow in sector scanning.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, in a transducer 1 having a two-dimensional array in the X and Y directions, linear scanning or convex scanning in which the field of view is widened by moving the aperture of ultrasonic transmission / reception is performed.
There is a scanning method extended to the dimension. In this case, the number of transducers 1 is further increased. On the other hand, in order to reduce the number of channels of the phasing circuit, two-dimensionally arranged transducers 1 shown in FIG. 13 are concentrically bundled to form a multiplex ring to form an aperture 2 for ultrasonic transmission and reception. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an apparatus that transmits and receives an ultrasonic beam by giving a delay between the rings and moves the aperture 2 in the X and Y directions to form an ultrasonic image.

[0004] As shown in FIG.
Vibrators having the same distance L ₁ , L ₂ ,... From one focal point F are concentrically bundled to form respective rings.
The outer diameter of the outermost ring is the aperture 2 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. In this method, the number of phasing channels is drastically reduced by bundling the transducers concentrically, and the S / N can be improved by using all the elements.

[0005] Apart from the above, there is also known a receiving multiple beam technique for forming a receiving beam in a plurality of directions at the same time by transmitting one ultrasonic wave. In general, as shown in FIG. 15, an ultrasonic wave is transmitted in the direction of arrow T at one aperture on a one-dimensional array in which a plurality of transducers 1 are arranged in a row, and a delay applied to each element at the same aperture. The amount of the first phasing circuit 3a
And two types of second phasing circuits 3b, and receive beams a and b by focusing simultaneously in two directions.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, the above-mentioned conventional 2
In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which a dimensional array of transducers are concentrically bundled to form a multiple ring to form an aperture for ultrasonic transmission and reception,
Since a plurality of transducers are bundled, it is impossible to simultaneously receive a plurality of directions of a received beam by transmitting an ultrasonic beam once. Therefore, the frame rate of the obtained ultrasonic image is reduced, and the real-time property is reduced. Also, in the conventional sparse array type in which the two-dimensional array transducer is divided into a transmission wave and a reception wave to perform sector scanning, ultrasonic measurement of a wide field of view cannot be realized, and a wide field of view such as an abdomen is not realized. It could not be used for measurement.

In view of the above, the present invention addresses these problems and forms a multi-ring by bundling two-dimensionally arranged transducers concentrically to form an aperture for ultrasonic transmission and reception, and scans the ultrasonic beam. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which can simultaneously obtain a plurality of reception beams in a plurality of directions by transmitting an ultrasonic beam once even if an ultrasonic image of a diagnostic site is obtained in real time. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of realizing ultrasonic measurement in a wide field of view even in a sparse array system.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a probe having a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. A two-dimensional array of transducers are concentrically bundled to form a multiple ring to form an aperture for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and a delay is given between each ring of the multiple rings to transmit and receive an ultrasonic beam,
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that forms an ultrasonic image by moving the aperture, the probe sets a plurality of apertures of ultrasound transmission / reception configured in a multiplex ring, and performs one ultrasonic beam from these apertures. , And receive beams in a plurality of directions at the same time.

A plurality of phasing circuits for focusing and phasing and adding the received signals from the respective transducers of the probe are provided, and the respective phasing circuits of the plurality of phasing circuits are provided in arbitrary phasing channels. A connection switch group for connecting the
By connecting each aperture of the ultrasonic transmission / reception of the probe to each of the plurality of phasing circuits to perform phasing, one transmission of the ultrasonic beam can simultaneously obtain reception beams in a plurality of directions. It is.

In addition, the probe transmits and receives ultrasonic waves with two apertures shifted in the beam scanning direction, transmits ultrasonic waves with one aperture shifted in the scanning direction, and immediately thereafter transmits the ultrasonic waves. Further, the aperture used in the scanning direction is further shifted in the scanning direction, ultrasonic waves are received in two apertures together with the other apertures not used in the ultrasonic transmission, and each aperture of the ultrasonic transmission / reception of the probe is subjected to the plurality of phasing. The connection may be made to each of the circuits to adjust the phase.

Further, a plurality of the ultrasonic transmission and reception apertures of the above-mentioned probe are formed so as to be shifted from each other, and other ultrasonic transmission and reception apertures are formed outside these so as to surround them. The ultrasonic wave is transmitted at a plurality of inner diameters of the probe, and the ultrasonic waves are received, and the respective ultrasonic transmission / reception diameters of the probe are connected to each of the plurality of phasing circuits so that the phasing is performed. You may.

Further, the ultrasonic transmission / reception aperture of the probe is divided into a plurality in the beam scanning direction, and each of the divided apertures is connected to each of the plurality of phasing circuits. May be subjected to a concave delay and a tilt delay to adjust the phase.

The multiple ring formed by concentrically bundling the transducers of the probe in a two-dimensional array is a Fresnel bundle.

Further, the formed ultrasonic image may be obtained by obtaining three-dimensional volume data by scanning an ultrasonic beam and displaying the three-dimensional image.

Further, the formed ultrasonic image may be obtained by obtaining arbitrary two-dimensional cross-sectional data by scanning an ultrasonic beam and displaying an arbitrary two-dimensional cross-sectional image.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another example has a probe having a plurality of transducers in a two-dimensional array for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and a signal received from each transducer of the probe. And a connection switch group for coupling each of the vibrators to an arbitrary phasing channel of the phasing circuit, and a part of the two-dimensionally arranged vibrators. Thus, the aperture for ultrasonic transmission and reception is formed, and the aperture is moved to scan an ultrasonic beam to form an ultrasonic image.

The ultrasonic transducer may have different apertures for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an overall configuration showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus forms and scans an ultrasonic beam with a two-dimensionally arranged transducer to obtain an ultrasonic image of a diagnostic site inside a subject in real time. As shown in FIG. , Element selection data section 11, and transmitting section 1
2, a reception phasing unit 13, a transmission / reception separation circuit 14, a signal processing unit 15, a scan converter 16, a monitor 17
And a control unit 18.

The probe 10 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from the subject, and includes a plurality of transducers 19, 1 arranged in a two-dimensional array.
9, ... These vibrators 19, 19, ...
As shown in FIG. 2, 1 to m pieces in the X direction in plan view, and Y
It is a two-dimensional array such as 1 to n in the direction. Then, the transducers 19 in the two-dimensional array are bundled concentrically to form a multiple ring to form a bore 20 for ultrasonic transmission and reception.
An ultrasonic beam is transmitted and received with a delay between each of the multiple rings, and the aperture 20 is moved to form an ultrasonic image. The multiplex ring is, for example, a Fresnel bundle.

The vibrators 19, 19,...
As shown in FIG. 1, a connection switch group 21 connected to an arbitrary phasing channel of a phasing circuit described later is connected.
Further, a switch control unit 22 for controlling the switch operation is connected to the connection switch group 21.

The element selection data section 11 stores element selection data for forming the aperture 20 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The data read from this is sent to the switch control unit 22 and the switch control unit 2
By the control of 2, the switches of the connection switch group 21 are set on and off so as to form the aperture 20 of the ultrasonic transmission / reception.

The wave transmitting section 12 supplies a transducer 19 forming the aperture 20 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves of the probe 10 with a delay such that it converges at a desired focal point, and supplies a transmitting signal of ultrasonic emission. Things. The wave receiving phasing unit 13 forms a reception beam by subjecting the reflected echo signal received by the transducer 19 of the probe 10 to a desired focus process, phasing and adding the signals. The transmission / reception separation circuit 14 is configured to transmit and receive the ultrasonic wave by using the transmission unit 12 and the reception phasing unit 13.
Are connected to the vibrator 19 for distinction.

The signal processing section 15 receives the received signal from the reception phasing section 13 and performs processing such as detection, compression, and edge enhancement to obtain data of one scanning line. Also,
The scan converter 16 performs scan conversion, interpolation, and the like in order to input data from the signal processing unit 15 and display the data on the monitor 17. Further, the monitor 17
The data from the scan converter 16 is input and displayed as an ultrasonic image. And the control unit 1
Numeral 8 controls the operation of each of the above components.

Here, in the present invention, the probe 1
0 is the aperture 20 of the ultrasonic transmission / reception configured in the multiple ring.
Are set, and a single reception of an ultrasonic beam from these apertures simultaneously obtains reception beams in a plurality of directions. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, two apertures 20a and 20b are formed, and these are used as the receiving aperture. In FIG. 2, the projections of the apertures 20a and 20b as viewed from the side of arrow A are shown as 20a 'and 2a, respectively.
0b ', and the position is shifted up and down for easy understanding. One aperture is composed of, for example, p vibrators 19, and the apertures 20a and 20b are shifted by, for example, one element in the Y direction. In other words, the aperture 20b is obtained by moving the aperture 20a by one element in the Y direction.

Therefore, each of the apertures 20a, 20
The ultrasonic beam formed in b is 1 in the normal direction of the aperture surface.
Two beams shifted by an element are formed. In order to form such an ultrasonic beam, the same delay is applied to the multiple rings forming each aperture so as to focus on points F ₁ and F ₂ in the direction of the normal to the aperture plane passing through the center of the multiple ring. Just give it. Then, by moving the apertures 20a and 20b and scanning the ultrasonic beam in the X and Y directions, three-dimensional volume data is obtained and a three-dimensional image is displayed. At this time, in order to scan the ultrasonic beam at a high speed, it is necessary to perform multiple beam scanning to simultaneously receive a plurality of directions of the received beam by transmitting the ultrasonic beam once.

Next, a more specific description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a plurality of transducers 1 in a two-dimensional array shown in FIG.
The first transducer row in the X direction when the probe 10 including 9, 9, ... is viewed from the side of the arrow A is shown. 1
The row of transducers 19 is composed of n pieces, and one aperture is composed of p pieces, and one row of the transducers 19 is formed at n / p times the aperture. Each vibrator 19 is provided with a selection switch 23, and the aperture is selected by turning the selection switch 23 on and off. The apertures 20a and 20b composed of p vibrators 19 are connected to the connection switch group 24, respectively.
a and 24b, and the switch group is connected to the phasing circuits 25a and 25b, respectively.

The connection switch groups 24a and 24b connect the vibrators 19 to arbitrary phasing channels of a plurality of phasing circuits 25a and 25b, and the phasing circuits 25a and 25b It focuses the received signal from the vibrator 19 and performs phasing addition. The connection of the connection switch groups 24a and 24b is determined by switch connection pattern data prepared in advance. The connection pattern data of this switch is, for example, the first vibrator 19
Is connected to the first channel of the first phasing circuit 25a,
The p vibrators 19 are set to 1 to Zch of the first phasing circuit 25a and 1 to Zch of the second phasing circuit 25b such that the first switch 26 ₁ of the first connection switch group 24a is turned on.
ON / OFF data of a switch for connecting to any one of the channels.

The first and second connection switch groups 24
Each of the switches a and 24b has a switch configuration for opening and closing a cross point portion as shown in a circle 27 in FIG. 4, for example. Alternatively, when one vibrator 19 is connected to a plurality of rings of the multiplex ring, the switches at the cross points are connected via buffers 28 as shown in FIG. The buffer 28 is bidirectional so that transmission and reception can be controlled separately on and off. If the switch has no buffer 28, 1
The number of vibrators is configured so as not to be connected to a plurality of rings of the multiple ring. For example, when the element is used for both the A ring and the B ring, the element is assigned to either the A ring or the B ring.

The aperture 20a in FIG. 2 forms an ultrasonic beam by the first phasing circuit 25a shown in FIG. The other diameter 20b forms an ultrasonic beam by the second phasing circuit 25b. At this time, each of the phasing circuits 25a, 25b
Nos. 1 to Zch correspond to the rings of the apertures 20a and 20b. Then, each of the phasing circuits 25a,
The concave delay (focus data) of 25b may have the same content. At this time, since the apertures 20a and 20b are shifted by one element of the vibrator 19, two ultrasonic beams can be formed shifted by one element of the vibrator 19.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, some of the transducers 19 are common to the apertures 20a and 20b. In such a case, the switches connected to the common oscillator 19 are turned on by the two connection switch groups 24a and 24b shown in FIG. Then, it is assigned to each ring of the two phasing circuits 25a and 25b. Also, FIG. 3 shows one row of transducers 19 arranged in the Y direction with respect to the first row in the X direction in the probe 10 shown in FIG. 24a and 24b are connected. The outputs of the connection switch groups 24a and 24b are input to the phasing circuits 25a and 25b, and bundled in the X direction.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the probe 10 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves with two apertures shifted in the beam scanning direction, transmits ultrasonic waves with one aperture shifted in the scanning direction, and immediately thereafter transmits the ultrasonic waves. The aperture used for transmission is further shifted in the scanning direction,
Ultrasonic waves are received in two diameters together with other diameters not used for the ultrasonic transmission, and each diameter of the ultrasonic transmission and reception of the probe 10 is connected to each of the plurality of phasing circuits 25a and 25b. The phasing is performed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, two apertures 20a and 20c shifted in the beam scanning direction are formed, of which the ultrasonic beam T is transmitted with one aperture 20c, and immediately after the transmission, The aperture 20c used in the above is further shifted in the scanning direction to an aperture 20b, and together with the other aperture 20a not used for the ultrasonic transmission, two apertures 20a, 20a
The ultrasonic wave is received at b. That is, the aperture 20c is the transmission aperture, and the apertures 20a and 20b are the reception apertures. In FIG. 6, the projection of the apertures 20a, 20b, and 20c as viewed from the side of arrow A is referred to as 20a 'and 2a, respectively.
0b 'and 20c' are shown shifted up and down for easy understanding. The above diameters 20a, 20c and 2
0b is sequentially shifted by one element in the Y direction, for example.
Therefore, the diameters 20a and 20b are, for example, 2 in the Y direction.
It is shifted by the element. In other words, the aperture 20b is obtained by moving the aperture 20a by two elements in the Y direction.

Therefore, each of the apertures 20a, 20
The ultrasonic beam formed at b is 2 in the direction normal to the caliber plane.
Two beams a and b shifted by the element are obtained. In order to form such ultrasonic beams a and b, the same delay is applied to the multiple rings forming the apertures 20a and 20b so as to focus on a point in the normal direction of the aperture passing through the center of the multiple rings. Should be given. And, the above-mentioned diameters 20a, 20
b and 20c are moved to scan the ultrasonic beam in the X and Y directions to obtain three-dimensional volume data and display a three-dimensional image.

Next, a more specific description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows a plurality of transducers 1 in the two-dimensional array shown in FIG.
The probe 10 provided with 9, 19,... Shows a certain transducer row in the X direction when viewed from the side of the arrow A.
The receiving aperture 20a in FIG. 6 forms an ultrasonic beam by the first phasing circuit 25a via the first connection switch group 24a shown in FIG. Further, the other wave receiving aperture 20b is the second
The second phasing circuit 25b via the connection switch group 24b
To form an ultrasonic beam. At this time, 1 to Zch of each of the phasing circuits 25a and 25b correspond to each ring of the aperture 20a and 20b. The concave delays (focus data) of the respective phasing circuits 25a and 25b may have the same contents. At this time, the diameter 20
Since a and 20b are shifted by two elements of the vibrator 19, two ultrasonic beams (a, b) can be formed shifted by two elements of the vibrator 19.

The transmission aperture 20c shown in FIG.
Are connected to the wave transmission phasing unit 29 via the connection switch group 24b. In this case, the second connection switch group 24b is shared by the second phasing circuit 25b and the transmission phasing unit 29, but before the transmission of the ultrasonic beam, the reception aperture 20a and the transmission aperture are transmitted. 20c, and immediately after transmitting the ultrasonic beam at the transmission aperture 20c, the transmission aperture 20c is shifted by one element to form another reception aperture 20b, and the second connection switch group The reception beam may be formed by the second phasing circuit 25b via 24b. As described above, when the second connection switch group 24b is shared, the circuit scale can be reduced, but the second connection switch group 24b is used.
The connection may be made using another transmission phasing switch (not shown) configured and connected in the same manner as b.

The connection of the connection switch groups 24a and 24b is determined by switch connection pattern data prepared in advance. Hereinafter, the connection pattern data of this switch will be described with reference to FIG. 8, but for simplicity,
The number of phasing channels is three, and the number of transducers forming the aperture is five. In the example of FIG. 8, first, in order to form the wave receiving aperture 20a, the switches indicated by the black circles in the broken line pattern corresponding to the first phasing circuit 25a are turned on. Further, in order to form the transmission aperture 20c, in the polygonal line pattern corresponding to the second phasing circuit 25b, the switch indicated by the black circle may be shifted by one element in the Y direction and turned on. Further, in order to form another wave receiving aperture 20b, in the polygonal line pattern corresponding to the second phasing circuit 25b, the switch indicated by the black circle may be further shifted by one element in the Y direction and turned on. .

According to a configuration in which the on / off data of the switch is shifted and set in the Y direction in the phasing channels of the first and second phasing circuits 25a and 25b based on the switch connection pattern data, The caliber can be moved by the clock. Therefore, the diameter can be moved to the wave receiving diameter 20b immediately after transmitting the wave at the wave transmitting diameter 20c. By this operation, two reception beams a and b can be formed symmetrically with respect to the transmission beam T shown in FIG. 6 and in the normal direction of the aperture surface.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the third embodiment. In this embodiment, a plurality of ultrasonic transmission / reception apertures of the probe 10 are formed so as to be shifted from each other, and another ultrasonic transmission / reception aperture is formed so as to surround them on the outside thereof. An ultrasonic wave is transmitted by the aperture, an ultrasonic wave is received by a plurality of inner diameters, and each aperture of the ultrasonic transmission and reception of the probe 10 is connected to each of the plurality of phasing circuits to perform phasing. It is like that.

That is, as shown in FIG.
In the two-dimensional array of transducers 19, for example, four ultrasonic transmission / reception apertures (30a, 30b,
30c, 30d) are set adjacent to each other, and the outside diameters of the ultrasonic transmission / reception 31 constituted by the multiplex ring are set outside the four diameters 30a to 30d. Is the transmission aperture, and the four inner diameters 30a to 30d are the reception apertures.

When an ultrasonic wave is transmitted at the transmission aperture 31, one transmission beam is formed at the center of the multiplex ring in the direction normal to the aperture plane. When ultrasonic waves are received at the inner four receiving apertures 30a to 30d, one receiving beam is formed at the center of each multiplex ring in the direction normal to the aperture face. Four reception beams are formed isotropically for one transmission beam.
In this case, a switch for selecting each aperture and a phasing circuit for forming an ultrasonic beam are required. This allows
Four receiving beams can be formed symmetrically with respect to the transmitting beam and in the normal direction of the aperture plane. Note that, in FIG.
Although 0a to 30d are arranged so as not to overlap each other adjacent to each other, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of apertures are formed so as to overlap each other, and each aperture is enlarged to improve S / N. At the same time, the interval between the receiving beams may be narrowed.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, the diameter of the ultrasonic transmission and reception of the probe 10 is divided into a plurality in the beam scanning direction, and each of the divided diameters is connected to each of the plurality of phasing circuits. Is subjected to a concave delay and a tilt delay to adjust the phase.

That is, as shown in FIG.
An aperture 20 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves formed in a multiplex ring is formed on a transducer 19 having a two-dimensional array of zeros, and the aperture 20 is divided into a plurality of sections so as to be orthogonal to the beam scanning direction (Y direction). . In FIG. 10, for simplicity, it is divided into two,
0 ₁ and a diameter of 20 ₂ . Then, as shown in FIG. 11, each transducer 19 of the probe 10 has an arbitrary one of the first and second phasing circuits 25a and 25b via the first and second connection switch groups 24a and 24b. To the phasing channel. In order to obtain a good ultrasonic beam, the diameter 2
The number of divisions in the scanning direction of 0 may be increased.

Each of the phasing circuits 25a and 25b inputs, for example, the right half 201 of the aperture 20 to channels ₁ to Z / 2,
To enter the left half 20 ₂ to Z / 2 + 1~Zch. In each of the phasing circuits 25a and 25b, concave delays 32a and 32b for focusing on the focal point and tilt delays 33a and 33b for tilting the ultrasonic beam are given as delay amounts.
The beam is tilted. And FIG.
In 1, a transmission beam in the T direction is formed by transmitting an ultrasonic wave to the center of the aperture 20 by a transmission phasing unit (not shown). Further, a reception signal from each transducer 19 forming the aperture 20 is converted into a first and a second phasing circuit 25.
a, 25b in parallel with each other, and the slope delay 33a of the first phase adjustment circuit 25a and the slope delay 33b of the second phase adjustment circuit 25b.
Are given in reverse, two receiving beams in the a direction and the b direction can be formed simultaneously.

In the above description, three-dimensional volume data is obtained by scanning with an ultrasonic beam and a three-dimensional image is displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be obtained and an arbitrary two-dimensional cross-sectional image may be displayed. Although the outer diameter of the aperture for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is circular, the outer shape may be rectangular and each of the multiple rings may be formed therein. Further, the formation of the ultrasonic receiving beam is
Although two to four lines have been described, more beams may be formed. Furthermore, a desired receiving beam may be formed by interpolating between a plurality of receiving beams obtained by coarsening the transmitting beam interval, so that the actual number of ultrasonic beam scanning may be reduced. Further, the present invention is not limited to the probe of the two-dimensional array transducer, and a one-dimensional array transducer may have a left-right bundling configuration.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a main part of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another example. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to this example includes a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged transducers 19 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.
And a phasing circuit (see reference numerals 25a and 25b in FIG. 3) for focusing and phasing and adding the received signal from each transducer 19 of the probe 10. A connection switch group (reference numerals 24a and 24a in FIG. 3) for connecting the vibrators 19 to an arbitrary phasing channel of the phasing circuit
24b) and the two-dimensional array of oscillators 19
The aperture 34 of the ultrasonic transmission and reception is formed by a part of the aperture, and the aperture 34 is moved to scan an ultrasonic beam to form an ultrasonic image. The aperture 34 is used for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. And a different vibrator 19 is used.

The example shown in FIG. 12 is of a sparse array type in which a two-dimensional arrayed transducer is sector-scanned while being divided into a transmission wave and a reception wave. In FIG. 12, the transducer 19 corresponding to the transmission is painted black. The oscillator 19 corresponding to the received wave is shown with a cross, and the unmarked oscillator 19 is not used for transmitting and receiving waves. For example, the boundary of the rectangular aperture 34 is indicated by a thick solid line. In this state, the aperture 34 having the same shape is shifted by one element at a time, and the aperture 34 is two-dimensionally scanned, thereby obtaining three-dimensional volume data and displaying a three-dimensional image. In this case, a wide-field ultrasonic measurement can be realized and can be used for measuring a wide-field area such as an abdomen.

[0047]

The present invention has been configured as described above.
Even if the two-dimensional array transducers are concentrically bundled to form a multi-ring to form an aperture for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and scan an ultrasonic beam to obtain an ultrasonic image of a diagnostic site in real time, By transmitting the ultrasonic beam, reception beams in a plurality of directions can be obtained at the same time. Therefore, the frame rate of the obtained ultrasonic image can be improved, and the real-time property can be improved.

According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of another example, a wide field of view ultrasonic measurement can be realized even in the sparse array system. Therefore, it can be used for measuring a wide field of view such as the abdomen.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view showing a state in which a plurality of apertures of ultrasonic transmission / reception configured in multiple rings are set in the probe of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating scanning of a multiple beam in the above-described probe, in which a reception beam in a plurality of directions is simultaneously obtained by transmitting an ultrasonic beam once.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of each switch of a connection switch group illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another configuration example of each switch of the connection switch group.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating scanning of multiple beams according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing connection pattern data of a connection switch group in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating scanning of a multiple beam according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another example.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a state in which a probe of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus sets an aperture of ultrasonic transmission / reception constituted by multiple rings, and transmits / receives an ultrasonic beam by giving a delay between the rings. FIG.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the principle of the multiplex ring.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating scanning of a received multi-beam in which a received beam is simultaneously formed in a plurality of directions by one ultrasonic transmission in a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Probe 11 ... Element selection data part 12 ... Transmitting part 13 ... Reception phasing part 14 ... Transmission / reception separation circuit 15 ... Signal processing part 16 ... Scan converter 17 ... Monitor 18 ... Control part 19 ... Transducer 20 ... Diameters 20a, 20b, 30a to 30d: Wave reception diameters 20c, 31 ... Wave transmission diameters 24a, 24b ... Connection switch groups 25a, 25b ... Tilt delay 34: Sparse array caliber

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hidezo Sano 1-11-1 Uchikanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside Hitachi Medical Corporation (72) Inventor Shinichiro Umemura 1-280 Higashi Koigakubo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo Address: Hitachi, Ltd. Central Research Laboratory Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuichi Miwa 1-280, Higashi Koigabo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo (72) Hitachi, Ltd. Central Research Laboratory Co., Ltd. No. 14 F term in Hitachi Medical Corporation (reference) 4C301 BB13 EE20 GB10 HH13 HH27 HH37 JB29 KK17 LL04

Claims (10)

[Claims] An ultrasonic transmission / reception system comprising a probe having a plurality of transducers in a two-dimensional array for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, wherein the transducers in the two-dimensional array are concentrically bundled to form a multiple ring. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that forms an aperture, transmits and receives an ultrasonic beam by giving a delay between the rings of the multiplex ring, and moves the aperture to form an ultrasonic image, the probe is multiplexed. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein a plurality of apertures of ultrasonic transmission / reception configured in a ring are set, and a reception beam in a plurality of directions is simultaneously obtained from one of these apertures by transmitting an ultrasonic beam once. 2. A plurality of phasing circuits for focusing and phasing addition of a received signal from each transducer of the probe, and each of the plurality of phasing circuits is provided to an arbitrary phasing channel of the plurality of phasing circuits. By providing a connection switch group for coupling the probe, by connecting each aperture of the ultrasonic transmission and reception of the probe to each of the plurality of phasing circuits and phasing, by simultaneously transmitting the ultrasonic beam once 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein receiving beams in a plurality of directions are obtained. 3. An ultrasonic transmission / reception aperture of the probe is formed in two apertures shifted in a beam scanning direction, an ultrasonic wave is transmitted in one aperture shifted in the scanning direction, and immediately thereafter, the transmission is performed. Further, the aperture used in the scanning direction is further shifted in the scanning direction, ultrasonic waves are received in two apertures together with the other apertures not used in the ultrasonic transmission, and each aperture of the ultrasonic transmission / reception of the probe is subjected to the plurality of phasing. 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the phase adjustment is performed by connecting to each of the circuits. 4. A probe is formed with a plurality of ultrasonic transmission / reception apertures shifted from each other, and other ultrasonic transmission / reception apertures are formed outside thereof so as to surround them. Transmits ultrasonic waves, receives ultrasonic waves with a plurality of inner diameters of the probe, and connects each diameter of the ultrasonic transmission and reception of the probe to each of the plurality of phasing circuits so that phasing is performed. 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: 5. An ultrasonic transmission / reception aperture of the probe is divided into a plurality of beams in a beam scanning direction, and each of the divided apertures is connected to each of the plurality of phasing circuits. 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a phase delay is performed by applying a concave delay and a tilt delay. 6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multiple ring formed by concentrically bundling the transducers in a two-dimensional array of probes is a Fresnel bundle. 7. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the formed ultrasonic image obtains three-dimensional volume data by scanning an ultrasonic beam and displays the three-dimensional image. . 8. The formed ultrasonic image is obtained by obtaining arbitrary two-dimensional cross-sectional data by scanning an ultrasonic beam and displaying an arbitrary two-dimensional cross-sectional image.
7. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to 6. 9. A phasing circuit having a probe having a plurality of transducers in a two-dimensional array for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and focusing and phasing and adding reception signals from the transducers of the probe. And a connection switch group that couples each of the transducers to an arbitrary phasing channel of the phasing circuit, and a part of the two-dimensionally arranged transducers forms an aperture for ultrasonic transmission and reception, An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus wherein an ultrasonic image is formed by scanning an ultrasonic beam while moving the aperture. 10. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the transducers for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic waves use different transducers for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic waves.