JPH05184566A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the constitution, and to switch a probe at a high speed by providing a means by which many electronic switches for connecting each ultrasonic vibrator transducer of the probe and a transmitting/receiving circuit are turned on and off selectively and successively in accordance with a control signal, and also, which is held in a turn-off state in accordance with a reset signal. CONSTITUTION:In a scanning switching combined switch unit 21 provided in accordance with each probe 11, by holding each electronic switch SW1-SWN of the switch unit 21 corresponding to the probe 11 which is not used, in a turn-off state by reset signals RS1, RS2, the probe 11 which is used is selected. Subsequently, by turning on and off each electronic switch SW1-SWN of the switch unit 21 corresponding to the selected probe 11 by a control signal CS, each ultrasonic vibrator transducer 12 of the selected probe 11 is connected to a transmitting/receiving circuit 14 and driven selectively and successively and an ultrasonic scanning is executed. In such a way, the constitution can be simplified, and also, the probe can be switched at a high speed.

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 uses a probe having a transducer array built-in to perform diagnosis by ultrasonic scanning, and in particular, an ultrasonic wave which can be used by switching a plurality of probes. Regarding diagnostic equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional example of a transmitting / receiving section of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this type.

As shown in the figure, this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with two probes 11. These probes 11
Includes a transducer array 13 including a large number (N) of ultrasonic transducers 12 (hereinafter, simply referred to as transducers 12). A transmitter / receiver circuit 14 is provided to drive the transducer 12 of the probe 11. The transmission / reception circuit 14 sends a drive signal to each transducer 12 of the probe 11 to emit an ultrasonic wave, and receives a detection signal of a reflected ultrasonic wave by each transducer 12. There are provided M transmission / reception circuits 14 of which the number is smaller than the number.

Further, a probe switching switch 15 is provided corresponding to each probe 11. This probe switching switch 15 is composed of N mechanical switches 16 using relays, the same number as the transducers 12 of each probe 11, and each mechanical switch 16 switches each probe. The switch 15 is turned on / off according to the levels of the reset signals RS1 and RS2 applied to the switch 15. Therefore, the probe 11 can be switched by changing the levels of the reset signals RS1 and RS2 supplied to the probe changing switch 15.

Further, a scanning switch 17 is interposed between each probe switching switch 15 and the transmission / reception circuit 14. This scanning switch 17 is provided for each probe 11
The same number of N electronic switches 18 as that of the vibrator 12 of M.C., and the same number M of the N electronic switches 18 as that of the transmission / reception circuit 14 are selectively turned on / off in accordance with the control signal CS. Therefore, this scanning switch 1
By applying the control signal CS to 7, the transmission / reception circuit 14 and each transducer 12 of the probe 11 can be selectively and sequentially connected.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration, reset signals RS1 and RS given to the respective probe changing switches 15 are provided.
2, the probe 11 to be used is selected, and the transducer 12 of the selected probe 11 is selectively connected to the transmission / reception circuit 14 and driven by giving the control signal CS to the scanning switch 17. Thus, ultrasonic scanning is performed.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a probe switching switch 15 is provided corresponding to each probe 11, and a scanning switch 17 is provided separately therefrom. Therefore, there is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated.

Further, since the probe switching switch 15 is composed of a mechanical switch 16 using a relay,
There is also a problem that the probe 11 cannot be switched at high speed.

The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a simple structure and capable of switching the probe at high speed.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has a large number of electronic switches that connect each ultrasonic transducer of a probe and a transmitting / receiving circuit. A scanning switching / switching switch device, in which each of the electronic switches is selectively turned on / off in accordance with a control signal and is held in an off state according to a reset signal, is provided for each probe.

[0011]

The electronic switch of the scanning / switching switch device corresponding to the unused probe among the scanning / switching switch devices provided corresponding to each probe is turned off by the reset signal. By holding the probe, the probe to be used can be selected.

Then, each of the ultrasonic transducers of the selected probe is selectively and sequentially transmitted / received by turning on / off each electronic switch of the scanning changeover switch device corresponding to the selected probe by a control signal. Ultrasonic scanning can be performed by connecting to and driving.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. Note that, in FIG. 1, constituent elements that are not different from the conventional example shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, instead of the probe switching switch and the scanning switch in the conventional example, the scanning switching / switching switch is provided with the functions of both switches. The device 21 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a switch device 21) is provided corresponding to each probe 11.

That is, the switch device 21 connects the ultrasonic transducers 12 forming the transducer array 13 of each probe 11 and the transmission / reception circuit 14 with the same number (N) as the transducers 12, Electronic switch S using MOSFET etc.
Of the N electronic switches SW1 to SWN, the same number of M switches as the transceiver circuit 14 is selectively turned on in accordance with the control signal CS. As a result, each transducer 12 of the probe 11 is selectively and sequentially connected to the transmission / reception circuit 14 according to the control signal CS. Further, each of the electronic switches SW1 to SWN is
It is held in the off state according to the reset signals RS1 and RS2.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided with the switch device 21, the level of the reset signals RS1 and RS2 given to each switch device 21 is changed so that each electronic device of the switch device 21 corresponding to the unused probe 11 is changed. Switch S
By holding W1 to SWN in the OFF state, the probe 11 to be used can be selected.

Then, the electronic switches SW1 to SWN of the switch device 21 corresponding to the selected probe 11 are turned on / off by the control signal CS, so that each transducer 12 of the selected probe 11 is selectively selected. Then, the ultrasonic scanning can be performed by sequentially connecting and driving the transmitting / receiving circuit 14. At this time, the control signal CS
Is configured to be provided to each switch device 21 by one line as shown in the figure, the electronic switches SW1 to SWN
Is held in the off state by the reset signal RS1 or RS2.
It does not work for S.

Further, if each switch device 21 is constructed so that different control signals CS are given on different lines, both probes 1 are reset by the reset signals RS1 and RS2.
It is also possible to select 1 and perform ultrasonic scanning independently of both of the probes 11.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration, by using the switch device 21, it is not necessary to separately provide the probe switching switch and the scanning switch.
The configuration is simplified accordingly. Further, the switch device 21
Is an electronic switch SW1 that switches at high speed
Since the SWN is used, the switching between the probe used and the probe not used is accelerated.

Although the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has been described with reference to the case where the two probes 11 are provided in the above embodiment, it is also applicable to the case where three or more probes 11 are provided. Not to mention getting it.

As a concrete configuration example of the switch device 21, for example, as shown in the schematic configuration diagram of FIG. 2, an electronic switch S is constituted by using a latch 31 and a shift register 32.
There is one in which W1 to SWN are turned on and off.
The latch 31 has the same number of outputs Q1 to QN as the electronic switches SW1 to SWN, that is, the same number as the oscillators 12 of each probe 11, and the respective outputs Q1 to QN.
The electronic switches SW1 to SWN are turned on / off according to N. The latch 31 has a reset signal RS1,
RS2 can hold each of the electronic switches SW1 to SWN in the off state.

On the other hand, the shift register 32 is of a type that outputs serially input signals in parallel, and controls the latch 31 according to the data-in (DIN) signal of the control signal CS and the clock signal. The electronic switches SW1 to SWN can be selectively turned on and off sequentially.

Since the switch device 21 using the latch 31 and the shift register 32 has a simple structure and is of an electronic type, the switch device 21 capable of high-speed switching can be easily realized.

Here, the number N of transducers 12 of each probe 11
The ON / OFF control of the electronic switches SW1 to SWN when the number M of the transmission / reception circuits 14 is 3 will be described. In this case, the switch device 21 is provided with eight electronic switches SW1 to SW8, an 8-bit latch 31 and a shift register 32.

As shown in the timing chart of FIG. 3A, one of the two probes 11 is selected by changing the levels of the reset signals RS1 and RS2. Here, the level of the reset signal RS1 is high and the level of the reset signal RS2 is low. Therefore, all the electronic switches SW1 to SW8 of the switch device 21 which have given the low-level reset signal RS2 to the latch 31 are held in the OFF state, and the transducers 12 of the probe 11 corresponding to the switch device 21 transmit and receive. The circuit 14 is cut off.

Then, a clock signal having eight pulses and a DIN signal which is at a high level for a period corresponding to three pulses of the clock signal are input to the shift register 32 of each switch device 21 as the control signal CS. To do. Then, in the switch device 21 that has given the high-level reset signal RS1 to the latch 31, first, according to the timing of the clock signal of the control signal CS and the DIN signal, the three outputs Q1 of the latch 31 as shown in FIG. , Q2, Q3 become high level, and the three electronic switches SW1, SW2, SW3 corresponding thereto are turned on. At the same time, the other five outputs Q4 to Q of the latch 31
8 goes low, and the corresponding five electronic switches SW4 to SW8 are turned off.

Next, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 3 (B), the timing of the DIN signal is advanced by one pulse of the clock signal to turn on the three electronic switches SW2, SW3, SW4 which are shifted by one. , The other electronic switches SW1 and SW5 to SW8 are turned off.

By thus shifting the timing of the DIN signal by one pulse of the clock signal, the electronic switches SW1 to SW8 of the switch device 21 are shifted.
Can be sequentially turned on and off by threes, whereby each transducer 12 of the selected probe 11 can be selectively connected to and sequentially driven by the transmission / reception circuit 14 to perform ultrasonic scanning.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By providing the scanning switching / switching switch device, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a simple configuration and capable of switching the probe at high speed.

Further, by constructing the scan switching / switching device using the latch and the shift register, the scan switching / switching device capable of high-speed switching can be easily realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a transmission / reception unit of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a specific configuration example of the scanning switching / switching device of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

3A and 3B are timing charts illustrating ON / OFF control of an electronic switch in a specific configuration example of a scan switching / switching switch device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Probe 12 Ultrasonic Transducer 13 Transducer Array 14 Transmitting / Receiving Circuit 21 Scan Switching / Switching Device 31 Latch 32 Shift Register SW1 to SWN Electronic Switch

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A selected probe comprising: a plurality of probes having a transducer array including a large number of ultrasonic transducers; and a transmitter / receiver circuit for driving the ultrasonic transducers of the respective transducers. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which performs ultrasonic scanning by selectively connecting and driving each ultrasonic transducer of (1) to the transmission / reception circuit, each ultrasonic transducer of the probe and the transmission / reception circuit are connected. A scanning switching / switching device that has a large number of electronic switches to be connected, each of which is selectively turned on and off in accordance with a control signal and is held in an off state in accordance with a reset signal, is associated with each probe. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by being provided as. 2. The scan switching / switching switch device selects each electronic switch by turning on / off each electronic switch and holding a latch that can be held in an off state by a reset signal, and by controlling the latch according to a control signal. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is configured using a shift register that sequentially turns on and off.