Craniocerebral ultrasonic acquisition device

Abstract

The invention belongs to the field of ultrasonic imaging, and particularly relates to a craniocerebral ultrasonic acquisition device which comprises a probe and a controller. Wherein the probe is of a helmet type structure and comprises a shell and array elements, all the array elements are distributed and fixed on the whole shell in an array mode through through holes in the shell, and the number of the array elements is determined according to the size of the shell and the size of a single array element; each array element can be used for receiving and transmitting an ultrasonic signal, and a signal receiving and transmitting end of each array element points to the center of the shell; and the controller is used for sequentially controlling each array element to transmit an ultrasonic signal and receiving the ultrasonic signal by all the array elements after the signal is transmitted. According to the invention, the collection of the craniocerebral three-dimensional total scattering ultrasonic signals can be realized, and accurate and effective actual data can be provided for the research of craniocerebral ultrasonic imaging.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of ultrasonic imaging, and more specifically, relates to a cranial ultrasonic acquisition device. Background Art

[0002] At present, the application of ultrasonic diagnostic equipment in clinical diagnosis has become very popular, and has made great contributions to doctors' accurate understanding of patients' conditions and formulation of medical plans. However, its application in physical examinations is still insufficient, especially in brain ultrasound testing.

[0003] When a patient undergoes a brain ultrasound test, the transmitting probe needs to transmit ultrasound waves, and the receiving probe needs to receive ultrasound waves to achieve the imaging effect. However, current brain ultrasound tests require the operator to control the position of the probe and set the detection parameters based on manual experience to perform groping ultrasound detection, which is too dependent on the operator and the judgment and positioning are not accurate. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of the defects and improvement needs of the prior art, the present invention provides a cranial and cerebral ultrasound acquisition device, the purpose of which is to improve the accuracy of cranial and cerebral ultrasound detection.

[0005] To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a cranial ultrasound acquisition device is provided, comprising: a probe and a controller;

[0006] The probe is a helmet-like structure, including a shell and array elements. All array elements are arrayed and fixed on the entire shell through the through holes on the shell. The number of array elements is determined according to the size of the shell and the size of a single array element. Each array element can be used to receive and transmit ultrasonic signals, and the receiving and transmitting signal ends of each array element point to the center of the shell. The controller is used to control each array element to transmit ultrasonic signals in turn and all array elements receive ultrasonic signals after the signal is transmitted.

[0007] Furthermore, the shell is hemispherical, and the shell depth satisfies: the depth of the device is greater than the average height of the skull, ensuring that the brain of the subject can be completely covered.

[0008] Furthermore, each array element is cylindrical.

[0009] Furthermore, the controller is also used to perform cranial ultrasonic imaging according to all ultrasonic signals received by the array elements.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention also provides a method for collecting cranial ultrasound signals, wherein a cranial ultrasound collecting device as described above is put on a subject to be measured, and ultrasonic signals are collected under the control of a controller in the cranial ultrasound collecting device.

[0011] Furthermore, the diameter of the helmet-type structure of the cranial ultrasound acquisition device is larger than the average skull diameter of the subject to be measured.

[0012] Furthermore, a solid coupling agent is provided between the cranial and brain ultrasound acquisition device and the object to be measured.

[0013] Furthermore, the method also includes: performing cranial ultrasonic imaging according to all ultrasonic signals received by the array elements.

[0014] In general, the above technical solutions conceived by the present invention can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0015] (1) The present invention proposes a cranial ultrasound acquisition device. First, the ultrasound probe is in a helmet-like structure. The shape of the helmet needs to take ergonomics into consideration, so as to meet the requirements of cranial imaging detection integrity for different patients. The patient only needs to keep his head fixed, which can improve the comfort level compared with the prior art. Second, all array elements are arrayed and fixed on the entire shell through the through holes on the shell. The controller can control each array element to transmit an ultrasonic signal in turn, and all array elements receive the ultrasonic signal after the signal is transmitted. That is, each array element can be used as a transmitting unit. At the same time, each array element can also be used as a receiving unit. After an array element transmits a signal, multiple receiving array elements can jointly receive the ultrasonic wave to complete imaging acquisition. When receiving the signal, some array elements, that is, the array elements located opposite to the transmitting array element, will receive the transmission signal of the brain tissue. The transmission signal can be used for full waveform inversion, so as to ensure the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the cranial ultrasound image of the present invention.

[0016] (2) The present invention also provides a method for collecting ultrasound data of the brain, which is an automated ultrasound collection method that can use a variety of probe modes. On the one hand, it can accurately locate the brain, and on the other hand, it is conducive to comprehensive detection and judgment, thereby improving the imaging effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a probe in a cranial ultrasound acquisition device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of array element configuration provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an application of a cranial ultrasound acquisition device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0021] Embodiment 1

[0022] A cranial ultrasound acquisition device comprises: a probe and a controller; wherein, Figure 1 As shown, the probe has a helmet-like structure, including a shell and array elements. All array elements are arrayed and fixed on the entire shell through the through holes on the shell. The number of array elements is determined according to the size of the shell and the size of a single array element. Each array element can be used to receive and transmit ultrasonic signals, and the receiving and transmitting signal ends of each array element point to the center of the shell, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown; the controller is used to control each array element to transmit an ultrasonic signal in turn and all array elements receive the ultrasonic signal after the signal is transmitted.

[0023] This embodiment proposes a cranial ultrasound acquisition device, in which the ultrasound probe is a helmet-type structure, and the controller can control each array element to emit an ultrasonic signal in turn and all array elements receive the ultrasonic signal after the signal is emitted. In this acquisition device, each array element can be used as a transmitting unit, and at the same time, each array element can also be used as a receiving unit. After an array element transmits a signal, multiple receiving array elements can jointly receive ultrasound to complete imaging acquisition. Changing the transmitting array element and then transmitting and receiving the signal, repeating the operation can complete the layered three-dimensional cranial image acquisition. When receiving the signal, some array elements, that is, the array elements located opposite the transmitting array element, will receive the transmission signal of the brain tissue, and the transmission signal can be used for full waveform inversion.

[0024] After a signal is sent, this device can receive signals passing through the imaging object at 360°. The concept of full waveform inversion originated from geophysics. When there are defects such as looseness and honeycomb holes inside the concrete, wave scattering and diffraction will occur. The acoustic parameters of the concrete within the measured range can be obtained based on the initial arrival time of the wave, the energy attenuation characteristics of the wave, the frequency change, and the degree of waveform distortion. The application of this method in human tissue ultrasound is under discussion, but when structures such as bones, blood vessels, and tumors appear in human tissue, the acoustic parameters of the human tissue within the measured range can be obtained based on the initial arrival time of the wave, the energy attenuation characteristics of the wave, the frequency change, and the degree of waveform distortion. It is currently believed that it has great potential in imaging correction.

[0025] The device of this embodiment is a helmet-type structure. Figure 3As shown, the shape of the helmet needs to take ergonomics into consideration, so as to meet the requirements of different patients for cranial imaging detection. The patient only needs to keep his head fixed, which can improve comfort compared with the existing technology.

[0026] As a preferred embodiment, the shell is hemispherical, such as Figure 3 As shown, the shell depth satisfies: the device depth is greater than the average height of the skull, ensuring that the subject's brain can be fully covered. According to human brain images, if the device needs to collect signals from the entire brain, the device depth needs to be greater than the average height of the skull to ensure signal collection from the entire brain.

[0027] As a preferred implementation, each array element is cylindrical, easy to move, and simple in result.

[0028] As a preferred implementation, the controller is also used to perform cranial ultrasonic imaging based on all ultrasonic signals received by the array elements.

[0029] In the specific implementation, a control mainboard can be used to control multiple transmitting / collecting circuit boards to control the entire system's transmission, collection, and data transmission process. During the transmission process, the pulse generator with integrated T / R switch generates a high-voltage pulse signal, which is then used to excite the selected array element through a multiplexed high-voltage analog switch to transmit ultrasound; the ultrasound passes through the tissue to obtain reflected echoes and transmitted echoes, and enters the receiving state. The high-voltage analog switch is switched multiple times to obtain scattered signals received by different array elements, and the scattered signals pass through the receiving path of the pulse generator to obtain low-voltage signals; the low-voltage signal flows to the ultrasound analog front end (ADC), and is then simply amplified, low-pass filtered, and sampled to be converted into a digital signal that is transmitted to the FPGA for packaging. The FPGA then transmits the original data packet to the server through the gigabit network port. The server decodes the collected original data packet, pre-processes the data, and uses the GPU to reconstruct the image.

[0030] In general, the probe operation and control of this embodiment is automated and can be connected in multiple ways at once, which can accurately locate and facilitate comprehensive detection, thereby improving the imaging effect.

[0031] Embodiment 2

[0032] A method for collecting cranial ultrasound signals comprises putting a cranial ultrasound collecting device as described in the first embodiment on a subject to be measured, and collecting ultrasonic signals under the control of a controller in the cranial ultrasound collecting device.

[0033] Since each array element can be used as a transmitting unit, each array element can also be used as a receiving unit. After one array element transmits a signal, multiple receiving array elements can jointly receive ultrasound to complete imaging acquisition. Changing the transmitting array element and then transmitting and receiving the signal, repeating the operation can complete the acquisition of layered three-dimensional cranial brain images.

[0034] As a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the helmet-type structure of the cranial ultrasound acquisition device is larger than the average skull diameter of the object to be measured, so as to conform to ergonomics and ensure comfort.

[0035] As a preferred implementation, in order to reduce the serious impact of air ultrasonic attenuation on imaging accuracy, a solid coupling agent can be set between the cranial ultrasonic acquisition device and the object to be measured, and the solid coupling agent can be used to achieve coupling between the ultrasonic transducer and the scanned object.

[0036] As a preferred implementation, the method further includes: performing ultrasonic brain imaging according to all ultrasonic signals received by the array elements.

[0037] The relevant technical solution is the same as that in Embodiment 1 and will not be described in detail here.

[0038] It will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cranial ultrasound acquisition device, characterized in that: include: Probes and controllers; The probe is a helmet-like structure, including a shell and array elements. All array elements are arrayed and fixed on the entire shell through the through holes on the shell. The number of array elements is determined according to the size of the shell and the size of a single array element. Each array element can be used to receive and transmit ultrasonic signals, and the receiving and transmitting signal ends of each array element point to the center of the shell. The controller is used to control each array element to transmit ultrasonic signals in turn and all array elements receive ultrasonic signals after the signal is transmitted.

2. A cranial ultrasound acquisition device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell is hemispherical, and the shell depth satisfies: the device depth is greater than the average height of the skull, ensuring that the brain of the subject can be completely covered.

3. A cranial ultrasound acquisition device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each array element is cylindrical.

4. The cranial ultrasound acquisition device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controller is also used to perform cranial ultrasonic imaging according to all ultrasonic signals received by the array elements.

5. A method for collecting cranial ultrasound, characterized in that: The cranial ultrasound acquisition device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 is put on the subject to be tested, and ultrasonic signal acquisition is performed under the control of a controller in the cranial ultrasound acquisition device.

6. A method for collecting cranial ultrasound data according to claim 5, characterized in that: The diameter of the helmet-type structure of the cranial ultrasound acquisition device is larger than the average skull diameter of the object to be measured.

7. A method for collecting cranial ultrasound data according to claim 5, characterized in that: A solid coupling agent is arranged between the cranial ultrasound acquisition device and the object to be measured.

8. The method for collecting cranial ultrasound data according to claim 5, characterized in that: Also includes: The brain ultrasound imaging is performed based on all the ultrasound signals received by the array elements.

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