Ultrasonic equipment and ultrasonic imaging method

Abstract

The invention discloses ultrasonic equipment and an ultrasonic imaging method. The ultrasonic equipment comprises a probe and a host, wherein the probe comprises an array element and a filtering module corresponding to the array element, and the host comprises a control unit, a transmitting module and a receiving module; and the control unit controls whether the filtering module in the probe is connected to the array element corresponding to the filtering module according to the current imaging mode, and controls the filtering module in the probe to be connected to the array element corresponding to the filtering module when entering the continuous wave Doppler mode. Harmonic interference of the electric signals can be reduced, so that the local temperature rise degree of the probe is weakened, and compared with the prior art that the local temperature rise degree of the probe is weakened by reducing the emission voltage, the sensitivity of the probe can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of ultrasonic equipment, and in particular, relates to an ultrasonic equipment and an ultrasonic imaging method. Background Art

[0002] Ultrasonic equipment usually includes a host device and a probe connected to the host device. Ultrasonic imaging technology uses an ultrasonic beam of a set frequency emitted by the ultrasonic device to scan the part of the human body to be detected, and obtains an image of the part to be detected by receiving and processing the ultrasonic reflection signal.

[0003] The probe is a device with broadband response. The wider bandwidth response is often used in grayscale imaging mode (B mode) and color blood flow imaging mode (C mode), and the narrower bandwidth response is often used in continuous wave Doppler imaging mode (CW mode). In CW mode, a part of the array elements in the probe continuously transmit ultrasonic waves to achieve narrowband transmission, while the other part of the array elements continuously receive ultrasonic waves to achieve narrowband response.

[0004] In CW mode, the greater the transmit voltage, the higher the sensitivity of the ultrasound device. However, the increase in transmit voltage will result in stronger energy of high-frequency harmonics that exceed the corresponding bandwidth of the probe. At the same time, most of the energy of high-frequency harmonics is converted into heat in the probe, causing the local temperature of the probe to be too high during continuous transmission. Therefore, compared with B mode and C mode, the ultrasound device in CW mode will improve the heating of the probe by reducing the transmit voltage. However, the reduction in transmit voltage will reduce the intensity of the echo signal, thereby reducing the sensitivity of the ultrasound device. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present application is to provide an ultrasound device and an ultrasound imaging method to solve the problem of how to reduce local heating of the probe and improve the sensitivity of the probe.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides an ultrasound device, comprising a probe and a host; wherein the probe comprises an array element and a filter module corresponding to the array element, and the host comprises a control unit, a transmitting module and a receiving module;

[0007] The transmitting module is used to generate an electrical signal of a set waveform;

[0008] The control unit is used to control whether the filter module is connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module according to the current imaging mode;

[0009] The filtering module is used for filtering the electrical signal received by the array element and / or the echo electrical signal sent by the array element when the control unit controls the filtering module to be connected to the array element;

[0010] The array element is used to convert the received electrical signal into ultrasonic wave and transmit it, and / or convert the received echo signal into an echo electrical signal, wherein the received electrical signal includes the electrical signal filtered by the filtering module, or the electrical signal not filtered by the filtering module;

[0011] The receiving module is used to process the received echo electrical signal and output ultrasonic imaging information, wherein the received echo electrical signal includes the echo electrical signal filtered by the filtering module or the echo electrical signal not filtered by the filtering module.

[0012] In a second aspect, the present application provides an ultrasonic imaging method, which is applied to an ultrasonic device, wherein the ultrasonic device includes a probe and a host; the probe includes an array element and a filter module corresponding to the array element, and the host includes a control unit, a transmitting module, and a receiving module. The method includes:

[0013] Controlling, by a control unit, whether the filter module is connected to an array element corresponding to the filter module according to a current imaging mode, and generating, by a transmitting module, an electrical signal of a set waveform;

[0014] Converting the received electrical signal into ultrasonic waves and transmitting them through array elements, and / or converting the received echo signals into echo electrical signals, wherein the received electrical signals include electrical signals filtered by the filtering module when the control unit controls the filtering module to access the array elements, or electrical signals not filtered by the filtering module;

[0015] The received echo electrical signal is processed by the receiving module to output ultrasonic imaging information, wherein the received echo electrical signal includes the echo electrical signal filtered by the filtering module when the control unit controls the filtering module to access the array element, or the echo electrical signal not filtered by the filtering module.

[0016] The technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present application brings at least the following beneficial effects:

[0017] An ultrasound device and an ultrasound imaging method provided by the present application add a controllable filter module in the probe. According to the current imaging mode, a control unit is used to control whether the filter module in the probe is connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module. When the filter module in the probe is controlled to be connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module, the harmonic interference of the electrical signal can be reduced, thereby reducing the local temperature rise of the probe. Compared with the method of reducing the local temperature rise of the probe by reducing the transmitting voltage provided in the related art, the sensitivity of the probe can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings introduced below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0019] Figure 1 A block diagram of an ultrasound device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the filter circuit structure provided in the embodiment of the present application Figure 1 ;

[0021] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a first circuit topology structure provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 1 ;

[0022] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a first circuit topology structure provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 2 ;

[0023] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a second circuit topology structure provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 1 ;

[0024] Figure 6 The second circuit topology structure provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. Figure 2 ;

[0025] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a third circuit topology structure provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 1 ;

[0026] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a third circuit topology structure provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 2 ;

[0027] Fig. 9 A fourth circuit topology structure provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. Figure 1 ;

[0028] Fig.10 A fourth circuit topology structure provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. Figure 2 ;

[0029] Fig.11 A fifth circuit topology structure provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. Figure 1 ;

[0030] Fig.12 A fifth circuit topology structure provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. Figure 2 ;

[0031] Fig.13 A schematic diagram of an array element multiplexing topology structure provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Fig.14 A schematic diagram of a first circuit topology structure of multiple frequency points provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Fig.15 A schematic diagram of the structure of an LC filter type transmission filter module provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Fig.16 A schematic diagram of the passive filtering receiving filter module structure provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Fig.17 A schematic diagram of the structure of an active filtering receiving filter module provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] Fig.18 A flow chart of an ultrasonic imaging method provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical scheme in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Among them, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0038] Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, “ / ” means or. For example, A / B can mean A or B. The “and / or” in the text is merely a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, “multiple” refers to two or more than two.

[0039] In the following, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as suggesting or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more.

[0040] Ultrasonic imaging technology uses an ultrasonic beam of a set frequency emitted by an ultrasonic device to scan the part of the human body to be detected, and obtains imaging information of the part to be detected by receiving and processing the ultrasonic reflection signal. Ultrasonic equipment usually consists of two parts: a host and a probe. The probe is a broadband response device. For different ultrasonic imaging modes, the frequency range and mode of emitting ultrasonic beams are different. A wider bandwidth response is often used in grayscale imaging mode (B mode) and color blood flow imaging mode (C mode), while a narrower bandwidth response is often used in continuous wave Doppler imaging mode (CW mode). In CW mode, a part of the array elements in the probe continuously emit ultrasonic waves to achieve narrowband emission, while the other part of the array elements continuously receive ultrasonic waves to achieve narrowband response.

[0041] In CW mode, the greater the transmit voltage, the higher the sensitivity of the ultrasound device. However, the increase in transmit voltage will result in stronger energy of high-frequency harmonics that exceed the corresponding bandwidth of the probe, and more high-frequency harmonic energy converted into heat in the probe, resulting in excessive local temperature of the probe during continuous transmission. For example, if the probe bandwidth is 1-6MHZ, when a 2MHZ CW wave is transmitted, most of the energy in the harmonics of the 6MHZ and above spectrum is converted into heat, causing the probe temperature to rise. Therefore, compared with B mode and C mode, the ultrasound device in CW mode will improve the heating of the probe by reducing the transmit voltage. However, the reduction in transmit voltage will reduce the strength of the echo signal, thereby reducing the sensitivity of the ultrasound device.

[0042] In view of the above problems, the present application provides an ultrasound device and an ultrasound imaging method, which adds a controllable filter module in the probe, and controls whether the filter module in the probe is connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module through a control unit according to the current imaging mode. When the filter module in the probe is controlled to be connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module, the harmonic interference of the electrical signal can be reduced, thereby reducing the local temperature rise of the probe. Compared with the related art of reducing the local temperature rise of the probe by reducing the transmitting voltage, the sensitivity of the probe can be improved.

[0043] The embodiments of the present disclosure are further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0044] like Figure 1 , which is a block diagram of an ultrasound device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The ultrasound device includes a probe 10 and a host 20; wherein the probe 10 includes an array element 101 and a filter module 102 corresponding to the array element 101, and the host 20 includes a control unit 201, a transmitting module 202 and a receiving module 203; wherein:

[0045] A control unit 201, configured to control whether the filter module 102 is connected to the array element 101 corresponding to the filter module 102 according to the current imaging mode;

[0046] The transmitting module 202 is used to generate an electrical signal of a set waveform;

[0047] The filter module 102 is used to filter the electrical signal received by the array element 101 and / or the echo electrical signal sent by the array element 101 when the control unit 201 controls the filter module 102 to access the array element;

[0048] The array element 101 is used to convert the received electrical signal into ultrasonic waves and transmit the ultrasonic waves, and / or convert the received echo signals into echo electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals received by the array element 101 include electrical signals filtered by the filtering module 102 or electrical signals not filtered by the filtering module 102;

[0049] The receiving module 203 is used to process the received echo electrical signal and output ultrasonic imaging information, wherein the echo electrical signal received by the receiving module 203 includes the echo electrical signal filtered by the filtering module 102 or the echo electrical signal not filtered by the filtering module 102 .

[0050] Based on the above-mentioned ultrasound device provided in the embodiment of the present application, a controllable filter module is added to the probe. According to the current imaging mode, the control unit controls whether the filter module in the probe is connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module. When the filter module in the probe is controlled to be connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module, the harmonic interference of the electrical signal can be reduced, thereby reducing the local temperature rise of the probe. Compared with the method of reducing the local temperature rise of the probe by reducing the transmitting voltage provided in the related art, the sensitivity of the probe can be improved.

[0051] like Figure 1 As shown, the control unit 201 can control the path between the transmitting module 202 and the receiving module 203 and the array element 101 to be connected, that is, the control unit 201 controls the filter module 102 not to be connected to the array element 101 corresponding to the filter module 102; the control unit 201 can also control the path between the transmitting module 202 and the receiving module 203 and the filter module 102 and the array element 101 to be connected, that is, the control unit 201 controls the filter module 102 to be connected to the array element 101 corresponding to the filter module 102.

[0052] If the control unit 201 controls the path between the transmitting module 202 and the receiving module 203 and the array element 101 to be connected, the electric signal transmitted by the transmitting module 202 is not filtered by the filtering module 102, and the electric signal is directly sent to the array element 101, and the echo electric signal sent by the array element 101 is not filtered by the filtering module 102, but the echo electric signal is directly sent to the receiving module 203; if the control unit 201 controls the path between the transmitting module 202 and the receiving module 203 and the filtering module 102 and the array element 101 to be connected, the electric signal transmitted by the transmitting module 202 is filtered by the filtering module 102 and then sent to the array element 101, and the echo electric signal sent by the array element 101 is filtered by the filtering module 102 and then sent to the receiving module 203.

[0053] In one or more embodiments, Figure 2 As shown, the ultrasound device provided in the embodiment of the present application may further include an ultrasound channel 30, the ultrasound channel 30 connects the probe 10 and the host 20, and the probe 10 further includes a switching module 103;

[0054] In some embodiments, the switching module 103 may include a first branch and a second branch, and the control unit 201 controls whether the filter module 102 is connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module 102 by controlling the conduction state of the first branch and the second branch according to the current imaging mode.

[0055] The control unit 201 is specifically used to: if the imaging mode is a non-continuous wave Doppler mode, control the first branch of the switching module 103 to be turned on to open the path between the array element and the ultrasound channel; if the imaging mode is a continuous wave Doppler mode, control the second branch of the switching module 103 to be turned on to open the path between the array element, the filtering module and the ultrasound channel.

[0056] When it is determined that the current imaging mode is the continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, in order to avoid the problem of excessive local temperature rise of the probe caused by continuous emission of ultrasonic waves, the control unit 201 is used to control the first branch of the switching module 103 to be turned on, so as to turn on the path between the array element, the filter module and the ultrasonic channel, so that the filter module is connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module, so as to filter the electrical signal received by the array element and / or the echo electrical signal emitted by the array element;

[0057] When it is determined that the current imaging mode is not the continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, the control unit 201 controls the second branch of the switching module 103 to be turned on, so as to turn on the path between the array element and the ultrasound channel, so that the filter module is not connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module, thereby not filtering the electrical signal received by the array element and / or the echo electrical signal emitted by the array element.

[0058] Specifically, Figure 2FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the filter circuit structure provided in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 , refer to Figure 2 The switching module 103 may include a controllable switch S1031, a controllable switch S1032 and a controllable switch S1033. When the controllable switch S1031 is closed and the controllable switch S1032 and the controllable switch S1033 are both opened, the first branch of the switching module 103 is turned on. When the controllable switch S1032 and the controllable switch S1033 are both closed and the controllable switch S1031 is opened, the second branch of the switching module 103 is turned on.

[0059] It should be noted that the controllable switches are provided on both sides of the filter module in order to prevent the filter module from causing crosstalk to other circuits of the ultrasound device in the non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode.

[0060] Furthermore, the controllable switch in the embodiment of the present application is communicatively connected to the control unit 201 in the host 20.

[0061] Therefore, in the non-continuous wave Doppler mode, the control unit 201 controls the controllable switch S1032 to be closed, and the controllable switch S1032 and the controllable switch S1033 to be disconnected, so as to connect the path between the array element and the ultrasonic channel, so that the filter module is not connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module. Correspondingly, in the continuous wave Doppler mode, the control unit 201 controls the controllable switch S1032 and the controllable switch S1033 to be closed, and the controllable switch S1031 to be disconnected, so as to connect the path between the array element, the filter module and the ultrasonic channel, so that the filter module is connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module.

[0062] It should be noted that the controllable switch in the embodiment of the present application can be any type of controllable switch. For example, it can be a controllable switch formed by suitable electronic devices such as diodes, triodes, metal oxide semiconductor transistors (MOS tubes) and / or dedicated controllable switch chips, etc., or it can be other suitable switching circuits that can block high voltage and conduct low voltage.

[0063] In the case where the continuous wave Doppler imaging mode shares the same set of transmitting modules and receiving modules with other modes, the present application controls whether to filter the electrical signals received by the array elements and / or the echo electrical signals emitted by the array elements by setting a switching module and a filtering module in the probe and controlling the state change of the switching module according to the imaging mode. There is no need to change the circuit structure of the host. Instead, the parameters of the switching module and the filtering module in the probe are changed according to the required continuous wave Doppler imaging mode parameters to make the probe adapt to the host.

[0064] Furthermore, in the continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, the electric signal received by the array element is filtered by the filter module, and the narrowband transmission is achieved by filtering out the redundant harmonics and the noise caused by other circuits, thereby improving the transmission efficiency of the probe and improving the heating condition of the probe; at the same time, the echo electric signal emitted by the array element is filtered by the filter module to reduce the high-frequency noise and aliasing noise, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the receiving link.

[0065] In an embodiment of the present application, the probe may include multiple array elements 101, for example, N array elements, defined as array element 1, array element 2, ... array element N, and the host may include multiple ultrasound channels 30, for example, M array elements, defined as channel 1, channel 2, ... channel M, one end of each ultrasound channel 30 is connected to the corresponding transmitting module and receiving module, and the other end is connected to the corresponding switching module, wherein the number of array elements N is not greater than the number of ultrasound channels M.

[0066] In the continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, two groups are formed from the N array elements, each group having at least one array element, one group of array elements is used to convert the electrical signal received from the ultrasound channel into ultrasonic transmission, and the other group of array elements is used to receive the echo signal, convert the received echo signal into an echo electrical signal, and output the echo electrical signal to the receiving module through the ultrasound channel connected to the array element. Therefore, in some embodiments, the aforementioned filtering module 102 includes a transmitting filtering module and / or a receiving filtering module.

[0067] Among them, the transmitting filter module is used to filter out high-order harmonics to ensure that the transmitting frequency of the probe is a single narrow-band signal and is within the probe bandwidth response range, thereby reducing the heating of the probe by reducing the dissipation of energy outside the probe bandwidth range; the receiving filter module is used to filter out the noise of the second harmonic, thereby reducing the mixing noise of the high-order harmonics generated by the host in the mixing stage.

[0068] The circuit topology provided in the embodiment of the present application is described below based on possible circuit topologies of a switching module and a filtering module in the probe.

[0069] like Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first circuit topology structure provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 . Reference Figure 3 The switching module 103 includes a first switching module 1031, the first switching module 1031 includes six terminals for connecting to array elements, filter modules and ultrasound channels 30, and the filter module 102 includes a transmitting filter module 1021a and a receiving filter module 1022a; wherein:

[0070] A first end a1 of the first switching module 1031 is connected to the array element 101, a second end a2 of the first switching module 1031 is connected to the second end of the ultrasound channel 30, a third end a3 of the first switching module 1031 is connected to the first end of the transmitting filter module 202, a fourth end a4 of the first switching module 1031 is connected to the second end of the transmitting filter module 1021a, a fifth end a5 of the first switching module 1031 is connected to the first end of the receiving filter module 1022a, and a sixth end a6 of the first switching module 1031 is connected to the second end of the receiving filter module 1022a;

[0071] In the first circuit topology, the first switching module 1031 includes a first branch and a second branch, and the second branch includes a first sub-branch and a second sub-branch;

[0072] The first branch is located between the first end a1 of the first switching module 1031 and the second end a2 of the first switching module 1031;

[0073] The first sub-branch is located between the first end a1 of the first switching module 1031 and the third end a3 of the first switching module 1031 and between the fourth end a4 of the first switching module 1031 and the second end a2 of the first switching module 1031;

[0074] The second sub-branch is located between the first end a1 of the first switching module 1031 and the fifth end a5 of the first switching module 1031 and between the sixth end a6 of the first switching module 1031 and the second end a2 of the first switching module 1031 .

[0075] It should be noted that Figure 3 What is shown is only one group of first circuit topology structures. In actual situations, the ultrasound device should include multiple groups of first circuit topology structures.

[0076] In the first circuit topology, a separate transmit filter module 1021a and receive filter module 1022a are simultaneously provided for the array element, and the control unit 201 controls the conduction state of the first branch and the second branch of the first switching module 1031 according to different imaging modes, thereby controlling whether the transmit filter module 1021a or the receive filter module 1022a is connected to the array element 101. In some embodiments, for the first circuit topology, in the non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode:

[0077] The electrical signal transmitted by the transmitting module to the array element through the ultrasonic channel does not need to be filtered by the transmitting filter module 1021a, and the echo electrical signal transmitted by the array element 101 to the receiving module through the ultrasonic channel does not need to be filtered by the receiving filter module 1022a. Therefore, the control unit 201 controls the first branch of the first switching module 1031 to be turned on, and controls the second branch of the first switching module 1301 to be turned off, so that the transmitting filter module 1021a and the receiving filter module 1022a are not connected to the array element 101.

[0078] In one embodiment, the array elements may include a transmitting array element for transmitting ultrasonic waves and a receiving array element for receiving echo signals.

[0079] In some embodiments, for the first circuit topology, in continuous wave Doppler imaging mode:

[0080] For the transmitting array element that transmits ultrasonic waves, the electrical signal transmitted by the transmitting module to the transmitting array element through the ultrasonic channel needs to be filtered by the transmitting filter module, so the control unit 201 controls the first branch in the first switching module 1031 to be disconnected, and controls the first sub-branch of the first switching module 1031 to be turned on and the second sub-branch to be disconnected, so that the transmitting filter module 1021a is connected to the transmitting array element;

[0081] For the receiving array element that receives the echo signal, the echo electrical signal transmitted by the receiving array element to the receiving module through the ultrasonic channel also needs to be filtered by the receiving filter module 1022a. Therefore, the control unit 201 controls the first branch of the first switching module 1031 to be disconnected, and controls the first sub-branch of the first switching module 1031 to be disconnected and the second sub-branch to be turned on, so that the receiving filter module 1022a is connected to the receiving array element.

[0082] As a feasible implementation method, Figure 4 As shown, the first circuit topology structure provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. Figure 2 For the first circuit topology, the first branch may include a first switch S1, the first sub-branch includes a second switch S2 and a third switch S3, and the second sub-branch includes a fourth switch S4 and a fifth switch S5; wherein the first switch S1 to the fifth switch S5 are all controllable switches or controllable switch circuits.

[0083] Specifically, the first end of the first switch S1, the first end of the second switch S2, and the first end of the fourth switch S4 serve as the first end a1 of the first switching module 1031;

[0084] The second end of the first switch S1, the second end of the third switch S3 and the second end of the fifth switch S5 serve as the second end a2 of the first switching module 1031;

[0085] The second end of the second switch S2 serves as the third end a3 of the first switching module 1031;

[0086] The first end of the third switch S3 serves as the fourth end a4 of the first switching module 1031;

[0087] The second end of the fourth switch S4 serves as the fifth end a5 of the first switching module 1031;

[0088] The first end of the fifth switch S5 serves as the sixth end a6 of the first switching module 1031 .

[0089] In the embodiment of the present application, the control unit 201 is specifically used for:

[0090] Control the first switch S1 to be turned on, so as to control the first branch of the first switching module 1031 to be turned on; or

[0091] Control the second switch S2 and the third switch S3 to be turned on, so as to control the first sub-branch of the first switching module 1031 to be turned on; or

[0092] The fourth switch S4 and the fifth switch S5 are both controlled to be turned on, so as to control the second sub-branch of the first switching module 1031 to be turned on.

[0093] exist Figure 4 In the first circuit topology shown, in the non-continuous wave Doppler mode, the control unit controls the first switch S1 to be closed, and controls the second switch S2, the third switch S3, the fourth switch S4 and the fifth switch S5 to be opened, so as to connect the path between the array element 101 and the ultrasound channel, so that the transmitting filter module 1021a and the receiving filter module 1022a are not connected to the array element 101 corresponding to the filter module;

[0094] exist Figure 4 In the first circuit topology shown, in the continuous wave Doppler mode, for the transmitting array element 101 that transmits ultrasonic waves, the control unit controls the first switch S1, the fourth switch S4 and the fifth switch S5 to be disconnected, and controls the second switch S2 and the third switch S3 to be closed, so as to connect the path between the array element 101, the transmitting filter module 1021a and the ultrasonic channel, so that the transmitting filter module 1021a is connected to the transmitting array element 101 corresponding to the transmitting filter module 1021a.

[0095] exist Figure 4In the first circuit topology shown, in the continuous wave Doppler mode, for the receiving array element 101 receiving ultrasonic waves, the control unit controls the first switch S1, the second switch S2 and the third switch S3 to be disconnected, and controls the fourth switch S4 and the fifth switch S5 to be closed, so as to connect the path between the array element 101, the receiving filter module 1022a and the ultrasonic channel, so that the receiving filter module 1022a is connected to the receiving array element 101 corresponding to the receiving filter module 1022a.

[0096] The first circuit topology structure provided in the present application can realize the transmission and receiving functions in the continuous wave Doppler imaging mode in any ultrasonic channel by controlling the conduction state of the first branch, the first sub-branch and the second sub-branch of the first switching module 1031, thereby reducing the impact of long-term transmission on the increase in probe temperature, and realizing the adjustment of the transmission aperture and the receiving aperture, wherein the size of the transmission aperture is positively correlated with the number of transmitting array elements used to transmit ultrasonic waves. The more the number of transmitting array elements, the larger the transmission aperture, and the larger the radiation range of the ultrasonic waves emitted by the probe. The same is true for the receiving aperture. The size of the receiving aperture is positively correlated with the number of receiving array elements used to receive echoes. The more the number of receiving array elements, the larger the receiving aperture, and the larger the receiving range of the probe for ultrasonic waves.

[0097] like Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a second circuit topology structure provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 . Reference Figure 5 The switching module includes a second switching module 1032, and the second switching module 1032 is used for connecting four ends of the array element 101, the filter module and the ultrasonic channel 30. The filter module includes a transmitting filter module 1021b; wherein a first end b1 of the second switching module 1032 is connected to the array element 101, a second end b2 of the second switching module 1032 is connected to a second end of the ultrasonic channel, a third end b3 of the second switching module 1032 is connected to a first end of the transmitting filter module 1021b, and a fourth end b4 of the second switching module 1032 is connected to a second end of the transmitting filter module 1021b;

[0098] In the second circuit topology, the second switching module 1032 includes a first branch and a second branch;

[0099] The first branch is located between the first end b1 of the second switching module 1032 and the second end b2 of the second switching module 1032;

[0100] The second branch is located between the first end b1 of the second switching module 1032 and the third end b3 of the second switching module 1032 and between the fourth end b4 of the second switching module 1032 and the second end b2 of the second switching module 1032 .

[0101] It should be noted that Figure 5 What is shown is only one set of the second circuit topology structure. In actual situations, the ultrasound device should include multiple sets of the second circuit topology structures. Meanwhile, in the non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, the array element 101 in the second circuit topology structure can be used as a transmitting array element or as a receiving array element; in the non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, the array element 101 in the second circuit topology structure is used as a transmitting array element.

[0102] In the second circuit topology, a separate transmit filter module 1021b is provided for the array element 101, and the control unit 201 controls the conduction state of the first branch and the second branch of the second switching module 1032 according to different imaging modes, thereby controlling whether the transmit filter module 1021b is connected to the array element 101.

[0103] In some embodiments, for the second circuit topology, in non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode:

[0104] The electrical signal transmitted by the transmitting module to the array element 101 through the ultrasonic channel does not need to be filtered by the transmitting filter module 1021b, and the echo electrical signal transmitted by the array element 101 to the receiving module through the ultrasonic channel does not need to be filtered by the receiving filter module. Therefore, the control unit 201 controls the first branch of the second switching module 1032 to be turned on, and controls the second branch of the second switching module 1032 to be turned off, so that the transmitting filter module 1021b is not connected to the array element 101.

[0105] In some embodiments, for the second circuit topology, in continuous wave Doppler imaging mode:

[0106] The electrical signal transmitted by the transmitting module to the array element 101 through the ultrasonic channel needs to be filtered by the transmitting filter module 1021b. Therefore, the control unit 201 controls the first branch of the second switching module 1032 to be disconnected and the second branch to be connected, so that the transmitting filter module 1021b is connected to the array element 101.

[0107] As a feasible implementation, for the second circuit topology, the first branch includes a sixth switch S6, a seventh switch S7 and an eighth switch S8; wherein the sixth switch S6 to the eighth switch S8 are all controllable switches or controllable switch circuits.

[0108] Specifically, the first end of the sixth switch S6 and the first end of the seventh switch S7 serve as the first end b1 of the second switching module 1032;

[0109] The second end of the sixth switch S6 and the second end of the eighth switch S8 serve as the second end b2 of the second switching module 1032;

[0110] The second end of the seventh switch S7 serves as the third end b3 of the second switching module 1032;

[0111] The first end of the eighth switch S8 serves as the fourth end b4 of the second switching module 1032 .

[0112] In the embodiment of the present application, the control unit 201 is specifically used for:

[0113] Control the sixth switch S6 to be turned on, so as to control the first branch of the second switching module 1032 to be turned on; or

[0114] The seventh switch S7 and the eighth switch S8 are both controlled to be turned on, so as to control the second branch of the second switching module 1032 to be turned on.

[0115] As a feasible implementation method, Figure 6 As shown, the second circuit topology structure provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. Figure 2 .exist Figure 6 In the second circuit topology shown, the first branch includes a sixth switch S6, and the second branch includes a seventh switch S7 and an eighth switch S8; wherein the sixth switch S6 to the eighth switch S8 are all controllable switches or controllable switch circuits.

[0116] In the non-continuous wave Doppler mode, the control unit 201 controls the sixth switch S6 to be closed, and controls the seventh switch S7 and the eighth switch S8 to be opened, so as to open the path between the array element 101 and the ultrasound channel, so that the transmit filter module 1021b is not connected to the array element 101 corresponding to the transmit filter module 1021b.

[0117] In the continuous wave Doppler mode, the control unit 201 controls the sixth switch S6 to be disconnected, and controls the seventh switch S7 and the eighth switch S8 to be closed, so as to connect the path between the array element 101, the transmit filter module 1021b and the ultrasound channel, so that the transmit filter module 1021b is connected to the array element 101 corresponding to the transmit filter module 1021b.

[0118] like Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a third circuit topology structure provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 . Reference Figure 7 The switching module includes a third switching module 1033, and the third switching module 1033 is used for connecting four ends of the array element 101, the filter module and the ultrasonic channel. The filter module includes a receiving filter module 1022c; wherein a first end c1 of the third switching module 1033 is connected to the array element 101, a second end c2 of the third switching module 1033 is connected to a second end of the ultrasonic channel, a third end c3 of the third switching module 1033 is connected to a first end of the receiving filter module 1022c, and a fourth end c4 of the third switching module 1033 is connected to a second end of the receiving filter module 1022c;

[0119] In the third circuit topology, the third switching module 1033 includes a first branch and a second branch;

[0120] The first branch is located between the first end c1 of the third switching module 1033 and the second end c2 of the third switching module 1033;

[0121] The second branch is located between the first end c1 of the third switch module 1033 and the third end c3 of the third switch module 1033 and between the fourth end c4 of the third switch module 1033 and the second end c2 of the third switch module 1033 .

[0122] It should be noted that Figure 7 What is shown is only one set of the third circuit topology structure. In actual situations, the ultrasound device should include multiple sets of the third circuit topology structures. Meanwhile, in the non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, the array element 101 in the third circuit topology structure can be used as a transmitting array element or as a receiving array element; in the non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, the array element 101 in the third circuit topology structure is used as a receiving array element.

[0123] In the third circuit topology, a separate receiving filter module 1022c is provided for the array element 101, and the control unit 201 controls the conduction state of the first branch and the second branch of the third switching module 1033 according to different imaging modes, thereby controlling whether the receiving filter module 1022c is connected to the array element 101.

[0124] In some embodiments, for the third circuit topology, in the non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode:

[0125] The electrical signal transmitted by the transmitting module to the array element 101 through the ultrasonic channel does not need to be filtered by the receiving filter module 1022c, and the echo electrical signal transmitted by the array element 101 to the receiving module through the ultrasonic channel does not need to be filtered by the receiving filter module 1022c. Therefore, the control unit 201 controls the first branch of the third switching module 1033 to be turned on, and controls the second branch of the third switching module 1033 to be turned off, so that the receiving filter module 1022c is not connected to the array element 101.

[0126] In some embodiments, for the third circuit topology, in continuous wave Doppler imaging mode:

[0127] The echo electrical signal transmitted from the array element 101 to the receiving module through the ultrasonic channel needs to be filtered by the receiving filter module 1022c. Therefore, the control unit 201 controls the first branch of the third switching module 1033 to be disconnected, and controls the second branch of the third switching module 1033 to be turned on, so that the receiving filter module 1022c is connected to the array element 101.

[0128] As a feasible implementation, for the third circuit topology, the first branch includes a ninth switch S9, a tenth switch S10 and an eleventh switch S11; wherein the ninth switch S9 to the eleventh switch S11 are all controllable switches or controllable switch circuits.

[0129] Specifically, the first end of the ninth switch S9 and the first end of the tenth switch S10 serve as the first end c1 of the third switching module 1033;

[0130] The second end of the ninth switch S9 and the second end of the eleventh switch S11 serve as the second end c2 of the third switching module 1033;

[0131] The second end of the tenth switch S10 serves as the third end c3 of the third switching module 1033;

[0132] The first end of the eleventh switch S11 serves as the fourth end c4 of the third switching module 1033 .

[0133] In the embodiment of the present application, the control unit 201 is specifically used for:

[0134] Control the ninth switch S9 to be turned on, so as to control the first branch of the third switching module 1033 to be turned on; or

[0135] The tenth switch S10 and the eleventh switch S11 are both controlled to be turned on, so as to control the second branch of the third switching module 1033 to be turned on.

[0136] As a feasible implementation method, Figure 8 As shown, the third circuit topology structure provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. Figure 2 .exist Figure 8 In the third circuit topology shown, the first branch includes a ninth switch S9, and the second branch includes a tenth switch S10 and an eleventh switch S11; wherein the ninth switch S9 to the eleventh switch S11 are all controllable switches or controllable switch circuits.

[0137] In the non-continuous wave Doppler mode, the control unit 201 controls the ninth switch S9 to be closed, and controls the tenth switch S10 and the eleventh switch S11 to be opened, so as to connect the path between the array element 101 and the ultrasound channel, so that the receiving filter module 1022c is not connected to the array element 101 corresponding to the receiving filter module 1022c.

[0138] In the continuous wave Doppler mode, the control unit 201 controls the ninth switch S9 to be disconnected, and controls the tenth switch S10 and the eleventh switch S11 to be closed, so as to connect the path between the array element 101, the receiving filter module 1022c and the ultrasound channel, so that the receiving filter module 1022c is connected to the array element 101 corresponding to the receiving filter module 1022c.

[0139] For the second and third circuit topologies provided in the present application, by controlling the conduction state of the first branch and the second branch of the second and third switching modules, the transmitting function in the continuous wave Doppler imaging mode is realized in a part of the ultrasound channel, and the receiving function in the continuous wave Doppler imaging mode is realized in another part of the ultrasound channel. Compared with the first circuit topology, the number of switches and the number of transmitting filter modules or receiving filter modules are reduced, which is more conducive to the module integration in the probe, but the transmitting aperture and the receiving aperture are respectively subject to the number of the second circuit topology and the third circuit topology in the probe.

[0140] Exemplarily, if the number of array elements in the probe is 2N, where N is a positive integer, the number of ultrasound channels corresponding to the array elements is 2N, one end of each ultrasound channel is connected to the corresponding transmitting module and receiving module, and the other end is connected to an array element, A array elements in the probe correspond to the second circuit topology structure, and the other B array elements correspond to the third circuit topology structure, then the first branches in the second circuit topology structure corresponding to the A array elements are disconnected, and the transmitting aperture is maximum when the second branches are turned on, then the first branches in the third circuit topology structure corresponding to the B array elements are disconnected, and the receiving aperture is maximum when the second branches are turned on.

[0141] like Fig. 9 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fourth circuit topology structure provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 . Reference Fig. 9 , the switching module includes a fourth switching module 1034, the ultrasonic channel includes a first ultrasonic channel 301 and a second ultrasonic channel 302 corresponding to each array element 101, the fourth switching module 1034 is used for connecting four ends of the array element 101, the filtering module, the first ultrasonic channel 301 and the second ultrasonic channel 302, and the filtering module includes a transmitting filtering module 1021d; wherein, a first end d1 of the fourth switching module 1034 is connected to the array element 101, a second end d2 of the fourth switching module 1034 is connected to a second end of the first ultrasonic channel 301, a third end d3 of the fourth switching module 1034 is connected to a first end of the transmitting filtering module 1021d, and a second end of the transmitting filtering module 1021d is connected to a second end of the second ultrasonic channel 302;

[0142] In the fourth circuit topology, the fourth switching module 1034 includes a first branch and a second branch;

[0143] The first branch is located between the first end d1 of the fourth switching module 1034 and the second end d2 of the fourth switching module 1034;

[0144] The second branch is located between the first end d1 of the fourth switching module 1034 and the third end d3 of the fourth switching module 1034 .

[0145] It should be noted that Fig. 9 Only one set of the fourth circuit topology structure is shown. In actual situations, the ultrasound device should include multiple sets of the fourth circuit topology structures. At the same time, in the non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, the array element 101 in the fourth circuit topology structure can be used as a transmitting array element or as a receiving array element; in the non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, the array element 101 in the fourth circuit topology structure is used as a transmitting array element.

[0146] In the fourth circuit topology, the same array element 101 is multiplexed into two ultrasonic channels. The same array element 101 corresponds to two groups of transmitting modules and receiving modules. A separate transmitting filter module 1021d is arranged between the array element 101 and one of the ultrasonic channels. The control unit controls the conduction state of the first branch and the second branch according to different imaging modes, thereby controlling whether the array element 101 is connected to a group of transmitting modules and receiving modules through the first ultrasonic channel 301, or connected to another group of transmitting modules and receiving modules through the second ultrasonic channel 302 via the transmitting filter module 1021d.

[0147] In some embodiments, for the fourth circuit topology, in the non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode:

[0148] The electrical signal transmitted by the transmitting module to the array element 101 through the ultrasonic channel does not need to be filtered by the transmitting filter module 1021d, and the echo electrical signal transmitted by the array element 101 to the receiving module through the ultrasonic channel does not need to be filtered by the receiving filter module. Therefore, the control unit controls the first branch to be turned on and controls the second branch to be turned off, so that the array element 101 is connected to a group of transmitting modules and receiving modules through the first ultrasonic channel 301, and the transmitting filter module 1021d is not connected to the array element 101.

[0149] In some embodiments, for the fourth circuit topology, in continuous wave Doppler imaging mode:

[0150] The electrical signal transmitted by the transmitting module to the array element 101 through the ultrasonic channel needs to be filtered by the transmitting filter module 1021d. Therefore, the control unit controls the first branch in the fourth circuit topology structure where the array element 101 is located to be disconnected, and controls the second branch to be turned on, so that the array element 101 is connected to a group of transmitting modules and receiving modules through the second ultrasonic channel 302, and the transmitting filter module 1021d is connected to the array element 101.

[0151] As a feasible implementation, for the fourth circuit topology, the first branch includes a twelfth switch and a thirteenth switch S13; wherein the twelfth switch S12 and the thirteenth switch S13 are both controllable switches or controllable switch circuits.

[0152] Specifically, the first end of the twelfth switch S12 and the first end of the thirteenth switch S13 serve as the first end d1 of the fourth switching module 1034;

[0153] The second end of the twelfth switch S12 serves as the second end d2 of the fourth switching module 1034;

[0154] The second end of the thirteenth switch S13 serves as the third end d3 of the fourth switching module 1034 .

[0155] In the embodiment of the present application, the control unit is specifically used for:

[0156] Control the twelfth switch S12 to be turned on, so as to control the first branch of the fourth switching module 1034 to be turned on; or

[0157] The thirteenth switch S13 is controlled to be turned on, so as to control the second branch of the fourth switching module 1034 to be turned on.

[0158] As a feasible implementation method, Fig.10 As shown, the fourth circuit topology structure provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. Figure 2 .exist Fig.10 In the fourth circuit topology shown, the first branch includes a twelfth switch S12, and the second branch includes a thirteenth switch S13; wherein the twelfth switch S12 and the thirteenth switch S13 are both controllable switches or controllable switch circuits.

[0159] In the non-continuous wave Doppler mode, the control unit controls the twelfth switch S12 to close and the thirteenth switch S13 to open, thereby connecting the path between the array element 101 and the first ultrasonic channel 301, so that the transmit filter module 1021d is not connected to the array element 101 corresponding to the transmit filter module 1021d.

[0160] In the continuous wave Doppler mode, the control unit controls the twelfth switch S12 to be disconnected and the thirteenth switch S13 to be closed, thereby connecting the path between the array element 101, the transmit filter module 1021d and the second ultrasonic channel 302, so that the transmit filter module 1021d is connected to the array element 101 corresponding to the transmit filter module 1021d.

[0161] like Fig.11 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fifth circuit topology structure provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 . Reference Fig.11 , the switching module includes a fifth switching module 1035, the ultrasonic channel includes a first ultrasonic channel 301 and a second ultrasonic channel 302 corresponding to each array element 101, the fifth switching module 1035 is used for connecting four ends of the array element 101, the filtering module, the first ultrasonic channel 301 and the second ultrasonic channel 302, and the filtering module includes a receiving filtering module 1022e; wherein the first end e1 of the fifth switching module 1035 is connected to the array element 101, the second end e2 of the fifth switching module 1035 is connected to the second end of the first ultrasonic channel 301, the third end e3 of the fifth switching module 1035 is connected to the first end of the receiving filtering module 1022e, and the second end of the receiving filtering module 1022e is connected to the second end of the second ultrasonic channel 302;

[0162] In the fifth circuit topology, the fifth switching module 1035 includes a first branch and a second branch;

[0163] The first branch is located between the first end e1 of the fifth switching module 1035 and the second end e2 of the fifth switching module 1035;

[0164] The second branch is located between the first end e1 of the fifth switching module 1035 and the third end e3 of the fifth switching module 1035 .

[0165] It should be noted that Fig.11 What is shown is only one set of the fifth circuit topology structure. In actual situations, the ultrasound device should include multiple sets of the fifth circuit topology structures. Meanwhile, in the non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, the array element 101 in the fifth circuit topology structure can be used as a transmitting array element 101 or as a receiving array element 101; in the non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, the array element 101 in the fifth circuit topology structure is used as a receiving array element 101.

[0166] In the fifth circuit topology, the same array element 101 is multiplexed into two ultrasonic channels. The same array element 101 corresponds to two groups of transmitting modules and receiving modules. A separate receiving filter module 1022e is provided between the array element 101 and one of the ultrasonic channels. The control unit controls the conduction state of the first branch and the second branch according to different imaging modes, thereby controlling whether the array element 101 is connected to a group of transmitting modules and receiving modules through the first ultrasonic channel 301, or connected to another group of transmitting modules and receiving modules through the second ultrasonic channel 302 via the receiving filter module 1022e.

[0167] In some embodiments, for the fifth circuit topology, in non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode:

[0168] The electrical signal transmitted by the transmitting module to the array element 101 through the ultrasonic channel does not need to be filtered by the receiving filter module 1022e, and the echo electrical signal transmitted by the array element 101 to the receiving module through the ultrasonic channel does not need to be filtered by the receiving filter module 1022e. Therefore, the control unit controls the first branch of the fifth switching module 1035 to be turned on and the second branch to be turned off, so that the array element 101 is connected to a group of transmitting modules and receiving modules through the first ultrasonic channel 301, and the receiving filter module 1022e is not connected to the array element 101.

[0169] In some embodiments, for the fifth circuit topology, in continuous wave Doppler imaging mode:

[0170] The electrical signal transmitted by the transmitting module to the array element 101 through the ultrasonic channel needs to be filtered by the receiving filter module 1022e. Therefore, the control unit controls the first branch of the fifth switching module 1035 to be disconnected and the second branch to be connected, so that the array element 101 is connected to a group of transmitting modules and receiving modules through the second ultrasonic channel 302, and the receiving filter module 1022e is connected to the array element 101.

[0171] As a feasible implementation, for the fifth circuit topology, the first branch includes a fourteenth switch S14 and a fifteenth switch S15; wherein the fourteenth switch S14 and the fifteenth switch S15 are both controllable switches or controllable switch circuits.

[0172] Specifically, the first end of the fourteenth switch S14 and the first end of the fifteenth switch S15 serve as the first end e1 of the fifth switching module 1035;

[0173] The second end of the fourteenth switch S14 serves as the second end e2 of the fifth switching module 1035;

[0174] The second end of the fifteenth switch S15 serves as the third end e3 of the fifth switching module 1035 .

[0175] In the embodiment of the present application, the control unit is specifically used for:

[0176] Control the fourteenth switch S14 to be turned on, so as to control the first branch of the fifth switching module 1035 to be turned on; or

[0177] The fifteenth switch S15 is controlled to be turned on, so as to control the second branch of the fifth switching module 1035 to be turned on.

[0178] As a feasible implementation method, Fig.12 As shown, the fifth circuit topology structure provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. Figure 2 .exist Fig.12In the fifth circuit topology shown, the first branch includes a fourteenth switch S14, and the second branch includes a fifteenth switch S15; wherein the fourteenth switch S14 and the fifteenth switch S15 are both controllable switches or controllable switch circuits.

[0179] In the non-continuous wave Doppler mode, the control unit controls the fourteenth switch S14 to be closed and the fifteenth switch S15 to be opened, thereby connecting the path between the array element 101 and the first ultrasonic channel 301, so that the receiving filter module 1022e is not connected to the array element 101 corresponding to the receiving filter module 1022e.

[0180] In the continuous wave Doppler mode, the control unit controls the fourteenth switch S14 to be disconnected and the fifteenth switch S15 to be closed, thereby connecting the path between the array element 101, the receiving filter module 1022e and the second ultrasonic channel 302, so that the receiving filter module 1022e is connected to the array element 101 corresponding to the receiving filter module 1022e.

[0181] For the fourth and fifth circuit topologies provided in the present application, since array elements are multiplexed, the number of ultrasound channels is required to be greater than the number of array elements, which is suitable for the continuous wave Doppler imaging mode of the phased array probe. Compared with the first, second and third circuit topologies, the number of switches in the switching module in the probe is further reduced, which is more conducive to the module integration in the probe, but the transmitting aperture and the receiving aperture are respectively restricted by the number of the fourth circuit topology and the fifth circuit topology in the probe.

[0182] Exemplary, reference Fig.13 , is a schematic diagram of the array element multiplexing topology structure provided in an embodiment of the present application. A high-performance phased array probe generally has 96 array elements, and a high-performance host has 192 ultrasonic channels. Ultrasonic channels 1 to 96 are connected to array elements 1 to 96 through the first branch, and then through the rear 97 to 144 ultrasonic channels through the second branch through the transmit filter module to connect to array elements 1 to 48, and then through the rear 145 to 196 ultrasonic channels through the second branch through the receive filter module to connect to array elements 49 to 96, thereby achieving the function of transmitting at most the first 48 array elements and receiving at most the rear 48 array elements in the continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, and the first branch in the fourth circuit topology structure of the first 48 array elements is disconnected, and the second branch is turned on when the transmit aperture is the largest, then the first branch in the fifth circuit topology structure of the rear 48 array elements is disconnected, and the second branch is turned on when the receive aperture is the largest.

[0183] It should be noted that, in the same probe, one or more circuit topologies of the first to fifth circuit topologies provided in the present application can be adopted to achieve that in the non-continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, the filter module is controlled not to be connected to the corresponding array element, and in the continuous wave Doppler imaging mode, the filter module is controlled to be connected to the corresponding array element, thereby improving the heating of the probe and improving the transmission efficiency of the probe.

[0184] In some embodiments, the same circuit topology may correspond to one or more groups of transmitting filter modules and receiving filter modules with different filtering frequencies. For situations where multiple frequency filtering is required, the switching of filter modules with different frequencies can be achieved by controlling the conduction state of the first branch and the second branch in the switching module. Usually, the number of frequencies of a probe working in the continuous wave Doppler imaging mode is 1 to 3. Taking the first circuit topology and 2 frequencies as an example, Fig.14 As shown, it is a schematic diagram of the first circuit topology structure of multiple frequency points provided in an embodiment of the present application, which can meet two transmission frequency requirements.

[0185] It should be noted that the use of multi-frequency filtering modules will lead to an increase in the number of filtering modules and switches, greatly increasing the volume of the probe. The first to fifth circuit topologies can be combined with the above-mentioned first to fifth circuit topologies to reduce the number of modules and switches and reduce the volume of the probe.

[0186] The filtering module used in the embodiment of the present application is described below.

[0187] The main function of the transmission filter module is to filter out high-order harmonics to ensure that the transmission frequency is a single narrowband signal and is within the probe bandwidth response range, thereby reducing the dissipation of energy outside the probe bandwidth range (energy that causes probe heating). In one or more embodiments, the transmission filter module used in this application can adopt a single inductor L-type filter, a capacitor-inductor LC-type filter, or a π-type filter, such as Fig.15 , which is a schematic diagram of the structure of the LC filter type transmission filter module provided in the embodiment of the present application, Fig.15 The device includes a transmitting module for generating an electrical signal of a set waveform, an inductor L1, capacitors C1 and C2, a transmitting array element Y1, and a ground terminal GND1.

[0188] The main function of the receiving filter module is to filter out the noise of the second harmonic, thereby reducing the mixing noise of the higher harmonics generated in the subsequent IQ mixing stage, and at the same time can also improve the fundamental wave energy to a certain extent. In the embodiment of the present application, the receiving filter module can be selected according to the degree of integration, and the implementation method of the receiving filter module is divided into two types:

[0189] One is the passive filtering method, which has low area requirements, simple filtering, and low circuit requirements. It is more suitable for being placed in the probe. The passive filter is composed of LC devices, such as Fig.16, which is a schematic diagram of the passive filtering receiving filter module structure provided in an embodiment of the present application, Fig.16 The passive filtering receiving filter module includes a receiving module for receiving echo electrical signals, inductors L2 and L3, capacitors C3 and C4, a receiving array element Y1, and a ground terminal GND2. In some embodiments, Fig.16 L3, C3 and C4 are optional.

[0190] Another way is active filtering. An active filter can be used to achieve bandpass filtering or low-pass function by adding a level of LNA (noise amplifier). Fig.17 As shown, it is a schematic diagram of the structure of the active filtering receiving filter module provided in an embodiment of the present application, wherein the active filtering receiving filter module is composed of resistors R1, R2 and R3, capacitors C5 and C6, a noise floor amplifier LNA, and a ground terminal GND3. The module can also be constructed using other RC or LC bandpass filters / low-pass filters or multi-order filters with similar structures, which is not limited in the present application.

[0191] It should be noted that the transmitting filter module and receiving filter module used in the embodiments of the present application are not limited to Fig.15 , 16 The structure shown in FIG. 17 may also be other circuit structures that can filter out high-frequency harmonics, and this application does not limit this.

[0192] Based on an ultrasound device provided by the present application, a controllable filter module is added to the probe, and according to the current imaging mode, a control unit is used to control whether the filter module in the probe is connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module. When entering the continuous wave Doppler mode, the filter module in the probe can be controlled to connect to the array element corresponding to the filter module to reduce harmonic interference of the electrical signal and avoid the problem of excessive local temperature of the probe. At the same time, it allows the sensitivity of the probe to be improved by increasing the intensity of the transmitting voltage.

[0193] Based on the same inventive concept, the present application also provides an ultrasonic imaging method, such as Fig.18 As shown, it is a flow chart of an ultrasound imaging method provided in an embodiment of the present application, which is applied to an ultrasound device, wherein the ultrasound device includes a probe and a host; the probe includes array elements and a filter module corresponding to the array elements, and the host includes a control unit, a transmitting module and a receiving module, and the method includes:

[0194] In step S1801, the control unit controls whether the filter module is connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module according to the current imaging mode, and generates an electrical signal of a set waveform through the transmitting module;

[0195] In step S1802, the received electrical signal is converted into ultrasonic wave and transmitted through the array element, and / or the received echo signal is converted into an echo electrical signal;

[0196] The received electrical signal includes the electrical signal filtered by the filtering module or the electrical signal not filtered by the filtering module when the control unit controls the filtering module to access the array element.

[0197] In step S1803, the received echo electrical signal is processed by the receiving module to output ultrasonic imaging information;

[0198] The received echo electrical signal includes the echo electrical signal filtered by the filtering module when the control unit controls the filtering module to access the array element, or the echo electrical signal not filtered by the filtering module.

[0199] In one or more embodiments, controlling, by the control unit according to the current imaging mode, whether the filter module is connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module includes:

[0200] If the imaging mode is a non-continuous wave Doppler mode, controlling the filter module not to connect to the array element;

[0201] If the imaging mode is a continuous wave Doppler mode, the filter module is controlled to access the array element.

[0202] Those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic device, characterized in that: It includes a probe and a host; wherein the probe includes array elements and filter modules corresponding to the array elements, and the host includes a control unit, a transmitting module and a receiving module; The transmitting module is used to generate an electrical signal of a set waveform; The control unit is used to control whether the filter module is connected to the array element corresponding to the filter module according to the current imaging mode; The filtering module is used for filtering the electrical signal received by the array element and / or the echo electrical signal sent by the array element when the control unit controls the filtering module to be connected to the array element; The array element is used to convert the received electrical signal into ultrasonic wave and transmit it, and / or convert the received echo signal into an echo electrical signal, wherein the received electrical signal includes the electrical signal filtered by the filtering module, or the electrical signal not filtered by the filtering module; The receiving module is used to process the received echo electrical signal and output ultrasonic imaging information, wherein the received echo electrical signal includes the echo electrical signal filtered by the filtering module or the echo electrical signal not filtered by the filtering module.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that It also includes an ultrasound channel, and the probe also includes a switching module, and a first end of the ultrasound channel is connected to the transmitting module and the receiving module; The control unit is specifically used to control the first branch of the switching module to be turned on if the imaging mode is a non-continuous wave Doppler mode, so as to open the path between the array element and the ultrasound channel; if the imaging mode is a continuous wave Doppler mode, control the second branch of the switching module to be turned on, so as to open the path between the array element, the filtering module and the ultrasound channel.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The filtering module includes a transmitting filtering module and a receiving filtering module, the second branch includes a first sub-branch and a second sub-branch, and the switching module includes a first switching module; A first end of the first switching module is connected to an array element, a second end of the first switching module is connected to a second end of an ultrasound channel, a third end of the first switching module is connected to a first end of the transmit filter module, a fourth end of the first switching module is connected to a second end of the transmit filter module, a fifth end of the first switching module is connected to a first end of the receive filter module, and a sixth end of the first switching module is connected to a second end of the receive filter module; The first branch is located between the first end of the first switching module and the second end of the first switching module; The first sub-branch is located between the first end of the first switching module and the third end of the first switching module, and between the fourth end of the first switching module and the second end of the first switching module; The second sub-branch is located between the first end of the first switching module and the fifth end of the first switching module, and between the sixth end of the first switching module and the second end of the first switching module.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that The first branch includes a first switch, the first sub-branch includes a second switch and a third switch, and the second sub-branch includes a fourth switch and a fifth switch; The first end of the first switch, the first end of the second switch and the first end of the fourth switch serve as the first end of the first switching module; The second end of the first switch, the second end of the third switch and the second end of the fifth switch serve as the second end of the first switching module; The second end of the second switch serves as the third end of the first switching module; The first end of the third switch serves as the fourth end of the first switching module; The second end of the fourth switch serves as the fifth end of the first switching module; The first end of the fifth switch serves as the sixth end of the first switching module; The control unit is specifically used for: Controlling the first switch to be turned on to control the first branch of the first switching module to be turned on; or Controlling the second switch and the third switch to be turned on, so as to control the first sub-branch of the first switching module to be turned on; or The fourth switch and the fifth switch are both controlled to be turned on, so as to control the second sub-branch of the first switching module to be turned on.

5. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The filtering module includes a transmitting filtering module or a receiving filtering module; If the filtering module includes a transmission filtering module, the switching module includes a second switching module; A first end of the second switching module is connected to the array element, a second end of the second switching module is connected to the second end of the ultrasound channel, a third end of the second switching module is connected to the first end of the transmit filter module, and a fourth end of the second switching module is connected to the second end of the transmit filter module; The first branch is located between the first end of the second switching module and the second end of the second switching module; The second branch is located between the first end of the second switching module and the third end of the second switching module, and between the fourth end of the second switching module and the second end of the second switching module; If the filtering module includes a receiving filtering module, the switching module includes a third switching module; A first end of the third switching module is connected to the array element, a second end of the third switching module is connected to the second end of the ultrasound channel, a third end of the third switching module is connected to the first end of the receiving filter module, and a fourth end of the third switching module is connected to the second end of the receiving filter module; The first branch is located between the first end of the third switching module and the second end of the third switching module; the second branch is located between the first end of the third switching module and the third end of the third switching module, and between the fourth end of the third switching module and the second end of the third switching module.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that The second switching module includes a sixth switch, a seventh switch and an eighth switch; The first end of the sixth switch and the first end of the seventh switch serve as the first end of the second switching module; The second end of the sixth switch and the second end of the eighth switch serve as the second end of the second switching module; The second end of the seventh switch serves as the third end of the second switching module; The first end of the eighth switch serves as the fourth end of the second switching module; The third switching module includes a ninth switch, a tenth switch and an eleventh switch; The first end of the ninth switch and the first end of the tenth switch serve as the first end of the third switching module; The second end of the ninth switch and the second end of the eleventh switch serve as the second end of the third switching module; The second end of the tenth switch serves as the third end of the third switching module; The first end of the eleventh switch serves as the fourth end of the third switching module; The control unit is specifically used for: Controlling the sixth switch and the ninth switch to be turned on, so as to control the first branch to be turned on; or The seventh switch, the eighth switch, the ninth switch and the tenth switch are all controlled to be turned on, so as to control the second branch to be turned on.

7. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The ultrasonic channel includes a first ultrasonic channel and a second ultrasonic channel corresponding to each array element, and the filter module includes a transmitting filter module or a receiving filter module; If the filtering module includes a transmission filtering module, the switching module includes a fourth switching module; A first end of the fourth switching module is connected to the array element, a second end of the fourth switching module is connected to the second end of the first ultrasonic channel, a third end of the fourth switching module is connected to the first end of the transmit filter module, and a second end of the transmit filter module is connected to the second end of the second ultrasonic channel; The first branch is located between the first end of the fourth switching module and the second end of the fourth switching module; The second branch is located between the first end of the fourth switching module and the third end of the fourth switching module; If the filtering module includes a receiving filtering module, the switching module includes a fifth switching module; A first end of the fifth switching module is connected to the array element, a second end of the fifth switching module is connected to the second end of the first ultrasonic channel, a third end of the fifth switching module is connected to the first end of the receiving filter module, and a second end of the receiving filter module is connected to the second end of the second ultrasonic channel; The first branch is located between the first end of the fifth switching module and the second end of the fifth switching module; The second branch is located between the first end of the fifth switching module and the third end of the fifth switching module.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that The fourth switching module includes a twelfth switch and a thirteenth switch; The first end of the twelfth switch and the first end of the thirteenth switch serve as the first end of the fourth switching module; The second end of the twelfth switch serves as the second end of the fourth switching module; The second end of the thirteenth switch serves as the third end of the fourth switching module; The fifth switching module includes a fourteenth switch and a fifteenth switch; The first end of the fourteenth switch and the first end of the fifteenth switch serve as the first end of the fifth switching module; The second end of the fourteenth switch serves as the second end of the fifth switching module; The second end of the fifteenth switch serves as the third end of the fifth switching module; The control unit is specifically used for: Controlling the twelfth switch and the fourteenth switch to be turned on, so as to control the first branch to be turned on; or The thirteenth switch and the fifteenth switch are both controlled to be turned on, so as to control the second branch to be turned on.

9. An ultrasonic imaging method, characterized in that: Applied to an ultrasound device, the ultrasound device includes a probe and a host; the probe includes array elements and a filter module corresponding to the array elements, the host includes a control unit, a transmitting module and a receiving module, and the method includes: Controlling, by a control unit, whether the filter module is connected to an array element corresponding to the filter module according to a current imaging mode, and generating, by a transmitting module, an electrical signal of a set waveform; Converting the received electrical signal into ultrasonic waves and transmitting them through array elements, and / or converting the received echo signals into echo electrical signals, wherein the received electrical signals include electrical signals filtered by the filtering module when the control unit controls the filtering module to access the array elements, or electrical signals not filtered by the filtering module; The received echo electrical signal is processed by the receiving module to output ultrasonic imaging information, wherein the received echo electrical signal includes the echo electrical signal filtered by the filtering module when the control unit controls the filtering module to access the array element, or the echo electrical signal not filtered by the filtering module.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The controlling unit controls whether the filter module is connected to an array element corresponding to the filter module according to the current imaging mode, including: If the imaging mode is a non-continuous wave Doppler mode, controlling the filter module not to connect to the array element; If the imaging mode is a continuous wave Doppler mode, the filter module is controlled to access the array element.

Images