Array-type ultrasonic imaging device and control method thereof

Abstract

An array-type ultrasonic imaging device and a control method thereof are provided, wherein the ultrasonic array probe, comprising a plurality of transducers arranged linearly in parallel, performs an electronic scan to irradiate an ultrasonic beam onto a subject in a predetermined scanning sequence, and performs planar scanning by means of a scanning motion in which the probe reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the transducers and a shift motion in which the ultrasonic array probe moves parallel to the arrangement direction of the transducers, thereby irradiating an ultrasonic beam onto the surface of a subject or a stacking boundary surface and displaying the signal intensity of an ultrasonic reflected wave from the subject. The electronic scan is performed by selecting a plurality of transducers to irradiate an ultrasonic beam in a scanning sequence in which an ultrasonic beam is irradiated to an irradiation point at one end of the electronic scan and then an ultrasonic beam is irradiated to an irradiation point at the opposite end, thereby irradiating an ultrasonic beam alternately in sequence from each end toward the center, thereby providing an array-type ultrasonic imaging device with minimal image misalignment and a control method thereof.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an array-type ultrasonic imaging device and a control method thereof. Background Technology

[0002] There is an ultrasonic imaging device that irradiates ultrasound onto a test object, such as a semiconductor, generates image information of the inside of the test object based on the reflected waves, and detects defects within the test object. This ultrasonic imaging device enables high-resolution inspection through non-destructive methods, thereby ensuring the reliability of electronic components.

[0003] One form of ultrasonic imaging device is an ultrasonic imaging device having a single probe composed of a single transducer. In this ultrasonic imaging device having a single probe, the single probe is mechanically scanned in the X and Y directions of a predetermined area of ​​the surface of a subject or a stacking interface to irradiate the subject with ultrasound and detect the reflected waves.

[0004] To shorten the takt time of this ultrasound imaging device, it is necessary to increase the scanning speed of the single probe. However, in ultrasound imaging devices where the subject and the single probe are immersed, increasing the scanning speed of the single probe leads to problems such as the incorporation of air bubbles or ripples, which cause image degradation.

[0005] For this reason, there is an ultrasonic inspection device that generates an inspection image using a reflected signal from inside an object to be inspected by, for example, having an array-type ultrasonic sensor having a plurality of piezoelectric vibration elements, electronically scanning in the direction of the array array, and also mechanically scanning in the direction of the normal of the array array (see Patent Document 1). Prior art literature

[0006] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-263780 The problem to be solved

[0007] According to the prior art above, the scanning speed of the probe can be reduced, thereby reducing the occurrence of phenomena that cause image degradation, such as the incorporation of bubbles or ripples. However, when generating a wide-area reflected wave image of a subject by reciprocating mechanical scanning of an array-type ultrasonic probe, deviations in the image of the ultrasonic reflected waves may occur at the end of the mechanical scanning, that is, at the transition position between the forward and return paths of the mechanical scanning. Patent Document 1 does not describe reciprocating mechanical scanning of an array-type ultrasonic probe, and therefore this problem is not taken into consideration.

[0008] The objective of the present invention is to provide an array-type ultrasound imaging device that generates a reflected wave image of a subject by reciprocating an array-type ultrasound probe, and a control method thereof, wherein the array-type ultrasound imaging device has low image misalignment. means of solving the problem

[0009] To solve the above problem, the array-type ultrasonic imaging device of the present invention is an array-type ultrasonic imaging device that performs an electronic scan in which an ultrasonic array probe, having a plurality of transducers arranged linearly in parallel, irradiates an ultrasonic beam to a subject in a predetermined scanning sequence, and performs a planar scanning by means of a scanning operation in which the probe moves back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the transducers and a shift operation in which the ultrasonic array probe moves parallel to the arrangement direction of the transducers, thereby irradiating an ultrasonic beam to the surface of a subject or a stacking boundary surface and displaying the signal intensity of the ultrasonic reflected wave from the subject. The electronic scan is performed by selecting the plurality of transducers to irradiate an ultrasonic beam in a scanning sequence in which an ultrasonic beam is irradiated to an irradiation point at one end of the electronic scan and then an ultrasonic beam is irradiated to an irradiation point at the opposite end, and the ultrasonic beam is irradiated to an alternating sequence of ultrasonic beams from each end toward the center.

[0010] In addition, the control method of the array-type ultrasonic imaging device of the present invention is a control method of the array-type ultrasonic imaging device that performs an electronic scan by sequentially irradiating an ultrasonic beam of an ultrasonic array probe, in which a plurality of transducers are linearly arranged, onto a subject, and displays the signal intensity of the ultrasonic reflected wave from the subject. The method comprises a first step of continuously moving the ultrasonic array probe at a predetermined speed in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the transducers of the ultrasonic array probe, while irradiating an ultrasonic beam by selecting the plurality of transducers to form a scanning sequence in which an ultrasonic beam is irradiated from each end one by one toward the center in order to irradiate an ultrasonic beam at an irradiation point at one end of the electronic scan onto the subject in a predetermined scanning sequence, and then an ultrasonic beam is irradiated from the opposite end of the irradiation point, and a shift step of moving the ultrasonic array probe in parallel with the arrangement direction of the transducers by the scanning width of the electronic scan, and an ultrasonic beam is irradiated from each end one by one toward the center in a scanning sequence in which an ultrasonic beam is irradiated from the irradiation point at one end of the electronic scan onto the subject in a predetermined scanning sequence, and then an ultrasonic beam is irradiated from each end one by one toward the center. The method includes a second step of continuously moving the ultrasonic array probe at a predetermined speed in the opposite direction to the first step while selecting the plurality of vibrators to irradiate an ultrasonic beam in a scanning sequence, and by repeating the first step, the shift step, and the second step, the entire surface of the subject is electronically scanned. Effects of the invention

[0011] According to the present invention, in an array-type ultrasound imaging device that generates an ultrasound reflection image of a subject by scanning an array-type ultrasound probe in a planar manner, image misalignment of the reflected wave image occurring during the reciprocal scanning of the array-type ultrasound probe can be suppressed. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0012] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating the overall configuration of an array-type ultrasound imaging device of an embodiment. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of planar scanning of a probe in an array-type ultrasound imaging device. Figure 3a is a diagram illustrating the irradiation point of the ultrasonic beam of the probe of the comparative example. Figure 3b is a diagram illustrating the position of the irradiation point of the ultrasonic beam in the planar scanning of the probe of the comparative example. Figure 4a is a diagram illustrating an example of the time variation of signal intensity in a reflected wave. FIG. 4b is a diagram illustrating the conversion of the signal intensity of a reflected wave to a grayscale of 0 to 255. FIG. 4c is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the irradiation point of the ultrasonic beam and a subject (8) having three rectangular regions with different reflectances. FIG. 4d is a drawing illustrating an ultrasonic image obtained by an electronic scan in FIG. 4c. FIG. 5a is a diagram illustrating the location of the electronic scan point when the external shape of the subject is made into a scanning area by the probe (4) of the comparative example. Figure 5b is a diagram showing an ultrasonic image obtained by the electronic scan of Figure 5a. FIG. 6a is a diagram illustrating the irradiation point of the ultrasonic beam of the probe (4) of the embodiment. FIG. 6b is a diagram illustrating the position of the irradiation point of the ultrasonic beam in the planar scanning of the probe. FIG. 7a is a diagram illustrating the location of the electronic scan points when the external shape of the subject in an embodiment is used as the scanning area. Figure 7b is a diagram showing an ultrasonic image obtained by an electronic scan of Figure 7a. Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of planar scanning of an array-type ultrasound imaging device. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the details of the processing of the electronic scan. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating the overall configuration of an array-type ultrasound imaging device of an embodiment.

[0015] An array-type ultrasound imaging device (1) is equipped with a 3-axis scanner (2) (scanning means) and an ultrasound array probe (hereinafter referred to as probe (4)). The 3-axis scanner (2) scans the probe (4) in two dimensions in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction (planar scanning) with respect to a subject (8) on a plane. By doing so, the array-type ultrasound imaging device (1) can image the subject (8) on a plane using ultrasound.

[0016] The probe (4) is a phased array ultrasonic probe in which a plurality of vibrators are arranged in a rectangle. Specifically, by controlling the oscillation timing of each of the plurality of vibrators (vibrator group) in the plurality of vibrators, an ultrasonic convergence beam (ultrasonic beam) is created, and by electronically switching this, the irradiation position is changed to irradiate the ultrasonic beam, thereby scanning the subject (8) in one dimension. In this specification, the scanning of the ultrasonic beam by the phased array ultrasonic probe is described as an electronic scan.

[0017] The reception control of the reflected waves of the ultrasonic beam is also performed by controlling the vibrator group.

[0018] Additionally, the probe (4) may focus ultrasound generated from a single vibrator using an acoustic lens and irradiate it onto the subject, and may be configured with multiple vibrators arranged in a rectangular shape. In this configuration as well, the irradiation position of the ultrasound beam is changed by electronically switching the vibrators, thereby performing an electronic scan of the subject (8).

[0019] The probe (4) is immersed in water filled in a tank (91) and positioned so that the tip of the probe (4) faces the subject (8). The probe (4) is installed on a 3-axis scanner (2) by means of a holder (24).

[0020] The tank (91) is loaded onto the die (92).

[0021] This 3-axis scanner (2) detects the scanning position based on the linear position or rotational position (angled position) detected by an encoder that detects positional changes when scanning the probe (4) in two dimensions. By doing so, the array-type ultrasound imaging device (1) can image the relationship between each scanning position (scan point) of the subject (8) and the echo wave in two dimensions.

[0022] The 3-axis scanner (2) is equipped with an X-axis scanner (21) and a Y-axis scanner (22) that scan the probe (4), a Z-axis scanner (23) that varies the distance between the probe (4) and the subject (8), and a holder (24) that holds the probe (4).

[0023] Additionally, the probe (4) is adjusted in height by the die (92) before inspection, and the distance from the subject (8) is adjusted by the Z-axis scanner (23).

[0024] The probe (4) is continuously moved (scanned) at a predetermined speed by the X-axis scanner (21) of the 3-axis scanner (2) in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which a plurality of vibrators are arranged linearly (hereinafter, this direction is referred to as the X-axis direction), and then, by the Y-axis scanner (22) of the 3-axis scanner (2), a movement of the scanning width of the electronic scan is performed in parallel with the direction in which a plurality of vibrators are arranged (shifted operation).

[0025] This holder (24) supports a flange portion (42) provided on the upper part of the probe (4) and allows the probe (4) to move smoothly upward when an upward force is applied. A sensor (3) is provided in the holder (24) and detects when the probe (4) moves upward.

[0026] The control device (10) is equipped with a scanner control unit (11), a transmission / reception command unit (12), a timing processing unit (13), a vibrator operation signal generation unit (14), a reflected wave signal processing unit (15), a reflected wave image generation unit (16), and a display unit (17), and performs control of a 3-axis scanner, transmission / reception control of a probe (4), and display control of an echo wave from a test subject (8).

[0027] The scanner control unit (11) is a control unit that drives the X-axis scanner (21) and the Y-axis scanner (22) based on the encoder outputs embedded in the X-axis scanner (21) and the Y-axis scanner (22) so that the probe (4) scans the surface of the subject (8) in a planar manner.

[0028] The transmission and reception command unit (12) initiates an electronic scan of the probe (4) in synchronization with the encoder output of the X-axis scanner (21) notified by the scanner control unit (11). That is, the transmission and reception command unit (12) initiates an electronic scan in synchronization with the scan operation of the probe (4). As a result, the scanning pitch of the subject (8) in the X-axis direction by the electronic scan of the probe (4) becomes equal to the pitch of the encoder output of the X-axis scanner (21).

[0029] The timing processing unit (13) selects a group of transducers of the probe (4) corresponding to the scanning sequence of the ultrasonic beam in the electronic scan.

[0030] The vibrator operation signal generation unit (14) generates a vibrator operation signal according to the vibrator group and scanning order selected by the timing processing unit (13), and transmits it to the probe (4) at each scanning point.

[0031] The probe (4) irradiates an ultrasonic beam by means of the vibrator operation signal of the vibrator operation signal generating unit (14).

[0032] The reflected wave signal processing unit (15) receives a signal of the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam from the probe (4) at each scan point, obtains the displacement (amplitude) of the reflected wave by providing a gate and processing the gate, and calculates the signal strength based on the displacement.

[0033] The reflected wave image generation unit (16) converts the signal intensity of the reflected wave at each irradiation point calculated by the reflected wave signal processing unit (15) into a grayscale level of, for example, 0 to 255. At the boundary surface where the acoustic impedance (density) changes, such as the boundary between the subject (8) and the water tank (91) or the boundary of the material inside the subject (8), peeling part, or void part, a reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam is generated. The reflected wave image generation unit (16) sets the grayscale level to 255 at points where there is no reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam, and reduces the grayscale level as the signal intensity of the reflected wave increases.

[0034] The display unit (17) displays the signal intensity of the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam obtained from the reflected wave image generation unit (16) as a gradient image of the plane scanned by the subject (8). Specifically, when the gradient is 255, black is displayed; when the gradient is 0, white is displayed; and when the gradient is an intermediate value, gray is displayed according to the gradient.

[0035] Accordingly, the array-type ultrasound imaging device (1) displays the cavity (where there is a large difference in density from the surroundings) of the flatly scanned subject (8) as a white image.

[0036] Next, the operation of planar scanning of the probe (4) in the array-type ultrasound imaging device (1) will be explained with reference to FIG. 2.

[0037] The probe (4) is configured, for example, with 192 oscillators arranged in a linear fashion, but FIG. 2 shows a case where the probe (4) is configured with 7 oscillators a, b, c, d, e, f, and g.

[0038] The array-type ultrasound imaging device (1) sets the set position of the subject (8) as the origin of the scan (upper left of the scan area in FIG. 2), specifies the size of the scan area, and performs planar scanning with the probe (4).

[0039] First, the probe (4) is moved by driving the 3-axis scanner (2) so that the starting point of the electronic scan of the probe (4) is located at the origin of the scan. Specifically, since the electronic scan is performed while the probe (4) is moving, the probe (4) is moved including a predetermined value so that the movement speed when the probe (4) passes the starting point of the electronic scan becomes a predetermined value.

[0040] At the origin (start position) of the planar scan, the probe (4) performs an electronic scan by vibrators a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and moves in a direction perpendicular to the parallel direction of the vibrators by the X-axis scanner (21) of the 3-axis scanner (2). Then, the probe (4) performs the next electronic scan in synchronization with the encoder output of the X-axis scanner (21). The probe (4) repeats this by the width of the scan area (size in the X-axis direction).

[0041] The probe (4) performs a continuous movement of the probe (4) in the X-axis direction (scan operation 1) as described above, and repeats the electronic scan, irradiating an ultrasonic beam onto a striped scanning area in which the length in the Y-axis direction is the scanning width of the electronic scan and the length in the X-axis direction is the width of the set scanning area, and detects reflected waves from the subject (8).

[0042] At this time, the control device (10) takes the reflected wave from the subject (8) detected by one electronic scan of the probe (4) as the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam with the same position (scanning row) in the X-axis direction, calculates the signal intensity of the reflected wave, and displays it as a shaded image.

[0043] Next, the probe (4) moves (shifts) the scanning width of the electronic scan in parallel with the parallel direction of the plurality of vibrators by the Y-axis scanner (22) of the 3-axis scanner (2). Then, the probe (4) is moved by the X-axis scanner (21) so that the starting point of the electronic scan of the probe (4) becomes a position in the X-axis direction identical to the starting point of the last electronic scan of the scan operation 1.

[0044] The probe (4) performs an electronic scan using vibrators a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and moves in a direction perpendicular to the parallel direction of the vibrators in the opposite direction to scan operation 1 by the X-axis scanner (21) of the 3-axis scanner (2). Then, the probe (4) performs the next electronic scan in synchronization with the encoder output of the X-axis scanner (21). The probe (4) repeats this by the width of the scanning area (size in the X-axis direction).

[0045] The probe (4) performs a continuous movement of the probe (4) in the X-axis direction (scan operation 2) as described above, and repeats the electronic scan, irradiating an ultrasonic beam onto a striped scanning area in which the length in the Y-axis direction is the scanning width of the electronic scan and the length in the X-axis direction is the width of the set scanning area, and detects reflected waves from the subject (8).

[0046] The control device (10) terminates planar scanning when the designated scanning area can be covered by the scan operation 1 and scan operation 2 of the probe (4), but if it is insufficient, it moves the probe (4) by a shift operation equal to the scanning width of the electronic scan and performs scan operation 3, shift operation, and scan operation 4 together with the electronic scan, just like the previous operation.

[0047] The control device (10) performs a planar injection of the subject (8) by repeating the above operation until the designated injection area is covered.

[0048] In this specification, scan operation 1, scan operation 3... of the probe (4) is described as a double-acting scan operation (first scan operation), and scan operation 2, scan operation 4... of the probe (4) is described as a double-acting scan operation (second scan operation).

[0049] Since the probe (4) performs electronic scanning while moving continuously during the scan operations 1, 2, 3, and 4, specifically, a misalignment occurs in the position of the irradiation point of the ultrasonic beam in the X-axis direction depending on the irradiation timing of the ultrasonic beam. Next, the relationship between the irradiation timing of the ultrasonic beam and the irradiation point will be explained.

[0050] FIG. 3a is a diagram illustrating the irradiation point of the ultrasonic beam of the probe (4) of the comparative example.

[0051] The irradiation points a, b, c, d, e, f, g are the irradiation points of the ultrasonic beam produced by the electronic scan of the vibrators a, b, c, d, e, f, g of the probe (4). In particular, the irradiation point a is the irradiation point corresponding to the origin of the scanning area, and is also the irradiation point of the first ultrasonic beam of the electronic scan synchronized with the encoder output of the X-axis scanner (21) during the scan operation.

[0052] The electronic scanning of the probe (4) is performed during the continuous movement of the scanning operation. The solid rectangle in FIG. 3a represents the position of the probe (4) when the ultrasonic beam is first irradiated, and the dashed rectangle represents the position of the probe (4) when the ultrasonic beam is last irradiated.

[0053] In the probe (4) of the comparative example, ultrasonic beams are irradiated sequentially from point a toward the other end of the probe (4). Because of this, points b, c, d, e, f, and g are positioned slightly offset in the scanning direction.

[0054] FIG. 3b is a diagram illustrating the position of the irradiation point of the ultrasonic beam in the planar scanning of scan operation 1 and scan operation 2 of the probe (4) of the comparative example.

[0055] In the comparative example, the investigation point a of the probe (4) is electronically scanned in synchronization with the encoder output of the X-axis scanner (21), so the position in the X-axis direction coincides in scan operation 1 and scan operation 2 (e.g., Xn coordinate). However, the investigation points b, c, d, e, f, and g are positioned slightly differently depending on the scan direction.

[0056] Here, the display of the ultrasonic image of the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam irradiated by the probe (4) is described in detail.

[0057] FIG. 4a is a diagram illustrating an example of the time variation of the signal strength in a reflected wave processed by the reflected wave signal processing unit (15). The reflected wave signal processing unit (15) calculates the displacement (amplitude) of the signal strength of the reflected wave over a predetermined time width centered on the time corresponding to the predetermined depth of the test subject (8) being inspected.

[0058] FIG. 4b is a diagram illustrating that the reflected wave image generation unit (16) converts the signal intensity of the reflected wave at each irradiance point into a grayscale of 0 to 255. When the signal intensity of the reflected wave is 0 (displacement is 0), it is made black with a grayscale of 255; when the signal intensity of the reflected wave is maximum (displacement is maximum), it is made white with a grayscale of 0; and as the signal intensity (displacement) of the reflected wave increases, the grayscale is reduced (intermediate value) to make it gray.

[0059] Next, the ultrasonic image when electronically scanned by the probe (4) of the comparative example is explained in FIG. 4c and FIG. 4d.

[0060] FIG. 4c is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the irradiation point of the ultrasonic beam of the probe (4) and the subject (8) having three areas of different reflectances in a rectangular shape as shown in the drawing. The first irradiation point of the electron scan of the probe (4) is in each of the three areas of different reflectances, but because the electron scan is performed while the probe (4) is moving, the last irradiation point of the electron scan is in the neighboring rectangular area.

[0061] FIG. 4d is a drawing illustrating an ultrasonic image obtained by an electronic scan in FIG. 4c.

[0062] At this time, the reflected wave image generation unit (16) takes the reflected wave from the subject (8) detected by one electronic scan of the probe (4) as the reflected wave of an ultrasonic beam with the same position (scanning row) in the X-axis direction, calculates the signal intensity of the reflected wave, obtains a shade image, and displays it as an ultrasonic image on the display unit (17). Because of this, a shade image with a different reflectance distribution from the subject (8) described in FIG. 4c is displayed.

[0063] FIGS. 5A and 5B are drawings illustrating an example of displaying an ultrasonic image when the probe (4) of the comparative example is moved back and forth.

[0064] FIG. 5a is a diagram illustrating the location of the electronic scan point of the probe (4) when the external shape of the subject (8) is used as the injection area.

[0065] As described in FIG. 3b, since the electronic scan is performed in synchronization with the encoder output of the X-axis scanner (21), the positions in the X-axis direction coincide in scan operation 1 and scan operation 2 (e.g., Xn coordinates). However, the irradiation points b, c, d, e, f, and g are positioned slightly out of alignment depending on the scan direction. Because of this, the irradiation points e, f, and g of the final electronic scan of scan operation 1 irradiate the ultrasonic beam to a location other than the subject.

[0066] Figure 5b is a diagram showing an ultrasonic image obtained by the electronic scan of Figure 5a.

[0067] The reflected wave image generation unit (16) displays the reflected wave from the subject (8) detected by one electronic scan of the probe (4) as a reflected wave of an ultrasonic beam with the same position (scanning row) in the X-axis direction, and thus displays the irradiation points e, f, g as an ultrasonic image of the subject (8) at the Xn coordinate.

[0068] Because the reflected wave of the subject (8) and the reflected wave of the subject other than the subject have different signal intensities, the reflected wave images corresponding to the investigation points e, f, and g are displayed as images of different density, and are recognized as discrepancies in image information. Also, in FIG. 5b, for the sake of explanation, the reflected wave image of the subject (8) is white and the reflected wave image of the subject other than the subject is black.

[0069] Below, an array-type ultrasonic imaging device (1) of an embodiment is described.

[0070] FIG. 6a is a diagram illustrating the irradiation point of the ultrasonic beam of the probe (4) of the embodiment.

[0071] The irradiation points a, b, c, d, e, f, g are the irradiation points of the ultrasonic beam produced by the electronic scan of the vibrators a, b, c, d, e, f, g of the probe (4). In particular, the irradiation point a is the irradiation point corresponding to the origin of the scanning area, and is also the irradiation point of the first ultrasonic beam of the electronic scan synchronized with the encoder output of the X-axis scanner (21) during the scan operation.

[0072] The electronic scanning of the probe (4) is performed during the continuous movement of the scanning operation. The solid rectangle in FIG. 6a represents the position of the probe (4) when the ultrasonic beam is first irradiated, and the dashed rectangle represents the position of the probe (4) when the ultrasonic beam is last irradiated.

[0073] By the timing processing unit (13) (see FIG. 1), the probe (4) irradiates an ultrasonic beam to point a, and then irradiates an ultrasonic beam to point g at the other end of the electronic scan. Next, it irradiates an ultrasonic beam to point b, which is central to point a. In this way, the probe (4) performs an electronic scan by irradiating ultrasonic beams alternately in sequence from the irradiation points at the opposite ends toward the irradiation points at the center.

[0074] In other words, the probe (4) irradiates an ultrasonic beam such that the point of irradiation of the ultrasonic beam becomes a cross shape or an inverted cross shape depending on the direction of the scan operation.

[0075] FIG. 6b is a diagram illustrating the position of the irradiation point of the ultrasonic beam in the scanning area of ​​scan operation 1 and scan operation 2 of the probe (4).

[0076] Since the investigation point a of the probe (4) is electronically scanned in synchronization with the encoder output of the X-axis scanner (21), the X-axis direction position coincides in scan operation 1 and scan operation 2, and the investigation points b, c, d, e, f, g are positioned slightly offset according to the scan direction.

[0077] FIGS. 7a and 7b are drawings illustrating an example of an ultrasonic image display when the probe (4) of the comparative example is reciprocated.

[0078] FIG. 7a is a diagram illustrating the location of the electronic scan point of the probe (4) when the external shape of the subject (8) is used as the scanning area.

[0079] As described in FIG. 6b, since the irradiation point a of the probe (4) is electronically scanned in synchronization with the encoder output of the X-axis scanner (21), the position in the X-axis direction coincides in scan operation 1 and scan operation 2, and the irradiation points b, c, d, e, f, g become inverted or inverted shapes of the ultrasonic beam irradiation points depending on the scan direction. As a result, the irradiation points c, d, and e of the final electronic scan of scan operation 1 irradiate the ultrasonic beam to a place other than the subject.

[0080] Figure 7b is a diagram showing an ultrasonic image obtained by an electronic scan of Figure 7a.

[0081] The reflected wave image generation unit (16) displays the reflected wave from the subject (8) detected by a single electronic scan of the probe (4) as a reflected wave of an ultrasonic beam with the same position (scanning row) in the X-axis direction, and thus displays the irradiation points c, d, and e in black as an ultrasonic image of the subject (8) at the Xn coordinate. Additionally, for illustrative purposes, the reflected wave image of the subject (8) is white, and the reflected wave image of a subject other than the subject, with a different signal intensity of the reflected wave, is black.

[0082] In this way, in the final electronic scan of the forward motion processing immediately before the shift processing, the image near the end boundary with the double motion processing is displayed white, while the image near the end boundary with the forward motion processing of the first electronic scan of the double motion processing is also displayed white. As a result, the images near the end boundaries of the forward motion and the double motion are displayed in white, which is the same grayscale. That is, by irradiating the ultrasonic beam so that the irradiation point of the ultrasonic beam becomes a curved shape or an inverted curved shape depending on the direction of the scan operation described in Fig. 6a, the images near the end boundaries of the forward and return paths of the scan operation have the same grayscale, thereby suppressing the discrepancy in the generated image information and making it possible to display an image close to the actual image of the subject. In other words, the discrepancy in the display of ultrasonic reflected waves at the switched positions of the forward and return paths of the scan operation can be corrected.

[0083] Next, from FIG. 8, the operation flow of planar scanning of the array-type ultrasound imaging device (1) will be explained.

[0084] In step S81, the control device (10) obtains the scan conditions of the origin position (XY coordinates), width (length in the X-axis direction), and height (length in the Y-axis direction) of the scan area.

[0085] In step S82, the scanner control unit (11) of the control device (10) drives the 3-axis scanner (2) to move the probe (4) to the position of the origin of the scanning range.

[0086] In step S83, the control device (10) repeats the processing of steps S83 to S811 for the height portion (Y-axis direction) of the scanning area.

[0087] In step S84, the scanner control unit (11) initiates a scanning operation of the probe (4) in the X-axis direction of the scanning area by the X-axis scanner (21).

[0088] In step S85, the control device (10) repeats the processing of steps S86 to S88, the width of the scanning area (in the X-axis direction).

[0089] In step S86, the transmission and reception command unit (12) of the control device (10) determines whether it has detected the encoder output of the X-axis scanner (21) notified by the scanner control unit (11), and if it has detected the encoder output ("Yes" in S86), it performs the processing of the electronic scan of the probe (4) in step S87, which will be described in detail later. If it has not detected the encoder output, it repeats the processing of step S86 and waits for the detection of the encoder output.

[0090] In step S89, the scanner control unit (11) of the control device (10) performs a shift operation by moving the scanning width of the electronic scan in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis scanner (22) of the 3-axis scanner (2).

[0091] In step S810, the scanner control unit (11) sets the movement direction (scan direction) of the probe (4) to be reversed during the scan operation initiated in step S84.

[0092] By the above processing, the array-type ultrasound imaging device (1) captures an ultrasound image of a predetermined injection area of ​​the subject (8).

[0093] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the details of the processing of the electronic scan of the probe (4) in step S87 of FIG. 8.

[0094] In FIG. 9, the number of probe (4) scan points is set to n (odd), the number of scan points at one end of the electronic scan is set to 1, and numbers are assigned in ascending order toward the other end.

[0095] In step S91, the timing processing unit (13) (see FIG. 1) repeats steps S92 through S94, adding 1 to variable i, from 1 to (n-1) / 2.

[0096] In step S92, the timing processing unit (13) selects a group of vibrators to irradiate an ultrasonic beam at the irradiation point (i), and generates a vibrator operation signal at the probe (4) by the vibrator operation signal generation unit (14) (see FIG. 1) to irradiate an ultrasonic beam at the irradiation point (i).

[0097] In step S93, the timing processing unit (13) selects a group of vibrators to irradiate an ultrasonic beam at an irradiation point (n+1-i), and generates a vibrator operation signal at the probe (4) by the vibrator operation signal generation unit (14) (see FIG. 1) to irradiate an ultrasonic beam at an irradiation point (n+1-i).

[0098] By repeating steps S92 and S93, the timing processing unit (13) irradiates ultrasonic beams alternately in sequence from the irradiation point of the opposing end toward the irradiation point of the central part.

[0099] In step S95, the timing processing unit (13) irradiates an ultrasonic beam to the irradiation point ((n+1) / 2). That is, it irradiates an ultrasonic beam to the irradiation point in the center of the electronic scan.

[0100] By the above process, an ultrasonic beam is irradiated in the order of the first, second, third, and fourth irradiation points at the positions of the first, third, and fourth irradiation points, respectively, at the positions of the first, third, and fourth irradiation points, respectively, at the positions of the first, third, and fourth irradiation points, respectively, at the positions of the second, fourth, and fourth irradiation points, respectively, at the positions of the second, fourth, and fourth irradiation points, respectively, at the positions of the electronic scan, at the opposite end, towards the center.

[0101] Additionally, although FIG. 9 describes the case where the investigation score of the probe (4) is odd, if it is even, in step S91, variable i is from 1 to n / 2, steps S92 through S94 are repeated while adding 1 to variable i. Then, the processing of step S95 can be omitted.

[0102] 1. The text "1. The text "1. The text "2. The text "3

[0103] For this reason, the control device (10) can reduce the misalignment of the shading image at the boundary between the display area of ​​scan operation 1 and the display area of ​​scan operation 2 when the reflected wave of the electronic scan is used as a reflected wave of an ultrasonic beam with the same position (scanning row) in the X-axis direction, the signal strength of the reflected wave is calculated, and the image is displayed as a shading image.

[0104] In addition, the probe (4) performs an electronic scan by alternately irradiating ultrasonic beams in sequence from the irradiation point at the opposite end to the irradiation point at the center, so that the deterioration of the positional misalignment of adjacent irradiation points in the electronic scan can be reduced, thereby suppressing the actualization of misalignment of the shading image within the display area by scan operation 1 and within the display area by scan operation 2.

[0105] The array-type ultrasound imaging device (1) of the embodiment described above can suppress the occurrence of image misalignment of the reflected wave image generated during the scanning and double-scanning of the probe (4), and can acquire an ultrasound image with reduced image misalignment of the subject (8) at high speed.

[0106] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and includes various modifications. The above embodiments are described in detail to facilitate understanding of the invention and are not limited to having all the configurations described. Explanation of the symbols

[0107] 1: Array-type ultrasound imaging device 10: Control unit 11: Scanner control unit 12: Transmit / Receive Command Unit 13: Timing Processor 14: Vibrator operation signal generation unit 15: Reflected wave signal processing unit 16: Reflected wave image generation unit 17: Display section 2: 3-axis scanner 21: X-axis scanner 22: Y-axis scanner 23: Z-axis scanner 24: Holder 3: Sensor 4: Probe (ultrasonic array probe) 42: Flange section 8: Test subject 91: Aquarium 92: Die

Claims

Claim 1 An array-type ultrasonic imaging device that performs an electronic scan in which an ultrasonic array probe, having a plurality of transducers arranged linearly in parallel, irradiates an ultrasonic beam onto a subject in a predetermined scanning sequence, and performs planar scanning by means of a scanning motion in which the probe moves back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the transducers and a shift motion in which the ultrasonic array probe moves parallel to the arrangement direction of the transducers, thereby irradiating an ultrasonic beam onto the surface of a subject or a stacking boundary surface and displaying the signal intensity of an ultrasonic reflected wave from the subject, wherein the electronic scan is performed by selecting the plurality of transducers and irradiating the ultrasonic beam in a scanning sequence in which an ultrasonic beam is irradiated to an irradiation point at one end of the electronic scan and then an ultrasonic beam is irradiated to an irradiation point at the opposite end, and the ultrasonic beam is irradiated to an alternating sequence of ultrasonic beams from each end toward the center. Claim 2 An array-type ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 1, comprising: a transducer operation signal generation unit that controls the transmission and reception of ultrasound of a group of transducers of the ultrasonic array probe at each irradiation position of the ultrasonic beam; a timing processing unit that selects the group of transducers corresponding to the scanning sequence of the electronic scan; a transmission and reception command unit that commands the generation of a transducer operation signal to the transducer operation signal generation unit via the timing processing unit to initiate the electronic scan of the ultrasonic array probe; and a control unit that controls the transmission and reception command unit in synchronization with the scan operation of the ultrasonic array probe. Claim 3 An array-type ultrasonic imaging device according to paragraph 2, wherein the timing processing unit selects the vibrator group such that the irradiation point of the ultrasonic beam is externally shaped like a 'ku' or an inverted 'ku' in the direction of movement of the ultrasonic array probe. Claim 4 An array-type ultrasonic imaging device according to paragraph 2, wherein the control unit makes the X-coordinate position of the starting position of the electronic scan immediately before the shift operation and the X-coordinate position of the starting position of the electronic scan immediately after the shift operation equal, when the coordinate system in which the ultrasonic array probe plane scans the subject has the direction perpendicular to the parallel direction of the vibrator of the ultrasonic array probe as the X-axis direction and the parallel direction of the vibrator as the Y-axis direction, and the initial irradiation point of the ultrasonic beam plane scanning as the coordinate origin. Claim 5 An array-type ultrasound imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that it receives ultrasound reflected waves from a subject at each irradiation position of an ultrasound beam to determine the signal intensity of the reflected waves, and displays an image of a density corresponding to the signal intensity at a predetermined position of a rectangularly divided display area corresponding to the planar scanning. Claim 6 An array-type ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 1, characterized by having a reflected wave signal processing unit that calculates the signal intensity of the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam received by the vibrator. Claim 7 An array-type ultrasound imaging device according to claim 6, characterized by comprising: a reflected wave image generation unit that calculates the signal intensity of a reflected wave by treating a reflected wave from a subject detected by a single electronic scan of an ultrasound array probe as a reflected wave of an ultrasound beam with the same position in the X-axis direction and obtains a shade image, and a display unit that displays the shade image obtained by the reflected wave image generation unit as a shade image of a reflected wave of an ultrasound beam scanned in the plane of the subject. Claim 8 A control method for an array-type ultrasonic imaging device that performs an electronic scan by sequentially irradiating an ultrasonic beam from an ultrasonic array probe having multiple transducers arranged linearly in parallel onto a subject, and displays the signal intensity of an ultrasonic reflected wave from the subject; the method comprises a first step of continuously moving the ultrasonic array probe at a predetermined speed in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the transducers of the ultrasonic array probe, while irradiating an ultrasonic beam by selecting the multiple transducers to form a scanning sequence in which the ultrasonic beam is irradiated alternately in order from each end toward the center, so as to irradiate an ultrasonic beam at an irradiation point at one end of the electronic scan onto the subject in a predetermined scanning sequence, and then irradiate an ultrasonic beam at an irradiation point at the opposite end, and a shift step of moving the ultrasonic array probe in parallel with the arrangement direction of the transducers by the scanning width of the electronic scan, and selecting the multiple transducers to form a scanning sequence in which the ultrasonic beam is irradiated alternately in order from each end toward the center, so as to irradiate an ultrasonic beam at an irradiation point at one end of the electronic scan onto the subject in a predetermined scanning sequence, and then irradiate an ultrasonic beam at an irradiation point at the opposite end, A control method for an array-type ultrasound imaging device characterized by including a second step of continuously moving the ultrasound array probe at a predetermined speed in the opposite direction to the first step while investigating, and repeating the first step, the shift step, and the second step to electronically scan the entire surface of the subject. Claim 9 A control method for an array-type ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 8, characterized by including a step of detecting the presence or absence of an encoder output of an X-axis scanner that scans the ultrasonic array probe, and a step of irradiating an ultrasonic beam to a first irradiation point of one end of the electronic scan when the encoder output is detected.

Images