Ultrasonic diagnosis system and testing method

Abstract

An ultrasonic diagnosis system includes an ultrasonic probe, which has an array of plural ultrasonic transducer elements, for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to an object, and for receiving an echo signal thereof to output a detection signal. A testing unit sets a testing mode, and operates in test operation of the plural ultrasonic transducer elements while the testing mode is set, so as to acquire a testing detection signal. There is a display panel. A display control unit controls the display panel to display information of the testing detection signal obtained for each of the ultrasonic transducer elements. Furthermore, the testing unit, when in a first inspection, drives the ultrasonic transducer elements together to obtain the testing detection signal, and when in a second inspection, drives the ultrasonic transducer elements by at least one element to obtain the testing detection signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an ultrasonic diagnosis system;

FIG. 2A is an explanatory view illustrating an ultrasonic probe, a testing container and a testing reflector;

FIG. 2B is an explanatory view illustrating the same as FIG. 2A but in which the testing reflector is opposed to the ultrasonic probe;

FIG. 3A is an explanatory view in plan, illustrating a screen pattern with waveforms for ultrasonic transducer elements;

FIG. 3B is an explanatory view in plan, illustrating ultrasonic transducer elements of a second transducer group next to a first transducer group;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view in plan, illustrating a screen pattern in which brilliant points are indicated with signal waveforms;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view in plan, illustrating a screen pattern in which wave patterns are indicated with signal waveforms;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view in plan, illustrating a screen pattern similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 but with distinct indicia;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view illustrating one preferred embodiment in which an ultrasonic probe has a convex probe surface, a testing reflector is curved.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic diagnosis system comprising: an ultrasonic probe, having an ultrasonic transducer array of plural ultrasonic transducer elements, for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to an object, and for receiving an echo signal thereof to output a detection signal;a testing unit for test operation of said ultrasonic transducer array by executing a testing mode;a display panel; anda display control unit for controlling said display panel to display information of said detection signal obtained for each of said ultrasonic transducer elements when said testing mode is executed.

2. An ultrasonic diagnosis system as defined in claim 1, wherein said information of said detection signal is a signal waveform.

3. An ultrasonic diagnosis system as defined in claim 2, wherein said testing unit has a switching unit, responsive to transmission or reception of said ultrasonic wave or said echo signal, for switching one or more ultrasonic transducer elements of a predetermined number to be driven among said ultrasonic transducer elements, and at each time that said ultrasonic transducer elements are switched, one or plural selected ultrasonic transducer elements among said ultrasonic transducer elements is driven.

4. An ultrasonic diagnosis system as defined in claim 3, wherein said testing unit in said testing mode operates in at least first and second tests, and when in said first test, drives said ultrasonic transducer elements together at one time to obtain said detection signal, and when in said second test, drives said ultrasonic transducer elements by one or plural elements to obtain said detection signal.

5. An ultrasonic diagnosis system as defined in claim 3, further comprising an input device for inputting an input signal; wherein said testing unit drives said ultrasonic transducer elements by one or plural elements in response to said input signal, and/or drives said ultrasonic transducer elements simultaneously in response to said input signal.

6. An ultrasonic diagnosis system as defined in claim 3, wherein said testing unit drives said ultrasonic transducer elements by one or plural elements periodically, and/or drives said ultrasonic transducer elements simultaneously.

7. An ultrasonic diagnosis system as defined in claim 6, wherein when said plural ultrasonic transducer elements are driven by at least one element, said display control unit causes said display panel to continue displaying said information of said detection signal of an ultrasonic transducer element among said ultrasonic transducer elements driven before.

8. An ultrasonic diagnosis system as defined in claim 3, wherein said ultrasonic transducer elements are grouped in plural transducer groups, and said display control unit outputs said information of said detection signal by changing over for each of said transducer groups.

9. An ultrasonic diagnosis system as defined in claim 8, wherein said information of said detection signal is displayed in an overlapped manner at an end portion where said transducer groups are adjacent with one another.

10. An ultrasonic diagnosis system as defined in claim 3, wherein said display control unit converts strength of said detection signal into brightness, and outputs said information of said detection signal in an indicated form of a relationship between said brightness and depth in a B scan mode.

11. An ultrasonic diagnosis system as defined in claim 3, wherein said display control unit outputs said information of said detection signal in an indicated form of a relationship between strength and depth of said detection signal in an A scan mode.

12. An ultrasonic diagnosis system as defined in claim 3, further comprising a comparison unit for comparing strength of said detection signal with a threshold value, so predetermined as to extract a portion of a first attack of said detection signal initially reflected from said object directly; wherein said display control unit controls said display panel according to a comparing result of said detection signal.

13. An ultrasonic diagnosis system as defined in claim 12, wherein said display control unit causes said display panel to indicate said portion of said first attack distinctly from remaining portions thereof.

14. An ultrasonic diagnosis system as defined in claim 13, wherein said display control unit outputs for said first attack portion in a form of at least one of a brilliant point, a wave pattern, and a distinct indicia.

15. An ultrasonic diagnosis system as defined in claim 3, wherein said testing unit includes a testing reflector, having a reflection surface, disposed to face a probe surface of said ultrasonic transducer elements with a decrease in a distance to said probe surface from a first end to a second end thereof; wherein a testing container is used and stores liquid in which said testing reflector is positioned to submerge a probe end of said ultrasonic probe.

16. A testing method for ultrasonic imaging, comprising: a testing step of test operation of an ultrasonic transducer array by executing a testing mode, wherein said ultrasonic transducer array includes plural ultrasonic transducer elements for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to an object and for receiving an echo signal thereof;an information displaying step of, when said testing mode is executed, displaying information of said detection signal obtained for each of said ultrasonic transducer elements on a display panel.

17. A testing method as defined in claim 16, wherein in said testing step, one or more ultrasonic transducer elements of a predetermined number to be driven are switched among said ultrasonic transducer elements in response to transmission or reception of said ultrasonic wave or said echo signal.

18. A testing method as defined in claim 17, wherein said information of said detection signal is a signal waveform.

19. A testing method as defined in claim 18, wherein said testing step is constituted by at least first and second testing steps, and in said first testing step, said ultrasonic transducer elements are driven together at one time to acquire said detection signal, and in said second testing step, said ultrasonic transducer elements are driven by one or plural elements to acquire said detection signal.

20. A testing method as defined in claim 19, wherein in said testing step, said ultrasonic transducer elements are driven by one or plural elements in response to an input signal, and/or are driven simultaneously in response to an input signal.

21. A testing method as defined in claim 19, wherein in said testing step, said ultrasonic transducer elements are driven by one or plural elements periodically, and/or are driven simultaneously.

22. A testing method as defined in claim 19, wherein when said plural ultrasonic transducer elements are driven by at least one element, said display panel in said information displaying step continues displaying said information of said detection signal of an ultrasonic transducer element among said ultrasonic transducer elements driven before.

23. A testing method as defined in claim 19, wherein said ultrasonic transducer elements are grouped in plural transducer groups, and in said information displaying step, said information of said detection signal is output by changing over for each of said transducer groups.

24. A testing method as defined in claim 19, wherein in said information displaying step, strength of said detection signal is converted into brightness, and said information of said detection signal is displayed in an indicated form of a relationship between said brightness and depth in a B scan mode.

25. A testing method as defined in claim 19, wherein in said information displaying step, said information of said detection signal is displayed in an indicated form of a relationship between strength and depth of said detection signal in an A scan mode.

26. A testing method as defined in claim 19, further comprising a comparing step of comparing strength of said detection signal with a threshold value so predetermined as to extract a portion of a first attack of said detection signal initially reflected from said object directly; in said information displaying step, said information of said detection signal is displayed according to a comparing result of said comparing step.

27. A testing method as defined in claim 19, wherein in said information displaying step, said portion of said first attack is indicated distinctly from remaining portions.

28. A testing method as defined in claim 19, wherein in said testing step, a testing reflector is used, and has a reflection surface, disposed to face a probe surface of said ultrasonic transducer elements with a decrease in a distance to said probe surface from a first end to a second end thereof.

29. A testing method as defined in claim 28, wherein said testing step is constituted by at least first and second inspecting steps, and in said first inspecting step, said detection signal is acquired by applying said ultrasonic wave to an incident surface disposed to extend substantially by following said probe surface of said ultrasonic transducer elements in opposing said ultrasonic transducer array to said incident surface, and in said second inspecting step, said ultrasonic wave is applied to said testing reflector in opposing said ultrasonic transducer array to said testing reflector.