Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Claim 2

In ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the type including an ultrasonic wave transducer for transmitting an ultransonic wave toward an object to be examined and for converting the ultrasonic wave reflected by said object into an electric signal; and television means responsive to the electric signal for displaying the image of said object; the improvement comprising: means for energizing said ultrasonic wave transducer; means for moving said transducer along said object; means for producing a position signal representing the position of said transducer; said means for energizing said ultrasonic wave transducer including a first pulse generator for generating a pulse signal in response to said position signal, means driven by the output pulse from said first pulse generator for forming an ultrasonic oscillation signal, and means for applying said ultrasonic oscillation signal to said ultrasonic wave transducer; a receiver for receiving the output signal from said transducer; an analogue-digital converter for converting an analogue output from said receiver into a digital signal; a data buffer means for storing the output from said converter; a line buffer means for temporarily storing line data of the quantity corresponding to one horizontal scanning line of a television set, said line data being read out from said data buffer means; means for converting the output signal from said line buffer means into a signal suitable to be displayed on said televison means; and said television means including television display means responsive to the output from said signal converting means for displaying the image of said object.

Claim 3

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receiver comprises a preamplifier for amplifying the output signal from said ultrasonic wave transducer, a gain control unit for controlling the gain of said preamplifier, a time gain control unit for controlling the operation of said gain control unit, a high frequency amplifier for amplifying the output from said preamplifier, and means to detect the output from said high frequency amplifier for deriving out an image signal.

Claim 4

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said data bUffer means comprises a delay circuit for delaying the pulse signal from said first pulse generator for a predetermined period of time, a second pulse generator operated by the output from said delay circuit, an AND gate circuit connected to receive the output from said second pulse generator as a gate signal for sampling the output from said analogue-digital converter, and a data buffer memory for sucessively storing the outputs from said AND gate circuit in predetermined addresses in accordance with the movement of said transducer.

Claim 5

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for moving said ultrasonic wave transducer along said object comprises a threaded feed rod disposed along one side of said object, an internally threaded support engaging said feed rod to be moved therealong, said support supporting said transducer; and wherein said means for producing said position signal comprises a contact piece carried by said support, and a plurality of contacts disposed along said feed rod to be successively engaged by said contact piece as said transducer is moved, thereby producing position signals.

Claim 6

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said analogue-digital converter comprises a plurality of signal slicers for dividing the image signal produced by said receiver into a plurality of signals in response to the level of said image signal, a plurality of waveform shaping circuits for shaping the waveforms of the output signals from said signal slicers, and a matrix circuit connected to receive the outputs from the respective waveform shaping circuits for providing a digital output of a predetermined number of bits corresponding to said outputs from the respective waveform shaping circuits.

Claim 7

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said analogue-digital converter produces three bit digital image signals and said television display means comprises a color picture tube having three electron guns connected to receive said three bit digital image signals respectively.

Claim 8

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said data buffer means comprises a delay circuit for delaying the pulse signal from said first pulse generator for a predetermined period of time, a second pulse generator operated by the output from said delay circuit, an AND gate circuit connected to receive the output from said second pulse generator as a gate signal for sampling the output from said analogue-digital converter, and a data buffer memory for successively storing the outputs from said AND gate circuit in the predetermined addresses in accordance with the movement of said transducer.

Claim 9

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said delay circuit is a variable delay circuit.

Claim 10

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the output frequencies of said first and second pulse generators are variable.

Claim 11

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said image display device comprises a black and white television receiver.

Claim 12

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 including a further digital-analogue converter for converting the output from a line buffer means into an analogue signal, said converter supplying to said image display apparatus an image signal whose tone varies stepwisely from white to black.

Claim 13

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said analogue-digital converter produces three bit digital image signals and said television display means comprises a color picture tube having three electron guns connected to receive said three bit digital image signals respectively.

Claim 14

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said television display means further includes a decoder to decode said three bit digital image signals to display a black and white tone picture on said color picture tube and switch means for Selectively supplying the output from said decoder and the output from said line buffer means to said color picture tube.

Claim 15

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 including an additional digital-analogue converter for converting the output from the line buffer means into a black and white tone picture signal, and said television display means includes a black and white picture tube for displaying a black and white picture in response to the output from said additional digital-analogue converter.

Claim 16

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said data buffer means and line buffer means comprises a circulating memory device in the form of a dynamic shift register provided with a feedback loop.

Claim 17

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises a system clock signal generator; and a timing circuit including a frequency divider for dividing the frequency of a system clock signal delivered from said system clock signal generator, means for transmitting an output from the frequency divider to the first pulse generator as a trigger signal, a counter for counting the prescribed number of outputs from the frequency divider, a start-stop signal generator for supplying a scanning device with stop-start signals for controlling the operation of the scanning device upon receipt of an output from the counter, a write timing circuit for generating a write clock signal and an address designating signal upon receipt of the system clock signal, means for producing horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals of television upon receipt of the system clock signal, a display timing circuit for giving forth a readout clock signal and an address designating signal upon receipt of the horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals, and a mode changing switch for selectively supplying the data buffer means with a write clock signal and an address-designating signal delivered from the write timing circuit and a readout clock signal and an address-designating signal conducted from the display timing circuit.

Claim 18

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises a system clock signal generator; and a timing circuit including a frequency divider for dividing the frequency of a system clock signal delivered from said system clock signal generator, means for transmitting an output from the frequency divider to the first pulse generator as a trigger signal, a counter for counting the prescribed number of outputs from the frequency divider, a start-stop signal generator for supplying a scanning device with stop-start signals for controlling the operation of the scanning device upon receipt of an output from the counter, a write timing circuit for generating a write clock signal and an address designating signal upon receipt of the system clock signal, means for producing horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals of television upon receipt of the system clock signal, a display timing circuit for giving forth a readout clock signal and an address designating signal upon receipt of the horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals, and a mode changing switch for selectively supplying the data buffer means with a write clock signal and an address-designating signal delivered from the write timing circuit and a readout clock signal and an address-designating signal conducted from the display timing circuit.

Claim 19

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said receiver comprises a preamplifier for amplifying the output signal from said ultrasonic wave transducer, a gain control unit for controlling the gain of said preamplifier, a time gain control unit for controlling the operation of said gain control unit, a high frequency amplifier for amplifying the output from said preamplifier, and means to detect the output from said high frequency amplifier for deriving out an image signal.

Claim 20

In ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the type including An ultrasonic wave transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an object to be examined and for converting the ultrasonic wave reflected by said object into an electric signal; and television means responsive to the electric signal for displaying the image of said object; the improvement comprising: means for energizing said ultrasonic wave transducer; means for moving said transducer along said object; means for producing a position signal representing the position of said transducer; a receiver for receiving the output signal from said transducer, said receiver including a preamplifier for amplifying the output signal from said ultrasonic wave transducer, a gain control unit for controlling the gain of said preamplifier, a time gain control unit for controlling the operation of said gain control unit, a high frequency amplifier for amplifying the output from said preamplifier, and means to detect the output from said high frequency amplifier for deriving out an image signal; an analogue-digital converter for converting an analogue output from said receiver into a digital signal; a data buffer means for storing the output from said converter; a line buffer means for temporarily storing line data of the quantity corresponding to one horizontal scanning line of a television set, said line data being read out from said data buffer means; means for converting the output signal from said line buffer means into a signal suitable to be displayed on said television means; and said television means including television display means responsive to the output from said signal converting means for displaying the image of said object.

Claim 21

In ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the type including An ultrasonic wave transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an object to be examined and for converting the ultrasonic wave reflected by said object into an electric signal; and television means responsive to the electric signal for displaying the image of said object; the improvement comprising: means for energizing said ultrasonic wave transducer; means for moving said transducer along said object; means for producing a position signal representing the position of said transducer; a receiver for receiving the output signal from said transducer, said receiver including a preamplifier for amplifying the output signal from said ultrasonic wave transducer, a gain control unit for controlling the gain of said preamplifier, a time gain control unit for controlling the operation of said gain control unit, a high frequency amplifier for amplifying the output from said preamplifier, and means to detect the output from said high frequency amplifier for deriving out an image signal; an analogue-digital converter for converting an analogue output from said receiver into a digital signal; a data buffer means for storing the output from said converter; a line buffer means for temporarily storing line data of the quantity corresponding to one horizontal scanning line of a television set, said line data being read out from said data buffer means; means for converting the output signal from said line buffer means into a signal suitable to be displayed on said television means; and said television means including television display means responsive to the output from said signal converting means for displaying the image of said object.

Claim 22

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said means for moving said ultrasonic wave transducer along said object comprises a threaded feed rod disposed along one side of said object, an internally threaded support engaging said feed rod to be moved therealong, said support supporting said transducer; and wherein said means for producing said position signal comprises a contact piece carried by said support, and a plurality of contacts disposed along said feed rod to be successively engaged by said contact piece as said transducer is moved, thereby producing position signals.

Claim 23

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said analogue-digital converter comprises a plurality of signal slicers for dividing the image signal produced by said receiver into a plurality of signals in response to the level of said image signal, a plurality of waveform shaping circuits for shaping the waveforms of the output signals from said signal slicers, and a matrix circuit connected to receive the outputs from the respective waveform shaping circuits for providing a digital output of a predetermined number of bits corresponding to said outputs from the respective waveform shaping circuits.

Claim 24

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 19 including a further digital-analogue converter for converting the output from said line buffer means into an analogue signal, said converter supplying to said image display apparatus an image signal whose tone varies stepwisely from white to black.

Claim 25

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said analogue-digital converter produces three bit digital image signals and said television display means comprises a color picture tube having three electron guns connected to receive said three bit digital image signals respectively.

Claim 26

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said television display means further includes a decoder to decode said three bit digital image signals to display a black and white tone picture on said color picture tube and switch means for selectively supplying the output from said decoder and the output from said line buffer means to said color picture tube.

Claim 27

In ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the type including an ultrAsonic wave transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an object to be examined and for converting the ultrasonic wave reflected by said object into an electric signal; and television means responsive to the electric signal for displaying the image of said object; the improvement comprising: means for energizing said ultrasonic wave transducer; means for moving said transducer along said object, said moving means comprising a threaded feed rod disposed along one side of said object, and an internally threaded support engaging said feed rod to be moved therealong, said support supporting said transducer; means for producing a position signal representing the position of said transducer, said means for producing said position signal comprising a contact piece carried by said support, and a plurality of contacts disposed along said feed rod to be successively engaged by said contact piece as said transducer is moved, thereby producing position signals; a receiver for receiving the output signal from said transducer; an analogue-digital converter for converting an analogue output from said receiver into a digital signal; a data buffer means for storing the output from said converter; a line buffer means for temporarily storing line data of the quantity corresponding to one horizontal scanning line of a television set, said line data being read out from said data buffer means; means for converting the output signal from said line buffer means into a signal suitable to be displayed on said television means; and said television means including television display means responsive to the output from said signal converting means for displaying the image of said object.

Claim 28

In ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the type including an ultrAsonic wave transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an object to be examined and for converting the ultrasonic wave reflected by said object into an electric signal; and television means responsive to the electric signal for displaying the image of said object; the improvement comprising: means for energizing said ultrasonic wave transducer; means for moving said transducer along said object, said moving means comprising a threaded feed rod disposed along one side of said object, and an internally threaded support engaging said feed rod to be moved therealong, said support supporting said transducer; means for producing a position signal representing the position of said transducer, said means for producing said position signal comprising a contact piece carried by said support, and a plurality of contacts disposed along said feed rod to be successively engaged by said contact piece as said transducer is moved, thereby producing position signals; a receiver for receiving the output signal from said transducer; an analogue-digital converter for converting an analogue output from said receiver into a digital signal; a data buffer means for storing the output from said converter; a line buffer means for temporarily storing line data of the quantity corresponding to one horizontal scanning line of a television set, said line data being read out from said data buffer means; means for converting the output signal from said line buffer means into a signal suitable to be displayed on said television means; and said television means including television display means responsive to the output from said signal converting means for displaying the image of said object.

Claim 29

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said means for energizing said ultrasonic wave transducer comprises a first pulse generator for generating a pulse signal in response to said position signal, means driven by the output pulse from said first pulse generator for forming an ultrasonic oscillation signal, and means for applying said ultrasonic oscillation signal to said ultrasonic wave transducer; and wherein said receiver comprises a preamplifier for amplifying the output signal from said ultrasonic wave transducer, a gain control unit for controlling the gain of said preamplifier, a time gain control unit for controlling the operation of said gain control unit, a high frequency amplifier for amplifying the output from said preamplifier, and means to detect the output from said high frequency amplifier for deriving out an image signal.

Claim 30

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said analogue-digital converter comprises a plurality of signal slicers for dividing the image signal produced by said receiver into a plurality of signals in responsive to the level of said image signal, a plurality of waveform shaping circuits for shaping the waveforms of the output signals from said signal slicers, and a matrix circuit connected to receive the outputs from the respective waveform shaping circuits for providing a digital output of a predetermined number of bits corresponding to said outputs from the respective waveform shaping circuits.

Claim 31

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 25 including a further digital-analogue converter for converting the output from said line buffer means into an analogue signal, said converter supplying to said image display apparatus an image signal whose tone varies stepwisely from white to black.

Claim 32

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said analogue-digital converter produces three bit digital image signals and said television display means comprises s color picture tube having three electron guns connected to receive said three bit digital image signals respectively.

Claim 33

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said television display means further includes a decoder to decode said threE bit digital image signals to display a black and white tone picture on said color picture tube and switch means for selectively supplying the output from said decoder and the output from said line buffer means to said color picture tube.

Claim 34

In ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the type including an ultrasonic wave transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an object to be examined and for converting the ultrasonic wave reflected by said object into an electric signal; and television means responsive to the electric signal for displaying the image of said object; the improvement comprising: means for energizing said ultrasonic wave transducer; means for producing a position signal representing the position of said transducer; a receiver for receiving the output signal from said transducer; an analogue-digital converter for converting an analogue output from said receiver into a digital signal, said analogue-digital converter comprising a plurality of signal slicers for dividing the image signal produced by said receiver into a plurality of signals in response to the level of said image signal, a plurality of waveform shaping circuits for shaping the waveforms of the output signals from said signal slicers, and a matrix circuit connected to receive the outputs from the respective waveform shaping circuits for providing a digital output of a predetermined number of bits corresponding to said outputs from the respective waveform shaping circuits; a data buffer means for storing the output from said converter; a line buffer means for temporarily storing line data of the quantity corresponding to one horizontal scanning line of a television set, said line data being read out from said data buffer means; means for converting the output signal from said line buffer means into a signal suitable to be displayed on said television means; and said television means including television display means responsive to the output from said signal converting means for displaying the image of said object.

Claim 35

In ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the type including an ultrasonic wave transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an object to be examined and for converting the ultrasonic wave reflected by said object into an electric signal; and television means responsive to the electric signal for displaying the image of said object; the improvement comprising: means for energizing said ultrasonic wave transducer; means for producing a position signal representing the position of said transducer; a receiver for receiving the output signal from said transducer; an analogue-digital converter for converting an analogue output from said receiver into a digital signal, said analogue-digital converter comprising a plurality of signal slicers for dividing the image signal produced by said receiver into a plurality of signals in response to the level of said image signal, a plurality of waveform shaping circuits for shaping the waveforms of the output signals from said signal slicers, and a matrix circuit connected to receive the outputs from the respective waveform shaping circuits for providing a digital output of a predetermined number of bits corresponding to said outputs from the respective waveform shaping circuits; a data buffer means for storing the output from said converter; a line buffer means for temporarily storing line data of the quantity corresponding to one horizontal scanning line of a television set, said line data being read out from said data buffer means; means for converting the output signal from said line buffer means into a signal suitable to be displayed on said television means; and said television means including television display means responsive to the output from said signal converting means for displaying the image of said object.

Claim 36

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 31 including a further digital-analogue converter for converting the output from said line buffer means into an analogue signal, said converter supplying to said image display apparatus an image signal whose tone varies stepwisely from white to black.

Claim 37

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 31 wherein said analogue-digital converter produces three bit digital image signals and said television display means comprises a color picture tube having three electron guns connected to receive said three bit digital image signals respectively.

Claim 38

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 33 wherein said television display means further includes a decoder to decode said three bit digital image signals to display a black and white tone picture on said color picture tube and switch means for selectively supplying the output from said decoder and the output from said line buffer means to said color picture tube.

Claim 39

In ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the type including an ultrasonic wave transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an object to be examined and for converting the ultrasonic wave reflected by said object into an electric signal; and television means responsive to the electric signal for displaying the image of said object; the improvement comprising: means for energizing said ultrasonic wave transducer; means for moving said transducer along said object; means for producing a position signal representing the position of said transducer; a receiver for receiving the output signal from said transducer; an analogue-digital converter for converting an analogue output from said receiver into a digital signal, said analogue-digital converter includes means for producing three bit digital image signals; a data buffer means for storing the output from said converter; a line buffeR means for temporarily storing line data of the quantity corresponding to one horizontal scanning line of a television set, said line data being read out from said data buffer means; means for converting the output signal from said line buffer means into a signal suitable to be displayed on said television means; and said television means including television dispay means having a color picture tube with three electron guns connected to respectively receive said three bit digital image signals, and being responsive to the output from said signal converting means for displaying the image of said object.

Claim 40

In ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the type including an ultrasonic wave transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an object to be examined and for converting the ultrasonic wave reflected by said object into an electric signal; and television means responsive to the electric signal for displaying the image of said object; the improvement comprising: means for energizing said ultrasonic wave transducer; means for moving said transducer along said object; means for producing a position signal representing the position of said transducer; a receiver for receiving the output signal from said transducer; an analogue-digital converter for converting an analogue output from said receiver into a digital signal, said analogue-digital converter includes means for producing three bit digital image signals; a data buffer means for storing the output from said converter; a line buffeR means for temporarily storing line data of the quantity corresponding to one horizontal scanning line of a television set, said line data being read out from said data buffer means; means for converting the output signal from said line buffer means into a signal suitable to be displayed on said television means; and said television means including television dispay means having a color picture tube with three electron guns connected to respectively receive said three bit digital image signals, and being responsive to the output from said signal converting means for displaying the image of said object.

Claim 41

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 35 wherein said television display means further includes a decoder to decode said three bit digital image signals to display a black and white tone picture on said color picture tube and switch means for selectively supplying the output from said decoder and the output from said line buffer means to said color picture tube.