JP2001224596A - Ultrasonic image diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic image diagnostic equipment capable of simultaneously displaying a plurality of body marks in combination for one screen of ultrasonic image or storing them in conformation to each other. SOLUTION: This ultrasonic image diagnostic equipment is characterized by composing an ultrasonic image, a first body mark showing the position of a subject scanned by ultrasonic wave and the abutting state of an ultrasonic probe to this position, and a second body mark showing the photographic subject itself into one frame, and simultaneously displaying them on a monitor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus is used for an object (patient).
Is a diagnostic device that irradiates a desired part with ultrasonic waves and obtains a tomographic image of soft tissue based on the reflected waves from inside the subject. This ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus is safer than other medical diagnostic equipment due to the characteristic that the physical quantity to be handled is an ultrasonic wave, and has various features in a photographing form and a display form.

[0003] The photographing and recording of an ultrasonic image by the ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus are performed as follows. In other words, an ultrasonic probe called a probe is applied to the imaging site of a patient, and the reflected wave obtained by scanning the inside of the living body with an ultrasonic beam is subjected to processing such as analog-digital conversion and image reconstruction. And display the ultrasonic image on the monitor. The operator observes the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor,
A desired image is stored by a predetermined operation.

[0004] The ultrasonic image is stored in association with a schematic diagram (hereinafter, body mark) of each part of the subject. The body mark is a mark indicating the display target itself of the captured ultrasonic image, or an observer can grasp which part of the subject is in contact with the probe in which direction. In order to enable this, there are a plurality of patterns, such as a mark in which an imaging region and a probe mark are displayed. These body marks of a plurality of patterns are registered in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus in advance, and the operator can select and use one desired body mark.

FIG. 7 shows an ultrasonic image taken by a conventional ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus and having a body mark.

[0006] The user, based on the captured ultrasonic image,
Body mark 111 (body mark with a probe mark attached to the position of the heart of the body) or body mark 112
One desired body mark such as (a body mark schematically showing the left ventricle of the heart) can be displayed simultaneously with the ultrasonic image.

[0007]

However, according to the conventional ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus, only one body mark can be simultaneously displayed or stored in correspondence with one ultrasonic image. Therefore, for example, it is impossible to simultaneously display or store the body mark 111 indicating the position and orientation of the probe and the body mark 112 indicating the display target of the captured ultrasonic image in association with one ultrasonic image. As a result, the body mark cannot provide information such as to which part of the subject the probe has been applied to the ultrasonic image to be observed and what the display target itself is, at a time, which is convenient. Was lacking.

Further, since the size of the body mark displayed simultaneously with the ultrasonic image cannot be changed, observation of the ultrasonic image overlapping the body mark may be hindered.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an ultrasonic image diagnosis capable of simultaneously displaying or storing a plurality of body marks in combination on one ultrasonic image screen. The size of the body mark displayed simultaneously with the device and the ultrasonic image can be changed,
An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus capable of observing an ultrasonic image overlapping with the body mark, and has the following features.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave to and from an object to be imaged inside a subject, and an ultrasonic probe received from the ultrasonic probe. Means for generating an ultrasonic image of the inside of the subject, setting means for setting a first body mark representing the shape of the body surface of the subject and imaging target information representing the imaging target, and the ultrasonic image And a display image generating means for generating a display image in which the first body mark and the imaging target information are superimposed.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to generate a display image in which the first body mark and the imaging target information are added to one ultrasonic image, so that the operator can quickly obtain information regarding the ultrasonic image. -Can be easily obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the first aspect, the imaging target information is a second body mark representing a shape of the imaging target. It is.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to generate a display image in which the first body mark and the second body mark are added to one ultrasonic image.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus of the first aspect, the imaging target information is character information representing the imaging target.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to generate a display image in which the first body mark and the character information representing the object to be photographed are attached to one ultrasonic image.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the display image generating means includes a plurality of bodies representing the body surface shape. It is characterized by generating a display image in which a mark, a plurality of pieces of imaging target information representing the imaging target, and the ultrasonic image are simultaneously superimposed.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to generate a display image in which a plurality of first body marks and a plurality of pieces of imaging target information are added to one ultrasonic image.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the setting means is configured to select the first one of a plurality of types of body marks. The present invention is characterized by comprising a selecting means for selecting a body mark, and a means for obtaining the photographing object information candidate according to the first body mark selected by the selecting means.

According to such a configuration, the photographing object information candidate is obtained according to the selected first body mark, so that the trouble of selecting the photographing object information candidate can be reduced, and the workability is improved. Can be improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the second aspect, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus has reading means for reading an image stored externally, and At least one of the body mark and the second body mark is an image read by the reading means.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to generate a display image in which a new body mark read by the reading means is added to the ultrasonic image. It is possible to enrich the types of body marks without hassle.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an object to be imaged inside a subject, and based on an ultrasonic signal received from the ultrasonic probe. Generating means for generating an ultrasonic image of the inside of the subject, and a first body mark for setting a first body mark from a plurality of types of body marks representing the shape of the body surface of the subject or the shape of the target site A second body mark setting unit having a body mark setting unit; a second body mark candidate unit for obtaining a second body mark candidate in accordance with the first body mark set by the setting unit; A display image generating unit configured to generate a display image in which a body mark and a second body mark are superimposed on each other.

According to such a configuration, a display image in which the first body mark and the second body mark are added to one ultrasonic image can be generated. As a result, the operator can quickly and easily obtain information on the ultrasonic image.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 comprises:
Ultrasonic probe 10, transmitting / receiving circuit 12, digital scan converter circuit 14 (hereinafter, DSC circuit 14), monitor display circuit 16, monitor 18, ultrasonic image storage unit 20, body mark storage unit 22, body mark image control Circuit 2
4. Operation console 26, TCS (Touch Command)
(Screen) 28.

The ultrasonic probe 10 is a probe for irradiating a subject (patient) with ultrasonic waves for imaging and receiving a reflected wave from the subject, and a piezoelectric element. And so on.

The transmission / reception circuit 12 scans the inside of the subject with ultrasonic waves in a procedure according to an arbitrary imaging mode such as a B mode representing a tissue structure and a Doppler mode suitable for representing blood flow information. , And the ultrasonic probe 10.
The transmission / reception circuit 12 has a function of generating image data in a B mode or the like based on an echo signal obtained by scanning.

The DSC circuit 14 writes the image signal from the transmission / reception circuit 12 into an image memory, converts the image signal into a TV scan signal, and sends it to the monitor display circuit 16. Also, DSC circuit 1
Reference numeral 4 has a function of performing image processing on image data from the transmission / reception circuit 12 in accordance with set observation conditions (for example, luminance, zoom, and the like).

The monitor display circuit 16 synthesizes an ultrasonic image output from the DSC circuit 14 with a body mark image output from a body mark image control circuit 24, which will be described later, to thereby generate a frame corresponding to the screen of the monitor 18. Generate image data.

The ultrasonic image storage section 20 is a storage section for storing arbitrary ultrasonic image data according to a freeze operation or the like by an operator. The ultrasound image data stored in the storage unit 20 includes an image ID number,
D numbers and the like are assigned, and are managed by these numbers. Further, the ultrasound image data stored in the storage unit 20 includes management information (hereinafter, body mark information) related to the body mark by a body mark selection operation described later.
Is attached.

The body mark storage unit 22 includes a first body mark storage unit 221 and a second body mark storage unit 22.
3. It has a body mark display information table storage unit 225. The first body mark storage unit 221 stores a first body mark which is an image showing a part of the subject scanned by the ultrasonic probe 10 and the ultrasonic probe 10 in contact with the part. Is stored in advance. The second body mark storage unit 221 stores in advance a second body mark which is an image showing the imaging target itself. Management information is appended to each of the first body mark and the second body mark stored in each storage unit. Each body mark is read out by the body mark image control circuit 24 based on the management information, is superimposed on the ultrasonic image in the monitor display circuit 16, and is displayed on the monitor 18 simultaneously in one frame. The body mark display information table storage unit 225 stores a body mark display information table 40 (see FIG. 4) that defines the display order of the second body marks in a second body mark selection operation described later. ing.

The body mark image control circuit 24 reads out the first body mark from the first body mark storage unit 221 based on the body mark information in a body mark selection operation described later, and executes the TSC 28 and the monitor display circuit 1
6 is controlled. Further, the body mark image control circuit 24 controls a body mark display information table 4 described later.
0 (see FIG. 4), the second body mark is read out from the second body mark storage unit 223 based on the management information, and sent to the TSC or the monitor display circuit 16. Further, when reproducing the ultrasound image stored in the ultrasound image storage unit 20, the body mark image control circuit 24 records the ultrasound image in the body mark storage unit 22 based on the body mark information added to the ultrasound image. The first body mark and the second body mark thus read are read out using the management information and sent to the monitor display circuit 16.

The console 26 is composed of a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and is an interface through which an operator performs an input for storing an ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor 18.

The TCS 28 is a contact panel for displaying the body marks stored in the body mark storage section 22 in the order described later. The operator can select a body mark by touching a desired body mark.

Next, the ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus 1 configured as described above attaches a plurality of desired body marks to the photographed ultrasonic image and simultaneously displays them as one frame image.
A series of operations for storing each body mark and the ultrasonic image in association with each other (a body mark selection operation) is performed according to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a body mark selecting operation.

First, an ultrasonic echo signal obtained from the ultrasonic probe 10 is subjected to predetermined processing by a transmission / reception circuit 12, formed as an ultrasonic image by a DSC circuit 14, and transmitted to a monitor display circuit 16. It is. The operator acquires a desired ultrasonic image by a predetermined capturing operation such as a freeze operation (step S1).

On the other hand, a plurality of first body marks stored in advance in the first body mark storage section 221 are classified into, for example, diagnosis areas (obstetrics, cardiology, etc.) and are used in the TCS
8 is displayed. For example, it is assumed that the operator has selected a desired body mark from a plurality of first body marks displayed as “obstetrics” on the TCS 28. The selected first body mark is read by the body mark image control circuit 24 and sent to the monitor display circuit 16.
The monitor display circuit 16 combines the ultrasonic image input from the DSC circuit 14 with the selected first body mark, and outputs the combined image to the monitor 18 (step S2).

FIG. 3 shows a one-frame image displayed on the monitor 18 in which the ultrasonic image 31 and the first body mark 32 are combined. The ultrasound image 31 is an image of a fetus, and the first body mark 32 is an image showing a state in which the probe mark 321 is in contact with the lower abdomen.

Next, the body mark image control circuit 24
First body mark 3 selected in step S2
Then, it is determined whether or not a second body mark that has been associated in advance exists in step 2 (step S3).

If it is determined in step S3 that there is an associated second body mark, a second body mark selection operation is performed according to the body mark display information table 40 described below.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the body mark display information table 40 which defines the display order of the second body marks in the selection work on the second body marks. The body mark display information table 40 is stored in the body mark display information table storage 225.

The body mark image control circuit 24 reads out the body mark display table 40 from the body mark display information table storage section 225, and controls the selection of the second body mark according to the table. That is,
As shown in FIG. 4, the second body marks are classified, for example, for each of the above-described diagnostic regions (that is, the diagnostic regions selected when the first body mark is set). In step S2, since the body mark related to obstetrics is selected, the display of the second body mark is controlled in accordance with the item of "obstetrics". First, the body mark image control circuit 24 generates a second body mark corresponding to “fetal right side normal” registered as “Default”.
From the body mark storage unit 223 of the monitor 1
8 is displayed next to the first body mark or on the TCS 28 (step S4).

It is preferable that the second body mark registered as "Default" is particularly frequently used.

The operator determines whether or not the second body mark corresponding to the normal right side of the fetus is appropriate (step S5). By setting the second body mark by the operation of (2), the second body mark and the step S
A one-frame image in which the first body mark selected in Step 2 is superimposed on the ultrasonic image can be displayed on the monitor 18 (Step S6).

On the other hand, if the second body mark displayed on the TCS 28 is not appropriate, the operator performs a predetermined switching operation to cause the second body mark corresponding to “fetal left side normal” according to the body mark display information table 40. Can be switched to Further, the operator performs switching until an appropriate second body mark appears,
A desired second body mark can be selected (step S7).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that there is no associated second body mark, the second body mark selection operation according to the body mark display information table is not performed, and the second body mark described in step S2 is not performed. The same operation as the first body mark selection (that is, a desired body mark is selected from a plurality of second body mark lists displayed on the TCS 28 for each diagnostic area) is executed (step S4 ').

FIG. 5 shows the synthesis of the ultrasound image 31, the first body mark 32, and the second body mark 33 (normally on the right side of the fetus) synthesized into one frame by the above-described body mark selection operation. An image is shown.

It should be noted that the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 comprises a monitor 1
8 has a function of arbitrarily adjusting the brightness and changing the position, orientation, size, etc., of each body mark in the frame image displayed on the screen. Therefore, when the brightness of the body mark is too high compared to the ultrasonic image and the contrast is large, it is possible to obtain a screen that is easy to view by adjusting the brightness. Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 has a function of arbitrarily deleting the body mark display. By this function, for example, the ultrasonic image with the body mark shown on the left side of FIG. 6 can be changed to the ultrasonic image from which the body mark is deleted as shown on the right side of FIG. It is possible to observe part of the ultrasound image. The above functions are performed by the body mark image control circuit 24 based on the instruction input from the console 26.
Can be realized by controlling the brightness, position information, size, and composition of the image when outputting the body mark image.

In the second body mark selection operation, the display order of the second body marks can be easily changed. This is because, for example, a plurality of body mark display information tables 40 defining the display order of the second body marks for each operator or each patient are stored in the body mark display information table storage unit 225 and can be selected. Various display orders can be selected. Further, the display order of the second body marks may be in the order of use frequency by providing the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus with a learning function.

Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment has a function of editing the body mark display information table 40. With this editing function, the operator can edit the association of the second body mark, change the display order, create a new body mark display information table, and the like.

Next, a description will be given of a storage operation of storing each image in one frame shown in FIG. 5, that is, an ultrasonic image and a plurality of body marks in association with each other.

The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 associates the ultrasonic image 31 displayed on the monitor 18 by a predetermined storage operation with the body marks 32 and 33, and
Can be stored. That is, in conjunction with a predetermined operation of storing the ultrasonic image 20, the body mark information of each of the body marks 32 and 33 is attached to the ultrasonic image 20 and stored in the ultrasonic image storage unit 20. The stored ultrasonic image is read out again from the storage unit 20 and the monitor 1
8, the body mark image control circuit 24
A predetermined body mark is read from the body mark storage unit 22 based on the body mark management information added to the ultrasonic image, and is sent to the monitor display circuit 16. And
Each body mark is superimposed on the ultrasonic image and displayed on the monitor 18 as a one-frame image.

The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 further includes a memory card slot and the like, and a new body mark image different from the previously stored body mark can be taken into the body mark storage unit. it can. Therefore, the operator can enrich the types of the body mark images without trouble.

According to the configuration described above, the following effects can be obtained.

First, a single ultrasonic image can be displayed as one frame with a plurality of body marks attached thereto, so that the operator can quickly and easily obtain information on the ultrasonic image.

Second, since an ultrasonic image and a plurality of body marks can be stored in association with each other, even when the stored ultrasonic image is read out and displayed again, a plurality of body marks can be stored in one ultrasonic image. Marks can be added and displayed as one frame. Therefore, the operator
It is possible to accurately obtain information on an ultrasonic image captured in the past.

Third, since the next selection is made from the other body marks associated with the one body mark selected first, the time and effort required to select the other body mark can be reduced, and the workability can be improved. Can be done.

As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, as shown in (1) to (6) below, the scope of the present invention is not changed. Various modifications are possible.

(1) In the above embodiment, the second body mark related to the first body mark is sequentially displayed on the TCS 28 according to the body mark display information table 40, and a desired body mark is selected. . On the other hand, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of second body marks are simultaneously displayed on the monitor 18 as index images, and a desired second body mark is selected.

(2) In the above embodiment, by assigning the management number of each body mark corresponding to the ultrasonic image stored in the ultrasonic image storage unit 20, the ultrasonic image is associated with each body mark. It was configured to store them separately. On the other hand, the configuration may be such that the ultrasonic image and each body mark are stored as a combined one-frame image.

(3) In the above-described body mark selection operation, the association between the first body mark and the second body mark is performed for each diagnosis area. The association is
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the association may be made for each patient, each operator (doctor, medical technician, etc.), each medical association, or the like.

(4) In the above-described body mark selection operation, the first body mark is selected, and then the second body mark is selected. However, the selection order of the body marks is not limited. That is, for example, in the above embodiment, after the second body mark is selected, the first body marks and the like having different probe mark positions and directions are sequentially displayed and selected by the body mark display information table 40. It may be a configuration.

(5) The contents displayed on the TCS 28 in the body mark selection operation described above may be displayed on the monitor 18 in a window format.

(6) First and second embodiments in the above embodiment
May be a digital camera mark, a three-dimensional image, or the like.

[0067]

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus of the present invention, a display image combining a plurality of body marks can be generated for one ultrasonic image screen, so that information on the ultrasonic image can be obtained quickly. be able to. as a result,
It is possible to improve the convenience regarding the ultrasonic image diagnosis.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a body mark selection operation.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an ultrasonic image in which one type of body mark is associated;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a body mark display information table that defines a display order of second body marks.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic image in which a plurality of types of body marks are associated with each other.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a body mark erasing function.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus 10 ... Ultrasonic probe 12 ... Transmitting / receiving circuit 14 ... Digital scan converter circuit (DSC circuit) 16 ... Monitor display circuit 18 ... Monitor 20 ... Ultrasonic image storage unit 20 ... Storage unit 20 ... Ultrasound image 22 Body mark storage unit 24 Body mark image control circuit 26 Console 28 TCS 31 Ultrasound image 32 First body mark 33 Second body mark 40 Body mark display information table 111 ... body mark 112 ... body mark 221 ... first body mark storage section 223 ... second body mark storage section 225 ... body mark display information table storage section 321 ... probe mark

Claims (7)

[Claims] An ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave to and from an imaging target inside an object, and an ultrasonic probe inside the object based on an ultrasonic signal received from the ultrasonic probe. Means for generating a sound wave image; setting means for setting a first body mark representing the body surface shape of the subject and imaging target information representing the imaging target; and the ultrasonic image and the first body mark And a display image generating means for generating a display image on which imaging target information is superimposed. 2. The ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging target information is a second body mark representing a shape of the imaging target. 3. The ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging target information is character information representing the imaging target. 4. The display image generation means for generating a display image in which a plurality of body marks representing the body surface shape, a plurality of pieces of imaging target information representing the imaging target, and the ultrasonic image are simultaneously superimposed. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 3. 5. The setting means selects a first body mark from a plurality of types of body marks, and sets the object to be shot in accordance with the first body mark selected by the selection means. 5. A device according to claim 1, further comprising means for obtaining an information candidate.
Item 7. The ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus according to Item 1. 6. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus has reading means for reading an image stored externally, and at least one of the first body mark and the second body mark is read by the reading means. The ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image is a read image. 7. An ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an imaging target inside an object, and an ultrasonic probe inside the object based on an ultrasonic signal received from the ultrasonic probe. Generating means for generating a sound wave image; first body mark setting means for setting a first body mark from a plurality of types of body marks representing the body surface shape of the subject or the shape of the target portion; A second body mark setting unit having a unit for obtaining a second body mark candidate according to the first body mark set by the setting unit; and the ultrasonic image, the first body mark, and the second body mark. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising: a display image generating unit configured to generate a display image on which a body mark is superimposed.