JP2007185526A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus by which both a radial tomographic image and a linear tomographic image are displayed larger and the whole linear tomographic image can be diagnosed. <P>SOLUTION: Acoustic ray data are selectively read out by a CPU 11 and an image in a display area is reconstructed and displayed and a slide bar 85 is displayed on a screen by overlapping image data by the CPU 11. Accordingly scales of the radial tomographic image and the linear tomographic image agree with each other on the display screen and both tomographic images can be displayed larger and the whole images can be displayed. Thus correct diagonosis is enabled as well as diagnosis with a larger screen. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays an ultrasonic image of a subject based on echo data obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject, and in particular, captures three-dimensional ultrasonic echo data on a display. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying an image.

  In the medical field, for performing ultrasonic diagnosis by displaying ultrasonic tomograms in the living body using echo data of the obtained three-dimensional area by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to the living body Various ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have been conventionally proposed.

For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-47066 discloses an apparatus that can capture echo data of a three-dimensional region and display an ultrasonic image three-dimensionally on a two-dimensional display. In JP-A-7-155328, an ultrasonic tomographic image formed by using echo data obtained by three-dimensional scanning is marked and a longitudinal section position is designated, and the longitudinal image in the vicinity of the region of interest has an effect on body movements. An apparatus capable of displaying quickly without being disclosed is disclosed. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-265734 discloses an apparatus for displaying an ultrasonic tomographic image using echo data of a three-dimensional region, and efficiently storing three-dimensional image data by limiting data to be stored. A method for storing a three-dimensional image is disclosed.
JP 7-47066 A JP 7-155328 A

  In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a radial tomographic image and a linear tomographic image are also displayed on the same screen. In this case, for example, when the display range of the radial tomographic image is 4 cm and the scanning stroke of the linear tomographic image is 6 cm, both the tomographic images are displayed as shown in FIG. Cannot enter the screen, or both tomographic images become smaller as shown in FIG. As described above, conventionally, when the combined display of the radial tomographic image and the linear tomographic image is performed, if the scales of the respective images are adjusted, one of the images cannot be displayed or displayed depending on the range setting of the display image. There was a problem that the image became smaller.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points. When a tomographic image by the first scanning, for example, a radial tomographic image and a tomographic image by the second scanning, for example, a linear tomographic image are displayed on the same screen, By displaying only a part of the image, for example, a linear tomographic image, and sliding the display range, the scale of the tomographic image by the other scanning, for example, a radial tomographic image and a linear tomographic image is displayed on the display screen. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can make an accurate diagnosis by making both tomographic images large and displaying the entire image.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to a living body, performs three-dimensional scanning, and uses the obtained echo data of the three-dimensional region to perform ultrasonic in-vivo. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for obtaining an acoustic tomographic image, a tomographic image obtained by the first scanning from the echo data of the three-dimensional region obtained by the three-dimensional scanning, and a first perpendicular to the tomographic image obtained by the first scanning are obtained. Means for forming a tomographic image by two scans, scale adapting means for adjusting the scales of the obtained tomographic image by the first scan and tomographic images by the second scan, and adjusting the scale by the scale adapting means. Display range adjusting means for adjusting the display range of the image so that the tomographic image by the first scan and the tomographic image by the second scan can be displayed on the display means.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention displays a tomographic image such as a linear tomographic image by one scanning when a tomographic image obtained by the first scanning, for example, a radial tomographic image and a tomographic image obtained by the second scanning, such as a linear tomographic image, are displayed on the same screen. By displaying only a part of the image and sliding the display range without displaying the entire range of the image, for example, both the radial tomographic image and the linear tomographic image can be displayed large, and for example, the entire linear tomographic image can be diagnosed. Has an effect.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an ultrasonic probe and a drive unit, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the acoustic probe, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a three-dimensional scanning method of ultrasonic waves, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams showing display screens of ultrasonic tomograms displayed on a monitor. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an ultrasonic observation unit 1 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves and displays a real-time echo image (ultrasonic tomographic image), and the ultrasonic observation unit 1. And an image processing unit 2 that performs various image processing based on the obtained echo data. The ultrasonic observation unit 1 is connected to an ultrasonic probe 3 having an ultrasonic transducer 3 a that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, and a drive unit 4 that drives the ultrasonic probe 3.

  The ultrasonic observation unit 1 includes a transmission / reception unit 5 that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from the drive unit 4, a frame memory 6 that stores echo data captured by the transmission / reception unit 5, and a memory stored in the frame memory 6. A digital scan converter (DSC) 7 that converts sound ray data for each scan into image data of a desired television system, a D / A conversion circuit 8 that converts the digital image signal of the DSC 7 into an analog signal, and this D A monitor 9 for inputting an output signal of the A / A converter circuit 8 to display a real-time ultrasonic tomogram, and a system controller 10 for controlling each of the drive unit 4, the transmission / reception unit 5 and the frame memory 6. It is configured.

  In addition, the image processing unit 2 includes a CPU 11 that controls the image processing unit, a main storage device 12 that stores data of each image processing result, and an image that stores sound ray data from the ultrasonic observation unit 1. A data storage device 13, an arithmetic processor 14 for performing various image processing such as DSC processing and luminance value conversion processing for converting sound ray data into desired television data, and information such as processing programs and backup data. An external storage device 15 for recording, an operation terminal 16 such as a keyboard for inputting data such as commands, an input instruction device used for setting an image area, for example, a trackball 17, and data after image processing are temporarily stored A frame buffer 18 to be stored, and a D / A conversion circuit 19 for converting a digital image signal output from the frame buffer 18 into an analog signal. A monitor 20 for inputting an output image signal of the D / A conversion circuit 19 and displaying an image after image processing, and a recording device for recording data stored in the image data storage device 13 on an exchangeable medium For example, a magneto-optical disk device 21 is provided. Each unit of the image processing unit 2 and the ultrasonic observation unit 1 are connected via a data transfer bus 22 so that processed image data and the like are exchanged.

  The configuration of the driving unit 4 and the ultrasonic probe 3 that perform three-dimensional scanning will be described with reference to FIG.

  The ultrasonic transducer 3a serving as an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit is connected to a shaft-shaped drive transmission unit 23, which is housed in a flexible outer cylinder 24 whose tip is closed in a spherical shape. Yes. A sealing material 25 and an O-ring 26 are provided on the front end side of the outer cylinder 24, and the drive transmission unit 23 is held by them. In addition, the acoustic medium 27 is filled in the space in the distal end portion of the outer cylinder 24 sealed by the outer cylinder 24, the sealing material 25, and the O-ring 26.

  The rear end portion of the drive transmission portion 23 extends from the rear end portion of the outer cylinder 24 and is connected to a rotation drive portion A29 formed of a stepping motor via a connection portion 28. The rotation drive unit A29 is configured in combination with a position detection unit A30 including an encoder that detects a rotation position, and is housed and held in the rotation drive unit exterior 31.

  The rotation drive unit exterior 31 is attached to an advancing / retreating motion transmitting unit 32, and the advancing / retracting motion transmitting unit 32 is screwed to an advancing / retreating mechanism unit 33 formed of a ball screw. The advance / retreat mechanism unit 33 is connected to a drive unit of a rotation drive unit B34 formed of a stepping motor, and is rotated by the rotation drive unit B34. The rotation drive unit B34 is configured in combination with a position detection unit B35 including an encoder that detects a rotation position.

  The connection portion 28, the rotation drive portion A29, the position detection portion A30, the rotation drive portion exterior 31, the advance / retreat movement transmission portion 32, the advance / retreat mechanism portion 33, the rotation drive portion B34, and the position detection portion B35 are surrounded by the exterior 36, The rear end of the cylinder 24 is fixed to the exterior 36. A rotation drive unit B34 is fixed in the exterior 36.

  The configuration of a control system that performs three-dimensional scanning of the ultrasonic probe 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration of the ultrasonic scanning control unit in the system controller 10 of FIG.

  The system controller 10 includes a control circuit 37 that controls the rotation and advance / retreat of the ultrasonic transducer 3a, a clock oscillator 38 that receives a start signal str from the control circuit 37 and outputs a clock signal clc, and a clock from the clock oscillator 38. And a delay circuit 39 for inputting a signal clc and outputting a signal DLY obtained by delaying the clock signal clc by ¼ period.

  The clock signal clc and the signal DLY are input as two-phase drive signals to the stepping motor of the rotation drive unit A29 and the stepping motor of the rotation drive unit B34 via the changeover switch 40, respectively. The changeover switch 40 is controlled by a control signal J from the control circuit 37 and has a state in which the clock signal clc is the A phase and the signal DLY is in the B phase, and a state in which the clock signal clc is the B phase and the signal DLY is the A phase. Switch to.

  The A-phase output C of the encoder of the position detection unit A30 connected to the rotation driving unit A29 and the Z-phase output Z output every rotation of the encoder are input to the control circuit 37. Similarly, the A-phase output G of the encoder of the position detection unit B35 connected to the rotation driving unit B34 and the Z-phase output H output every rotation of the encoder are input to the control circuit 37.

  Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment will be described. When performing ultrasonic observation, the ultrasonic probe 3 is inserted into a body part to be examined such as in a body cavity, and the ultrasonic transducer 3 a is rotated and moved by the transmission / reception unit 5 and the drive unit 4 based on the control of the system controller 10. On the other hand, echo data of a tomographic image in the living body is captured by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves into the living body. The echo data thus obtained is stored in the frame memory 6 and displayed as a real-time ultrasonic tomographic image on the monitor 9 via the DSC 7 and the D / A conversion circuit 8.

  At the same time, echo data is sent to the image processing unit 2 in the form of sound ray data as a digital signal from the preceding stage of the DSC 7.

  The sound ray data sent to the image processing unit 2 is stored in the image data storage device 13 for each image data forming one ultrasonic tomographic image. The image data stored in the image data storage device 13 is subjected to image processing such as DSC processing and luminance value conversion processing by the arithmetic processor 14. The result of the image processing is sent to the frame buffer 18 and temporarily stored, and is sent to the monitor 20 via the D / A conversion circuit 19 to display the ultrasonic tomographic image after the image processing.

  Further, the image data and the image processing result can be stored in the external storage device 15 or the magneto-optical disk device 21.

  Here, an operation when three-dimensional scanning is performed by the ultrasonic probe 3 will be described.

  First, the start signal str becomes high level by the control circuit 37 and is input to the clock oscillator 38. The clock oscillator 38 outputs a clock signal clc when the start signal str becomes high level. The clock signal clc is input to the delay circuit 39. The delay circuit 39 delays the signal by 1 / 4T, which is 1/4 of the cycle T of the clock signal clc, and outputs the signal DLY. The clock signal clc and the signal DLY are respectively supplied to the stepping motor of the rotation driving unit A29 and the stepping motor of the rotation driving unit B34 via the changeover switch 40 controlled by the control signal J from the control circuit 37. , Input as a B-phase drive signal. By this drive signal, both stepping motors rotate.

  The stepping motor of the rotation drive unit A29 rotates the ultrasonic transducer 3a via the connection unit 28 and the drive transmission unit 23. Further, the stepping motor of the rotation drive unit B34 rotates the ball screw which is the advance / retreat mechanism unit 33. Then, the advancing / retreating motion transmitting portion 32 screwed and connected to the ball screw performs the advancing / retreating motion. When the forward / backward movement transmitting unit 32 performs the forward / backward movement, the rotary drive unit exterior 31 connected to the forward / backward movement moves forward / backward, and the ultrasonic transducer 3a moves forward / backward via the drive transmission unit 23 by the forward / backward movement. Will be done.

  The rotational position of the rotation drive unit A29 is read by the encoder of the position detection unit A30, and the A-phase output C and the Z-phase output Z of this encoder are input to the control circuit 37. The rotational position of the rotation drive unit B34 is read by the encoder of the position detection unit B35, and the A-phase output G and the Z-phase output H of this encoder are input to the control circuit 37. For example, the control circuit 37 generates a control signal J based on the Z-phase output H, thereby switching the changeover switch 40.

  By the drive control of the ultrasonic probe 3 as described above, as shown in FIG. 4, the ultrasonic transducer 3a performs three-dimensional scanning that performs radial scanning while moving in the longitudinal axis direction. The sound ray data of a plurality of radial tomographic images in the range is taken into the image processing unit 2. For example, in FIG. 4, the sound ray data is captured by performing a radial scan for each pitch L in the linear scanning direction.

  An ultrasonic tomographic image is displayed on the monitor 20 as follows by the acquisition of the sound ray data into the image processing unit 2 and the three-dimensional scanning control.

  FIG. 5 shows a display screen of an ultrasonic tomographic image displayed on the monitor 20. The monitor display screen 50 includes a character display area 51 for displaying examination information such as hospital name, patient information, date, gain / contrast / STC / post-process setting values, a radial tomographic image display area 52, and a linear tomography. An image display area 53, a gray scale 54, a probe tip marker 55, and a linear scanning position display bar 56 are provided.

  The radial tomographic image displayed in the radial tomographic image display area 52 of the monitor display screen 50 is an ultrasonic tomographic image based on sound ray data sent from the ultrasonic observation unit 1 to the image processing unit 2, and this sound ray. It is updated according to the data input, that is, in synchronization with the radial scanning of the ultrasonic probe 3.

  The linear tomographic image displayed in the linear tomographic image display area 53 is a superstructure reconstructed by the CPU 11 based on a plurality of radial scan sound ray data sent from the ultrasonic observation unit 1 to the image processing unit 2. It is a sonic tomogram. This linear tomographic image becomes an image in a cross section designated by the radial line cursor 57 on the radial tomographic image display area 52. Here, by changing the position of the radial line cursor 57, a linear tomographic image at an arbitrary position can be obtained. The linear tomogram is updated synchronously with the linear scanning from the left to the right of the screen by performing the linear scanning simultaneously with the radial scanning with the ultrasonic probe 3.

  In FIG. 5, in the linear tomographic image in the linear tomographic image display area 53, the image that has been linearly scanned and updated is the scanned area 58, and the image that has not been linearly scanned is the unscanned area 59. ing. A boundary (linear scanning position) between the scanned area 58 and the unscanned area 59 is indicated by a linear line cursor 60.

  In the present embodiment, when ultrasonic three-dimensional scanning is continuously performed by the ultrasonic probe 3, a linear scanning position display bar is displayed in order to make the scanned area 58 and the unscanned area 59 on the linear tomographic image easier to understand. 56 is provided on the screen. In the linear scanning position display bar 56, the scanning completion part 61 and the non-scanning part 62 are displayed in different colors.

  When the linear scanning advances from the state of FIG. 5, the display screen of the ultrasonic tomographic image becomes as shown in FIG. That is, in the linear tomographic image of the linear tomographic image display area 53, the scanned area 58 expands to the right side in the figure in synchronization with the linear scanning, and the linear scanning position display bar 56 has the range of the scanning completion portion 61 as in the linear tomographic image. It extends to the right in the figure.

  In order to display the linear scanning position display bar 56, the following processing is performed in the present embodiment. The system controller 10 calculates the advance / retreat position of the ultrasonic transducer 3a of the ultrasonic probe 3 from the A-phase output G and the Z-phase output H of the position detection unit B35, and sends this transducer position information to the CPU 11 of the image processing unit 2. Output. The CPU 11 controls to write the three-dimensional image data calculated by the arithmetic processor 14 to the frame buffer 18, and the image data of the linear scanning position display bar 56 based on the transducer position information obtained from the system controller 10. Write to the frame buffer 18. Further, the CPU 11 writes the image data of the probe tip marker 55 indicating the tip position of the ultrasonic probe 3 in the frame buffer 18.

  The output of the frame buffer 18 in which the image data is written in this way is sent to the monitor 20 as a video signal via the D / A conversion circuit 19 and displayed on the screen. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a radial tomographic image and a linear tomographic image are displayed on the display screen of the monitor 20 and updated together with the movement of the ultrasonic transducer 3 a of the ultrasonic probe 3, and at the same time, linear scanning is performed. The position display bar 56 displays the advance / retreat position of the ultrasonic transducer 3a.

  Further, by changing the position of the linear line cursor 60 with the operation terminal 16 or the trackball 17, it is possible to display the corresponding radial tomographic image designated by the linear line cursor 60 in the radial tomographic image display area 52. It has become.

  Further, the linear scanning position display bar 56 is arranged so that the bar display moves in accordance with the reading state of the image data when the image data recorded from the external storage device 15 or the magneto-optical disk device 21 is read and displayed. It is also possible to do.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to easily confirm which position is being scanned in the ultrasonic probe simply by looking at the display screen. It can be easily confirmed whether or not it is contained. In addition, the tip direction of the ultrasonic probe becomes clear on the linear tomographic image, and the positional relationship between the display image and the living body can be easily grasped.

  In addition, since there is no information on the cut surface in the conventional configuration, it is inconvenient when reproducing the tomographic image and it is difficult to grasp which cross-sectional image is the tomographic image, but in this embodiment, the radial tomographic image on the screen and the linear tomographic image The relationship with the image and the setting state of the screen are easy to understand, and the ultrasonic image diagnosis can be performed accurately and easily.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an ultrasonic tomographic image display screen according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is an example in which the screen display of the monitor is changed from the first embodiment, and can be realized with the same configuration as the first embodiment.

  The configuration of the display screen of the ultrasonic tomographic image displayed on the monitor 20 is as shown in FIG. The monitor display screen 64 of the second embodiment is provided with a probe display 65 in the lower part of the linear tomogram display area 53 instead of the linear scanning position display bar 56 of the first embodiment. A linear scanning position is indicated by the vibrator display 66.

  In the second embodiment, in the probe display 65 of the monitor display screen 64, the display position of the ultrasonic transducer display 66 is moved and displayed in synchronization with the three-dimensional scanning by the ultrasonic probe 3. The probe display 65 is displayed on the screen by the CPU 11 superimposing image data.

  According to the second embodiment, the tip position of the ultrasonic probe and the scanning state can be grasped at a glance by the probe display.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an ultrasonic tomographic image display screen according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is an example in which the screen display of the monitor is changed from the first embodiment, and can be realized with the same configuration as the first embodiment.

  The configuration of the display screen of the ultrasonic tomogram displayed on the monitor 20 is as shown in FIG. The monitor display screen 68 of the third embodiment is provided with a linear scanning position display marker 69 in the lower part of the linear tomographic image display area 53 instead of the linear scanning position display bar 56 of the first embodiment. It is shown.

  In the third embodiment, the display position of the linear scanning position display marker 69 on the monitor display screen 68 moves in synchronization with the amount of movement in the linear direction of three-dimensional scanning by the ultrasonic probe 3. That is, the linear scanning position display marker 69 serves both as a radial section designation function on the linear tomographic image and a linear scanning position display bar indicating the linear scanning position in the first embodiment. The linear scanning position display marker 69 is displayed on the screen by the CPU 11 superimposing image data.

  According to the third embodiment, it is possible to simultaneously confirm the state of linear scanning by the ultrasonic probe and the positional relationship between the linear cross section and the radial cross section of the displayed ultrasonic tomographic image.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an ultrasonic tomographic image display screen according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is an example in which the screen display of the monitor is changed from the first embodiment, and can be realized with the same configuration as the first embodiment.

  The configuration of the display screen of the ultrasonic tomographic image displayed on the monitor 20 is as shown in FIG. In the monitor display screen 71 of the fourth embodiment, a tomographic image position information display area 72 is provided below the radial tomographic image display area 52 and the linear tomographic image display area 53. In this tomogram position information display area 72, the rotation angle of the radial line cursor 57 or the coordinates of the start point and end point are numerically displayed, and the currently displayed radial tomogram is displayed from the probe tip position (linear scanning start position). A radial image number indicating what number the image is is displayed. The display of the radial image number indicates the position of the ultrasonic transducer 3a of the ultrasonic probe 3 in the linear scanning.

  In the fourth embodiment, the position of the linear cross section is designated by the radial line cursor 57 in the radial tomographic image display area 52, and the tomographic image in this linear cross section is displayed in the linear tomographic image display area 53. For example, the position in the radial tomographic image display area 52 is represented by coordinates from (0, 0) to (200, 200), and the start point and end point position of the radial line cursor 57 are numerically displayed in the tomographic image position information display area 72 as coordinates. To do. In the example of FIG. 9, the coordinates of the start point (0, 10) and the end point (200, 190) are displayed in the tomographic image position information display area 72.

  On the other hand, the numerical value of the radial image number is updated in synchronization with the amount of movement of the ultrasonic probe 3 in the linear scanning direction of the three-dimensional scanning. At the same time, the linear line cursor 60 in the linear tomographic image display area 53 moves to enlarge the scanned area 58. In the example of FIG. 9, the tomographic image position information display area 72 indicates an ultrasonic tomographic image at the 12th position in the total of 40 images in the linear scanning direction.

  The coordinates of the radial line cursor and the radial image number in the tomographic image position information display area 72 are displayed on the screen by the CPU 11 superimposing character image data.

  When image data recorded from the external storage device 15 or the magneto-optical disk device 21 is read and image display is performed, the radial tomographic image number corresponding to the read image data is displayed as the tomographic image position information display area 72. To display.

  When selecting a linear cross section in the radial tomogram display area 52, the radial line cursor 57 is not rotated, but the radial line cursor 57 is fixed and the radial tomogram is rotated to specify the linear cross section. You may make it do. In this case, the rotation angle of the radial tomogram is displayed in the tomogram position information display area 72.

  According to the fourth embodiment, the scanning position by the ultrasonic probe can be easily grasped, and the corresponding radial tomographic image can be easily confirmed from the linear tomographic image. Further, the position of the linear cross section can be easily grasped on the radial tomographic image.

  10 to 12 are explanatory views showing display screens of ultrasonic tomographic images according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment shows a display example of an ultrasonic tomographic image when a radial scanning type ultrasonic probe is used. The apparatus configuration can be realized with the same configuration as that of the first embodiment.

  In the fifth embodiment, only radial scanning is performed by the ultrasonic probe 3 to obtain image data of a radial tomographic image. Then, image data of a plurality of radial tomographic images obtained by radial scanning is stored in the main storage device 12 of the image processing unit 2. The CPU 11 reads out and outputs arbitrary radial tomographic image data among the image data stored in the main storage device 12, and displays it on the monitor 20. At this time, selection of a radial tomographic image to be displayed on the screen is performed by the operation terminal 16.

  FIG. 10 shows a first display example of the ultrasonic tomographic image display screen. The monitor display screen 74 includes a character display area 51, a radial tomographic image display area 52, and a gray scale 54, and a selection image indicating the number of the radial tomographic image currently displayed on the screen below the radial tomographic image display area 52. A number display 75 is provided. In this embodiment, 20 images are stored in the main storage device 12, and in the example of FIG. 10, the fifth image among the 20 stored images is selected and displayed on the screen by the selected image number display 75. It has been shown that.

  FIG. 11 shows a second display example of the display screen of the ultrasonic tomogram. The monitor display screen 77 displays a list of radial tomograms in the radial tomogram display area 78, and the number of an image selected by the selection cursor 79 from the plurality of radial tomograms is a numerical value in the selected image number display 75. It is displayed.

  FIG. 12 shows a third display example of the display screen of the ultrasonic tomogram. Similar to the second display example, the monitor display screen 81 displays a list of radial tomograms in the radial tomogram display area 78, and shows an image selected by the selection cursor 79 from the list of radial tomograms. A selected image display bar 82 is provided.

  The plurality of radial tomographic images, the selected image number display 75, the selection cursor 79, and the selected image display bar 82 are displayed on the screen by the CPU 11 superposing image data.

  According to the fifth embodiment, when displaying a plurality of radial tomographic images obtained by radial scanning, it is possible to easily confirm what number of stored images is being displayed. it can.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an ultrasonic tomographic image display screen according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment is an example in which the screen display of the monitor is changed from the first embodiment, and can be realized with the same configuration as the first embodiment.

  The configuration of the display screen of the ultrasonic tomographic image displayed on the monitor 20 is as shown in FIG. In the sixth embodiment, the radial tomographic image and the linear tomographic image are displayed on the same screen, and the display range of the radial tomographic image and the scale of the scanning stroke of the linear tomographic image are made to coincide with each other and displayed on the screen. The monitor display screen 84 displays a radial tomogram in the radial tomogram display area 52, a part of the linear tomogram in the linear tomogram display area 53, and a linear tomogram in the lower part of the linear tomogram display area 53. A slide bar 85 indicating the display range is displayed.

  For example, when the display range of the radial tomographic image is 4 cm and the scanning stroke of the linear tomographic image is 6 cm, when the respective scales are matched and displayed on the screen, in the conventional configuration, both tomographic images are displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. The two tomograms become smaller as shown in FIG. As described above, conventionally, when performing a combined display of a radial tomographic image and a linear tomographic image, if one of the scales of the respective images is adjusted, one of the images cannot be displayed depending on the range setting of the display image, or the displayed image is displayed. There was a problem that would become smaller.

  Therefore, in the sixth embodiment, both the radial tomographic image and the linear tomographic image can be displayed large by displaying only a part and sliding the display range without displaying the entire range of the linear tomographic image. The entire linear tomographic image can be diagnosed.

  When the display range of the linear tomographic image is slid, the position of the currently displayed linear tomographic image can be confirmed by the bar display of the slide bar 85. In the example of FIG. 13, the linear tomographic image of the portion shown in black on the slide bar 85 is displayed in the linear tomographic image display area 53 on the screen.

  The linear tomographic image is displayed by selectively reading out sound ray data by the CPU 11 and reconstructing the image in the display range, and the slide bar 85 is displayed on the screen by superimposing the image data by the CPU 11. .

  According to the sixth embodiment, the scales of the radial tomographic image and the linear tomographic image coincide on the display screen, and both tomographic images can be enlarged and the entire image can be displayed. Diagnosis is possible on a large screen.

  FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing an ultrasonic tomographic image displayed on the monitor according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. The seventh embodiment is an example in which the screen display of the monitor is changed from the first embodiment, and can be realized with the same configuration as the first embodiment.

  The display of the ultrasonic tomographic image on the screen of the monitor 20 is shown in FIG. In the seventh embodiment, the image data obtained by the three-dimensional scanning is reconstructed by the arithmetic processor 14, and the ultrasonic tomographic image is displayed in a perspective view 90 on the monitor display screen. At this time, the cut surfaces I and 91 and the cut surfaces II and 92 are displayed at an angle A = angle B by image processing in the CPU 11 and the arithmetic processor 14 so that both cut surfaces are symmetrical.

  According to the seventh embodiment, the cut surface can be seen evenly, and the ultrasonic tomographic image can be displayed more easily.

  FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing an ultrasonic tomogram displayed on the monitor according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. The eighth embodiment is an example in which the screen display of the monitor is changed from the first embodiment, and can be realized with the same configuration as the first embodiment.

  The display of the ultrasonic tomographic image on the screen of the monitor 20 is shown in FIG. In the eighth embodiment, image data obtained by three-dimensional scanning is reconstructed by the arithmetic processor 14, and an ultrasonic tomographic image perspective display 94 is performed on the monitor display screen. At this time, by the image processing in the CPU 11 and the arithmetic processor 14, a grid display 95 serving as a scale for dimension display is superimposed and displayed on the perspective display 94. With this grid display 95, the dimensions of the lesioned part 96 and the like can be grasped.

  In the conventional configuration, in order to grasp the size of a lesion site or the like in a three-dimensionally displayed tomographic image, complicated processing is required, which cannot be easily performed. On the other hand, according to the eighth embodiment, it is possible to easily confirm the size of an object such as a lesion site in an ultrasonic tomogram by lattice display.

  FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an ultrasonic three-dimensional scanning method according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. The ninth embodiment is an example in which the ultrasonic scanning method is changed from the first embodiment, and can be realized with the same configuration as the first embodiment.

  In the ninth embodiment, when three-dimensional scanning is performed by the ultrasonic probe 3, the sound ray data capturing range of the radial scanning is set as a half circle based on the control of the system controller 10 as shown by the oblique lines in FIG. Minute sound ray data is taken into the image processing unit 2 to construct an ultrasonic tomographic image. In this case, since the capacity of the sound ray data is halved, the memory capacity required for each radial tomographic image is halved. Accordingly, the linear tomographic image is obtained by doubling the linear scanning density by halving the linear scanning pitch (L / 2) compared to FIG. It is possible to improve the image quality.

  In order to display a detailed three-dimensional image of an ultrasonic tomographic image, the amount of data to be captured increases, and as a result, the necessary memory capacity increases and the cost of the apparatus increases.

  On the other hand, according to the ninth embodiment, since the capacity of the memory for storing the sound ray data of the radial tomographic image can be reduced, the apparatus cost can be reduced. Further, since the volume of the sound ray data of the radial tomographic image is reduced, the linear scanning pitch in the three-dimensional scanning can be made finer, and a more detailed ultrasonic tomographic image can be displayed while suppressing an increase in cost.

[Appendix]
(1) In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to a living body, performs three-dimensional scanning, and displays an ultrasonic tomographic image in the living body using echo data of the obtained three-dimensional region,
A tomographic image display means for forming and displaying a plurality of tomographic images from echo data of a three-dimensional region obtained by the three-dimensional scanning;
Index display means for displaying an index indicating a relationship between the plurality of tomographic images;
Scanning information display means for displaying information representing a relationship between the tomographic image and a scanning position in accordance with the three-dimensional scanning;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

  With this configuration, the relationship between a plurality of tomographic images and the relationship between the scanning state and the display image can be easily understood, and the three-dimensional scanning state can be easily confirmed on the monitor screen.

(2) In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to a living body, performs three-dimensional scanning, and displays an ultrasonic tomographic image in the living body using echo data of the obtained three-dimensional region,
A tomographic image display means for forming and displaying a plurality of tomographic images from echo data of a three-dimensional region obtained by the three-dimensional scanning;
Index display means for displaying an index indicating a relationship between the plurality of tomographic images;
Scale adapting means for adjusting the scales of the plurality of tomographic images;
Display range adjusting means for adjusting a display range so that a plurality of tomographic images with the scale can be displayed on a monitor screen;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

  With this configuration, a tomographic image having an optimum size can be displayed on the monitor, and an ultrasonic tomographic image that can be easily diagnosed can be obtained.

(3) In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs ultrasonic wave transmission and reception to a living body, performs three-dimensional scanning, and displays an ultrasonic tomographic image in the living body using echo data of the obtained three-dimensional region,
A tomographic image display means for forming and displaying a plurality of tomographic images from echo data of a three-dimensional region obtained by the three-dimensional scanning;
Index display means for displaying an index indicating a relationship between the plurality of tomographic images;
Scanning interval changing means for changing a scanning interval of at least one of radial scanning and linear scanning in the three-dimensional scanning;
A data acquisition range setting means for setting an acquisition range of echo data for forming an ultrasonic tomographic image in accordance with the change of the scanning interval;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

  With this configuration, detailed pitch three-dimensional scanning can be performed without increasing the image data storage memory of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, that is, without increasing the cost.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of an ultrasonic probe and a drive part Block diagram showing configuration of control system of ultrasonic probe Explanatory drawing showing a three-dimensional scanning method of ultrasonic waves Explanatory drawing which shows the display screen of the ultrasonic tomogram which concerns on 1st Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the display screen of the ultrasonic tomogram which concerns on 1st Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the display screen of the ultrasonic tomogram which concerns on 2nd Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the display screen of the ultrasonic tomogram which concerns on 3rd Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the display screen of the ultrasonic tomogram which concerns on 4th Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the 1st display example of the display screen of the ultrasonic tomographic image which concerns on 5th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd display example of the display screen of the ultrasonic tomographic image which concerns on 5th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd display example of the display screen of the ultrasonic tomographic image which concerns on 5th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the display screen of the ultrasonic tomogram which concerns on 6th Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the conventional example of the display screen of an ultrasonic tomogram Explanatory drawing which shows the conventional example of the display screen of an ultrasonic tomogram Explanatory drawing which shows the ultrasonic tomogram displayed on the monitor which concerns on 7th Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the ultrasonic tomogram displayed on the monitor which concerns on 8th Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the three-dimensional scanning method of the ultrasonic wave concerning 9th Embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic observation part 2 ... Image processing part 3 ... Ultrasonic probe 3a ... Ultrasonic transducer 10 ... System controller 11 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Main storage device 13 ... Image data storage device 14 ... Arithmetic processor 15 ... External storage device 16 ... Operation terminal 18 ... Frame buffer 20 ... Monitor 50 ... Monitor display screen 52 ... Radial tomographic image display area 53 ... Linear tomographic image display Area 55 ... Probe tip marker 56 ... Linear scanning position display bar 57 ... Radial line cursor 60 ... Linear line cursor

Claims (2)

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for performing ultrasonic scanning to a living body, performing three-dimensional scanning, and obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image in the living body using echo data of the obtained three-dimensional region,
Means for forming a tomographic image by the first scanning and a tomographic image by the second scanning in a direction perpendicular to the tomographic image by the first scanning from the echo data of the three-dimensional region obtained by the three-dimensional scanning. When,
Scale adapting means for adjusting the scale of the tomographic image obtained by the first scanning and the tomographic image obtained by the second scanning;
Display range adjusting means for adjusting the display range of the image so that the tomographic image by the first scanning and the tomographic image by the second scanning that are scaled by the scale adapting means can be displayed on the display means;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a slide bar indicating a display range of the image adjusted by the display range adjustment unit can be displayed.

Images