JP5399844B2 - Diagnostic imaging apparatus and operating method thereof - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image diagnostic apparatus and an operation method thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, diagnostic imaging apparatuses have been widely used for the diagnosis of arteriosclerosis, preoperative diagnosis at the time of endovascular treatment with a high-function catheter such as a balloon catheter or stent, or confirmation of postoperative results.

  As a typical diagnostic imaging apparatus, for example, an intravascular ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (IVUS) is known. In general, an intravascular ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus emits an ultrasonic wave into a blood vessel while rotating the transmission / reception unit in a state where an ultrasonic probe unit including a transmission / reception unit including an ultrasonic transducer is inserted into the blood vessel. Radial scanning is performed by receiving the reflected wave from the image, and the cross section of the blood vessel is determined based on the intensity of the ultrasonic echo signal generated by performing processing such as amplification and detection on the reflected wave obtained thereby. An image is drawn.

  As another image diagnostic apparatus, for example, an optical coherence tomographic image diagnostic apparatus (OCT) that performs image diagnosis using coherence of light is known.

  Optical coherence tomography diagnostic device measures in the blood vessel while rotating the transmitting / receiving unit with the optical probe unit containing the transmitting / receiving unit with the optical lens and optical mirror attached to the tip and the optical fiber inserted in the blood vessel. Radial scanning is performed by emitting light and receiving reflected light from living tissue, and the reflected light obtained thereby interferes with the reference light previously divided from the measurement light, thereby causing blood vessels based on the interference light. The cross-sectional image of is drawn.

  Furthermore, recently, an optical coherence tomography diagnostic apparatus (OFDI) using wavelength sweep has been developed as an improved version of the optical coherence tomography diagnostic apparatus.

  The basic configuration of the optical coherence tomography diagnostic apparatus (OFDI) using wavelength sweep is the same as that of the optical coherence tomography diagnostic apparatus (OCT), but the wavelength is longer than that of the optical coherence tomography diagnostic apparatus (OCT). It is characterized in that a light source is used and light having different wavelengths is emitted continuously. In addition, a mechanism for changing the optical path length of the reference light is not required by obtaining the reflected light intensity at each point in the depth direction of the living tissue by frequency analysis of the interference light.

  Hereinafter, in this specification, the intravascular ultrasound diagnostic apparatus (IVUS), the optical coherence tomography diagnostic apparatus (OCT), and the optical coherence tomography diagnostic apparatus (OFDI) using wavelength sweep are collectively referred to as It will be referred to as an “image diagnostic apparatus”.

  In general, a plurality of cross-sectional images drawn using such an image diagnostic apparatus are displayed on a display device in real time during a radial operation of a transmission / reception unit. In addition, a plurality of cross-sectional images displayed on the display device (or line data used for rendering the cross-sectional images) are stored in parallel in a predetermined memory, and can be stored in the display device as many times as necessary. It can be displayed again.

JP 2001-79007 A

  However, in conventional diagnostic imaging apparatuses, a plurality of cross-sectional images (or line data) drawn from the start to the end of the radial operation, the operation speed (specifically, the radial operation of the transmission / reception unit) Regardless of the presence or absence of fluctuations in the operation speed in the axial direction of the blood vessel), the information is stored in a predetermined position in the memory so that it can be redisplayed sequentially.

  For this reason, when a plurality of cross-sectional images are displayed again on the display device, each cross-sectional image is displayed regardless of the actual position in the axial direction. That is, the user can accurately grasp from the re-displayed cross-sectional image, to which position in the axial direction of the blood vessel the transmission / reception unit actually moves after starting the radial operation. I couldn't.

  For this reason, for example, after performing a radial operation, a diseased part is estimated based on the re-displayed cross-sectional image, and a radial operation is performed again at the estimated position of the diseased part to draw a detailed cross-sectional image. Even if it is a case where it wants, the user cannot grasp the exact position of the diseased part, and there is a problem that the transmitting / receiving unit cannot be accurately moved to the position.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is an image diagnostic apparatus capable of accurately moving a transmission / reception unit to a position in an axial direction according to a designated content designated by a user on a displayed image. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, an image diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A transmission / reception unit that continuously transmits and receives signals acquires a reflection signal from the body cavity while moving in the axial direction in the body cavity, and is used to construct a cross-sectional image in the body cavity based on the acquired reflection signal An image diagnostic apparatus for constructing a plurality of cross-sectional images in the body cavity in the axial direction using the generated line data,
Receiving means for receiving information on the amount of movement in the axial direction from a predetermined reference position of the transceiver;
When line data corresponding to a predetermined coordinate position in each cross-sectional image is extracted from the plurality of line data used for constructing each cross-sectional image, and when the extracted line data is generated The received information on the amount of movement in the axial direction from the predetermined reference position of the transmission / reception unit is obtained, and the extracted line data is arranged at a position corresponding to the information on the obtained amount of movement, so that the axis Construction means for constructing a longitudinal section image for a plurality of section images constructed in the direction;
Display means for displaying the constructed longitudinal section image;
On the displayed vertical sectional image, thereby identifying the line data arranged in the position specified by the user, received in position by the user is designated, the predetermined reference position of the transceiver unit A position in the axial direction where the identified line data can be generated using information indicating a difference between the amount of movement in the axial direction from the current position and the amount of movement in the axial direction from the predetermined reference position of the current transmitting / receiving unit. Calculating means for calculating a movement amount and a moving direction of the transmission / reception unit for moving the transmission / reception unit to
Control means for controlling the operation of the transmission / reception unit based on the movement amount and movement direction calculated by the calculation means.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to provide the diagnostic imaging apparatus which can move a transmission / reception part to the position of the axial direction according to the designation | designated content which the user designated on the displayed image accurately.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure of an image diagnostic apparatus. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of a scanner / pullback part. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the intravascular ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. It is a figure which shows the function structure of an optical coherence tomography diagnostic apparatus. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the optical coherence tomography diagnostic apparatus of wavelength sweep utilization. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the radial operation | movement of a transmission / reception part. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of a signal processing part, and a related functional block. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the process in a signal processing part. It is a figure which shows an example of the line data stored in the line data memory. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a LCD monitor. It is a figure which shows an example of the work flow at the time of acquiring a cross-sectional image. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the positional information display process of an axial direction. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the alignment process.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings as necessary.

[First Embodiment]
1. External configuration diagram 1A of the image diagnostic apparatus one image diagnosis apparatus according to the embodiment (IVUS imaging system (IVUS), optical coherence tomography apparatus (OCT) or optical coherence tomography utilizing wavelength sweep of the present invention 1 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of an apparatus (OFDI) 100. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the diagnostic imaging apparatus 100 includes a probe unit 101, a scanner / pullback unit 102, and an operation control device 103. The scanner / pullback unit 102 and the operation control device 103 are connected by a signal line 104. It is connected.

  The probe unit 101 is directly inserted into the blood vessel (inside the body cavity), and measures the state inside the blood vessel using the transmission / reception unit. The scanner / pullback unit 102 is detachable from the probe unit 101, has a built-in motor, and defines the radial operation of the transmitting / receiving unit in the probe unit 101.

  The operation control device 103 has a function for inputting various setting values and a function for processing data obtained by measurement and displaying it as a processing result such as a cross-sectional image when rendering a cross-sectional image in a blood vessel. Prepare.

  In the operation control device 103, reference numeral 111 denotes a main body control unit that processes data obtained by measurement and outputs a processing result. Reference numeral 111-1 denotes a printer / DVD recorder, which prints a processing result in the main body control unit 111 or stores it as data.

  Reference numeral 112 denotes an operation panel, and the user inputs various setting values via the operation panel 112. Reference numeral 113 denotes an LCD monitor as a display device, which displays a processing result in the main body control unit 111.

2. Detailed Configuration of Scanner / Pullback Unit FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the scanner / pullback unit 102. The scanner / pullback unit 102 includes a rotation driving device 120 and a linear driving device 130 that define the radial operation of the transmission / reception unit in the probe unit 101.

  Among these, the rotation driving device 120 plays a role of defining the rotation (rotation operation) in the circumferential direction of the transmission / reception unit in the probe unit 101. The rotation operation is realized by driving a radial scanning motor (not shown).

  On the other hand, the linear drive device 130 plays a role of defining the movement (axial movement) of the transmitting / receiving unit in the probe unit 101 in the axial direction (the distal direction in the body cavity and the opposite direction). The axial operation is realized by driving the linear drive motor 131, rotating the ball screw 133, and operating the support portion 135 supporting the rotational drive device 120 in the linear direction.

  The linear drive device 130 includes a movement amount detector 132 that detects the operation of the linear drive motor 131 and calculates the movement amount of the rotation drive device 120 in the axial direction from a predetermined reference position. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a three-phase encoder is used as the movement amount detector 132. Reference numeral 134 denotes an example of A-phase, B-phase, and Z-phase pulse signals output by a three-phase encoder.

  In the operation control device 103, the number of pulses of the pulse signal 134 output from the movement amount detector 132 is counted and the phase is detected to determine the movement amount and movement direction of the rotary drive device 120 in the axial direction.

3. Functional Configuration of Intravascular Ultrasound Diagnostic Device Next, the main functional configuration of the intravascular ultrasound diagnostic apparatus (IVUS) in the image diagnostic apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the intravascular ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 shown in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the intravascular ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 100 includes a probe unit 101, a scanner / pullback unit 102, and an operation control device 103.

  The probe unit 101 includes a transmission / reception unit 201 made of an ultrasonic transducer inside the tip. The transmission / reception unit 201 is transmitted from the ultrasonic signal transmitter / receiver 221 in a state where the probe unit 101 is inserted into a blood vessel. Based on the pulse wave, the ultrasonic wave is emitted in the cross-sectional direction (= emission direction) of the blood vessel, and the reflected wave (ultrasonic echo) is received, and the ultrasonic echo is received via the connector / adapter unit 202 and the rotary joint 211. The signal is transmitted to the ultrasonic signal transmitter / receiver 221 as a signal.

  The scanner / pullback unit 102 includes a rotary drive device 120 including a rotary joint 211 and a linear drive device 130. The transmitting / receiving unit 201 in the probe unit 101 is rotatably mounted by a rotary joint 211 that couples between the non-rotating unit and the rotating unit, and is rotationally driven by a radial scanning motor 213. As the transmission / reception unit 201 rotates around the axis of the probe unit 101 in the blood vessel, the ultrasonic signal is scanned in the circumferential direction, which is necessary for rendering a cross-sectional image at a predetermined position in the blood vessel. An ultrasonic echo signal can be obtained.

  The operation of the radial scanning motor 213 is controlled based on a control signal transmitted from the signal processing unit 225 via the motor control circuit 226. The rotation angle of the radial scanning motor 213 is detected by the encoder unit 214. The output pulse output from the encoder unit 214 is input to the signal processing unit 225 via the motor control circuit 226, and is used to construct a cross-sectional image and a vertical cross-sectional image (details will be described later).

  The scanner / pullback unit 102 further includes a linear drive device 130 and regulates the axial operation of the transmission / reception unit 201 based on an instruction from the signal processing unit 225. The control circuit (driver) of the linear drive motor 131 is assumed to be installed in the linear drive device 130, and is not shown here. The radial scanning motor 213 and the linear drive motor 131 may be detachably connected or may be integrally configured.

  The ultrasonic signal transmitter / receiver 221 includes a transmission circuit and a reception circuit (not shown). The transmission circuit causes the transmission / reception unit 201 in the probe unit 101 to transmit a pulse wave based on the control signal transmitted from the signal processing unit 225.

  The receiving circuit receives an ultrasonic echo signal detected by the transmitting / receiving unit 201 in the probe unit 101. The received ultrasonic echo signal is amplified by the amplifier 222.

  Further, the A / D converter 224 samples the ultrasonic echo signal output from the amplifier 222 to generate one line of digital data (ultrasound echo data).

  The line-unit ultrasonic echo data generated by the A / D converter 224 is input to the signal processing unit 225. In the signal processing unit 225, line data is generated by detecting ultrasonic echo data, and then a cross-sectional image at each position in the blood vessel is drawn based on the line data, and the LCD monitor 227 (reference number 113 in FIG. 1) is drawn. Corresponding to). Note that the line data used for drawing the cross-sectional image (or the drawn cross-sectional image itself) is stored in the signal processing unit 225 so as to be readable, and an instruction is input from the user via the instruction input unit 228. Assume that the image is re-displayed on the LCD monitor 227 as a cross-sectional image.

  Here, in storing the line data (or cross-sectional image), the signal processing unit 225 according to the present embodiment stores the data in association with the count value of the pulse signal output from the movement amount detector 132 of the linear drive device 130. It shall be. Details of these processes in the signal processing unit 225 will be described later.

4). Functional Configuration of Optical Coherence Tomographic Image Diagnosis Apparatus Next, the main functional configuration of the optical coherence tomographic image diagnosis apparatus in the image diagnostic apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  Reference numeral 309 denotes a low-coherence light source such as an ultra-bright light emitting diode. The low-coherence light source 309 outputs low-coherence light that exhibits coherence only in a short distance range with a wavelength of about 1310 nm and a coherence distance (coherent length) of about several μm to several tens of μm.

  Therefore, when this light is divided into two and then mixed again, the difference between the two optical path lengths from the divided point to the mixed point is within a short distance range of about several μm to several tens of μm. Will be detected as interference light. If the optical path length difference is larger than that, it will not be detected as interference light.

  Light from the low-coherence light source 309 is incident on one end of the first single mode fiber 327 and transmitted to the distal end side. The first single mode fiber 327 is optically coupled to the second single mode fiber 328 and the third single mode fiber 331 at an intermediate optical coupler unit 308.

  The optical coupler unit is an optical component that can divide one optical signal into two or more outputs, or combine two or more input optical signals into one output, and has low interference. The light from the light source 309 can be divided into three optical paths and transmitted by the optical coupler unit 308 at the maximum.

  A scanner / pullback unit 102 is provided on the front end side of the optical coupler unit 308 of the first single mode fiber 327. In the rotation drive device 120 of the scanner / pullback unit 102, an optical rotary joint 303 that couples the non-rotating unit and the rotating unit and transmits light is provided.

  Further, the distal end side of the fourth single mode fiber 329 in the optical rotary joint 303 is detachably connected to the fifth single mode fiber 330 of the probe unit 101 via the connector / adapter unit 302. Thereby, the light from the low-coherence light source 309 is transmitted to the fifth single mode fiber 330 that is connected in the transmission / reception unit 301 that repeats transmission / reception of light and can be driven to rotate.

  The light transmitted to the fifth single mode fiber 330 is irradiated from the distal end side of the transmission / reception unit 301 to the living tissue in the blood vessel while performing radial scanning. Then, a part of the reflected light scattered on the surface or inside of the living tissue is taken in by the transmission / reception unit 301, returns to the first single mode fiber 327 side through the reverse optical path, and a part of the reflected light is reflected by the optical coupler unit 308. 2 is moved to the single-mode fiber 328 side and emitted from one end of the second single-mode fiber 328, so that it is received by a photodetector (for example, a photodiode 310).

  The rotating part side of the optical rotary joint 303 is rotationally driven by a radial scanning motor 305 disposed in the rotational driving device 120. Further, the rotation angle of the radial scanning motor 305 is detected by the encoder unit 306. Further, the scanner / pullback unit 102 includes a linear drive device 130 and regulates the axial operation of the transmission / reception unit 301 based on an instruction from the signal processing unit 314. The control circuit (driver) of the linear drive motor 131 is installed in the linear drive device 130, but is not shown here.

  The radial scanning motor 305 and the linear drive motor 131 may be detachably connected or may be integrally configured.

  On the other hand, an optical path length variable mechanism 316 that changes the optical path length of the reference light is provided on the tip side (reference optical path) of the third single mode fiber 331 from the optical coupler unit 308.

  This optical path length varying mechanism 316 replaces the probe unit 101 with first optical path length changing means that changes the optical path length corresponding to the measurement range in the depth direction of the living tissue (the direction in which the measurement light is emitted) at high speed. And second optical path length changing means for changing the optical path length corresponding to the variation in length so as to be able to absorb the variation in length of the individual probe portions 101 when used.

  A mirror 319 is disposed via a collimating lens 321 that is mounted on the uniaxial stage 320 together with the tip of the third single-mode fiber 331 and that is movable in the direction indicated by the arrow 323. Further, a galvanometer 317 capable of turning by a minute angle is attached as a first optical path length changing means via a lens 318 corresponding to the mirror 319. The galvanometer 317 is rotated at high speed in the direction of an arrow 322 by a galvanometer controller 324.

  The galvanometer 317 reflects light by a mirror of the galvanometer, and is configured such that a mirror attached to the movable part rotates at high speed by applying an AC drive signal to the galvanometer functioning as a reference mirror. .

  That is, a drive signal is applied from the galvanometer controller 324 to the galvanometer 317, and the drive signal rotates at high speed in the direction of the arrow 322, so that the optical path length of the reference light is within the measurement range in the depth direction of the living tissue. It will change at high speed by the corresponding optical path length. One period of the change in the optical path difference is a period for acquiring interference light for one line.

  On the other hand, when the probe unit 101 is replaced, the uniaxial stage 320 functions as a second optical path length changing unit having a variable range of the optical path length that can absorb the variation in the optical path length of the probe unit 101. Further, the uniaxial stage 320 also functions as an adjusting unit that adjusts the offset. For example, even when the tip of the probe unit 101 is not in close contact with the surface of the biological tissue, the optical path length is minutely changed by the uniaxial stage 320 so as to interfere with the reflected light from the surface position of the biological tissue. be able to.

  The light whose optical path length is changed by the optical path length variable mechanism 316 is mixed with the light obtained from the first single mode fiber 327 side by the optical coupler unit 308 provided in the middle of the third single mode fiber 331. The light is received by the photodiode 310 as interference light.

  The interference light received by the photodiode 310 in this way is photoelectrically converted, amplified by the amplifier 311, and then input to the demodulator 312.

  The demodulator 312 performs demodulation processing for extracting only the signal portion of the interference light, and the output is input to the A / D converter 313.

  The A / D converter 313 samples the interference light signal for 200 points, for example, and generates one line of digital data (“interference light data”). In this case, the sampling frequency is a value obtained by dividing the time of one scanning of the optical path length by 200.

  The line-by-line interference light data generated by the A / D converter 313 is input to the signal processing unit 314. The signal processing unit 314 renders a cross-sectional image and a longitudinal cross-sectional image (details will be described later) at each position in the blood vessel based on the interference light data (line data) in the depth direction of the living tissue, and then the LCD monitor 315 ( (Corresponding to reference numeral 113 in FIG. 1). Note that the line data used for drawing the cross-sectional image (or the drawn cross-sectional image itself) is stored in the signal processing unit 314 so as to be readable, and an instruction is input from the user via the instruction input unit 334 Assume that the image is re-displayed on the LCD monitor 315 as a cross-sectional image.

  Here, in storing the line data (or cross-sectional image), the signal processing unit 314 according to the present embodiment stores the data in association with the count value of the pulse signal output from the movement amount detector 132 of the linear driving device 130. It shall be. Details of these processes in the signal processing unit 314 will be described later.

  Further, the signal processing unit 314 is connected to the optical path length adjusting unit control device 326 and controls the position of the one-axis stage 320 via the optical path length adjusting unit control device 326. The signal processing unit 314 is connected to the motor control circuit 325 and controls the rotational drive of the radial scanning motor 305.

  The signal processing unit 314 is connected to a galvanometer controller 324 that controls scanning of the optical path length of the reference mirror (galvanometer mirror), and receives a drive signal from the galvanometer controller 324. The motor control circuit 325 synchronizes with the galvanometer controller 324 by using the drive signal received by the signal processing unit 314.

5). Functional configuration of optical coherence tomography diagnostic apparatus using wavelength sweep Next, the main functional configuration of an optical coherence tomography diagnostic apparatus (OFDI) using wavelength sweep in image diagnostic apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. I will explain.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the optical coherence tomographic image diagnostic apparatus 100 using wavelength sweeping.

  Reference numeral 408 denotes a wavelength swept light source, which uses a sweep laser. A wavelength swept light source 408 using a swept laser is a type of extended-cavity laser that includes an optical fiber 416 coupled to a SOA 415 (semiconductor optical amplifier) and a ring and a polygon scanning filter (408b).

  The light output from the SOA 415 travels through the optical fiber 416 and enters the polygon scanning filter 408b, where the wavelength-selected light is amplified by the SOA 415 and finally output from the coupler 414.

  In the polygon scanning filter 408b, the wavelength is selected by a combination of the diffraction grating 412 for separating light and the polygon mirror 409. Specifically, the light split by the diffraction grating 412 is condensed on the surface of the polygon mirror 409 by two lenses (410, 411). Accordingly, only light having a wavelength orthogonal to the polygon mirror 409 returns on the same optical path and is output from the polygon scanning filter 408b. Therefore, the wavelength can be swept by rotating the mirror.

  As the polygon mirror 409, for example, a 32-hedron mirror is used, and the rotation speed is about 50000 rpm. A wavelength sweeping method combining the polygon mirror 409 and the diffraction grating 412 enables high-speed, high-output wavelength sweeping.

  The light of the wavelength swept light source 408 output from the coupler 414 is incident on one end of the first single mode fiber 430 and transmitted to the distal end side. The first single mode fiber 430 is optically coupled to the second single mode fiber 437 and the third single mode fiber 431 at an intermediate optical coupler unit 434. Therefore, the light of the wavelength swept light source 408 is divided by the optical coupler unit 434 into three optical paths and transmitted.

  An optical rotary joint 403 that couples the non-rotating part and the rotating part and transmits light is provided in the rotary drive device 120 on the tip side of the optical coupler part 434 of the first single mode fiber 430. .

  Further, the distal end side of the fourth single mode fiber 435 in the optical rotary joint 403 is detachably connected to the fifth single mode fiber 436 of the probe unit 101 via the connector / adapter unit 402. As a result, the light from the wavelength swept light source 408 is transmitted to the fifth single mode fiber 436 that is connected in the transmission / reception unit 401 that repeats transmission and reception of light and can be driven to rotate.

  The transmitted light is emitted from the distal end side of the transmission / reception unit 401 while performing radial scanning on the living tissue in the body cavity. Then, a part of the reflected light scattered on the surface of the living tissue or inside is taken in by the transmission / reception unit 401, and returns to the first single mode fiber 430 side through the reverse optical path. Further, a part of the optical coupler unit 434 moves to the second single mode fiber 437 side, is emitted from one end of the second single mode fiber 437, and is received by a photodetector (for example, a photodiode 419).

  The scanner / pullback unit 102 includes a rotation driving device 120 in which an optical rotary joint 403 is disposed. The transmission / reception unit 401 in the probe unit 101 is rotatably mounted by an optical rotary joint 403 that couples between the non-rotating unit and the rotating unit, and is rotationally driven by a radial scanning motor 405. As the transmission / reception unit 401 rotates around the axis of the probe unit 101 in the blood vessel, the measurement light is scanned in the circumferential direction, and thereby light necessary for rendering a cross-sectional image at a predetermined position in the blood vessel. An interference signal can be obtained.

  The operation of the radial scanning motor 405 is controlled based on a control signal transmitted from the signal processing unit 423 via the motor control circuit 424. Further, the rotation angle of the radial scanning motor 405 is detected by the encoder unit 406. An output pulse output from the encoder unit 406 is input to the signal processing unit 423 via the motor control circuit 424, and is used to construct a cross-sectional image and a vertical cross-sectional image (details will be described later).

  The scanner / pullback unit 102 further includes a linear drive device 130, and regulates the axial operation of the transmission / reception unit 401 based on an instruction from the signal processing unit 423. The control circuit (driver) of the linear drive motor 131 is assumed to be installed in the linear drive device 130, and is not shown here.

  The radial scanning motor 405 and the linear drive motor 131 may be detachably connected or may be configured integrally.

  On the other hand, an optical path length variable mechanism 425 for finely adjusting the optical path length of the reference light is provided on the distal end side of the optical coupler portion 434 of the third single mode fiber 431.

  The optical path length variable mechanism 425 changes the optical path length to change the optical path length corresponding to the variation in length so that the variation in length of each probe unit when the probe unit 101 is replaced and used can be absorbed. Means.

  The third single mode fiber 431 and the collimating lens 426 are provided on a uniaxial stage 432 movable as indicated by an arrow 433 in the optical axis direction, and form an optical path length changing means.

  Specifically, when the probe unit 101 is replaced, the uniaxial stage 432 functions as an optical path length changing unit having a variable range of the optical path length that can absorb variations in the optical path length of the probe unit 101. Further, the uniaxial stage 432 also functions as an adjusting unit that adjusts the offset. For example, even when the tip of the probe unit 101 is not in close contact with the surface of the living tissue, the optical path length is minutely changed by the uniaxial stage 432 so as to interfere with the reflected light from the surface position of the living tissue. be able to.

  The light whose optical path length is finely adjusted by the optical path length variable mechanism 425 is mixed with the light obtained from the first single mode fiber 430 side by the optical coupler unit 434 provided in the middle of the third single mode fiber 431. The light is received by the photodiode 419 as interference light.

  The interference light received by the photodiode 419 in this manner is photoelectrically converted, amplified by the amplifier 420, and then input to the demodulator 421. The demodulator 421 performs demodulation processing for extracting only the signal portion of the interference light, and its output is input to the A / D converter 422 as an interference light signal.

  The A / D converter 422 samples the interference light signal for 2048 points at 90 MHz, for example, and generates one line of digital data (interference light data). The sampling frequency of 90 MHz is based on the premise that about 90% of the wavelength sweep cycle (25.0 μsec) is extracted as 2048 digital data when the wavelength sweep repetition frequency is 40 kHz. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  The line-by-line interference light data generated by the A / D converter 422 is input to the signal processing unit 423. In the signal processing unit 423, the interference light data is subjected to frequency decomposition by FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) to generate data in the depth direction (line data), and this is subjected to coordinate conversion to obtain a cross-sectional image at each position in the blood vessel. Is output to the LCD monitor 417 (corresponding to reference numeral 113 in FIG. 1). In parallel, a vertical cross-sectional image (details will be described later) is drawn using the generated line data and output to the LCD monitor 417. Note that the line data used for drawing the cross-sectional image (or the drawn cross-sectional image itself) is stored in the signal processing unit 423 so as to be readable, and when an instruction is input from the user via the instruction input unit 439. Suppose that it is redisplayed as a cross-sectional image on the LCD monitor 417.

  Here, in storing the line data (or cross-sectional image), the signal processing unit 423 according to the present embodiment stores the data in association with the count value of the pulse signal output from the movement amount detector 132 of the linear driving device 130. It shall be. Details of these processes in the signal processing unit 423 will be described later.

  Further, the signal processing unit 423 is connected to the optical path length adjusting unit control device 418. The signal processing unit 423 controls the position of the uniaxial stage 432 described above via the optical path length adjusting unit control device 418.

6). Radial Operation Figure 5 of the transceiver unit is a schematic view for explaining a radial operation of the transceiver. 5A and 5B are a cross-sectional view and a perspective view of a blood vessel in a state where the probe unit 101 is inserted, respectively.

  In FIG. 5A, reference numeral 503 denotes a blood vessel cross section in which the probe unit 101 is inserted. As described above, the probe unit 101 has a transmitting / receiving unit (201, 301, 401) attached to the inside of its tip, and is rotated in the direction of arrow 502 by the radial scanning motors 213, 305, 405.

  The transmission / reception units (201, 301, 401) transmit / receive ultrasonic waves or measurement light at each rotation angle. Lines 1, 2,..., 512 indicate the transmission directions of ultrasonic waves or measurement light at each rotation angle. In the diagnostic imaging apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, 512 transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves or measurement light is intermittent while the transmission / reception unit (201, 301, 401) rotates 360 degrees on a predetermined blood vessel section 503. Done. It should be noted that the number of transmission / reception times of ultrasonic waves or measurement light during 360 ° rotation is not limited to this, and can be arbitrarily set.

  Such transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves or measurement light is performed while proceeding in the direction of arrow 504 (FIG. 5B) in the blood vessel. In general, in accordance with the progress of the transmission / reception unit (201, 301, 401) in the direction of the arrow 504, a scan that repeats transmission / reception of signals by the transmission / reception unit (201, 301, 401) in each blood vessel section is generally performed. This is called “radial scan”.

7). Detailed Configuration of Signal Processing Unit Next, in the signal processing units 225, 314, and 423 of the diagnostic imaging apparatus 100, construction processing for constructing a cross-sectional image and a longitudinal cross-sectional image, and line data are stored in the signal processing units 225, 314, and 423. A functional configuration for realizing the storing process to be stored will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. Note that the construction process and storage process described below may be realized using dedicated hardware, or the function of each unit may be realized by software (by a computer executing a program).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration and related functional blocks for realizing the construction process and the storage process in the signal processing units 225, 314, and 423 of the diagnostic imaging apparatus 100. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a specific example of the construction process and the storage process in the signal processing units 225, 314, and 423. Further, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the line data generated in the signal processing units 225, 314, and 425 is stored in the line data memory.

  In the following, in order to simplify the description, the signal processing unit 314 of the optical coherence tomographic image diagnosis apparatus 100 (FIG. 3) will be described (the same applies to other image diagnostic apparatuses, The description is omitted here).

  The interference light data generated by the A / D converter 313 is converted into a radial scanning motor by using the signal of the encoder unit 306 of the radial scanning motor 305 output from the motor control circuit 325 in the line data generation unit 601 shown in FIG. Processing is performed so that the number of lines per rotation is 512.

  Here, as an example, a cross-sectional image is constructed from 512 lines, but the number of lines is not limited to this.

  The line data 614 output from the line data generation unit 601 is stored in the line data memory 602 for each rotation of the radial scanning motor based on an instruction from the control unit 606. At this time, the control unit 606 counts the pulse signals output from the movement amount detector 132 of the linear drive device 130 and generates each line data 614 when storing the line data 614 in the line data memory 602. (Reference numeral 615 in FIG. 7 shows how the line data 614 is stored in association with the count value for each rotation of the radial scanning motor (512 lines)). FIG. 8 shows a specific correspondence relationship).

  Here, the case where the line data memory 602 is arranged and the line data 614 is stored in association with the count value of the pulse signal output from the movement amount detector 132 of the linear drive device 130 has been described. The invention is not limited to this. For example, a cross-sectional image data memory is arranged after the cross-sectional image construction unit 603, and the cross-sectional image 617 is stored in association with the count value of the pulse signal output from the movement amount detector 132 of the linear drive device 130. May be.

  Returning to the description of FIGS. The line data 615 stored in association with the count value is subjected to various processes (line addition averaging process, filter process, etc.) in the cross-sectional image construction unit 603 based on an instruction from the control unit 606, and then Rθ By being converted, it is sequentially output as a cross-sectional image 617. Reference numeral 617 in FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a plurality of cross-sectional images associated with the count value.

  Further, after image processing for display on the LCD monitor 315 is performed in the image processing unit 605, it is output to the LCD monitor 315 as a cross-sectional image 617 ′.

  The line data 615 stored in association with the count value is read out by the longitudinal section image construction unit 604 based on an instruction from the control unit 606. The longitudinal section image construction unit 604 constructs a longitudinal section image 616 using the read line data 615.

  Here, as an example, the case where the longitudinal cross-sectional image is constructed from the line data 615 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the longitudinal cross-sectional image may be constructed from the cross-sectional image 617.

  Reference numeral 616 in FIG. 7 indicates a state in which the longitudinal section image constructing unit 604 constructs a longitudinal section image based on the line data 615. As shown in the figure, in the longitudinal section image construction unit 604, first, predetermined line data (cross section) is obtained for each piece of line data 615 (including line data from line 1 to line 512) at each read count value. Two line data (line data having a relationship of 180 ° with each other) corresponding to arbitrary coordinate axes passing through the center coordinates of the cross-sectional image when the image is constructed are extracted (in the example of FIG. Line data of line 256 is extracted). Subsequently, the line data for each two lines extracted from each line data 615 is arranged at the position in the axial direction corresponding to the count value associated with each line data 615. Thereby, a vertical cross-sectional image 616 is constructed with the horizontal axis representing the count value and the vertical axis representing the line data (specifically, the pixel value of the line data).

  As described above, the image values of the extracted line data are arranged at the positions in the axial direction corresponding to the count values associated with the line data 615, so that the radial operation start position is used as the reference position. It is possible to construct a longitudinal section image corresponding to each position in the axial direction of the unit 301.

  The constructed longitudinal section image 616 is read out by the image processing unit 605 based on an instruction from the control unit 606, subjected to image processing for display on the LCD monitor 315, and then as a longitudinal section image 616 ′. The data is output to the LCD monitor 315.

  The LCD monitor 315 displays the cross-sectional image 617 ′ and the vertical cross-sectional image 616 ′ processed by the image processing unit 605 in parallel. Further, it is constructed using each line data in the line data memory 602 in which the same count value as that of the line data arranged at the position corresponding to the instruction input from the user via the instruction input unit 334 is associated. The cross-sectional image 617 ′ is displayed again.

  Furthermore, when the re-displayed cross-sectional image 617 ′ is captured based on the movement instruction input from the user via the instruction input unit 334 (for generating line data used for constructing the cross-sectional image 617 ′. The axial operation of the transmission / reception unit 301 is controlled so that the transmission / reception unit moves to a position in the axial direction of the transmission / reception unit (when the reflected light is acquired).

  In addition, the display of the cross-sectional image 617 ′ and the vertical cross-sectional image 616 ′ on the LCD monitor 315, the re-display of the cross-sectional image 617 ′ corresponding to the instruction input from the user via the instruction input unit 334, and the re-displayed cross-sectional image Details of the movement of the transmission / reception unit 301 to the position where 617 ′ is imaged will be described below.

8). Display Example and Instruction Input Unit on LCD Monitor FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional image 617 ′ and a vertical cross-sectional image 616 ′ displayed on the LCD monitor 315, and a cross-sectional image corresponding to an instruction input from the user via the instruction input unit 334. It is a figure for demonstrating the re-display of 617 ', and the movement of the transmission / reception part 301 to the position where cross-sectional image 617' re-displayed was imaged.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the LCD monitor 315 has a cross-sectional image display area 901 for displaying a cross-sectional image 617 'and a vertical cross-sectional image display area 902 for displaying a vertical cross-sectional image 616'. In the cross-sectional image display area 901, a plurality of cross-sectional images 617 'generated along with the radial operation of the transmission / reception unit 301 are sequentially displayed in real time.

  On the other hand, in the longitudinal section image display area 902, the longitudinal section image 616 ′ is gradually constructed with the radial operation of the transmission / reception unit 301, and the construction of the longitudinal section image 616 ′ is continued until the radial operation is stopped. .

  An indicator 903 for designating a predetermined position in the axial direction is displayed in the longitudinal section image display area 902, and the user moves the indicator 903 in the axial direction via the instruction input unit 334. Thus, a predetermined position in the axial direction of the longitudinal cross-sectional image 616 ′ can be designated.

  In the diagnostic imaging apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, a cross-sectional image 617 ′ constructed using line data arranged at a position corresponding to a specified axial position is displayed in the cross-sectional image display area 901. It is configured as follows. With this configuration, the user can visually recognize the cross-sectional image 617 'corresponding to the position only by specifying the position of the blood vessel in the axial direction.

  That is, in the conventional diagnostic imaging apparatus, the user re-displays the cross-sectional image that is the cross-sectional image when the transmission / reception unit actually moves to the axial direction of the blood vessel after starting the radial operation. However, in the diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment, the user can visually recognize the cross-sectional image in association with the position in the axial direction of the blood vessel.

  Further, the LCD monitor 315 has a transmission / reception unit alignment button 904. When the transmission / reception unit alignment button 904 is pressed, the transmission / reception unit 301 moves to the position of the transmission / reception unit 301 when the cross-sectional image 617 ′ currently displayed in the cross-sectional image display area 901 is captured. Is controlled in the axial direction.

9. Description of Work Flow for Acquiring a Cross Section Image Next, the work flow for acquiring a cross section image will be described with reference to FIG. The work flow described below shows a case where a cross-sectional image in a blood vessel is acquired using the optical coherence tomographic image diagnostic apparatus or the optical coherence tomographic image diagnostic apparatus 100 using wavelength sweeping.

  In step S1001, the user performs a flash operation. The flash operation is an operation for removing blood in a blood vessel in advance from a region to be imaged. Specifically, it refers to an operation of releasing physiological saline, lactated Ringer's, contrast medium, etc. from a guide catheter (not shown) in which the transmitting / receiving unit 301 is accommodated, and removing blood in the blood vessel of the imaging site.

  This is because the interference light used in the optical coherence tomography diagnostic apparatus or the wavelength sweeping optical coherence tomography diagnostic apparatus has a wavelength of about 800 nm to 1550 nm and is impermeable to blood, This is because it is necessary to remove blood in the blood vessel in advance at the imaging site. Therefore, when a cross-sectional image is drawn by the optical coherence tomographic image diagnostic apparatus or the optical coherence tomographic image diagnostic apparatus 100 using the wavelength sweep, physiological saline, lactated Ringer, a contrast agent, or the like is previously released from the probe unit 101, and an imaging region is obtained. Perform a flush operation to remove blood in the blood vessels.

  In step S1002, the user performs an operation for acquiring a cross-sectional image in a wide range. Specifically, a cross-sectional image is acquired over a wide range including the diseased part by performing pullback by pulling out the transmitting / receiving unit 301 at an appropriate speed.

  In step S <b> 1003, display processing for displaying the cross-sectional image acquired with the wide-area cross-sectional image acquisition operation on the LCD monitor 113 is performed. The display processing is executed in parallel with the user pulling back the transmission / reception unit 301 in the wide-area cross-sectional image acquisition operation.

  In step S1004, the user again designates the position to be displayed from the longitudinal cross-sectional image displayed with the display of the cross-sectional image using the indicator 903 (designates the position expected to be a diseased part). In step S1005, the position information in the axial direction is redisplayed for the cross-sectional image constructed using the line data associated with the same count value as the line data arranged in the position corresponding to the position specified in step S1004. Display processing ”. Details of the “axial position information display process” in step S1005 will be described later.

  In step S1006, the axial operation is controlled so that the transmission / reception unit moves to the position where the cross-sectional image redisplayed in step S1005 is captured. The details of the positioning process of the transmission / reception unit will be described later.

  In step S1007, the user performs the flash operation again. After the flash operation, in step S1008, the user performs an operation for acquiring a local cross-sectional image. Specifically, a detailed cross-sectional image is acquired again for the diseased part by pulling back the transmitting / receiving unit 301 with the position moved in step S1006 as the radial operation start position.

  Through the work flow as described above, the user confirms the disease part based on the cross-sectional image acquired based on the wide-range cross-sectional image acquisition operation, then moves the transmission / reception unit to the disease part, and again the disease part It is possible to perform operations such as performing a local cross-sectional image acquisition operation for, and it is possible to acquire a more detailed cross-sectional image for the diseased part.

10. Details of Axial Position Information Display Processing Next , details of the axial position information display processing (step S1005) will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a detailed flow of position information display processing in the axial direction.

  In step S1101, the position of the indicator 903 designated by the user on the longitudinal cross-sectional image is recognized.

  In step S1102, the position information corresponding to the position of the indicator 903 is obtained by obtaining the count value of the line data arranged at the position corresponding to the position of the indicator 903 on the vertical cross-sectional image recognized in step S1101. Get and display. If the indicator is selected twice, position information corresponding to the two positions is acquired and displayed.

  In step S1103, line data corresponding to the position information acquired in step S1102 is determined from line data (see FIG. 8) stored in the line data memory 602. The line data corresponding to the position information refers to line data arranged at the position indicated by the position information or line data arranged at a position closest to the position indicated by the position information.

  In step S1104, line data associated with the same count value as the line data determined in step S1103 is read. In step S1105, the cross-sectional image constructed based on the read line data is redisplayed on the LCD monitor 315. To do.

11. Details of Positioning Processing of Transmitting / Receiving Unit Next , details of positioning processing of the transmitting / receiving unit (step S1006) will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a detailed flow of the alignment process.

  In step S1201, when the user presses the transmission / reception unit positioning button 904 on the LCD monitor 315, this is accepted.

  In step S1202, the count value corresponding to the position (current position) of the transmission / reception unit at the time when the transmission / reception unit alignment button 904 is pressed is recognized.

  In step S1203, when the transmission / reception unit alignment button 904 is pressed, the count value associated with the line data arranged at the position designated by the indicator 903 is acquired.

  In step S1204, the count value recognized in step S1202 is compared with the count value acquired in step S1203, and the movement amount for moving the transmission / reception unit to the position in the axial direction specified by the count value in step S1203; The moving direction is calculated.

  Specifically, a difference between the count value recognized in step S1202 and the count value acquired in step S1203 is calculated, and a movement amount corresponding to the count value obtained by adding a predetermined coefficient to the difference value is calculated. calculate. Further, the moving direction of the transmission / reception unit is determined according to the sign of the calculated difference value.

  The reason why the predetermined coefficient is added to the difference value is to start the radial operation of the transmission / reception unit slightly before the desired position (slightly upstream in the axial operation of the transmission / reception unit). Since the radial operation of the transmission / reception unit takes some time until the operation speed is stabilized, if the radial operation of the transmission / reception unit is started from a desired position, the operation at the desired position is performed before the operation speed is stabilized. This is because a cross-sectional image is captured.

  For this reason, as the predetermined coefficient accumulated in the difference value, a value of 1.0 or more is used when the moving direction of the transmission / reception unit is opposite to the axial direction (moving toward the upstream side). Further, when the movement direction of the transmission / reception unit is the axial direction (movement toward the downstream side), the predetermined coefficient is less than 1.0.

  In the above description, the predetermined coefficient is added to the difference value. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and after calculating the movement amount corresponding to the difference value, the predetermined amount is set according to the moving direction. You may comprise so that addition / subtraction may be carried out.

  Returning to FIG. In step S1205, the control unit 606 controls the linear drive motor 131 of the linear drive device 130 based on the movement amount and movement direction calculated in step S1204.

  As is apparent from the above description, the diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment stores the acquired line data in association with the count value of the pulse signal output from the linear drive device of the scanner / pullback unit. It was. In addition, a longitudinal section image is constructed and displayed using the line data and the count value.

  Thereby, in the diagnostic imaging apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the cross-sectional image corresponding to the designated axial position on the vertical cross-sectional image can be displayed again in the cross-sectional image display area.

  Furthermore, a transmission / reception unit alignment button is provided, and when the transmission / reception unit alignment button is pressed, the position of the transmission / reception unit when the cross-sectional image corresponding to the specified axial position on the longitudinal cross-sectional image is captured The transmitter / receiver is controlled to operate in the axial direction.

  As a result, in the conventional diagnostic imaging apparatus, the user re-displays the cross-sectional image that is the cross-sectional image when the transmission / reception unit actually moves to the axial direction of the blood vessel after starting the radial operation. Where the image cannot be accurately grasped from the image, the image diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment allows the user to visually recognize the cross-sectional image in association with the position of the blood vessel in the axial direction.

  Further, in the conventional diagnostic imaging apparatus, even when it is desired to perform imaging again at the position of the diseased part, the transmission / reception unit could not be accurately moved to the position, the diagnostic imaging according to the present embodiment According to the apparatus, the user can automatically move the transmission / reception unit to the position in the axial direction corresponding to the position only by specifying the position on the longitudinal cross-sectional image.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the line data memory is arranged and the line data and the count value are stored in association with each other. For this reason, the line data arranged at the specified axial position on the longitudinal cross-sectional image is identified, and the count value associated with the identified line data is acquired, so that the movement amount and movement of the transmission / reception unit It was set as the structure which calculates a direction.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a cross-sectional image data memory may be provided and the cross-sectional image and the count value may be stored in association with each other. In this case, when the transmission / reception unit alignment button 904 is pressed, the cross-sectional image displayed in the cross-sectional image display area 901 is identified, and the count value associated with the identified cross-sectional image is acquired. The amount and direction of movement of the transmission / reception unit are calculated.

  Alternatively, the user directly designates a cross-sectional image stored in the cross-sectional image data memory, thereby obtaining a count value associated with the designated cross-sectional image, and using the obtained count value, a transmission / reception unit The movement amount and the movement direction may be calculated.

  In addition, when it is set as the structure which arrange | positions slice image data memory in this way, a longitudinal cross-sectional image will be constructed | assembled based on a cross-sectional image. Specifically, a pixel value on a predetermined coordinate axis is extracted from each cross-sectional image, and the extracted pixel value is arranged at a position corresponding to the count value stored in association with each cross-sectional image. Will be.

Claims (11)

A transmission / reception unit that continuously transmits and receives signals acquires a reflection signal from the body cavity while moving in the axial direction in the body cavity, and is used to construct a cross-sectional image in the body cavity based on the acquired reflection signal An image diagnostic apparatus for constructing a plurality of cross-sectional images in the body cavity in the axial direction using the generated line data,
Receiving means for receiving information on the amount of movement in the axial direction from a predetermined reference position of the transceiver;
When line data corresponding to a predetermined coordinate position in each cross-sectional image is extracted from the plurality of line data used for constructing each cross-sectional image, and when the extracted line data is generated The received information on the amount of movement in the axial direction from the predetermined reference position of the transmission / reception unit is obtained, and the extracted line data is arranged at a position corresponding to the information on the obtained amount of movement, so that the axis Construction means for constructing a longitudinal section image for a plurality of section images constructed in the direction;
Display means for displaying the constructed longitudinal section image;
On the displayed vertical sectional image, thereby identifying the line data arranged in the position specified by the user, received in position by the user is designated, the predetermined reference position of the transceiver unit A position in the axial direction where the identified line data can be generated using information indicating a difference between the amount of movement in the axial direction from the current position and the amount of movement in the axial direction from the predetermined reference position of the current transmitting / receiving unit. Calculating means for calculating a movement amount and a moving direction of the transmission / reception unit for moving the transmission / reception unit to
An image diagnostic apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls an operation of the transmission / reception unit based on a movement amount and a movement direction calculated by the calculation unit.   2. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the line data arranged at a position designated by the user includes line data arranged at a position closest to the position designated by the user. . A transmission / reception unit that continuously transmits and receives signals is moved in the axial direction in the body cavity to acquire a reflection signal from the body cavity, and based on the acquired reflection signal, a cross-sectional image in the body cavity is axially A plurality of diagnostic imaging apparatuses constructed
Receiving means for receiving information on the amount of movement in the axial direction from a predetermined reference position of the transceiver;
A storage that stores each of the constructed plurality of cross-sectional images in association with information about the amount of movement in the axial direction from a predetermined reference position of the transmission / reception unit received when each of the plurality of cross-sectional images is constructed. Means,
A reading unit that identifies a cross-sectional image corresponding to a user's instruction from the cross-sectional images stored in the storage unit, and reads out information relating to the amount of movement stored in association with the identified cross-sectional image;
Movement instruction from the user received when entered, to determine information about the amount of axial movement from the predetermined reference position of the transceiver, the movement amount and the current said read by the reading means Using the information indicating the difference between the axial movement amount from the predetermined reference position of the transmission / reception unit, the transmission / reception unit for moving the transmission / reception unit to an axial position for constructing the identified cross-sectional image, A calculation means for calculating a movement amount and a movement direction of the transmission / reception unit;
An image diagnostic apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls an operation of the transmission / reception unit based on a movement amount and a movement direction calculated by the calculation unit.   For each of the plurality of cross-sectional images stored in the storage unit, a pixel value on a predetermined coordinate axis is extracted, and the extraction is performed at a position corresponding to the information regarding the movement amount stored in association with each cross-sectional image. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a construction unit that constructs a longitudinal section image for the plurality of constructed sectional images by arranging the respective pixel values.   The apparatus further comprises display means for displaying a cross-sectional image display area for displaying any one of the plurality of constructed cross-sectional images and a vertical cross-sectional image display area for displaying the constructed vertical cross-sectional images. Item 5. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to Item 4. On the vertical cross-sectional image displayed in the vertical cross-sectional image display area by the display means, further comprising a specifying means for specifying a predetermined position in the axial direction,
The image according to claim 5, wherein the display unit displays a cross-sectional image from which pixel values arranged at the position specified by the specifying unit are extracted in the cross-sectional image display region. Diagnostic device.   The image diagnosis apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the pixel value arranged at the position designated by the designation unit includes a pixel value arranged at a position closest to the designated position.   The reading means identifies a cross-sectional image displayed in the cross-sectional image display area as a cross-sectional image corresponding to the user's instruction when a movement instruction is input from the user. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to 6 or 7. A transmission / reception unit for continuously transmitting / receiving a signal is inserted into the body cavity to acquire a reflection signal when the signal is transmitted while moving in the axial direction, and based on the acquired reflection signal, A method of operating an image diagnostic apparatus that generates line data used for constructing a cross-sectional image of the image and constructs a plurality of cross-sectional images in the body cavity in the axial direction using the generated line data,
A receiving step of receiving information related to an axial movement amount from a predetermined reference position of the transceiver;
When line data corresponding to a predetermined coordinate position in each cross-sectional image is extracted from the plurality of line data used for constructing each cross-sectional image, and when the extracted line data is generated The received information on the amount of movement in the axial direction from the predetermined reference position of the transmission / reception unit is obtained, and the extracted line data is arranged at a position corresponding to the information on the obtained amount of movement, so that the axis A construction step of constructing a longitudinal section image for a plurality of section images constructed in the direction;
A display step for displaying the constructed longitudinal section image;
On the displayed vertical cross-sectional image, the line data arranged at the position designated by the user is identified, and from the predetermined reference position of the transmission / reception unit received when the position is designated by the user To the position in the axial direction where the identified line data can be generated using information indicating the difference between the current amount of movement in the axial direction and the amount of movement in the axial direction from the predetermined reference position of the current transmitting / receiving unit. A calculation step for calculating a movement amount and a movement direction of the transmission / reception unit for moving the transmission / reception unit;
Based on the moving amount and the moving direction calculated in the calculating step, a method of operating an image diagnostic apparatus and a controlling step of controlling the operation of the transceiver. A transmission / reception unit for continuous transmission / reception of a signal, a transmission / reception unit for insertion into the body cavity is acquired while acquiring the reflection signal when the signal is transmitted while moving in the axial direction, and the body cavity is obtained based on the acquired reflection signal. An operation method of an image diagnostic apparatus for constructing a plurality of cross-sectional images in an axial direction,
A receiving step of receiving information related to an axial movement amount from a predetermined reference position of the transceiver;
A storage that stores each of the constructed plurality of cross-sectional images in association with information about the amount of movement in the axial direction from a predetermined reference position of the transmission / reception unit received when each of the plurality of cross-sectional images is constructed. Process,
A reading step of identifying a cross-sectional image corresponding to a user's instruction from the cross-sectional images stored in the storing step, and reading out information relating to the amount of movement stored in association with the identified cross-sectional image;
Movement instruction from the user received when entered, the predetermined determine the information on the movement amount in the axial direction from a reference position, the moving and the current of the transceiver read by the reading step of the transceiver unit The transmission / reception for moving the transmission / reception unit to a position in the axial direction for constructing the identified cross-sectional image using information indicating a difference between the axial movement amount of the unit from the predetermined reference position A calculation step of calculating a movement amount and a movement direction of the part;
Based on the moving amount and the moving direction calculated in the calculating step, a method of operating an image diagnostic apparatus and a controlling step of controlling the operation of the transceiver.   The program for making a computer perform the operating method of Claim 9 or 10.

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