JPH0924034A - Ultrasonic wave and nuclear magnetic resonance compound diagnosing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain image useful for diagnosis by collecting radiographic sections according to the tomographic image of ultrasonic diagnosis, and composing both images to be displayed. SOLUTION: An ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance compound diagnosing device comprises an ultrasonic diagnosing device main body 23, a MRI device main body 35, a position detecting part 25 for detecting the information on the position and the direction of an ultrasonic probe 21, a controller 41 for collecting MRI tomographic images according to the positional information when a tomographic screen indicating switch 26 is pushed, and an image composite part 81 for composing the image collected by the ultrasonic diagnosing device main body 23 with the image collected by the MRI device main body 35 corresponding to the above image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (hereinafter abbreviated as MRI) apparatus, and particularly to easily obtain an MRI image corresponding to a tomographic image obtained by ultrasonic echo. The invention relates to a combined ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed an MRI apparatus capable of obtaining a tomographic image from a subject under surgery (for example,
US Pat. No. 4,829,252; MRI SYSTEM WITH OP
EN ACCESS TO PATIENT IMAGE VOLUME). This is because a space is provided around the magnetic field of the MRI that the subject enters so that the operator can access the subject, and the desired MRI can be obtained while the surgery is in progress.
It makes it possible to collect images.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can be used in the magnetically shielded room of such an MRI apparatus has already been proposed. This is equipped with various means for preventing electromagnetic noise interference between the MRI apparatus and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0004]

However, although the above-mentioned conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and MRI apparatus have been considered for use at the same place in the magnetically shielded room, the respective apparatuses are provided with independent images. However, it is impossible to compare and compare images of the same tomographic planes of both, or to perform a composite display. There was a problem that it was very difficult.

Further, there is a problem that it is necessary to properly use different diagnostic devices during an examination or an operation, and the operation is very complicated.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to MR-scan an imaging section corresponding to a tomographic image obtained by an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance composite diagnostic apparatus which is capable of obtaining an image useful for diagnosis by collecting the images by the I-device and combining and displaying both images.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution. That is, the ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance composite diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 is an ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance composite diagnostic apparatus in which an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus are combined. A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, a position detecting means for detecting information on the position and direction of an ultrasonic probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and an imaging tomographic plane of the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus based on the information detected by the position detecting means And a fault plane determining means for determining.

In the combined ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus according to the first aspect, a tomographic image of a region of interest is first detected by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus by which an examiner can observe a tomographic image of a subject while freely manipulating a probe. Is displayed, and the position and direction of the ultrasonic probe at this time are detected by the position detecting means.
Then, based on this detection information, an imaging tomographic plane of MRI can be determined, and an MRI image of the same tomographic plane as the ultrasonic tomographic image can be collected and combined and displayed on the same screen.

The ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance combined diagnostic apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention further comprises a movable arm according to the first aspect, which supports the ultrasonic probe so as to be freely movable in a three-dimensional space. The position detecting means includes a rotation angle detecting means for detecting a rotation angle of each axis of the free arm, and a position calculating means for calculating a position and a direction of the probe based on the detected rotation angle. The point is to prepare.

In the combined ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, the ultrasonic probe is supported by the free arm, and the rotation angle of each joint of the free arm is detected by the rotation angle detecting means. The position and orientation of the probe can be calculated based on the rotation angle and the length of each arm.

The ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance composite diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3 is the same as in claim 1, wherein the position detecting means determines the position in the three-dimensional space based on the ultrasonic wave propagation time from the reference point. The gist is that it is an ultrasonic three-dimensional position detector for detection.

In the combined ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention, the probe is provided with position detecting ultrasonic waves emitted from at least three ultrasonic wave transmitters installed as reference points in the examination room. The position and the direction of the probe in the three-dimensional space are detected by receiving by a plurality of receivers and measuring the propagation time from each transmitter to each receiver.

The ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance composite diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position detecting means is a marker provided on the ultrasonic probe and observable by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. The gist is to include a three-axis gyro provided on the ultrasonic probe and an integrating means for integrating the output of the gyro for each axis.

In the combined ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus of claim 4, the marker provided on the ultrasonic probe is MR.
The position is detected by being observed on the I image, and the direction is obtained by integrating the angular velocity detected by the gyro provided on the ultrasonic probe.

Further, in the combined ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, the position detecting means according to claim 1 is a marker provided on an ultrasonic probe and observable by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. The gist is to include an inclinometer provided on the ultrasonic probe.

In the combined ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, the marker provided on the ultrasonic probe is MR.
The position is detected by being observed on the I image, and the direction is detected by an inclinometer provided on the ultrasonic probe.

The ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance composite diagnostic apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a storage means for storing at least one set of information detected by the position detecting means according to any one of the first to fifth aspects. And a switch for instructing storage in the storage means.

In the combined ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus according to the sixth aspect, probe position information for obtaining a tomographic image suitable for diagnosis by a switch is stored in a storage means like a shutter of a photograph, and the stored information is stored. The information can be used to collect MR data and reconstruct MRI images. It is also possible to provide a plurality of storage areas in this storage means, store a plurality of sets of positions and directions of the probes designated by the switches, and collectively perform MRI image acquisition.

The ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance composite diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the scanning area of the ultrasonic tomographic image and / or the information detected by the position detecting means. Is displayed on the MRI image.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance composite diagnostic apparatus, in which both images are displayed by displaying the information detected by the scanning region of the ultrasonic tomographic image and / or the position detecting means on the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging image. It becomes easy to associate

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance composite diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance composite diagnostic apparatus (hereinafter, abbreviated as diagnostic apparatus) 20 of the present embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe 21, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 23, and position detection. Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 33 having a section 25, a cross-sectional plane instruction switch 26, a display section 27, a controller 29 and an IF 31, an MRI apparatus main body 35, a coil system 3.
7, MRI device 4 having display unit 39, controller 41 and interface (hereinafter abbreviated as IF) 43
It consists of 5 and.

The ultrasonic probe 21 converts an electric signal into an ultrasonic pulse and transmits it, and also receives a reflected wave thereof and converts it into an electric signal.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 23 includes a transmitter 51 for supplying an electric signal to the ultrasonic probe 21 and a receiver 5 for receiving the electric signal converted by the ultrasonic probe 21.
3, a B-mode processing unit 55 that converts the electric signal received by the receiving unit 53 into a B-mode signal, a Doppler processing unit 57 that converts the electric signal received by the receiving unit 53 into a Doppler signal, and a B-mode signal Alternatively, a digital scan converter (hereinafter abbreviated as DSC) 59 for converting the Doppler signal into ultrasonic image information that can be displayed on the monitor of the display unit 27, the ultrasonic image converted by the DSC 59, and the MRI apparatus 45 are used. And an image synthesizing unit 61 for synthesizing the MRI image information.

As shown in FIG. 2, the position detector 25 is provided at a predetermined position that does not change, for example, on the ceiling of the examination room where the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 33 is arranged, and three ultrasonic waves for transmitting ultrasonic waves are transmitted. Transmitters 63a, 63b, 63c and three ultrasonic receivers 65 provided on the upper surface of the ultrasonic probe 21.
a, 65b, 65c, and ultrasonic transmission units 63a, 6
3b and 63c, the ultrasonic waves for position measurement transmitted to the ultrasonic wave receiving portions 65a, 65b and 65c are detected for each position, and the ultrasonic probe 21 with respect to the reference position is detected from the time difference between them. Detect position and orientation.

The transmission of the ultrasonic waves for position measurement by the position detecting section 25 may affect the imaging by the MRI apparatus 45 as in the case of transmitting the ultrasonic waves for diagnosis from the ultrasonic probe 21, so that the MRI is performed. During the reception period of the imaging sequence, the controller 41 causes the IF 43 and IF 3 to stop the ultrasonic wave transmitting units 63a, 63b and 63c.
It is preferable to instruct the position detection unit 25 via 1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic probe 2
1 is freely supported in a three-dimensional space by a universal arm,
The position detection unit 25 may calculate the position and orientation of the ultrasonic probe 21 based on the length of each arm and the rotation angle of each rotation shaft.

That is, referring to FIG. 3, the ultrasonic probe 2
Two arms 67b, 6 supported by a base 67a
Hold by 7c. Then, the shafts 69a and 69b connecting the base 67a and the arm 67b, and the arm 67b.
And a shaft 69c connecting the arm 65c and shafts 69d, 69e, 69 connecting the arm 67c and the ultrasonic probe 21.
f, the rotation angle of each shaft 69a to 69f and each arm 6
The position and orientation of the ultrasonic probe 21 can be calculated from the lengths of 7b and 67c. However, these arms and axes need to be made of materials that do not affect MRI imaging.

It is also possible to detect the position of the ultrasonic probe using an MRI device. That is, MRI
A marker that can be detected by the device, such as mineral oil, salad oil, or glue, is built into the ultrasonic probe body. Then, by scanning with the MRI apparatus 45,
A signal from the marker can be obtained and its spatial position can be detected. On the other hand, the direction of the ultrasonic probe is detected using, for example, a gyro or an inclinometer provided on the probe. Generally, in order to determine the direction in a three-dimensional space, it is necessary to know the rotation angles around three axes that are orthogonal to each other. However, since the angular velocity is detected by the gyro,
In order to obtain the rotation angle, it is necessary to time-integrate the angular velocity from a predetermined initial position by the integrating means. An initialization probe fixing jig for obtaining an initial value of integration is, for example, M
You may install on the stand of an RI apparatus.

The tomographic plane instruction switch 26 is a switch pushed by the examiner when the MRI apparatus 45 wants to obtain an image of the same tomographic plane as the tomographic image obtained by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 33. It is provided on the panel or on the ultrasonic probe 21. When the tomographic plane designating switch 26 is pressed, the ultrasonic probe 2 detected by the position detecting unit 25 at this point
The position and the direction of 1 are stored in the controller 29, for example, and are sent to the MRI apparatus 45 at an appropriate timing.

The display unit 27 has a monitor (not shown), and displays the ultrasonic image information converted by the DSC 59 and the image information combined by the image combining unit 61 on the monitor.

The controller 29 controls the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 23, the position detecting section 25 and the display section 27. Further, the controller 29 obtains, as the position information, an equation indicating the plane of the ultrasonic image information currently captured, based on the position and orientation of the ultrasonic probe 21 supplied from the position detection unit 25.

The MRI apparatus main body 35 includes a gradient magnetic field control unit 71 that controls a gradient coil (not shown) that constitutes the coil system 37, and a static magnetic field coil (not shown) that controls the static magnetic field coil that constitutes the coil system 37. A magnetic field controller 73 and a transmitter 75 that controls an RF coil (not shown) that constitutes the coil system 37.
A receiver 77 for detecting the NMR signal induced in the RF coil, and an arithmetic processor 79 for converting the NMR signal detected by the receiver 77 into MRI image information that can be displayed on the monitor of the display 39. An image combining unit 81 that combines the MRI image information converted by the arithmetic processing unit 79 and the ultrasonic image information obtained by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 33.

The display unit 39 has a monitor (not shown), and the MRI image information converted by the arithmetic processing unit 79,
The image information combined by the image combining unit 81 is displayed on the monitor.

The controller 41 is the MRI apparatus main body 35.
And the display unit 39 is controlled. Also the controller 41
Sets the pulse sequence based on the pulse sequence setting conditions input by the operator or the position information detected by the position detection unit 25 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 33.
Further, based on the set pulse sequence, MRI
An equation indicating the plane of image information is obtained as position information.
Further, the controller 41 supplies the ultrasonic image information supplied from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 33 via the IF 43 to the image combining unit 81.

Since the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 33 and the MRI apparatus 45 excluding the MRI apparatus main body 35 are arranged in the magnetically shielded room, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 33 has an MRI.
A sufficient electromagnetic shield is provided to prevent electromagnetic noise interference with the device 33.

Next, the operation of the diagnostic device 20 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the operator uses the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 33 to start diagnosis using ultrasonic image information of the subject. When the diagnosis is started, the position detection unit 25 detects the position and orientation of the ultrasonic probe 21 and detects the position of the controller 2
9.

When the position and orientation of the ultrasonic probe 21 are supplied from the position detector 25, the controller 29 obtains an equation representing the plane of the ultrasonic image information currently photographed as the position information, and the equation is converted by the DSC 59. Accompany the ultrasound image information.

The ultrasonic image information accompanied by this position information is stored in a memory (not shown) provided in the controller 29.
And is displayed on the monitor of the display unit 27. At this time, the position information is displayed on the monitor of the display unit 27 together with the ultrasonic image information, so that the operator can know the position information of the ultrasonic image information displayed on the monitor of the display unit 27. You can

In this state, when the operator wants to obtain an MRI image of the same tomographic plane as the ultrasonic image by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 33, the operator pushes the tomographic plane instruction switch 26. Controller 29
The controller 29 sends the ultrasonic image information accompanied by the positional information at the time when the tomographic plane designating switch 26 is pressed from the controller 29.
It is supplied to the controller 41 via F31 and IF43.

When the ultrasonic image information is supplied, the controller 41 performs pulse processing so as to acquire MRI image information on the same plane as the ultrasonic image information based on the position information attached to the ultrasonic image information. Determine the sequence.
Further, the controller 41 supplies the ultrasonic image information supplied from the controller 29 to the image combining unit 81. Further, the controller 41 obtains an equation indicating the plane of the MRI image information to be photographed based on the determined pulse sequence, and supplies it to the arithmetic processing unit 79.

When the pulse sequence is determined, the gradient magnetic field controller 71, the static magnetic field controller 73, and the transmitter 75 operate the coil system 37 in accordance with the pulse sequence. After that, the receiving unit 77 detects the NMR signal and supplies it to the arithmetic processing unit 79. When the NMR signal is supplied, the arithmetic processing unit 79 converts the NMR signal into MRI image information that can be displayed on the monitor of the display unit 39, and the controller 4
The position information supplied from No. 1 is attached to the MRI image information and supplied to the image synthesizing unit 81.

When the MRI image information is supplied from the arithmetic processing unit 79, the image synthesizing unit 81 determines the position of the ultrasonic image information and the MRI image information based on the position information attached to each image information. The images are matched and combined, and the combined image information is supplied to the display unit 39. When the scales of the two images do not match at the time of this image combination, it is preferable to interpolate the pixels of one or both images by an appropriate interpolation method so that the scales of both images match.
Then, the display unit 39 displays the image information supplied from the image composition unit 81 on the monitor.

Further, after a plurality of ultrasonic images are designated by the tomographic plane designating switch 26, the images may be collectively collected by the MRI apparatus. For example, a plurality of storage areas for storing probe position information and ultrasonic images are provided inside the controller 29, and probe position information and ultrasonic images are stored in each storage area each time the tomographic plane instruction switch 26 is pressed. To do. And after the series of ultrasonic examinations,
A plurality of probe position information and ultrasonic images are transferred from the controller 29 to the controller 41 via the IF 31 and IF 43, and the MRI apparatus 45 collectively collects tomographic images corresponding to the plane determined by each probe position information.

These tomographic images may be collected by changing the pulse sequence of MRI, or necessary spatial information may be collected first and MPR (Multi Plane Reconstr
The required tomographic image may be reconstructed by auction).

As described above, the diagnostic device 20 can obtain the image information on the same plane by collecting the image information with reference to the position information. Therefore, the diagnosis can be performed by synthesizing the obtained image information. It is possible to obtain useful image information.

In the above description, it is assumed that the MRI apparatus collects images by the tomographic plane indicating switch 26, but the probe detected by the position detecting section 25 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus does not depend on the tomographic plane indicating switch 26. The cross section may be determined at appropriate time intervals based on the position and direction, and the MRI apparatus may collect and display the images so as to follow the tomographic image obtained by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in real time.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the ultrasonic scanning area in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is displayed on the monitor screen of the MRI apparatus, the correspondence between the MRI image and the ultrasonic image becomes easier.

Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is further provided with an input device such as a light pen or a trackball, and the region of interest (ROI) is drawn on the ultrasonic tomographic image as shown in FIG. It may be set and the MRI tomographic image corresponding to this region of interest may be acquired. For example,
The examiner uses the above-mentioned input device to enter a curve that surrounds a region with a high probability of tumor on the ultrasonic image. This determines the spatial position and size of the region of interest (in this case, the region suspected to be a tumor, or the region in which the property of the tumor is to be determined), so that the MRI apparatus determines that this region of interest is the center position of the image. Can be imaged. The collection area can also be determined according to the size of the area of interest.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, the MRI of the same tomographic plane as the image obtained by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
It is possible to obtain an image and superimpose the two images, or display them by combining them, so that an image useful for diagnosis can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an ultrasonic wave and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a position detection means.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of another position detecting means.

FIG. 4 is a screen display example of the ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a screen display example of the ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 Ultrasonic and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Diagnostic Device 21 Ultrasonic Probe 23 Ultrasonic Diagnostic Device Main Body 25 Position Detecting Unit 26 Cross Section Indication Switch 27, 39
Display unit 29,41 Controller 31,43
IF 33 Ultrasonic diagnostic device 35 MRI device main body 37 Coil system 45 MRI device 51,7
5 transmitter 53, 77 receiver 55 B mode processor 57 Doppler processor 59 DSC 71 gradient magnetic field controller 73 static magnetic field controller 79 arithmetic processor
81 Image synthesizer

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A combined ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, comprising: an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Position detecting means for detecting information on the position and direction of the ultrasonic probe, and tomographic plane determining means for determining a tomographic plane of the imaging of the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus based on the information detected by the position detecting means. An ultrasonic / nuclear magnetic resonance composite diagnostic apparatus characterized. 2. The apparatus further comprises a free arm that supports the ultrasonic probe so that it can freely move in a three-dimensional space, and the position detecting means determines a rotation angle of each rotary shaft of the free arm. The ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance composite diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a rotation angle detection unit for detecting the position and a position calculation unit for calculating the position and direction of the probe based on the detected rotation angle. . 3. The position detecting means is an ultrasonic three-dimensional position detector that detects a position in a three-dimensional space based on an ultrasonic wave propagation time from a reference point.
The combined ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus described. 4. The position detecting means outputs a marker observable by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging provided on the ultrasonic probe, a three-axis gyro provided on the ultrasonic probe, and a gyro output for each axis. The integrated ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an integrating means for integrating. 5. The position detecting means comprises a marker provided on the ultrasonic probe and observable by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, and an inclinometer provided on the ultrasonic probe. The combined ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus described. 6. The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage device for storing at least one set of information detected by the position detection device, and a switch for instructing storage in the storage device. 5. The ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance composite diagnostic apparatus according to any one of 5 above. 7. The scanning area of an ultrasonic tomographic image and / or the information detected by the position detecting means is displayed on a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging image, according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Combined ultrasound and nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic system.