JP2000060853A5

JP2000060853A5 -

Info

Publication number: JP2000060853A5
Application number: JP1998233706A
Authority: JP
Filing date: 1998-08-20
Publication date: 2005-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2018-08-20

Description

【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的を達成するために、第１の発明による超音波診断装置は、被検体内に超音波を送受信する探触子と、被検体内からの反射エコー信号を受信して遅延処理を行い位相を揃えて加算する整相手段と、この整相手段からの整相出力信号を入力して生体組織の超音波反射率を演算する手段と、上記整相出力信号を入力して生体組織の弾性率を演算する手段と、これら各演算手段からの演算出力信号を入力して画像データを作成する手段と、この作成された画像データを超音波画像として表示する画像表示装置とを備え、被検体内の診断部位の反射率断層像と弾性率画像とを同時に計測し、それらを画像表示装置の同一画面上に表示するものである。
また、第２の発明による超音波診断装置は、被検体内に超音波を送受信する探触子と、被検体内からの反射エコー信号を受信して遅延処理を行い位相を揃えて加算する整相手段と、この整相手段からの整相出力信号を入力して生体組織の超音波反射率を演算する手段と、上記整相出力信号を入力して生体組織の弾性率を演算する手段と、これら各演算手段からの演算出力信号を入力して画像データを作成する手段と、この作成された画像データを超音波画像として表示する画像表示装置とを備え、被検体内の診断部位の反射率断層像と弾性率画像とを交互に計測し、それらを画像表示装置の同一画面上に表示するものである。 0005
[Means for solving problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first invention receives a probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in a subject, receives a reflected echo signal from the subject, performs delay processing, and performs phase. A means for aligning and adding the phases, a means for calculating the ultrasonic reflectance of the living tissue by inputting the phase adjusting output signal from the phase adjusting means, and the elasticity of the living tissue by inputting the above-mentioned phase adjusting output signal. and means for calculating the rate, and means for creating image data by inputting the operation output signal from the respective operating means, and an image display device for displaying the generated image data as ultrasonic image, the subject a reflectivity tomographic image and the elastic modulus image diagnosis region to the same time measuring meter of the inner, and displays them on the same screen of the image display device.
Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second invention has a probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in the subject, and an adjustment in which the reflected echo signal from the subject is received, delayed processing is performed, and the phases are aligned and added. A phase means, a means for calculating the ultrasonic reflectance of the living tissue by inputting the phase adjusting output signal from the phase adjusting means, and a means for calculating the elastic modulus of the living tissue by inputting the above phase adjusting output signal. , A means for inputting calculation output signals from each of these calculation means to create image data, and an image display device for displaying the created image data as an ultrasonic image, and reflection of a diagnostic site in a subject. The rate tomographic image and the elastic modulus image are alternately measured and displayed on the same screen of the image display device.

また、上記診断部位の弾性率画像の計測は、振動発生手段の駆動により被検体内に圧力変化を与えた状態で行うものである。
さらに、上記生体組織の弾性率の演算は、振動発生手段の駆動により被検体内に圧力変化を与えて弾性率測定時相に入ったときに計測した弾性率画像信号Ｅ ₂ (t)と、上記弾性率測定時相に入った後の他の弾性率測定時相のときに計測した弾性率画像信号Ｅ ₃ (t)とから、その両者の変化率ΔＥ(t)を次式により求め、
ΔＥ(t)＝｛Ｅ ₂ (t)−Ｅ ₃ (t)｝／Ｅ ₂ (t)
この変化率ΔＥ(t)を弾性率とするものである。 Further, the measurement of the elastic modulus image of the diagnostic site is performed in a state where the pressure is changed in the subject by driving the vibration generating means .
_{Further, the calculation of the elastic modulus of the biological tissue is performed by the elastic modulus image signal E 2} (t) measured when the pressure is changed in the subject by the driving of the vibration generating means and the elastic modulus measurement phase is entered. _{From the elastic modulus image signal E 3} (t) measured at the time of another elastic modulus measurement phase after entering the elastic modulus measurement phase, the rate of change ΔE (t) of both is obtained by the following equation.
ΔE (t) = {E ₂ (t) -E ₃ (t)} / E ₂ (t)
This rate of change ΔE (t) is defined as the elastic modulus.

また、上記画像表示装置に表示する反射率断層像と弾性率画像とは、それぞれ別の色の輝度とし、同一画面上にて両画像を重ねて表示するようにしてもよい。
さらに、上記画像表示装置に表示する反射率断層像と弾性率画像とは、被検体内への超音波走査方向を一定とし、その走査線方向における生体組織の超音波反射率と弾性率とを計測し、時間経過による超音波反射率に応じた輝度と弾性率に応じた輝度で表示するようにしてもよい。 Further, the reflectance tomographic image and the elastic modulus image to be displayed on the image display device may have different color luminances, and both images may be superimposed and displayed on the same screen.
Further, the reflectance tomographic image and the elastic modulus image displayed on the image display device have a constant ultrasonic scanning direction in the subject, and the ultrasonic reflectance and elastic modulus of the living tissue in the scanning line direction are determined. It may be measured and displayed with the brightness according to the ultrasonic reflectance and the brightness according to the elastic modulus over time.

低周波発振器４は、被検体１３に低周波振動を与えるために低周波信号を発生するものである。バイブレータ５は、上記低周波発振器４で発生された低周波信号を入力して振動し、被検体１３に対して圧力変化を与える振動発生手段となるものである。また、送波制御回路６は、上記送波パルス発生器２及び低周波発振器４を制御するもので、被検体１３内の診断部位の反射率断層像又は弾性率画像の計測のモードに応じて送波のタイミングを生成するようになっている。 The low-frequency oscillator 4 generates a low-frequency signal in order to give low-frequency vibration to the subject 13. The vibrator 5 is a vibration generating means that inputs a low frequency signal generated by the low frequency oscillator 4 to vibrate and gives a pressure change to the subject 13. Further, the wave transmission control circuit 6 controls the wave transmission pulse generator 2 and the low frequency oscillator 4, depending on the mode of measuring the reflectance tomographic image or the elastic modulus image of the diagnostic site in the subject 13. It is designed to generate the timing of transmission.

スキャンコンバータ１１は、上記反射率演算回路９又は弾性率演算回路１０からの超音波反射率又は弾性率の演算出力信号を入力して画像データを作成する手段となるものである。さらに、画像表示装置１２は、上記スキャンコンバータ１１からの画像データを超音波画像として表示するもので、例えばカラーのテレビモニタから成る。
The scan converter 11 is a means for creating image data by inputting an ultrasonic reflectance or elastic modulus calculation output signal from the reflectance calculation circuit 9 or elastic modulus calculation circuit 10. Further, the image display device 12 displays the image data from the scan converter 11 as an ultrasonic image, and is composed of, for example, a color television monitor.

Claims

A probe that transmits and receives ultrasound in the subject;
Phasing means for receiving a reflected echo signal from within the subject, performing delay processing and aligning and adding the phases; and
Means for inputting the phasing output signal from the phasing means and calculating the ultrasonic reflectance of the living tissue;
Means for inputting the phasing output signal and calculating the elastic modulus of the living tissue;
Means for creating an image data by inputting the operation output signal from the respective operating means,
An image display device that displays the created image data as an ultrasonic image,
It simultaneously to measure total and reflectance tomographic image and the elastic modulus image of the diagnostic region within the object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and displaying the same screen on which the image display device.

A probe that transmits and receives ultrasound in the subject;
Phasing means for receiving a reflected echo signal from within the subject, performing delay processing and aligning and adding the phases; and
Means for inputting the phasing output signal from the phasing means and calculating the ultrasonic reflectance of the living tissue;
Means for inputting the phasing output signal and calculating the elastic modulus of the living tissue;
Means for inputting the calculation output signal from each of these calculation means to create image data;
An image display device that displays the created image data as an ultrasonic image,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by alternately measuring a reflectance tomographic image and an elastic modulus image of a diagnostic region in a subject and displaying them on the same screen of an image display apparatus.

3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measurement of the elasticity modulus image of the diagnostic region is performed in a state where a pressure change is applied to the subject by driving the vibration generating means.

The calculation of the elastic modulus of the living tissue is performed by the elastic modulus image signal E measured when the elastic force is applied to the subject to change the pressure and enter the elastic modulus measurement phase. ₂₂ (t) And an elastic modulus image signal E measured during another elastic modulus measurement time phase after entering the elastic modulus measurement time phase. _3Three (t) The rate of change ΔE between the two (t) Is obtained by the following equation,
ΔE (t) = {E ₂₂ (t) -E _3Three (t) } / E ₂₂ (t)
This rate of change ΔE (t) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic modulus is an elastic modulus.

Above the reflection factor tomogram and the elastic modulus image to be displayed on the image display device, respectively with different color brightness, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the displaying overlapping both images at the same screen Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment.

The reflectance tomographic image and the elastic modulus image displayed on the image display device measure the ultrasonic reflectance and elastic modulus of the living tissue in the scanning line direction with the ultrasonic scanning direction into the subject constant. the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the displaying at a luminance corresponding to the luminance and the elastic modulus corresponding to the ultrasonic reflectivity over time.