JP2000152931A - Image displaying method, image display unit and ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To readily grasp an output state of a displayed image. SOLUTION: In an image display region G, a B-mode image is displayed. In an output state message display region D, when an output (print) display image is indicated, a message showing the output state of a printer (any one of output-waiting, outputting, or outputted) is displayed. In a cinegauge display region C, a 'gray' cinegauge expressing a whole image to be displayed like a belt is displayed. On the cinegauge, a current 'blue' image cursor P, an output state identification mark ('green' outputted mark K1 showing a relative position of an image to be outputted within the whole image, a 'yellow' outputting mark K2, and a 'red' output-waiting mark K3) are displayed. As a result, since information as to whether the image under display is already outputted or not is available to an operator without taking time, such a trouble as to redundantly output an already outputted image can be easily prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image display method, an image display apparatus, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly, to easily grasp an output state of a displayed image and a relative position of the output image. The present invention relates to an image display method, an image display device, and an ultrasonic diagnostic device that can perform the method. In particular, it is useful for printing an ultrasonic image with a printer, recording it as a file, and registering it in a database.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a normal display mode and a cine display mode. In normal display mode,
Images obtained one after another by scanning the subject are displayed in real time. At this time, the most recent image data is stored in the memory by overwriting the oldest image stored in the memory with the newest image. In the cine display mode, the overwrite erasure is stopped, and a plurality of images stored in the memory are continuously displayed in chronological order. When the operator instructs freeze during cine display, the continuous display is temporarily stopped, and the display of the image displayed at that time is continued. When the operator designates “output” of the paused image, the image data is sent to the printer, and the image is printed.

[0003]

In the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus described above, it cannot be determined whether or not the displayed image has been output only after going to the printer 8 and obtaining the print image. However, there is a problem. In addition, there is a problem in that if the labor is saved, the output image is redundantly output. Furthermore, after outputting a certain image and then displaying another image, when it is desired to display the previously output image or an image in the vicinity thereof, the relative position of the previously output image is not known, and it is difficult to display the image. There is a problem.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide an image display method, an image display apparatus, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can easily grasp the output state of a displayed image. A second object of the present invention is to provide an image display method and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of easily grasping a relative position of an output image.

[0005]

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for displaying an image selected by an operator from a plurality of stored images and outputting the displayed image (printing, recording by filing, database This is an image display method for outputting the image when the operator designates (including any of registration), and the image has already been output when the image is displayed or when the operator designates the output of the image. Then, there is provided an image display method characterized by notifying the operator to that effect.
In the image display method according to the first aspect, when an image selected by the operator from a plurality of stored images is displayed or when the operator designates output of the image, if the image has already been output, the fact is notified. Since the operator is notified, the operator can easily grasp whether or not the displayed image has been output. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience of outputting the already output image repeatedly without having to go to an output device such as a printer and determine the output state of the image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image display method having the above structure, a gauge representing the whole of the plurality of images is displayed, and the position of the image whose output is designated is marked on the gauge. An image display method characterized by displaying is provided. In the image display method according to the second aspect, the position of the image whose output has been specified is marked on the gauge representing the entirety of the plurality of images, so that the relative position of the output image can be visually recognized at a glance. . Therefore, even after outputting a certain image and then displaying another image, it is possible to easily select and display the previously output image or an image in the vicinity thereof.

In a third aspect, the present invention displays an image selected by an operator from a plurality of stored images and outputs the displayed image (including any one of printing, recording by filing, and database registration). ) Is an image display device that outputs the image when the operator designates the image, and when the image is already displayed when the image is displayed or when the operator designates the output of the image, the operator is notified that the image has already been output. And an image output completion notifying means for notifying the image display device. In the image display device according to the third aspect, the image display method according to the first aspect can be suitably implemented, and the operator can easily grasp whether or not the displayed image has been output. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience of outputting already output images without having to go to an output device such as a printer to determine the output state of the images.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe, a transmitting / receiving means for driving the ultrasonic probe, scanning an object with ultrasonic waves and acquiring sound ray data, and Signal processing means for generating image data based on minute sound ray data;
Storage means for storing the latest plurality of image data, cine display means for continuously displaying the stored plurality of images in chronological order or vice versa, and updating of image display by the cine display means. Freezing means for pausing at the instruction of the operator, and specifying the image displayed at the time of the pause as the object of output (including any of printing, recording by filing, and database registration) by the operator Image output designating means, output state information providing means for providing output state information indicating an output state (at least one of output waiting and output completed) corresponding to the image specified by the image output specifying means, An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an output state notifying unit that notifies an operator of an output state of the image based on the state information. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the operator can easily grasp whether or not the displayed image has been output or whether or not the displayed image is waiting for output. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience of duplicating output of an image that has been output or is waiting to be output, without having to go to an output device such as a printer and determine the output state of the image. Further, the operator can specify the output of the image by viewing the cine-displayed image and temporarily stopping the display update of the image when the image recognized to be output is displayed.
It is easy to select an output image appropriately.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, a gauge display means for displaying a gauge representing the whole of the plurality of images, and a display of an image whose output is specified on the gauge. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: mark display means for displaying a position by a mark. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the relative position of the output image can be visually recognized at a glance.
Therefore, even after outputting a certain image and then displaying another image, it is possible to easily select and display the previously output image or an image in the vicinity thereof.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by this. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 includes an ultrasonic probe 1, a transmitting / receiving unit 2 that drives the ultrasonic probe 1, scans a subject with ultrasonic waves to acquire sound ray data, and Image data based on sound ray data (B mode, Dopplar Imaging mode,
A signal processing unit 3 for generating any one of M-mode image data), storing the plurality of image data, and overwriting the stored oldest image with the newest image to copy the latest plurality of image data. Cine memory 4 to store
And a DSC (Digital Scan Conv.) That calls one of the image data from the cine memory 4 to create an ultrasonic image.
erter) 5, an image processing unit 6 for processing the ultrasonic image to create a display image, a display device 7 for displaying the display image, and a printer (color printer or monochrome printer) 8 for printing the display image And the cine memory 4
A controller 10 for selecting (address control) image data to be called from the DSC 5 and controlling the image processing unit 6 and acquiring an output (print) state of the printer 8
And an output state table 11 for storing the output state of the printer 8, and an input device 12 for an operator to input switching between a normal display mode and a cine display mode and designation of image output. .

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a main part of the input device 12. As shown in FIG. The input device 12 includes a “B mode” push button, a “D mode” push button, an “M mode” push button, a “simple / dual” switch button, a “normal / cine” switch button, and a “fleece” switch button. / Release ”switching button,“ Roof ゜ / one-way ”switching button, and“ Jog dial ”
, A "rewind" push button, and an "output" push button. When the "B mode" push button is pressed,
As shown in FIG. 3, a B-mode image Gb is displayed. B
The mode image is an ultrasonic tomographic image obtained by subjecting a reflected signal obtained by scanning an ultrasonic beam in a living body to luminance modulation on a screen of the display device 7. When the "D mode" push button is pressed,
As shown in FIG. 4, a D-mode image Gd is displayed. D
The mode image is an image showing velocity information such as blood flow using the Doppler effect of ultrasonic waves. When the “M mode” push button is pressed, the M mode image Gm is displayed as shown in FIG.
Is displayed (the time width in the screen is, for example, 2 seconds). The M-mode image is an image in which a change in the temporal position of the reflection source in the ultrasonic beam direction is captured as a change in the reflected wave with time, and is shown as a motion curve. For example, when both the “B mode” push button and the “M mode” push button are pressed at the same time, as shown in FIG.
And the D-mode image Gd are displayed in one screen.
The “simple / tual” switch button displays an image corresponding to one time (or time width) as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 or a different time as shown in FIG. A button for performing a switching operation as to whether corresponding images are arranged and displayed in one screen. The "normal / cine" switching button is a button for switching between the normal display mode and the cine display mode. The “fleece 解除 / cancel” switch button is a button for performing a freeze operation for temporarily suspending the display update of the image during the cine display and an operation for canceling the freeze operation. The “roof ゜ / one-way” switch button is used to switch between returning to the first image after displaying the last image to be displayed in the cine and repeating the display, or displaying one direction in chronological order and ending the display. Buttons for performing operations. The “jog dial” is a dial for manually switching and displaying a plurality of images stored in the cine memory 4 in accordance with a rotation operation by an operator. The "rewind" push button is a button for performing an operation of freeze-displaying an image reached at that time when the button is pressed during the freeze and the image is reached at that time when the button is released in reverse chronological order. The “output” push button is a button for designating that the display image is printed by the printer 8.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the cine memory 4. The cine memory 4 includes, for example, image memories m1 to m100 capable of storing 100 images. The controller 10 stores the images obtained by scanning the subject in the image memories m1 to m100 in chronological order, and stores them in the image memory m100.
Are sequentially stored by overwriting.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the output state table 11. As shown in FIG. The output state table 11 indicates whether the operator has designated “output” in accordance with the identifiers m1 to m100 of the image memory by “ON” or “OFF”.
And an output state flag indicating the output state of the printer 8. The output state flag is:
They are stored separately for output waiting, outputting, and already output. Since the illustration is in the initial state before the image designation, the output designation flag and the output state flag are both "OFF" (the storage status after the image designation is shown in FIGS. 14 to 19).
Below).

Before describing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100, the contents displayed on the screen of the display device 7 by implementing the image display method according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 schematically shows a display screen example. The screen S has an image display area G, an output state message display area D, and a cine gauge display area C. In the image display area G,
One of the images shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 is displayed. The output state message display area D includes the image display area G
When the output of the image displayed in is specified, a message indicating the output state is displayed. The contents of the message are “waiting for output” indicating that the printer 8 is in a state of waiting for output of the image, “outputting” indicating that the image is being output by the printer 8, and Is "output completed", which indicates that output has been completed. However, "the output of this image was specified"
The message may be simplified as follows. In the cinegauge display area C, for example, a “gray” cinegauge that represents the entire cine display target image (the entire image stored in the cine memory 4) in a band shape is displayed. On the cine gauge, for example, a “blue” current image cursor P indicating the relative position of the image in the image display area G and an output state identification mark indicating the relative position of the image whose output is specified by the operator are displayed. You. The output state identification mark is, for example, a green output mark K indicating that the image has been output.
1, indicating that the image is being output, eg, "yellow"
And an output waiting mark K3 of, for example, "red" indicating that the image is waiting to be output.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 will be described. FIG. 11 shows that the operator is “fleece ゛ / cancel”
It is a flowchart which shows the freeze process started by pushing a change button (FIG. 2) and instruct | indicating a freeze. Normally, the operator instructs a freeze in a state where the B mode image is displayed in a cine form. In step ST1, the controller 10 determines whether or not the release of the freeze is instructed by the operator re-operating the “fleece ゛ / release” switching button. Step S when release of freeze is instructed
The process proceeds to T2, and if release of the freeze is not instructed, the process proceeds to step ST4. In step ST2, the controller 10 clears the message display in the display state message display area D (FIG. 10). Thereafter, the freeze state is released (return to the cine display), and the process is terminated.

In step ST4, the image is displayed in a frozen state (display update is temporarily stopped). In step ST5, the controller 10 determines whether or not the “output” push button has been pressed by the operator. If the "output" push button is pressed, the process proceeds to step ST6, and the "output"
If the push button has not been pressed, the process returns to step ST1. In step ST6, the controller 10 reads the output state of the display image with reference to the output state flag of the output state table 11 (FIG. 9), and displays an output state message (one of output completed, output in progress, and output waiting). I do. At step ST7, the controller 10 refers to the output state flag of the output state table 11 to read the output state of the image for which the operator has designated the output, and displays the output state identification mark (output completed mark K) on the cine gauge (FIG. 10).
1, one of the output mark K2 and the output waiting mark K3). Thereafter, the process returns to step ST1.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an interrupt process which is started when the printer 8 notifies the printer 8 of an output state regarding an image whose output is specified by the operator. In addition,
The controller 10 periodically inquires of the printer 8 about the output state of each image for which output has been specified. In step SU1, the controller 10 determines whether the output state notified from the printer 8 has changed from the previous notification content. When the content has changed from the previous notification content, the output status flag of the output status table 11 is changed according to the output status notified from the printer 8, and the process proceeds to step SU2. If it has not changed, the interrupt processing ends. In step SU2, the output state identification mark displayed on the cine gauge is changed according to the output state. After that, the process ends.

FIG. 13 shows the output state of each image when the operator specifies "output" of the image (B mode) in the order of the image memory m20, the image memory m50, and the image memory m80 of the cine memory 4 (FIG. 8). It is a time chart shown. to
Is the cine display start time. ta is the time when the cine-displayed image is frozen and the output of the image in the image memory m20 is designated. tb is the time when the output of the image from the image memory m50 is designated. tc is the image memory m8
This is the time at which the output of the image 0 was designated. t1 is the time when the output of the image from the image memory m20 is completed, and is the time when the output of the image from the image memory m50 is started. t2
Is the time when the output of the image from the image memory m50 is completed, and the time when the output of the image from the image memory m80 is started. t3 is the time at which the output of the image from the image memory m80 has been completed. 14 to 19 show the contents stored in the output state table 11 for each time shown in FIG. FIG. 20 (a),
FIG. 13B illustrates a state of the screen when the image in the image memory m20 is displayed at each time in FIG. FIG. 21 (a)
(C) illustrates the state of the screen when the image in the image memory m50 is displayed at each time in FIG. Of FIG.
(a) to (c) show the image memory m80 at each time shown in FIG.
2 illustrates a state of the screen when the image is displayed.

According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 described above, when an image selected by the operator from a plurality of images stored in the cine memory 4 is displayed as described above with reference to FIG. Display image output status (waiting for output, outputting,
Is displayed, the operator can easily grasp the output state of the displayed image. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience of outputting the output image repeatedly without having to go to the printer 8 and determine the output state of the image. Particularly, in the case of performing color printing, since the output time is long, there is a great advantage that the output state can be immediately visually recognized on the screen. Also, on a cine gauge that represents the entire image of the cine display target,
Since the output state identification mark (K1, K2, K3) indicating the position of the image whose output is specified and the output state of the image is displayed, the relative position of the output image and the progress of output of each image can be visually recognized at a glance. You can do it. Therefore, even after outputting a certain image and then displaying another image, it is possible to easily select and display the previously output image or an image in the vicinity thereof.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows. (1) In the above embodiment, the B-mode image displayed at the point of time when the display update of the cine display is paused (frozen) is designated as the output target, but the D-mode image (FIG. 4) or the M-mode image (FIG. 4) In the state where 5) is displayed, the operator operates the “jog dial” (FIG. 2) and stops when the operator becomes interested (for example, when the waveform changes unusually), and the D mode image or the M mode image It may be specified as an output target. At this time, the display may be switched to the B-mode display, and the B-mode image may be designated as an output target. Further, a simultaneous display image (FIG. 6) of the B-mode image and the M-mode image or a dual display image (FIG. 7) may be designated as an output target. (2) Output status messages and output status identification marks (FIG. 1)
“Output failure” may be added as the content of 0). Thus, the operator can recognize that the printing has failed due to, for example, a failure of the printer 8. (3) In the above embodiment, the case where the image is printed by the printer 8 has been described. However, the image may be recorded as a file conforming to the DEFF format, or may be DICOM (Digital).
The present invention can be applied to the case of storing in a medical image database compliant with Imaging and Communication in Medicine in the same manner as described above.

[0021]

According to the image display method, the image display apparatus and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, the operator can obtain information as to whether or not the displayed image has been output without any trouble. Since it is possible, it is possible to easily prevent the inconvenience of outputting the already output images redundantly. In particular, when outputting a medical ultrasonic image, the work load of a doctor or an operating technician can be reduced, and the diagnosis efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a B-mode image.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a D-mode image.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an M-mode image.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a B-mode image and an M-mode image are simultaneously displayed.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a B-mode image and an M-mode image are dually displayed.

8 is an explanatory diagram of a cine memory of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an output state table (initial state).

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing freeze processing by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing interrupt processing by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a time chart showing an output state of each image when an output of an image in the cine memory of FIG. 8 is designated.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents stored in an output state table at time t (ta ≦ t <tb) in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents stored in an output state table at time t (tb ≦ t <t1) in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the stored contents of an output state table at time t (t1 ≦ t <tc) in FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents stored in the output state table at time t (tc ≦ t <t2) in FIG. 13;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents stored in the output state table at time t (t2 ≦ t <t3) in FIG. 13;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the stored contents of the output state table at time t (t> t3) in FIG. 13;

FIG. 20 is an exemplary diagram showing a state of a screen when an image in an image memory m20 is displayed.

FIG. 21 is an exemplary diagram showing a state of a screen when an image in an image memory m50 is displayed.

FIG. 22 is an exemplary diagram showing a state of a screen when an image in an image memory m80 is displayed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ultrasonic probe 2 transmission / reception unit 3 signal processing unit 4 cine memory 5 DSC 6 image processing unit 7 display device 8 printer 10 controller 11 output state table 12 input device 100 ultrasonic diagnostic device

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 4C301 EE13 KK27 KK40 LL11 LL14 LL20 5B057 AA07 BA05 BA24 BA28 CH11 5C054 AA01 CA08 FD05 FE11 FE16 FE19 GA04 GB01 GD09 HA12

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. When an operator specifies an image selected by an operator from a plurality of stored images and designates output of the displayed image (including one of printing, recording by filing, and database registration). Is an image display method for outputting the image, wherein when the image is displayed or when the output of the image is designated by the operator, the operator is notified if the image has already been output. Image display method. 2. The image display method according to claim 1, wherein a gauge representing the whole of the plurality of images is displayed, and the position of the image whose output is designated is displayed on the gauge. Image display method. 3. Displaying an image selected by the operator from a plurality of stored images and specifying the output of the displayed image (including one of printing, recording by filing, and database registration). Is an image display device that outputs the image, and, when the image is displayed or when the operator specifies the output of the image, if the image has already been output, an image output completion notification unit that notifies the operator of the fact. An image display device comprising: 4. An ultrasonic probe, transmitting / receiving means for driving the ultrasonic probe, scanning an object with ultrasonic waves to acquire sound ray data, and an image based on one image of sound ray data Signal processing means for generating data, storage means for storing the latest plurality of image data, cine display means for continuously displaying the stored plurality of images in chronological order or vice versa, Freeze means for temporarily stopping the display update of the image by the cine display means according to the instruction of the operator, and outputting the image displayed at the time of the pause by the operator (printing, recording by filing, database registration) Image output designating means for designating the image as an object to be output, and an output state (at least one of output waiting and output completed) corresponding to the image designated by the image output designating means
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: output state information providing means for providing output state information indicating the following; and output state notifying means for notifying an operator of an output state of the image based on the output state information. . 5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein gauge display means for displaying a gauge representing the entirety of said plurality of images, and a mark indicating the position of the image whose output is specified on said gauge. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a mark display means.