JP2000166918A - Ultrasonograph - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily vary the piercing direction of a needle by extracting the image of the needle from the polymer gel part of a tomographic image and composing a guide line showing the piercing direction of the needle to the tomographic image based on this extracted image. SOLUTION: An ultrasonic probe 1 is fitted to an examinee via a polymer gel 100 to transmit/receive ultrasonic waves via the gel 100. At the time of piercing the needle 200 from the gel 100, the needle 200 is clearly projected on the polymer gel part of the tomographic image at very high luminance and on the other hand, luminance is hardly provided at the polymer gel part. Then the image of the needle 200 is precisely extracted from the polymer gel part of the tomographic image by threshold value processing at an image processor and based on this extracted image, a guide line 300 showing the piercing direction of the needle 200 is composed with the tomographic image to display the piercing direction of the needle 200 by the guide line 300.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus for guiding a puncture in which a puncture needle is pierced into a subject and a tissue of an affected part is collected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A puncture needle mainly made of metal is remarkably different from a living tissue in terms of acoustic impedance and is very well reflected on an ultrasonic image (B-mode tomographic image). The use of an ultrasonic image as a guide when piercing a finger has been widely performed.

[0003] Conventionally, an ultrasonic probe dedicated to puncturing has been put into practical use in which various measures have been taken to assist the puncturing operation and improve its accuracy and efficiency. For example,
In order to hold the puncture needle firmly in the scanning section, a part of the vibrator array is split and a puncture groove is provided therein. There is also a type in which an adapter is fitted into a puncture groove so that the puncture needle can be quickly removed from the ultrasonic probe after puncturing.

[0004] Further, as this adapter, an adapter in which the insertion angle of the puncture needle can be arbitrarily changed,
There are various types such as those having a fixed insertion angle. In the latter case, in order to change the insertion angle, it is necessary to replace the adapter, but instead, the insertion angle of the puncture needle is determined by the adapter fitted in the puncture groove,
A very useful and convenient guide function that a guideline indicating the insertion direction of the puncture needle can be displayed on a tomographic image according to the insertion angle can be used.

Using this guide function, before actually inserting the puncture needle into the subject, it is determined whether or not the puncture needle reaches the affected part, that is, whether or not the puncture needle is aiming on the tomographic image. Since the puncture needle can be confirmed to some extent, after actually inserting the puncture needle into the subject, the image of the puncture needle can be seen to see that the sight is not aimed, and the puncture needle can be removed from the subject and redo again. Work that involves not only labor but also danger can be drastically reduced.

Although it is very effective to display the insertion direction of the puncture needle with the guide line as described above, the insertion angle is fixed by the adapter. Had to be replaced. That is, it has not been possible to simultaneously display the insertion direction of the puncture needle with the guide line and freely change the insertion angle of the puncture needle regardless of adapter replacement.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to simultaneously display the insertion direction of a puncture needle with a guide line and to freely change the insertion angle of the puncture needle without replacing the adapter. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus capable of performing the above.

[0008]

(1) The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for guiding a puncture in which a puncture needle is inserted into a subject and a diseased tissue is collected, and a relatively thick polymer is provided. An ultrasonic probe that is applied to the subject with a gel interposed therebetween, a unit that drives the ultrasonic probe, and scans a cross section of the subject with the ultrasonic wave through the polymer gel, and is obtained by the scanning. Means for generating a tomographic image relating to the cross section of the polymer gel and the subject based on the echo signal, and extracting an image of the puncture needle from the polymer gel portion of the tomographic image, based on the extracted image of the puncture needle Means for combining a guideline indicating the insertion direction of the puncture needle with the tomographic image, and means for displaying a combined image of the guideline and the tomographic image. (2) The apparatus according to (1), further comprising means for calculating the insertion angle of the puncture needle based on the image of the puncture needle extracted from the polymer gel portion of the tomographic image. . (3) The apparatus according to (1), further comprising a unit for creating a puncture needle mark to be combined with the tomographic image based on the image of the puncture needle extracted from the polymer gel portion of the tomographic image. Features. (4) The present invention is characterized in that, in the apparatus of (1), the ultrasonic probe is of a linear electronic scanning type.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, as the ultrasonic probe 1, a probe dedicated to puncturing with a special device such as a puncturing groove is not required, and a general linear electronic scanning probe is employed. A plurality of transducers are one-dimensionally arranged at the tip of the ultrasonic probe 1. The electric signal is converted into an ultrasonic wave through the vibrator, and the ultrasonic signal is converted into an electric signal.

The transmitting unit 3 supplies an electric signal, that is, a high-frequency voltage signal to each transducer of the ultrasonic probe 1 to mechanically vibrate the transducer, thereby generating an ultrasonic wave. A clock generator 21 for generating a clock signal; a rate pulse generator 22 for dividing the clock signal by a fraction to generate a rate pulse of, for example, 6 kHz; A transmission delay circuit 23 for appropriately delaying a rate pulse for each channel in order to form a thin line, and a pulser 24 for individually applying a high-frequency voltage signal to each vibrator according to the delayed rate pulse. It is configured. In addition,
Although not shown, a high-speed switch group for linear electronic scanning is provided between the probe 1 and the pulser 24, and only a part of a vibrator that supplies and drives a high-frequency voltage signal from the pulser 24 is provided. And a function to shift a part of the vibrator to be driven little by little for each ultrasonic transmission / reception.

The receiving unit 4 receives an electric signal from the same vibrator at the time of transmission via the high-speed switch group, that is, a weak electric signal reflecting the intensity of an echo returned from the boundary of the acoustic impedance in the subject. And a preamplifier 31 for amplifying an electric signal from the vibrator in order to generate a reception signal in which an echo component from a depth direction perpendicular to the vibrator array of the probe 1 is emphasized.
A reception delay circuit 32 for delaying each electric signal in the same manner as at the time of transmission, and an adder 3 for adding the delayed electric signals.
And 3.

The B-mode unit 4 includes a detection circuit 41 for detecting the reception signal generated by the reception unit and a logarithmic amplifier 42 for logarithmically amplifying the detection signal to correct the depth dependence of the ultrasonic attenuation. And an analog-to-digital converter (A / D) 43 for converting a logarithmically amplified detection signal, that is, a luminance signal, into a digital format.

A display unit 5 includes a digital scan converter (DSC) 51 for converting a luminance signal from the B-mode unit 4 into a video scanning system, and a luminance signal (tomographic image data) converted into the video scanning system in an analog format. Digital-to-analog converter (D / A)
52, and a display 53 for displaying a tomographic image in shades in accordance with the luminance signal converted into the analog format.

The image processor 6 performs calculations and graphics necessary for assisting the puncture operation, that is, for providing information as clues for an operator to determine whether the puncture needle is aimed at the affected part to be punctured. This is a characteristic component of the present embodiment, which is provided with a processing function related to the present embodiment. This processing function will be described in order. (Extraction of Image of Puncture Needle) FIG. 2 shows a state of a puncture operation in the present embodiment. As is well known, ultrasonic waves are greatly attenuated by air. For this reason, it has been conventionally practiced to apply a jelly-like gel to the body surface of a subject and to apply an ultrasonic probe thereon to improve the efficiency of ultrasonic transmission and reception. Further, for example, in the examination of the thyroid gland and the mammary gland, the ultrasonic probe 1 is applied to the throat and the breast, but this portion has irregularities, and it is difficult to make the ultrasonic probe 1 contact properly and to move it. The thyroid and mammary glands are 1-2 cm from the body surface.
The depth is often shallow and out of the focal range of the ultrasonic wave. In such a case, a so-called water immersion method in which an ultrasonic probe is applied across water is performed. In recent years, in this water immersion method, a konjac-like polymer gel 100 having a relatively thick thickness of about 2 cm, which is easier to handle than a water bag.
Has been developed and spread.

In the present embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 1 is applied to a subject with the polymer gel 100 interposed therebetween, and transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves are performed through the polymer gel 100. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, a tomographic image is generated not only in the part inside the subject but also in the polymer gel part.
When the puncture needle 200 is pierced from the polymer gel 100 in this state, the puncture needle 200 is uniform since the polymer gel 100 has an acoustic impedance close to that of a living body.
It is clearly reflected on the polymer gel part of the tomographic image with very high brightness. On the other hand, since almost no brightness is given to the polymer gel portion, the image processor 6 can extract the image of the puncture needle 200 from the tomographic image of the polymer gel portion with high accuracy by threshold processing.

Instead of automatically extracting the image of the puncture needle 200, the image of the puncture needle 200 may be manually traced on a tomographic image using a pointing device. This manual operation is considered to be used in a case where the automatic extraction accuracy of the image of the puncture needle 200 is low. (Display of puncture needle marker) As described above, puncture needle 200
Is significantly higher in acoustic impedance than the polymer gel 100 or the living body, and is displayed with extremely high brightness (high contrast) compared to the surroundings. As shown in FIG.
When the puncture needle 200 is pierced into the subject, the puncture needle 2
The high brightness of the 00 image may make the surrounding tissue very difficult to see. In order to solve such a problem, the image processor 6 removes the image of the extracted puncture needle 200 from the tomographic image, and fits the colored puncture needle mark 400 in the missing portion.
It generates graphic data and outputs necessary control signals to the digital scan converter 51. In the digital scan converter 51, the graphic data is exchanged with the tomographic image data and synthesized at the corresponding portion. As a result, the surgeon captures the puncture needle 200 without being dazzled by the high brightness of the image of the puncture needle 200,
In addition, the surrounding tissue can be accurately grasped. (Display of guidelines) As described above, since the image of the puncture needle 200 can be extracted with extremely high precision, the image of the puncture needle 200 extracted from the polymer gel portion of the tomographic image is thinned by the image processor 6, and the linear equation is used. It is relatively easy to approximate. The image processor 6 superimposes the linear guideline 300 on the tomographic image.
Thus, graphic data is generated according to the linear equation, and a necessary control signal is output to the digital scan converter 51. The graphic data is added to the tomographic image data in the digital scan converter 51 and displayed.

The operator refers to the guideline 300 and
When the puncture needle 200 is inserted into the subject as it is, whether or not the puncture needle 200 reaches the affected part, that is, the puncture needle 20
It can be confirmed on the tomographic image whether or not the aiming of 0 is correct.

The guideline 300 stipulates that the puncture needle 200 can be inserted into the polymer gel 10 even before piercing the subject.
Since it is automatically displayed at the stage of puncturing at 0, it sufficiently fulfills the function as a guide for aiming. Further, as shown in FIG. It is sufficient to remove 200 from the polymer gel 100, completely change the position and orientation, and pierce the polymer gel 100 again, and the piercing angle is not restricted by the adapter as in the conventional case. (Indication of puncture angle) As described above, the puncture needle 200 can be approximated by a linear equation. Therefore, the puncture needle 200 is used to insert the puncture needle 200, in fact, the angle of the puncture needle 200 with respect to the horizontal line of the tomographic image. Can be calculated. The image processor 6 generates graphic data so that the insertion angle is numerically displayed on the tomographic image in the vicinity of the guideline 300, and the digital scan converter 5
1 to output a control signal necessary for the operation. This graphic data is combined with tomographic image data in the digital scan converter 51 and displayed.

The operator refers to this insertion angle,
The puncture needle 200 can be inserted into the subject.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the puncture needle 2
The insertion direction of the puncture needle 200 can be displayed as a guideline while the insertion angle of 00 can be freely changed without replacing the adapter. That is, the puncture needle 200 is pierced into the subject via the polymer gel 100, and the puncture needle 200 is not punctured into the polymer gel 100 because there is no restriction like an adapter. The puncture needle can be inserted at an insertion angle. Also, no matter what angle the puncture needle 200 is inserted into the polymer gel 100, the image of the puncture needle 200 can be extracted with high precision from the polymer gel portion of the tomographic image. The insertion direction can be indicated on the tomographic image as the guide line 300. Moreover, the display of the guideline 300 indicates that the puncture needle 2 is actually
00 can be performed before piercing the subject into the subject, that is, at the stage when the puncture needle 200 is pierced into the polymer gel. All of the above-mentioned effects can be realized using a general probe, not exclusively for puncturing.

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented in various modifications.

[0022]

According to the present invention, the puncture needle is inserted into the subject via the polymer gel. Since the insertion of the puncture needle into the polymer gel is not restricted as in an adapter, the puncture needle can be inserted into the subject at an arbitrary insertion angle. In addition, no matter what angle the needle is inserted into the polymer gel, the image of the puncture needle can be extracted with high precision from the polymer gel part of the tomographic image. It can be shown on a tomographic image as a guideline. In addition, the guideline can be displayed before the puncture needle is actually inserted into the subject, that is, at the stage when the puncture needle is inserted into the polymer gel. All of the above-mentioned effects can be realized using a general probe, not exclusively for puncturing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state of a puncture operation in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display according to the present embodiment when a puncture needle is pierced into a polymer gel but has not yet been pierced into a subject.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a screen display according to the present embodiment after a puncture needle is inserted into a subject.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a screen display according to the embodiment when the puncture needle is not aimed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Probe, 2 ... Transmission unit, 3 ... Receiving unit, 4 ... B mode unit, 5 ... Display unit, 6 ... Image processor, 21 ... Clock generator, 22 ... Rate pulse generator, 23 ... Transmission delay circuit, 24 ... Pulsa, 31 ... Preamplifier, 32 ... Reception delay circuit, 33 ... Adder, 41 ... Detection circuit, 42 ... Logarithmic amplifier, 43 ... Analog / digital converter (A / D), 51 ... Digital scan converter (DSC), 52 ... Digital / analog converter (D / A), 53 ... Display.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for guiding a puncture operation in which a puncture needle is pierced into a subject to collect a diseased tissue, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is applied to the subject via a relatively thick polymer gel. An ultrasonic probe, a unit that drives the ultrasonic probe, scans a cross section inside the subject with the ultrasonic wave via the polymer gel, and the polymer gel and the polymer gel based on an echo signal obtained by the scanning. A means for generating a tomographic image relating to a cross section of the subject; a guideline for extracting an image of the puncture needle from a polymer gel portion of the tomographic image and indicating a puncture direction of the puncture needle based on the extracted puncture needle image An ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus, comprising: means for synthesizing the image with the tomographic image; and means for displaying a synthesized image of the guide line and the tomographic image. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for calculating an insertion angle of the puncture needle based on the extracted image of the puncture needle. 3. The ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that creates a puncture needle mark to be combined with the tomographic image based on the extracted puncture needle image. 4. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic probe is of a linear electronic scanning type.