JP2000254127A - Ultrasonograph - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability so as to promptly execute required measurement and to shorten the time required for diagnosing by selecting a case. SOLUTION: In this ultrasonograph, measurement contents and/or measurement items are registered for the respective cases beforehand in a measurement registration memory part 18 for the respective cases, and by selecting the registered case, the measurement contents and/or the measurement items corresponding to the selected case are displayed on the touch command screen 17 of an operation part 20 or the like. Thus, since the measurement contents and the measurement items required for the respective cases are clearly displayed and the measurement is executed by successively selecting them, the operability is improved, the required measurement is quickly executed and the burdens of a patient and an operator such as a doctor are reduced.

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 which radiates ultrasonic waves to a subject and obtains information on a tissue in the subject by reflected waves thereof, and particularly has various measuring functions such as cardiac function measurement. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The mission of an image diagnostic apparatus is to detect various diseases including malignant tumors and ischemic heart diseases safely and early without causing pain to patients and to link them to treatment.
One of the most common ones is an ultrasound diagnostic device.
This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus emits an ultrasonic pulse from an ultrasonic probe to a subject, detects a reflected wave from the inside of the subject tissue based on the ultrasonic pulse, and thereby obtains a tomographic image or blood of a cross section of the subject. Information on the tissue in the subject, such as the flow status, is obtained and rendered on the monitor.

[0003] Diagnosis areas by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus are wide, and include, for example, intracranial blood flow, thyroid, carotid artery, mammary gland, heart, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, uterus,
The ovaries and kidneys are expanding year by year. Furthermore, there are remarkable enhancements in measurement functions for assisting diagnosis, such as distance measurement, area measurement, perimeter measurement, flow velocity measurement, and cardiac function measurement as well as image observation.

[0004] By the way, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an image condition necessary for obtaining an image is set in advance for each part to be inspected (eg, breast, heart, liver, etc.) on a menu screen. Thus, standard image conditions are set and an ultrasonic image can be obtained simply by designating an examination site without performing complicated operations. In addition to the image conditions, there is also a measurement function that is set in advance so that measurement of a measurement item corresponding to the measurement content can be performed by designating the measurement content.

[0005] In the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, for example, when a "heart" is used as a test site, various types of measurement, such as left ventricular function measurement (LV), mitral valve measurement (MV), and aortic valve measurement (AO), are performed. When there is measurement content and measurement is performed in the M mode, for example, a menu as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on a touch command screen (hereinafter abbreviated as TCS) 1 provided on an operation unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body. . Here, the measurement content menu display unit 2 is arranged on the right side of the TCS 1 and measures stenosis ratio (% STENOSIS), left ventricular function measurement (LV), mitral valve measurement (MV), aortic valve measurement (A
O), a measurement content menu such as a heart rate measurement (HR), a distance measurement (DIST), a time measurement (TIME), and a tilt measurement (SLOPE) are displayed.

The operation key display section 3 is arranged on the upper left side of the TCS 1, and includes an all clear (ALL CLR) for erasing all measured values, an input key (KEY IN) for manually inputting data, and a measurement key. Keys such as an average key (AVG) for setting data to an average function of a worksheet, a report start (RPT), a worksheet start (WKT), and a measurement trace line erase (ERS) are displayed.

[0007] The blank space on the left side of the TCS 1 is a measurement item display section 4. In the measurement item display section 4, one of the measurement content menus displayed in the measurement content menu display section 2 is selected (that is, by touching one of the displayed menus with a finger), the selection is made. The measurement items related to the performed measurement contents are displayed. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, when, for example, aortic valve measurement (AO) is selected as the measurement content (shown as hatched in the figure), the right ventricular outflow route (R
VOTD), aortic diameter (AOD), left atrial diameter (LAD),
Aortic valve diameter (AVD) and ejection time (ET) are displayed as measurement items. Then, by touching and selecting one of the display items of the measurement item with a finger, software for executing the selected measurement item is activated.

[0008]

By the way, when diagnosing an abnormal part on the suspicion that there is likely to be an abnormality somewhere in the heart, for example, the diagnosis is carried out by means of an image and shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. Based on the measurement content menu, various kinds of measurements are sequentially performed as needed, thereby identifying an abnormal part or judging the degree of a symptom. However, for subjects (patients) whose abnormalities (cases) have already been identified, the progress will be monitored, so that the necessary measurements can be performed quickly, not only for patients but also for operators such as doctors. is important.

However, in some cases, for example, aortic stenosis (A
When the measurement is to be performed on the case S), for example, aortic valve measurement (AO) and orifice area measurement (VA VT)
Although I) is performed, these are different menus in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. That is, since the measurement content menu shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is mainly based on the site or the measurement content, the measurement content to be executed differs depending on the case of the patient even if the site is the same. If you try to execute a measurement, unnecessary measurement contents are displayed in the menu, unnecessary measurement items are displayed when a certain measurement content menu is selected, and necessary measurement contents are separated. Had to find it out of the menu. Therefore, the operation is cumbersome and the measurement procedure is not appropriate, so that there is a problem that the measurement requires a long time and the operability is poor. The present invention has been made to solve such a problem.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject and receiving a reflected wave from a tissue in the subject. An ultrasonic probe, a transmission / reception unit that drives the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves, processes a received reflected signal to detect tomographic image data, a Doppler shift signal, and the like in the subject, and a transmission / reception unit. Memory unit including a digital scan converter that forms an ultrasonic image based on tomographic image data and Doppler transition signals detected by the unit, a display that displays the ultrasonic image from this image memory, and an ultrasonic image An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a measurement processing unit that executes various measurement processes, a control unit that controls the above-described components including the measurement processing unit, and an operation unit that inputs various operation commands to the control unit. A case-by-case measurement / registration memory unit for registering measurement contents and / or measurement items for each case in advance, a first display unit for displaying cases registered in the case-by-case measurement / registration memory unit, And a second display unit for displaying measurement contents and / or measurement items corresponding to the case selected from the cases displayed on the display unit.

[0011] Thereby, necessary measurement contents and measurement items are clarified for each case, and it is only necessary to sequentially select and execute the measurement, so that the operability is improved and the required measurement can be performed quickly. In addition, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided that can shorten the examination time and reduce the burden on operators such as doctors as well as patients.

The invention described in claim 2 is the first invention.
Wherein the first display means and the second display means are touch command screens provided on the operation unit.

[0013] This makes it possible to observe the measurement contents and / or measurement items displayed on the touch command screen and select one of them to perform the measurement, thereby facilitating the operation. .

[0014] The invention according to claim 3 provides the invention according to claim 2.
Wherein the first display means and the second display means are arranged separately on a single touch command screen provided on the operation section. is there. Thereby, the first
And the display contents of the second display means can be checked at the same time, and the burden on the operator is reduced.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe 11 that transmits an ultrasonic wave into the body of the subject 10 and receives a reflected wave from a tissue in the subject, and the ultrasonic probe 11. A transmission / reception unit 12 that drives to transmit an ultrasonic wave, processes a received reflected signal, and detects tomographic image data and a Doppler shift signal in the subject, and a tomographic image detected by the transmitting / receiving unit 12 An image memory unit 13 including a digital scan converter that forms an ultrasonic image by imaging data and Doppler shift signals based on observation conditions, and records graphics patterns such as markers, their trajectories, and regions of interest (ROIs). Pattern data recording memory unit 14
A display unit 15 for displaying the ultrasonic image from the image memory unit 13 and the graphics pattern data from the pattern data recording memory unit 14; and performing various measurement processes on the ultrasonic image displayed on the display unit 15. And a touch command screen (TCS) for setting measurement contents, measurement items and measurement procedures for each case for the measurement processing, or displaying the set contents.
17, a case-specific measurement registration memory unit 18 for registering measurement contents, measurement items, measurement procedures, and the like for each case set via the TCS 17, a control unit 19 for controlling these components, and a control unit And an operation console 20 for inputting various operation commands to the operation console 19.

The console 20 has one TCS 1
7, a trackball 21 for moving a cursor displayed on the display 15, a keyboard 22 for inputting characters and numerical values, and a plurality of function keys 23 for designating various functions. Have been.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention configured as described above will be described. First, the required measurement contents and required measurement items for each case are registered in the case-specific measurement registration memory unit 18 in advance. Note that the standard measurement contents and measurement items for each case are registered by the manufacturer at the time of manufacturing the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, but can be registered as appropriate by the user side. The user presses a registration key among the function keys 23 provided on the device 20 to set the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in the registration mode, and the case 22 and the measurement contents to be performed on the case according to a predetermined procedure by the keyboard 22 and the TCS 17; The measurement items for the measurement contents are sequentially stored in the case-specific measurement registration memory unit 18.
Register with.

Next, the procedure for executing the measurement will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Function key 23 provided on console 20 as step 1
Is pressed to set the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to the measurement mode. Thus, the process proceeds to step 2 where various measurement menus are displayed on the TCS 17. Here, the operator touches any of the displayed measurement menus with a finger (here, it is assumed that the display of the case-specific measurement is touched).
In this way, a desired one is selected. Next, in step 3,
It is determined whether or not the case-by-case measurement is selected from the measurement menu displayed on the TCS17. If the selected menu is the case-by-case measurement, the process proceeds to step 4 and the case menu shown in FIG. It is displayed on the menu display section 17a. When another measurement menu different from the case-specific measurement is selected, the process proceeds to another routine for the measurement, but the description is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a case menu displayed on the case menu display section 17a of the TCS 17, and includes mitral stenosis (MS) and aortic stenosis (A).
S), aortic regurgitation (AR), tricuspid stenosis (T
S), tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and the like are displayed.
However, the present invention is not limited to these, and various cases can be displayed. In addition, in the TCS 17, in addition to the case menu display section 17a, an operation key display section 17b and a measurement content / measurement item display section 17c are also arranged in different areas.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 2, the operator touches and selects a desired case from the case menu displayed on the case menu display section 17a of the TCS 17 in step 4. Then, it is determined in step 5 whether or not a case has been selected. If no case has been selected, the process returns to step 4, and if a case has been selected, the process proceeds to step 6. In step 6, a menu of measurement contents and measurement items according to the selected case is displayed on the measurement contents / measurement item display section 17c. FIG. 4 shows the measurement contents / measurement items displayed on the measurement contents / measurement item display section 17c of the TCS 17 when, for example, aortic stenosis (AS) is selected as a case (shown by hatching). 7 shows an example of a menu. The operator selects a measurement item of a desired measurement content from the measurement content / measurement item menu, and sequentially performs measurement of necessary items.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a phenomenon in which the aortic valve area, which is usually about 4 square centimeters, is narrowed and ejection of blood from the left ventricle is obstructed. For the case of AS), aortic valve measurement (AO) and orifice area measurement (VA VTI) will be executed. In the aortic valve measurement (AO), the right ventricular outflow route (RVOTD), aortic diameter (AOD), left atrial diameter (LAD), and ejection time (ET) are measured.
Also, in the valve opening area measurement (VA VTI), the flow area (AREA) and the Velo of a portion where the flow area can be measured are described.
city Time Integral (VTI1),
Velocity of the part (valve port) for which flow path cross-sectional area is to be obtained
Time Integral (VTI2) will be measured. From these measurement results, the valve opening area (VA) is calculated and displayed.

When necessary measurements are completed, the operator operates the function key 2 provided on the console 20.
The measurement mode is ended by pressing the end key in Step 3. In Step 7, it is determined whether or not the operator has instructed the end of the measurement. If not, return to step 2.

As described above, when the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is in the measurement mode, a desired case can be designated from the case mode. Therefore, by specifying a case, the contents / items that need to be measured as the case are displayed in the measurement contents / measurement item display section 17 of the TCS 17 as shown in FIG.
c, the operator may select the measurement item of the desired measurement content from the menu displayed on the measurement content / measurement item display section 17c, and sequentially execute the measurement of the necessary items. Therefore, the operability is extremely improved, and the necessary measurement can be performed quickly, so that the examination time is shortened and the burden on the operator such as a doctor as well as a patient can be reduced.

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented with various modifications. When it is difficult to display a large number of cases in a list format on the TCS 17, for example, a circulatory organ, abdomen,
The display may be sequentially displayed in a branching manner, for example, for each region such as obstetrics and gynecology, and also for the same region, for example, for each region, so that a necessary case can be selected from the displayed cases. In addition, although the case in which the regions and the measurement items are displayed in one TCS 17 by dividing them is described, the cases and the measurement items and the like may be sequentially switched and displayed in almost all regions without dividing the regions. Further, using a television monitor as the display 15 instead of the TCS 17, a case, a measurement item, or the like may be displayed on the television monitor, and the display may be switched by touching a displayed portion, or May be switched using a rotary encoder.

[0025]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, necessary measurement contents and measurement items are specified for each case, and it is only necessary to sequentially select and execute the measurement, thereby improving operability. Thus, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be provided which can quickly perform necessary measurements, shorten the examination time, and reduce the burden on operators such as doctors as well as patients.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for executing measurement in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a case menu displayed on a touch command screen.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a touch command screen displaying an example of a measurement content / measurement item menu necessary for a certain case.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a touch command screen on which a conventional measurement content menu and the like are displayed.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a conventional touch command screen on which a measurement item menu is displayed by selecting one of measurement content menus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Subject 11 Ultrasonic probe 12 Transmission / reception part 13 Image memory part 14 Pattern data recording memory part 15 Display 16 Measurement processing part 17 Touch command screen 18 Case-specific measurement registration memory part 19 Control part 20 Operation console

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page F term (reference) 4C301 AA01 CC01 DD02 DD10 EE10 EE13 KK24 KK27 KK30 KK40 LL02 LL04 LL05 LL20 5B087 AA09 AE00 DD02 DD10 DE03 5C054 AA07 CA08 FA00 FD05 GB11 HA12

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic probe for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject and receiving a reflected wave from a tissue in the subject,
The ultrasonic probe is driven to transmit ultrasonic waves, and the transmitted and received signals are processed to detect tomographic image data, Doppler shift signals, and the like in the subject, and the transmission / reception unit detects the signals. An image memory unit including a digital scan converter that forms an ultrasonic image based on tomographic image data and Doppler shift signals, a display that displays the ultrasonic image from this image memory unit, and various measurement processing for the ultrasonic image In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a measurement processing unit that executes the above, a control unit that controls each of the above components including the measurement processing unit, and an operation unit for inputting various operation commands to the control unit, A case-based measurement registration memory unit for registering measurement contents and / or measurement items for each case, and first display means for displaying cases registered in the case-based measurement registration memory unit Measurement contents corresponding to cases that have been selected among the cases displayed in the first display means and /
Alternatively, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: second display means for displaying a measurement item. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first display unit and the second display unit are touch command screens provided on the operation unit. 3. The super-display according to claim 2, wherein the first display means and the second display means are arranged on a single touch command screen provided on the operation unit, with the areas being divided. Ultrasound diagnostic device.