JP2000271120A - Ultrasonic image diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic image diagnostic device capable of freely setting allocation of image data of a picture memory. SOLUTION: Sections of an image data memory area of a picture memory are displayed on a monitor screen by a picture memory image display device 110. The sections are displayed with picture memory section lines 111 and used area displays, and the allocation of sections is changeable according to a user's command. In addition, condition memory is saved so that pre-set of the allocation as the user likes is also possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
More particularly, the present invention relates to division and image display processing for image data stored in an image storage memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus has been widely used for obtaining image information for examining a region of interest in a patient's body tissue as a subject because of its low invasiveness and easy operation. ing. For the function of image information transmission provided by these ultrasonic diagnostic imaging devices,
Physicians and clinical technologists who are users demand further improvements in convenience and operability.

[0003] In response to these requests from the user side, various techniques have been applied to the conventional ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus. In particular, during ultrasound image scanning, a screen displayed on a monitor, which is an image display device of the apparatus, is stored and then displayed again later to perform detailed image observation and image diagnosis. Such an image recording technique is realized by various methods.
And DVDs or photographs are applied. These recording media have been appropriately used according to their characteristics.

In recent ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatuses, a technique of storing image data in a semiconductor memory or the like provided inside the apparatus main body has been put to practical use, and is equipped in most of commercially available ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatuses. ing. The writing and calling of this semiconductor memory are controlled by the CPU, and the display data of the ultrasonic image is stored in the semiconductor memory as image data.

[0005] The image data stored in the semiconductor memory by the CPU can be arbitrarily called up on the monitor screen by, for example, a playback call-up instruction input from an operation panel provided in the main body of the apparatus. The screen that can be called is not limited to a still image, but can be a moving image such as a B-mode image, a Doppler image, and an M-mode image.

[0006] These moving images and still images are all stored as image data on the image memory constituted by the above-mentioned semiconductor memory. In this storage, the addresses in the image memory are divided into some sections in advance. I have. At the time of storing the image, the image data is stored in each of the divided sections, and can be called by the user at will.

[0007] The division of the image memory to be allocated to the storage is determined according to the type of image data to be stored, for example, the difference between a moving image and a still image, and this allocation is determined in advance by a size according to design intention. I have.

[0008]

However, in the configuration of the image memory according to the prior art, the size of the image memory to be allocated is determined by the type of the stored image or the difference in the ultrasonic scan mode.
For example, information on image memory allocation is not displayed on the monitor screen.

Further, since the size of the section of the image memory and the address of the assignment are also determined in advance, the size of the section cannot be changed as necessary.
For this reason, the user has selected from among the predetermined division patterns of the image memory.

[0010] For this reason, an image memory section for an ultrasonic scan mode that is not required by the user in the ultrasonic image inspection is secured, and any ultrasonic scan mode that the user wants to store is stored. Image memory cannot be secured sufficiently.

Further, it is difficult to understand how large the image memory sections are allocated for each ultrasonic scan mode, and the size of the sections themselves cannot be changed arbitrarily by the user.

In addition, since image data is allocated to a section determined in advance by design intention, it is not possible to rearrange the image data arbitrarily by the user. I couldn't do it either.

In the present invention, the size of the partition of the image memory for storing the ultrasonic image data is visually displayed by, for example, an expression such as the number of storable images or the storable time, so that the image storage state can be easily determined. The task is to be comprehensible.

Further, the user can arbitrarily set the size and order of the division of the image memory and the number of divisions,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus with good use of an image memory and good operability.

[0015]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic signal by an ultrasonic transmitting / receiving means and constructing and displaying image information from a received signal. A storage capacity setting means for arbitrarily setting a storage capacity allocated to storage of the image information within a predetermined storage capacity; and a storage capacity display for visually displaying the storage capacity set by the storage capacity setting means. And an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising:

Further, the storage capacity setting means includes storage capacity partitioning means capable of partitioning the storage capacity according to consultation conditions, and partition display means for visually displaying the size of each partition as an area. The ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 is provided as a solution.

Further, the storage capacity classifying means includes a classifying condition storing means for storing the classifying condition according to the consulting condition, and a classifying condition calling means capable of arbitrarily calling the classifying condition. Claim 2
The ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus described above is a solution.

4. The ultrasonic image according to claim 2, wherein said division display means includes an in-use capacity display means for displaying an in-use capacity in each area for each of said divisions. The diagnostic device is the solution.

According to the above-mentioned means of the present invention, the storage capacity of the image memory as the image information storage means of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus can be arbitrarily set.

Further, since the storage area in the image memory can be divided into a required number and the size of each division can be set arbitrarily, efficient image storage can be performed.

The state of the division of the image memory is displayed on, for example, an image monitor or the like, and the display is performed by an area display or the like using the storage capacity of the image memory as an area.

Further, it is possible to set an arbitrary classification according to the examination conditions. As the examination conditions, it is possible to categorize according to the user's preference, and to acquire ultrasonic image information which is essential as diagnostic information depending on a region of interest to be examined. Classifications corresponding to such as can also be set as conditions.

The classification conditions set by the consultation conditions are stored in advance, and, for example, when there are several users, a desired classification condition can be called for each user.

In addition, in contrast to the display of each of the divided image memory areas, the area being used for storing the image information is displayed as the area in the display of each of the sections which are displayed so as to be visually recognizable. Thus, the user can easily grasp the usage status of the image memory.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A commonly used ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus is provided with an ultrasonic probe corresponding to the body tissue and the shape of a part of a patient to be examined. When the examination target site is, for example, a circulatory organ, the target organ is a heart, a running blood vessel, a valve tissue, or the like. In these tissues, by examining the movement of the tissues themselves, it is possible to obtain important information relating to the identification and diagnosis of a lesion site. In addition, a technique has been established for examining the speed and direction of blood flow, the presence or absence of turbulence, and the like by applying the ultrasonic Doppler method.

Further, in the urology and obstetrics and gynecology fields in which the tissue in the body cavity is targeted, and in the field of the digestive system, the body tissue to be examined is not mobile,
Except for a part of the measurement of umbilical cord blood flow, the observation of urination dynamics in the ureter, and the measurement of blood flow of vegetative blood vessels in the ovaries, the diagnostic method using the ultrasonic Doppler method is not used. In this case, tissue diagnosis of the target site is mainly performed, and the evaluation of the ultrasonic echo level and the location of the depicted calcified site are important diagnostic information.

As described above, the ultrasonic image diagnostic method performed by reading the ultrasonic tomographic image using the ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus has become widespread in the medical field today, and is required in the diagnostic method. The type of image, the mode of ultrasonic scanning, the observation time, and the like are naturally limited depending on the region to be examined and the type of lesion. The diagnostic method including the ultrasonic image diagnostic method in the medical field is determined in each medical field, and the required ultrasonic image information is also determined as the consulting condition in each medical field.

In the diagnostic conditions of such an ultrasonic image diagnostic method, the imaging site, the imaging order,
And the ultrasonic scanning method to be applied is different. For example, the presence or absence of the D mode (ultrasonic Doppler method), the measurement of the wall tissue by the M mode, the diagnosis method by reading the tissue tomographic image by the B mode, and the like are appropriately selected. Done.

The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus has an image memory for storing a plurality of images, and the image memory is divided into sections corresponding to a plurality of modes. When the operator operates the operation panel of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus and selects a diagnostic method, the image memory of the section corresponding to the diagnostic method is used.

In the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, in order to provide a user with preferable and easy operability under the conditions of use of the apparatus based on the above-mentioned diagnostic method, the following is provided. It has a characteristic configuration.

A storage capacity setting means for processing received signals obtained by the ultrasonic probe into image information and storing the image information in an image memory within a predetermined storage capacity, and the storage capacity And a storage capacity display means for visually displaying

This storage capacity setting means is realized by applying a technique such as a memory manager provided in a general information processing operation circuit. Also,
As the storage capacity display means, for example, the storage capacity is displayed so as to be visible on an image monitor provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the set storage capacity.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a monitor screen display according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present invention is configured so that a user can input, for example, an instruction such as "memory status list" from an operation panel (not shown) or the like.
In response to this instruction, the CPU of the device (not shown) displays the area of the graph via the storage capacity display means as shown in FIG.

On the monitor screen 100, an image memory image display 110 and an image memory division line 111 indicated by the division display means are displayed on the boundary of the display by the storage capacity division means.
In addition, a partition number 1 is used to identify each partitioned section.
23 are shown, and the image memory image display 1 is also displayed.
Also displayed in the area of the corresponding section at 10 respectively.

A data type 121, a capacity display 122, and an operation guide 120 are displayed in correspondence with the section number 123. The data type 121 indicates the type of image data stored in the corresponding section. For example, an image type such as “B mode” or “D mode” is displayed.

The capacity display 122 indicates the image memory capacity of each section divided by the storage capacity dividing means, and is easily understood by the user, for example, the number of images stored in a still image. , Or the time length of a storable moving image.

The operation guide 120 indicates the contents of the initialization parameters, and indicates to the user the timing conditions for initializing the contents of the image data stored in the image memory area of the designated section. . For this reason, it is possible to easily know the fetch timing of the stored image data. Further, it is possible to prevent erasure of unintended image data or occurrence of duplicate storage of unintended image data.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a monitor screen display according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In addition to the configuration described with reference to FIG. 1, this is a display screen when image data is already stored in the memory when the user activates the “memory status list”. In this case, for example, the color or the pattern is changed in the image memory image display 110 so that the portion storing the image data and the portion not yet stored can be easily distinguished. In addition, the number of sheets in use and the time during use are also displayed in the capacity display 122 portion. This display is used capacity display means according to the present invention. For example, an in-use address and an unused address of the image memory are obtained from a memory manager (not shown) or the like, and the above-described color coding or the like is displayed on an image monitor based on the information. Display by means.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the memory division control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The storage capacity dividing means of the present invention realizes the division by the memory division control shown in FIG. First,
A user operates an operation switch 200 provided on, for example, an operation panel of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, and inputs an ID to start memory division control.

Alternatively, the sorting conditions of the image memory are stored in the apparatus in advance, and even if the operation switch 200 is not specially provided, for example, when the apparatus is started immediately after the power is turned on, or when the entire apparatus is reset and then restarted. At the time of raising,
A temporary standard image memory division may be used as an initial value in the flow of the memory division control.

From the start, first, the contents of the memory map of the image memory are checked. With this check, the size of the entire image memory, the maximum number that can be divided, and the used memory storage capacity are confirmed and grasped. At this point, for example, when a doctor as a user inputs an ID code which is an identification number of an individual, a classification condition of the image memory corresponding to the ID code is called. The sorting condition called at this time is provided by storing the sorting condition of a plurality of image memories corresponding to the ID code in advance.

After the contents of the image memory have been checked, the image memory is divided. This division is performed by dividing data allocation addresses in the image memory according to a user's instruction. After this memory division, a division map of the image memory is created in accordance with, for example, an instruction of the size of each of the image memories input by the user from the operation panel. According to the created division map, the memory division is executed again, and a series of image memory division control ends.

On the other hand, the outline of the control of the image memory division according to the prior art will be described below as an aid for making the image memory division according to the present invention easier to compare and understand.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing image memory division control according to the prior art.

Conventionally, the image memory is divided when the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus is started after the power is turned on or when the apparatus is restarted after the entire apparatus is reset. This division is incorporated in a preset menu stored in the apparatus in advance, and this preset menu stores not only the division of the image memory but also initial setting values relating to the operation of other apparatus constituent parts.

A parameter for dividing the image memory is stored in the preset menu. By reading the parameter, a predetermined image memory is divided. Thus, the image memory is divided, and a series of initial settings is completed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing initialization control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The sorting condition storing means and the sorting condition calling means of the present invention realize the sorting condition storing and the condition calling by the initialization control of the image memory shown in FIG. First, initialization control is started when a user operates an initialization switch 201 provided on, for example, an operation panel of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus.

This ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus has a memory clear button and a patient switching button for instructing memory clear and patient switching.

When the memory clear button is pressed, “initialize by memory clear” is performed according to the initialization condition of the operation guide 120.
Initialize the memory of the partition set as. When the patient switching button is pressed and the patient is switched, the memory of the section set as “Initialize by patient switching” in the initialization condition of the operation guide 120 is initialized.

Alternatively, a start command for initialization control is stored in the apparatus in advance, and the initialization switch 201 is stored.
, The initialization control of the image memory may be performed, for example, at the time of starting up the apparatus immediately after turning on the power or at the time of restarting after resetting the entire apparatus.

From the start, first, the stored contents of the image memory are erased. As a result, the image data stored before the initialization is erased, and at the same time, a storage area is secured. Subsequent to the memory clear, the image data is stored in the image memory as necessary for the user's image diagnosis. At this point, the image memories are appropriately divided by the above-described image memory division control.

In this state, for example, when the user switches the patient to be examined or instructs to clear the image memory, the initialization parameters stored in the apparatus are checked. The initialization parameter is also written with a command for erasing / storing data stored in the image memory, and the user selects the erasing / storing option.

When the image memory is erased, the stored contents are erased as described above. Also, if the save is selected, the image data already stored is not deleted,
New image data is stored in an unused area. At the time of this storage, the size of each of the divided image memory areas is not changed and is stored in the section specified by the user.

Further, the timing for initializing the storage contents of the image memory can be specified for each of the divided areas according to a user's instruction. With this function, the effect of the present invention is further enhanced.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing initialization control according to the prior art.

In the conventional initialization control, the same control as the flow shown in FIG. 4 is performed for clearing the image memory and storing the image data in the image memory, but the patient is switched after the image data is stored. Differences occur at the time. In the related art, the stored contents of the image memory are forcibly erased (cleared) by the switching of the patient, so that the image data before the switching of the patient cannot be left, and the erasing is performed against the intention of the user. Was possible.

Further, in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present invention, when the user changes the size of the partition of the image memory, an instruction input method for moving the area dividing line on the graph displayed on the image monitor. There is. Also, the instruction can be input by a method of directly inputting the recordable number and the recording time without moving the area dividing line. Further, the storage area of the image memory once instructed can be deleted and a partition can be added arbitrarily, whereby the effects of the present invention are more preferably exhibited.

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus of the present invention, the user visually grasps the image memory size for each scan mode in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus by using a graph, the number of images, and the time. be able to.

Further, the size of the image memory can be easily and arbitrarily changed. As a result, only the image data necessary for diagnosis can be selected and sufficiently secured, so that the diagnosis efficiency can be improved. .

The embodiments described above are described for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0065]

According to the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present invention described above, it is possible to easily grasp the state of image storage by visually displaying the size of the section of the image memory for storing the ultrasonic image data. And can be.

Further, the user can arbitrarily set the size and order of the division of the image memory and the number of divisions,
It is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus in which the use efficiency of the image memory is good and the operability is good.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of a monitor screen display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of a monitor screen display according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing memory division control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing initialization control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing memory division control according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing initialization control according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 monitor screen 110 image memory image display 112 used / unused boundary line 120 operation guide 121 data type 200 operation switch

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic signal by an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving means to form and display image information from a received signal, wherein a storage capacity allocated to storage of the image information is a predetermined storage capacity. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising: a storage capacity setting unit that can be arbitrarily set among the above; and a storage capacity display unit that visually displays the storage capacity set by the storage capacity setting unit. 2. The storage capacity setting means includes: storage capacity classification means capable of classifying the storage capacity in accordance with a diagnosis condition; and division display means for visually displaying the size of each of the divisions as an area. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: 3. The storage capacity classifying unit includes: a classifying condition storing unit that stores the classifying condition according to the consultation condition; and a classifying condition calling unit that can arbitrarily call the classifying condition. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein 4. The ultrasonic image according to claim 2, wherein said division display means includes a used capacity display means for displaying a used capacity in each area for each of said divisions. Diagnostic device.