JP2001079000A - Ultrasonograph - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an operator to simply and efficiently input setting conditions for an image through the registration of presetting while simultaneously viewing an image that matches the input setting conditions. SOLUTION: When presetting conditions are varied, the graphic calculating part and the graphic generating part 14 of an operation arithmetic part 11 operate according to the input of the presetting conditions from an operating part 4, and the image control arithmetic part of the operation arithmetic part 11 calculates the data for sending control signals to a transmitting/receiving circuit 12 and to an ultrasonogram generating part 13 in order to display an ultrasonogram that meets the input presetting conditions. An image synthesizing part 15 synthesizes the ultrasonogram sent from the ultrasonogram generating part 13 and the graphic data sent from the graphic generating part 14, and outputs a resulting synthesized image as an image for display.

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 for transmitting ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic probe and displaying an ultrasonic image based on an echo signal from a subject.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, ultrasonic waves are transmitted to a living body by an ultrasonic probe provided with an ultrasonic vibrator, and an echo signal converted into an electric signal is received and converted into an electric signal, thereby diagnosing an ultrasonic tomographic image of the living body. Ultrasound diagnostic devices used for medical devices have come to be widely used.

[0003] Such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a preset function in which setting conditions such as image gain and contrast are registered in advance. By reading the registered preset without inputting the condition, an image corresponding to the set condition can be displayed instantaneously.

The registration of the preset is performed, for example, by switching the display screen to a preset registration screen and inputting image setting conditions for the preset registration on the preset registration screen from a console or the like. .

[0005]

However, since the conventional preset registration is performed after switching the display screen to the preset registration screen as described above, the ultrasonic image being displayed is hidden, and the preset image is hidden. During registration, there was a problem that the current ultrasound image could not be viewed.

Therefore, in order to check the image state corresponding to the set condition even after the set condition is input, it is necessary to temporarily register the preset, close the preset registration screen, and then display and check the ultrasonic image. Then, if it is necessary to redo the preset registration setting condition while looking at the ultrasonic image, the preset registration must be performed again. Also, it is necessary to delete the preset once registered. For this reason, in order to perform preset registration efficiently, the operator views and confirms an image according to the setting conditions before the preset registration, displays the preset registration screen, and inputs the setting conditions. Will be.

As described above, the conventional preset registration requires a great deal of trouble only by registering the preset, and is not efficient. In addition, when the preset registration is retried, the preset registration is terminated and the preset registration is performed again, which is a troublesome task, which imposes a very heavy burden on the operator.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when inputting image setting conditions by preset registration, it is possible to easily and efficiently perform the operation while simultaneously viewing images corresponding to the input setting conditions. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which is excellent in quality.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention processes an ultrasonic signal obtained by scanning an object with an ultrasonic probe. Image processing means for forming an image, graphic generating means for displaying at least a character, operating means capable of instructing a preset for registering setting conditions of the displayed ultrasonic image, and when the preset is instructed from the operating means An image synthesizing unit that synthesizes the ultrasonic image obtained by the image processing unit and the character obtained by the graphic generating unit; and an image synthesizing unit that synthesizes the ultrasonic image, the character, and the synthesized image by the image synthesizing unit. Display means for displaying at least one of them.

That is, the image processing means processes an ultrasonic signal obtained by scanning the subject with the ultrasonic probe to generate an ultrasonic image, and the graphic generating means performs processing so as to display at least a character. Further, when a preset for registering the setting condition of the ultrasonic image displayed by the operation unit is instructed, the image synthesizing unit compares the ultrasonic image obtained by the image processing unit and the character obtained by the graphic generation unit. Combine. In this way, at least one of the ultrasonic image, the character, and the synthesized image synthesized by the image synthesis means is displayed on the display means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the first aspect, the operating means has a trackball, and the graphic generating means has a cursor on a display screen. , A cursor moving means for moving the cursor in accordance with an instruction of the trackball, and a cursor capable of arbitrarily setting an amount of movement of the cursor by an amount of rotation of the trackball by an input from the operation means. Moving amount setting means.

That is, the graphic generating means generates a cursor on the display screen by the cursor generating means, moves the cursor in accordance with a trackball instruction of the operating means by the cursor moving means, and inputs the input from the operating means by the cursor moving amount setting means. To set the movement amount of the cursor by the rotation amount of the trackball of the operation means.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
Is a functional block diagram of the operation calculation unit, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a screen to be introduced to a preset registration screen, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a screen in preset registration.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 is provided on an ultrasonic probe (not shown) to a control device 2, transmits ultrasonic waves, and An ultrasonic transducer 3 for receiving an echo signal of the above, an operation unit 4 as an operation means for performing various inputs by the operator and controlling the entire ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and an ultrasonic image subjected to signal processing by the controller 2 And a display device 5 as a display means for displaying the same.

The operation unit 4 is configured by connecting a trackball 4b to a console 4a, and necessary inputs can be performed by at least one of the console 4a and the trackball 4b.

The control device 2 mainly includes an operation calculation unit 11, a transmission / reception circuit 12, an A / D converter (not shown), an ultrasonic image generation unit 13, a graphic generation unit 14, and an image synthesis unit 15. Have been.

The operation calculation section 11 performs predetermined processing in accordance with an input signal from the console 4a or the trackball 4b, outputs a control command to the transmission / reception circuit 12, and the ultrasonic image generation section 13, and The graphic data to be displayed on the screen is output to the graphic generator 14.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation calculation section 11 includes a graphic calculation section 11a and an image control calculation section 11b.
“a” calculates graphic data such as a cursor and a character to be displayed on the screen according to a command from the operation unit 4 and outputs the calculated data to the graphic generation unit 14. Further, the image control calculation unit 11b outputs a control signal to the transmission / reception circuit 12 and the ultrasonic image generation unit 13 in order to control an image according to a command from the operation unit 4 or an operation input state. ing.

The transmission / reception circuit 12 includes an operation calculation unit 1
The control command is input from 1 and the transmission / reception control of the ultrasonic vibrator 3 is performed, and an echo signal from the ultrasonic vibrator 3 is output and converted into digital data by an A / D converter to generate an ultrasonic image generating unit. 13 is formed in the circuit section.

The ultrasonic image generating unit 13 performs the above-described A / D
The digital data of the ultrasonic wave sent through the converter is adjusted to the scanning direction of the image, and the signal of the obtained ultrasonic image is converted into the image synthesizing unit 15 according to the control command input from the operation calculation unit 11. Output to That is, an image processing unit is formed by the image control operation unit 11b of the operation operation unit 11 and the ultrasonic image generation unit 13.

The graphic generation section 14 generates and displays graphic data such as a cursor and a character on the screen based on graphic data from the operation calculation section 11. That is, the operation calculation unit 1
The graphic calculation unit 11a and the graphic generation unit 14 form a graphic generation unit.

The image synthesizing section 15 serves as an image synthesizing means, and receives ultrasonic image data from the ultrasonic image generating section 13 and graphic data to be generated and displayed from the graphic generating section 14. Ultrasound images, graphics,
Alternatively, the display device 5 displays a synthesized screen obtained by synthesizing the ultrasonic image and the graphic.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 having the above configuration and preset registration will be specifically described. First,
The echo signal is received by the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer 3 of the ultrasonic probe. This echo signal is input to the transmission / reception circuit 12 of the control device 2 and is converted into digital data by an A / D converter (not shown).
Is coordinate transformed.

In the operation calculation section 11, the operation console 4a,
A predetermined process is performed by a control signal from the trackball 4b, and a control command is transmitted to the transmission / reception circuit 12 and the ultrasonic image generation unit 13, and graphic data to be displayed on the screen is transmitted to the graphic generation unit 14, respectively.

The image synthesizing unit 15 receives the ultrasonic image data from the ultrasonic image generating unit 13, the graphic data to be generated and displayed from the graphic generating unit 14, and changes the input state of the operation unit 4. Accordingly, the display device 5 displays an ultrasonic image, a graphic, or a composite screen obtained by synthesizing the ultrasonic image and the graphic.

Here, console 4a, trackball 4b
Is operated, the control regarding the ultrasonic image is performed by the image control calculation unit 11b, the control regarding the graphic display of other characters and the like is performed by the graphic calculation unit 11a, and the graphic calculation unit 11a calculates the graphic data. The graphic generator 14 generates graphic data. Thus the menu screen,
The preset screen is generated by the graphic calculation unit 11a and the graphic generation unit 14.

A specific operation at the time of preset registration will be described. First, in order to execute the preset registration from the operation unit 4, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), a menu screen is started, and the trackball 4b or the console 4a is used.
When you select a preset, its lower menu is
It is displayed as shown in FIG.

In this lower menu, in addition to the registration of the preset, the deletion and the reading of the preset can be executed. Deletion of a preset is to delete a preset that has already been registered. At the time of deletion, a confirmation message is also displayed. When the preset registration is selected, a preset registration screen is displayed as shown in FIG.

On the preset registration screen, the preset contents already registered, the current GAIN (gain), C
Setting conditions such as ONT (contrast) and RANGE (display range) are displayed. The setting conditions are not limited to the above three, and may include various setting items such as sensitivity time control (STC) and image direction. A plurality of presets can be registered.

What can be executed on this preset registration screen is input of setting conditions and input of a comment (MEMO). Comments can be entered from the console 4a (comments can be entered from the position of the cursor on the preset registration screen), and once written can be erased, and can be redisplayed immediately after being erased. Furthermore, setting conditions can be input from the console 4a. When the setting conditions are changed, an ultrasonic image corresponding to the setting conditions is displayed at the same time.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 (b) and 4 (c), when the preset registration screen is displayed, the screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 4 (b). The range is changed from 4 cm to 1 cm), and accordingly, the ultrasonic image also displays the image of the changed setting condition (in the figure, the image of the 4 cm range is changed to the image of the 1 cm range). The preset registration screen shown in FIG. 4A is a conventional one, and the current ultrasonic image cannot be viewed during the preset registration.

When the preset setting conditions are changed, the graphic of the operation calculation unit 11 is changed in order to change the display contents of the preset registration screen in accordance with the input of the setting conditions from the console 4a or the trackball 4b. The calculation unit 11a and the graphic generation unit 14 operate to operate data for transmitting control signals to the transmission / reception circuit 12 and the ultrasonic image generation unit 13 for displaying the ultrasonic image of the input setting conditions. The image control calculation unit 11b of the calculation unit 11 calculates. The image synthesizing unit 15 synthesizes the ultrasonic image from the ultrasonic image generating unit 13 and the graphic data from the graphic generating unit 14, and outputs the synthesized image as a display image. Here, when the graphic data is combined with the ultrasonic image, the back surface is transparent so that the ultrasonic image is displayed behind the preset registration screen. In this way, when the preset conditions are input at the time of preset registration, the ultrasonic image can be changed and displayed at the same time as an image corresponding to the preset conditions.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the operator performs preset registration, when the operator inputs the image setting conditions, the image corresponding to the input setting conditions can be viewed at the same time. You can easily register presets while viewing images at the same time. Also, when changing the preset registration setting conditions, you can see the changed setting conditions and the image under the changed conditions,
The setting conditions can be changed efficiently and the workability is excellent.

As described above, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which the cursor displayed on the screen can be moved by the trackball, the cursor is displayed only when the setting condition at the time of preset registration is selected. This is performed when performing an operation, determining an area for measurement, or selecting an item when a menu is displayed.

The displayed cursor can be moved by rotating the trackball. At this time, a pulse signal for a vertical rotation amount and a pulse signal for a horizontal rotation amount are generated from the trackball in accordance with the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the trackball. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment recognizes the amount and direction of rotation of the trackball based on the pulse signal sent from the trackball,
The cursor movement amount is determined, and the cursor is moved and displayed accordingly.

The movement of the cursor is preferred by the operator. The operator thinks that it is better for the cursor to move a little with a slight trackball rotation, and the cursor moves only a little even if the trackball is rotated greatly. Since there is an operator who thinks that it is better and an operator who thinks that the cursor movement in the middle is good, it is desirable that the movement amount of the cursor be switched by the operator.

Therefore, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-34165, a switch for changing the cursor movement amount is provided on the trackball so that the cursor movement amount with respect to the rotation amount of the trackball can be switched in two stages. The pulse signal is changed even for the ball rotation amount, and as a result, the cursor movement amount can be switched even for the same trackball rotation amount.

However, if a changeover switch is provided on the trackball as in the above-described prior art, there is a problem that the trackball becomes large by the size of the changeover switch. Further, in the above-mentioned prior art, there is a problem that switching of the cursor movement amount with respect to the rotation amount of the trackball is performed in only two stages by a changeover switch, and cannot cope with various operator preferences.

For this reason, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is configured as described with reference to FIGS. Specifically, the operation calculation unit 20 corresponding to the operation calculation unit 11 described above is configured as shown in FIG. The other configuration, operation, and effect are substantially the same as the above-described configuration, operation, and effect, and are denoted by the same reference numerals.

That is, the operation calculation section 20 includes a graphic data calculation section 21 for calculating graphic data on the screen in accordance with an instruction from the operation section 4, an image control calculation section 22 for controlling an image, and a trackball rotation amount. A cursor movement amount setting unit 23 for determining a cursor movement amount with respect to
A cursor movement amount setting amount memory 24 for recording cursor movement amount data for the trackball rotation amount set by the cursor movement amount setting unit 23, and a pulse signal detection for detecting a pulse signal generated according to the rotation amount of the trackball 4b. Unit 25 and a cursor movement amount calculation unit 2 for calculating how much the cursor moves on the screen with respect to the pulse signal
6 mainly.

For this reason, in the present modification, an image processing means is formed by the image control calculation unit 22 and the ultrasonic image generation unit 13, and the graphic data calculation unit 21, the cursor movement amount setting unit 23, and the cursor movement amount Set amount memory 24
The pulse generation unit 25 includes the pulse signal detection unit 25, the cursor movement amount calculation unit 26, and the graphic generation unit 14.

Next, the operation of the modified example having the above configuration will be described. In this modification, the operation of converting an echo signal into an image by the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer 3 and
The operation of displaying the cursor is as described above, and the description is omitted.

Here, a description will be given of an operation when the cursor movement amount is changed with respect to the trackball rotation amount, and an operation when the cursor is moved by actually rotating the trackball 4b.

First, the relationship between the amount of cursor movement and the amount of trackball rotation will be described. When an operation for displaying a cursor such as measurement from the operation unit 4 is performed, the cursor is displayed on the screen.

The amount of cursor movement on the display screen is Δc, the number of pulses detected by the pulse signal detector 25 is Δp, and the set value of the amount of cursor movement with respect to the amount of trackball rotation is m.
Then, the cursor movement amount Δc is obtained by the following equation (1) in the cursor movement amount calculation unit 26. Δc = Δp / m (1)

Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the relationship of the above equation (1) is that when m is 1, the cursor is moved by one pixel when one pulse comes, and when m is two, the cursor comes two pulses. At this time, the cursor is moved by one pixel, and depending on the value of m, how many pulses come and how the cursor moves by one pixel changes.

That is, when the trackball 4b rotates by a fixed amount, a pulse signal is generated, and the cursor movement amount calculator 26 calculates the cursor movement amount (moving pixel) on the screen based on the above equation (1). . The set value m is read from the cursor movement amount setting amount memory 24.

Next, specific examples of how much the cursor moves according to the set value m are shown in FIGS. In FIG. 6, first, a cursor position is determined in order to determine an area at the time of measurement. Then, as shown in FIG. 6A, a cursor "+" is displayed, and from this state, the trackball 4b
Use to move the cursor. Here, when the trackball is rotated, the moving amount of the cursor “+” decreases when the set value m is large and the cursor “+” when the set value m is small, even with the same rotation amount (FIG. 6B). Is increased (FIG. 6C).

In FIG. 7, when the menu screen is displayed, as shown in FIG. 7A, the selection items are surrounded by squares. In this description, this square is called a cursor. Then, the selection item is selected with the trackball 4b. Here, when the trackball 4b is rotated, the amount of movement of the cursor is small when the set value m is large even with the same amount of rotation (the item is changed from “registered” to “deleted” as shown in FIG. 7B). If the setting value m is small, the amount of movement of the cursor is large (the item moves from “registration” to “return” as shown in FIG. 7C).

On the other hand, to determine the set value m, the operation console 4a
To execute a cursor moving amount setting operation. Then, the cursor moving amount setting unit 23 sets the value m by inputting the setting value m from the console 4a, and the input setting value m is stored in the cursor moving amount setting amount memory 24. When the set value m is changed in this manner, the cursor movement amount on the screen is changed with respect to the trackball rotation amount from the relationship of the above equation (1).
The amount of cursor movement on the screen with respect to the amount of rotation can be arbitrarily changed.

As described above, according to this modification, the trackball 4b does not become large because the cursor movement amount setting section 23 is not built in the trackball 4b. In addition, the amount of cursor movement with respect to the amount of rotation of the trackball 4b can be finely changed to an arbitrary amount within a wide range according to the preference of various operators, so that each operator can use the device without stress. Excellent in nature.

[Supplementary Notes] Image processing means for processing an ultrasonic signal obtained by scanning the subject with an ultrasonic probe to obtain an ultrasonic image,
Graphic generating means for displaying at least a character, operating means capable of instructing a preset for registering the setting condition of the displayed ultrasonic image, and an image processing means for obtaining the preset when the operating means instructs the preset. Image synthesizing means for synthesizing the obtained ultrasonic image and the character obtained by the graphic generating means, and display means for displaying at least one of the ultrasonic image, the character, and a synthetic image synthesized by the image synthesizing means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

2. The operating means has a trackball, the graphic generating means includes a cursor generating means for generating a cursor on a display screen, a cursor moving means for moving the cursor according to an instruction of the trackball, 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a cursor moving amount setting unit configured to freely set a ratio of moving the trackball on the display screen with respect to a rotation amount of the trackball by an input.

[0054]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the preset for registering the setting condition of the displayed ultrasonic image is instructed, the ultrasonic image and the character are combined and displayed. When inputting image setting conditions by preset registration, preset registration can be performed easily and efficiently while simultaneously viewing images corresponding to the input setting conditions, resulting in an excellent effect of good workability. Play.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the trackball, the cursor movement amount can be arbitrarily set with respect to the rotation amount of the trackball according to the preference of the operator. There is an effect that the cursor movement amount can be set arbitrarily widely according to the preference of the operator with respect to the rotation amount of the trackball without increasing the size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an operation calculation unit.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a screen introduced to a preset registration screen.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a screen in preset registration.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an operation calculation unit according to a modified example.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a display screen at the time of measurement.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a display screen when a menu is selected.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a cursor movement amount with respect to a pulse signal due to a difference in a set value of the cursor movement amount;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 Control apparatus 3 Ultrasonic transducer 4 Operation part (operation means) 4a Operation console 4b Trackball 5 Display device (display means) 11 Operation calculation part 11a Graphic calculation part (graphic generation means) 11b Image control calculation Unit (image processing unit) 12 Transmission / reception circuit 13 Ultrasound image generation unit (image processing unit) 14 Graphic generation unit (graphic generation unit) 15 Image synthesis unit (image synthesis unit)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image processing means for processing an ultrasonic signal obtained by scanning an object with an ultrasonic probe to generate an ultrasonic image, a graphic generating means for displaying at least a character, and an ultrasonic wave to be displayed An operation unit capable of freely instructing a preset for registering image setting conditions; and an ultrasonic image obtained by the image processing unit and a character obtained by the graphic generation unit when the preset is instructed from the operation unit. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, comprising: image synthesizing means for synthesizing the image; and display means for displaying at least one of the ultrasonic image, the character, and a synthetic image synthesized by the image synthesizing means. 2. The operating means has a trackball; the graphic generating means generates a cursor on a display screen; a cursor moving means for moving the cursor in accordance with an instruction of the trackball;
2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a cursor moving amount setting unit configured to freely set a moving amount of the cursor according to a rotation amount of the trackball by an input from the operation unit. 3. .