JP2001258883A - Ultrasonograph - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a character display easy to identify regardless of the background and the characteristic of an output device represented by a black-and- white printer in making a character display of the measured value set by a console, specified conditions of diagnosis, and the like. SOLUTION: This ultrasonograph is provided with a means for automatically detecting and setting optimum luminance from background ultrasonic image data in making a character display and/or a means for changing according to a user's preference. The character display easy to identify regardless of the background can thereby be made, and the difference of luminance can be expressed even in the case of outputting to the black-and-white printer generally considered to have a narrow dynamic range.

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.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of ultrasonic diagnosis, when a measurement value or a predetermined condition of diagnosis is displayed on a monitor as a character, the displayed position of the displayed character is located within an ultrasonic diagnostic image area. And displayed on the background of the ultrasonic diagnostic image. However, it was difficult to read the character when the brightness of the ultrasonic diagnostic image and the character were close. Further, even if a character can be recognized on a CRT monitor, a difference in luminance cannot be expressed when the character is output to a black-and-white video printer due to a difference in output characteristics.

The basic principle of the conventional example will be described below with reference to FIG.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits an ultrasonic pulse from an ultrasonic transducer to a subject, receives an ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject, and converts the reflected ultrasonic wave into an electric signal. A transmission / reception processing circuit 112 for supplying a drive pulse to the ultrasonic transducer of the probe 111 and amplifying a signal received from the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 111;
Unit 113, an operation console unit 114 for setting measurement conditions and predetermined conditions for diagnosis, and a display conversion process 11 for converting data for displaying measurement results and setting conditions into data for display.
5, a graphic memory unit 116 for storing data to be displayed, a data synthesizing unit 117, and a display unit 118.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below.

The drive pulse generated by the transmission / reception processing circuit 112 is applied to the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 111, converted into an ultrasonic wave, and transmitted to the subject. Ultrasonic waves reflected from the subject are converted into electric signals by the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 111 and sent to the transmission / reception processing circuit 112.
The reception signal is subjected to detection processing, AD conversion processing, and the like in the transmission / reception processing circuit 112, and then is converted into digital data. Ultrasonic digital data output from the transmission / reception processing circuit 112 is subjected to scan conversion by the DSC unit 113. The scan-converted ultrasonic image data is output to the data synthesis unit 117. On the other hand, the measurement values and the predetermined conditions of the diagnosis are set on the console unit 114, and the set data is used in the display conversion processing 1.
After performing data conversion for display at 15, the data is stored in the graphic memory unit 116 and output to the data synthesizing unit 117. In the data synthesizing unit 117, the DSC unit 113
The ultrasonic image data output from the graphic memory unit 116 and the character data output from the graphic memory unit 116 are combined and output to the display unit 118. The output data is displayed on the display unit 11
It is indicated by 8.

[0007]

At this time, the display unit 118
May be located above the ultrasonic image data. At this time, if the difference between the luminance of the character data and the luminance of the image data is large, the character display displayed on the display unit 118 as shown in FIG. However, when the luminance difference is small, there is a problem that the character data displayed on the display unit 118 becomes difficult to read as shown in FIG. Further, when an image is output by a black-and-white video printer whose dynamic range is generally considered to be narrow, there is a problem that reading of character display is more difficult.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. When displaying a character on an ultrasonic diagnostic image, the character can be displayed easily regardless of the background, and the dynamic range is generally increased. An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of expressing a difference in luminance even when an image is output to a narrow black and white printer.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying an ultrasonic image based on an echo signal obtained by transmitting / receiving an ultrasonic pulse to / from a living body. A display position detecting means for detecting a position at which a character is displayed when displaying a character indicating an item of a predetermined condition of diagnosis or the like; a luminance calculating means for automatically determining luminance based on an arbitrarily set condition for each character; It has a configuration including a luminance setting means for setting the luminance of the character based on the display position obtained by the display position detecting means and the luminance obtained by the luminance calculating means.

With this configuration, it is possible to solve the problem that characters output to a conventional display unit or a black-and-white printer are difficult to see.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying an ultrasonic image based on an echo signal obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic pulse to and from a living body. A display position detecting means for detecting a position at which the character is displayed when displaying a character indicating a condition item; a luminance average value calculating means for automatically determining an average luminance of each word of the character from an ultrasonic image; It has a configuration including a luminance setting unit that sets the luminance of the character based on the display position obtained by the detection unit and the luminance obtained by the luminance calculation unit.

With this configuration, it is possible to improve the problem that it is difficult to see a character output to a conventional display unit or a monochrome printer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying an ultrasonic image based on an echo signal obtained by transmitting / receiving an ultrasonic pulse to / from a living body. When displaying a character such as a condition, a display position detecting means for detecting a position at which the character is displayed, a manual luminance setting means for allowing a user to set the luminance of the character for each word, and a display position obtained by the display position detecting means And a brightness setting means for setting the brightness of the character based on the brightness obtained by the brightness calculation means.

With this configuration, by controlling the present means from the console unit, it is possible to set the brightness of the character display according to the user's preference.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying an ultrasonic image based on an echo signal obtained by transmitting / receiving an ultrasonic pulse to / from a living body. In the case of displaying a character such as a condition, the display device has a switching means for selecting a display method for displaying the character.

With this configuration, the form can be changed according to the user's preference.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe 11 that transmits ultrasonic pulses from an ultrasonic transducer to a subject, receives reflected ultrasonic waves from the subject, and converts the reflected ultrasonic waves into electric signals. A transmission / reception processing circuit 12 for supplying a drive pulse to the ultrasonic transducer of the probe 11 and amplifying a received signal from the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 11;
An operation console unit 14 for setting predetermined conditions for measurement values and diagnostics, a display conversion process 15 for converting data for displaying measurement results and setting conditions into data for display, and a switch 100 for selecting a display mode; , Display position detecting means 101
Automatic brightness calculating means 102 and mean brightness value calculating means 1
03, brightness manual setting means 104, and brightness setting means 10
5, a graphic memory unit 16, and a data synthesizing unit 17
And a display unit 18.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. The drive pulse generated by the transmission / reception processing circuit 12 is applied to the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 11, converted into an ultrasonic wave, and transmitted to the subject. Ultrasonic waves reflected from the subject are converted into electric signals by the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 11 and sent to the transmission / reception processing circuit 12. The reception signal is subjected to detection processing, AD conversion processing, and the like in the transmission / reception processing circuit 12, and then converted to digital data. The ultrasonic digital data output from the transmission / reception processing circuit 12 is D
Scan conversion is performed by the SC unit 13. The scan-converted ultrasonic image data is output to the data synthesizing unit 16, the automatic luminance calculating unit 102, and the average luminance calculating unit 103. On the other hand, the measurement values and the predetermined conditions of the diagnosis are set by the console unit 14, and the set data is subjected to data conversion for display in the display conversion processing 15 and output. Subsequent control differs depending on the state of the switch 100.

The switch 100 is an automatic brightness calculating means 102
Is selected, the measurement data and the setting condition data are output to the display position detecting means 101. The display position detecting means 101 detects the display position of each character to be displayed, and outputs the detected position to the automatic luminance calculating means 102. The automatic brightness calculation means 102 calculates the average brightness from image data in which the display position is the same for each character. The image data input to the automatic luminance calculating means 102 is luminance data of 255 gradations. When the value of the image data is 0, it is displayed in black, and when it is 255, it is displayed in white. The brightness automatic calculation means 102 sets 128 as a threshold value, and 255 if the brightness value of the image data is between 0 and 127, and 12
If it is between 8 and 255, 0 is set to the brightness setting means 105
Output to In the brightness setting means 105, the display position obtained from the display position detection means 101 and the brightness automatic calculation means 10
The brightness of the character is set based on the brightness information obtained from Step 2, and the data is stored in the graphic memory unit 16. The character data stored in the graphic memory unit 16 is output to the data synthesizing unit 17. The data synthesizing unit 17 synthesizes the ultrasonic image data output from the DSC unit 13 and the character data output from the graphic memory unit 16, and outputs the synthesized data to the display unit 18. The output data is displayed on the display unit 18.

The switch 100 is used as the average luminance value calculating means 10.
In a state where 3 is selected, the measurement data and the setting condition data are output to the display position detecting means 101. The display position detecting means 101 detects the display position of the measurement data for one word and the setting condition data, and calculates the average luminance value calculating means 10.
Output to 3. The average luminance value calculation means 103 calculates the average luminance of the image data at the same display position as the one word area of the measurement data and the setting condition data. Brightness average value calculation means 1
In 03, when the luminance value of the image data is between 0 and 127, 255 is output to the luminance setting means when the luminance value of the image data is between 0 and 127.
The brightness setting means sets the brightness of the character based on the display position obtained from the display position detection means 101 and the brightness information obtained from the brightness average value calculation means 103, and stores the data in the graphic memory unit 16. The character data stored in the graphic memory unit 16 is output to the data synthesizing unit 17. In the data synthesizing unit 17, DS
The ultrasonic image data output from the C unit 13 and the character data output from the graphic memory unit 16 are combined and output to the display unit 18. The output data is displayed on the display unit 18.

The switch 100 is a manual brightness setting means 104
Is selected, the measurement data and the setting condition data are output to the display position detecting means 101. The display position detecting means 101 detects the display position of the measurement data and the setting condition data for one word, and the luminance manual setting means 104
Output to The brightness manual setting means 104 determines the brightness set by the user using the console 14 and outputs the determined brightness to the brightness setting means 105. The brightness setting means 105 sets the brightness of the character based on the display position obtained from the display position detection means 101 and the brightness information obtained from the brightness manual setting means 104, and stores the data in the graphic memory unit 16. The character data stored in the graphic memory unit 16 is output to the data synthesizing unit 17. The data synthesizing unit 17 synthesizes the ultrasonic image data output from the DSC unit 13 and the character data output from the graphic memory unit 16, and outputs the synthesized data to the display unit 18. The output data is displayed on the display unit 18.

However, no matter what the state of the switch unit 100, if the luminance value is changed from the operation console unit 16, the luminance value set from the operation console unit 16 via the luminance manual setting means 104. The value is changed and the graphic data is displayed.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the character displayed on the display section 18 has an optimum luminance value regardless of the luminance of the ultrasonic image and can be easily identified. Becomes When it is desired to change the set display mode, the setting can be made from the operation console unit 14.

[0025]

As described above, the present invention has an excellent effect that when a character is displayed on an ultrasonic image, the character can be clearly displayed regardless of the background of the character to be displayed. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a case where a luminance difference between an ultrasonic image and a character display is large; FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a case where a luminance difference between an ultrasonic image and a character display is small;

FIG. 3 is a basic principle diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Ultrasonic probe 12 Transmission / reception scanning circuit 13 DSC part 14 Operation console part 15 Display conversion processing 16 Graphic memory part 17 Data synthesis part 18 Display part 100 Switch 101 Display position detection means 102 Automatic luminance calculation means 103 Average luminance value calculation means 104 brightness manual setting means 105 brightness setting means

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 4C301 EE07 HH51 JC16 KK04 LL05 5B057 AA07 BA05 CA02 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB02 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC01 CE08 CE11 5C082 AA04 BA02 BA35 BB32 CA11 CA82 CB05 DA32 MM10

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which displays an ultrasonic image based on an echo signal obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic pulse into and from a living body, when displaying a character indicating a measurement value or a predetermined condition item of diagnosis, Display position detecting means for detecting a position at which a character is displayed; luminance calculating means for automatically determining luminance based on arbitrarily set conditions for each character; display position and luminance calculation obtained by the display position detecting means An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a luminance setting unit that sets the luminance of a character based on the luminance obtained by the unit. 2. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which displays an ultrasonic image based on an echo signal obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic pulse into and from a living body, when displaying a character indicating a measurement value or an item of a predetermined condition of diagnosis. A display position detecting means for detecting a position at which the character is displayed, a luminance average value calculating means for automatically determining an average luminance for each word of the character from the ultrasonic image, and a display position obtained by the display position detecting means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a luminance setting unit that sets the luminance of a character based on the luminance obtained by the luminance calculation unit. 3. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying an ultrasonic image based on an echo signal obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic pulse into and from a living body, wherein a character such as a measurement value or a predetermined condition for diagnosis is displayed. Display position detecting means for detecting the position at which the image is displayed, manual luminance setting means for allowing the user to set the luminance of the character for each word, and the display position obtained by the display position detecting means and the luminance obtained by the luminance calculating means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a luminance setting means for setting the luminance of a character based on the image. 4. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying an ultrasonic image based on an echo signal obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic pulse into and from a living body, wherein a character such as a measured value or a predetermined condition for diagnosis is displayed. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a switching unit for selecting a display method for displaying a display.