JP2002159493A - Ultrasonic diagnosis system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnosis system which can respond easily to an outside recording device even if it is replaced by another one, without changing ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. SOLUTION: An ultrasonogram datum created by an ultrasonic wave observation device 3 is transmitted from a network I/F to a connecting relay device 5 via a net hub 8 based on a fixed communication protocol. The connecting relay device 5 retransmits the fowarded ultrasonogram datum to a filing device 4 by transducing it to the communication protocol fitted to this filing device 4 so that even if the filing device is replaced by another one so as to have another protocol, the connecting relay device 5 can respond to the other protocol, which makes the recording of the ultrasonogram datum at the filing device 4 possible, without changing the ultrasonic wave observation device side 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic system which generates an ultrasonic image by ultrasonic scanning and uses it for diagnosis.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-373 discloses a conventional technique.
75, JP-A-2000-148993. JP 200
No. 0-37375 discloses a medical image diagnostic apparatus that sends out a list and images stored in a filing apparatus in response to a request from another apparatus. In addition, JP-A-2000-
No. 148993 discloses a medical image filing apparatus that stores an image output from an image diagnostic apparatus in an image filing apparatus by a recording trigger generated in conjunction with a printing operation.

[0003]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-373
In 75, when an external filing device connected by Ethernet or the like is changed to a new version, the connected diagnostic imaging device itself must be changed to correspond to the new version. Was troublesome.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-148893 discloses a device that detects a peculiar sound and uses it as a recording trigger so as to be able to cope with the device without modifying the device. Such as only being able to respond,
It was inconvenient.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and even if an external recording device such as a filing device is changed, it is easy to use a new external recording device without changing the ultrasonic diagnostic device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic system capable of coping with the above.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from an object, performs ultrasonic scanning, and obtains an ultrasonic image from an echo signal from the object. In an ultrasound diagnostic system including an external recording device that records ultrasound image data to be transmitted, the ultrasound diagnostic device is disposed between the ultrasound diagnostic device and the external recording device, and a predetermined protocol is used from the ultrasound diagnostic device. A relay device that receives the transmitted ultrasonic image data, converts the received ultrasonic image data into a protocol that can be received by the external recording device, and transmits the protocol to the external recording device. Even if the recording device is changed, it is possible to record the ultrasonic image data in the external recording device without changing the ultrasonic diagnostic device simply by changing the relay device.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic system of the first embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 3 shows an operation content of the sound wave diagnostic system, and FIG. 3 shows a state where the image data is sorted and stored according to the type of image data.

As shown in FIG. 1, an ultrasonic diagnostic system 1 according to the first embodiment is inserted into, for example, a body cavity of a patient as an object, transmits an ultrasonic wave to an examination site side, and reflects its ultrasonic wave. An ultrasonic probe 2 that sequentially scans over a predetermined scanning range to receive and convert an acoustic wave into an echo signal, performs signal processing on the echo signal, and performs processing for generating an ultrasonic (tomographic) image from a large number of echo signals. Ultrasound observation device 3
And receives image data from the ultrasonic observation device 3,
A connection relay device 5 serving as a relay unit for transferring to the filing device 4; a filing device 4 for receiving image data transferred from the connection relay device 5 and filing an image; It has a monitor 6 for displaying images and a DVD-RAM 7 connected to the connection relay device 5 for recording ultrasonic image data.

The ultrasonic observation device 3, the filing device 4, and the connection relay device 5 are connected to a network hub 8 by Ethernet (registered trademark) cables. The ultrasonic probe 2 includes an ultrasonic oscillator (not shown) and a scanning unit that scans (eg, mechanically) ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic oscillator by rotating or driving the ultrasonic oscillator, and the like. Ultrasonic waves sequentially emitted from the ultrasonic transducer while being scanned by the ultrasonic transducer are reflected by the same ultrasonic transducer and received by the same ultrasonic transducer, and are converted into an electric signal, that is, an echo signal. Send to In addition,
The ultrasonic probe 2 and the ultrasonic observation device 3 constitute an ultrasonic diagnostic device.

[0010] The ultrasonic observation apparatus 3 converts the input echo signal into echo signal data (sound ray data) by amplifying, detecting, A / D converting and the like in an internal receiving circuit, and stores it in a temporary memory. Ultrasonic tomographic image data to be displayed on the monitor 6 is generated by performing processing equivalent to scan conversion on a large number of sound ray data stored in the memory. The sound ray data is img data, and the ultrasonic tomographic image data obtained by scan-converting the img data is bmp data.

The sound ray data or tomographic image data is transmitted to a predetermined protocol, for example, NetBE, by a network I / F constituting a communication means of the ultrasonic observation apparatus 3.
The data is transferred to the connection relay device 5 via the network hub 8 by the UI protocol. The connection relay device 5 is connected to the internal bus 11 by a CP that performs overall control and protocol conversion processing.
U12, a network I / F 13 as an interface for network communication, a memory 14 and a hard disk 15 for temporarily storing image data, a frame memory 16 for storing image data to be displayed, and a SCSI I / F as an interface for connection with SCSI devices. / F17 is connected.

A monitor 6 is connected to the frame memory 16, and a DVD-RAM is connected to the SCSI I / F 17.
7 is connected. The recording means for recording an image is not limited to the DVD-RAM 7, but may be a portable medium such as an MO (magneto-optical disk), a CD-R, or a DVD-R.

The sound ray data or tomographic image data transferred from the network I / F of the ultrasonic observation device 3 to the network I / F 13 of the connection relay device 5 via the network hub 8 by the NetBEUI protocol is transmitted to the internal bus 11. Is written to the memory 14 via the USB port and recorded on the hard disk 15.

The data written on the hard disk 15 is converted by the CPU 12 into a communication protocol of the filing device 4, for example, a TCP / IP protocol.
It is passed to the network I / F 13 and further sent to the filing device 4 via the network hub 8, and the filing device 4 records the received tomographic image data in an internal recording device.

Further, i recorded on the hard disk 15
The mg data is processed into a monitor display image by the CPU 12 and written into the frame memory 16 so that
An image is displayed on the monitor 6. The data is SCSI
The data is stored in the DVD-RAM 7 via the I / F 17.

In the present embodiment, image data and the like are transferred from the ultrasonic observation device 3 to the connection relay device 5 according to a predetermined protocol, and the connection relay device 5 transmits the data received according to the predetermined protocol to the filing device 4. The filing device 4 as an external recording device for recording image data of the ultrasonic observation device 3 is configured by converting the data into another protocol or the like corresponding to the protocol (the predetermined protocol or the like) and transferring the converted data to the filing device 4. Is changed to a new version or the like, the image data of the ultrasonic observation device 3 can be recorded in the filing device 4 by changing the communication function portion of the connection relay device 5 as a relay means of both devices. It is characteristic.

As the connection relay device 5, for example, a personal computer (personal computer) is connected to the ultrasonic observation device 3
It is configured by incorporating software or the like corresponding to a communication protocol for transmitting and receiving image data and the like with the filing device 4. Then, it is possible to easily cope with a change in the communication protocol.

Next, the operation via the connection relay device 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 in terms of data flow. The ultrasonic observation device 3 converts the echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe 2 into digital data after amplification, detection, and the like. In this case, there are two types of data: img data, which is ultrasonic sound ray data itself, and bmp data, which is obtained by scan-converting the img data and capturing a monitor display image to be digital data.

As shown in step S1 of FIG. 2, data is generated by the ultrasonic observation apparatus 3, and it is then determined whether or not the data is ready for transfer (step S2). The data is transferred from the observation device 3 to the connection relay device 5 by the NetBEUI protocol via the network hub 8 (step S3).

The connection relay device 5 determines whether the transferred data is bmp data or img data (step S).
4) In the case of bmp data, it is stored in a transfer area provided in a hard disk (abbreviated as HDD in FIG. 2) 15 in the connection relay device 5 (step S5).

When stored in the transfer area, the ID and Nam
Based on information such as e, the data is sorted in a predetermined order as shown in FIG. Further, it is determined whether or not the transfer area is full (step S6).

If the transfer area is not full, the operation of storing the bmp data is continued, and if the transfer area is full (or the data transfer from the ultrasonic observation apparatus 3 is completed, the bmp data remains in the transfer area). The CPU 12 transmits the bmp data in the transfer area to the filing device 4 by TCP.
The bmp data transferred via the network I / F 13 and the network hub 8 by the / IP protocol and transferred to the filing device 4 is filed (step S7). Then, it is determined whether or not the bmp data remains in the transfer area (step S8), and the data is transferred until it disappears.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the bmp data of the transfer area of the hard disk 15, ie, 3333.
bmp, 1111. bmp, 0000. The bmp is all stored in the filing device 4. If it is determined in step S4 that the data is img data,
The img data is stored in the storage area of the hard disk 15 (Step S9). Here, as in the case of the bmp data, the data is sorted as shown in FIG.

It is determined whether the storage area is full (step S10). If the storage area is not full, a process of storing the img data in the storage area is performed. When the data is full (or the transfer of the data from the ultrasonic observation apparatus 3 is completed, the img data remains in the storage area). Is stored in the DVD-RAM 7 so as to save the data (step S11).

Then, it is determined whether img data remains in the storage area (step S12).
The data is saved in the VD-RAM 7. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the img data of the storage area of the hard disk 15, in the specific example, 4444. img, 2222. The img is all stored in the DVD-RAM7.

In this way, the image data from the ultrasonic observation device 3 is stored in the filing device 4 via the connection relay device 5 as a relay device. In this case, if the filing device 4 is changed to communicate with another protocol due to a version upgrade or the like, the connection relay device 5
Is changed so that it can communicate with the filing device 4 changed in accordance with the change, so that the image data from the ultrasonic observation device 3 can be transferred to the filing device 4 for filing in the same manner as before the change. it can.

When the filing device 4 is changed or upgraded to perform communication with a protocol different from the protocol used up to now, the connection relay device 5 sends the information to the filing device 5. The program or the like is changed so that the protocol for transmitting the image data is also performed by the another protocol, so that the filing device 4 can be easily changed.

This embodiment has the following effects. With the above configuration, the ultrasonic observation device 3 and the filing device 4
Even when the protocol of the network is different from that of the network, the data transfer can be performed without any problem through the connection relay device 5.

Further, even if the filing device 4 is upgraded to communicate with a different protocol, it can be dealt with by changing the connection relay device 5. Since the main function of the connection relay device 5 is to relay communication, most of the functions can be realized by software, so that the change is easy.

In this embodiment, Ethernet is assumed, but connection may be made by using technologies such as USB, IEEE1394, telephone line, LAN of AC power line, mobile phone, and PHS. It has a similar effect. The data transferred from the ultrasonic observation device 3 is as follows:
When compression is performed by the CPU 12 in the connection relay device 5 using an algorithm such as the LZW method, the data size is reduced, and the transfer efficiency to the filing device 5 is improved.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In the ultrasonic diagnostic system 21 according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Is connected to the ultrasonic transducer 2a in the ultrasonic probe 2 by a signal line, outputs a transmission signal of ultrasonic transmission (transmission) to the ultrasonic transducer 2a, and amplifies the received echo signal. Receiving circuit 25 that performs signal processing such as
And

The internal bus 26 of the ultrasonic observation device 23
CPU 27 for controlling the ultrasonic observation device 23
And a memory 28 used as a work area of the CPU 27, etc.
And the hard disk 29 storing the ultrasonic image data
And a network I / F 30 as communication means for transmitting image data to an external device using a predetermined protocol, and a (keyboard) I / F 31 to which a keyboard 32 for inputting instructions such as operations is connected. .

The receiving circuit 25 is also connected to the internal bus 26, and transmits received and generated sound ray data to the internal bus 26.
Through the memory 28 or the hard disk 29. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, a hard disk 29 is provided in the ultrasonic observation apparatus 23 as a nonvolatile and rewritable recording means, and the ultrasonic image data generated by the ultrasonic observation apparatus 23 is temporarily stored in the hard disk 29. It is stored so that the ultrasonic image data can be sent to the connection relay device 5 according to the setting by the user or the like.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. Sound ray data and tomographic image data generated in the ultrasonic observation device 23 are temporarily stored in the hard disk 29.
The data stored in the hard disk 29 can be selected by a keyboard 32 connected to the ultrasonic observation device 23, and the selected data is used when the operation of the ultrasonic observation device 23 has a margin or when the ultrasonic observation When the inspection of the device 23 is completed, it is sent to the connection relay device 5 in a lump.

When sending data, the data can be sent by designating the order of the data with the keyboard 32. In this case, the sorting is completed when the data is recorded by the connection relay device 5, and the data is handled. Cheap. The sorting priority can be set to the patient name priority or the diagnosis date priority.

In the data selection, a certain fixed date is set, and data after the fixed date is automatically marked and transferred, so that it is easy to use.
It is also possible to detect that the hard disk 29 is full and to automatically mark and transfer old data.

A list of the transferred data can be viewed on the monitor 6 connected to the connection relay device 5, and the list displays the transferred image header information, thereby displaying the contents of the data in an easy-to-understand manner. . Displaying information hierarchically also helps to improve visibility. In addition, it also has the same operation as the first embodiment.

This embodiment has the following effects. With the above configuration, once data is temporarily stored in the hard disk 29 having a high recording speed in the ultrasonic observation device 23, the data can be reliably recorded without interrupting the inspection, and the device becomes easy to handle. . The other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[Supplementary Notes] Scanning by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to the living body, in an ultrasonic diagnostic system that displays an ultrasonic image of the living body using the obtained echo data, the collected data and the displayed ultrasonic image Storage means for storing, image communication means for exchanging the data and the image with an external device, intervening between the external device and the ultrasonic diagnostic device, adjusting transfer data, and connecting the external device and the ultrasonic diagnostic device An ultrasonic diagnostic system comprising: a connection relay device for smoothly performing data transfer between the two.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from an object, performs ultrasonic scanning, and obtains an ultrasonic image from an echo signal from the object. An ultrasonic diagnostic system including an external recording device that records ultrasonic image data transmitted from the ultrasonic diagnostic device, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic device is disposed between the ultrasonic diagnostic device and the external recording device. A relay device that receives ultrasound image data transmitted by a predetermined protocol from a diagnostic device, converts the received ultrasound image data into a protocol that can be received by the external recording device, and transmits the protocol to the external recording device, Therefore, even if the external recording device is changed, only by changing the relay device, without changing the ultrasonic diagnostic device, the ultrasonic image data can be recorded in the external recording device. That.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic image processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an operation of storing image data from an ultrasonic observation device via a connection relay device in a filing device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state of distribution of a bmp file and an img file.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic image processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic diagnostic system 2 ... Ultrasonic probe 3 ... Ultrasonic observation device 4 ... Filing device 5 ... Connection relay device 6 ... Monitor 7 ... DVD-RAM 8 ... Network hub 11 ... Internal bus 12 ... CPU 13 ... Network I / F 14: Memory 15: Hard disk 16: Frame memory 17: SCSI I / F

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Kodaira 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koji Fujio 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 4C301 EE13 JA20 LL13 5B089 GA31 HA06 JA32 JB03 KA09 KF05

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave to and from an object to perform an ultrasonic scan to obtain an ultrasonic image from an echo signal from the object, and an ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. An ultrasonic diagnostic system including an external recording device that records ultrasonic image data, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic device is disposed between the ultrasonic diagnostic device and the external recording device and transmitted by a predetermined protocol from the ultrasonic diagnostic device. A relay device for receiving ultrasonic image data, converting the received ultrasonic image data into a protocol receivable by the external recording device, and transmitting the protocol to the external recording device. system. 2. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave to and from an object to perform ultrasonic scanning, and obtains an ultrasonic image from an echo signal from the object, and the ultrasonic image according to a first protocol. A first communication unit for transmitting, a second communication unit for receiving with a second protocol different from the first protocol, a recording unit for recording a received image, And a protocol conversion unit that transmits the ultrasonic image transmitted by the first protocol to a second communication unit by the second protocol.