JP2002191604A - Ultrasonograph - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of an ultrasonograph: that an auxiliary image displayed in an overlapping fashion makes a diagnostic image and other auxiliary images difficult to view. SOLUTION: An image synthesizing portion 5 is provided with a function 11 for creating a synthetic image by adding the pixel value of the diagnostic image and the pixel value of the auxiliary image together in a preset ratio to reduce the brightness of the auxiliary image in a certain ratio. Alternatively, an auxiliary image generating portion 9 is provided with a function for displaying the auxiliary image using blinking display method, dot display method, or outer-frame display method, so that the diagnostic image can be viewed through the auxiliary image.

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, and more particularly, to a technique for displaying an auxiliary image necessary for a diagnosis on a part of a diagnostic image such as a tomographic image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In ultrasonic diagnosis, various auxiliary images are displayed on a diagnostic image such as a tomographic image. In this case, an image combining unit that generates a superimposed image of the diagnostic image and the auxiliary image determines whether or not there is an auxiliary image for each pixel, and if there is an auxiliary image, displays the image with priority. .

For example, when setting the position or direction of blood flow measurement for Doppler FFT analysis or the like, an operation such as displaying a sample gate on a desired measurement site of a diagnostic image and moving the sample gate is performed. Then, the position of a blood vessel to be measured and the like are set. In this case, an image of a color in which the sample gate is conspicuous is created, so that the sample gate is preferentially displayed on the diagnostic image.

Such auxiliary images include, in addition to a sample gate, a character image for setting measurement conditions, an image for setting data points, a menu image of parameters, a display image of measurement results, an image for setting imaging conditions, and the like. is there.

[0005]

However, if the auxiliary image is preferentially displayed as in the prior art, a diagnostic image such as a B-mode image becomes difficult to see behind the auxiliary image.
There are the following problems. (1) In a case where the auxiliary image is moved to be positioned at a desired part of the diagnostic image, the diagnostic image is hidden by the auxiliary image. As a result, there is a problem that it is difficult to perform a positioning operation because a diagnostic image of the positioning portion is difficult to see. For example, when adjusting the position of the sample gate to a small regurgitation of a heart valve, the blood flow image displayed below the sample gate is difficult to see, so that it may be difficult to adjust the sample gate to a desired position. . (2) When measurement is performed on a part set by a sample gate or the like, an auxiliary image such as a measurement result display image is generally displayed in an overlapping manner. Since the measurement result display image has a relatively large display area, when the sample gate is moved to be positioned at two or more desired parts of the diagnostic image, the desired part is used as an auxiliary image such as a measurement result display image. There is a problem that it is difficult to see because it is hidden underneath, and as in (1), it is difficult to perform the positioning operation. (3) If the area of the region where the auxiliary image and the diagnostic image overlap is increased, the part of the diagnostic image desired to be observed may be difficult to see, which may hinder the observation of the diagnostic image.

As a countermeasure against the above problem, it is conceivable that the operator stops displaying the auxiliary image as necessary.

However, when the operator stops the display of the auxiliary image or performs the redisplay operation, the operation of the diagnostic device becomes complicated and the usability deteriorates. In addition, since a character image such as a sample gate is an auxiliary image necessary for the positioning operation, the display cannot be erased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the problem that a diagnostic image or another auxiliary image is difficult to see due to an auxiliary image displayed in a superimposed manner.

[0009]

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by the following means.

First, the present invention provides an image processing unit for forming a diagnostic image based on a reflected wave of an ultrasonic wave applied to a subject,
The present invention is directed to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including an auxiliary image generating unit that generates an auxiliary image required for diagnosis and an image synthesizing unit that generates a composite image obtained by superimposing the auxiliary image on the diagnostic image.

The first solution is characterized in that the image synthesizing section is provided with a function of adding the pixel values of the diagnostic image and the auxiliary image at a set ratio to generate a synthesized image. According to this, the pixel value (luminance) of the auxiliary image is reduced at a constant ratio, and the pixel value (luminance) of the diagnostic image is added at a constant ratio. , And the visibility of the diagnostic image is improved.

The second solution means is characterized in that the auxiliary image generating section is provided with a function of generating an auxiliary image in at least one of a blinking display, a scattered display, and an outer frame display. That is, when the auxiliary image blinks and the auxiliary image disappears, the diagnostic image can be directly observed without being interrupted by the auxiliary image. Similarly, when the pixels of the auxiliary image are appropriately thinned out and displayed by dots (dot display), the diagnostic image can be observed through the auxiliary image. Alternatively, if only the outer shape of the auxiliary image is displayed as a frame, the diagnostic image in the frame of the auxiliary image is not hidden and can be observed. Further, the first and second solving means may be displayed in combination as appropriate.

Here, it is desirable that the first and second solving means be operated only when necessary. That is, in normal times, in order to improve the visibility of the auxiliary image, the auxiliary image is displayed with the same or conspicuous brightness as the diagnostic image. If the auxiliary image is an image for setting measurement conditions such as a measurement site of a diagnostic image in accordance with an operation command input from the operation unit, the image is kept constant during or after the operation of the auxiliary image is started. It is preferable that the time, the first solution and the second solution be operated, and the other time be returned to the normal display mode. Examples of the auxiliary image include a character image for setting measurement conditions such as a sample gate for setting the position and direction of blood flow measurement, an image for setting data points, a menu image of parameters, and a display image of a measurement result. One.

A menu image, a measurement result display image,
In the case of an auxiliary image such as an image for parameter setting, there may be no inconvenience even if the display is stopped for a certain period if necessary. In this case, as a third solution, the display of the auxiliary image is temporarily stopped in response to the ultrasonic beam scanning stop signal related to the imaging of the diagnostic image, and after a predetermined time or in response to the ultrasonic beam scanning start signal. Thus, the display of the auxiliary image can be resumed.

More specifically, an image processing unit that forms a diagnostic image based on reflected waves of ultrasonic waves radiated to the subject, and a character image generating unit that generates a character image that specifies a measurement site of the diagnostic image An operation unit that moves the character image to specify the measurement site, a measurement execution unit that performs measurement based on the reflected waves at at least two measurement sites specified by the operation unit, A measurement result display image generation unit that generates a measurement result display image that displays the measurement result output from the unit, and an image synthesis unit that generates an image in which the diagnostic image, the character image, and the measurement result display image are superimposed. Wherein the measurement result display image generation unit is a display control unit that stops displaying the measurement result image in response to a scan stop signal of an ultrasonic beam related to the diagnostic image. It can be an ultrasound diagnostic device including.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. As shown in the drawing, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a probe 1, an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2, an image information calculation unit 3, a scan conversion unit 4, an image synthesis unit 5, a monitor 6, a central processing unit. 7, an operation unit 8, and a character image generation unit 9.

The probe 1 is applied with a driving pulse output from the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2, thereby transmitting ultrasonic waves to a diagnosis target portion of the subject and receiving reflected waves from the subject. And outputs a received signal to the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2.
The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 includes a transmission processing unit that transmits an ultrasonic signal to the probe 1 and a reception processing unit that pre-amplifies a reception signal received by the probe 1 and then performs processing such as reception focus. And is configured. Image information calculation unit 3
Receives a received signal output from the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 and performs signal processing such as detection, compression, and enhancement to form an ultrasonic diagnostic image (for example, a B-mode image). In addition, if necessary, calculation of blood flow speed, reflection intensity, and the like is performed, and a blood flow information color image is generated and output, for example. The scan conversion unit 4 adapts the diagnostic image to the monitor 6, performs scan conversion to TV synchronization and color conversion to RGB values, and generates a display image signal. The image synthesizing unit 5 synthesizes the diagnostic image output from the scan conversion unit 4 and the character image output from the character image generating unit 9 and outputs the synthesized image to the monitor 6. The monitor 6 is a display device such as a CRT, for example.
The image synthesized by the image synthesizing unit 5 is displayed. The central processing unit 7 performs the above-described ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2, image information calculation unit 3, scan conversion unit 4, image synthesis unit 5, monitor 6, and character image generation unit 9 based on a command input from the operation unit 8. Control. The character image generating unit 9 is a Doppler sample gate for setting an image for setting imaging conditions necessary for ultrasonic image diagnosis, a menu image of parameters, an analysis position and direction of blood flow measurement for Doppler FFT analysis, a number of data points, and the like. And the like. The operation unit 8 includes a keyboard, various switches, a trackball, a mouse, and the like, and further includes a switch that freezes a diagnostic image (makes it a still image).

Here, as one embodiment according to the first solving means of the present invention, a detailed configuration of the image synthesizing section 5 is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the image synthesizing unit 5 includes an adding unit 1 with a coefficient.
1, a selector 12, and a character information presence / absence determination unit 13
It is comprised including. When a character image is input, the image synthesizing unit 5 switches the input of the selector 12 to the coefficient-added adding unit 11 and outputs a synthesized image according to the determination result of the character information presence / absence determining unit 13. When no is input, the input of the selector 12 is switched to the diagnostic image side to output a diagnostic image.

The diagnostic image output from the operation converting unit 4 and the character image output from the character image generating unit 9 are input to the adding unit 11 with coefficients. Then, the coefficient-added adding unit 11 performs an averaging of the two images at a preset ratio (for example, 1: 1). In other words, a ratio of two images set in advance (for example,
0.5: 0.5). That is, the pixel value Iout of the composite image is calculated from the pixel value Ius of the diagnostic image and the pixel value Ich of the character image by the following equation. Here, each pixel value is luminance, and in the case of color, R, G,
The averaging is performed on the luminance of B. FIG. 3 shows an example of specific luminance values based on these equations.

In the case of a 1: 1 ratio, Iout = (Iu
s + Ich) / 2 In the case of the ratio of 1: 2, Iout = (Ius + 2Ic)
h) / 3 Here, the set ratios relating to the averaging are 1: 1 and 1:
It is not limited to 2 and can be set arbitrarily.

FIG. 4 shows a display example of a Doppler sample gate used when measuring a blood flow speed or the like as an example of a character image to which the present embodiment can be applied. As shown in the figure, the Doppler sample gate is composed of a pair of gate elements 15.
And a line image indicating the ultrasonic beam 16.
, The position, the distance d and the direction of the gate element 15 can be operated. Similarly, the direction of the ultrasonic beam 16 can be manipulated. The Doppler sample gate is used, for example, when the measurement element is set by moving the gate element 15 to a desired position of the blood vessel 17 displayed on the diagnostic image. In this operation, if the blood vessel 17 is hidden by the gate element 15, the positioning becomes difficult. In this regard, by applying the present embodiment and averaging the luminance of the blood vessel 17 and the gate element 15 at a certain ratio, the blood vessel 17 can be substantially observed through the gate element 15. Fine adjustment of the position of the gate element 15 to a desired position of the blood vessel 17 can be performed. For example, in the case where the gate element 15 is aligned with a small regurgitation of a heart valve or the like, it is possible to avoid a disadvantage that a blood flow image displayed below the gate element 15 becomes difficult to see. (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which the image combining section 5 is provided with the adding section 11 with coefficients so that the blood vessel 17 can be observed through the gate element 15. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the following display modes can be adopted.

That is, according to the present invention, a diagnostic image of a blood vessel 17 or the like in a portion overlapping with an auxiliary image
Since it is sufficient that the auxiliary image can be viewed substantially through the auxiliary image, the auxiliary image can be displayed by blinking, scattered display, or outer frame display.

Here, the blinking display is a display mode in which the display of an image and the stop of the display are repeated at intervals of time, and the output stage of the character image generator 9 controls the output to be on / off for each image frame, for example. It is sufficient to provide a function to perform this. According to this, the luminance is substantially equivalent to the time-averaged averaging of the luminance, and the same display effect as the display mode of the first embodiment shown in FIG. can get.

In the scattered point display, as shown in FIG. 5A, a gate element 15 which is an auxiliary image is displayed by dots. According to this, by adjusting the dot density, the area average of the luminance of the diagnostic image and the auxiliary image is adjusted. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, the outline frame display indicates the outline frame of the gate element 15, in other words,
This is a mode in which the outline of the image is displayed as a line. According to this,
Since the diagnostic image other than the outer frame is not hidden, the visibility of the diagnostic image is hardly impaired.

In the second embodiment described above, the adding section with coefficients 11 of the image synthesizing section 5 can be omitted.
However, it is also possible to appropriately combine the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

Further, according to the first or second embodiment,
The diagnosis image can be seen through the character image of the sample gate or the like as long as the sample gate is operated or during a certain time T after the operation is completed. Rather, after the operation is completed, it may be preferable to sharpen the character image when a composite image of the character image and the diagnostic image is recorded in a photograph or the like. Therefore, in response to an operation command from the operation unit 8 in FIG. 1, the character image generation unit 9 or the image synthesis unit 5 via the central processing unit 7.
Is controlled, the first and second embodiments are performed only during the operation of the character image such as the sample gate or the start of the operation for a certain period of time, and otherwise, it is preferable to use the conventional normal display mode.

In addition to the display modes of the auxiliary images such as the character images of the first and second embodiments, the colors of the auxiliary images such as the character images are changed so that the diagnostic images can be more easily viewed. For example, in general, a character image of a sample gate or the like is created with an image of a conspicuous color so as to be easily distinguished from the diagnostic image and is displayed with priority over the diagnostic image. The image becomes hard to see. Therefore, if the color is changed in accordance with the operation of the character image, the diagnostic image of the portion hidden by the character image can be more easily seen. (Third Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, as in the case of measuring the ratio of blood flow velocities at two or more locations, a sample gate is set at one location in a diagnostic image and blood flow measurement is performed, and then the sample gate is placed at another location. Alternatively, the present invention is suitable for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a measurement function of performing measurement by moving to a plurality of locations and sequentially setting measurement sites. In the drawing, blocks having the same functions and configurations as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. This embodiment is different from the embodiment of FIG.
1. The measurement result display switching unit 22 and the measurement result storage unit 23 are provided, and the image synthesizing unit 10 includes a measurement result display image output from the measurement result display switching unit 22 in addition to the function of FIG. Has the function of synthesizing

Here, the measurement operation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 7 (A) to 7 (E)
It is an example of a monitor screen display for measuring blood flow velocities in two desired blood vessels and measuring the ratio of those blood flow velocities. As shown, a B-mode image is displayed on the left half of the screen, and a D-mode image is displayed on the right half.
In the B-mode image, the slices of the two blood vessels 31 and 32 are displayed. In the D mode image, a Doppler waveform 33 representing the blood flow velocity as a measurement result is displayed. The sample gate 34 can be superimposed on the B-mode image together with the line image of the ultrasonic beam, and the caliper 35 can be superimposed on the D-mode image. The sample gate 34 and the caliper 35 are output from the character image generator described above.

First, the measurement is performed after the operator inputs a freeze-on (ON) command of the image from the operation unit 8.
To start the measurement execution unit 21 to start the operation. Then, the measurement execution unit 21 inputs a reception signal output from the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 in response to a command given from the operation unit 8 via the central processing unit 7, and obtains a blood flow rate such as a blood flow velocity. Along with executing the processing relating to the measurement, the display unit 36 generates a display image 36 of the measurement result shown in FIG.

The measurement result display switching unit 22 includes a measurement execution unit 2
The display image 36 of the measurement result output from 1 is taken in,
In response to a command from the central processing unit 7, the display image 36 of the measurement result is switched to the image synthesis unit 10 or the measurement result storage unit 23 and output according to the processing flow shown in FIG. That is,
In step 1 shown in FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not a freeze operation is performed during measurement. If the freeze operation is “present” and the switching operation is “ON (ON) → OFF (OFF)”, the process proceeds to step 2. Display the measurement result display screen in the measurement result storage unit 2
Transfer to 3. Conversely, in the case of the freeze operation “present” and the switching operation of “off → on”, the process proceeds to step 3 and the display screen of the measurement result in the measurement result storage unit 23 is output to the image synthesizing unit 10. It is displayed again on the monitor 6.

Here, the procedure of the measurement operation will be described in detail. First, in FIG. 7A, a sample gate 34 is set for the first blood vessel 31 in the Doppler mode, and a Doppler image is drawn. Next, the scanning of the ultrasonic beam is stopped by turning on the freeze switch, and then a command for speed ratio measurement is input. As a result, the display screen changes to that shown in FIG. 7 (B), and the display image 36 of the measurement result is displayed so as to overlap the upper left area of the B-mode image, and the caliper 35 for speed measurement is displayed so as to overlap the D-mode image. Is done. When the operator moves the caliper 35 via the operation unit 8 and sets the caliper 35 to the peak point V1 of the Doppler waveform 33, the measurement of the blood flow velocity is executed, and the measured value of the blood flow velocity V1 is displayed on the display image 36 of the measurement result. Is displayed. Next, in order to set the sample gate 34 on the other blood vessel 32 to be compared, the freeze is temporarily turned off, and the sample gate 34 is set at a desired position of the blood vessel 32 as shown in FIG. When the freeze is turned on again via the operation unit, the caliper 35 is displayed as shown in FIG. This caliper 35
Is moved to set the peak point V2 of the Doppler waveform 33, the blood flow velocity is measured, and the measurement result display image 36 is displayed.
The measured value of the blood flow velocity V2 is output and displayed, and the measured value of the blood flow velocity ratio V2 / V1 is displayed.

In FIG. 7C, the measurement result display image 3
6, the image of the blood vessel 32 is hidden by the sample gate 34, making it difficult to view the sample gate 34. Therefore, in the present embodiment, instead of FIG. 7C, as shown in FIG.
The display image 3 of the measurement result at the time of the operation of setting the desired position
6 is erased. That is, the display of the measurement result display image 36 is stopped based on the signal that the freeze is turned off, and then the measurement result display image 36 is displayed again based on the signal that the freeze is turned on.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the freeze operation during measurement is changed from on to off, the measurement result display image 36 is automatically hidden, so that the diagnosis image and the character image can be observed. There is no hindrance. In addition, when the freeze operation is turned on from off, the measurement result display image 36 is automatically displayed again, so that the measurement operation can be immediately continued.

In particular, since the measurement operation itself including the freeze operation is not different from the conventional operation, the display image of the measurement result is automatically displayed or hidden based on the freeze operation without learning a special operation. To be. As a result, conventionally, when it is difficult to see the diagnostic image or the character image from the display image of the measurement result, the operator has to operate the operation unit 8 to erase or display the display image of the measurement result. According to the embodiment, since the operator is not bothered, a device excellent in usability can be realized.

The presence / absence of the freeze operation can be determined not only by a freeze switch provided in the operation unit 8 but also by a scan start / stop signal of the ultrasonic beam output from the central processing unit 7.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to solve the problem that the diagnostic image and other auxiliary images are difficult to see due to the auxiliary image displayed in a superimposed manner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of an image synthesizing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of luminance averaging in a coefficient-added unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a Doppler sample gate.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another display example of the Doppler sample gate.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a measurement result switching display unit in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 5, 10 Image synthesis unit 6 Monitor 7 Central processing unit 8 Operation unit 9 Character image generation unit 11 Addition unit with coefficient 12 Selector 13 Character image presence / absence determination unit 21 Measurement execution unit 22 Measurement result display switching unit 23 Measurement result storage unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 4C301 CC02 DD01 DD02 EE13 JB07 JC16 KK01 KK02 KK12 KK13 KK27 KK31 5B057 AA07 BA05 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB08 CB12 CB16 CE08 CE11

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image processor configured to form a diagnostic image based on a reflected wave of an ultrasonic wave applied to a subject; an auxiliary image generator configured to generate an auxiliary image necessary for diagnosis; and the auxiliary image included in the diagnostic image. And an image synthesizing unit that generates a synthesized image in which the diagnostic image and the auxiliary image are added at a set ratio to generate the synthesized image. Ultrasound diagnostic device. 2. An image processing unit for forming a diagnostic image based on a reflected wave of an ultrasonic wave applied to a subject, an auxiliary image generating unit for generating an auxiliary image required for diagnosis, and the auxiliary image And an image synthesizing unit that generates a synthesized image in which the auxiliary image is superimposed.The auxiliary image generating unit has a function of generating the auxiliary image in at least one display mode of blinking display, scattered display, and outer frame display. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. 3. An image processor configured to form a diagnostic image based on reflected waves of an ultrasonic wave applied to a subject; an auxiliary image generator configured to generate an auxiliary image required for diagnosis; And a display control unit that stops displaying the auxiliary image in response to an ultrasonic beam scanning stop signal related to the diagnostic image. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: