JP2002315753A - Image diagnostic instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image diagnostic instrument which achieves higher operability both in fine and coarse adjustments of positioning means. SOLUTION: An operation panel 7 is provided with a tracking ball 6 as a position operating means in addition to a plurality of operating buttons for setting in a mode of rotating images to be displayed on a monitor 5 or the like, with a mode set corresponding to the operations of the operating buttons, a tracking ball signal outputted from the tracking ball 6 is inputted into a control circuit 26 and the cycle thereof is monitored by a cycle judging circuit 28 all the time. When the cycle is within a specified preset range, a higher reaction sensitivity that causes no division of the tracking ball signal in frequency is shifted to a lower reaction sensitivity that causes the division of the tracking ball signal in frequency thereby facilitating the adjustment of the angle of rotation or the like of the images.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image diagnostic apparatus for displaying medical images, such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as an image diagnostic apparatus at a medical site, an ultrasonic tomographic image generated by using ultrasonic waves transmitted and received from a living body from an ultrasonic probe provided with an ultrasonic transducer or an ultrasonic endoscope or the like. Ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses that use the diagnostics for diagnosis are widely used. These ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are equipped with various functions including the following functions.

Image rotation: An ultrasonic tomographic image acquired by a radial scanning ultrasonic probe or a radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope is rotated around the center of the radial scanning to set a region of interest such as a lesion to a desired position. Cine review: A function to search and display a plurality of images before and after an image phrase Scroll: To move an area of interest such as a lesion to a desired position on the screen by moving the image in parallel on the screen Color flow mapping: A function to colorize and superimpose the blood flow state on a black and white ultrasonic diagnostic layer image using the Doppler phenomenon. Among them, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-108214, a trackball or a joe is used as two-dimensional position setting means (position operation means). I set the stick,
There is a well-known device that switches the function operated by the two-dimensional position setting means using operation keys or other used function switching means to operate each function. At that time, for example, in the case of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the usage of the two-dimensional position setting means for the above-described function is generally as follows.

Image rotation: adjustment of rotation angle Cine review: search for images to be displayed and diagnosed Scroll: adjustment of image position Color flow mapping: region of interest (color ROI) for displaying blood flow Adjusting the position and size of

[0005]

However, the conventional image diagnostic apparatus provided with the two-dimensional position setting means has the following problems.

If the reaction sensitivity is set too high, the operability at the time of fine adjustment (including search) is poor. There is a problem that it is necessary to repeat uselessly because of excessive progress or excessive return at the time of adjustment or search. If the reaction sensitivity is set too low, the operability during coarse adjustment (including search) is poor. There is a problem that a desired adjustment result or a search result cannot be reached unless a large number of operations of the two-dimensional position setting unit are performed during the coarse adjustment.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its object is to finely adjust the position operation means.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image diagnostic apparatus with good operability at both the time of the coarse adjustment.

[0008]

An image diagnostic apparatus provided with a display means for displaying a medical image, a position operating means, and an adjusting means for adjusting the image in accordance with an output signal of the position operating means. In the above, according to the characteristics of the output signal of the position operation means, the adjustment means changes the response sensitivity to enable the image to be adjusted, compared to the case where the image is adjusted without changing the reaction sensitivity. By adjusting the image to a state where the reaction sensitivity is high and a state where the reaction sensitivity is low, the image can be adjusted with good operability.

In a medical image display method for adjusting a medical image by operating a position operating means and displaying the adjusted image on a display means, a monitoring step for monitoring characteristics of an output signal of the position operating means; A speed changing step of changing the response sensitivity for adjusting the image according to the characteristics, whereby the medical image is adjusted and displayed on the display unit more easily than when the response sensitivity is not changed. Have to be able to. An operation step of performing a position operation by a position operation means; a monitoring step of monitoring characteristics of an output signal in the operation step; A speed change step of adjusting and displaying an image, and displaying a medical image display using a recording medium that records a medical image display method, comprising: The image for use can be adjusted and displayed on the display means.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 12 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a medical ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment, FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of an operation panel, and FIG. 3 shows a case where a trackball is operated. FIG. 4 shows output signals when the trackball is rotated quickly and when the trackball is rotated slowly,
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the operation of the control circuit in the image rotation mode, FIG. 6 shows a trackball signal when the hand for operating the trackball is stopped for an appropriate time, and FIG. 7 shows a longer time from the state of FIG. time,
FIG. 8 shows a specific example of a method of adjusting a rotation angle of an image in an image rotation mode, and FIG. 9 shows an operation of a control circuit in a cine review mode. FIG. 10 shows a flowchart, FIG. 10 shows a specific example of an image search adjustment method in the cine review mode, and FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the operation of the control circuit in the scroll mode.
2 shows a specific example of a method for adjusting the image position in the scroll mode.

As shown in FIG. 1, a medical ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention has an ultrasonic vibrator 2 inserted into a body cavity of a patient and used for ultrasonic diagnosis. The ultrasonic endoscope 3 is connected to the ultrasonic endoscope 3 to drive the ultrasonic vibrator 2 and to perform signal processing on an echo signal by the ultrasonic vibrator 2. And the video signal output from the ultrasonic observation device 4 is connected to the monitor 5 for displaying a corresponding ultrasonic tomographic image and the ultrasonic observation device 4,
Position operation means (2) for performing an operation of rotating the ultrasonic tomographic image displayed on the monitor 5 to an arbitrary angle position and displaying the image.
And an operation panel 7 having a trackball 6 or the like as a dimension position setting means).

The ultrasonic endoscope 2 has an elongated insertion portion 11 so that it can be inserted into a body cavity, and an operation portion 12 provided at a rear end of the insertion portion 11. The shaft 13 is inserted through the flexible shaft 1
The ultrasonic vibrator 2 is attached to the tip of 3.

The rear end of the flexible shaft 13 is connected to, for example, a drive unit 14 provided in the operation unit 12, and by rotating a motor (not shown) provided in the drive unit 14, the rotation is controlled by the flexible shaft 13. 13
And the ultrasonic vibrator 2 attached to the tip is rotated. That is, the ultrasonic endoscope 3 is a mechanical scanning ultrasonic endoscope.

An illumination optical system and an observation optical system (not shown) are provided on the distal end side of the insertion section 11 of the ultrasonic endoscope 2 so that an optical observation image can be obtained. In the present embodiment, the case of the ultrasonic endoscope 2 has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to the case of an ultrasonic probe having no optical observation means.

Next, a signal system for generating an ultrasonic tomographic image will be described. The ultrasonic transducer 2 generates an ultrasonic wave by applying a transmission signal (ultrasonic drive circuit) from a transmission / reception circuit 15 provided in the ultrasonic observation device 4, and generates an ultrasonic beam (hereinafter, sound). (Referred to as a line) to the portion to be inspected facing the ultrasonic vibrator 2 and receive the ultrasonic wave reflected by the portion to be inspected to obtain an electric echo signal. 15 is output.

As described above, since the ultrasonic transducer 2 is driven to rotate, the ultrasonic transducer 2 scans a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis (hereinafter referred to as a radial scanning plane) to scan one ultrasonic transducer. A so-called radial scan for obtaining an echo signal necessary for forming an acoustic tomographic image is performed.

The echo signal is amplified by the transmission / reception circuit 15 and then input to the signal processing circuit 16. In this signal processing circuit 16, the echo signal is subjected to envelope detection, logarithmic amplification, A / D
Conversion, attenuation compensation processing, etc. (so-called Sensitive Time Control
[Hereinafter, it is abbreviated as STC]) and converted into digital echo data. Furthermore, by repeating this process repeatedly for echo signals that are continuously input on one sound ray, a series of echo data sets (hereinafter referred to as sound (Referred to as line data).

The sound ray data is input to a digital scan converter (hereinafter abbreviated as DSC) 17. The sound ray data is subjected to coordinate conversion processing and interpolation processing between the sound ray data by the DSC 17. By this coordinate conversion processing and interpolation processing, a plurality of sound ray data expressed in the polar coordinate system is converted into image data for one ultrasonic tomographic image in the orthogonal coordinate system.

This image data is input to the display control circuit 18. The display control circuit 18 converts the image data into an analog video signal to be displayed on the monitor 5. In the image rotation mode described later, for example, the display control circuit 18 outputs a control signal for rotating an image in accordance with the operation amount of the trackball 6 to the control circuit 26.
And rotates the image data to be output to the monitor 5 according to the control signal. The video signal of the display control circuit 18 is input to the monitor 5 and is displayed on the display surface of the monitor 5 as one ultrasonic tomographic image.

The output from the DSC 17 is stored in the memory 19
Is stored sequentially. This memory 19 stores an ultrasonic tomographic image and image data for a plurality of sheets. In a mode other than the CINE mode described later, the latest output from the DSC 17 is always output to the display control circuit 18, so that the latest ultrasonic tomographic image is always displayed on the monitor 5. Therefore, the latest ultrasonic tomographic image is displayed on the monitor 5, and the image data for a plurality of previous and latest ultrasonic tomographic images is stored in the memory 19.

Next, a signal system for adjusting an ultrasonic tomographic image will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 7 has a key 22 used for inputting a name or the like in a (alphabet) key area 21 and an arrow key 23 provided in a corner of the area 21. Used to move the cursor displayed in. In the present embodiment, it also has a function of finely adjusting the trackball 6.

The operation panel 7 has a trackball 6 as a two-dimensional position operating means, and a plurality of types of function setting functions for switching and setting functions assigned to the trackball 6 adjacent to the trackball 6. Operation buttons 24a to 24e are provided.

More specifically, an image rotation operation button (abbreviated as an IR button) for adjusting a rotation angle.
24a, a cine review operation button (abbreviated as CINE button) 24b for searching and displaying a plurality of images before and after the freeze, a scroll operation button (abbreviated as SCROLL button) 24c for adjusting the position of the image, and a blood flow. Color flow mapping position operation button (abbreviated as COL (P) button) 24d for adjusting the position of the region of interest to be displayed
And a color flow mapping size operation button (abbreviated as COL (S) button) 24e for adjusting the size (size) of the region of interest.

When an operation of pressing any of these operation buttons 24a to 24e is performed, a function selection signal (see FIG. 1) indicating that the pressed operation button is selected is input to the control circuit 26, and the control circuit 26 is controlled. The circuit 26 receives the function selection signal and sets so that the trackball 6 can operate the function.

In this state, the control circuit 26 monitors the characteristics (specifically, the cycle) of the output signal of the trackball 6 and operates the display control circuit 18 and the like so as to execute the function assigned to the trackball. Control.

After that, after the button is pressed again, the operation of the function assigned to the trackball 6 is released, and even if the trackball 6 is operated, the released function does not work.

In the present embodiment, for example, at a position below the trackball 6, a freeze for stopping and releasing the radial scanning of the ultrasonic endoscope 3, and for stopping and releasing the screen from being frozen (FREEZE). Operation keys 25 are arranged.

Signal from key 22, freeze operation key 2
5, a freeze key signal from the track ball 6, a signal from the track ball 6 (hereinafter, a track ball signal), and operation buttons 24a for selecting and setting functions such as image rotation.
24e are input to the control circuit 26 in the ultrasonic observation apparatus 4 shown in FIG.

The control circuit 26 includes, for example, a CPU. Further, the control circuit 26 determines a cycle of the input trackball signal. The control circuit 26 determines whether the cycle of the trackball signal is within a predetermined range. A frequency dividing circuit 29 for dividing and outputting the trackball signal.

The cycle judging circuit 28 has, for example, a counter and a digital comparator for comparing the output value of the counter with a predetermined value. The counter has only one period of the trackball signal (the period of the trackball signal). The reference clock (having a sufficiently smaller cycle) is counted, and the counting result is output to the digital comparator.

The digital comparator compares the counting result from the counter with two reference values, and compares the comparison result with the CPU.
The CPU determines whether the counting result is between the two reference values, that is, is within a predetermined range, and divides the trackball signal through the frequency dividing circuit 28 according to the determination result. A signal passed through without frequency division is referred to as a trackball signal. Then, a control operation corresponding to the trackball signal is performed.

That is, the period of the trackball signal is monitored, and if the period becomes longer and becomes within a predetermined range, the response sensitivity to the operation of the trackball 6 is adjusted to be slower. If the cycle of the trackball signal is out of the predetermined range, the trackball signal is output without passing through the frequency division.

A two-phase trackball signal as shown in FIG. 3 is generated in accordance with the direction of the rotation operation of the trackball 6 (two orthogonal directions are shown in FIG. 2 as the positive X direction and the positive Y direction). , The trackball signal is input to the control circuit 26.

That is, the trackball 6 is moved in the R direction (FIG.
In the case of rotation in the X direction (X direction), as shown in FIG.
The direction B phase signal is output in a state where the phase of the A phase is advanced by 90 ° from the phase of the B phase.

When the track ball 6 is rotated in the L direction (X negative direction in FIG. 2), as shown in FIG. 3B, the track ball signal is the X direction A phase signal and the X direction B signal. The phase signal is output in a state where the phase of the A phase is delayed by 90 ° from the phase of the B phase and is delayed. When the trackball 6 is rotated in the U direction (Y positive direction in FIG. 2), FIG.
As shown in the figure, as the trackball signal, the Y-direction A-phase signal and the Y-direction B-phase signal
°, output with the phase advanced.

When the trackball 6 is rotated in the D direction (Y negative direction in FIG. 2), the Y direction A phase signal and the Y direction B signal are used as the trackball signals as shown in FIG. 3D. The phase signal is output in a state where the phase of the A phase is delayed by 90 ° from the phase of the B phase and is delayed. Accordingly, a two-phase signal serving as an X-direction component and a two-phase signal serving as a Y-direction component are input to the control circuit 26 in accordance with the rotation direction of the trackball 6, and each of the directional components is It is recognized from the phase difference between the A-phase signal and the B-phase signal whether the signal is being rotated in the positive or negative direction.

The track ball signal is output to the control circuit 26 with a period corresponding to the rotation speed at which the track ball 6 is rotated. FIG. 4 shows a trackball signal output when the trackball 6 is rotated quickly, when the trackball 6 is rotated slowly, and when the trackball 6 is rotated again fast.

Specifically, when the motor is rotated at a high speed, a track ball signal having a short cycle is output in accordance with the rotation speed.
When the rotation speed is low, a track ball signal having a long cycle is output according to the speed.

The control circuit 26 determines the direction of rotation based on the input two-phase trackball signal, and stores it as a flag in a memory or register (not shown) inside the control circuit 26. This control circuit 26 is a signal processing circuit 1
6. The DSC 17 and the display control circuit 18 are controlled to perform desired processing on echo signals, echo data, sound ray data, and image data.

Next, a signal system for controlling the ultrasonic endoscope 3 will be described. When the operator presses a freeze operation key 25 on the operation panel 7, a freeze key signal is input to the control circuit 26.

When the freeze key signal is repeatedly input, the control circuit 26 alternately outputs a freeze signal and a freeze release signal to the drive control circuit 31 for controlling the drive unit 14.

When the freeze control signal is input, the drive control circuit 31 outputs a motor rotation start signal to the drive unit 14 to rotate the motor.

On the other hand, when the freeze signal is input, a motor rotation stop signal is output to the drive unit 14, and the rotation of the motor is stopped. Then, the ultrasonic tomographic image in a stationary state is displayed on the monitor 5.

Next, a description will be given of the flow of a program for performing the processing of the operation described later. This program is stored in the hard disk (abbreviated as HDD) 32 in the ultrasonic observation apparatus 4 by the installation work of the program. The operation program of the ultrasonic observation device 4 is stored as a large-capacity nonvolatile recording medium, for example, on a magneto-optical disk 33, and this magneto-optical disk 33 is inserted into a magneto-optical disk drive 34 provided in the ultrasonic observation device 4. Then, when the operator performs a predetermined operation for installation via the operation panel 7, the program recorded on the magneto-optical disk 33 is read by the control circuit 26, and the program is stored in the HDD 26.
32.

After the program is installed in the HDD 32, the control circuit 26 reads the program from the HDD 32 when the ultrasonic observation apparatus 4 is started, and performs the control operation shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, as described above, the cycle of the trackball signal is detected by the cycle determination circuit 28,
It is characterized in that, for example, a control operation as shown in FIG. 5 is performed according to the cycle. In the present embodiment, the reference period used for determining the period is set specifically from 0.5 seconds to 1 second.

A program in which a program for performing the operation described below is recorded on the magneto-optical disk 33 may be sold. In this case, the recording medium on which the program is recorded is not limited to the magneto-optical disk 33, but is
It may be a D-ROM, a flash memory, or a flexible disk.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the following, I.I. R. First, the case where the button 24a is operated to enter the image rotation mode will be described (actually, before entering the image rotation mode of FIG. 5, the control circuit 26 performs a process of determining the input function selection signal. Then, when a function selection signal is input by the operation input of the IR button 24a, the image rotation mode is entered).

I. R. When the operation is started in the image rotation mode by operating the button 24a, the I.D. R. The control circuit 26 determines whether the button 24a has been input again. And again, I. R. Button 2
When 4a is pressed, the user exits the image rotation mode and ends this mode.

I. R. If the input is not a re-input of the button 24a, the control circuit 26 receives an input of a track ball signal from the track ball 6 (step S2). In this case, as specifically described with reference to FIG. 8, since the image is rotated in the clockwise direction and the opposite direction, for example, the trackball signals in only the X direction A phase and the X direction B phase are used. Accept.

Then, in the next step S3, the input trackball signal is output to the cycle determination circuit 2 in the control circuit 26.
8, the period X of the input trackball signal
It is determined whether the interval is between 0.5 seconds and 1.0 seconds. Here, the period Xinterval of the trackball signal is X
Direction A indicates the clock cycle.

If it is determined that the trackball signal period Xinterval is between 0.5 seconds and 1.0 seconds,
As shown in step S4, the reaction sensitivity of the trackball 6 is reduced. That is, the trackball signal is converted into a trackball signal having a frequency-divided (that is, a long cycle) through the frequency dividing circuit 29, and the response sensitivity to the operation amount (rotation amount) of the trackball 6 is substantially reduced. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S5. On the other hand, the period Xin of the trackball signal
If the terval is not between 0.5 seconds and 1.0 seconds, the process skips step S4 and moves to step S5.

For this reason, when the image is rotated and set at a predetermined angle, the surgeon can quickly rotate the trackball 6 by hand to rotate the image with high reaction sensitivity, and also perform fine adjustment. To do a trackball 6
By stopping the rotation for 0.5 to 1.0 seconds, a divided trackball signal can be obtained and finely adjusted with low response sensitivity.

For example, when the surgeon rotates the image by rotating the trackball 6 by hand and sets the rotation angle near a desired rotation angle, the operator adjusts the position of the trackball 6 in order to finely adjust the position. Stop the rotation for 0.5 to 1.0 seconds or slow down the rotation.

Then, the trackball signal is frequency-divided, and a state in which fine adjustment of the image rotation can be performed. FIG. 6 shows the trackball signal at this time. FIG.
Is the hand that operates the trackball 6 for 0.5 seconds to 1.0
The figure shows the trackball signals before and after the stop in seconds, and the output signals through the frequency dividing circuit 29 during the frequency dividing period. As shown in FIG. 6, the undivided trackball signal becomes a divided trackball signal.
Fine adjustment becomes easier.

FIG. 7 shows that the (divided) trackball 6 is manually operated to perform a fine adjustment operation, and then the hand for operating the trackball 6 is stopped for more than 1.0 second.
When the operation is performed again, the track ball signals before and after the operation (the output signal through the frequency dividing circuit 29 during the frequency dividing period) are shown. In this case, the divided trackball signal is output without being divided.

In step S5 in FIG. 5, the direction of rotation of the trackball 6 is determined. If it is determined that the image is to be rotated in the R direction, the image is rotated clockwise as shown in step S6.
Return to

On the other hand, if it is determined that the rotation is in the L direction,
The image is rotated counterclockwise as shown in step S7, and the process returns to step S1. By performing such a control operation, when performing image rotation by operating the trackball 6, it is possible to smoothly perform an operation of rotating and setting an image to a desired angle.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an image rotation adjustment method. For example, FIG.
An ultrasonic image as shown in (A) is displayed. This ultrasonic image is an ultrasonic image obtained inside the stomach. The center of rotation is the center of rotation of the ultrasonic vibrator 2, and concentric multiple echoes 35 appear around it. Also, a tumor 37 is displayed near the stomach wall 36.

It is generally said that a region of interest such as the tumor 37 should be displayed and observed immediately below an image having good interpolation. Therefore, when the trackball 6 is rolled in the display state of FIG. 8A, the reaction sensitivity is high in that state, so that it is possible to adjust to the vicinity of the target rotation angle with a small amount of rolling, that is, coarse adjustment is easy, but Since the amount of rotation of the image is larger than the amount of rolling, the image may be rolled too much.
In this case, the result is as shown in FIG. If you turn too much like this, stop your hand for 0.5 to 1 second. Then, the reaction sensitivity of the trackball 6 (because the trackball signal is in a frequency-divided state) is small, and fine adjustment is easily performed.

Thereafter, it is possible for the surgeon to reverse the rotation direction of the trackball 6 and make fine adjustments smoothly.
That is, it is possible to set the display state shown in FIG.

As described above, when the image rotation is operated by the trackball 6 as the position operation means faster than the set cycle, the adjustment for rotating the image around the target rotation angle is reduced by a small amount of operation. That is, the coarse adjustment can be performed with a large reaction sensitivity, and the reaction sensitivity can be reduced and the fine adjustment can be easily performed by slightly stopping the operation hand when the rotation angle is set near the target rotation angle. Therefore, the adjustment operation can be performed with good operability in both the coarse adjustment and the fine adjustment by the position operation means.

Next, referring to FIG.
Operate b to set cine review mode (CINE mode)
The operation flow of the control circuit 26 when the setting is made will be described. The operation starts in the CINE mode by operating the CINE button 24b. Then, the CI of step S11
The control circuit 26 determines whether the NE button 24b has been input again. Then, when the CINE button 24b is pressed again, the mode exits the CINE mode and ends this mode.

If the input is not the re-input of the CINE button 24b, the input of the trackball signal from the trackball 6 is accepted (step S12). Also in this case, track ball signals in only the X direction A phase and the X direction B phase are received.

Then, in the next step S13, the trackball signal is input to the period determination circuit 28 in the control circuit 26, and the period Xinterval of the input trackball signal is set.
Is between 0.5 seconds and 1.0 seconds. Here, the period Xinterval of the trackball signal indicates the clock period of the A phase in the X direction.

If it is determined that the trackball signal period Xinterval is between 0.5 seconds and 1.0 seconds,
As shown in step S14, the reaction sensitivity of the trackball 6 is reduced. That is, the trackball signal is converted into a trackball signal having a frequency-divided (that is, a long cycle) through the frequency dividing circuit 29, and the response sensitivity to the operation amount (rotation amount) of the trackball 6 is substantially reduced. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S15. On the other hand, the period X of the trackball signal
If the interval is not between 0.5 seconds and 1.0 seconds, the process skips step S14 and moves to step S15.

For this reason, when retrieving an image in which the CINE mode is displayed, the surgeon can quickly rotate the trackball 6 by hand to retrieve the image with high reaction sensitivity, and perform fine adjustment. In this case, the rotation of the trackball 6 is stopped for 0.5 seconds to 1.0 second to obtain a divided trackball signal, and a detailed search can be performed with low response sensitivity.

In step S15, the direction of rotation of the trackball 6 is determined. For the determination of the rotation direction, R
When it is determined that the rotation is in the direction, the displayed image is advanced to the new image side as shown in step S16, and the process returns to step S11. On the other hand, if it is determined that the rotation is in the L direction, the displayed image is retreated to the old one as shown in step S17, and the process returns to step S11.

By performing such a control operation, when the trackball 6 is operated to search for an image displayed in the CINE mode, a desired image can be smoothly searched and displayed.

FIG. 10 shows a specific example of a method for adjusting an image displayed in the CINE mode. When the trackball 6 is rotated in the R direction, the image displayed on the monitor 5 is changed to a new image. Conversely, when the trackball 6 is rotated in the L direction, the image displayed on the monitor 5 is changed to an old image. Is changed.

By operating the trackball 6,
The image displayed with high reaction sensitivity can be changed, and if it passes through the desired image, it will take 0.5 seconds to
When the hand is stopped for 1.0 second, the trackball signal is frequency-divided to have a low response sensitivity, and the displayed image can be finely adjusted. Also in this case, a desired image can be smoothly displayed, and operability can be improved.

Next, the control operation of the control circuit 26 when the SCROLL mode is set by operating the SCROLL button 24c will be described with reference to FIG. SCROLL
By operating the button 24c, the operation starts in the SCROLL mode. Then, the control circuit 26 determines whether or not the SCROLL button 24c in step S21 has been input again. When the SCROLL button 24c is pressed again, S
Exit from CROLL mode and end this mode.

If the input is not the re-input of the SCROLL button 24c, the input of the trackball signal from the trackball 6 is accepted (step S22). in this case,
Track ball signals in the X direction A phase, the X direction B phase, the Y direction A phase, and the Y direction B phase are received. That is, in each of FIGS. 5 and 9, the rotation of the trackball 6 detects only one direction of the X direction. In the case of FIG. 11, the rotation of the trackball 6 in the two directions of the X direction and the Y direction is performed. Are simultaneously detected.

Then, in the next step S23, the trackball signal is input to the period determination circuit 28 in the control circuit 26, and the period Interval of the input trackball signal is between 0.5 seconds and 1.0 seconds. Is determined.

Here, the period Interv of the trackball signal
al is SQR (Xinterval ＾ 2 + Yinterval ＾ 2). That is, the square of the period Xinterval and the period Yinterval
Is the square root of the sum of the squares of Also, here, Xinterval
Is the clock cycle of the A phase in the X direction, and Y interval is the clock cycle of the A phase in the Y direction. Here, SQ
R (C) represents the square root of C, and D ＾ 2 represents the square of D.

When the interval Interval of the trackball signal is 0.
If it is determined that the time is between 5 seconds and 1.0 seconds, the reaction sensitivity of the trackball 6 is reduced as shown in step S24. That is, the track ball signal is divided by the frequency dividing circuit 2
The track ball signal is divided (that is, has a long cycle) through 9 to substantially reduce the response sensitivity to the operation amount (rotation amount) of the track ball 6. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S25. On the other hand, the trackball signal period Interv
If al is not between 0.5 and 1.0 seconds, the process skips step S24 and moves to step S25.

For this reason, when moving an image displayed in the SCROLL mode, the surgeon can quickly move the trackball 6 by hand to move the image with high reaction sensitivity, and to perform fine adjustment. In this case, the rotation of the trackball 6 is stopped for 0.5 seconds to 1.0 second to obtain a divided trackball signal, and the movement can be finely adjusted with low response sensitivity. Step S2
At 5, the image is translated in the same direction as the rotation direction of the trackball 6, and then the process returns to step S21.

By performing such a control operation, when the trackball 6 is operated to move the image displayed in the SCROLL mode, the operation of moving the image to a desired position can be performed smoothly. .

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an adjustment method in the SCROLL mode. For example, the display surface of the monitor 5 is shown in FIG.
An ultrasonic image as shown in (A) is displayed. As described with reference to FIG. 8, this ultrasonic image is an ultrasonic image obtained inside the stomach, the center of rotation of the ultrasonic vibrator 2 is located, and a concentric multiple echo 35 appears around the center. . Also, a tumor 37 is displayed near the stomach wall 36.

When the user (operator) desires to display a region of interest such as the tumor 37 at the center of the screen and observe it, FIG.
When the image is moved by rolling the trackball 6 in the display state of (A), since the reaction sensitivity is large in this state,
It can be adjusted near the target position with a small amount of rolling,
In other words, coarse adjustment is easy, but the image may be moved too much because the moving amount (scroll amount) of the image is large relative to the rolling amount. In this case, the result is as shown in FIG.

When the camera has moved too much in this way, the value of 0.
Hold your hand for 5 to 1 second. Then, the reaction sensitivity of the trackball 6 (because the trackball signal is in a frequency-divided state) is small, and fine adjustment is easily performed.

Thereafter, it is possible for the surgeon to smoothly reverse the rotation direction of the trackball 6 and finely adjust it so that the display position is aimed at. The tumor 37 is positioned at the center of the screen, that is, in the figure. The display state shown in FIG. 12C can be set for observation.

As described above, when the scroll is adjusted by the trackball 6 as the position operating means, if the operation is performed faster than the set cycle, the adjustment for moving the image to the vicinity of the target position is reduced by a small amount of operation, that is, Coarse adjustment can be performed with a large reaction sensitivity, and by slightly stopping the operating hand when it is set near the target position,
The reaction sensitivity can be reduced, and fine adjustment can be easily performed. Therefore, the adjustment operation can be performed with good operability in both the coarse adjustment and the fine adjustment by the position operation means.

Thereafter, similarly, by operating the COL (P) button 24d and the CPL (S) button, the position and size of the region of interest in which the blood flow is to be displayed can be adjusted with good operability.

Therefore, the present embodiment has the following effects. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the adjustment of the rotation angle, the search for the image to be displayed, the adjustment of the position of the image, and the adjustment of the position and size of the region of interest for displaying the blood flow can be performed with good operability. It becomes possible and the object of the invention can be achieved.

More specifically, when the operator inverts the trackball, his or her hand normally stops naturally for a short time, so the control is performed according to the flowchart described in the present embodiment. The time during which the hand is stopped by the operation of the circuit 26 (in the present embodiment, 0.5 second to 1:
With the appropriate setting of (seconds), the surgeon can make fine adjustments without much awareness.

(Modification) The time (cycle) as a reference for changing the reaction sensitivity is set to 0.5 seconds to 1 second. Is also good. In this way, it is possible to set the time as appropriate for each user, and it is possible to cope with users having different preferences.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is slightly different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the operation panel. The operation panel 41 shown in FIG.
The operation panel 7 shown in FIG.
Are provided with fine adjustment keys 42u, 42d, 42l, 42r for fine adjustment of the trackball 6 at four places, specifically, up, down, left and right of the trackball 6.

Since the fine adjustment keys 42u, 42d, 42l, 42r for the trackball 6 are provided in this manner, the arrow keys 23 on the key area 21 side should not also have the function of fine adjustment of the trackball 6. ing.

The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment. Fine adjustment keys 42u, 4 near the trackball 6
Since 2d, 42l, and 42r are provided, fine adjustment of the adjustment by the trackball 6 can be executed in a clearly understandable manner.

For example, when the image rotation is performed by operating the trackball 6 and further fine adjustment is to be performed, the image is slowly rotated by continuously pressing the fine adjustment keys 42l and 42r, and the fine adjustment is smoothly performed. be able to.

(Modification) FIG. 14 shows an operation panel 41 'of a first modification of the second embodiment. In FIG. 13, fine adjustment keys 42u and 42
Although d, 42l and 42r are provided, in this modified example, two fine adjustment keys 42l and 42r are provided below the trackball 6.

Two fine adjustment keys 42l and 42r are provided to facilitate particularly frequently used image rotation. That is, I. R. When the mode is set, the image is rotated with a high response sensitivity by the trackball 6, and when fine adjustment is performed, the image can be slowly rotated by keeping pressing the fine adjustment key 42l or 42r.

FIG. 15 shows an operation panel 41 ″ according to a second modification. In FIG. 13, fine adjustment keys 42u, 42d, 42l, and 42r are provided at four locations on the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the trackball 6. In this example, four fine adjustment keys 42u, 42d, 42l, and 42r are provided below the trackball 6. The operation and effect in this case are almost the same as those in FIG.

In the above embodiment, the case where the radial scanning type ultrasonic endoscope 3 is employed has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus employing a convex or linear ultrasonic endoscope may be used. Further, as described above, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using an ultrasonic probe may be used.

Further, although a specific example of the image diagnostic apparatus has been described in the embodiment of the ultrasonic (image) diagnostic apparatus using ultrasonic waves, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, an endoscope device, X
Other image diagnostic apparatuses such as a line image diagnostic apparatus, a CT diagnostic apparatus, and an MRI image diagnostic apparatus may be used.

Although the trackball 6 has been described as the two-dimensional position operation means, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, a joystick, a touchpad, a mouse, or the like may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the functions of image rotation, cine review, scroll, and color flow mapping have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to these functions, and coarse adjustment and fine adjustment are required. It can be widely applied to adjustment functions.

[Supplementary Notes] 2. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment unit changes the reaction sensitivity according to a cycle of an output signal of the position operation unit. 3. 2. 2. The image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment of the image by the adjusting unit is a search from a plurality of images at different times. 3. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic imaging apparatus is a medical ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. 4. 2. The image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said position operation means is a trackball.

5. Means for instructing fine adjustment of the adjustment means in an image processing apparatus provided with display means for displaying an image, position operation means, and adjustment means for adjusting the image in accordance with an output signal of the position operation means Is provided integrally with the position operation means. (Background of Supplementary Note 5) The conventional image diagnostic apparatus provided with an operation panel has the following problems. For example, an arrow key beside an alphabet key may be used as a fine adjustment key of a trackball as a position operation means, but it is difficult to understand that the key has a fine adjustment function because it is not near the trackball.

The object of Appendix 5 is to provide an image diagnostic apparatus capable of executing fine adjustment by a position operating means such as a trackball in an easily understandable manner. In order to achieve the object, the configuration of Appendix 5 is adopted.

[0102]

As described above, according to the present invention, display means for displaying a medical image, position operation means, and adjustment means for adjusting the image in accordance with an output signal of the position operation means are provided. In the diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with, the adjusting means changes the response sensitivity in accordance with the characteristics of the output signal of the position operating means to adjust the image, so that the image can be adjusted without changing the response sensitivity. By adjusting the image to a state where the reaction sensitivity is high and a state where the reaction sensitivity is low as compared with the case where the adjustment is made, the image can be adjusted with good operability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a medical ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an operation panel.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing output signals when a trackball is operated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing output signals when a trackball is rotated quickly and when the trackball is rotated slowly.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the control circuit in the image rotation mode.

FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram showing a trackball signal when a hand operating the trackball is stopped for an appropriate time.

FIG. 7 is a waveform diagram showing a trackball signal when the hand operating the trackball is stopped for a longer time from the state of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a method of adjusting an image rotation angle in an image rotation mode.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the operation of the control circuit in the cine review mode.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of an image search adjustment method in the cine review mode.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the operation of the control circuit in the scroll mode.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a method of adjusting an image position in a scroll mode.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an operation panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an operation panel according to a first modification of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an operation panel according to a second modification of FIG. 13;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Medical ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 ... Ultrasonic transducer 3 ... Ultrasonic endoscope 4 ... Ultrasonic observation apparatus 5 ... Monitor 6 ... Trackball 7 ... Operation panel 11 ... Insertion part 13 ... Flexible shaft 14 ... Drive part Reference Signs List 15 transmission / reception circuit 16 signal processing circuit 17 DSC 18 display control circuit 19 memory 23 arrow keys 24a to 24e operation buttons 25 freeze operation key 26 control circuit 28 cycle determination circuit 29 frequency dividing circuit 31 ... Drive control circuit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 4C061 AA00 BB01 BB08 CC06 DD00 NN05 WW01 WW06 WW16 4C301 AA02 BB03 BB28 BB30 CC01 DD01 EE13 FF05 GA15 HH11 HH52 JB03 JB11 JB13 JC01 KK01 KK30 KK30 KK30 KK02 KK07 KK02 KK03 5B057 AA07 BA05 BA19 BA23 CH18

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image diagnostic apparatus comprising: a display unit for displaying a medical image; a position operation unit; and an adjustment unit for adjusting the image in accordance with an output signal of the position operation unit. An image diagnostic apparatus, characterized in that the means adjusts the image by changing the response sensitivity according to the characteristics of the output signal of the position operating means. 2. A medical image display method for adjusting a medical image by operating a position operating means and displaying the adjusted medical image on a display means, comprising: a monitoring step of monitoring characteristics of an output signal of the position operating means; A medical image display method, comprising: a speed changing step of changing a reaction sensitivity for adjusting the image according to a characteristic. 3. An operation step of performing a position operation by a position operation means; a monitoring step of monitoring characteristics of an output signal in the operation step; and a display device changing response sensitivity according to the characteristics of the output signal. A speed changing step of adjusting and displaying a medical image on the recording medium; and a recording medium recording a medical image displaying method.