JP2003305039A - Lumen longitudinal section reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily acquire the longitudinal section data of a carotid artery by an ultrasonic apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This lumen longitudinal section reproducing apparatus is provided with an ultrasonic transmitter-receiver for transmitting ultrasonic wave from an examined object contact face and receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected by a detected part, at the examined object contact face, and an image processor for reproducing an image of the detected part on the basis of the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic transmitter-receiver. The apparatus reproduces the longitudinal section image of the lumen under a surface part which the examined object contact face of the ultrasonic transmitter-receiver can contact. The apparatus is further provided with a means for extracting a plurality of cross-section images of the lumen from each image data acquired at a plurality of points of time when moving the ultrasonic transmitter-receiver along the nearly center axis of the lumen; a means for determining a tube diameter in a perpendicular direction to the examined object contact face in each of the cross section images; a means for creating the three-dimensional image of the lumen on the basis of the cross section images; and a means for acquiring the lumen longitudinal section image which passes all the tube diameters determined in each of the cross section images, from the three-dimensional image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lumen longitudinal section reproducing device. In particular, the present invention relates to the degree of wall thickening (eg,
The present invention relates to a luminal longitudinal section reproducing apparatus suitable for measuring carotid artery wall thickness).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Carotid arteriosclerotic lesions can be frequently measured non-invasively, and are becoming indispensable as a predictive factor for arteriosclerotic diseases such as coronary artery disease and cerebral infarction, and in determining therapeutic effects.

However, under the present circumstances, an expert doctor or a technician is required for measurement. However, it is said that the difference in measurement between measuring operators cannot be ignored.

Furthermore, the number of patients with lifestyle-related diseases such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, etc. to be targeted is extremely large, and it is said that there are potentially tens of millions in Japan, for example. Under such an environment, it is obvious that measurement of carotid atherosclerotic lesions should be simple and stable.

As mentioned above, the technique for measuring carotid atherosclerotic lesions has many problems to be solved.

Japanese Patent No. 2889568 discloses a carotid artery film thickness measuring device which takes the above problems into consideration. The outline of the apparatus will be described below.

(System Configuration) FIG. 6 shows a patent No. 2889.
568, carotid intima-media composite thickness (I
nima-Media Thickness;
It is called IMT. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a measurement system 2 that measures). As shown in FIG. 6, the small linear ultrasonic device 4 of the present system 2 has a size of a personal computer. The higher the frequency of the ultrasonic probe, the more the distance resolution increases, but if it is too high, the attenuation is large and it cannot reach a deep portion. Therefore, in consideration of the position of the carotid artery, in the ultrasonic device 4, 7.
A linear probe (ultrasonic wave transceiver) 6 of 5 MHz to 10 MHz is used. Further, since the theoretical limit value is 1/2 of the probe frequency wavelength, the distance resolution can be measured up to about 0.1 mm when the sound velocity is 1,500 m / sec.

A digital output board 10 photoisolated by a photoisolator 8 is attached to the ultrasonic device 4. With this board 10, an image read as digital data from the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver (probe) 6 can be output as digital data. Further, since the ultrasonic device 4 and the personal computer (image processing device) 12 described later are photo-isolated, safety for medical use is ensured.

Personal computer (image processing device)
A general-purpose personal computer 12 is equipped with a sufficient memory for performing image processing. Also,
The personal computer (image processing apparatus) 12 is equipped with a hard disk, and the hard disk contains I
MT measurement software, evaluation diagnostic software, database software, printout software, and digital image capture software are installed.

The personal computer (image processing apparatus) 12 is equipped with a PCI bus.
A digital input board 14 is attached to the CI bus.
The digital input board 14 is connected to the digital output board 10 of the ultrasonic device 4 via the connection cable 16 and the photo isolator 8, and inputs the data output from the digital output board 10. This data is stored in the memory section of the personal computer (image processing apparatus) 12. In this system 2,
As an option, the printer 18 may be connected to the personal computer (image processing apparatus) 12.
With this configuration, the measurement result can be printed out.

(Principle of IMT Measurement) Next, an outline of IMT measurement performed using the above system will be described based on the principle.

As shown in FIG. 7, the arteries are
It is known to be divided into three layers, the media and adventitia, and it is known that lesions cause enlargement of the intima or media. Therefore, each symptom can be diagnosed by measuring the thickness of the intima or the media.

Here, the measurement target is the carotid artery. The carotid artery 2 to 3 cm below the skin has a tube diameter of about 5 mm and is in a position where an ultrasonic image can be easily captured.

When an ultrasonic wave is emitted to the common carotid artery using the probe (ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver) 6, the ultrasonic wave is reflected at the site where the density change of the tissue occurs, and therefore, the site of the intima and the adventitia of the adventitia. Is reflected more strongly at the site. FIG. 8 shows an illustrated example of such a probe (ultrasound transceiver) 6 and ultrasound image. On the display of the ultrasonic device 4, a portion having a strong reflection in the ultrasonic image has high brightness on the screen. Therefore, if this brightness change is measured in a direction that penetrates an arbitrary tube diameter of the blood vessel, the thickness of the intima and the media of the tube diameter can be measured.

However, it is extremely difficult to visually measure the change in brightness on the display and obtain the thicknesses of the intima and the media with an accuracy of 0.1 mm from the measurement results. In particular, since blood vessels do not have a straight tube shape but have a slightly meandering shape, it is almost impossible to perform a very accurate measurement by visually observing the direction perpendicular to the wall surface of the blood vessel. .

In view of this, in Japanese Patent No. 2889568, first, the ultrasonic device 4 reads a longitudinal cross-section still image of the carotid artery as digital data, and captures it as it is into the personal computer (image processing device) 12. Then, the peak value of the brightness value is obtained by numerical analysis, and the brightness change is measured. Further, based on the measurement result of the luminance change, the wall positions of the intima and adventitia in the radial direction of the blood vessel are determined at a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of the blood vessel, and the endocardium is expressed as a function of the position in the longitudinal direction of the blood vessel. The thickness of the intima and the media is accurately measured in the direction perpendicular to the wall surface of the blood vessel by obtaining the tangent of the regression curve of the wall position of the adventitia.

Here, the longitudinal cross-sectional still image of the carotid artery is the most useful information for confirming the degree of thickening (comprising the thickness of the intima and media) of the carotid artery.

The apparatus in the above invention is extremely useful in that the measurement is simple and there is no variation in measurement. However, there is still a problem that the skill of an inspection expert is still required to obtain a still image of a vertical section.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to easily obtain longitudinal section data of a carotid artery with an ultrasonic device.

[0020]

The present invention has been made to achieve the above object. The luminal longitudinal cross-section reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 according to the present invention is an ultrasonic transceiver for transmitting ultrasonic waves from a contact surface to be inspected and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected at a site to be detected from the contact surface to be inspected. When,
An image processing device that reproduces an image of the detected region based on the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver, and a tube under the surface region that can be contacted by the inspection target contact surface of the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver. A luminal longitudinal section reproducing apparatus for reproducing an image of a longitudinal section of a lumen, wherein the ultrasonic transceiver is moved from image data obtained at a plurality of time points when the ultrasonic transceiver is moved along a substantially central axis of the lumen. Means for extracting a plurality of cross-sectional images of the lumen, means for determining the tube diameter in the direction perpendicular to the contact surface to be inspected for each of the extracted cross-sectional images, and the extracted cross-sectional image A means for creating a three-dimensional image of the lumen based on the above, and a lumen longitudinal section that passes through all of the tube diameters determined in each of the above extracted cross-sectional images from the three-dimensional image. And means for obtaining an image.

The apparatus for reproducing a longitudinal section of a lumen according to claim 2 of the present invention is an ultrasonic device which transmits ultrasonic waves from the contact surface to be inspected and receives ultrasonic waves reflected at the site to be detected from the contact surface to be inspected. An ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver and an image processing device that reproduces an image of the detected region based on the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver, and a surface part that can be in contact with the contact surface of the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver to be inspected A lumen longitudinal section reproducing apparatus for reproducing an image of a longitudinal section of a lumen below, at a plurality of time points when the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver is moved along a substantially central axis of the lumen. In each of the obtained image data, at a plurality of positions that intersect the axis that is perpendicular to the contact surface to be inspected and that is substantially orthogonal to the axis at the substantially center of the lumen,
Means for identifying a luminal outer peripheral position and an inner peripheral position near the inspection target contact surface and a luminal outer peripheral position and an inner peripheral position distant from the inspection target contact surface, and the inspection target specified for each image data A means for continuously connecting a lumen outer peripheral position and an inner peripheral position close to the contact surface and a lumen outer peripheral position and an inner peripheral position distant from the inspection target contact surface to obtain a longitudinal sectional image along the lumen central axis; It is characterized by having.

The luminal longitudinal section reproducing apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention comprises means for displaying the luminal longitudinal section image, and the tube according to claim 1 or 2. It is a cavity longitudinal section reproduction device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a luminal longitudinal cross section reproducing apparatus for determining a wall thickness at a luminal outer peripheral position and an inner circumferential position close to the inspection target contact surface, and at the same time, for inspecting the contact target. The lumen longitudinal cross-section reproducing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising means for determining a wall thickness at the outer peripheral position and the inner peripheral position away from the surface at the position.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a luminal longitudinal cross-section reproducing device including means for displaying the wall thickness. .

A computer program according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is an ultrasonic transmitter / receiver for transmitting ultrasonic waves from a contact surface to be inspected and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected at a site to be detected from the contact surface to be inspected. An image processing device that reproduces an image of the detected region based on the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic transceiver, and is below a surface region that can be contacted by the contact surface of the ultrasonic transceiver to be inspected. In a lumen longitudinal section reproducing apparatus for reproducing an image of a longitudinal section of a lumen, from image data obtained at a plurality of time points when the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver is moved along the axis of the center of the lumen,
When a plurality of cross-sectional images of the lumen are extracted and stored in a predetermined recording unit, for each of the extracted cross-sectional images,
Determine the diameter of the tube in the direction perpendicular to the contact surface to be inspected, create a three-dimensional image of the lumen based on the extracted cross-sectional image, and from the three-dimensional image, extract the cross section It is a computer program which operates in the above-mentioned lumen longitudinal cross-section reproducing apparatus, which obtains a lumen longitudinal cross-section image that passes through all of the tube diameters determined in each of the plane images.

A computer program according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is an ultrasonic transmitter / receiver for transmitting an ultrasonic wave from a contact surface to be inspected and receiving an ultrasonic wave reflected at a site to be detected from the contact surface to be inspected. An image processing device that reproduces an image of the detected region based on the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic transceiver, and is below a surface region that can be contacted by the contact surface of the ultrasonic transceiver to be inspected. In a lumen longitudinal section reproducing apparatus for reproducing an image of a longitudinal section of a lumen, each of image data obtained at a plurality of time points when the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver is moved along a substantially central axis of the lumen. In a plurality of positions that are perpendicular to the inspection target contact surface and intersect with an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the substantially central axis of the lumen, and a lumen outer peripheral position and an inner peripheral position near the inspection target contact surface. Inspection target connection Identify and away abluminal circumferential position and an inner circumferential position from the surface was identified for each image data,
A longitudinal cross-sectional image along the lumen central axis is obtained by continuously connecting the lumen outer peripheral position and inner peripheral position near the inspection target contact surface and the lumen outer peripheral position and inner peripheral position distant from the inspection target contact surface. It is a computer program which operates in the above-mentioned luminal longitudinal section reproduction device.

The computer program according to the eighth aspect of the present invention obtains the wall thickness at the outer peripheral position and the inner peripheral position near the contact surface to be inspected, and separates from the contact surface to be inspected. The computer program according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the wall thickness at the position is calculated from the outer peripheral position and the inner peripheral position of the lumen.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<< First Embodiment >> A lumen longitudinal section reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention has substantially the same structure as the measuring system 2 shown in FIG. 6 as a conventional technique. In particular, the same hardware is used for the hardware included in the overall configuration, and there is only a difference in the software installed in the hard disk of the personal computer (image processing device) 12. Therefore, the differences will be mainly described below.

In the above-mentioned conventional technique, the longitudinal direction of the probe (ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver) 6 is set as parallel as possible to the central axis of the blood vessel to obtain a longitudinal ultrasonic image (see FIG. 8). . On the other hand, in the present invention, FIG.
As shown in (b), the longitudinal direction of the probe (ultrasound transmitter / receiver) 6 is set to be orthogonal to the center axis of the blood vessel, and a transverse ultrasound image is obtained.

Further, the above-mentioned conventional measuring system is
Although only "one" (or several) longitudinal images are obtained, the present invention continuously obtains a large number of transverse sections of the carotid artery at minute intervals. The minute interval is, for example, 0.1 mm.

Since the digital data of the ultrasonic image is constantly sent to the personal computer (image processing device) 12 included in the lumen longitudinal section reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, It is easy to control the digital data to be stored in the memory unit (that is, the hard disk) every unit time. In the present invention, the plane of the image data acquired by the probe (ultrasound transmitter / receiver) 6 is made substantially orthogonal to the carotid artery, and the longitudinal axis of the probe (ultrasound transmitter / receiver) 6 is the probe (ultrasound transmitter / receiver). The probe (ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver) 6 is translationally scanned on the skin surface at a predetermined distance for a predetermined time (and at a constant speed) so as to be orthogonal to the scanning direction of 6. By adjusting the translational speed of the probe (ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver) 6 and the time interval unit for storing the digital data in the hard disk, a large number of cross sections at intervals of "0.1 mm" are obtained. It will be possible easily.

For example, it is assumed that the personal computer (image processing apparatus) 12 continuously stores image data every 10 ^-2 seconds. At this time, when the probe (ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver) 6 is translationally scanned at a distance of “t” cm for “t” seconds, as a result, 0.1 m in the translation direction axis.
Cross-sections every m will be obtained.

The translation means for translating the probe (ultrasonic transmitter / receiver) 6 at the distance of "t" cm for "t" seconds is not particularly limited.

The luminal longitudinal section reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment is an apparatus for finally obtaining a carotid vertical longitudinal image. It is considered that the most important point is to show the thickness of the media more clearly. Therefore, even if the vertical longitudinal image of the carotid artery has some distortion in the arterial running direction, it does not become a decisive problem. Therefore, the translation means has a strictly accurate translation speed (1 cm / sec). There is no need to prepare. The probe (ultrasonic wave transceiver) 6 may be manually translated at a substantially constant speed (1 cm / sec).

FIG. 1 shows a state in which a probe (ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver) 6 is translated while its contact surface to be inspected is in contact with the skin surface, and ultrasonic image data of a carotid transverse section is acquired. In the figure, the probe (ultrasonic wave transceiver) 6 advances from left to right. D1, D2, and D3 are a part of the cross section of the sampling target. 2A and 2B show the relationship between the carotid artery and cross-sectional (D1, D2, D3) images, and in FIG.
The images at D1, D2, and D3 are shown.

As described above, a carotid artery longitudinal section is created based on the ultrasonic image data of the carotid transverse section stored in a large number of hard disks of the personal computer (image processing apparatus) 12.

FIG. 4 is a personal computer (image processing apparatus) 1 of the luminal longitudinal section reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment.
2 is a schematic flow chart of creating a carotid longitudinal section in FIG.

(FIG. 4) In step S04, the tube diameter is determined for each of the ultrasonic image data of the carotid transverse section stored in the hard disk of the personal computer (image processing apparatus) 12. The "tube diameter" here is
As shown in FIGS. 2B and 3, the probe (ultrasonic transceiver) 6 in the direction perpendicular to the contact surface to be inspected (L
1, L2, and L3).

Subsequently (FIG. 4), in step S06, a plurality of carotid artery cross-section data stored in the hard disk of the personal computer (image processing device) 12 is utilized to determine the carotid artery 3 based on the existing technique. The three-dimensional image is reconstructed. For the reconstruction of the three-dimensional image of the carotid artery, for example, the existing technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-137728 can be used.

Next (FIG. 4), in step S08, the reconstructed three-dimensional image of the carotid artery is longitudinally cut by one plane connecting all of the tube diameters determined in step S04, and a desired longitudinal image is extracted. To be done.

FIGS. 2 (c) and 2 (d) show an example of how the longitudinal section image is extracted.

The carotid artery runs substantially parallel to the skin surface, but has a slight bend rather than a straight tube. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to directly obtain a longitudinal cross section of the carotid artery with only one measurement by the measurement plane by the ultrasonic wave emitted by the probe (ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver) 6, it is possible to obtain the results shown in FIGS. As described above, in many cases, only (the data of) the vertical cross section including almost no diameter of the pipe cross section can be obtained. In this respect, the longitudinal section formed by the present invention is composed only of image data along the pipe diameter.

<< Second Embodiment >> A lumen longitudinal cross section reproducing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first embodiment in that the measurement shown in FIG. It has almost the same configuration as the system. Furthermore, the same hardware is used for the hardware included in the overall configuration, and there is only a difference in the software installed in the hard disk of the personal computer (image processing apparatus) 12. Therefore, the differences will be mainly described below.

Also in the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the longitudinal direction of the probe (ultrasound transmitter / receiver) 6 is set to be orthogonal to the central axis of the blood vessel. ,
Obtain an ultrasound image of the transverse image. Furthermore, very small intervals (for example,
Attempts to continuously obtain a large number of carotid artery cross-sections (every 0.1 mm).

The digital data of the ultrasonic image is always sent to the personal computer (image processing device) 12 included in the lumen longitudinal section reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the first embodiment, the digital data is stored in the memory unit (that is, at every minute unit time).
It can be easily controlled to be stored on the hard disk). Therefore, the image data plane acquired by the probe (ultrasound transmitter / receiver) 6 is made to be substantially orthogonal to the carotid artery, and the longitudinal axis of the probe (ultrasound transmitter / receiver) 6 is made to be orthogonal to the scanning direction of the probe. If the probe (ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver) 6 is translationally scanned on the skin surface at a predetermined distance for a predetermined time (and at a constant speed), these ,.
By adjusting the translation speed of the probe (ultrasound transmitter / receiver) 6 and the time interval unit for storing the digital data in the hard disk, the above-mentioned minute interval (for example, 0.1
It is possible to obtain a large number of cross sections at intervals of (mm).

The lumen longitudinal section reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment may also be one in which the probe (ultrasonic wave transceiver) 6 is manually translated at a substantially constant speed.

Also in the luminal longitudinal section reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment, the probe (ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver) 6 is translated while the contact surface to be inspected is in contact with the skin surface, and the carotid transverse section is analyzed. Collect ultrasound image data. FIG. 1 shows the situation, in which the probe (ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver) 6 advances from left to right. D1, D2, and D3 are a part of the cross section of the sampling target. 2A and 2B show the relationship between the carotid artery and cross-sectional (D1, D2, D3) images, and in FIG. 3, the images at D1, D2, and D3 are shown.

A carotid longitudinal section is created based on the ultrasonic image data of the carotid transverse section stored in a large number of hard disks of the personal computer (image processing apparatus) 12 as described above.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flow chart for creating a carotid artery longitudinal section in the personal computer (image processing apparatus) 12 of the lumen longitudinal section reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

(FIG. 9) In step S24, the axis passing through the tube diameter is determined for each of the ultrasonic image data of the carotid transverse section stored in the hard disk of the personal computer (image processing apparatus) 12. As shown in FIGS. 2B and 3, the “axis passing through the tube diameter” here is in the direction perpendicular to the contact surface of the probe (ultrasonic transceiver) 6 to be inspected (L1, L2, and L3). Further, the outer peripheral position and the inner peripheral position are specified on the axis.

The inner peripheral position here is the inner wall position of the intima of the carotid artery, and the outer diameter position is the inner wall position of the adventitia of the carotid artery. That is, by identifying the inner peripheral position and the outer peripheral position, IMT (Intima-Media Thick), which is an important factor in carotid atherosclerotic lesions.
Ness, intimal-media composite thickness, carotid artery thickening) can be grasped.

Further, the outer peripheral position and the inner peripheral position include a lumen outer peripheral position and an inner peripheral position near the inspection target contact surface, and a lumen outer peripheral position and an inner peripheral position away from the inspection target contact surface. . An example of how to determine the outer peripheral position and the inner peripheral position is shown in Japanese Patent No. 2889568, but there are various methods. For example, first, the reference position is calculated based on the moving average value of the brightness values of the digital image data, and the maximum value and the minimum value of the brightness value within the predetermined pixel range are calculated from the reference position in the direction of the blood vessel wall. Then, the outer peripheral position and the inner peripheral position can be calculated based on the maximum value and the minimum value.

That is, when it is desired to calculate the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the lumen away from the contact surface to be inspected, the low-brightness ultrasonic reflection is applied to the boundary position where the increase in the brightness value by the moving average exceeds a predetermined value. A reference position calculating means for setting a reference position, and a maximum peak value and its position are calculated within a range of a predetermined pixel from the low-brightness ultrasonic reflection reference position toward the tube wall portion, and the reference position is calculated from the position. Peak data calculating means for calculating a second peak value and its position toward the reference position, and an inner circumference at a position where the change in the brightness value changes from decreasing to increasing from the second peak position toward the reference position. An inner circumference position calculating means for calculating the position, and an outer circumference for calculating an outer circumference position between the position of the minimum brightness value between the second peak value and the maximum peak value and the position of the maximum peak value. Position calculation means It is calculated by

Subsequently (FIG. 9), in step S26, the data relating to the outer peripheral position and the inner peripheral position are continuously arranged at a minute interval on the display device, and after the arrangement, the same outer peripheral position and inner peripheral position are set. The inner circumference position data is continuously and appropriately connected, and thus a vertical sectional image is constructed. The above-mentioned outer and inner circumference positions of the same kind can be connected by, for example, a regression curve in which the position data of each point is appropriately taken into consideration.

2 (c) and 2 (d) show an example of how the vertical section image is extracted.

As is apparent from the above, also in the lumen longitudinal section reproducing device according to the second embodiment, as in the lumen longitudinal section reproducing device according to the first embodiment, a longitudinal cross section is formed. Is composed only of longitudinal section image data along the pipe diameter.

<< Other Embodiments >> The object of measurement according to the present invention is not limited to the carotid artery. The femoral artery can also be the measurement target. Furthermore, a tubular object which is not limited to a blood vessel and which cannot be seen directly by an obstruction can be an object to be measured according to the present invention.

[0059]

Industrial Applicability According to the present invention, the longitudinal cross-section still image data of the carotid artery, which is the most useful information for confirming the blood vessel thickening, is scanned by the probe along the running of the artery. It is possible to obtain a clearer image by a simple operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a probe (ultrasound transmitter / receiver) is translated while its contact surface to be inspected is in contact with the skin surface to collect ultrasound image data of a carotid transverse section.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view ((a) and (b)) showing a relationship between a carotid artery and a cross-sectional (D1, D2, D3) image, and an example of a desired carotid longitudinal cross-sectional image ((c) (d)). And an example of a conventional carotid artery longitudinal cross-sectional image ((c ') (d')).

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a carotid artery to be sampled by the luminal longitudinal section reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of creating a carotid artery longitudinal section in a personal computer (image processing apparatus) constituting the luminal longitudinal section reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a probe (ultrasonic wave transceiver) and a carotid artery to be measured in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a carotid intima-media composite thickness measurement system of the related art and a lumen longitudinal cross-section reproduction device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a part of a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an artery.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a probe (ultrasound transmitter / receiver) and a carotid artery as a measurement target in a conventional technique.

FIG. 9 shows a personal computer that constitutes a luminal longitudinal section reproducing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a schematic flowchart of creation of a carotid artery longitudinal section.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 ... Ultrasonic device, 6 ... probe (ultrasonic transceiver), 12 ... Personal computer (image processing device), D1, D2, D3 ... Carotid artery cross section, L1, L2, L3 ... Ultrasonic direction diameter.

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 4C301 BB01 BB22 CC02 DD21 EE13                       JC14 KK17 KK24 LL02 LL13                 4C601 BB05 BB06 BB21 DD01 EE11                       JC15 JC20 JC21 JC25 JC26                       KK12 KK21 KK22 KK28 LL01                       LL02 LL09 LL11

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic transmitter / receiver for transmitting ultrasonic waves from a contact surface to be inspected and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected by a detected part from the contact surface to be inspected, and ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver. An image processing device that reproduces an image of the detected region, and a lumen that reproduces an image of a longitudinal section of the lumen under the surface region that can be contacted by the contact surface of the ultrasonic transceiver. A longitudinal section reproducing apparatus, wherein a plurality of transverse section images of the lumen are extracted from image data obtained at a plurality of time points when the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver is moved along a substantially central axis of the lumen. Means and means for determining the tube diameter in the direction perpendicular to the contact surface to be inspected for each of the extracted cross-sectional images, and the three-dimensional image of the lumen based on the extracted cross-sectional image. How to create, and from the three-dimensional image above The pipe diameter, which is determined by each of the above extracted cross-section image, passes through all, and means for obtaining a tube 腔縦 sectional images, the tube 腔縦 sectional reproducing apparatus characterized by comprising. 2. An ultrasonic transmitter / receiver for transmitting ultrasonic waves from the contact surface of the inspection target and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected by the detection target surface from the contact surface of the inspection target, and ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver device. An image processing device that reproduces an image of the detected region, and a lumen that reproduces an image of a longitudinal section of the lumen under the surface region that can be contacted by the contact surface of the ultrasonic transceiver. A longitudinal section reproducing apparatus, wherein each of the image data obtained at a plurality of time points when the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver is moved along an axis substantially at the center of the lumen, is perpendicular to the contact surface to be inspected. A plurality of positions intersecting with an axis substantially orthogonal to the substantially central axis of the lumen, and outer and inner positions of the lumen close to the contact surface to be inspected, and a lumen distant from the contact surface to be inspected. A hand to identify the outer and inner circumference positions If was identified for each image data, continuously connects extraluminal circumferential position and an inner circumferential position remote from the inspection close to the target contact surface abluminal circumferential position and an inner circumferential position and the inspection target contact surface,
And a means for obtaining a longitudinal cross-sectional image along the central axis of the lumen. 3. The lumen longitudinal cross-section reproducing device according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying the lumen longitudinal cross-section image. 4. The wall thickness at the position is obtained from the outer peripheral position and the inner peripheral position of the lumen close to the contact surface to be inspected,
The lumen longitudinal cross-section reproduction device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising means for determining a wall thickness at the luminal outer circumferential position and inner luminal position distant from the contact surface to be inspected. 5. The lumen longitudinal cross-section reproducing device according to claim 4, further comprising means for displaying the wall thickness. 6. An ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver for transmitting ultrasonic waves from the contact surface of the inspection object and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected by the detection object from the contact surface of the inspection object, and ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver. An image processing device that reproduces an image of the detected region, and a lumen that reproduces an image of a longitudinal section of the lumen under the surface region that can be contacted by the contact surface of the ultrasonic transceiver. In the longitudinal section reproducing apparatus, a plurality of transverse section images of the lumen are extracted from image data obtained at a plurality of time points when the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver is moved along the substantially central axis of the lumen. Once stored in the specified recording unit, the diameter of the tube in the direction perpendicular to the contact surface to be inspected is determined for each of the extracted cross-sectional images, and based on the extracted cross-sectional image, the lumen Create a 3D image of Operated by the lumen longitudinal section reproducing device characterized by obtaining a lumen longitudinal section image that passes through all of the tube diameters determined in each of the extracted transverse section images from the image. A computer program to do. 7. An ultrasonic transmitter / receiver for transmitting ultrasonic waves from the contact surface of the inspection target and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected by the detection target surface from the contact surface of the inspection target, and ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver device. An image processing device that reproduces an image of the detected region, and a lumen that reproduces an image of a longitudinal section of the lumen under the surface region that can be contacted by the contact surface of the ultrasonic transceiver. In the longitudinal section reproducing apparatus, in each of the image data obtained at a plurality of time points when the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver is moved along the substantially central axis of the lumen, the image data is perpendicular to the contact surface to be inspected and A plurality of positions intersecting with an axis substantially orthogonal to the axis of the center of the lumen, and outer and inner positions of the lumen close to the contact surface to be inspected, and outer peripheral position of the lumen away from the contact surface to be inspected. And the inner circumference position are specified. Identified for the image data, sequentially connecting the extraluminal circumferential position and an inner circumferential position remote from the inspection close to the target contact surface abluminal circumferential position and an inner circumferential position and the inspection target contact surface,
A computer program running on the lumen longitudinal section reproducing apparatus, characterized in that a longitudinal section image along the central axis of the lumen is obtained. 8. The wall thickness at the position is obtained from the outer peripheral position and the inner peripheral position of the lumen close to the contact surface to be inspected,
The computer program according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the wall thickness at the outer peripheral position and the inner peripheral position apart from the inspection target contact surface is obtained.