JP2004073407A - Ultrasonic photographing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic photographing apparatus for correctly performing video-recording parallel with photographing. <P>SOLUTION: This apparatus includes: a photographing means for ultrasonic photographing; an operating means for freezing ultrasonic photographing by the photographing means, and also releasing it; a video-recording means for video-recording the images photographed by the photographing means; and a control means for stopping video-recording linked with freezing (706, 708), and re-starting the video-recording linked with the release of freezing (710, 712). It is favorable that the control means stops photographing after a predetermined time elapses from freezing, and also re-starts video-recording by tracing to the predetermined time from the release of the freezing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging apparatus, and particularly to an ultrasonic imaging apparatus that records an image in parallel with imaging.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The ultrasound imaging apparatus scans the inside of an imaging target with an ultrasonic beam (beam), receives an echo (echo), obtains image data (data) corresponding to the intensity of the echo, and thereby obtains a so-called B mode (mode). ) Generate an image. This is also called B-mode shooting.
[0003]
Further, a Doppler shift of the echo is obtained, and a color image representing a flow velocity distribution such as a blood flow, that is, a so-called color Doppler image is generated based on the Doppler shift. Alternatively, a color image representing the power of the Doppler signal, that is, a so-called power Doppler image is generated. This is also called color Doppler imaging.
[0004]
Further, the frequency of the Doppler signal is analyzed to display a spectrum and output as a sound (Doppler sound) signal. This is also called Doppler diagnosis.
[0005]
Images and sounds obtained by these B-mode imaging, color Doppler imaging or Doppler diagnosis are recorded and recorded on a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) for diagnosis at a later date. In this case, the user performs imaging while operating the recording device in addition to the ultrasonic imaging device.
[0006]
In the course of performing a shooting, the shooting is often frozen to obtain a still image. At this time, the user performs an operation of stopping recording each time a freeze is performed, and performs an operation of restarting recording each time the freeze is released so as not to waste the recording medium.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the user's attention is mainly directed to the operation of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus, it is possible that the operation of the recording apparatus is erroneously performed, and the image being frozen is recorded instead of the image being captured. .
[0008]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize an ultrasonic imaging apparatus that correctly performs recording in parallel with imaging. Another object of the present invention is to realize an ultrasonic imaging apparatus that correctly performs recording in parallel with contrast imaging.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) An invention according to one aspect for solving the above-mentioned problem is provided by an imaging unit for performing ultrasonic imaging, an operation unit for freezing and canceling the ultrasonic imaging by the imaging unit, and the imaging unit Recording means for recording the image taken in the above, and control means for stopping the recording means in conjunction with the freeze, and for causing the recording means to resume recording in response to the release of the freeze, It is an ultrasonic imaging apparatus characterized by the following.
[0010]
In the invention from this viewpoint, the control unit causes the recording unit to stop recording in synchronization with the freeze of the ultrasonic imaging, and restarts the recording in synchronization with the release of the freeze of the ultrasonic imaging. Recording can be performed correctly.
[0011]
It is preferable that the control means stop the recording after a predetermined time from the freeze in order to clarify that the recording has been stopped in conjunction with the freeze.
[0012]
It is preferable that the control means restarts the recording retroactively from the freeze release for a predetermined time in order to clarify that the recording has been restarted in conjunction with the freeze release.
[0013]
The control means causes the recording to be stopped after a predetermined time from the freeze, and causes the recording to be resumed retroactively from the freeze release for a predetermined time. This is preferable in that it is clear that the recording has been restarted in conjunction with the stop and the release of the freeze.
[0014]
(2) An invention according to another aspect for solving the above-described problems includes an imaging unit that performs ultrasonic imaging on a target into which a contrast agent has been injected, a measurement unit that measures an elapsed time after injection of the contrast agent, Operation means for freezing and canceling the ultrasonic imaging by the imaging means, recording means for recording the image taken by the imaging means, and recording on the recording means in conjunction with the start of measurement by the measurement means Control means for causing the recording means to stop recording in conjunction with the freeze.
[0015]
In the invention from this viewpoint, the control unit causes the recording unit to start recording in synchronization with the start of measurement by the measurement unit, and stops the recording in the recording unit in synchronization with the freeze of ultrasonic imaging. Recording can be performed correctly.
[0016]
It is preferable that the control unit starts the recording retroactively from the start of the measurement by a predetermined time in order to clarify that the recording has been started in conjunction with the start of the imaging.
[0017]
It is preferable that the control means stop the recording after a predetermined time from the freeze in order to clarify that the recording has been stopped in conjunction with the freeze.
[0018]
The control means may cause the start of the recording to be performed retroactively for a predetermined time from the start of the measurement, and to cause the stop of the recording to be performed after a predetermined time from the freeze. It is preferable to clarify that the recording has been started and that the recording has been stopped in conjunction with the freeze.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus. This device is an example of an embodiment of the present invention. An example of an embodiment relating to the device of the present invention is shown by the configuration of the present device.
[0020]
As shown in the figure, the present apparatus has an ultrasonic probe (probe) 100. The ultrasonic probe 100 is used in contact with an imaging target. The ultrasonic probe 100 has, for example, an ultrasonic transducer array 300 as shown in FIG. The ultrasonic transducer array 300 is a one-dimensional array and includes, for example, 128 ultrasonic transducers 302.
[0021]
The ultrasonic probe 100 is connected to the transmission / reception unit 110. The transmission / reception unit 110 supplies a driving signal to the ultrasonic probe 100 to transmit ultrasonic waves. The transmitting / receiving unit 110 also receives an echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe 100.
[0022]
The transmission / reception unit 110 performs, for example, scanning as shown in FIG. That is, the fan-shaped two-dimensional area 206 is scanned in the θ direction by the sound ray 202 extending in the z direction from the radiation point 200, and a so-called sector scan is performed.
[0023]
When transmitting and receiving apertures are formed by using a part of the ultrasonic transducer array, the apertures are sequentially moved along the array to perform scanning as shown in FIG. 4, for example. Can be. That is, by moving the sound ray 202 emitted from the radiation point 200 in the z direction in parallel along the linear trajectory 204, the rectangular two-dimensional area 206 is scanned in the x direction, and a so-called linear scan is performed. Do.
[0024]
When the ultrasonic transducer array is a so-called convex array formed along an arc extending in the ultrasonic wave transmitting direction, for example, a sound ray scan similar to the linear scan is performed as shown in FIG. 5, for example. Thus, the radiation point 200 of the sound ray 202 is moved along the arc-shaped trajectory 204, and the fan-shaped two-dimensional area 206 is scanned in the θ direction, so that a so-called convex scan can be performed.
[0025]
The transmission / reception unit 110 is connected to the B-mode processing unit 120, the color Doppler processing unit 130, and the Doppler processing unit 140. The echo reception signal for each sound ray output from the transmission / reception unit 110 is input to the B-mode processing unit 120, the color Doppler processing unit 130, and the Doppler processing unit 140.
[0026]
The B-mode processing unit 120 generates B-mode image data. That is, the echo reception signal is logarithmically amplified and then envelope-detected to obtain a signal representing the intensity of the echo at each reflection point on the sound ray. Generate data.
[0027]
The color Doppler processing unit 130 generates color Doppler image data. That is, MTI (Moving Target Indication) processing is performed on the echo reception signal, and color Doppler image data is generated by performing autocorrelation calculation on the MTI signal.
[0028]
Doppler processing section 140 generates Doppler spectrum data. That is, the echo reception signal is subjected to quadrature detection and sample hold, thereby extracting a Doppler signal in a predetermined sample volume, and obtaining the spectrum by frequency analysis. The Doppler processing unit 140 also generates a Doppler acoustic signal.
[0029]
The B-mode processing unit 120, the color Doppler processing unit 130, and the Doppler processing unit 140 are connected to the image processing unit 150. The image processing unit 150 receives B-mode image data, color Doppler image data, and Doppler spectrum data from the B-mode processing unit 120, the color Doppler processing unit 130, and the Doppler processing unit 140, respectively. The image processing unit 150 generates a B-mode image, a color Doppler image, and a Doppler spectrum image based on the input data.
[0030]
The image processing unit 150 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 600 as shown in FIG. The CPU 600 is connected to a main memory (main memory) 604, an external memory 606, a control unit interface (interface) 608, an input data memory (data memory) 612, and a digital scan converter (DSC: Digital Scan Converter) by a bus (bus) 602. ), An image memory 616, and a display memory 618.
[0031]
The program executed by the CPU 600 is stored in the external memory 606. The external memory 606 also stores various data used when the CPU 600 executes the program.
[0032]
A cine memory area is formed in the external memory 606, and a cine image is stored in this area. The cine image is composed of a plurality of continuous image frames, and a moving image can be obtained by reading and reproducing the image frames.
[0033]
The CPU 600 performs predetermined image processing by loading a program from the external memory 606 to the main memory 604 and executing the program. The CPU 600 exchanges control signals with a later-described control unit 180 via the control unit interface 608 in the course of executing the program.
[0034]
The B-mode image data, the color Doppler image data, and the Doppler spectrum data input from the B-mode processing unit 120, the color Doppler processing unit 130, and the Doppler processing unit 140 for each sound ray are stored in the input data memory 612. The data in the input data memory 612 is scan-converted by the DSC 614 and stored in the image memory 616. The data in the image memory 616 is output to the display unit 160 via the display memory 618.
[0035]
The part including the ultrasonic probe 100, the transmission / reception unit 110, the B-mode processing unit 120, the color Doppler processing unit 130, the Doppler processing unit 140, and the image processing unit 150 is an example of the embodiment of the imaging unit in the present invention.
[0036]
The display unit 160 is connected to the image processing unit 150. The display unit 160 is provided with an image signal from the image processing unit 150, and displays an image based on the image signal. The display unit 160 is configured by a graphic display using a CRT (cathode-ray tube) capable of displaying a color image.
[0037]
The recording unit 400 is also connected to the image processing unit 150. The image output by the image processing unit 150 is recorded by the recording unit 400. The image processing unit 150 is an example of an embodiment of a recording unit according to the present invention.
[0038]
A speaker 170 is connected to the Doppler processing unit 140. The speaker 170 generates sound based on the Doppler sound signal input from the Doppler processing unit 140. The Doppler acoustic signal of the Doppler processing unit 140 is also input to the recording unit 400, and is recorded simultaneously with the spectrum image.
[0039]
A control unit 180 is connected to the transmission / reception unit 110, the B-mode processing unit 120, the color Doppler processing unit 130, the Doppler processing unit 140, the image processing unit 150, and the recording unit 400. The control unit 180 is constituted by, for example, a computer. The control unit 180 is an example of an embodiment of a control unit according to the present invention.
[0040]
An operation unit 190 is connected to the control unit 180. The operation unit 190 is operated by a user, and inputs appropriate commands and information to the control unit 180. The operation unit 190 includes, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device, and other operation tools. The freeze described below and its release are performed by the user through the operation unit 190. The operation unit 190 is an example of an embodiment of the operation unit in the present invention.
[0041]
The control section 180 supplies a control signal to each section to control its operation. Various notification signals are input to the control unit 180 from the controlled units. Under the control of the control unit 180, B-mode imaging, color Doppler imaging, and Doppler diagnosis are respectively performed.
[0042]
In parallel with such photographing or diagnosis, recording is performed by the recording unit 400 under the control of the control unit 180. When recording is performed in parallel with Doppler diagnosis, simultaneous recording of Doppler sound is also performed.
[0043]
FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of the operation of the present apparatus at the time of recording. Recording is started based on a user command. The recording instruction is given at an appropriate timing through the operation unit 190 or the like.
[0044]
At the start of recording, in step 702, recording is performed. Next, in step 704, it is determined whether or not recording is stopped. The stop of the recording is performed by the user. If the recording stop operation has been performed, the operation ends (end: end). If not, in step 706, it is determined whether or not a freeze has occurred.
[0045]
Freezing is performed at any time through the operation unit 190 as needed by the user. Due to the freeze, the image on the display unit 160 becomes a still image. The still image is stored as an image file in the external memory 606 as needed. Alternatively, the data is printed out as a hard copy for storage by a not-shown internal printer or the like.
[0046]
If not, the process returns to step 702 to continue recording. In this way, when neither recording stop nor freeze is performed, recording is continuously performed. When the user freezes the screen, a recording pause is performed in step 708 based on the determination in step 706. Thereby, the recording is interrupted.
[0047]
Next, in step 710, it is determined whether or not the freeze is released. If not, the process returns to step 708 to continue the recording pause. Thereby, the recording pause is continuously performed during the freeze. When the freeze is released, recording is resumed in step 712 based on the determination in step 710, and the process returns to step 702 to perform recording.
[0048]
FIG. 8 shows a time chart of the above operation. As shown in the figure, scanning is started at time t0, and recording is started in parallel with the scanning. Recording is started by the user operating a predetermined button (button) on the operation unit 190 or the recording unit 400. The same applies hereinafter.
[0049]
When the scan is frozen at time t1, the recording is paused in conjunction with the freeze. Thereafter, when the freeze is released at time t2, the recording is restarted in conjunction therewith, and the recording is performed in parallel with the scan. Thereafter, when the image is frozen at time t3, the recording is paused in conjunction with the freeze. Hereinafter, recording is performed in this manner until the recording is stopped. The freeze of the scan and its release are performed by the user operating a predetermined button or the like on the operation unit 190. The same applies hereinafter.
[0050]
As described above, under the control of the control unit 180, the pause and the restart of the recording are respectively performed in synchronization with the freeze and the release of the scan, so that the user needs to pay attention to the operation of the recording unit 400 during the scan. There is no.
[0051]
The pause of the recording linked to the freeze may be performed not at the same time as the freeze but with an appropriate delay. FIG. 9 shows a time chart in such a case. As shown in the figure, the pause of the recording is performed with a delay of time td from the freeze. By doing so, the still image during the freeze is recorded for the time td, so that it is possible to clarify that the pause in the recording was performed in conjunction with the freeze. td is, for example, about 5 seconds.
[0052]
The restart of the recording linked to the release of the freeze may not be performed at the same time as the release of the freeze, but may be performed prior to the release. A time chart in such a case is shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, the restart of the recording is performed before the release of the freeze by the time ta. By doing so, the still image during the freeze is recorded over the time ta, so that it is possible to clarify that the restart of the recording was performed in conjunction with the release of the freeze. ta is, for example, about 5 seconds.
[0053]
However, since the timing of the freeze release is not always known in advance, the cine memory in the image processing unit 150 is used in such a case to substantially enable the recording to be resumed prior to the freeze release. The cine memory always stores a cine image for a predetermined time through scanning and freeze. As a result, the cine image is an image from a point in time that is retroactive for a predetermined time to the present. The predetermined time is longer than the preceding time ta.
[0054]
When the freeze is released, the cine image at the point in time that is retroactive by the time ta is read out and recorded by the recording unit 400. In the cine memory, real-time moving images obtained by scanning are sequentially stored as the freeze is released. Therefore, by performing such reading of the cine memory and the recording by the recording unit 400, the recording can be substantially resumed prior to the release of the freeze. In this case, the pause of the recording is performed with a delay of time ta from the freeze. In effect, the recording pause will be substantially simultaneous with the freeze.
[0055]
Such preceding resumption of recording may be performed in combination with the pause delay shown in FIG. A time chart in such a case is shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, recording is performed with a delay of time td from the freeze, and recording restart is performed with a time ta before release of the freeze. By doing so, it is possible to clarify that the pause of the recording was performed in conjunction with the freeze and that the restart of the recording was performed in conjunction with the release of the freeze.
[0056]
When performing ultrasound contrast imaging with the present apparatus, as shown in FIG. 12, a contrast agent injection unit 500 is used. The contrast agent injection unit 500 is under the control of the control unit 180. The control unit 180 causes the contrast agent injection unit 500 to inject the contrast agent, and measures the elapsed time from the start of the injection. The control unit 180 is an example of an embodiment of the measuring unit according to the present invention.
[0057]
This time measurement function is also called a contrast timer. The contrast timer is reset at the start of the injection of the contrast agent, and starts counting up (time up). The count value is displayed on the display unit 160 together with the captured image.
[0058]
When performing contrast imaging, the recording is started in conjunction with the reset of the imaging timer. The pause of the recording is performed in conjunction with the freeze as described above. The restart of recording from the pause state is performed in conjunction with the reset of the contrast timer.
[0059]
FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the operation of the present apparatus in such a case. This flowchart differs from that shown in FIG. 7 in that it is determined in step 710 ′ whether or not the timer is reset.
[0060]
FIG. 14 shows a time chart when the operation is performed according to such a flowchart. As shown in the figure, the recording start and the recording restart from the pause state are performed in conjunction with the reset of the contrast timer. The pause of the recording is performed in conjunction with the freeze. The reset of the imaging timer is performed by a user operating a predetermined button or the like on the operation unit 190.
[0061]
As described above, under the control of the control unit 180, the recording is paused in conjunction with the release of the freeze of the scan, and the recording is resumed in conjunction with the reset of the contrast timer. It is not necessary to pay attention to the operation of the recording unit 400.
[0062]
Note that the recording pause may be performed with a delay of time td from the freeze, as described above. A time chart in such a case is shown in FIG. The restart of the recording may be performed before the timer reset by the time ta. A time chart in such a case is shown in FIG. The technique for prioritizing the restart of recording is the same as described above. Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the pause of the pause and the preceding of the restart of the recording may be performed in combination.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an ultrasonic imaging apparatus that correctly performs recording in parallel with imaging. Further, it is possible to realize an ultrasonic imaging apparatus that correctly performs recording in parallel with contrast imaging.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic transducer array.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of sound ray scanning.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of sound ray scanning.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of sound ray scanning.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an image processing unit.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a time chart of an operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a time chart of the operation of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a time chart of the operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a time chart of the operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a time chart of the operation of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a time chart of the operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a time chart of the operation of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a time chart of the operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 ultrasonic probe 110 transmitting / receiving unit 120 B-mode processing unit 130 color Doppler processing unit 140 Doppler processing unit 150 image processing unit 160 display unit 170 speaker 180 control unit 190 operation unit 400 recording unit 500 contrast agent injection unit

Claims (8)

Imaging means for performing ultrasonic imaging,
Operating means for freezing and canceling the ultrasonic imaging by the imaging means,
Recording means for recording an image taken by the photographing means,
Control means for stopping the recording by the recording means in conjunction with the freeze, and restarting the recording by the recording means in conjunction with the release of the freeze,
An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising: The control means causes the recording to be stopped after a predetermined time from the freeze,
The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The control means causes the resumption of the recording to be performed retroactively for a predetermined time from the release of the freeze,
The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The control means causes the stop of the recording to be performed after a predetermined time from the freeze, and causes the resumption of the recording to be performed retroactively from the freeze release for a predetermined time,
The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: Imaging means for performing ultrasound imaging on a target into which a contrast agent has been injected,
Measuring means for measuring the elapsed time after the injection of the contrast agent,
Operating means for freezing and canceling the ultrasonic imaging by the imaging means,
Recording means for recording an image taken by the photographing means,
Control means for causing the recording means to start recording in conjunction with the measurement start of the measurement means, and stopping the recording in the recording means in conjunction with the freeze,
An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising: The control means causes the start of the recording to be performed retroactively by a predetermined time from the start of the measurement,
The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: The control means causes the recording to be stopped after a predetermined time from the freeze,
The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: The control means causes the start of the recording to be performed retroactively from a predetermined time after the start of the measurement, and causes the stop of the recording to be performed after a predetermined time from the freeze.
The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

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