JP2004216171A - Ultrasonic imaging diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic system which makes it possible to check whether or not extracting the surface of an object is carried out properly. <P>SOLUTION: The system comprises; a three-dimensional echo data memory means for transmitting ultrasonic waves to a living body, receiving the ultrasonic waves from the living body, and storing echo data of a three-dimensional area consisting of a plurality of obtained consecutive ultrasonic tomographic images; a surface position extracting means for extracting positions defining the surface of an object in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the memory means; a three-dimensional image producing means for producing three-dimensional images by surface echo data shown by the surface positions extracted by the surface position extracting means; a display means for displaying all of the plurality of consecutive ultrasonic tomographic images or specific ultrasonic tomographic images; and a boundary superposing means for superposing the extracted surface positions of the object as a boundary on all of the plurality of consecutive ultrasonic tomographic images or specific ultrasonic tomographic images. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

 The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus that obtains a three-dimensional image by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a living body.

  In recent years, while performing a three-dimensional scan such as a spiral scan as in an apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-30937, an ultrasonic wave is transmitted and received into a living body to capture echo data of a test site, and the raw data is obtained. There has been proposed an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that three-dimensionally displays a test site in a body.

  Of these, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 7-47066 and 4-279156 disclose a three-dimensional shape of a living body while maintaining the inherent gradation characteristics of the echo data of the living body necessary for medical diagnosis. Discloses an apparatus that three-dimensionally displays echo data and combines the echo data with surface image data of a body cavity surface shaded by perspective, glow shading, or the like.

  Among them, the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-47066 can interactively set a desired cross section by dividing a display screen of a monitor into four and setting a cross-sectional position with a trackball or the like.

  The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-279158 automatically extracts the organ surface by threshold processing on the line of sight. Further, in order to express the surface three-dimensionally, the surface is colored to express perspective by changing the hue.

  Further, in the devices disclosed in JP-A-7-47066 and JP-A-4-279158, the display colors of surface image data in a three-dimensional image are given only from perspective and three-dimensional shapes. It was not related to the original color of the organ seen in the optical image.

  However, in the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-279156, threshold value processing is performed and the surface is extracted only by determining whether or not the brightness is higher than a certain level. However, there is a problem that may be erroneously extracted as an organ surface.

  Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of accurately expressing a desired object surface without being disturbed by noise or the like.

  Further, the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-279156 has a problem that it is not possible to confirm whether or not surface extraction has been properly performed.

  Therefore, a second object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of confirming whether or not the extraction of the surface of an object is appropriately performed.

  Further, the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-279156 has a problem that it is not possible to correct a portion where surface extraction is not appropriate.

  Therefore, a third object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of correcting a portion where the extraction of the object surface is not appropriate.

  Further, in the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-47066, the cross-sectional position is set only by setting the intersection line of the cutting line, and the cross-section is set only in a cross section parallel to the cutting line. Cannot be set. For this reason, there is a problem that a cross section cannot be observed at a position of a lesion existing at an oblique position such as a lower right position on a tomographic image perpendicular to the lumen axis, and the depth of the lesion cannot be diagnosed.

  Therefore, a fourth object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of appropriately setting a cross section regardless of a position of a lesion on a tomographic image and diagnosing the depth of the lesion. .

  Also, in the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-47066, since a cross section is represented only by displaying a cutting line on a display screen of a monitor divided into four, a three-dimensional image is obtained from the divided screen. There is a problem that it is difficult to distinguish the displayed part and the non-displayed part and to understand the correspondence.

  Therefore, a fifth object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can set a cross section in a tomographic image in which a portion displayed as a three-dimensional image and a portion not displayed are easily distinguishable and corresponded. .

  Further, the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-47066 has a problem that the ray angle at the time of shading cannot be changed and cannot be three-dimensionally represented depending on the shape.

  Accordingly, a sixth object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus capable of expressing a desired object surface more three-dimensionally and setting the ray angle more intuitively and anatomically easy to understand. It is in.

  Further, in the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-47066, there is no means for instructing the line of sight. Therefore, the line of sight of the three-dimensional image may be changed so that the region of interest such as a lesion may be seen well, and the region of interest may not be seen well even after the two-dimensional reprojection. There is a problem that re-projection is required.

  Therefore, a seventh object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of setting a line-of-sight angle more easily so that a region of interest such as a lesion can be seen well.

  Further, when a doctor judges the degree of progress such as the depth of the lesion based on the echo data, and compares the shape of the lesion with an optical image such as an endoscope using the surface image data, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-47066 is disclosed. In the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-270, both the three-dimensionally displayed image data and the surface image data are displayed in gray scale, so that each part of the three-dimensional image retains the tone of the biological echo. There is a problem that it is difficult for the surgeon to distinguish whether the image data is image data or surface image data to which three-dimensional information such as shape is added as a shadow.

  Furthermore, in the devices disclosed in JP-A-7-47066 and JP-A-4-279156, display colors of surface image data in a three-dimensional image are given only from perspective and three-dimensional shapes. Since there is no relationship with the original color of the organ seen in the optical image, there is a problem that it is difficult for a person other than the surgeon to determine which part of the body cavity the three-dimensional image is being observed.

  Thus, an eighth object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus that can easily distinguish between echo data and surface image data.

  A ninth object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus capable of associating a display color of surface image data with an original color of an organ visible in an optical image and observing a more realistic three-dimensional image.

In order to achieve the first object, the following configuration (1) is adopted.
(1) three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data to which shading has been added by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
In the three-dimensional echo data, the surface position extracting means scans a scan line farther from the scan line start point, and a point having a luminance value larger than a certain threshold value is included in a run having a predetermined distance or more. And a run extracting means for extracting a run closest to the scan line start point.

According to the above configuration, the cross-section position setting means sets a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
The surface position extraction means scans the scan line farther from the scan line start point in the three-dimensional echo data in the three-dimensional echo data. By extracting the run closest to the scan line start point, a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage unit is extracted.
The shadow adding means adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting means.
The synthesizing means synthesizes a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data. The display means displays a three-dimensional image.

In order to achieve the second object, the following (2) or (3) is employed.
(2) an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a living body and obtaining a plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images in a three-dimensional region;
Three-dimensional echo data storage means for storing echo data of a three-dimensional area composed of a plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images obtained by the ultrasonic probe;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data shaded by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
The surface position extracting means is provided with a boundary superimposing means for superimposing the extracted object surface position as a boundary on all of the continuous ultrasonic tomographic images or on a specific ultrasonic tomographic image. .

According to the above configuration, the cross-section position setting means sets a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
The surface position extracting unit superimposes the extracted object surface position as a boundary on all or a plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images or a specific ultrasonic tomographic image, and the user confirms the extracted position. While extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means. The shadow adding means adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting means.
The synthesizing means synthesizes a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data. The display means displays a three-dimensional image.

(3) three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data shaded by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
A tomographic image constructing unit configured to construct a plurality of tomographic images having different directions generated from the echo data in the three-dimensional echo data,
A boundary superimposing unit that superimposes the extracted tomographic image constructed by the tomographic image constructing unit with the extracted object surface position as a boundary is provided.

According to the above configuration, the cross-section position setting means sets a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
The tomographic image constructing means constructs a plurality of tomographic images having different directions generated from the echo data in the three-dimensional echo data, and the boundary superimposing means forms a tomographic image constructed by the tomographic image constructing means. Then, a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage unit is extracted while the user supervises the extracted object surface position as a boundary and confirms the extracted position. The shadow adding means adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting means.
The synthesizing means synthesizes a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data. The display means displays a three-dimensional image.

In order to achieve the third object, the following configuration (4) or (5) is adopted.
(4) In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to (2) or (3), the surface position extracting means includes a boundary correcting means for correcting the boundary superimposed by the boundary superimposing means, and is corrected by the boundary correcting means. Correcting the object surface position extracted by the boundary.
According to the above configuration, the cross-section position setting means sets a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
The surface position extracting means includes a three-dimensional echo data storage means, wherein the boundary correcting means corrects the boundary superimposed by the boundary superimposing means, and corrects an object surface position to be extracted based on the boundary corrected by the boundary correcting means. The desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the storage device is appropriately extracted.
The shadow adding means adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting means.
The synthesizing means synthesizes a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data. The display means displays a three-dimensional image.

(5) In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus of (4),
In the three-dimensional echo data, the surface position extracting means scans a scan line farther from the scan line start point, and a point having a luminance value larger than a certain threshold value is included in a run having a predetermined distance or more. Providing run extraction means for extracting a run closest to the scan line start point,
The boundary correction means is provided with a correction scan line specifying means for specifying a scan line where the boundary to be corrected exists,
On the scan line designated by the modified scan line designation means, a run near the start point of the scan line is extracted next to the run extracted by the run extraction means.

  According to the above configuration, the surface position extracting means scans the scan line farther from the scan line start point in the three-dimensional echo data in the three-dimensional echo data, and determines a point having a luminance value larger than a certain threshold value. By extracting the run closest to the scan line start point from the runs continuous for a distance equal to or longer than the distance, a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means is extracted. The boundary correction means specifies a scan line on which a boundary to be corrected by the correction scan line specification means exists, and scans the scan line specified by the correction scan line specification means next to the run extracted by the run extraction means. By extracting runs near the line start point, a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means is appropriately extracted.

In order to achieve the fourth object, the following configuration (6) is adopted. (6) three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Combining means for constructing a three-dimensional image using the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
A tomographic image constructing unit configured to construct a plurality of tomographic images having different directions generated from the echo data in the three-dimensional echo data,
In a plurality of tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing means, a cutting line moving means for moving a cutting line indicating a cross-sectional position,
Among a plurality of tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing means, tomographic image rotating means for rotating a specific tomographic image,
And changing a tomographic image other than the specific tomographic image among the plurality of tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing means in conjunction with the rotation of the specific tomographic image by the tomographic image rotating means. It is characterized by doing.

According to the above configuration, the cross-sectional position setting means, wherein the tomographic image constructing means constructs a plurality of tomographic images having different directions generated from the echo data in the three-dimensional echo data,
The cutting line moving means moves a cutting line indicating a cross-sectional ultrasonic wave in the plurality of tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing means, and the tomographic image rotating means moves the plurality of tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing means. Of the plurality of tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing means, a specific tomographic image is rotated, and a tomographic image other than the specific tomographic image is linked to the rotation of the specific tomographic image by the tomographic image rotating means. Then, a desired cross-sectional position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means is set.
The synthesizing means constructs a three-dimensional image using the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means. The display means displays a three-dimensional image.

In order to achieve the fifth object, the following configuration (7) or (8) is adopted.
(7) three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Combining means for constructing a three-dimensional image using the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
A tomographic image constructing unit configured to construct a plurality of tomographic images having different directions generated from the echo data in the three-dimensional echo data,
In a plurality of tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing means, a cutting line moving means for moving a cutting line indicating a cross-sectional position,
Wherein the tomographic image construction means is provided with a mask means for displaying the echo data synthesized as the three-dimensional image by the synthesis means and the other echo data in different modes.

According to the configuration, the tomographic image constructing means constructs a plurality of tomographic images having different directions generated from the echo data in the three-dimensional echo data, and the cutting line moving means constructs the tomographic image. In the plurality of tomographic images constructed by the means, the cutting line indicating the sectional position is moved, and the mask means displays the echo data constructed as a three-dimensional image by the combining means and the other echo data in different modes. Thus, a desired cross-sectional position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means is set.
The synthesizing means constructs a three-dimensional image using the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means.
The display means displays a three-dimensional image.

(8) In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to (7), the mask unit may display the echo data to be synthesized by the synthesizing unit as the three-dimensional image and the other echo data in different forms. A display mode designating means for designating whether or not to display is provided.
According to the above configuration, the display mode specifying unit specifies whether the echo data to be synthesized by the synthesizing unit as a three-dimensional image and the other echo data are displayed in different modes or are displayed in a similar manner.

In order to achieve the sixth object, the following (9) or (10) is employed.
(9) three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body and storing the obtained three-dimensional area echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data shaded by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus,
The shading adding means is provided with a light ray angle setting means for setting a light ray angle for shading addition as an angle in a coordinate system with a living body lumen axis or an ultrasound probe insertion axis as a coordinate axis, and the display means, The light ray angle is displayed in a coordinate system using the living body lumen axis or the ultrasonic probe insertion axis as a coordinate axis.

According to the above configuration, the cross-section position setting means sets a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
The surface position extracting means extracts a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
In the shadow adding means, the light angle setting means sets a light ray angle for adding a shadow as an angle in a coordinate system using a living body lumen axis or an ultrasonic probe insertion axis as a coordinate axis, and the display means outputs three-dimensional light. By displaying the image and displaying the ray angle in the coordinate system with the biological lumen axis or the ultrasonic probe insertion axis as the coordinate axis, the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting means is shaded. Is added.
The synthesizing means synthesizes a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data. The display means displays a three-dimensional image.

(10) In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to (9), the display means displays the light beam angle three-dimensionally.
According to the above configuration, the display means displays the ray angle three-dimensionally.

In order to achieve the seventh object, the following configuration (11) is adopted. (11) three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data shaded by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
Cross-section echo data whose position has been set by the cross-section position setting means, and coordinate conversion means for converting the coordinates of the surface echo data whose position has been extracted by the surface position extraction means,
A line-of-sight angle setting unit that sets the line-of-sight angle formed by the line-of-sight direction when displaying the three-dimensional image as an angle in a coordinate system having a living body lumen axis or an ultrasound probe insertion axis as a coordinate axis. When,
Wherein the display means displays the line-of-sight angle in a coordinate system using the body lumen axis or the ultrasonic probe insertion axis as a coordinate axis.

According to the above configuration, the cross-section position setting means sets a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
The surface position extracting means extracts a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
The shadow adding means adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting means.
The coordinate conversion unit sets the line-of-sight angle formed by the line-of-sight direction when the line-of-sight angle setting unit displays the three-dimensional image as an angle in a coordinate system using the body lumen axis or the ultrasound probe insertion axis as a coordinate axis. The display means displays the line-of-sight angle in a coordinate system using the body lumen axis or the ultrasonic probe insertion axis as a coordinate axis, thereby obtaining the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means and the surface position extraction. The coordinates of the surface echo data whose position has been extracted by the means are converted.
The synthesizing means synthesizes a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data. The display means displays a three-dimensional image.

In order to achieve the eighth object, the following (12) is provided. (12) three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data to which shading has been added by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
A cross-sectional surface boundary superimposing means for superimposing a boundary line between the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data on the three-dimensional image as a cross-sectional surface boundary line;
The display means displays the three-dimensional image in which the sectional surface boundary superimposing means superimposes the sectional surface boundary line.

According to the above configuration, the cross-section position setting means sets a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
The surface position extracting means extracts a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
The shadow adding means adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting means.
The synthesizing unit synthesizes a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data, and the cross-sectional surface boundary superimposing unit superposes a boundary between the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data on the three-dimensional image as a cross-sectional surface boundary line.
The display means displays a three-dimensional image in which the sectional surface boundary superimposing means superimposes the sectional surface boundary line.

In order to achieve the first object, the following (13) is provided. (13) In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus of (1),
A scan line start point designating means for designating the position of the scan line start point is provided.

  According to the above configuration, the cross-section position setting means sets a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.

The surface position extracting means may be such that, after the scan line start point designating means designates the position of the scan line start point, the run extracting means moves the scan line farther from the designated scan line start point in the three-dimensional echo data. The run closest to the scan line start point is extracted from the runs in which points having a luminance value greater than a certain threshold value are continuous for a predetermined distance or more, so that the run is stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means. A desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data is extracted.
The shadow adding means adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting means.
The synthesizing means synthesizes a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data.
The display means displays a three-dimensional image.

In order to achieve the ninth object, the following (14) is provided. (14) three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data to which shading has been added by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
The shading adding means adds a shading to the surface echo data using an organ surface color.

According to the above configuration, the cross-section position setting means sets a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
The surface position extracting means extracts a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
The shading adding means adds shading to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting means, using an organ surface color.
The synthesizing means synthesizes a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data.
The display means displays a three-dimensional image.

In order to achieve the eighth object, the following (15) is provided. (15) three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data to which shading has been added by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
The shade adding means,
Providing a display color specifying means for specifying a display color of the surface echo data,
A shadow is added to the surface echo data with the display color designated by the display color designation means.

According to the above configuration, the cross-section position setting means sets a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
The surface position extracting means extracts a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
In the shading adding means, the display color specifying means specifies a display color of the surface echo data, and adds a shading to the surface echo data with the display color specified by the display color specifying means.
The synthesizing means synthesizes a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data.
The display means displays a three-dimensional image.

In order to achieve the first object, the following (16) is provided. (16) three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a living body, and storing echo data of a three-dimensional area formed of a plurality of obtained continuous ultrasonic tomographic images;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data to which shading has been added by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
The surface position extracting means,
Surface position designation means for designating a desired object surface position on a specific tomographic image of the plurality of ultrasonic tomographic images,
First gradient value calculating means for calculating a gradient value of the luminance value of the surface position specified by the surface position specifying means;
Calculating a gradient value of a luminance value within a specific range from a point at which the first gradient value is calculated on a tomographic image other than the specific tomographic image among the plurality of ultrasonic tomographic images; Means for calculating the gradient value of
By comparing the gradient values calculated by the first gradient value calculating means and the second gradient value calculating means, a tomographic image different from the tomographic image in which the surface position specifying means specifies the object surface position Surface position specifying means for specifying an object surface position on
It is characterized by having.

According to the above configuration, the cross-section position setting means sets a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
The surface position extracting means, the surface position specifying means constituting the surface position extracting means, on a specific tomographic image among a plurality of ultrasonic tomographic images, specifies a desired object surface position,
First gradient value calculation means calculates a gradient value of the luminance value at the surface position designated by the surface position designation means,
The second gradient value calculating means is configured to calculate a luminance value within a specific range from a point at which the first gradient value is calculated on a tomographic image other than the specific tomographic image among the plurality of ultrasonic tomographic images. Calculate the slope value,
The surface position specifying means compares the gradient values calculated by the first gradient value calculating means and the second gradient value calculating means, so that the tomographic image different from the tomographic image in which the surface position specifying means has specified the object surface position. By specifying the object surface position on the image, a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means is extracted.
The shadow adding means adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting means.
The synthesizing means synthesizes a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data.
The display means displays a three-dimensional image.

In order to achieve the first object, the following (17) is provided. (17) three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a living body, and storing echo data of a three-dimensional area formed of a plurality of obtained continuous ultrasonic tomographic images;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data to which shading has been added by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
The surface position extracting means,
Surface tracing means for automatically tracing a desired object surface position in sequence on a plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images is provided.

According to the above configuration, the cross-section position setting means sets a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
Surface position extracting means, the surface tracing means, on a plurality of continuous ultrasound tomographic images, sequentially, automatically trace the desired object surface position, in order,
A desired object surface position is extracted from the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means.
The shadow adding means adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting means.
The synthesizing means synthesizes a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data.
The display means displays a three-dimensional image.

In order to achieve the first object, the following configuration (18) is adopted. (18) In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus of (17),
The surface tracing means is provided with a brightness change point search means for searching the surface position as a change point of a brightness value on an arc for searching for a desired object surface position, and the change point is set to the center of the arc again. , The desired object surface position is sequentially traced.
According to the above configuration, the surface trace means searches the surface position as a change point of the brightness value on the arc for searching the surface position, and the brightness value change point search means searches the change point again for the arc. The surface position is traced sequentially by repositioning as the center of.

In order to achieve the first object, the following (19) is provided. (19) In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus of (17) or (18),
The surface position extracting means is provided with a trace starting point designating means for designating a trace starting point to trace on the ultrasonic tomographic image.
According to the above configuration, the surface position extracting means specifies the trace starting point to be traced on the ultrasonic tomographic image by the trace starting point specifying means, and the surface tracing means specifies the trace starting point on the plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images. Then, the desired object surface is extracted from the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means by automatically tracing the desired object surface position sequentially.

Further, in order to achieve the first object, the following configuration (20) is adopted. (20) In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus of (17), (18) or (19),
The surface position extracting means includes tomographic image constructing means for constructing a plurality of tomographic images having different directions generated from echo data in the three-dimensional echo data,
The trace start point designating means designates the trace start point on the tomographic image having a different direction from the plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing means.

According to the above configuration, the surface position extracting means is configured such that the tomographic image constructing means constituting the surface position extracting means constructs a plurality of tomographic images having different directions generated from the echo data in the three-dimensional echo data,
The trace start point designating means designates a trace start point on a tomographic image having a different direction from a plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing means,
By performing the trace, a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage unit is extracted.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which can confirm whether the extraction of the object surface is performed appropriately is provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First Embodiment)
1 to 16 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing details of image processing performed by the processor, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing details of setting of a cross-sectional position in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a view showing a specific example of an ultrasonic image at four cross-sectional positions, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a simplified three-dimensional image in which the surface position is not extracted, FIG. 6 is a diagram in FIG. 4 in which a portion that does not appear as a cross section in FIG. 5 is hatched, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the screen, FIG. 8 is a spatial explanatory diagram of the angle in FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of the processing of extracting the surface position in FIG. 2, and FIG. Explanatory drawing showing the state of scanning from the starting point FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing details of the shading addition processing, FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the shading addition processing, FIG. 13 is a view showing a setting sub-screen showing setting values of light ray directions, and FIG. FIG. 15 is a view for explaining the angles spatially, FIG. 15 is a view showing non-display portions of four cross sections in the three-dimensional image by hatching, and FIG. 16 is a view showing a finally constructed three-dimensional image.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is obtained by an ultrasonic observation unit 2 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and displaying a real-time echo image, and the ultrasonic observation unit 2. An image processing unit 3 that performs image processing for displaying a three-dimensional image based on the echo data is provided. Also, an ultrasonic probe 4 having means for inserting an ultrasonic transducer (transducer) for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves into a body cavity and capable of performing a spiral scan of the ultrasonic transducer, and this ultrasonic probe 4 A driving unit 5 for driving is connected to the ultrasonic observation unit 2.

  The ultrasonic observation unit 2 includes a transmission / reception unit 6 that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from the driving unit 5, an A / D converter 7 that converts echo signals captured by the transmission / reception unit 6 into digital echo data, A frame memory 8 for storing the eco data converted by the D converter 7, a digital scan converter (abbreviated as DSC) 9 for converting the echo data stored in the frame memory 8 into image data of a desired television system, and a DSC 9 A D / A converter 10 for converting a digital image signal output from the D / A converter into an analog signal, a monitor 11 for inputting an output image signal of the D / A converter 10 and displaying a real-time echo image, a driving unit 5, a transmission / reception unit 6, an A / D converter 7, a frame memory 8, and the like, and a system controller 12 for controlling each unit.

  The image processing unit 3 includes a CPU 13 that controls image processing and the like, a main storage device 14 that stores data of each image processing result, a control unit 15 that sends and receives commands to and from the system controller 12, an ultrasonic observation A polar coordinate conversion unit 16 for converting continuous sound ray data from the unit 2 into a plurality of continuous two-dimensional image data; an image data storage device 17 for storing image data converted by the polar coordinate conversion unit 16; An image processor 18 for performing various image processing such as extraction, shading, synthesis, and coordinate transformation at high speed; a first external storage device 19 including a hard disk for storing information such as a processing program and backup data; Operation of a second external storage device 20 including a magneto-optical disk or the like for backing up the first external storage device 19 and operation of a keyboard or the like A terminal 21, a frame buffer 22 for temporarily storing data after image processing, a D / A converter 23 for converting an output image signal of the frame buffer 22 into an analog signal, and an output image signal of the D / A converter 23 are inputted. 3D image processing monitor 24 for displaying a 3D image after image processing, and a cover-shaped touch panel 25 provided on the display surface of the 3D image processing monitor 23 for inputting an image display area setting and the like. It is comprised including.

  The operation surface of the operation terminal 21 is provided with a mask switching key 21a and a simple three-dimensional construction key 21b. Further, since the touch panel 25 is provided, the CPU 13 can recognize a point at which the user touches the three-dimensional image processing monitor 23 with a finger. Each unit of the image processing unit 3 is connected via a data transfer bus 26, and exchanges image data and the like.

  In the present embodiment, as described later, a surface position extracting unit is provided. The surface position extracting unit adds the surface position extracting unit to the three-dimensional echo data output from the ultrasonic observation unit 2 on the scan line from the scan line start point. Is scanned far away, and a point having a luminance value greater than a certain threshold value set for surface extraction exceeds a threshold value for removing noises or the like among runs that are continuous for a predetermined distance or more, and the scan line starts. By extracting the run closest to the point, preventing erroneous extraction due to noise, etc., accurately extract the surface of the object such as an organ, and combining the extracted positions to obtain an accurate corresponding to the surface of the object One of the major features is that a three-dimensional image can be displayed.

Hereinafter, the operation of the ultrasonic observation unit 2 will be described.
When performing ultrasonic observation, the ultrasonic probe 4 is inserted into a body cavity, and the transmitting / receiving unit 6 and the driving unit 5 cause the ultrasonic vibrator in the ultrasonic probe 4 to be spirally controlled under the control of the system controller 12. To transmit and receive ultrasonic waves into the living body, thereby acquiring echo data of a three-dimensional region in the body cavity.

  For example, by rotating a motor built in the drive unit 5 of the ultrasonic probe 4 and attached to the rear end of a male screw screwed to a female screw, the male screw arranged along the axial direction of the ultrasonic probe 4 The ultrasonic vibrator attached to the tip of the ultrasonic probe 4 is rotationally driven to radially transmit ultrasonic waves in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the ultrasonic probe 4, and is reflected at a portion where the acoustic impedance changes. Receives reflected ultrasonic waves (echo signals). In addition, an echo signal for a three-dimensional area (that is, by spiral scanning) is obtained by linearly scanning in the axial direction of the rotation axis by the pitch of the male screw along with the rotation. This echo signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 7 to become echo data.

  The obtained echo data is stored in the frame memory 8 and displayed as a real-time echo image (ultrasonic observation image) on the monitor 11 via the DSC 9 and the D / A converter 10. At the same time, the digital signal is sent from the subsequent stage of the A / D converter 7 to the image processing unit 3 in the form of continuous one-dimensional echo data (sound ray data). At this time, accompanying data such as the image size of the two-dimensional image data and the distance between the images is also sent to the image processing unit 3 at the same time.

Next, the operation of the image processing unit 3 will be described.
The sound ray data obtained by the spiral scan in the body cavity of the ultrasonic probe 4 and sent from the ultrasonic observation unit 2 to the image processing unit 3 is converted into image data by the polar coordinate conversion unit 16. Then, the image data storage device 17 writes the image data together with the supplementary data in the order in which they are captured as a plurality of continuous two-dimensional images.

  The image data storage device 17 functions as a three-dimensional echo data storage unit. The image processor 18 performs image processing such as surface position extraction, shading addition, synthesis, and coordinate conversion based on the image data and the supplementary data stored in the image data storage device 17.

  Then, the processed image data is sent to the frame buffer 22 to be temporarily stored, and sent to the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24 via the D / A converter 23. Thereafter, a three-dimensional image based on the echo data is displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24.

The process of each image processing by the image processor 18 described above is controlled by the CPU 13.
Hereinafter, the details of the image processing performed by the CPU 13 and the image processor 18 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 and the explanatory diagrams of the processing steps shown in FIGS. 3 to 16.

  In step S1 shown in FIG. 2, the image data of the three-dimensional area stored in the image data storage device 17 is read together with the accompanying data. In step S2 shown in FIG. 2, a sectional position is set.

Hereinafter, the details of step S2 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing detailed contents of a specific example of step S2. FIG. 4 shows a plurality (specifically, four) cross sections (cross-section echo data) constructed by the tomographic image construction means when three-dimensionally displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24, and is shown in a satin pattern. The portion is a region of interest 31 such as a lesion.

  This cross section is displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24 using the image data read from the image data storage device 17 in step S1. FIG. 16 shows a three-dimensional image finally constructed by appropriately setting the four cross sections. Cross sections A, B, C, and D in FIG. 4 are cross sections A, B, and C in FIG. (FIG. 4 is, for example, a translation of the section A in FIG. 16 or the like after being rotated from the state of FIG. 16 to a section including a lesion as described below, or a section after rotation. Equivalent).

  That is, the section C is a section perpendicular to the sections A and D and includes a section line + shown in FIG. The section A is a section perpendicular to the sections B and C and includes the section line 切断 shown in FIG. 4, and the section D is a section also including the section line □ shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 16, the z-axis is set to the insertion axis (longitudinal direction of the ultrasonic probe 4) of the ultrasonic probe 4 as will be described later. The sections B and C parallel to the z-axis will be described as linear faces. In this case, the cross-section A is referred to as a front surface of the radial scan, and the cross-section D is referred to as a post-radial surface after the radial scan. In addition, as shown in FIG. 16, the cross section B is described as linear horizontal and the cross section C is described as linear above, corresponding to the case where the y-axis is set upward and three-dimensional display is performed.

  The cutting line indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 4 and the frame line of the section being operated are colored in yellow or the like so as to be easily distinguished from the section displayed in black and white gray scale and displayed so as to be easily distinguished. I am trying to be.

In step S21 shown in FIG. 3, the user touches the △ cursor of section B (that is, linear horizontal) of FIG. 4 with a finger via the touch panel 25 so that the region of interest 31 such as a lesion is displayed on section A. Then, the cursor is slid in the direction of the arrow (left and right in FIG. 4). Then, the cutting line △ moves in conjunction therewith, and the region of interest 31 is displayed on the cross-section A (before radial) by the cutting line △.
As described above, the tomographic image constructing means or the tomographic image constructing function includes the cutting line moving means or the cutting line moving function for moving the cutting line indicating the sectional position.

  In step S22 shown in FIG. 3, the user rotates the section A so that the region of interest 31 is oriented appropriately. Specifically, the user touches a point indicated by a symbol K in cross section A in FIG. 4 with a finger and moves the finger in the direction of the arrow. Then, in conjunction therewith, the entire image of the cross section A rotates in the direction of the arrow around the center point of the cross section A indicated by reference numeral 0. In the section A of FIG. 4, the region of interest 31 is set to be directly below. That is, it has a tomographic image rotating means for rotating the tomographic image or a tomographic image rotating function.

In step S23 shown in FIG. 3, the cutting lines + and X are moved so that the cutting lines + or X come on the region of interest 31. The method of movement is the same as for the cursor. Then, the region of interest 31 is displayed on the section B or the section C. FIG. 4 shows a case where the cutting line x is moved.
In step S24 shown in FIG. 3, the cutting lines △ and □ are moved so that the region of interest 31 is included between the cutting lines △ and □.

Thus, the setting of the cross-sectional position of the three-dimensional image shown in FIG. 16 is completed.
As described above, on a specific tomographic image among a plurality of tomographic images of different directions constructed by the tomographic image constructing means (function), the cutting line moving means moves the cutting line indicating the cross-sectional position, and the tomographic image rotating means Since the tomographic image is rotated and tomographic images other than the specific tomographic image are changed in conjunction, the cross section can be set to pass through the lesion at any position on the tomographic image. It is possible to diagnose the degree of in-depth access.

  By the way, when the user presses the simple three-dimensional construction key 21b after the cross-section position setting in step S2 is completed, a simple three-dimensional structure in which the surface position is not extracted as shown in FIG. An image is constructed and displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24.

  Also, a mask means or a display mode designation means for setting or displaying a cross section so that the distinction and correspondence between a part displayed as a three-dimensional image and a part not displayed on the tomographic image can be easily understood on the tomographic image as described below. Is provided.

  In FIG. 6, a portion of the cross section shown in FIG. 4, which does not appear as a cross section of the simplified three-dimensional image shown in FIG. 5, is indicated by hatching. When the user presses the mask switching key 21a on the operation terminal 21, the hatched area is displayed darker than the non-hatched area, and the three-dimensional perspective display in FIG. The correspondence, the mutual correspondence with each section, and the like are made easy to understand. When the mask switching key 21a is pressed again, the display returns to the original display shown in FIG. Further, the above-described processing from step S21 to step S24 can be performed while the hatched portion is displayed dark.

  By specifying or selecting the display mode by operating the mask switching key 21a in this manner, the echo data for synthesizing the three-dimensional image and the other echo data (echoes that are not actually displayed as the three-dimensional image) Data) is provided with a display mode designating means for designating whether to display in a different mode or in a similar mode.

In step S3 shown in FIG. 2, the line-of-sight direction is set.
Hereinafter, the details of step S3 will be described.

  In step S3, the current set value of the line-of-sight direction is displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24 as a setting sub-screen as shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the spatial relationship between the angles θ and φ shown in FIG. 7, and the coordinate axes 0-xyz are included in the image data. At this time, the z axis is the direction of the body lumen axis.

  In the present embodiment, since the ultrasonic probe 4 is inserted into the body cavity along the body lumen axis, the z-axis is taken in the direction of the insertion axis of the ultrasonic probe 4. In the present embodiment, the angles θ and φ are set to 45 ° as default values so that the inside of a body cavity is three-dimensionally expressed from an oblique direction without changing the setting.

  The user touches one point on the child screen indicated by reference symbol E with a finger through the touch panel 25 so that the line of sight direction can be changed to a desired direction. Slide in the direction. Then, the line segment OE moves, and the line-of-sight angle θ is changed and set in conjunction therewith. As described above, the polar coordinate conversion unit 16 as the coordinate conversion means performs the conversion of the polar coordinates. The operation method for angle φ is the same except that the point touched by the finger is changed to x ′.

The display shown in FIG. 8 is also displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24 as a setting sub-screen in conjunction with the setting sub-screen shown in FIG. Then, the viewing direction of the three-dimensional image shown in FIG. 16 is set.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the coordinate conversion unit converts the coordinates of the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data, and the line-of-sight angle setting unit determines the line-of-sight angle formed by the line-of-sight direction when displaying a three-dimensional image. Lumen axis, or set as an angle in a coordinate system with the ultrasound probe insertion axis as the coordinate axis, the display means, the living body lumen axis, or the gaze angle in the coordinate system with the ultrasound probe insertion axis as the coordinate axis. The display is performed so that the viewing angle of the three-dimensional image can be set more easily. It is also intuitive and anatomical.

  In step S4 shown in FIG. 2, the position of the surface of the target object such as an organ is extracted. Hereinafter, the details of step S4 will be described.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the details of step S4. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state of scanning from a scan line start point O for extracting the position of the surface. Steps S411 to S428 are an automatic extraction routine for automatically extracting the surface position, and steps S429 to 442 are a display / correction routine for displaying and correcting automatically detected boundaries.
The details of the automatic extraction routine will be described below. This automatic extraction routine has a run extraction unit for preventing erroneous extraction of the surface due to noise or the like and extracting a run corresponding to the surface position.

  In step S411 shown in FIG. 9, the image data is smoothed. The processing unit for performing the smoothing is made variable so as to be optimal for the resolution of the ultrasonic wave when the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 4 scans.

  In step S412 shown in FIG. 9, the image data is subjected to threshold processing for surface extraction. Then, a point having a luminance value equal to or less than the threshold value is set so that the luminance value can be replaced with 0.

  In the next step S413 shown in FIG. 9, among the runs (runs) in which points equal to or greater than the threshold value are connected, the length of the threshold value that a run having a length less than this value should be determined to be noise is determined. , Assigned to the variable run0. This input is performed via the operation terminal 21.

In step S414 shown in FIG. 9, 0 is substituted for the variable i. The variable i indicates the number of the two-dimensional image to be processed at present among a plurality of continuous two-dimensional images written as image data in the image data storage device 17 (for this reason, it may be abbreviated as image i). ). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that all 50 continuous two-dimensional images are processed,
0 ≦ i ≦ 49
And It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the case where processing is performed on all images, but also includes the case where processing is performed only on specific images.

In step S415 shown in FIG. 9, 0 is substituted for the variable s. This variable s indicates a scan line to be currently processed among scan lines emitted farther from the scan line start point in order to extract the position of the surface (there may be abbreviated as scan line s). . In the present embodiment, for example, 36 scan lines are emitted radially at 10 ° intervals,
0 ≦ s ≦ 35
And In the case of this interval, the boundary to be extracted is a point-like shape. However, if the interval is reduced, the boundary to be extracted becomes almost linear, and the present embodiment includes such a case.

  In step S416 shown in FIG. 9, the coordinates of the scan line start point are set to the processing point address. The processing point address includes an x address and a y address, and indicates the x coordinate and the y coordinate of the point currently being processed. In the present embodiment, the scan line start point is set at the center of each two-dimensional image. In FIG. 10, the starting point is shown as a point O.

In step S417 shown in FIG. 9, 0 is substituted for the variable run. The variable run is used to measure the length of the run.
In step S418 shown in FIG. 9, the processing point address is moved to the address of the next point on the scan line s.

  In step S419 shown in FIG. 9, it is determined whether the luminance value of the point indicated by the processing point address is larger or smaller than the threshold value of the threshold value processing performed in step S412. If it is larger, the process jumps to step S420. If it is smaller, the process jumps to step S417.

In step S420 shown in FIG. 9, the x address of the processing point address is substituted into the run-th variable p (run) of the one-dimensional array variable p, and the processing point is assigned to the run-th variable q (run) of the one-dimensional array variable q. Substitute the y address of the address.
In step S421 shown in FIG. 9, 1 is added to the variable run.

  In step S422 shown in FIG. 9, it is determined whether or not the variable run matches run0. If they match, the process jumps to step S423. If they do not match, the process jumps to step S418.

  In step S423 shown in FIG. 9, p (run-run0) is substituted for the two-dimensional array variable X (s, i), and q (run-run0) is substituted for the two-dimensional array variable Y (s, i). In this way, the coordinates of the run closest to the scan line start point are extracted as X (s, i) and Y (s, i) among the runs in which the points having the luminance values larger than the threshold value are continuous for the distance run0 or more.

In step S424 shown in FIG. 9, X (s, i) and Y (s, i) are output to the image data storage device 17. That is, in step S424, the address of the point M shown in FIG.
In step S425 shown in FIG. 9, 1 is added to the variable s. That is, the scan line to be processed is moved to the next scan line.

  In step S426 shown in FIG. 9, it is determined whether or not the variable s matches 35 + 1. That is, it is determined whether or not the processing of the last scan line in the two-dimensional image i has been completed. If they match, the process jumps to step S427. If they do not match, the process jumps to step S416.

  In step S427 shown in FIG. 9, 1 is added to the variable i. That is, the two-dimensional image to be processed is moved to the next two-dimensional image.

  In step S428 shown in FIG. 9, it is determined whether or not i is equal to 49 + 1. That is, it is determined whether the processing of the last two-dimensional image among the two-dimensional images written in the image data storage device 17 has been completed. If they match, the process jumps to step S429. If they do not match, the process jumps to step S415.

  In this way, in the automatic extraction routine, the coordinates of the point recognized as the boundary of the body cavity, that is, the boundary, are written to the image data storage device 17 for all scan lines on all two-dimensional images.

This automatic extraction routine can eliminate most of surface erroneous extraction due to noise and the like. Further, in the present embodiment, a display / correction routine that has boundary correction means or a boundary correction function for correcting a boundary that has been erroneously extracted but cannot be eliminated by the automatic extraction routine, and that displays the corrected boundary. Is provided.
Therefore, since the object surface position is corrected by the boundary correction function, a portion where the extraction of the object surface is not appropriate is corrected so that erroneous extraction of noise or the like can be further reduced and an accurate three-dimensional image can be displayed. I have.

Hereinafter, the display / correction routine will be described in detail.
In step S429 shown in FIG. 9, X (s, i) and Y (s, i) are read for all integers i and s satisfying 0 ≦ i ≦ 49 and 0 ≦ s ≦ 35. That is, the coordinates of a point recognized as a boundary are read from the image data storage device 17.

  In step S430 shown in FIG. 9, a boundary point indicated by coordinates X (s, i) and Y (s, i) is superimposed on each two-dimensional image subjected to the threshold processing. That is, it has a boundary superimposing means or a boundary superimposing function so that it can be confirmed whether or not the extraction of the object surface has been properly performed. The positions X (s, i) and Y (s, i) are superimposed in a point shape.

In step S431 shown in FIG. 9, a list of the two-dimensional images on which the boundary points are superimposed is displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24.
In step S432 shown in FIG. 9, a two-dimensional image i0 to be corrected and a scan line s0 to be corrected are specified.

  In FIG. 10, this point is shown as a point M (X (s0, i0), Y (s0, i0)). This point is a point erroneously extracted before the point to be extracted as a boundary when viewed from the scan line start point O due to a residue in the body cavity, noise, or the like. The designation method is performed by touching the vicinity of the scan line with a finger via the touch panel 25. It should be noted that in FIG. 10, i and i0 are mixedly displayed on the image of the general image i because the illustration of the image i0 to be corrected is illustrated (in FIG. 10, i0 is i , S0 is s + 2).

In step S433 shown in FIG. 9, the coordinates of the far end point of the run of the point M (X (s0, i0), Y (s0, i0)) are set as the processing point address on the scan line s0. In FIG. 10, this point is indicated by N.
Steps S434 to S439 shown in FIG. 9 are basically the same as steps S417 to S422, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In step S440 shown in FIG. 9, p (run-run0) is substituted for the two-dimensional array variable X (s0, i0), and q (run-run0) is substituted for the two-dimensional array variable Y (s0, i0). Then, next to the erroneously extracted point, the coordinates of the run close to the scan line start point are extracted again as X (s0, i0) and Y (s0, i0).

  In this manner, the coordinates of the run closest to the scan line start point after the erroneously extracted point are X (s0, i0), Y It is extracted as (s0, i0). In FIG. 10, this point is indicated by M '(X (s0, i0), Y (s0, i0)).

  In step S441 shown in FIG. 9, X (s0, i0) and Y (s0, i0) are output to the image data storage device 17 and overwritten. That is, the point M (X (s0, i0), Y (s0, i0)) shown in FIG. 10 is corrected to the point M '(X (s0, i0), Y (s0, i0)), and an error due to noise or the like is caused. The extracted point M (X (s0, i0), Y (s0, i0)) is corrected.

  In step S442 shown in FIG. 9, a message is output on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24 as to whether or not correction is necessary, and the user responds via the operation terminal 21. When the correction is necessary, the process jumps to step S432, and when the correction is unnecessary, the process proceeds to step S5 shown in FIG.

In this way, the display / correction routine corrects points that have been erroneously extracted due to residues in the body cavity, noise, or the like.
In step S5 shown in FIG. 2, a shadow is added to the surface extracted in step S4.
Hereinafter, the detailed processing content of step S5 will be described.

  FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the detailed processing content of step S5. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a process of adding a shadow.

  In step S511 shown in FIG. 11, the image data is modeled. In the present embodiment, a plurality of polygons called polygons are assumed from the points extracted as boundaries (surfaces of body cavities) in step S4.

  In FIG. 12, two triangles having the vertices of the points Ms, Ms + 1, M's, and M's + 1 extracted in step S4 out of the polygons, {Ms Ms + 1 M's And △ Ms + 1 M's M's + 1. Here, the scan line start point 0 and points Ms and Ms + 1 are points on the two-dimensional image i, and the scan line start point 0 'and points M's and M's + 1 are points on the two-dimensional image i + 1. is there. Points Ms and M's and points Ms + 1 and M's + 1 have the same scan line number. The coordinates of the four points are as follows.

Ms (X (s, i), Y (s, i))
Ms + 1 (X (s + 1, i), Y (s + 1, i))
M's (X (s, i + 1), Y (s, i + 1))
M's + 1 (X (s + 1, i + 1), Y (s + 1, i + 1))
In this step S511, a normal vector of each polygon is calculated from the coordinate values of the vertices. In FIG. 12, the normal vectors of each polygon are shown as Vs and V's.

  In step S512 shown in FIG. 11, the coordinates of the vertices of each polygon are coordinate-transformed corresponding to the viewing direction set in step S3. At this time, the normal vector of each polygon is also converted at the same time.

In step S513 shown in FIG. 11, hidden surface processing is performed on each polygon. That is, polygons that are shaded of polygons with respect to the line of sight are deleted.
In step S514 shown in FIG. 11, the direction of the light beam is set. That is, a light beam angle setting means for setting the light beam direction (light beam angle) or a light beam angle setting function is provided.

  In step S514, the current setting value of the light beam direction is displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24 as a setting sub-screen as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a spatial relationship between the angles θ and φ shown in FIG. The display shown in FIG. 14 is also displayed as a setting sub-screen on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24 in conjunction with the setting sub-screen shown in FIG. The operation such as the setting method is the same as that in step S3, and thus the description is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the ray angle setting means sets the ray angle for adding a shadow as an angle in a living body lumen axis or a coordinate system having the ultrasound probe insertion axis as a coordinate axis, By displaying the ray angle in the coordinate system with the cavity axis or the ultrasound probe insertion axis as the coordinate axis, the desired object surface is more three-dimensionally expressed, and the ray angle is more intuitive, anatomical To make it easy to understand.

Step S515 shown in FIG. 11 includes shading such as flat shading, glow shading, phone shading, and depth shading according to the distance from the viewpoint of each polygon and the angle between the normal vector and the ray direction set in step S514. The brightness of a point in each polygon is determined by using the above algorithm.
In this way, a surface shadow is added.

  In step S6 shown in FIG. 2, the non-display portion of the cross section whose position has been set in step S2 is cut. The hatched portion in FIG. 15 indicates a non-display portion of the four cross sections of the three-dimensional image shown in FIG. 16, and the data in this portion is deleted.

  In step S7 shown in FIG. 2, coordinate conversion of the display portion left in step S6 of the four cross sections of the three-dimensional image is performed in accordance with the line-of-sight direction set in step S3.

  Step S8 shown in FIG. 2 performs a combining process. In other words, by synthesizing the surface to which the position is extracted and shaded in steps S4 and S5 and the cross-section in which the non-display part is cut and the coordinate transformation is performed in steps S6 and S7, FIG. The three-dimensional image shown in FIG. In FIG. 16, the surface data portion is indicated by E.

In step S9 shown in FIG. 2, the boundary between the cross section and the surface is superimposed on the three-dimensional image as, for example, a green boundary shown in FIG.
That is, in the present embodiment, there is provided a cross-section surface boundary superimposing means for superimposing a boundary between a cross-section and a surface on a three-dimensional image, and this cross-section surface boundary superimposing means adds cross-sectional echo data and surface echo data boundary lines to the three-dimensional image. The data is superimposed as a sectional surface boundary line, and the display means displays a three-dimensional image in which the sectional surface boundary line is superimposed, so that the echo data and the surface image data can be easily distinguished.

In step S10 shown in FIG. 2, the three-dimensional image constructed in FIG. 8 is displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24.
As described above, the CPU 13 and the image processor 18 serve as a surface position extracting unit, a shading adding unit, a combining unit, a run extracting unit, a boundary superimposing unit, a tomographic image constructing unit, a coordinate converting unit, and a cross-sectional surface boundary superimposing unit. Function.

  Further, the touch panel 25 functions as a section position setting unit, a boundary correction unit, a corrected scan line designating unit, a cutting line moving unit, a tomographic image rotating unit, a mask unit, a ray angle setting unit, and a line-of-sight angle setting unit.

The mask switching key 21a functions as a display mode designating unit.
Further, the image data storage device 17 functions as a three-dimensional echo data storage unit.
The three-dimensional image processing monitor 24 functions as a display unit.

This embodiment has the following effects.
In the present embodiment, the run extraction unit scans the scan line in a distant place, and among runs in which points having a luminance value larger than a certain threshold value are continuous for a predetermined distance or more, the run closest to the scan line start point is selected. Is extracted, runs that are shorter than the predetermined distance can be almost removed as noise. For this reason, a desired object surface can be accurately represented without being disturbed by noise or the like.

Also, in the present embodiment, various types of noise removal can be performed by inputting the length that a run having a length less than this should be determined to be noise in step S413.
Further, even if there is a portion erroneously extracted due to noise or the like, the extracted boundary can be corrected by the boundary correction function, so that the object surface less affected by noise or the like can be extracted.
Further, in the present embodiment, since the image shown in FIG. 10 can be referred to, the boundary can be corrected while confirming whether or not the correction is appropriate.

  In other words, since the extracted object surface position is superimposed on all or a plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images or a specific ultrasonic tomographic image as a boundary by the boundary superimposing function and displayed on the display means, the extraction of the object surface is appropriate. Can be confirmed whether or not it is performed.

In this embodiment, when the simple three-dimensional construction key 21b is pressed, a simple three-dimensional image in which the surface position is not extracted as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed for reference to the user. You can grasp the image of a three-dimensional image.
Further, on a specific tomographic image among a plurality of tomographic images having different directions constructed by the tomographic image constructing means, the cutting line moving means moves a cutting line indicating a cross-sectional position, and the tomographic image rotating means rotates the tomographic image. Since a tomographic image other than a specific tomographic image is changed in conjunction with the tomographic image, a cross section can be set so as to pass through the lesion at any position on the tomogram, such as the depth of the lesion. Can be diagnosed.

  Further, the tomographic image constructing means constructs a plurality of tomographic images having different directions generated from the echo data in the three-dimensional echo data, and the cutting line moving means determines a cross-sectional position in the constructed tomographic images. By moving the cutting line shown, the mask means can display the echo data synthesized as a three-dimensional image and the other echo data in different forms, so that the three-dimensional image is displayed on the tomographic image. The distinction and correspondence between parts and parts that are not displayed can be easily understood.

  Further, either of the display in the form of a normal tomographic image, the display for setting the cross section by changing the form of the echo data for displaying as a three-dimensional image and the other echo data, or the two kinds of display Since the display mode designating means for designating the mask is provided, when such a mask is obstructive, it can be removed, and a normal diagnosis can be performed on an arbitrary cross section using a plurality of tomographic images.

Further, in the present embodiment, the light beam angle setting means sets the light beam angle for adding a shadow as an angle in a coordinate system using the body lumen axis or the ultrasound probe insertion axis as a coordinate axis, and the display means , The ray angle in the coordinate system with the axis of the living body lumen or the axis of insertion of the ultrasonic probe as a coordinate axis is displayed, so that the desired object surface can be expressed more three-dimensionally, and the ray angle can be more intuitive and anatomical. Can be set easily.
Further, in the present embodiment, since the display means displays the light beam angle three-dimensionally, it is easy to intuitively grasp the light beam angle.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the coordinate conversion means converts the coordinates of the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data, and the line-of-sight angle setting means determines the line-of-sight angle formed by the line-of-sight direction when displaying the three-dimensional image, by the biological tube. Set as an angle in a coordinate system using the cavity axis or the ultrasound probe insertion axis as the coordinate axis, and the display means displays the gaze angle in the living body lumen axis or the coordinate system using the ultrasound probe insertion axis as the coordinate axis. Therefore, the viewing angle of the three-dimensional image can be set more easily. In addition, it can be set intuitively and anatomically easy to understand.

  Further, in this embodiment, the sectional surface boundary superimposing means superimposes the boundary line between the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data on the three-dimensional image as the cross-sectional surface boundary line, and the display means superimposes the cross-sectional surface boundary line. Since a two-dimensional image is displayed, it is easy to distinguish between echo data and surface image data.

(Modification of First Embodiment)
Although the touch panel 25 is used in the present embodiment, other pointing devices such as a mouse, a light pen, and a trackball may be used instead of the touch panel 25 by displaying a cursor on the screen.

Further, the threshold processing of the present embodiment includes binarization in that a luminance value of a point having a luminance value equal to or less than the threshold value is replaced with 0.
Further, in the present embodiment, the line-of-sight direction and the light beam direction can be set using the touch panel 25 with respect to the display shown in FIGS. 7 and 13, respectively. May be set.

Further, in the present embodiment, the cross-sectional position setting in step S2 is provided before the surface position extraction in step S4, but the order may be reversed.
In the present embodiment, when the mask switching key 21a is pressed, the display is switched to the display shown in FIG. 6, but when the order is reversed, the display may be switched to the display shown in FIG. 15 by pressing the mask switching key 21a.

  In the present embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 4 performs a spiral scan, but is not limited to a specific example of the present embodiment such as a combination of a sector scan and a linear scan.

Further, in the present embodiment, the boundary points are superimposed in step S430, but a boundary line in which boundary points on adjacent scan lines are sequentially connected may be used. Further, the inside of the boundary may be painted in a different color, such as red, from the superimposed ultrasonic tomographic image, and the boundary may be expressed as a side of the painted area.
Further, in the present embodiment, the two-dimensional images on which the boundary points are superimposed are displayed in a list in step S431, but adjacent two-dimensional images may be sequentially displayed.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration is common to the first embodiment, and the processing of the CPU 13 and the processing of the image processor 18 are different. Therefore, only different parts will be described. FIG. 17 shows four cross sections of the ultrasonic wave according to the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, the operations of the CPU 13 and the image processor 18 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the present embodiment, a plurality of cross sections shown in FIG. 17 are displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24 instead of the list display (step S431 in FIG. 9) in the surface position extraction in the first embodiment. Display. In this screen, the extracted boundary is superimposed on each section as a boundary line, and in FIG. 17, a boundary incorrectly extracted due to noise in section C can be referred to.

  On this screen, similarly to FIG. 4 in the first embodiment, other cross sections are changed in conjunction with the movement and rotation of the cutting lines +, ×, △, and □ of the specific cross section. Then, when a boundary erroneously extracted due to noise or the like is found as shown in FIG. 17, the boundary is corrected as described with reference to FIG. Other operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  At this time, the CPU 13 and the image processor 18 function as tomographic image construction means and boundary superimposition means.

This embodiment has the following effects.
In the present embodiment, the display of the plurality of cross sections shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24, and the extracted boundary is superimposed on each cross section as a boundary line. Over time, it can be determined at a glance whether or not surface position extraction is appropriate.
Since the extracted object surface position is superimposed on the plurality of tomographic images having different orientations as a boundary, a portion where the boundary extraction error is remarkable can be found at a glance.
In addition, by changing the cross section, it is possible to search for a portion that is erroneously extracted.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing content according to the third embodiment, FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of its operation and effects, and FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of scanning by the ultrasonic probe 4 according to the present embodiment. It is.

  This embodiment has the same configuration as the first embodiment, and differs from the first embodiment in the processing of the CPU 13 and the image processor 18. Therefore, only different parts will be described. Hereinafter, the operations of the CPU 13 and the image processor 18 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the present embodiment, only the process of designating the scan line start point shown in FIG. 9 is different from the first embodiment, and the other is the same. In the present embodiment, the processes of steps S1811 and S1812 are added between steps S414 and S415 in FIG. 9, as shown in FIG. Other processes are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In step S1811 shown in FIG. 18, the image specified by the variable i is displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24. This image i is shown in FIG.

  In step S1812 shown in FIG. 18, a scan line start point is designated with reference to the image i displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24. In FIG. 19, this scan line start point is indicated as O. This designation method is performed by touching the position of the scan line start point O with a finger via the touch panel 25.

  Thus, the scan line start point O is specified. As described above, the touch panel 25 functions as a scan line start point designating unit. Others are the same as those of the first embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, the following effects are obtained.
For example, when the scan line start point is set in advance to the point Od shown in FIG. 19, a blind spot is formed at the boundary to be extracted. This blind spot is indicated by hatching in FIG.

However, in the present embodiment, in step S1812, the scan line start point O is specified while referring to the image displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24. The scan line start point O can be specified at a position where a blind spot is unlikely to occur.
Other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

Note that a configuration of a modified example of the present embodiment described below may be adopted.
The ultrasonic probe 4 in this modification irradiates ultrasonic waves from outside the subject. The ultrasonic transducer (not shown) of the ultrasonic probe 4 moves on a straight line while performing sector scan. That is, the ultrasonic probe 4 performs a sector and linear scan combining the sector scan and the linear scan from outside the body, and a plurality of continuous two-dimensional images are written to the image data storage device 17 as three-dimensional echo data. . FIG. 20 shows the plurality of two-dimensional images. In FIG. 20, image 1, image 2,...

  The pear-skin pattern portion in FIG. 20 indicates a low luminance region such as a tumor, and the hatched portion around the portion indicates a high luminance region such as a liver substance.

  In this modification, the scan line start point O is designated with reference to the image displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24 in step S1812 shown in FIG. In FIG. 20, this point is shown as O. This specification method is performed by touching the point O with a finger through the touch panel 25.

Other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as the configurations, operations, and effects of the third embodiment described with reference to FIGS.
As described above, when the surface extracting means or method according to the present embodiment is used, the surface can be accurately extracted even if the scanning method such as spiral scan or sector & linear scan is changed.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing for adding a shadow in the present embodiment, and includes a step of inputting a display color when displaying a polygon from the operation terminal 21.

  The configuration is common to the first embodiment, and the processing of the CPU 13 and the image processor 18 is partially different. Therefore, only different parts will be described.

  The operation of the CPU 13 and the image processor 18 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Steps S211 to S2114 shown in FIG. 21 are the same as the processes of steps S511 to S514 in FIG. 11 in the first embodiment.

  In step S2115 shown in FIG. 21, a display color for displaying a polygon is input from the operation terminal 21.

  In step S2116 shown in FIG. 21, the brightness of a point in each polygon is determined based on the color tone input in step S2115 by the same algorithm as the processing in step S515 shown in FIG.

In this way, shading processing is performed by adding a surface shadow with the color tone input in step S2115.
Note that, as described above, the operation terminal 21 functions as a display color designation unit.
This embodiment has the following effects.

  In the present embodiment, the display color for displaying the polygon is input in step S2115, and the color tone of the polygon is determined. Therefore, the surface data E in FIG. 16 is displayed in this display color, and other parts holding the gray scale are displayed. And can be displayed separately. For this reason, the surgeon distinguishes whether each part of the three-dimensional image is image data holding the tone of the echo of the living body or surface image data to which three-dimensional information such as shape is added as a shadow. Can be done easily.

In addition, if the color tone of the surface of the actual organ which is visible in the optical image of the endoscope or the like is designated as the display color, a more realistic three-dimensional image can be displayed.
Other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Modification of Fourth Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the display color is input through the operation terminal 21 in step S2115, but an optical image such as an endoscope image is stored in a storage device such as the first external storage device 19, and a representative image is stored here. The color tone may be copied. The stored optical images may be separately stored in the esophagus, upper stomach, duodenum, and the like, and these display colors may be used.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a surface position extracting process according to the fifth embodiment, and FIGS. 23 and 24 are diagrams for explaining the operation and effect thereof.

  This embodiment has the same configuration as the first embodiment, and differs from the first embodiment in the processing of the CPU 13 and the image processor 18. Therefore, only different parts will be described. Hereinafter, the operations of the CPU 13 and the image processor 18 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the present embodiment, only the surface position extraction processing shown in FIG. 9 is different from the first embodiment, and the other is the same.
In step S2211 shown in FIG. 22, the first image of the continuous 50 two-dimensional images stored in the image data storage device 17 is displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24. This image is shown in FIG.

  In step S2212 shown in FIG. 22, the first image is traced. The boundary of the two-dimensional image displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24, that is, the organ surface is manually traced. The tracing is performed via the touch panel 25.

  In step S2213 shown in FIG. 22, the first gradient value at the traced point is calculated. In other words, as shown in FIG. 23, the gradient of the luminance value at points Z2, Z3,..., Zi,. A value (hereinafter, a first gradient value) is calculated.

The first gradient value indicates a luminance gradient value on a straight line OZi (i = 1, 2, 3,...), And the distance when calculating the gradient value is a fixed length. In FIG. 24A, the luminance value on the straight line OZi in the first image is represented. The “constant length” is represented by Δx, and the difference between the luminance values is represented by ΔI. Therefore,
Gradient value = ΔI / Δx
It is expressed as

In step S2214 shown in FIG. 22, a gradient value (hereinafter, second gradient value) in the direction of the straight line OZi set in the first image is calculated for the second image. The second gradient value is calculated for each point within a specific range on the straight line OZi from the point Zi '(see FIG. 24B) on the second image corresponding to the point Zi. In FIG. 24B, this specific range is indicated by δx. That is, the second gradient value is calculated at each point in the range included in the range δx in the OZi direction and in the opposite direction with respect to the point Zi ′ corresponding to the point Zi.
This process is repeated for points within the range corresponding to all points Zi.

  In step S2215 shown in FIG. 22, the second gradient value calculated at each point is compared with the first gradient value calculated at point Zi, and the second gradient value calculated at point Zi is compared with a straight line OZi ′ having a value closest to the first gradient value. Identify points. 24B, the points specified in this manner are indicated by Zi ". In this way, the boundary of the second image is specified.

  By performing such processing, even in an image where noise is present as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24A, the position of the noise can be removed to some extent by the range δx. Is included, the gradient value rarely has a value close to the first gradient value. Therefore, in most cases, the point having the value closest to the first gradient value is defined as the boundary point of the second image. Can be correctly identified.

In step S2216 shown in FIG. 22, the process branches depending on whether the process has been completed for all the two-dimensional images. If not, the process jumps to step S2214. If the processing has been completed, the surface position extraction processing ends. After jumping to step S2214, the same process is repeated with the gradient value of the second image as the first gradient value and the gradient value of the third image as the second gradient value. The same applies to the subsequent images.
Thus, the surface position is extracted.

As described above, the CPU 13 and the image processor 18 function as first gradient value calculating means, second gradient value calculating means, and surface position specifying means.
Further, the touch panel 25 functions as a surface position designation unit.
According to the present embodiment, the following effects are obtained.

In the present embodiment, in step S2214, the second gradient value is calculated for each point within a specific range from the point at which the first gradient value was calculated, and in step S2215, the second gradient value and the first gradient value are calculated. The surface position was extracted by comparison. Therefore, noise that does not fall within this range is not erroneously extracted as a surface. This noise is shown in FIGS.
Other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Sixth embodiment)
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing details of the surface position extraction processing according to the sixth embodiment. FIGS. 26, 27, 28, and 29 are diagrams illustrating the state of tracing from the start point P for extracting the position of the surface. 27 is an enlarged view on the right side of FIG. 26, FIG. 29 is an enlarged view on the left side of FIG. 26, and FIG. 28 shows luminance values on the arc shown in FIG.

This embodiment has the same configuration as the first embodiment, and differs from the first embodiment in the processing of the CPU 13 and the image processor 18. Since the method of extracting the surface position in step S4 shown in FIG. 2 is different from that of the first embodiment, that part will be described.
Hereinafter, details of the image processing performed by the CPU 13 and the image processor 18 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Steps S2511 to S2531 shown in FIG. 25 are an automatic extraction routine for automatically extracting the surface position, and steps S2532 to S2539 are a display / correction routine for displaying and correcting the automatically extracted boundary.

Further, of the automatic extraction routine, steps S2511 to S2525 are a trace start point extraction routine for extracting a trace start point, and steps S2526 to S2531 are a trace routine for automatically extracting a surface position by tracing.
Hereinafter, the trace start point extraction routine of the automatic extraction routine will be described in detail.

  In step S2511 shown in FIG. 25, the image data is smoothed. The processing unit for performing this smoothing is made variable so as to be optimal for the resolution of the ultrasonic wave when the ultrasonic probe 4 scans.

  In step S2512 shown in FIG. 25, the image data is subjected to a binarization process. A point having a luminance value equal to or less than a certain threshold value is replaced with 0, and a point having a luminance value equal to or more than the threshold value is replaced with 1.

  In step S2513 shown in FIG. 25, of the runs (runs) connected by points equal to or larger than the threshold value, the length that a run longer than this should be determined to be noise is substituted for the variable run0. This input is performed via the operation terminal 21.

In step S2514 shown in FIG. 25, 0 is substituted for a variable i. The variable i indicates the number of a two-dimensional image to be processed at present among a plurality of continuous two-dimensional images written as image data in the image data storage device 17. In this embodiment, it is assumed that 50 two-dimensional images are processed,
0 ≦ i ≦ 49
And

  In step S2515 shown in FIG. 25, 0 is substituted for the variable s. The variable s is a variable for assigning the number of the boundary point extracted by the trace described later.

  In step S2516 shown in FIG. 25, one point G on the screen is designated. Hereinafter, this point G is called a scan line start point and is shown in FIG. Specifically, the user specifies a point G by touching a point on the screen with a finger via the touch panel 25. In step S2517 shown in FIG. 25, another point G 'on the screen is designated. Specifically, the user touches a point on the screen with a finger via the touch panel 25. At this time, a line segment GG ′ is displayed on the two-dimensional image displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24 in accordance with the movement of the finger as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, this GG 'is called a scan line.

In step S2518 shown in FIG. 25, the coordinates of G are set to the processing point address. The processing point address includes an x address and a y address, and indicates the x coordinate and the y coordinate of the point currently being processed.
In step S2519 shown in FIG. 25, 0 is substituted for the variable run. The variable run is used to measure the length of the run.

In step S2520 shown in FIG. 25, the processing point address is moved to the address of the next point on scan line GG '.
In step S2521 shown in FIG. 25, it is determined whether the luminance value of the point indicated by the processing point address is larger or smaller than the threshold value of the binarization processing performed in step S2512. If it is larger, the process moves to step S2522, and if smaller, the process jumps to step S2519.

In step S2522 shown in FIG. 25, the x address of the processing point address is substituted for the run-th variable p (run) of the one-dimensional array variable p, and the processing point is assigned to the run-th variable q (run) of the one-dimensional array variable q. Substitute the y address of the address.
In step S2523 shown in FIG. 25, 1 is added to the variable run.

  In step S2524 shown in FIG. 25, it is determined whether or not the variable run matches run0. If they match, the process moves to step S2525. If they do not match, the process jumps to step S2520.

In step S2525 shown in FIG. 25, q (run-run0) is substituted for the two-dimensional array variable X (s, i), and q (run-run0) is substituted for the two-dimensional array variable Y (s, i). In this manner, the coordinates of the run closest to the scan line start point among the runs in which a point having a luminance value greater than the threshold value on the scan line is longer than the distance run0 are defined as X (s, i) and Y (s, i) Extract.
Next, the trace routine of the automatic extraction routine will be described in detail.

  In step S2526 shown in FIG. 25, X (s, i) and Y (s, i) are output to the image data storage device 17. That is, in step S2526, the address of the point P shown in FIG.

  In step S2527 shown in FIG. 25, a search is made from the intersection Po of the line segment GP and the arc on the arc of radius r centered on the point P shown in FIG. A new boundary point P 'is extracted. This search is performed as follows.

  First, in FIG. 26, the outer side represents the organ substance from the surface of the organ as a boundary, and the inner side, that is, the side including G is a portion that usually represents an ultrasonic medium such as water. Therefore, the luminance value after binarization on the arc of FIG. 27 is shown as in FIG.

The horizontal axis in FIG. 28 indicates an angle ψ formed with the line segment GP. Since the point Po is on the ultrasonic medium side and on the low luminance side, the point where the luminance changes from the low side to the high side with respect to the change of the angle ψ is the boundary point P ′ shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. Corresponding to In this way, the point P 'is extracted by searching for a point that changes first from the side of the luminance value of the point Po on FIG.
In step S2528 shown in FIG. 25, 1 is added to the variable s. Hereinafter, the point P ′ will be replaced with the point P again.

  In step S2529 shown in FIG. 25, ∠PGG ′ is calculated from the newly placed point P, and it is determined whether ∠PGG ′ is larger or smaller than 360 °. If it is larger, the process moves to step S2530, and if smaller, the process jumps to step S2526. By the way, since the point P 'is replaced with the point P in step S2528, this ∠PGG' actually corresponds to ∠P'GG 'in FIG.

In step S2530 shown in FIG. 25, 1 is added to variable i. That is, the two-dimensional image to be processed is moved to the next two-dimensional image.
In step S2531 shown in FIG. 25, it is determined whether or not i matches 49 + 1. That is, it is determined whether the processing of the last two-dimensional image among the two-dimensional images written in the image data storage device 17 has been completed. If they match, the process moves to step S2532. If not, the process jumps to step S2515.

  In this manner, in the automatic extraction routine including the trace start point extraction routine and the trace routine, for all the two-dimensional images stored in the image data storage device 17, the surface P of the body cavity, that is, the point P (s, i) recognized as the boundary. Are obtained and sequentially written to the image data storage device 17. The coordinates X (s, i) and Y (s, i) are obtained.

  By the way, in FIG. 26, since the organ in the screen is cut off on the left side of the screen, the search for the point P (s, i) is interrupted in this state. Therefore, in step S2527, as shown in FIG. 29, when searching for a point at which the luminance value of the point Po changes first, when the arc hits the edge of the image halfway, the intersection of the arc and the edge of the image is determined. It will be extracted as point P '.

Next, the display / correction routine will be described in detail.
In step S2532 shown in FIG. 25, X (s, i) and Y (s, i) are read for all images and all boundary points written in the image data storage device 17.

  That is, the coordinates of the point P recognized as a boundary are read from the image data storage device 17. In step S2533 shown in FIG. 25, a boundary point indicated by coordinates X (s, i) and Y (s, i) is superimposed on each two-dimensional image having an ultrasonic gradation.

  In step S2534 shown in FIG. 25, a list of the two-dimensional images having the ultrasonic gradation on which the boundary points are superimposed is displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24.

  In step S2535 shown in FIG. 25, a two-dimensional image i0 whose boundary is erroneously extracted is specified from the two-dimensional images displayed in the list. This two-dimensional image i0 is shown in FIG.

  In step S2536 shown in FIG. 25, the user specifies a correction range in the two-dimensional image i0 via the touch panel 25. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 30, the end points R1 and R2 of the erroneously extracted boundary are specified, and the correction range is specified by determining ∠R1 GR2. This range corresponds to the hatched portion in FIG.

In step S2537 shown in FIG. 25, the user manually traces the true boundary via the touch panel 25. FIG. 30 shows the state of this trace. That is, a true boundary point is traced as shown by a white point (white circle) instead of the boundary point shown by the erroneously extracted black point.
At this time, a true boundary point P (s, i) is newly set for each equidistant section on the trace traced by the user within the range of ∠R1 GR2.

  In step S2538 shown in FIG. 25, the coordinates of the erroneously extracted boundary point are deleted from the image data storage device 17, and the coordinates of the true boundary point P (s, i) set in step S2537 are renewed for each two-dimensional array variable. It is output to the image data storage device 17 as X (s, i) and Y (s, i). At this time, the two-dimensional array variables X (s, i) and Y (s, i) in the image data storage device 17 are represented by P (s, i) (s = 0, 1,...) In FIG. In such a manner that the numbers s are sequentially assigned.

  In step S2539 shown in FIG. 25, a message is output on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24 as to whether or not correction is necessary, and the user responds via the operation terminal 21. If the correction is required, the process jumps to step S2534. If the correction is unnecessary, the surface position extraction processing ends.

In this way, the display / correction routine corrects points that have been erroneously extracted due to residues in the body cavity, noise, or the like.
As described above, the CPU 13 and the image processor 18 function as a surface tracing unit and a luminance change point searching unit.
Further, the touch panel 25 functions as a trace start point designating unit.

According to the present embodiment, the following effects are obtained.
In the present embodiment, a desired object surface position is automatically traced sequentially on a plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images. Therefore, for example, noise shown in FIG. 26 is erroneously extracted as an organ surface. Never. That is, a desired object surface can be accurately extracted and expressed without being disturbed by noise or the like.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the image is smoothed in step S2511, it is possible to remove some noise before extracting the surface position on the scan line in advance.

  Also, in the present embodiment, the boundary points are superimposed on the ultrasonic tomographic image in step S2533, and the list is displayed in step S2534. It may be an image that has been created. However, if the list of the original images having the ultrasonic gradation is displayed in this manner as in the present embodiment, the boundary points are usually superimposed on the ultrasonic image used for diagnosis. This has the effect of making it clearer whether correction is needed.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the correction can be made while referring to the image shown in FIG. 30, the boundary can be appropriately corrected.
Also, in this embodiment, in step S2513, a length that a run having a length less than this should be determined as noise is input. Therefore, when a trace start point is specified, noise of various sizes is added. Can be removed.
Other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Modification of Sixth Embodiment)
Although the touch panel 25 is used in the present embodiment, other pointing devices such as a mouse, a light pen, and a trackball may be used instead of the touch panel 25 by displaying a cursor on the screen.
Further, in the present embodiment, binarization is performed in step S2512, but other threshold processing may be used.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the boundary points are superimposed in step S2533, but a boundary line connecting the boundary points P (s, i) in the order of the number s may be used. Further, the inside of the boundary may be painted in a different color, such as red, from the superimposed ultrasonic tomographic image, and the boundary may be expressed as a side of the painted area.

Further, in the present embodiment, the two-dimensional images on which the boundary points are superimposed are displayed in a list in step S2534, but adjacent two-dimensional images may be sequentially displayed.
Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied assuming a tubular organ such as the stomach shown in FIG. 26, for example, but can also be applied to non-lumen organs such as the liver and pancreas.

(Seventh embodiment)
Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a part of the surface position extraction processing in the seventh embodiment, and FIG. 32 is a diagram for explaining the operation and effect thereof.

  This embodiment has the same configuration as the sixth embodiment, and differs from the sixth embodiment in the processing of the CPU 13 and the image processor 18. Therefore, only different parts will be described. Hereinafter, operations of the CPU 13 and the image processor 18 will be described with reference to FIGS. 31 and 32.

  This embodiment is different from the sixth embodiment only in the process of designating the scan line start point shown in FIG. 25, and the other is the same. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 31, processing of steps S3111, S3112, and S3113 is added. The other processes shown in FIG. 31 are the same as those of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG.

  In step S3111 following step S2513 shown in FIG. 31, images of the four sections shown in FIG. 32 are displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24. The positional relationship between these four cross sections is the same as in FIG.

In step S3112 shown in FIG. 31, a trace start point is specified on the linear surface of the screen B or C while referring to the image displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24. This specification method is performed by tracing a thick line in FIG. 32 with a finger through the touch panel 25. Since the linear surface is formed from a plurality of continuous 50 two-dimensional images, a trace start point of the 50 two-dimensional images can be specified at a time by tracing a boundary expressed on the linear surface with a finger.
Thus, the trace start point is specified.

Since the trace start point can be specified at one time, the processing from step S2516 to step S2525 in FIG. 25 is omitted. Instead, in step S3113 shown in FIG. 31, the address of the trace start point of the two-dimensional image i is substituted into the two-dimensional array variable X (s, i) Y (s, i).
As described above, the touch panel 25 functions as a trace start point designating unit.

According to the present embodiment, the following effects are obtained.
In the present embodiment, the trace start point is specified once for 50 images while referring to the image displayed on the three-dimensional image processing monitor 24 in step S3112. On the other hand, the operation is simpler than in the sixth embodiment in which the trace start points are sequentially specified.
Other effects are the same as those of the sixth embodiment.

[Appendix]
1. Three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body, and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data to which shading has been added by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
In the three-dimensional echo data, the surface position extracting means scans a scan line farther from the scan line start point, and a point having a luminance value larger than a certain threshold value is included in a run having a predetermined distance or more. And a run extracting means for extracting a run closest to the scan line start point.

(Supplementary note 1) To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can accurately represent a desired object surface without being disturbed by noise or the like.

(Effect of Supplementary Note 1) The run extraction means scans the scan line in a distant place, and among runs in which points having a luminance value larger than a certain threshold value are continuous for a predetermined distance or more, a run closest to the scan line start point. Is extracted, runs that are shorter than the predetermined distance can be removed as noise. Therefore, the desired object surface can be accurately represented without being disturbed by noise or the like.

2. An ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a living body and obtains a plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images in a three-dimensional region;
Three-dimensional echo data storage means for storing echo data of a three-dimensional area composed of a plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images obtained by the ultrasonic probe;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data shaded by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
The surface position extracting means is provided with a boundary superimposing means for superimposing the extracted object surface position as a boundary on all of the continuous ultrasonic tomographic images or on a specific ultrasonic tomographic image. Ultrasound imaging device.

(Background of Supplementary Notes 2 and 3) Further, the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-279156 has a problem that it is not possible to confirm whether or not surface extraction has been properly performed.

(Purpose of Supplementary Notes 2 and 3) To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of confirming whether or not the extraction of the object surface is appropriately performed.

(Effects of Supplementary Notes 2 and 3) Since the boundary superimposing means superimposes the extracted object surface position on all or a plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images or a specific ultrasonic tomographic image as a boundary, extraction of the object surface can be performed. You can check whether it is being performed properly.

3. Three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body, and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data shaded by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
A tomographic image constructing unit configured to construct a plurality of tomographic images having different directions generated from the echo data in the three-dimensional echo data,
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising: a boundary superimposing unit configured to superimpose the extracted tomographic image constructed by the tomographic image constructing unit with the extracted object surface position as a boundary.

(Effect of Supplementary Note 3) Since the extracted object surface position is superimposed on a plurality of tomographic images having different directions as boundaries, remarkable portions of boundary extraction errors can be found at a glance.

4. The surface position extracting means includes a boundary correcting means for correcting the boundary superimposed by the boundary superimposing means, and correcting the object surface position to be extracted based on the boundary corrected by the boundary correcting means. 4. The ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 or 3.

5. In the three-dimensional echo data, the surface position extracting means scans a scan line farther from the scan line start point, and a point having a luminance value larger than a certain threshold value is included in a run having a predetermined distance or more. Providing run extraction means for extracting a run closest to the scan line start point,
The boundary correction means is provided with a correction scan line specifying means for specifying a scan line where the boundary to be corrected exists,
The ultrasonic wave according to claim 4, wherein a run near the start point of the scan line is extracted next to the run extracted by the run extraction unit on the scan line designated by the modified scan line designation unit. Diagnostic imaging device.

(Background of Supplementary Notes 4 and 5) In addition, the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-279156 has a problem that it is not possible to correct a portion where surface extraction is not appropriate.

(Purpose of Supplementary Notes 4 and 5) To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of correcting a place where extraction of an object surface is inappropriate.
(Effects of Supplementary Notes 4 and 5) Since the boundary correction means corrects the position of the object surface, it is possible to correct a portion where the extraction of the object surface is inappropriate.

6. Three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body, and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Combining means for constructing a three-dimensional image using the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
A tomographic image constructing unit configured to construct a plurality of tomographic images having different directions generated from the echo data in the three-dimensional echo data,
In a plurality of tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing means, a cutting line moving means for moving a cutting line indicating a cross-sectional position,
Among a plurality of tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing means, tomographic image rotating means for rotating the specific tomographic image,
And changing a tomographic image other than the specific tomographic image among the plurality of tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing means in conjunction with the rotation of the specific tomographic image by the tomographic image rotating means. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising:

(Background of Supplementary Note 6) The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-47066 is configured to set the cross-sectional position only by setting the intersection line position of the cutting line. A cross section can be set only with a simple cross section. Therefore, on a tomographic image perpendicular to the lumen axis, for example, a cross section cannot be observed at a position of a lesion existing at an oblique position such as the lower right, and there has been a problem that the depth of the lesion cannot be diagnosed.

(Purpose of Supplementary Note 6) To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of appropriately setting a cross section regardless of a position of a lesion on a tomographic image and diagnosing the depth of the lesion.

(Effect of Supplementary Note 6) On a specific tomographic image among a plurality of tomographic images having different directions constructed by the tomographic image constructing means, the cutting line moving means moves a cutting line indicating a cross-sectional position, and the tomographic image rotating means moves the tomographic image. Since the image is rotated and tomographic images other than the specific tomographic image are changed in conjunction with each other, a cross section can be set regardless of the position of the lesion on the tomographic image, and the depth of the lesion can be diagnosed.

7. Three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body, and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image using the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
A tomographic image constructing unit configured to construct a plurality of tomographic images having different directions generated from the echo data in the three-dimensional echo data,
In a plurality of tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing means, a cutting line moving means for moving a cutting line indicating a cross-sectional position,
An ultrasonic image, wherein the tomographic image constructing means is provided with a mask means for displaying echo data synthesized as the three-dimensional image by the synthesizing means and other echo data in different forms. Diagnostic device.

(Background of Supplementary Notes 7 and 8) Also, in the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-47066, since a cross section is expressed only by displaying a cutting line on the display screen of a monitor divided into four parts, this four-part structure is used. There is a problem that it is difficult to distinguish a part displayed as a three-dimensional image and a part not displayed from the divided screen and to understand a correspondence relationship.

(Purpose of Supplementary Notes 7 and 8) To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of distinguishing a part displayed as a three-dimensional image and a part not displayed on a tomographic image and setting a cross section in a manner that makes it easy to understand the correspondence.

(Effects of Supplementary Notes 7 and 8) The tomographic image constructing means constructs a plurality of tomographic images having different directions generated from the echo data in the three-dimensional echo data, and the cutting line moving means constructs the constructed tomographic images. In the above, the cutting line indicating the cross-sectional position is moved, and the mask means displays the echo data synthesized as a three-dimensional image and the other echo data in different modes, so that the three-dimensional image is displayed on the tomographic image. The cross section can be set so that the distinction and the correspondence between the displayed portion and the non-displayed portion can be easily understood.

8. The mask means is provided with a display mode designating means for designating whether echo data to be synthesized by the synthesizing means as the three-dimensional image and other echo data are displayed in a different mode or similar display mode. 8. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

(Effect of Supplementary Note 8) Two types of display are provided: display in a normal tomographic image mode, display for setting a cross section by changing the mode of echo data to be displayed as a three-dimensional image and other echo data. Is provided, so that such a mask can be removed when it is in the way, and a normal diagnosis can be performed on an arbitrary section using a plurality of tomographic images. .

9. Three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body, and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data shaded by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
The shade adding means is provided with a ray angle setting means for setting a ray angle for adding a shadow as an angle in a coordinate system having a living body lumen axis or an ultrasound probe insertion axis as a coordinate axis,
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, wherein the display means displays the light beam angle in a coordinate system having the living body lumen axis or the ultrasound probe insertion axis as a coordinate axis.

(Background of Supplementary Notes 9 and 10) Further, the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-47066 cannot change the light beam angle at the time of shading, and cannot express three-dimensionally depending on the shape. was there.

(Aims of Supplementary Notes 9 and 10) To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus capable of expressing a desired object surface more three-dimensionally and setting a ray angle more intuitively and anatomically easy to understand.

(Effects of Supplementary Notes 9 and 10) The light beam angle setting means sets the light beam angle for adding a shadow as an angle in a coordinate system using a living body lumen axis or an ultrasound probe insertion axis as a coordinate axis, and the display means , The ray angle in the coordinate system with the axis of the living body lumen or the axis of insertion of the ultrasonic probe as the coordinate axis is displayed, so that the desired object surface can be represented more three-dimensionally, and the ray angle can be more intuitive and anatomical. Can be set easily.

10. 10. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the display unit displays the light beam angle three-dimensionally.
(Effect of Supplementary Note 10) Since the display means displays the light beam angle three-dimensionally, it is easy to intuitively grasp the light beam angle.

11. Three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body, and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data shaded by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus having
Cross-section echo data whose position has been set by the cross-section position setting means, and coordinate conversion means for converting the coordinates of the surface echo data whose position has been extracted by the surface position extraction means,
A line-of-sight angle setting unit that sets the line-of-sight angle formed by the line-of-sight direction when displaying the three-dimensional image as an angle in a coordinate system having a living body lumen axis or an ultrasound probe insertion axis as a coordinate axis. When,
Wherein the display means displays the line-of-sight angle in a coordinate system using the body lumen axis or the ultrasonic probe insertion axis as a coordinate axis.

(Background of Supplementary Note 11) In the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-47066, there is no means for instructing the line of sight. Therefore, the line of sight of the three-dimensional image may be changed so that the region of interest such as a lesion may be seen well, and the region of interest may not be seen well even after the two-dimensional reprojection. There is a problem that re-projection is required.

(Purpose of Supplementary Note 11) To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of setting a line-of-sight angle more easily so that a region of interest such as a lesion can be seen well.

(Effect of Supplementary Note 11) The coordinate conversion unit converts the coordinates of the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data, and the line-of-sight angle setting unit determines the line-of-sight angle formed by the line-of-sight direction when displaying the three-dimensional image, by using the body lumen axis. Or, it is set as an angle in a coordinate system with the ultrasonic probe insertion axis as the coordinate axis, and the display means displays the body lumen axis or the line of sight angle in the coordinate system with the ultrasonic probe insertion axis as the coordinate axis. In addition, the line-of-sight angle of a three-dimensional image can be set more easily. In addition, it can be set intuitively and anatomically easy to understand.

12. Three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body, and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data shaded by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
A cross-sectional surface boundary superimposing means for superimposing a boundary line between the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data on the three-dimensional image as a cross-sectional surface boundary line;
The ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus, wherein the display means displays the three-dimensional image on which the cross-section surface boundary superimposing means superimposes the cross-section surface boundary line.

(Background of Supplementary Note 12) Also, when the doctor judges the degree of progress such as the depth of the lesion based on the echo data, and compares the shape of the lesion with an optical image such as an endoscope using the surface image data. In the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-47066, both the three-dimensionally displayed image data and the surface image data are displayed in gray scale, so that each part of the three-dimensional image has an echo of a living body. There is a problem that it is difficult for the surgeon to distinguish whether the image data is gradation image data or surface image data in which three-dimensional information such as shape is added as a shadow.

  Furthermore, in the devices disclosed in JP-A-7-47066 and JP-A-4-279156, display colors of surface image data in a three-dimensional image are given only from perspective and three-dimensional shapes. Since there is no relationship with the original color of the organ seen in the optical image, there is a problem that it is difficult for a person other than the surgeon to determine which part of the body cavity the three-dimensional image is being observed.

(Purpose of Supplementary Note 12) To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus capable of easily distinguishing between echo data and surface image data.
(Effect of Supplementary Note 12) The cross-section surface boundary superimposing means superimposes the boundary line between the cross-sectional echo data and the surface echo data on the three-dimensional image as the cross-section surface boundary line, and the display means superimposes the cross-section surface boundary line. Is displayed, it is easy to distinguish between the echo data and the surface image data.

13. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1,
A scan line start point designating unit for designating the position of the scan line start point.
(Purpose of Supplementary Note 13) Same as the purpose of Supplementary Note 1.

14． Three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body, and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data to which shading has been added by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
The shade adding means,
Adding a shade to the surface echo data with the organ surface color;
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus characterized in that:
(Purpose of Supplementary Note 14) To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus capable of observing a more realistic three-dimensional image by relating the display color of the surface image data to the original color of the organ seen in the optical image.

(Effect of Supplementary Note 14) Since the shading is added to the surface echo data by the organ surface color by the shading adding means, it is possible to observe a more realistic three-dimensional image.

15. Three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body, and storing the obtained three-dimensional echo data;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data to which shading has been added by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
The shade adding means,
Display color specifying means for specifying a display color of the surface echo data;
And
Adding a shade to the surface echo data with the display color designated by the display color designation means;
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus characterized in that:
(Purpose of Supplementary Note 15) Same as the purpose of Supplementary Note 12.

16. Three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a living body, and storing echo data in a three-dimensional area formed of a plurality of obtained continuous ultrasonic tomographic images;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data to which shading has been added by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
The surface position extracting means,
Surface position designation means for designating a desired object surface position on a specific tomographic image of the plurality of ultrasonic tomographic images,
First gradient value calculating means for calculating a gradient value of the luminance value of the surface position specified by the surface position specifying means;
Calculating a gradient value of a luminance value within a specific range from a point at which the first gradient value is calculated on a tomographic image other than the specific tomographic image among the plurality of ultrasonic tomographic images; Means for calculating the gradient value of
By comparing the gradient values calculated by the first gradient value calculating means and the second gradient value calculating means, a tomographic image different from the tomographic image in which the surface position specifying means specifies the object surface position Surface position specifying means for specifying an object surface position on
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising:
(Purpose of Supplementary Notes 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20) Same purpose as Supplementary Note 1.

17. Three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a living body, and storing echo data in a three-dimensional area formed of a plurality of obtained continuous ultrasonic tomographic images;
Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Surface position extraction means for extracting a desired object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Synthesizing means for synthesizing a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means, and the surface echo data to which shading has been added by the shading adding means;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image synthesized by the synthesis means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
The surface position extracting means,
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising: surface tracing means for automatically tracing a desired object surface position automatically on a plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images.

18. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein
The surface tracing means is provided with a brightness change point search means for searching the surface position as a change point of a brightness value on an arc for searching for a desired object surface position, and the change point is set to the center of the arc again. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus characterized in that a desired object surface position is sequentially traced by rearranging the positions.

19. In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to Supplementary notes 17 and 18,
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, wherein the surface position extracting means includes a trace start point designating means for designating a trace start point to trace on the ultrasonic tomographic image.

20. In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to Supplementary Notes 17, 18, and 19,
The surface position extracting means,
Tomographic image construction means for constructing a plurality of cross-sectional images having different directions generated from the echo data in the three-dimensional echo data;
And
The trace starting point designating means includes:
Specifying the trace start point on the tomographic images different in direction from the plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing means;
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus characterized in that:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of image processing performed by a CPU and an image processor. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing detailed contents of setting a cross-sectional position in FIG. 2. The figure which shows the specific example of four ultrasonic images corresponding to each cut surface. The figure which shows the simple 3D image which does not extract a surface position. FIG. 6 is a diagram in which a portion that does not appear as a cross section in FIG. 5 is hatched in FIG. 4. The figure which shows the child screen for setting of a gaze direction. FIG. 8 is a spatial explanatory diagram of the angle in FIG. 7. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing details of processing of extracting a surface position in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of scanning from a scan start point for extracting a surface position. The flowchart figure which shows the detail of the processing content of shading addition. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a shading addition process. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a setting sub-screen showing setting values of light beam directions. FIG. 14 is a spatial explanatory diagram of the angle in FIG. 13. The figure which showed the non-display part of four cross sections in a three-dimensional image by hatching. The figure which shows the three-dimensional image finally constructed. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of four ultrasonic images according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart figure which shows a part of processing content of the extraction of the surface position in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of an operation according to the third embodiment. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of scanning by an ultrasonic probe. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing for adding a shadow according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the processing content of surface position extraction according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where a boundary point of a first image is manually traced. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for calculating a first gradient value at a point traced on a first image and a second gradient value at a corresponding point on a second image. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing details of processing of surface position extraction according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a boundary point is sequentially traced from a start point P on a two-dimensional image i. Explanatory drawing which expands and shows a part of FIG. FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram of an operation by binarization in the processing of step S2527 in FIG. 25. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of processing of an edge of an image. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a portion where a boundary is erroneously extracted is corrected. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing content of surface position extraction according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of specifying a scan line start point.

Explanation of reference numerals

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus 2 ... Ultrasonic observation part 3 ... Image processing part 4 ... Ultrasonic probe 5 ... Drive part 6 ... Transmission / reception part 7 ... A / D converter 8 ... Frame memory 9 ... DSC
11 monitor 12 system controller 13 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Main storage device 15 ... Control part 16 ... Polar coordinate conversion part 17 ... Image data storage device 18 ... Image processing processor 19 ... First external storage device 20 ... Second external storage device 21 ... Operation terminal 22 ... Frame buffer 24: monitor for three-dimensional image processing 25: touch panel
Attorney Susumu Ito

Claims (6)

A three-dimensional echo data storage unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a living body and storing echo data of a three-dimensional area formed of a plurality of obtained continuous ultrasonic tomographic images;
Surface position extraction means for extracting an object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Three-dimensional image generating means for generating a three-dimensional image from surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
Display means for displaying all of a plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images or a specific ultrasonic tomographic image,
All of a plurality of continuous ultrasonic tomographic images, or a specific ultrasonic tomographic image, a boundary superimposing unit that superimposes the extracted object surface position as a boundary,
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising: Three-dimensional echo data storage means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a living body, and storing echo data of a three-dimensional area composed of a plurality of obtained continuous ultrasonic tomographic images;
Surface position extraction means for extracting an object surface position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
Three-dimensional image generating means for generating a three-dimensional image from surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting means;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus provided with
Tomographic image construction means for constructing a tomographic image from echo data in the three-dimensional echo data;
Boundary superimposing means for superimposing the extracted object surface position as a boundary on the tomographic image constructed by the tomographic image constructing means,
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising:   The ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the tomographic images constructed by the tomographic image constructing unit are a plurality of tomographic images having different directions. Cross-section position setting means for setting a desired cross-section position in the three-dimensional echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means;
A shadow adding unit that adds a shadow to the surface echo data indicated by the surface position extracted by the surface position extracting unit,
Three-dimensional image generating means for generating a three-dimensional image from the cross-sectional echo data whose position has been set by the cross-sectional position setting means and the surface echo data to which a shadow has been added by the shadow adding means;
With
The ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a three-dimensional image generated by the three-dimensional image generation unit. The image processing apparatus further includes a boundary correction unit that corrects the boundary on which the boundary superimposition unit is superimposed,
The ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface position extracting unit corrects an object surface position to be extracted based on the boundary corrected by the boundary correcting unit. The surface position extracting means scans the scan line farther from the scan line start point in the three-dimensional echo data, and a point having a luminance value greater than a certain threshold value is included in a run having a predetermined distance or more. A run extracting means for extracting a run closest to the line start point is provided,
Correction scan line designation means for designating a scan line where the boundary to be modified by the boundary modification means exists,
6. The run according to claim 5, wherein a run near the start point of the scan line is extracted next to the run extracted by the run extraction unit on the scan line designated by the modified scan line designation unit. Ultrasound imaging device.

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