JP2005218520A - Ultrasonic diagnosis equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide ultrasonic diagnosis equipment allowing an operator to easily recognize the positional relation between a region of interest of a three-dimensional ultrasonic image and the maximum region which an ultrasonic probe can three-dimensionally scan. <P>SOLUTION: A monitor 5 displays an ultrasonic tomographic image 26 and the region of interest for constructing a three-dimensional ultrasonic image 27 on the ultrasonic tomographic image 26 as well as the three-dimensional ultrasonic image 2 in the region of interest of a subject generated by an image generation part 4. The monitor further displays the maximum region 28 which the ultrasonic probe 2 can three-dimensionally scan and graphically displays the region of interest 29 in the maximum region. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic echo signals in an arbitrary direction to a test object and displaying the test object on a monitor as a three-dimensional ultrasonic image. It is.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In FIG. 3, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a main body 31 and an ultrasonic probe 32 for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from a test object. The main body 31 includes an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 33 for transmitting / receiving an ultrasonic signal via the ultrasonic probe 32, and an ultrasonic tomographic image 26 of the test object based on the received echo signal from the test object. An image generation unit 34 that generates a three-dimensional ultrasonic image 27 and a monitor 35 that displays an ultrasonic tomographic image 26 and a three-dimensional ultrasonic image 27 of the test object are included.

On the monitor 35, in addition to the ultrasonic tomographic image 26 and the three-dimensional ultrasonic image 27, as shown by a broken line on the ultrasonic tomographic image 26, a region of interest that is a region for constructing the three-dimensional ultrasonic image 27 ( An enclosure indicating ROI (Region Of Interest) is displayed.
JP 2002-078710 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-295346 JP-A-7-163558

  However, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying a three-dimensional ultrasonic image, the region of interest of the currently displayed three-dimensional ultrasonic image is larger than the maximum region where the ultrasonic probe can be three-dimensionally scanned. There is a problem that the position of the can not be visually recognized.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and facilitates the positional relationship between the region of interest of the currently displayed three-dimensional ultrasound image and the maximum region where the ultrasound probe can be three-dimensionally scanned. An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can be recognized easily.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from a test object, and an ultrasonic signal via the ultrasonic probe. Ultrasonic transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving, image generation means for generating at least a three-dimensional ultrasonic image of the test object based on a received echo signal from the test object, and display for displaying at least a three-dimensional ultrasonic image The display means has a configuration in which the region of interest corresponding to the three-dimensional ultrasonic image is displayed in a graphic together with a schematic diagram representing the maximum scanning area of the ultrasonic probe.

  With this configuration, it is possible to easily recognize the positional relationship between the region of interest of the currently displayed 3D ultrasound image and the maximum region that can be scanned 3D by the ultrasound probe. There is an advantage that the position of the region of interest can be easily changed to a desired part of the test object.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, the ultrasonic transmission / reception means transmits and receives an ultrasonic signal from an arbitrary direction of the test object by moving the ultrasonic probe and performing mechanical scanning. doing.

  With this configuration, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs mechanical scanning by the ultrasonic probe by displaying the region in which the ultrasonic probe performs mechanical scanning such as linear scanning and convex scanning, the above advantages of the present invention are provided. Is obtained.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, the ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of ultrasonic transmission / reception elements, and the ultrasonic transmission / reception means transmits the ultrasonic transmission / reception elements with different delay times with respect to the ultrasonic transmission / reception elements. By transmitting and receiving sound waves, it has a configuration of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals from any direction of the test object.

  With this configuration, the above-described advantages of the present invention can be obtained in an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that performs electronic scanning with an ultrasound probe by displaying a graphic display of an area in which the ultrasound probe performs electronic scanning such as electronic sector scanning. It is done.

  Furthermore, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, the ultrasonic probe is composed of a plurality of ultrasonic transmission / reception elements, and the ultrasonic transmission / reception means is capable of superimposing a plurality of ultrasonic transmission / reception elements with different delay times. By transmitting and receiving sound waves, ultrasonic signals for an arbitrary cross section of the test object are transmitted and received, and the image generating means is received by the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving means by rotating the ultrasonic probe and performing mechanical scanning. It has a configuration in which tomographic images of a plurality of arbitrary cross sections are generated from an ultrasonic signal for an arbitrary cross section of a test object.

  With this configuration, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs electronic scanning and mechanical scanning by the ultrasonic probe by displaying the area where the ultrasonic probe performs electronic scanning and the area where mechanical scanning is performed in a graphic display, The above advantages of the invention are obtained.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily recognize the positional relationship between the region of interest of the currently displayed three-dimensional ultrasound image and the maximum region where the ultrasound probe can be three-dimensionally scanned. Thus, it is possible to provide an excellent ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of easily changing the position of the region of interest to a desired part of the test object.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

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

  In FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a main body 1 and an ultrasonic probe 2 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a test object. The main body 1 includes an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 3 (ultrasonic transmission / reception means) for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic signal via the ultrasonic probe 2 and a received echo signal from the test object. An ultrasonic tomographic image 26, an image generating unit 4 (image generating means) that generates a three-dimensional ultrasonic image 27 in the region of interest of the subject, and a monitor 5 (display) that displays the three-dimensional ultrasonic image 27 of the test object Means).

  In the monitor 5, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2, in addition to the three-dimensional ultrasonic image 27 in the region of interest of the test object, the ultrasonic tomographic image 26 and the ultrasonic tomographic image 26 are indicated by broken lines. In this way, the region of interest for constructing the three-dimensional ultrasound image 27 is displayed, and the maximum region 28 that can be scanned by the ultrasound probe 2 three-dimensionally (representing a schematic diagram) 28 and the region of interest within the maximum region. Area 29 is displayed graphically.

  In the graphic display of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as described above, the maximum area 28 in which the ultrasonic probe 2 can be three-dimensionally scanned is limited by the characteristics of the ultrasonic probe 2, and this maximum area. The region of interest 29 in which a three-dimensional ultrasonic image is actually constructed is determined by the user's setting.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the positional relationship between the maximum region 28 that can be three-dimensionally scanned due to the characteristics of the ultrasound probe 2 and the region of interest 29 set by the user can be easily recognized. As a result, the position of the region of interest 29 can be changed to a desired part of the test object by user setting.

  In addition, although the example which made the structure of the ultrasonic transmission part 3 for transmitting / receiving an ultrasonic signal arbitrary was demonstrated above, in addition, the ultrasonic probe which performs mechanical scanning, such as a linear scan and a convex scan, several The same applies to the case of using an ultrasonic probe that consists of a single ultrasonic transmitter / receiver element and performs electronic scanning such as electronic sector scanning, and an ultrasonic probe that performs mechanical scanning and electronic scanning by rotation. It is.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention can easily recognize the positional relationship between the maximum region that can be three-dimensionally scanned due to the characteristics of the ultrasonic probe and the region of interest set by the user. It has an advantage that the position of the region of interest 29 can be easily changed to a desired part of the test object, and transmits and receives ultrasonic echo signals in an arbitrary direction to the test object, so that the test object This is useful as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can display a sound image on a monitor.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Schematic diagram showing an example of a display screen on the monitor of FIG. Block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 Ultrasonic probe 3 Ultrasonic transmission / reception part (ultrasonic transmission / reception means)
4 Image generator (image generator)
5 Monitor (display means)
26 Ultrasonic tomographic image 27 Three-dimensional ultrasonic image 28 Maximum region 29 Region of interest 31 Body of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 32 Ultrasonic probe 33 Ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 34 Image generator 35 Monitor

Claims (4)

An ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the test object;
Ultrasonic transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic signals via the ultrasonic probe;
Image generating means for generating at least a three-dimensional ultrasonic image of the test object based on a received echo signal from the test object;
Display means for displaying at least the three-dimensional ultrasonic image,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that graphically displays the region of interest corresponding to the three-dimensional ultrasonic image together with a schematic diagram representing the maximum scanning region of the ultrasonic probe.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transmission / reception means transmits / receives an ultrasonic signal from an arbitrary direction of the test object by moving the ultrasonic probe and performing mechanical scanning. The ultrasonic probe comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transmitting / receiving elements,
The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transmission / reception means transmits / receives an ultrasonic signal from an arbitrary direction of the test object by transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from the plurality of ultrasonic transmission / reception elements with different delay times. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. The ultrasonic probe comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transmitting / receiving elements,
The ultrasonic transmission / reception means transmits / receives an ultrasonic signal for an arbitrary cross section of the test object by transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves with different delay times to the plurality of ultrasonic transmission / reception elements,
The image generating means rotates the ultrasonic probe to perform mechanical scanning, thereby tomulating a plurality of arbitrary cross sections from an ultrasonic signal for an arbitrary cross section of the test object received by the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving means. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, which generates an image.

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