JP2005296059A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device capable of preventing the visibility of moving images from being damaged. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic device is provided with a transmission/reception part 12 for outputting drive signals to a probe 10 and receiving reflected echo signals outputted from the probe 10, an image processing part 14, an image memory 16, and a moving image processing part 18 for reproducing an ultrasonic image data group stored in the image memory 16 as the moving images. The moving image processing part 18 is provided with a setting processing means 30 for setting a moving image data factor which rules moving image reproduction ability and a storage control means 34 for varying the moving image data factor of the ultrasonic image data group outputted from the image processing part 14 or the image memory 16 and storing the ultrasonic image data group in a moving image storage means 32 on the basis of the moving image data factor set by the setting processing means 30. The ultrasonic image data group is read from the moving image storage means 32 and displayed at a display part 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and relates to a technique suitable for displaying a moving image.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus irradiates a subject with ultrasonic waves via a probe, receives a reflected echo signal generated from the subject, and generates ultrasonic image data (for example, B mode) based on the received reflected echo signal. Image data, M-mode image data) is reconstructed and displayed on the display unit.

In such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, ultrasonic image data sequentially captured in real time is stored in a storage unit (for example, a hard disk), and a plurality of stored ultrasonic image data are sequentially read to display a relatively high display. By displaying at a rate (for example, 30 frames / second), a moving image that follows the movement of the imaging region (for example, the movement of the heart) is reproduced (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-095640 A

  By the way, the process of displaying a moving image is generally performed using, for example, a computer, but in a computer, the reading speed of the storage unit, the data transfer bus capacity from the storage unit to the display unit, or the storage unit Due to the processing capability of the CPU that controls the display unit and the like, the video playback capability may be limited. In that case, as in Patent Document 1, when an ultrasonic image data group is displayed at a relatively high display rate, a so-called drop frame in which some ultrasonic image data is lost may occur. As a result, the visibility may be impaired, for example, the moving image temporarily stops.

  An object of the present invention is to realize an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can prevent the visibility of a moving image from being impaired.

  In order to solve the above problems, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention outputs a drive signal to a probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a subject and receives a reflected echo signal output from the probe. A transmission / reception unit, an image processing unit for reconstructing a plurality of ultrasonic image data based on a reflected echo signal output from the transmission / reception unit with a time shift, and an image memory for storing the reconstructed ultrasonic image data group And a moving image processing unit that reproduces the stored ultrasonic image data group as a moving image. The moving image processing unit is set by a setting unit that sets a moving image data factor that governs the moving image reproduction capability, and the setting unit. Based on the moving image data factor, the moving image data factor of the ultrasonic image data group output from the image processing unit or the image memory is changed, and storage control means for storing the ultrasonic image data group in the moving image storage unit is provided. Part Characterized in that on the display unit reads the Luo ultrasound image data group.

  That is, the moving image reproduction capability is limited by the processing capability of the apparatus such as the CPU usage rate, the data transfer bus capacity, and the reading speed of the storage unit. A drop frame occurs when a moving image is displayed beyond the moving image reproduction capability. Therefore, the moving image reproduction capability when the drop frame occurs is determined by the moving image data factor (for example, the data size per image of the ultrasonic image data group, the display rate for displaying the ultrasonic image data group on the display unit, Measurement is performed in association with the display time for displaying the ultrasonic image data group on the display unit and the data compression rate of the ultrasonic image data group.

  When the ultrasonic image data group of the image memory is read and recorded in the moving image storage unit so that the load of the moving image reproduction process of the ultrasonic image data group is smaller than the measured moving image reproduction capability, The moving image data factor of the image data group is varied. Thereby, since the reproduction process of the moving image of the ultrasonic image data group is limited so as not to exceed the moving image reproduction capability, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the drop frame during the reproduction of the moving image.

  By the way, in general, in ultrasonic diagnosis, when an imaging region is accompanied by a movement, it is desirable to increase the display rate of the image so as to follow the movement. On the other hand, when there is little movement, it is desirable to make the display image sharper than the display rate. Therefore, the above storage control means gives priority to the moving image data factor of the ultrasonic image data group according to the characteristics of the imaging region, and the moving image data factor of the ultrasonic image data group is greater than the moving image data factor of the setting means. Is larger, the moving image data factor of the ultrasound image data group can be reduced within the set range in order of increasing priority.

  For example, when imaging a part with motion (for example, a circulatory system such as the heart or blood vessels), a moving image that follows the motion of the heart by compressing the ultrasound image data while maintaining a relatively high display rate. The image can be displayed. On the other hand, when imaging a portion that does not move much (for example, liver cancer that has occurred in the abdomen), the display image may be blurred by reducing the display rate without compressing the ultrasound image data, for example. It becomes easy to visually recognize the fine structure of the imaging region. The data compression rate is a ratio obtained by dividing the amount of image data after compression by the amount of image data of the original image.

  Further, whether or not the imaging region is accompanied by movement may be set by the operator, but can be automatically determined. For example, the correlation value of each reflected echo signal output with a time shift from the transmission / reception unit and the correlation value of the luminance of each ultrasonic image data imaged with a time shift are obtained. When the obtained correlation value exceeds the threshold value for a certain time, it is determined that the imaging part is a part with motion, and when the correlation value is smaller than the threshold value, it can be determined that the part has little motion.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the ultrasonic diagnosing device which can prevent that the visibility of a moving image is impaired is realizable.

  First Embodiment A first embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is roughly classified into an imaging processing system that acquires ultrasonic image data and a display processing system that reproduces the acquired ultrasonic image data group as a moving image. The imaging processing system outputs a drive signal to the probe 10 that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from the subject and receives a reflected echo signal output from the probe 10, and from the transmitter / receiver 12. An image processing unit 14 for reconstructing a plurality of ultrasonic image data (for example, B-mode image data and M-mode image data) based on reflected echo signals output with a time shift, and reconstructed ultrasonic image data An image memory 16 for storing groups is provided. In addition, it has the control part 17 which controls the transmission / reception part 12, the image process part 14, and the image memory 16. FIG.

  The display processing system includes a moving image processing unit 18 that displays the ultrasonic image data group stored in the image memory 16 as a moving image. The moving image processing unit 18 reads the ultrasonic image data group from the image memory 16 and outputs the read ultrasonic image data to the display unit 22 via the data transfer bus 20. The display unit 22 includes a video memory 24 that temporarily stores an ultrasonic image data group output from the moving image processing unit 18 and a display 26 that displays the ultrasonic image data group of the video memory 24. The display 26 also displays characters and graphics such as parameters and comments input via the operation panel 36. In addition, a CPU (Central Control Unit) 28 that outputs a control command to the moving image processing unit 18 and the display unit 22 via the data transfer bus 20 is provided.

  The moving image processing unit 18 according to the feature of the present invention includes a setting processing unit 30 as a setting unit that sets a moving image data factor that controls the moving image reproduction capability, and an image memory based on the moving image data factor set by the setting processing unit 30. 16 includes a storage control unit 34 that changes the moving image data factor of the ultrasonic image data group output from 16 and stores the moving image data factor in the moving image storage unit 32. An operation panel 36 having a keyboard and a pointing device is connected to the moving image processing unit 18. Here, the moving image data factor is, for example, the data size (bytes) per image of the ultrasonic image data group, the display rate (frame / second) for displaying the ultrasonic image data group on the display unit 22, and the ultrasonic image. The display time (seconds) for displaying the data group on the display unit 22 and the data compression rate (%) of the ultrasonic image data group. The data size is obtained by multiplying the width (pixel), height (pixel), and color depth (byte / pixel) of one image. The data compression rate is a ratio obtained by dividing the compressed image data amount after compression by the image data amount of the original image. In short, as the moving image data factor, a parameter that affects the processing load of moving image reproduction of the ultrasound image data group may be used.

  The storage control unit 34 may store the ultrasonic image data output from the image processing unit 14 in the moving image storage unit 32. As the moving image storage means 32, an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or a DRAM (Dynamic Access Memory) may be used, or a hard disk, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-RW, a DVD-RAM, or the like may be used. Good. Moreover, you may comprise the control part 17 and CPU28 as one control means. Further, for convenience of explanation, a configuration in which the moving image storage unit 32 is provided in the moving image processing unit 18 will be described. Further, by using JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) as a compression method, the data compression rate may be set to 2.5 to 10%, for example, or other compression methods such as MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) may be used. Good.

  A basic operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as described above will be described. The probe 10 is brought into contact with the subject. Next, a drive signal is supplied from the transmission / reception unit 12 to the probe 10 in accordance with a command from the control unit 17. As a result, ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the probe 10 to the imaging region (for example, the heart). The ultrasonic wave reflected by the imaging region is received by the probe 10 as a reflected echo signal. The received reflected echo signal is subjected to analog-digital conversion and phasing addition processing by the transmission / reception unit 12. Based on the one-dimensional reflected echo signal output from the transmitting / receiving unit 12, the image processing unit 14 reconstructs two-dimensional ultrasound image data. The reconstructed ultrasonic image data is stored in the image memory 16. By repeating such a moving image at a predetermined interval, a plurality of ultrasonic image data picked up in time are stored in the image memory 16. Then, the ultrasound image data group is read from the image memory 16 by the moving image processing unit 18 and sequentially output to the display unit 22, whereby the moving image of the imaging region is reproduced on the display unit 22.

  Here, the control of the moving image processing unit 18 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the control of the moving image processing unit 18. First, before performing the control of the present invention, the ultrasonic image data group stored in the image memory 16 is displayed on the display unit 22 as a moving image. When a drop frame in which some ultrasonic image data is lost occurs, such as when the displayed moving image is temporarily stopped, the moving image playback capability A of the display processing system at that time is automatically or via the operation panel 36. Measurement is performed in association with the video data factor S. The moving image data factor S is a data display size (byte) per image of the ultrasonic image data group, a display rate (frame / second) for displaying the ultrasonic image data group on the display unit 22, and an ultrasonic image data group. The display time (seconds) displayed on the display unit 22 and the data compression rate (%) of the ultrasound image data group. The measured moving image reproduction ability A is digitized as a file size upper limit value and held in the storage control unit 34, for example. This file size upper limit value is obtained by multiplying each moving image data factor S. In short, the video playback capability may be quantified so that it can be objectively determined.

  On the other hand, a recording condition (hereinafter referred to as moving image data factor T) is input by the operator via the operation panel 36, and the input moving image data factor T is set by the setting processing means 30. For example, when the ultrasound image data group of the image memory 16 is stored in the moving image storage means 32, the data recording size (bytes) per image of the ultrasound image data group and the recording rate (for example, so as to be suitable for imaging of the heart) , 6 to 30 frames / second), recording time (for example, 1 to 120 seconds), and data compression rate (for example, 2.5 to 10%) are input and set. Here, the data recording size of the moving image data factor T corresponds to the data display size of the moving image data factor S, similarly, the recording rate corresponds to the display rate, and the recording time corresponds to the display time. In setting the input via the operation panel 36, the setting may be made interactively by displaying a GUI (Graphical User Interface) on the display 26.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the control of the present invention is started, the moving image data factor T (data storage size, storage rate, storage time, data compression rate) set by the setting processing means 30 is read (S102). . Based on the read moving image data factor T, the estimated processing load B is quantified, for example, as an expected file size (S104). The expected file size is obtained by multiplying each moving picture data factor T. In short, the estimated processing load B may be quantified so that it can be objectively determined. Next, the validity of the estimated processing load B is determined (S106). For example, when the estimated processing load B exceeds the moving image reproduction capability A by comparing the estimated processing load B and the moving image reproduction capability A, a message as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed (S108). When the message is displayed, the operator changes a predetermined moving image data factor T via the operation panel 36 (S110). For example, in order to display a moving image following the movement of the heart, the recording time is shortened or the data compression rate is lowered while the storage rate is kept relatively high (for example, 30 frames / second). By repeating the processes of S102 to S110, it is determined that the estimated processing load B is smaller than the moving image reproduction capability A in the process of S106. When so determined, the ultrasonic image data group of the image memory 16 is stored in the moving image storage means 32 according to the moving image data factor T at that time.

  When a moving image reproduction command is input from the operation panel 36, the moving image reproduction process is executed with priority over other tasks dedicated to the CPU 28. When the moving image reproduction process is executed, the moving image processing unit 18 sequentially reads out the ultrasonic image data group in the moving image storage unit 32 in ascending order of imaging time. The read ultrasound image data group is temporarily stored in the video memory 24 via the data transfer bus 20 and then reproduced as a moving image on the display 26.

  In addition, the elapsed time from the execution of the moving image reproduction process is counted, and when the counted time reaches the recording time of the moving image data factor T, the moving image reproduction process is performed assuming that the ultrasonic image data of the final frame is displayed. finish. Note that, instead of counting the time corresponding to the last frame, by adding a marker (for example, a frame number) to the last frame, the moving image reproduction process can be ended when the marker is detected. The frame number of the ultrasonic image data being reproduced may be obtained by multiplying the storage rate of the moving image data factor T by the elapsed time from the start of reproduction.

  In general, the moving image reproduction capability is limited by the processing capability of the apparatus such as the usage rate of the CPU, the data transfer bus capacity, and the reading speed of the storage unit. A drop frame occurs when a moving image is displayed beyond the moving image reproduction capability. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the moving image reproduction capability A of the apparatus is measured in advance in association with the moving image data factor S. When the ultrasonic image data group in the image memory 16 is read out and recorded in the moving image storage means 32 so that the estimated processing load B is smaller than the measured moving image reproduction capability A, the moving image data factor of the image data group T is varied. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the estimation processing load B for moving image reproduction of the ultrasound image data group is limited so as not to exceed the moving image reproduction capability A. Therefore, the generation of drop frames during moving image reproduction is prevented. Can be suppressed. As a result, the reproduced moving image is, for example, stable and smoothly following the motion of the heart, and can prevent the visibility of the moving image from being impaired.

  In the processing of S110, the data storage size may be reduced by designating a region of interest in the ultrasonic image data displayed on the display 26 via the operation panel 36. Thereby, since the ultrasonic image data of the image memory 16 is limited to data corresponding to the region of interest and is stored in the moving image storage unit 92, the estimation processing load B can be reduced. Further, although an example in which the moving image data factor T is changed small has been described, when the estimated processing load B is smaller than the moving image reproduction capability A, the moving image data factor T may be increased. Thereby, for example, a highly visible moving image following the movement of the heart can be displayed.

  (Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that, instead of the operator changing the arbitrary moving image data factor T in the processing of S110, the moving image data factor T having a lower priority order is changed in order. There is to do. Therefore, description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment is omitted, and differences will be described.

  For example, when imaging a part with motion (for example, a circulatory system such as a heart or blood vessel), the highest priority is set for the storage rate, and other moving image data factor T (for example, data compression rate or recording) Set the priority of time) as low as appropriate. On the other hand, when imaging a site with little movement (for example, liver cancer that has occurred in the abdomen), the priority of the data compression rate is set to the highest and the priority of other moving image data factor T is set to a lower value as appropriate. To do. The priority order is set by the operator via the operation panel 36. In short, priority may be given to the moving image data factor T according to the characteristics of the imaging region.

  The priority order of the moving image data factor T set in this way is displayed together with the message of FIG. 3 by the process of S108. By referring to the displayed priority order, the operator sequentially decreases the moving picture data factor T, which has a lower priority order, via the operation panel 36. Further, instead of the operator changing the moving image data factor T by means, the moving image data factor T may be automatically reduced within a set range in order of increasing priority.

  According to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, when a part with movement is imaged, a moving image following the movement can be displayed. In addition, when imaging a part that does not move, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of blurring in the display image, and it becomes easy to visually recognize the fine structure of the imaging part.

  (Third Embodiment) A third embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described. This embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the priority order is automatically set instead of setting the priority order of the moving image data factor T via the operation panel 36. Therefore, description of the same parts as those in the first and second embodiments is omitted, and differences will be described.

  For example, the moving image processing unit 18 includes an imaging part determination unit that determines whether or not the imaging part is a part with movement. First, each ultrasound image data is read from the image memory 16 by the imaging region determination means. A correlation value of luminance of each read ultrasonic image data is obtained. When the obtained correlation value exceeds the threshold for a certain time, it is determined that the imaging region is a region with movement. Further, when the correlation value is smaller than the threshold value, it is determined that the imaging part is a part that hardly moves.

  When it is determined that the imaging region is a region with movement, for example, the priority of the storage rate is set to the highest, and the priority of other moving image data factors T (for example, data compression rate and recording time) is set. It is set lower in the order determined in advance. Further, when it is determined that the imaging part is a part with little movement, for example, the priority order of the data compression rate is set to the highest, and the priority order of the other moving image data factor T is set in a predetermined order. Set low. In short, priority is automatically given to the moving image data factor T according to the characteristics of the imaging region.

  When performing the same processing as in the second embodiment, when the estimated processing load B exceeds the moving image reproduction capability A, the moving image data factor T is automatically reduced within the set range in order of increasing priority. . Thereby, in addition to the effect by 2nd Embodiment, the usability of an apparatus can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the luminance correlation of the ultrasonic image data is used to determine the characteristics of the imaging region. However, the intensity correlation or waveform correlation of the reflected echo signal that is output from the transmission / reception unit 12 with a time shift is used. Can also be used. Further, the imaging part determination means is not limited to being arranged in the moving image processing unit 18 and can be arranged at an arbitrary position.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the first to third embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in addition to ultrasonic imaging as an imaging processing system, the present invention can also be applied when displaying a diagnostic image data group acquired by magnetic resonance imaging or X-ray CT imaging as a moving image. In short, when the acquired diagnostic image data group is stored for moving image reproduction, any processing can be applied as long as the processing load of moving image reproduction of the diagnostic image data group can be limited.

  Further, when storing the ultrasonic image data group of the image memory 16 in the moving image storage means 32, electrocardiogram information (for example, electrocardiogram waveform or cardiac time phase data) measured in advance may be stored in association with each other. Accordingly, for example, a moving image can be reproduced while being limited to the ultrasound image data group from the end diastole of the heart to the next end diastole.

  Even when the performance of the computer (for example, the reading speed of the storage unit, the data transfer bus capacity, and the processing capability of the CPU is improved), for example, when imaging a region with movement, the movement of the imaging region Since a moving image that further follows is desired, the present invention can be applied.

1 is a configuration diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the moving image process part of FIG. It is a display example of the message displayed by the process of S108 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Probe 12 Transmission / reception part 14 Image processing part 16 Image memory 18 Moving image processing part 22 Display part 24 Video memory 26 Display 32 Moving image memory | storage means 34 Storage control means 30 Setting processing means

Claims (3)

A transmission / reception unit that outputs a drive signal to a probe that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from a subject and receives a reflected echo signal output from the probe, and a time-shifted output from the transmission / reception unit An image processing unit that reconstructs a plurality of ultrasonic image data based on the reflected echo signal, an image memory that stores the reconstructed ultrasonic image data group, and a reproduction of the stored ultrasonic image data group as a moving image A video processing unit
The moving image processing unit includes a setting unit that sets a moving image data factor that governs moving image reproduction capability, and an ultrasonic wave that is output from the image processing unit or the image memory based on the moving image data factor set by the setting unit. Storage control means for changing the moving image data factor of the image data group and storing the ultrasonic image data group in the moving image storage unit, and reading out the ultrasonic image data group from the moving image storage unit and displaying it on the display unit An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.   The moving image data factor includes a data size per image of the ultrasonic image data group, a display rate for displaying the ultrasonic image data group on the display unit, and a display for displaying the ultrasonic image data group on the display unit. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is at least one of time and a data compression rate of the ultrasonic image data group. The storage control unit gives priority to the moving image data factor of the ultrasonic image data group according to the characteristics of the imaging region, and the moving image data factor of the ultrasonic image data group is greater than the moving image data factor of the setting unit. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the value is larger, the moving image data factor of the ultrasound image data group is decreased within a set range in descending order of priority.

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