JP2006204621A - Ultrasonograph and control program of ultrasonograph - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonograph and a control program of the ultrasonograph capable of reducing various effects caused by discrepancy of isotropy evaluated based on a scanning line density in an electronic scanning direction and the scanning line density of a swinging direction from an intended value in a mechanical scan using a mechanical 4-dimensional probe. <P>SOLUTION: This ultrasonograph 1 having an ultrasonic probe 2 mechanically swung in the direction different from the electronic scanning direction is provided with a scanning method calculation part 15 setting a scanning condition so that the isotropy indicating an equality level between the scanning line density in the swinging direction of the ultrasonic probe and the scanning line density in the electronic scanning direction becomes the intended isotropy by the mechanical scanning using the ultrasonic probe 2, and a hardware control method calculation part 15 generating a control signal of the ultrasonic probe 2 from the scanning condition set by the scanning method calculation part 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention irradiates an ultrasonic pulse into a subject from a piezoelectric vibrator built in an ultrasonic probe, receives a reflected wave generated in the subject with the piezoelectric vibrator, and performs various processes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus that obtains biological information such as tomographic images and blood flow information, and a control program for the ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus capable of controlling the characteristics and a control program for the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus.

  An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus irradiates an ultrasonic pulse into a subject from a piezoelectric vibrator built in an ultrasonic probe, receives reflected waves generated in the subject with the piezoelectric vibrator, and performs various processes. This is a device for obtaining biological information such as tomographic images and blood flow information in the subject.

  Conventionally, 3D display of images by mechanical scanning is performed by this ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus. 3D display of an image by mechanical scanning is performed by mechanically swinging a normal 2D probe in a direction perpendicular to the electronic scanning direction and collecting image data. A 2D probe that can be swung in a direction perpendicular to the electronic scan direction is generally called a mechanical 4D probe.

On the other hand, as another conventional technique related to an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic imaging system has been devised in which an appropriate probe is selected according to patient information and the video setting of the selected probe can be automatically adjusted (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-275204 A

  In the mechanical scanning by the mechanical 4D probe, the scanning line density determined by the distance between the rasters in the electronic scanning direction and the scanning line density in the mechanical rocking direction of the mechanical 4D probe are made more uniform. There is a problem that it is very difficult to improve the isotropic property indicating the degree of equality between the scanning line density in the swing direction and the scanning line density in the electronic scan direction. Therefore, when performing a scan using the mechanical 4D probe, the current situation is that sufficient isotropy of pixels cannot be ensured.

  As an isotropic index, for example, a ratio between the scanning line density in the electronic scan direction and the scanning line density in the swing direction can be used.

  In the mechanical scan using the mechanical 4D probe as described above, the main reason why it is difficult to improve the isotropy is that the mechanical 4D probe swings due to the mechanical control, and the mechanical control of the mechanical 4D probe is controlled by the electronic scan control. This is because it cannot be performed with detailed accuracy. Thus, although the isotropic property cannot be sufficiently secured due to the physical limit, the fact that the isotropic property is not sufficient and the degree of the difficulty are difficult for the user to recognize at the time of scanning. It is. In addition, it is difficult to grasp the dependence on isotropic device settings in advance.

  If the isotropic property is insufficient, image data with different accuracy is collected between the electronic scan surface and the swing surface of the mechanical 4D probe. As a result, when a 3D image obtained by reconstruction is rotated or plane-cut, a portion where the image quality is significantly degraded may appear and be displayed. Since such image quality degradation affects measurement accuracy, a cross-section that can be measured with high accuracy and a cross-section that is difficult to measure with high accuracy coexist. That is, there is a problem that when the 3D image is rotated or plane-cut, the reliability of the measured value in a portion with poor image quality cannot be obtained sufficiently.

  The present invention has been made to cope with such a conventional situation, and isotropically evaluated from the scanning line density in the electronic scanning direction and the scanning line density in the oscillation direction in the mechanical scan using the mechanical 4D probe. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus and a control program for the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus that can reduce various effects caused by the deviation of the characteristic from a desired value.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe that can be mechanically swung in a direction different from an electronic scan direction. In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, an isotropic method that indicates the degree of equality between the scanning line density in the oscillation direction of the ultrasonic probe and the scanning line density in the electronic scan direction by mechanical scanning using the ultrasonic probe. A scan method calculation unit for setting a scan condition so as to be desired isotropic, and a hardware control method calculation for generating a control signal of the ultrasonic probe from the scan condition set by the scan method calculation unit And a section.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus that mechanically swings a computer in a direction different from an electronic scan direction. Isotropicity indicating the degree of equality between the scanning line density in the oscillation direction of the ultrasonic probe and the scanning line density in the electronic scan direction is desired by mechanical scanning using an ultrasonic probe capable of A scanning method calculation unit that sets scanning conditions so as to be anisotropic, and a hardware control method calculation unit that generates a control signal for the ultrasonic probe from the scanning conditions set by the scanning method calculation unit. It is a feature.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus and the diagnostic program for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention are evaluated from the scanning line density in the electronic scanning direction and the scanning line density in the swinging direction in the mechanical scan using the mechanical 4D probe. It is possible to reduce various effects caused by the deviation of the isotropic property from the desired value.

  Embodiments of an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus and an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

  The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 includes an ultrasonic probe 2, a mechanical probe control circuit 3, a transmission / reception circuit 4, a DSC (Digital Scan Converter) circuit 5, an image display circuit 6, an image memory 7, a sequencer (Sequencer) circuit 8, and a display device. As an example, a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) 9, a device driver 10, and a computer 11 are provided.

  An operation panel 12, an external storage device 13, and a system memory 14 as an example of an input device are connected to the computer 11. Also, by loading various programs such as control programs into the computer 11, the computer 11 can have a clinical measurement function and the like in addition to the scan control system 15, the 3D image construction unit 16 and the GUI (Graphical User Interface) display processing unit 17. It functions as a system having various application functions (not shown).

  Among these components, the mechanical probe control circuit 3, the transmission / reception circuit 4, the DSC circuit 5, the image display circuit 6, the device driver 10 and the computer 11 are connected to the bus 18 and configured to transmit and receive data. ing.

  The ultrasonic probe 2 includes a mechanical 4D probe that is a 2D probe that includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers and can be swung in different directions (usually perpendicular directions) with respect to the electronic scan direction. The ultrasonic probe 2 is mechanically controlled by a control signal from the mechanical probe control circuit 3, and transmits a transmission pulse received as an electric signal from the transmission / reception circuit 4 from each ultrasonic transducer to the subject (not shown) as an ultrasonic pulse, It has a function of receiving an ultrasonic reflection signal generated in the subject and giving it to the transmission / reception circuit 4 as reception data.

  The mechanical probe control circuit 3 provides the ultrasonic probe 2 with a control signal of the ultrasonic probe 2 received from the computer 11 via the device driver 10 and the bus 18, thereby performing mechanical control of the ultrasonic probe 2 and ultrasonic waves. It has a function of swinging the probe 2 in a direction perpendicular to the electronic scan direction and a function of giving the position information of the ultrasonic probe 2 acquired from the ultrasonic probe 2 to the transmission / reception circuit 4. Therefore, the scanning line density in the swing direction of the ultrasonic probe 2 is determined by the mechanical probe control circuit 3.

  The transmission / reception circuit 4 refers to the position information of the ultrasonic probe 2 received from the mechanical probe control circuit 3 in accordance with the control signal received from the computer 11 via the device driver 10 and the bus 18 and transmits with a required delay time. By applying a pulse to the ultrasonic probe 2, a function of transmitting ultrasonic waves to a subject (not shown), and receiving data received from the ultrasonic probe 2 to generate various image data, the generated image data To the DSC circuit 5. The scanning line in the electronic scanning direction by the ultrasonic probe 2 can be determined by setting scanning conditions such as the delay time of the transmission pulse. The scan condition is given from the computer 11 to the transmission / reception circuit 4 as a control signal via the device driver 10 and the bus 18.

  The DSC circuit 5 has a function of performing coordinate conversion processing and necessary interpolation processing of image data received from the transmission / reception circuit 4 in accordance with control signals received from the computer 11 via the device driver 10 and the bus 18, and an image after various processing. It has a function of giving data to the image display circuit 6 and the computer 11. The computer 11 is supplied with image data from the DSC circuit 5 via the device driver 10 and the bus 18.

  The image display circuit 6 has a function of displaying the image data received from the DSC circuit 5 and the image data received from the computer 11 via the bus 18 by converting the image data into a displayable image signal and supplying it to the CRT 9.

  The sequencer circuit 8 has a function of synchronizing the transmission / reception circuit 4, the DSC circuit 5, and the image display circuit 6. Then, an image can be generated in real time from the received data received by the ultrasonic probe 2 by the action of the sequencer circuit 8 and displayed on the CRT 9.

  In general, an image memory 7 for temporarily storing image data generated in the transmission / reception circuit 4 as needed is provided.

  From the operation panel 12 provided in the computer 11, operation information necessary for various operations such as drive control of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 and use of an application can be input to the computer 11. Furthermore, control signals and data output from the computer 11 are given to the mechanical probe control circuit 3, the transmission / reception circuit 4, the DSC circuit 5, and the image display circuit 6 via the device driver 10 and the bus 18, and the operation of the operation panel 12 is performed. Thus, the mechanical probe control circuit 3, the transmission / reception circuit 4, the DSC circuit 5, and the image display circuit 6 can be controlled.

  The system memory 14 is a memory that temporarily stores various data acquired by the computer 11, and can be used as an image memory that temporarily stores image data received from the DSC circuit 5. Similar to the system memory 14, various data such as image data acquired by the computer 11 can be stored and stored in the external storage device 13.

  The scan control system 15 of the computer 11 obtains image data from the DSC circuit 5 via the device driver 10 and the bus 18 and gives it to the three-dimensional image construction unit 16 and a desired instruction according to the instruction received from the operation panel 12. A function for calculating a scanning condition for obtaining an isotropic image, generating a control signal for the ultrasonic probe 2 that matches the obtained scanning condition, and supplying the control signal to the mechanical probe control circuit 3 and the transmission / reception circuit 4; Have. That is, the scan control system 15 has a function of controlling the isotropy of an image by giving a required control signal to the mechanical probe control circuit 3 and the transmission / reception circuit 4 that control the ultrasonic probe 2.

  Further, the scan control system 15 is provided with a function of giving isotropic information determined from the scan conditions to the GUI display processing unit 17.

  Here, a method for calculating the scan condition and a method for controlling the isotropic property will be described. For this purpose, first, a coordinate system and parameters are defined.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a method of setting a scan plane and a coordinate system formed by electronic scanning with the ultrasonic probe 2 in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic scanning is performed at a constant speed in the electronic scanning direction A within the range of the maximum field angle αmax in two dimensions, and the electronic scanning is performed at a constant raster pitch Pr. A scan plane B is formed including the scan lines. At this time, the Y axis is set in the depth direction of the subject, and the X axis is set in a direction parallel to the scan plane B and perpendicular to the Y axis.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a scan plane when performing a mechanical scan using the ultrasonic probe 2 in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

  As the ultrasonic probe 2, a mechanical 4D probe is used. As shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic probe 2 can be oscillated at a constant oscillating pitch Pm with the direction perpendicular to the electronic scanning direction A on the XY plane as the oscillating direction C by mechanical scanning. . In other words, it is possible to swing the ultrasonic probe 2 two-dimensionally in units of the swing angle β1 and swing it by the swing angle β on the swing surface. For this reason, a plurality of scan planes B formed by electronic scanning are adjacent to each other at a constant angle. At this time, the Z axis is set in the swing direction C of the ultrasonic probe 2.

  From the geometrical relationship shown in FIG. 3, when a mechanical 4D probe is used for the ultrasonic probe 2, the scan density on the oscillating surface of the ultrasonic probe 2 and the scan density on the scan surface are as follows. It can be seen that it varies depending on the accuracy of the machine control for motion, the raster density of the electronic scan and the frame rate.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the transition of the electronic scan position in the forward path when the ultrasonic probe 2 is reciprocated in the swinging direction in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 shown, it is a figure which shows the transition of the electronic scan position of the return path when the ultrasonic probe 2 is reciprocated in the swinging direction.

  When the ultrasonic probe 2 is reciprocated in the swing direction C, if the line-of-sight direction is set to the ultrasonic depth direction, the forward electronic scan position D is as shown in FIG. It becomes like 5. That is, the Z axis indicating the swing direction C and the electronic scan direction A are perpendicular. Further, if the rocking is constant in the collection range of the image data used for the reconstruction of the 3D image, the electronic scan positions D are evenly arranged at the rocking pitch Pm. Then, the electronic scan position D is uniformly shifted in the swing direction C.

  Accordingly, if the scan speed indicated by the raster pitch or scan angle per unit time of the ultrasonic probe 2 and the swing speed indicated by the change in swing pitch or swing angle per unit time are known, the electronic scan position can be grasped. Can do. The isotropic property can be controlled if the scan density on the swing surface and the scan density on the scan surface can be adjusted.

Therefore, in order to control the isotropic property, it is necessary to first obtain the frame rate on the electronic scan surface. The frame rate FR on the electronic scan surface is expressed by Expression (1).
[Equation 1]
FR = {(NR / ND) × (α / αmax / PRF)} ⁽⁻¹⁾ (1)
However, in Equation (1), NR is the number of rasters (the number of received beams), ND is the number of parallel simultaneous receptions, α is the scan angle, αmax is the maximum angle of view, and PRF is the repetition frequency (pulse repetition frequency). Note that the number of parallel simultaneous receptions ND is two in the case of a typical PSP (Para11el Signal Processing) and four in the case of a QSP (Quad Signal Processing).

Further, when the ultrasonic probe 2 (mechanism 4D probe) is swung in one direction to collect data for one 3D volume, the total number of frames FRtotal is calculated from the frame rate FR on the electronic scan plane using the formula (2). Can be obtained as follows.
[Equation 2]
FRtotal = FR × t1 (2)
However, in Formula (2), t1 is the one-way swing time of the ultrasonic probe 2 (mechanism 4D probe).

Next, a rocking pitch Pm representing the fineness of rocking is calculated according to the equation (3).
[Equation 3]
Pm = β1 / FRtotal (3)
However, in Formula (3), β1 is the swing angle of the ultrasonic probe 2 (mechanism 4D probe) formed by the adjacent electronic scan plane.

  Therefore, if the parallel simultaneous reception number, rocking speed and number of rasters are determined so that the rocking pitch is the most uniform with the raster pitch of the electronic scan at an arbitrary depth of the ultrasonic wave, the isotropic property is controlled. Can be improved. In other words, the number of parallel simultaneous reception, the rocking speed and the number of rasters are obtained such that the difference between the rocking pitch and the raster pitch of the electronic scan is less than or less than a desired value at an arbitrary ultrasonic depth. It is necessary to solve the optimization problem.

  The ultrasonic depth is determined according to the position of the transmission focus in the B mode. In addition to using the position of the transmission focus in the B mode as a parameter, a plurality of specific transmission focus positions are set and the set transmission focus is set. The solution of the optimization problem may be obtained for the position of.

  Therefore, the scan control system 15 includes one or both of a function for performing an optimization process for obtaining a solution to the optimization problem and a function for storing the solution obtained by the optimization problem, which are necessary for controlling the isotropic property. Is provided.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing detailed functions of the scan control system 15 in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

  The scan control system 15 includes a user input reception unit 20, an image geometry calculation unit 21, a scan method calculation unit 22, an isotropic control algorithm storage unit 23, a data table 24, a hardware control method calculation unit 25, and an image data transfer unit 26. It has.

  The isotropic control algorithm storage unit 23 is a software describing a calculation algorithm for solving an optimization problem for obtaining the number of parallel simultaneous receptions, the rocking speed, and the number of rasters so that the isotropic property becomes a desired isotropic property. Are stored in advance.

  The data table 24 stores the solution of the optimization problem, that is, the number of parallel simultaneous receptions, the rocking speed, and the number of rasters that make the isotropic desired isotropy in association with the ultrasonic depth. . The solution of the optimization problem may be separately obtained in advance and stored in the data table 24, or the previously obtained solution according to the calculation algorithm stored in the isotropic control algorithm storage unit 23 is stored in the data table 24. You may do it.

  When the user input receiving unit 20 receives an instruction from the operation panel 12 to set the isotropic property to a desired value and an instruction for an imaging condition such as a 3D image imaging region and ultrasonic depth, the operation panel 12 12 has a function to give the imaging condition of the 3D image acquired from the image geometry calculation unit 21.

  The image geometry calculation unit 21 receives the imaging conditions such as the imaging region from the user input reception unit 20 and performs necessary geometric processing such as coordinate conversion to obtain geometric shape information of the image to be captured. And a function of supplying the scan method calculation unit 22 with geometric shape information of the obtained image.

  The scan method calculation unit 22 has a function of calculating a scan condition for capturing an image of shape information received from the image geometry calculation unit 21 with a desired isotropic property. For this purpose, the scan method calculation unit 22 reads and executes a calculation algorithm for obtaining the parallel simultaneous reception number, the rocking speed, and the number of rasters from the isotropic control algorithm storage unit 23 as a scan condition, thereby executing the parallel simultaneous reception number. The rocking speed and the number of rasters can be obtained. In addition to the execution function of the calculation algorithm, a function of searching the data table 24 and acquiring a scanning condition corresponding to or approximating the ultrasonic depth is provided.

  In other words, the scan method calculation unit 22 executes the calculation algorithm read from the isotropic control algorithm storage unit 23 or refers to the data table 24 so as to obtain the desired isotropic ultrasonic wave. It has a function to obtain scanning conditions corresponding to depth. The scan method calculation unit 22 provides isotropic information indicating the isotropic index used in the calculation of the scan condition to the GUI display processing unit 17, while the obtained scan condition is transmitted to the hardware control method. A function to be given to the calculation unit 25 is provided.

  It should be noted that some values of the parallel simultaneous reception number, rocking speed, and raster number are fixed to specific values, and at least one of the parallel simultaneous reception number, rocking speed, and raster number is obtained as a scanning condition by optimization processing. You may do it.

  Also, the isotropic property is set so that the oscillation pitch and the raster pitch on the electronic scan surface are not necessarily equal, that is, the scan line density in the oscillation direction and the scan line density in the electronic scan direction are more equal. It is not necessary to set the isotropic property so that the oscillation pitch and the raster pitch on the electronic scan plane are intentionally different, and the scan density on one side is more important than the scan density on the other side. The scanning line density may be larger than the scanning line density on the other side. For example, when performing 2D scanning, the isotropic property can be set so that the scan density on the electronic scan surface is improved.

  The hardware control method calculation unit 25 generates a control signal so that the scan is executed according to the scan condition received from the scan method calculation unit 22, and supplies the control signal to the mechanical probe control circuit 3 and the transmission / reception circuit 4 via the device driver 10. It has a function.

  The image data transfer unit 26 has a function of acquiring image data from the DSC circuit 5 via the bus 18 and the device driver 10 and supplying the image data to the three-dimensional image construction unit 16.

  The three-dimensional image constructing unit 16 performs an image reconstruction process using the image data received from the image data transfer unit 26 of the scan control system 15 as original data, thereby reconstructing desired 3D image data, and A function of giving the 3D image data thus obtained to the GUI display processing unit 17. Further, the 3D image data obtained as necessary is written and stored in the external storage device 13 or the system memory 14, or desired 3D image data can be read and acquired from the external storage device 13 or the system memory 14. Is done.

  The GUI display processing unit 17 adds, to the 3D image data received from the 3D image construction unit 16, information for causing the CRT 9 to display the isotropic information received from the scan method calculation unit 22 of the scan control system 15, By transmitting to the image display circuit 6 via the bus 18, the CRT 9 has a function of displaying isotropic information together with the 3D image.

  Next, the operation and action of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow when a 3D image is displayed by performing a mechanical scan by the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, and reference numerals with numerals in the figure indicate each step of the flowchart. .

  First, in step S <b> 1, an instruction for setting the isotropic property to a desired value is given from the operation panel 12 to the user input receiving unit 20 as an instruction for imaging conditions such as a 3D image imaging region and ultrasonic depth. For example, an isotropic index value input field on the CRT 9 or a touch panel screen and a switch for instructing execution of isotropic control are displayed on a GUI by computer graphics, and the user can operate if a predetermined photographing condition is designated. It is possible to instruct execution of a scan with optimized isotropicity by operating 1 switch on the panel 12.

  Next, in step S2, a 3D image capturing condition is given from the user input receiving unit 20 to the image geometry calculating unit 21, and the image geometry calculating unit 21 performs necessary geometric processing such as coordinate transformation. The geometric shape information of the image to be photographed is obtained. Then, the geometric shape information of the obtained image is given to the scan method calculation unit 22.

  Next, in step S3, the scan method calculation unit 22 reads the calculation algorithm from the isotropic control algorithm storage unit 23 and executes it using the geometric shape information of the image, or refers to the data table 24. By doing so, the scanning condition corresponding to the ultrasonic depth that achieves the desired isotropic property is obtained. As a result, it is possible to obtain a desirable number of parallel simultaneous receptions, oscillation speeds, and raster numbers.

  In step S4, the scan method calculation unit 22 creates isotropic information for displaying the isotropic property used when obtaining the scan condition.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a method for creating isotropic information created in the scan control system 15 of the ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, for example, the isotropic property is expressed as a schematic diagram using a rectangle, and the isotropic property is quantitatively expressed with the swing pitch Pm as the length of one side and the raster pitch Pr as the length of the other side. Isotropic information can be created. However, the isotropic information may be created simply by using the ratio of the swing pitch to the raster pitch (Pm: Pr) or using only the distance information of the swing pitch and the raster pitch without using a schematic diagram.

  In addition, if the solution is not obtained by the optimization calculation, the desired isotropic property cannot be obtained. Therefore, isotropic information is created as binary information indicating whether sufficient isotropic property is obtained. May be. In addition to this, when the ratio of the swing pitch to the raster pitch is Pm: Pr = 1: 1, the error is 0%, and the value of the ratio of the swing pitch to the raster pitch so that the accuracy in measuring the 3D image can be grasped. It is also possible to create an error value corresponding to the isotropic information.

  Next, in step S <b> 5, the hardware control method calculation unit 25 generates a control signal so that the scan is executed according to the scan condition received from the scan method calculation unit 22.

  Next, in step S 6, a control signal is given from the hardware control method calculation unit 25 to the mechanical probe control circuit 3 and the transmission / reception circuit 4 via the device driver 10, and scanning is performed according to the scan conditions set in the scan control system 15. Executed.

  That is, the ultrasonic probe 2 that is a mechanical 4D probe is mechanically and electronically controlled by the mechanical probe control circuit 3 and the transmission / reception circuit 4, and the number of parallel simultaneous receptions, oscillation speeds, and raster numbers set in the scan control system 15. A mechanical scan at is performed.

  Next, in step S7, a 3D image is reconstructed from the data collected by the scan. That is, the reception data received by the ultrasonic probe 2 is given to the transmission / reception circuit 4, and image data is generated in the transmission / reception circuit 4. The image data is subjected to coordinate conversion processing and necessary interpolation processing in the DSC circuit 5, and the image data after various processing is acquired by the image data transfer unit 26 via the bus 18 and the device driver 10. The image data is given from the image data transfer unit 26 to the 3D image construction unit 16, and the 3D image construction unit 16 reconstructs 3D image data.

  Further, the created 3D image data is stored in the external storage device 13 or the system memory 14 as appropriate.

  Next, in step S 8, the reconstructed 3D image and isotropic information are given to the GUI display processing unit 17 for display processing, and then transmitted to the image display circuit 6 via the bus 18. The image display circuit 6 converts the 3D image and isotropic information acquired from the GUI display processing unit 17 into an image signal and gives the image signal to the CRT 9. As a result, isotropic information is displayed on the CRT 9 together with the 3D image.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example of isotropic information displayed on the CRT 9 of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the isotropic information P1 is typically displayed on the CRT 9 as a rectangular parallelepiped having a swing pitch Pm and a raster pitch Pr each having a length of one side. At this time,% display can be added as a measurement error by a numerical value.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement example of the isotropic information illustrated in FIG. 9 on the screen of the CRT 9.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the isotropic information P1 is displayed together with the 3D image P2. The 3D image P2 displayed on the CRT 9 can be subjected to image processing such as rotation and cutting by using various applications provided in the computer 11, and data such as distance, area, and volume can be measured. At this time, every time image processing such as rotation or cutting is performed, the image data transfer unit 26 captures 3D image data into the computer 11 and updates the isotropic information P1 in the GUI display processing unit 17. When the schematic diagram as shown in FIG. 9 is used as the sex information P1, the isotropic information P1 can be rotated or cut following the rotation or cutting of the 3D image.

  Thus, the user can intuitively recognize which surface data is collected with which accuracy during scanning after scanning. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a possibility that an error in measurement accuracy is erroneously recognized by the user.

  Such isotropic control and display of isotropic information can be performed in either a real-time display of a 2D image or a 3D image or a still image display after freezing.

  That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 as described above is provided with a function of setting the number of parallel simultaneous receptions, the swing speed, and the number of rasters of the ultrasonic probe 2 as scanning conditions for obtaining a desired isotropic property. Thus, the isotropic control can be performed.

  For this reason, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1, the isotropic property of the 3D image can be optimally adjusted, so that a highly accurate 3D image can be obtained. For this reason, in particular, it is possible to avoid a situation in which image quality deterioration is found when a 3D image is rotated or cut after scanning, and scanning is performed again.

  Furthermore, it is possible to visualize which surface is scanned with what accuracy (scan density) in real time not only after scanning but also during scanning. For this reason, the user can easily recognize how much isotropic 3D image is obtained.

  Also, appropriate scanning conditions can be easily set depending on which of the scanning density in the electronic scanning direction and the swinging direction is important.

  Furthermore, since the isotropic index can also be used as an index related to measurement accuracy, the ultrasound probe 2 is moved to a location where measurement is desired in advance and focused to generate a 3D image so that sufficient measurement accuracy can be obtained. You can also.

1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a method for setting a scan plane and a coordinate system formed by electronic scanning with an ultrasonic probe in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1. The figure which shows the scanning surface in the case of performing the mechanical scan using an ultrasonic probe in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus shown in FIG. The figure which shows the transition of the electronic scan position of the outward path | route when an ultrasonic probe is reciprocated in the rocking | fluctuation direction in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus shown in FIG. The figure which shows the transition of the electronic scan position of a return path in the case of making an ultrasonic probe reciprocate in a rocking | fluctuation direction in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus shown in FIG. The functional block diagram which shows the detailed function of the scan control system in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows the flow at the time of performing a mechanical scan with the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and displaying a 3D image. The figure which shows an example of the production method of the isotropic information produced in the scan control system of the ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. The figure which shows the example of a display of isotropic information displayed on CRT of the ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. The figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning on the screen of CRT9 of the isotropic information shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 2 Ultrasonic probe 3 Mechanical probe control circuit 4 Transmission / reception circuit 5 DSC circuit 6 Image display circuit 7 Image memory 8 Sequencer circuit 9 CRT
10 device driver 11 computer 12 operation panel 13 external storage device 14 system memory 15 scan control system 16 3D image construction unit 17 GUI display processing unit 18 bus 20 user input reception unit 21 image geometry calculation unit 22 scan method calculation unit 23 isotropic Control algorithm storage unit 24 data table 25 hardware control method calculation unit 26 image data transfer unit

Claims (6)

In an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus including an ultrasonic probe that can be mechanically swung in a direction different from the electronic scan direction,
The isotropic property indicating the degree of equality between the scanning line density in the swinging direction of the ultrasonic probe and the scanning line density in the electronic scan direction is obtained by mechanical scanning using the ultrasonic probe. A scanning method calculation unit for setting the scanning conditions so that
A hardware control method calculation unit that generates a control signal of the ultrasonic probe from the scan condition set by the scan method calculation unit;
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising: The scan method calculation unit is configured to set the scan condition so that a scan line density in the swing direction and a scan line density in the electronic scan direction are more equal to each other. 1. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to 1. The scan method calculation unit is configured so that the scan line density on the one side of the scanning line density in the swing direction and the scan line density in the electronic scan direction is more important than the scan line density on the other side. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus is configured to set the value of the ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus. The scan method calculation unit is configured to display the isotropic information by creating isotropic information for indicating the isotropic property to the display device and giving the isotropic information to the display device. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1. The scan method calculation unit sets at least one of the number of parallel simultaneous receptions by the ultrasonic probe, the swing speed of the ultrasonic probe, and the number of rasters by the ultrasonic probe as the scan condition by optimization processing. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, which is configured. Computer
By mechanical scanning using an ultrasonic probe that can be mechanically swung in a direction different from the electronic scan direction, the scanning line density in the rocking direction of the ultrasonic probe and the scanning line density in the electronic scan direction are A scan method calculation unit for setting scan conditions so that the isotropic property indicating the degree of equality becomes desired isotropic property; and
A hardware control method calculation unit that generates a control signal of the ultrasonic probe from the scan condition set by the scan method calculation unit;
A control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, wherein

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