JP2006212164A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of easily setting the position of a blood flow observation point (observation marker) on three-dimensional images. <P>SOLUTION: A three-dimensionally expressed surface marker 31 is generated by a marker generation means, superimposed on the blood vessel image 30 of the three-dimensional image and displayed. By an operation by an operator, the surface marker 31 is moved and crossed with the blood vessel image 30. The surface marker 31 is displayed in a transmissive color or the like and the color of the image or the like is made different on the front side and back side of the surface marker 31. Thus, the operator can visually confirm the intersection of the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31. By the operation by the operator, the observation marker 32 is moved to the intersection on the surface marker 31. Thus, a point to observe a blood flow is specified on the three-dimensional image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits ultrasonic waves to a diagnostic site having blood flow, collects three-dimensional image data, and displays the three-dimensional images. In particular, the present invention relates to ultrasonic waves using three-dimensional images. The present invention relates to designation of blood flow observation points when performing Doppler examinations and improvement in operability at the time of designation.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an observation point or a sample line is set at a desired site such as a pulse Doppler method (PW Doppler method) or a continuous wave Doppler method (Continuous Wave: CW Doppler method). A technique for observing a change is generally implemented (for example, Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2).

  A conventional method for the operator to specify the observation point (hereinafter referred to as a blood flow observation point) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation for designating a blood flow observation point on a two-dimensional image in a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5A, the operator observes a two-dimensional Doppler image such as a tomographic image (B-mode image) or a color Doppler image as a two-dimensional image, and blood flow in the blood vessel image 51. Is determined. Next, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a linear sample line 53 indicating the transmission / reception direction of ultrasonic waves is displayed. The linear sample line 53 can be moved in the scanning direction (in the direction of arrow A) using a pointing device such as a trackball. By moving in the scanning direction (in the direction of arrow A), the linear sample line 53 is linear. The sample line 53 is moved to a position including a portion 52 where blood flow is to be observed. Then, as shown in FIG. 5A, a point (blood flow observation point) 54 for collecting blood flow information is moved in the direction of arrow B on the linear sample line 53, and FIG. ), The blood flow observation point 54 is matched with the portion 52 where blood flow is to be observed. In this way, by manipulating the sample line 53 and the blood flow observation point 54, a portion where blood flow is to be observed is designated. Then, blood flow information of the designated part is collected.

  In the pulse Doppler method, blood flow information at the blood flow observation point 54 is collected. In the continuous wave Doppler method, in addition to the blood flow observation point 54 that is an ultrasonic beam focus region, blood flow information on the sample line 53 is obtained. Collected by being superimposed. The blood flow observation point 54 has a predetermined size, and the size can be changed by an operation by the operator. In the pulse Doppler method, blood flow information in the blood flow observation point 54 having the predetermined size is collected.

  In the operation of designating the blood flow observation point, an operation of moving the linear sample line 53 in the direction of arrow A, and a portion 52 in which blood flow is observed by moving the blood flow observation point 54 in the direction of arrow B. In some cases, the operation to match the above is performed at the same time. That is, the linear sample line 53 and the blood flow observation point 54 on the linear sample line 53 may be moved at the same time to specify a position where blood flow is to be observed. Such a method is premised on collecting blood flow information with a two-dimensional image.

  On the other hand, in recent years, using a one-dimensional ultrasonic probe in which ultrasonic transducers are arranged one-dimensionally, the ultrasonic scan plane is moved manually or mechanically in a direction perpendicular to the scan plane, There has been proposed an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that spatially scans a specimen and collects three-dimensional biological information. In addition, by using a two-dimensional ultrasonic probe in which ultrasonic transducers are two-dimensionally arranged, it is possible to spatially scan the subject and collect three-dimensional biological information. Yes.

JP 2001-190552 A JP 2001-128975 A

  However, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that collects and displays image data three-dimensionally as described above, the conventional technique for matching blood flow observation points constructed on the premise of a two-dimensional image is to be applied as it is. There was a problem that the observation point could not be specified easily. That is, when an operator tries to specify a blood flow observation point while observing a three-dimensional image, a three-dimensional relative between the blood vessel image represented by the three-dimensional image and the blood flow observation point moved by the operator is obtained. The position is difficult to understand, and the blood flow observation point cannot be easily specified while observing a three-dimensional image.

  In a three-dimensional image, the shape of an organ or the like is displayed with depth information, so whether there is a blood flow observation point on the front side of the portion of the blood vessel image where blood flow is to be observed on the monitor of the display device. Since it is difficult to know whether there is a blood flow observation point behind the part where you want to observe the flow, or the relative positional relationship, it is the blood flow in the part where you want to observe the blood flow in the blood vessel image on the displayed 3D image. It was difficult to specify the part to be observed by moving the observation point.

  The present invention solves the above-described problem, and in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that collects and displays three-dimensional image data, a surface marker represented in a three-dimensional manner is displayed to display a three-dimensional image in the three-dimensional image. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays blood flow observation points (observation markers) in an easy-to-understand manner and can easily designate a position where blood flow information is to be collected in a three-dimensional image. In addition, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying a blood flow velocity correction marker for obtaining an angle between an ultrasound transmission / reception direction and a blood flow in an easy-to-understand manner and easily setting the marker. With the goal.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided scanning means for collecting a three-dimensional image of a blood vessel of the subject by transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from the subject, and a shape of a three-dimensionally displayed surface. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: marker generating means for generating a surface marker, and display means for displaying a three-dimensional image of the blood vessel and the surface marker.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising marker moving means for moving the surface marker so as to cross the blood vessel in accordance with an instruction from an operator. It is characterized by.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the marker generating unit generates a movable observation marker, and the scanning unit includes: Ultrasound is transmitted / received to / from a portion corresponding to the coordinates of the observation marker, and blood flow information is obtained based on the received / transmitted signal.

  A fourth aspect of the invention is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention, wherein the observation marker is movable within the range of the surface marker.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the marker generation means is a blood flow orthogonal to the surface marker starting from the observation marker. A speed correction marker is generated, and the scanning unit further includes an angle calculation unit that calculates an angle formed between the angle correction marker and an ultrasonic wave transmission / reception direction of the observation marker, and the received signal and the calculated angle The blood flow information is obtained based on the above.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the scanning means transmits and receives ultrasonic waves at the perpendicular of the surface marker and the observation marker. And an angle calculating means for calculating an angle between the received signal and blood flow information based on the received signal and the calculated angle.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the display means displays the color of the surface marker in a transparent color, or the surface. The marker is displayed in a mesh shape.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the scanning unit includes the surface marker from the received signal obtained by the transmission / reception. The tomographic image is generated, and the display means displays the tomographic image together with the three-dimensional image of the blood vessel.

  According to this invention, the operator visually recognizes the intersecting point on the three-dimensional image by displaying the blood vessel image represented three-dimensionally and the surface marker represented three-dimensionally. Is possible. This makes it possible to easily grasp the position of the blood vessel image in the three-dimensional image. Thus, by displaying the surface marker so that the operator can visually recognize the intersection point, the operator can easily specify the intersection point. It is easy to specify the position where you want to collect

  As described above, since the intersection of the blood vessel image and the surface marker can be visually recognized by the surface marker, the observation marker indicating the position where blood flow information is collected can be easily moved to the intersection. This makes it possible to easily specify a position where blood flow information is to be collected even in a three-dimensional image.

  In addition, by limiting the movement range of the observation marker indicating the position where blood flow information is collected within the area of the surface marker, the position where blood flow information is to be collected can be easily specified by moving only within the surface. It becomes possible. Furthermore, by displaying the blood flow velocity correction marker starting from the observation marker, the blood flow velocity marker can be easily set even for a three-dimensional image.

  Furthermore, by displaying the tomographic image in the cross section including the surface marker together with the three-dimensional image, the operator can observe the tomographic image of the two-dimensional image in addition to the three-dimensional image. It becomes possible to grasp easily. Thereby, the intersection of the surface marker and the blood vessel image can be visually recognized on the tomographic image, and the operator can easily specify the intersection as a position where blood flow information is to be collected.

  Hereinafter, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

(Constitution)
The configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to this embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe 1, a transmission / reception unit 2, a signal processing unit 3, an image processing unit 4, a display unit 5, a control unit 6, and an operation unit 7.

  The ultrasonic probe 1 is a two-dimensional ultrasonic probe in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers that transmit and receive ultrasonic waves are arranged in a matrix (lattice). Then, the ultrasonic probe 1 drives each ultrasonic transducer by the transmission / reception unit 2 to scan the ultrasonic wave three-dimensionally toward the diagnostic region in the subject according to a preset transmission beamforming condition. At the same time, the ultrasonic echo signal that returns to the ultrasonic probe 1 due to reflection at the acoustic impedance boundary in the subject or scattering by a minute scatterer is converted into an echo signal having a weak voltage and received, and the received signal is transmitted and received. Send to part 2. By performing scanning (scanning) in this manner, ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received three-dimensionally, and three-dimensional data having a shape spreading radially from the surface of the probe is received as an echo signal.

  Further, when a one-dimensional ultrasonic probe is used as the ultrasonic probe 1, three-dimensional data is collected by mechanically scanning the ultrasonic probe 1.

  The transmission / reception unit 2 includes a transmission delay circuit 8, a drive circuit group 9, a preamplifier group 10, and a reception delay circuit 11. The transmission / reception unit 2 generates a timing waveform for controlling the direction and focusing of the ultrasonic wave by the ultrasonic probe 1 based on the three-dimensional transmission beam forming conditions set in advance by the transmission delay circuit 8, and generates the timing waveform. Based on the drive signal, the drive circuit group 9 supplies the ultrasonic probe 1 with the drive signal. In addition, the transmission / reception unit 2 amplifies the reception signal sent from the ultrasonic probe 1 by the preamplifier group 10. The reception signal amplified by the preamplifier group 10 is sent to the reception delay circuit 11.

  The reception delay circuit 11 includes a plurality of reception beamformers RXBF1 to RXBFn that can receive signals received from the preamplifier group 10 in parallel and simultaneously. The reception delay circuit 11 applies a reception delay so as to satisfy the ultrasonic direction and focusing conditions in the three-dimensional reception beam forming preset for each reception signal in each reception beam former RXBF1 to RXBFn. The delayed signal is sent to the signal processing unit 3 described later.

  The signal processing unit 3 includes a B-mode processing unit 12, a blood flow signal processing unit 13, a PW Doppler processing unit 14, and a CW Doppler processing unit 15. The signal output from the transmission / reception unit 2 is subjected to predetermined processing in any of the processing units.

  The B-mode processing unit 12 visualizes echo amplitude information and generates B-mode ultrasound raster data from the echo signal. Specifically, the B-mode processing unit 12 performs band-pass filter processing on the signal sent from the reception delay circuit 11, then detects the envelope of the output signal, and performs logarithmic conversion on the detected data. The three-dimensional spatial distribution image data indicating the three-dimensional form information is generated by performing the compression processing according to, and this image data is sent to the image processing unit 4.

  The blood flow signal processing unit 13 is a processing unit for performing three-dimensional display of blood flow information. The blood flow signal processing unit 13 measures a time change of the phase of the signal sent from the reception delay circuit 11 to thereby display a three-dimensional spatial distribution image such as speed, power, or variance indicating blood flow information of the subject. Data is generated and the image data is sent to the image processing unit 4.

  The PW Doppler processing unit 14 is a processing unit that performs a pulse Doppler method (PW Doppler method). According to this pulse Doppler method, since a pulse wave is used, a Doppler shift frequency component at a specific depth can be detected. Thus, since it has distance resolution, it is possible to measure the velocity of tissue and blood flow at a specific site. The PW Doppler processing unit 14 extracts a Doppler shift frequency component from the signal sent from the reception delay circuit 11 by phase detection of the received signal in the blood flow observation point having a predetermined magnitude, and further performs FFT processing. To generate a Doppler frequency distribution representing the blood flow velocity in the blood flow observation point having a predetermined size. This Doppler frequency distribution data is sent to the image processing unit 4.

  The CW Doppler processing unit 15 is a processing unit that performs a continuous wave Doppler method (CW Doppler method). Unlike the pulse Doppler method, this continuous wave Doppler method superimposes all Doppler shift frequency components in the ultrasound transmission / reception direction in addition to the main Doppler shift frequency components obtained at the blood flow observation point. Excellent flow measurement. The CW Doppler processing unit 15 extracts the Doppler shift frequency component from the signal sent from the reception delay circuit 11 by phase detection of the received signal on the blood flow observation sample line, and further performs FFT processing. A Doppler frequency component representing the blood flow velocity on the sample line is generated. This Doppler frequency distribution data is sent to the image processing unit 4.

  In addition, the signal processing unit 3 may be provided with a color mode processing unit (not shown). The color mode processing unit is a processing unit that visualizes moving blood flow information. Specifically, the color mode processing circuit includes a phase detection circuit, an MTI filter, an autocorrelator, and a flow velocity / dispersion calculator. In this color mode processing circuit, high-pass filter processing (MTI filter processing) for separating tissue signals and blood flow signals is performed, and blood flow information such as blood flow velocity, dispersion, and power is obtained by autocorrelation processing. Ask for multiple points. In addition, non-linear processing for reducing and reducing tissue signals may be performed.

  The image processing unit 4 converts the image data sent from the signal processing unit 3 into voxel data represented by orthogonal coordinates in order to obtain an image represented by the orthogonal coordinate system. The image processing unit 4 converts the signal-processed data represented by the scanning line signal sequence output from the signal processing unit 3 into coordinate system data based on the spatial information (scan conversion processing). That is, the scanning method is converted by reading out in synchronization with the standard television scanning so that the signal sequence synchronized with the ultrasonic scanning can be displayed on the display unit 5 of the television scanning method. Furthermore, volume rendering processing is performed to generate three-dimensional image data, or image processing such as a cross-sectional transformation method (Multi Planar Reconstruction: MPR method) is performed to generate tomographic image data as two-dimensional information. The tomographic image data and the three-dimensional image data are sent to the display unit 5 and displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5.

  The display unit 5 includes a monitor such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display, and a three-dimensional image, a tomographic image, blood flow information, and the like are displayed on the monitor screen.

  The control unit 6 includes a CPU, is connected to each processing unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and executes each control unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus stored in a memory (storage unit) including a ROM. Control. Further, the control unit 6 includes a marker generation unit 16, a position information generation unit 17, a direction change unit 18, and an angle calculation unit 19.

  The marker generation means 16 generates a surface marker of 3D image data displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5. Initial setting surface marker data having a predetermined shape and a predetermined size is stored in a storage unit (not shown). Then, when a display instruction for the surface marker is given by the operator, the marker generating unit 16 reads the initial surface marker data from the storage unit. Further, the marker generation means 16 changes the shape and size of the read initial setting surface marker in accordance with an instruction from the operator. This surface marker serves as a reference surface when a blood flow observation point (observation marker) is designated when blood flow information (blood flow velocity) is collected by the Doppler method.

  Moreover, the marker production | generation means 16 produces | generates the observation marker (blood flow observation point) of the three-dimensional image data which shows the position which collects blood flow information on said surface marker. Initial setting observation marker (blood flow observation point) data having a predetermined shape and a predetermined size is stored in a storage unit (not shown) together with the surface marker, and when an operator instructs to display the surface marker, The marker generation means 16 reads the observation marker data together with the initial surface marker data stored in the storage unit.

  Furthermore, the marker generation means 16 generates a linear blood flow velocity correction marker orthogonal to the surface marker starting from the position of the observation marker. The blood flow velocity correction marker data is stored in the storage unit (not shown) together with the surface marker data and the like, and when the operator gives an instruction to display the blood flow velocity correction marker, the marker generation unit 16 stores the data in the storage unit. Read blood flow velocity correction marker data.

  The position information generation unit 17 displays the surface marker on the monitor screen of the display unit 5 when an instruction to change the position or direction of the surface marker on the monitor screen of the display unit 5 is given by the pointing device of the operation unit 7. Calculate the coordinates to be displayed. The coordinate data is attached to the surface marker data generated by the marker generation means 16, and the surface marker is displayed at a predetermined position on the monitor screen of the display unit 5. In addition, the position information generation unit 17 calculates the coordinates of the observation marker on the surface marker according to the operation on the operation unit 7. The coordinate data is attached to the observation marker generated by the marker generation means 16, and the observation marker is displayed at a predetermined position on the monitor screen of the display unit 5. Only when the coordinates of the observation marker are included in the range of the surface marker, the observation marker data to which the coordinate data is attached is output from the control unit 6 to the display unit 5 via the image processing unit 4. become. Thereby, the movable range of the observation marker is limited to the range of the surface marker.

  The direction changing unit 18 changes the direction of the surface marker displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5 according to the operation on the operation unit 7.

  The angle calculation means 19 calculates an angle formed between the ultrasound transmission / reception direction and the blood flow velocity correction marker, which is used when the PW Doppler processing unit 14 or the CW Doppler processing unit 15 calculates the blood flow velocity of the blood vessel.

  The functions and operations of the marker generation unit 16, the position information generation unit 17, the direction conversion unit 18, and the angle calculation unit 19 will be described in detail later.

  The operation unit 7 includes a pointing device such as a joystick 7a and a trackball 7b, switches, various buttons, a keyboard, a TCS (Touch Command Screen), and the like, and various settings relating to ultrasonic transmission / reception conditions are input by the operator. The Information input through the operation unit 7 is sent to the control unit 6, and the control unit 6 controls each unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus based on the information. Further, a foot switch or the like may be provided, and some operations may be performed using the foot switch.

  For example, when blood flow information is collected from a blood vessel by a pulse Doppler method or the like, the operator operates the joystick 15a while observing the monitor screen of the display unit 5, thereby the position of the surface marker, the observation marker, or the blood flow velocity correction marker. And change the orientation.

  In addition, a storage unit (not shown) including a memory, a hard disk, and the like is installed in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, each data generated by the signal processing unit 3 and the image processing unit 4, various setting conditions of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, A control program for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is stored. Further, the surface marker data, the observation marker data, and the blood flow velocity correction marker data are stored in the storage unit in an initial setting state.

(Operation)
Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing in sequence the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an example in which a blood vessel is assumed as an examination site in a subject and the pulse Doppler method is performed on the blood vessel will be described.

  In order to collect blood flow information of a blood vessel using the Doppler method, a three-dimensional image of a region including the blood vessel is collected and displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5 (step S01). First, an ultrasonic wave is transmitted to the subject by the ultrasonic probe 2 composed of a two-dimensional ultrasonic probe to perform a three-dimensional scan, and a reflected wave from the subject is received as an echo signal. In order to collect blood flow information of a blood vessel, scanning is performed so that the blood vessel is included in the three-dimensional image. For example, the heart of the subject is scanned.

  The received echo signal is subjected to a reception delay by the reception delay circuit 11 of the transmission / reception unit 2 and the echo amplitude information is visualized by the B mode processing unit 12 of the signal processing unit 3 to show a three-dimensional form. Three-dimensional spatial distribution image data (B-mode ultrasonic raster data) is generated. Then, the image processing unit 4 generates voxel data from the B-mode ultrasound raster data, and further performs volume rendering processing to generate three-dimensional image data indicating a three-dimensional form.

  The three-dimensional image data generated in this way is output from the image processing unit 4 to the display unit 5, and the three-dimensional image is displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5 in real time. FIG. 3A shows a three-dimensional image displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5. As shown in FIG. 3A, a three-dimensional image 35 including, for example, a three-dimensional image 30 of a blood vessel is displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5. In order to simply explain the features of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to this embodiment, only the three-dimensional blood vessel image 30 is shown in FIG. 3A, and the image around the blood vessel is omitted. Yes.

  When the three-dimensional blood vessel image 30 is displayed, the display parameters of the three-dimensional image are adjusted so that the blood vessel image 30 can be observed by the operator. For example, by adjusting the opacity (opacity) of the three-dimensional image data, the process of making the three-dimensional blood vessel image 30 visible on the monitor screen or removing the image displayed on the front side of the blood vessel image 30 (cropping) By performing the processing, the three-dimensional blood vessel image 30 is made visible on the monitor screen.

  Next, in order to collect blood flow information of blood vessels by the Doppler method, an operation of designating a blood flow observation point (observation marker) indicating the position where the blood flow information is collected is performed. The operator operates a pointing device or the like of the operation unit 7 while observing the three-dimensional image displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5, and designates a portion of the blood vessel image 30 where blood flow information is to be collected. . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to this embodiment supports the designation of blood flow observation points (observation markers) by an operator, and is characterized by the support method. Hereinafter, the support process by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.

  In order to designate a blood flow observation point (observation marker) indicating a position for collecting blood flow information on the blood vessel image 30 represented in three dimensions, first, the blood flow image is displayed three-dimensionally on the monitor screen of the display unit 5. The surface marker to be displayed is displayed (step S02). Specifically, the operator operates the operation unit 7 to give a display instruction for the surface marker to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The surface marker display instruction is output from the operation unit 7 to the marker generation unit 16 of the control unit 6.

  When receiving the display instruction of the surface marker, the marker generating unit 16 reads the initial surface marker data having a predetermined shape and a predetermined size from a storage unit (not shown). Furthermore, the marker generation means 16 reads the initial observation marker data represented on the surface marker from the storage unit. Then, the marker generation unit 16 outputs the surface marker data and the observation marker data to the image processing unit 4. The surface marker data and observation marker data output to the image processing unit 4 are combined with the three-dimensional image data by the image processing unit 4, output to the display unit 5, and displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5. FIG. 3B shows the surface marker 31 and the observation marker 32 displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5. The surface marker 31 and the observation marker 32 are displayed in a three-dimensional manner and are superimposed on the blood vessel image 30.

  The initial plane marker 31 is displayed at a preset initial position on the monitor screen of the display unit 5, and the default observation marker 32 is displayed at a preset initial position on the plane marker 31.

  The surface marker 31 is, for example, translucently displayed on the monitor screen, and the back side of the surface marker 31 can be visually recognized by the operator in the three-dimensional image. The surface marker 31 is not completely transparent, and is represented by a certain transparent color. Since the surface marker 31 is translucently displayed, an image existing behind the surface marker 31 in the blood vessel image 30 is also displayed on the monitor screen. Since the image behind the surface marker 31 is displayed on the monitor screen through the translucent surface marker 31, the color and contrast appear to be different from those of the other portions of the image.

  As described above, the image on the front side of the surface marker 31 and the image on the rear side are displayed with different colors and contrasts on the monitor screen. Therefore, if the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 cross each other. In the range of the surface marker 31, the color and contrast of the blood vessel image 30 are displayed differently at the intersection. If the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 cross each other, the surface marker 31 is not displayed in the portion where the blood vessel image 30 is closer to the front than the surface marker 31 at the intersection. The surface marker 31 in that portion cannot be visually recognized.

  In the image shown in FIG. 3B, the color and contrast of the blood vessel image 30 are not displayed differently from a certain point within the area of the surface marker 31. It can be determined that the surface marker 31 does not intersect. In addition, if the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 intersect, the surface marker 31 is not displayed in the portion where the blood vessel image 30 is closer to the front side than the surface marker 31 at the intersection. However, since the entire range of the surface marker 31 is displayed in the image shown in FIG. 3B, it can be determined that the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 do not intersect.

  In the image shown in FIG. 3B, the surface marker 31 exists on the front side of the blood vessel image 30. Since the surface marker 31 is translucent, even if the surface marker 31 exists on the near side of the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 and the blood vessel image 30 overlap on the monitor screen, the blood vessel image 30 is displayed, and the operator can visually recognize the blood vessel image of the overlapping portion. When the surface marker 31 is present behind the blood vessel image 30, the surface marker 31 is not displayed in the portion where the blood vessel image 30 exists, and the operator visually recognizes the surface marker 31 in that portion. Can not do it. In the image shown in FIG. 3B, since the entire range of the surface marker 31 is displayed, it can be determined that the surface marker 31 is present in front of the blood vessel image 30.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the surface marker 31 may be represented with a semitransparent mesh pattern. Also in this case, since the surface marker 31 is translucent, an image behind the surface marker 31 is also displayed on the monitor screen. Also in FIG. 3C, the surface marker 31 exists on the near side of the blood vessel image 30, and the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 do not intersect. Since the entire range of the surface marker 31 is displayed, it can be determined that the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 do not intersect with each other. Further, since the entire range is displayed, the surface is displayed on the front side of the blood vessel image 30. It can be determined that the marker 31 exists.

  In the images shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, since the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 do not intersect as described above, the operator operates the operation unit 7 to move the surface marker 31. The blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 are crossed by changing the position of the surface marker 31 by changing the position of the surface marker 31 by moving in the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the depth direction of the drawing (step S03).

  The operator operates the pointing device such as the joystick 7a of the operation unit 7 while observing the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5 to thereby detect the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker. The position and direction of the surface marker 31 are changed so that 31 intersects. The operation information input by the operation unit 7 is output to the position information generation unit 17 of the control unit 6. The position information generation unit 17 calculates the coordinates of the position at which the surface marker is displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5 according to the operation information from the operation unit 7. Then, the control unit 6 attaches the coordinate data to the surface marker data generated by the marker generation unit 16 and outputs it to the display unit 5 via the image processing unit 4. On the monitor screen of the display unit 5, the surface marker 31 is displayed at a position corresponding to the coordinates. In addition, the direction changing unit 17 changes the direction of the surface marker 31 on the monitor screen of the display unit 5 in accordance with an operation instruction from the operation unit 7. Through the above operation and processing, the surface marker 31 is moved and rotated on the monitor screen of the display unit 5.

  FIG. 3D shows a state in which the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 intersect. When the operator operates the pointing device or the like of the operation unit 7, the surface marker 31 is moved and rotated to intersect with the blood vessel image 30. As shown in FIG. 3D, the color or contrast of the blood vessel image 30 is displayed differently within the range of the surface marker 31 displayed on the monitor screen. This is because the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 intersect with each other, and when the operator observes this monitor screen, the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 intersect with each other. Judgment can be made. Further, since the surface marker 31 is not partially displayed and the blood vessel image 30 is partially displayed with a color, contrast, or the like different from other portions of the blood vessel image 30, the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 are displayed. Can be judged to intersect. More specifically, the surface marker 31 is not displayed in a portion where the blood vessel images 30 are overlapped and the blood vessel image 30 is present on the front side of the surface marker 31, and the surface marker 31 is not displayed on the blood vessel image 30. Is displayed on the front side of the blood vessel image 30, the color or contrast is displayed differently from the other parts of the blood vessel image 30, so the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 intersect each other. It can be judged.

  In other words, in the portion where the surface marker 31 is not displayed, the blood vessel image 30 exists on the front side of the surface marker 31 and exists on the rear side of the blood vessel image 30. In a portion where the color or contrast is different from other portions, the surface marker 31 exists on the near side of the blood vessel image 30 and exists on the back side of the surface marker 31. Therefore, in such a state, the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 intersect each other.

  More specifically, since the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 intersect with each other, the blood vessel image 30 on the near side of the surface marker 31 is displayed as it is with respect to the intersection, and is behind the surface marker 31. Since the blood vessel image 30 is superimposed on the translucent surface marker 31, the blood vessel image 30 is displayed with a different color, contrast, and the like compared to the blood vessel image 30 on the near side. The operator can determine that the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 intersect by recognizing the difference in color and contrast.

  Next, when the operator operates the operation unit 7, the observation marker 32 is moved on the surface marker 31 to designate a part for collecting blood flow information of blood vessels (step S <b> 04).

  The operator operates the pointing device or the like of the operation unit 7 while observing the blood vessel image 30 and the observation marker 31 displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5, thereby moving the observation marker 31 to the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker. Move to the intersection with 31. Since the observation marker 32 can be moved only on the surface marker 31, the observation marker 32 is moved in the plane of the surface marker 31. The operation information input from the operation unit 7 is output to the position information generation unit 17 of the control unit 6. The position information control unit 17 calculates the position at which the observation marker 32 is displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5 according to the operation information from the operation unit 7. At this time, the movement range of the observation marker 32 is limited to the plane of the surface marker 31. That is, only when the coordinates of the observation marker 32 are included in the range of the surface marker 31, the coordinate data is attached to the observation marker data by the control unit 6, and the observation marker data with the coordinate data added is the image. The data is output to the display unit 5 via the processing unit 4. Thereby, the movement range of the observation marker 32 is limited to the plane of the surface marker 31. Then, the control unit 6 attaches the coordinates to the observation marker data generated by the marker generation unit, and outputs the observation marker data to the display unit 5 via the image processing unit 4. In the display unit 5, an observation marker 32 is displayed at a position corresponding to the coordinates.

  FIG. 3E shows a state in which the observation marker 32 is moved to the intersection between the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31. When the operator operates the pointing device or the like of the operation unit 7, the observation marker 32 is moved to coincide with the position of the intersection. That is, the observation marker 32 is moved to a portion where the color or contrast of the blood vessel image 30 changes within the area of the surface marker 31. As described above, the boundary portion where the color or the like changes is a portion where the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 intersect with each other. Therefore, the blood vessel image 30 can be obtained by matching the observation marker 32 with the portion (intersection point). That is, the observation marker 32 is positioned above.

  In this way, the surface marker 31 expressed three-dimensionally together with the blood vessel image 30 is displayed, the blood vessel image 30 and the surface marker 31 are crossed, and the color, contrast, and the like differ from other portions at the intersection. By displaying, the operator can visually recognize the position of the blood vessel image 30. Furthermore, since the intersection exists in the plane of the surface marker 31, the observation marker 32 can be made to coincide with the intersection only by moving the observation marker 32 that can move only in the plane of the surface marker 31 in the plane. Can do. As a result, even in a three-dimensional image, the operator can easily specify a portion where blood flow information is desired to be observed.

  When the position at which blood flow information is collected is designated by the observation marker 32, the Doppler method is performed next to collect blood flow information of a part corresponding to the designated position (step S05). First, when a position for collecting blood flow information is designated by the observation marker 32, the blood flow information of the part corresponding to the designated position is collected. Information indicating the coordinates is output to the transmission / reception unit 2 and the signal processing unit 3. The transmission / reception unit 2 controls the ultrasonic probe 1 so as to transmit / receive ultrasonic waves to / from a part located at a position corresponding to the coordinates of the observation marker 32. The ultrasonic probe 1 transmits ultrasonic waves to the part located at the above position according to the control of the transmission / reception unit 2, receives the reflected wave, and sends it to the transmission / reception unit 2. When performing the pulse Doppler method, a pulse wave is transmitted.

  Then, the transmission / reception unit 2 performs the above-described processing, and a reception signal is sent to the PW Doppler processing unit 14 of the signal processing unit 3. The PW Doppler processing unit 14 extracts a Doppler shift frequency component by performing phase detection on the received signal, and further performs an FFT process to generate a Doppler frequency distribution representing the blood flow velocity. The image processing unit 4 calculates the blood flow velocity from the Doppler frequency by a known method, and outputs data representing the temporal change in the blood flow velocity to the display unit 5. The display unit 5 receives the blood flow velocity data and displays the change in blood flow velocity over time on the monitor screen (step S06).

  In FIG. 4, the time change of the blood flow velocity displayed on the monitor screen of the display part 5 is shown. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a monitor screen of the display unit 5. As shown in FIG. 4, a blood flow velocity distribution 37 indicating a temporal change in blood flow velocity is displayed on the monitor screen 34 of the display unit 5.

  Further, as described above, the three-dimensional image 35 is displayed on the monitor screen 34. Furthermore, a tomographic image 36 in a cross section including the surface marker 31 may be displayed on the monitor screen 34. By displaying the tomographic image 36 in this way, the operator can confirm the positions of the blood vessel image 30 and the observation marker 32 from another viewpoint different from the three-dimensional.

  The image processing unit 4 performs tomographic image processing such as a cross-sectional transformation method (MPR method) on the voxel data to generate cross-sectional tomographic image data including the surface marker 31, and displays the tomographic image data on the display unit 5. Output to. Furthermore, on the monitor screen 34 of the display unit 5, a surface marker 31a and an observation marker 32a represented by a two-dimensional image corresponding to the surface marker 31 and the observation marker 32 on the three-dimensional image are displayed. By linking the movement of the surface marker 31a and the observation marker 32a in the tomographic image 36 to the surface marker 31 and the observation marker 31 in the three-dimensional image 35, the operator observes the three-dimensional image 35 and the tomographic image 36 simultaneously. The observation marker 32 can be moved to a position where blood flow information is desired to be collected. In this way, by displaying the 3D image and the 2D image at the same time and making them observable, the position where blood flow information is desired to be collected can be more easily grasped. It is possible to easily move to a position where the blood flow is to be collected and easily designate a position where blood flow information is to be collected.

  As described above, on the monitor screen 34, the cross-sectional tomographic image 36 including the three-dimensional image 35, the surface marker 31, and the time change of the Doppler spectrum (time change of the blood flow velocity) are displayed. The display position of these images on the monitor screen 34 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 4, and can be changed to a position that is easy for the operator to view by operating the operation unit 7.

In addition, since the direction of blood flow (blood vessel) does not always coincide with the ultrasound transmission / reception direction, it is necessary to perform angle correction of the blood flow velocity in order to accurately obtain the blood flow velocity. In other words, the velocity component of the blood flow in the ultrasonic transmission / reception direction is obtained by transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves, the angle θ between the ultrasonic transmission / reception direction and the blood vessel (blood flow) is obtained, and the blood flow velocity is calculated using the angle θ. to correct. The blood flow velocity V and the velocity component v of the blood flow in the ultrasonic transmission / reception direction have the following relationship.
V = v / (cos θ)
Since v is calculated from the Doppler frequency obtained by transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves, when the angle θ is obtained, an accurate blood flow velocity V in the blood flow (blood vessel) direction can be obtained. When angle correction is performed in order to obtain the blood flow velocity V, a blood flow velocity correction marker is displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5, and the angle θ formed between the ultrasonic transmission / reception direction and the blood flow (blood vessel) is determined. Ask.

  First, a blood flow velocity correction marker is displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5. Specifically, when the operator operates the operation unit 7, an instruction to display a blood flow velocity correction marker is given to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. An instruction to display the blood flow velocity correction marker is output from the operation unit 7 to the marker generation unit 16 of the control unit 6.

  When receiving the instruction to display the blood flow velocity correction marker, the marker generation means 16 reads initial blood flow velocity correction marker data from a storage unit (not shown). The blood flow velocity correction marker data read by the marker generation means 16 is combined with the three-dimensional image data by the image processing unit 4 and output to the display unit 5 and displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5. FIG. 3F shows the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5. The blood flow velocity correction marker 33 is displayed three-dimensionally.

  The initial blood flow velocity correction marker 33 is displayed in a direction orthogonal to the surface marker 31 with the observation marker 32 as a starting point. The blood flow velocity correction marker 33 is fixed with respect to the surface marker 31 and displayed. Therefore, the position and direction of the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 are also changed by moving or rotating the surface marker 31. As described above, the operator changes the position and direction of the surface marker 31 by operating the pointing device of the operation unit 7 while observing the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 on the monitor screen of the display unit 5. By doing so, the position and direction of the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 are changed in conjunction with the surface marker 31, and the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 and the blood vessel image 30 are made parallel (step S07).

  Further, the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 may be moved individually. In the above example, the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 is displayed perpendicular to the surface marker 31, and the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 is parallel to the blood vessel image 30 by moving and rotating the surface marker 31. However, the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 and the blood vessel image 30 may be made parallel by moving and rotating only the blood flow velocity correction marker 33.

  The angle θ is defined as an angle formed by the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception direction and the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 as shown in FIG. The angle calculation means 19 of the control unit 6 calculates the angle θ (step S08). In other words, the angle calculation means 19 calculates the angle formed by the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception direction and the perpendicular of the surface marker 31. By calculating the angle θ between the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 and the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception direction in a state where the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 is parallel to the blood vessel by the operation by the operator, The angle θ formed between the ultrasound transmission / reception direction and the blood flow (blood vessel) can be obtained. Then, the image processing unit 4 calculates the blood flow velocity V from the angle θ and the velocity component v in the ultrasonic transmission / reception direction (step S09), and outputs the distribution of the blood flow velocity V to the display unit 5. The distribution of the blood flow velocity V is displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 5.

  When the observation marker 32 and the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 are moved, the observation marker 32 is used when the observation marker 32 and the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 are moved in the depth direction of the three-dimensional image in order to make it easy to grasp the spatial position in the three-dimensional image. Alternatively, the size of the blood flow velocity correction marker 33 may be reduced, or the display color may be changed. Such processing can be selected by the operator in the operation unit 7.

  As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to this embodiment, by displaying the surface marker 31, the observation marker 32 (blood flow observation point) represented by a three-dimensional image can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner. Thus, the operator can easily grasp the position of the observation marker 32 (blood flow observation point) in the three-dimensional space. Therefore, the operator can easily designate a position where blood flow is to be observed in the blood vessel image 30 of the three-dimensional image.

  In this embodiment, the case where the pulse Doppler method is performed has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the implementation, and can also be applied to the implementation of the continuous wave Doppler method or the like.

  Further, the shape and size of the surface marker 31 can be arbitrarily changed by the operator operating the operation unit 7, and can be changed to a shape such as a circle, a rectangle, or a polygon, for example. . The shape, size, color or pattern of the observation marker 32 (blood flow observation point) can be arbitrarily changed. For example, it may be represented by a transparent color or a mesh pattern.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the ultrasound diagnosing device which concerns on embodiment of this invention in order. It is a figure which shows operation at the time of designating an observation marker (blood-flow observation point) on a three-dimensional image by the ultrasound diagnosing device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the tomogram as a three-dimensional image, two-dimensional image, and blood flow information displayed on the monitor screen of a display apparatus. It is a figure which shows operation at the time of designating a blood-flow observation point on a two-dimensional image by the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic probe 2 Transmission / reception part 3 Signal processing part 4 Image processing part 5 Display part 6 Control part 7 Operation part 16 Marker production | generation means 17 Position information generation means 18 Direction change means 19 Angle calculation means

Claims (8)

Scanning means for collecting a three-dimensional image of the blood vessel of the subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the subject;
Marker generating means for generating a surface marker having the shape of a surface displayed three-dimensionally;
Display means for displaying the three-dimensional image of the blood vessel and the surface marker;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising marker moving means for moving the surface marker so as to cross the blood vessel in accordance with an instruction from an operator. The marker generating means generates a movable observation marker,
The said scanning means transmits / receives an ultrasonic wave with respect to the site | part in the position corresponding to the coordinate of the said observation marker, and calculates | requires blood flow information based on the received signal of the said transmission / reception. Item 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of Items 2 to 3.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the observation marker is movable within a range of the surface marker. The marker generating means generates a blood flow velocity correction marker orthogonal to the surface marker starting from the observation marker,
The scanning unit further includes an angle calculating unit that calculates an angle formed between the angle correction marker and a transmission / reception direction of ultrasonic waves in the observation marker,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein blood flow information is obtained based on the received signal and the calculated angle. The scanning means further includes an angle calculating means for calculating an angle formed by a perpendicular of the surface marker and an ultrasonic wave transmission / reception direction of the observation marker,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein blood flow information is obtained based on the received signal and the calculated angle.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the color of the surface marker in a transparent color, or displays the surface marker in a mesh shape. The scanning unit generates a tomographic image in a cross section including the surface marker from the reception signal obtained by the transmission / reception,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the tomographic image together with a three-dimensional image of the blood vessel.

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