JP2006288912A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device and image display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device capable of appropriately displaying an additional information when reproducing an ultrasonic image. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic device 1 which produces a plurality of data for imaging corresponding to ultrasonic images of a plurality of frames one after another based on the signal from a probe 11, stores them in a cine memory 21, selects an arbitrary data for imaging from a plurality of stored data for imaging, and display it, associates the data for imaging and the data for additional information produced based on the signal from an operation part 14 and stores them in a storage part 17. When the data for additional information is associated with the data for imaging of the ultrasonic image to be displayed, the additional information based on the data for additional information is displayed on a display device 18 together with the ultrasonic image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasonic image display method.

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that scans a subject and sequentially generates data of a plurality of tomographic images and sequentially stores the generated data in a cine memory is known (for example, Patent Document 1). The user can select an arbitrary tomographic image from a plurality of tomographic images stored in the cine memory and display it on the screen.
JP 2002-112254 A

In such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, it is desired that the user can appropriately input additional information about the tomographic image and display the additional information together with the tomographic image on the screen. The additional information is, for example, an annotation or a body pattern. The user can use it for diagnosis or the like by printing out a screen image on which a tomographic image and additional information are displayed.
In this case, if the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus does not associate the ultrasonic image with the additional information, various inconveniences occur when reproducing the ultrasonic image. For example, once the additional information is displayed, the additional information remains displayed even after the tomographic image displayed on the screen is switched to another tomographic image. If the additional information is newly input while the other tomographic image is displayed, the additional information data previously input is lost, and the tomographic image when the additional information is input is displayed again. Even so, the additional information of the other tomographic image is displayed as it is.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an image display method capable of appropriately displaying additional information when reproducing an ultrasonic image.

  An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention irradiates a subject with ultrasonic waves and receives reflected ultrasonic waves, and a plurality of ultrasonic images corresponding to a plurality of frames of ultrasonic images based on reception signals from the probes. Image data generating means for generating image data, storage means for storing the plurality of image data generated by the image data generating means, and the plurality of image data stored in the storage means Based on the display means for selectively displaying one frame of the plurality of frames of ultrasonic images, and preparation of additional information data related to the ultrasonic image being displayed on the display means is predetermined. Additional information preparation means for storing in the storage means link data that associates the prepared additional information data with the image data of the ultrasonic image being displayed. Selecting any one of the plurality of image data stored in the storage unit in response to a request via the input unit, and displaying an ultrasonic image based on the selected image data When the additional information data is associated with the selected image data by the link data, additional information based on the associated additional information data is selected from the selected image data. Control means for displaying on the display means together with an ultrasonic image based on the data for use.

  Preferably, the control unit further selects the image data satisfying a predetermined relationship with the image data associated with the additional information data when the display unit displays the image data. Additional information based on the additional information data is displayed on the display unit together with an ultrasonic image based on the image data.

  Preferably, the predetermined relationship is a relationship in which the order generated by the image data generation means is within a predetermined number of frames from the image data associated with the additional information data.

  Preferably, the storage unit associates two or more pieces of image data in the order generated by the image data generation unit among the plurality of image data with one additional information data. And remember.

  Preferably, when the preparation of the additional information data is received, the control means causes the display means to display additional information based on the additional information data together with the ultrasonic image being displayed, and then the display means. When the ultrasonic image to be displayed is changed from the ultrasonic image displayed at the time of acceptance and a predetermined condition is satisfied, the ultrasonic image is displayed without displaying the additional information. To display.

  Preferably, the predetermined condition is that the order in which the image data corresponding to the changed ultrasonic image is generated is based on the order in which the image data of the ultrasonic image displayed at the time of generation is generated. It is outside the range of the predetermined number of frames.

  Preferably, the predetermined condition includes a predetermined input operation instructing the input unit to erase the additional information.

  The image processing method of the present invention generates and records a plurality of image data corresponding to an ultrasonic image of a plurality of frames based on a signal from a probe, and selectively selects an ultrasonic image based on the plurality of image data. An image display method for displaying on a screen, and when an ultrasonic image is displayed on the screen, an input operation has been performed for causing the additional information related to the ultrasonic image to be displayed on the screen. A first step of displaying the additional information together with the one ultrasonic image on the screen; and after the first step, another ultrasonic image is displayed on the screen without displaying the additional information. A second step of displaying, and a step of redisplaying the additional information together with the one ultrasonic image when the one ultrasonic image is redisplayed after the second step.

  According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately display additional information when reproducing an ultrasonic image.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 includes a probe 11, an image data generation unit 13 that generates image data based on a signal from the probe 11 via the transmission / reception unit 12, an operation unit 14, and a control unit 15. Generated by the additional information preparation unit 16 that generates or selects additional information data based on a signal from the operation unit 14 and the image data generated by the image data generation unit 13 or the additional information preparation unit 16 A storage unit 17 that stores the additional information data and the like, a display device 18, and a display processing unit 19 that causes the display device 18 to display an image based on the image data and the additional information data stored in the storage unit 17. And a printer 20 for printing the image displayed on the display device 18 on a recording medium such as paper.

  The probe 11 includes a piezoelectric element that converts an electrical signal into a sound wave and transmits it, receives a sound wave reflected by a subject, and converts it into an electrical signal. The piezoelectric element is made of, for example, PZT (lead zirconate titanate) ceramics. The probe 11 may be used by contacting the surface on which the piezoelectric element is formed with the surface of the subject, or may be used by being inserted into the subject. Scanning may be performed by an electronic scanning method, or scanning may be performed by a mechanical scanning method.

  The transmission / reception unit 12 is connected to the probe 11 and, based on a command from the control unit 15, gives a drive signal to the ultrasonic probe 11 and receives an echo signal generated by the probe 11 to generate image data. To the unit 13. For example, the transmission / reception unit 12 performs processing such as amplification, delay, and addition on the received echo signal and outputs the processed signal to the image data generation unit 13.

  The image data generation unit 13 is configured by, for example, a computer, processes a signal from the transmission / reception unit 12 based on a command from the control unit 15, and frames ultrasonic images of the subject in scan order (time-series order). Generate for each. For example, the image data generation unit 13 detects the envelope after logarithmically amplifying the echo signal output from the transmission / reception unit 12, and generates a B-mode image for each frame. In the following description, the tomographic image of the subject is described as an example of the ultrasound image. However, the ultrasound image may be any image as long as images for each frame are generated in time series. Well, it is not limited to B-mode tomographic images.

  The operation unit 14 includes, for example, a keyboard 25, a trackball 26, and a dial 27. The operation unit 14 receives a text input operation using, for example, the keyboard 25, receives a pointing operation for moving a cursor or the like to a predetermined position on the screen of the display device 18 using the trackball 26, and uses the dial 27 to perform fast-forwarding or winding in later-described cine reproduction. Accept a return operation.

  The control unit 15 is configured by a computer, for example, and is connected to the probe 11, the transmission / reception unit 12, the image data generation unit 13, the operation unit 14, the additional information preparation unit 16, the storage unit 17, the display processing unit 19, and the display device 18, respectively. Has been. The control unit 15 gives a control signal to each unit based on the operation signal from the operation unit 14 to control the operation.

  The additional information preparation unit 16 is configured by, for example, a computer, and generates and prepares additional information data based on a command from the control unit 15 according to an input operation to the operation unit 14. For example, in response to an input operation on the keyboard 25, data for displaying text on the display device 18 is generated. Alternatively, in response to an input operation on the keyboard 25 or the trackball 26, data for displaying a graphic indicating a tomographic image capturing range or the like on the display device 18 is generated. Note that additional information may be prepared by selecting data prepared in the storage unit 17 in advance. Further, the additional information data may be text data or binary data.

  The storage unit 17 is held in, for example, a cine memory 21 that stores image data generated by the image data generation unit 13, a RAM 22 that stores additional information data generated by the additional information data 16, a cine memory 21, and a RAM 22. An external storage device 23 for storing a part of the stored data. The cine memory 21 is configured as a volatile memory by a semiconductor memory, for example. The external storage device 23 is configured as a non-volatile memory by a magnetic disk, for example.

  The display device 18 is configured by a CRT display, for example, and has a screen for displaying a tomographic image of the subject and additional information. The display processing unit 19 is configured by a computer, for example, and based on an instruction from the control unit 15, a tomographic image of the subject is displayed on the display device 18 based on image data or additional information data recorded in the storage unit 17. And a signal for displaying an image of additional information is generated and output to the display device 18. The control unit 15 and the display processing unit 19 are examples of the control unit of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conceptual diagram of image data stored in the cine memory 21, and the horizontal axis shows time. When scanning by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 is started, image data D1 corresponding to ultrasonic images of a plurality of frames at a preset time interval τ is sequentially generated by the image data generation unit 13, and the cine memory 21 Arranged and stored at predetermined addresses in sequence order. In other words, the cine memory 21 stores the order in which the image data D1 is generated in an identifiable manner. Therefore, the control unit 15 and the display processing unit 19 sequentially read out the plurality of image data D1 in time series order or in the order reverse to the time series and display them on the display device 18, thereby obtaining an ultrasonic image obtained by scanning. Can be played like a movie (cine playback). Note that the image data D1 may be image data such as a bitmap, or may be echo data for generating the image data.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a work procedure in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1. First, the user performs scanning by irradiating the subject with ultrasonic waves from the probe 11 (step S1). In the scan, for example, the user irradiates ultrasonic waves by appropriately moving the probe 11 with respect to the subject while visually checking the tomographic image displayed on the display device 18 in real time. The image data generator 13 sequentially generates image data D1 at a predetermined time interval based on the signal from the probe 11 and holds it in the cine memory 21. Thereby, tomographic image data at a plurality of positions of the subject is acquired.

  Next, the user sets the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 in a frozen state by a predetermined input operation on the operation unit 14 (step S2). That is, the scan is stopped. During the freeze state, the image data generated in step S1 is held in the cine memory 21.

  In step S <b> 3, the user makes a diagnosis by causing the display device 18 to display the image data held in the cine memory 21. At this time, the user performs cine reproduction of the tomographic images of a plurality of frames, selects an arbitrary tomographic image, and displays the arbitrary tomographic image as a still image. For example, when the dial 27 is rotated to one side, the tomographic images of a plurality of frames are reproduced in the scanning order at a speed corresponding to the rotation amount of the dial 27, and when the dial 27 is rotated to the other side, the tomographic images of the plurality of frames are reversed to the scan. Are reproduced at a speed corresponding to the rotation amount of the dial 27, and the moving image reproduction is stopped by setting the dial 27 to the neutral position, and an arbitrary tomographic image is displayed as a still image.

  When the user displays an arbitrary tomographic image as a still image, the user inputs additional information such as an annotation or a body pattern for the tomographic image and causes the display device 18 to display the additional information. Then, an image on the screen of the display device 18 on which the tomographic image and the additional information are displayed is printed out or recorded in the external storage device 23 as appropriate.

  The user repeats cine reproduction, input of additional information, etc. in step S3, and then releases the freeze state by a predetermined input operation on the operation unit 14 (step S4). When the freeze state is released, the cine memory 21 is initialized.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the screen 18a of the display device 18 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 in step S3 of FIG.

  FIG. 4A shows a state in which an arbitrary tomographic image is selected in cine reproduction and the tomographic image is displayed as a still image. On the screen 18a, the selected tomographic image HG1 is displayed based on the image data D1. FIG. 4A illustrates a state in which a tomographic image of the subject's chest is selected, and a lung or the like is displayed on the screen 18a.

  Further, on the screen 18a, for example, a graphic PG1 schematically showing part or all of the subject is displayed. The figure PG1 is an image that forms part of the body pattern, and FIG. 4A illustrates a case where a front view from the chest to the lower abdomen of the subject is displayed as the figure PG1.

  In this state, when the user inputs additional information via the operation unit 14, the additional information is displayed on the screen 18a. For example, when character information is input via the keyboard 25, the text image TG1 is displayed on the screen 18a together with the tomographic image HG1, as shown in FIG. 4B. FIG. 4B illustrates a case where the user (doctor) finds a tumor in the lung and describes the position of the tumor as an annotation.

  For example, when the user inputs coordinates using the keyboard 25 or moves the cursor on the figure PG1 using the trackball 26, the body pattern is displayed. That is, the mark MG1 is displayed on the figure PG1, and information regarding the imaging range is indicated by an image BG1 obtained by combining the figure PG1 and the mark MG1. FIG. 4B illustrates a case where a mark MG1 is displayed on the chest of the subject indicated by the graphic PG1, and the tomographic image HG1 is a tomographic image of the chest.

  FIG. 4C shows a state where the cine reproduction is performed again after the text image TG1 and the image BG1 are displayed as shown in FIG. 4B, and the screen 18a is updated to another tomographic image. FIG. 4C illustrates a case where a tomographic image of the abdomen of the subject is displayed, and the large intestine and the like are displayed on the screen 18a.

  On the updated screen 18a, the other tomographic image HG2 is displayed, while the text image TG1 and the mark MG1 corresponding to the additional information input during the display of the tomographic image HG1 are deleted. However, the figure PG1 remains without being erased. The additional information is erased when, for example, a predetermined input operation for erasing the additional information is performed on the operation unit 14 or when a cine reproduction is performed for a predetermined number of frames from the tomographic image HG1. The

  FIG. 4D shows a state in which cine reproduction is performed again from the state of FIG. 4C and the tomographic image HG1 selected in FIG. 4A is redisplayed. In this case, the text image TG1 and the mark MG1 are also displayed again, and the screen 18a is displayed in the same state as in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the additional information can be input not only for one tomographic image but also for a plurality of tomographic images (image data D1-1 and D1-2). When the tomographic images are displayed again, the additional information input during the display of the respective tomographic images is displayed again. The additional information is also displayed in the tomographic images (image data D1-3, D1-4, D1-5) of several frames before and after the tomographic image in which the additional information is input, and the additional information is displayed during cine reproduction. Searching for tomographic images to which information is input may be facilitated.

  As described above, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 can delete the additional information that has been displayed in the past, and when the tomographic image to which the additional information is input is displayed again, the additional information is automatically also displayed. It will be displayed again. Therefore, diagnosis and the like are facilitated. Below, the structure for implement | achieving such operation | movement is demonstrated.

  FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are conceptual diagrams illustrating an example of a data configuration stored in the storage unit 17.

  FIG. 5A is a conceptual diagram showing data D11 related to an image stored in the cine memory 21, and the data D11 is associated with a plurality of image data D1 and a plurality of image data D1 on a one-to-one basis. And a plurality of image indexes D12. As shown in FIG. 2, the image data D1 is image data corresponding to each of a plurality of ultrasonic images of a plurality of frames at a preset time interval τ. In FIG. The data of the mode image is illustrated. The image index D12 is numerical information arbitrarily assigned by, for example, the address of the image data D1, the time when the image data D1 is generated, the control unit 15, and the like.

  The data D11 may be generated and updated sequentially in association with the image index D12 when the image data D1 is sequentially recorded in the cine memory 21 in step S1 of FIG. ), The image index D12 may be generated in association with the image data D1 recorded in the cine memory 21.

  FIG. 5B is a conceptual diagram showing data D14 relating to additional information stored in the RAM 22. The data D14 includes one or a plurality of additional information data D15 and an additional information index D16 associated with the additional information data D15 on a one-to-one basis. The additional information data D15 is data for displaying the text image TG1 and the image BG1 for displaying the additional information shown in FIG. 4, for example, coordinate data for displaying text data having an annotation content or body pattern. It is. The additional information index D16 is, for example, numerical information arbitrarily allocated by the address of the additional information data D15, the time when the additional information data D15 is generated, the control unit 15, and the like.

  FIG. 5C is a conceptual diagram showing link data D17 stored in the RAM 22 for associating the data D11 in FIG. 5A and the data D14 in FIG. 5B. The link data D17 holds the image index D12 and the additional information index D16 in association with each other. Therefore, the image data D1 and the additional information data D15 are associated with each other via the image index D12 and the additional information index D16.

  In FIG. 5C, a storage area corresponding to the number of image indexes D12 is secured, and the additional information index D16 is not associated with the image index D12 not associated with the additional information index D16. However, an image index D12 that is not associated with the additional information index D16 may not be stored by securing a storage area corresponding to the number of the additional information index D16.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of data generation processing executed by the control unit 15 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 in step S3 of FIG. This process is a process for generating and updating the data D14 shown in FIG. 5B and for generating and updating the link data D17 shown in FIG. 5C.

  The control unit 15 determines whether additional information has been input based on a signal from the operation unit 14 (step S11), and waits until it is determined that additional information has been input. When it is determined that the additional information has been input, the additional information data D15 is generated via the additional information preparation unit 16, and the additional information index D16 corresponding to the additional information data D15 is specified to be used for the additional information. Data D15 and additional information index D16 are associated and recorded in RAM 22, and data D14 is generated or updated (step S12).

  In step S <b> 13, the control unit 15 specifies and acquires the image index D <b> 12 of the image data D <b> 1 for the currently displayed tomographic image based on the data D <b> 11 stored in the cine memory 21. The control unit 15 obtains the image index D12 of the image data D1 from the data 11 each time the image data D1 is read in cine reproduction or the like, so that the image data D1 corresponding to the tomographic image being displayed is obtained. The image index D12 may be held.

  In step S14, the control unit 15 records the additional information index D16 of the additional information data D15 generated in step S12 and the image index D12 acquired in step S13 in association with each other to generate the link data D17. Update. Then, the process returns to step S11.

  While the processing in FIG. 6 is being performed, the control unit 15 causes the display processing unit 19 to display the additional information being input on the display device 18 in addition to the tomographic image being displayed. Let the screen update. For example, the additional information being input is recorded in the buffer memory separately from the data D14, and is referred to by the display processing unit 19 and displayed on the display device 18 in the screen update process. The additional information recorded in the buffer memory is held in the data D14 in step S12 by performing a predetermined confirmation operation.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the screen update process executed by the control unit 15 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 in step S3 of FIG. By this processing, display, deletion, and the like of additional information during cine reproduction and the like are realized.

  In step S21, the control unit 15 determines, based on the signal from the operation unit 14, whether or not an instruction for cine reproduction (cine scroll) for reproducing tomographic images in chronological order or in the reverse order is given (step S21). S21), and waits until it is determined that the scroll instruction is given. If it is determined that the scroll instruction is given, based on the data D11 of the cine memory 21, the tomographic image data D1 to be displayed next on the display device 18 and the image index associated with the image data D1 are displayed. D12 is specified and acquired (step S22).

  In step S23, the link data D17 in the RAM 22 is searched using the image index D12 acquired in step S22 as a key, and it is determined whether or not the additional information index D16 is associated with the image index D12 using the key. If the additional information index D16 is associated, the additional information index D16 is specified and acquired.

  In step S23, when it is determined that the additional information index D16 is associated with the key image index D12, the additional information index D16 acquired from the link data D17 is used as a key from the data D14 recorded in the RAM 22. The additional information data D15 corresponding to the additional information index D16 is specified and acquired (step S24). Then, based on the image data D1 acquired in step S22 and the additional information data D15 acquired in step S24, an image (see FIG. 4D) displaying both the tomographic image and the additional information is displayed on the next screen. Is generated in the buffer memory of the display processing unit 19 (step S25).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S23 that the additional information index D16 is not associated with the key image index D12, the image data D1 corresponding to the key image index D12 is preliminarily based on the link data D17. It is determined whether or not there is image data D1 associated with the additional information index D16 within the range of the determined number of frames (step S26).

  Specifically, for example, when the image index D12 is arranged in the chronological order of the frames in the link data D17, for a predetermined number of image indexes D12 arranged before and after the image index D12 as a key, It is determined whether or not the additional information index D16 is associated.

  If it is determined in step S26 that there is image data associated with the additional information index D16 within a predetermined number of frames, the process proceeds to step S24, where the additional information index D16 is specified and acquired. In step S25, as described above, based on the image data D1 acquired in step S22 and the additional information data D15 acquired in step S24, an image displaying both the tomographic image and the additional information is displayed as follows. A screen image is generated in the buffer memory of the display processing unit 19. As a result, the additional information is displayed not only in the tomographic image of one frame in which the additional information is input, but also in the tomographic images of the preceding and subsequent frames.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S26 that there is no image data associated with the additional information index D16 within the predetermined number of frames, the additional data is added based on the image data D1 acquired in step S22. An image that does not display information (see FIG. 4C) is generated in the buffer memory of the display processing unit 19 as an image of the next screen. As a result, the additional information is automatically deleted when a tomographic image of a frame separated by a predetermined frame or more from the one-frame tomographic image to which the additional information is input is displayed.

  In step S28, the control unit 25 causes the display device 18 to output the image of the next screen generated in the buffer memory, and updates the screen of the display device 18. Then, the process returns to step S21.

  When it is desired to manually delete the additional information from the display device 18, for example, whether or not a predetermined operation for deleting the additional information has been performed on the operation unit 14 between step S26 and step S27. If it is determined that the operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S27 to display only the tomographic image. If it is determined that the operation has not been performed, the process proceeds to step S25, and step S24 has been executed previously. The tomographic image may be displayed together with the additional information acquired at the time.

  According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 described above, when the image data D1 and the additional information data D15 are stored in association with each other and the additional information data D15 is associated with the image data D1 to be displayed. Since the additional information based on the associated additional information data D15 is displayed on the display device 18 together with the ultrasonic image, for example, the operation of repeating cine reproduction and input of additional information is facilitated.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be implemented in various aspects.

  The link data need only be able to specify the additional information data corresponding to the image data when the image data is specified, and associates the image index D12 and the additional information index D16 on a one-to-one basis. It is not limited to. For example, they may be associated as in the modification shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8A shows an example of a case where the image index and the additional information index are not associated one-to-one, and shows link data D19 in which one additional information index D16 is associated with a plurality of image indexes D12. ing. When one piece of additional information is associated with a plurality of image data in this way, for example, even if step S26 in FIG. 7 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S27, the additional information in a plurality of consecutive frames. Can be displayed.

  FIG. 8B shows another link data D21 in which one additional information index D16 is associated with a plurality of image indexes D12. In the link data D21, one additional information index D16 is associated with the first index D12 ′ and the last index D12 ″ in time series order of a plurality of consecutive frames. Are associated with the image index D12 of a plurality of frames.

  FIG. 8C is a modification of the data including the additional information data D15 (FIG. 5B). By using a common index for the additional information data D15 and the image data D1, In this example, image data or additional information data is used as link data, and link data is not provided separately from image data D1 and additional information data D15. In the example of FIG. 8C, the image data D1 is recorded in association with the image index D12, as in FIG. The data D23 includes additional information data D15 and an image index D12 in association with each other. In the example of FIG. 8C, corresponding additional information data D15 is directly identified and acquired using the image index D12 as a key.

  The additional information may be any information whose content is specified via the input means. Additional information data may be generated as text data or image data by user text input or pointing device input, or text data or image data stored in advance in an external storage device may be selected by the user. Also good. The additional information may be displayed as character information on the display means or may be displayed as a graphic.

  Although the case where the additional information is displayed also when the ultrasonic image in a plurality of frames is displayed from the ultrasonic image associated with the additional information is illustrated, the ultrasonic image associated with the additional information and the additional information The relationship with the ultrasonic image on which is displayed is not limited to that defined by the number of frames. For example, it may be defined by the elapsed time since the generation of the ultrasound image associated with the additional information, or the graphical similarity with the ultrasound image associated with the additional information is determined and similar. Then, when it is determined, additional information may be displayed. The user may appropriately set the relationship between the ultrasonic image associated with the additional information and the ultrasonic image on which the additional information is displayed.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the data for an image memorize | stored in the cine memory of the ultrasonic diagnosing device of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the work procedure in the ultrasonic diagnosing device of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen of the display apparatus of the ultrasonic diagnosing device of FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the data memorize | stored in the memory | storage part of the ultrasonic diagnosing device of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the data generation process which the control part of the ultrasonic diagnosing device of FIG. 1 performs. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the screen update process which the control part of the ultrasonic diagnosing device of FIG. 1 performs. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the modification of the structure of the data memorize | stored in the memory | storage part of the ultrasonic diagnosing device of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, 11 ... Probe, 13 ... Image data generation means, 14 ... Input means, 16 ... Additional information preparation means, 17 ... Storage means, 18 ... Display means, 15 ... Control means, D1 ... For images Data, D14: Additional information data.

Claims (8)

A probe for irradiating a subject with ultrasonic waves and receiving reflected ultrasonic waves;
Image data generating means for generating a plurality of image data corresponding to an ultrasonic image of a plurality of frames based on a received signal from the probe;
Storage means for storing the plurality of image data generated by the image data generation means;
Display means for selectively displaying one frame of the plurality of ultrasonic images based on the plurality of image data stored in the storage;
A link for accepting the preparation of additional information data related to the ultrasonic image being displayed on the display means via a predetermined input means, and associating the prepared additional information data with the image data of the ultrasonic image being displayed Additional information preparation means for storing data in the storage means;
One of the plurality of image data stored in the storage unit is selected in response to a request via the input unit, and an ultrasonic image based on the selected image data is displayed on the display unit. When the additional information data is associated with the selected image data by the link data, additional information based on the associated additional information data is selected for the selected image data. Control means for displaying on the display means together with an ultrasonic image based on the data;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: When the control means further selects the display means to display the image data satisfying a predetermined relationship with the image data associated with the additional information data, the control means includes the selected image data. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein additional information based on the additional information data is displayed on the display unit together with an ultrasonic image based thereon. The predetermined relationship is a relationship in which the order generated by the image data generation unit is within a predetermined number of frames from the image data associated with the additional information data. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment. The storage unit stores two or more pieces of image data in the order of generation generated by the image data generation unit in association with one additional information data among the plurality of image data. Item 4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 3. When receiving the preparation of the additional information data, the control unit causes the display unit to display additional information based on the additional information data together with the ultrasonic image being displayed, and then displays the additional information based on the display unit. When the ultrasonic image is changed from the ultrasonic image displayed when the image is received and a predetermined condition is satisfied, the ultrasonic image is displayed on the display unit without displaying the additional information. Item 5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 4. The predetermined condition is that the order in which the image data corresponding to the changed ultrasonic image is generated is a predetermined number of frames from the order in which the image data of the ultrasonic image displayed at the time of generation is generated. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined condition includes a predetermined input operation for instructing the input unit to erase the additional information. An image display method for generating and recording a plurality of image data corresponding to an ultrasonic image of a plurality of frames based on a signal from a probe, and selectively displaying the ultrasonic image based on the plurality of image data on the screen. There,
When one ultrasonic image is displayed on the screen, when an input operation for causing the additional information related to the one ultrasonic image to be displayed on the screen is performed, together with the one ultrasonic image, the A first step of displaying additional information on the screen;
A second step of displaying another ultrasound image on the screen without displaying the additional information after the first step;
After the second step, when the one ultrasonic image is redisplayed, redisplaying the additional information together with the one ultrasonic image;
An image display method comprising:

Images