JP2007068724A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus where a three-dimensional region of interest is set simply. <P>SOLUTION: A display control part 7 superimposes a two-dimensional marker to a C-face image or a tomogram and makes a display part 8 display it. The marker expresses a prescribed range set on a C-surface on an actual space, and its movement and deformation are restricted by a polar coordinate system on the display part 8. An operator moves or deforms the marker using an operation part 9 to be coincident with a desired section to be diagnosed. A 3DROI decision part 12 decides the range of three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) based on height information and information showing a shape stored previously in a ROI setting information storage part 13 with a range occupied by the marker as the bottom surface of the three-dimensional region of interest. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that includes a two-dimensional ultrasonic probe, transmits ultrasonic waves into a subject, and obtains diagnostic information in the subject based on reflected waves from the subject. In particular, the present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that allows easy setting of a three-dimensional region of interest (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “3DROI”) in a three-dimensional space.

  An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a two-dimensional ultrasonic probe in which ultrasonic transducers are arranged two-dimensionally collects three-dimensional biological information by spatially scanning to collect a three-dimensional three-dimensional image. Can be displayed (for example, Patent Document 1).

  A region of interest (ROI) is designated by the operator in order to observe a desired diagnostic region, and an ultrasonic wave is transmitted / received to / from the designated region of interest. , Tomographic images, Doppler data, color flow mapping data (CFM data), etc.).

  Here, the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the prior art will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a general ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the prior art.

  The two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 has ultrasonic transducers arranged in a matrix (lattice) shape, and transmits ultrasonic waves three-dimensionally by scanning, and three-dimensional data having a shape spreading radially from the probe surface. Can be received as an echo signal. The two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 can scan the two-dimensional scan plane and receive the two-dimensional data as an echo signal, and can scan the scan plane with an inclination.

  Here, a scannable region of the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a real space scanned by the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe, and is a schematic diagram for explaining a region to be scanned.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, a region that can be scanned by the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 is a three-dimensional scan region 30 that is a three-dimensional space. The entire three-dimensional scan region 30 is scanned by scanning the ultrasonic beam in the main scanning direction X and further scanning in the sub-scanning direction Y with the direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction X as the sub-scanning direction Y.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 can also scan a conical three-dimensional scan region 31. The entire three-dimensional scan region 31 is scanned by scanning the ultrasonic beam in the main scanning direction X (radial direction in the figure) and further scanning the circumferential direction as the sub-scanning direction Y.

  The transmission / reception unit 3 includes a transmission unit (not shown) that supplies an electrical signal to the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 to generate an ultrasonic wave, and a reception unit (not shown) that receives a signal from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2. It is configured with.

  The transmission unit of the transmission / reception unit 3 includes a clock generation circuit, a transmission delay circuit, and a pulsar circuit (not shown). The clock generation circuit is a circuit that generates a clock signal that determines the transmission timing and transmission frequency of the ultrasonic signal. The transmission delay circuit is a circuit that performs transmission focus with a delay when transmitting ultrasonic waves. The pulsar circuit incorporates pulsars corresponding to the number of individual paths (channels) corresponding to each ultrasonic transducer, generates a drive pulse at a delayed transmission timing, and outputs each ultrasonic wave of the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2. It is designed to be supplied to the vibrator.

  The receiving unit of the transmitting / receiving unit 3 includes a preamplifier circuit, an A / D conversion circuit, and a reception delay / adder circuit (not shown). The preamplifier circuit amplifies the echo signal output from each ultrasonic transducer of the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 for each reception channel. The A / D converter circuit A / D converts the amplified echo signal. The reception delay / adder circuit gives a delay time necessary for determining the reception directivity to the echo signal after A / D conversion, and adds the delay time. By the addition, the reflection component from the direction according to the reception directivity is emphasized. The signal added by the transmission / reception unit 3 is referred to as “RF data (or raw data)”. The RF data output from the transmission / reception unit 3 is output to the signal processing unit 4.

  The signal processing unit 4 mainly includes a B-mode processing unit 41, a Doppler processing unit 42, and a CFM processing unit 43.

  The B-mode processing unit 41 visualizes echo amplitude information and generates B-mode ultrasonic raster data from the echo signal. Specifically, the B-mode processing unit 41 performs band-pass filter processing on the signal sent from the transmission / reception unit 3, then detects the envelope of the output signal, and performs logarithmic conversion on the detected data. Apply compression processing.

  The Doppler processing unit 42 generates blood flow information by a pulse Doppler method (PW Doppler method) or a continuous wave Doppler method (CW Doppler method). For example, according to the 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, the depth measurement of the tissue and blood flow of a specific site | part is possible. The Doppler processing unit 42 extracts the Doppler shift frequency component from the signal sent from the transmission / reception unit 3 by phase detection of the received signal in the blood flow observation point having a predetermined magnitude, and further performs FFT processing. Thus, a Doppler frequency distribution representing the blood flow velocity in the blood flow observation point having a predetermined size is generated.

  Unlike the pulse Doppler method, the 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 Doppler processing unit 42 extracts the Doppler shift frequency component from the signal sent from the transmission / reception unit 3 by phase detection of the received signal on the blood flow observation sample line, and further performs FFT processing to obtain the sample line. A Doppler frequency component representing the upper blood flow velocity is generated.

  The CFM processing unit 43 visualizes the moving blood flow information and generates color ultrasonic raster data. Blood flow information includes information such as speed, dispersion, and power, and blood flow information is obtained as binarized information. Specifically, the CFM processing unit 43 includes a phase detection circuit, an MTI filter, an autocorrelator, and a flow velocity / dispersion calculator. The CFM processing unit 43 performs a high-pass filter process (MTI filter process) for separating the tissue signal and the blood flow signal, and performs blood flow information such as blood flow speed, dispersion, and power by autocorrelation processing. Ask for points. In addition, non-linear processing for reducing and reducing tissue signals may be performed.

  The DSC 5 (digital scan converter) reads the data after signal processing represented by the scanning line signal sequence output from the signal processing unit 4 and converts it 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 8 of the television scanning method.

  When the 3D scan is executed, the DSC 5 generates voxel data (volume data) by resampling the B-mode tomographic image data, and outputs the voxel data to the image processing unit 6.

  When the scan conversion process is performed on the signal-processed data output from the B-mode processing unit 41, B-mode tomographic image data representing the tissue shape of the subject is obtained. Further, when the scan conversion process is performed on the signal-processed data output from the Doppler processing unit 42, blood flow velocity information and the like are obtained as Doppler data. Further, when the scan conversion process is performed on the signal-processed data output from the CFM processing unit 43, color flow mapping data (CFM image data) that is a color image of blood flow is obtained.

  A method of displaying color blood flow information (CFM image) on a black and white B-mode tomographic image is referred to as color flow mapping or color Doppler tomography, which is referred to herein as CFM mode. In this CFM mode, one ultrasonic probe is usually used to share an ultrasonic beam for generating a tomographic image and obtaining Doppler detection, and one frame extraction of the tomographic image and Doppler detection are alternately performed. . When scanning is performed in the CFM mode, the B-mode tomographic image data and the CFM image data are combined in the DSC 5. As a result, the CFM image is superimposed on the B-mode tomographic image and displayed on the display unit 8.

  The image processing unit 6 performs various image processes on the image data obtained by scanning. For example, when a volume scan (3D scan) is performed, the image processing unit 6 performs image processing on voxel data (volume data) output from the DSC 5. For example, the image processing unit 6 performs volume rendering on the voxel data to generate three-dimensional image data. This volume rendering is a three-dimensional image display technique widely used in medical image diagnostic apparatuses such as X-ray CT apparatuses and MRI apparatuses other than ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses.

  In this volume rendering, a predetermined line-of-sight direction (projection direction of projected light) is determined for voxel data (volume data), ray tracing processing is performed from an arbitrary line of sight, and voxel values (luminance values, etc.) on the line of sight are determined. Three-dimensional image data is generated by three-dimensionally extracting an organ or the like by outputting an integral value or a weighted cumulative addition value to an image pixel on the projection plane.

  Further, the image processing unit 6 can perform MPR image processing and the like in addition to volume rendering. An image of an arbitrary cross section generated by a cut surface obtained by cutting voxel data (volume data) along a specific plane (cut plane) is referred to as an MPR (Multi Plane Reconstruction) image.

  For example, the image processing unit 6 is an image of a two-dimensional plane (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “C-plane”) that is orthogonal to a two-dimensional scan plane composed of a two-dimensional plane immediately below the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2. Data (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “C-plane image data”) can be generated. Here, a two-dimensional plane orthogonal to the two-dimensional scan plane will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a real space scanned by the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe, and is a schematic diagram for explaining the position of the C plane in the three-dimensional scan region.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a two-dimensional plane orthogonal to the two-dimensional scan plane 32 immediately below the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 is a C plane 33. The C surface 33 is substantially orthogonal to the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception direction. The position of the C surface 33 is designated by the operator using the operation unit 9. For example, by specifying the distance from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2, the position of the C plane is specified.

  When the 3D scan is performed, voxel data (volume data) is generated by the DSC 5, and the voxel data is output from the DSC 5 to the image processing unit 6. The image processing unit 6 cuts the C plane designated by the operator for the voxel data, and generates image data (C plane image data) of the C plane. For example, when the C plane 33 is designated by the operator, the image processing unit 6 generates image data (C plane image data) along the C plane based on the voxel data. The C plane image data generated in this way is output from the image processing unit 6 to the display control unit 7.

  The display control unit 7 receives B-mode tomographic image data from the DSC 5 and causes the display unit 8 to display an image (B-mode tomographic image or the like) based on the B-mode tomographic image data. For example, when scanning is performed in the CFM mode, the display control unit 7 receives image data obtained by combining the B-mode tomographic image data and the CFM image data from the DSC 5 and displays an image based on the image data on the display unit 8. Let As a result, an image in which the CFM image is superimposed on the B-mode tomographic image is displayed (color flow mapping). Further, the display control unit 7 receives 3D image data, C plane image data, and the like from the image processing unit 6 and causes the display unit 8 to display a 3D image, a C plane image, and the like based on the image data.

  The display unit 8 includes a monitor such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display, and a B-mode tomographic image, a three-dimensional image, or a C-plane image is displayed on the monitor screen.

  The operation unit 9 is an input device for performing various settings relating to ultrasonic transmission / reception conditions. For example, the operator uses the operation unit 9 to specify the projection direction (gaze direction) of the projected light ray with respect to the voxel data (volume data). Specifically, the operation unit 9 includes a pointing device such as a joystick or a trackball, a switch, various buttons, a mouse, a keyboard, or a TCS (Touch Command Screen).

  When a volume scan (3D scan) is performed by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the above configuration, a stereoscopic three-dimensional image can be displayed on the display unit 8. Conventionally, an operator designates a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) while observing a three-dimensional image displayed on the display unit 8.

JP 2004-275223 A

  However, it is difficult to set a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) while displaying a three-dimensional three-dimensional image on a display device and observing the three-dimensional image. Since a stereoscopic three-dimensional image has a depth, it is difficult to grasp the depth of the three-dimensional image simply by observing the three-dimensional image displayed on the monitor screen. Cannot be set.

  During scanning, you have the ultrasound probe with your dominant hand (one hand), so you need to set the 3D ROI by operating the ultrasound diagnostic device with the other hand that is not your dominant hand. There is. However, it is very difficult for the operator to operate the ultrasonic probe and set the three-dimensional region of interest at once, and skill is required to perform these operations simultaneously. In particular, since it is necessary to set a 3D region of interest in consideration of the depth of the 3D space with a non-dominant hand, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of setting the 3D region of interest with a simple method is desired. It was.

  The present invention solves the above-described problem, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of easily setting a three-dimensional region of interest (ROI).

  The invention according to claim 1 is an ultrasonic probe, a transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from the ultrasonic probe, and an image generation unit that generates image data based on data obtained as a result of transmission / reception of the ultrasonic waves And an image based on the image data is displayed on the display unit, and a marker indicating a two-dimensional predetermined range on a plane substantially orthogonal to the transmission / reception direction of the ultrasonic wave is superimposed on the image and displayed on the display unit And a region of interest determination unit that obtains a region of interest in a three-dimensional space whose cross section is a plane occupied by the two-dimensional predetermined range, and the transmission / reception unit includes a region within the three-dimensional region of interest. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that causes the ultrasonic probe to scan.

  The invention according to claim 2 is an ultrasonic probe, a transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from the ultrasonic probe, and an image generation unit that generates image data based on data obtained as a result of transmission / reception of the ultrasonic waves An image based on the image data is displayed on the display unit, and a display control unit that superimposes a two-dimensional marker on the image and displays the image on the display unit, and a range indicated by the two-dimensional marker is A region-of-interest determining unit that obtains a region of interest in a three-dimensional space with a two-dimensional range on a plane substantially orthogonal to the transmission / reception direction of the sound wave, and a plane occupied by the two-dimensional range. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus scans the ultrasonic probe in the three-dimensional region of interest.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the region-of-interest determination unit uses the cross section as a bottom surface and sets a preset length. The space occupied by the region from the bottom is defined as the region of interest in the three-dimensional space.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display control unit displays the marker on the display unit so as to be movable according to a polar coordinate system. It is characterized by making it.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display control unit displays the shape of the marker on the display unit in a deformable manner in accordance with the polar coordinate system. It is what.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the display control unit is configured to move the marker according to an orthogonal coordinate system to the display unit. It is characterized by being displayed.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit causes the display unit to display the shape of the marker in a deformable manner in accordance with the orthogonal coordinate system. It is a feature.

  The invention according to an eighth aspect is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the image generation unit is based on data obtained as a result of transmission / reception of the ultrasonic waves. Generating two-dimensional image data along a plane substantially orthogonal to the transmission / reception direction of the ultrasonic wave, and the display control unit superimposes the marker on the two-dimensional image based on the two-dimensional image data, and It is characterized by being displayed on a display unit.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the image generation unit is based on data obtained as a result of transmission / reception of the ultrasonic wave. Generating two-dimensional image data along a plane parallel to the transmission / reception direction of the ultrasonic wave, and the display control unit superimposes the marker on the two-dimensional image based on the two-dimensional image data and displays the display It is characterized by being displayed on the part.

  The invention according to claim 10 is an image based on data obtained as a result of transmission / reception of the ultrasonic wave in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasonic probe and a transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from the ultrasonic probe. An image generation function for generating data and an image based on the image data are displayed on the display unit, and a marker indicating a two-dimensional predetermined range on a plane substantially orthogonal to the transmission / reception direction of the ultrasonic wave is superimposed on the image A display control function for causing the display unit to display and a region-of-interest determination function for obtaining a region of interest in a three-dimensional space whose section is a plane occupying the two-dimensional predetermined range. It is.

  According to the present invention, by automatically determining the three-dimensional region of interest (ROI) based on the two-dimensional range indicated by the marker, the operator can simply and simply specify the desired position and shape with the marker. It becomes possible to set a dimensional region of interest.

  An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes a B mode for displaying a B-mode tomogram, an M mode for displaying a temporal position change of a reflection source in the ultrasonic beam direction as a motion curve, and a Doppler for displaying blood flow information. The apparatus is operable in accordance with a known mode such as a mode (pulse Doppler (PW) or continuous wave Doppler (CW)) and a CFM (color flow mapping) mode for displaying blood flow information two-dimensionally.

(Constitution)
A configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an 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 1 according to this embodiment has a feature in the ROI setting unit 10 and the display control unit 7 and displays a two-dimensional marker superimposed on a B-mode tomographic image, a C-plane image, or a three-dimensional image. Then, a three-dimensional region of interest (ROI) is determined based on the shape and size of the two-dimensional marker. This makes it possible to easily set a three-dimensional region of interest (ROI).

  The configuration other than the ROI setting unit 10 and the display control unit 7 has the same configuration as the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the related art described with reference to FIG. That is, the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2, the transmission / reception unit 3, the DSC 5, the image processing unit 6, the display unit 8, and the operation unit 9 included in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to this embodiment are the same as the known configurations. The same processing can be executed.

  Hereinafter, the ROI setting unit 10 and the display control unit 7 that contribute to the setting of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) will be described.

  The ROI setting unit 10 includes a 2D marker storage unit 11, a 3DROI determination unit 12, and an ROI setting information storage unit 13. The ROI setting unit 10 displays a tomographic image or a three-dimensional image obtained by scanning on the display unit 8. In this state, the shape and size of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) are determined based on the shape and size of the two-dimensional marker (hereinafter referred to as “2D marker”) displayed superimposed on the images.

  The 2D marker storage unit 11 stores two-dimensional marker data (hereinafter referred to as “2D marker data”) serving as a reference when determining a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI). The 2D marker is displayed on the display unit 8 by being superimposed on a tomographic image or a three-dimensional image. The range occupied by the 2D marker corresponds to a predetermined range on the C plane orthogonal to the two-dimensional scan plane 32 immediately below the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 in the real space shown in FIG.

  The display control unit 7 displays a B-mode tomographic image, a three-dimensional image, an MPR image, a C-plane image, or the like on the display unit 8 as well as the display control unit according to the related art, and from the 2D marker storage unit 11 to the 2D marker. Data is read and a 2D marker is superimposed on a three-dimensional image, MPR image, B-mode tomographic image, C-plane image or the like and displayed on the display unit 8. The operator can change the position, shape, and size of the 2D marker on the three-dimensional image or MPR image by operating the operation unit 9, and presses a confirmation button or the like installed on the operation unit 9. Thus, the position, shape and size of the 2D marker can be determined. The display control unit 7 moves the 2D marker 15 to the coordinate of the movement destination and displays it on the display unit 8 according to the instruction of the operation unit 9, and enlarges or reduces the 2D marker 15 and displays it on the display unit 8.

  Here, the shape of the 2D marker displayed superimposed on the image and the restriction on movement on the image will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. 3 to 5 are diagrams of monitor screens showing display examples of 2D markers superimposed on the C-plane image.

  Here, the case where the diagnostic site is the heart and the 2D marker is displayed on the C-plane image will be described. By performing 3D scanning, voxel data (volume data) is generated, and the image processing unit 6 generates image data (C-plane image data) along the C-plane designated by the operator based on the voxel data. . The operator can specify the position of the C plane by specifying the distance (depth) from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 using the operation unit 9. When receiving the C plane image data from the image processing unit 6, the display control unit 7 reads the 2D marker data from the 2D marker storage unit 11 and superimposes the 2D marker on the C plane image to display on the display unit 8.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the display control unit 7 displays a C-plane image 14 of the heart on the monitor screen 8a of the display unit 8, and a 2D marker representing a predetermined range on the C-plane image 14. 15 is displayed in an overlapping manner.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the 2D marker 15 can be moved, enlarged, and reduced according to a polar coordinate system. In other words, movement, enlargement, and reduction of the 2D marker 15 are limited to movement, enlargement, and reduction on the polar coordinates. Here, the center O is the center point of the polar coordinate system. The 2D marker 15 is movable around the center O in the r direction (radial direction) and the φ direction (circumferential direction) according to the polar coordinate system. The 2D marker 15 can be enlarged or reduced in the r direction and the φ direction. In this example, the 2D marker 15 has a fan shape.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the 2D marker 15 can be enlarged or reduced in the r2 direction (radial direction) in the r2 direction which is the opposite direction of the r1 direction and the r1 direction. (Direction) can be enlarged or reduced in the φ2 direction, which is the opposite direction of the φ1 direction and the φ1 direction. By this enlargement and reduction, the shape of the fan-shaped 2D marker 15 can be changed.

  The operation of moving, enlarging, and reducing the 2D marker 15 is performed using a pointing device or a mouse installed in the operation unit 9. The display control unit 7 moves the 2D marker 15 to the coordinate of the movement destination and displays it on the display unit 8 according to the instruction of the operation unit 9, and enlarges or reduces the 2D marker 15 and displays it on the display unit 8. At this time, the movement, enlargement, and reduction of the 2D marker 15 are limited to movement, enlargement, and reduction on the polar coordinates.

  As described above, by displaying the C plane image on the display unit 8, the depth of the three-dimensional space that is the real space can be grasped, so the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) is determined on the C plane image. By displaying the 2D marker that is a reference for the display, it is possible to appropriately specify the position of the desired region of interest in the depth direction.

  In addition, by making the operation of the 2D marker 15 movable and deformable according to the polar coordinate system, the shape of the 2D marker 15 can be easily matched with the shape of the heart. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the coronary artery which is a part 14a of the heart has a shape close to a circular shape in the C-plane image. Since the 2D marker 15 is limited to the polar coordinate system and can be moved, and can be expanded and contracted by being limited in the r1, r2, φ1, and φ2 directions, the portion 14a of the heart having a nearly circular shape (coronary artery) ), The shape of the 2D marker 15 is easily matched.

  For example, the operation of enlarging and reducing the 2D marker 15 having a fan shape is limited to the polar coordinate system, and the 2D marker 15 is enlarged or reduced in the r direction and the φ direction, thereby changing the shape of the 2D marker 15 to a part of the heart. It becomes easy to match the shape of 14a (coronary artery). In addition, by restricting the direction of movement to the r direction or the φ direction, the 2D marker 15 can be moved along the shape of the portion 14a (coronary artery) of the heart. It becomes easy to move.

  As described above, the operation of moving and deforming the 2D marker 15 is limited to the coordinate system of the polar coordinates, so that even a hand that is not a dominant hand can easily perform the operation for such movement and deformation. It is easier for the operator to operate if there are some restrictions on the movement direction and shape change than when the 2D marker 15 can be freely moved and deformed. In particular, when the operation is performed with one hand that is not the listener, the effect becomes remarkable. At this time, if the direction of movement and deformation of the 2D marker 15 can be moved and deformed along the shape of the diagnostic region, the operation becomes easier. As described above, in the case of the heart, particularly in the case of the coronary artery, the movement and deformation of the 2D marker 15 are limited to the polar coordinate system, so that the shape of the 2D marker 15 can be easily matched with the shape of the coronary artery. It becomes possible to carry out simply.

  Further, the center O of the polar coordinate system, which is a reference for movement and deformation of the 2D marker, can be moved in any direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the center O can be translated on the C-plane image 14 to be the center O1. In this case, the destination center O1 becomes the center of a new polar coordinate system, and the 2D marker 15 can be moved and deformed in accordance with the new polar coordinate system. The movement of the center O of the polar coordinate system can be instructed by the operator using the operation unit 9. The display control unit 7 displays the 2D marker 15 on the display unit 8 in accordance with the polar coordinate system centered on the new center O1, and moves and changes the shape of the 2D marker 15 in accordance with the movement and shape change instructions on the display unit 8. Let

  Further, the 2D marker may be moved, enlarged and reduced on the orthogonal coordinate system. A case where the 2D marker is moved and deformed on the orthogonal coordinate system will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the 2D marker 16 has a rectangular shape. And it can move in the X direction and the Y direction orthogonal to each other. The 2D marker 16 can be enlarged or reduced in the X direction and the Y direction. As described above, the 2D marker 16 is limited to the orthogonal coordinate system and can be moved, enlarged, and reduced.

  The operation of moving, enlarging, and reducing the 2D marker 16 is performed using a pointing device or a mouse installed in the operation unit 9. The display control unit 7 moves the 2D marker 16 to the coordinate of the movement destination and displays it on the display unit 8 according to the instruction of the operation unit 9, and enlarges or reduces the 2D marker 16 and displays it on the display unit 8. At this time, the movement, enlargement, and reduction of the 2D marker 16 are limited to movement, enlargement, and reduction on the orthogonal coordinates.

  The 2D marker 15 or 2D marker 16 is moved to a desired position on the monitor screen 8a of the display unit 8, and the shape and size of the 2D marker 15 or 2D marker 16 are changed to the shape and size of the diagnostic site to be observed. In addition, the operator presses the confirmation button set in the operation unit 9. Thereby, a marker (range) serving as a reference when determining the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) is determined, and the display control unit 7 outputs information indicating the position (coordinates) of the 2D marker to the 3DROI determination unit 12. In addition, information indicating the shape and size of the 2D marker is output to the 3DROI determination unit 12.

  Upon receiving information indicating the position (coordinates), shape, and size of the determined 2D marker from the display control unit 7, the 3DROI determination unit 12 determines the range of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) based on the information. . Information used for this determination is stored in advance in the ROI setting information storage unit 13. The ROI setting information storage unit 13 stores information indicating the height of the three-dimensional region of interest and information indicating the shape of the three-dimensional region of interest. The information indicating the height and the information indicating the shape are information set and stored in advance, and can be arbitrarily set by the operator in advance.

  The 3DROI determination unit 12 determines a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) whose section is the range occupied by the 2D marker output from the display control unit 7. For example, the 3D ROI determination unit 12 sets the range occupied by the 2D marker as a cross section, sets the height information stored in the ROI setting information storage unit 13 in advance as the height of the three-dimensional region of interest, and sets the shape to a predetermined shape. In addition, a three-dimensional region of interest is determined.

  Here, a method of determining a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) based on the 2D marker will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a real space scanned by the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe, and is a schematic diagram for explaining a process for determining a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) based on the shape and size of the 2D marker. FIG.

  Here, a case where a 2D marker is set on the polar coordinate system will be described. FIGS. 6A and 6B show an example of a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI). A three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 18 shown in FIG. 6A and a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 19 shown in FIG. It is said. The distance (depth) from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 to the bottom surface 17 is equal to the distance (depth) from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 to the C plane. The distance (depth) from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 to the C plane is a parameter designated by the operator when generating the C plane image.

  Since the set shape of the 2D marker 15 has a fan shape, the bottom surfaces 17 of the three-dimensional regions of interest (3DROI) 18 and 19 also have a fan shape. In addition, the height of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 18 and 19 is a height h. Information indicating the position, shape, and size of the 2D marker is output from the display control unit 7 to the 3D ROI determination unit 12 as described above, and information indicating the height h is stored in the ROI setting information storage unit 13 in advance. .

  Then, the 3DROI determination unit 12 determines the shapes of the three-dimensional regions of interest (3DROI) 18 and 19 according to information indicating the shapes of the three-dimensional regions of interest stored in advance in the ROI setting information storage unit 13.

  A three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 18 shown in FIG. 6 (a) has a shape along a conical shape, and a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 19 shown in FIG. 6 (b) follows a columnar shape. It has a different shape.

  For example, when information indicating a conical shape is stored in the ROI setting information storage unit 13 in advance, the 3DROI determining unit 12 determines the range of the region of interest to be obtained in accordance with the information indicating the conical shape. The three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 18 shown in FIG. Since the shape of the 2D marker 15 is a fan shape, the shape of the bottom surface 17 of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 18 is a fan shape, and the cross section at an arbitrary position in the height direction is also a fan shape. . That is, the cross-sectional shape of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 18 maintains a fan-like similarity. Further, according to the conical shape condition, the cross-sectional area of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 18 gradually decreases as the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 is approached.

  On the other hand, when the information indicating the columnar shape is stored in advance in the ROI setting information storage unit 13, the 3DROI determination unit 12 determines the range of the region of interest to be obtained according to the information indicating the columnar shape as shown in FIG. 3D region of interest (3DROI) 19 shown in FIG. Since this three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 19 is determined according to the information indicating the columnar shape, the cross-sectional shape at an arbitrary height has the same fan shape as the shape of the bottom surface 17, and the cross-sectional shape depends on the height. Remains a columnar area.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, even when a desired position is designated by the 2D marker 16 represented by the orthogonal coordinate system, the 3DROI determination unit 12 also determines the shape and size of the 2D marker 16 and the ROI setting information storage unit 13. The shape and size of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) are determined on the basis of the information indicating the height and shape stored in. In this case, since the shape of the 2D marker 16 is a rectangular shape, the 3DROI determination unit 12 determines a region having a rectangular parallelepiped shape or a cubic shape whose bottom surface is the rectangular range as a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI). To do.

  As described above, when the range of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) is determined, the 3DROI determining unit 12 outputs information indicating the coordinates of the determined three-dimensional region of interest to the transmission / reception unit 3 and the shape of the three-dimensional region of interest. And information indicating the size are output to the transmission / reception unit 3.

  The transmission / reception unit 3 receives the coordinate information, the shape and the size of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) output from the 3DROI determination unit 12, and the three-dimensional region of interest at the position corresponding to the coordinates is received. The two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 is controlled so that ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received over the occupied range. For example, color flow mapping data (CFM image data) is obtained by scanning in the CFM mode, and a three-dimensional color image of a blood vessel in a three-dimensional region of interest is obtained.

  The two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 transmits ultrasonic waves to the part located at the above position according to the control of the transmission / reception unit 3, receives the reflection, and transmits the reflection to the transmission / reception unit 3. By this scanning, image data in the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) is collected. For example, by scanning in the CFM mode, color flow mapping data (CFM image data) is collected, and a three-dimensional color image of a blood vessel in a three-dimensional region of interest is obtained.

  For example, when the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 18 or 19 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is determined as the three-dimensional region of interest, CFM image data is collected by scanning in the CFM mode. A three-dimensional color image of a blood vessel within the dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 18 or 19 is obtained.

  In the above example, the range of the 2D marker is the bottom surface of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI), but it may be a cross section at an arbitrary position. In this case, the height of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) may be the height h as a whole. For example, the range occupied by the 2D marker may be a cross section at the center of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI).

  Moreover, although the case where the 2D marker representing the predetermined range set on the C plane is superimposed on the C plane image has been described, the predetermined range set on the C plane on an image other than the C plane image You may display the 2D marker showing. For example, a 2D marker may be displayed on a tomographic image orthogonal to the C-plane image to determine the position, shape, and size of the 2D marker. A display example in this case will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram of a monitor screen showing a display example of the 2D marker superimposed on the tomographic image.

  Here, a 2D marker is displayed on a tomographic image of a plane along the two-dimensional scan plane 32 shown in FIG. The two-dimensional scan plane 32 is a scan plane immediately below the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 and is a plane orthogonal to the C plane in the three-dimensional real space.

  For example, by performing 2D scanning on the two-dimensional scanning surface 32 in the B mode, B-mode tomographic image data of the surface is generated. When receiving the B-mode tomographic image data from the DSC 5, the display control unit 7 reads the 2D marker data from the 2D marker storage unit 11 and causes the display unit 8 to display the 2D marker superimposed on the B-mode tomographic image.

  When 3D scanning is performed, the image processing unit 6 generates B-mode tomographic image data of the surface along the two-dimensional scan surface 32 based on the obtained volume data, and outputs it to the display control unit 7. . When receiving the B-mode tomographic image data from the image processing unit 6, the display control unit 7 reads the 2D marker data from the 2D marker storage unit 11 and superimposes the 2D marker on the B-mode tomographic image and causes the display unit 8 to display the data.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the display control unit 7 displays the tomographic image 20 on the monitor screen 8 a of the display unit 8. This tomographic image 20 is a two-dimensional image along a plane orthogonal to the C plane in real space. The display control unit 7 displays the tomographic image 20 by superimposing a surface 21 representing the C surface and a 2D marker 22.

  The 2D marker 22 is a marker that represents a predetermined range set on the C plane in the real space. Since the C plane and the tomographic image 20 are orthogonal to each other, a 2D marker representing a predetermined range set on the C plane is displayed on the tomographic image so that the plane representing the C plane and the 2D marker are slanted. The image 20 is displayed in an overlapping manner.

  FIG. 7A shows an example of the C plane and 2D marker displayed obliquely in this way. The surface 21 shown in FIG. 7A is a surface obtained by obliquely displaying the C surface in the real space, and the 2D marker 22 is a marker representing a predetermined range set on the C surface in the real space. The display control unit 7 causes the display unit 8 to display the 2D marker 22 on the surface 21 representing the inclined C surface. The surface data of the inclined surface 21 representing the C surface and the 2D marker data of the inclined 2D marker are set in advance and stored in the 2D marker storage unit 11. When the display control unit 7 receives the B-mode tomographic image data, the display control unit 7 reads the surface data and the 2D marker data from the 2D marker storage unit 11, and displays the inclined 2D marker and the surface representing the C plane in the tomographic image. Superimposed and displayed on the display unit 8. Further, the position of the center of the surface 21 corresponds to the distance (depth) of the C surface from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 in the real space. When the position of the C surface is designated by the operator, the display control unit 7 displays the surface 21 at the designated position.

  The surface 21 can be moved in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction on the tomographic image 20 by the operator using the operation unit 9. Since the position of the surface 21 represents the position of the C surface in real space, the distance (depth) from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 to the C surface is changed by moving the surface 21 in the vertical direction. It becomes possible. Thereby, the distance (depth) from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 to the C plane can be specified.

  Further, the 2D marker 22 is restricted to the inclined surface 21 and can be moved, enlarged and reduced. At this time, the 2D marker 22 can be moved, enlarged, and reduced according to a polar coordinate system centered on the center O2. Note that the 2D marker may be movable, enlarged, and reduced according to an orthogonal coordinate system.

  As described above, by displaying the surface 21 representing the C surface and the 2D marker 22 on the tomographic image 20, the operator can determine the distance (depth) from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 to the designated C surface. Since it can be visually recognized, the position in the depth direction of the region of interest set in the three-dimensional space can be intuitively grasped.

  Then, the operator moves the surface 21 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction on the tomographic image 20 to determine the position of the C surface in the real space, and further moves the 2D marker 22 to a desired position according to the polar coordinate system. Further, the shape of the 2D marker 22 is deformed in accordance with the polar coordinate system so as to match the shape of a desired diagnostic region. As described above, the predetermined range is designated by the 2D marker 22, thereby determining the cross section of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) to be obtained.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the display control unit 7 may reduce and display the surface 23 representing the C surface and the 2D marker that can move within the surface 23 on the display unit 8. . Also in this case, the surface 23 can move in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction on the tomographic image 20.

  As described above, even when the 2D marker is displayed on the tomographic image 20 and a desired position is designated, the 3D region of interest (3DROI) can be simply and simply displayed in the same manner as when the 2D marker is displayed on the C-plane image. It is possible to determine. The position of the center of the surface 21 displayed diagonally indicates the distance (depth) from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 to the C surface in real space, and the shape and size of the 2D marker 22 displayed diagonally. Is the shape and size of the cross section of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI). For example, the 3DROI determination unit 12 determines a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) according to the height information stored in the ROI setting information storage unit 13 with the range occupied by the 2D marker 22 as a bottom surface. At this time, the 3DROI determination unit 12 determines the shape of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) according to the information indicating the shape stored in the ROI setting information storage unit 13. For example, when the 2D marker is determined according to the polar coordinate system, the shape of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) is determined according to the conical or columnar shape.

  A 3D region of interest (3DROI) is displayed by superimposing and displaying a 2D marker on a C-plane image or a 3D image other than a tomographic image, and moving and changing the shape of the 2D marker while observing the 3D image. ) May be determined as a reference plane.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 includes a control unit (not shown). The control unit is connected to each part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 and controls each part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1. In addition, a storage device (not shown) including a memory such as a ROM or a RAM is connected to the control unit. The storage device stores a control program for controlling each part of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1. The control unit is composed of, for example, a CPU, and controls each unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 by executing a control program stored in the storage device, so that the function of the transmission / reception unit 3, the function of the signal processing unit 4, and the DSC 5 , The function of the image processing unit 6, the function of the display control unit 7, and the function of the ROI setting unit 10. The information or command input by the operation unit 9 is output to the control unit, and the control unit performs processing according to the command.

(Function)
Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing in sequence the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, a case where the heart of the subject is visualized will be described.

  First, a 2D scan is performed in the B mode by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 and a two-dimensional B-mode tomographic image is displayed on the display unit 8 to search for the position of a desired diagnostic site (in this example, the heart). At this time, B-mode tomographic image data is collected by scanning the two-dimensional scan plane 32 shown in FIG. 12, and a tomographic image based on the data is displayed on the display unit 8.

  Then, the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 is moved to the position of a desired diagnostic site (heart), and 3D scanning is executed by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 to collect volume data in the subject (step S01). Specifically, the transmission / reception unit 3 supplies an electric signal to the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 to generate an ultrasonic wave, and transmits the ultrasonic wave into the subject. For example, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the transmission / reception unit 3 causes the two-dimensional ultrasound probe 2 to scan (scan) a three-dimensional space such as the three-dimensional scan region 30 or the three-dimensional scan region 31. .

  The DSC 5 generates voxel data (volume data) based on the signal-processed data output from the signal processing unit 4, and outputs the voxel data to the image processing unit 6.

  When receiving the voxel data from the DSC 5, the image processing unit 6 performs image processing by a method determined by the operator. Here, a case where C plane image data is generated will be described. When generating C-plane image data, the operator designates the position of the C-plane using the operation unit 9. Specifically, the distance (depth) from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 is designated. The image processing unit 6 generates image data (C plane image data) along the C plane designated by the operator based on the voxel data (step S02). The C plane image data is output to the display control unit 7, and the display control unit 7 causes the display unit 8 to display a C plane image based on the C plane image data.

  At this time, the display control unit 7 reads the 2D marker data stored in the 2D marker storage unit 11 and causes the display unit 8 to display the 2D marker superimposed on the C-plane image (step S03). This 2D marker is a marker indicating a predetermined range set on the C plane in the real space, and can be moved, enlarged and reduced on the C plane. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the display control unit 7 causes the display unit 8 to display the 2D marker 15 on the C-plane image 14. Here, the 2D marker 15 can be moved, enlarged and reduced according to a polar coordinate system. As shown in FIG. 5, the 2D marker may be moved, enlarged, and reduced according to an orthogonal coordinate system.

  Then, in a state where the 2D marker 15 is displayed on the monitor screen 8a of the display unit 8, the operator moves the 2D marker 15 to a site to be observed using the mouse of the operation unit 9 and the like. The shape and size of the 2D marker 15 are matched with the shape (step S04).

  For example, when imaging the heart, as shown in FIG. 3B, since the shape of the portion 14a (coronary artery) of the heart is circular, the 2D marker 15 is moved, enlarged or reduced according to the polar coordinate system. This makes it easy to match the 2D marker 15 to the shape of the portion 14a (coronary artery) of the heart. In particular, when the region of interest is set with the other hand while the hand is holding the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2, the movement of the 2D marker 15 is restricted to the polar coordinate system. Thus, the shape and position of the region of interest can be easily set.

  Then, when the operator presses the confirmation button set in the operation unit 9, the position, shape, and size of the 2D marker 15 are confirmed. Information indicating the determined position (coordinates), shape, and size of the 2D marker is output from the display control unit 7 to the 3DROI determination unit 12.

  When the 3DROI determination unit 12 receives information indicating the position (coordinates), shape, and size of the 2D marker from the display control unit 7, based on the shape and size of the 2D marker, the target 3D region of interest (3DROI ) Is determined (step S05).

  The 3DROI determination unit 12 reads the height information of the three-dimensional region of interest and the information indicating the shape from the ROI setting information storage unit 13, and based on the information and the information indicating the position, shape, and size of the 2D marker. A range of a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) is determined.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the 3DROI determination unit 12 sets the surface occupied by the set 2D marker as the bottom surface 17 and sets the height as a preset height h. Further, the shape is a shape along a conical shape. Then, the 3DROI determination unit 12 determines the range surrounded by the bottom surface 17, the top surface located at a height h from the bottom surface 17, and the side surface as a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 18. Since the shape of the 2D marker specified by the operator is a fan shape, the bottom surface 17 also has a fan shape. In addition, since the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) is formed according to the conical shape, the cross-sectional area gradually decreases as it approaches the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 while maintaining a similar shape.

  Then, the 3DROI determination unit 12 outputs information indicating the position (coordinates), shape, and size of the determined three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 18 to the transmission / reception unit 3. When the columnar three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 19 shown in FIG. 6B is determined with the shape of the three-dimensional region of interest as a columnar shape, the position (coordinates) and shape of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 19 are also determined. And information indicating the size are output to the transmission / reception unit 3.

  When the transmission / reception unit 3 receives information indicating the coordinates, shape, and size of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 18 or 19 from the 3DROI determination unit 12, the transmission / reception unit 3 causes the two-dimensional ultrasound probe 2 to scan within the three-dimensional region of interest. (Step S06). For example, by scanning in the CFM mode, color flow mapping data (CFM image data) is collected, and a three-dimensional color image of a blood vessel in the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) 18 or 19 is obtained. Then, the display control unit 7 causes the display unit 8 to display an image based on the image data obtained by the 3D scanning (step S07).

  As in the prior art, data obtained by 3D scanning is processed by the CFM processing unit 43 to generate color Doppler image data (color flow mapping data), and the color Doppler image (color flow mapping data) is displayed on the display unit 8. ) Is displayed. According to the CFM image data, the color image of the blood vessel in the three-dimensional region of interest is displayed in a three-dimensional manner.

  As described above, by displaying a 2D marker indicating a predetermined range set on the C plane in the real space on the C plane image, and by specifying a cross section of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) with the 2D marker It becomes easy to grasp the depth direction of the three-dimensional space, and furthermore, since it is sufficient to set a two-dimensional marker on the two-dimensional screen, it is possible to easily set a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI).

  In addition, since the operation of moving and deforming the 2D marker is limited to the coordinate system of the polar coordinates, the operation for moving and deforming is easy even with a hand that is not a dominant hand. Furthermore, when imaging a circular diagnostic site like a heart, limiting the movement and deformation of the 2D marker to the polar coordinate system makes it easier to match the shape of the 2D marker with the shape of the circular diagnostic site, The setting of the region of interest is further simplified.

  In the above example, the range of the 2D marker designated by the operator is the bottom surface of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI), but any cross section of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) may be used. For example, the range occupied by the designated 2D marker may be a cross section at the center in the depth direction of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI). In this case, the position of the cross section in the depth direction is the center position (h / 2) of the preset height h. Even when the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) is determined in this manner, the operator can simply set the three-dimensional region of interest because the operator only needs to specify a desired position using the 2D marker.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the C plane and the 2D marker are diagonally displayed on the tomographic image 20 orthogonal to the C plane, and the reference for determining the three-dimensional region of interest by the diagonally displayed 2D marker Even if the range is determined, the same actions and effects can be obtained. By displaying the C plane on the tomographic image 20, the operator can recognize the distance (depth) from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 to the designated C plane, so that the three-dimensional space is set. It becomes possible to intuitively grasp the position of the region of interest in the depth direction.

  Moreover, although this embodiment demonstrated the case where a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) was determined based on the 2D marker according to the polar coordinate system, as shown in FIG. 5, based on the 2D marker according to the orthogonal coordinate system. Can also easily set a three-dimensional region of interest. Also in this case, the range occupied by the 2D marker is the bottom surface (cross section), and the shape of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) and the information indicating the shape and the height information stored in advance in the ROI setting information storage unit 13 Determine the size. In this case, since the shape of the 2D marker determined according to the Cartesian coordinate system is rectangular, if the range occupied by the 2D marker is the bottom surface (cross section), the shape of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) is a rectangular parallelepiped or a cube. And so on.

  In the case where the 2D marker is displayed on the display unit 8 according to the polar coordinate system, the position, shape and size of the 2D marker are determined, and the 3D region of interest (3DROI) is determined based on the range occupied by the 2D marker. When the 2D ultrasound probe 2 scans the 3D space according to the polar coordinate system, the 3DROI determination unit 12 matches the set coordinate system of the 3D region of interest and the scan coordinate system. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform coordinate conversion of the coordinates of the three-dimensional region of interest output from the transmitter to the transmitter / receiver 3. Similarly, the 2D marker is displayed on the display unit 8 according to the orthogonal coordinate system, the position, shape, and size of the 2D marker are determined, and the 3D region of interest (3DROI) is determined based on the range occupied by the 2D marker. In the case of determination, when the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 scans the three-dimensional space according to the orthogonal coordinate system, it is not necessary to perform coordinate conversion of the coordinates of the three-dimensional region of interest.

  On the other hand, the 2D marker is displayed on the display unit 8 according to the polar coordinate system, the position, shape and size of the 2D marker are determined, and the 3D region of interest (3DROI) is determined based on the range occupied by the 2D marker. When the 2D ultrasonic probe 2 scans in the 3D space according to the orthogonal coordinate system, the set coordinate system of the 3D region of interest and the scan coordinate system do not match. It is necessary to transform the coordinates of the three-dimensional region of interest. Similarly, the 2D marker is displayed on the display unit 8 according to the orthogonal coordinate system, the position, shape, and size of the 2D marker are determined, and the 3D region of interest (3DROI) is determined based on the range occupied by the 2D marker. If the two-dimensional ultrasound probe 2 scans in the three-dimensional space according to the polar coordinate system, the coordinate system of the set three-dimensional region of interest and the coordinate system of the scan do not match. It is necessary to convert the coordinates of the area.

  Here, the relationship between the coordinate system when setting the 2D marker and the coordinate system of the actual scan will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are views (top view) viewed from a two-dimensional ultrasonic probe, and are diagrams for explaining the relationship between the coordinate system of the 2D marker and the scan coordinate system.

  First, a case where the coordinate system of the three-dimensional region of interest determined by the 3DROI determination unit 12 matches the coordinate system of the actual scan will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8A shows the relationship of the coordinate system when scanning is performed according to the polar coordinate system and the 2D marker is set according to the polar coordinate system. For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, the ultrasonic beam is scanned in the main scanning direction X (radial direction), and the circumferential direction is scanned as the sub-scanning direction Y, so that a conical three-dimensional scan region is obtained. 31 is scanned. When viewed from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2, the scanning range is a circular scanning range 24 as shown in FIG. The coordinate system of this scan is represented by a polar coordinate system. Further, since the setting of the 2D marker 15 is also expressed in the polar coordinate system, these coordinate systems coincide with each other, and it is not necessary to perform coordinate conversion of the coordinates of the three-dimensional region of interest set in the polar coordinate system.

  FIG. 8B shows the relationship of the coordinate system when scanning is performed in the orthogonal coordinate system and the 2D marker is set according to the orthogonal coordinate system. For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the ultrasonic beam is scanned in the main scanning direction X, and the direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction X is scanned as the sub-scanning direction Y. Scan. When viewed from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2, the scan range is a rectangular scan range 25 as shown in FIG. The coordinate system of this scan is represented by an orthogonal coordinate system. Further, since the setting of the 2D marker 16 is also expressed in an orthogonal coordinate system, these coordinate systems match and there is no need to coordinate-convert the coordinates of the three-dimensional region of interest set in the orthogonal coordinate system.

  Next, a case where the coordinate system of the three-dimensional region of interest determined by the 3DROI determination unit 12 and the coordinate system of the actual scan do not match will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9A shows the relationship of the coordinate system when scanning is performed in the orthogonal coordinate system and the 2D marker is set according to the polar coordinate system. For example, when the inside of the three-dimensional scan region 30 is scanned as shown in FIG. 11A, when viewed from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2, the range of this scan is rectangular as shown in FIG. The scan range 25 is a shape. The coordinate system of this scan is represented by an orthogonal coordinate system. On the other hand, since the setting of the 2D marker 15 is expressed in the polar coordinate system, these coordinate systems do not match, and it is necessary to convert the coordinates of the three-dimensional region of interest set in the polar coordinate system into an orthogonal coordinate system.

  In this case, when the 3DROI determination unit 12 receives information indicating the coordinates, shape, and size of the 2D marker from the display control unit 7, if the 2D marker is set in the polar coordinate system, the coordinates are determined according to a predetermined conversion formula. Is converted from the polar coordinate system to the orthogonal coordinate system, and information indicating the coordinates, shape, and size of the converted three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) is output to the transmitting / receiving unit 3.

  FIG. 9B shows the relationship of the coordinate system when scanning is performed according to the polar coordinate system and the 2D marker is set according to the orthogonal coordinate system. For example, when the inside of the conical three-dimensional scan region 31 is scanned as shown in FIG. 11B, when viewed from the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2, the range of this scan is as shown in FIG. 9B. In addition, a circular scan range 24 is obtained. The coordinate system of this scan is represented by a polar coordinate system. On the other hand, since the setting of the 2D marker 16 is expressed in an orthogonal coordinate system, these coordinate systems do not match, and it is necessary to convert the coordinates of the three-dimensional region of interest set in the orthogonal coordinate system into a polar coordinate system. .

  In this case, when the 2D marker is set in the orthogonal coordinate system when the 3DROI determination unit 12 receives information indicating the coordinates, shape, and size of the 2D marker from the display control unit 7, according to a predetermined conversion formula The coordinates are converted from an orthogonal coordinate system to a polar coordinate system, and information indicating the coordinates, shape, and size of the converted three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) is output to the transmission / reception unit 3.

  As described above, when the coordinate system of the 2D marker setting and the coordinate system of the actual scan match, it is necessary to coordinate-transform the coordinates of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) determined by the 3DROI determination unit 12. Instead, the transmission / reception unit 3 causes the two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 to scan within the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI). On the other hand, when the coordinate system of the 2D marker setting and the coordinate system of the actual scan do not match, the coordinates of the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) determined by the 3DROI determination unit 12 are coordinate-converted, and the transmission / reception unit 3 The two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 2 is scanned within the three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) after the coordinate conversion.

1 is a block diagram showing a 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 of the monitor screen which shows the example of a display of the 2D marker superimposed on C surface image. It is a figure of the monitor screen which shows the example of a display of the 2D marker superimposed on C surface image. It is a figure of the monitor screen which shows the example of a display of the 2D marker superimposed on C surface image. It is a figure which shows the real space which a two-dimensional ultrasonic probe scans, Comprising: It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the process for determining a three-dimensional region of interest (3DROI) based on the shape and magnitude | size of a 2D marker. . It is a figure of the monitor screen which shows the example of a display of the 2D marker superimposed on the tomogram. FIG. 5 is a diagram (top view) seen from a two-dimensional ultrasonic probe, for explaining the relationship between the coordinate system of a 2D marker and a scan coordinate system. FIG. 5 is a diagram (top view) seen from a two-dimensional ultrasonic probe, for explaining the relationship between the coordinate system of a 2D marker and a scan coordinate system. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the general ultrasonic diagnosing device based on a prior art. It is a figure which shows the real space which a two-dimensional ultrasonic probe scans, Comprising: It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the area | region to scan. It is a figure which shows the real space which a two-dimensional ultrasonic probe scans, Comprising: It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the position of the C surface in a three-dimensional scan area | region.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 Two-dimensional ultrasonic probe 3 Transmission / reception part 4 Signal processing part 5 DSC
6 Image processing unit 7 Display control unit 8 Display unit 9 Operation unit 10 ROI setting unit 11 2D marker storage unit 12 3DROI determination unit 13 ROI setting information storage unit

Claims (10)

An ultrasonic probe;
A transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to the ultrasonic probe;
An image generation unit that generates image data based on data obtained as a result of transmission and reception of the ultrasonic wave;
An image based on the image data is displayed on the display unit, and a marker indicating a two-dimensional predetermined range on a plane substantially orthogonal to the transmission / reception direction of the ultrasonic wave is superimposed on the image and displayed on the display unit A control unit;
A region-of-interest determining unit for obtaining a region of interest in a three-dimensional space whose cross section is a plane occupied by the two-dimensional predetermined range;
With
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the transmission / reception unit causes the ultrasonic probe to scan within the three-dimensional region of interest. An ultrasonic probe;
A transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to the ultrasonic probe;
An image generation unit that generates image data based on data obtained as a result of transmission and reception of the ultrasonic wave;
A display control unit that displays an image based on the image data on the display unit and causes the display unit to display a two-dimensional marker superimposed on the image;
The range indicated by the two-dimensional marker is set as a two-dimensional range on a plane substantially orthogonal to the transmission / reception direction of the ultrasonic wave, and an interest for obtaining a region of interest in a three-dimensional space whose section is a plane occupied by the two-dimensional range. An area determination unit;
With
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the transmission / reception unit causes the ultrasonic probe to scan within the three-dimensional region of interest.   2. The region of interest determination unit, wherein a space occupied by a region having the cross section as a bottom surface and a predetermined length as a height from the bottom surface is defined as a region of interest in the three-dimensional space. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays the marker on the display unit so as to be movable according to a polar coordinate system.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display control unit displays the shape of the marker on the display unit so as to be deformable according to the polar coordinate system.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays the marker on the display unit so as to be movable according to an orthogonal coordinate system.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit displays the shape of the marker on the display unit so as to be deformable according to the orthogonal coordinate system. The image generation unit generates two-dimensional image data along a plane substantially orthogonal to the ultrasonic transmission / reception direction based on the data obtained as a result of the ultrasonic transmission / reception,
The super display according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the display control unit causes the display unit to display a two-dimensional image based on the two-dimensional image data and the marker superimposed on each other. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. The image generation unit generates two-dimensional image data along a plane parallel to the ultrasonic transmission / reception direction based on the data obtained as a result of the ultrasonic transmission / reception,
The super display according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the display control unit causes the display unit to display a two-dimensional image based on the two-dimensional image data and the marker superimposed on each other. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising an ultrasonic probe and a transmission / reception unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to the ultrasonic probe,
An image generation function for generating image data based on data obtained as a result of transmission / reception of the ultrasonic wave;
An image based on the image data is displayed on the display unit, and a marker indicating a two-dimensional predetermined range on a plane substantially orthogonal to the transmission / reception direction of the ultrasonic wave is superimposed on the image and displayed on the display unit Control function,
A region-of-interest determination function for obtaining a region of interest in a three-dimensional space whose cross section is a plane occupying the two-dimensional predetermined range;
A program characterized by having executed.

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