JP2007151606A - Ultrasonograph and method for measuring shape of blood vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent damage to a blood vessel wall by an intravascular device. <P>SOLUTION: When an intravascular examination/treatment is performed under an image data observation, a signal detecting part 1 and an image data generating part 2 perform a three-dimensional ultrasound scan on a subject in which the intravascular device is inserted and generate B mode three-dimensional image data and Doppler mode three-dimensional image data. Next, a distal end detecting part 31 of the intravascular device detects a position of a distal end of the intravascular device from contour information of the B mode three-dimensional image data and generates three-dimensional blood vessel data by extracting the shape of the blood vessel of the Doppler mode three-dimensional image data in a region of interest of a prescribed size set with the position of the distal end as the center. Then, a pressed region detecting part 35 detects a position of the blood vessel wall where a pressure is applied by the intravascular device based on blood vessel inner diameter values at a plurality of measurement points of the inner diameters set in the travelling direction of the three-dimensional blood vessel data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a blood vessel shape measuring method, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a blood vessel shape measuring method that enable monitoring of a blood vessel shape change accompanying insertion of an intravascular device.

  In recent years, a minimally invasive treatment called MIT (Minimally Invasive Treatment) has attracted attention. A typical example of MIT for patients with ischemic brain disease or heart disease is so-called interventional treatment using a catheter or the like under image observation.

  As an inspection / treatment device (hereinafter collectively referred to as an intravascular device) used for the inspection and treatment of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular, in which stenosis has occurred due to the deposition of cholesterol on the inner wall and peripheral blood vessels, etc. A catheter for contrast medium injection for injecting a contrast medium into a blood vessel, a catheter with a balloon for radially expanding a stenosis site, a stent catheter for placing a stent for maintaining a blood vessel diameter expanded by the balloon, There are DCA (Directive Coronary Plaque Excisor) and rotablator which move or rotate a micro cutter attached to the tip of the catheter in the blood vessel to remove the deposit (plaque) at the stenosis site. A guide wire for controlling the insertion direction is attached.

  Then, by inserting the aforementioned intravascular device under real-time observation of image data obtained by an image diagnostic apparatus such as an X-ray diagnostic apparatus or an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, safe and accurate intravascular examination / treatment can be performed. It becomes possible to carry out efficiently.

  In particular, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus enables real-time observation of two-dimensional image data with a simple operation by simply bringing an ultrasonic probe into contact with the body surface. Furthermore, in recent years, an ultrasonic transducer in which one-dimensionally arranged ultrasonic vibration elements are available. A method of generating B-mode three-dimensional image data or Doppler mode three-dimensional image data using a so-called two-dimensional array ultrasonic probe in which a mechanical movement of an acoustic probe or two-dimensionally arranged ultrasonic vibration elements is developed. And the method of extracting the blood vessel outline in these three-dimensional image data and performing various analysis based on the obtained outline data is proposed (for example, refer patent document 1).

Furthermore, by observing the image data of the blood vessel and the image data of the intravascular device inserted into the blood vessel in real time, the distal end portion of the intravascular device is placed in a desired direction or a desired position in the blood vessel having a complicated branch structure. Can be easily and accurately advanced or arranged.
JP 2004-283373 A

  By operating the intravascular device under real-time observation of ultrasonic image data as described above, it is possible to efficiently perform intravascular inspection or intravascular treatment. However, when the running direction of the blood vessel and the insertion direction of the intravascular device do not match, the blood vessel wall is inadvertently pressed by the intravascular device. There was a risk of damage if added. With respect to such problems, conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses do not have a function of accurately measuring or evaluating the presence or absence of the pressure on the blood vessel wall of the intravascular device. Then, these are collectively called an operator), and it has been difficult to reliably prevent damage to the blood vessel wall by the intravascular device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to perform an intravascular device based on a change in blood vessel shape when performing an examination or treatment using an intravascular device under observation of image data. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a blood vessel shape measuring method that enable safe intravascular examination or intravascular treatment by detecting the degree of pressure on the blood vessel wall.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention according to claim 1 includes: a transmission unit that transmits an ultrasonic wave to a subject that drives an ultrasonic vibration element and inserts an intravascular device; Receiving means for receiving a reflection signal from the subject obtained by transmitting ultrasonic waves, scanning control means for controlling a direction of ultrasonic transmission / reception to scan a predetermined region of the subject, and by ultrasonic transmission / reception Image data generating means for generating image data based on the obtained received signal, blood vessel shape extracting means for extracting blood vessel shape in the image data to generate blood vessel data, and the blood vessel wall based on the blood vessel data A pressing part detecting means for detecting presence or absence or position of the pressing part of the intravascular device; a warning signal generating means for generating a warning signal based on a detection result of the pressing part; It is characterized by comprising an output means for outputting a tell signal.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, which is obtained by transmitting ultrasonic waves to a subject driving an ultrasonic vibration element and inserting an intravascular device, and transmitting the ultrasonic waves. Receiving means for receiving the reflected signal from the subject, scanning control means for controlling a direction of ultrasonic transmission / reception to three-dimensionally scan a predetermined area of the subject, and reception obtained by the ultrasonic transmission / reception An image data generating means for generating three-dimensional image data based on the signal; a blood vessel shape extracting means for extracting a blood vessel shape in the three-dimensional image data to generate three-dimensional blood vessel data; and a shape of the three-dimensional blood vessel data. Based on the detection result of the pressing part detecting means and the pressing part detecting means for detecting the presence or position of the pressing part of the intravascular device with respect to the blood vessel wall based on the detection result And tell the signal generating means is characterized by comprising an output means for outputting the warning signal.

  On the other hand, in the blood vessel shape measuring method of the present invention according to claim 11, the image data generating means generates image data based on a reception signal obtained by transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from a subject into which an intravascular device is inserted. A step of extracting a blood vessel shape in the image data to generate blood vessel data, and a pressing portion detecting unit of the intravascular device with respect to a blood vessel wall based on the shape of the blood vessel data. Detecting the presence / absence or position of the pressing part, a warning signal generating means generating a warning signal based on the detection result of the pressing part, and an output means outputting the warning signal. It is a feature.

  In the blood vessel shape measuring method of the present invention according to claim 12, the image data generating means generates image data based on a received signal obtained by transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from a subject into which an intravascular device is inserted. A step of detecting the tip position of the intravascular device by extracting the contour of the first image data generated by the image data generating unit, and a region of interest setting unit including the intravascular device A step of setting a region of interest for the second image data generated by the image data generation unit with reference to the tip position of the device; and a blood vessel shape extraction unit comprising: a blood vessel shape of the second image data in the region of interest Extracting blood vessel data to generate blood vessel data, a core line setting means setting a core wire with respect to the travel direction of the blood vessel data, and pressing portion detection A step of detecting a pressed part based on an inner diameter value of blood vessel data at a plurality of inner diameter measurement points set at predetermined intervals on the core wire, and a warning signal generating means based on the detection result of the pressed part A step of generating a warning signal and an output means include a step of outputting the warning signal.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when performing the test | inspection and treatment using an intravascular device under observation of image data, the extent of the press with respect to the blood vessel wall of an intravascular device can be detected based on the change of the blood vessel shape. Therefore, damage to the blood vessel wall due to the intravascular device can be prevented in advance, and intravascular inspection and intravascular treatment excellent in safety are possible.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  In an embodiment of the present invention described below, when an intravascular device is inserted into a blood vessel of a patient or a test subject (hereinafter referred to as a subject) while observing image data, the intravascular device is used for examination or treatment. A three-dimensional ultrasonic scan is performed on the subject into which B is inserted to generate B-mode volume data and Doppler mode volume data. Further, these volume data are rendered to perform B-mode three-dimensional image data and Doppler mode 3 Generate dimensional image data.

  Next, the B-mode three-dimensional image data is processed to extract the contour information of the intravascular device, and the tip of the intravascular device is detected based on the contour information. Then, blood vessel shape information (for example, blood vessel contour information) is extracted using Doppler mode three-dimensional image data in a region of interest of a predetermined size set around the tip, and three-dimensional blood vessel data is generated. Next, the intravascular device is pressed based on the spatial change amount of the blood vessel inner diameter value at a plurality of inner diameter measurement points set at predetermined intervals in the traveling direction of the three-dimensional blood vessel data (that is, the change in the blood vessel inner diameter value in the blood vessel traveling direction) Detect the position of the blood vessel wall giving

  In the embodiment described below, a three-dimensional ultrasonic scan is performed on the subject using a two-dimensional array ultrasonic probe in which minute ultrasonic transducers are two-dimensionally arranged. Generation of three-dimensional blood vessel data and measurement of the inner diameter of the blood vessel are performed based on the obtained three-dimensional image data, but the present invention is not limited to this.

(Device configuration)
The configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and FIGS. 2 to 3 show specific configurations of a signal detection unit and an image data generation unit included in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. It is a block diagram.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 processes a signal detection unit 1 that detects an image signal necessary for generating image data for a subject into which an intravascular device is inserted, and processes the image signal. The B-mode volume data and the Doppler mode volume data are generated, and the volume data is rendered to generate the B-mode 3D image data and the Doppler mode 3D image data. A blood vessel shape measuring unit 3 that measures the inner diameter of the blood vessel using the three-dimensional image data and detects a pressed portion against the blood vessel wall of the intravascular device based on a change in the inner diameter of the blood vessel with respect to the blood vessel running direction; An output unit 4 that displays a predetermined warning signal (warning marker) superimposed on the pressed portion of the image data, input of subject information, and image data generation conditions Setting, further includes an input unit 5 for inputting of various command signals, and a system controller 6 for overall control of the respective units described above.

  The signal detection unit 1 transmits a ultrasonic pulse (transmission ultrasonic wave) to the subject in which a minute number of ultrasonic vibration elements are two-dimensionally arranged, and an ultrasonic reflected wave (from the subject ( An ultrasonic probe 11 that converts received ultrasonic waves into an image signal (received signal) and an Nt channel drive signal for transmitting ultrasonic pulses in a predetermined direction of the subject are supplied to the ultrasonic vibration element. A transmitter 12 and a receiver 13 for phasing and adding Nr channel received signals obtained from the ultrasonic transducer are provided.

  The ultrasonic probe 11 is configured to correspond to sector scanning, linear scanning, convex scanning, and the like, and the operator can arbitrarily select according to the diagnostic part and the diagnostic purpose. A case will be described in which a sector scanning ultrasonic probe 11 in which two ultrasonic transducer elements are two-dimensionally arranged is used. For simplicity of explanation, the case where the number of drive signal channels Nt in the transmission unit 12 and the number of reception signal channels Nr in the reception unit 13 are both equal to the number of ultrasonic vibration elements No will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  That is, the ultrasonic probe 11 of the signal detection unit 1 shown in FIG. 2 has No. ultrasonic transducer elements (not shown) arranged two-dimensionally at its tip, and this tip is used as the body surface of the subject. Send and receive ultrasonic waves in contact. Each of the ultrasonic vibration elements is connected to the transmission unit 12 and the reception unit 13 via a multi-core cable of a No channel (not shown).

  The transmission unit 12 includes a rate pulse generator 121, a transmission delay circuit 122, and a drive circuit 123. The rate pulse generator 121 includes a reference signal generator (not shown) and a frequency divider, and generates a rate pulse that divides the reference signal output from the reference signal generator and determines the repetition period of the transmission ultrasonic wave. To do. The reference signal is divided to generate a rectangular wave having a frequency substantially equal to the center frequency of the ultrasonic reflected wave.

  The transmission delay circuit 122 is configured by an independent delay circuit of No channel, and rates a delay time for focusing for focusing a transmission ultrasonic wave to a predetermined depth and a delay time for deflection for transmitting in a predetermined direction. This is applied to the rate pulse supplied from the pulse generator 121, and this rate pulse is supplied to the drive circuit 123. The No channel drive circuit 123 generates a drive signal in synchronization with the rate pulse supplied from the transmission delay circuit 122 and drives No ultrasonic transducers built in the distal end portion of the ultrasonic probe 11. Then, transmission ultrasonic waves are radiated into the body of the subject.

  On the other hand, the receiving unit 13 includes an A / D converter 131, a reception delay circuit 132, and an adder 133 configured from a No channel, and the received signal of the No channel supplied from the ultrasonic vibration element is A / D converted. The signal is converted into a digital signal by the device 131 and sent to the reception delay circuit 132. The reception delay circuit 132 determines a focusing delay time for focusing a received ultrasonic wave from a predetermined depth and a deflection delay time for setting a reception directivity with respect to a predetermined direction. The adder 133 adds the reception signals output from the reception delay circuit 132 to each of the reception signals of the No channel output from. That is, the received signal obtained from a predetermined direction in the subject is phased and added by the reception delay circuit 132 and the adder 133.

  Next, the image data generation unit 2 shown in FIG. 3 performs a signal processing on the reception signal supplied from the reception unit 13 to generate B mode data, and quadrature detection of the reception signal. The Doppler signal detection unit 22 that detects the Doppler signal, the Doppler mode data generation unit 23 that generates the Doppler mode data based on the detected Doppler signal, and the above-described three-dimensional ultrasonic scan obtained on the subject. B mode data and Doppler mode data are sequentially stored to generate B mode volume data and Doppler mode volume data. Further, these volume data are subjected to rendering processing to obtain B mode 3D image data and Doppler mode 3D image data. Is provided with a three-dimensional image data generation unit 24.

  The B-mode data generation unit 21 includes an envelope detector 211 and a logarithmic converter 212. The envelope detector 211 envelope-detects the received signal after the phasing addition supplied from the adder 133 of the reception unit 13. The amplitude of the envelope detection signal is logarithmically converted by the logarithmic converter 212. Note that the envelope detector 211 and the logarithmic converter 212 may be configured in a reversed order.

  On the other hand, the Doppler signal detection unit 22 includes a π / 2 phase shifter 221, mixers 222-1 and 222-2, and LPFs (low-pass filters) 223-1 and 223-2, and an adder 133 of the reception unit 13. The received signal supplied from is detected by quadrature detection to detect a Doppler signal.

  That is, the reception signal supplied from the reception unit 13 is input to the first input terminals of the mixers 222-1 and 222-2. On the other hand, the rectangular wave supplied from the rate pulse generator 121 of the transmission unit 12 shown in FIG. 2 is supplied directly to the second input terminal of the mixer 222-1 and is phase-shifted by the π / 2 phase shifter 221. Are shifted by 90 degrees and supplied to the second input terminal of the mixer 222-2. The outputs of the mixers 222-1 and 222-2 are supplied to the LPFs 223-1 and 223-2, and a difference component between the output signal frequency of the receiving unit 13 and the fundamental frequency of the rectangular wave is detected.

  Next, the Doppler mode data generation unit 23 includes a Doppler signal storage unit 231, an MTI filter 232, and an autocorrelation calculator 233, and the Doppler signal detected by the Doppler signal detection unit 22 is temporarily stored in the Doppler signal storage circuit 231. The Next, the MTI filter 232 performs a filtering process on the Doppler signal stored in the Doppler signal storage circuit 231 and extracts a component (blood flow Doppler component) caused by blood flow in the blood vessel. The autocorrelation calculator 233 calculates an autocorrelation value for the blood flow Doppler component extracted by the MTI filter 232, and further generates Doppler mode data based on the autocorrelation value. In this case, the autocorrelation calculator 233 can detect blood flow information with high sensitivity by generating Doppler mode data based on the power value of the blood flow Doppler component calculated by the autocorrelation processing. The Doppler mode data may be generated using the average velocity or the dispersion value of the Doppler component.

  On the other hand, the three-dimensional image data generation unit 24 includes a volume data generation unit 241, an opacity / color tone setting unit 242, and a rendering processing unit 243, as shown in FIG. The volume data generation unit 241 has a B mode data storage area and a Doppler mode data storage area (not shown), and is generated by the B mode data generated by the B mode data generation unit 21 and the Doppler mode data generation unit 23. B mode volume data and Doppler mode volume data are generated by sequentially storing the Doppler mode data in the respective storage areas in correspondence with the scanning direction of the three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning.

  The opacity / color tone setting unit 242 reads out the B mode volume data and the Doppler mode volume data generated by the volume data generation unit 241, and sets the opacity and color tone based on the pixel values (voxel values) of these volume data. Set in units.

  On the other hand, the rendering processing unit 243 renders the above-described B mode volume data and Doppler mode volume data based on the opacity and color tone information set by the opacity / color tone setting unit 242 to perform B mode 3D image data and Doppler mode three-dimensional image data is generated.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the blood vessel shape measurement unit 3 includes an intravascular device tip detection unit 31, a region of interest setting unit 32, a blood vessel contour extraction unit 33, a core line setting unit 34, a pressed site detection unit 35, and a warning. A signal generator 36 is provided.

  The intravascular device tip detection unit 31 has a function of detecting the tip position of the intravascular device. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a high-pass filter 311, a low-pass filter 312, a subtractor 313, A tip position detector 314 is provided.

  The B-mode three-dimensional image data generated in the three-dimensional image data generation unit 24 of the image data generation unit 2 is supplied to the high-pass filter 311 and the low-pass filter 312. At this time, the B-mode three-dimensional image data supplied to the high-pass filter 311 is differentiated to enhance the contour information of the intravascular device and the like, while the B-mode three-dimensional image supplied to the low-pass filter 312 is used. The data is integrated and the above-described contour information is relatively weakened.

  Next, the B mode 3D image data in which the contour information of the intravascular device or the like is emphasized by the high pass filter 311 and the B mode 3D image data in which the contour information is weakened by the low pass filter 312 are subtracted. The subtractor 313 performs subtraction processing to extract the contour information of the intravascular device, and the tip position detector 314 further detects the position information (position coordinates) of the tip portion based on the contour information of the intravascular device extracted by the subtractor 313. ) Is detected.

  In the specific example of the intravascular device tip detection unit 31 shown in FIG. 5, the case where the differential B-mode three-dimensional image data and the integral B-mode three-dimensional image data are subtracted has been described. The contour information of the intravascular device may be extracted by subtracting the B-mode three-dimensional image data and the B-mode three-dimensional image data before the differentiation process.

  Returning to FIG. 1 again, the region-of-interest setting unit 32 of the blood vessel shape measuring unit 3 generates the tip position information of the intravascular device supplied from the intravascular device tip detecting unit 31 and the three-dimensional image data generation of the image data generating unit 2. Based on the 3D image data supplied from the unit 24, a 3D region of interest is set for the 3D image data. For example, the region-of-interest setting unit 32 sets a reference point for Doppler mode three-dimensional image data based on the tip position information of the intravascular device, and further sets a region of interest of a predetermined size around the reference point.

  Next, the blood vessel contour extraction unit 33 extracts the blood vessel contour using the Doppler mode three-dimensional image data extracted from the region of interest, and generates three-dimensional blood vessel data. Specifically, by the same method as the extraction of the contour information of the intravascular device in FIG. 5, the subtraction processing of the differentially processed Doppler mode 3D image data and the integration processing of the Doppler mode 3D image data, or the differentiation The contour of the blood vessel can be extracted by subtraction processing of the Doppler mode three-dimensional image data before and after the processing, but is not limited to this method.

  On the other hand, the core line setting unit 34 sets a blood vessel core line indicating the central axis of the blood vessel based on the three-dimensional blood vessel data in the region of interest generated by the blood vessel contour extracting unit 33. Since the method for setting the blood vessel core wire is described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the pressed part detection unit 35 measures the inner diameter of the blood vessel at a plurality of locations in the traveling direction using the three-dimensional blood vessel data generated by the blood vessel contour extraction unit 33. That is, the pressed part detection unit 35 first sets inner diameter measurement points at predetermined intervals in the blood vessel core line set by the core line setting unit 34 for the three-dimensional blood vessel data, and then orthogonally intersects the core line at these inner diameter measurement points. Set the cross section. Then, the blood vessel inner diameter in a predetermined direction of the blood vessel cross section determined by the intersection line between this cross section and the above-described three-dimensional blood vessel data is measured.

  The method for measuring the inner diameter of the blood vessel will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 schematically illustrates measurement of a blood vessel shape for a normal blood vessel (a blood vessel having no pressing site by an intravascular device), and FIG. 7 schematically illustrates measurement of a blood vessel shape for a blood vessel having a pressing site by an intravascular device. It is assumed that the normal blood vessel has a substantially uniform circular cross section with respect to the traveling direction and has no branch.

  6 (a) and 7 (a) show three-dimensional blood vessel data B1 and blood vessel core line B2 for the blood vessel described above, and a plurality of inner diameter measurement points Pa (not shown) set at predetermined intervals on the blood vessel core wire B2. The blood vessel cross sections Sa to Se at Pe and the inner diameter measuring directions c1 to c4 set for each of these blood vessel cross sections Sa to Se are shown. On the other hand, FIG. 6B and FIG. 7B show the blood vessel inner diameter values d1 to d4 measured in the inner diameter measurement directions c1 to c4 set in each of the blood vessel sections Sa to Se. 6 and 7 show four inner diameter measurement directions set for each of the four blood vessel cross-sections for the sake of simplicity. However, more blood vessel cross-sections and inner diameter measurement directions should be set. Therefore, measurement accuracy can be improved.

  As is clear from FIG. 6, the blood vessel inner diameter values d1 to d4 measured based on the three-dimensional blood vessel data of the normal blood vessels are distributed in a relatively narrow range without depending on the position of the inner diameter measurement point. On the other hand, in FIG. 7 in which the inner diameter measurement point Pc is pressed by the intravascular device, the inner diameter values of the blood vessels in the pressing direction of the inner diameter measurement point Pc (for example, d1 and d2 in FIG. 7B) by this pressing. The blood vessel inner diameter values d1 to d4 are larger than those of other blood vessel inner diameter values, and are distributed over a wider range as compared with the case of a normal blood vessel.

  Accordingly, by measuring the distribution range or dispersion value of the blood vessel inner diameter value at each of the inner diameter measurement points Pa to Pe, it is possible to detect the pressed site by the intravascular device.

  Next, the warning signal generator 36 in FIG. 1 generates a warning signal (warning marker) based on the position information of the pressed part detected by the above-described pressed part detector 35. Further, the warning signal generator 36 generates a warning signal for generating a predetermined warning sound when the pressed part detector 35 recognizes the presence of the pressed part.

  On the other hand, the output unit 4 includes a display data generation unit 41, a display unit 42, and an audio output unit 43. The display data generation unit 41 generates a warning signal generation unit 36 of the blood vessel shape measurement unit 3 in the B-mode 3D image data and the Doppler mode 3D image data generated by the 3D image data generation unit 24 of the image data generation unit 2. Display data is generated by superimposing a warning marker based on the warning signal. The audio output unit 43 generates a predetermined warning sound based on the warning signal generated by the warning signal generation unit 36.

  Note that the image data of the blood vessel and the intravascular device on which the warning marker is superimposed is not limited to the above-described B-mode 3D image data and Doppler mode 3D image data. Instead, the contour information of the intravascular device detected by the intravascular device tip detection unit 31 or the three-dimensional blood vessel data generated by the blood vessel contour extraction unit 33 may be used. Moreover, you may display combining each said data suitably.

  The display unit 42 includes a conversion circuit (not shown) and a monitor. The conversion circuit converts the display data generated by the display data generation unit 41 into a predetermined display format, and then converts the D / A conversion and the television format. To generate a video signal and display it on a monitor such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display.

  FIG. 8 shows a display example on the monitor of the display unit 42. The monitor includes a blood vessel h1 of a subject and an intravascular device (for example, a catheter) h2 inserted into the blood vessel h1, respectively. Further, a warning marker (★) is displayed at the position of the blood vessel wall pressed by the distal end portion of the intravascular device h2. In this case, the intravascular device h2 is preferably displayed using B-mode three-dimensional image data, and the blood vessel h1 is preferably displayed using Doppler mode three-dimensional image data. The blood vessel h1 may be displayed using mode three-dimensional image data.

  Further, as described above, the intravascular device h2 is displayed based on the contour information of the intravascular device detected by the intravascular device tip detection unit 31, and the blood vessel h1 is generated using the three-dimensional blood vessel data generated by the blood vessel contour extraction unit 33. May be displayed. However, the display range of the three-dimensional blood vessel data in this case is normally limited to the three-dimensional region of interest h4 set by the region of interest setting unit 32.

  On the other hand, the input unit 5 is an interactive interface including an input device such as a keyboard, a trackball, and a mouse on the operation panel and a display panel. The input unit 5 inputs subject information and various command signals, sets ultrasonic transmission / reception conditions, Various image data generation conditions are set, an inner diameter measurement point interval on the blood vessel core line is set, a region of interest size is set, and various command signals are input.

  Next, the system control unit 6 includes a CPU and a storage circuit (not shown), and performs overall control of each unit and overall system based on an instruction signal from the input unit 5. In particular, the delay time in the transmission delay circuit 122 of the transmission unit 12 and the reception delay circuit 132 of the reception unit 13 shown in FIG. 2 is controlled, and three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning is performed on the subject.

(Blood shape measurement procedure)
Next, the blood vessel shape measurement procedure in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Prior to insertion of an intravascular device and blood vessel shape measurement for the subject, the operator of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 100 inputs subject information at the input unit 5 and sets ultrasound transmission / reception conditions and image data generation conditions. Furthermore, a region of interest size, an inner diameter measurement point interval, and the like are set as necessary (step S1 in FIG. 9).

  Next, the operator places the distal end portion of the ultrasonic probe 11 on the chest of the subject, and inputs a blood vessel shape measurement start command at the input unit 5 (step S2 in FIG. 9). Then, the command signal is supplied to the system control unit 6 to start measuring the blood vessel shape based on the three-dimensional image data.

  When generating the three-dimensional image data, the rate pulse generator 121 of the transmission unit 12 shown in FIG. 2 repeats the transmission ultrasonic wave radiated into the body of the subject according to the control signal supplied from the system control unit 6. A rate pulse for determining a cycle (rate cycle) is generated and supplied to the transmission delay circuit 122. The transmission delay circuit 122 has a delay time for focusing the transmission ultrasonic wave based on the control signal supplied from the system control unit 6 and a delay time for transmitting in the first scanning direction (θ1, φ1) as the rate. This rate pulse is supplied to the No channel drive circuit 123. Next, the drive circuit 123 generates a drive signal based on the rate pulse supplied from the transmission delay circuit 122, supplies this drive signal to the No. ultrasonic transducer elements in the ultrasonic probe 11, and supplies the subject to the subject. Transmits ultrasonic waves to the body.

  A part of the transmitted ultrasonic wave is reflected at the boundary between tissues with different acoustic impedances, and the frequency of the ultrasonic wave reflected by blood cells moving in the blood vessel is subjected to Doppler shift. Then, it is converted into an image signal (reception signal) by the ultrasonic vibration element of the ultrasonic probe 11. Next, this received signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 131 of the receiving unit 13, and then the delay time for converging the received ultrasonic wave from a predetermined depth in the No channel reception delay circuit 132. And a delay time for setting a strong reception directivity with respect to the received ultrasonic waves from the scanning direction (θ1, φ1), and the adder 133 performs phasing addition.

  The B-mode data generation unit 21 of the image data generation unit 2 to which the reception signal after the phasing addition is supplied performs envelope detection and logarithmic conversion on the reception signal to generate B-mode data. The data is stored in the B-mode data storage area in the volume data generation unit 241 of the dimensional image data generation unit 24.

  When the generation and storage of the B-mode data in the scanning direction (θ1, φ1) is completed, the system control unit 6 controls the delay time in the transmission delay circuit 122 of the transmission unit 12 and the reception delay circuit 132 of the reception unit 13. Thus, the ultrasonic scanning direction is sequentially updated by Δθ in the θ direction and Δφ in the φ direction (θp, φq) (θp = θ1 + (p−1) Δθ (p = 2 to P), φq = φ1 + (q− 1) Three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning is performed for each of Δφ (q = 2 to Q)) by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in the same procedure. The B mode data obtained in each scanning direction is sequentially stored in the B mode data storage area of the volume data generation unit 241 to generate B mode volume data.

  On the other hand, the system control unit 6 performs these transmissions substantially in parallel with ultrasonic transmission / reception for the purpose of generating B-mode data in the scanning direction (θp, φq) (p = 1 to P, q = 1 to Q). Ultrasonic transmission / reception for the purpose of generating Doppler mode data in the scanning direction is performed.

  That is, the system control unit 6 first controls the transmission delay time in the transmission delay circuit 122 of the transmission unit 12 and the reception delay time in the reception delay circuit 132 of the reception unit 13 to transmit / receive ultrasonic waves in the scanning direction (θ1, φ1). Is repeated a predetermined number of times (L times), and the reception signal obtained from the reception unit 13 in each ultrasonic transmission / reception is supplied to the Doppler signal detection unit 22 of the image data generation unit 2. The received signal is quadrature detected by the Doppler signal detection unit 22 to detect the Doppler signal, and is temporarily stored in the Doppler signal storage unit 231 of the Doppler mode data generation unit 23.

  When the storage of the Doppler signal obtained by ultrasonic transmission / reception a predetermined number of times (L times) in the scanning direction (θ1, φ1) is completed, the system control unit 6 stores the Doppler signal stored in the Doppler signal storage unit 231. The L Doppler signals corresponding to a predetermined position (depth) are sequentially read out from the signal and supplied to the MTI filter 232. Then, the MTI filter 232 filters the supplied Doppler signal to extract a blood flow Doppler component, and supplies it to the autocorrelation calculator 233.

  The autocorrelation calculator 233 performs autocorrelation calculation using the Doppler signal supplied from the MTI filter 232, and further calculates blood flow information based on the calculation result. Such calculation is also performed for other positions (depths) in the scanning direction θ1, and the blood flow information in the calculated scanning directions (θ1, φ1) is stored in the Doppler mode data storage area of the data storage unit 24. To do.

  Next, the system control unit 6 performs ultrasonic transmission / reception in the scanning direction (θp, φq) (p = 2 to P, q = 2 to Q) in the same procedure. The Doppler mode data obtained in each scanning direction is sequentially stored in the Doppler mode data storage area in the volume data generation unit 241 of the three-dimensional image data generation unit 24 to generate Doppler mode volume data.

  On the other hand, the rendering processing unit 243 of the three-dimensional image data generation unit 24 receives the B mode volume data stored in the B mode data storage area of the volume data generation unit 241 and the Doppler mode volume data stored in the Doppler mode data storage area. The B mode 3D image data and the Doppler mode 3D image data are generated by performing rendering processing based on the information of the opacity and color tone set by the opacity / color tone setting unit 242 respectively. Next, the display data generation unit 41 of the output unit 4 synthesizes the above-described 3D image data supplied from the 3D image data generation unit 24 and displays it on the monitor of the display unit 42 in real time (step S3 in FIG. 9).

  On the other hand, under the observation of the above-described three-dimensional image data, the operator inserts an intravascular device into, for example, a blood vessel (coronary artery) at a diseased site from a blood vessel in the subject's heel (see FIG. 9). Step S4).

  The B-mode three-dimensional image data generated by the three-dimensional image data generation unit 24 in a state where the distal end portion of the intravascular device is inserted into a blood vessel near the disease site is the intravascular device distal end detection unit 31 of the blood vessel shape measurement unit 3. The high-pass filter 311, the low-pass filter 312 and the subtractor 313 of the intravascular device tip detection unit 31 extract the contour information of the intravascular device by filtering the B-mode 3D image data, and The tip position detector 314 detects the position of the tip based on the contour information of the intravascular device (step S5 in FIG. 9).

  Then, the region-of-interest setting unit 32 applies the Doppler mode 3D image data supplied from the 3D image data generation unit 24 based on the tip position information of the intravascular device supplied from the intravascular device tip detection unit 31. A reference point is set, and a three-dimensional region of interest having a predetermined size is set with the reference point as the center (step S6 in FIG. 9).

  On the other hand, the blood vessel contour extraction unit 33 extracts the Doppler mode 3D image data in the above-mentioned region of interest, and further extracts the blood vessel contour in the extracted Doppler mode 3D image data to generate 3D blood vessel data (FIG. 9 step S7). Then, the core line setting unit 34 sets a blood vessel core line indicating the central axis for the three-dimensional blood vessel data in the region of interest supplied from the blood vessel contour extracting unit 33 (step S8 in FIG. 9).

  Next, the pressed part detection unit 35 sets inner diameter measurement points at a predetermined interval in the blood vessel core line set by the core line setting unit 34 for the three-dimensional blood vessel data, and then the core wire at each of the plurality of inner diameter measurement points. A cross section orthogonal to is set. Then, the blood vessel inner diameter is measured with respect to a plurality of inner diameter measurement directions set in each of the plurality of blood vessel cross sections determined by the intersection line between these cross sections and the above-described three-dimensional blood vessel data (step S9 in FIG. 9). Then, based on the distribution state of the blood vessel inner diameter value at each inner diameter measurement point, the pressed portion by the intravascular device is detected (step S10 in FIG. 9).

  Next, the warning signal generator 36 to which the position information of the pressed part is supplied from the pressed part detector 35 generates a warning signal corresponding to this position information, and the display data generator 41 and the voice output unit 43 of the output unit 4. The display data generation unit 41 supplies the B-mode 3D image data and Doppler mode 3D image data supplied from the 3D image data generation unit 24 of the image data generation unit 2 and the warning signal of the blood vessel shape measurement unit 3. Display data is generated by superimposing the warning signal (warning marker) supplied from the generation unit 36 and displayed on the monitor of the display unit 42. Further, the audio output unit 43 generates a predetermined warning sound based on the warning signal supplied from the warning signal generation unit 36 (step S11 in FIG. 9).

(Modification)
Next, a modification of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to this modification. The same units as those in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. Omitted. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 200 according to the present modification includes a signal detection unit 1 that performs three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning on a subject into which an intravascular device is inserted and detects an image signal necessary for generating three-dimensional image data. An image data generation unit that processes image signals to generate B-mode volume data and Doppler mode volume data, and further renders these volume data to generate B-mode 3D image data and Doppler mode 3D image data 2 and extracting the blood vessel contour in these three-dimensional image data to generate three-dimensional blood vessel data, and comparing the three-dimensional blood vessel data with a preset abnormal pattern, the presence / absence of the pressing part and the position of the pressing part And a predetermined warning signal (warning marker) is applied to the pressed portion of the three-dimensional image data. The output unit 4 that is displayed in a foldable manner, the input of subject information, the setting of image data generation conditions, the input unit 5 that inputs various command signals, and the like, and the system that controls the above-mentioned units in an integrated manner A control unit 6 is provided.

  Then, the blood vessel shape measurement unit 30 performs a filtering process on the B-mode 3D image data generated by the 3D image data generation unit 24 of the image data generation unit 2 to detect the tip position of the intravascular device. A region of interest setting unit 32 for setting a region of interest for the Doppler mode 3D image data generated by the 3D image data generation unit 24 based on the information on the tip position, and a Doppler mode 3 in the region of interest. A blood vessel contour extracting unit 33 that extracts a blood vessel contour of the three-dimensional image data and generates three-dimensional blood vessel data, and further stores an abnormal pattern corresponding to the shape of the blood vessel wall that has been pressed by the intravascular device in advance. A pattern storage unit 37, and a pressed part detection unit 3 for detecting a pressed part by the intravascular device based on the three-dimensional blood vessel data and the abnormal pattern When, and a warning signal generator 36 for generating a warning signal based on the detection result of the pressed portion.

  FIG. 11 shows a specific example of the abnormal pattern stored in advance in the abnormal pattern storage unit 37, in which a plurality of types of abnormal patterns corresponding to the shape of the blood vessel wall subjected to the pressure of the intravascular device are stored. Yes. Then, the pressed part detection unit 38 compares the three-dimensional blood vessel data generated by the blood vessel contour extracting unit 33 with the abnormal pattern stored in the abnormal pattern storage unit 37 (for example, a pattern matching process) to thereby press the pressed part. The presence / absence and position of the object are detected. The above-described abnormal pattern is desirably set three-dimensionally, but may be a two-dimensional abnormal pattern.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, when performing an examination or treatment using an intravascular device under observation of image data, whether or not there is a pressure on the blood vessel wall of the intravascular device based on a change in the blood vessel shape, The degree can be detected. Therefore, damage to the blood vessel wall due to the intravascular device can be prevented in advance, and intravascular inspection and intravascular treatment excellent in safety are possible.

  In particular, since the presence / absence and position of the pressed part are detected based on the blood vessel inner diameter values measured at a plurality of inner diameter measurement points, a highly accurate detection result is obtained, and the measurement of the blood vessel shape is performed using three-dimensional image data. Since this is performed based on the three-dimensional blood vessel data obtained from the above, measurement omission can be prevented.

  On the other hand, since blood vessel contour extraction is performed using Doppler mode three-dimensional image data, highly sensitive contour extraction is possible without using a contrast agent, and the load on the subject can be reduced. In particular, blood vessel contour extraction is performed using Doppler mode 3D image data, and the contour of an intravascular device is extracted using B mode 3D image data, whereby each contour is independently extracted with high sensitivity. Therefore, high measurement accuracy can be ensured.

  Furthermore, the detection of the pressed part in the insertion of the intravascular device is automatically performed, and if there is a pressed part, the operator is notified by a warning signal, so that the intravascular inspection / treatment is always safe. It is possible to reduce the burden on the operator. In particular, since a warning marker is superimposed on the three-dimensional image data displayed in real time, even if an erroneous warning marker is displayed at a blood vessel bifurcation or the like, the warning marker is confirmed by observing the three-dimensional image data. Sex can be confirmed.

  In addition, since the measurement range of the blood vessel shape is limited to the region of interest centered on the tip position of the intravascular device, the time required for generating the three-dimensional blood vessel data, measuring the blood vessel shape, etc. is shortened. Real-time performance in display is improved.

  On the other hand, according to the modification of the present embodiment, it is possible to detect the pressed portion by directly comparing the three-dimensional blood vessel data with the abnormal pattern, so that setting of the blood vessel core line and measurement of the blood vessel inner diameter at a plurality of locations are not required. It becomes possible to measure the blood vessel shape in a short time.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention has been described, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned Example, It can change and implement. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the blood vessel shape is measured using the three-dimensional image data obtained by the three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning has been described. For example, the ultrasonic wave in which the ultrasonic vibration elements are arranged one-dimensionally is used. You may measure the blood vessel shape of a predetermined cross section based on the two-dimensional image data obtained using the probe. According to this method, it is possible to measure a blood vessel shape using an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus with a simple configuration, and an operator rotates or moves the ultrasound probe on the body surface of the subject to sequentially update image cross sections. This enables three-dimensional blood vessel shape measurement.

  In addition, the three-dimensional blood vessel data is generated using Doppler mode three-dimensional image data, but B-mode three-dimensional image data may be used. According to this method, blood vessel shape measurement can be performed even in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that does not have a Doppler signal detection function or a Doppler mode data generation function.

  Furthermore, by performing the detection of the pressing site in the above-described embodiment and the detection of the pressing site in the modified example, it becomes possible to measure the pressing site more accurately with respect to the blood vessel bifurcation.

  On the other hand, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the contour information is extracted as the blood vessel shape information has been described, but other shape information may be used.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the signal detection part with which the ultrasonic diagnosing device of the Example was equipped. The block diagram which shows the structure of the image data generation part with which the ultrasonic diagnosing device of the Example was equipped. The block diagram which shows the specific structure of the three-dimensional image data generation part in the image data generation part of the Example. The block diagram which shows the specific structure of the intravascular device front-end | tip detection part in the blood vessel shape measurement part of the Example. The figure for demonstrating the blood vessel inner diameter measurement of the normal blood vessel by the blood vessel shape measurement part of the Example. The figure for demonstrating the blood vessel inner diameter measurement of the abnormal blood vessel by the blood vessel shape measurement part of the Example. The figure which shows the example of a display of the three-dimensional image data and warning marker in the Example. The flowchart which shows the measurement procedure of the blood vessel shape in the Example. The block diagram which shows the whole structure of the ultrasound diagnosing device in the modification of the Example. The figure which shows the specific example of the abnormal pattern in the modification.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Signal detection part 2 ... Image data generation part 3, 30 ... Blood vessel shape measurement part 4 ... Output part 5 ... Input part 6 ... System control part 11 ... Ultrasonic probe 12 ... Transmission part 13 ... Reception part 21 ... B mode data Generation unit 22 ... Doppler signal detection unit 23 ... Doppler mode data generation unit 24 ... 3D image data generation unit 31 ... Intravascular device tip detection unit 32 ... Region of interest setting unit 33 ... Blood vessel contour extraction unit 34 ... Core line setting unit 35, 38 ... Pressed part detection unit 36 ... Warning signal generation unit 37 ... Abnormal pattern storage unit 41 ... Display data generation unit 42 ... Display unit 43 ... Audio output unit 311 ... High pass filter 312 ... Low pass currency filter 313 ... Subtractor 314 ... tip position detectors 100, 200 ... ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Claims (12)

Transmitting means for transmitting ultrasonic waves to a subject that has driven an ultrasonic vibration element and inserted an intravascular device;
Receiving means for receiving a reflected signal from the subject obtained by transmitting the ultrasonic wave;
Scanning control means for controlling a direction of ultrasonic transmission / reception to scan a predetermined region of the subject;
Image data generation means for generating image data based on a reception signal obtained by the ultrasonic transmission and reception;
Blood vessel shape extraction means for extracting blood vessel shape in the image data and generating blood vessel data;
A pressing site detecting means for detecting the presence or position of the pressing site of the intravascular device with respect to the blood vessel wall based on the blood vessel data;
Warning signal generating means for generating a warning signal based on the detection result of the pressed part;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising output means for outputting the warning signal.   A region-of-interest setting unit that sets a region of interest for the image data generated by the image data generation unit is provided, and the blood vessel shape extraction unit is a blood vessel shape for the image data in the region of interest set by the region-of-interest setting unit. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The intravascular device tip detecting means for detecting the tip position of the intravascular device, wherein the region of interest setting means sets a region of interest of a predetermined size with reference to the tip position of the intravascular device. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to 2.   Core line setting means for setting a core line with respect to the traveling direction of the blood vessel data generated by the blood vessel shape extraction means, and the pressing portion detection means is configured to connect the blood vessels at a plurality of inner diameter measurement points set at predetermined intervals on the core line. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressed portion is detected based on an inner diameter value of data.   An abnormal pattern storage means for preliminarily storing an abnormal pattern corresponding to the shape exhibited by the blood vessel wall pressed by the intravascular device, wherein the pressing site detecting means compares the abnormal blood pattern with the blood vessel wall shape of the blood vessel data; The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressed portion is detected by the method. 2. The blood vessel shape extraction unit extracts the blood vessel shape in at least one of Doppler mode image data and B mode image data generated by the image data generation unit, and generates the blood vessel data. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment.   4. The ultrasonic diagnosis according to claim 3, wherein the intravascular device tip detection means extracts the contour of the intravascular device in the B-mode image data generated by the image data generation means and detects the tip position thereof. apparatus.   The output unit includes a display unit, and the display unit superimposes and displays a warning marker based on a warning signal generated by the warning signal generation unit on the image data generated by the image data generation unit. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit includes a voice output unit, and the voice output unit outputs a warning sound based on a warning signal generated by the warning signal generation unit. Transmitting means for transmitting ultrasonic waves to a subject that has driven an ultrasonic vibration element and inserted an intravascular device;
Receiving means for receiving a reflected signal from the subject obtained by transmitting the ultrasonic wave;
Scanning control means for controlling a direction of ultrasonic transmission / reception to three-dimensionally scan a predetermined region of the subject;
Image data generating means for generating three-dimensional image data based on a reception signal obtained by the ultrasonic transmission / reception;
Blood vessel shape extraction means for extracting blood vessel shape in the three-dimensional image data and generating three-dimensional blood vessel data;
A pressing part detecting means for detecting the presence or absence or position of the pressing part of the intravascular device with respect to a blood vessel wall based on the shape of the three-dimensional blood vessel data;
Warning signal generating means for generating a warning signal based on the detection result of the pressed part detecting means;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising output means for outputting the warning signal. Image data generating means generates image data based on a received signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to a subject into which an intravascular device is inserted; and
A step of extracting blood vessel shape in the image data to generate blood vessel data;
A step of detecting the presence or position of a pressing portion of the intravascular device with respect to a blood vessel wall based on the shape of the blood vessel data;
A warning signal generating means for generating a warning signal based on the detection result of the pressed portion;
A blood vessel shape measuring method, wherein the output means includes a step of outputting the warning signal. Image data generating means generates image data based on a received signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to a subject into which an intravascular device is inserted; and
An intravascular device tip detecting means detecting the tip position of the intravascular device by contour extraction of the first image data generated by the image data generating means;
A region of interest setting unit sets a region of interest for the second image data generated by the image data generating unit with reference to the tip position of the intravascular device;
A blood vessel shape extracting unit extracting the blood vessel shape of the second image data in the region of interest to generate blood vessel data;
A step of setting a core line with respect to a running direction of the blood vessel data;
A step of detecting a pressed part based on an inner diameter value of blood vessel data at a plurality of inner diameter measurement points set at predetermined intervals on the core wire;
A warning signal generating means for generating a warning signal based on the detection result of the pressed portion;
A blood vessel shape measuring method, wherein the output means includes a step of outputting the warning signal.

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