JP2007159652A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device and image diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize high diagnostic efficiency in ultrasonic diagnosing. <P>SOLUTION: A high luminance extraction image H1 is generated by extracting pixels whose luminance value is equal to or higher than a first luminance value in a slice image, and a low luminance extraction image L1 is generated by extracting the pixels whose luminance value is equal to or lower than a second luminance value lower than the first luminance value in the slice image. Then, a composite image CP is generated by positioning and combining the high luminance extraction image H1 and the low luminance extraction image L1 so as to correspond to positions in the slice image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

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

  An image diagnostic apparatus such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus generates a tomographic image of a tomographic plane of a subject.

  For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits an ultrasonic wave to a subject, and based on an echo signal obtained by performing a scan to receive an ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject to which the ultrasonic wave is transmitted, For example, an image of a slice of the subject is generated and displayed on the display screen. Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are easily used in real time, particularly in medical fields such as fetal screening and cardiac screening because it is easy to capture a slice of a subject in real time.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, there are various display modes such as a B mode (Brightness mode), an M mode (Motion mode), and a Doppler mode. The B mode is a mode for displaying an image obtained by converting a change in the intensity of the ultrasonic echo reflected from the subject into a change in luminance, and is used, for example, when imaging a slice image of a slice of the subject. The M mode is a mode in which the luminance of a portion corresponding to one sound ray of an ultrasonic echo is displayed in time series in a plurality of B mode images that are sequentially displayed in time series order. Used when imaging the movement of a moving organ. The D mode is a mode that uses the Doppler effect in which the frequency of the ultrasonic echo reflected by the moving body shifts in proportion to the moving speed of the moving body. For example, the movement of blood flowing in the subject It is used when imaging blood flow information such as velocity (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-112254 A

  In an image diagnostic apparatus such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a pixel having a luminance value different from the surrounding is extracted from a generated slice image, and for example, diagnosis is performed by generating and observing an image of a tumor part or a blood vessel part, respectively. Has been implemented.

  However, in order to observe each of the tumor portion and the blood vessel portion, it may be difficult to grasp the mutual arrangement relationship, and it is not easy to make a diagnosis quickly. For this reason, it may be difficult to achieve high diagnostic efficiency.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an image diagnostic apparatus that can improve diagnostic efficiency.

  In order to achieve the above object, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention performs a scan for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject and receiving an ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject to which the ultrasonic wave has been transmitted. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a scan unit that obtains an echo signal; and a slice image generation unit that generates a slice image of the subject based on the echo signal obtained by the scan unit, In the slice image generated by the slice image generation unit, a high-brightness extraction image generation unit that generates a high-brightness extraction image by extracting pixels having a luminance value equal to or higher than the first luminance value; and the slice image generation unit In the slice image generated by the above, a low luminance extraction is performed by extracting pixels having a luminance value lower than the first luminance value and lower than the second luminance value. A low-intensity extraction image generation unit that generates an image, the high-intensity extraction image generated by the high-intensity extraction image generation unit, and the low-intensity extraction image generated by the low-intensity extraction image generation unit, And an image composition unit that generates a composite image by aligning and synthesizing so as to correspond to the position in the slice image.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image diagnostic apparatus of the present invention includes a scan unit that obtains raw data by scanning a subject, and the subject based on the raw data obtained by the scan unit. An image diagnostic apparatus having a slice image generation unit that generates a slice image of a specimen, wherein a pixel having a luminance value equal to or higher than a first luminance value is extracted from the slice image generated by the slice image generation unit Accordingly, in the high-brightness extraction image generation unit that generates the high-brightness extraction image and the slice image generated by the slice image generation unit, the luminance value is equal to or lower than the second luminance value that is lower than the first luminance value. A low-brightness extraction image generation unit that generates a low-brightness extraction image by extracting pixels and the high-brightness extraction image generation unit Image synthesis for generating a synthesized image by aligning and synthesizing the high-luminance extracted image and the low-luminance extracted image generated by the low-luminance extracted image generation unit so as to correspond to the position in the slice image Part.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an image diagnostic apparatus that can improve diagnostic efficiency.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below.

<Embodiment 1>
Embodiment 1 concerning this invention is demonstrated using drawing.

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

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe 31, an operation console 32, and a display unit 41. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment transmits an ultrasonic wave to a subject and receives an ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject to which the ultrasonic wave has been transmitted. Based on this, a plurality of frames of slice images of the subject are generated for each time-series order and displayed sequentially. Each part will be described sequentially.

  The ultrasonic probe 31 includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (not shown). For example, the ultrasonic transducers are evenly arranged in a matrix. In the ultrasonic probe 31, the ultrasonic transducer is configured to include a piezoelectric material such as PZT (lead zirconate titanate) ceramics, and converts an electric signal into a sound wave and transmits the received sound wave. Is converted into an electrical signal. The ultrasonic probe 31 is used with the surface provided with the ultrasonic transducer in contact with the surface of the subject. Although details will be described later, the ultrasonic probe 31 applies ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transducer to the subject so as to correspond to the drive signal from the transmission / reception unit 32 based on the control signal output from the control unit 324 in the operation console 32. An echo signal is obtained by performing a scan in which the ultrasonic wave reflected by the subject to which the ultrasonic wave is transmitted is received by an ultrasonic transducer. Then, the echo signal is output to the transmission / reception unit 321.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the operation console 32 includes a transmission / reception unit 321, a slice image generation unit 322, a storage unit 323, a control unit 324, an operation unit 325, a high luminance extraction image generation unit 326, and a low luminance An extracted image generation unit 327 and an image composition unit 328 are included. Each part of the operation console 32 includes a data processing device, and performs various data processing.

  The transmission / reception unit 321 includes a transmission / reception circuit that causes the ultrasonic probe 31 to transmit / receive ultrasonic waves, and based on a control signal from the control unit 324, transmits ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 31 to the subject, The ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject is received by an ultrasonic transducer to obtain an echo signal. For example, the transmission / reception unit 321 obtains an echo signal by scanning the subject using an electronic convex scanning method, and outputs the acquired echo signal to the slice image generation unit 322. Specifically, the transmission / reception unit 321 switches and drives the positions of a plurality of ultrasonic transducers of the ultrasonic probe 31 so as to move and scan the ultrasonic beam with respect to the subject, thereby returning an echo signal. , And the echo signal is subjected to processing such as amplification, delay, and addition, and output to the slice image generation unit 322.

  The slice image generation unit 322 generates a slice image for the slice plane of the subject based on the echo signal obtained by the ultrasonic probe 31. The slice image generation unit 322 includes a logarithmic amplifier and an envelope detector, and detects the envelope after logarithmically amplifying the echo signal output from the transmission / reception unit 321. After that, by performing predetermined data processing on the data, the intensity of the echo from each reflection point on the sound ray is calculated, and then the intensity is converted into a luminance value, and a slice image corresponding to the B mode Is generated. The slice image generation unit 322 is connected to the storage unit 323, and outputs the slice image generated as described above to the storage unit 323. In the present embodiment, the slice image generation unit 322 generates a slice image as a three-dimensional image by performing a rendering process or the like.

  The storage unit 323 is configured to include, for example, a cine memory and an HDD, and stores slice image data generated by the slice image generation unit 322. The storage unit 323 is connected to the slice image generation unit 322, and after temporarily storing the slice images of the plurality of frames generated by the slice image generation unit 322 in the cine memory based on a command from the control unit 324, Output to HDD and store. For example, the storage unit 323 stores the slice image of the frame for 2 minutes in the cine memory, and outputs the slice image of the frame for 2 minutes to the HDD for storage. In addition, the composite image generated by the image composition unit 328 is stored in the HDD. The cine memory of the storage unit 323 is connected to the display unit 41, and the slice image data of each frame stored in the cine memory is output to the display unit 41. Similarly, the HDD of the storage unit 323 is also connected to the display unit 41, and the slice image data of each frame stored in the HDD is stored in the display unit 41 based on a command input to the operation unit 325 by the operator. Is output. In addition, the composite image generated by the image composition unit 328 is output from the HDD to the display unit 41 and displayed.

  The control unit 324 includes, for example, a computer and a program that causes the computer to execute predetermined data processing, and is connected to each unit. In the present embodiment, the control unit 324 gives a control signal to each unit based on the operation signal from the operation unit 325 to control the operation.

  The operation unit 325 includes input devices such as a keyboard, a touch panel, a track ball, a foot switch, and a voice input device, for example. The operation unit 325 receives operation information from the operator and outputs an operation signal to the control unit 324 based on the operation information.

  The high-intensity extracted image generation unit 326 includes a computer and a program that causes the computer to execute predetermined data processing. In the slice image generated by the slice image generation unit 322, the luminance value is greater than or equal to the first luminance value. By extracting the pixels, a high-luminance extracted image is generated. In the present embodiment, the high-intensity extracted image generation unit 326 receives a slice image that is a three-dimensional image from the storage unit 323, and sets, for example, the luminance value corresponding to the tumor portion in the subject as the first luminance value. Thus, pixels having a luminance value corresponding to the tumor or higher are extracted from the slice image. And the high-intensity extraction image containing the tumor part in a subject is produced | generated as a three-dimensional image.

  The low-luminance extracted image generation unit 327 includes a computer and a program that causes the computer to execute predetermined data processing. In the slice image generated by the slice image generation unit 322, the luminance value is the first luminance value described above. A low-luminance extracted image is generated by extracting pixels that are equal to or lower than the lower second luminance value. In the present embodiment, the low-luminance extracted image generation unit 327 receives a slice image that is a three-dimensional image from the storage unit 323, and sets, for example, a luminance value corresponding to a blood vessel portion in the subject as the second luminance value. Thus, pixels having a luminance value equal to or lower than the blood vessel are extracted from the slice image. And the low-intensity extraction image containing the blood vessel part in the subject is generated as a three-dimensional image.

  The image synthesizing unit 328 corresponds the position in the slice image of the high luminance extraction image generated by the high luminance extraction image generation unit 326 and the low luminance extraction image generated by the low luminance extraction image generation unit 327. A composite image is generated by aligning and composing. That is, the image composition unit 328 corresponds to the position in the slice image where the high luminance pixel and the low luminance pixel are extracted by the high luminance extraction image generation unit 326 and the low luminance extraction image generation unit 327, respectively. The high luminance extracted image and the low luminance extracted image are aligned to generate a composite image. In the present embodiment, the image composition unit 328 differs between the high luminance extraction image generated by the high luminance extraction image generation unit 326 and the low luminance extraction image generated by the low luminance extraction image generation unit 327. After conversion to become a color, the composite image is generated. Specifically, the image synthesizing unit 328 determines whether the high-luminance extracted image and the low-luminance extracted image are different from each other so that at least one of hue, brightness, and saturation is different between the high-luminance extracted image and the low-luminance extracted image. Data of at least one pixel is converted. For example, the high-luminance extracted image is shown in red and the low-luminance extracted image is shown in blue so that the hues are different between the high-luminance extracted image and the low-luminance extracted image. Thereafter, the high-luminance extracted image and the low-luminance extracted image converted so as to have different colors are synthesized to generate a synthesized image.

  The display unit 41 includes, for example, an LCD device (not shown) having a flat display surface and a DSC (Digital Scan Converter), and displays an image generated by the slice image generation unit 322 and stored in the storage unit 323. To do. The display unit 41 sequentially displays the slice images of a plurality of frames stored by the storage unit 323 so as to correspond to the chronological order in which the slice image generation unit 322 generated the frames. Specifically, the display unit 41 is connected to the storage unit 323, and based on a command from the control unit 324, the slice image data of each frame stored in the cine memory of the storage unit 323 is converted into a display signal by the DSC. The image is converted and displayed as a slice image on the display surface of the LCD device. The display unit 41 is connected to the HDD of the storage unit 323, receives image data stored in the HDD based on a command input to the operation unit 325 by the operator, and displays the image on the screen. . In the present embodiment, the display unit 41 displays the composite image generated by the image composition unit 328 on the display screen.

  The operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation when imaging a subject in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state when imaging a subject in the first embodiment according to the present invention.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, the subject is scanned (S11).

  Here, the transmission / reception unit 321 transmits an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 31 to the subject, and the ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject is received by the ultrasonic transducer to obtain an echo signal.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, a slice image of the subject is generated (S21).

  Here, based on the echo signal obtained by the ultrasonic probe 31, the slice image generation unit 322 generates a slice image of the slice surface of the subject. Specifically, a slice image corresponding to the B mode is generated as a three-dimensional image.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, a high luminance extraction image and a low luminance extraction image are generated (S31).

  Here, in the slice image generated by the slice image generation unit 322, a process in which the high luminance extraction image generation unit 326 extracts pixels whose luminance value is equal to or higher than the first luminance value is performed to generate a high luminance extraction image. To do. Further, in the slice image generated by the slice image generation unit 322, the low luminance extraction image generation unit 327 performs processing for extracting pixels having a luminance value equal to or lower than the second luminance value lower than the first luminance value. Thus, a low luminance extraction image is generated.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in (a1) of FIG. 3, for example, the high-intensity extraction image generation unit 326 extracts pixels having a luminance value corresponding to the tumor or higher from the volume data of the slice image, and the tumor in the subject is detected. A high-luminance extracted image H1 including a portion is generated as a three-dimensional image. Further, as shown in (a2) of FIG. 3, for example, pixels having luminance values corresponding to blood vessels or less are extracted from the slice image SI, and a low luminance extraction image L1 including a blood vessel portion in the subject is generated as a three-dimensional image. To do.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the high-brightness extracted image and the low-brightness extracted image are converted so that their colors are different (S41).

  Here, the image synthesizing unit 328 so that the high luminance extracted image generated by the high luminance extracted image generating unit 326 and the low luminance extracted image generated by the low luminance extracted image generating unit 327 have different colors. Convert.

  In this embodiment, as shown in (b1) and (b2) of FIG. 3, the image composition unit 328 converts pixel data of the high-luminance extracted image H1 and the low-luminance extracted image L1 so that the hues are different. Then, a high luminance extracted image H2 and a low luminance extracted image L2 having different colors are generated. For example, the high-intensity extracted image H2 indicating the tumor part is indicated in red, and the low-intensity extracted image L2 indicating the blood vessel part is indicated in blue.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, a composite image is generated (S51).

  Here, the high-brightness extraction image H2 and the low-brightness extraction image L2 are aligned and combined so as to correspond to the position in the slice image, thereby generating a composite image.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3C, slices in which high luminance pixels and low luminance pixels are extracted by the high luminance extraction image generation unit 326 and the low luminance extraction image generation unit 327, respectively. The high-luminance extracted image H2 and the low-luminance extracted image L2 are aligned so as to correspond to the position in the image, and the composite image CP is generated. Specifically, the high-intensity extraction image H2 showing the tumor part in the subject and the low-intensity extraction image L2 showing the blood vessel part in the subject are aligned and generated as a composite image CP.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, a composite image is displayed (S61).

  Here, the display unit 41 displays the combined image generated by the image combining unit 328 on the display screen.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the high luminance extraction image generation unit 326 extracts pixels having a luminance value equal to or higher than the first luminance value in the slice image, and generates the high luminance extraction image H1. Then, the low luminance extraction image generation unit 327 extracts pixels having a luminance value equal to or lower than the second luminance value lower than the first luminance value in the slice image, and generates a low luminance extraction image L1. Then, the high-brightness extraction image H1 generated by the high-brightness extraction image generation unit 326 and the low-brightness extraction image L1 generated by the low-brightness extraction image generation unit 327 are combined with each other in the slice image. The composite image CP is generated by aligning and compositing so as to correspond to the position. Here, the image composition unit 328 converts the pixel data of the high-brightness extraction image H1 and the low-brightness extraction image L1 so that the hues are different, and generates the high-brightness extraction image H2 and the low-brightness extraction image L2 having different colors. After the generation, the high-brightness extraction image H2 and the low-brightness extraction image L2 are combined to generate the combined image CP. For example, a high-intensity extracted image H2 showing a tumor portion in the subject and a low-intensity extracted image L2 showing a blood vessel portion in the subject are aligned and generated as a composite image CP. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it becomes easy to grasp the arrangement relationship of different parts as in the case of the tumor part and the blood vessel part, and the diagnosis can be performed quickly. Therefore, this embodiment can realize high diagnostic efficiency.

<Embodiment 2>
Hereinafter, Embodiment 2 according to the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1a in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1a according to the present embodiment includes a high-luminance image synthesis region setting unit 326a and a low-luminance image synthesis region setting unit 327a. Except for this point, the present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment. For this reason, description is abbreviate | omitted about the overlapping location.

  The high-intensity image composition area setting unit 326a includes a computer and a program that causes the computer to execute predetermined data processing. In the high-intensity extracted image generated by the high-intensity extraction image generation unit 326, the high-intensity image composition region setting unit 326a Set the area to be combined. Specifically, the high brightness image composition region setting unit 326a sets a region to be composed by the image composition unit 328 based on position information from the operator input to the operation unit 325.

  The low luminance image composition area setting unit 327a includes a computer and a program that causes the computer to execute predetermined data processing. In the low luminance extraction image generated by the low luminance extraction image generation unit 327, the low luminance image synthesis region setting unit 327a Set the area to be combined. Specifically, the low-brightness image composition region setting unit 327a sets a region to be composed by the image composition unit 328 based on the position information from the operator input to the operation unit 325.

  The operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when imaging a subject in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state when imaging a subject in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, similarly to the first embodiment, the subject is scanned (S11), and then the slice image generation of the subject (S21), the high-luminance extraction image and the low-luminance extraction are performed. Generation with an image (S31) is performed.

  Here, as in the first embodiment, as illustrated in (a1) of FIG. 6, for example, the high-intensity extraction image generation unit 326 extracts pixels having a luminance value or more corresponding to the tumor from the volume data of the slice image, A high-intensity extracted image H1 including a tumor portion in the subject is generated as a three-dimensional image. Then, as shown in FIG. 6 (b1), for example, pixels having luminance values equal to or lower than the blood vessel are extracted from the slice image SI, and a low luminance extraction image L1 including the blood vessel portion in the subject is generated as a three-dimensional image. To do.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, a region to be synthesized by the image composition unit 328 in the high luminance extraction image and a region to be synthesized by the image synthesis unit 328 in the low luminance extraction image are set (S32).

  Here, in the high-intensity extracted image generated by the high-intensity extracted image generation unit 326, the high-intensity image composition region setting unit 326a sets an area to be synthesized by the image composition unit 328. In the low-brightness extracted image generated by the low-brightness extracted image generation unit 327, the low-brightness image composition region setting unit 327a sets a region to be combined by the image composition unit 328.

  Specifically, based on the position information from the operator input to the operation unit 325, a region RH to be combined by the image combining unit 328 in the high luminance extracted image H1 is set as shown in (a11) of FIG. . Further, based on the position information from the operator input to the operation unit 325, a region RL to be combined by the image combining unit 328 in the low luminance extracted image L1 is set as shown in (a21) of FIG.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the high-luminance extracted image and the low-luminance extracted image are converted so that their colors are different (S41).

  Here, as in the first embodiment, the high-intensity extracted image generated by the high-intensity extracted image generating unit 326 and the low-intensity extracted image generated by the low-intensity extracted image generating unit 327 have different colors. As described above, the image composition unit 328 performs conversion.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in (b1) and (b2) of FIG. 6, the region RH to be synthesized by the image synthesis unit 328 set by the high luminance image synthesis region setting unit 326a, and the low luminance image synthesis region The image composition unit 328 converts the region RL to be synthesized by the image composition unit 328 set by the setting unit 327a so as to have different colors. For example, the high-intensity extracted image H2 indicating the tumor part is indicated in red, and the low-intensity extracted image L2 indicating the blood vessel part is indicated in blue.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the composite image generation (S51) and the composite image display (S61) are performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. That is, the composition of the region RH to be synthesized by the image composition unit 328 set by the high brightness image composition region setting unit 326a and the region RL to be synthesized by the image composition unit 328 set by the low brightness image composition region setting unit 327a. The image composition unit 328 generates an image and the display unit 41 displays the image.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the region RH to be combined by the image combining unit 328 set by the high luminance image combining region setting unit 326a and the image combining unit 328 set by the low luminance image combining region setting unit 327a. The image composition unit 328 generates a composite image for the region RL to be combined. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, it is easy to grasp the arrangement relationship of different parts, and diagnosis can be performed quickly. Therefore, this embodiment can realize high diagnostic efficiency.

  In the above embodiment, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 corresponds to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. In the above embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 31 corresponds to the scanning unit of the present invention. Moreover, in said embodiment, the display part 41 is corresponded to the display part of this invention. In the above-described embodiment, the slice image generation unit 322 corresponds to the slice image generation unit of the present invention. Moreover, in said embodiment, the high-intensity extraction image generation part 326 is corresponded to the high-intensity extraction image generation part of this invention. Moreover, in said embodiment, the low-intensity extraction image generation part 327 is corresponded to the low-intensity extraction image generation part of this invention. In the above embodiment, the image composition unit 328 corresponds to the image composition unit of the present invention. In the above embodiment, the high-intensity image composition region setting unit 326a corresponds to the high-intensity image composition region setting unit of the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, the low luminance image composition area setting unit 327a corresponds to the low luminance image composition area setting unit of the present invention.

  In implementing the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be employed.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which both the high-intensity image composition region setting unit 326a and the low-intensity image composition region setting unit 327a are provided, but either one may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the case of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to diagnostic imaging apparatuses such as an X-ray CT apparatus and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 in an embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation when imaging a subject in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state when imaging a subject in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1a in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when imaging a subject in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state when imaging a subject in the second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1a ... ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, diagnostic imaging apparatus),
31 ... Ultrasonic probe (scanning part),
32 ... Operation console,
41 ... display part (display part),
321... Transceiver unit,
322 ... Slice image generation unit (slice image generation unit),
323 ... storage unit,
324 ... control unit,
325 ... operation unit,
326... High-brightness extraction image generation unit (high-brightness extraction image generation unit),
327 ... a low luminance extraction image generation unit (low luminance extraction image generation unit),
328 ... Image composition unit (image composition unit),
326a... High brightness image composition area setting section (high brightness image composition area setting section)
327a: Low-luminance image composition area setting unit (low-luminance image composition area setting unit)

Claims (13)

A scan unit that obtains an echo signal by transmitting an ultrasonic wave to the subject and performing a scan to receive the ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject to which the ultrasonic wave has been transmitted;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a slice image generation unit configured to generate a slice image of the subject based on the echo signal obtained by the scan unit;
In the slice image generated by the slice image generation unit, a high-intensity extraction image generation unit that generates a high-intensity extraction image by extracting pixels having a luminance value equal to or higher than the first luminance value;
In the slice image generated by the slice image generation unit, a low-brightness extraction image that generates a low-brightness extraction image by extracting pixels that have a luminance value equal to or lower than a second luminance value that is lower than the first luminance value A generator,
The high luminance extraction image generated by the high luminance extraction image generation unit and the low luminance extraction image generated by the low luminance extraction image generation unit are aligned so as to correspond to the position in the slice image. And an image synthesizer for synthesizing and generating a synthesized image. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slice image generation unit generates the slice image as a three-dimensional image. The image synthesizing unit is configured so that the high-intensity extraction image generated by the high-intensity extraction image generation unit and the low-intensity extraction image generated by the low-intensity extraction image generation unit have different colors. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composite image is generated after the conversion. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit that displays the combined image generated by the image combining unit. A high-intensity image composition area setting unit that sets an area to be combined with the image composition unit in the high-intensity extraction image generated by the high-intensity extraction image generation unit;
The image synthesizing unit generates pixels for the region set by the high luminance image synthesis region setting unit in the high luminance extraction image generated by the high luminance extraction image generation unit, and the low luminance extraction image generation unit. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synthesized image is generated by synthesizing the low-luminance extracted image. A low-brightness image synthesis region setting unit that sets a region to be synthesized by the image synthesis unit in the low-brightness extraction image generated by the low-brightness extraction image generation unit;
The image synthesizing unit generates pixels for the region set by the low luminance image synthesizing region setting unit in the low luminance extraction image generated by the low luminance extraction image generation unit, and the high luminance extraction image generation unit. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synthesized image is generated by synthesizing the extracted high-intensity extracted image. The high-intensity extraction image generation unit generates the high-intensity extraction image by setting a luminance value corresponding to a tumor part in the subject as the first luminance value,
The low-luminance extracted image generation unit generates the low-luminance extracted image by setting a luminance value corresponding to a blood vessel portion in the subject as the second luminance value. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment. A scan unit that obtains raw data by performing a scan on the subject;
An image diagnostic apparatus comprising: a slice image generation unit configured to generate a slice image of the subject based on the raw data obtained by the scan unit;
In the slice image generated by the slice image generation unit, a high-intensity extraction image generation unit that generates a high-intensity extraction image by extracting pixels having a luminance value equal to or higher than the first luminance value;
In the slice image generated by the slice image generation unit, a low-brightness extraction image that generates a low-brightness extraction image by extracting pixels that have a luminance value equal to or lower than a second luminance value that is lower than the first luminance value A generator,
The high luminance extraction image generated by the high luminance extraction image generation unit and the low luminance extraction image generated by the low luminance extraction image generation unit are aligned so as to correspond to the position in the slice image. And an image synthesizer for synthesizing and generating a synthesized image. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the slice image generation unit generates the slice image as a three-dimensional image. The image synthesizing unit is configured so that the high-intensity extraction image generated by the high-intensity extraction image generation unit and the low-intensity extraction image generated by the low-intensity extraction image generation unit have different colors. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the composite image is generated after the conversion. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a display unit that displays the composite image generated by the image composition unit. A high-intensity image composition area setting unit that sets an area to be combined with the image composition unit in the high-intensity extraction image generated by the high-intensity extraction image generation unit;
The image synthesizing unit generates pixels for the region set by the high luminance image synthesis region setting unit in the high luminance extraction image generated by the high luminance extraction image generation unit, and the low luminance extraction image generation unit. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the synthesized image is generated by synthesizing the low-luminance extracted image. A low-brightness image synthesis region setting unit that sets a region to be synthesized by the image synthesis unit in the low-brightness extraction image generated by the low-brightness extraction image generation unit;
The image synthesizing unit generates pixels for the region set by the low luminance image synthesizing region setting unit in the low luminance extraction image generated by the low luminance extraction image generation unit, and the high luminance extraction image generation unit. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the synthesized image is generated by synthesizing the extracted high-intensity extracted image.

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