JP2008029468A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for ophthalmic use - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus ophthalmic use which has simple constitution and improved operability while suppressing the number of operation switches to be provided in the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for ophthalmic use is equipped with: an ultrasonic probe for transmitting ultrasonic waves to an eye to be examined and receiving echo signals reflected by the eye to be examined; a display means provided with a touch panel part which is operated and input by an examiner, for displaying the strength data of the echo signals received by the ultrasonic probe as ultrasonic images; a mode switching means for switching a measurement mode for acquiring the ultrasonic images and a standby mode for making the operation of the ultrasonic probe stand by; an image quality adjustment means provided outside the display screen of the display means, for adjusting the image quality of the ultrasonic images displayed at the display means during the measurement mode; and a function switching means for making the image quality adjustment means function for a purpose different from the image quality adjustment during the standby mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for diagnosing an eye to be examined by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.

  Ophthalmic ultrasound that obtains information on living tissue by transmitting ultrasound from an ultrasound transducer (ultrasound probe) in the probe and receiving and processing reflected echoes from each tissue in the body such as the eyeball. A diagnostic device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In such an apparatus, the obtained biological tissue information of the eye to be examined is displayed on a display panel provided in the apparatus, for example, an A mode display for displaying an echo signal from each internal tissue of the eye to be examined as a waveform, or a transducer B mode display for displaying a tomographic image in the depth direction of the eye to be examined is performed. Further, in the apparatus as described above, the image measurement marker is moved with respect to the tomographic image displayed on the display panel, and the distance and area on the tomographic image of the eye to be examined are measured based on the display position of the marker. A function is provided.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-187022

  An ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as described above is desired to be as small as possible and easy to handle. For this reason, it is conceivable to incorporate various operation switches for performing various measurements and setting various conditions as a touch panel in the display monitor. In the case of such a touch panel type display panel, it is necessary to set various measurement conditions on the screen of the display monitor. Therefore, the size of each operation switch arranged on the screen is limited, and the entire apparatus However, the operability is deteriorated. On the other hand, if the display panel is enlarged in view of operability, the cost increases.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with high operability with a simple configuration while suppressing the number of operation switches provided in the apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by having the following configuration.

(1) An ultrasonic probe that transmits an ultrasonic wave to the eye to be examined and receives an echo signal reflected by the eye to be examined, and a touch panel unit that is operated and input by the examiner, are received by the ultrasonic probe. Display means for displaying the intensity data of the waved echo signal as an ultrasonic image, a measurement mode for operating the ultrasonic probe to acquire the ultrasonic image, and a standby mode for waiting for the operation of the ultrasonic probe; A mode switching means for switching between, an image quality adjusting means provided outside the display screen of the display means, for adjusting the image quality of the ultrasonic image displayed on the display means in the measurement mode, and the standby And a function switching means for causing the image quality adjusting means to function as an application different from the image quality adjustment in the mode.
(2) In the ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to (1), the use different from the image quality adjustment is that the image measurement marker moving means displayed on the display means in the standby mode or displayed on the display means It is a selection means for allowing the examiner to select a selection item desired from a plurality of selection items.
(3) In the ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to (2), the image quality adjusting means includes a first rotary knob for adjusting a gain of the whole ultrasonic image displayed on the display means, and a display on the display means. A second rotary knob for adjusting a gain of a part of the ultrasonic image to be operated, and the function switching means moves the one rotary knob to an electronic device in the vertical direction on the display screen in the standby mode. It functions as a moving means for display, and the other rotary knob is made to function as a moving means for electronic display in the horizontal direction on the display screen.
(4) In the ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to (1), the image quality adjusting means is a rotary knob that is rotated by an examiner and has a mechanism that can rotate without limitation.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve operability with a simple configuration while suppressing the number of operation switches provided in the apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for imaging a tomographic image of an eye to be inspected according to the B-mode method will be described as an embodiment of the present invention and described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of an ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a control system.

  A B-mode ultrasonic probe 2 having a transducer 12 is connected to the apparatus main body 1 via a cable, and a liquid crystal display panel 3 that is a monitor capable of color display is provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body 1. On the liquid crystal display panel 3, intensity data of the echo signal acquired by the ultrasonic probe is displayed as an ultrasonic image. The liquid crystal display panel 3 is a touch panel type, and the examiner can set various conditions by selecting and operating setting items displayed on the display panel 3. For example, a mode changeover switch 50 is disposed (displayed) on the touch panel type display panel 3, and a measurement for acquiring an ultrasonic image by operating the ultrasonic probe 2 according to the input of the switch 50. The mode and the standby mode for waiting for the operation of the ultrasonic probe 2 can be switched. Measurement / diagnosis results can be output by a printer (not shown).

  Further, outside the display screen of the display panel 3, there is provided a gain adjustment rotary knob serving as a means for adjusting the gain (amplification degree) of the echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe 2 in the measurement mode. Yes. Reference numeral 41 denotes a gain adjusting rotary knob for adjusting the gain of the entire ultrasonic image displayed on the display panel 3. Reference numeral 42 denotes a TGC (Time) which is a means for adjusting a gain (a gain within a predetermined range of the display panel 3) of a part of the ultrasonic image displayed on the display panel 3 (for example, near the anterior eye portion or the retina). (Gain Control) rotary knob. In this embodiment, the gain near the anterior segment can be adjusted. The gain adjustment in the present embodiment includes a technique for adjusting the offset value of the entire image and the offset value of a predetermined portion (predetermined range) by increasing or decreasing the offset value of the echo signal.

  The control unit 10 is built in the apparatus body 1 and controls various circuits and the like (for example, controls display of the display screen of the display panel 3). Further, the control unit 10 switches the operation of the apparatus in accordance with the mode switching by the mode switch 50. When the measurement mode is set, the control unit 10 controls driving of the clock generation circuit 11 and transmits (transmits) ultrasonic waves from the transducer 12 provided in the probe 2 via the transmitter 17. The reflected echo from each tissue of the eye to be examined is received (received) by the transducer 12 and converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 13 via the amplifier 18. The reflected echo information converted into a digital signal is temporarily stored in the sampling memory 14. Further, in the case of the B mode, the control unit 10 sequentially scans using the scanning unit provided in the transducer 12 and stores a signal (image data) for one screen in the sampling memory 14. Then, the control unit 10 creates a tomographic image based on the image data for one screen stored in the sampling memory 14 and displays it on the display panel 3.

  At this time, the control unit 10 repeatedly operates the ultrasonic probe 2 to store a signal for one screen in the sampling memory 14 as needed and update a tomographic image on the screen of the display panel 3 as needed. Display. More specifically, the control unit 10 displays a new ultrasonic image in real time every time a new tomographic image is obtained by the operation of the ultrasonic probe 2.

  FIG. 3 is a screen example when the tomographic image D is displayed on the display panel 3 in the measurement mode. On this screen, in addition to the tomographic image, a freeze switch 51 for freezing the tomographic image displayed as a moving image, a measurement switch 53 for shifting to the measurement of the distance and area of the tomographic image, a mode changeover switch 54, etc. As a button, a measurement method (in this embodiment, the measurement mode can be selected from the B mode method, the axial length measurement, and the corneal thickness measurement as shown in the upper right of the screen), the measurement range (for example, scanning area 50 mm), etc. The measurement conditions are displayed as display items. Here, the examiner adjusts the position and angle of the probe 2 so as to obtain a desired tomographic image while observing the tomographic image D displayed at any time. Further, the examiner operates the gain adjustment rotary knob 41 to adjust the image quality of the entire tomographic image D displayed on the display panel 3. In this case, the control unit 10 sends an instruction signal for increasing or decreasing the gain to the amplifier 18 based on the operation signal from the gain adjusting rotary knob 41, so that the echo input to the A / D converter 13 is transmitted. Adjust the signal gain. Note that the gain adjustment rotary knob 41 in this embodiment is a rotary knob system that can rotate without limitation, and is configured such that the amount of rotation of the gain adjustment rotary knob 41 is detected by a rotary encoder. Then, the control unit 40 increases or decreases the gain of the echo signal in proportion to the rotation amount of the gain adjustment rotary knob 41. Specifically, the sensitivity increases when rotated clockwise, and the sensitivity decreases when rotated counterclockwise.

  Further, the examiner operates the TGC rotary knob 42 to adjust the sensitivity (gain) of a part of the tomographic image displayed on the display panel 3 (here, the vicinity of the anterior segment of the tomographic image D), Adjust the image quality of the tomographic image. In this case, the control unit 10 adjusts the gain of the echo signal detected from the vicinity of the anterior segment based on the operation signal from the TGC rotary knob 42.

  The examiner adjusts the tomographic image D displayed on the display panel 3 as described above, and when an appropriate image is obtained, an image capture switch (for example, a freeze switch 51 on the display panel 3 or a foot switch not shown). ). Here, when the freeze switch 51 is pressed, the connection between the A / D converter 13 and the sampling memory 14 is disconnected, the previous image data remains in the sampling memory 14 as it is, and the image data is fixed. Further, the control unit 10 puts the operation of the probe 2 into a standby state. Thereby, it shifts to the standby mode in which various measurement conditions can be selected on the screen of the display panel 3. Note that the mode may be switched to the standby mode by the mode changeover switch 50.

  Next, when the measurement switch 53 displayed on the display panel 3 is pressed, the control unit 10 keeps the screen of the display panel 3 on the screen of the display panel 3 by moving the image measurement marker in the standby mode, and the distance of the tomographic image (B mode image). And switch to a screen that can measure the area. FIG. 4 shows an example of a measurement screen configuration capable of measuring the distance and area of the tomographic image in the standby mode. In the illustrated measurement screen, in addition to the fixed tomographic image, an MK switch 55 for performing distance measurement, a + switch 56a for enabling movement of the first marker 71 displayed at the time of distance measurement, and a second switch A + switch 56b for enabling the marker 72 to move, an AREA switch 57 for performing area measurement, a SET switch 58a for plotting measurement points, and an ENTER for starting area measurement based on the plotted point positions The switches 58b, etc. are displayed as touch panel buttons, and distance and area measurement results, measurement techniques, etc. are displayed as display items. At this time, the control unit 10 controls the display system and the operation system so that the gain adjustment rotary knob 41 and the TGC rotary knob 42 are used for moving the image measurement marker displayed on the display panel 3. Switch functions. That is, the control unit 10 causes the gain adjusting rotary knob 41 and the TGC rotary knob 42 to function for uses different from the image quality adjustment described above. In the present embodiment, the control unit 70 causes the gain adjustment rotary knob 41 to function as an electronic display moving means in the vertical direction on the display screen, and the TGC rotary knob 42 is displayed in the horizontal direction on the display screen. Function as a moving means.

  More specifically, when the MK switch 55 is pressed here, the first marker 71 and the second marker 72 are electronically displayed on the screen (for example, the center of the screen), and between the predetermined parts of the tomographic image D The distance can be measured. At this time, when the + switch 56a displayed on the screen is pressed, the first marker 71 is selected and can be moved with respect to the tomographic image D fixedly displayed. When the switch 56b is pressed, the second marker 71 is selected. 72 is selected and can be moved with respect to the tomographic image D fixedly displayed. For example, when the gain adjustment rotary knob 41 is operated after the + switch 56a is selected, the first marker 71 is moved in the vertical direction with respect to the tomographic image D that is fixedly displayed (clockwise is downward, counterclockwise. Clockwise is upward). Further, when the TGC rotary knob 42 is operated, the first marker 71 is moved in the left-right direction with respect to the tomographic image D that is fixedly displayed (clockwise is the right direction and counterclockwise is the left direction). The amount of movement of the first marker 71 on the screen is determined by the amount of rotation detected by a rotary encoder provided on the gain adjustment rotary knob 41 or the TGC rotation knob 42.

  Here, the examiner moves the first marker 71 and the second marker 72 to desired positions, and then presses the MK switch 55. When the MK switch 55 is pressed, the control unit 10 obtains a distance on the tomographic image based on the distance between the first marker 71 and the second marker 72 and displays the measurement result on the display panel 3. Thereby, for example, the distance from the front surface to the rear surface of the crystalline lens displayed in the tomographic image can be obtained. In this case, the control unit 10 may measure the distance as needed according to the movement of the display positions of the first marker 71 and the second marker 72 and display the measured distance on the screen of the display panel 3 as needed. In the present embodiment, the gain adjusting rotary knob 41 is used as an operating means for moving the marker in the vertical direction and the TGC rotating knob 42 is used for moving the marker in the horizontal direction. In the left-right direction, the TGC rotary knob 42 can be used as an operating means for moving in the up-down direction.

  When the area switch 57 displayed on the display panel 3 is pressed by the examiner, the area measurement marker 73 is electronically displayed on the screen (for example, the center of the screen), and the tomographic image ( It is possible to measure the area of the (B mode image). A hatched portion H on the tomographic image D shown in FIG. 4 represents a bleeding state of the eye to be examined. In this case, the examiner moves the marker 73 by using the gain adjusting rotary knob 41 and the TGC rotary knob 42 and overlaps the end of the portion whose area is to be measured. The movement of the display position of the marker 73 is performed by the same control as the display position of the first marker 71 described above. Here, when the examiner presses the SET switch 58a displayed on the display panel 3, the points are plotted.

  Then, the examiner moves the marker + to the place where the point is desired to be plotted next by using the gain adjusting rotary knob 41 and the TGC rotary knob 42. When the examiner presses the SET switch 58a, the next point is plotted and connected to the previous point.

  In the manner described above, the examiner plots points so as to surround the portion to be measured, and when the last point is plotted, presses the ENTER switch 58b. This connects the first plotted point and the last plotted point. Then, the control unit 10 measures the area of the closed region based on the display position of the plotted points, and displays the measurement result on the screen of the display panel 3.

  In summary, by using the gain adjustment rotary knob 41 and the TGC rotary knob 42 as the operation means for moving the image measurement marker, no new operation switch is provided. In addition, the operability can be improved without complicating the screen configuration as compared with the case where the image measurement marker is moved using the touch panel display panel 3. In addition, since the gain adjusting rotary knob 41 and the TGC rotary knob 42 in the present embodiment use a mechanism that can rotate without limitation, the movement of the marker is not limited. Therefore, the marker can be easily moved to the position where the examiner wants to measure.

  In the above description, the gain adjusting rotary knob 41 and the TGC rotary knob 42 are used to move the image measurement marker displayed on the display panel 3 when measuring the distance or area on the tomographic image. Although it was set as such a structure, it is not restricted to this. For example, in the apparatus of this embodiment, when an arbitrary part of a B-mode image is enlarged and stored and displayed, a frame-shaped marker (image measurement marker) indicating a range that can be stored on the screen of the display panel 3 is displayed. Is displayed on the tomographic image, and the position of the frame marker is adjusted so that the portion of the B-mode image to be stored falls within the frame marker. Therefore, in the configuration as described above, the gain adjusting rotary knob 41 and the TGC rotary knob 42 are used as operating means for moving the frame marker displayed electronically on the display panel 3 in the vertical and horizontal directions. It is good.

  Next, by selecting one subject from a plurality of subject lists displayed on the display panel 3 in the standby mode, the ultrasound data of the selected subject is called and displayed on the screen of the display panel 3. The case of displaying will be described.

  Here, when an examiner not shown displayed on the display panel 3 is pressed by the examiner, a plurality of examinee lists are displayed. FIG. 5 is an example of a screen when the subject information stored in the memory 16 is displayed on the display panel 3. In this example, ten subject lists (ID number, name, latest examination date, left and right eye discrimination from the left) arranged in the vertical direction are displayed on the display panel 3. Moreover, these subject lists are divided into groups (subject list groups) every ten, and by changing the page, it is possible to browse the subject lists of other groups. Reference numeral 90 denotes a cursor for selecting a subject. In FIG. 5, the subject having an ID number 005 is selected. In this case, in the control unit 10, the gain adjustment rotary knob 41 and the TGC rotary knob 42 are used to select a selection item desired by the examiner from a plurality of selection items displayed on the display panel 3. Controls the display system and operation system, and switches their functions. That is, the control unit 10 causes the gain adjusting rotary knob 41 and the TGC rotary knob 42 to function for uses different from the image quality adjustment described above. In the present embodiment, the operation signal of the gain adjustment rotary knob 41 is used to move the cursor 90, and the operation signal of the TGC rotary knob 42 is used to change the group displayed on the screen. ing.

  In this case, when the gain adjusting rotary knob 41 is rotated clockwise by the examiner, the cursor 90 is moved downward, and a subject list having a number larger than ID005 is selected. On the other hand, when the gain adjustment rotary knob 41 is rotated counterclockwise, the cursor 90 is moved upward, and a subject list having a number lower than ID005 is selected. When the TGC rotary knob 42 is rotated clockwise, a group consisting of a subject list having a large ID number (a large number of pages) is displayed on the screen. When the TGC rotary knob 42 is rotated counterclockwise, a group consisting of a subject list having a small number (small number of pages) is displayed on the screen.

  As described above, the examiner operates the TGC rotary knob 42 to change the subject group displayed on the screen, and operates the gain adjustment rotary knob 41 to move the cursor 90. When an arbitrary subject list is selected and the DISPLAY switch 59 is pressed, an A mode image and a B mode image of the selected subject are displayed.

  With the above configuration, a touch panel type display panel is obtained by using the gain adjusting rotary knob 41 or the TGC rotary knob 42 for moving a cursor or changing a group for selecting an arbitrary subject list. The operability can be improved as compared with the case where the cursor is moved by using 3. Further, the gain adjusting rotary knob 41 and the TGC rotary knob 42 in the present embodiment are mechanisms that can rotate without limitation, and thus the movement of the cursor is not limited. Therefore, the cursor can be easily moved to the subject list desired by the examiner.

  In the above description, the cursor 90 is moved with respect to a plurality of subject lists. However, the cursor 90 may be a fixed position and the subject list may be scrolled up and down. Good. Further, the control unit 10 controls display of the display panel 3 so as to scroll the plurality of subject lists in the vertical direction based on operation signals from the gain adjustment rotary knob 41 and the TGC rotary knob 42. An arbitrary subject list may be selected by touching.

  In the above description, the case where the B mode image is displayed on the display panel 3 has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to the case where the A mode image is displayed on the display panel 3. For example, in the measurement of the axial length, the control unit 10 controls the display system and the operation system so that the operation signal from the TGC rotary knob 42 is used to move the retina detection gate. In addition, the control unit 10 displays the operation system and the operation system so that the operation signal from the gain adjusting rotary knob 41 is used to move the cursor 90 for selecting one measurement result from the measurement results acquired a plurality of times. To control. The retina manual gate is used when there is an extra echo due to bleeding or the like before the actual retinal echo.

  FIG. 6 is a view when an A mode image is displayed on the screen of the display panel 3. As shown in FIG. 6, on the right side of the screen, a measurement result list (ID from the left, ID number, axial length) that includes each measurement result when A-mode measurement is performed a plurality of times (for example, 10 times) on the subject eye A mode waveform corresponding to the measurement result selected by the cursor 90 is displayed on the left side of the measurement result. An arrow mark G displayed below the A mode waveform is a mark indicating a detection gate for retinal echo.

  Here, when the gain adjusting rotary knob 41 is operated, the cursor 90 is moved with respect to the measurement result list, and an arbitrary measurement result is selected by the cursor 90 (the cursor 90 is rotated by the clockwise rotation). Is moved downward, and the cursor 90 is moved upward by rotation in the counterclockwise direction).

As described above, when an A-mode waveform corresponding to the measurement result desired by the examiner is displayed and an excessive echo is observed on the A-mode waveform, the examiner changes the retinal detection gate.
Here, when the TGC rotary knob 42 is rotated clockwise, the arrow G indicating the retina detection gate is moved to the deep side (rightward). On the other hand, when the TGC rotary knob 42 is rotated counterclockwise, the retina detection gate G is moved to the shallow side (to the left).

  Here, the examiner adjusts the detection gate to an echo signal that seems to be an actual retinal echo. When the position of the detection gate G is moved, the retinal echo becomes the leftmost echo from the detection gate G, and the measurement value also changes to a position where the echo is the end point of the measurement. For this reason, when measuring the axial length or the like of the eye to be examined based on the acquired echo signal, the measurement can be performed without being affected by an extra echo.

  With the configuration as described above, any measurement result can be obtained using the touch panel type display panel 3 by using the gain adjusting rotary knob 41 or the TGC rotary knob 42 for moving the retina detection gate or selecting the measurement result. The operability can be improved as compared with the case where the retina detection gate corresponding to is moved.

1 is a schematic external view of an ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a principal part block diagram of the control system of the ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is an example of a screen when a tomographic image is displayed on the display panel in the measurement mode. 2 shows an example of a measurement screen configuration that can measure the distance and area of a tomographic image in a standby mode. It is an example of a screen when the subject information memorize | stored in memory is displayed on the display panel. It is a figure when the A mode image is displayed on the screen of a display panel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Ultrasonic probe 3 Display panel 10 Control part 18 Amplifier 41 Rotary knob for gain adjustment 42 Rotary knob for TGC 50 Mode change switch 53 Measurement switch 71 1st marker 72 2nd marker 73 Marker 90 Cursor

Claims (4)

An ultrasonic probe for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to the eye to be examined and receiving an echo signal reflected by the eye to be examined;
A display unit that has a touch panel unit that is operated and input by an examiner, and displays intensity data of an echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe as an ultrasonic image;
Mode switching means for switching between a measurement mode for operating the ultrasonic probe and acquiring the ultrasonic image and a standby mode for waiting for the operation of the ultrasonic probe;
An image quality adjusting means provided outside the display screen of the display means, for adjusting the image quality of the ultrasonic image displayed on the display means in the measurement mode;
Function switching means for causing the image quality adjusting means to function as an application different from the image quality adjustment in the standby mode;
An ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: 2. The ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the use different from the image quality adjustment is a moving means of an image measurement marker displayed on the display means in the standby mode, or a plurality of displays displayed on the display means. An ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by being a selection means for causing the examiner to select a selection item desired from the selection items. 3. The ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image quality adjustment unit includes a first rotary knob for adjusting a gain of an entire ultrasonic image displayed on the display unit, and an ultrasound displayed on the display unit. A second rotary knob for adjusting a gain of a part of the sound wave image, and the function switching means moves the one rotary knob in the vertical direction on the display screen in the standby mode. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for ophthalmology characterized in that it functions as a means and the other rotary knob functions as a means for moving the electronic display in the horizontal direction on the display screen. The ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The ophthalmic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the image quality adjusting means is a rotary knob rotated by an examiner and has a mechanism that can rotate without limitation.

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