JP2008167838A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and method of displaying ultrasonic image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which displays a corresponding ultrasonic image by quickly and efficiently determining a time phase of a subject to be observed from an electrocardiographic waveform. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 collectively displays the electrocardiographic waveform which is sent from an electrocardiographic waveform detecting part 11 and is stored in a memory part 7 in a display part 6. An examiner determines a time phase section where an abnormality or the like is found by observing the electrocardiographic waveform displayed collectively in the display part 6 and specifies the target time phase section (a starting time phase and an ending time phase) through a control panel 10. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 obtains the ultrasonic image according to the specified time phase section from the memory part 7 and reproduces the ultrasonic image obtained for the specified time phase section in the display part 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that captures and displays an ultrasound image.

Conventionally, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus stores an electrocardiogram waveform, time phase information of the electrocardiogram waveform, time phase information of the ultrasonic image and the ultrasonic image in a memory unit, and stores all the electrocardiogram waveforms and ultrasonic images Is displayed synchronously.
In addition, an electrocardiograph that displays 12-lead ECG waveforms on a single screen for each heartbeat has been proposed (see, for example, [Patent Document 1]). In addition, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that synchronously displays an electrocardiographic waveform and an ultrasonic image using time phase information of an R wave time phase has been proposed (see, for example, [Patent Document 2]).

JP-A-3-284237 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-191950

However, the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a problem that when an abnormality is determined from an electrocardiogram waveform and an ultrasonic image is reproduced for a target time phase, it is necessary to manually search for the target time phase. In addition, when the electrocardiogram waveform and the ultrasound image stored in the storage unit are for a long time, there is a problem that the electrocardiogram waveform cannot be observed at a time from the beginning to the end.
In the technique shown in [Patent Document 1], 12-lead electrocardiographic waveforms are displayed one by one, so that if there is an abnormality in a portion other than the displayed heartbeat, the abnormality cannot be grasped. There is a problem.
In the technique shown in [Patent Document 2], since the time phase is designated using the delay time within one heartbeat from the R wave time phase, the necessary ultrasonic wave is obtained from a plurality of ultrasonic images obtained for each heartbeat. There is a problem that it is necessary to select an image.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is capable of determining a time phase of an observation target from an electrocardiogram waveform and displaying a corresponding ultrasonic image quickly and efficiently. An object is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the first invention provides an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to a subject, and ultrasonic image information based on an ultrasonic reception signal output from the ultrasonic probe. An electrocardiographic waveform detecting means for detecting electrocardiographic waveform information of the subject in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an image processing unit that constitutes a display unit; and a display unit that displays an ultrasonic image based on the ultrasonic image information And an electrocardiogram waveform holding means for holding the detected electrocardiogram waveform information together with time phase information, and collectively displaying the electrocardiogram waveform over an arbitrary time phase based on the held electrocardiogram waveform information. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a collective display unit.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the first invention detects electrocardiographic waveform information of a subject, holds the detected electrocardiographic waveform information in a storage unit together with time phase information, and the electrocardiographic waveform information held in the storage unit Based on the above, the electrocardiographic waveform is displayed collectively over an arbitrary time phase, for example, all the time phases.
As described above, since the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus collectively displays the electrocardiographic waveform for all the time phases, it is possible to quickly determine the time phase or the time phase interval that is considered abnormal from the findings of the electrocardiographic waveform.

In addition, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus holds the ultrasonic image information in the storage unit together with the time phase information, specifies the time phase or the time phase interval on the collectively displayed electrocardiogram, and stores the ultrasonic image stored in the storage unit. Search ultrasonic image information corresponding to a specified time phase or time phase interval from image information, and display an ultrasonic image for the specified time phase or time phase interval based on the searched ultrasonic image information or It is desirable to regenerate.
As a result, it is possible to quickly search for an ultrasonic image of the target time phase or time phase section, and to reduce the operation burden.

In addition, when the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus continuously reproduces the ultrasound image for the designated time phase interval, the ultrasound diagnostic device reproduces the ultrasound image up to the end of the designated time phase interval, and then stops the reproduction for a predetermined time. It is desirable to reproduce the ultrasound image from the beginning of the time phase interval.
As a result, even if the specified start time phase and end time phase are not in the same period, the end time phase and the start time phase are unnaturally connected and the ultrasonic image is not reproduced. Can be prevented.

It is also desirable to be able to switch between a screen on which the electrocardiogram waveform is displayed collectively and a screen on which the ultrasound image is displayed or reproduced.
Thereby, since the electrocardiogram waveform and the ultrasonic image corresponding to the time phase can be observed as necessary, diagnosis can be performed quickly and efficiently.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, ultrasound is transmitted to and received from a subject using an ultrasound probe, ultrasound image information is configured based on an ultrasound reception signal output from the ultrasound probe, and the ultrasound In an ultrasonic image display method for displaying an ultrasonic image based on ultrasonic image information, an electrocardiographic waveform detection step for detecting electrocardiographic waveform information of the subject, the configured ultrasonic image information, and the detected A step of holding ECG waveform information together with time phase information, a batch display step of batch displaying ECG waveforms over an arbitrary time phase based on the held ECG waveform information, and the batch display On the electrocardiogram waveform, a time phase designation step for designating a time phase or a time phase interval, and search for ultrasonic image information corresponding to the designated time phase or time phase interval from the held ultrasonic image information. Ultrasonic image search step And an ultrasonic image display / reproduction step of displaying or reproducing the ultrasonic image for the designated time phase or time phase section based on the searched ultrasonic image information. This is an ultrasonic image display method.

  The second invention uses an ultrasonic probe to transmit / receive ultrasonic waves to / from a subject, construct ultrasonic image information based on an ultrasonic reception signal output from the ultrasonic probe, The present invention relates to an ultrasonic image display method for displaying an ultrasonic image based on information.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of quickly and efficiently determining the time phase of an observation target from an electrocardiogram waveform and displaying a corresponding ultrasonic image.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are given to components having substantially the same functional configuration, and redundant description is omitted.

(1. Configuration of ultrasonic diagnostic equipment)
First, the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1.
The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 forms a two-dimensional ultrasound image (B-mode image) or a three-dimensional ultrasound image for a diagnostic region using a reflected echo signal obtained by transmitting / receiving ultrasound within the subject 2. Display device.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 includes an ultrasonic probe 3 including a transducer element that irradiates a subject 2 with ultrasonic waves and receives a reflected echo signal, an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4 that transmits / receives ultrasonic signals, A display image construction unit 5 that configures a two-dimensional ultrasound image or a three-dimensional ultrasound image based on the reflected echo signal, and a display unit 6 that displays the ultrasound image configured in the display image configuration unit 5 are configured. A memory unit 7 for storing an ultrasound image, a time phase designating unit 8 for selecting and designating a time phase at the time of reproducing an ultrasound image, a control unit 9 for controlling each component of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1, and a control A control panel 10 including a keyboard, a mouse, and a trackball that gives instructions to the unit 9 and an electrocardiogram waveform detection unit 11 that detects an electrocardiogram waveform of the subject 2 are provided.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the display image configuration unit 5.
The display image configuration unit 5 includes a time phase information generation unit 5a, an electrocardiogram waveform generation unit 5b, an ultrasonic image generation unit 5c, and an image synthesis unit 5d.

The time phase information generation unit 5a generates time phase information. The electrocardiogram waveform generation unit 5 b generates an electrocardiogram waveform based on the detection signal sent from the electrocardiogram waveform detection unit 11. The ultrasonic image generation unit 5c configures the signal received from the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4 as an ultrasonic image.
The time phase information generation unit 5a inputs the same time phase information to the electrocardiogram waveform generation unit 5b and the ultrasonic image generation unit 5c. The electrocardiogram waveform generation unit 5b and the ultrasound image generation unit 5c input the information related to the electrocardiogram waveform and the ultrasound image including the time phase information to the image synthesis unit 5d. The image composition unit 5d reconstructs the display image by synchronizing the electrocardiogram waveform and the ultrasound image based on the input time phase information. The display image reconstructed by the image composition unit 5d is displayed on the display unit 6.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the time phase information 21, the electrocardiogram waveform 22, and the ultrasonic image 23 stored in the memory unit 7.
The electrocardiogram waveform generation unit 5 b and the ultrasound image generation unit 5 c store information on the electrocardiogram waveform 22 and the ultrasound image 23 including the time phase information 21 in the memory unit 7. Thereby, after acquisition of the electrocardiogram waveform 22 and the ultrasound image 23, the display image can be reconstructed by synchronizing the electrocardiogram waveform 22 and the ultrasound image 23 for an arbitrary time phase.

(4. Operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1)
Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

(4-1. Display of ultrasonic image at arbitrary time phase)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1. FIG. 4 shows the display of an ultrasound image at any time phase.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the display screen 31. FIG. 5 shows batch display of the electrocardiogram waveform 22 and designation of the time phase.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the display screen 41. FIG. 6 shows the display of the ultrasound image 23.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 collectively displays the electrocardiographic waveform 22 held in the memory unit 7 on the display unit 6 (step 101).
As shown in the screen 31 of FIG. 5, when the electrocardiogram waveform 22 cannot be displayed in one stage over all time phases, the electrocardiogram waveform 22 is divided into electrocardiogram waveforms 32-1, 32-2,. And displayed in batches in multiple stages.

The examiner observes the electrocardiogram waveforms 32-1, 32-2,... To determine a time phase at which abnormality or the like is observed. The examiner designates a target time phase via the control panel 10 (step 102).
As shown in the screen 31 in FIG. 5, the examiner can designate the target time phase by moving the time phase bar 33.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 searches the memory unit 7 for the ultrasonic image 23 corresponding to the designated time phase (step 103), and displays the searched ultrasonic image 23 on the display unit 6 (step 104).
As shown in FIG. 6, an ultrasonic image 42, an electrocardiogram waveform 43, and a time phase bar 44 are displayed on the screen 41. The ultrasonic images 23 of the previous and subsequent time phases may be displayed on the screen 41 by moving the time phase bar 44 of the screen 41 as well as the time phase specified by the time phase bar 33 of the screen 31.

  The examiner can switch between the screen 31 and the screen 41 by designating the “ultrasound image display” button 35 on the screen 31 or the “electrocardiogram batch display” button 45 on the screen 41 by clicking the mouse. it can. Further, on the screen 31, not only the electrocardiogram waveform 32-1 to the electrocardiogram waveform 32-3 but also the ultrasonic image 34 of the time phase indicated by the time phase bar 33 may be displayed. When the processing load is heavy, a reduced image or a compressed image may be used as the ultrasonic image 34.

  Through the above process, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 collectively displays the electrocardiogram waveform, and when a time phase is designated on the electrocardiogram waveform, the ultrasound image corresponding to the time phase is extracted from the memory unit and displayed. To do.

(4-2. Reproduction of ultrasonic image in arbitrary time phase section)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1. FIG. 7 shows the reproduction of an ultrasound image in an arbitrary time phase interval.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the display screen 51. FIG. 8 shows batch display of the electrocardiogram waveform 22 and designation of time phase sections (start time phase and end time phase).
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the display screen 61. FIG. 9 shows the reproduction of the ultrasound image 23.

The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 collectively displays the electrocardiographic waveform 22 held in the memory unit 7 on the display unit 6 (step 201).
As shown in the screen 51 of FIG. 8, when the electrocardiographic waveform 22 cannot be displayed in one stage over all time phases, the electrocardiographic waveform 22 is divided into electrocardiographic waveforms 52-1, 52-2,. And displayed in batches in multiple stages.

The examiner observes the electrocardiogram waveforms 52-1, 52-2,... To determine a time phase interval in which abnormality or the like is observed. The examiner designates a target time phase interval via the control panel 10 (step 202).
As shown in the screen 51 of FIG. 8, the examiner moves the start time phase bar 53 and the end time phase bar 54 and designates the start time phase and the end time phase, thereby specifying the target time phase section. Can be specified.

The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 searches the memory unit 7 for the ultrasound image 23 corresponding to the designated time phase interval (step 203), and displays the retrieved ultrasound image 23 for the designated time phase interval on the display unit 6. (Step 204).
As shown in FIG. 9, an ultrasonic image 62, an electrocardiographic waveform 63 and a time phase bar 64 are displayed on the screen 61. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 enlarges or reduces the electrocardiographic waveform in the designated time phase interval according to the screen width of the screen 61, and starts and ends the electrocardiographic waveform 63 at both the start time phase 65 and the end time phase 66. Is preferably displayed on the screen 61. In addition, the examiner can operate the button 67 to perform reproduction, frame reproduction, stop, fast forward, rewind, continuous reproduction, and the like of the ultrasonic image 62.

When performing continuous reproduction (YES in step 205), the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 resumes reproduction of the ultrasonic image 23 after stopping reproduction for a predetermined time (step 206).
As shown in FIG. 9, in the case of performing continuous reproduction, when reproduction of the ultrasonic image 62 is completed from the start time phase 65 to the end time phase 66, the reproduction is stopped for a predetermined time, and then again from the start time phase 65. An ultrasonic image 62 is reproduced.

  Through the above process, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 collectively displays the electrocardiogram waveform, and when a time phase interval is designated on the electrocardiogram waveform, the ultrasound image corresponding to the time phase interval is extracted from the memory unit. To play. In the case of continuous playback, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 once stops playback for a predetermined time in the end time phase and then restarts playback from the start time phase.

(5. Effects, etc.)
As described above in detail, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus collectively displays the electrocardiogram waveform for all the time phases, so that the time phase that is considered abnormal from the findings of the electrocardiogram waveform or A time phase section can be quickly determined.
In addition, when a time phase or a time phase interval is designated on the electrocardiogram waveform, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 displays an ultrasonic image corresponding to the time phase or the time phase interval. The ultrasonic image of the time phase section can be quickly retrieved, and the operation burden can be reduced.

In addition, when displaying the electrocardiographic waveform all at once, the processing load can be reduced and the screen display processing can be speeded up by not displaying the ultrasonic image or using simple display.
Further, in the case of continuously reproducing ultrasonic images, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus temporarily stops reproduction at the time of reproduction to the end time phase, and then resumes reproduction from the start time phase. Therefore, even if the specified start time phase and end time phase are not in the same period, the end time phase and the start time phase are unnaturally connected and the ultrasonic image is not reproduced. Can be prevented.

  The preferred embodiments of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the present application, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

Configuration diagram of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 Detailed view of display image configuration unit 5 The figure which shows the time phase information 21, the electrocardiogram waveform 22, and the ultrasonic image 23 which are stored in the memory part 7. Flow chart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 (display of an ultrasonic image at an arbitrary time phase) Diagram showing the display screen 31 (collective display of ECG waveforms and designation of time phase) The figure which shows the display screen 41 (display of an ultrasonic image) Flow chart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 (reproduction of ultrasonic images in an arbitrary time phase section) Display screen 51 (cardiogram waveform display and time phase interval specification) Display screen 61 (reproduction of ultrasonic image)

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ......... Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 ......... Subject 3 ......... Ultrasonic probe 4 ......... Ultrasonic transmission / reception part 5 ......... Display image structure part 5a ......... Time phase information generation part 5b ... …… Electrocardiogram waveform generation unit 5c .... Ultrasonic image generation unit 5d .... Image synthesis unit 6 .... Display unit 7 .... Memory unit 8 .... Time phase designation unit 9 .... Control unit 10 ......... control panel 11 ......... electrocardiographic waveform detection unit 21 ......... time phase information 22 ......... electrocardiographic wave 23 ......... ultrasound images 31 and 51 ......... screen (electrocardiographic waveform Block display)
41, 61 ... …… Screen (display / playback of ultrasound images)
32-1, 32-2, ..., 52-1, 52-2, ..., ... ECG waveform 33 ......... Time phase bar 53 ......... Start time bar 54 ......... End time bar 42 , 62 ... Ultrasound image 43, 63 ... Electrocardiogram 44, 64 ... Time bar 65 ... Start time phase 66 ... End time phase

Claims (5)

An ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound to and from a subject; an image processing unit that configures ultrasound image information based on an ultrasound reception signal output from the ultrasound probe; and the ultrasound image information In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays an ultrasonic image based on
Electrocardiogram waveform detecting means for detecting electrocardiogram waveform information of the subject;
ECG waveform holding means for holding the detected ECG waveform information together with time phase information;
Collective display means for collectively displaying the electrocardiogram waveform over an arbitrary time phase based on the held electrocardiogram waveform information;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: Ultrasonic image holding means for holding the configured ultrasonic image information together with the time phase information;
A time phase designation means for designating a time phase or a time phase interval on the collectively displayed electrocardiogram waveform;
Ultrasonic image search means for searching ultrasonic image information corresponding to the designated time phase or time phase section from the held ultrasonic image information;
Ultrasonic image display reproduction means for displaying or reproducing the ultrasonic image for the designated time phase or time phase section based on the searched ultrasonic image information;
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   When the ultrasonic image display / reproduction means reproduces the ultrasonic image to the end of the designated time phase interval, the ultrasonic image display / reproduction unit stops reproduction for a predetermined time, and then displays the ultrasonic image from the beginning of the designated time phase interval. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is reproduced.   The screen switching means for switching between the screen displayed by the batch display means and the screen displayed by the ultrasonic image display reproduction means is provided. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. An ultrasonic probe is used to transmit / receive ultrasonic waves to / from a subject, ultrasonic image information is configured based on ultrasonic reception signals output from the ultrasonic probe, and based on the ultrasonic image information In an ultrasonic image display method for displaying an ultrasonic image,
An electrocardiogram waveform detecting step for detecting electrocardiogram waveform information of the subject;
Holding the configured ultrasound image information and the detected electrocardiographic waveform information together with time phase information;
Based on the held electrocardiographic waveform information, a collective display step for collectively displaying the electrocardiographic waveform over an arbitrary time phase;
A time phase designation step for designating a time phase or a time phase interval on the collectively displayed electrocardiogram waveform;
An ultrasonic image search step of searching ultrasonic image information corresponding to the designated time phase or time phase section from the held ultrasonic image information;
An ultrasonic image display reproduction step of displaying or reproducing the ultrasonic image for the designated time phase or time phase section based on the searched ultrasonic image information;
An ultrasonic image display method comprising:

Images