JP2008212521A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for detecting the relation of the ultrasonic image of a specified heart rate and an electrocardiographic waveform and displaying the ultrasonic image when wanting to display the ultrasonic image of the specified heart rate. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe 3 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to/from an object 2, an ultrasonic image configuration part 5 for configuring the ultrasonic image on the basis of image data received from the ultrasonic probe 3, a display part 8 for displaying the ultrasonic image, and an electrocardiographic signal reception part 21 for receiving the electrocardiographic signals of the object 2, and displays the electrocardiographic signal together with the ultrasonic image. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with a trigger signal detection part 23 for detecting trigger signals from the electrocardiographic waveform of the electrocardiographic signals, a time data preparation part 24 for measuring elapsed time from measurement start at every prescribed interval of time and preparing time data, and a composition part 25 for adding the trigger signals and the time data to the image data. By specifying the trigger signal or the time data, the image data corresponding to the trigger signal or the time data are read and displayed at the display part 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays a tomographic image and an electrocardiographic waveform, which is an electrical signal of a living body, for an imaging target site in a subject using ultrasonic waves.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays a tomographic image and an electrocardiographic waveform that is an electrical signal of a living body for an imaging target region in a subject using ultrasonic waves is a probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from the subject. A transducer, an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit that drives the probe to generate ultrasonic waves and processes the received reflected echo signals, and receives the reflected echo signals from the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit for digitization and diagnosis An ultrasound image creation circuit that creates an ultrasound image of a region, an image display unit that converts image data from the ultrasound image creation circuit into an analog signal, and displays an image; and an electrical signal that is an electrocardiogram signal is acquired An electrocardiogram signal receiving unit, an electrocardiogram waveform display unit that displays the acquired electrocardiogram waveform, and a control circuit that controls each of the components.

When displaying the relationship between the electrocardiogram waveform and the tomogram, the heartbeat obtained from the electrocardiogram waveform is specified using, for example, the frame information of the ultrasonic image from the R wave. (For example, Patent Document 1)
JP-A-6-154213

  In order to show the temporal relationship between the electrocardiogram waveform and the ultrasound image, the ultrasound image was displayed using an ultrasound image provided with a signal capable of specifying the heartbeat. However, since the relationship with the biological signal displayed from the frame information when it is desired to display a specific heart rate is only a specific part, it is difficult to search for a specific ultrasonic image.

  Therefore, in the present invention, when displaying an ultrasonic image of a specific heartbeat, an object is to detect the relationship between the ultrasonic image and an electrocardiographic waveform and display the ultrasonic image.

  In order to achieve the object of the present invention, an ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound to and from a subject, and an ultrasound image construction unit that constructs an ultrasound image based on image data received from the ultrasound probe And an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying the electrocardiographic signal together with the ultrasonic image, comprising: a display unit for displaying the ultrasonic image; and an electrocardiographic signal receiving unit for acquiring an electrocardiographic signal of the subject. A trigger signal detection unit that detects a trigger signal from an electrocardiogram waveform of the electrocardiogram signal, a time data creation unit that measures elapsed time from the start of measurement every predetermined time, creates time data, the trigger signal, and the A synthesis unit for attaching time data to the image data, and by designating the trigger signal or the time data, the image data corresponding to the trigger signal or the time data is read out, and It is displayed on the radical 113.

  According to the present invention, when an ultrasonic image of a specific heartbeat is desired to be displayed, the relationship between the ultrasonic image and the electrocardiographic waveform can be detected and the ultrasonic image can be displayed.

  An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 is a device that forms and displays a two-dimensional ultrasonic image or a three-dimensional ultrasonic image for a diagnostic region using a reflected echo signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in the subject 2. An ultrasonic probe 3 having a transducer element that irradiates and receives ultrasonic waves to the specimen 2, an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4 that transmits / receives ultrasonic signals, and two-dimensional ultrasonic image data (B Mode image data) or image data composing unit 5 constituting 3D ultrasound image data, image data storing unit 6 storing image data composed of the image data composing unit 5, and combining image data with other data Image data synthesizing unit 7, display unit 8 for displaying the image synthesized in image data synthesizing unit 7, control unit 9 for controlling each component, and control panel 10 for giving instructions to control unit 9. is doing.

  In the ultrasonic probe 3, transducer elements are arranged for 1 to m channels in the long axis direction of the ultrasonic probe. Here, if 1 to k channels are cut into k pieces in the short axis direction, the short axis is changed by changing the delay time given to each transducer element (1 to k channels) in the short axis direction. The direction of transmission and reception can also be applied to the direction. Also, transmission weighting is applied by changing the amplitude of the ultrasonic transmission signal applied to each transducer element in the short axis direction, and the amplification level or attenuation level of the ultrasonic reception signal from each transducer element in the short axis direction is set. By changing, receiving weighting can be applied. Further, the aperture control can be performed by turning each transducer element in the short axis direction on and off.

  The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4 supplies a transmission signal to the ultrasonic probe 3 and processes the received reflected echo signal. Inside the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4, the ultrasonic probe 3 is controlled to emit an ultrasonic beam. A transmission circuit that receives the reflected echo signal from the subject of the emitted ultrasonic beam and collects biological information, and a control circuit that controls them.

  The image data configuration unit 5 converts the reflected echo signal processed by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4 into an ultrasonic image, and includes a digital scan converter that forms an ultrasonic image based on the sequentially input reflected echo signal. The reflected echo signal received by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4 is signal-processed, converted into a two-dimensional ultrasonic image, a three-dimensional ultrasonic image, and various Doppler images, and image data is output.

  The image data storage unit 6 includes a storage device including a magnetic disk device that stores image data of the ultrasonic image and a RAM. The image data output from the image data construction unit 5 is stored.

  The image data synthesizing unit 7 synthesizes the image data output from the image data storage unit 6 and other data such as time data to which the subject's electrocardiographic waveform data and time data are given.

  The display unit 8 displays the image synthesized by the image data synthesis unit 7 as an ultrasonic image, and includes, for example, a CRT monitor and a liquid crystal monitor.

  The control unit 9 controls the operation of each of the above components, and is configured by a control computer system having an interface with a user interface circuit. The control unit 9 controls the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4 and the like based on information from the user interface included therein.

  The subject 2 is provided with an electrode 20 for acquiring an electrocardiogram signal. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1, an electrocardiogram signal receiving unit 21 for receiving an electrocardiogram signal acquired from the electrode 20 and an electrocardiogram waveform data configuration unit 22 for converting the electrocardiogram signal into a waveform display are provided. Yes. The electrocardiographic waveform data configured by the electrocardiographic waveform data configuration unit 22 is output to the image data synthesis unit 7.

  It also analyzes the waveform shape of the electrocardiogram waveform obtained from the electrocardiogram signal receiving unit 21 and detects the position that becomes the trigger signal such as R wave and P wave, and a time interval such as a timer. A time data creation unit 24 that measures time and creates time data, and an electrocardiogram / time data synthesis unit 25 that associates the trigger signal of the electrocardiogram with the time data obtained from the trigger signal.

  For example, the trigger detection unit 23 detects, as an R wave, a portion protruding upward in the waveform shape of the electrocardiogram signal. The time data creation unit 24 measures the elapsed time from the start of measurement in units of 100 nsec, for example. Then, the electrocardiogram / time data synthesis unit 25 outputs the electrocardiogram / time data corresponding to the R wave and the time data to the image data synthesis unit 7. Further, the electrocardiogram / time data synthesis unit 25 outputs the time data to the image data storage unit 6, and the time data is added to the image data stored in the image data storage unit 6.

  Here, it demonstrates concretely using FIG. FIG. 2A shows that the state in which the image data 30 configured by the image data configuration unit 5 is stored in the image data storage unit 6 is displayed. FIG. 2 (b) shows an electrocardiogram waveform 31 obtained from the electrocardiogram signal receiver 21 and a trigger signal 32 detected by the trigger detector 23. FIG. 2C shows an image data bar 33 corresponding to each image data stored in the image data storage unit 6. FIG. 2 (d) shows a time data bar 34 corresponding to the time data measured by the time data creation unit 24. 2A to 2D are displayed on the display unit 8 together with the ultrasonic image.

  Image data of about 20 frames is output from the image data storage unit 6 during one heartbeat. Here, for simplification of the drawing, the image data 30 in FIG. 2 (a) and the image data bar 33 in FIG. 2 (c) are, for example, frames 1, frame 8, frame 16. Representative image data 30 corresponding to a frame is shown.

  The time data creation unit 24 measures time in units of, for example, 100 nsec. Here, in order to simplify the drawing, the time data measured by the time data creation unit 24 is cut in 25 msec, and No. is recorded for each measurement time. Is displayed as a time data bar 34.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the trigger detection unit 23 extracts, for example, a trigger signal 32 to be an R wave from the electrocardiogram waveform 31 obtained from the electrocardiogram signal reception unit 21. The electrocardiographic waveform data generation unit 22 outputs an electrocardiographic waveform 31 to the image data synthesis unit 7. At the same time, the electrocardiogram / time data synthesis unit 25 outputs a trigger signal 32 to the image data synthesis unit 7. At that time, the electrocardiogram / time data synthesis unit 25 outputs the time data 34 created by the time data creation unit 24. The image data synthesizing unit 7 synthesizes the electrocardiographic waveform 31, the trigger signal 32, and the time data 34 with the image data 30 and outputs them to the display unit 8.

  Specifically, the electrocardiogram / time data synthesis unit 25 detects the trigger signal 32 of the electrocardiogram waveform 31 and sets the time data 34 corresponding to the trigger signal 32 to No. 4, No. 25, No. Correspond as 46. No. associated with trigger signal 32 4, No. 25, No. 46 backgrounds are colored.

  Further, the electrocardiogram / time data synthesis unit 25 attaches a frame number to the image data bar 33 by the image data storage unit 6. The background of the frame number of the image data including the trigger signal 32 is colored. The image data bar 33 is assigned a frame number and time data. For example, when the frame is 1 and the elapsed time is 100 msec, 1 (4) is obtained.

  In addition, the electrocardiogram / time data synthesis unit 25 synthesizes the time data 34 and the trigger signal 32 of the electrocardiogram waveform, and marks the time data 34 with the trigger signal 32. The electrocardiogram / time data synthesis unit 25 adds time data 34 corresponding to the trigger signal 32 to the image data 30 stored in the image data storage unit 6, and the image data storage unit 6 It is stored together with the image data 30.

  Specifically, the electrocardiogram / time data synthesis unit 25 detects the trigger signal 32 of the electrocardiogram waveform 31 and sets the time data 34 corresponding to the trigger signal 32 to No. 4, No. 25, No. The image data storage unit 6 stores the time data 34 together with the image data 30. No. of time data 34 Is specified, No. Can be read out and output to the image data composition unit 7.

  No. with a colored background on the control panel 10 When 4 is selected, the control unit 9 Corresponding image data 30 corresponding to 4 is read from the image data storage unit 6, and an ultrasonic image corresponding to the trigger signal 32 is displayed on the display unit.

  In addition, when the image data bar 33 of frame 1 (4) with the frame number and time data attached and the background colored is selected on the control panel 10, the control unit 9 displays the corresponding image data corresponding to frame 1 (4). 30 is read from the image data storage unit 6, and an ultrasonic image corresponding to the trigger signal 32 is displayed on the display unit.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. (Explanation of flowchart)
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 performs ultrasonic transmission / reception (step 40), and constructs image data of the subject (step 41). ECG waveform data reception (step 44) receives the ECG information of the subject for a predetermined time, and configures ECG waveform data for display with the ECG waveform data configuration (step 45). To do. Further, a trigger capable of specifying a heartbeat is detected by trigger detection (step 43).

  Time data is created (step 42), and the time data is assigned to the tomographic image and electrocardiographic waveform data of the subject. Further, in trigger detection (step 43), time data when a trigger signal capable of specifying a heartbeat is detected is additionally provided to the image data of the subject.

  The image data synthesizing unit (step 46) converts the image configured by the image data configuration (step 41) and the electrocardiographic waveform configured by the electrocardiographic waveform data configuration (step 45) into time data assigned to each. In synchronism, the image and the electrocardiographic waveform are synthesized to form a superimposed image. Then, the display output (step 47) displays a gradation-superposed image.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since time data is assigned to the electrocardiogram waveform of the subject and the ultrasound image of the subject, the electrocardiogram waveform is superimposed on the ultrasound image of the subject. In addition, the ultrasonic image of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the electrocardiographic waveform can be displayed in a correlated manner, and the time data of the trigger signal is also added to the image data of the subject. Therefore, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can easily detect an ultrasonic image even when it is desired to display.

  Note that the electrocardiographic waveform data and the image data may be stored in an external storage memory outside the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 and displayed in association with each other. The image data construction unit 5 converts the reflected echo signal into a tomographic image of the subject via the probe 3 and the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 4, and stores the image data in the external storage unit. For example, the image data is jpeg or mpeg format, and the external memory is, for example, a USB memory, HDD, or DVD. The electrocardiogram waveform data construction unit 22 constructs waveform data from the electrocardiogram signal via the electrocardiogram signal reception unit 21, and stores the data in an external storage unit. Here, time data is added to each image data and electrocardiogram waveform data by the time data creation unit 24, and further, the trigger detection unit 23 detects what can specify the heartbeat, and the time data is also detected. Assigned to image data.

  When acquiring data from the external storage unit, the acquired time data is acquired at the same time, so that the electrocardiographic waveform data and the image data can be displayed in an easily correlated manner. By searching for the time data at the time of trigger assigned to, it is possible to easily search and display.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the display form of this embodiment. It is a flowchart of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, 2 Subject, 3 Ultrasonic probe, 4 Ultrasonic transmission / reception part, 5 Image data structure part, 6 Image data storage part, 7 Image data synthetic | combination part, 8 Display part

Claims (1)

An ultrasonic probe that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from a subject, an ultrasonic image forming unit that forms an ultrasonic image based on image data received from the ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic image are displayed. A display unit, and an electrocardiogram signal receiving unit for acquiring an electrocardiogram signal of the subject,
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays the electrocardiogram signal together with the ultrasound image, a trigger signal detection unit that detects a trigger signal from the electrocardiogram waveform of the electrocardiogram signal, and measures an elapsed time from the start of measurement every predetermined time A time data generating unit that generates time data; and a combining unit that adds the trigger signal and the time data to the image data, and by specifying the trigger signal or the time data, the trigger signal or The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the image data corresponding to the time data is read and displayed on the display unit.

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