JP2009039475A - Ultrasonic diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly perform gain adjustment of an ultrasonic image. <P>SOLUTION: A transmission part 12 forms ultrasonic beams by controlling a probe 10, and a reception part 14 forms a received beam signal corresponding to the ultrasonic beams on the basis of a signal obtained from the probe 10. The received beam signal formed at the reception part 14 is subjected to gain adjustment by a gain adjustment part 16 and outputted to an ultrasonic image forming part 20. The ultrasonic image forming part 20 forms ultrasonic image data on the basis of the reception beam signal obtained from the ultrasonic beams. According to the necessity, the ultrasonic image data formed at the ultrasonic image forming part 20 is stored in a data storage part 24. The gain adjustment part 16 automatically adjusts gain on the basis of a reference gain obtained from statistical data relative to a plurality of pieces of image data formed in the past. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to gain adjustment of an ultrasound image.

  By using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, it is possible to transmit / receive ultrasonic waves to / from a part to be diagnosed and form an ultrasonic image including the part. It is desirable that the ultrasound image formed by the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is gain-adjusted because there is a difference in attenuation of ultrasound depending on, for example, the region to be diagnosed and the patient's constitution. For example, the user of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus performs gain adjustment operation while confirming the ultrasonic image, and performs gain adjustment suitable for the ultrasonic image.

  A technique is also known in which an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus automatically adjusts such gain adjustment. A well-known automatic adjustment technique is to adjust the gain of an image being diagnosed based on, for example, a comparison between statistical data relating to the image data being diagnosed and a reference value for gain adjustment. Yes (see Patent Documents 1 to 5).

JP 2005-152422 A JP-A-2-218353 Japanese Patent No. 3518910 JP-A-5-245147 JP-A-5-146446

  However, the conventional automatic gain adjustment technique does not always enable appropriate gain adjustment.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to appropriately adjust the gain of an ultrasonic image.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a probe including a plurality of vibration elements that transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, and receives each ultrasonic beam by controlling the probe. A signal transmitting / receiving unit; an image forming unit that forms image data based on a plurality of received signals obtained from a plurality of ultrasonic beams; a display unit that displays an ultrasonic image corresponding to the image data; and an ultrasonic image A gain adjustment unit that performs gain adjustment of the image data, and the gain adjustment unit is configured to perform image data formed in the image forming unit based on a reference gain obtained from statistical data regarding a plurality of image data formed in the past. The gain adjustment of the ultrasonic image corresponding to is performed.

  According to the above aspect, since the gain adjustment of the ultrasonic image is performed based on the reference gain obtained from the statistical data regarding the plurality of image data formed in the past, the result of the gain adjustment performed in the past is reflected. Gain adjustment is possible. For example, by adjusting the gain so as to approach the gain adjustment result of the stored and stored image, the gain adjustment according to the intention or preference of the facility (hospital) or the examiner (user) does not require complicated user operation. Easy to realize.

  In a preferred aspect, the reference gain is calculated based on a plurality of pixel data included in a plurality of image data formed in the past.

  In a preferred aspect, the reference gain is calculated based on an average value of pixel data in a sample area set for each image data.

  In a desirable mode, a plurality of sample areas are set for each image data, and the reference gain is set to a remaining average value excluding a specific average value among a plurality of average values obtained from the plurality of sample areas. It is calculated based on.

  In a preferred aspect, the reference gain is calculated by weighting and adding statistical data relating to each of a plurality of image data formed in the past according to the date and time when each image data was formed.

  In a preferred aspect, the reference gain is set for each part to be diagnosed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately adjust the gain of an ultrasonic image. For example, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, gain adjustment reflecting the result of gain adjustment performed in the past becomes possible.

  FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the overall configuration thereof. The probe 10 is an ultrasonic probe that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from a tissue in a living body, for example. The probe 10 is transmission-controlled by the transmission unit 12 and reception-controlled by the reception unit 14.

  The transmission unit 12 outputs a transmission signal to each of a plurality of vibration elements (not shown) included in the probe 10. Then, by appropriately controlling the output timing of the transmission signal to each vibration element, an ultrasonic beam directed from the probe 10 in a specific direction is formed, and the ultrasonic beam is spread over a two-dimensional plane or Scan across a three-dimensional space.

  The reception unit 14 performs reception control of the probe 10 to collect reception signals from each of the plurality of vibration elements included in the probe 10 and perform a phasing addition process, and the like. A reception beam signal corresponding to the ultrasonic beam is formed. If necessary, the receiving unit 14 performs detection processing on the received beam signal.

  A reception beam signal (received signal after phasing addition processing) formed for each ultrasonic beam in the reception unit 14 is output to the ultrasonic image forming unit 20 after gain adjustment in the gain adjustment unit 16.

  The ultrasonic image forming unit 20 forms ultrasonic image data based on a plurality of received beam signals obtained from a plurality of ultrasonic beams, and an ultrasonic image corresponding to the ultrasonic image data is displayed on the display unit 26. The The ultrasonic image may be any of known ultrasonic images such as a B-mode tomographic image and a three-dimensional image.

  The operation device 18 is a device that receives a user operation. The operation device 18 is, for example, a trackball, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, a dial, or the like, and is provided in the apparatus main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, for example.

  The control unit 22 controls each unit in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to, for example, a program describing a control procedure. Further, the control unit 22 controls each unit in the apparatus according to a user operation input via the operation device 18.

  For example, when the user instructs to store ultrasonic image data via the operation device 18, the ultrasonic image data formed in the ultrasonic image forming unit 20 is stored in the data storage unit 24. Furthermore, in response to a user operation, the ultrasound image data stored in the data storage unit 24 may be read out by the ultrasound image forming unit 20 and an ultrasound image corresponding to the data may be displayed on the display unit 26. . The data storage unit 24 is, for example, a hard disk drive, an optical disk drive, or a memory.

  In the present embodiment, the user can adjust the gain of the ultrasonic image via the operation device 18. For example, the user adjusts the gain of the ultrasonic image by operating a dial that is the gain adjustment operation device 18 while viewing the ultrasonic image displayed on the display unit 26. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the gain adjustment unit 16 performs automatic gain adjustment from statistical data regarding a plurality of image data formed in the past.

  The statistical data is calculated by the statistical data calculation unit 23 based on the ultrasonic image data formed in the ultrasonic image forming unit 20. The ultrasound image data to be calculated is, for example, image data of an ultrasound image freeze-displayed according to a user operation. The statistical data calculated by the statistical data calculation unit 23 is stored in the data storage unit 24. At that time, ultrasonic image data corresponding to the statistical data may be stored in the data storage unit 24, or only the statistical data may be stored. Note that the statistical data may be calculated by the control unit 22 based on, for example, ultrasonic image data stored in the data storage unit 24 in response to a user operation. Further, statistical data calculated in the control unit 22 may be stored in the data storage unit 24.

  The gain adjustment in this embodiment will be described below. In the following description, the reference numerals in FIG. 1 are used for the portions (configurations) shown in FIG.

  The gain adjustment unit 16 performs automatic gain adjustment based on a reference gain obtained from statistical data regarding a plurality of image data formed in the past. The reference gain is calculated based on a plurality of pixel data included in image data formed in the past.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a reference gain calculation procedure. FIG. 2 shows an ultrasound image 40 corresponding to ultrasound image data formed in the past. When calculating the reference gain, first, a plurality of sample regions 42 are set for the ultrasonic image (data) 40. The number and position of the sample regions 42 are not limited to the illustrated mode. In addition, since the part to be diagnosed is usually arranged near the center of the ultrasonic image 40, it is desirable that the plurality of sample regions 42 be arranged near the center of the ultrasonic image 40.

  When a plurality of sample areas 42 are set, an average value of luminance values of a plurality of pixels in the area is calculated for each sample area 42. The average value is calculated by the statistical data calculation unit 23 based on the ultrasonic image data formed by the ultrasonic image forming unit 20 and stored in the data storage unit 24. The average value may be calculated by the control unit 22 based on the ultrasonic image data stored in the data storage unit 24. And if the average value about all the sample area | regions 42 is calculated, the specific average value of them will be removed. For example, among the average values of all the sample areas 42, the upper average value having a larger value and the lower average value having a smaller value are removed. Then, an average value (referred to as an image average value) is calculated for all remaining average values from which specific average values have been removed. The image average value regarding the ultrasonic image 40 calculated in this way becomes the reference gain.

  The reference gain is calculated in the control unit 22 based on the average value stored in the data storage unit 24, for example. Of course, the control unit 22 may calculate the average value and the reference gain based on the ultrasonic image data stored in the data storage unit 24. The gain adjustment unit 16 adjusts the gain of the reception beam signal output from the reception unit 14 based on the calculated reference gain. For example, the receiving unit is configured so that the average image value of the ultrasonic image formed based on the received beam signal output from the receiving unit 14 matches the average image value of the ultrasonic image stored in the data storage unit 24. The gain of the received beam signal output from 14 is adjusted.

  Note that the image average value of the ultrasonic image formed based on the received beam signal output from the receiving unit 14 is also calculated using, for example, a plurality of sample regions 42 shown in FIG. Further, the gain adjusting unit 16 may directly adjust the gain of the ultrasonic image data formed in the ultrasonic image forming unit 20.

  As described above, the gain adjustment unit 16 performs gain adjustment based on the reference gain. The reference gain is calculated from a plurality of ultrasonic image data formed in the past. Further, each ultrasonic image data formed in the past is optimized by the user operating the operation device 18 while finely adjusting the gain while viewing the image of the ultrasonic image data displayed on the display unit 26. Is desirable.

  Then, for each ultrasonic image data formed in the past, as described with reference to FIG. 2, a plurality of sample regions 42 are set to calculate an image average value, and further, the plurality of ultrasonic image data An average value of a plurality of corresponding image average values is calculated, and the average value is set as a reference gain. As a result, the gain adjustment result of the plurality of ultrasonic image data optimized by the user is reflected in the reference gain, and the ultrasonic image whose gain is automatically adjusted based on the reference gain is It is very close to the optimized state. Of course, the configuration may be such that the user can further fine-tune the automatically adjusted ultrasonic image using the operation device 18.

  Note that the user may input an operation such as the start of automatic adjustment. For example, when the user operates the operation device 18 to start automatic adjustment, and the result of automatic adjustment does not become the intended one, the user performs the same operation again to return the image to the state before automatic adjustment. You may make it return. The time for accepting the re-operation is set, for example, within several seconds. Alternatively, automatic adjustment may be automatically performed repeatedly at a constant cycle (for example, at intervals of several seconds).

  Further, the number of ultrasonic images (data) used when calculating the reference gain may be configured to be selectable from 20, 40, 100, and the like, for example. Further, when calculating a reference gain from a plurality of average image values corresponding to a plurality of ultrasonic image data, a weighting process according to the date and time when each ultrasonic image data is formed is performed to weight the plurality of average image values. An average value may be calculated. For example, by performing weighting processing that emphasizes the image average value of the recently formed ultrasound image data, the gain adjustment result of the recently formed ultrasound image data is reflected relatively large in the reference gain.

  Furthermore, the reference gain may be set for each part to be diagnosed. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the reference gain set for each diagnostic region, and shows the storage state of the data stored in the data storage unit 24.

  The plurality of abdominal images 40A are ultrasound images obtained using the abdomen as a diagnosis target. A plurality of sample regions (see FIG. 2) are set for each of these abdominal images 40A, an image average value is calculated for each abdominal image 40A, and a plurality of images obtained from the plurality of abdominal images 40A. By further averaging the average value, the reference gain Yi for the abdomen image 40A is calculated. Note that the data storage unit 24 may store only the average image value calculated for each abdominal image 40A, may store image data of each abdominal image 40A, or may calculate a calculated reference gain. Only Yi may be stored.

  The plurality of obstetric images 40B are ultrasound images obtained in the diagnosis of obstetrics, an image average value is calculated for each obstetric image 40B, and a plurality of image average values obtained from the plurality of obstetric images 40B are further calculated. By averaging, the reference gain Yj regarding the obstetric image 40B is calculated. Only the average image value calculated for each obstetric image 40B may be stored in the data storage unit 24, the image data of each obstetric image 40B may be stored, or only the calculated reference gain Yj may be stored. May be stored. Similarly, a reference gain Yk related to a plurality of circulatory images 40C obtained in cardiovascular system diagnosis is also calculated. Furthermore, the reference gain may be calculated from an image corresponding to another diagnosis target part, for example, a thyroid gland, a mammary gland, a heart, or a liver.

  Then, the gain adjusting unit 16 performs gain adjustment using a reference gain corresponding to the diagnosis target. For example, at the time of diagnosis of the abdomen, the gain adjustment unit 16 adjusts the gain of the reception beam signal output from the reception unit 14 based on the reference gain Yi related to the abdomen image 40A. As a result, it is possible to automatically adjust the appropriate gain according to the diagnosis site.

  When a plurality of users alternately use the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment, a reference gain may be set for each user. For example, an image data set including a plurality of abdominal images 40A, a plurality of obstetric images 40B, and a plurality of circulatory organ images 40C shown in FIG. 3 is stored in a folder corresponding to each user. When a certain user uses this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the reference gain is calculated using the image data of the folder corresponding to the user. As a result, gain adjustment according to the user's intention and preferences is easily realized without requiring complicated user operations.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described, embodiment mentioned above is only a mere illustration in all the points, and does not limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention includes various modifications without departing from the essence thereof. For example, as the statistical data regarding the image data, a histogram of pixel values in the sample area may be used instead of the average value of the pixel values in the sample area.

1 is a functional block diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the calculation procedure of a reference | standard gain. It is a figure for demonstrating the reference | standard gain set for every diagnostic region | part.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Probe, 12 Transmission part, 14 Reception part, 16 Gain adjustment part, 18 Operation device, 20 Ultrasonic image formation part, 22 Control part, 23 Statistical data calculation part, 24 Data storage part.

Claims (6)

A probe having a plurality of vibration elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves;
A transmission / reception unit for obtaining a reception signal for each ultrasonic beam by controlling the probe;
An image forming unit that forms image data based on a plurality of reception signals obtained from a plurality of ultrasonic beams;
A display unit for displaying an ultrasonic image corresponding to the image data;
A gain adjustment unit for adjusting the gain of the ultrasound image;
Have
The gain adjustment unit performs gain adjustment of an ultrasonic image corresponding to image data formed in the image forming unit, based on a reference gain obtained from statistical data regarding a plurality of image data formed in the past.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The reference gain is calculated based on a plurality of pixel data included in a plurality of image data formed in the past.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2,
The reference gain is calculated based on an average value of pixel data in a sample area set for each image data.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3.
Multiple sample areas are set for each image data,
The reference gain is calculated based on a remaining average value excluding a specific average value among a plurality of average values obtained from the plurality of sample regions.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The reference gain is calculated by weighting and adding statistical data regarding each of a plurality of image data formed in the past according to the date and time when each image data was formed.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The reference gain is set for each part to be diagnosed.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

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