JP2009078169A - Ultrasonic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic apparatus by which a reflectance tomographic image and an elastic image are compatibly acquired and an image suitable for diagnosis can be displayed. <P>SOLUTION: A control means executes a first ultrasonic transmission/reception process optimum for acquiring a tomographic image and a second ultrasonic transmission/reception process optimum for acquiring an elastic image. The first ultrasonic transmission/reception process is a process suitable for acquisition of a reflectance tomographic data executed by an ordinary ultrasonic apparatus, and the second ultrasonic transmission/reception process is a process suitable for acquisition of elastic image data. The control means executes the first or second ultrasonic transmission/reception process at different timing, that is: at a reflectance tomographic data acquiring time, the first ultrasonic transmission/reception process is executed to perform an ultrasonic transmission/reception optimum for a reflectance tomographic image; and, at an elastic data acquiring time, for instance, the second ultrasonic transmission/reception process such as a large amplitude ultrasonic transmission or a multi-wave ultrasonic transmission is executed to perform ultrasonic transmission/reception optimum for elastic image calculation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic apparatus that obtains and displays an ultrasonic image of a diagnostic site in a subject using ultrasonic waves, and particularly displays a reflectance image and an elastic modulus image or an elastic strain image of a living tissue. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic apparatus that can perform the above-described operation.

  An ultrasonic device irradiates a subject with ultrasonic waves using an ultrasonic probe, measures the ultrasonic reflectance of biological tissue in the subject using the reflected waves, and uses the reflectance as luminance. By displaying it, an image of a living tissue is displayed. Recently, using this ultrasonic apparatus, the elastic modulus or elastic strain of a living tissue at a diagnostic site is measured and displayed as an elastic modulus image or an elastic strain image (hereinafter referred to as an elastic image). It has come to be. An example of such an ultrasonic device is described in Patent Document 1.

JP 2000-60853 A

  In order to draw an elastic image using an ultrasonic device, an elastic image is calculated while performing a correlation process or the like between ultrasonic reception data in order to calculate a displacement of a living tissue. Originally, in order to detect a minute position shift of a living tissue, it is desirable to perform large-amplitude ultrasonic transmission or multi-frequency ultrasonic transmission different from transmission / reception of an ultrasonic signal for acquiring a normal tomographic image. . However, in the past, ultrasonic waves were transmitted and received under the same conditions as when tomographic images were acquired. Therefore, there is a possibility that the acquired elastic image is not suitable for diagnosis. On the other hand, if the transmission / reception is performed under the conditions of elastic image acquisition, that is, large amplitude ultrasonic transmission or multi-frequency ultrasonic transmission, the received signal becomes an excessive ultrasonic reception signal, so it is processed and acquired. There was a possibility that tomographic images were not suitable for diagnosis.

  Moreover, in a normal ultrasonic apparatus, it is common to display a reflectance image of about 30 frames or more per second. On the other hand, in order to acquire an elastic image, a living body tissue is changed by compressing the living body using an ultrasonic probe, or a position change is given to the living tissue by heartbeat, respiration, or exercise. In such a case, if adjacent display frames are used as the amount of displacement of the living tissue position, the amount of displacement sufficient for elastic image calculation is often not given, so the display is the same as when displaying a tomographic image. At present, it is not always necessary to calculate and display an elastic image by the number of frames.

  An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an ultrasonic device capable of displaying a suitable image for diagnosis by achieving compatibility in obtaining a reflectance image and an elastic image. It is to be.

  The ultrasonic device according to the present invention described in claim 1 includes an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a subject, and generates an ultrasonic transmission signal and transmits the ultrasonic transmission signal to the ultrasonic probe. Transmitting means, receiving means for receiving a reflected echo signal received by the ultrasound probe, tomographic image forming means for forming a tomographic image based on the received signal processed by the receiving means, and the reception Elastic image forming means for forming an elastic image based on the received signal processed by the means; display means for displaying at least one of the tomographic image and the elastic image; and switching means for switching between the tomographic image mode and the elastic image mode; The reception means includes first reception processing means for the tomographic image and second reception processing means for the elastic image, and the first reception processing means according to the switching And the second reception processing hand An ultrasound device, characterized in that it comprises a control means for switching the.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to display an image suitable for diagnosis by achieving compatibility at the time of acquisition of a reflectance image and an elasticity image.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an ultrasonic apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the flow of ultrasonic transmission / reception signals is indicated by thick lines, and the flow of control signals is indicated by thin lines. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between the ultrasonic apparatus according to this embodiment and a subject. In FIG. 2, the subject 20 is lying on the bed 21, and the ultrasonic probe 1 is in contact with the subject 20 so as to press the organ. The ultrasonic probe 1 and the ultrasonic device 10 are connected by a contact cable. On the image display device 7 of the ultrasonic apparatus 10, a reflectance tomographic image 7a and an elasticity image 7b are displayed simultaneously.

  The ultrasonic device 10 includes an ultrasonic probe 1, a transmission circuit system 2, a reception circuit system 3, a tomographic image display circuit system 4, an elastic image display circuit system 5, a display overlay circuit 6, An image display device 7 and an elastic data acquisition time setting unit 9 are provided.

  The ultrasonic probe 1 transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from the measurement target portion of the subject 20. That is, the ultrasonic probe 1 has a function of transmitting an ultrasonic wave into the subject 20 and receiving a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave from the subject 20, and emits the ultrasonic wave and reflects the reflected wave. A plurality of transducers arranged in one or two dimensions are configured to receive.

  The transmission circuit system 2 is a transmission means for performing transmission focus processing of transmission waves on the ultrasonic probe 1 and transmitting ultrasonic waves. That is, the transmission circuit system 2 performs transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves to / from the ultrasonic probe 1, and is different for each channel when transmitting a plurality of channels of ultrasonic waves by driving a plurality of transducers. The transmission focus processing that gives the specified delay time is performed for transmission. In particular, the ultrasonic device 10 according to this embodiment switches the optimum transmission focus processing corresponding to each of the reflectance tomographic image or the elastic image according to the timing set by the elastic data acquisition time setting unit 9 described later. To do.

  The reception circuit system 3 includes a phasing means for performing reception focus processing of a reception wave output from the ultrasonic probe 1. That is, the receiving circuit system 3 captures reflected waves of a plurality of channels received by a plurality of transducers of the ultrasonic probe 1, and gives a different delay time for each channel to perform a reception focus process, that is, a phasing process. Do. In particular, in the ultrasonic apparatus 10 according to this embodiment, switching of the optimum reception focus processing corresponding to each of the reflectance tomographic image or the elastic image is performed according to the timing set by the elastic data acquisition time setting unit 9 described later. Is supposed to do.

  The tomographic image display circuit system 4 generates a reflectance tomographic image by performing various arithmetic processings on the reception signal output from the receiving circuit system 3, and outputs it to the display superimposing circuit 6. That is, the tomographic image display circuit system 4 constructs a reflectance tomographic image from the output of the receiving circuit system 3, and particularly in this embodiment, the reflectance set by the elastic data acquisition time setting unit 9 described later. A reflectance tomographic image is constructed using the output from the receiving circuit system 3 within the tomographic data acquisition time.

  The elastic image display circuit system 5 performs various arithmetic processes on the reception signal output from the receiving circuit system 3 to generate an elastic image and outputs the elastic image to the display superimposing circuit 6. That is, the elasticity image display circuit system 5 calculates and displays an elasticity image from the output of the reception circuit system 4, and in this embodiment, in particular, the elasticity set by the elasticity data acquisition time setting unit 9 described later. An elastic image is constructed using the output from the receiving circuit system 3 within the data acquisition time.

  The display superimposing circuit 6 superimposes the outputs from the tomographic image display circuit system 4 and the elastic image display circuit system 5, or displays them selectively, or displays them separately. Is output to the image display device 7 for display. In particular, in this embodiment, the display method on the image display device 7 is switched according to the setting information of the elasticity data acquisition time setting unit 9. The image display device 7 is composed of a normal monitor device or the like.

  The elasticity data acquisition time setting unit 9 sets the time for acquiring elasticity data for creating an elasticity image, or the time for acquiring reflectance tomographic data for creating a tomographic image. It has three functions. The first function is a function for setting the elastic data acquisition start time and end time. The second function is a function for switching between elasticity data acquisition time and reflectance tomographic data acquisition time. The third function is based on the information acquired by the first and second functions, the transmission circuit system 2, the reception circuit system 3, the reflectance tomographic image display circuit system 4, the elastic image display circuit system 5, and the display overlap. This function controls the operation of the matching circuit 6.

  The first function of the elastic data acquisition time setting unit 9 is to set the elastic data acquisition start time and end time, which are the switch 8 attached to the ultrasonic probe 1, the foot not shown. It is composed of a human interface device such as a switch and a keyboard, and the elastic data acquisition start time and end time can be set by operating these switches 8. Specifically, when an operator intends to acquire elasticity data, the operator starts the acquisition of elasticity data by pressing down the switch 8 attached to the ultrasonic probe 1 or the like. Actually, when acquiring an elastic image, the operator needs to perform an operation of pressing the ultrasonic probe 1 against the subject at the same time as pressing down the switch 8 attached to the ultrasonic probe 1. On the contrary, when the ultrasonic probe 1 is pressed against the subject in advance, it is necessary to perform an operation of pulling up the ultrasonic probe 1 at the same time as the switch 8 is pushed up. Here, the case where the surgeon directly presses the ultrasonic probe 1 is illustrated, but when the ultrasonic probe 1 is mechanically pressed, a human interface such as a separately prepared switch 8 is used. Depending on the device, the ultrasonic probe 1 is pressed against the subject using a machine that pushes down the ultrasonic probe 1, or the ultrasonic probe 1 is pressed against the subject in advance and lifted and elasticity data The acquisition start time and end time may be set.

  The second function of the elastic data acquisition time setting unit 9 is to switch between the elastic data acquisition time and the reflectance tomographic data acquisition time, which is the elastic data acquisition repetition period and the elastic data acquisition position. Specify. Specifically, it operates so as to acquire elasticity data at a specified interval only in a specified region where a reflectance tomographic image is being acquired. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation concept of the second function, and FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing an operation example of the second function. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of the operation of the second function.

  3 and 4, B-start is a reflectance tomographic image scanning start position, S-start is an elastic image scanning starting position, S-end is an elastic image scanning ending position, and B-end is a reflectance tomographic image. Each scanning end position is shown. In the figure, B indicates the tomographic data acquisition time, and S indicates the elasticity data acquisition time.

  First, when the operator depresses (switches on) the switch 8 of the ultrasonic probe 1, the ultrasonic scanning start process of FIG. 5 starts. In step S51, it is determined whether or not the ultrasonic scanning is finished. If not (no), the process proceeds to step S52, and if finished (yes), the ultrasonic scanning process is immediately finished.

  In step S52, it is determined whether or not the current time is the period of the elastic image acquisition time (S). If yes, the process proceeds to step S58, and if not (no), the process proceeds to step S53. In step S53, since it is determined that the current time is not the period of the elastic image acquisition time (S) in the previous step S52 (no), in order to start tomographic image acquisition, B- Stores start. In step S54, it is determined whether or not the value of the tomographic image acquisition position register is B-end, that is, the tomographic image final acquisition position. If yes, the process proceeds to step S57, and the acquisition of the tomographic image is terminated. Returning to S51, if no, the process proceeds to step S55. In step S55, the value of the tomographic image acquisition position register is incremented by 1. In step S56, as ultrasonic transmission / reception corresponding to a tomographic image, for example, a tomographic image acquisition process using a dynamic filter is performed in one wave transmission, and the process returns to step S54. By performing ultrasonic transmission / reception using a dynamic filter, the reception frequency is made variable according to the reception depth, and ultrasonic transmission / reception suitable for acquisition of tomographic images is performed. By the processing from step S54 to step S56, scanning of the reflectance tomographic image 32 is performed along the scanning direction 31 from the position of B-start, and acquisition of the reflectance tomographic image 32 is performed up to the position of B-end.

  In step S58, since it is determined (yes) that the current time is the period of the elastic image acquisition time (S) in the previous step S52, in order to start acquisition of the elastic image, S is stored in the elastic image acquisition position register. Stores -start. In step S59, it is determined whether or not the value of the elastic image acquisition position register is S-end, that is, the elastic image final acquisition position.If yes, the process proceeds to step S5C, and the elastic image acquisition ends. Returning to S51, if no, the process proceeds to step S5A. In step S5A, the value of the elastic image acquisition position register is incremented by 1. In step S5B, for example, an elastic image acquisition process using a fixed filter in two-wave transmission is executed as the ultrasonic transmission / reception corresponding to the elastic image, and the process returns to step S59. By performing ultrasonic transmission / reception using a fixed filter, the reception frequency is kept constant, and ultrasonic transmission / reception suitable for acquiring elastic images is performed. By the processing from step S59 to step S5B, the elastic image 33 is scanned along the scanning direction 31 from the S-start position, and the elastic image 33 is acquired up to the S-end position. In FIG. 3, the diseased part 34 is displayed in the elastic image 33. When the acquisition of the elasticity image 33 is completed, the determination in step S51 is performed again, and the acquisition process of the reflectance tomographic image 32 or the elasticity image 33 is executed according to the result. When the surgeon releases the depression of the switch 8 (switch off), the operator operates to acquire a reflectance tomographic image until the switch 8 is depressed again.

  FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing another example of the operation of the second function of the elasticity data acquisition time setting unit 9 of this embodiment. 7 to 9 are flowcharts showing details of another operation of the second function. When the operator depresses (switches on) the switch 8 of the ultrasonic probe 1, the ultrasonic scanning start process of FIG. 7 starts. In step S71, it is determined whether or not the ultrasonic scanning is finished. If not (no), the process proceeds to step S72, and if finished (yes), the ultrasonic scanning process is immediately finished.

  In step S72, it is determined whether or not the current scanning position register value is B-start or more and less than S-start. If yes, the process proceeds to step S73. If no, the next step is performed. Proceed to S74. In step S73, the tomographic image acquisition routine of FIG. 8 is executed. The tomographic image acquisition routine executes tomographic image acquisition processing using a dynamic filter in one-wave transmission, for example, as ultrasonic transmission / reception corresponding to a tomographic image, increments the value of the scanning position register by 1, and performs the steps of FIG. Return to S71. Thereafter, the tomographic image acquisition routine of step S73 is executed until the value of the scanning position register reaches B-start to S-start, and the reflectance tomographic image data 32 is acquired.

  In step S74, it is determined whether or not the current scanning position register value is not less than S-start and not more than S-end. If yes, the process proceeds to step S75. If no, the next step is performed. Proceed to S76. In step S75, the elasticity image / tomographic image acquisition routine of FIG. 9 is executed. The elasticity image / tomographic image acquisition routine acquires elasticity data, and after acquisition, reflectance tomographic data acquisition is performed, and after a predetermined interval, an elastic image scanning is performed again and again. In the elastic image / tomographic image acquisition routine, for example, as an ultrasonic image transmission / reception corresponding to an elastic image, an elastic image acquisition process using a fixed filter is performed in two-wave transmission, and then as an ultrasonic transmission / reception corresponding to a tomographic image, for example, Then, a tomographic image acquisition process using a dynamic filter is executed in one wave transmission, the value of the scanning position register is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step S71 in FIG. Thereafter, until the value of the scan position register reaches S-end from S-start, the elasticity image / tomographic image acquisition routine of step S75 is executed, and the scan of the reflectance tomography and the elasticity image are alternately repeated. To get.

  In step S76, it is determined whether or not the current scanning position register value is greater than S-end and not more than B-end. If yes, the process proceeds to step S77. The process returns to step S71. That is, when the elastic image scanning is completed up to the S-end position, the reflectance tomographic data acquisition is repeated up to the B-end position. In step S77, the tomographic image acquisition routine of FIG. 8 is executed. The tomographic image acquisition routine executes tomographic image acquisition processing using a dynamic filter in one-wave transmission, for example, as ultrasonic transmission / reception corresponding to a tomographic image, increments the value of the scanning position register by 1, and performs the steps of FIG. Return to S71. Thereafter, the tomographic image acquisition routine of step S77 is executed until the value of the scanning position register reaches S-start from S-end, and reflectance tomographic image data 32 is acquired.

  The reflectance tomographic data is acquired from B-start to B-end again until the operator depresses the switch 8 again. If the operator depresses the switch 8 again, the operation returns to the beginning, and a series of operations from scanning of the reflectance tomographic image is repeated from the position of B-start.

  The third function of the elastic data acquisition time setting unit 9 in this embodiment is based on the first function and the second function of the elastic data acquisition time setting unit 9, and the transmission circuit system 2 and the reception circuit system 3 The reflectance tomographic image display circuit system 4, the elastic image display circuit system 5, and the display overlay circuit 6 are respectively controlled. Specifically, the switch 8 attached to the ultrasound probe 1 is depressed and at the same time the ultrasound probe 1 is pressed against the subject and ultrasound transmission / reception at the previously specified elastic data capturing position is performed. Control is performed so that the elastic data is repeatedly acquired every repetition period. In particular, the transmitting circuit system 2 and the receiving circuit system 3 perform ultrasonic transmission / reception suitable for elastic data acquisition, and the elastic image display circuit system 5 is controlled to perform calculation / display of elastic images.

  Further, the display superimposing circuit 6 is controlled to selectively display the elastic image newly created by the elastic image display circuit system 5 on the image display device 7. For the reflectance tomographic image display circuit system 4, during the elastic data acquisition time, the received reflectance tomographic data is not input without inputting the elastic image reception data phased in the receiving circuit system 3. Control to display the used tomographic image. On the other hand, during times other than the elasticity data acquisition time, control is performed so as to perform acquisition display of reflectance tomographic data. In particular, the transmission circuit system 2 and the reception circuit system 3 perform ultrasonic transmission / reception suitable for obtaining reflectance tomographic data, and the reflectance tomographic image display circuit system 5 is controlled to display a tomographic image. Further, the display superimposing circuit 6 is controlled so as to selectively display the reflectance slice newly created in the tomographic image display circuit system 4 on the image display device 7. For elasticity image calculation display circuit system 4, during the tomographic data acquisition time, the received data for reflectance tomographic images phased by receiving circuit system 3 is not input, and the elasticity image data acquired earlier Control to display an elastic image using.

  In FIG. 6, the reflectance tomographic data acquisition time is indicated as B, the elasticity data acquisition time is indicated as S, and the processing content at each time is shown. For example, during the reflectance tomographic data acquisition time of B, ultrasonic transmission of 1 wave number from the transmission circuit system 2 is performed using a dynamic filter, and during the elastic data acquisition time of S, 2 wave numbers from the transmission circuit system 2 Are transmitted using a fixed filter. As a result, transmission processing optimum for each image processing is executed in the reflectance tomographic data acquisition time and the elasticity data acquisition time.

  The elasticity data acquisition time setting unit 9 repeatedly executes the operation at each part in the elasticity data acquisition time and the reflectance tomographic data acquisition time while changing the ultrasound scanning position, and ends the ultrasound transmission / reception within a predetermined elasticity image scanning range. Then, until the switch 8 starts to be depressed again, control is performed so that the reflectance tomographic data is acquired and the elasticity image acquired and displayed before and the latest reflectance tomographic image are displayed on the image display device 7.

  Since the elasticity data acquisition time setting unit is newly provided as in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves in the reflectance tomographic image and the elasticity image independently of each other. Ultrasonic transmission / reception can be performed under the optimal ultrasonic transmission / reception conditions for each of the image and the elastic image, and an optimal ultrasonic image can be constructed and displayed for both the reflectance tomographic image and the elastic image. In addition, an image suitable for diagnosis can be provided to the operator, and an ultrasonic device useful for improving the diagnostic ability can be provided to the operator.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case has been described where the signal strength of the elastic reception data is increased by using multi-wavelength ultrasonic transmission at the time of elastic data acquisition, but instead of this, large amplitude ultrasonic transmission is used. Alternatively, both multi-wavelength ultrasonic transmission and large-amplitude ultrasonic transmission may be used.

1 is a block configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an ultrasonic apparatus of the present invention. FIG. The figure which shows the relationship between the ultrasonic device which concerns on this embodiment, and a test object. The figure explaining the operation | movement concept of the 2nd function of an elasticity data acquisition time setting part. The timing chart figure which shows the operation example of the 2nd function of an elasticity data acquisition time setting part. The flowchart figure which shows the detail of operation | movement of the 2nd function of an elasticity data acquisition time setting part. The timing chart figure which shows another operation example of the 2nd function of the elasticity data acquisition time setting part of this embodiment. The flowchart figure which shows the detail of another operation | movement of the 2nd function of an elasticity data acquisition time setting part. The figure which shows the detail of the tomographic image acquisition routine of the flow chart of FIG. The figure which shows the detail of the elasticity image and tomographic image acquisition routine of the flow chart of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  1 Ultrasonic probe, 2 Transmitter circuit system, 3 Receiver circuit system, 4 Tomographic image display circuit system, 5 Elastic image display circuit system, 6 Display overlay circuit, 7 Image display device, 8 Switch, 9 Elastic data acquisition time Setting unit, 10 ultrasound device, 20 subject, 21 bed, 31 scanning direction, 32 reflectance tomographic image data, 33 elasticity image data, 34 diseased part

Claims (8)

An ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound to and from the subject;
Transmitting means for generating an ultrasonic transmission signal and transmitting it to the ultrasonic probe;
Receiving means for receiving a reflected echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe;
Tomographic image constructing means for constructing a tomographic image based on the received signal processed by the receiving means;
Elastic image constructing means for constructing an elastic image based on the received signal processed by the receiving means;
Display means for displaying at least one of the tomographic image and the elastic image;
Switching means for switching between the tomographic image mode and the elastic image mode,
The receiving unit includes a first reception processing unit for the tomographic image and a second reception processing unit for the elastic image, and the first reception processing unit and the first reception unit according to the switching. An ultrasonic apparatus comprising control means for switching two reception processing means.   2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to transmit the transmission unit, the first reception processing unit, and the second reception process according to the tomographic image acquisition time and the elasticity image acquisition time set by the switching unit. An ultrasonic apparatus characterized by causing the tomographic image means and the elastic image means to execute.   2. The switching unit according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit includes a human interface device provided in the ultrasound probe, and the control unit starts capturing the elastic image in response to a control signal from the switching unit. Ultrasonic device characterized by.   2. The ultrasonic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit acquires the elastic image at every predetermined timing within the elastic image acquisition time set by the switching unit.   2. The elastic reception data signal according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a large amplitude ultrasonic transmission and a multi-frequency ultrasonic transmission is performed as the second ultrasonic transmission / reception process optimal for obtaining the elastic image. An ultrasonic device characterized in that the strength is increased.   2. The first ultrasonic transmission / reception processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the first ultrasonic transmission / reception processing unit performs a reception process including a dynamic filter process for changing a reception frequency according to a reception depth, and the second ultrasonic transmission / reception processing unit sets the reception frequency. An ultrasonic apparatus characterized by performing a reception process including a fixed filter process to make it constant.   7. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays an image obtained by superimposing both the broken image and the elastic image, an image selectively displaying both, and the both are simultaneously displayed in parallel. An ultrasonic apparatus, wherein an image is selectively displayed.   The super image according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an elastic image is selectively acquired for an arbitrary region displayed in the tomographic image, and the acquired elastic image is displayed. Sonic device.

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