JP2009195360A - Ultrasonic diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display Doppler traces so that the diagnosis may become easier. <P>SOLUTION: The system is provided with a frequency analysis section 5 to detect a spectrum signal, a DSC section 6 to transform the spectrum signal into a spectrum image signal for its display, and a trace operation means 8 to make a Doppler trace operation based on the continuity of spectrum signals detected by the frequency analysis section 5. The trace operation section 8 comprises a spectrum continuity detection section 11, a trace data generation section 12 and a trace data correction section 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of performing Doppler spectrum display.

  In ultrasonic Doppler blood flow measurement used for ultrasonic diagnosis of living body circulatory organs, etc., in order to observe a Doppler waveform (Doppler spectrum), which is a time-dependent change in Doppler shift frequency obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasound. The Doppler spectrum is displayed on the monitor with time t on the horizontal axis and Doppler shift frequency ψd on the vertical axis, and a predetermined diagnosis is performed from the waveform.

  Specifically, the maximum blood flow rate corresponding to the maximum frequency component in the Doppler shift frequency axis direction is detected, and the trace waveform data indicating the temporal change of this maximum blood flow rate is displayed superimposed on the Doppler spectrum. From the superimposed Doppler trace waveforms, the average motion speed of the moving body within a specified period and the blood vessel cross-sectional area obtained separately are calculated to calculate the blood flow etc. From the obtained calculation results, cardiac function, blood vessel function, etc. There is a way to make a diagnosis.

The conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying the Doppler trace detects Doppler trace data obtained in time series in order to detect and display the Doppler trace by detecting the maximum blood flow velocity corresponding to the maximum frequency component in the Doppler shift frequency axis direction. When generating a desired trace waveform data by setting a threshold value for the Doppler spectrum data, a threshold range for the Doppler spectrum data is set based on the spectrum shape model and Doppler sensitivity, and a predetermined number of threshold values set in the threshold range are set. It is configured to generate desired trace waveform data by sequentially updating (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-141996 A

  However, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, since the threshold value is calculated each time, the real-time property is impaired due to the processing time, and the threshold value is not necessarily the same every time recalculation is performed, and the trace lines are located at different spectral positions. There was a problem that may be displayed.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the conventional problems, and provides an excellent ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can display a Doppler trace corresponding to a spectrum display, with simple processing, without impairing real-time performance. For the purpose.

  An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit that displays an ultrasonic image, a quadrature detection unit that orthogonally detects an echo signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic probe, and two orthogonal signals. Frequency analysis means for detecting a spectrum signal by performing frequency analysis of the above, a scan converter for converting the spectrum signal into a spectrum image signal for display on the display means, and a continuous spectrum signal detected by the frequency analysis means A trace calculation unit that performs Doppler trace calculation based on the characteristics, and a trace that is synthesized by superimposing the trace data calculated by the trace calculation unit on the Doppler spectrum image signal generated by the scan converter and outputting the resultant to the display unit Composing means.

  With this configuration, the Doppler trace can be displayed in a range where the Doppler spectrum is continuously displayed.

  Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention has a configuration in which the trace calculation means performs Doppler trace calculation by detecting continuity of signal intensity on the frequency axis of the spectrum signal detected by the frequency analysis means. ing.

  With this configuration, the Doppler trace operation can be performed according to the continuity of the frequency-analyzed data.

  Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention has a configuration in which the trace calculation means performs Doppler trace calculation by detecting continuity of signal intensity on the frequency axis of the spectrum image signal generated by the scan converter. ing.

  With this configuration, the Doppler trace can be calculated according to the continuity of the displayed spectrum signal.

  Further, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the trace calculation means detects the continuity of the spectrum signal and the continuity of the spectrum signal detected by the spectrum detection means is maintained. And a trace data generating means for generating trace data using the spectrum signal as a display value of the trace data.

  With this configuration, the Doppler trace can be calculated and displayed according to the continuity of the spectrum signal.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the trace calculation means includes a trace data correction means for adding or subtracting a predetermined correction value to the trace data generated by the trace data generation means.

  With this configuration, the Doppler trace can be displayed by shifting the position by a predetermined value from the continuity range of the Doppler spectrum.

  In addition, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is configured to include a correction setting unit that sets the correction value.

  With this configuration, an arbitrary value can be set from the user interface, and the diagnostic accuracy can be improved.

  Since the present invention has Doppler calculation means for performing Doppler trace calculation based on the continuity of the Doppler spectrum signal, the continuity of the signal intensity on the frequency axis of the spectrum signal is detected and displayed by performing Doppler trace calculation. Since the Doppler trace is displayed within the range until the spectrum display is interrupted in the frequency axis direction, it is easy to read, such as cardiac function and blood vessel function. The diagnostic accuracy can be improved.

  Hereinafter, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 1, a probe connecting portion 1 is a connector for connecting an ultrasonic probe 20. The ultrasonic probe 20 transmits ultrasonic waves to the subject through an ultrasonic transducer, and receives reflected ultrasonic waves from the subject and converts them into electrical signals. The transmission unit 2 supplies drive pulses to the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 20. The receiving unit 3 performs amplification of a reception signal from the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 20 and the like. The quadrature detection unit 4 performs quadrature detection of an echo signal obtained from the living body by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.

  The frequency analysis unit 5 performs frequency analysis on the quadrature detection signal and generates Doppler spectrum data. The DSC unit 6 is a scan converter that performs scan conversion so that the Doppler spectrum from the frequency analysis unit 5 can be displayed on the display unit. The trace synthesis unit 7 calculates Doppler trace information to be displayed from the Doppler spectrum information. The trace synthesis unit 7 synthesizes the Doppler spectrum data generated by the DSC unit 6 and the Doppler trace data generated by the trace calculation unit 8 and outputs them to the display unit 9.

  Here, the trace calculation unit 8 includes a spectrum continuity detection unit 11 and a trace data generation unit 12. The spectrum continuity detection unit 11 determines the continuity of the Doppler spectrum data generated by the frequency analysis unit 5. Then, the trace data generation unit 12 generates Doppler trace data so that the trace synthesis unit 7 can superimpose it on the Doppler spectrum.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described below. The drive pulse generated by the transmitter 2 to the ultrasonic probe 20 is applied to the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 20, converted into ultrasonic waves, and transmitted to the subject. The reflected ultrasonic wave from the subject is converted into an electric signal by the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 20 and sent to the receiving unit 3. The reception signal is subjected to reception processing in the reception processing unit 3 and then subjected to detection processing in the quadrature detection unit 4 to obtain a quadrature detection signal. Two signals orthogonal to each other are frequency-analyzed by a complex operation in the frequency analysis unit 5. As a result of this frequency analysis, a Doppler shift frequency can be obtained, and this shift frequency corresponds to a flow rate of blood or the like. By performing scanning conversion by the DSC unit 6, a Doppler spectrum indicating blood flow velocity information that can be displayed on the screen is obtained.

  Next, the operation of the trace calculation unit 8 which is the main part of the present invention will be described.

  The Doppler spectrum data generated by performing the detection processing in the frequency analysis unit 5 detects the continuity of the frequency component in the spectrum continuity detection unit 11.

  In the case of blood flow, the Doppler spectrum data is displayed as time on the horizontal axis and the flow velocity of blood on the vertical axis, and the signal intensity of the Doppler echo is expressed as luminance. An example is shown in FIG.

  From this spectrum display, it is possible to know the velocity distribution of blood flow per hour, and it is understood that the flow velocity is faster as it is displayed upward in the vertical axis direction of the display (graph).

  At this time, the higher the flow velocity, the weaker the intensity of the echo signal, and the displayed brightness is displayed. Therefore, it is difficult to determine how far the actually detected flow velocity is, and the maximum value (maximum blood flow velocity) is displayed as a trace to facilitate diagnosis.

  Since the echo signal becomes weaker as the flow velocity increases, the maximum blood flow can be detected by detecting the limit at which the velocity can be detected continuously. The diagnostic device detects the continuity of the flow velocity.

  The continuity of the flow velocity will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIGS. 5 and 6, the vertical axis represents the flow velocity, the horizontal axis represents time, and the luminance indicating the echo intensity is represented by a number, as in FIG. For the sake of simplification, this luminance is represented by six-stage numbers from 0 to 5, with 0 indicating no spectrum (FIG. 5).

  In this way, the spectrum continuity detecting unit 11 detects the continuity in the velocity direction and its maximum value from the luminance of the Doppler spectrum.

  Next, the trace data generation unit 12 generates trace data by connecting the maximum values detected by the spectrum continuity detection unit 11 respectively.

  FIG. 6 shows the data generated by the trace data generation unit 12 in a simplified manner. In FIG. 6, the maximum point where the luminance is continuous (not including 0) is extracted, and the points are connected to form a trace.

  By detecting the continuity of luminance in this way and connecting the maximum points into trace data, the Doppler trace of the maximum blood flow value that is easy to process and does not impair real-time performance and is compatible with spectrum display Waveforms can be generated and displayed.

  The generated Doppler trace waveform and the spectrum data scanned and converted by the DSC unit 6 are synthesized by the trace synthesis unit 7 so that the spectrum waveform and the trace waveform are superimposed and displayed on the display unit 9. .

  Thus, it is easy to read the trace display, and it has the effect that the diagnostic accuracy of the cardiac function, the vascular function, etc. can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, as a criterion for determining continuity in the Doppler spectral velocity direction, a point at which the luminance is “0” in the range of one pitch of the resolution on the vertical axis is determined as a discontinuous point. Although it is assumed that the data immediately before is continuous, the value may be arbitrarily set to an integral multiple of the pitch regardless of one resolution.

  Next, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the operation is the same as described above.

  The feature of this embodiment is that the configuration is provided with the trace data correction unit 13. The trace data generated by the trace data generation unit 12 shows the maximum value with the continuity of the spectrum, but a display other than the maximum value may be required depending on the purpose of diagnosis, and the trace data correction unit At 13, the position of the trace data can be corrected and displayed.

  This correction value can be set from the correction value setting unit 14, and an arbitrary value can be set from a user interface such as a keyboard, or a value set in advance according to the conditions of the diagnosis mode can be set.

  By adjusting this correction value, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the versatility is further improved and the diagnostic accuracy can be increased.

  Next, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the operation is the same as described above.

  The feature of this embodiment is that the input to the trace calculation unit 8 is not the frequency analysis unit 5 but the spectrum image data that is the output of the DSC unit 6. That is, the continuity of the spectrum can be detected from the spectrum data detected by the frequency analysis unit 5, and can also be detected from the spectrum image data scanned and converted by the DSC unit 6. Furthermore, versatility can be improved.

  As described above, since the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has Doppler calculation means for performing Doppler trace calculation based on continuity of Doppler spectrum signals, continuous signal intensity on the frequency axis of the spectrum signal. Since the Doppler trace can be detected and the Doppler trace can be calculated and displayed, the Doppler trace is displayed in the range until the spectrum display is interrupted in the frequency axis direction without damaging the real-time performance. Since it has the effect of being easy to read and improving the diagnostic accuracy of cardiac function, blood vessel function, etc., it is useful as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of performing Doppler spectrum display.

The figure which shows the structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. Illustration of Doppler spectrum waveform Illustration of continuity of Doppler spectrum Illustration of waveform with trace superimposed on Doppler spectrum

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Probe connection part 2 Transmission part 3 Reception part 4 Orthogonal detection part 5 Frequency analysis part 6 DSC part 7 Trace synthetic | combination part 8 Trace operation part 9 Display part 11 Spectrum continuity detection part 12 Trace data generation part 13 Trace data correction part 14 Correction value setting unit 20 Ultrasonic probe

Claims (6)

Display means for displaying an ultrasonic image;
A quadrature detection means for quadrature detection of an echo signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic probe;
Frequency analysis means for detecting a spectrum signal by performing frequency analysis of two orthogonal signals;
A scan converter that converts the spectrum signal into a spectrum image signal for display on the display means;
Trace calculation means for performing Doppler trace calculation based on continuity of the spectrum signal detected by the frequency analysis means,
Trace synthesis means for superimposing and synthesizing the trace data calculated by the trace calculation means on the Doppler spectrum image signal generated by the scan converter and outputting to the display means;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the trace calculation means performs Doppler trace calculation by detecting continuity of signal intensity on the frequency axis of the spectrum signal detected by the frequency analysis means. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the trace calculation means performs Doppler trace calculation by detecting continuity of the signal intensity on the frequency axis of the spectrum image signal generated by the scan converter. The trace calculation means includes a spectrum detection means for detecting the continuity of the spectrum signal, and a trace signal having a spectrum signal detected by the spectrum detection means up to a point where the continuity of the spectrum signal is maintained as a display value of the trace data. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: trace data generation means for generating 5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the trace calculation means includes trace data correction means for adding or subtracting a predetermined correction value to the trace data generated by the trace data generation means. 6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising correction setting means for setting the correction value.