JP2009219834A - Muscle power evaluation apparatus by evaluation of difference between two images of a-mode ultrasonic image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a muscle power evaluation system by an A-mode system to solve an issue that display of only a line segment lacks reproducibility and weak visibility in a muscle power evaluation system by the A-mode system highly evaluated in possibility of cost reducing and lightening. <P>SOLUTION: When the inside of a human body is observed using an ultrasonic probe in an ultrasonic A-mode system, evaluation and observation of the situation produced inside a human body are enabled in pixel units by: leaving the variation details in lines of an ultrasonic image displayed in single lines onto a screen of a personal computer; after a predetermined time elapses, the displayed image is stored in a memory medium of the personal computer as original image data; then, a newly obtained image is stored in the memory medium of the personal computer as a variation image after a predetermined time by varying a state of the subject; and then, producing a difference image obtained by removing data matching the part left as the original image from the image data left as the variation image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a system for performing muscular strength evaluation using an ultrasonic A-mode apparatus.

For measuring muscle strength of the human body, for example, when making a bicep, grasping the grip strength meter, pulling the back strength meter, comparing or evaluating the force with a certain reference value, or when hanging Do not use equipment or instruments, such as taking a horizontal bar to the bottom of your chin and continuing to support the body as it is, or evaluating endurance by evaluating the power to keep hanging many times, electrical resistance, There are various methods such as measuring and evaluating the resistance force to the device, and measuring the muscle strength visually using an X-ray image, an MRI image, and an ultrasonic image.

There are methods such as the evaluation of subcutaneous fat thickness by the ultrasonic B mode method or the evaluation of the amount of muscle by synthesizing several images obtained by the ultrasonic B mode method, but the A mode was used. There was no muscular strength measurement system.

The B-mode ultrasonic probe is composed of a plurality of transducers and can obtain a large amount of information and is suitable for observing the inside of the human body. As a result of displaying a lot of information that is not necessary for the evaluation, it is not suitable for this purpose when the observation is made only for the muscular strength evaluation.

The system using the B-mode method, which was created for the purpose of observing the inside of an important human body, was poor in practicality in terms of price and generated video content when it was desired to measure only muscle strength.
In addition, the system using the B mode method must be larger and heavier than the system using the A mode method.

For these reasons, society's expectations for realizing a lightweight and inexpensive system obtained by using the A mode method have been strong.
However, although the A-mode method is expressed by a line segment as shown in 3, since it continues to change at high speed in response to changes in voltage and pressure applied to the probe 1 that is in contact with the human body over time, humans It was difficult to confirm with my eyes.
Even if the display is stopped at a specific time, the difference between the A-mode image 1 of the human resting muscle to be measured and the A-mode image 6 of the contracted muscle is compared. When trying to evaluate, it is not clear which part is noise and which part is an effective pixel, and even if both images are acquired again, it cannot be determined whether the reproducibility with the image acquired immediately before is high or low.
Thus, the A-mode muscular strength evaluation system, which is highly evaluated in terms of the possibility of being cheap and light in weight, has not been put into practical use because it displays only a line segment and has poor reproducibility and low visibility.

An object of the present invention is to realize an A-mode muscular strength evaluation system by solving the factors that have hindered practical use.

The ultrasonic inspection apparatus is roughly divided into a probe 1 having a mechanism for generating ultrasonic waves and receiving reflected ultrasonic waves, portions 2 and 5 for processing received data, and a display 4 for displaying images.

When an ultrasonic wave is generated by applying the probe to the inspection object 50, the sound travels through the object in a very short time, and is reflected when it hits a hard object.
The reflected sound wave is measured by the probe 1, the distance is calculated by 2 from the time until the reflected sound returns, and the internal state is visualized by 4 by 5.

In the A mode inspection, sound waves are only transmitted and received in one direction, and there are many other cases in which a cross-sectional image of an object can be seen in real time by generating sound waves in a fan shape. However, the present invention targets only the A mode type.

Echo inspection is one of the most frequently performed in the medical field because it can be examined simply by applying a probe from outside the body, and it is very safe and does not have such side effects, like a skull surrounded by hard bones. Except for these parts, virtually all parts of the body are eligible for echocardiography.

Unlike the B mode method in which an image is drawn with an image close to a real image, the A mode method is drawn with line segments.
Since this was an inhibitory factor when trying to create an A-mode-type muscle strength evaluation system, the following is related to the image 3 showing the resting state in FIG. 1 and the image 6 when the muscle contracts as shown in FIG. Add processing.

The signal of the human body at rest shown in 50 of FIG. 1 sent sequentially from 1 to 30, 2 and 31 of FIG. 1 is processed in the personal computer of 5 of FIG. Displayed as line 3.
This line segment 3 is constantly changing on the actual screen reflecting the influence of voltage, noise, and pressure on the contact surface of 1 and 50, and it appears to swing at a high speed with the naked eye.
1 is synthesized in time series within 1 to 10 seconds with the software provided in the personal computer, and the image on the screen is always added as an afterimage so that the remaining image is not erased. An image as shown in FIG. 3 is created.

When a desired time elapses, the video in FIG. 3 is stored in the storage medium of the personal computer.
After that, the contents of the monitor 4 are erased, and the arm is put in force as shown by 51 in FIG. 2, and the state is sent sequentially from 1 to 30, 2 and 31 in FIG. 2 is processed in the personal computer 5 in FIG. 2 and displayed in real time as a line 6 in 4 in FIG.
This line segment 6 also appears to swing at a high speed to the naked eye, reflecting the influence of voltage, noise, and pressure on the contact surface 1 and 51 on the actual screen.
Similarly, the software provided in the personal computer synthesizes the line segment 6 of FIG. 2 into a time series within 1 to 10 seconds so that the image displayed on the screen is not updated as shown in FIG. Make a video.
When the desired time has elapsed, the video in FIG. 4 is also stored in the storage medium of the personal computer.

FIG. 5 shows FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 shows FIG. 4 for schematic illustration.
From these, reference numeral 13 in FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an aggregate in which all the changes of the line segments in FIG. 1 that have been painted in time series for a desired time are recorded at the position indicated by 60 in FIG. It is shown that.
16 in FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an aggregate in which all the changes of the line 6 in FIG. 2 that have been painted in time series for a desired time are recorded at the position indicated by 60 in FIG. Is shown.
The images 13 and 16 thus prepared are combined as shown in FIG. 11 to create 17 images.

In 17 images, a portion overlapping with 13 images is removed from 16 images, and an image 18 shown in FIG. 12 is created.
Since the screen of the personal computer is configured in units of pixels, when enlarged, it becomes a point-like aggregate in units of pixels as shown at 19 in FIG.
As shown at 20 in FIG. 14, a rectangle that specifies the evaluation range is defined and the number of pixels is determined by counting the number of pixels in the rectangle. The pixel when this value changes from 13 to 16 is determined. The difference value as a unit.

As a result, even if the line segments 3 and 6 are unstablely changed under the influence of various conditions, the number of differences is calculated in units of pixels from two images in which images of a desired time are recorded in time series under the same conditions. By obtaining, accurate and reproducible muscle strength evaluation can be expressed as the number of pixels.

Since the A mode method is represented by a line segment as shown in 3 of FIG. 1, even if it continues to change at a high speed in response to a change in voltage and a change in pressure applied to the probe 1 in contact with the human body as time passes. By storing the change information itself and making it the common term of the image when resting and putting effort, if the difference between 13 and 16 is obtained, the position change of noise and line segments is offset and effective pixels are It can be expressed as the number of pixels.
As a result, accurate muscle strength can be measured as the number of pixels, and an A-mode type muscle strength evaluation system, which is highly evaluated in terms of the possibility of being cheap and lightweight, can be put to practical use.

As shown in FIG. 15, a difference is obtained from two images in a state where force is applied to a desired part 51 of the target human body, while resting without separating 1 from 51 with the software provided in 5. Is calculated in units of pixels, and the number thereof is notified on the screen, and a difference image indicated by 100 in FIG.

When combined with a portable notebook computer, the versatility is further increased, and it is possible to set evaluation criteria different from the conventional image expression content in the line segment as shown in FIG. 17, and it is impossible to stand up using this system. Measurements to prevent muscle weakness in elderly people who are bedridden, surveys of muscle strength trends in schoolchildren, and analysis of strength trends by sports competition can be performed.

Effects of the embodiment

It is inexpensive, has excellent portability, has high reproducibility for software control, and can be easily used without requiring high technical knowledge.
In addition, to realize a more common concept, such as obtaining the area ratio by specifying the distance from the skin surface to the bone in the difference image, or changing the distance from the skin surface to the humerus as the muscle thickness change Is possible.

It is an inexpensive, portable and easy-to-use system, so it can be used in the health industry field, medical care, elderly strength measurement in elderly facilities, youth strength measurement, measures to reduce muscular strength of astronauts in outer space, sports center It can be expected to be widely used in society, such as checking training results.

Definition of terms used in the description of the present invention

[noise]
A spot-like signal that appears on the image when the echoes from an infinite number of scatter sources smaller than the wavelength are observed and the scattered waves generated from each other interfere with each other and cause the amplitude of the echo to be strong or weak.
[Muscle endurance]
Human body muscle that can sustain exercise for a long time
Element that converts electrical energy into ultrasonic mechanical vibration [muscle strength]
This is the power that can be produced when a person contracts the muscles of a certain part of the body.
[system]
The whole unity and structure composed of elements that affect each other.
[Ultrasonic A mode]
When a single beam is generated, the relationship between distance and intensity is displayed on a line to make it easier for humans to understand.
[A mode display]
A mode display is a display method in which the horizontal axis indicates the depth or distance of the living body on the time axis of the CRT, and the vertical axis indicates the reflection intensity or the received waveform.
[B mode]
Of the amplitude and position of the ultrasonic wave, the amplitude is displayed as the brightness (luminance) of the point, and a two-dimensional image is created by generating a plurality of ultrasonic beams.
[Ultrasound]
Sound in a band that cannot be heard by human ears of about 20,000 hertz or higher.
[Ultrasonic equipment]
A device for observing the human body that uses the ability of piezoelectric ceramics to convert electrical energy and mechanical energy.
[Ultrasonic image]
An image that is created based on the information received by the vibrator again after the ultrasonic wave is transmitted to the human body and the ultrasonic wave is reflected by an internal organ or bone.
[Ultrasonic probe]
A device having a mechanism for generating ultrasonic waves and receiving reflected ultrasonic waves (echoes).
[B mode]
Mode display (Brightness B) is a display method in which the intensity of the reflected signal is modulated on a CRT.
This B mode is generally called an ultrasound image and is used for many organs such as the liver and breast.
The image display is displayed in real time.
[Pixel] The screen of a personal computer and an image are a set of rectangles of the smallest unit, and each square is called a pixel.

The figure which shows the data acquisition condition at the time of a human body upper limb resting. The figure which shows the data acquisition condition when force is applied to a human body upper limb. The figure which extracted and showed only 3 of FIG. The figure which extracted and showed only 6 of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram. The figure which shows the measurement position at the time of a human upper limb resting FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an integrated image of a line segment 3 obtained at the measurement position in FIG. 7. Diagram showing the measurement position when force is applied to the upper limbs of the human body FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an integrated image of a line segment 6 obtained at the measurement position in FIG. 7. FIG. 11 is a diagram in which the schematic diagrams of 13 in FIG. 8 and 16 in FIG. 10 are overlapped. The schematic diagram showing a mode that the data which correspond to 13 were removed from 16 images. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing that 18 in FIG. 12 is further modeled and configured by pixels. The schematic diagram as an example which shows that the inside of the frame shown in 20 is the range for counting the number of pixels. The schematic diagram which shows embodiment of this invention. 17 is a reference schematic diagram comparing the basis for generating the line segment shown in FIG. 17 with the state where the ultrasonic wave emitted from 1 hits an obstacle. The figure which shows the intensity | strength and depth of a reflected signal by A mode type | formula.

Explanation of symbols

1 Ultrasonic A-mode probe.
2 A device that amplifies the vibration signal from the ultrasonic A-mode probe and transfers it to a personal computer.
3 This figure shows how the vibration signal sent from 2 is processed by a personal computer and displayed as a linear signal on the monitor when the elbow joint is not stretched.
4 Monitor for displaying PC signals.
5 PC.
6 This figure shows how the vibration signal sent from 2 in the state where the elbow joint is bent and the force is applied is processed by a personal computer and displayed as a linear signal on the monitor.
The figure which shows a mode that the linear signal of 133 is filled on the screen with progress of time.
The figure which shows a mode that the linear signal of 166 was filled on the screen with progress of time.
17 is a diagram showing a state in which 13 images are superimposed on 16 16 images.
The figure which shows a mode that the part which 13 images | videos overlap with the 1816 image | video was removed.
19 is a diagram in which 18 images are expressed in units of pixels.
A frame indicating a range for counting the number of pixels as the difference between 2013 and 16.
30 Cable connecting 1 and 2.
31 A cable connecting 2 and 5.
50 is a diagram showing a state where the elbow is stretched with the upper limbs of the human body and no force is applied.
51 is a diagram showing a state where the elbow is bent with the upper limbs of the human body and the force is applied strongly.
60 A dotted line indicating a position where the A-mode probe 1 is placed for measurement.
61 A dotted line showing the upper end position when the arm is viewed from the side at rest.
62 Dotted line indicating the position of the lower end when the upper limb at rest is viewed from the side.
63 Dotted line indicating the upper end position when the upper limb is viewed from the side with force applied.
64 A dotted line showing the lower end position when the upper limb with force applied is viewed from the side.
70 Arrow indicating the direction in which ultrasound travels through the human body.
71 Soft part excluding human bones.
72 A waveform indicating the intensity and depth of the reflected signal in the A mode type.
73 A schematic diagram showing bones in a human body and cartilage having hardness close to bones.
The schematic diagram which shows a mode that the image | video which removed 13 image components from 10016 image is reflected.

Claims (1)

When the inside of the human body is observed using the ultrasonic probe of the ultrasonic A mode method, all changes in the line of the ultrasonic image displayed as a single line are left on the computer screen and displayed after a certain period of time. After the recorded video is saved as original image data in a personal computer storage medium, a new image obtained by changing the state of the subject is saved as a changed image in a personal computer storage medium after a certain period of time. A system that enables evaluation and observation of changes in the human body in units of pixels by creating a difference image obtained by removing a matching portion of data left as an original image from image data left as.

Images