JP2011104109A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for performing an operation, while viewing a display displaying an ultrasonic image. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a probe for transmitting/receiving an ultrasonic wave to/from a subject; ultrasonic image generating means for receiving a reflection wave reflected by the subject and generating the ultrasonic image, on the basis of the received reflection wave; ultrasonic displaying means for displaying the ultrasonic image; operation displaying means for displaying an operation screen; contact detecting means for detecting a contact with the operation displaying means; and indication signal output means for outputting an indication signal based on the position of the contact detected by the contact detecting means. The system also includes image generating means for displaying the operation screen on the ultrasonic displaying means, and displaying at least a part of the operation screen, on the basis of the position of the contact received by the contact detecting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that images and diagnoses the inside of a subject with ultrasonic waves.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits an ultrasonic wave from an ultrasonic probe to a subject, receives a reflected wave caused by a difference in acoustic impedance of tissues constituting the subject, and displays the reflected wave on a display unit. Diagnosis by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is performed by generating a real-time ultrasonic image by bringing an ultrasonic probe into contact with the body surface of the subject and displaying the ultrasonic image on a display.

As miniaturization of such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus progresses, for example, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured to be movable by attaching a caster or the like is put into practical use. By using such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the user can move the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to the bedside on which the subject is placed, and perform an ultrasonic diagnosis without forcing the movement of the subject. In addition, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has been disclosed in which a display for displaying an ultrasonic image is attached to the main body using an arm whose position can be adjusted, and the display can be moved to the vicinity of the subject (for example, a patent) Reference 1). By moving the display to the vicinity of the subject, the user can make a diagnosis while alternately comparing the ultrasonic probe brought into contact with the subject and the display.

JP 2009-125371 A

When diagnosing a subject using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as described above, the user can operate the operation unit provided on the casing of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus while keeping the ultrasonic probe in contact with the subject. It is necessary to perform various input operations. By performing an input operation, the user switches, for example, an ultrasonic parameter transmitted by the ultrasonic probe, a display mode of an ultrasonic image displayed on the display, and the like. With the recent development and multi-functionality of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, the input operations accepted by the operation unit have become variously complicated.

As described above, a user who makes a diagnosis using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus makes a diagnosis while alternately comparing a subject and a display that displays an ultrasonic image. On the other hand, when the user performs an input operation during diagnosis, the user must pay attention to the operation unit provided in the housing. The inability to perform an input operation while gazing at the subject and the display impairs the convenience of diagnosis by the user.

Therefore, the present invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that allows an input operation to be performed while viewing the display by displaying an operation screen on a display that displays an ultrasonic image.

In order to solve the above problems, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention receives a probe that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave to and from a subject, a reflected wave reflected by the subject, and converts the received reflected wave into the received reflected wave. Ultrasonic image generating means for generating an ultrasonic image based on the ultrasonic display means for displaying the ultrasonic image, operation display means for displaying an operation screen, and contact detection for detecting contact with the operation display means And an instruction signal output means for outputting an instruction signal based on the position of the contact detected by the contact detection means, the operation screen is displayed on the ultrasonic display means, and the contact received by the contact detection means And an image generating means for displaying at least a part of the operation screen based on the position of the operation screen.

According to the present invention, the operation screen is displayed on the display that displays the ultrasonic image. This makes it possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that allows the user to perform an input operation while looking at the display.

1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of diagnosis using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the example of a screen display of the ultrasonic image monitor and touch command screen which concern on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a screen display of the wipe image which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a screen display of the cursor movement which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the other example of a screen display of the wipe image which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a screen display of the wipe image at the time of determination operation which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the flow of the process of the screen display which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a screen display which reduced-displayed the wipe image which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a screen display which expanded the display area of the wipe image which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a screen display which displayed the wipe image which concerns on embodiment of this invention superimposed on the ultrasonic image.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Internal configuration of ultrasonic diagnostic equipment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the present invention is configured by combining a system control unit 100, an ultrasonic image monitor 300, and a touch command screen 400 as shown in FIG.

The system control unit 100 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit).
), ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access)
s Memory). The system control unit 100 includes an ultrasonic image generation unit 103, an ultrasonic image monitor I / F 104, and a touch command screen I / F described later.
105, transmission / reception unit 201, B-mode processing unit 202, Doppler processing unit 20
3 etc.

The control processor 101 is a program stored in the ROM or a storage unit 10 described later.
The process is executed in accordance with various application programs loaded from 2 into the RAM. The control processor 101 processes signals supplied from the respective units, generates various control signals, and supplies them to the respective units. Through such processing, the control processor 101 comprehensively controls the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

The storage unit 102 includes, for example, a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory that is an electrically rewritable and erasable nonvolatile memory, and an HDD (Hard Disc Drive).
), And various application programs executed by the CPU of the system control unit 100 and control data, and ultrasonic images output from the ultrasonic image generation unit 103 are stored.

The ultrasonic probe 210 generates an ultrasonic wave based on the drive signal output from the transmission / reception unit 201, or a reflected wave from the inside of the subject in contact with the ultrasonic probe 210 is referred to as an electrical signal (hereinafter referred to as an echo signal). ), A matching layer attached so as to be in contact with the piezoelectric vibrator, a backing material that prevents propagation of ultrasonic waves in the direction opposite to the subject, and the like. When the ultrasonic probe 210 transmits an ultrasonic wave to the subject, the ultrasonic wave generates various harmonic components according to the non-linearity of the living tissue constituting the subject.

The fundamental wave and the harmonic component constituting the transmitted ultrasonic wave generate a reflected wave due to the difference in acoustic impedance of the body tissue constituting the subject and the influence of minute scattering. Ultrasonic probe 2
10 receives the generated reflected wave, converts it into an echo signal, and outputs the echo signal to the transmission / reception unit 201 to which the ultrasonic probe 210 is connected.

The transmission / reception unit 201 includes a delay circuit and a pulsar circuit (not shown). In the pulsar circuit, rate pulses for causing the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves according to a predetermined rate frequency are repeatedly generated. Further, in the delay circuit, a delay time necessary for determining the transmission directivity by converging the ultrasonic wave into a beam shape for each channel is given to the rate pulse output from the pulsar circuit. The transmission / reception unit 201 applies a drive signal to each piezoelectric transducer of the ultrasonic probe 210 so as to form an ultrasonic beam directed to a predetermined scan line at a timing based on the delayed rate pulse. The transmission / reception unit 201 includes an amplifier circuit, an A / D converter, an adder, and the like (not shown). In the amplifier circuit, the echo signal captured through the ultrasonic probe 210 is amplified for each channel. In the A / D converter, a delay time necessary for determining the amplified reception directivity is given to the echo signal. The adder performs addition processing on the echo signal given the delay time. The adder generates an echo signal corresponding to a predetermined scan line by this addition processing. When the transmission / reception unit 201 generates an echo signal, the transmission / reception unit 201 converts the echo signal into a B-mode processing unit 20.
Output to 2.

The B-mode processing unit 202 performs envelope detection processing on the echo signal output from the transmission / reception unit 201, and generates a B-mode signal that changes according to the amplitude intensity of the echo signal. When the B-mode processing unit 202 generates a B-mode signal, the B-mode processing unit 202
Output to 03.

The Doppler processing unit 203 analyzes a frequency component included in the echo signal after performing so-called high-pass filter processing that removes a low-frequency component from the echo signal. When tissue or blood that has generated an echo signal is moving at a certain speed, frequency transition occurs in the echo signal according to the Doppler effect. The Doppler processing unit 203 performs autocorrelation processing on the echo signal in order to detect the moving speed of the tissue or blood flow from the frequency transition amount. The Doppler processing unit 203 generates a Doppler signal obtained by extracting the moving speed of the tissue signal or the blood flow signal from the echo signal by the high-pass filter processing and autocorrelation processing. When the Doppler processing unit 203 generates a Doppler signal, it outputs it to the ultrasonic image generation unit 103.

The ultrasonic image generation unit 103 generates an ultrasonic image based on the B mode signal and the Doppler signal output from the B mode processing unit 202 and the Doppler processing unit 203. The generation of an ultrasonic image by the ultrasonic image generation unit 103 is performed by mapping, for example, a B-mode signal and a Doppler signal to positions corresponding to transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves. When the ultrasonic image generation unit 103 generates an ultrasonic image, the ultrasonic image generation unit 103 outputs the ultrasonic image to the ultrasonic image monitor I / F 104 or the storage unit 102.

The ultrasonic image monitor I / F 104 generates a monitor signal for displaying the ultrasonic image on the ultrasonic image monitor 300 in a predetermined form based on the ultrasonic image output from the ultrasonic image generation unit 103. When the ultrasonic image monitor I / F 104 generates a monitor signal, it outputs it to the ultrasonic image monitor 300.

The touch command screen 400 includes an image display unit 401 that displays characters and graphics, and a touch panel unit 402 that is provided so as to overlap the image display unit 401. The operator 10 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 touches the touch panel 401 with reference to characters and figures (hereinafter simply referred to as a UI (User Interface) screen) displayed on the image display unit 401, thereby performing ultrasonic diagnosis. An operation input to the apparatus 1 is performed. In addition to the touch command screen 400 as an apparatus for performing operation input to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1,
For example, an operation key 403 configured by a push button or an operation dial is provided.

The image display unit 401 is, for example, a liquid crystal monitor or a CRT (Cathode Ray T).
ube) U configured from the monitor and output from the touch command screen I / F 105
Display the I screen.

The touch panel unit 401 detects that the operator 10 has touched the touch panel unit 401 and outputs information such as the touched position, the strength of pressing, and the contact area to the touch command screen I / F 105. The touch panel unit 401 is manufactured by a known technique such as a pressure-sensitive type or an electrostatic type. For example, in the case of an electrostatic type, the touch panel unit 401 includes a capacitance sensor that detects a change in capacitance due to contact with a finger or the like. The capacitance sensor detects the position where the capacitance has changed due to the touch of the finger or the like to the touch panel unit 401 and the area where the capacitance has changed, and the center position and area of the region where the capacitance has changed. Is output to the touch command screen I / F 105.

The detection of the input position performed by the touch panel unit 401 may be detected when the input position changes in addition to when a new capacitance change is detected, or every time a certain time elapses. It may be detected.

The touch command screen I / F 105 is output from the touch panel unit 401.
A control signal is generated based on information such as the position of contact, the strength of pressing, or the contact area.

When the touch command screen I / F 105 generates a control signal, it outputs the control signal to the control processor 101. When receiving the control signal, the control processor 101 executes various processes according to the type of the control signal. On the other hand, the touch command screen I / F 105 outputs a monitor signal for displaying the UI screen on the image display unit 401 to the image display unit 40.
Output to 1.

3 is displayed on the ultrasound image monitor 300 and the touch command screen 400.
It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the ultrasonic image 301 and UI screen.

The ultrasonic image monitor 300 displays the ultrasonic image 301 according to the monitor signal output from the ultrasonic image monitor I / F 104. The ultrasonic probe 20 is matched to the ultrasonic image 301.
Various information such as an ultrasonic parameter transmitted by 1 and a reference position for specifying the position of the ultrasonic image 301 may be displayed together.

The touch command screen 400 displays a UI screen according to the monitor signal output from the touch command screen I / F 105. The UI screen is displayed, for example, by the control processor 101 reading out an image stored in the storage unit 102 and displaying the image on the image display unit 401 through the image touch command screen I / F 105. The UI screen displays buttons and arrows for switching items, for example. The UI screen is, for example, a start / stop button for starting or stopping transmission of ultrasonic waves by the ultrasonic probe 210,
Input of diagnostic information associated with an ultrasound image generated by the ultrasound image generation unit 103 by inputting information such as a freeze button for stopping rewriting of the ultrasound image 301 displayed on the ultrasound image monitor 300 and the name of the subject 11 Button, a Store button for storing the ultrasound image in the storage unit 102, and information on the subject 11 associated with the ultrasound image in the storage unit 1
02, a registration button to be stored, an image display condition switching button for switching an image display condition such as designation of a display area of an ultrasonic image and contrast of an ultrasonic image, an ultrasonic frequency or transmission interval transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 210, etc. An ultrasonic parameter switching button for switching between, a frame rate switching button for switching the scan interval of the ultrasonic image, and the like are displayed. The operator 10 performs an operation input for switching, for example, an ultrasonic parameter or an image display condition by touching the display positions of these buttons. On the other hand, operation keys provided separately from the touch command screen 400 include, for example, a B mode in which the distance to a substance is plotted on the vertical axis and the amplitude of the echo signal is imaged as luminance, CDI (Color Doppl) that calculates the moving speed / dispersion of the tissue or blood flow from the transition, the amplitude of the echo signal, and colors and displays based on these parameters.
er Imaging) mode, a display mode switching button for switching display modes, such as an M mode for displaying a change in a specific diagnosis area in time series, and the like. The operator 10 performs an operation input by pressing an operation key 403 to which these roles are assigned. UI
The buttons and operation keys 403 displayed on the screen 401 are not limited to those listed here, and other buttons to which various control signals are assigned may be provided. Of the buttons listed here, Some may be omitted.

(Diagnosis using ultrasonic diagnostic equipment)
FIG. 2 is an overview showing the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 and the state of diagnosis using the apparatus.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 includes, for example, a system control unit 100 and a touch command screen 400.
Is built in the housing 2. Then, the ultrasonic probe 210 is connected to the housing 2 via the cable 4.
Attach to. Further, the ultrasonic image monitor 300 is attached to the housing 2 via the movable arm 3.

The movable arm 3 physically and electrically connects the system control unit 100 in the housing 2 and the ultrasonic image monitor 300, and supports the ultrasonic image monitor 300. The movable arm 3 is configured, for example, by providing an indirect portion whose angle can be adjusted. When the operator 10 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 appropriately adjusts the angle of the indirect portion, the operator 10 can move the ultrasonic image monitor 300 to a position where it can be easily viewed.

The cable 4 electrically connects the system control unit 100 in the housing 2 and the ultrasonic probe 210. The cable 4 is configured, for example, by covering an electric wire that transmits and receives an electric signal with a covering material. The cable 4 is made of a soft material so that a bending operation can be performed. Therefore, the operator 10 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can transmit ultrasonic waves to a desired diagnostic site of the subject 11 by appropriately moving the position of the ultrasonic probe 210 connected by the cable 4.

With the above configuration, the operator 10 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 transmits an ultrasonic wave having a designated ultrasonic parameter from the ultrasonic probe 210 brought into contact with the subject 11 and receives an echo signal. Then, an ultrasonic image is generated based on the received echo signal, and the ultrasonic image is displayed on the ultrasonic image monitor 300 based on the designated image display condition. The operator of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 can change the ultrasonic parameters and the image display conditions by the touch command screen 400.
Do by touching. As a result, the operator 10 of the ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus 1 performs an operation of touching the touch command screen 400 while displaying a desired ultrasonic image on the ultrasonic image monitor 3.
00 can be displayed.

By the way, in general, in order for the operator 10 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 to perform ultrasonic diagnosis, the operator 10 confirms that the ultrasonic probe 210 is hitting a desired diagnostic part of the subject 11 while making a diagnosis. Need to do. Therefore, the operator 10 must make a diagnosis while gazing at the state of the subject 11 to which the ultrasonic probe 210 is applied and the ultrasonic image monitor 300 on which the ultrasonic image is displayed. On the other hand, as described above, operations for the ultrasonic parameters and image display conditions are performed by the operator 10 touching the touch command screen 400. In order to make a diagnosis while gazing at the subject 11 and the ultrasound image monitor 300, the operator 10 must perform an operation without directly gazing at the touch command screen 400. Therefore, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of the present invention, a wipe image described later is displayed on the ultrasonic image monitor 300. As a result, the operator 10 can perform an operation on the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 while gazing at the ultrasonic image monitor 400 and the subject 11.

(Display wipe image)
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example in which the wipe image 302 is displayed on the touch command screen 301. The wipe image 302 is an image that displays a part of the UI screen displayed on the image display unit 401. When the finger 500 of the operator 10 touches the touch command screen 400, a fixed area centered on the touched position (hereinafter simply referred to as a contact point) in the UI screen is displayed on the wipe image 302. The wipe image 302 displays a cursor 303 at a position corresponding to the contact point in order to notify where the finger 500 of the operator 10 is touching on the touch command screen 400.

The generation of the wipe image 302 is performed as follows, for example. First, when the operator 10 touches the touch command screen 400, the touch panel unit 402 detects the position of the contact point and outputs it to the touch command screen I / F 105. When the touch command screen I / F 105 receives the position of the touch point, the touch command screen I / F 105 outputs the touch point position to the control processor 101. The control processor 101 reads a UI screen stored in advance in the storage unit 102. Then, the control processor 101 generates a wipe image 302 obtained by cutting out a certain area centered on the contact point (for example, an area of 300 pixels vertically and horizontally around the contact point) in the UI screen. Further, the control processor 101 outputs image information in which the cursor 302 is displayed at the center of the generated wipe image 302 to the ultrasonic image monitor I / F 104. The ultrasonic image monitor I / F 104 converts the image information output from the control processor 101 into a monitor signal and outputs it to the ultrasonic image monitor 300. Through the above processing, the enlarged image of the UI screen centered on the contact point is displayed on the wipe image 302. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, when the contact point of the finger 500 of the operator 10 moves over the arrow button, the image displayed on the wipe image 302 also changes to a UI screen centered on the arrow button.

FIG. 5 shows a screen display example when the display position of the cursor 302 is moved. When the button that the operator 10 wants to operate is already displayed in the wipe image 302, or when the button that the operator 10 wants to operate is small, the operator 10 moves the cursor 303 slightly to change the position of the cursor 303. It is necessary to match the position of the desired button. Therefore, in order to intuitively perform a slight movement of the cursor 303, if the control processor 101 determines that the moving speed or moving amount of the contact point is below a certain value, the control processor 101 does not update the center coordinates of the wipe image 302, but instead Cursor 30
2 is moved in accordance with the position of the contact point. More specifically, when the operator 10 touches the touch command screen 400, the touch command screen I / F 105 outputs the position of the contact point to the control processor 101. The control processor 101 compares the position of the current contact point with the position of the previous contact point, and calculates the amount of movement that the contact point moves per unit time.

When the amount of movement is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the control processor 101 moves the display position of the cursor 302 in the wipe image 302 according to the position of the contact point, and the image information is sent to the ultrasonic image monitor I / F 104. Output to. The ultrasonic image monitor I / F 104 is the control processor 1
The image information output from 01 is converted into a monitor signal and output to the ultrasonic image monitor 300. Through the above processing, the display position of the cursor 302 is moved and displayed on the wipe image 302.

In addition, an operation of selecting a button on the UI screen and outputting a control signal assigned to each button increases an area in which the operator 10 touches the touch panel unit 402 or exerts a pressing force. Touch panel unit 4 to strengthen or at short intervals
This is done by touching 02 (hereinafter simply described as tapping). When the touch panel unit 402 recognizes that the touched area, the pressed force, or the tap time interval exceeds a predetermined threshold (hereinafter, simply referred to as a selection input), the selection input is performed. Control processor 1 through touch command screen I / F 105
01 is notified. When detecting that the selection input has been made, the control processor 101 recognizes which control signal is assigned to the button displayed at the place corresponding to the contact point. When the control processor 101 recognizes the assignment of the control signal, the control processor 101 outputs the control signal to the corresponding component. Further, the control processor 101 displays the selected button in an inverted manner in accordance with the output of the control signal, as shown in FIG. 7, in order to notify the operator 10 which button has been selected.

Note that the display method of the wipe image 302 displayed by the present invention is not limited to the one described here. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the ultrasonic image 301 may be displayed on the ultrasonic image monitor 300 and the wipe image 302 may be displayed superimposed on the ultrasonic image 301. Further, the control processor 101 may freely change the area in which the wipe image 302 is displayed in accordance with an operation received through the touch command screen I / F 105 or the operation key 403.

(Flow of wipe image display)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the wipe image 302 is displayed. Less than,
The flow of the wipe image display process will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when the control processor 101 starts a wipe image display process (step 1000), the touch panel unit 401 waits for an operator 10 contact (step 1001).

When the touch panel unit 401 does not detect the contact of the operator 10 (Step 10
02, No.), the touch panel unit 401 waits for processing until the operator 10 touches (step 1001). On the other hand, when the touch panel unit 401 detects the contact of the operator 10 (Yes in Step 1002), the touch panel unit 401 detects the contact point and outputs it to the control processor 101 (Step 1003). Control processor 1
When 01 receives the position of the contact point output from the touch command screen I / F 105, it determines whether the moving speed of the contact point is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed (step 1004). When the control processor 101 determines that the moving speed of the contact point is equal to or lower than the predetermined speed (No in Step 1004), the control processor 101 changes the display of the wipe image 302 according to the position of the contact point (Step 1005). The display position of the cursor 303 is moved to the center of the wipe image 302 (step 1006). On the other hand, when the control processor 101 determines that the moving speed of the contact point is equal to or lower than the predetermined speed (Yes in step 1004), the control processor 101 moves the cursor display position according to the position of the contact point (step 1007).
).

When the control processor 101 updates the display of the wipe image 302 or the display position of the cursor 303, the control processor 101 determines whether there is a button to which a control signal is assigned on the position of the contact point (step 1008). When the control processor 101 determines that there is no button on the position of the contact point (No in Step 1008), the touch panel unit 401 waits for the operator 10 to contact again (Step 1001). On the other hand, if the control processor 101 determines that there is a button to which a control signal is assigned on the position of the contact point (Yes in step 1008), the touch panel unit 401 detects the contact area of the contact point, for example, and sends it to the control processor 101. Output (step 1009). When the control processor 101 acquires the contact area information from the touch panel unit 401, the control processor 101 determines whether or not this exceeds a predetermined threshold (step 1010). When the control processor 101 determines that the contact area is less than the threshold (No in Step 1010), the touch panel unit 401 waits for the operator 10 to contact again (Step 1001). On the other hand, when the control processor 101 determines that the contact area exceeds the threshold (Yes in step 1010), the control processor 101 outputs a control signal assigned to the button on the contact point (step 1011).
), The process is terminated (step 1012).

(Reduced display of wipe image)
It has been described that a part of the enlarged UI screen is displayed on the wipe image 302 by the processing described above. On the other hand, when the operator 10 switches the ultrasound image display mode such as the B mode, the CDI mode, or the M mode to another display mode, the operator 10 newly sets the ultrasound parameters, the image display conditions, and the like. It is expected to make a diagnosis. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the entire UI screen displaying the ultrasonic parameters and image display conditions is displayed on the ultrasonic display 300 so that the operator 10 can list the ultrasonic parameters and image display conditions. Is desirable.

Therefore, in the present invention, when the display mode is switched by operating the operation key 403 of the operator 10, the control processor 101 displays the entire UI screen in a reduced size in the wipe image 302. More specifically, when the operator 10 operates the operation key 403 to which display mode switching is assigned, the operation key 403 outputs a display mode switching instruction signal for switching the display mode to the control processor 101. When receiving the display mode switching instruction signal, the control processor 101 outputs an instruction signal for switching the display mode of the ultrasonic image to the ultrasonic image generation unit 103. Further, the control processor 101 reads a UI screen stored in advance in the storage unit 102 and generates a wipe image 302 that displays the entire UI screen. Further, the control processor 101 reads the position of the contact point immediately before receiving the display mode switching instruction signal, displays the cursor 303 at a position corresponding to the contact point in the wipe image 302, and displays the cursor 303 on the ultrasonic image monitor 300. .

With the above processing, the UI screen is reduced and displayed on the wipe image 302. Operator 10
By performing an operation while looking down on a wide area of the UI screen, it is possible to quickly recognize the position on the UI screen where a button capable of performing a desired operation exists. When the operator 10 performs a selection operation while the reduced wipe image 302 is displayed, the control processor 101 cancels the reduced display and enlarges the UI screen as shown in FIG.
Return to the display. Note that, instead of reducing the UI screen display, the ultrasonic image 301 is temporarily deleted as shown in FIG. 10, and the display area of the wipe image 302 is enlarged so that a wide area of the UI screen can be displayed. I do not care.

(Effect of this embodiment)
Through the above processing, the operator 10 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 displays the wipe image displayed on the ultrasonic image monitor 300 indicating where the finger touched by the operator 10 is on the touch command screen 400. 302 can be recognized. Thus, the operator 10 can operate the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 by recognizing the position of the finger while looking at the ultrasonic image monitor 300.

The wipe image 302 displays a cursor 303 corresponding to the position of the finger of the operator 10. As a result, the operator 10 can recognize the position of the finger of the operator 10 in detail from the display position of the cursor 303.

If the moving speed of the contact point is equal to or lower than the predetermined speed, the display position of the cursor 303 is updated instead of the center coordinates of the wipe image 302 and displayed on the ultrasonic image monitor 300. Thus, the operator 10 can intuitively recognize in which direction the cursor 302 moves in the wipe image 302 and can perform an operation on the touch command screen 400.

Further, when the operator 10 makes a selection input, a button corresponding to the contact point on which the selection input has been made is highlighted. As a result, the operator 10 can recognize which button has been subjected to the selection input or the timing at which the selection input has been performed.

When a specific operation input such as display mode switching is accepted, the wipe image 302 is temporarily reduced and displayed. A wide area UI screen and a cursor 30 indicating a contact point on the wipe image 302
By displaying 3, it is possible to clearly recognize where the finger of the operator 10 is with respect to the entire touch command screen 300. Further, the operator 10 can quickly recognize which position on the UI screen the button for outputting a desired control signal is by looking down on the UI screen.

Further, various inventions can be formed by proper combinations of a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Or you may combine the component covering a different Example suitably.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 Housing | casing 3 Movable arm 10 Operator 11 Subject 100 System control part 101 Control processor 102 Storage unit 103 Ultrasound image generation unit 104 Ultrasound image monitor I / F
105 Tablet monitor I / F
201 Transmission / Reception Unit 202 B Mode Processing Unit 203 Doppler Processing Unit 210 Ultrasonic Probe 300 Ultrasonic Image Monitor 400 Touch Command Screen 401 Image Display Unit 402 Touch Panel Unit 403 Operation Key

Claims (7)

A probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a subject;
An ultrasonic image generating means for receiving a reflected wave reflected by the subject and generating an ultrasonic image based on the received reflected wave;
Ultrasonic display means for displaying the ultrasonic image;
Operation display means for displaying an operation screen;
Contact detection means for detecting contact with the operation display means;
An instruction signal output means for outputting an instruction signal based on the position of contact detected by the contact detection means;
Ultrasonic diagnosis, comprising: an image generation unit that displays the operation screen on the ultrasonic display unit and displays at least a part of the operation screen based on a contact position received by the contact detection unit. apparatus. The instruction signal output means includes
2. The ultrasonic wave according to claim 1, wherein the instruction signal is output based on at least one of a contact area, a contact time interval, and a pressing strength at the time of contact detected by the contact detection unit. Diagnostic device. The image generation means displays a cursor corresponding to the contact position detected by the contact detection means in the operation screen displayed by the image display means,
3. The display position of the cursor is moved or the display position of the operation screen displayed by the image is changed according to the movement speed of the contact detected by the contact detection means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to 1. The image generation means displays a cursor corresponding to the contact position detected by the contact detection means in the operation screen displayed by the image display means,
The display position of the cursor is moved or the display position of the operation screen displayed by the image is changed according to the amount of movement per unit time detected by the contact detection means. Item 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Item 1 or 2. The image generating means is responsive to the instruction signal,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation screen displayed on the ultrasonic display unit is reduced or enlarged. The ultrasonic image generation means switches the display mode of the ultrasonic image according to the output signal,
The ultrasound according to claim 1, wherein the image generation unit reduces the operation screen displayed on the ultrasound display unit in accordance with an output signal for switching the display mode. Diagnostic device. The ultrasonic image generation means switches the display mode of the ultrasonic image according to the output signal,
The said image generation means expands the display area of the said operation screen in the said ultrasonic display means according to the output signal of the said display mode switching, The any one of Claim 1 thru | or 5 characterized by the above-mentioned. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment.

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