JP2012005651A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a novel image forming technique for indicating a target tissue clearly and visually.SOLUTION: A B-mode processing unit 22 forms image data of a B-mode image including a bone 110 based on a plurality of echo signals corresponding to a plurality of ultrasonic beams. A Doppler processing unit 24 extracts Doppler information from the plurality of echo signals corresponding to the plurality of ultrasonic beams. Vibrations are applied to the bone 110 from a vibration device 50, and a Doppler shift is generated in the echo signal obtained from the bone 110 by the vibrations of the bone 110. The Doppler processing unit 24 detects the Doppler shift included in the echo signal. As a result, the vibrations of the bone 110 are detected in a tomographic plane corresponding to the B-mode image, and it is confirmed at which position the vibrations are generated in the B-mode image.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming technique of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  For example, in order to evaluate the fusion state of the fractured part, simple and quantitative measurement of the mechanical properties of the bone is desired. Conventionally, X-ray photographs have been widely used for evaluating the fusion state of fractures. However, since the callus growing at the affected part cannot be clearly photographed in the X-ray photograph, it is difficult to quantitatively diagnose the fusion state. In addition, the measurement of the mechanical characteristic of a bone may be performed not only on a bone accompanied by a fracture but also on a healthy bone. For example, the bone strength of healthy bone may be measured and used for diagnosis of osteoporosis and the like.

  As a method to quantitatively evaluate the mechanical properties of bone without using X-ray photographs, a strain gauge method is used to measure the strain of an external fixator by attaching a strain gauge. Examples include a vibration wave method for evaluating the frequency and an acoustic emission method for detecting a sound wave generated from a bone having yield stress. However, these methods still have problems such as limited treatments that can be applied, the need to invade bones, and insufficient accuracy of quantitative evaluation indices. .

  In such a background, in order to realize measurement that does not invade bone, an apparatus that measures the healing state of a bone affected part using ultrasonic waves has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 measures the angle between two bone fragments sandwiching a fractured portion by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the bone, and reflects the mechanical characteristics of the bone based on the angle. A technique for generating the characteristic information is described.

JP 2005-152079 A

  The inventors of the present application have been researching and developing a new image forming technique that is a further improvement of the epoch-making technique described in Patent Document 1. In particular, attention has been paid to an image forming technique suitable for diagnosis of a target tissue such as a bone.

  The present invention has been made in the course of research and development, and an object thereof is to provide a new image forming technique for visually indicating a target tissue.

  A suitable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for the above purpose includes a probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject including a target tissue subjected to vibration, and transmission and reception for obtaining a reception signal from within the subject by controlling transmission and reception of the probe. An image forming unit that forms an ultrasonic image in the subject based on the received signal, a vibration detecting unit that detects the vibration based on Doppler information obtained from the received signal, and the ultrasonic image in the ultrasonic image And a display processing unit that performs a display process for visually indicating an image portion in which vibration is detected.

  In a preferred embodiment, the probe transmits / receives an ultrasonic wave to / from a subject including a bone subjected to vibration, and the display processing unit forms a diagnostic image in which the bone is visually specified by the display processing. It is characterized by that.

  In a preferred embodiment, vibration is applied to one of the bone pieces including two bone pieces connected via a diseased part, and the display processing unit visually displays the one piece of bone that has been vibrated. And forming the diagnostic image showing that the vibration is transmitted to the other bone fragment through the diseased part.

  In a preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus further includes a vibration generating unit that applies vibration to a bone in the specimen and an instrument inserted into the subject, and the display processing unit is subjected to vibration. And forming the diagnostic image in which the bone and the device are visually clarified.

  In a preferred embodiment, the vibration generating unit applies vibrations to the bone and the instrument separately at different times, and the display processing unit forms the diagnostic image clearly indicating the bone and the instrument separately from each other. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, a new image forming technique for visually clarifying a target tissue is provided.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that is preferable in the practice of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the suitable example of a diagnosis using the ultrasonic diagnosing device of FIG. It is a figure which shows the diagnostic image obtained by the diagnostic example of FIG. It is a figure which shows the other suitable example of a diagnosis using the ultrasonic diagnosing device of FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus suitable for implementing the present invention. The probe 10 is an ultrasonic probe used in contact with the body surface of the subject 100, for example. The probe 10 forms an ultrasonic beam toward the bone 110 in the body of the subject 100 and scans the ultrasonic beam. As the probe 10, for example, a linear probe that linearly scans an ultrasonic beam in a two-dimensional plane is suitable. Therefore, a configuration using a linear probe will be described below. As the probe 10, a convex probe or a three-dimensional probe that three-dimensionally scans an ultrasonic beam in a three-dimensional space may be used.

  The transmission / reception unit 12 controls the probe 10 to electronically scan the ultrasonic beam in the tomographic plane. For example, the probe 10 performs linear scanning, about 120 ultrasonic beams are sequentially electronically scanned, and an echo signal is acquired for each ultrasonic beam. The plurality of acquired echo signals are output to the B-mode processing unit 22 and the Doppler processing unit 24.

  The B-mode processing unit 22 forms image data of a B-mode image (tomographic image) including the bone 110 based on a plurality of echo signals corresponding to a plurality of ultrasonic beams. On the other hand, the Doppler processing unit 24 extracts Doppler information from a plurality of echo signals corresponding to a plurality of ultrasonic beams. In the present embodiment, vibration is applied to the bone 110 from the vibrator 50, and the bone 110 vibrates, thereby generating a Doppler shift in an echo signal obtained from the bone 110. The Doppler processing unit 24 detects a Doppler shift included in the echo signal. Thereby, the vibration of the bone 110 is detected in the tomographic plane corresponding to the B-mode image, and it is confirmed at which position in the B-mode image the vibration is generated.

  The display image forming unit 30 performs display processing for visually indicating an image portion in which vibration is detected by the Doppler processing unit 24 in the B mode image obtained from the B mode processing unit 22, and displays a diagnostic image of the bone 110. Form. The display image forming unit 30 visually indicates the image portion by, for example, performing a coloring process only on the image portion in which vibration is detected.

  In addition, when performing a coloring process to the image part from which Doppler information was detected, the technique of a well-known color Doppler method, for example, the formation technique of the color flow mapping image described in patent document (Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2006-198075) (Sometimes referred to as “FLOW” or “eFLOW”). Of course, instead of the coloring process, a pattern or the like may be added to the image portion, and the diagnostic image formed by the display image forming unit 30 is displayed on the display unit 40 such as a monitor.

  The vibrator 50 applies vibration to the bone 110 of the subject 100 according to control by the control unit 60. As the vibrator 50, for example, a bone conduction device or the like is suitable, and vibration with a frequency of about several kHz is generated, and vibration is applied to the bone 110 from the body surface of the subject 100. The control unit 60 controls the vibrator 50 and centrally controls each unit in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a suitable diagnosis example using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. The bone 110 in the body of the subject 100 shown in FIG. 2 has a diseased part 110f, and the bone piece 110a and the bone piece 110b are connected so as to sandwich the diseased part 110f. The diseased part 110f is, for example, a fractured part or a part where fusion has progressed after the fracture. The probe 10 is arranged so that the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception region S includes the diseased part 110f.

  The vibrator 50 is disposed so as to be in contact with the bone fragment 110b through the body surface of the subject 100. It is desirable that the vibrator 50 is disposed at a portion where the body surface of the subject 100 and the bone 110 are close to each other. For example, if the bone 110 is a forearm bone, the vibrator 50 is disposed on the styloid or elbow portion of the ulna or radius. Further, if the bone 110 is a humerus, the vibrator 50 is disposed on an elbow or a shoulder. Needless to say, the position of the vibrator 50 and the mode of vibration should be determined carefully under the guidance of an expert such as a doctor.

  In the example of diagnosis shown in FIG. 2, for example, a diagnostic image showing how vibration is transmitted to the other bone piece 110a through the diseased part 100f while visually showing the vibrationed bone piece 110b is formed. The

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a diagnostic image 200 obtained by the diagnostic example of FIG. The diagnostic image 200 shown in FIG. 3 includes images of the bone fragment 110a, the bone fragment 110b, and the diseased part 110f.

  In the diagnosis example shown in FIG. 2, vibration is directly applied from the vibrator 50 to the bone fragment 110b. As described with reference to FIG. 1, the Doppler processing unit 24 detects vibration based on the Doppler shift included in the echo signal. For example, when a Doppler shift amount exceeding a predetermined threshold is obtained, it is determined that the Doppler shift is caused by vibration from the vibrator 50. Further, display processing is performed on an image portion in which vibration is detected in the B-mode image obtained from the B-mode processing unit 22.

  As a result of the display process, the display mode 210 shown in FIG. 3 is formed. The display mode 210 is a result of a display process that clearly indicates an image part in which vibration is detected. For example, the display mode 210 is realized by a coloring process or a patterning process. In addition, instead of the image portion of the display mode 210, the image portion of the display mode 210 may be clearly shown by performing a coloring process or a patterning process on the image portion other than the display mode 210.

  In the diagnostic example shown in FIG. 2, vibration is applied to the bone fragment 110b from the vibrator 50 and the bone fragment 110b vibrates. Therefore, in the diagnostic image 200 shown in FIG. It occurs relatively widely in the portion 110b. However, vibration may be transmitted from the bone fragment 110b to the bone fragment 110a which is not directly subjected to vibration from the vibrator 50 via the diseased part 110f. Therefore, in the diagnostic image 200 shown in FIG. 3, the display mode 210 corresponding to the vibration is also generated in the bone piece 110a.

  When the diseased part 110f is, for example, a fractured part immediately after a fracture, and the bone fragment 110a and the bone fragment 110b are separated from each other, vibration transmitted from the bone fragment 110b to the bone fragment 110a is completely absent or relatively small. In this case, the display mode 210 does not occur at all in the portion of the bone fragment 110a or even if it occurs, it becomes a relatively small portion. On the other hand, for example, when time has elapsed from the time of fracture and bone healing progresses in the diseased part 110f, vibration is easily transmitted from the bone fragment 110b to the bone fragment 110a, and the display mode 210 is relatively large in the bone fragment 110a. It is expected that. That is, it is possible to diagnose the progress of fusion in the diseased part 110f from the spread of the display mode 210 generated in the bone fragment 110a.

  Of course, it is expected that the symptom of the diseased part 110f can be confirmed from the spread of the display mode 210, the shape of the distribution, etc. not only when the diseased part 110f is a fractured part but also, for example, in the case of osteoporosis.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another preferred diagnosis example using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. Similar to the diagnostic example shown in FIG. 2, in the diagnostic example shown in FIG. 4, the bone 110 in the body of the subject 100 has a diseased part 110f, and the bone fragment 110a and the bone piece 110a are sandwiched between the diseased part 110f. The bone fragments 110b are connected. The diseased part 110f is, for example, a fracture part. In the diagnosis example shown in FIG. 4, an intramedullary nail 150 is inserted into the subject 100. The intramedullary nail 150 is a treatment instrument that is inserted into the fractured bone 110 to assist in the recovery of the fracture.

  Moreover, in FIG. 4, the vibrator 50 is arrange | positioned in several places. That is, the vibrator 50b is disposed so as to be in contact with the bone fragment 110b via the body surface of the subject 100, and the vibrator 50a is disposed so as to be in contact with the bone fragment 110a. Further, the vibrator 50 c is arranged so as to contact the intramedullary nail 150. For example, the vibrator 50c is brought into contact with a portion of the intramedullary nail 150 exposed from the subject 100. Note that the positions and vibration modes of the vibrators 50a, 50b, and 50c are determined very carefully under the guidance of an expert such as a doctor.

  In the diagnosis example shown in FIG. 4, a diagnostic image is formed in which the bone fragment 110a and the bone fragment 110b to which vibration is applied are visually specified, and the intramedullary nail 150 to which vibration is applied is visually specified. The For example, the control unit 60 in FIG. 1 causes the vibrators 50a, 50b, and 50c to generate vibrations while shifting the time with respect to each other, whereby time is applied to the bone fragments 110a, 110b, and the intramedullary nail 150. The vibrations are applied separately by shifting, that is, by time division.

  As described with reference to FIG. 1, the Doppler processing unit 24 detects vibration based on the Doppler shift included in the echo signal. For example, when a Doppler shift amount exceeding a predetermined threshold is obtained, it is determined that the Doppler shift is caused by vibrations from the vibrators 50a, 50b, and 50c. Further, display processing is performed on an image portion in which vibration is detected in the B-mode image obtained from the B-mode processing unit 22.

  Thereby, for example, the bone fragment 110a is clearly shown in the image period corresponding to the vibration period of the vibrator 50a, the bone fragment 110b is clearly shown in the image period corresponding to the vibration period of the vibrator 50b, and the vibration of the vibrator 50c. The intramedullary nail 150 is clearly shown in the image period corresponding to the period. For example, by observing these images by a doctor or the like, the intramedullary nail 150 is inserted into the bone fragments 110a and 110b while confirming the positional relationship between the bone fragments 110a, 110b and the intramedullary nail 150. It becomes possible to go.

  It should be noted that even if image portions corresponding to the vibrations of the vibrators 50a, 50b, and 50c are subjected to different coloring processes and patterning processes, a diagnostic image in which these image sections are displayed at once is formed. Good.

  Further, in the diagnosis example shown in FIG. 4, the probe 10 (FIG. 1) is arranged at a location to be noted. Of course, the probe 10 having a wide scanning range may be used so that a tomographic image including all of the bone fragments 110a, the bone fragments 110b, and the intramedullary nail 150 is formed.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described, embodiment mentioned above is only a mere illustration in all the points, and does not limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention includes various modifications without departing from the essence thereof.

  10 probe, 12 transmission / reception unit, 22 B-mode processing unit, 24 Doppler processing unit, 30 display image forming unit, 50 vibrator.

Claims (5)

A probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to a subject including a target tissue subjected to vibration;
A transmission / reception unit that obtains a reception signal from within the subject by performing transmission / reception control of the probe; and
An image forming unit that forms an ultrasonic image in the subject based on the received signal;
A vibration detector that detects the vibration based on Doppler information obtained from the received signal;
A display processing unit for performing a display process for visually indicating an image portion in which the vibration is detected in the ultrasonic image;
Having
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The probe transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to a subject including a bone subjected to vibration,
The display processing unit forms a diagnostic image in which bones are visually clarified by the display processing.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2,
Vibration is applied to one bone fragment of the bone, including two bone fragments that continue through the diseased part,
The display processing unit forms the diagnostic image showing a state in which vibration is transmitted to the other bone fragment through the diseased part while visually demonstrating one bone fragment subjected to vibration.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,
A vibration generator that applies vibration to the bone in the subject and the instrument inserted into the subject;
The display processing unit forms the diagnostic image visually demonstrating a bone and an instrument subjected to vibration;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4,
The vibration generating unit applies vibration separately at different times with respect to the bone and the instrument,
The display processing unit forms the diagnostic image clearly showing the bone and the instrument separately from each other;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

Images