JP2012024133A - Ultrasound diagnostic equipment and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasound diagnostic equipment which can acquire useful information for diagnostic imaging.SOLUTION: An operator operates an operation part and designates an area which the operator wants to expand and display as an interested area ROI in an ultrasonic image G0. In addition, when the operator clicks a magnification button 6a for expanding the interested area ROI, a magnified image display control part expands and displays the interested area ROI, and magnified image IE is obtained. Then, when the operator has judged that filtering is given to the magnified image IE, a filtering button 6b is clicked, thereby the magnified image processing part performs the filtering to the magnified image IE.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and program for scanning a predetermined part of a subject and obtaining an ultrasound image.

  Conventionally, a method for enlarging and displaying a partial region in an ultrasonic image is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-117739 A

  In Patent Literature 1, an area in which the operator is interested can be enlarged with respect to an ultrasonic image displayed as a still image. However, Patent Document 1 does not support the case where the ultrasonic image is a moving image. When diagnosing with an ultrasound image, it is often referred to an ultrasound image displayed as a movie, so it is desired that a partial region of the ultrasound image displayed as a movie can be enlarged and displayed. Yes.

A first aspect of the present invention is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that scans a predetermined part of a subject and obtains an ultrasonic image,
A display unit;
An ultrasonic image display control unit for displaying a moving image of the ultrasonic image on the display unit;
An enlarged image display control unit for displaying a moving image of an enlarged image of a partial region of the ultrasonic image on the display unit;
Is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

A second aspect of the present invention is a program for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that scans a predetermined part of a subject and obtains an ultrasonic image,
An ultrasonic image display control process for displaying a moving image of the ultrasonic image on a display unit;
An enlarged image display control process for displaying a moving image of an enlarged image of a partial region of the ultrasonic image on the display unit;
Is a program that causes a computer to execute.

  Since a moving image of an enlarged image of a partial region of the ultrasonic image can be displayed on the display unit, information effective for medical diagnosis can be obtained.

1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a display control unit 5 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a moving image of an ultrasonic image displayed on the display unit 6. It is a figure which shows an example of a flow when an operator acquires information required for the image diagnosis of a subject. It is a figure which shows a screen when the region of interest ROI is displayed in the ultrasonic image G0. It is a figure which shows a screen when the region of interest ROI is expanded. It is a figure which shows the screen after the filter process was performed to the enlarged image. It is a figure which shows a screen when both the enlarged image IE before filter processing and the enlarged image IE 'after filter processing are displayed. It is a block diagram of the display control part in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow when the measurement position of the intima-media complex thickness IMT is specified and measurement is performed. It is a figure which shows a screen when the region of interest ROI is displayed in the ultrasonic image G0. It is a figure which shows a screen when the region of interest ROI is expanded. It is a figure which shows the measurement position designated on enlarged image IE.

  Hereinafter, although the form for inventing is demonstrated, this invention is not limited to the following forms.

(1) First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a display control unit 5 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100. FIG.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 includes an ultrasonic probe 2, a transmission / reception unit 3, an echo data processing unit 4, a display control unit 5, a display unit 6, an operation unit 7, a control unit 8, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 9. have.

  The ultrasonic probe 2 has a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (not shown) arranged in an array. The ultrasonic probe 2 transmits ultrasonic waves to the subject using an ultrasonic transducer and receives the echo signal.

  In response to the control signal from the control unit 8, the transmission / reception unit 3 drives the ultrasonic probe 2 under a predetermined transmission condition to scan the scan surface. The transmission / reception unit 3 performs signal processing such as phasing addition processing on the echo signal obtained by the ultrasonic probe 2, and outputs the echo data after the signal processing to the echo data processing unit 4.

  The echo data processing unit 4 performs predetermined processing such as logarithmic compression processing and envelope detection processing on the echo data output from the transmission / reception unit 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the display control unit 5 includes an ultrasonic image data creation unit 51, a memory 52, an ultrasonic image display control unit 53, an enlarged image display control unit 54, and an enlarged image processing unit 55.

  The ultrasonic image data creation unit 51 converts the echo data output from the echo data processing unit 4 into ultrasonic image data using a scan converter.

The memory 52 is, for example, a RAM (Random
Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only)
It is composed of a semiconductor memory such as Memory. The memory 52 stores, for example, echo data output from the echo data processing unit 4 and ultrasound image data created by the ultrasound image data creation unit 51.

  The ultrasonic image display control unit 53 displays a moving image of the ultrasonic image represented by the ultrasonic image data created by the ultrasonic image data creating unit 51 and a moving image of the ultrasonic image represented by the ultrasonic image data stored in the HDD 9. And displayed on the display unit 6.

  The enlarged image display control unit 54 causes the display unit 6 to display a moving image of an enlarged image of a partial region of the ultrasonic image displayed on the display unit 6 by the ultrasonic image display control unit 53. The enlarged image display control unit 54 also causes the display unit 6 to display an enlarged image that has been filtered by an enlarged image processing unit 55 described later.

  The enlarged image processing unit 55 performs filter processing on the enlarged image displayed on the display unit 6 by the enlarged image display control unit 54.

The display unit 6 is an LCD (Liquid
Crystal Display) and CRT (Cathode
Ray Tube). The operation unit 7 includes a keyboard and a pointing device (not shown) for an operator to input instructions and information.

  The control unit 8 reads out a control program stored in the HDD 9 and executes functions in each unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100.

  The HDD 9 stores a control program, an enlarged image IE described later, an enlarged image IE ′ after filtering, and the like. The HDD 9 is an example of a storage unit of the present invention.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 is configured as described above. Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 will be described. In the following description, the case of scanning the carotid artery will be described, and the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 will be described. However, the scan region is not limited to the carotid artery.

  First, the operator scans the subject's carotid artery using the ultrasonic probe 2 and acquires an echo signal. When the echo signal is acquired, the echo data processing unit 4 (see FIG. 1) performs a predetermined process on the echo data. The ultrasonic image data creation unit 51 (see FIG. 2) converts the echo data output from the echo data processing unit 4 into ultrasonic image data. The ultrasonic image display control unit 53 displays a moving image of the ultrasonic image represented by the ultrasonic image data on the display unit 6 (see FIG. 3).

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a moving image of the ultrasonic image displayed on the display unit 6.
The ultrasonic image G0 displayed on the display unit 6 is an image in the B / color flow mode, but may be an image in another mode. The ultrasonic image G0 is a moving image displayed on the display unit 6 at a predetermined frame rate F. The operator obtains information necessary for image diagnosis of the subject while referring to the moving image of the ultrasonic image G0 displayed on the display unit 6. Hereinafter, a flow when the operator obtains information necessary for image diagnosis of the subject will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow when the operator obtains information necessary for image diagnosis of the subject.

  In step ST1, the operator refers to the ultrasonic image G0 and confirms whether or not there is a region in the ultrasonic image G0 that is particularly desired to be enlarged. If the operator determines that there is no area in the ultrasonic image G0 that is particularly desired to be enlarged and displayed, the flow ends. On the other hand, if the operator determines that there is a region in the ultrasonic image G0 that is particularly desired to be enlarged and displayed, the process proceeds to step ST2.

  In step ST <b> 2, the operator operates the operation unit 7 to designate a region to be enlarged and displayed in the ultrasonic image G <b> 0 as a region of interest (ROI).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen when the region of interest ROI is displayed in the ultrasonic image G0.
After displaying the region of interest ROI, the operator clicks the enlarge button 6a for enlarging the region of interest ROI. When the enlarge button 6a is clicked, the enlarged image display control unit 54 (see FIG. 2) enlarges and displays the region of interest ROI (see FIG. 6).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen when the region of interest ROI is enlarged.
On the display unit 6, an enlarged image IE of the region of interest ROI is displayed. The enlarged image IE is a moving image displayed on the display unit 6 at a predetermined frame rate F, similarly to the ultrasonic image G0. Although the enlarged image IE of the region of interest ROI is displayed superimposed on the ultrasonic image G0, it may be displayed outside the ultrasonic image G0. After the enlarged image IE is displayed, the process proceeds to step ST3.

  In step ST3, the operator determines whether or not to perform a filter process on the enlarged image IE. When the operator determines not to apply the filter process to the enlarged image IE, the flow ends. On the other hand, when the operator determines to perform the filtering process on the enlarged image IE, the process proceeds to step ST4.

  In step ST4, the operator clicks a filter processing button 6b for performing filter processing on the enlarged image IE. When the filter processing button 6b is clicked, the enlarged image processing unit 55 (see FIG. 2) executes filter processing on the enlarged image IE. Then, the enlarged image display control unit 54 displays the enlarged image after the filter processing on the display unit 6 (see FIG. 7).

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a screen after being filtered into an enlarged image.
The operator can visually recognize the enlarged image IE ′ after the filtering process through the screen. After finishing the filter process, the flow is finished.

  In the first embodiment, an enlarged image display control unit 54 that enlarges a partial region of the ultrasonic image G0 and displays it on the display unit 6 is provided. Therefore, since the operator can enlarge the region of interest ROI in the ultrasonic image G0, the operator can make the region of interest ROI visually easy to see and can obtain information useful for image diagnosis.

  In the first embodiment, the enlarged image processing unit 55 that performs filter processing on the enlarged image IE is provided. Therefore, not only the magnified image IE but also the magnified image IE ′ after the filter processing can be referred to, so that information useful for image diagnosis can be further obtained.

  In FIG. 7, the enlarged image IE ′ after the filter process is displayed on the display unit 6, but the enlarged image IE before the filter process is not displayed. However, as shown in FIG. 8, both the enlarged image IE before the filtering process and the enlarged image IE ′ after the filtering process may be displayed. By displaying both magnified images IE and IE ′, the operator can easily compare the magnified image IE before being filtered with the magnified image IE ′ after being filtered.

  In addition, the operator may save one of the enlarged image IE before the filtering process and the enlarged image IE ′ after the filtering process, or both of the enlarged images. When saving one enlarged image or both enlarged images, the operator operates the operation unit 7 to input a save command. When the save command is input, one enlarged image or both enlarged images are stored in the HDD 9. By storing one enlarged image or both enlarged images in the HDD 9, the operator can confirm a past image of the region of interest ROI as necessary.

  In the first embodiment, the enlarged image processing 55 performs filter processing on the enlarged image IE. However, image processing different from filter processing such as color change processing may be performed. .

(2) Second Embodiment The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the second embodiment is different in display control unit from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the first embodiment, but the other components are the same. As for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment, a display control unit will be mainly described.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a display control unit in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment.
The display control unit includes an ultrasonic image data creation unit 51 to a measurement unit 58.
Since the ultrasonic image data creation unit 51 to the enlarged image display control unit 54 are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

The image still unit 56 stops the enlarged image displayed on the display unit 6.
The marker setting unit 57 sets a marker M for designating a measurement position of a predetermined measurement item on the enlarged image stationary by the image stationary unit 56.
The measurement unit 58 measures a predetermined measurement item (for example, intima media thickness IMT (Intima Media Thickness)) according to the marker M set on the enlarged image.

  Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described. In the following description, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the second embodiment will be described by taking the case where the measurement item is the intima-media complex thickness IMT of the carotid artery, but the measurement item is the intima-media complex The measurement is not limited to the body thickness IMT, and the size of the tumor, the size of the fetus, and the like may be used as measurement items.

  First, the operator scans the subject's carotid artery using the ultrasonic probe 2, and in the same procedure as in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. Display. The operator designates the measurement position of the intima-media complex thickness IMT while referring to the moving image of the ultrasonic image G0 displayed on the display unit 6. Thereafter, the inner-media complex thickness IMT is measured. Below, the flow at the time of designating the measurement position of the intima-media complex thickness IMT will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow when the measurement position of the intima-media complex thickness IMT is designated and measurement is performed.

  In step ST1, the operator refers to the ultrasonic image G0 (see FIG. 3) and confirms whether or not there is a region in the ultrasonic image G0 that is particularly desired to be enlarged and displayed. If the operator determines that there is no area in the ultrasonic image G0 that is particularly desired to be enlarged and displayed, the flow ends. On the other hand, if the operator determines that there is a region in the ultrasonic image G0 that is particularly desired to be enlarged and displayed, the process proceeds to step ST2.

  In step ST <b> 2, the operator operates the operation unit 7 to designate a region to be enlarged and displayed in the ultrasonic image G <b> 0 as the region of interest ROI.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen when the region of interest ROI is displayed in the ultrasonic image G0.

  After displaying the region of interest ROI, the operator clicks the enlarge button 6a for enlarging the region of interest ROI. When the enlarge button 6a is clicked, the enlarged image display control unit 54 enlarges and displays the region of interest ROI (see FIG. 12).

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a screen when the region of interest ROI is enlarged.
On the display unit 6, an enlarged image IE of the region of interest ROI is displayed. The enlarged image IE is a moving image displayed on the display unit 6 at a constant frame rate F, like the ultrasonic image G0. Although the enlarged image IE of the region of interest ROI is displayed superimposed on the ultrasonic image G0, it may be displayed outside the ultrasonic image G0. After the enlarged image IE is displayed, the process proceeds to step ST3.

  In step ST3, the operator stops the enlarged image IE. For this reason, the operator operates the operation unit 7 to input a still command for stopping the enlarged image IE. When a still command is input, the enlarged image IE is stopped and displayed as a still image. After the enlarged image IE is stopped, the process proceeds to step ST4.

  In step ST4, a measurement position for measuring the intima-media complex thickness IMT is designated on the enlarged image IE (see FIG. 13).

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating measurement positions designated on the enlarged image IE.
The operator designates a measurement position when measuring the intima-media complex thickness IMT on the enlarged image IE displayed as a still image. In order to designate the measurement position, the operator operates the operation unit 7 and inputs a command for designating the measurement position. When this command is input, the marker setting unit 57 sets a marker M for designating a measurement position when measuring the intima-media complex thickness IMT on the enlarged image IE. When the marker M is set, the process proceeds to step ST5.

  In step ST5, the operator clicks the measurement button 6c. When the measurement button 6c is clicked, the measurement unit 58 measures the thickness determined by the marker M as the intima-media complex thickness IMT. The measured value is stored in the HDD 9 (see FIG. 1), and the flow ends.

  Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a partial region of the ultrasonic image G0 is enlarged and displayed on the display unit 6. Therefore, since the operator can enlarge the region of interest ROI in the ultrasonic image G0, the operator can make the region of interest ROI visually easy to see and can obtain information useful for image diagnosis.

  In the second embodiment, the enlarged image IE is specified when the marker M for measuring the intima-media complex thickness IMT is designated with reference to the moving image (see FIG. 12) of the enlarged image IE of the region of interest ROI. Is stationary. Therefore, the marker M can be easily positioned at a position suitable for measurement of the intima-media complex thickness IMT.

2 Ultrasonic probe 3 Transmission / reception unit 4 Echo data processing unit 5 Display control unit 6 Display unit 7 Operation unit 8 Control unit 9 HDD
51 Image data creation unit 52 Memory 53 Ultrasonic image display control unit 54 Enlarged image display control unit 55 Enlarged image processing unit 56 Image stationary unit 57 Marker setting unit 58 Measurement unit 100 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Claims (9)

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that scans a predetermined part of a subject and obtains an ultrasound image,
A display unit;
An ultrasonic image display control unit for displaying a moving image of the ultrasonic image on the display unit;
An enlarged image display control unit for displaying a moving image of an enlarged image of a partial region of the ultrasonic image on the display unit;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an enlarged image processing unit that performs image processing on the enlarged image. The enlarged image display control unit
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an enlarged image after image processing by the enlarged image processing unit is displayed on the display unit. The enlarged image display control unit
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein both the enlarged image before image processing and the enlarged image after image processing are displayed on the display unit.   5. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a storage unit that stores at least one of the enlarged image before the image processing and the enlarged image after the image processing. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to item.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing is filter processing or color change processing. An image still portion for stopping the enlarged image;
A marker setting unit for setting a marker for designating a measurement position of the predetermined measurement item on the enlarged image stationary by the image stationary unit;
A measurement unit that measures the predetermined measurement item according to the marker,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: An operation unit for inputting a command for designating a measurement position of the predetermined measurement item;
The marker setting unit
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the marker is set when the command is input. A program of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that scans a predetermined part of a subject and obtains an ultrasonic image,
An ultrasonic image display control process for displaying a moving image of the ultrasonic image on a display unit;
An enlarged image display control process for displaying a moving image of an enlarged image of a partial region of the ultrasonic image on the display unit;
A program that causes a computer to execute.