JP2013094312A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and control program for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that allows a user to further surely confirm the presence of observation objects such as microcalcified portions.SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a determination unit 61 for determining whether parts corresponding to parts from which B-flow data are obtained are first objects or second objects on the basis of a data value of B-mode data in the B-mode data; a backscatter detecting unit 62 for detecting backscatter with respect to the parts determined as the second parts by the determination unit, on the basis of the B-mode data; and a display unit for displaying an image of a subject in which the parts determined as the first objects by the determination unit 61 and the second objects wherein the backscatter is detected are displayed in distinction from the second objects wherein the backscatter is not detected.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which B flow data is created based on an echo signal obtained by transmitting ultrasonic waves to a subject, and a control program therefor.

  2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays an ultrasonic image created based on an echo signal obtained by transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject is known. For example, Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose B-flow images that can image blood flow dynamics with respect to a stationary biological tissue as ultrasonic images. The B flow image uses the coded exclusion method to exclude signals from stationary biological tissue and extract the signals of moving parts such as microscopic structures and blood flow that are vibrating by transmitting ultrasonic waves. This is an image created.

  B flow images include black and white B flow images and B flow color images (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 3). In the black and white B flow image, the moving part including the blood flow is displayed with high luminance, and in the B flow color image, the moving part is displayed in color.

  By the way, it is known that when breast cancer occurs, microcalcification occurs in breast tissue. However, the microcalcification part is difficult to recognize in the B-mode image. On the other hand, in the black and white B flow image, since the micro calcification part is displayed with high brightness, it is disclosed in Non-Patent Document 4 that the B flow image is suitable for observation of micro calcification.

Richard Y. chiao, Larry Y. Mo et al. B-Mode Blood Flow (B-Flow) Imaging, Ultrasonics Symposium, 2000 IEEE, USA, IEEE, 2000, vol. 2, PP. 1469-1472 Makiko Nishioka, “Including flow imaging 3D method by B-flow”, Clinical Image, Medical View, May 2008, vol. 24, no. 5, p. 627-630 Hamazaki Naoki, 11 others, "the use of B-FLOW COLOR for the sub-leural relations", Japan Journal of Clinical Radiology, 2007, vol. 52, no. 1, p. 119-128 Luca Brunese, 7 others, “A New Marker for Diagnostic of Thyroid Capillary Cancer, J Ultrasound Med. USA, American Institute of Ultra 8”. 27, p. 1187-1194

  In the black and white B flow image, the brightness of the moving body including the blood flow is displayed as described above. Therefore, it is considered that the reason why the micro calcification part is displayed with higher brightness than the surrounding tissue is that the micro calcification part vibrates due to the sound pressure of the transmitted ultrasonic wave. The inventor of the present application has confirmed that the microcalcification portion is displayed in color even in the B flow color image.

  However, what is displayed with high brightness or color in the B flow image is not limited to the microcalcification portion. For example, the blood flow portion is also displayed with high brightness in the B flow image and in color in the B flow color image. Therefore, in the B flow image, it may be difficult to distinguish whether the portion displayed with high luminance or color is a microcalcification portion or a blood flow portion.

  On the other hand, in the B-mode image, the blood flow part is displayed darkly, and the microcalcification part is displayed with higher brightness than this. The inventor of the present application pays attention to such points, and intensively studied a new ultrasonic apparatus and its control program that can confirm the existence of an observation target such as a microcalcification part more reliably, and have arrived at the present invention.

  The invention made to solve the above-described problems includes an ultrasonic probe that transmits an ultrasonic wave to a subject to acquire an echo signal, and B-mode data generation that generates B-mode data based on the echo signal. The B flow data creation unit that creates the B flow data based on the echo signal, and the portion corresponding to the part from which the B flow data is obtained in the B mode data. Based on the B-mode data, a determination unit that determines whether the target is the second target based on the data value of the B-mode data, and backscattering with respect to a portion determined by the determination unit to be the second target The backscattering detection unit that detects the backscattering, the portion that is determined to be the first target by the determination unit, and the second target in which the backscattering is detected, the backscattering is not detected. A display unit for image information in the second object is displayed differently the subject is displayed, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a.

  Another invention made to solve the above-described problem is that an ultrasonic probe that transmits an ultrasonic wave to a subject to acquire an echo signal, and generates B-mode data based on the echo signal. A B-mode data creation unit; a B-flow data creation unit that creates B-flow data based on the echo signal; and a back side that detects backscattering for a portion where the B-flow data is obtained based on the B-mode data Of the portion where the B flow data is obtained from the scatter detection unit, an image of the subject that is displayed separately from the one where the back scatter is detected is distinguished from the one where the back scatter is not detected. And a display unit.

  According to the invention of the above aspect, the portion determined to be the first object by the determination unit and the second object in which the backscattering is detected are distinguished from the second object in which the backscattering is not detected. By displaying an image of the subject, the presence of an observation target such as a microcalcification portion can be confirmed more reliably.

  According to the invention of the above other aspect, among the portions from which the B flow data is obtained, the object in which the back scatter is detected is displayed separately from the one in which the back scatter is not detected. By displaying the image, it is possible to more reliably confirm the presence of an observation target such as a microcalcification part.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the display control part of 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the display part on which the B mode image and the B flow image were displayed. It is a flowchart which shows the process for displaying a micro calcification display and a pseudo micro calcification display in a B flow image. It is a figure for demonstrating the determination process of a determination part, and is a conceptual diagram which shows a part of B mode data. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the display control part of 2nd embodiment. In 2nd embodiment, it is a flowchart which shows the process for displaying a micro calcification display and a doubt micro calcification display on a B flow image. It is a figure which shows the display part by which the other example of the micro calcification display and the doubt micro calcification display was displayed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 includes an ultrasonic probe 2, a transmission / reception unit 3, a B-mode processing unit 4, a B-flow processing unit 5, a display control unit 6, a display unit 7, an operation unit 8, a control unit 9, and an HDD. (Hard Disk Drive) 10 is provided.

  The ultrasonic probe 2 transmits ultrasonic waves from a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (not shown) to the subject. The ultrasonic probe 2 transmits ultrasonic waves by scanning ultrasonic waves in order of sound rays. The ultrasonic probe 2 receives an ultrasonic echo signal in the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic probe 2 is an example of an embodiment of an ultrasonic probe in the present invention.

  The transmission / reception unit 3 supplies an electrical signal for transmitting an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic probe 2 under a predetermined scanning condition to the ultrasonic probe 2 based on a control signal from the control unit 9. The transmitter / receiver 3 performs signal processing such as A / D conversion and phasing addition processing on the echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe 2.

  The B-mode processing unit 4 performs B-mode processing on the echo signal data output from the transmission / reception unit 3 to create B-mode data (B-mode data creation function in the present invention). The B mode processing includes, for example, logarithmic compression processing, envelope detection processing, and the like. The B-mode processing unit 4 is an example of an embodiment of a B-mode data creation unit in the present invention.

  The B flow processing unit 5 performs B flow processing on the echo signal data output from the transmission / reception unit 3 to create B flow data (B flow data creation function in the present invention). The B-flow processing unit 5 eliminates signals from a living tissue that is stationary, extracts a signal of a moving part such as a minute structure or blood flow that is vibrating by transmitting ultrasonic waves, Create data. The B flow processing unit 5 is an example of an embodiment of a B flow data creation unit in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the display control unit 6 includes a determination unit 61, a backscattering detection unit 62, and a display image control unit 63. Based on the data value of the B mode data, the determination unit 61 determines whether the portion corresponding to the portion where the B flow data is obtained in the B mode data is the first target or the second target. (Determination function in the present invention). Details will be described later. The determination unit 61 is an example of an embodiment of the determination unit in the present invention.

  The backscattering detection unit 62 detects backscattering by a microstructure that behaves as a minute scatterer based on the B-mode data (backscattering detection function in the present invention). Details will be described later. The backscattering detection unit 62 is an example of an embodiment of a backscattering detection unit in the present invention.

  The display image control unit 63 scan-converts the B mode data with a scan converter to create B mode image data. Further, the display image control unit 63 scans the B flow data with a scan converter to create B flow image data.

  Further, the display image control unit 63 causes the display unit 7 to display a B mode image based on the B mode image data and a B flow image based on the B flow image data. This B flow image is a monochrome image in which the luminance of the moving body is higher than the luminance of the stationary body, or a color image (B flow color image) having a hue corresponding to the speed and moving direction of the moving body.

  The display image control unit 63 displays a combined image obtained by combining the B flow image with a B mode image.

  The B-mode data before being converted into the B-mode image data and the B-flow data before being converted into the B-flow image data are referred to as raw data. The B mode data in the present invention includes B mode image data as well as B mode data as raw data. The B flow data in the present invention includes B flow image data as well as B flow data as raw data.

  Further, the display image control unit 63 causes the display unit 7 to display the micro calcification display X and the pseudo micro calcification display Y. Details will be described later (display image control function in the present invention).

  The display unit 7 includes, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), or the like. The display unit 7 is an example of an embodiment of a display unit in the present invention.

  The operation unit 8 includes a keyboard and a pointing device (not shown) for an operator to input instructions and information.

  Although not particularly shown, the control unit 9 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 9 reads a control program stored in the HDD 10 and executes functions in each unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1.

  Now, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of this example will be described. The operator transmits and receives ultrasonic waves using the ultrasonic probe 2 in a state where the ultrasonic probe 2 is in contact with the surface of the target site in the subject. The target site for ultrasound transmission / reception is, for example, the chest. In this example, transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves for B mode and transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves for B flow are performed. The control unit 9 outputs a control signal to the transmission / reception unit 3 at the time of transmission / reception for the B mode so that ultrasonic transmission / reception is performed by the ultrasonic probe 2 with scan parameters suitable for creation of B-mode data. The control unit 9 outputs a control signal to the transmission / reception unit 3 so that the ultrasonic probe 2 transmits / receives ultrasonic waves with scan parameters suitable for creating B flow data during transmission / reception for B flow. To do.

  Transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves may be performed for a three-dimensional region in the subject or may be performed only for a two-dimensional region.

  The B-mode processing unit 4 performs B-mode processing on echo signals obtained by transmission / reception for B-mode to create B-mode data. The B flow processing unit 5 performs B flow processing on echo signals obtained by transmission / reception for B flow to create B flow data.

  When B-mode data and B-flow data are obtained in this way, the display image control unit 63 displays a B-mode image BM based on the B-mode data as shown in FIG. Further, the display image control unit 63 causes the display unit 7 to display a composite image CG obtained by combining the B flow image BF and the B mode image BM based on the B flow data. The B flow image BF is, for example, a B flow color image.

  In this example, the B mode image BM and the composite image CG are three-dimensional images of the subject. However, the B-mode image BM and the composite image CG may be two-dimensional images.

  In FIG. 3, the B-mode image BM and the composite image CG are simplified and shown as cubes.

  In the B flow image BF, the microcalcification part which is an observation target is displayed separately from the part suspected to be the microcalcification part. In this example, regarding the part from which the B flow data is obtained, the micro calcification display X indicating that it is a micro calcification part or the suspicion micro calcification display Y indicating that it is suspected to be a micro calcification part. Either one is displayed in the B flow image. Specific processing will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The process of FIG. 4 is a process for the part where the B flow data is obtained.

  First, in step S1, the determination unit 61 specifies a part (the same part in the subject) corresponding to the part from which the B flow data is obtained in the B mode data.

  Next, in step S2, the determination unit 61 uses the data value of the B mode data to determine whether the portion specified in step S1 is the first target or the second target in the B mode data. Judgment based on.

  The determination process of the determination unit 61 will be specifically described based on FIG. The determination unit 61 sets a region R around the portion P specified in step S1 in the B mode data BD. The portion P may correspond to one pixel or may correspond to a plurality of pixels (for example, a portion where B flow data is obtained).

  Incidentally, in FIG. 5, the part P is indicated by a circle for convenience of explanation, and the region R is indicated by a two-dot chain line for convenience of explanation. In FIG. 5, the B mode data BD is shown in a plan view, but FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram. Actually, the B mode data BD is data for each sound ray.

  Next, the determination unit 61 compares the average value of the data values of the B mode data BD in the region R with the data value of the portion P. When the portion P corresponds to a plurality of pixels, the average value of the data values of the plurality of pixels is used as the data value of the portion P.

  The data value corresponds to the brightness of the B-mode image. The determination unit 61 is the first target when the data value of the portion P is larger than the average value of the region R (when the luminance of the portion P is higher than the average luminance of the region R). Is determined. On the other hand, when the data value of the portion P is equal to or less than the average value of the region R, the determination unit 61 determines that the target is the second target.

  For the portion determined by the determination unit 61 as the second target, the process proceeds to step S3 (“NO” in step S2), and the process of step S3 is performed. On the other hand, for the portion determined to be the first target, the process proceeds to step S4 ("YES" in step S2), and the process of step S4 is performed.

  In step S3, the backscattering detection unit 62 determines whether backscattering is detected in the B mode data. The backscattering detection unit 62 detects backscattering for a portion determined to be the second target.

  Incidentally, backscattering does not occur for liquids such as blood. On the other hand, backscattering occurs for an individual such as a microstructure.

  The backscattering detection unit 62 performs a Fourier transform process such as a two-dimensional FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) process on the B-mode data, and detects backscattering due to a minute structure that acts as a minute scatterer. The position and size of the region where the two-dimensional FFT is performed are determined according to the position and area of the portion determined to be the second target. When a three-dimensional image is displayed, the two-dimensional FFT is performed on a plurality of transmission / reception surfaces, and the number of transmission / reception surfaces to be subjected to the two-dimensional FFT depends on the volume of the portion determined to be the second target. Is set.

  Here, the frequency spectrum obtained by the two-dimensional FFT shows a specific frequency spectrum in a portion where backscattering occurs. Therefore, the backscattering detection unit 62 detects backscattering based on the frequency spectrum obtained by the two-dimensional FFT processing.

  For the second object for which backscattering is detected in step S3, the process proceeds to step S4 (“YES” in step S3), and the process of step S4 is performed. On the other hand, for the second object in which backscattering is not detected in step S3, the process proceeds to step S5 (“NO” in step S3), and the process of step S5 is performed.

  When the process proceeds from step S2 or step S3 to step S4, in this step S4, the display image control unit 63 performs micro-lime on the portion determined to be the first target and the second target from which the backscattering is detected. Display the digitized display X.

  The micro calcification display X is, for example, a normal B flow color image display, that is, a color image having a hue corresponding to the speed and moving direction of the moving body.

  On the other hand, if it transfers to step S5, the said display image control part 63 will display the suspicious micro calcification display Y about the 2nd object by which backscattering was not detected. The suspicious microcalcification display Y is a display in which a B flow color image is made translucent, for example.

  Here, if the portion P is a blood flow portion, the blood flow portion is displayed with a low luminance in the B mode image. Therefore, in the B mode image, the portion P is not displayed with a higher luminance than the surroundings. No backscattering occurs. Therefore, in step S2, the portion P is determined as the second target, and no backscattering is detected in step S3, so the microcalcification display X is not displayed.

  On the other hand, if the part P is a microcalcification part and there is blood flow around it, the part P is displayed with higher brightness than the surroundings in the B-mode image. Therefore, if the portion P has a luminance higher than the average luminance of the region R in step S2, the micro calcification display X is displayed in step S4.

  In addition, even if the portion P is a microcalcification portion, the surrounding tissue in the B-mode image may have high brightness. In this case, the part P is determined as a second target in step S2. Therefore, in step S3, the presence / absence of backscattering is checked, and if backscattering is detected, the microcalcification display X is displayed in step S4.

  According to the example described above, the micro calcification display X is displayed with reference to not only the B flow data but also the B mode data, so that an image that can confirm the presence of the micro calcification portion more reliably is displayed. can do.

  Moreover, since the detection of the backscattering in step S3 is performed only for those determined as the second target in step S2, it is not always necessary to perform FFT that requires time for the arithmetic processing. Therefore, it is possible to display an image in real time.

(Second embodiment)
Next, 2nd embodiment is described based on FIG.6 and FIG.7. However, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 6, the display control unit 6 does not include the determination unit 61, but includes the backscattering detection unit 62, the display image control unit 63, and a specifying unit 64. Yes.

  Also in this example, in the B flow image, the micro calcification display X and the pseudo micro calcification display Y are displayed (see FIG. 3). Specific processing will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The process of FIG. 7 is also a process for the part where the B flow data is obtained.

  First, in step S11, as in step S1, the specifying unit 64 specifies a portion corresponding to the portion from which the B flow data is obtained in the B mode data.

  Next, in step S12, the backscattering detection unit 62 determines whether backscattering is detected in the B-mode data. The backscattering detection unit 62 detects backscattering for the portion where the B flow data is obtained. The backscattering detector 62 detects backscattering in the same manner as in step S3.

  Among the parts where the B flow data is obtained, those in which backscattering is detected in step S12 are shifted to step S13 (“YES” in step S12), and the process of step S13 is performed. On the other hand, in the portion where the B flow data is obtained, for those in which backscattering is not detected in step S12, the process proceeds to step S14 ("NO" in step S12), and the process in step S14 is performed. Is called.

  In step S13, the display image control unit 63 displays the micro calcification display X in the portion where the B flow data is obtained in the same manner as in step S4 in which back scattering is detected (FIG. 3). reference).

  In step S14, the display image control unit 63 displays the suspicious microcalcification display Y in the portion where the B flow data is obtained, in which backscattering is not detected, as in step S5. (See FIG. 3).

  According to the present example described above, among the parts where B flow data is obtained, the minute calcification display X is displayed for those in which backscattering is detected in the B mode data. An image that can confirm the presence of the calcified portion can be displayed.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by the said embodiment, of course, this invention can be variously implemented in the range which does not change the main point. For example, in the steps S1 and S11, the portion where the data value is lower than a predetermined value in the B mode data may be excluded from the portion where the B flow data is obtained. In this case, in steps S2 and S12, processing may be performed for a portion where the data value of the B-mode data is a predetermined value or more. Thereby, the process of steps S2 and S12 can be performed on a part from which a relatively large blood flow part is excluded, and the micro calcification display X can be more reliably displayed on the micro calcification part. it can.

  Further, the image displayed on the display unit 7 is not limited to the one described above. For example, the B-mode image BM may not be displayed in FIG. Further, the B flow image may not be combined with the B mode image. Further, in the black and white B flow image, the micro calcification display X may be a display with higher brightness than the pseudo calcification display Y, for example.

  Further, the B mode image and the B flow image may not be displayed. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the micro calcification display X and the pseudo micro calcification display Y may be displayed on a graphic G indicating an ultrasonic transmission / reception area.

  Further, the processes in steps S1 to S3 and steps S11 and S12 described above may be performed on B-mode image data or B-flow image data.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 Ultrasonic probe 4 B mode processing part (B mode data creation part)
5 B flow processing part (B flow data creation part)
7 Display part 61 Judgment part 62 Backscattering detection part X Micro calcification display Y Suspicious micro calcification display

Claims (9)

An ultrasonic probe for acquiring an echo signal by transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject;
A B-mode data creation unit that creates B-mode data based on the echo signal;
A B flow data creation unit for creating B flow data based on the echo signal;
In the B mode data, a determination unit that determines whether the portion corresponding to the portion where the B flow data is obtained is the first target or the second target based on the data value of the B mode data When,
A backscatter detection unit that detects backscattering for a portion determined to be the second target by the determination unit based on the B-mode data;
An image of the subject displayed separately from the second target in which backscattering is not detected and the portion determined to be the first target by the determination unit and the second target in which backscattering is not detected A display where is displayed,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the portion determined to be the first target by the determination unit and the second target from which backscattering is detected are displayed in the same display form. .   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first target and the second target in which backscattering is detected are a microstructure that vibrates by transmission of ultrasonic waves. An ultrasonic probe for acquiring an echo signal by transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject;
A B-mode data creation unit that creates B-mode data based on the echo signal;
A B flow data creation unit for creating B flow data based on the echo signal;
Based on the B-mode data, a backscattering detection unit that detects backscattering with respect to the portion where the B flow data is obtained;
Among the parts from which the B flow data was obtained, a display unit that displays an image of the subject that is displayed separately from those in which backscattering is detected and backscattering is not detected;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the backscattering detection unit detects backscattering by Fourier transform.   The B flow data is low data obtained by performing B flow processing on the echo signal, or B flow image data obtained by scan-converting the low data by a scan converter. Item 6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 5.   The B-mode data is low data obtained by performing B-mode processing on the echo signal, or B-mode image data obtained by scan-converting the raw data by a scan converter. Item 7. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 6.   The said determination part determines as a 1st object, when the data value of B mode data in the part corresponding to the part from which B flow data was obtained is larger than the circumference | surroundings. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of 7. On the computer,
A B-mode data creation function for creating B-mode data based on an echo signal acquired by transmitting an ultrasonic wave to an object using an ultrasonic probe;
A B flow data creation function for creating B flow data based on the echo signal;
In the B-mode data, a determination function for determining whether the portion corresponding to the portion where the B-flow data is obtained is the first target or the second target based on the data value of the B-mode data When,
A backscattering detection function for detecting backscattering for a portion determined to be the second target by the determination function based on the B-mode data;
An image of the subject displayed in such a manner that the portion determined to be the first target by the determination function and the second target in which backscattering is detected are distinguished from the second target in which backscattering is not detected. Display image control function to display
A control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, characterized in that