JP2013111095A - Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus for displaying a plurality of ultrasonic images in alignment with a simple configuration and also changing display magnifications of the ultrasonic images while keeping correlation between the ultrasonic images.SOLUTION: An image generation part 14 generates ultrasonic image data, based on the reflection wave of an ultrasonic wave transmitted toward a subject. A display part 17 has a left side display area and a right side display area which are arranged adjacent to each other, and displays ultrasonic images based on the ultrasonic image data generated by the image generation part 14 in the left side display area and the right side display area. A control part 18 causes the display part 17 to display the ultrasonic image displayed in the left side display area and the ultrasonic image displayed in the right side display area while changing display magnifications respectively with any one of positions on a boundary between the left side display area and the right side display area as a base point.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus.

  Conventionally, an ultrasonic image obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to a subject such as a living body with an ultrasonic probe, obtaining a reception signal from the received ultrasonic waves, and displaying an ultrasonic image based on the received signal Diagnostic devices are known.

  In a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, for example, a large diagnostic region such as the liver cannot be displayed entirely by a single scanning operation. Therefore, a plurality of images acquired with different scanning positions are combined. Displaying on the screen is done.

  In such an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, there is one in which a plurality of ultrasonic images are displayed side by side to improve diagnostic efficiency (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Also, scanning is performed while moving the ultrasonic probe, and multiple frames (image data) corresponding to the moving position of the ultrasonic probe are acquired, and the amount of movement of the ultrasonic probe is calculated. There is also a technique in which a plurality of images are synthesized based on the result, and a panoramic image obtained by the synthesis is displayed (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-3-85147 JP 2004-229958 A

  By the way, in the diagnosis using the ultrasonic image, the display magnification such as enlargement or reduction may be changed with respect to the acquired ultrasonic image so that a good diagnosis result can be obtained.

  However, in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus described in Patent Document 1, even if a plurality of ultrasonic images are displayed side by side, no consideration is given to the relevance of these images. For example, FIG. 7B, reference positions DLa and DRa are set at the central portions of the display areas of the images, and the reference positions DLa and DRa are set as shown in FIG. When reduced display is performed as a base point, blank portions are displayed at both ends of the image displayed in each display area. Further, as shown in FIG. 7C, when the reference positions DLa and DRa are set at the center portions of the display areas of the respective images and the enlarged display is performed using the reference positions DLa and DRa as the base points, Since both sides of the image displayed in each display area are outside the display area, the correlation between the plurality of ultrasonic images displayed side by side cannot be recognized. As a result, the visibility of the ultrasonic image is deteriorated, and accurate diagnosis cannot be performed.

  In addition, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus described in Patent Document 2 has the amount of movement of the ultrasonic probe between frames and the rotation angle in order to correctly display an image of the entire large organ such as the liver on one screen. The present invention is realized by a so-called high-end machine having a special configuration for performing arithmetic and image synthesis. When the display magnification of the panoramic image created as described above is changed, a more advanced function is required, which is costly.

  An object of the present invention is to display a plurality of ultrasonic images side by side with a simple configuration, and to change the display magnification while keeping correlation with each other with respect to these ultrasonic images. A diagnostic device is provided.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus.
An image processing unit that generates ultrasonic image data based on reflected ultrasonic waves transmitted to the subject;
An ultrasonic wave based on the ultrasonic image data generated by the image processor in the first display area and the second display area, the first display area and the second display area being arranged adjacent to each other. A display for displaying each image;
An ultrasonic image displayed in the first display area and an ultrasonic image displayed in the second display area are displayed on the display unit on the boundary between the first display area and the second display area. A control unit for changing and displaying the display magnification with each position as a base point, and
It is provided with.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the first aspect,
The control unit displays the ultrasonic images on the display unit by simultaneously changing the display magnifications of the ultrasonic images displayed in the first display area and the second display area at the same magnification. It is characterized by making it.

The invention according to claim 3 is the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
An operation input unit is provided for performing an input operation by an operator.
The control unit sets arbitrary two points in the ultrasonic image displayed on the display unit in response to an input operation by the operation input unit, and the distance between the set two points and the first display The measurement distance is calculated from the display magnification of the ultrasonic image displayed in each of the area and the second display area, and the calculated measurement distance is displayed on the display unit.

The invention according to claim 4 is the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The control unit causes the display unit to display the ultrasonic image by switching the first display area and the second display area between a position adjacent to each other and a position separated from each other. .

The invention according to claim 5 is the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 4,
When the control unit displays the ultrasonic image by arranging the first display region and the second display region apart from each other on the display unit, the control unit is displayed in the first display region. An ultrasonic image is displayed with the display magnification changed with any position extending in the depth direction from the center of the first display area as a base point, and the ultrasonic image displayed in the second display area is displayed. The display magnification is changed and displayed with any position extending in the depth direction from the center of the second display area as a base point.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of ultrasonic images can be displayed side by side with a simple configuration, and the display magnification can be changed while maintaining correlation with each other.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure of an ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of an ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining 2 screen display control processing. It is a flowchart explaining a measurement distance calculation process. It is a figure explaining the change of the display magnification of an ultrasonic image. It is a figure explaining the display mode of the ultrasonic image in this Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the display mode of the conventional ultrasonic image.

  Hereinafter, an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples. In addition, in the following description, what has the same function and structure attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the description.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus S according to the present embodiment includes an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus main body 1 and an ultrasonic probe 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The ultrasonic probe 2 transmits ultrasonic waves (transmitted ultrasonic waves) to a subject such as a living body (not shown) and receives reflected waves (reflected ultrasonic waves: echoes) reflected by the subject. To do. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus main body 1 is connected to the ultrasonic probe 2 via a cable 3, and transmits an electric signal drive signal to the ultrasonic probe 2, thereby providing an object to the ultrasonic probe 2. Based on a received signal that is an electrical signal generated by the ultrasonic probe 2 in response to the reflected ultrasonic wave from within the subject received by the ultrasonic probe 2. The internal state in the subject is imaged as an ultrasonic image.

  The ultrasonic probe 2 includes a transducer 2a made of a piezoelectric element, and a plurality of the transducers 2a are arranged in a one-dimensional array in the azimuth direction, for example. In the present embodiment, for example, the ultrasonic probe 2 including 192 transducers 2a is used. Note that the vibrators 2a may be arranged in a two-dimensional array. The number of vibrators 2a can be set arbitrarily. In the present embodiment, a linear scanning electronic scanning probe is used for the ultrasound probe 2, but either an electronic scanning method or a mechanical scanning method may be used, and a linear scanning method, Either the sector scanning method or the convex scanning method can be adopted.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus main body 1 includes an operation input unit 11, a transmission unit 12, a reception unit 13, an image generation unit 14, an image memory unit 15, and a DSC (Digital Scan). Converter) 16, a display unit 17, and a control unit 18.

  The operation input unit 11 includes, for example, various switches, buttons, a trackball, a mouse, a keyboard, and the like for inputting data such as a command for starting diagnosis and personal information of a subject, and the like. Output to the control unit 18.

The transmission unit 12 is a circuit that supplies a drive signal, which is an electrical signal, to the ultrasonic probe 2 via the cable 3 under the control of the control unit 18 to generate transmission ultrasonic waves in the ultrasonic probe 2. . The transmission unit 12 includes, for example, a clock generation circuit, a delay circuit, and a pulse generation circuit. The clock generation circuit is a circuit that generates a clock signal that determines the transmission timing and transmission frequency of the drive signal. The delay circuit sets a transmission signal transmission timing for each individual path corresponding to each transducer 2a, delays transmission of the drive signal by the set delay time, and is a transmission beam constituted by transmission ultrasonic waves. This is a circuit for performing focusing. The pulse generation circuit is a circuit for generating a pulse signal as a drive signal at a predetermined cycle.
The transmission unit 12 configured as described above sequentially switches the plurality of transducers 2a that supply the drive signal while shifting a predetermined number for each transmission / reception of the ultrasonic wave according to the control of the control unit 18, and the plurality of the output selected Scanning is performed by supplying a drive signal to the vibrator 2a.

The receiving unit 13 is a circuit that receives a reception signal of an electrical signal from the ultrasonic probe 2 via the cable 3 under the control of the control unit 18. The receiving unit 13 includes, for example, an amplifier, an A / D conversion circuit, and a phasing addition circuit. The amplifier is a circuit for amplifying the received signal with a predetermined amplification factor set in advance for each individual path corresponding to each transducer 2a. The A / D conversion circuit is a circuit for A / D converting the amplified received signal. The phasing addition circuit adjusts the time phase by giving a delay time to each individual path corresponding to each transducer 2a with respect to the A / D converted received signal, and adds these (phasing addition) to generate a sound. It is a circuit for generating line data.
The image generation unit 14 serving as an image processing unit performs envelope detection processing, logarithmic amplification, and the like on the sound ray data from the reception unit 13, performs gain adjustment, and the like to perform luminance conversion, thereby obtaining a B-mode image. Generate data. In other words, the B-mode image data represents the intensity of the received signal by luminance.

  The image memory unit 15 is configured by a semiconductor memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), for example, and stores the B-mode image data transmitted from the image generation unit 14 in units of frames. That is, the image memory unit 15 can store ultrasonic image data configured in units of frames.

The image memory unit 15 includes a left screen frame memory 15a and a right screen frame memory 15b.
As will be described later, the left screen frame memory 15a displays an ultrasound image (left ultrasound image) in the left display area (left display area) when displaying two ultrasound images side by side on one screen. The image data for displaying is stored.
As will be described later, the right screen frame memory 15b displays an ultrasound image (right ultrasound image) in the right display area (right display area) when displaying two ultrasound images side by side on one screen. The image data for displaying is stored.
In the present embodiment, for example, a large diagnostic site such as a liver is scanned separately on the left part and the right part, and each scan result is displayed side by side as a left ultrasound image and a right ultrasound image. A diagnostic part having a size that could not be displayed on one screen can be displayed on one screen.
In this manner, the ultrasonic image data stored in the image memory unit 15 is transmitted to the DSC 16 under the control of the control unit 18.

  The DSC 16 converts the ultrasonic image data received from the image memory unit 15 into an image signal based on a television signal scanning method, and outputs the image signal to the display unit 17.

  As the display unit 17, a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) display, an organic EL (Electronic Luminescence) display, an inorganic EL display, or a plasma display is applicable. The display unit 17 displays an ultrasonic image on the display screen according to the image signal output from the DSC 16. In the present embodiment, a 15-inch LCD having a white or full-color LED (Light-Emitting Diode) backlight is applied as the display unit 17. In addition, in LCD provided with the backlight of LED, for example, it may be comprised so that the brightness | luminance of LED may be adjusted by analyzing ultrasonic image data. At this time, one screen may be divided into a plurality of areas, and the brightness of the LEDs may be adjusted for each area. Moreover, you may make it implement the brightness | luminance adjustment of LED in the whole screen. Further, any screen size applied to the display unit 17 can be applied.

The control unit 18 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and reads various processing programs such as a system program stored in the ROM to read the RAM. The operation of each part of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus S is centrally controlled according to the developed program.
The ROM is composed of a nonvolatile memory such as a semiconductor, and is a system program corresponding to the ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus S and various processes such as a two-screen display control process and a measurement distance calculation process that can be executed on the system program. Stores programs and various data. These programs are stored in the form of computer-readable program code, and the CPU sequentially executes operations according to the program code.
The RAM forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the CPU and data related to these programs.

  Next, the two-screen display control process executed by the control unit 18 of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus S configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. This two-screen display control process is executed, for example, when the operation input unit 11 inputs an instruction to execute a two-screen display mode in which two ultrasonic images are displayed side by side.

  First, in order to acquire the left ultrasonic image to be displayed in the left display area (first display area) of the display unit 17, the control unit 18 performs the scanning operation by the ultrasonic probe 2 as described above. Image data for one frame is acquired and stored in the left screen frame memory 15a (step S101). At this time, for example, image data of an ultrasonic image fixedly displayed by a predetermined freeze operation may be stored.

  Similarly, the control unit 18 scans with the ultrasound probe 2 as described above in order to acquire the right ultrasound image to be displayed in the right display region (second display region) of the display unit 17. The image data for one frame is acquired by the operation and stored in the right screen frame memory 15b (step S102). At this time, for example, image data of an ultrasonic image fixedly displayed by a predetermined freeze operation may be stored, or the image data may be updated for each frame.

  Next, the control unit 18 determines whether or not to implement the pseudo panorama display mode (step S103). Specifically, the control unit 18 determines whether or not to perform display in the pseudo panorama display mode in which the left display area and the right display area displayed on the display unit 17 are displayed adjacent to each other. Whether or not to set the pseudo panorama display mode can be selected by operating the operation input unit 11, for example.

When it is determined that the pseudo panorama display mode is to be executed (step S103: Y), the control unit 18 executes a process of displaying the left display area and the right display area adjacent to each other (step S104). Thereby, an ultrasound image is displayed on the display unit 17 in a state where the left display area and the right display area are in contact with each other without being separated.
At this time, when the left side portion and the right side portion of the diagnostic region are scanned, as a result of overlapping scanning, the images of the overlapping portions are not displayed in the left display region and the right display region. It is preferable that the display positions of the left ultrasonic image and the right ultrasonic image are adjusted. On the other hand, as a result of scanning the left part and the right part of the diagnostic region, as a result of overlapping scanning, the left ultrasound image and the right ultrasound image are left as they are, respectively. Can be displayed. By doing in this way, when the diagnostic part of the size which was not able to be displayed on one screen conventionally is displayed on one screen, it can be displayed in a more natural state without a sense of incongruity.

  The control unit 18 sets the reference position for changing the display magnification for each of the left ultrasound image and the right ultrasound image at the upper end portion of the boundary line between the left display region and the right display region (step S105). . That is, the left ultrasonic image is displayed in an enlarged and reduced manner with the upper right end portion of the left display area as a base point. The right ultrasonic image is displayed in an enlarged or reduced manner with the upper left corner of the right display area as a base point. In the present embodiment, the reference position is set at the upper end of the boundary line between the left display area and the right display area, but may be set at another position as long as it is on the boundary line. At this time, it is preferable that the predetermined position is automatically set to be the reference position, but the reference position may be changed by an operation of the operator.

  On the other hand, when it is not determined in step S103 that the pseudo panorama display mode is to be executed (step S103: N), the control unit 18 displays the left display area and the right display area with a certain interval therebetween. Is executed (step S106). Thereby, an ultrasonic image is displayed on the display unit 17 in a state where the left display area and the right display area are separated from each other.

The control unit 18 sets the reference position for changing the display magnification of the left ultrasonic image at the center upper end of the left display area, and displays the reference position for changing the display magnification of the right ultrasonic image on the right side. It is set at the center upper end of the region (step S107). That is, the left ultrasonic image is displayed in an enlarged or reduced manner with the central upper end of the left display area as a base point. In addition, the right ultrasonic image is displayed in an enlarged or reduced manner with the central upper end of the right display area as a base point.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the reference position for changing the display magnification of the ultrasonic image is changed depending on whether or not the pseudo panorama display mode is set. Note that the reference position when changing the display magnification of the ultrasonic image may be the same regardless of whether or not the pseudo panorama display mode is set.

  In step S108, the control unit 18 determines whether to change the display magnification of the left ultrasonic image and the right ultrasonic image at the same time (step S108). When the control unit 18 determines to change the display magnification of the left ultrasound image and the right ultrasound image at the same time (step S108: Y), the control unit 18 performs the left super The sonic image and the right ultrasonic image are enlarged or reduced at the same time (step S109). On the other hand, when the control unit 18 does not determine to change the display magnification of the left ultrasonic image and the right ultrasonic image at the same time (step S108: N), the process of step S110 is performed without performing the process of step S109. Run.

  In step S110, the control unit 18 determines whether or not to change the display magnification of the right ultrasonic image (step S110). When the control unit 18 determines to change the display magnification of the right ultrasound image (step S110: Y), the right ultrasound image is enlarged or reduced at the display magnification instructed by the input of the operation input unit 11. Display is performed (step S111). At this time, the display magnification of the left ultrasonic image is not changed. On the other hand, when the control unit 18 does not determine to change the display magnification of the right ultrasound image (step S110: N), the control unit 18 performs the process of step S112 without performing the process of step S111.

  In step S112, the control unit 18 determines whether or not to change the display magnification of the left ultrasonic image (step S112). When the control unit 18 determines to change the display magnification of the left ultrasound image (step S112: Y), the left ultrasound image is enlarged or reduced at the display magnification instructed by the input of the operation input unit 11. Display is performed (step S113). At this time, the display magnification of the right ultrasonic image is not changed. On the other hand, when the control unit 18 does not determine to change the display magnification of the left ultrasound image (step S112: N), the control unit 18 performs the process of step S114 without performing the process of step S113.

  The control unit 18 determines whether or not to change the display magnification (step S114). When it is determined that the display magnification change is to be ended (step S114: Y), the control unit 18 ends this process. On the other hand, when the control unit 18 does not determine to end the change of the display magnification (step S114: N), the control unit 18 executes the process of step S108.

  Next, the measurement distance calculation process executed by the control unit 18 of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus S will be described with reference to FIG. This measurement distance calculation process is, for example, a process executed according to the distance measurement operation of the operator. Note that the measurement distance calculation process may be executed in a state where the display magnification of the left ultrasound image and the display magnification of the right ultrasound image are different, but in the pseudo panorama display mode described above, the display of the left ultrasound image is performed. It is preferable to execute in a state where the magnification and the display magnification of the right ultrasonic image are equal. For this reason, when the measurement distance calculation process is executed, the display magnification of the left ultrasonic image and the display magnification of the right ultrasonic image may be controlled to be automatically equalized. As a method for making the display magnification of the left ultrasound image and the display magnification of the right ultrasound image equal, for example, the display magnification of the right ultrasound image (left ultrasound image) is set to that of the left ultrasound image (right ultrasound image). It is conceivable to match the display magnification.

  First, the control unit 18 sets a first position and a second position on the display screen of the display unit 17 in accordance with an input from the operation input unit 11 (step S201).

  The control unit 18 determines whether or not the first position and the second position are set in each of the left display area and the right display area (step S202). That is, it is determined whether or not the straight line connecting the first position and the second position intersects the boundary line between the left display area and the right display area.

  When the control unit 18 determines that the first position and the second position are respectively set in the left display area and the right display area (step S202: Y), the first position and the second position are determined. The display area in which the distance on the image of the section from the first position to the boundary line between the left display area and the right display area is calculated, and the first position is set. The measurement distance A is calculated from the display magnification of the ultrasonic image displayed in (target area) (step S203).

  Next, the control unit 18 determines the distance on the image of the section from the second position to the boundary line between the left display area and the right display area among the straight lines connecting the first position and the second position. The measurement distance B is calculated from the display magnification of the ultrasonic image displayed in the display area (target area) where the second position is set (step S204).

The control unit 18 adds the measurement distance A and the measurement distance B calculated as described above (step S205). Thereby, the actual distance in the diagnostic region corresponding to each of the first position and the second position is calculated.
The control unit 18 displays the actual distance at the diagnostic site from the first position to the second position obtained by adding the measurement distance A and the measurement distance B on the display unit 17 (step S206). This process is terminated. The distance is displayed, for example, in the vicinity of a straight line display connecting the first position and the second position.

  The control unit 18 does not determine in step S202 that the first position and the second position are set in the left display area and the right display area, that is, the first position and the second position. When any of the positions 2 is set to either the left display area or the right display area (step S202: N), the distance on the image from the first position to the second position is calculated. Then, the measurement distance is calculated from the display magnification of the ultrasonic image displayed in the display area (target area) in which the first position and the second position are set (step S207). Thereby, the actual distance in the diagnostic region corresponding to each of the first position and the second position is calculated.

  The control unit 18 displays the actual distance in the diagnostic region from the first position to the second position obtained by calculation as described above on the display unit 17 (step S208), and ends this process. To do.

  Next, a display example of an ultrasonic image displayed on the display unit 17 of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus S configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

  First, in order to display the subject's liver in the pseudo panorama display mode, the left side portion and the right side portion of the liver are respectively scanned. Image data obtained by scanning the left portion of the liver is stored in the left screen frame memory 15a as image data for displaying the left ultrasound image. The image data obtained by scanning the right part of the liver is stored in the right screen frame memory 15b as image data for displaying the right ultrasound image.

Then, when the pseudo panorama display mode is selected by input from the operation input unit 11, an ultrasonic image as shown in FIG. 5A is displayed on the display unit 17. That is, the left display area L and the right display area R are arranged adjacent to each other on the display screen M of the display unit 17.
In the left display area L, an ultrasonic image based on image data obtained by scanning the left part of the liver stored in the left screen frame memory 15a is displayed. That is, in the left display area L, an ultrasonic image of the left part of the liver image V is displayed.
In the right display area R, an ultrasonic image based on image data obtained by scanning the right side portion of the liver stored in the right screen frame memory 15b is displayed. That is, in the right display area R, an ultrasonic image of the right part of the liver image V is displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, in the pseudo panorama display mode, as described above, the reference position DP when changing the display magnification of each of the left ultrasonic image and the right ultrasonic image is It is set at the upper end of the boundary between the left display area L and the right display area R.

When the right ultrasonic image is reduced, as shown in FIG. 5B, the right ultrasonic image is reduced and displayed with the display magnification changed based on the reference position DP. Therefore, no blank portion appears near the boundary line between the left display area and the right display area in the right display area.
When the left ultrasonic image is reduced, as shown in FIG. 5C, the left ultrasonic image is reduced and displayed with the display magnification changed with reference to the reference position DP. Therefore, a blank portion does not appear near the boundary line between the left display area and the right display area in the left display area.

  In FIG. 5C, the left ultrasound image and the right ultrasound image are reduced and displayed at the same ratio. Therefore, the reduced liver image VL1 generated based on the image data of the left part of the liver stored in the left screen frame memory 15a displayed in the left display area L, and the right image displayed in the right display area R. It can be seen that the reduced liver image VR1 generated based on the image data of the right part of the liver stored in the screen frame memory 15b is represented such that the correlation is recognized.

  Further, when each of the left ultrasonic image and the right ultrasonic image is enlarged, as shown in FIG. 5D, each ultrasonic image is enlarged and displayed with the display magnification changed with reference to the reference position DP. . In the example shown in FIG. 5D, an enlarged liver image VL2 generated based on the image data of the left part of the liver stored in the left screen frame memory 15a is displayed in the left display area L, and the right display area In R, an enlarged liver image VR2 generated based on the image data of the right portion of the liver stored in the right screen frame memory 15b is displayed. At this time, the left ultrasonic image and the right ultrasonic image are simultaneously enlarged and displayed at the same magnification from the display state shown in FIG. 5C in the manner described above, as shown in FIG. 5D. Can be displayed. In this way, the enlarged liver image VL2 displayed in the left display area L and the enlarged liver image VR2 displayed in the right display area R are recognized to be correlated with each other, and the enlarged liver images VL2 and VR2 are There is no possibility of being displayed outside the boundary line with the right display area.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5D, the operator operates the operation input unit 11 to set two arbitrary positions on the display screen M (first position P1, second position). By setting the position P2), it is possible to display the actual distance in the diagnostic region between the set two points (between the first position P1 and the second position P2) in the manner described above. More specifically, for example, a distance on the image between the arbitrarily set first position P1 and second position P2 is obtained, and multiplied by a coefficient corresponding to the display magnification of the image, so that the inside of the subject is obtained. The actual distance at the diagnostic site can be calculated. Here, in the example shown in FIG. 5D, the first position P1 is set on the left display area L, and the second position P2 is set on the right display area R. The distance between P1 and the second position P2 intersects the boundary line between the left display area L and the right display area R. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, first, of the straight lines connecting the first position P1 and the second position P2, the left display area L and the right display area R from the first position P1. The distance on the image of the section to the boundary line is calculated. Then, the distance calculated in this way is multiplied by a coefficient corresponding to the display magnification of the left ultrasonic image in the left display area L where the first position P1 is set, and the result is set as the measurement distance A. . Next, the distance on the image of the section from the second position P2 to the boundary line between the left display area L and the right display area R among the straight lines connecting the first position P1 and the second position P2 is determined. calculate. Then, the distance calculated in this way is multiplied by a coefficient corresponding to the display magnification of the right ultrasonic image in the right display area R where the second position P2 is set, and the result is set as the measurement distance B. . Subsequently, the actual distance in the diagnostic region between the first position P1 and the second position P2 can be obtained by adding the measurement distance A and the measurement distance B calculated as described above. it can.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the pseudo panorama display mode and the separated display mode for performing the separated display can be switched. That is, when the pseudo panorama display mode is set, as shown in FIG. 6A, the left display area L10 and the right display area R10 are displayed adjacently on the display screen M. The

On the other hand, when the separated display mode is set, the display screen M is displayed so that the left display area L11 and the right display area R11 are spaced apart as shown in FIG. 6B. . At this time, as shown in FIG. 6C, the reference position DL when changing the display magnification of the left ultrasonic image is set at the center upper end of the left display region L11, and the reference position DL is used as a base point. The left ultrasonic image is enlarged and reduced and displayed. Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the reference position DR when changing the display magnification of the right ultrasonic image is set at the center upper end portion of the right display region R11, and the left side with the reference position DR as a base point. The ultrasonic image is enlarged and reduced and displayed. In the present embodiment, since it is configured as described above, for example, display is performed using a B-mode image in one display area, and on the other hand, a region of interest is enlarged and diagnosed, or one display area is displayed. When displaying with the B-mode image and performing diagnosis with the M-mode image on the other hand, it is appropriate to display the left display area and the right display area apart from each other. Therefore, the display mode can be switched according to the diagnosis situation, which is excellent in convenience.
The positions of the reference positions DL and DR are not limited to the center upper end of each display area, and may be any other position, but any position extending in the depth direction from the center of each display area. Is preferred.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image generation unit 14 generates ultrasonic image data based on the reflected ultrasonic wave transmitted to the subject. The display unit 17 arranges a left display region L and a right display region R adjacent to each other, and an ultrasonic image based on the ultrasonic image data generated by the image generation unit 14 in the left display region L and the right display region R. Is displayed. The control unit 18 displays the ultrasonic image displayed in the left display region L and the ultrasonic image displayed in the right display region R on the display unit 17, either on the boundary between the left display region L and the right display region R. The display magnification is changed and displayed with the position of as a base point. As a result, panoramic display can be easily performed by arranging a plurality of ultrasonic images with a simple configuration. Further, when the display magnification is changed for these ultrasonic images, the correlation between the ultrasonic images can be maintained and properly displayed at the boundary portion of each display region.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 18 simultaneously changes the display magnification of the ultrasonic image displayed on each of the left display region L and the right display region R on the display unit 17 at the same magnification. Each ultrasonic image is displayed. As a result, the display magnification can be easily changed while maintaining the correlation for a plurality of ultrasonic images.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 18 sets arbitrary two points in the ultrasonic image displayed on the display unit 17 in accordance with the input operation by the operation input unit 11. The control unit 18 calculates the measurement distance from the set distance between the two points and the display magnification of the ultrasonic image displayed in each of the left display area L and the right display area R. The control unit 18 displays the calculated measurement distance on the display unit 17. As a result, even when panoramic display is performed by a simple method with adjacent display areas, it is possible to appropriately calculate and display the actual distance at the diagnostic site.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 18 displays the ultrasonic image on the display unit 17 by switching the left display region L and the right display region R between a position adjacent to each other and a position separated from each other. Let As a result, since the display state can be switched according to the application of the ultrasonic image diagnosis, the display can be switched according to the diagnosis scene, which is excellent in convenience.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the control unit 18 displays the ultrasonic image by arranging the left display region L and the right display region R apart from each other on the display unit 17, the left display region L is displayed. The ultrasonic image displayed on the right display region R is displayed by changing the display magnification with any position extending in the depth direction from the center of the left display region as the base point. The display magnification is changed and displayed with any position extending in the depth direction from the center of the display region R as a base point. As a result, the display can be switched according to the diagnosis scene, which is excellent in convenience.

  The description in the embodiment of the present invention is an example of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of each functional unit constituting the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus can be appropriately changed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the ultrasonic image is displayed with the display areas arranged side by side, but the ultrasonic image may be displayed with the display areas arranged vertically.

  In the present embodiment, the function of independently changing the display magnification of the left ultrasound image and the right ultrasound image, and the function of simultaneously changing the display magnification of the left ultrasound image and the right ultrasound image However, it may have only one of the functions.

  In the present embodiment, the pseudo panorama display and the separated display can be switched. However, only the pseudo panorama display may be performed.

  In the present embodiment, the distance between the arbitrarily set first position and second position is measured, and the actual distance at the diagnosis site is calculated and displayed from this measurement result. Such a function may not be provided.

  In this embodiment, the left display area is described as the first display area, and the right display area is described as the second display area. However, any display area is the first display area or the second display area. Needless to say, the area is arbitrary.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which a hard disk, a semiconductor nonvolatile memory, or the like is used as a computer-readable medium of the program according to the present invention is disclosed, but the present invention is not limited to this example. As another computer-readable medium, a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM can be applied. A carrier wave is also used as a medium for providing program data according to the present invention via a communication line.

S Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 2 Ultrasonic probe 11 Operation input unit 14 Image generation unit (image processing unit)
17 Display unit 18 Control unit

Claims (5)

An image processing unit that generates ultrasonic image data based on reflected ultrasonic waves transmitted to the subject;
An ultrasonic wave based on the ultrasonic image data generated by the image processor in the first display area and the second display area, the first display area and the second display area being arranged adjacent to each other. A display for displaying each image;
An ultrasonic image displayed in the first display area and an ultrasonic image displayed in the second display area are displayed on the display unit on the boundary between the first display area and the second display area. A control unit for changing and displaying the display magnification with each position as a base point, and
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising:   The control unit displays the ultrasonic images on the display unit by simultaneously changing the display magnifications of the ultrasonic images displayed in the first display area and the second display area at the same magnification. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: An operation input unit is provided for performing an input operation by an operator.
The control unit sets arbitrary two points in the ultrasonic image displayed on the display unit in response to an input operation by the operation input unit, and the distance between the set two points and the first display The measurement distance is calculated from the display magnification of the ultrasonic image displayed in each of the area and the second display area, and the calculated measurement distance is displayed on the display unit. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus described.   The control unit causes the display unit to display the ultrasonic image by switching the first display area and the second display area between a position adjacent to each other and a position separated from each other. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3.   When the control unit displays the ultrasonic image by arranging the first display region and the second display region apart from each other on the display unit, the control unit is displayed in the first display region. An ultrasonic image is displayed with the display magnification changed with any position extending in the depth direction from the center of the first display area as a base point, and the ultrasonic image displayed in the second display area is displayed. 5. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a display magnification is changed and displayed with any position extending in the depth direction from the center of the second display area as a base point.

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