JP2017153540A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a burden on an examiner and acquire an elastic image suitable for diagnosis.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 applies pressure to a subject by an ultrasonic probe 2 for transmitting/receiving an ultrasonic wave, transmits/receives an ultrasonic wave to/from an object of the subject, and measures elasticity data on the object. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 includes a transmission part 12 for supplying a drive signal to the ultrasonic probe 2 and processing a reception signal output from the ultrasonic probe 2, a reception part 13, an elastic image generation part 15 for generating elasticity data on an elastic image based on the generated reception signal, an elasticity distribution generation part 16 for generating elasticity distribution data indicating the distribution of the generated elasticity data using values of a plurality of pixels in the periphery of a pixel of attention for each pixel, a correction value calculation part 17 for generating correction data based on the generated elasticity data and the elasticity distribution data, a multiplication part 18 for correcting the elasticity data generated by the generated correction data, and generating elasticity data after correction, and an addition part 19.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasonic information processing method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that inspects an internal structure by irradiating a subject with ultrasonic waves and receiving and analyzing the reflected waves. In ultrasonic diagnosis, a subject can be examined non-destructively and non-invasively, and is therefore used for medical examinations.

  In addition, a strain elastography technique for imaging a strain distribution generated by applying pressure to an object of an object using an ultrasonic probe in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is known. In strain elastography, the hardness of an object can be evaluated from the difference in relative distortion between the object (for example, a tumor) and a reference (for example, fat). Strain elastography is an image expression on the premise that the amount of elastic modulus and strain is moderate with a moderate pressure.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 5, elastic image data representing the strain amount in strain elastography will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the elasticity image 310 and the chart 320.

  FIG. 5 shows an elastic image 310 of elastic image data as tomographic image data generated by strain elastography when a subject is pressed (pressed) by the ultrasonic probe 2. The elastic image data generated by the strain elastography is color mapped. A color mapping chart 320 is displayed together with the elasticity image 310. In the color mapping of the chart 320, for example, the amount of distortion increases in the order of blue → green → yellow → red. However, in the drawings such as FIG. 5, the elastic image is expressed as the distortion amount increasing in the order of black → white.

  In the elastic image 310, the target tumor region 311 is hard with respect to the surrounding tissue and has a small amount of distortion, and a difference in color between them appears on the image. In the elastic image 310, it is assumed that the pressure applied to the ultrasound probe 2 to the subject increases as it becomes right in the horizontal direction (Y direction).

  For this reason, the region 311 on the right side of the region 311 in the elastic image 310 has a large amount of strain, but the tissue is not soft, and the amount of strain is also expressed by a large pressure. Further, the compression applied to the inside of the subject is attenuated as the depth increases in the depth direction (X direction). For this reason, in the elastic image 310, the region 313 having a large depth in the X direction is expressed with a small amount of strain, but the tissue is not hard, and the amount of strain is also expressed with a small amount of compression. . Thus, uniform compression on the subject is required for reliable diagnosis using strain elastography.

  There is also known an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that determines a compression direction as a pressed state based on a compression data distribution and displays the compression direction to promote uniform compression on a subject (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4769715

  However, in the above-described conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the inspector must manually press and adjust the ultrasonic probe so as to eliminate the pressing unevenness by visually confirming the displayed compression direction, and the work load on the inspector Was big. Further, in the above-described conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the elasticity image has become an image inappropriate for diagnosis due to nonuniform compression direction and attenuation of compression in the depth direction.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce an examiner's burden and obtain an elastic image suitable for diagnosis.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 comprises:
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that applies pressure to an object by an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to the object of the object, and measures elasticity data of the object,
A transmission / reception unit for supplying a drive signal to the ultrasonic probe and processing a reception signal output from the ultrasonic probe;
An elasticity data generation unit that generates elasticity data of an elasticity image based on the generated reception signal;
An elastic distribution generator for generating elastic distribution data indicating the distribution of the generated elastic data;
A correction data generation unit that generates correction data based on the generated elasticity data and the elasticity distribution data;
An elasticity data correction unit that corrects the generated elasticity data with the generated correction data to generate corrected elasticity data.

The invention according to claim 2 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The elastic distribution generation unit generates the elastic distribution data using the values of a plurality of pixels around the target pixel for each pixel from the generated elastic data.

The invention according to claim 3 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The correction data generation unit generates the correction data by normalizing the generated elastic distribution data using one or more of an average value, a maximum value, a minimum value, and a standard deviation.

The invention according to claim 4 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The correction data generation unit generates the correction data by obtaining a difference or quotient between the generated elasticity data and the generated elasticity distribution data.

The invention according to claim 5 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3,
The correction data generation unit, a distortion amount src _dist _max as the maximum value of the strain amounts of all the pixels of the elastic distribution data, and the strain amount src _dist of the elastic distribution data, the amount of strain of all the pixels of the elastic distribution data using the the distortion amount src _dist _avg as average value, and calculates the distortion amount src _norm elasticity distribution data normalized by the following equation (1).

The invention according to claim 6 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3 or 4,
The correction data generation unit, a distortion amount src _dist _avg as the mean value of the strain amounts of all the pixels of the elastic distribution data, using a distortion amount src _dist of the elastic distribution data, by the following equation (2) The strain amount src _norm of the normalized elastic distribution data is calculated.

The invention according to claim 7 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, 4, 5 or 6,
The correction data generating unit uses the strain amount src _norm of the normalized elasticity distribution data and the strain amount src of the elasticity data to calculate the correction value correct of each pixel of the correction data according to the following equation (3). calculate.

The invention according to claim 8 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 4,
The correction data generation unit, a distortion amount src _dist _avg as the mean value of the strain amounts of all the pixels of the elastic distribution data, using a distortion amount src _dist of the elastic distribution data, the following equation (4) A correction value correct of each pixel of the correction data is calculated.

The invention according to claim 9 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The elasticity data correction unit multiplies the generated correction data by a correction level coefficient.

The invention according to claim 10 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The elasticity data correcting unit generates the corrected elasticity data by adding the correction data to the elasticity data.

The invention according to claim 11 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A display control unit configured to display the corrected elasticity data on a display unit;

The ultrasonic information processing method of the invention according to claim 12
An ultrasonic information processing method that applies pressure to an object by an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to the object of the object, and measures elasticity data of the object,
Supplying a driving signal to the ultrasonic probe and processing a reception signal output from the ultrasonic probe;
Generating elasticity data of an elasticity image based on the generated received signal;
Generating elastic distribution data indicating the distribution of the generated elastic data;
Generating correction data based on the generated elasticity data and the elasticity distribution data;
Correcting the generated elasticity data with the generated correction data to generate corrected elasticity data.

  According to the present invention, the burden on the examiner can be reduced, and an elastic image suitable for diagnosis can be obtained.

1 is an external view of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of an ultrasonic diagnosing device. It is a flowchart which shows an elastic image correction process. (A) is a figure which shows the elasticity image before correction | amendment. (B) is a figure which shows an elastic distribution image. (C) is a figure which shows a correction image. (D) is a figure which shows the elasticity image after correction | amendment. It is a figure which shows an elastic image and a chart.

  An embodiment according to an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the illustrated example.

  First, with reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, the apparatus structure of the ultrasound diagnosing device 100 of this Embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is an external view of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 is an apparatus that displays and outputs an ultrasonic image of a state of a living body tissue of a subject such as a living body of a patient. That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 transmits ultrasonic waves (transmission ultrasonic waves) to the inside of a subject such as a living body, and transmits reflected ultrasonic waves (reflected ultrasonic waves: echoes) reflected within the subject. Receive. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 100 converts the received reflected ultrasound into an electrical signal, and generates ultrasound image data based on this. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 displays the internal state in the subject as an ultrasonic image based on the generated ultrasonic image data. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 also has a strain elastography function for displaying an elastic image showing the strain distribution inside the subject to which pressure is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 includes an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 1 having an operation input unit 11 and a display unit 22, an ultrasonic probe 2, and a cable 3. The ultrasonic probe 2 transmits transmission ultrasonic waves to the inside of the subject and receives reflected ultrasonic waves from the inside of the subject. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 1 is connected to the ultrasonic probe 2 via the cable 3, and transmits an electric signal drive signal to the ultrasonic probe 2 so that the ultrasonic probe 2 is connected to the inside of the subject. To transmit ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 1 also receives a reception signal that is an electrical signal generated by the ultrasonic probe 2 in response to the reflected ultrasonic wave from the subject received by the ultrasonic probe 2. Then, ultrasonic image data is generated and displayed using the received signal.

  The ultrasonic probe 2 includes a transducer 2a (see FIG. 2) made of a piezoelectric element. For example, a plurality of the transducers 2a are arranged in a one-dimensional array in the azimuth direction (scanning direction). . 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 this embodiment, a linear electronic scanning probe is used as the ultrasonic probe 2 to perform ultrasonic scanning by the linear scanning method. However, either the sector scanning method or the convex scanning method is used. It can also be adopted. Communication between the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 1 and the ultrasonic probe 2 may be performed by wireless communication such as UWB (Ultra Wide Band) instead of wired communication via the cable 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 1 includes, for example, an operation input unit 11, a transmission unit 12 as a transmission / reception unit, a reception unit 13, a B-mode image generation unit 14, a storage unit 14 a, and an elasticity. An image generation unit 15, a storage unit 15 a, an elastic image correction unit 4, an elastic image synthesis unit 20, a display image generation unit 21, a display unit 22, and a control unit 23 are provided. The elastic image correction unit 4 includes an elastic distribution generation unit 16, a correction value calculation unit 17, a multiplication unit 18 as an elastic data correction unit, and an addition unit 19.

  The operation input unit 11 includes, for example, various switches, buttons, a trackball, a mouse, and a keyboard for an inspector such as a doctor or an engineer to input data such as a command for instructing the start of examination or personal information of the subject. Etc., and outputs an operation signal to the control unit 23.

  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 23 and causes the ultrasonic probe 2 to generate transmission ultrasonic waves. . The transmission unit 12 includes, for example, a clock generation circuit, a delay circuit, a time and voltage setting unit, 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 delay time for each individual path corresponding to each transducer corresponding to the transmission timing of the drive signal, delays the transmission of the drive signal by the set delay time, and transmits the transmission beam constituted by the transmission ultrasonic waves. This is a circuit for focusing. The time and voltage setting unit is a circuit for setting a voltage having a time width and an amplitude of a pulse width of a pulse signal generated from the pulse generation circuit. The pulse generation circuit is a circuit for generating a pulse signal as a drive signal in accordance with the time and voltage set by the time and voltage setting unit. The transmitter 12 configured as described above drives, for example, a continuous part (for example, 64) of a plurality (for example, 192) of the transducers 2a arranged in the ultrasound probe 2. Then, transmit ultrasonic waves are generated. Then, the transmission unit 12 performs scanning (scanning) by shifting the driven vibrator in the azimuth direction each time transmission ultrasonic waves are generated.

  The receiving unit 13 is a circuit that receives a reception signal, which is an electrical signal, from the ultrasound probe 2 via the cable 3 under the control of the control unit 23, and processes the received signal to generate sound ray data. . 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 a received signal with a preset amplification factor for each individual path corresponding to each transducer. 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 with respect to the A / D converted received signal, and adds these (phasing addition) to generate a sound ray. It is a circuit for generating data.

  Under the control of the control unit 23, the B-mode image generation unit 14 performs envelope detection processing, logarithmic amplification, and the like on the sound ray data from the reception unit 13, and performs luminance conversion by adjusting the dynamic range and gain. Thus, B (Brightness) mode ultrasonic image data (B-mode image data) is generated as tomographic image data. In other words, the B-mode image data represents the intensity of the received signal by luminance.

  The storage unit 14a is a storage unit configured by a semiconductor memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). The B mode image generation unit 14 stores the generated B mode image data in the storage unit 14a in units of frames. The B mode image generation unit 14 appropriately reads out the B mode image data stored in the storage unit 14 a and outputs the B mode image data to the elastic image synthesis unit 20.

  The elastic image generation unit 15 performs an operation on the sound ray data from the reception unit 13 according to the control of the control unit 23, converts it into a distortion amount as elastic data, and performs color mapping to convert the elastic image data. Generate. The size of the elasticity image data generated by the elasticity image generation unit 15 is the size of the ROI (Region Of Interest) that is designated and input by the examiner via the operation input unit 11, but is not limited thereto. It may be the same as the image size of the B-mode image data. The storage unit 15a is a storage unit configured by a semiconductor memory such as a DRAM.

  Here, the amount of distortion will be described. The examiner grasps the ultrasonic probe 2 and applies pressure to the body surface of the subject. At this time, the force applied to the subject from the ultrasonic probe 2 changes due to the vibration of the examiner himself or the breathing of the subject. For example, it is assumed that the upper end of an object such as a tumor is located at a distance xr in the depth direction (X direction) from the body surface in contact with the ultrasound probe 2 in the subject before the pressure is applied. . Further, it is assumed that the width of the object in the depth direction is L. If compression ρ (stress) is applied to the subject and the object is similarly subjected to compression ρ, the upper end position of the object changes to the distance xs in the depth direction, and the depth of the object. It is assumed that the direction width changes so as to be L−ΔL. Then, the distortion amount ε = ΔL / L is obtained by measuring the object in these two states.

  More specifically, for example, as described in JP-A-2015- 211733, the elastic image generation unit 15 appropriately stores and reads the sound ray data from the reception unit 13 in the storage unit 15a for each frame. Thus, sound ray data of two frames that are temporally continuous is acquired. Of these two frames, the pressurized state of the subject corresponding to the first signal waveform of the sound ray data of the first frame is set as the first pressurized state, and the second signal waveform of the sound ray data of the second frame is handled. The pressurized state of the subject to be performed is the second pressurized state. Then, the elastic image generation unit 15 extracts a phase difference component at each time between the first signal waveform and the second signal waveform, and according to a correlation between each time and the phase difference component at each time. Then, a distortion difference and an initial phase difference relating to a difference in angular frequency between the first signal waveform and the second signal waveform are calculated, and a distortion amount is calculated based on the distortion difference. The elastic image generation unit 15 calculates the distortion amount for all the pixels, and generates image data including the distortion amount pixels.

  Then, the elastic image generation unit 15 generates elastic image data by coloring the image data of the distortion amount by color mapping in which the distortion amount increases in the order of blue → green → yellow → red, for example. However, it is not limited to this coloring pattern.

  Under the control of the control unit 23, the elastic distribution generation unit 16 performs a filtering process on the elastic image data generated by the elastic image generation unit 15 using the values of a plurality of pixels around the target pixel, and generates an approximate distortion distribution. This is a circuit for generating elastic image data (elastic distribution image data). The elastic distribution generation unit 16 includes, for example, a moving average filter, a Gaussian filter, a median filter, and the like.

The correction value calculation unit 17 uses the elasticity distribution image data generated by the elasticity distribution generation unit 16 and the elasticity image data of the same time frame generated by the elasticity image generation unit 15 according to the control of the control unit 23. Thus, the distortion amount of the elastic distribution image data is normalized as necessary, and the image data (corrected image data) including the correction values of the respective pixels of the elastic distribution image data is calculated. For normalization, for example, an average value may be used as in the following formula (1), or a maximum value, a standard deviation, or the like may be used. Further, the magnitude relationship of the distortion amount may be reversed using a maximum value or the like as necessary.
In the above equation (1) as a method for normalizing the strain amount of the elastic distribution image data, the elastic distribution image data is normalized by inverting the magnitude relationship of the strain amount with the maximum value. Normalization may be performed without reversing the magnitude relationship as in 2).
The correction data calculation may be performed using, for example, the following equation (3) using the strain amount of the normalized elasticity distribution image data. In this case, since the average value of the strain amount of the elastic distribution image data normalized by the equation (1) is 1, if the value is smaller than the average value, the elasticity whose strain has been largely calculated due to excessive pressing. If the distortion amount of the image data is reduced proportionately and the value is larger than the average value, it means that the distortion amount of the elastic image data whose distortion has been calculated to be small due to the attenuation of the pressure is proportionally increased.
In the above-described formulas (1) and (2) as the correction data calculation method, the elasticity distribution data is normalized, and the correction data is calculated by decreasing and increasing the elasticity data in proportion. For example, the correction value may be calculated without performing normalization processing on the elastic distribution image data as in the following equation (4). In this case, the strain amount of the elastic distribution image data does not mean a proportion, but means a strain amount that exists as an offset in the elastic image data.
However, in the formula (1) to (4), correcting the correction value of each pixel of the image data as the correction value correct, the distortion amount src _dist _max the maximum value of the strain amounts of all the pixels of the elastic distribution image data, the elastic distribution The average value of the distortion amount of all pixels of the image data is the distortion amount src _dist _avg, the distortion amount of the elastic image data is the distortion amount src, and the distortion amount of the elastic distribution image data is the distortion amount src _dist , normalized elasticity distribution The distortion amount of the image data is set as a distortion amount src _norm .

  The multiplication unit 18 corrects the correction level coefficient set and input from the inspector via the operation input unit 11 to the correction value correct of each pixel of the corrected image data generated by the correction value calculation unit 17 under the control of the control unit 23. It is a multiplier that multiplies level. The correction level coefficient level is a coefficient that increases the correction effect as the value increases. For example, it is possible to set and input three levels of values: strong: 0.3, medium: 0.2, weak: 0.1. It shall be.

Under the control of the control unit 23, the addition unit 19 adds the correction value correct of the corrected image data obtained by multiplying the correction level coefficient level by the multiplication unit 18 to the elasticity image data generated by the elasticity image generation unit 15, and performs correction. It is an adder that generates later elastic image data. That is, the multiplication unit 18 and the addition unit 19 calculate the distortion amount dst of each pixel of the corrected elastic image data by the following equation (5).

  The elasticity image synthesis unit 20 synthesizes the B-mode image data generated by the B-mode image generation unit 14 and the corrected elasticity image data generated at the same time generated by the elasticity image correction unit 4 under the control of the control unit 23. Thus, synthetic elasticity image data is generated.

  The display image generation unit 21 generates display image data by adding information such as a color mapping chart to the combined elastic image data generated by the elastic image combining unit 20 under the control of the control unit 23, and generates the display image data. Data is converted into an image signal for the display unit 22 and output to the display unit 22.

  The display unit 22 may be 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. The display unit 22 displays an image on the display screen according to the image signal output from the display image generation unit 21.

  The control unit 23 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 apparatus 100 is centrally controlled according to the developed program. The ROM is configured by a non-volatile memory such as a semiconductor, and stores a system program corresponding to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100, a program executable on the system program, various data such as a gamma table, and the like. 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. In order to prevent the diagram from becoming complicated, some control lines from the control unit 23 to each unit are omitted in FIG.

  With respect to each unit included in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100, a part or all of the functions of each functional block can be realized as a hardware circuit such as an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is, for example, an LSI (Large Scale Integration), and the LSI may be referred to as an IC, a system LSI, a super LSI, or an ultra LSI depending on the degree of integration. Further, the method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI, but may be realized by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor, and connection and setting of circuit cells in FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and LSI can be reconfigured. A reconfigurable processor may be used. Further, some or all of the functions of each function block may be executed by software. In this case, the software is stored in one or more storage media such as a ROM, an optical disk, or a hard disk, and the software is executed by the arithmetic processor.

  Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the elastic image correction process. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an elastic image 201 before correction. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the elasticity distribution image 202. FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating the corrected image 203. FIG. 4D is a diagram showing the elastic image 204 after correction.

  In diagnosis of a subject by strain elastography using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100, for example, the ultrasonic probe 2 is first contacted with the subject, B-mode image data is generated, and a B-mode image is displayed. Accordingly, the setting input of the correction level coefficient level is made through the operation input unit 11, the ROI designation input of the elasticity image is made, and the ultrasound probe 2 applies pressure to the body surface around the subject of the subject. . In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100, ultrasonic transmission / reception from the ultrasonic probe 2 is performed by the transmission unit 12 and the reception unit 13. Then, B-mode image data generation by the B-mode image generation unit 14 and elasticity image data generation by the elasticity image generation unit 15 are performed. Then, the elastic image correction unit 4 executes an elastic image correction process.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the elastic image correction process executed by the elastic image correction unit 4 will be described. First, for example, it is assumed that the elasticity image data of the elasticity image 201 shown in FIG. Then, the elastic distribution generation unit 16 performs a filtering process on the elastic image data generated by the elastic image generation unit 15 using the values of a plurality of pixels around the target pixel to generate elastic distribution image data (step S11). . In step S11, for example, elasticity image data of the elasticity distribution image 202 shown in FIG. 4B is generated from the elasticity image data of the elasticity image 201.

  Then, the correction value calculation unit 17 corrects the correction value of each pixel of the elastic distribution image data by calculation using the equations (1) to (3) or (4) from the elastic distribution image data generated in step S11. The corrected image data consisting of is calculated (step S12). In step S12, for example, the elasticity distribution image data of the elasticity distribution image 202 is inverted and normalized, and corrected image data of the corrected image 203 shown in FIG. 4C is generated.

  Then, the multiplication unit 18 multiplies the correction image data generated in step S12 by the correction level coefficient level set and input (step S13). The adding unit 19 adds the corrected corrected image data generated in step S13 to the elastic image data generated by the elastic image generating unit 15 to generate corrected elastic image data (step S14). ), The elastic image correction process is terminated. In steps S13 and S14, for example, the elasticity image data of the elasticity image 201 is multiplied by the correction level coefficient level to the correction image 203, the corrected image data after multiplication is added, and the corrected image data shown in FIG. Elastic image data of the elastic image 204 is generated.

  Then, the elastic image composition unit 20 generates synthetic elastic image data, and the display image generation unit 21 generates display image data including the synthetic elastic image data and the like and displays the display image data on the display unit 22.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 100 supplies the drive signal to the ultrasound probe 2, processes the reception signal output from the ultrasound probe 2, and generates the received signal. The elastic image data is generated based on the elastic image data, the elastic distribution image data indicating the strain distribution of the generated elastic image data is generated, and the corrected image data is generated based on the generated elastic image data and the elastic distribution image data. Then, the generated elasticity image data is corrected by the generated corrected image data to generate corrected elasticity image data.

  For this reason, since the elasticity image data is automatically corrected, the burden on the inspector can be reduced compared to the configuration in which the ultrasonic probe is operated for correction, and the elasticity image data is converted into the distortion amount of the elasticity distribution image data. Since the elasticity image data is corrected accordingly, the influence of the amount of compression on the subject and the attenuation in the depth direction on the strain amount in the elasticity image data is reduced, and the elasticity image that is close to the elastic modulus distribution and suitable for diagnosis Can be obtained.

  In addition, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 100 generates elasticity distribution image data using the values of a plurality of pixels around the target pixel for each pixel from the generated elasticity image data. For this reason, it is possible to perform correction that leaves information necessary for diagnosis of elastic image data by using corrected image data based on elastic distribution image data.

  The correction value calculation unit 17 generates correction image data by obtaining a difference or quotient between the generated elasticity image data and the generated elasticity distribution image data.

  Further, the correction value calculation unit 17 generates elasticity distribution image data normalized by the equation (1). For this reason, since the correction amount can be set to an appropriate size, in the corrected elastic image data, it is possible to balance the optimization of the target portion with the diagnosis and the reduction of noise in portions other than the target portion.

  Further, the correction value calculation unit 17 generates elasticity distribution image data normalized by the equation (2). For this reason, since the amount of correction can be increased, in the elastic image data after correction, the target portion can be made close to the elastic modulus distribution to obtain an elastic image suitable for diagnosis.

  Further, the correction value calculation unit 17 generates corrected image data according to Expression (3). For this reason, since the amount of correction can be increased, in the elastic image data after correction, the target portion can be made close to the elastic modulus distribution to obtain an elastic image suitable for diagnosis.

  Further, the correction value calculation unit 17 generates corrected image data according to Expression (4). For this reason, since the amount of correction can be reduced, noise in a portion other than the target portion can be reduced in the corrected elastic image data.

  The multiplication unit 18 multiplies the generated corrected image data by a correction level coefficient level. For this reason, the degree of correction by the corrected image data to the elastic image data can be freely set.

  The adding unit 19 adds the corrected image data to the elastic image data to generate corrected elastic image data. For this reason, it is possible to easily obtain an elastic image close to the distribution of the elastic modulus and suitable for diagnosis.

  Further, the display image generation unit 21 displays the corrected elasticity image data on the display unit 22. For this reason, the examiner can easily visually recognize an elastic image close to the distribution of the elastic modulus and suitable for diagnosis, and the diagnostic accuracy of the hardness of the subject of the subject can be improved.

  The description in the above embodiment is an example of a preferable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic information processing method according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image data indicating the strain amount as the elasticity data is generated and used as the elasticity image data by the strain elastography. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, image data indicating shear wave velocity as elasticity data may be generated and used as elasticity image data by shear wave elastography.

  Further, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of each part constituting the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 in the above embodiment can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 11 Operation input part 12 Transmission part 13 Reception part 14 B-mode image generation part 14a, 15a Storage part 15 Elastic image generation part 4 Elastic image correction part 16 Elastic distribution generation part 17 Correction value Calculation unit 18 Multiplication unit 19 Addition unit 20 Elastic image synthesis unit 21 Display image generation unit 22 Display unit 23 Control unit 2 Ultrasonic probe 2a Transducer 3 Cable

Claims (12)

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that applies pressure to an object by an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to the object of the object, and measures elasticity data of the object,
A transmission / reception unit for supplying a drive signal to the ultrasonic probe and processing a reception signal output from the ultrasonic probe;
An elasticity data generation unit that generates elasticity data of an elasticity image based on the generated reception signal;
An elastic distribution generator for generating elastic distribution data indicating the distribution of the generated elastic data;
A correction data generation unit that generates correction data based on the generated elasticity data and the elasticity distribution data;
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: an elasticity data correction unit that corrects the generated elasticity data by the generated correction data to generate corrected elasticity data.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic distribution generation unit generates the elastic distribution data using values of a plurality of pixels around a target pixel for each pixel from the generated elastic data.   The correction data generation unit generates the correction data by normalizing the generated elasticity distribution data using one or more of an average value, a maximum value, a minimum value, and a standard deviation. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction data generation unit generates the correction data by obtaining a difference or quotient between the generated elasticity data and the generated elasticity distribution data. The correction data generation unit, a distortion amount src _dist _max as the maximum value of the strain amounts of all the pixels of the elastic distribution data, and the strain amount src _dist of the elastic distribution data, the amount of strain of all the pixels of the elastic distribution data using a strain amount src _dist _avg as the mean value of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3 which calculates a distortion amount src _norm elasticity distribution data normalized by the following equation (1).
The correction data generation unit, a distortion amount src _dist _avg as the mean value of the strain amounts of all the pixels of the elastic distribution data, using a distortion amount src _dist of the elastic distribution data, by the following equation (2) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the strain amount src _norm of the normalized elasticity distribution data is calculated.
The correction data generating unit uses the strain amount src _norm of the normalized elasticity distribution data and the strain amount src of the elasticity data to calculate the correction value correct of each pixel of the correction data according to the following equation (3). The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, 4, 5, or 6 to be calculated.
The correction data generation unit, a distortion amount src _dist _avg as the mean value of the strain amounts of all the pixels of the elastic distribution data, using a distortion amount src _dist of the elastic distribution data, the following equation (4) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction value correct of each pixel of the correction data is calculated.
  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elasticity data correction unit multiplies the generated correction data by a correction level coefficient.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elasticity data correction unit generates the corrected elasticity data by adding the correction data to the elasticity data.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a display control unit that displays the corrected elasticity data on a display unit. An ultrasonic information processing method that applies pressure to an object by an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to the object of the object, and measures elasticity data of the object,
Supplying a driving signal to the ultrasonic probe and processing a reception signal output from the ultrasonic probe;
Generating elasticity data of an elasticity image based on the generated received signal;
Generating elastic distribution data indicating the distribution of the generated elastic data;
Generating correction data based on the generated elasticity data and the elasticity distribution data;
And correcting the generated elasticity data with the generated correction data to generate corrected elasticity data.