JP2019154571A - Analysis device and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve visibility of a blood vessel.SOLUTION: An analysis device includes a line thinning processing unit, a division unit, a selection unit, and an image processing unit. The line thinning processing unit generates a thinned image of a blood vessel on the basis of a blood vessel image representing a blood vessel branched into a plurality of parts. The division unit divides the thinned image into a plurality of segments on the basis of the position where the blood vessel is branched. The selection unit selects at least one segment out of the plurality of segments. The image processing unit processes the thinned image so that the at least one segment is distinguished from the other segments.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an analysis apparatus and a control program.

  In the diagnosis of a tumor in an organ having a complicated blood vessel structure running inside a liver tumor, a kidney tumor or the like, it is necessary to accurately grasp the positional relationship between the tumor and the blood vessel and the blood vessel shape. In addition, in the treatment of such tumors, the region of the blood vessel that feeds the tumor is identified based on the position of the blood vessel core line and the blood vessel diameter, etc., and is appropriately within a range in which the function of the organ containing the tumor can be maintained. Need to be treated. For this reason, in order to determine a treatment site before surgery, it is required to grasp in detail the central route of a blood vessel that travels through an organ containing a tumor.

  However, since the liver, kidney, and the like have a complicated structure in which a plurality of blood vessels overlap with each other, it is difficult to grasp the running state of each blood vessel in detail by visual recognition.

JP 2003-33349 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to improve the visibility of blood vessels.

  According to the embodiment, the analysis apparatus includes a thinning processing unit, a division unit, a selection unit, and an image processing unit. The thinning processing unit generates a thinned image of the blood vessel based on a blood vessel image representing a blood vessel that branches into a plurality of branches. The dividing unit divides the thinned image into a plurality of segments based on a position where the blood vessel branches. The selection unit selects at least one segment from the plurality of segments. The image processing unit processes the thinned image so that the at least one segment is distinguished from the other segments.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an analysis apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation when the processing circuit shown in FIG. 1 displays a rendered thinned image. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a rendered thinned image displayed on the display device by the processing circuit shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when the processing circuit shown in FIG. 1 displays a rendered thin line image that has been subjected to data processing related to the addition of color information. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a rendered thinned image displayed on the display device by the processing circuit shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of the rendered thinned image displayed on the display device by the processing circuit illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a rendered thinned image and a rendered blood vessel image that the processing circuit shown in FIG. 1 superimposes and displays on the display device. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a rendered thinned image and a rendered blood vessel image that the processing circuit illustrated in FIG. 1 displays in parallel on the display device. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation when the processing circuit shown in FIG. 1 selects a segment from the thinned blood vessel data and displays the selected segment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a rendered thinned image and a rendered blood vessel image that the processing circuit illustrated in FIG. 1 displays in parallel on the display device for a selected partial segment. FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating a rendered thinned image and a rendered blood vessel image that the processing circuit illustrated in FIG. 1 superimposes and displays on a display device for some selected segments. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of the rendered thinned image and the rendered blood vessel image that the processing circuit illustrated in FIG. 1 displays in parallel on the display device for the selected partial segment. FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating another example of a rendered thinned image and a rendered blood vessel image that the processing circuit illustrated in FIG. 1 superimposes and displays on a display device for some selected segments. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation when the processing circuit shown in FIG. 1 displays the identification information regarding the branch point of the blood vessel. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a rendering thinned image displayed on the display device by the processing circuit shown in FIG. 1 and identification information regarding the branch point of the blood vessel. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating another example of the rendered thinned image displayed on the display device by the processing circuit illustrated in FIG. 1 and the identification information regarding the branch point of the blood vessel. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation of the processing circuit when the processing circuit shown in FIG. 1 selects a target blood vessel for feeding nutrients to the tumor and displays the target blood vessel. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a rendered thinned image displayed on the display device by the processing circuit shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a rendered thin line image displayed on the display device by the processing circuit shown in FIG. 1 and a tumor. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a configuration of a medical information system including a workstation according to another embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the analysis apparatus according to the present embodiment. In addition, in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 is demonstrated as an example of an analyzer. As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 10, an ultrasonic probe 70, a display device 50, and an input device 60. The apparatus main body 10 is connected to the external apparatus 40 via the network 90. The apparatus body 10 is connected to the display device 50 and the input device 60.

  The ultrasonic probe 70 includes a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators, a matching layer provided in the piezoelectric vibrator, a backing material that prevents propagation of ultrasonic waves from the piezoelectric vibrator to the rear, and the like. The ultrasonic probe 70 is detachably connected to the apparatus main body 10. The plurality of piezoelectric vibrators generate ultrasonic waves based on a drive signal supplied from an ultrasonic transmission circuit 11 included in the apparatus body 10. The ultrasonic probe 70 may be provided with a button that is pressed when an offset process, which will be described later, or when an ultrasonic image is frozen.

  When ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 70 to the subject P, the transmitted ultrasonic waves are reflected one after another at the discontinuous surface of the acoustic impedance in the body tissue of the subject P, and are reflected as reflected waves (echoes). It is received by a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators possessed by the acoustic probe 70. The amplitude of the received signal generated by the received reflected wave depends on the difference in acoustic impedance at the discontinuous surface where the ultrasonic wave is reflected. Note that the received signal when the transmitted ultrasonic pulse is reflected by the moving blood flow or the surface of the heart wall depends on the velocity component in the ultrasonic transmission direction of the moving body due to the Doppler effect. Receive a shift. The ultrasonic probe 70 receives a reflected wave from the subject P and converts it into an electrical signal (received signal). Thereby, a reception signal is generated. Note that the received signal may be referred to as a reflected wave signal. The ultrasonic probe 70 includes, for example, a 1D array probe in which a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators are arranged in a predetermined direction, a 2D array probe in which a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators are arranged in a matrix, or a piezoelectric vibrator array. A mechanical 4D probe or the like capable of performing ultrasonic scanning while mechanically rolling in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction.

  The apparatus main body 10 shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus that generates an ultrasonic image based on a reception signal received by the ultrasonic probe 70. As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus body 10 includes an ultrasonic transmission circuit 11, an ultrasonic reception circuit 12, a processing circuit 15, an internal storage circuit 17, an image memory 18, an image database 19, an input interface 20, and a communication interface 21. Including.

  The ultrasonic transmission circuit 11 is a processor that supplies a drive signal to the ultrasonic probe 70. The ultrasonic transmission circuit 11 is realized by, for example, a trigger generation circuit, a delay circuit, and a pulser circuit. The trigger generation circuit repeatedly generates rate pulses for forming transmission ultrasonic waves at a predetermined rate frequency under the control of the processing circuit 15. The delay circuit sets the delay time for each piezoelectric vibrator necessary for determining the transmission directivity by focusing the ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic probe 70 into a beam shape for each rate pulse generated by the trigger generation circuit. Give to. The pulsar circuit applies a drive signal (drive pulse) to the ultrasonic probe 70 at a timing based on the rate pulse under the control of the processing circuit 15. By changing the delay time given to each rate pulse by the delay circuit, the transmission direction from the surface of the piezoelectric vibrator can be arbitrarily adjusted.

  The ultrasonic receiving circuit 12 is a processor that performs various processes on the received signal received by the ultrasonic probe 70. The ultrasonic reception circuit 12 is realized by, for example, an amplifier circuit, an A / D converter, a reception delay circuit, and an adder. The amplifier circuit amplifies the reception signal received by the ultrasonic probe 70 for each channel and performs gain correction processing. The A / D converter converts the gain-corrected received signal into a digital signal. The reception delay circuit gives a delay time necessary for determining the reception directivity to the digital signal. The adder adds a plurality of digital signals given delay times. By the addition processing of the adder, a reception signal in which the reflection component from the direction corresponding to the reception directivity is emphasized is generated. This received signal includes, for example, amplitude information that reflects the difference in acoustic impedance between tissues, and phase information that reflects the movement of the living tissue, such as motion or movement speed.

  The processing circuit 15 is, for example, a processor that functions as the center of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1. The processing circuit 15 realizes a function corresponding to the operation program by executing the operation program stored in the internal storage circuit 17. Specifically, the processing circuit 15 includes a signal processing function 151, an image generation function 153, a thinning processing function 155, a division function 157, a selection function 159, a data processing function 161, a rendering processing function 163, a display control function 165, and A system control function 167 is provided.

  The signal processing function 151 is a function that performs various types of signal processing on the reception signal generated by the ultrasonic reception circuit 12.

  For example, by executing the signal processing function 151, the processing circuit 15 performs envelope detection processing, logarithmic amplification processing, and the like on the received signal received from the ultrasonic reception circuit 12, and the signal intensity is expressed by brightness. Data (B-mode data) is generated. The generated B-mode data is stored in a RAW data memory (not shown) as B-mode RAW data on ultrasonic scanning lines distributed two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally.

  Further, by executing the signal processing function 151, the processing circuit 15 analyzes the received signal received from the ultrasonic receiving circuit 12, and, for example, moves the moving body (blood or tissue) at each of a plurality of sample points in the region of interest. The speed is calculated, and Doppler data is generated based on the calculated moving speed. The generated Doppler data is stored in a RAW data memory (not shown) as Doppler RAW data on ultrasonic scanning lines distributed two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally.

  The image generation function 153 is a function that can generate various ultrasonic image data based on data generated by the execution of the signal processing function 151. By executing the image generation function 153, the processing circuit 15 generates B-mode image data representing the form of the structure in the subject P, for example, based on the B-mode RAW data stored in the RAW data memory. The B-mode image data has pixel values (luminance values) that reflect the characteristics of an ultrasonic probe such as focusing of sound waves, the sound field characteristics of an ultrasonic beam (for example, a transmission / reception beam), and the like. For example, in B-mode image data, the luminance is relatively higher near the focus of the ultrasonic wave than in the non-focused portion.

  In addition, the processing circuit 15 generates Doppler image data representing information on the moving object based on the Doppler RAW data stored in the RAW data memory by executing the image generation function 153. The Doppler image data is velocity image data, distributed image data, power image data, or image data obtained by combining these.

  Further, by executing the image generation function 153, the processing circuit 15, for example, includes a RAW− including interpolation processing in which spatial position information is added to B-mode RAW data or Doppler RAW data stored in the RAW data memory. By executing voxel conversion, volume data composed of voxels in a desired range is generated. Then, the processing circuit 15 generates three-dimensional blood vessel data from which a blood vessel region is extracted by performing binarization processing or the like on the generated volume data. The generated blood vessel data is stored in the image database 19, for example. The blood vessel data is an example of a blood vessel image described in the claims. The blood vessel data may be two-dimensional data based on two-dimensional B-mode image data or two-dimensional Doppler image data.

  The thinning processing function 155 is a function for generating thinned blood vessel data representing a thinned blood vessel (core line) based on blood vessel data representing a blood vessel that branches into a plurality of branches. By executing the thinning processing function 155, for example, the processing circuit 15 performs thinning processing on the three-dimensional blood vessel data generated by the image generation function 153 to generate thinning blood vessel data. The thinned blood vessel data is an example of a thinned image described in the claims. The thinned blood vessel data may be two-dimensional data generated based on the two-dimensional blood vessel data.

  The division function 157 is a function of dividing the thin blood vessel based on the thin blood vessel data into a plurality of segments. By executing the dividing function 157, for example, the processing circuit 15 divides the thinned blood vessel based on the thinned blood vessel data into a plurality of segments with reference to the position where the thinned thin blood vessel branches.

  The selection function 159 is a function for selecting at least one segment from the plurality of segments divided by the division function 157. By executing the selection function 159, the processing circuit 15 selects at least one segment selected from the plurality of segments, for example, by the operator via the input interface 20.

  Further, the execution of the selection function 159 causes the processing circuit 15 to select at least one segment corresponding to a target blood vessel that feeds nutrients to the tumor, for example, from among the plurality of segments. Specifically, the processing circuit 15 uses, for example, time-series blood vessel data for a plurality of divided segments, for example, a characteristic amount related to a blood vessel that changes depending on the presence or type of the tumor, for example, a distance between the tumor and the blood vessel, The direction of the blood vessel relative to the tumor, the speed of blood flow, the direction of blood flow, etc. are calculated. Then, the processing circuit 15 selects at least one segment corresponding to the target blood vessel that feeds nutrients to the tumor, based on the calculated feature amount regarding each blood vessel of the plurality of segments.

  The data processing function 161 is a thinned blood vessel data or a blood vessel so that at least one segment selected by the selection function 159 and other segments are distinguished from the plurality of segments divided by the division function 157. It is a function that processes data. The data processing function 161 is an example of an image processing unit described in the claims.

  By executing the data processing function 161, the processing circuit 15 uses, for example, time-series blood vessel data for a plurality of divided segments, and uses blood vessel feature quantities such as a tumor or a distance between the liver surface and blood vessels, blood The flow velocity, the direction of blood flow, the length of the blood vessel, the thickness of the blood vessel, the position of the blood vessel, and the like are calculated. The processing circuit 15 is configured to display, for example, at least one selected segment among the plurality of divided segments based on the calculated feature amount related to the blood vessel with a thicker line than the other segments. Process thinned blood vessel data.

  Note that the processing circuit 15 displays, for example, at least one segment out of a plurality of segments divided by the division function 157 and other segments in different colors based on the calculated feature values related to blood vessels. As described above, the thinned blood vessel data may be processed. In addition, the processing circuit 15 displays only at least one selected segment among the plurality of segments divided by the dividing function 157 based on the calculated feature amount related to the blood vessel, and hides the other segments. As described above, the thinned blood vessel data may be processed.

  In addition, by executing the data processing function 161, the processing circuit 15 generates identification information regarding the branch point of the blood vessel that can identify the branch point of the blood vessel. For example, the processing circuit 15 calculates the distance between the branch point of the blood vessel and the tumor to be observed based on the thinned blood vessel data generated by the thinning processing function 155. The processing circuit 15 generates identification information related to the branch point of the blood vessel according to the calculated distance.

  Further, the execution of the data processing function 161 causes the processing circuit 15 to correspond to at least one segment selected by the selection function 159 from among the plurality of segments divided by the division function 157 based on the calculated feature quantity related to the blood vessel. The blood vessel data is processed in the same manner as the processing for the thinned blood vessel data so that the portion corresponding to the segment is distinguished from the portion corresponding to the other segment.

  The rendering processing function 163 is a function for rendering various three-dimensional images. By executing the rendering processing function 163, the processing circuit 15 renders the three-dimensional blood vessel data or the three-dimensional blood vessel data that has been subjected to predetermined data processing by the data processing function 161. Thereby, rendering blood vessel image data representing a rendered blood vessel image which is a rendered blood vessel image is generated. Further, the processing circuit 15 renders the three-dimensional thinned blood vessel data or the three-dimensional thinned blood vessel data subjected to predetermined data processing by the data processing function 161. Thereby, rendering thinned image data representing a rendered thinned image which is a rendered thinned image is generated.

  The display control function 165 is a function for causing the display device 50 to display various images representing blood vessels. By executing the display control function 165, the processing circuit 15 causes the display device 50 to display, for example, identification information related to the branch point of the blood vessel, a rendered blood vessel image, a rendered thinned image, and the like. At this time, for example, the processing circuit 15 controls the display device 50 to display the rendered thinned image and / or rendered blood vessel image in the vicinity of the position where the blood vessel branches or the position where the blood vessel branches. The identification information regarding the branch point is superimposed and displayed.

  Here, by executing the display control function 165, the processing circuit 15 generally converts (scan converts) the scanning line signal sequence of the ultrasonic scanning into a scanning line signal sequence of a video format represented by a television or the like. And generating ultrasonic image data for display. Specifically, the processing circuit 15 generates ultrasonic image data for display by performing coordinate conversion in accordance with the ultrasonic scanning pattern by the ultrasonic probe 70.

  The processing circuit 15 also executes various processes such as dynamic range, luminance (brightness), contrast, γ curve correction, and RGB conversion on the generated various ultrasonic image data by executing the display control function 165. Good. The processing circuit 15 may add incidental information such as character information, scales, and body marks of various parameters to the generated various ultrasonic image data.

  By executing the display control function 165, the processing circuit 15 generates a user interface (GUI: Graphical User Interface) for an operator (for example, an operator) to input various instructions via the input interface 20, and displays the GUI. You may display on the apparatus 50. FIG. As the display device 50, for example, a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, an LED display, a plasma display, or any other display known in the art can be used as appropriate.

  The system control function 167 is a function for controlling basic operations such as input / output of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 and ultrasonic transmission / reception. By executing the system control function 167, the processing circuit 15 receives a start instruction to start various imaging modes, for example. Various imaging modes include, for example, a B mode and a Doppler mode. Further, the processing circuit 15 accepts selection of various types of processing related to blood vessel data via the input interface 20, for example. Further, the processing circuit 15 acquires blood vessel data stored in the external device 40 via the communication interface 21, for example.

  The signal processing function 151, the image generation function 153, the thinning processing function 155, the division function 157, the selection function 159, the data processing function 161, the rendering processing function 163, the display control function 165, and the system control function 167 are incorporated as control programs. Alternatively, a dedicated hardware circuit capable of executing each function may be incorporated in the processing circuit 15 itself or in the apparatus main body 10 as a circuit that can be referred to by the processing circuit 15.

  The internal storage circuit 17 includes, for example, a magnetic or optical recording medium, or a recording medium that can be read by a processor such as a semiconductor memory. The internal storage circuit 17 stores a control program for realizing ultrasonic transmission / reception, a control program for performing image processing, a control program for performing display processing, and the like. The internal storage circuit 17 stores a control program for realizing various functions according to the present embodiment. The internal storage circuit 17 also includes diagnostic information (for example, patient ID, doctor's findings, etc.), diagnostic protocol, body mark generation program, and conversion table for presetting the range of color data used for imaging for each diagnostic part. The data group is memorized. The internal storage circuit 17 may store an anatomical chart related to the structure of the organ in the living body, for example, an atlas. The program may be stored and distributed in a non-transitory storage medium, read from the non-transitory storage medium, and installed in the internal storage circuit 17, for example.

  The internal storage circuit 17 stores various ultrasonic image data generated by the execution of the image generation function 153 in accordance with a storage operation input via the input interface 20. The internal storage circuit 17 may store various ultrasonic image data generated by the execution of the image generation function 153 including the operation order and operation time in accordance with the storage operation input via the input interface 20. Good. The internal storage circuit 17 can also transfer the stored data to the external device 40 via the communication interface 21.

  The image memory 18 includes, for example, a magnetic or optical recording medium, or a recording medium that can be read by a processor such as a semiconductor memory. The image memory 18 stores display image data generated by the execution of the image generation function 153. The image memory 18 stores image data corresponding to a plurality of frames immediately before the freeze operation input via the input interface 20. The image data stored in the image memory 18 is continuously displayed (cine display), for example. The image data stored in the image memory 18 is, for example, image data representing an image that is actually displayed on the display device 50. The images include images based on ultrasonic image data acquired by ultrasonic scanning, and medical images acquired by other modalities such as CT image data, MR image data, X-ray image data, and PET image data. May contain images based on data.

  The image memory 18 can also store data generated by executing the signal processing function 151. The B-mode data or Doppler data stored in the image memory 18 can be called by an operator after diagnosis, for example, and becomes ultrasonic image data for display via the processing circuit 15.

  The image database 19 stores image data transferred from the external device 40. For example, the image database 19 acquires and stores past image data regarding the same patient acquired in the past examination from the external device 40. The past image data includes ultrasonic image data, CT (Computed Tomography) image data, MR (Magnetic Resonance) image data, PET (Positron Emission Tomography) -CT image data, PET-MR image data, and X-ray image data. It is. The past image data is stored as volume data and rendering image data, for example. The image database 19 stores blood vessel data generated in past examinations.

  The image database 19 may store desired image data by reading image data recorded on a recording medium (media) such as MO, CD-R, or DVD.

  The input interface 20 receives various instructions from the operator via the input device 60. The input device 60 includes, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a panel switch, a slider switch, a dial switch, a trackball, a rotary encoder, an operation panel, a touch command screen (TCS), and the like. The input device 60 includes a switch group for switching various imaging modes including an ultrasonic transmission / reception method, a received signal processing method, and the like. The switch group includes not only a mechanical device such as a dial switch and / or a trackball, but also an operation panel image displayed on the TCS, or an operation panel image displayed on the second console of the external device 40. Either may be sufficient.

  The input interface 20 is connected to the processing circuit 15 via, for example, a bus, converts an operation instruction input from the operator into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal to the processing circuit 15. In the present specification, the input interface 20 is not limited to one that is connected to physical operation components such as a mouse and a keyboard. For example, an electrical signal corresponding to an operation instruction input from an external input device provided separately from the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 is received as a wireless signal, and the electrical signal is processed to be output to the processing circuit 15. A circuit is also included in the example of the input interface 20.

  The communication interface 21 is connected to the external device 40 via the network 90 or the like, and performs data communication with the external device 40. The external device 40 is, for example, a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) database that is a system that manages data of various medical images, a database of an electronic medical record system that manages an electronic medical record to which medical images are attached, and the like. The external device 40 includes various medical images other than the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, such as an X-ray CT apparatus, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus, a nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus, and an X-ray diagnostic apparatus. It is a diagnostic device. The standard for communication with the external device 40 may be any standard, for example, DICOM.

  Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the flow of thinning processing of blood vessel data performed by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2, the processing circuit 15 shown in FIG. 1 performs a dividing process for dividing the thinned blood vessel based on the thinned blood vessel data into a plurality of segments, and renders and displays the thinned blood vessel data subjected to the dividing process. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time. In the following description, it is assumed that the blood vessel data to be acquired is three-dimensional data.

  For example, when an instruction to acquire blood vessel data designated by the user is input via the input interface 20, the processing circuit 15 obtains the designated blood vessel data (step SA1). For example, the processing circuit 15 acquires designated blood vessel data from the image database 19.

  The processing circuit 15 receives a thinned image display instruction for the blood vessel data acquired in step SA1 (step SA2). The processing circuit 15 may accept a thinned image display instruction for the blood vessel data generated by the image generation function 153.

  When receiving the thinned image display instruction, the processing circuit 15 executes the thinning processing function 155 and performs thinning processing on the acquired blood vessel data (step SA3). The processing circuit 15 performs thinning processing on the blood vessel data acquired using various known methods. Various known methods may be used for the thinning process. For example, the processing circuit 15 applies a smoothing filter to the acquired blood vessel data. The processing circuit 15 performs binarization processing on the blood vessel data smoothed by the smoothing filter by using an arbitrary threshold value or a threshold value calculated from a calculation formula such as a discriminant analysis method, and repeatedly performs boundary voxels. The core wire is extracted by removing the core wire. Thereby, thinned blood vessel data is generated.

  The processing circuit 15 executes the division function 157, and performs the thinned blood vessel on the thinned blood vessel data generated by the thinning processing function 155 based on the position information indicating the position where the blood vessel included in the blood vessel data branches. A dividing process for dividing the thinned blood vessel based on the data into a plurality of segments is performed (step SA4).

  The processing circuit 15 executes the rendering processing function 163 to render the thinned blood vessel data subjected to the division processing in step SA4 (step SA5). Thereby, rendering thinned image data representing the rendering thinned image is generated. The processing circuit 15 may arbitrarily change the thickness of the blood vessel core line included in the rendered thinned image to be displayed when rendering the thinned blood vessel data. Further, the processing circuit 15 renders blood vessel data corresponding to the rendered thinned blood vessel data. Thereby, rendering blood vessel image data representing the rendering blood vessel image is generated.

  The processing circuit 15 executes the display control function 165 and displays, for example, a rendering thin line image based on the rendering thin line image data generated in step SA5 on the display device 50 (step SA6). The rendered thinned image to be displayed includes, for example, a boundary line representing a boundary between segments. The rendered thinned image is used for selecting a segment by the selection function 159, for example.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rendered thin line image displayed on the display device 50 by the processing circuit 15 illustrated in FIG. In the rendered thinned image shown in FIG. 3, boundary lines are displayed between segments.

  Next, for example, after the rendering thinned image is displayed in step SA6 shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 accepts a predetermined display instruction, and renders the rendered thin line in a desired manner according to the received display instruction. The operation of the processing circuit 15 when displaying the digitized image and the rendered blood vessel image will be described. Hereinafter, a color information display operation in which blood vessels are displayed by being classified by color, an identification information display operation in which identification information related to a branch point is displayed, and a target blood vessel display operation in which a blood vessel that feeds nutrients to a tumor or the like is displayed will be described. To do. As for the method of accepting each display instruction, for example, a processing menu related to the display of the thinned image is displayed on the display device 50, and the operator selects a processing menu corresponding to each display instruction via the input interface 20. The display instruction is accepted. Each display instruction may be accepted by displaying an icon corresponding to each display function on the TCS provided in the input interface 20 and selecting the icon by the operator.

(Color information display operation)
First, a color information display operation in which blood vessels are displayed by being classified by color will be described. FIG. 4 shows an operation when the processing circuit 15 shown in FIG. 1 executes a process of assigning a color to a thinned blood vessel based on the thinned blood vessel data, and renders and displays the thinned blood vessel data to which the color is assigned. It is a flowchart to show.

  For example, the processing circuit 15 receives a color information display instruction indicating that the blood vessel is classified and displayed with respect to the rendered thin line image displayed in step SA6 of FIG. 2 (step SB1).

  For example, when receiving a color information display instruction via the input interface 20, the processing circuit 15 executes the data processing function 161, and renders thinned image data representing the rendered thinned image displayed in step SA <b> 6 of FIG. 2. A feature amount related to the blood vessel is calculated (step SB2). Specifically, the processing circuit 15 uses, for example, time-series blood vessel data for each segment of the thinned blood vessel based on the thinned blood vessel data, the distance from the tumor, the blood flow velocity, the blood flow direction, The length of the blood vessel, the thickness of the blood vessel, the position of the blood vessel, and the like are calculated.

  The processing circuit 15 determines a color to be assigned to each segment of the thinned blood vessel based on the thinned blood vessel data based on the calculated feature amount related to the blood vessel (step SB3). For example, the processing circuit 15 performs the thinned blood vessel based on the calculated distance from the tumor for each blood vessel segment, blood flow velocity, blood flow direction, blood vessel length, blood vessel thickness, blood vessel position, and the like. The color assigned to each segment of the thinned blood vessel based on the data is determined. Specifically, in the thinned blood vessel data, the processing circuit 15 assigns predetermined voxel values (pixel values) to be assigned to the voxels corresponding to each segment in order from the tumor or liver table at a distance farther or closer. decide. The voxel value is represented by an RGB value, for example. The processing circuit 15 adds information regarding the determined color to the thinned blood vessel data. In the thinned blood vessel data, the processing circuit 15 assigns voxel values to be assigned to the voxels corresponding to each segment based on the number of branches from the start portion, the number of core wires derived from the branch point, and the thickness of the blood vessel. You may decide.

  Further, the color assigned to each segment of the thinned image may be determined randomly (randomly). The color assigned to each segment of the thinned image may be arbitrarily determined by an input from the operator or by referring to a preset setting file.

  The processing circuit 15 executes the rendering processing function 163 and renders the thinned blood vessel data to which the color is assigned in Step SB3 (Step SB4). As a result, rendering thinned image data representing a rendering thinned image to which a color is assigned is generated.

  The processing circuit 15 displays the rendered thinned image to which the color based on the rendered thinned image data generated in step SB4 is assigned (step SB5). FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rendered thin line image displayed on the display device 50 by the processing circuit 15 illustrated in FIG. According to FIG. 5, the rendered thinned image is displayed in a different color for each segment. Thereby, the operator can easily recognize the boundary between segments.

  It should be noted that the processing circuit 15 determines the thickness of the segment (core line) to be displayed based on the information about the blood vessel of the portion corresponding to each segment of the thinned blood vessel based on the thinned blood vessel data, for example, the thickness of the blood vessel. May be changed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of the rendered thinned image displayed on the display device 50 by the processing circuit 15 illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 6, the processing circuit 15 assigns and displays the same color to all the segments in the segment group composed of a set of continuous segments derived from one branch point. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the processing circuit 15 assigns a predetermined single color to all the segments in the group G1 composed of five segments. On the other hand, the processing circuit 15 assigns a color different from that of the segment group G1 to all the segments in the segment group G2 composed of five segments. This makes it possible to easily grasp the difference between segment groups.

  Note that the processing circuit 15 may superimpose and display the rendered thinned image to which the color is assigned and the rendered blood vessel image based on the rendered blood vessel image data generated in step SA5 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rendered thinned image and a rendered blood vessel image to which colors are assigned, which are superimposed on the display device 50 by the processing circuit 15 illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 7, a rendered thinned image to which a different color is assigned for each segment is superimposed and displayed on the rendered blood vessel image. Thereby, for example, the operator can easily grasp the positional relationship between the blood vessel core lines and branch points included in the rendered thinned image and the blood vessels included in the rendered blood vessel image.

  The processing circuit 15 renders the thinned blood vessel data representing the rendered thinned image and the rendered blood vessel data representing the rendered blood vessel image, and the rendered thinned image and rendered blood vessel image to be superimposed when rendering the rendered blood vessel data. The transparency of the image may be arbitrarily changed. Further, the processing circuit 15 may change the transparency of the rendered thinned image and the rendered blood vessel image that are superimposed and displayed, for example, according to an input via the input interface 20.

  Further, the processing circuit 15 may display in parallel the rendering thinned image to which the color is assigned and the rendering blood vessel image based on the rendering blood vessel image data generated in step SA5 shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rendered thinned image and a rendered blood vessel image to which colors are assigned, which are displayed in parallel on the display device 50 by the processing circuit 15 illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 8, a rendered thinned image to which a different color is assigned for each segment and a rendered blood vessel image are displayed in parallel. Thereby, the operator can easily grasp the correspondence between the blood vessel core lines and branch points included in the rendered thinned image and the blood vessels included in the rendered blood vessel image.

  Then, the processing circuit 15 displays, for example, at least one segment selected from the displayed rendered thinned image after displaying the rendered thinned image to which the color is assigned in step SB5 shown in FIG. The thinned blood vessel data is processed so that the segments can be distinguished. FIG. 9 shows that the processing circuit 15 shown in FIG. 1 selects at least one segment from the thinned blood vessel based on the thinned blood vessel data divided into a plurality of segments, and the selected at least one segment and other segments are selected. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of processing thinning blood vessel data so that it may distinguish.

  First, the processing circuit 15 selects at least one segment from the thinned blood vessel data to which a color is assigned in step SB3 shown in FIG. 4, for example, according to the input via the input interface 20 (step SC1). As a specific method for selecting a segment, for example, there is a method in which an operator designates a cursor or the like displayed on the display device 50 via the input interface 20. Further, for example, by inputting unique information such as a number or / and a character string to the divided segments via the input interface 20, a blood vessel corresponding to the unique information may be selected.

  The processing circuit 15 executes the data processing function 161 and processes the thinned blood vessel data so that at least one segment selected in step SC1 is distinguished from other segments (step SC2). In the thinned blood vessel data, for example, the processing circuit 15 displays at least one segment selected in step SC1 such that at least one segment selected in step SC1 is displayed and other segments not selected are hidden. A predetermined voxel value is assigned to each voxel included in the thinned blood vessel data corresponding to and another voxel included in the thinned blood vessel data corresponding to the other segment. At this time, the processing circuit 15 assigns, for example, the same voxel value as the voxel value corresponding to the color assigned in step SB3 shown in FIG. 4 to the voxel corresponding to at least one segment selected in step SC1. .

  Further, the processing circuit 15 processes the blood vessel data so that a portion corresponding to at least one segment selected in step SC1 is distinguished from a portion corresponding to the other segments. In the processing circuit 15, in step SC <b> 1, for example, in the blood vessel data, a portion corresponding to at least one segment selected in step SC <b> 1 is displayed and a portion corresponding to another segment not selected is hidden. Predetermined voxel values are respectively assigned to voxels included in blood vessel data corresponding to at least one selected segment and voxels included in blood vessel data corresponding to other segments.

  The processing circuit 15 executes the rendering processing function 163 and renders the thinned blood vessel data processed by the data processing function 161 in step SC2 (step SC3). Specifically, the processing circuit 15 renders the thinned blood vessel data to which a predetermined voxel value is assigned in step SC2. Thereby, at least one segment selected in step SC1 is displayed, and rendering thinned image data representing a rendering thinned image in which other unselected segments are hidden is generated.

  Further, the processing circuit 15 renders the blood vessel data processed by the data processing function 161 in step SC2. Specifically, the processing circuit 15 renders the blood vessel data to which a predetermined voxel value is assigned in step SC2. Thereby, a portion corresponding to at least one segment selected in step SC1 is displayed, and rendering blood vessel image data representing a rendering blood vessel image in which a portion corresponding to another segment not selected is not displayed is generated.

  The processing circuit 15 executes the display control function 165, and displays the rendered thinned image based on the rendered thinned image data generated in step SC3 and the rendered blood vessel image based on the rendered blood vessel image data on the display device 50 ( Step SC4). FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rendered thinned image and a rendered blood vessel image that the processing circuit 15 illustrated in FIG. 1 displays in parallel on the display device 50 for some selected segments. In FIG. 10, for example, the rendering thinned image and the rendering blood vessel image corresponding to the rendering thinned image are displayed in parallel for all segments derived from the selected segment. FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating an example of a rendered thin line image and a rendered blood vessel image that the processing circuit 15 illustrated in FIG. 1 superimposes and displays on the display device 50 for some selected segments. In FIG. 10A, for example, a rendering thinned image and a rendering blood vessel image corresponding to the rendering thinned image are superimposed and displayed for all segments derived from the selected segment.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of a rendered thin line image and a rendered blood vessel image that the processing circuit 15 illustrated in FIG. 1 displays in parallel on the display device 50 for some selected segments. In FIG. 11, for example, a start point and an end point are determined, and a rendering thinned image and a rendering blood vessel image corresponding to the rendering thinned image are displayed in parallel for only a segment on a path passing between the two points. FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating another example of the rendered thin line image and the rendered blood vessel image that the processing circuit 15 illustrated in FIG. 1 superimposes and displays on the display device 50 for the selected partial segment. In FIG. 11A, for example, a start point and an end point are determined, and the rendered thinned image and the rendered blood vessel image corresponding to the rendered thinned image are superimposed and displayed only for the segment on the path passing between these two points.

  According to FIGS. 10, 10A, 11, and 11A, the operator can observe blood vessels only in a desired segment, and can improve the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment related to a tumor or the like. It becomes.

  10, FIG. 10A, FIG. 11, and FIG. 11A display the blood vessels related to the selected segment and hide the blood vessels related to the other segments, but the display mode is not limited to this. For example, the processing circuit 15 may represent the difference between the selected segment and the other segments by changing the color such as displaying in gray out. Further, the processing circuit 15 may represent the difference between the selected segment and other segments by changing the transparency. Further, the processing circuit 15 may represent the difference between the selected segment and other segments by changing the transparency and the color.

  Further, the processing circuit 15 uses, as a technique for highlighting and displaying the selected blood vessel, a technique for changing the thickness ratio with the unselected blood vessel core line, a technique for changing the color, or a technique combining them. The rendered thinned image and the rendered blood vessel image corresponding to the rendered thinned image may be displayed.

(Identification information display operation)
First, an identification information display operation for displaying identification information regarding a branch point will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation when the processing circuit 15 shown in FIG. 1 displays the identification information regarding the branch point of the blood vessel.

  For example, the processing circuit 15 receives an identification information display instruction to display identification information regarding the branch point for the rendered thinned image displayed in step SA6 in FIG. 2 (step SD1).

  For example, when receiving an identification information display instruction via the input interface 20, the processing circuit 15 executes the data processing function 161 and calculates a feature amount related to the blood vessel for the rendered thinned image displayed in step SA <b> 6 of FIG. 2. (Step SD2). For example, for each branch point where a plurality of segments of thinned blood vessels based on the thinned blood vessel data merge, the processing circuit 15 uses the time-series blood vessel data to determine the position where the blood vessel branches and the tumor to be observed. Calculate the distance.

  The processing circuit 15 generates identification information to be displayed based on the blood vessel information (step SD3). The blood vessel information is, for example, the distance between the calculated position where the blood vessel branches and the tumor to be observed. At this time, the identification information is, for example, a number assigned according to the distance from the tumor to the branch point of the blood vessel. The assigned numbers are determined, for example, in order of increasing distance from the tumor or liver surface, or in order of closeness. The number to be assigned may be determined based on the number of branches from the start portion of the main blood vessel or the position where the blood vessel branches, that is, the number of core wires derived from the branch point. Further, the identification information is not limited to numbers but may be a character string such as an alphabet. Further, the identification information may include the shape and color of a figure surrounding a number or character string. The identification information may be generated randomly (randomly). The identification information may be arbitrarily generated by an input from the operator or by referring to a preset setting file.

  The processing circuit 15 executes the display control function 165 and displays, for example, the rendered thin line image generated in step SA5 in FIG. 2 and the identification information (step SD4). Specifically, the processing circuit 15 controls the display device 50 to superimpose and display the identification information regarding the branch point in the rendered thinned image to be displayed, for example, at the position where the blood vessel branches or near the position where the blood vessel branches. To do. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rendering thin line image displayed on the display device 50 by the processing circuit 15 illustrated in FIG. 1 and identification information regarding a branch point of a blood vessel. In FIG. 13, for example, numbers are assigned at each branch point in the order of distance from the tumor or liver table.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating another example of the rendered thinned image displayed on the display device 50 by the processing circuit 15 illustrated in FIG. 1 and the identification information regarding the branch point of the blood vessel. In FIG. 14, for example, numbers are assigned to the respective branch points in the order from the tumor or the liver surface. Further, in FIG. 14, numbers are assigned in duplicate according to the distance from the tumor or liver surface. Moreover, in FIG. 14, the color of the circle surrounding the displayed number is assigned according to the distance from the tumor or liver table.

  According to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the operator can easily grasp the positional relationship between each branch point of the blood vessel and the tumor or the liver table by visually recognizing the rendered thinned image and the identification information. can do. The identification information may be displayed not near each branch point but near each branch point.

  Then, for example, in step SD4 shown in FIG. 12, the processing circuit 15 displays the rendered thinned image and the identification information, selects at least one segment from the displayed rendered thinned image, and selects the selected at least The thinned blood vessel data may be processed so that one segment is distinguished from the other segments. That is, the processing circuit 15 may execute the operation described in the flowchart shown in FIG.

(Target blood vessel display operation)
Finally, a target blood vessel display operation in which blood vessels that feed nutrients to a tumor or the like are displayed will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation of the processing circuit when the processing circuit 15 shown in FIG. 1 selects a target blood vessel for feeding nutrients to the tumor and displays the target blood vessel.

  For example, the processing circuit 15 accepts a target blood vessel display instruction to display a target blood vessel for feeding nutrients to a tumor or the like for the rendered thin line image data representing the rendered thin line image displayed in step SA6 of FIG. 2 (step SE1). ).

  For example, when the processing circuit 15 receives a target blood vessel display instruction via the input interface 20, the processing circuit 15 executes the selection function 159, and the rendered thinned image data representing the rendered thinned image displayed in step SA6 in FIG. Is calculated (step SE2). Specifically, the processing circuit 15 uses, for example, time-series blood vessel data for each segment of the thinned blood vessel based on the thinned blood vessel data, for example, a characteristic amount related to the blood vessel that changes depending on the presence or type of the tumor, for example, a tumor The distance between the blood vessel and the blood vessel, the direction of the blood vessel relative to the tumor, the speed of blood flow, the direction of blood flow, and the like are calculated.

  The processing circuit 15 selects a target blood vessel based on the calculated feature amount related to the blood vessel (step SE3). For example, the processing circuit 15 selects a target blood vessel based on the calculated distance between the tumor and the blood vessel for each blood vessel segment, the direction of the blood vessel with respect to the tumor, the blood flow velocity, the direction of the blood flow, and the like.

  Note that the processing circuit 15 may select a target blood vessel using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Specifically, the processing circuit 15 is a blood vessel selection program provided with a discriminator generated as a result of machine learning, for example, deep learning (deep learning) using teacher data relating to blood vessels feeding nutrients to the tumor. Is used. The teacher data related to blood vessels is, for example, teacher data in which medical image data in which a blood vessel that feeds a tumor is identified based on a feature amount related to a blood vessel and a feature amount related to the blood vessel are associated with each other and accumulated. .

  The processing circuit 15 executes the data processing function 161 and processes the thinned blood vessel data so that at least one segment related to the target blood vessel selected in step SE3 is distinguished from the other segments (step SE4). In the thinned blood vessel data, the processing circuit 15 displays, for example, at least one segment related to the target blood vessel selected in step SE3 as a thick line, and displays the other segments not selected as a thin line than the selected at least one segment. As described above, predetermined voxel values are respectively assigned to voxels included in the thinned blood vessel data corresponding to at least one segment selected in step SE3 and voxels included in the thinned blood vessel data corresponding to other segments. .

  The processing circuit 15 executes the rendering processing function 163 and renders the thinned blood vessel data processed by the data processing function 161 in step SE4 (step SE5). Specifically, the processing circuit 15 renders the thinned blood vessel data to which a predetermined voxel value is assigned in step SE4. Accordingly, at least one segment related to the target blood vessel selected in step SE3 is displayed with a thick line, and other unselected segments are rendered thin lines representing a rendered thinned image displayed with a line thinner than the selected at least one segment. Image data is generated.

  The processing circuit 15 executes the display control function 165 to display, for example, a rendered thinned image based on the rendered thinned image data generated in step SE5, together with the tumor to which the target blood vessel selected in step SE3 is feeding nutrition. The information is displayed on the device 50 (step SE6). FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rendered thin line image displayed on the display device 50 by the processing circuit 15 illustrated in FIG. According to FIG. 16, the processing circuit 15 displays the segment related to the target blood vessel that feeds the tumor with a thick line and the other segments as thin lines than the segment related to the target blood vessel. As a result, the operator can visually recognize the displayed image and can easily recognize, for example, the position and length of the blood vessel to be excised.

  Further, the processing circuit 15 displays, for example, a tumor specified by a tumor specifying function for specifying a tumor position included in the processing circuit 15 together with at least a rendering blood vessel image among the rendering thinned image and the rendering blood vessel image. May be. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a rendering thinned image displayed on the display device 50 by the processing circuit 15 illustrated in FIG. 1 and an example of a tumor. According to FIG. 17, the processing circuit 15 displays the tumor identified by the tumor identifying function provided in the processing circuit 15 as the mark M1. In addition, the processing circuit 15 displays the segment related to the target blood vessel that is feeding nutrition for the tumor indicated by the mark M1 with a thick line, and displays the other segments as thin lines than the segment related to the target blood vessel. As a result, the operator can visually recognize the displayed image and grasp the correspondence between the tumor and the blood vessel in more detail.

  Note that the tumor position is identified by the tumor identification function, for example, the method of measuring the hardness of an organ, and the position of the tumor is identified in another medical image diagnostic apparatus such as an X-ray CT apparatus and an MRI apparatus. It can be performed by a method using a medical image. In addition, the specification of the tumor position by the tumor specifying function is generated as a result of machine learning, for example, deep learning using teacher data in which a medical image and a tumor position in the medical image are associated with each other. It is possible to use a program provided with a discriminator. In addition, specification of the position of the tumor may be performed manually. At this time, for example, the processing circuit 15 may display a cursor or the like on the display device 50 and specify the tumor range via the input interface 20. Further, the processing circuit 15 may receive an input of a coordinate position via the input interface 20, and may designate a tumor having an arbitrary shape and a blood vessel near the tumor.

  According to the present embodiment, the processing circuit 15 executes the thinning processing function 155 and generates thinned blood vessel data representing a thinned blood vessel based on blood vessel data representing a blood vessel that branches into a plurality of branches. Based on blood vessel data representing a blood vessel that branches into a plurality of blood vessels, thin blood vessel data of the blood vessel is generated. The processing circuit 15 executes the dividing function 157 and divides the thinned blood vessel based on the thinned blood vessel data into a plurality of segments on the basis of the position where the thinned thin blood vessel branches. The processing circuit 15 executes the selection function 159 and selects at least one segment from the plurality of segments. The processing circuit 15 executes the data processing function 161 and processes the thinned blood vessel data so that the selected at least one segment is distinguished from the other segments.

  Accordingly, the operator can easily distinguish at least one selected segment from the rendered thinned image displayed from the other segments, and can grasp the running state of the blood vessel in detail. .

  Therefore, the visibility of blood vessels can be improved.

  In the said embodiment, although the ultrasonic diagnosing device 1 was demonstrated as an example of an analyzer, it is not limited to this. In another embodiment, a workstation 100 will be described as an example of an analysis apparatus.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a medical information system including a workstation 100 according to another embodiment. The medical information system shown in FIG. 18 includes a workstation 100, a medical image diagnostic apparatus 200, and an image storage apparatus 300. The workstation 100, the medical image diagnostic apparatus 200, and the image storage apparatus 300 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other directly or indirectly by, for example, a hospital LAN (Local Area Network) installed in the hospital. . For example, when the image storage apparatus 300 constitutes a PACS, the workstation 100, the medical image diagnostic apparatus 200, and the image storage apparatus 300, for example, store medical image data according to the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standard. Send and receive each other.

  The medical image diagnostic apparatus 200 is an apparatus that generates medical image data by imaging a subject. The medical image diagnostic apparatus 200 includes, for example, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, an X-ray CT apparatus, an MRI apparatus, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) apparatus, a PET apparatus, a SPECT apparatus, and an X-ray CT apparatus. SPECT-CT apparatus, PET-CT apparatus in which PET apparatus and X-ray CT apparatus are integrated, PET-MRI apparatus in which PET apparatus and MRI apparatus are integrated, or a group of these apparatuses . The medical image diagnostic apparatus 200 generates blood vessel data in which the blood vessel region is emphasized by performing binarization processing or the like on the generated medical image data, for example.

  The image storage device 300 is a database that stores medical image data. The image storage apparatus 300 stores, for example, medical image data generated by the medical image diagnostic apparatus 200 and generated blood vessel data in a storage circuit provided therein.

  The workstation 100 is an apparatus that performs image processing on blood vessel data generated by the medical image diagnostic apparatus 200 or blood vessel data read from the image storage apparatus 300. Specifically, the workstation 100 is, for example, an apparatus that performs various processes on the read blood vessel data to make the blood vessel structure easier to see.

  18 includes a memory 101, an output interface 102, an input interface 103, a communication interface 104, and a processing circuit 105.

  The memory 101 is realized by, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a semiconductor memory device such as a flash memory, a hard disk, and an optical disk. The memory 101 stores, for example, a program for the processing circuit 105 to realize its function.

  The output interface 102 is connected to the processing circuit 105 and outputs a signal supplied from the processing circuit 105. The output interface 102 is realized by a display, for example. The display displays, for example, a medical image based on the medical image data, a GUI for receiving various operations from the user, and the like based on an instruction from the processing circuit 105.

  The input interface 103 receives various input operations from the user, converts the received input operations into electrical signals, and outputs them to the processing circuit 105.

  The communication interface 104 is connected to, for example, a hospital network. The communication interface 104 receives medical image data and the like from the medical image diagnostic apparatus 200 and the image storage apparatus 300 via, for example, a hospital network.

  The processing circuit 105 is a processor that functions as the center of the workstation 100, for example. The processing circuit 105 executes an operation program stored in the memory 101, thereby realizing a function corresponding to the operation program. Specifically, the processing circuit 105 includes, for example, a thinning processing function 1051, a division function 1052, a selection function 1053, a data processing function 1054, a rendering processing function 1055, a display control function 1056, and a system control function 1057.

  The thinning processing function 1051 is a function for generating thinned blood vessel data representing a thinned blood vessel (core line) based on blood vessel data representing a blood vessel that branches into a plurality of branches. By executing the thinning processing function 1051, the processing circuit 105 performs thinning processing on, for example, blood vessel data based on medical image data generated by the medical image diagnostic apparatus 200 or blood vessel data read from the image storage apparatus 300. To generate thinned blood vessel data.

  The division function 1052 is a function of dividing the thin blood vessel based on the thin blood vessel data into a plurality of segments. By executing the dividing function 1052, the processing circuit 105, for example, defines a thinned blood vessel based on the thinned blood vessel data generated by the thinning processing function 1051 on the basis of a position where the thinned thin blood vessel branches as a plurality of segments. Divide into

  The selection function 1053 is a function for selecting at least one segment from the plurality of segments divided by the division function 1052. By executing the selection function 1053, the processing circuit 105 selects at least one segment selected from the plurality of segments by the operator via the input interface 103, for example.

  By executing the selection function 1053, the processing circuit 105 selects, for example, at least one segment corresponding to a target blood vessel that feeds nutrients to the tumor from the plurality of segments. Specifically, the processing circuit 105 uses, for example, time-series blood vessel data for a plurality of divided segments, for example, a characteristic amount related to a blood vessel that changes depending on the presence or type of the tumor, for example, the distance between the tumor and the blood vessel, The direction of the blood vessel relative to the tumor, the speed of blood flow, the direction of blood flow, and the like are calculated. Then, the processing circuit 105 selects at least one segment corresponding to the target blood vessel that feeds nutrients to the tumor, based on the calculated feature amount regarding each blood vessel of the plurality of segments.

  The data processing function 1054 is a thinned blood vessel data or a blood vessel so that at least one segment selected by the selection function 1053 is distinguished from other segments among a plurality of segments divided by the division function 1052. It is a function that processes data. The data processing function 1054 is an example of an image processing unit described in the claims.

  By executing the data processing function 1054, the processing circuit 105 uses, for example, time-series blood vessel data for a plurality of divided segments, and uses blood vessel feature amounts such as a tumor, a distance between the liver surface and blood vessels, blood The flow velocity, the direction of blood flow, the length of the blood vessel, the thickness of the blood vessel, the position of the blood vessel, and the like are calculated. The processing circuit 105 is configured to display, for example, at least one selected segment among a plurality of divided segments based on the calculated feature amount related to the blood vessel with a thicker line than the other segments. Process thinned blood vessel data.

  Note that the processing circuit 105 displays, for example, at least one segment out of a plurality of segments divided by the division function 1052 and other segments in different colors based on the calculated feature values related to blood vessels. As described above, the thinned blood vessel data may be processed. In addition, the processing circuit 105 displays only at least one selected segment among a plurality of segments divided by the dividing function 1052 based on the calculated feature amount related to the blood vessel, and hides the other segments. As described above, the thinned blood vessel data may be processed.

  In addition, by executing the data processing function 1054, the processing circuit 105 generates identification information related to the branch point of the blood vessel that can identify the branch point of the blood vessel. For example, the processing circuit 105 calculates the distance between the branch point of the blood vessel and the tumor to be observed based on the thinned blood vessel data generated by the thinning processing function 1051. The processing circuit 105 generates identification information related to the branch point of the blood vessel according to the calculated distance.

  Further, the execution of the data processing function 1054 causes the processing circuit 105 to correspond to at least one segment selected by the selection function 1053 out of the plurality of segments divided by the division function 1052 based on the calculated feature quantity related to the blood vessel. The blood vessel data is processed in the same manner as the processing for the thinned blood vessel data so that the portion corresponding to the segment is distinguished from the portion corresponding to the other segment.

  The rendering processing function 1055 is a function for rendering various three-dimensional images. By executing the rendering processing function 1055, the processing circuit 105 renders the three-dimensional blood vessel data or the three-dimensional blood vessel data processed by the data processing function 1054. Thereby, rendering blood vessel image data representing a rendered blood vessel image which is a rendered blood vessel image is generated. Further, the processing circuit 15 renders the three-dimensional thinned blood vessel data or the three-dimensional thinned blood vessel data processed by the data processing function 1054. Thereby, rendering thinned image data representing a rendered thinned image which is a rendered thinned image is generated.

  The display control function 1056 is a function for displaying various images representing blood vessels on the output interface 102. By executing the display control function 1056, the processing circuit 105 causes the output interface 102 to display, for example, identification information related to the branch point of the blood vessel, a rendered blood vessel image, and a rendered thinned image. At this time, the processing circuit 105 superimposes and displays identification information related to the branch point of the blood vessel near the position where the blood vessel branches or the position where the blood vessel branches in the rendered image to be displayed, for example.

  The system control function 1057 is a function for controlling input / output and the like of the workstation 100. With the execution of the system control function 1057, the processing circuit 105 receives selection of various types of processing related to blood vessel data, for example, via the input interface 103. Further, the processing circuit 105 acquires blood vessel data stored in the medical image diagnostic apparatus 200 or the image storage apparatus 300 via the communication interface 104, for example.

  As described above, in another embodiment, the processing circuit 105 included in the workstation 100 is read from, for example, blood vessel data based on medical image data generated by the medical image diagnostic apparatus 200 or the image storage apparatus 300. Thinning processing is performed on blood vessel data to generate thinning blood vessel data. Usually, the workstation 100 can be provided in various places as compared with the medical image diagnostic apparatus 200. Therefore, blood vessel images can be analyzed to select a location.

  In the above embodiment, the processing circuit 15 included in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 is, for example, the blood vessel data processed by the data processing function 161 and the data processing function in step SC3 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The thinned blood vessel data subjected to the processing of 161 is rendered, and the rendered rendered blood vessel image and the rendered thinned blood image are displayed in a superimposed manner or in parallel. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the processing circuit 15 combines the blood vessel data processed by the data processing function 161 with the thinned blood vessel data processed by the data processing function 161, and renders the combined data. Also good. At this time, for example, the processing circuit 15 displays a rendering composite image based on the rendering composite image data generated as a result of rendering the composite data on the display device 50.

  The term “processor” used in the above description is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), a programmable logic device (for example, It means a circuit such as a simple programmable logic device (SPLD), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The processor implements a function by reading and executing a program stored in the storage circuit. Note that each processor of the present embodiment is not limited to being configured as a single circuit for each processor, but may be configured as a single processor by combining a plurality of independent circuits to realize the function. Good. Furthermore, a plurality of components in FIG. 1 may be integrated into one processor to realize the function.

  According to at least one embodiment described above, the visibility of blood vessels can be improved.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 ... Apparatus main body 11 ... Ultrasonic transmitting circuit 12 ... Ultrasonic receiving circuit 15, 105 ... Processing circuit 17 ... Internal memory circuit 18 ... Image memory 19 ... Image database 20 ... Input interface 21 ... Communication interface 40 ... External device 50 ... Display device 60 ... Input device 70 ... Ultrasonic probe 90 ... Network 100 ... Workstation 101 ... Memory 102 ... Output interface 103 ... Input interface 104 ... Communication interface 151 ... Signal processing function 153 ... Image generation function 155, 1051 ... Thinning processing function 157, 1052 ... Dividing function 159, 1053 ... Selection function 161, 1054 ... Data processing function 163, 1055 ... Rendering processing function 165, 1056 ... Display control function 167, 1057 ... System control function 2 0 ... medical diagnostic imaging apparatus 300 ... the image storage device

Claims (10)

A thinning processing unit that generates a thinned image of the blood vessel based on a blood vessel image representing a blood vessel that branches into a plurality of blood vessels;
A dividing unit that divides the thinned image into a plurality of segments based on a position where the blood vessel branches; and
A selection unit for selecting at least one segment from the plurality of segments;
An image processing unit that processes the thinned image so that the at least one segment is distinguished from the other segments;
Analysis device with   The analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit processes the blood vessel image so that a portion corresponding to the at least one segment and a portion corresponding to the other segment are distinguished. The blood vessel image and the thinned image are three-dimensional images,
The analysis apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rendering processing unit that renders the thinned image that has been processed by the image processing unit. The blood vessel image and the thinned image are three-dimensional images,
The rendering processing unit for rendering the thinned image to generate a first rendered image, and rendering the thinned image that has been processed by the image processing unit to generate a second rendered image. The analysis apparatus according to 1. The blood vessel image and the thinned image are three-dimensional images,
The analysis device according to claim 2, further comprising: a rendering processing unit that renders the thinned image processed by the image processing unit and the blood vessel image processed by the image processing unit. The blood vessel image and the thinned image are three-dimensional images,
The rendering processing unit according to claim 2, further comprising: a rendering processing unit that renders a composite image obtained by combining the thinned image processed by the image processing unit and the blood vessel image processed by the image processing unit. Analysis device.   The image processing unit calculates a feature quantity related to the blood vessel using the blood vessel image, and based on the calculated feature quantity, at least one segment selected by the selection unit is distinguished from other segments. As described above, the analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined pixel value is assigned to the thinned image. A display control unit that displays the thinned image that has been rendered by the rendering processing unit;
The image processing unit calculates a feature amount related to the blood vessel using the blood vessel image and the thinned image, and generates identification information related to the branch point of the blood vessel based on the calculated feature amount,
The display control unit displays the identification information at a position where the blood vessel branches or in the vicinity of the position.
The analysis device according to claim 3.   The said selection part calculates the feature-value regarding the said blood vessel using the said blood-vessel image, Based on the calculated said feature-value, the blood vessel which is feeding the tumor is selected in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3 The analysis device described. On the computer,
A thinning processing function for generating a thinned image of the blood vessel based on a blood vessel image representing a blood vessel that branches into a plurality of branches,
A division function for dividing the thinned image into a plurality of segments based on a position where the blood vessel branches; and
A selection function for selecting at least one segment from the plurality of segments;
An image processing function for processing the thinned image so that the at least one segment is distinguished from the other segments;
A program that realizes