JP2023050348A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and control method of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device and a control method of an ultrasonic diagnostic device that allow a user to easily determine a vibrator suitable for a currently executed examination.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (1) includes: a vibrator array (11A) of a first type; a vibrator array (11B) of a second type; an ultrasonic image acquisition unit (19) for acquiring a first ultrasonic image by the vibrator array (11A) of the first type and acquiring a second ultrasonic image by the vibrator array (11B) of the second type; a monitor; and a superimposed display unit (16) for, when after one of the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image is acquired as a first image, the other is acquired as a second image in the same examination, aligning the first image with the second image, superimposing the first image on the second image as a background of the second image, and displaying it in the monitor (15).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can use a plurality of types of transducer arrays and a control method for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

Conventionally, when performing an examination inside a subject using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a user uses a so-called linear ultrasonic probe having a linear transducer array, a convex ultrasonic probe having a convex transducer array, or a sector transducer array. A plurality of types of ultrasonic probes, such as sector ultrasonic probes having .

In order to facilitate such proper use, for example, an ultrasonic probe disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been developed. The ultrasonic probe of Patent Document 1 has a linear transducer array at one end of the housing and a convex transducer array at the other end of the housing. The user manually switches between the linear transducer array and the convex transducer array.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,532,768

However, in Patent Document 1, since the linear ultrasonic image and the convex ultrasonic image are displayed separately, the user checks the ultrasonic image to determine which of the linear transducer array and the convex transducer array is appropriate for the examination. It was sometimes difficult to determine

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such conventional problems, and provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that enable a user to easily determine an appropriate transducer for an examination currently being performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control method for an apparatus.

To achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a first type transducer array, a second type transducer array different from the first type, and a first type transducer array. A first ultrasonic image is obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves using a transducer array, and a second ultrasonic image is obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves using a second type of transducer array. After one of the first ultrasound image and the second ultrasound image is acquired as the first image by the ultrasound image acquisition unit in the same examination as the ultrasound image acquisition unit to be acquired and the monitor and a superimposition display unit for displaying the first image in registration with the second image and superimposed on the second image as a background of the second image on the monitor when the other is acquired as the second image. characterized by

The superimposed display unit can geometrically correct the first image in accordance with the second image and display the first image superimposed on the second image on the monitor.
The superimposed display section can also display the second image on the monitor with a defined transparency so that the background can be seen through.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can include a region recognition unit that recognizes regions captured in the first image and the second image.
At this time, the superimposed display unit superimposes the first image and the second image on each other and displays them on the monitor when the regions recognized by the region recognition unit from the first image and the second image are the same. Only the second image can be displayed on the monitor when the regions recognized by the recognition unit from the first image and the second image are different from each other.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image selection unit that selects an ultrasonic image more suitable for diagnosis from among the first image and the second image as a suitable image, a first type transducer array and a second type vibration and a notification unit that notifies the transducer array used for acquisition of the preferred image selected by the image selection unit from among the transducer arrays.
At this time, the image selection unit can select an ultrasound image having a higher image quality evaluation value from among the first image and the second image as the preferred image.

In addition, the part recognition unit calculates a score representing the likeness of the part recognized from the first image and the second image, and the image selection unit calculates the score calculated by the part recognition unit among the first image and the second image. An ultrasound image whose score is more likely to be a part can be selected as a suitable image.
Also, the superimposed display unit can display a figure corresponding to the outline of the first image on the monitor.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a first ultrasonic probe in which a first type transducer array is housed in a first housing, and a second type transducer array in a second housing. and a second ultrasound probe.
Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can also include a common ultrasonic probe in which the first type transducer array and the second type transducer array are housed in a common housing.

The first type of transducer array and the second type of transducer array are two different types of transducer arrays among the three types of linear transducer array, convex transducer array, and sector transducer array. may be

A control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention is a control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including both a first type transducer array and a second type transducer array different from the first type. Acquiring a first ultrasonic image by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves using a first type transducer array and transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves using a second type transducer array acquires a second ultrasound image, and in the same examination, after one of the first ultrasound image and the second ultrasound image is acquired as the first image, the other is acquired as the second image If so, the first image is displayed on the monitor in registration with the second image and superimposed on the second image as the background of the second image.

According to the present invention, after one of the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image is acquired as the first image by the ultrasonic image acquiring unit in the same examination, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a superimposition display unit that aligns the first image with the second image and displays the second image on the monitor as a background of the second image when the other is obtained as the second image, The user can easily determine the appropriate transducer for the examination currently being performed.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic probe according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a transmission/reception circuit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image generator in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a first image and a second image superimposed on each other in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a figure corresponding to the contour of the first image superimposed on the first image and the second image in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a first ultrasonic probe in a modification of Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a second ultrasonic probe in a modification of Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention; FIG.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The description of the constituent elements described below is based on representative embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments.
In this specification, a numerical range represented by "-" means a range including the numerical values before and after "-" as lower and upper limits.
As used herein, the terms "same" and "same" shall include the margin of error generally accepted in the technical field.

Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 includes an ultrasonic probe 2 and an apparatus body 3 connected to the ultrasonic probe 2 .
The ultrasonic probe 2 includes a first type transducer array 11A connected to the device main body 3 and a second type transducer array 11B connected to the device main body 3 . Here, the transducer array 11A of the first type and the transducer array 11B of the second type are any of a plurality of types such as a so-called convex transducer array, a linear transducer array, and a sector transducer array. and have different types.

The apparatus main body 3 includes a transmission/reception circuit 12 connected to the first type transducer array 11A and the second type transducer array 11B. An image generation unit 13 , a display control unit 14 and a monitor 15 are connected to the transmission/reception circuit 12 in sequence. A superimposed display unit 16 is connected to the image generation unit 13 . A display control unit 14 is connected to the superimposed display unit 16 .

A device control section 17 is connected to the transmission/reception circuit 12 , the image generation section 13 , the display control section 14 and the superimposed display section 16 . An input device 18 is connected to the device control section 17 .

An ultrasonic image acquisition unit 19 is configured by the transmission/reception circuit 12 and the image generation unit 13 . A processor 20 for the device main body 3 is configured by the image generating section 13 , the display control section 14 , the superimposed display section 16 and the device control section 17 .

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic probe 2 has a housing H that accommodates both the first type transducer array 11A and the second type transducer array 11B. In the ultrasonic probe 2, a first type transducer array 11A is arranged at one end of the housing H, and a second type transducer array 11B is arranged at the other end of the housing H. In the example of FIG. 2, the transducer array 11A of the first type is a convex transducer array, and the transducer array 11B of the second type is a linear transducer array.

The first type transducer array 11A and the second type transducer array 11B have a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally. These ultrasonic transducers each transmit ultrasonic waves in accordance with drive signals supplied from the transmission/reception circuit 12, receive ultrasonic echoes from the subject, and output signals based on the ultrasonic echoes. Each ultrasonic transducer includes, for example, a piezoelectric ceramic typified by PZT (Lead Zirconate Titanate), a polymer piezoelectric element typified by PVDF (Poly Vinylidene Di Fluoride), and a PMN- Electrodes are formed at both ends of a piezoelectric body made of a piezoelectric single crystal or the like typified by PT (Lead Magnesium Niobate-Lead Titanate).

The ultrasonic image acquisition unit 19 acquires a first ultrasonic image by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves using the first type transducer array 11A, and acquires the second type transducer array 11B. A second ultrasonic image is obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves using the ultrasonic wave.

Under the control of the device control unit 17, the transmission/reception circuit 12 of the ultrasonic image acquisition unit 19 transmits ultrasonic waves from the first type transducer array 11A and acquires ultrasonic waves from the first type transducer array 11A. signal processing. Further, under the control of the device control unit 17, the transmission/reception circuit 12 transmits ultrasonic waves from the second type transducer array 11B and processes signals acquired by the second type transducer array 11B. conduct.

As shown in FIG. 3, the transmitting/receiving circuit 12 has a pulser 31 connected to the first type transducer array 11A and the second type transducer array 11B. The transmitting/receiving circuit 12 includes an amplifying section 32, an AD (Analog to Digital) converting section 33, and a beam former, which are sequentially connected in series from the transducer array 11A of the first type and the transducer array 11B of the second type. 34.

The pulsar 31 includes, for example, a plurality of pulse generators, and based on a transmission delay pattern selected according to a control signal from the device control section 17, a plurality of pulse generators of the transducer array 11A of the first type. Each drive signal is supplied to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers with a delay amount adjusted so that ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transducers form ultrasonic beams. In this way, when a pulse-like or continuous-wave voltage is applied to the electrodes of the ultrasonic transducers of the first type transducer array 11A, the piezoelectric body expands and contracts, and the respective ultrasonic transducers generate pulse-like or continuous-wave voltages. A continuous wave of ultrasonic waves is generated and an ultrasonic beam is formed from a composite wave of the ultrasonic waves.

The transmitted ultrasonic beams are reflected by, for example, an object to be inspected in the subject, and propagate toward the first type transducer array 11A. The ultrasonic echoes propagating toward the transducer array 11 in this manner are received by the respective ultrasonic transducers forming the first type transducer array 11A. At this time, each of the ultrasonic transducers constituting the first type transducer array 11A receives the propagating ultrasonic echo and expands and contracts to generate a received signal that is an electrical signal, and these It outputs the received signal to the amplifier 32 .

The pulsar 31 adjusts the delay amount of the driving signal and supplies it to the transducer array 11B of the second type in the same manner as the transducer array 11A of the first type. As a result, ultrasonic beams are transmitted into the subject from the transducer array 11B of the second type. In addition, the second type transducer array 11B receives ultrasonic echoes propagating in the subject and generates a reception signal in the same manner as the first type transducer array 11A. The received signal generated by the transducer array 11B of the second type is output to the amplifier 32 in the same manner as the received signal generated by the transducer array 11A of the first type.

The amplifier 32 amplifies signals input from the respective ultrasonic transducers forming the first type transducer array 11 A and transmits the amplified signals to the AD converter 33 . Further, the amplifier 32 amplifies signals input from the respective ultrasonic transducers constituting the transducer array 11B of the second type, and transmits the amplified signals to the AD converter 33 .

The AD converter 33 converts the signal transmitted from the amplifier 32 into a digital format. The beamformer 34 performs so-called reception focusing processing by giving respective delays to the digital received signals received from the AD converter 33 and adding them. By this reception focusing process, each reception signal converted by the AD converter 33 is phased and added, and a sound ray signal, which is a reception signal in which the focus of the ultrasonic echo is narrowed, is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image generator 13 has a configuration in which a signal processor 35, a DSC (Digital Scan Converter) 36, and an image processor 37 are connected in series.
The signal processing unit 35 corrects the attenuation due to the distance according to the depth of the reflection position of the ultrasonic wave to the sound ray signal sent from the transmission/reception circuit 12, and then performs envelope detection processing to obtain the sound ray signal from the subject. A B-mode image signal, which is tomographic image information regarding internal tissue, is generated.

The DSC 36 converts (raster-converts) the B-mode image signal generated by the signal processing unit 35 into an image signal conforming to the normal television signal scanning method.

The image processing unit 37 performs various necessary image processing such as gradation processing on the B-mode image signal input from the DSC 36, and then outputs the B-mode image signal to the display control unit in accordance with a command from the device control unit 17. 14 and the superimposed display unit 16 . Hereinafter, the B-mode image signal subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 37 is simply referred to as an ultrasound image. In particular, an ultrasonic image generated by scanning using the first type transducer array 11A is scanned using the first ultrasonic image and the second type transducer array 11B. The ultrasonic image generated by this is called a second ultrasonic image.

Under the control of the device control unit 17 , the display control unit 14 performs predetermined processing on the ultrasound image and the like generated by the image generation unit 13 and displays the processed image on the monitor 15 .
The monitor 15 performs various displays under the control of the display control section 14 . The monitor 15 includes, for example, a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL display (Organic Electroluminescence Display).
The input device 18 is for a user such as a doctor to perform an input operation. The input device 18 is composed of, for example, devices such as buttons, switches, touch pads, and touch panels for users to perform input operations.

In the same examination, the superimposed display unit 16 acquires one of the first ultrasound image and the second ultrasound image by the ultrasound image acquisition unit 19 as the first image, and then acquires the other as the second image. When acquired as an image, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the first image U1 is displayed on the monitor 15 in alignment with the second image U2 and superimposed on the second image U2 as the background of the second image U2. do. At this time, the superimposed display unit 16 changes the pixel density (mm/pixel) of the first image U1 to the pixel density (mm/pixel) of the second image U2 without changing the aspect ratio of the first image U1. Together, the first image U1 can be superimposed on the second image U2.

In the example of FIG. 5, the first image U1 contains the part A1 and the second image U2 contains the part A2. As the superimposed display unit 16 aligns the positions, the parts A1 and A2 are actually overlapped with each other. Also, the first image U1 and the second image U2 overlap each other, but are shown in a state of being shifted from each other for the sake of explanation.

The superimposed display unit 16 displays the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image when the examination ID associated with the first ultrasonic image and the examination ID associated with the second ultrasonic image are equal to each other. It is determined that they are acquired in the same examination, and when the examination ID associated with the first ultrasonic image and the examination ID associated with the second ultrasonic image are different from each other, the first ultrasonic image and the first Assume that two ultrasound images were acquired within different examinations. An examination ID is information for identifying an examination of a subject. The examination ID is generated, for example, by the device control unit 17 based on a user's instruction via the input device 18 and associated with the ultrasound image generated by the image generation unit 13 . For example, in a state in which the examination of the subject is being continued, until the user inputs an instruction to start a new and different examination via the input device 18, the ultrasonic image generated by the image generating unit 13 is are associated with the same examination ID, and the user inputs an instruction to start a new and different examination via the input device 18, for the ultrasonic image generated by the image generation unit 13 A new study ID is associated.

Also, the superimposed display unit 16 can use a known alignment method when aligning the first image U1 and the second image U2. As a registration method, for example, a so-called block matching method, a so-called gradient method, or the like can be used to track corresponding points for each image position, for example, for each pixel.

Displaying the first image U1 as the background of the second image U2 on the monitor 15 means displaying the second image U2 on the first image U1 on the monitor 15 while superimposing it on the first image U1. At this time, the superimposed display unit 16 displays the second image U2 with a predetermined transparency so that the user can easily distinguish between the first image U1 and the second image U2, for example, the background can be seen through. can be displayed. At this time, the superimposed display unit 16 can further display the first image U1 and the second image U2 in different colors.

Here, in general, when a plurality of types of transducer arrays can be used, it is preferable to use an appropriate type of transducer array according to the purpose, such as the examination site of the subject. However, when only one of the first image U1 and the second image U2 is displayed on the monitor 15 as in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the user can display the first image U1 and the second image U2 with each other. It was not easy to compare, and it was sometimes difficult to determine which of the first type of transducer array and the second type of transducer array was more suitable for the examination currently being performed. .

The superimposed display unit 16 displays the first image U1 on the monitor 15 in alignment with the second image U2 and superimposed on the second image U2 as the background of the second image U2. can be easily compared with the second image U2, and it can be easily determined which of the first type transducer array 11A and the second type transducer array 11B is suitable for the examination currently being performed.

Note that, for example, the user determines that the image in which the regions A1 and A2 appear more clearly between the first image U1 and the second image U2 is a preferable image, and the transducer array used to generate that image is currently It can be determined that it is suitable for the examination being performed.

The device control section 17 controls each section of the device main body 3 according to a prerecorded program or the like. Further, the device control unit 17 uses either the first type transducer array 11A or the second type transducer array 11B based on the instruction information input by the user via the input device 18. , and causes the transmission/reception circuit 12 to operate the selected one of the first type transducer array 11A and the second type transducer array 11B. Further, the device control unit 17 can associate an examination ID with the ultrasound image generated by the image generation unit 13 based on the user's instruction via the input device 18 .

Note that the processor 20 having the image generation unit 13, the display control unit 14, the superimposed display unit 16, and the device control unit 17 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a controller for causing the CPU to perform various processes. It consists of a control program, FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit: graphics processing unit) or other ICs (Integrated Circuits), or may be configured by combining them.

Further, the image generating section 13, the display control section 14, the superimposed display section 16 and the device control section 17 of the processor 20 can be partially or wholly integrated into one CPU or the like.

Next, the basic operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. In the following description of the operation, the first ultrasonic image generated by scanning using the transducer array 11A of the first type is the first image U1, and scanning using the transducer array 11B of the second type. Although an example in which the second ultrasound image generated by is the second image U2 will be described, the present invention is not particularly limited to this. Further, in the following description of the operation, the user does not input an instruction to start another new examination via the input device 18 during the examination, and the ultrasonic image generated by the image generating unit 13 is the same. examination IDs are associated.

In step S1, the inside of the subject is scanned by the transducer array 11A of the first type.

First, the user inputs instruction information to the effect that the transducer array 11A of the first type is to be used via the input device 18, and the transducer array 11A of the first type is selected by the device control section 17. . Further, the inside of the subject is scanned by the first type transducer array 11A while the user touches the end of the ultrasonic probe 2 on the first type transducer array 11A side to the body surface of the subject. Then, the first ultrasound images inside the subject are continuously captured.

At this time, ultrasonic beams are transmitted into the subject from the plurality of transducers of the transducer array 11A of the first type according to the drive signal from the pulser 31 of the transmission/reception circuit 12, and ultrasonic echoes from the subject are received. A received signal is sent to the amplifying section 32 of the transmitting/receiving circuit 12 from each vibrator. The received signal is amplified by the amplifier 32, converted from analog format to digital format by the AD converter 33, and phased and added by the beamformer 34 to generate a sound ray signal. A first ultrasonic image is generated by subjecting the sound ray signal to various types of processing in the image generation unit 13 .

The first ultrasonic images continuously generated in this way are displayed continuously on the monitor 15 at a constant frame rate.

Next, in step S2, the first ultrasonic image generated by the scanning in step S1 is acquired as the first image U1.

At this time, first, the continuously displayed first ultrasound images are frozen on the monitor 15 according to the user's instruction via the input device 18 . Here, freezing an ultrasonic image means that, in a state in which the ultrasonic image is continuously displayed on the monitor 15, one frame of ultrasonic waves displayed on the monitor 15 is displayed at the timing when the user instructs freezing. To continue displaying the image on the monitor 15 as a still image.

With the first ultrasonic image frozen on the monitor 15 in this way, when the user gives an instruction to save the first ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor 15 via the input device 18, , the first ultrasound image of one frame displayed on the monitor 15 is acquired as the first image U1, and the acquired first image U1 is sent to the superimposed display section 16. FIG. Also, at this time, an examination ID related to the current examination is associated with the first image U1.

In step S3, the second-type transducer array 11B scans the same region in the subject that was scanned by the first-type transducer array 11A in step S1.

In step S1, similarly to the case where the transducer array 11A of the first type is used, the user inputs instruction information to the effect that the transducer array 11B of the second type is to be used via the input device 18, The device control section 17 selects the transducer array 11B of the second type. Further, the user contacts the end of the ultrasonic probe 2 on the side of the second type transducer array 11B in step S1 with the end of the ultrasonic probe 2 on the side of the first type transducer array 11A. The inside of the subject is scanned by the transducer array 11B of the second type while the subject is in contact with the same location as the location on the body surface of the subject, and the second ultrasonic images of the interior of the subject are continuously generated. be filmed.

At this time, ultrasonic beams are transmitted into the subject from the plurality of transducers of the second type transducer array 11B according to the drive signal from the pulser 31 of the transmission/reception circuit 12, and ultrasonic echoes from the subject are received. A received signal is sent to the amplifying section 32 of the transmitting/receiving circuit 12 from each vibrator. The received signal is amplified by the amplifier 32, converted from analog format to digital format by the AD converter 33, and phased and added by the beamformer 34 to generate a sound ray signal. A second ultrasonic image is generated by subjecting the sound ray signal to various types of processing in the image generation unit 13 .

Next, in step S4, the second ultrasound image generated by the scanning in step S3 is obtained as the second image U2. Also, at this time, the examination ID related to the current examination is associated with the second image U2.

At this time, first, the continuously displayed second ultrasound image is frozen on the monitor 15 according to the user's instruction via the input device 18 .

With the second ultrasonic image frozen on the monitor 15 in this manner, when the user issues an instruction to save the second ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor 15 via the input device 18, , the second ultrasound image of one frame displayed on the monitor 15 is acquired as the second image U2, and the acquired second image U2 is sent to the superimposed display unit 16. FIG.

In step S5, the superimposed display unit 16 displays the first image U1 and the second image U2 within the same examination based on the examination ID associated with the first image U1 and the examination ID associated with the second image U2. It is determined that it has been acquired, and as shown in FIG. 5, the first image U1 acquired in step S2 is aligned with the second image U2. At this time, the superimposed display unit 16 uses, for example, a block matching method, a gradient method, or the like to trace the corresponding points for each image position, for example, for each pixel (pixel). Two images U2 can be aligned.

Finally, the superimposed display unit 16 superimposes the first image U1 aligned in step S5 on the second image U2 as the background of the second image U2 and displays it on the monitor 15, as shown in FIG. At this time, the superimposed display unit 16 can display the first image U1 and the second image U2 on the monitor 15 in different colors. Also, the superimposed display unit 16 adjusts the pixel density (mm/pixel) of the first image U1 to the pixel density (mm/pixel) of the second image U2 without changing the aspect ratio of the first image U1, for example. , the first image U1 can be superimposed on the second image U2.

The user can easily compare the first image U1 and the second image U2 displayed together on the monitor 15 to see if the first type transducer array 11A is suitable for the examination currently being performed. It can be easily determined whether the two types of transducer arrays 11B are suitable. At this time, the user determines, for example, that the image in which the parts A1 and A2 appear more clearly between the first image U1 and the second image U2 is a preferable image, and the transducer array used to generate that image can be judged to be suitable for the tests currently being performed.

Thus, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the flowchart of FIG. 6 is completed.

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the superimposed display unit 16 aligns the first image U1 with the second image U2 and The user can easily compare the first image U1 and the second image U2 displayed together on the monitor 15 in order to display on the monitor 15 superimposed on the second image U2 as the background of U2, and what is currently being done. It can be easily determined whether the transducer array 11A of the first type or the transducer array 11B of the second type is suitable for a given examination.

Although it has been described that the first ultrasound image of one frame frozen on the monitor 15 is obtained as the first image U1 in step S2, the method of obtaining the first image U1 is particularly limited to this. not. For example, the first ultrasonic image of one frame selected by the user from among the first ultrasonic images of a plurality of frames generated within a certain period of time until the first ultrasonic image is frozen is the first It may be acquired as an image U1. At this time, the first ultrasound images of a plurality of frames can be displayed in a so-called scroll display, a list display, or the like on the monitor 15 according to the user's instruction via the input device 18 .

Further, in step S4, it is described that the second ultrasound image of one frame frozen on the monitor 15 is acquired as the second image U2. The acquisition method of the image U2 is not particularly limited to this. For example, similarly to the acquisition method of the first image U1, one selected by the user from the second ultrasound images of a plurality of frames generated within a certain period of time until the second ultrasound image is frozen. A second ultrasound image of the frame may be acquired as the second image U2.

In addition, the second image U2 is not limited to the second ultrasound image of one frame selected by the user. It can also be taken as U2. In this case, the superimposed display unit 16 aligns the first image U1 with the second images U2 that are continuously generated, and superimposes the second image U2 on the aligned first image U1 to display on the monitor 15. to display. Even in this case, the user can easily compare the first image U1 and the second image U2. You can easily decide if it is suitable for you.

Also, the superimposed display unit 16 can align the second image U2 with the first image U1 instead of aligning the first image U1 with the second image U2.

In general, when the inside of a subject is imaged using different transducer arrays, the appearance of the ultrasound image may differ, such as the scale of the image being different due to the difference in examination conditions. In this way, even when the appearance of ultrasound images captured using different transducer arrays differs from each other, the superimposed display unit 16 displays the first image so that the user can easily compare both ultrasound images. U1 can be geometrically corrected to match the second image U2.

Here, geometrically correcting the first image U1 to match the second image U2 means that the size of the anatomical structure included in the first image U1, the size of the anatomical structure included in the second image U2, For example, the size of the image of the part A1 included in the first image U1 and the size of the part A2 included in the second image U2 are enlarged, reduced, or deformed so that they are approximately the same. Transformation includes, for example, transforming an elliptical rendered portion into a circular shape. The superimposed display unit 16 can perform so-called primary transformation when geometrically correcting the first image U1.

By geometrically correcting the first image U1 in accordance with the second image U2 in this way, the user can more easily compare the first image U1 and the second image U2 to obtain the vibration of the first type. It can be easily determined which of the transducer array 11A and the second type transducer array 11B is suitable for the current examination.

Also, the superimposed display unit 16 can geometrically correct the second image U2 with respect to the first image U1 instead of geometrically correcting the first image U1 with respect to the second image U2.

Further, the superimposed display unit 16 may display a figure G1 having the same contour as the contour of the first image U1 on the monitor 15 by superimposing it on the first image U1 and the second image U2, as shown in FIG. 7, for example. can. Here, the outline of the first image U1 is the outline of the image area of the first image U1, that is, the outline of the area where ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received and image formation is performed when the first image U1 is generated. That's what I mean. Further, hereinafter, an image G1 having the same outline as the outline of the first image U1 may be referred to as a figure G1 corresponding to the outline of the first image U1. In the example of FIG. 7, the first image U1 is a convex ultrasonic image, and the monitor 15 displays a graphic G1 corresponding to the outline of the convex ultrasonic image. As a result, the user can easily grasp the type of transducer array used immediately before the transducer array currently in use, and more easily determine which transducer array is suitable for the current inspection. can.

Note that the superimposed display unit 16 may display the figure G1 corresponding to the outline of the first image U1 on the monitor 15 as shown in FIG. may be represented by a dotted line or a solid line having a certain degree of transparency.

Also, the superimposed display unit 16 may display a graphic corresponding to the outline of the second image U2 on the monitor 15 together with the graphic G1 corresponding to the outline of the first image U1. At this time, the superimposed display unit 16 displays the outline of the first image U1, such as by displaying the figure G1 corresponding to the outline of the first image U1 with a dotted line and displaying the figure corresponding to the outline of the second image U2 with a solid line. and the graphic corresponding to the outline of the second image U2 can be displayed on the monitor 15 in different display modes. In this case, the user can easily grasp the type of transducer array currently in use and the type of transducer array used immediately before, and determine which transducer array is suitable for the current inspection. can be determined more easily.

8 instead of the ultrasonic probe 2 in which the first type transducer array 11A and the second type transducer array 11B are housed in a common housing H. A first ultrasonic probe 2A in which a first type transducer array 11A is housed in a first housing H1, and a second type transducer array 11B as shown in FIG. A second ultrasonic probe 2B housed in the housing H2 may be provided. In the example of FIG. 8, a so-called convex ultrasonic probe having a convex transducer array is shown as the first ultrasonic probe 2A. Also, in the example of FIG. 9, a so-called linear ultrasonic probe having a linear transducer array is shown as an example of the second ultrasonic probe 2B.

Further, in Embodiment 1, it is described that the transmission/reception circuit 12 and the image generation unit 13 are included in the device main body 3. However, instead of being included in the device main body 3, the transmission/reception circuit 12 and the image generation unit 13 are It may be included in the ultrasonic probe 2 .

Also, it is described that the superimposed display unit 16 determines whether or not the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image are acquired in the same examination based on the examination ID. It is also possible to determine whether the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image were acquired in the same examination, based on examination information input by the user via the input device 18, for example. The examination information is information about the examination currently being performed on the subject, and includes, for example, examination date and time, an ID for identifying the subject, the name of the subject, and the like. The examination date and time is time-series information including the start time of the examination and the end time of the examination. can be recorded as a time stamp. Such examination information can be associated, for example, with the ultrasonic image generated by the image generating unit 13 by the device control unit 17, and can be stored for each subject in a memory (not shown).

In this case, the superimposed display unit 16, for example, compares the examination information associated with the first ultrasound image and the examination information associated with the second ultrasound image, and If the ID for identifying the subject and the name of the subject match, it can be determined that the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image have been acquired in the same examination.

Embodiment 2
In Embodiment 1, regardless of whether or not the site A1 imaged using the first type transducer array 11A and the site A2 imaged using the second type transducer array 11B are the same. First, the second image U2 is superimposed on the first image U1 and displayed. However, the second image U2 can be displayed superimposed on the first image U1 only when the part A1 and the part A2 are the same.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1A according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment includes an apparatus main body 3A instead of the apparatus main body 3 in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. A device main body 3A according to the second embodiment is the same as the device main body 3 according to the first embodiment, except that a part recognition section 41 is added and a device control section 17A is provided instead of the device control section 17. FIG.

In the device main body 3A, the display control section 14 and the part recognition section 41 are connected to the image generation section 13 . Also, the superimposed display unit 16 and the device control unit 17A are connected to the part recognition unit 41 . Further, the image generation section 13, the display control section 14, the superimposed display section 16, the device control section 17A and the part recognition section 41 constitute a processor 20A for the device main body 3A.

Part recognition unit 41 recognizes parts A1 and A2 captured in first image U1 and second image U2 by performing image analysis on first image U1 and second image U2, respectively.

The part recognition unit 41 can recognize the parts A1 and A2 captured in the first image U1 and the second image U2, respectively, using, for example, a so-called template matching method. In this case, the part recognition unit 41 stores, for example, a plurality of templates corresponding to the shapes of a plurality of parts of the subject in advance, and determines the correlation between the patterns appearing in the first image U1 and the second image U2 and the templates. A value is calculated, and when the correlation value is equal to or higher than a certain value, it can be recognized that the part corresponding to the template is included in the first image U1 and the second image U2.

The part recognition unit 41 can also use, for example, a so-called machine learning method. In this case, the part recognition unit 41, for example, pre-registers a plurality of teacher images relating to a plurality of parts of the subject and a plurality of teacher images relating to the anatomical structures existing around the plurality of parts of the subject. The regions A1 and A2 included in the first image U1 and the second image U2 are converted into quantity vectors, and the obtained feature quantity vectors are processed by a so-called Adaboost or SVM (Support Vector Machine) or the like. can recognize

The part recognition unit 41 can also use, for example, a so-called deep learning method. In this case, the part recognition unit 41 preliminarily stores a plurality of teacher images relating to a plurality of parts of the subject and a plurality of teacher images relating to the anatomical structures existing around the plurality of parts of the subject. The parts A1 and A2 included in the first image U1 and the second image U2 can be recognized using a so-called segmentation model or the like based on the plurality of teacher images obtained.

When the regions A1 and A2 recognized from the first image U1 and the second image U2 by the region recognition unit 41 are the same, the superimposed display unit 16 superimposes the first image U1 and the second image U2 on each other for monitoring. 15. Also, the superimposed display unit 16 displays only the second image U2 on the monitor 15 when the regions A1 and A2 recognized from the first image U1 and the second image U2 by the region recognition unit 41 are different from each other.

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1A of Embodiment 2, the superimposed display unit 16 detects the same region A1 and A2 recognized by the region recognition unit 41 from the first image U1 and the second image U2. Since the first image U1 and the second image U2 are superimposed on each other and displayed on the monitor 15 only in the first image U1 and the second image U2, the user can select the transducer array suitable for imaging the part to be inspected from the first image U1 and the second image U2. By comparing with the image U2, it can be easily determined and used.

Embodiment 3
In the first embodiment, the user compares the first image U1 and the second image U2 to determine which of the first type transducer array 11A and the second type transducer array 11B is currently being inspected. automatically determines which of the first type transducer array 11A and the second type transducer array 11B is suitable for the current inspection. can also

FIG. 11 shows the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1B according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1B according to the third embodiment includes an apparatus main body 3B instead of the apparatus main body 3A in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. A device main body 3B in the third embodiment has an image selection section 42 and a notification section 43 added to the device main body 3A in the second embodiment, and has a device control section 17B instead of the device control section 17A. Here, the part recognition section 41 is the same as the part recognition section 41 in the second embodiment.

A display control unit 14 and a part recognition unit 41 are connected to the image generation unit 13 in the device body 3B. Also, the superimposed display unit 16 and the image selection unit 42 are connected to the part recognition unit 41 . A notification unit 43 is connected to the image selection unit 42 . The display control section 14 is connected to the notification section 43 . Further, the device control section 17B is connected to the image generation section 13, the display control section 14, the superimposed display section 16, the part recognition section 41, the image selection section 42 and the notification section 43. FIG.

Further, the image generating section 13, the display control section 14, the superimposed display section 16, the device control section 17B, the part recognition section 41, the image selection section 42 and the notification section 43 constitute a processor 20B for the device main body 3B.

The image selection unit 42 calculates the image quality evaluation value based on each of the first image U1 and the second image U2, and selects the ultrasound image having the higher image quality evaluation value out of the first image U1 and the second image U2. , is selected as a preferred image, which is an ultrasound image more suitable for diagnosis.

Here, the image quality evaluation value refers to an index value representing the quality of the ultrasonic image. The image selection unit 42 expresses, as the image quality evaluation value, the degree to which the image is rendered more clearly, such as the so-called signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the image, the contrast ratio, the sharpness or the depth of penetration. Index value can be calculated.

The notification unit 43 notifies the transducer array used to obtain the preferred image selected by the image selection unit 42, out of the first type transducer array 11A and the second type transducer array 11B.

For example, the notification unit 43 is used to acquire the preferred image by highlighting the image selected as the preferred image from among the first image U1 and the second image U2 displayed on the monitor 15 so as to overlap each other. can notify the transducer array. At this time, the notification unit 43 can blink the preferred image as a highlighted display. In addition, the notification unit 43 can also display a suitable image in two colors while alternately switching between two colors different from each other at regular time intervals as a highlighting display. At this time, the notification unit 43, for example, uses yellow and red when highlighting the first image U1, and uses white and red when highlighting the second image U2. and the second image U2 can each use a different combination of the two colors.

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1B of Embodiment 3, the image selection unit 42 selects a suitable image, and the notification unit 43 notifies the user of the transducer array used to acquire the suitable image. The user can easily determine which of the first type transducer array 11A and the second type transducer array 11B is suitable for the examination currently being performed.

Note that the part recognition unit 41 can calculate a score representing the likeness of the part recognized from the first image U1 and the second image U2. At this time, the part recognition unit 41, for example, uses the maximum correlation value among the correlation values between the patterns appearing in the first image U1 and the second image U2 and the template calculated by template matching as the likeness of the part. It can be calculated as a score that represents In addition, the part recognition unit 41 uses a machine learning method or a deep learning method to calculate the probability that the parts included in the first image U1 and the second image U2 are the recognized parts as a score representing the likeness of the part. can also be calculated.

When the part recognition unit 41 thus calculates the score representing the part-likeness of the parts recognized from the first image U1 and the second image U2, the image selection unit 42 selects the first image U1 and the second image U2. Among them, an ultrasonic image whose score calculated by the part recognition unit 41 indicates more likeness of a part, that is, an ultrasonic image having a higher score can be selected as a suitable image.

Even in this case, since the notification unit 43 notifies the user of the transducer array used to obtain the preferred image selected by the image selection unit 42, the user can select the first It can be easily determined which of the transducer array 11A of the first type and the transducer array 11B of the second type is suitable.

Further, although it is described that the notification unit 43 notifies the user of the transducer array used to acquire the preferred image, the notification method by the notification unit 43 is not particularly limited to this. The notification unit 43 is used for acquiring a suitable image, for example, by displaying a message "a convex transducer array is suitable" on the monitor 15 when a convex transducer array is used for acquiring a suitable image. It is also possible to display a message on the monitor 15 indicating the type of transducer array.

1, 1A, 1B ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, 2, 2A, 2B ultrasonic probe, 3, 3A, 3B apparatus main body, 11A, 11B transducer array, 12 transmission/reception circuit, 13 image generation section, 14 display control section, 15 monitor , 16 superimposed display section, 17, 17A, 17B device control section, 18 input device, 19 ultrasonic image acquisition section, 20, 20A, 20B processor, 31 pulser, 32 amplification section, 33 AD conversion section, 34 beamformer, 35 Signal processing unit 36 DSC 37 Image processing unit 41 Part recognition unit 42 Image selection unit 43 Notification unit A1, A2 Parts G1 Graphic H Housing H1 First housing H2 Second housing Body, U1 first image, U2 second image.

Claims (13)

a first type transducer array;
a transducer array of a second type different from the first type;
Acquiring a first ultrasonic image by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves using the first type transducer array and transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves using the second type transducer array an ultrasound image acquisition unit that acquires a second ultrasound image;
a monitor;
In the same examination, after one of the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image is obtained as a first image by the ultrasonic image obtaining unit, the other is obtained as a second image. and a superimposed display unit that aligns the first image with the second image and displays the second image on the monitor as a background of the second image. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the superimposed display unit geometrically corrects the first image in conformity with the second image and displays the first image on the monitor so as to be superimposed on the second image. 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the superimposed display unit displays the second image on the monitor with a predetermined transparency so that the background can be seen through. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a region recognition unit that recognizes regions captured in the first image and the second image. The superimposed display unit
displaying the first image and the second image superimposed on each other on the monitor when the parts recognized by the part recognition unit from the first image and the second image are the same;
5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein only the second image is displayed on the monitor when the parts recognized by the part recognition unit from the first image and the second image are different from each other. an image selection unit that selects an ultrasonic image more suitable for diagnosis as a suitable image from the first image and the second image;
a notification unit that notifies the transducer array used for obtaining the preferred image selected by the image selection unit, out of the transducer array of the first type and the transducer array of the second type. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4 or 5. 7. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said image selection unit selects an ultrasonic image having a higher image quality evaluation value from said first image and said second image as said preferred image. The part recognition unit calculates a score representing the likeness of the part recognized from the first image and the second image,
7. The image selection unit selects, as the preferred image, an ultrasound image, from the first image and the second image, for which the score calculated by the part recognition unit indicates more likeness to a part. The ultrasound diagnostic device described. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the superimposed display unit displays a figure corresponding to the outline of the first image on the monitor. A first ultrasonic probe in which the transducer array of the first type is housed in a first housing, and a second ultrasonic probe in which the transducer array of the second type is housed in a second housing The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a sound wave probe. The ultrasound according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first type transducer array and the second type transducer array are provided with a common ultrasonic probe housed in a common housing. diagnostic equipment. The transducer array of the first type and the transducer array of the second type are vibrations of two types different from each other among three types consisting of a linear transducer array, a convex transducer array, and a sector transducer array. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, which is a child array. A control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including both a first type transducer array and a second type transducer array different from the first type,
Acquiring a first ultrasonic image by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves using the first type transducer array and transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves using the second type transducer array obtaining a second ultrasound image;
In the same examination, when one of the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image is acquired as a first image and then the other is acquired as a second image, the first image is aligned with the second image and displayed on a monitor superimposed on the second image as a background of the second image.

Images