JP3128532B2 - Ultrasound diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of freely performing various calculations based on ultrasonic measurement results.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus forms a tomographic image or a Doppler image based on received data obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and displays the image. Conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are equipped with various auxiliary measurement functions for each subject such as obstetrics, gynecology, and cardiology. The general ones of the measurement functions include, for example, measurement functions such as cross-sectional area, flow rate, volume, time difference, pressure difference, speed, dispersion, etc. There are various specialized measurement functions. One or more markers are displayed on the ultrasonic image as needed, and measurement is performed by positioning the markers at appropriate measurement points using a trackball or the like.

In a recent ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a general-purpose measuring function is set in the apparatus in advance, and a user can perform a desired measurement by selecting a desired measuring function from a function menu.

[0004]

However, the types of measurement functions required by the user or the types of measurement values desired are extremely diversified, and it is costly for the manufacturer to support all the measurement functions in advance. It is growing and it is difficult to realize. In particular, even for the same disease test, the measurement items (arithmetic expressions) to be obtained may differ for each medical facility, and there is a situation that the arithmetic expressions cannot be defined uniformly.

Conventionally, when each user wants to perform such an unsupported measurement, the user is caused to execute some existing measurement functions and perform a manual calculation based on the measurement values obtained by them. As a result, a desired measurement value has been obtained. Therefore, the load and time at the time of inspection may increase.

An example of the above will be described. For example, in the field of the circulatory organ, dP / dt is an important index indicating the contractility of the left ventricle.
There is something. This is defined based on the time required for the flow velocity value to change from one predetermined value to another predetermined value based on the mitral regurgitation waveform in the continuous wave Doppler mode. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus not equipped with such a specific measurement function, the flow velocity value measurement function is executed, and when the marker matches two points of the waveform, the pressure difference at each marker position and the time between the markers are measured. , And the measured values are calculated by substituting them into predetermined arithmetic expressions and calculating them with a calculator or the like. Therefore, such calculation is complicated, and it has been a serious problem particularly in mass screening.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which can flexibly cope with various measurements (calculations) requested by a user.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for forming an ultrasonic image by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. and functions input means for defining a user-defined function in combination freely, the function storage means for the user-defined function is stored, a function selecting means for selecting a user-defined function stored in the function storage means, said Measurement parameters of the selected user-defined function
Measurement mode that sets the measurement mode based on parameters
Setting means, the measurement value to be assigned to the measurement parameters included in the selected user-defined function, which is the set
A function calculation unit that calculates from the ultrasonic measurement results obtained by executing the measurement mode and executes a user-defined function using the measured values, and an execution result display unit that displays an execution result of the user-defined function. , Is included.

According to the above configuration, the user can freely define a user-defined function, cause the apparatus to perform necessary measurements according to the user-defined function, and quickly obtain an execution result of the function. In addition, the user
When a user-defined function is selected, the total
The measurement mode is set in conjunction with the measurement
As a result, ultrasound transmission is performed by a user-defined function.
Reception and image processing can be controlled. Therefore, the number of user operations is significantly reduced as compared with the related art, and the complexity can be eliminated. Therefore, the manufacturer can respond to various calculation needs of the user only by equipping the device with the basic measurement function as standard.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, when the selected user-defined function includes a measurement parameter that requires marker measurement, the function operation means causes the user to specify a marker on an ultrasonic image, The measurement value specified based on the marker designation is substituted for the measurement parameter.

The marker measurement is performed by moving a marker displayed on an ultrasonic image by a user using a trackball or the like and positioning the marker at a predetermined position. For example, a flow velocity at a certain point, a pressure difference, a distance between two points, a time, and the like are measured thereby. in this case,
Guidance indicating which position the marker should be placed on may be displayed for each marker measurement. If a plurality of types of markers are used at the same time, a plurality of measurements can be performed simultaneously on the same ultrasonic image. Desirable state of the present invention
In the embodiment, the function input means includes a user-defined function.
Basic form definition method for defining basic forms using temporary symbols
Column and the temporary item included in the basic form
Symbol definition means for associating the measurement parameters to be represented
Is included. According to the above configuration, the user
-When defining a definition function, first, provisional symbols and four arithmetic operations
By combining operation symbols such as functions
Define the basic form of the definition function, and
User defined for each provisional symbol on the basic form
Measurement parameters that represent the measurement items required when defining the function
Can be associated.

When a user-defined function is selected, a measurement mode (for example, B mode or Doppler mode) to be measured is automatically determined based on measurement parameters of the user-defined function, and the measurement mode is automatically set. May be performed. That is, the setting of the measurement mode is linked when the user-defined function is selected, and as a result, transmission and reception of ultrasound and image processing can be controlled by the user-defined function.

The user-defined function may include a measurement parameter for measuring a biological signal (such as an electrocardiographic signal).

Each user-defined function may be managed for each subject, and when a subject is selected, a list of user-defined functions associated with the subject may be displayed.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

The ultrasonic probe 10 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a living body, and a transmission signal is supplied to the ultrasonic probe 10 from a transmission / reception unit 12. The reception signal output from the ultrasonic probe 10 is input to the image forming unit 14 via the transmission / reception unit 12. The image forming unit 14 forms an ultrasonic image such as a B-mode image, an M-mode image, a Doppler image, or the like according to the set measurement mode.
The image data is output to the display control unit 16, and the image data output via the display control unit 16 is displayed on the monitor 18.
And an ultrasonic image is displayed on the monitor 18.

The control section 20 controls the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and the control section 20 also functions as a means for executing each measurement item provided as standard equipment in the apparatus. Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 20 has a function operation unit 22. This function operation unit 2
Reference numeral 2 denotes a function for executing a user-defined function registered by the user and outputting the execution result to the display control unit 16. The display control unit 16 converts the execution result into an image according to a predetermined output format, and displays the image on the monitor 18.

The input device 24 includes a keyboard, a trackball, and the like. The input device 24 includes a function input unit for defining a user-defined function and a user-defined function stored in the function storage unit 26. It functions as function selection means for selecting such a function, measurement mode selection means for selecting a measurement mode such as B mode or Doppler mode, and the like.

The function storage unit 26 stores functions necessary for the operation of the control unit 20. In this embodiment, one or more user-defined functions defined by the user are also stored in the function storage unit 26. You. The user-defined function is read from the function storage unit 26, and the function is executed by the function operation unit 22. In this case, each measurement parameter included in the user-defined function is referred to, the measurement item corresponding to the measurement parameter is executed by the control unit 20, and the measurement value obtained thereby is substituted for the measurement parameter. This results in the execution result of the user-defined function.

Next, control and calculation of the control unit 20 will be described. FIG. 2 shows a process performed when a user-defined function is registered.

In S101, a function is defined by using a symbol. Here, for example, the symbol is A,
B, C,. . . The basic form of the function is defined by combining these symbols with operation symbols such as four arithmetic operations (+,-, ×, ÷). This is done by inputting those symbols with the input device 24 as described above.

In S102, in order to apply a measurement item to each symbol, a measurement mode (B
Mode, Doppler mode, etc.). By selecting such a measurement mode, a list of measurement items that can be used in that mode is displayed. Then, S
At 103, the user selects a measurement item corresponding to the symbol from such a list via, for example, a keyboard. In S104, the measurement parameters representing the measurement items selected as described above are associated with the symbols. Then, in S105, it is determined whether or not the association of the measurement parameters has been completed for all the symbols specified in S101. If it is determined that the association has not been completed, S102 to S104 are performed for each symbol.
Is repeatedly executed.

Here, the measurement items include, for example, speed measurement, pressure difference measurement, time measurement, and the like. Such a measurement item is a function provided as a standard feature in the apparatus, but, of course, a user-defined function registered as one of such measurement items may be used. Incidentally, the measurement parameter indicates a symbol or the like indicating a measurement value measured by the measurement item.

When the association of the measurement parameters with each symbol is completed, the output format representing the result of the operation of the function is set by the user in S106. This specifies which position in the screen of the monitor 18 and in what display form the execution result is to be displayed. In S107, the function name of the user-defined function defined as described above is registered. In this case, the name of the function of the function may be used. In S108, the user-defined function defined in this way is stored in the function storage unit 26. In this case, management information such as an output format and a function name associated with the function is also stored.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process for executing the user-defined function registered as described above.

When any user-defined function is selected, the following steps are performed. First, S201
In, the measurement parameters included in the user-defined function are extracted. Then, in S202, measurement items corresponding to those measurement parameters are determined. For example, measurement items such as flow velocity measurement and time measurement in the Doppler mode are determined.

In S203, the measurement is performed for each measurement item determined as described above. This is performed using the measurement results obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.
For example, when measuring the distance or time between two points, the coordinate unit information of the image forming unit 14 is referred to, and the distance or time between the two points is converted based on the information. When measuring a pressure difference or a speed, Doppler information or echo information of a specific point specified by a marker is used as the image forming unit 14.
And the pressure difference, speed, etc. are measured based on the information.

In S203, measurement is performed for each measurement item, and when measurement is performed for all the measurement items,
This is determined in S204, and in S205, the measured values obtained as described above are substituted for the measured parameters included in the user-defined function. For example, a pressure difference value is substituted for a parameter indicating a pressure difference. S2
At 06, the user-defined function is executed, and the execution result is obtained. The execution of this function is performed by the function operation unit shown in FIG. In S207, the execution result output from the function operation unit 22 is displayed on the monitor 18 via the display control unit 16. In this display, the display is performed according to the output format set as described above.

Therefore, it is provided as standard equipment.
By appropriately combining the measurement functions by a user, a desired user-defined function (function) can be defined, thereby greatly reducing the complexity of the user operation.

For example, when dP / dt is registered as a user-defined function as an index representing the contractility of the left ventricle as described above, for example, dP / dt = (PG1-PG2) × 1000 ÷ Δt A function is defined. Here, PG1 and PG2
Is a measurement parameter indicating a pressure difference at a point specified by each of the two markers, and Δt is a measurement parameter indicating a time between the two markers. By executing each measurement item, a numerical value as a measurement value is substituted for those measurement parameters, whereby dP / dt can be automatically calculated only by specifying a marker.

In S203 shown in FIG. 3, if marker measurement is necessary, one or more markers are displayed on the ultrasonic image. Therefore, the user moves the markers with a trackball or the like. Specify the required points with markers. Marker measurement is automatically performed by such designation. In this case, guidance indicating the operation of the user may be displayed on the monitor 18. When a plurality of marker measurements are required, different markers corresponding to each marker measurement may be displayed, and measurement corresponding to a plurality of items may be performed at the same time.

When a user-defined function is selected, a measurement mode requiring measurement is automatically determined with reference to the measurement parameters of the function, and the determined measurement mode is automatically executed. Good. That is, necessary transmission / reception processing and image processing are automatically executed based on a user-defined function. In the above embodiment, S101
In the above, the basic form of the function is defined using the symbol, but of course, it may be configured such that the user-defined function can be directly defined using the symbol of the measurement parameter.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of flexibly coping with various measurements requested by a user can be configured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of registering a user-defined function.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of executing a user-defined function.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ultrasonic probe, 12 transmission / reception part, 14 image formation part, 16 display control part, 18 monitor, 20 control part,
22 function operation unit, 24 input device, 26 function storage unit.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for forming an ultrasonic image by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, comprising: a function input means for defining a user-defined function by freely combining measurement parameters representing measurement items provided as standard. Function storage means for storing the user-defined function; function selection means for selecting a user-defined function stored in the function storage means; and measurement parameters of the selected user-defined function.
Mode setting procedure to set the measurement mode based on the
And a measurement value to be substituted for a measurement parameter included in the selected user-defined function .
Function calculation means for calculating from the ultrasonic measurement results obtained by the execution and executing the user-defined function using the measured values, and execution result display means for displaying the execution result of the user-defined function An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function calculating means specifies a marker on the ultrasound image to the user when the selected user-defined function includes a measurement parameter requiring marker measurement. Let them do
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus wherein a measurement value specified based on the marker designation is substituted for the measurement parameter. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said function input means defines a basic form of said user-defined function using temporary symbols.
Basic form defining means for performing the measurement, and a temporary symbol included in the basic form for indicating the measurement item.
And a symbol definition means for associating measurement parameters .