JP3372963B2 - Ultrasound imaging device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic imaging apparatus using a probe having a wide field of view. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various ultrasonic imaging apparatuses for nondestructively observing the inside of an object have been developed and put to practical use. As this ultrasonic imaging apparatus, for example, the frequency is several to several tens MH.
There is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which an ultrasonic wave of z is incident on a human body and a reflected wave of the incident ultrasonic wave is mainly used. Also,
Various modes of displaying captured images in such an ultrasonic imaging apparatus are provided depending on the purpose of use. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in the convex probe 1 having a wide visual field range in which a body surface contact surface used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is curved in a convex shape, a visual field range in which all scans can be performed is, for example, 240 degrees, of which 90 degrees is usually the currently observed range (hereinafter referred to as the observation range)
Is set as Therefore, in order to show the operator of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus where the current observation range is located in the 240-degree visual field range, for example, the observation range is displayed at the upper right corner of the display screen of the monitor as shown in FIG. Has been proposed in which a scan marker m for displaying is displayed together with a captured image. Also, two observation ranges are set from the above-mentioned 240-degree visual field range, and images obtained from the set two observation ranges (hereinafter simply referred to as observation images).
At the same time and on one monitor screen. For example, in the dual display example shown in FIG. 8B, the observation images of two different observation ranges shown in FIG. 8A are simultaneously displayed individually and simply side by side on one monitor screen. It is. However, since the scan marker m is displayed separately from the image, it is necessary to secure an area required for the display. In addition, when performing continuous dual display, securing an area for the observation image and the scan marker m becomes a problem. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an ultrasonic imaging apparatus that displays the position of an observation range in a visual field range with good visibility. [0004] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging apparatus for displaying an observation image based on a reflected wave of an ultrasonic wave. Setting means for setting a range, and an instruction to simultaneously display two observation images corresponding to the observation range set by the setting means and to move to an end of the observation image corresponding to the position of the observation range A display unit for displaying a body, wherein a position of the observation range in the visual field range is indicated by movement of the indicator. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present invention sets an arbitrary observation range from the visual field range of the probe and displays an observation image corresponding to the observation range on a display screen. Also, an indicator indicating the visual field range of the probe is provided at the end of the observation image displayed on the display screen, and by further moving the indicator, the position of the observation area of the observation image in the visual field range is indicated. . An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present invention. The probe 1 is a convex type in which a body surface contact surface used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus or the like is curved in a convex shape and has a wide field of view. The field of view in which all scans can be performed is, for example, 240 degrees. Of these, 90 degrees is usually set as the observation range. The log amplifier 3 is connected to the probe 1 and log-compresses the echo signal received by the probe 1, and also STC (Sensit) connected to the log amplifier 3.
The sensitivity correction with respect to the distance in the living body is performed by using the “ivity Time Control”. A DSC (Digital Scan Con) connected to the log amp 3
The verter 5 converts the echo signal of the analog signal input from the log amplifier 3 into a digital signal by AD conversion, and further writes the digital echo signal in a digital memory in XY coordinates. Next, XY is stored in this digital memory.
The data written in coordinates is read out by standard TV scanning, further converted from D / A into an analog signal, and output to the display unit 13 for display. The display unit 13 uses an appropriate display device in addition to the CRT. [0007] The trackball 7 is a pointing device used to move a cursor or the like on the screen and to designate a position on the display screen by rotating a ball provided on the top surface of the apparatus by hand. is there. The position calculation unit 9 calculates position information when a cursor or the like on the screen is moved based on relative coordinates input from the connected trackball 7 or, as described later, an observation range in the visual field range of the probe 1. Is set to calculate the position information when the fan-shaped observation image is rotationally moved about the scan marker M substantially at the center. The control unit 11 connected to the position calculation unit 9 stores various position information and the like output from the position calculation unit 9 and various control information and the like output from an operation unit 15 including an operation panel 20 including a keyboard and the like. Based on the calculation, the calculation result is output to the DSC 5. Next, a configuration of a main part of the operation panel 20 will be described with reference to FIG. A dual mode key 21 according to the present invention, a new dual mode key 23,
An S / D switching key 25, a FREEZ key 27, and the like are provided. The dual mode key 21 is a conventional dual mode (hereinafter simply referred to as a first dual mode).
Has a display function of lighting when the first dual mode key 25b of the S / D switching key 25 is selected. When the first dual mode is selected, the selection keys 21a, By pressing any key of the key 21b, the observation image on the side pressed appropriately can be selected. The new dual mode key 23 lights when the dual mode according to the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as the second dual mode) is selected when the second dual mode key 25c of the S / D switching key 25 is selected. When the second dual mode is selected, pressing any one of the selection keys 23a and 23b selects the observation image on the pressed side as appropriate. As a result, it becomes possible to display only the selected observation image or to determine the side to move using the trackball 7 as described later. The S / D switching key 25 includes a single mode key 25a, a first dual mode key 25b, and a second dual mode key 2b.
5c, which is used when selecting each mode. Also, the first dual mode key 25b
When there is no second dual mode key 25c, that is, the switch of DUAL or DUAL N in FIG. 3 can be directly pressed and selected. The trackball 7, the position calculation unit 9, the control unit 11, and the like mainly constitute a setting unit, and the DSC 5 and the display unit 13 mainly constitute a display unit. The unit 9, the control unit 11, and the like mainly constitute an instruction unit, and the trackball 7, the position calculation unit 9, the control unit 11, and the like mainly constitute an adjustment unit. Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is for explaining the configuration and operation of the scan marker M according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a scan marker M as a pointer is a guide mark of a C-shaped annular body displayed on a display screen, and is located at the top of an observation image also displayed on the display screen, usually a diagnosis of a human body. Is displayed at a position corresponding to the body surface contact portion when used. Therefore, the information is displayed at the contact portion of the probe 1, and the display can be performed without a sense of incongruity. Further, the C-shaped annular body rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the trackball 7 to indicate the range currently being observed. That is, the annular portion of the C-shaped annular body is the probe 1
(See FIG. 1 (a)), and the region where the observation image is in contact with the annular portion indicates the region currently being observed. At this time, the rotation of the trackball 7 and the actual observation range in the visual field E of the probe 1 are changed in conjunction with each other, and the scan marker M is further rotated to change the observation range in the visual field of the probe 1. (See FIG. 1B). In addition, since the scan marker is displayed at the upper end of the image, the positional relationship of the image can be easily understood, and there is no need to drop the image or separate the space for displaying the scan marker. Next, the operation of this embodiment in dual display will be described with reference to FIG. First, referring to FIG. 4A, when it is desired to observe a wide field of view at a time, the second dual mode is selected and the observation range in the field of view of the probe 1 is set by rotating the trackball 7. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4B, two continuous images are connected and displayed. At this time, the position of the joint between the two images is finely adjusted while viewing the display screen with the trackball 7 (indicated by an arrow in FIG. 4B). That is, when it is desired to observe a wide field of view at a time, by combining images of two regions that are originally continuous, a double field of view can be obtained at a time. As a result, the positional relationship between the individual targets existing in the two images can be easily and accurately grasped, and the diagnostic performance is improved. Also, when synthesizing images of two regions, even after capturing image data, it is possible to easily fine-tune the position of the seam of the images, so that it is desirable to observe a wide field of view at a time. It is no longer necessary to carry out an inspection again, and the inspection time can be reduced. At this time, when a predetermined region desired to be observed is designated by operating the cursor or the like with the trackball 7, when the designated region does not fall within the observation range of one surface, or when a plurality of regions are located at distant positions. In some cases, the mode may be automatically shifted to the second dual mode from another mode. Further, for example, by comparing images in an arbitrary small area, preferably in a plurality of small areas, a joint between two images may be automatically overlapped. As for dual display of two images having different scanning sections, the first dual mode is selected and the display is performed by adding the scan marker M to FIG. 8B. The display can be switched by the S / D switching key 25 of the operation panel 20 according to the purpose of use of the operator. Next, an example of another display method will be described with reference to FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the scan marker M is displayed in a doubled manner. The observation range in the visual field range of the probe 1 on the own side is shown in correspondence with the scan marker M1, and the observation range on the other side is shown. Is indicated by the scan marker M2 of the small ring. In this case, for example, when only the observation screen F2 on one side is enlarged and displayed on the display screen, the observation range in the field of view of the observation screen F1 on the other side can be known by the scan marker M2, and the image is used. This makes it easier to make more appropriate decisions.
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the scan marker M is a C-shaped annular body displayed on the display screen has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The disc shape may be provided at the upper part of the observation screen, and similarly, the corresponding portion of the band-shaped body provided at the upper part of the observation screen may be inverted. As described above, in the ultrasonic imaging apparatus of the present invention, the observation range of each observation image is indicated by the movement of the indicator provided at the end of the observation image. The position of the observation range in the range can be displayed with good visibility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display state according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a shape of an operation unit in the embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display state according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display state according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a conventional display state. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional display state. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional display state. [Description of Signs] 1 Probe 3 Log amp 5 DSC 7 Trackball 9 Position calculation unit 11 Control unit 13 Display unit 15 Operation unit 20 Operation panel 21 Dual mode key 23 New dual mode key 25 S / D switch key 27 FREEZ key

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 8/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] In an ultrasonic imaging apparatus for displaying an observation image based on a reflected wave of an ultrasonic wave, setting means for setting two observation ranges within a visual field range of a probe; Display means for simultaneously displaying two observation images corresponding to the observation range set by the setting means and displaying an indicator moving at the end of the observation image corresponding to the position of the observation range is provided. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, wherein the position of the observation range in the visual field range is indicated by movement of the indicator.