JP3612358B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that records a plurality of frames of tomographic image data in time series for a diagnostic site in a subject using ultrasonic waves, detects a biological signal, and displays the tomographic image and the biological signal. The reference image related to the tomographic image is reproduced in synchronization with the real-time image in accordance with the cardiac time phase of the tomographic image displayed in real time and displayed on the screen of the same image display means so that both images can be compared and observed. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of measuring an cardiac function by rendering an M-mode image on an arbitrary extraction line.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this type includes a probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves in a subject, and generates ultrasonic waves by driving the probe, and ultrasonic waves that process received echo signals. Transceiver and digital echo echo signal from this ultrasonic transmitter / receiver to record tomographic image data in a subject including moving tissue in a plurality of frames in time series, and to detect cardiac time phase information of biological waves detected from the subject A digital scan converter for writing digital signals from the memory unit for each scanning line of the ultrasonic beam to form image data, and detecting a biological wave of the subject to generate a biological signal And a biological signal detection means for sending to the memory unit, a graphic memory for storing graphic data output from the control / graphic unit, and the digital A synthesis unit that inputs the output data from the can converter and the graphic memory and combines them to display an image, a control / graphic unit that controls the operation of each of the above-described components and creates various graphic data, and And image display means for displaying image data as an image. Then, on the screen of the image display means, a biological signal such as an electrocardiographic waveform is displayed superimposed on the obtained ultrasonic tomographic image, and for example, a cardiac time phase is grasped by this biological signal.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, only one memory unit for recording the tomographic image data and cardiac time phase information measured for the subject is provided. The obtained tomographic image data and cardiac phase information are recorded in the memory unit while being displayed on a monitor on the image display means, and when the next observation is performed, the data is reproduced from the memory unit and is displayed on the image display unit. And its heart phase. Therefore, while measuring a certain subject and displaying a real-time image, a reference image related to the real-time image cannot be reproduced simultaneously with the real-time image and comparatively observed on the same screen. In contrast, conventionally, a real-time image is displayed on one image display means while measuring a certain subject, and a related reference image is separately displayed on another image display means for comparative observation. In this case, the reference image cannot be displayed in accordance with the cardiac phase of the real-time image, and correct comparison observation cannot be performed by matching the cardiac phase of both images. In addition, since the image readers were observing the difference between the two images in their heads while correcting the amount of the difference in their heads, the observation requires skill and subjective individual differences. there were.
[0004]
Further, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, it has been impossible to perform cardiac function measurement by extracting and displaying an M-mode image in an arbitrary direction from the measured tomographic image.
[0005]
Therefore, the present invention addresses such problems, and synchronizes and reproduces the reference image related to the tomographic image in synchronization with the cardiac time phase of the tomographic image displayed in real time, by using the same image display means. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which can display on a screen and compare and observe both images, and can draw an M-mode image on an arbitrary extraction line and perform cardiac function measurement. .
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves in a subject, an ultrasonic transmission and reception unit that processes reflected echo signals from the transmitted and received ultrasonic waves,Ultrasound data processed from reflected echo signalsIncorporates and captures cardiac time phase information of a biological wave detected from the subject, records a real-time image of the tomographic image and the cardiac time phase information in one recording unit, and a reference image related to the real-time image in the other recording unit and its Recording means for recording cardiac phase information and a reference image synchronized with the real-time image from a plurality of recording units of the recording means in synchronization with the cardiac phase of the real-time image and displayed on the same screenTo controlControl means and,UpRead out the data recorded in the recording means, real-time image and reference image of tomogramStatueDisplay means to display andThe control means controls the display means to display an image before contrast medium injection into the subject as a reference image and to display the image after contrast medium injection as a real-time image on the subject. The luminance change of the designated part on the real-time image is displayed as the reference image luminance curve and the real-time image luminance curve, the difference in luminance change is calculated from these luminance curves, and the calculated value is displayed as a graph.Is.
[0007]
Also,The graph calculates the change in frequency between the reference image and the real-time image, and calculates the calculated value as a graph.May be.
Further, under the control of the control means, a pressure difference graph created by calculating the pressure difference for the cardiac pressure obtained from the ultrasonic data output from the recording means is further displayed on the display means. Also good.
Furthermore, an arbitrary direction for performing processing for extracting and displaying an M-mode image in an arbitrary direction for a tomographic image obtained by inputting ultrasonic data from a plurality of recording units of the recording unit and reading out the recording unit An M mode section may be provided, and the data recorded in the recording means may be read and a real-time image and reference image of a tomographic image and an M mode image on an arbitrary extraction line may be displayed on the display means.
[0008]
In addition, the aboveControl meansIsMultiple recording units of recording meansAt least one ofRecording sectionThe tomographic image data and cardiac time phase information recorded in the above are transferred and stored, and the stored data is read out toRecording meansOne ofRecording sectionConnect an external storage deviceThe data may be read from the external storage device and reproduced on the display means..
[0009]
[Action]
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured in this wayUnder the control of the control means, the display means displays the image before contrast medium injection into the subject as a reference image and also displays the image after contrast medium injection as a real-time image, and designates the reference image and the real-time image. The luminance change of the part is displayed as a reference image luminance curve and a real-time image luminance curve, the difference in luminance change is calculated from these luminance curves, and the calculated value is displayed as a graph.To work.
[0010]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus records a plurality of frames of tomographic image data in time series for a diagnostic site in a subject using ultrasonic waves, detects a biological signal, and displays the tomographic image and the biological signal. 1, a probe 1, an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2, a first memory unit 3 a, a digital scan converter (hereinafter abbreviated as “DSC”) 4, a biological signal detection unit 5, a graphic It has a memory 6, a synthesis unit 7, a control / graphic unit 8, and an image display 9, and further has a second memory unit 3 b, an arbitrary direction M-mode unit 10, a calculation unit 11, and a second A DSC 12 and a hue modulation unit 13 are provided.
[0011]
The probe 1 mechanically or electronically performs beam scanning to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to a subject. Although not shown, the probe 1 is a source of ultrasonic waves and includes reflected echoes. Multiple transducers to receive are built in. The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 generates a ultrasonic wave by sending a drive pulse to the probe 1 and processes the received reflected echo signal. Although not shown, the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 includes a probe. A known transmission pulser and transmission delay circuit for forming an ultrasonic beam transmitted from the child 1 to the subject, and a receiving amplifier for amplifying the reflected echo signal received by each transducer of the probe 1 And a phasing circuit composed of a wave receiving delay circuit and an adder that form a received ultrasonic beam by aligning the phases of the received reflected echo signals. A single tomographic image is obtained by causing the probe 1 to scan an ultrasonic beam in a certain direction within the body of the subject.
[0012]
The first memory unit 3a digitizes the reflected echo signal output from the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2.Ultrasonic data, ieThe tomographic image data in the subject including the moving tissue is recorded in a plurality of frames in time series, and becomes a recording unit for recording the cardiac time phase information of the biological wave detected from the subject. As shown in FIG. 4, the interface 14a, a cine memory 15a for recording tomographic image data in a plurality of frames in time series, a biological signal memory 16a for recording cardiac time phase information of a biological wave as an electrocardiographic waveform, the cine memory 15a and the biological signal And an address section 17a for controlling read and write addresses of the memory 16a. Although not shown in the figure, an A / D converter that converts an analog signal into a digital signal is provided at the front stage or the rear stage of the interface 14a.
[0013]
The DSC 4 writes the digital signal output from the first memory unit 3a into the line memory for each scanning line or a plurality of scanning lines of the ultrasonic beam, forms image data, and sends it to the synthesizing unit 7 described later. To do.
[0014]
The biological signal detection unit 5 generates a biological signal by detecting a biological wave such as an electrocardiographic waveform of the subject, and outputs a heartbeat signal with the electrocardiographic electrode 18 in contact with the hand or foot of the subject. Although not shown, the above heart rate signal is amplified by an internal configuration circuit, the R wave peak signal of the heart rate waveform is detected from the amplified signal, and the generation interval of the R wave signal is measured. Yes. The electrocardiographic electrode 18 and the biological signal detector 5 constitute a biological signal detector.
[0015]
The graphic memory 6 stores graphic data such as various graphics output from the control / graphic unit 8 described later. The synthesizing unit 7 inputs the output data from the DSC 4 and the graphic memory 6 and synthesizes them for image display.
[0016]
The control / graphic unit 8 controls the operation of each of the above components and creates graphic data such as various graphics. The control / graphic unit 8 is composed of, for example, a CPU, and is a command arbitrarily input from the input unit 19 by an operator's operation. And a required control signal is sent to each component.
[0017]
Further, the image display 9 is an image display means for converting the image data output from the synthesizing unit 7 into an analog video signal and displaying it as an image by a television display method, and is composed of, for example, a television monitor. Although not shown, a D / A converter for converting a digital signal into an analog video signal is provided in the previous stage of the image display 9. When the monitor is a digital system, the image data from the synthesizing unit 7 is displayed as an image as it is.
[0018]
Here, in the present invention, a second memory unit 3b is provided in parallel with the first memory unit 3a between the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 and the DSC 4.The recording means as a wholeThe arbitrary direction M-mode unit 10 is provided on the rear side of these memory units 3a and 3b, the arithmetic unit 11 is provided, the second DSC 12 is provided on the subsequent stage, and the hue modulation is further provided on the subsequent stage. A portion 13 is provided.
[0019]
Similar to the first memory unit 3a, the second memory unit 3b digitizes the reflected echo signal output from the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2.Ultrasonic data, ieThe tomographic image data in the subject including the moving tissue is recorded in a plurality of frames in time series, and becomes a recording unit for recording the cardiac time phase information of the biological wave detected from the subject. As shown in FIG. 4, the interface 14b, a cine memory 15b that records tomographic image data in a plurality of frames in time series, a biological signal memory 16b that records cardiac time phase information of a biological wave as an electrocardiographic waveform, the cine memory 15b, and the biological signal And an address section 17b for controlling the read and write addresses of the memory 16b. Although not shown in the figure, an A / D converter that converts an analog signal into a digital signal is provided at the front stage or the rear stage of the interface 14b.
[0020]
One of the two memory units 3a and 3b records a real-time image and data of its cardiac phase, and the other memory unit stores a reference image related to the real-time image and its cardiac phase. The biosignal detection unit 5 is recorded on the memory units 3a and 3b by the operation input to the control unit / graphic unit 8 using a trackball, joystick, key switch or the like provided in the input unit 19. The start of playback is instructed from the time phase that is a predetermined time later than the specific time phase of the biological wave detected in step 1 or the time phase that has passed a predetermined time, and the reference image is synchronized with the real-time image in synchronization with the heart time phase of the real-time image. However, they are displayed on the screen of the same image display 9.
[0021]
The arbitrary direction M mode unit 10 is provided between the output side of the two memory units 3a and 3b and the DSC 4. The arbitrary-direction M-mode unit 10 receives ultrasonic data output from the two parallel memory units 3a and 3b and reads out the memory units 3a and 3b to obtain an M-mode image in an arbitrary direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the internal structure of the first buffer memory 20a and its address part 21a, the second buffer memory 20b and its address part 21b, , A switching processing unit 22 and an M mode image memory 23. The first and second buffer memories 20a and 20b alternately write and read high frame rate ultrasonic data read from the cine memories 15a and 15b in the two memory units 3a and 3b, respectively. In two systems. The address sections 21a and 21b attached to the buffer memories 20a and 20b correspond to addresses corresponding to extracting M-mode image data in an arbitrary direction from the ultrasonic data written in the buffer memories 20a and 20b. Are specified sequentially. The switching processing unit 22 alternately switches the first and second buffer memories 20a and 20b provided in the two parallel systems as described above, and adds image data read from the buffer memories 20a and 20b. Image processing such as averaging and thinning processing or interpolation processing is performed. Further, the M mode image memory 23 draws an M mode image in an arbitrary direction from the ultrasonic data from the first or second buffer memory 20a, 20b input via the switching processing unit 22. For recording data, for example, a semiconductor memory is used. The data read from the M mode image memory 23 is sent to the DSC 4.
[0022]
Further, the calculation unit 11 is provided on the output side of the two memory units 3a and 3b. The calculation unit 11 inputs ultrasonic data output from the two parallel memory units 3a and 3b, extracts changes in physical characteristics (for example, luminance) of biological signals, and performs calculation processing. The second DSC 12 is provided on the output side of the calculation unit 11. The second DSC 12 inputs the calculation result output from the calculation unit 11 and displays the result developed in the tomographic image frame or graphed by the control / graphic unit 8 as an M-mode graph. belongs to. Further, the hue modulation unit 13 is provided on the output side of the second DSC 12. The hue modulation unit 13 modulates the frame image of the tomographic image created by the second DSC 12 or the graphed M-mode image into hue or gradation. The data output from the hue modulation unit 13 is sent to the synthesis unit 7. Note that the hue modulation unit 13 is not necessarily provided. In that case, the output data from the second DSC 12 is sent to the combining unit 7.
[0023]
Next, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as described above, an operation for reproducing the reference image in synchronization with the real time image and displaying it on the screen of the same image display 9 in accordance with the cardiac time phase of the real time image measured for the subject. Will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 3, the tomographic image display area E of the image display 9 is obtained by the normal operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG.₁For example, a tomographic image 24 of the heart as a diagnostic part is displayed on the upper stage of the biosignal display area E on the right side thereof.₂The electrocardiographic waveform 25 as a biological signal is simultaneously displayed on the upper part of the screen. At this time, for example, a tomographic image 24 corresponding to several heartbeats is recorded as a moving image in the cine memory 15b in the second memory unit 3b shown in FIG. 1, and an electrocardiographic waveform 25 corresponds to the cardiac time phase in the biological signal memory 16b. Recorded. Next, by an operation input from the input unit 19, for example, the cine memory 15a and the biological signal memory 16a in the first memory unit 3a are switched to a mode for recording a real-time image. As a result, the cine memory 15b and the biological signal memory 16b in the second memory unit 3b are in a reference image reproduction mode related to a real-time image.
[0024]
In this state, the input unit 19 shown in FIG. 1 is operated to input a cine reproduction start position on the basis of the R wave on the electrocardiogram waveform 25 displayed as shown in FIG. At this time, the control / graphics unit 8 changes the processing procedure depending on whether the input cine reproduction start position is a time phase that is earlier than or has elapsed from the R wave as the specific time phase.
[0025]
In general, in order to grasp the cardiac function, it is only necessary to grasp the cardiac contraction movement from the P wave before the R wave to about 300 ms, that is, from the atrial contraction to the end of the ventricular contraction, so the following processing is performed. First, the control / graphic unit 8 examines the biological signal memory 16b in the second memory unit 3b, grasps the position of the R wave on the electrocardiogram waveform 25 shown in FIG. 3, and starts the input cine reproduction. It is determined that the position is a position including a time phase that goes back a predetermined time phase from the R wave, for example, a P wave before the R wave. Next, the control / graphic unit 8 sets the read address of the address unit 17b in the second memory unit 3b to set the input position as the cine reproduction start position, and sets the cine memory 15b and the biological signal memory 16b. Wait.
[0026]
Next, when diagnosis in real time is started for the subject, the control / graphic unit 8 performs real-time tomographic images and data of cardiac time phases for the cine memory 15a and the biological signal memory 16a in the first memory unit 3a. Is delayed by the same time as the time from the R wave to the cine reproduction start position. When the interface 14a in the first memory unit 3a detects the R wave on the electrocardiogram waveform 26 (see FIG. 3) in real time being measured by the biological signal detection unit 5, the detection timing of this R wave is detected. Is output to the control / graphic unit 8. Thereby, the control / graphic unit 8 starts up the address unit 17b in the second memory unit 3b at the designated address of the read address set as described above, and accesses the cine memory 15b and the biological signal memory 16b. The tomographic image 24 (reference image) read out from each and the data of the electrocardiogram waveform 25 corresponding thereto are transferred to the DSC 4.
[0027]
By such processing, as shown in FIG. 3, the tomographic image display area E of the image display 9 is displayed.₁For example, a tomographic image 27 of the heart as a diagnostic part is displayed in real time in the middle part of the body, and the biological signal display area E on the right side₂The electrocardiographic waveform 26 as a biological signal is displayed in real time in the middle stage of the reference image. At the same time, the reference image (24) and the real-time image (27) are matched with the cardiac phase (26) of the real-time image (27). Synchronized playback can be displayed on the screen of the same image display 9. As a result, the reference image (24) can be reproduced and displayed in synchronization with the real-time image (27), and both images can be compared and observed.
[0028]
In the image display example shown in FIG. 3, in the present invention, the luminance difference of the myocardial portion is displayed over time for cardiac function determination, and the extraction position mark 28 is displayed on the tomographic image 24 as a reference image. A corresponding extraction position mark 29 is displayed on the tomographic image 27 as a real-time image, and the luminance change of each designated part is represented as a reference image luminance curve 30 for the tomographic image 24 and a real-time image luminance curve 31 for the tomographic image 27. Arrange vertically and display. And the biological signal display area E₂In the lower part, a calculation value graph (for example, a difference in luminance change) 32 for determining cardiac function obtained from the information of the tomographic images 24 and 27 is displayed. The calculated value graph 32 displays the cardiac time phase in synchronization with the contents of the cine memories 15a and 15b with reference to the position of the R wave on the electrocardiogram waveform 33 shown in the lower part. That is, the calculated value graph 32 displays the difference between the reference image luminance curve 30 and the real-time image luminance curve 31.
[0029]
Next, the case where the myocardial infarction site is identified and the severity is determined by grasping the properties of the myocardium will be specifically described with reference to FIG. Here, when the ultrasound contrast agent is injected into the subject, myocardial perfusion is blocked to the myocardial infarction region, so that the ultrasound contrast agent is not distributed, and before and after the injection of the contrast agent. Compared with ultrasound images, the contrast brightness enters the normal myocardial capillaries, so the reflection brightness increases significantly. However, the contrast brightness does not change because the contrast medium does not enter the myocardial infarction area. Try to judge by. First, in FIG. 3, an image before injecting a contrast agent is displayed in a tomographic image 24 as a reference image. Moreover, the image after inject | pouring a contrast agent is displayed on the tomographic image 27 as a real-time image. The tomographic images 24 and 27 are reproduced and displayed with the cardiac phase synchronized as described above.
[0030]
In this state, the extraction position marks 28 and 29 corresponding to each other are input and displayed on the tomographic images 24 and 27 from the input unit 19, and the positions corresponding to each other are set manually for each frame. Next, the luminance information at the positions indicated by the extraction position marks 28 and 29 is calculated by the calculation unit 11 and then graphed by the processing of the control / graphic unit 8 and the graphic memory 6, and the reference image luminance curve 30 and A real-time image luminance curve 31 is displayed. These luminance curves 30 and 31 are displayed with their cardiac time phases synchronized as shown by the corresponding electrocardiographic waveforms 25 and 26, respectively. Next, the difference in luminance change between the luminance curves 30 and 31 is obtained by the calculation unit 11 and the result is displayed as the calculation value graph 32. According to this calculated value graph 32, the luminance at the position of the corresponding extraction position mark 28, 29 in each tomographic image 24, 27 is before and after the injection of the contrast agent.There is little differenceThat is, the value of the calculation value graph 32 issmallIf so, it can be determined that the site is not perfused, that is, a myocardial infarction site.
[0031]
In the image display example of FIG. 3, the electrocardiogram waveform 26 of the real-time image (27) shows a state where it is sequentially rewritten in the survey mode. Reference numeral 34 denotes a shift position for adjusting a frame in which excess or deficiency is caused by a change in heart rate when the reference image (24) and the real-time image (27) are displayed in synchronization with the cardiac phase. Represents the mark. Furthermore, in the above description, the case where the determination is made based on the luminance difference of the image display has been described. In addition, it is possible to determine the therapeutic effect by grasping, for example, the amount that changes over time due to medication to the subject from the luminance difference or frequency change.
[0032]
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing another example of an image display example in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. In this example, the arbitrary direction M mode unit 10 shown in FIG. 1 inputs ultrasonic data from two parallel memory units 3a and 3b and reads out the memory units 3a and 3b in an arbitrary direction. The M-mode image is extracted and displayed, and the myocardial luminance comparison calculation is performed semi-automatically to display the image. First, in the same manner as in the image display example shown in FIG.₁For example, a tomographic image 27 of the heart as a diagnostic site is displayed in real time in the middle part of the body, and a biological signal display area E on the right side₂The electrocardiographic waveform 26 as a biological signal is displayed in real time in the middle stage of the tomographic image display area E in accordance with the cardiac phase (26) of the real-time image (27).₁The tomographic image 24 of the heart is displayed as a reference image on the upper stage of the biosignal display area E on the right side thereof.₂An electrocardiographic waveform 25 as a biological signal is displayed on the upper stage. Thus, the reference image (24) is reproduced in synchronization with the real-time image (27) and displayed on the screen of the same image display 9.
[0033]
In this state, in FIG. 4, the position of the myocardium is grasped on each of the tomographic images 24 and 27, and the M mode image extraction line 35 is input as shown by the alternate long and short dash line on the reference image (24). An M-mode image extraction line 36 is input as indicated by a one-dot chain line on the real-time image (27). Here, each of the M-mode image extraction lines 35 and 36 is displayed extending on both sides with the long axis 37 and 38 indicated by a broken line as the symmetry axis, but is not limited to this and is input and displayed only on one side. May be. The M mode image extraction lines 35 and 36 are displayed one by one, but a plurality of M mode image extraction lines may be input and displayed. Thereafter, the position and brightness of the myocardium in the M mode are automatically determined from the M mode image extraction lines 35 and 36 indicated by the alternate long and short dash line intersecting with the myocardium, and a luminance graph obtained by following the myocardium is created and displayed. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4, the reference image luminance curve 30 and the real-time image luminance curve 31 are displayed. These luminance curves 30 and 31 are displayed with their cardiac time phases synchronized as shown by the corresponding electrocardiographic waveforms 25 and 26, respectively. Next, the difference in luminance change between the luminance curves 30 and 31 is obtained by the calculation unit 11 and the result is displayed as the calculation value graph 32. Then, the myocardial infarction site is determined based on the value of the calculated value graph 32.
[0034]
5 and 6 are explanatory views showing still other examples of image display in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. In these examples, the hue modulation unit 13 shown in FIG. 1 modulates a tomographic frame image created by the second DSC 12 or a graphed M-mode image into hues or gradations to display an image. It is. In FIG. 5, for example, the biological signal display area E shown in FIG.₂As for the calculation value graph 32 for determining cardiac function displayed in the lower part of FIG.₃And this region E₃Other calculation results are displayed with hues. If it does in this way, the visibility of an image can be improved and diagnostic efficiency can be improved.
[0035]
Further, in FIG. 6, for example, the biological signal display region E shown in FIG.₂In place of the calculation value graph 32 and the electrocardiogram waveform 33 displayed in the lower part of the graph, a plurality of calculation results calculated by the calculation unit 11 shown in FIG. It is attached and displayed. Here, a calculation value graph 32 similar to that shown in FIG. 3 and a pressure difference graph 40 created by calculating a pressure difference for heart pressure are displayed, and the pressure of this pressure difference graph 40 changes with time. The state to be performed is displayed with a hue. That is, in the curve of the pressure difference graph 40, the time phase A during the pressure increase is displayed in, for example, yellow, the time phase B at the highest pressure is displayed in, for example, red, and the time phase C during the pressure decrease is illustrated in, for example, Display in green. By doing in this way, the visibility at the time of displaying a some calculation result by a some graph can be improved, and diagnostic efficiency can be improved.
[0036]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, tomographic image data and cardiac time phase information recorded in at least one of the plurality of memory units 3a and 3b are transferred to the control / graphic unit 8 shown in FIG. Connects an external storage device 41 that stores and reads the stored data and transfers it to one of the plurality of memory unitsThe data is arbitrarily read from the external storage device 41 and reproduced on the image display 9.It is a thing. In this case, a real-time tomographic image 27 and an electrocardiographic waveform 26 to be measured one after another are stored in the external storage device 41, or a normal tomographic image 24 is stored as a reference image. Can be read and played back. Therefore, it is possible to perform normal or abnormal comparative observation on the currently displayed diagnostic image, or to determine the therapeutic effect by comparative observation of the diagnostic images over time.
[0037]
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, two memory units (3a, 3b) are provided in parallel. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more memory units are provided in parallel. Three or more diagnostic images may be displayed side by side on the screen of the image display 9 shown in FIG. In this case, a plurality of images can be displayed as the reference image (24), and various comparative observations can be performed with the real-time image (27).
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above,According to the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit controls the display unit to display the image before the contrast medium injection into the subject as a reference image and display the image after the contrast medium injection as a real-time image. The luminance change of the designated part on the reference image and the real-time image is displayed as a reference image luminance curve and a real-time image luminance curve, and the difference in luminance change is calculated from these luminance curves and the calculated value is displayed as a graph.be able to. ThisFor example, when identifying the myocardial infarction site and determining its severity by grasping the myocardial properties, using the fact that myocardial perfusion is blocked to the myocardial infarction site, the contrast medium is not distributed, before and after the injection of the contrast medium If the reference image luminance curve and the real-time image luminance curve of the designated part on the reference image and the real-time image are compared, and the difference in the luminance change before and after the injection of the contrast agent is small, the part is perfused. It can be determined that there is no myocardial infarction. In addition, it is possible to determine the therapeutic effect by grasping the amount that changes over time due to the administration to the subject using a graph in which the difference in luminance change is calculated.
[0040]
According to the invention of claim 2, the graph is a graph showing the change in frequency due to the reference image and the real-time image, by calculating the change in frequency due to the reference image and the real-time image. Can be displayed. In this way, it is possible to determine the therapeutic effect by grasping the amount that changes over time due to medication to the subject.it can.
Furthermore, according to the invention according to claim 3, the pressure difference graph created by calculating the pressure difference for the cardiac pressure obtained from the ultrasonic data output from the recording means is displayed on the display means by the control of the control means. Can be further displayed. Thereby, the state in which the heart pressure changes with time can be displayed.
Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 4, the arbitrary direction M mode unit inputs ultrasonic data from a plurality of recording units of the recording means and reads out the recording unit in an arbitrary direction. Processing for extracting and displaying the M-mode image is performed, the data recorded in the recording means is read out, and the real-time image and reference image of the tomographic image and the M-mode image on an arbitrary extraction line are displayed on the display means. Can be displayed. As a result, the reference image related to the tomographic image can be reproduced synchronously with the real-time image in accordance with the cardiac time phase of the tomographic image displayed in real time, and both images can be compared and observed. A cardiac function measurement can be performed by rendering an M-mode image on an arbitrary extraction line from a tomographic image.
[0041]
Also,According to the invention of claim 5,The external storage device connected to the control unit transfers and stores the tomographic image data and cardiac phase information recorded in at least one of the plurality of recording units of the recording unit and stores the stored data. The data can be read out and transferred to one of the recording means, and the data can be arbitrarily read from the external storage device and reproduced on the display means. Therefore, it is possible to perform normal or abnormal comparative observation on the currently displayed diagnostic image, or to determine the therapeutic effect by comparative observation of the diagnostic images over time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of an arbitrary direction M mode unit.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a reference image and a real-time image by the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of display of a reference image and a real-time image by the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing still another example of an image display example in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of an image display example in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Probe
2 ... Ultrasonic transceiver
3a ... First memory section
3b ... Second memory section
4 ... DSC
5 ... Biological signal detector
6 ... Graphic memory
7 ... Synthesizer
8 ... Control / Graphic section
9 ... Image display
10 ... Arbitrary direction M mode part
11 ... Calculation unit
12 ... Second DSC
13 ... Hue modulation section
14a, 14b ... interface
15a, 15b ... Cine memory
16a, 16b ... biological signal memory
17a, 17b ... Address part
19 ... Input section
24 ... Tomographic image (reference image)
25 ... ECG waveform of reference image
26 ... ECG waveform of real-time image
27 ... Tomographic image (real-time image)
41 ... External storage device

Claims (5)

A probe that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves in the subject, an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit that processes reflected echo signals from the transmitted / received ultrasonic waves, and ultrasonic data that has processed the reflected echo signals are captured and detected from the subject Captures the time phase information of the biological wave, records the real-time image of the tomographic image and the heart time phase information in one recording unit, and records the reference image related to the real-time image and the heart time phase information in the other recording unit and recording means, and control means for controlling so as to display the same screen reproduces a reference image and real-time image synchronization in accordance with the cardiac phase of the real-time images of a plurality of recording portions of the recording means, on type recording means and display means for displaying real-time image and reference image image of the tomographic image read out recorded data,
Under the control of the control means, the display means displays an image before injection of the contrast medium into the subject as a reference image and also displays an image after the injection of the contrast medium as a real-time image on the reference image and the real-time image. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is characterized in that the luminance change of the designated part is displayed as a reference image luminance curve and a real-time image luminance curve, the difference in luminance change is calculated from these luminance curves, and the calculated value is displayed as a graph . 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the graph is obtained by calculating a change in frequency between the reference image and the real-time image and graphing the calculated value . Under the control of the control means, the display means further displays a pressure difference graph created by calculating the pressure difference for the cardiac pressure obtained from the ultrasonic data output from the recording means. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. Arbitrary direction M mode unit for performing processing for extracting and displaying an M mode image in an arbitrary direction from a tomographic image obtained by inputting ultrasonic data from a plurality of recording units of the recording unit and reading out the recording unit The data recorded in the recording means is read out, and a real-time image and reference image of a tomographic image and an M-mode image on an arbitrary extraction line are displayed on the display means. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to 2. The control means transfers and stores the tomographic image data and cardiac time phase information recorded in at least one recording section of the plurality of recording sections of the recording means, and reads the stored data and reads the stored data. 5. An external storage device for transfer to any one of the recording units is connected, and the data is arbitrarily read from the external storage device and reproduced on the display means. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of Claim 1.

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