JP3904654B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly, to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of simultaneously displaying an electrocardiographic waveform and an ultrasonic image when setting a slow motion reproduction range of an ultrasonic image in a cine mode. The present invention relates to a technique effective for expanding the display range of a shape.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, based on the so-called real-time display that immediately displays the measured electrocardiogram waveform and ultrasonic image on the same screen of the monitor, and the measurement data measured and stored at the time of real-time display, There is a so-called cine mode display in which an electrocardiogram waveform is displayed and an ultrasonic image in a range instructed by the examiner based on the electrocardiogram waveform is reproduced in slow motion.
[0003]
When performing real-time display, the electrocardiographic waveform is converted into a digital signal at a predetermined sampling period by using an A / D converter, and once this electrocardiographic waveform is measured. After the data is stored in the memory, the electrocardiographic waveform data read from one address of the memory is made to correspond to one pixel of the monitor so that the electrocardiographic waveform is displayed on the same monitor screen together with the ultrasonic image. It was.
[0004]
On the other hand, regarding the ultrasonic image, first, the ultrasonic wave is emitted from the probe, and then the ultrasonic wave reflected and returned inside the subject is converted into an electric signal by the above-described probe. Next, after this electrical signal is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter, the digital signal (ultrasound image data) is temporarily stored in a memory, and then based on the ultrasound image data read from the memory. The ultrasonic image was displayed on the monitor in synchronization with the electrocardiogram waveform.
[0005]
Next, when performing cine mode display, measurement of an electrocardiographic waveform and an ultrasonic image is first stopped. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the electrocardiographic waveform data is read from the memory, and the electrocardiographic waveform 501 is displayed on the monitor. At this time, the marker 502 is displayed on the monitor together with the electrocardiogram waveform, and the examiner designates the reproduction range by the marker 502. Next, based on the designation of the reproduction range, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus displays an ultrasonic image within the designated range on a monitor at a predetermined reproduction speed input from an operator console, for example.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As a result of examining the prior art, the present inventor has found the following problems.
In the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, when the reproduction range is set during the cine mode display, the data stored in the memory that stores the electrocardiographic waveform data during the real-time display is used as it is.
[0007]
For this reason, the display range of the electrocardiogram waveform displayed on the monitor has a heartbeat of about 2 beats as shown in FIG. 5 in order to prioritize the display performance of the electrocardiogram waveform.
[0008]
On the other hand, the display of the ultrasonic image in the cine mode is mainly used by a doctor or the like for diagnosing the organ by observing the movement of the heart or the like during an abnormality. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, it is necessary to observe an image only when the heart pumps blood in slow motion, but the designated range falls within the range of the electrocardiographic waveform displayed on the monitor. For this reason, in order to observe the state of a plurality of heartbeats, it is necessary to repeatedly perform the real-time display and the cine mode display.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of improving the operability of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of improving diagnostic efficiency.
The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Of the inventions disclosed in this application, the outline of typical ones will be briefly described as follows.
[0011]
Storage means for storing the electrocardiographic waveform data of the subject and ultrasonic image data corresponding to the electrocardiographic waveform data, and reading out the electrocardiographic waveform data and ultrasonic image data stored in the storage means to output the electrocardiogram In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having display means for displaying a shape and an ultrasonic image on the same screen, a first memory for storing the electrocardiographic waveform data, and a first memory based on a set compression rate Compression means for compressing the electrocardiographic waveform data read from the time-order in the order of reading, and a second memory for sequentially storing the electrocardiographic waveform data after compression, the compression means sequentially from the first memory A maximum value and a minimum value of a plurality of input ECG waveform data are detected and output to the second memory to store the maximum value and the minimum value as one ECG waveform data. , In the second memory The stored electrocardiographic waveform data are sequentially read out, and the control means reads out the ultrasonic image data from the storage means in correspondence with the compression rate of the electrocardiographic waveform, whereby the compressed electrocardiographic waveform and the The ultrasonic image is displayed in synchronization.
[0012]
According to the means described above, the electrocardiographic waveform data displayed on the display means, that is, electrocardiographic waveform data, corresponds to one data per pixel in the display means. Therefore, when displaying based on the ECG waveform data after the number of data is compressed by the reduction means, more ECG waveforms can be displayed in the scroll direction of the ECG waveform, and displayed at a predetermined speed. Since the designated range of the ultrasonic image can be increased, the operability of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be improved.
[0013]
In addition, since the operability can be improved, the time required for diagnosis and the like can be shortened, so that the diagnosis efficiency can be improved.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings together with embodiments (examples) of the invention.
[0015]
Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiments, and the repetitive description thereof is omitted.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a probe, 2 is an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit, 3 is an electrocardiogram waveform reception unit, and 4 is a DSC unit. Reference numeral 5 denotes a monitor (display means).
[0017]
In FIG. 1, a probe 1 is a well-known probe, which outputs an ultrasonic wave corresponding to a high-frequency signal supplied from the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2, and converts an ultrasonic wave received by the probe 1 into an analog signal. This is converted into an electrical signal, and this electrical signal is output to the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2.
[0018]
The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 supplies a high-frequency signal based on an input value input from a console (not shown) to the probe 1 and amplifies an analog signal input from the probe 1 and then outputs the amplified signal to the DSC unit. To do.
[0019]
The electrocardiogram waveform receiving unit 3 is connected to a well-known electrocardiograph (not shown) and the DSC unit 4, amplifies the action potential of the heart of the subject (not shown) measured by the electrocardiograph, Output to the DSC unit 4 as a radio wave signal.
[0020]
The DSC unit 4 first converts the reception signal input from the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 and the electrocardiogram waveform signal input from the electrocardiogram waveform reception unit 3 into a digital signal using a known A / D converter. Then, after performing predetermined digital signal processing on the converted signal, the electrocardiogram waveform and the ultrasonic image are synthesized and displayed on the monitor 5. Details of the DSC unit 4 will be described later.
[0021]
The monitor 5 is a well-known television monitor, and displays an image based on a monitor output signal from the DSC unit 4.
[0022]
Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. First, a high-frequency signal set in advance is supplied to the probe 1 during real-time display. The probe 1 generates an ultrasonic wave corresponding to the high-frequency signal, and emits the ultrasonic wave to a subject on which the probe 1 is pressed. A part of the ultrasonic wave is reflected inside the subject, particularly at the boundary surface of the organ, and the reflected ultrasonic wave is input (received) to the probe 1 again. In the probe 1, an analog signal corresponding to the intensity of the ultrasonic wave accompanying the received reflection is input to the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2. The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 amplifies the analog signal and then outputs it to the DSC unit 4.
[0023]
On the other hand, an electrocardiographic waveform measured by an electrocardiograph (not shown) is amplified by the electrocardiographic waveform receiving unit 3 and then output to the DSC unit 4.
[0024]
In the DSC unit 4, first, an analog signal and an electrocardiographic waveform corresponding to the intensity of the ultrasonic wave input from the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving unit 2 and the electrocardiographic waveform receiving unit 3 are converted into digital data, respectively. Thereafter, for the data obtained by converting the ultrasonic signal, data indicating a tomographic image of the subject, that is, tomographic image data, is constructed from the converted digital data. On the other hand, the data obtained by converting the electrocardiogram waveform is converted into display data in an area of 0 to 511 pixels in the vertical direction of the display area on the monitor screen, that is, electrocardiogram waveform data.
[0025]
Next, in order to display the electrocardiographic waveform display data and tomographic image data on the display screen of the monitor 5, it is converted into a video signal and output to the monitor, whereby the electrocardiographic waveform is displayed on the monitor 5 screen. And the tomogram are synchronized.
[0026]
Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the DSC unit of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of display at the time of cine mode display. Hereinafter, based on FIG. 2 and FIG. The operation of the unit 4 will be described.
[0027]
In FIG. 2, 201 is an A / D converter, 202 is a minimum / maximum detection circuit (decrement means), 203 is a real-time memory (storage means), 204 is a cine mode memory (storage means), and 205 is a BS image memory ( (Storage means), 206 is a temporal bar circuit, 207 is a monitor display memory, and 208 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit).
[0028]
The A / D converter 201 is a known A / D converter that converts an analog signal into a digital signal, and sequentially converts the electrocardiogram waveform input from the electrocardiogram waveform receiver 3 into a digital signal.
[0029]
The maximum / minimum detection circuit 202 has a maximum value and a minimum value of the position of the lit pixel on the monitor 5 that are required when the ECG waveform data input from the A / D converter 201 is displayed on the monitor 5, that is, It is a circuit for converting into display data of an electrocardiogram waveform. The maximum / minimum detection circuit 202 compresses the display data read from the real-time memory 203 in the order of reading in the time direction based on the compression rate input by an examiner (worker) (not shown), and the result is Output to the cine mode memory 204. Details of the compression method at this time will be described later.
[0030]
The real-time memory 203 is a well-known memory that sequentially stores the output of the maximum / minimum detection circuit 202. In the present embodiment, the output of the maximum / minimum detection circuit 202 is stored in order from the top address of the real-time memory 203. The data is sequentially output to the monitor display memory.
[0031]
The cine mode memory 204 is a well-known memory for sequentially storing the display data after compression output from the maximum / minimum detection circuit 202. In the present embodiment, the cine mode memory 204 monitors the data in order during cine mode display. The data is output to the display memory 207.
[0032]
The BS image memory 205 is a well-known memory for storing display tomographic images. In the present embodiment, display tomographic image data obtained from an ultrasonic signal received by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 is used. Is stored.
[0033]
The time phase bar circuit 206 is a circuit that outputs display data for displaying the time phase bar on the monitor 5 to the monitor display memory 207 based on a control signal of the CPU 208, and is supplied from an operation panel (operation console) (not shown). It is possible to change the display position of the time phase bar based on the instruction.
[0034]
The monitor display memory 207 is a well-known memory for storing data to be displayed on the monitor 5, and in this embodiment, the real-time memory 203, the cine mode memory 204, the BS image memory 205, and the time phase bar. Data from the circuit 206 is input.
[0035]
The CPU 208 is a well-known CPU, and based on an examiner's instruction input from an operation panel (not shown), a maximum / minimum detection circuit 202, a real time memory 203, a cine mode memory 204, a BS image memory 205, and a time phase bar. The circuit 206 is controlled.
[0036]
The method for constructing the tomographic image of the subject from the ultrasonic signal amplified by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 is the same as the conventional method, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
[0037]
As for the electrocardiogram waveform, first, the real-time display will be described.
The ECG waveform signal input from the ECG waveform receiver is first converted into a digital signal (electrocardiogram waveform data) by the A / D converter 201 and then output to the maximum / minimum detection circuit 202.
[0038]
Next, in the maximum / minimum detection circuit 202, in order to convert the electrocardiographic waveform data output from the A / D converter 201 into electrocardiographic waveform data for display based on the control of the CPU 208, one pixel of the monitor 5 is displayed. The maximum value and the minimum value within the time corresponding to minutes are detected, and the detected values are written in the real-time memory 203. At this time, the detected value is not written in the cine mode memory 204.
[0039]
The electrocardiographic waveform data written in the real-time memory 203 is read out in synchronization with the tomographic image written in the BS image memory 205 under the control of the CPU 208 and written in the monitor display memory 207. The tomographic image data and diagnostic waveform data written in the monitor display memory 207 are converted into a video signal by a video signal converter (not shown), then output to the monitor, and an electrocardiographic waveform together with the tomographic image on the screen on the monitor. Is displayed in real time.
[0040]
Next, a description will be given of the cine mode display when the examiner instructs double compression. The switching between the above-described real-time display and cine mode display is performed by an examiner operating a real-time display / cine mode display switching switch provided on a console (not shown). At this time, the examiner inputs the compression rate of the electrocardiogram waveform.
[0041]
In the cine mode, first, based on the control signal from the CPU 208, the data transfer from the A / D converter 201 to the maximum / minimum detection circuit 202 and the data transfer from the real-time memory to the monitor display memory 207 are stopped. .
[0042]
Next, under the control of the CPU 208, the output of the real-time memory 203 is switched to the input of the maximum / minimum detection circuit. That is, the electrocardiographic waveform data read from the real time memory 203 is sequentially input to the maximum / minimum detection circuit 202.
[0043]
The maximum / minimum detection circuit 202 detects the maximum value / minimum value of the ECG waveform data for two addresses, that is, two ECG waveform data sequentially input from the real-time memory 203 based on the control of the CPU 208. Then, the value is output to the cine mode memory 204.
[0044]
The cine mode memory 204 stores the maximum value / minimum value output from the maximum / minimum detection circuit 202 as one piece of data. The electrocardiographic waveform data stored in the cine mode memory 204 is sequentially read based on the read control signal of the CPU 208, stored in the monitor display memory 207, converted into a video signal for display, and then monitored. 5 and displayed on the display screen.
[0045]
At this time, the CPU 208 also transfers the marker display data for setting the slow playback range in the cine mode from the time phase bar circuit to the monitor display memory 207, thereby displaying the marker together with the electrocardiogram waveform.
[0046]
When the examiner sets the slow reproduction range of the tomographic image in the cine mode display by using this marker, the CPU 208 stores the position of the electrocardiographic waveform data from the marker position on the display screen, that is, the marker position stored in the cine mode memory 204. The radio wave data position is detected, and the position, that is, the address of the cine mode memory 204 is stored in a memory (not shown).
[0047]
The setting of the reproduction range is completed by performing the above-described operation, that is, setting the reproduction range at least once.
[0048]
Next, when the examiner instructs the reproduction, the CPU 208 reads tomographic image data corresponding to the address value stored in the memory (not shown) from the BS image memory 206 based on the reproduction instruction, and the data is read from the monitor display memory. Then, the tomographic image within the designated range is displayed on the monitor 5. However, when reading the tomographic image data from the BS image memory 205, the CPU 208 performs read control corresponding to the compression rate at the time of displaying the cine mode, whereby the electrocardiographic waveform data stored in the cine mode memory 204 and the BS It is synchronized with tomographic image data stored in the image memory 205.
[0049]
The tomographic image data read from the BS image memory 205 is controlled by the CPU 208 so that the tomographic image data read from the console not shown by the examiner in advance is displayed, and the tomographic image is displayed slowly.
[0050]
FIG. 3 shows the state of the display at this time. As is clear from this figure, an electrocardiogram waveform for four heartbeats can be displayed, and the playback range at the time of slow playback is determined based on the electrocardiogram waveform. Since it can be set, the operability of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be improved.
[0051]
Next, FIG. 4 shows a diagram for explaining the operation of the maximum / minimum detection circuit according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the maximum / minimum detection circuit 202 in the cine mode display will be described with reference to FIG.
[0052]
In FIG. 4, 401 is a memory map of electrocardiographic waveform data stored in the real-time memory 203, and 402 is a memory map of compressed electrocardiographic waveform data stored in the cine mode memory 204.
[0053]
In the present embodiment, since the examiner has instructed double compression, the maximum / minimum detection circuit 202 reads the first electrocardiogram waveform data 411 and the second electrocardiogram waveform data 412 read from the real-time memory 203. The maximum value and the minimum value are compared, and the larger value for the maximum value is set as the maximum value after compression, while the minimum value is set as the minimum value after compression.
[0054]
The maximum and minimum values after compression are written as first electrocardiographic waveform data 413 in the cine mode memory.
[0055]
The ECG waveform data is compressed by performing the above-described procedure for all ECG waveforms in the real-time memory.
[0056]
At this time, the correspondence (synchronization) between the electrocardiographic waveform data stored in the cine mode memory 204 and the tomographic image data stored in the BS image memory 205 is a control signal from the CPU 208 when reading the tomographic image data. It shall be controlled by
[0057]
As described above, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment, the memory (real-time memory 203) that sequentially stores the electrocardiographic waveform data after the maximum and minimum processing, and the electrocardiographic waveform data at the time of cine mode display are stored. A memory (cine mode memory 204) is provided, and when the cine mode is displayed, the electrocardiographic waveform data stored in the real time memory 203 is first read sequentially, and the data is read out by a maximum / minimum detection circuit. After conversion into one piece of data, the converted data is stored in the cine mode memory 204, and an electrocardiogram waveform based on the electrocardiogram waveform data of the cine mode memory 204 is displayed on the monitor. Based on this, the tomographic image reproduction range in cine mode display is set, so the reproduction range that can be set at one time can be set large or In it can be set many a playback point that can be set. Therefore, the operability of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be improved.
[0058]
In addition, the playback range that can be set at one time can be set large, or the number of playback points that can be set at one time can be set, so that the time required for diagnosis by the doctor can be reduced, that is, the diagnosis efficiency of the doctor can be improved. .
[0059]
The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiment of the invention, but the invention is not limited to the embodiment of the invention and does not depart from the gist of the invention. Of course, various changes can be made.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
The effects obtained by the representative ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows.
[0061]
(1) The operability of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be improved.
(2) The diagnostic efficiency of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a DSC unit according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of display during cine mode display in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a maximum / minimum detection circuit according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of display during cine mode display in a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Probe 2 Ultrasonic wave transmission / reception part 3 ECG waveform reception part 4 DSC part 5 Monitor 201 A / D converter 202 Minimum / maximum detection circuit 203 Real-time memory 204 Cine mode memory 205 BS image memory 206 Time phase bar circuit 207 Monitor display memory 208 CPU
401 Memory map of ECG waveform data stored in real-time memory 402 Memory map of ECG waveform data after compression stored in cine-mode memory

Claims (1)

Storage means for storing the electrocardiographic waveform data of the subject and ultrasonic image data corresponding to the electrocardiographic waveform data, and reading out the electrocardiographic waveform data and ultrasonic image data stored in the storage means to output the electrocardiogram In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a display means for displaying a shape and an ultrasonic image on the same screen, and a control means for controlling each component ,
A first memory for storing the electrocardiogram waveform data; a compression means for compressing the electrocardiogram waveform data read from the first memory in the time direction in the reading order based on a set compression rate; A second memory for sequentially storing the shape data,
The compression unit detects a maximum value and a minimum value of a plurality of the electrocardiographic waveform data sequentially input from the first memory, and outputs the detected maximum value and the minimum value to the second memory. Are stored as one ECG waveform data, and the ECG waveform data stored in the second memory are sequentially read out, and the control means responds to the compression rate of the ECG waveform by the ultrasonic image. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized in that the compressed electrocardiogram waveform and the ultrasonic image are displayed in synchronization by reading data from the storage means.

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