JP4502440B2 - 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 having a function of automatically correcting the position of a sample volume for performing pulse Doppler measurement.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 5 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of pulse Doppler measurement.
When performing pulse Doppler measurement, the ultrasound probe 10 first scans with the sound ray B to obtain a B-mode image. Next, a Doppler cursor is set on the blood vessel V drawn in the B-mode image.
Then, the Doppler cursor position Dc becomes the position of the sample volume, and only the sound ray Bd passing through the sample volume is transmitted, and pulse Doppler measurement is performed on the sample volume. During this time, the B-mode image is frozen.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional pulse Doppler measurement, the relative position between the ultrasound probe and the blood vessel fluctuated when the setting of the Doppler cursor position Dc was inappropriate from the beginning, or due to the movement of the operator's hand or the body movement of the subject. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, there is a problem that the Doppler cursor position Dc does not coincide with the blood vessel V, and data cannot be suitably acquired.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of automatically correcting the position of a sample volume so that data can be suitably acquired.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In a first aspect, the present invention is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs pulse Doppler measurement on a set sample volume, and performs evaluation measurement on the sample volume and sets a test volume at a position near the sample volume. And an evaluation measurement means for performing evaluation measurement on the test volume, and comparing the evaluation measurement result for the sample volume with the evaluation measurement result for the test volume, and if the evaluation measurement result for the test volume is more effective, the test volume And a sample volume determining means for setting a new sample volume as the new sample volume.
In the above configuration, the evaluation measurement is a measurement for evaluating the effectiveness of pulse Doppler measurement, for example, measurement of items such as total power, maximum flow velocity, and average flow velocity. When the same item as the pulse Doppler measurement for the sample volume is used as the evaluation measurement item, the pulse Doppler measurement for the sample volume may be combined with the evaluation measurement for the sample volume.
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first aspect, the current sample volume is evaluated and measured, and the test volume set in the vicinity of the sample volume is evaluated and measured. If this is more effective than the evaluation measurement result for the sample volume, the test volume is set as a new sample volume. Thereby, the position of the sample volume can be automatically corrected so as to be always optimal.
The timing of the sample volume position correction may be performed at a timing that does not affect the pulse Doppler measurement (for example, if the pulse Doppler measurement is performed every 2 ms), or may be arbitrarily designated by the operator. It may be performed at the time of measurement, or may be performed only at the start of pulse Doppler measurement.
[0005]
In a second aspect, the present invention provides the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the evaluation measurement unit measures at least one of total power, maximum flow velocity, and average flow velocity as the evaluation measurement. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided.
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second aspect, at least one of the total power, the maximum flow velocity, and the average flow velocity is an evaluation measurement item. Since these items generally have larger values as the position of the sample volume is appropriate, comparison and determination are facilitated.
[0006]
In a third aspect, the present invention provides the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the sample volume determining means compares the maximum values in the evaluation measurement results within the evaluation time. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided.
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third aspect, since the maximum values in the evaluation measurement results within the evaluation time are compared instead of the instantaneous evaluation measurement results, adverse effects of pulsation and noise can be suppressed.
[0007]
In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the evaluation time is a time based on a heartbeat.
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth aspect, since the test time is a time based on the heartbeat, for example, a time that is an integral multiple of the measured heartbeat or an approximate time thereof, the adverse effect of pulsation is particularly suppressed. Can do.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited thereby.
[0009]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 includes an ultrasonic probe 10, a transmission unit 11, a scan controller 12, a reception unit 13, a Doppler processing unit 14, a fast Fourier transform unit 15, and a DSC (Digital Scan Converter). 16, a CRT 17, a total power calculation unit 18, a maximum flow velocity calculation unit 19, an average flow velocity calculation unit 20, a memory 21, and a sample volume determination unit 22.
[0010]
The transmission unit 11 drives the ultrasonic probe 10 to transmit an ultrasonic pulse into the subject.
The scan controller 12 controls transmission of ultrasonic pulses. For example, instructions such as sound ray direction and transmission timing are given.
[0011]
The receiving unit 13 drives the ultrasonic probe 10 to receive an ultrasonic echo from a sample volume or a test volume (described later) set in the subject, and outputs a received signal.
The Doppler processing unit 14 performs phase detection, sample hold, and wall filtering to extract Doppler components.
The fast Fourier transform unit 15 performs frequency analysis of Doppler components.
[0012]
The DSC 16 generates pulse Doppler image data based on the frequency analysis result.
The CRT 17 displays a pulse Doppler image on a screen based on the pulse Doppler image data.
[0013]
The total power calculation unit 18 calculates total power (frequency spectrum area) based on the frequency analysis result and outputs a maximum total power value within a test time (for example, one heartbeat time).
The maximum flow velocity calculation unit 19 calculates the maximum flow velocity (the maximum frequency of the frequency spectrum) based on the frequency analysis result and outputs the maximum flow velocity maximum value within the test time.
The average flow velocity calculation unit 20 calculates an average flow velocity (centroid frequency of the frequency spectrum) based on the frequency analysis result and outputs an average flow velocity maximum value within the test time.
[0014]
The memory 21 stores a total power maximum value, a maximum flow velocity maximum value, and an average flow velocity maximum value for a sample volume and a test volume (described later).
[0015]
The sample volume determination unit 22 first notifies the scan controller 12 of the Doppler cursor position set by the operator. As a result, as in the prior art, pulse Doppler measurement is performed with the Doppler cursor position set by the operator as the sample volume position. Next, the sample volume determination unit 22 performs a timing that does not affect the pulse Doppler measurement (for example, if the pulse Doppler measurement is performed every 2 ms), or when the operator arbitrarily instructs Alternatively, only at the start of the pulse Doppler measurement, the sample volume determination process shown in FIG. 2 is executed to determine the optimal Doppler cursor position and notify the scan controller 12 of the Doppler cursor position. Thereby, pulse Doppler measurement is performed with the optimal Doppler cursor position as the sample volume position.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the sample volume determination process.
In step S1, evaluation measurement is performed with the current Doppler cursor position Dc shown in FIG. 3 as the sample volume position, and the total power maximum value, maximum flow velocity maximum value, and average flow velocity maximum value for the sample volume are obtained. The evaluation measurement for the sample volume may be performed in combination with the pulse Doppler measurement or may be performed independently. When performed independently, it is performed so as not to adversely affect the pulse Doppler image.
In step S2, evaluation measurement is performed with the previous shift position Fc obtained by shifting the current Doppler cursor position Dc shown in FIG. 3 forward in the scanning direction as the previous test volume position, and the total power maximum value, maximum flow velocity maximum value, and Obtain the maximum average flow rate. The evaluation measurement for the previous test volume is performed so as not to adversely affect the pulse Doppler image.
In step S3, the current Doppler cursor position Dc shown in FIG. 3 is shifted to the rear side in the scanning direction, and the post-shift position Rc is evaluated and measured as the rear test volume position, and the total power maximum value and the maximum flow velocity maximum value for the rear test volume are measured. And obtain the mean flow velocity maximum. The evaluation measurement for the test volume is performed so as not to adversely affect the pulse Doppler image.
[0017]
In step S4, the total power maximum value, maximum flow velocity maximum value, and average for the Doppler cursor position Dc (sample volume), front shift position Fc (previous test volume) and rear shift position Rc (rear test volume) stored in the memory 21 are stored. The flow velocity maximum values are compared, and the most effective position is determined as a new Doppler cursor position Dc. Here, the most effective position is, for example, a position where the total power maximum value is somewhat larger than the others, and if there is no difference in the total power maximum value, the maximum flow velocity maximum value is somewhat larger than the others, and the maximum flow velocity maximum If there is no difference in values, the maximum average flow velocity is the largest position.
[0018]
According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 described above, when the Doppler cursor position Dc is likely to deviate from the blood vessel V as shown in FIG. 4A, the Doppler cursor position Dc becomes a blood vessel as shown in FIG. It is automatically corrected to be within V. Therefore, the data of pulse Doppler measurement can always be acquired suitably.
[0019]
As another embodiment, instead of or in addition to shifting the Doppler cursor position Dc back and forth in the scanning direction, there is one that shifts in the shallow depth direction.
Also, the position with the maximum total power maximum is the most effective position, the position with the maximum maximum flow velocity maximum is the most effective position, and the position with the maximum average flow velocity maximum is the most effective position. The position is mentioned.
Further, there is one that compares the instantaneous evaluation measurement results (for example, total power, maximum flow velocity, and average flow velocity) to determine the most effective position.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to automatically correct so that the position of the sample volume is always optimum. Therefore, pulse Doppler measurement data can always be obtained suitably.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of sample volume determination processing.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a Doppler cursor position (sample volume), a previous shift position (previous test volume), and a rear shift position (rear test volume).
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing effects of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a general explanatory diagram of pulse Doppler measurement.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of problems in conventional pulse Doppler measurement.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Ultrasonic probe 11 Transmitter 12 Scan controller 13 Receiver 14 Doppler processor 15 Fast Fourier transform 16 DSC
17 CRT
18 Total power calculation unit 19 Maximum flow velocity calculation unit 20 Average flow velocity calculation unit 21 Memory 22 Sample volume determination unit 100 Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus B, Bd Sound ray Dc Doppler cursor position Fc Preshift position Rc Rear shift position V Blood vessel

Claims (4)

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus which performs pulse Doppler measurement for the configured sample volume, the test volume sets the test volume in the vicinity of the sample volume performs at least the total power measured as an evaluation measurement against the sample volume evaluation measuring means for performing at least the total power measured as an evaluation measure for pairs, the evaluation results of measurement of the total power to the sample volume and compares the evaluation results of measurement of the total power to the test volume evaluation measurement results for the test volume An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a sample volume determining unit that uses the test volume as a new sample volume if the test volume is effective. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation measurement unit measures a maximum flow velocity and an average flow velocity in addition to total power as the evaluation measurement, and the sample volume determination unit performs comparison by comparing the total power. If the validity cannot be determined, the validity is determined by comparing the measurement result of the maximum flow velocity with respect to the sample volume and the evaluation measurement result of the maximum flow velocity with respect to the test volume, and further, the effectiveness is determined by comparing the maximum flow velocity. If the determination cannot be made, the validity determination is performed by comparing the measurement result of the average flow velocity with respect to the sample volume and the average flow velocity with respect to the test volume .   3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample volume determination unit compares the maximum values among the evaluation measurement results within the evaluation time.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the evaluation time is a time based on a heartbeat.

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