JP4704094B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can construct a three-dimensional image.

  Conventionally, as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays a three-dimensional image, for example, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that includes a three-dimensional image processing method based on a volume rendering method has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this method, individual echo data existing on each ultrasonic beam is referred to in order of time series, and predetermined voxel calculation is sequentially executed to calculate a pixel value for each ultrasonic beam. Then, a three-dimensional image is constructed as such a set of pixels.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as described above provides the patient with a three-dimensional image of the subject by performing the image processing.
JP-A-10-33538

  However, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, since the three-dimensional image to be constructed is determined by the coordinate system of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, when the patient or pregnant woman can easily see the image of the subject, There is a problem that when a user performs measurement of a specific part accurately using a trackball or the like, the user needs to set the coordinate system of the subject appropriately, which is complicated and takes time.

  The present invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can solve the above-described conventional problems, detect a feature of a subject, and display a three-dimensional image in a display coordinate system set by calculating the subject coordinate system. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a transmission / reception unit for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject and receiving a reflected ultrasonic wave, and a signal received by the transmission / reception unit for acoustic line data. Signal processing means for converting to 3D, 3D image processing means for generating 3D image data from acoustic line data as an output of the signal processing means, and coordinates serving as a reference for the 3D image formed by the 3D image data a reference coordinate system setting means for setting the system to a plurality of predetermined region of the subject, the center coordinates or specific-axis coordinate of the object coordinate system, registered as determinant for forming the subject coordinate system wherein detecting a plurality of predetermined sites coordinates of the object, the detected coordinates the subject coordinate system determining element registration hands predetermined site in the subject coordinate system determining element registration unit, a coordinate system serving as the basis for A feature detection means for determining the center coordinate or certain axis coordinates of the object coordinate system is registered by the subject based on the center coordinates and the specific-axis coordinate of the subject coordinate system determined by said feature detecting means Object coordinate system determining means for forming a coordinate system, and conversion information for converting the 3D image data of the object coordinate system into 3D image data of a display coordinate system for displaying a desired 3D image A coordinate conversion unit for generating; and a display unit for displaying the three-dimensional image data as a three-dimensional image. The three-dimensional image processing unit converts the reference coordinate system three-dimensional image data based on the conversion information to the three-dimensional image data. The display unit converts the display coordinate system into three-dimensional image data, and the display unit displays the converted three-dimensional image data as a three-dimensional image. With this configuration, it is possible to form a three-dimensional image with a display coordinate system set in advance by detecting the characteristics of the subject and calculating the subject coordinate system.

  Further, the feature detection means is configured to detect the feature of the subject by matching a three-dimensional image formed by the three-dimensional image data with a pattern figure set for a predetermined part of the subject. You can also

In addition, a configuration may be provided that includes detection feature setting means for setting the pattern graphic and setting a method for matching a predetermined part of the subject with the pattern graphic. With this configuration, it is possible to set features to be detected, register the determination elements of the subject coordinate system, and set a flexible coordinate system corresponding to various subjects and diagnostic methods.

  In addition, a display coordinate system setting unit for setting the display coordinate system may be provided. With this configuration, a desired display coordinate system can be set in advance, and the display coordinate system can be immediately changed according to the diagnosis situation.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which can display a three-dimensional image in the display coordinate system set by detecting the characteristic of a subject and calculating a subject coordinate system can be provided.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The transmission / reception unit 1 (transmission / reception means) includes an ultrasonic probe that mutually converts electrical signals and ultrasonic waves and transmits / receives ultrasonic waves, scans a subject to obtain reception signals, and a signal processing unit 2 Send the received signal to. The signal processing unit 2 (signal processing means) performs processing such as amplification and detection on the received signal, forms acoustic line data, and sends the image data to the three-dimensional image processing unit 3. The three-dimensional image processing unit 3 (three-dimensional image processing means) constructs three-dimensional image data from a plurality of formed acoustic ray data.

  The feature detection unit 4 (feature detection means) detects the feature of the subject in the constructed three-dimensional image data. The feature detection method matches a set pattern shape with a three-dimensional image of a predetermined part of a subject. The matched pattern shape is detected as a feature.

  The reference coordinate system setting unit 5 (reference coordinate system setting means) sets a reference coordinate system determined by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The feature detection unit 4 detects each detected coordinate from the detected feature based on the reference coordinate system set by the reference coordinate system setting unit 5 and the 3D image data from the 3D image processing unit 3.

  The subject coordinate system determination unit 6 (subject coordinate system determination unit) determines the subject coordinate system from the detected coordinates detected by the feature detection unit 4, and sends the subject coordinate system to the coordinate system conversion unit 7 (coordinate conversion unit). Supply system information.

  The coordinate system conversion unit 7 generates conversion information from the subject coordinate system to the display coordinate system based on the information on the subject coordinate system from the subject coordinate system determination unit 6 and information on the display coordinate system set in advance. The conversion information is sent to the three-dimensional image processing unit 3. The display unit 8 (display unit) displays the 3D image data converted from the reference coordinate system to the display coordinate system in the 3D image processing unit 3 as an image.

  Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The transmission / reception unit 1 converts the ultrasonic wave reflected by the subject into a reception signal. The signal processing unit 2 performs signal processing on the converted reception signal. The three-dimensional image processing unit 3 performs volume rendering processing or the like on the received signal that has been subjected to signal processing, and constructs a three-dimensional image (step S101). Next, it is determined whether or not the subject coordinate system has been determined (step S102). If the subject coordinate system is determined, the coordinate system conversion unit 7 generates conversion information from the subject coordinate system to the display coordinate system (step S105).

  If the subject coordinate system is not determined in step S102, the feature detection unit 4 detects the feature of the subject from the constructed three-dimensional image (step S103). The feature detection method is performed by matching a pattern shape set to a three-dimensional image, and the matched shape becomes a feature. Based on the detected feature, the subject coordinate system determination unit 6 determines the subject coordinate system (step S104). Next, the coordinate system conversion unit 7 creates conversion information from the subject coordinate system to the display coordinate system (step S105). The three-dimensional image processing unit 3 converts the three-dimensional image data in the reference coordinate system into the three-dimensional image data in the display coordinate system based on the created conversion information (step S106). The display unit 8 displays the converted 3D image data as a 3D image (step S107).

  As described above, it is possible to display a three-dimensional image in a preset display coordinate system by detecting the characteristics of the subject and calculating the subject coordinate system.

(Second Embodiment)
First, the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment has an input unit 9, a detection feature setting unit 10, and a subject coordinate system determination element registration unit 11 added to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment. The feature detector 4b is different in that a first feature detector 12a, a second feature detector 12b, and a third feature detector 12c are arranged. The same components as those in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The first to third feature detectors 12a, 12b, and 12c detect the feature of the subject using the pattern shape set from the three-dimensional image of the subject. The input unit 9 includes, for example, a mouse and a keyboard, and is used for performing various settings described later. The detection feature setting unit 10 (detection feature setting means) has a function of setting a detection target and a function of setting a matching evaluation method for matching the detection target and the pattern shape. If the detection target, the pattern shape, and the matching evaluation method are not registered, the default values are used.

  In addition, the detection feature setting unit 10 uses the detection feature setting information set by the detection feature setting unit 10 such as the detection target, pattern shape, and matching evaluation method as the subject coordinate system determination element registration unit 11 (subject coordinate system determination element). Registration means). The subject coordinate system determination element registration unit 11 registers a feature detected by the feature detection unit 4b based on the detected feature setting information as a determination element of the subject coordinate system, and the detection feature setting information and the registration information are first to first. 3 feature detectors 12a, 12b and 12c.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of input interfaces of the detection feature setting unit 10 and the subject coordinate system determination element registration unit 11. The image display unit 31 displays a three-dimensional image of the subject. The detection target selection unit 32 is an interface that sets a part for detecting the feature of the subject in the detection feature setting unit 10. The pattern shape selection unit 33 is an interface that sets a pattern shape to be matched with the region of the subject in the detection feature setting unit 10. The matching evaluation method selection unit 34 is an interface that sets a method for matching the region of the subject and the pattern shape in the detection feature setting unit 10. The detection coordinate selection unit 35 is an interface for registering a determination element in the object coordinate system determination element registration unit 11 in order to obtain the object coordinates from the matching shape.

  The user can set the detection target, pattern shape, matching evaluation method, and detection coordinate by pull-down menus of the detection target selection unit 32, pattern shape selection unit 33, matching evaluation method selection unit 34, and detection coordinate selection unit 35, respectively. Select using a trackball or the like.

  The feature detection unit 4 obtains the magnification at the time of constructing the three-dimensional image from the three-dimensional image processing unit 3, and determines the initial value of the pattern shape from the magnification and the number of pregnancy weeks. Each of the feature detectors 12a to 12c uses the initial value to perform matching evaluation between the voxel of the three-dimensional image of the subject and the pattern shape (in FIG. 4, evaluation on the sum of the squares of the distances to the surface voxels) Each detected coordinate in the reference coordinate system that minimizes the evaluation value is determined.

  In this way, three detection coordinates are obtained. In addition, this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus holds not only a sphere, an ellipsoid, and a triangular pyramid as a pattern shape, but also basic figures such as a cube and a cylinder, and the user can select from these using the detection feature setting unit 10. is there. The matching evaluation method is not limited to the sum of squared distances described here, and various evaluation methods can be applied.

  Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The transmission / reception unit 1 converts the ultrasonic wave reflected by the subject into a reception signal. The signal processing unit 2 performs signal processing on the converted reception signal. The three-dimensional image processing unit 3 performs volume rendering processing or the like on the received signal that has been subjected to signal processing, and constructs a three-dimensional image (step S201). Next, it is determined whether or not the subject coordinate system has been determined (step S202). If the subject coordinate system has been determined, the coordinate system conversion unit 7 creates conversion information from the subject coordinate system to the display coordinate system (step S208). If the subject coordinate system is not determined in step S202, the user is caused to determine whether or not to set the feature to be detected of the subject that constitutes the subject coordinate (step S203). When the detection feature is not set, the feature detection unit 4b detects a default feature (step S206).

  In step S203, when setting the feature, the detection feature setting unit 10 registers the detection target, the pattern shape, and the matching evaluation method input by the user using the interface shown in FIG. The data is sent to the unit 11 (step S204).

  Next, using the interface shown in FIG. 4, the subject coordinate system determination element registration unit 11 receives a determination element for forming the subject coordinate system input by the user. Then, the subject coordinate system determination element registration unit 11 registers the detection target, the pattern shape, the matching evaluation method, and the determination element in the first to third feature detectors 12a to 12c (step S205). Here, the head 41 is set as the detection target, the sphere 42 is set as the pattern shape, the sum of squares of the distance is set as the matching evaluation method, and the center coordinates are registered as the detection coordinates in the first feature detector 12a. Similarly, in the second feature detector 12b, the body 43 is set as the detection target, the ellipsoid 44 is set as the pattern shape, the sum of squares of the distance is set as the matching evaluation method, and the first axis is registered as the detection coordinates. The In the third feature detector 12c, the detection feature setting unit 10 sets the nose portion 45 as the detection target, the triangular pyramid 46 as the pattern shape, and the sum of squares of the distance as the matching evaluation method. Is registered.

  Next, the first to third feature detectors 12a to 12c detect the feature of the subject by matching the three-dimensional image of the subject with the set pattern shape (step S206). FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for detecting subject coordinates from a three-dimensional image of the subject. As set in S204, the pattern-shaped sphere 42 is matched to the subject's head 41, the pattern-shaped ellipsoid 43 is matched to the trunk 44, and the pattern-shaped sphere 42 is matched to the nose 45. Triangular pyramids are matched. The feature of the subject is detected by matching, and each detected coordinate in the reference coordinate system detected by the reference coordinate system setting unit 5 is output to the subject coordinate system determining unit 6. In addition, if there is an unregistered one of the center coordinates, the first axis determination coordinates, the second axis determination coordinates, and the third axis determination coordinates of each detected coordinate, the unregistered coordinate system determination element is the default. Use the value.

  Next, the subject coordinate system determination unit 6 sets the vector from the center coordinate to the first axis determination coordinate as the first axis, the vector from the center coordinate to the second axis determination coordinate as the second axis, and the center coordinate to the third axis. The subject coordinate system is determined using the vector to the determined coordinate as the third axis (step S207). The subject coordinate system determination unit 6 supplies the determined subject coordinate system to the coordinate system conversion unit 7. The coordinate system conversion unit 7 generates conversion information from the subject coordinate system to the display coordinate system based on the received subject coordinate system and display coordinate system, and sends the conversion information to the three-dimensional image processing unit 3 (step S208). The three-dimensional image processing unit 3 converts the three-dimensional image data in the reference coordinate system into the three-dimensional image data in the display coordinate system based on the created conversion information (step S209). The display unit 8 displays the converted 3D image data as a 3D image (step S210).

  As described above, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment can display a three-dimensional image in the display coordinate system set by detecting the feature of the subject and calculating the subject coordinate system. Furthermore, the subject coordinate system can be set by the user.

(Third embodiment)
First, the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the display coordinate system setting unit 13 is provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment. The display coordinate system setting unit 13 (display coordinate system setting means) has a function of setting a display coordinate system corresponding to the display of the three-dimensional image that the user desires to display on the display unit 8 via the input unit 9. Have. The coordinate system conversion unit 14 records the set object coordinate system, display coordinate system setting, and coordinate conversion information. When the object coordinate system is recorded, the coordinate system is not detected again without performing feature detection. By performing only the conversion, it is possible to convert to another display coordinate system and display it.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a switching interface that enables the user to switch the display coordinate system with a simple operation. FIG. 8 includes a three-dimensional image 51 of the subject and a display coordinate system selection unit 52. The display coordinate system selection unit 52 has, for example, four display coordinate systems in advance by the user, and can select and determine the display coordinate system of the subject by selecting and determining with a trackball or the like. In the case of FIG. 8, the first display coordinate system 53 is effective.

  The operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment. Step S208 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment is different, and the same steps are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. If the subject coordinate system has already been determined in step S202, or if the subject coordinate system is determined in step S207, the user is then asked whether to set the display coordinate system (step S301). When the display coordinate system is not set, the coordinate system conversion unit 14 generates coordinate system conversion information using the default display coordinate system and sends it to the 3D image processing unit 3 (step S303). When setting the display coordinate system, the display coordinate system setting unit 13 constructs a display coordinate system based on the display coordinate system setting information input by the user from the input unit 9 and sends the display coordinate system to the coordinate system conversion unit 14 ( Step S302). Next, the coordinate system conversion unit 14 generates coordinate system conversion information using the constructed display coordinate system and sends it to the 3D image processing unit 3 (step S303). The three-dimensional image processing unit 3 converts the three-dimensional image from the reference coordinate system to the display coordinate system based on the sent information (step S209) and displays it on the display unit 8 (step S210).

  As described above, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment can display a three-dimensional image in the display coordinate system set by detecting the feature of the subject and calculating the subject coordinate system. Furthermore, a plurality of display coordinate systems can be set, and the display can be switched to a three-dimensional image from the direction desired by the user.

  In the second and third embodiments, three feature detectors are shown. However, three feature detectors are not necessarily required, and one or more feature detectors are sufficient.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to these examples.

  The present invention can display a three-dimensional image on a set coordinate axis, and can make an image of a subject easy to understand for a patient or a pregnant woman, or a doctor can accurately measure a specific part. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be used in the medical field, particularly in the field of ultrasonic diagnosis.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention Flow chart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus The block diagram which shows the structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the subject coordinate setting interface of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus same as the above. Flow chart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus The figure which shows the detection of the three-dimensional image and feature of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus The block diagram which shows the structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the screen which selects the display coordinate of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus same as the above Flow chart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transmission / reception part 2 Signal processing part 3 Three-dimensional image processing part 4, 4b Feature detection part 5 Reference coordinate system setting part 6 Subject coordinate system determination part 7, 14 Coordinate system conversion part 8 Display part 9 Input part 10 Detection feature setting part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Subject coordinate system determination element registration part 12a, 12b, 12c Feature detector 13 Display coordinate system setting part 31 Image display part 32 Detection target selection part 33 Pattern shape selection part 34 Matching evaluation method selection part 35 Detection coordinate selection part 41 Head Part 42 pattern-shaped sphere 43 trunk 44 pattern-shaped ellipsoid 45 nose part 46 pattern-shaped triangular pyramid 47 origin of object coordinate system 51 three-dimensional image 52 display coordinate system selection unit 53 first display coordinate system

Claims (4)

Transmitting and receiving means for transmitting ultrasonic waves to the subject and receiving reflected ultrasonic waves;
Signal processing means for converting the signal received by the transmission / reception means into acoustic line data;
Three-dimensional image processing means for generating three-dimensional image data from acoustic line data that is the output of the signal processing means;
A reference coordinate system setting means for setting a coordinate system to be a reference of a three-dimensional image formed by the three-dimensional image data ;
Subject coordinate system determination element registration means for registering center coordinates or specific axis coordinates of a subject coordinate system as a determination element for forming the subject coordinate system for a plurality of predetermined parts of the subject;
The coordinates of a plurality of predetermined parts of the subject in the reference coordinate system are detected, and the coordinates of the detected predetermined parts are center coordinates of the subject coordinate system registered by the subject coordinate system determination element registration unit Or feature detection means for determining as specific axis coordinates;
Subject coordinate system determining means for forming a subject coordinate system based on center coordinates and specific axis coordinates of the subject coordinate system determined by the feature detecting means;
Coordinate conversion means for generating conversion information for converting the three-dimensional image data of the subject coordinate system into three-dimensional image data of a display coordinate system for displaying a desired three-dimensional image;
Display means for displaying three-dimensional image data as a three-dimensional image,
The three-dimensional image processing means converts three-dimensional image data of the reference coordinate system into three-dimensional image data of the display coordinate system based on the conversion information,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the display means displays the converted three-dimensional image data as a three-dimensional image.   2. The feature detection unit detects a feature of a subject by matching a three-dimensional image formed by the three-dimensional image data with a pattern figure set for a predetermined part of the subject. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a detection feature setting unit that sets the pattern graphic and sets a method for matching the pattern graphic with a predetermined part of the subject.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display coordinate system setting means for setting the display coordinate system.

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