JP5202916B2 - Ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus and control program thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus and a control program therefor, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus that measures a target portion on an ultrasonic image and a control program therefor.

  Conventionally, an ultrasonic probe is brought into contact with the body surface of a living body as a subject, an ultrasonic beam is emitted into the living body, and a reflected wave generated by reflection at the boundary of the living tissue is received again by the ultrasonic probe. There is an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus that reconstructs an in-vivo ultrasound image (tomographic image) used for diagnosis.

  As one of the medical technologies, a puncture needle called biopsy is inserted into a living body, examination such as collection of tissue such as a tumor, local administration of a drug, or microwave or radio wave irradiation from a puncture needle A puncture is performed to treat the patient. Such puncture is generated by an ultrasound diagnostic imaging device in order to avoid blood vessels that may cause major bleeding due to damage or to reliably puncture a tissue such as a tumor that is a target part. Is performed with reference to the ultrasonic image to be performed.

  In puncture using such an ultrasound image, the distance (depth) from the body surface (probe surface) at the puncture start position to the target part (for example, a tumor) is calculated in order to reliably puncture the target part. There is a need to. For example, as shown in FIG. 13A, the operator designates the distance A between the start point S and the end point E as the size of the target portion Z, and then calculates the distance A. Next, as shown in FIG. As shown, the distance B (depth from the body surface to the target part) can be determined by designating the representative point of the target part Z (for example, the middle point connecting the start point S and the end point E with a straight line) and the body surface position X. Calculated. Note that the position of the target part for distance measurement is indicated by displaying a caliper for measurement called caliper C (+ mark in the figure) on the ultrasonic image, and providing a control panel provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus. Is used to move the caliper C to the target portion Z on the screen and perform a confirming operation at a predetermined position.

  By the way, when the target part Z is displayed large on the ultrasonic image, it is relatively easy to perform alignment, but when the target part Z is displayed small on the ultrasonic image, alignment is performed. Is difficult.

  Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 14A, by enlarging and displaying the target portion Z so that it can be easily measured, the size of the target portion Z is easily specified between the two points of the start point S and the end point E. be able to. However, the body surface is not displayed by enlarging the target part Z, and when calculating the distance from the body surface to the target part Z, the magnification rate is changed once and the body surface to the target part is changed. It is necessary to operate so that it can be displayed on one screen. Then, after changing the enlargement ratio, the distance B is calculated by designating the representative point of the target part Z and the body surface position X, as shown in FIG.

  In order to increase the measurement accuracy, Patent Document 1 discloses that an elephant in which a measurement target is enlarged and a wide range of images are displayed at the same time, so that the entire image can be easily grasped and aligned with the measurement target. It has been made possible.

In addition, a three-dimensional scan is performed by performing main scanning while rotating the ultrasonic probe. Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, a three-dimensional ultrasonic image generated by the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus is acquired. However, when the ultrasonic probe is rotated in an arbitrary direction, the body surface position may not necessarily be at the top of the screen, and it is difficult to correctly recognize the body surface position. In the example of FIG. 15, the window W1 is an ultrasonic image when the target portion Z on the ultrasonic image displayed in the window W4 is sliced with K1, and the window W2 is the target displayed in the window W4. The ultrasound image is obtained when the part Z is observed in the K2 direction, and the window W3 is an ultrasound image when the target part Z displayed in the window W4 is sliced by K3.
JP-A-10-314167

  As described above, when the ultrasonic image of the target portion is displayed in an enlarged manner or when a three-dimensional ultrasonic image is displayed, the enlargement ratio can be changed or the rotation can be arbitrarily set to specify the body surface position. Therefore, the operation was complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus capable of automatically calculating depth information when measuring the shape of a target portion on an ultrasonic image and its control. Is to provide a program.

A first feature according to an embodiment of the present invention is that an acquisition unit that acquires a reception signal obtained by scanning a subject with ultrasonic waves, and an ultrasonic image is generated based on the reception signal acquired by the acquisition unit In an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus having a generation unit that performs and a display unit that displays an ultrasonic image generated by the generation unit, virtual origin coordinates obtained according to the type of the ultrasonic probe used, Calculation means for calculating depth information of the target part of the subject based on the position coordinates of the target part obtained when measuring the shape of the target part is provided.

The second feature according to the embodiment of the present invention is that an acquisition means for acquiring a reception signal obtained by scanning a subject with ultrasonic waves, and an ultrasonic image is generated based on the reception signal acquired by the acquisition means. A control program that is executed in an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus having a generation unit that performs and a display unit that displays an ultrasound image generated by the generation unit, and is obtained according to the type of ultrasound probe used A calculation step for calculating depth information of the target portion of the subject based on the virtual origin coordinates and the position coordinates of the target portion obtained when measuring the shape of the target portion of the subject ;

  According to the present invention, since the depth information can be automatically calculated when the shape of the target portion on the ultrasonic image is measured, troublesome operations such as changing the magnification rate of the ultrasonic image are eliminated, Inspection efficiency is improved.

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

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied.

  An ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 images an inside of a subject using ultrasound, and includes an apparatus body 2, an ultrasound probe 3, a control panel 4, and a monitor 5. Has been.

  The apparatus main body 2 includes a caster so that a bedside diagnosis can be performed. A drive signal is applied to the ultrasonic probe 3 inside, and a received signal is based on an echo signal acquired by the ultrasonic probe 3. And a means for generating an ultrasound image of the subject based on the received signal.

  The ultrasonic probe 3 is for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves by bringing its tip surface into contact with the body surface of a subject, and has a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators, which are two-dimensionally arranged. Yes. As shown in FIG. 2A, this ultrasonic probe 3 has a form in which a so-called sector scan is performed by scanning a fan-shaped two-dimensional region in the θ direction with an ultrasonic beam radiated in the z direction. As shown in FIG. 2B, an ultrasonic probe 3b that scans a fan-shaped two-dimensional region in the θ direction with an ultrasonic beam radiated in the z direction and performs so-called convex scanning is shown in FIG. As shown, an ultrasonic probe 3c that scans a rectangular two-dimensional region in the x direction with an ultrasonic beam radiated in the z direction and performs a so-called linear scan, which is arbitrarily selected by the operator. Is done.

  The control panel 4 is composed of a trackball, a switch, and the like, and an operator performs measurement of the size of the target portion in the picked-up ultrasonic image, start and end of inspection, freeze operation, and the like. The monitor 5 displays the ultrasonic image data received by the ultrasonic probe 3 and processed by the apparatus main body 2.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 1.

  When the ultrasonic probe 3 is attached, the connector 2a of the apparatus main body 2 acquires an ID inherent to the ultrasonic probe 3 and outputs the acquired ID to the transmission / reception unit 2b. The connector 2a transmits the ultrasonic drive signal received from the transmission / reception unit 2b to the ultrasonic probe 3, and transmits the ultrasonic reception signal received from the ultrasonic probe 2b to the transmission / reception unit 2b.

  The transmission / reception unit 2b recognizes whether the ultrasonic probe 3 is sector scan, convex scan, or linear scan based on the ID acquired from the connector 2a. The transmission / reception unit 2b generates an ultrasonic drive signal for generating transmission ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic probe 3, and transmits the ultrasonic drive signal to the ultrasonic probe 3 via the connector 2a, or transmits the ultrasonic probe 3 via the connector 2a. The phasing addition is performed on the ultrasonic reception signals of a plurality of channels obtained from the piezoelectric vibrator and output to the signal processing unit 2c.

  The signal processing unit 2c includes a B mode processing unit, a Doppler processing unit, and a color mode processing unit, and the data output from the transmission / reception unit 2b is subjected to predetermined processing in any of the processing units. The B-mode processing unit visualizes echo amplitude information and generates B-mode ultrasound raster data from the echo signal. The Doppler processing unit extracts the Doppler shift frequency component and further performs FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) processing and the like to generate data having blood flow information. The color mode processing unit visualizes the moving blood flow information and generates color ultrasonic raster data.

  A DSC (Digital Scan Converter) 2d converts ultrasonic raster data into data represented by orthogonal coordinates (scan conversion processing) in order to obtain an image represented by the orthogonal coordinate system. For example, when the scan conversion process is performed on the data output from the B-mode processing unit, tomographic image data representing the tissue shape of the specimen as two-dimensional information is generated.

  The image generation unit 2e generates voxel data from the tomographic image data, further performs volume rendering processing to generate 3D ultrasound image data and the like, and displays them on the monitor 5.

  The control unit 2f is composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and reads out and executes a control program stored in a storage unit (not shown) based on an input signal from the control panel 4 to control each unit. Do.

  The coordinate control unit 2f-1 of the control unit 2f acquires the position coordinate of the measurement caliper set by the operator based on the input signal from the control panel 4. Here, the measurement caliper is a measurement caliper for measuring the target portion, and is displayed so as to be superimposed on the ultrasonic image. The measurement caliper moves on the screen according to the movement of a trackball or the like, and the operator aligns the caliper with the target portion and performs a confirming operation to determine the size of the target portion (for example, distance). , Perimeter, or area).

  For caliper alignment, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the caliper C is moved to the desired position of the target portion Z, and as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the confirmation operation is performed at the desired position (starting point). When it is performed, the position coordinate S (x1, y1) is acquired by the coordinate control unit 2f-1. Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, the caliper C is moved to the diagonal of the target portion Z, and as shown in FIG. 4D, the confirmation operation is performed at the diagonal position (end point) of the target portion Z. When it is performed, the position coordinate E (x2, y2) is acquired by the coordinate control unit 2f-1.

  Returning to the description of FIG. The calculation processing unit 2f-2 calculates representative coordinates from the position coordinates acquired from the coordinate control unit 2f-1. For example, when measuring the distance of the target unit, the calculation processing unit 2f-2 calculates the midpoint M3 of the position coordinate M1 and the position coordinate M2 as the representative coordinate as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5B, the deeper position coordinate M1 of the position coordinate M1 and the position coordinate M2 is calculated as the representative coordinate, or as shown in FIG. 5C, the position coordinate M1 and the position coordinate M2 are calculated. The shallower position coordinate M2 is calculated as the representative coordinate. Further, for example, when the area of the target portion is measured, the calculation processing unit 2f-2 calculates the center-of-gravity coordinates M of the trace line L on the target portion as the representative coordinates as illustrated in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6B, the deeper position coordinate M of the surrounding points of the trace line L on the target part is calculated as the representative coordinate, or as shown in FIG. Among the surrounding points of the trace line L, the shallower position coordinate M is calculated as the representative coordinate.

  Next, the calculation processing unit 2f-2 acquires probe information related to the currently mounted ultrasonic probe 3 from the data storage unit 2g. In the data storage unit 2g, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the virtual origin coordinates and the probe surface position (subject) as the radiation start position of the ultrasonic beam on the ultrasonic image are associated with the ID of the ultrasonic probe 3. The probe information consisting of the position of the body surface) is stored. In the example of FIG. 7, sector scan probe information is stored in association with ID 1, convex scan probe information is stored in association with ID 2, and linear scan probe information in association with ID 3. Is stored.

  For example, when the ultrasonic probe 3a that performs sector scanning is attached, the calculation processing unit 2f-2 acquires probe information associated with 1 ID representing sector scanning. Thereby, a virtual origin coordinate O as shown in FIG. 8A is acquired (in the case of the ultrasonic probe 3a performing sector scan, the virtual origin coordinate and the probe surface position are the same). For example, when the ultrasonic probe 3b that performs the convex scan is attached, the calculation processing unit 2f-2 acquires the probe information associated with the ID of 2 representing the convex scan. Thereby, the virtual origin coordinates O and the probe surface position T as shown in FIG. 8B are acquired. For example, when the ultrasonic probe 3c that performs linear scanning is attached, the calculation processing unit 2f-2 acquires probe information associated with the ID of 3 representing linear scanning. Thereby, the virtual origin coordinates Oi (i = 1, 2, 3...) And the probe surface position T as shown in FIG.

  Next, the intersection coordinates X on the probe surface position when the representative coordinates M and the virtual origin coordinates O are connected by a straight line are acquired. For example, when the ultrasonic probe 3b that performs the convex scan is mounted, the intersection coordinates X as shown in FIG. 8B are acquired, and when the ultrasonic probe 3c that performs the linear scan is mounted, FIG. Intersection coordinates X as shown in (c) are acquired. In the case of the ultrasonic probe 3a that performs sector scanning, the virtual origin coordinates and the probe surface position are the same, so the virtual origin coordinates become the intersection coordinates X. Further, the calculation processing unit 2f-2 calculates a distance D between the two points of the representative coordinate M and the intersection coordinate X on the probe surface position as depth information.

  The result display unit 2f-3 displays the depth information calculated by the calculation processing unit 2f-2 on the monitor 5 together with the tomographic image and the three-dimensional image.

  Next, the depth information calculation process executed by the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. It is assumed that the apparatus main body 2 is equipped with an ultrasonic probe 3b that performs a convex scan.

  In step S1, the coordinate control unit 2f-1 determines whether or not the operator has operated the control panel 4 and set the measurement caliper, and waits until the measurement caliper is set. During standby, the coordinate control unit 2 f-1 updates the coordinate position based on the input signal from the control panel 4. Here, the update of the coordinate position is such that the caliper C moves on the screen according to the movement of the trackball or the like provided on the control panel 4, and the coordinate position at which the caliper C transitions is calculated. It is to be done.

  If it is determined in step S1 that the measurement caliper has been set, the process proceeds to step S2, and the coordinate control unit 2f-1 determines the position coordinate of the measurement caliper set by the operator based on the input signal from the control panel 4. get. Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the position coordinates of the start point S and the end point E of the target part Z are acquired.

  In step S3, the calculation processing unit 2f-2 calculates representative coordinates from the position coordinates acquired in the process of step S2. In the example of FIG. 10, the middle point M of the start point S and the end point E is calculated as the representative coordinates. In step S4, the calculation processing unit 2f-2 acquires the virtual origin coordinates that are included for each scan (scan) from the data storage unit 2g, and in step S5, the probe surface position that is included for each scan is acquired from the data storage unit 2g. get. In the example of FIG. 10, the virtual origin coordinate O and the probe surface position T of the convex scan are acquired.

  In step S6, the calculation processing unit 2f-2 calculates the distance from the representative coordinate to the probe surface position toward the virtual origin coordinate, and uses this value as depth information. In the example of FIG. 10, the intersection coordinate X on the probe surface position T when the representative coordinate M and the virtual origin coordinate O are connected by a straight line is acquired, and the distance D between the two points of the intersection coordinate X and the representative coordinate M is obtained. Calculated. In step S7, the result display unit 2f-3 displays the depth information calculated in the process of step S6 on the monitor 5 together with the tomographic image, the three-dimensional image, and the like.

  Through the above processing, it becomes possible to automatically calculate depth information from the measurement caliper information set by the operator and the probe information held by the apparatus main body 2, thereby improving the inspection efficiency. In addition, since it is not necessary to set the body surface position, depth information can be easily calculated even when the tomographic image is enlarged and the body surface position is not displayed on the image. Furthermore, depth information can be easily calculated even when the body surface direction is not always constant and it is difficult to measure the depth, such as in the case of a three-dimensional image.

By the way, when the ultrasonic probe 3c for performing linear scan is scanned obliquely ( oblique scan ), the distance L between the two points of the representative coordinate M and the intersection coordinate X on the probe surface position T is shown in FIG. And depth information D is calculated according to the following equation (1) (θ is an oblique angle) . This makes it possible to obtain depth information similar to that obtained when scanning vertically.

D = L · cosθ (1)
In the above description, the distance D from the representative coordinate M to the intersection coordinate X on the probe surface position T in the virtual origin direction is calculated as the depth information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, FIG. As shown, the coordinates on the probe surface position T may be searched from the representative coordinates M, and the one having the shortest distance from the representative coordinates M may be calculated as the depth information.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and in the implementation stage, the constituent elements may be modified and embodied without departing from the scope of the invention, or a plurality of configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiment may be used. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining the elements. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine the component covering different embodiment suitably.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a figure explaining the form of an ultrasonic probe. It is a block diagram which shows the example of an internal structure of an ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus. It is a figure explaining position alignment of a caliper. It is a figure which shows the example which calculates the representative coordinate in the distance measurement between two points. It is a figure which shows the example which calculates the representative coordinate in area measurement. It is a figure explaining the information stored in the data storage part. It is a figure explaining the virtual origin coordinate and probe surface position which are provided for every scan. It is a flowchart explaining a depth information calculation process. It is a figure explaining depth information calculation processing. It is a figure explaining the calculation process of the depth information at the time of carrying out the diagonal scan of the probe of a linear scan. It is a figure explaining the example which calculates depth information, without using a virtual origin. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an ultrasonic image. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the ultrasonic image at the time of enlarging a target part. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a three-dimensional ultrasonic image.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 2 Apparatus main body 2b Transmission / reception part 2f Control part 2f-1 Coordinate control part 2f-2 Calculation processing part 2f-3 Result display part 2g Data storage part 3 Ultrasonic probe 4 Control panel 5 Monitor

Claims (13)

An acquisition unit that acquires a reception signal obtained by scanning a subject with ultrasonic waves, a generation unit that generates an ultrasonic image based on the reception signal acquired by the acquisition unit, and a generation unit that is generated by the generation unit In an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus having display means for displaying the ultrasonic image,
Depth information of the target part of the subject based on the virtual origin coordinates obtained according to the type of the ultrasound probe used and the position coordinates of the target part obtained when measuring the shape of the target part of the subject An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising: a calculating means for calculating An acquisition unit that acquires a reception signal obtained by scanning a subject with ultrasonic waves, a generation unit that generates an ultrasonic image based on the reception signal acquired by the acquisition unit, and a generation unit that is generated by the generation unit In an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus having display means for displaying the ultrasonic image,
  Based on the virtual origin coordinates and probe surface position coordinates obtained according to the type of ultrasonic probe used, and the position coordinates of the target portion obtained when measuring the shape of the target portion of the subject, the subject of the subject Calculating means for calculating the depth information of the part
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising:   The virtual origin coordinates are set on the probe surface in the case of a linear probe and a sector probe, and are set in the probe in the case of a convex probe.
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The calculation means calculates depth information of the target portion based on representative coordinates obtained from position coordinates of two points on the target portion on the ultrasonic image.
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The representative coordinates are either the deepest coordinates or the shallowest coordinates among the position coordinates of the two points of the target portion.
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 4. The calculation means calculates depth information of the target portion based on representative coordinates obtained from a trace line on the target portion on the ultrasonic image.
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The representative coordinate is one of the coordinates of the center of gravity of the trace line, the deepest coordinate, or the shallowest coordinate among the position coordinates obtained from the trace line on the target portion.
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 6. When the oblique scan is performed, the calculation unit corrects the depth information in accordance with the oblique angle.
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, and 6. The shape measurement is distance measurement or area measurement, and both shape measurement and depth measurement are performed by arranging a marker or a trace line, and obtained by shape information and depth measurement obtained by shape measurement. That both depth information is displayed
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic imaging apparatus is characterized in that: An acquisition unit that acquires a reception signal obtained by scanning a subject with ultrasonic waves, a generation unit that generates an ultrasonic image based on the reception signal acquired by the acquisition unit, and a generation unit that is generated by the generation unit A control program executed in an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus having display means for displaying the ultrasonic image,
Depth information of the target part of the subject based on the virtual origin coordinates obtained according to the type of the ultrasound probe used and the position coordinates of the target part obtained when measuring the shape of the target part of the subject The calculation step to calculate
A control program for an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus. An acquisition unit that acquires a reception signal obtained by scanning a subject with ultrasonic waves, a generation unit that generates an ultrasonic image based on the reception signal acquired by the acquisition unit, and a generation unit that is generated by the generation unit A control program executed in an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus having display means for displaying the ultrasonic image,
  Based on the virtual origin coordinates and probe surface position coordinates obtained according to the type of ultrasonic probe used, and the position coordinates of the target portion obtained when measuring the shape of the target portion of the subject, the subject of the subject Calculation step to calculate the depth information of the part
A control program for an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus. The calculating step calculates depth information of the target portion based on representative coordinates obtained from position coordinates of two points on the target portion on the ultrasonic image.
The control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, The calculating step calculates depth information of the target portion based on representative coordinates obtained from a trace line on the target portion on the ultrasonic image.
The control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 10 or 11,

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