JP7233790B1 - ULTRASOUND IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE DISPLAY PROGRAM AND METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus capable of easily comparing and diagnosing two images. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus that displays a past image (2) and a current image (3) side by side. The image processing means generates image data based on reflected wave signals obtained by transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves. The past image storage means stores the image data as a past image (2), and stores the setting information (8) relating to the transmission/reception conditions of the ultrasonic waves when the past image (2) was acquired in association with the past image (2). . The past image selection means selects one past image (2) from the stored past images (2), and the setting information resetting means provides setting information (8) associated with the selected past image (2). reset. Then, the image processing means generates image data for the current image (3) based on reflected wave signals obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves under the conditions of the reset setting information (8).

Description

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus and an ultrasonic image display program and method for imaging the inside of a subject using ultrasonic waves.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus is well known as a simple and highly safe diagnostic apparatus for imaging the inside of a living tissue (subject). 2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus normally generates an image from signals obtained by transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves, and displays the image on a display device.

By the way, when observing an affected area using an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, there are many situations in which a diagnosis is made by comparing a past image obtained by imaging in the past with a current image obtained by imaging this time. For example, when one of the limbs is fractured, the past image and the current image are compared, and diagnosis (follow-up) is performed by focusing on the difference obtained by the comparison. For this reason, various general-purpose ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatuses have been proposed that have a dual (B/B) mode for displaying two images on the display screen (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3, etc.). ).

Japanese Patent No. 4787570 (Fig. 2, etc.) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-105638 (Fig. 1 etc.) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-175219 (Fig. 2, etc.)

However, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus has a large amount of setting information related to ultrasonic wave transmission/reception conditions when acquiring an image, such as observation depth, reception gain, dynamic range, and focus point. Therefore, if the setting information for acquiring the past image and the setting information for acquiring the current image are not matched, even if two images are displayed in the dual mode and the two images are simply compared, an accurate diagnosis cannot be made. It is difficult to do. In many cases, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus has a preset function that allows pre-registration of various setting information so that each measurement site can always be observed with the same setting information. However, if the number of setting information is too large (for example, 20 to 30), it becomes difficult to know which setting information to select. In this case, it is difficult to handle comparisons in a wide variety of situations.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasonic image display program and method that can easily compare and diagnose two images. That's what it is.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 comprises transmission/reception control means for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves to/from a subject, and based on a reflected wave signal obtained by transmitting/receiving the ultrasonic waves, and displaying a past image obtained by imaging in the past and a current image obtained by imaging this time side by side on a display screen, wherein the image is displayed based on the reflected wave signal image processing means for generating data; storing the generated image data as the past image in a storage means; a past image storage means for storing in the storage means a past image selection means for selecting one past image from a plurality of the past images stored in the storage means in response to a user's instruction; image display means for displaying the selected past image on the display screen; and setting information resetting means for calling the setting information associated with the selected past image and resetting the called setting information. wherein the image processing means is capable of generating the image data to be the current image based on the reflected wave signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves under the conditions based on the reset setting information; performing coloring display processing for displaying each pixel of the current image in a chromatic color according to a luminance difference between the past image and the current image for each pixel; of the red, green and blue components of the current image, the luminance value of the red component, which is the warm color component, is changed to a value different from the luminance value of the green component and the blue component, which are the cold color components, for each pixel of the current image. and when the luminance value of the current image is greater than the luminance value of the past image, the current image is displayed in a warm chromatic color, and the luminance value of the current image is greater than the luminance value of the past image. When the image becomes smaller, it is displayed in a cold chromatic color to display the state of positional deviation between the past image and the current image, and the past image or the current image is shifted to display the colored portion. The gist of the present invention is an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus characterized in that it is configured such that the past image and the current image can be aligned by a reducing operation.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the invention, when the past image selection means selects one past image from a plurality of past images in response to a user's instruction, the image display means displays the selected past image. is displayed on the display screen. Then, the setting information resetting means resets the setting information associated with the selected past image, and the image processing means receives a reflected wave obtained by transmitting/receiving the ultrasonic wave under the conditions based on the reset setting information. Based on the signal, image data for the current image can be generated. As a result, since the past image and the current image can be displayed side by side on the display screen, it is possible to easily diagnose the subject by comparing the past image and the current image to find the difference. can.

The invention according to claim 2 is based on claim 1, wherein the past image storage means stores the plurality of setting information including observation depth, reception gain, dynamic range, focus point, frequency, and transmission power in the past image. The gist of this is to associate and store them.

Therefore, according to the second aspect of the invention, a plurality of setting information including depth of observation, reception gain, dynamic range, focus point, frequency and transmission power are stored in association with the past image. Therefore, if a past image is selected, image data for a current image can be generated based on the setting information associated with the past image, so there is no need to combine multiple pieces of setting information one by one. Therefore, by comparing the past image and the current image to find the difference, it becomes easier to diagnose the subject.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in claim 2, the image display means displays a plurality of information including observation depth, reception gain, dynamic range, focus point, frequency and transmission power in the vicinity of the past image and the current image. The gist of this is to display each of the setting information incidentally.

Therefore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, by additionally displaying the plurality of setting information in the vicinity of the past image and the current image, respectively, the user can see that the past image and the current image have the same setting information. It can be easily confirmed that it is generated based on

Even if the past image and the current image generated based on the same setting information are displayed side by side on the display screen, it is not easy to intuitively perceive the difference (change) between the past image and the current image. Therefore, in the first aspect of the invention, the image processing means displays each pixel of the current image in a chromatic color according to the luminance difference between the past image and the current image for each pixel. . Accordingly, the user can grasp the displacement of the current image from the past image by looking at the chromatically colored pixels. The past and current images can then be more closely aligned by shifting the current image so that it has as few chromatically colored pixels as possible. Furthermore, the user can intuitively understand which part has changed and how by looking at the coloration state after alignment, specifically, the chromatic color part remaining after alignment.

In the invention described in claim 1 and the like, by coloring the pixels whose luminance value has increased in a warm chromatic color and the pixels whose luminance value has decreased in a cold chromatic color, it is possible to reproduce the current image. Among the pixels, pixels whose luminance values have changed from the previous image can be clarified. As a result, the chromatically colored pixels can be used as an aid to correct misregistration of the current image. In addition, the contrast between the warm chromatic color and the cold chromatic color makes it possible to emphasize and display the chromatic color pixels remaining after the misregistration correction. Furthermore, when the luminance value increases, the pixel is colored in a bright, warm chromatic color, and when the luminance value decreases, the pixel is colored in a dark, cold chromatic color. It is possible to intuitively grasp the magnitude of the luminance value compared to the case of reversing.

Further, in the invention described in claim 1, etc., by changing the luminance value of at least one of the red, green, and blue components in each pixel of the current image to a different value, the hue can be changed for each pixel. can highlight the difference. Therefore, it becomes easy to understand the positional deviation between the current image and the past image and the change of the current image from the past image.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the processor includes an image processing step of generating image data based on a reflected wave signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject; a past image storage step of storing in a storage means as an obtained past image, and storing in the storage means setting information related to ultrasonic wave transmission/reception conditions when the past image was acquired, in association with the past image; a past image selection step of selecting one past image from among the plurality of past images stored in the storage means, and a past image of displaying the selected past image on a display screen in response to the instruction of a setting information resetting step of calling the setting information associated with the selected past image, resetting the called setting information, and transmitting/receiving ultrasound under conditions based on the reset setting information. a current image processing step of generating the image data, which is the current image obtained by imaging this time, based on the reflected wave signal obtained by the above; and displaying the current image side by side with the past image on the display screen. and, after the current image display step, a coloring step of coloring and displaying each pixel of the current image in a chromatic color according to the luminance difference between the past image and the current image for each pixel. In the coloring step, the past image and the current image are aligned by shifting the past image or the current image to reduce the colored portion . For each pixel of the current image, the luminance value of the red component, which is the warm color component, of the red, green, and blue components included in the coloring is changed to a value different from that of the green and blue components, which are the cold color components. By doing so, when the luminance value of the current image is greater than the luminance value of the past image, the current image is displayed in a warm chromatic color, and the luminance value of the current image is the luminance value of the past image. an ultrasound image display program characterized by displaying the state of positional deviation between the past image and the current image by displaying in a cold chromatic color when the value is smaller than the value This is the gist of it.

Therefore, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when one past image is selected from a plurality of past images in response to an instruction from the user in the past image selection step, the selected past image is displayed in the past image display step. is displayed on the display screen. Then, in the setting information resetting step, the setting information associated with the selected past image is reset, and in the current image processing step, the reflection obtained by transmitting/receiving the ultrasonic wave under the conditions based on the reset setting information. Image data for the current image is generated based on the wave signal. Thereafter, in the current image display step, the current image and the past image are displayed side by side on the display screen, so that the diagnosis of the subject can be easily performed by comparing the past image and the current image to find the difference. .

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided an image processing step of generating image data based on a reflected wave signal obtained by transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves to and from a subject; a past image storage step of storing in a storage means as an image and storing in the storage means setting information related to transmission/reception conditions of ultrasonic waves when the past image was obtained in association with the past image; As a trigger, a past image selection step of selecting one past image from among the plurality of past images stored in the storage means, and a past image display step of displaying the selected past image on a display screen. a setting information resetting step of calling the setting information associated with the selected past image and resetting the called setting information; a current image processing step of generating the image data to be a current image obtained by imaging this time based on the obtained reflected wave signal; and a current image of displaying the current image and the past image side by side on the display screen. and, after the current image display step, a coloring step of coloring and displaying each pixel of the current image in a chromatic color according to the luminance difference between the past image and the current image for each pixel. , in the coloring step, the red component and the green component included in the chromatic color are used to align the past image and the current image by an operation of shifting the past image or the current image to reduce the colored portion; and blue components, the brightness value of the red component, which is a warm color component, is changed to a value different from that of the green component and blue component, which are cold color components, for each pixel of the current image. when the brightness value of the previous image is greater than that of the previous image, the current image is colored in a warm chromatic color; The gist of the present invention is an ultrasonic image display method characterized in that the state of positional deviation between the past image and the current image is displayed by displaying the images in cold chromatic colors.

As detailed above, according to the inventions described in claims 1 to 5 , two images can be easily compared and diagnosed.

1 is a front view showing an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to this embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus; A photograph showing a display screen in which a past image and a current image are displayed side by side. A photograph showing a state in which a current image (observation target image) is shifted upward with respect to a past image (comparison target image). (a) is a photograph showing the current image (chromatic image) before registration, and (b) is a photograph showing the current image (chromatic image) after registration. (a) is a photograph showing the current image (chromatic image) before registration, and (b) is a photograph showing the current image (chromatic image) after registration. (a) is a photograph showing the current image (chromatic image) before registration, and (b) is a photograph showing the current image (chromatic image) after registration.

An embodiment embodying the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 includes an apparatus main body 12 and an ultrasonic probe 13 connected to the apparatus main body 12 . The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 of the present embodiment is an apparatus that images the inside of a living tissue 1 (subject) based on reflected wave signals obtained by transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves, for example.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 has a past image 2 obtained by imaging in the past (for example, one month ago) and a current image (for example, today) of the same region as the past image 2. The current image 3 obtained by the transformation is displayed side by side on the display screen 10. - 特許庁Note that the past image 2 and the current image 3 are cross-sectional images showing cross-sections of the biological tissue 1 . In this embodiment, the past image 2 is displayed on the left side of the display screen 10 and the current image 3 is displayed on the right side of the display screen 10 . In other words, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 has a dual (B/B) mode in which two images 2 and 3 are displayed on the display screen 10 .

Further, in the vicinity of the past image 2 and the current image 3, setting information 8 related to the transmission/reception conditions of the ultrasonic waves when the images 2 and 3 were obtained is additionally displayed. In the vicinity of the past image 2 and the current image 3, setting information 8 relating to image processing conditions and setting information 8 relating to the safety of ultrasonic waves are additionally displayed. Specifically, the image softness (S) and the image sharpness (E) are displayed as the setting information 8 on the upper side of the display area 4 located below the past image 2. Frequency (F), transmission power (A), reception gain (G), dynamic range (D), and observation depth (R) are displayed as setting information 8 on the lower side. In addition, three focus points F1 are displayed as setting information 8 in the display area 5 located on the left side of the past image 2 . Similarly, softness (S) and sharpness (E) are displayed as setting information 8 on the upper side of the display area 6 positioned below the current image 3, and frequency ( F), transmission power (A), reception gain (G), dynamic range (D), and observation depth (R) are displayed as setting information 8 . In addition, three focus points F1 are displayed as setting information 8 in the display area 7 located on the right side of the current image 3 . Among these setting information 8, the frequency (F), the transmission power (A) and the reception gain (G) are the setting information 8 related to the above transmission/reception conditions. Softness (S), sharpness (E), dynamic range (D), observation depth (R), and focus point F1 are setting information 8 relating to image processing conditions.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ultrasonic probe 13 includes a signal cable 14, a probe head 15 connected to the distal end of the signal cable 14, and a probe-side connector 16 connected to the proximal end of the signal cable 14. and On the other hand, the device body 12 is provided with a body side connector 17 , and a probe side connector 16 of the ultrasonic probe 13 is detachably connected to the body side connector 17 .

The probe head 15 of the ultrasonic probe 13 has a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (not shown) arranged in a fan shape. When using the ultrasonic probe 13, the probe head 15 is brought into contact with the living tissue 1, and ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received in this state. Although the form of the ultrasonic probe 13 is not particularly limited, the probe of the present embodiment is a convex probe for performing convex electronic scanning, and emits, for example, 5 MHz ultrasonic waves in a fan shape.

Next, the electrical configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus body 12 of the ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus 11 includes a controller 21, a pulse generation circuit 22, a transmission control circuit 23, a reception control circuit 24, an A/D conversion circuit 25, a signal processing circuit 26, It has an image processing circuit 27, a memory 28, a received data memory 29, a first DSC (Digital Scan Converter) developing section 30, a received data display memory 31, an imposing section 32, a display device 33, and the like.

The controller 21 is a computer including a well-known central processing unit (CPU), executes a control program using a memory 28, and centrally controls the entire apparatus. The controller 21 also transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from the living tissue 1 . That is, the controller 21 has a function as "transmission/reception control means".

The pulse generation circuit 22 operates in response to a control signal from the controller 21 to generate and output a pulse signal with a predetermined cycle. The transmission control circuit 23 includes a plurality of delay circuits (not shown) corresponding to the number of elements of the ultrasonic transducers in the ultrasonic probe 13, and based on the pulse signal output from the pulse generation circuit 22, each ultrasonic vibration Outputs a drive pulse delayed according to the The delay time of each driving pulse is set so that the ultrasonic waves output from the ultrasonic probe 13 are focused at a predetermined irradiation point.

The reception control circuit 24 includes a signal amplifier circuit, a delay circuit, and a phasing addition circuit (not shown). In the reception control circuit 24, each reflected wave signal (echo signal) received by each ultrasonic transducer in the ultrasonic probe 13 is amplified, and a delay time considering reception directivity is added to each reflected wave signal. After that, phased addition is performed. This addition adjusts the phase difference between the reflected wave signals of the ultrasonic transducers.

The A/D conversion circuit 25 converts the analog signal (reflected wave signal) output from the reception control circuit 24 into a digital signal. The signal processing circuit 26 is composed of a logarithmic conversion circuit, an envelope detection circuit, and the like (not shown). The logarithmic conversion circuit in the signal processing circuit 26 logarithmically converts the reflected wave signal output from the A/D conversion circuit 25, and the envelope detection circuit detects the envelope of the output signal of the logarithmic conversion circuit.

The image processing circuit 27 performs predetermined image processing on the reflected wave signal output from the envelope detection circuit of the signal processing circuit 26 . The image-processed reflected wave signal is stored in the reception data memory 29 by the controller 21 . The first DSC development unit 30 develops the reflected wave signal stored in the reception data memory 29 as a B-mode image. Note that the developed B-mode image is generated as image data with luminance corresponding to the amplitude (signal intensity) of the reflected wave signal, and the generated image data is used as the current image 3 showing the cross section of the biological tissue 1. It is stored in the received data display memory 31 .

Further, the controller 21 associates a plurality of setting information 8 related to ultrasonic transmission/reception conditions and a plurality of setting information 8 related to image processing conditions when the past image 2 and the current image 3 were acquired with the current image 3. Stored in the received data memory 29 . The setting information 8 stored in the received data memory 29 is transferred (stored) to the received data display memory 31 via the first DSC developing section 30 . The setting information 8 of this embodiment includes softness (S), sharpness (E), frequency (F), transmission output (A), reception gain (G), dynamic range (D), observation depth (R ) and focus point F1.

After that, the controller 21 displays the current image 3 in black and white (achromatic) on the right side of the display screen 10 of the display device 33 based on the image data stored in the received data display memory 31 . That is, the current image 3 displayed in this embodiment is a monochrome image (monotone image). The controller 21 additionally displays the plurality of setting information 8 stored in the received data display memory 31 in the display areas 6 and 7 near the current image 3 .

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus main body 12 includes a saved image data memory 41, a second DSC developing section 42, a saved image display memory 43 (storage means), and the like. The controller 21 transfers (stores) the reflected wave signal and the setting information 8 stored in the received data memory 29 to the stored image data memory 41 . Then, the second DSC development unit 42 develops the reflected wave signal stored in the stored image data memory 41 as a B-mode image. Note that the developed B-mode image is generated as image data with brightness corresponding to the amplitude (signal intensity) of the reflected wave signal, and the generated image data is a past image 2 ( stored in the saved image display memory 43 as a saved image). That is, the controller 21 has a function as "past image storage means". Also, the setting information 8 stored in the saved image data memory 41 is transferred (stored) to the saved image display memory 43 via the second DSC development unit 42 .

After that, the controller 21 displays the past image 2 on the left side of the display screen 10 of the display device 33 in black and white (achromatic) based on the image data stored in the stored image display memory 43 . In other words, the past image 2 displayed in this embodiment is a monochrome image (monotone image). Further, the controller 21 additionally displays a plurality of pieces of setting information 8 stored in the stored image display memory 43 in the display areas 4 and 5 near the past image 2 .

Further, the controller 21 operates the impose unit 32, and based on the image data of the past image 2 stored in the stored image display memory 43 and the image data of the current image 3 stored in the received data display memory 31, , the luminance value of each pixel of the past image 2 and the luminance value of each pixel of the current image 3 are detected. Next, the controller 21 calculates the difference between the luminance value of the past image 2 and the luminance value of the current image 3 for each pixel, and uses the calculated difference as the luminance difference.

Further, the controller 21 as image processing means performs processing for displaying each pixel of the current image 3 in a different color (chromatic color) according to the level (magnitude) of the luminance difference. Specifically, when the luminance value of the current image 3 becomes greater than the luminance value of the past image 2 at a predetermined pixel, the controller 21 colors the predetermined pixel of the current image 3 with a warm chromatic color. and display it. Further, when the luminance value of the current image 3 becomes smaller than the luminance value of the past image 2 at a predetermined pixel, the controller 21 displays the predetermined pixel of the current image 3 in a cold chromatic color. process. In addition, the chromatic color includes a red component (R), a green component (G) and a blue component (B).

The controller 21 also sets the luminance value of at least one of the red component (R), the green component (G) and the blue component (B) in each pixel of the current image 3 to be different from the luminance values of the other color components. Perform processing to change to a value. In this embodiment, the red component (R) of a given pixel of the current image 3 is distributed to the luminance value of the current image 3 plus (subtracted) the luminance difference α%. β% of the luminance value of the current image 3 and (100−β)% of the luminance value of the previous image 2 are distributed to the green component (G) of a predetermined pixel of the current image 3 . Furthermore, γ% of the luminance value of the current image 3 and (100−γ)% of the luminance value of the previous image 2 are distributed to the blue component (B) of a given pixel of the current image 3 . In this way, various coloring can be performed depending on the settings of the parameters α, β, and γ.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when α=100(%), β=100(%), and γ=100(%), the red component (R) , the brightness value of the current image 3 plus the brightness difference is distributed, and the brightness value of the current image 3 is equally distributed to the green component (G) and the blue component (B). As a result, pixels with increased reflection intensity (luminance value) are colored warm (specifically red), and pixels with decreased reflection intensity (luminance value) are colored cold (specifically green). , the pixels whose luminance values have changed between the current image 3 and the previous image 2 are clarified. However, only the luminance values of the current image 3 are distributed to the green component (G) and the blue component (B), and the luminance values of the past image 2 are not reflected. Position alignment is difficult because it is difficult to understand the state of misalignment.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, α=100(%), β=100(%), and γ=0(%) are set, and the current image It is preferable to distribute the sum of the luminance value of 3 and the luminance difference, distribute the luminance value of the current image 3 to the green component (G), and distribute the luminance value of the previous image 2 to the blue component (B). By doing so, the positional deviation between the current image 3 and the past image 2 can be easily recognized, and the alignment is facilitated. Also in this case, pixels with increased reflection intensity (luminance value) are colored warm (specifically, yellow), and pixels with reduced reflection intensity (luminance value) are colored with a cold color (specifically, blue). Therefore, pixels whose luminance values have changed between the current image 3 and the past image 2 are clarified.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, α=-100(%), β=0(%), and γ=100(%) may be set. In this case, the luminance value of the current image 3 minus the luminance difference is distributed to the red component (R), the luminance value of the past image 2 is distributed to the green component (G), and the current image is distributed to the blue component (B). The luminance values of image 3 are distributed. As a result, pixels with increased reflection intensity (luminance value) are colored with a cold color (specifically, blue), and pixels with reduced reflection intensity (luminance value) are colored with a warm color (specifically, yellow). However, since the green component (G) has higher visibility than the blue component (B), the luminance values of the current image 3 are distributed to the green component (G) as shown in FIGS. is preferred. 5 to 7 of the present embodiment show black and white images, in reality, the images are images in which at least some of the pixels are colored in chromatic colors.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the display device 33 is, for example, a color display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic EL display, a plasma display, a CRT display, or a projection display. 3 (see FIG. 3) and the like.

The device body 12 also includes an input device 51, a storage device 52, and the like. The input device 51 is composed of, for example, a keyboard, switches, various pointing devices, etc., and is used for inputting instructions from the user. Examples of pointing devices include touch pads, touch panels, mice, pen tablets, trackballs, and joysticks.

The storage device 52 is, for example, a magnetic disk device, an optical disk device, a semiconductor storage device, or the like, and stores a control program (ultrasonic image display program) and various data. The controller 21 transfers programs and data from the storage device 52 to the memory 28 according to instructions from the input device 51 and executes them sequentially. The programs executed by the controller 21 are stored in storage media such as magnetic disks such as flexible disks, optical disks such as CDs, DVDs, and BDs, semiconductor memories such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) memories, flash memories, and SD cards. Alternatively, it may be a program downloaded via a communication medium. Such programs are installed on the storage device 52 before being executed.

Next, diagnostic processing executed by the controller 21, which is a processor, in the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 of this embodiment will be described below.

First, a user such as a doctor applies an acoustic medium (sterile gel or sterilized gel) to the surface of the living tissue 1, which is the patient's treatment area, and then moves the probe head 15 of the ultrasonic probe 13 through the acoustic medium. make contact.

Next, the user operates a scanning start button (not shown) provided on the input device 51 . Then, the controller 21 as image processing means determines the button operation and starts processing for displaying the past image 2 and the current image 3 of the biological tissue 1 .

In this process, the controller 21 operates the pulse generation circuit 22 to start transmission/reception of ultrasonic waves by the ultrasonic probe 13 . Specifically, the pulse generation circuit 22 operates in response to a control signal output from the controller 21 and supplies a pulse signal with a predetermined cycle to the transmission control circuit 23 . Based on the pulse signal, the transmission control circuit 23 generates a driving pulse having a delay time corresponding to each ultrasonic transducer and supplies the driving pulse to the ultrasonic probe 13 . As a result, the ultrasonic transducers of the ultrasonic probe 13 vibrate, and the living tissue 1 is irradiated with ultrasonic waves.

A part of the ultrasonic wave propagating in the living tissue 1 is received by the ultrasonic probe 13 after being reflected by a tissue boundary surface (for example, a blood vessel wall) in the living tissue 1 . At this time, each ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 13 converts the reflected wave into an electric signal (reflected wave signal). The reflected wave signal is amplified by the reception control circuit 24 and then input to the A/D conversion circuit 25 . Further, the reflected wave signal is converted into a digital signal by the A/D conversion circuit 25 and then supplied to the signal processing circuit 26. After signal processing such as logarithmic conversion and envelope detection is performed in the signal processing circuit 26, It is supplied to the image processing circuit 27 .

Next, the controller 21 performs an image processing step to generate image data based on reflected wave signals obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the biological tissue 1 . Specifically, the controller 21 operates the image processing circuit 27 to perform predetermined image processing on the reflected wave signal output from the signal processing circuit 26 . Next, the controller 21 causes the reception data memory 29 to store the image-processed reflected wave signal. The reflected wave signal stored in the received data memory 29 is developed as a B-mode image by the first DSC developing unit 30, and the developed B-mode image has a brightness corresponding to the amplitude of the reflected wave signal. The generated image data is stored in the received data display memory 31 as the current image 3 .

In addition, the controller 21 causes the reception data memory 29 to store a plurality of setting information 8 (see FIG. 3) relating to the ultrasonic wave transmission/reception conditions when the past image 2 and the current image 3 were acquired in association with the current image 3. . The setting information 8 stored in the received data memory 29 is transferred (stored) to the received data display memory 31 via the first DSC developing section 30 .

Further, the controller 21 transfers (stores) the reflected wave signal and the setting information 8 stored in the received data memory 29 to the saved image data memory 41 . The reflected wave signal stored in the saved image data memory 41 is developed as a B-mode image by the second DSC developing unit 42, and the developed B-mode image has a luminance corresponding to the amplitude of the reflected wave signal. is generated as image data of

In the subsequent past image storage step, the controller 21 stores the generated image data in the saved image display memory 43 as a past image 2 (saved image). At the same time, the controller 21 transfers the setting information 8 stored in the saved image data memory 41 to the saved image display memory 43 via the second DSC development unit 42, associates it with the past image 2, and stores it in the saved image display memory. Store in 43.

In the following past image selection step, the controller 21 selects one of the plurality of past images 2 (image data) stored in the stored image display memory 43 in response to a user's instruction (user's operation of the input device 51). Select one past image 2. That is, the controller 21 has a function as "past image selection means". Note that the user selects the past image 2 as a comparison target image for comparison with the current image 3 in the dual mode.

In the subsequent past image display step, the controller 21 displays the past image 2 in grayscale on the left side of the display screen 10 of the display device 33 based on the image data selected from the stored image display memory 43 . That is, the controller 21 has a function as "image display means". Further, the controller 21 additionally displays a plurality of pieces of setting information 8 stored in the stored image display memory 43 in the display areas 4 and 5 near the past image 2 .

In the subsequent setting information resetting step, the controller 21 calls the setting information 8 associated with the selected past image 2 from the saved image display memory 43 and resets (stores) the called setting information 8 in the received data memory 29. do. That is, the controller 21 has a function as "setting information resetting means". Also, at this point, the right position of the display screen 10 (the display position of the current image 3) is in the scanning state with the same settings (preset function) as the previous image 2. FIG. That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 of this embodiment has a reference function. Also, the setting information 8 stored in the received data memory 29 is transferred (stored) to the received data display memory 31 via the first DSC developing section 30 .

In the subsequent current image processing step, the controller 21 converts the current image 3 into image data based on reflected wave signals obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves under the conditions of the reset setting information 8. to generate Specifically, the controller 21 causes the received data memory 29 to store the reflected wave signal. The reflected wave signal stored in the received data memory 29 is developed as a B-mode image by the first DSC developing unit 30, and the developed B-mode image has a brightness corresponding to the amplitude of the reflected wave signal. The generated image data is stored in the received data display memory 31 as the current image 3 .

In the subsequent current image display step, the controller 21 displays the current image 3 side by side with the past image 2 on the display screen 10 of the display device 33 . Specifically, based on the image data selected from the received data display memory 31, the controller 21 causes the current image 3 to be displayed on the right side of the display screen 10 of the display device 33 in black and white. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the past image 2 and the current image 3 are displayed on the display screen 10 in a screen layout in which the past image 2 is arranged on the left side and the current image 3 is arranged on the right side. be. Further, the controller 21 additionally displays the setting information 8 stored in the received data display memory 31 in the display areas 6 and 7 near the current image 3 .

Note that in the present embodiment, image data for the current image 3 is generated based on the setting information 8 associated with the selected past image 2, but the setting information 8 does not include the position information of the past image 2. not Therefore, in most cases, a positional deviation occurs between the past image 2 and the current image 3 . FIG. 4 also shows a state in which the current image 3 (observation target image) is shifted upward with respect to the past image 2 (comparison target image).

In addition, in the present embodiment, the above positional deviation is corrected as follows. Specifically, in the coloring step after the current image display step, the controller 21 colors each pixel of the current image 3 in a chromatic color according to the luminance difference between the past image 2 and the current image 3 for each pixel. Then, display processing is performed (see FIGS. 5 to 7). More specifically, the controller 21 operates the impose unit 32 to superimpose the image data of the past image 2 stored in the stored image display memory 43 and the image data of the current image 3 stored in the received data display memory 31. Based on this, the difference between the luminance value of the past image 2 and the luminance value of the current image 3 is calculated for each pixel, and the calculated difference is defined as the luminance difference. Then, the controller 21 performs a process of coloring and displaying each pixel of the current image 3 in chromatic colors (warm colors and cold colors) according to the level (magnitude) of the luminance difference. The user can know that the current image 3 is displaced from the past image 2 by displaying the pixels colored in this chromatic color.

The current image 3 can be moved up, down, left, right, or rotated by the user's operation of the ultrasonic probe 13 . Specifically, by moving the ultrasonic probe 13 in the planar direction or changing the angle of the ultrasonic probe 13, the current image 3 is moved and rotated. The smaller the positional deviation, the smaller the luminance difference. At this time, the chromatic color of the pixel whose luminance difference is small disappears and becomes a black and white (achromatic) pixel. At this point, among the pixels of the current image 3, only the pixels whose brightness values have changed from those of the previous image 2 due to, for example, the progress of healing of the tumor are displayed in a chromatic color. By looking at this colored portion, the user can perform follow-up observation.

After that, the user operates a scanning end button (not shown) provided on the input device 51 . The controller 21 determines the button operation and ends the processing for displaying the past image 2 and current image 3 of the living tissue 1 . The current image 3 viewed this time is stored in the stored image display memory 43 as the past image 2 later. At the same time, the setting information 8 stored in the received data display memory 31 is stored in the saved image display memory 43 in association with the current image 3 viewed this time.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 of the present embodiment, when the controller 21 selects one past image 2 from a plurality of past images 2 in response to a user's instruction, the selected past image 2 is displayed. displayed on the screen 10. Then, the controller 21 resets the setting information 8 associated with the selected past image 2, and based on the reflected wave signal obtained by transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic waves under the conditions based on the reset setting information 8, Image data for the current image 3 can be generated. As a result, the past image 2 and the current image 3 can be displayed side by side on the display screen 10. Therefore, by comparing the past image 2 and the current image 3 to find the difference, the biological tissue 1 (affected area) can be displayed. ) can be easily diagnosed (follow-up). In this embodiment, the past image 2 acquired in the past is selected as a comparison target image, and the current image 3 is obtained based on the setting information 8 associated with the selected past image 2. Compared to using the limited number of conventional preset functions, comparison of images 2 and 3 in a wide variety of situations can be handled more easily.

(2) In the present embodiment, when the user selects the past image 2 to be compared in the dual mode, the selected past image 2 is displayed on the left side, and the setting information 8 that is the same as the past image 2 is displayed on the right side of the display screen 10. Based on this, the current image 3 is scanned. In this case, since it is not necessary to match the plurality of setting information 8 one by one, it is easy to diagnose the biological tissue 1 (affected area) by comparing the current image 3 side and the past image 2 side to find the difference. become.

(3) In the present embodiment, even if the past image 2 and the current image 3 generated based on the same setting information 8 are displayed side by side on the display screen 10, the difference (change) between the past image 2 and the current image 3 is It is not easy to grasp intuitively. Therefore, in this embodiment, the controller 21 displays each pixel of the current image 3 in a chromatic color (color modulation) according to the luminance difference between the past image 2 and the current image 3 for each pixel. there is Accordingly, the user can grasp the displacement of the current image 3 from the past image 2 by looking at the chromatically colored pixels. The past image 2 and the current image 3 can then be precisely aligned by shifting the current image 3 so that there are as few chromatically colored pixels as possible. Furthermore, the user can intuitively grasp which part has changed by looking at the coloration state after alignment, specifically, the chromatic color part remaining after alignment. Moreover, in this embodiment, since the pixel color (chromatic color) implicitly suggests the level of the luminance difference, the user can intuit the degree of the luminance difference just by looking at the pixel color. can be grasped. For example, a higher luminance value colors a pixel brighter (warmer) chromatic than a lower luminance value colors a pixel darker (cooler) chromatic. can be intuitively grasped when the luminance value is large.

(4) In the present embodiment, each pixel of the current image 3 is displayed in a chromatic color (warm color and cold color) according to the luminance difference between the previous image 2 and the current image 3 for each pixel. In this case, the color of the colored pixel is greatly different from the surrounding colors (achromatic colors such as white and black). Therefore, it becomes easier to visually grasp the pixels colored in chromatic colors.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.

In the above embodiment, the setting information 8 related to the transmission/reception conditions of ultrasonic waves includes image softness (S), image sharpness (E), frequency (F), transmission output (A), reception gain (G), Dynamic range (D), viewing depth (R) and focus point F1 were used. However, at least one of the plurality of setting information 8 may be omitted.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 of the above embodiment, the past image 2 is displayed on the left side of the display screen 10 and the current image 3 is displayed on the right side of the display screen 10 . However, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 may display the current image 3 on the left side of the display screen 10 and the past image 2 on the right side of the display screen 10 .

In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 of the above embodiment, the past image 2 and the current image 3 are displayed side by side on the display screen 10 . However, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 may display the past image 2 and the current image 3 side by side on the display screen 10 . In this case, the past image 2 may be displayed on the upper side of the display screen 10 and the current image 3 may be displayed on the lower side of the display screen 10 , or the past image 2 may be displayed on the lower side of the display screen 10 . , and the current image 3 may be displayed on the upper side of the display screen 10 .

In the above embodiment, when displaying the current image 3 with predetermined pixels colored, the past image 2 and the current image 3 may be displayed side by side on the display screen 10 (two-screen display). Only the image 3 may be displayed on the display screen 10 (single-screen display).

In the above-described embodiment, each pixel of the current image 3 is displayed in a chromatic color according to the luminance difference between the past image 2 and the current image 3 for each pixel. 2″ may be displayed in a chromatic color.

- In the above embodiment, the past image 2 and the current image 3 are aligned by operating the ultrasonic probe 13 to move and rotate the current image 3 by the user. However, the above alignment may be performed by the user operating the input device 51 or the like to move or rotate the past image 2, or the user may operate the input device 51 or the like to move the past image 2 and the current image. The above alignment may be performed by moving and rotating both of 3.

In the above-described embodiment, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 corrects the displacement between the past image 2 and the current image 3 when the luminance difference between the past image 2 and the current image 3 for each pixel exceeds a predetermined threshold. A notification means for notification may be provided. As the notification means, for example, a light emitting means such as a lamp that notifies that the luminance difference exceeds the threshold by light emission (lighting, blinking, etc.), and a sound (warning sound) that the luminance difference exceeds the threshold etc.), and display means such as a liquid crystal display device that notifies by display (characters, symbols, pictures, etc.) that the luminance difference exceeds the threshold. can.

The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 of the above-described embodiment has been used to observe the progress of healing of the living tissue 1 (affected area), but it can also be used in other medical fields such as pregnancy examinations and malignant neoplasm status observations. may be Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 may be used in the field of health, for example, observation of growth process and training process. Furthermore, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 11 may be used in the field of animals, for example, in observing the fattening process of animals in livestock farming. That is, the biological tissue of animals other than humans may be used as the subject, and the biological tissue of domestic animals such as cattle, horses, and pigs may be used as the subject.

When, for example, one of the limbs is fractured, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus 11 of the above-described embodiment observes the same left and right parts, and displays images of the healthy side (non-fractured side) and the diseased side (fractured side). ) may be displayed side by side on the display screen 10 . In this case, the image of the unaffected side is positioned as a past image obtained by imaging in the past, and the image of the diseased side is positioned as a current image obtained by imaging this time. In addition, it is preferable that the controller 21 (image display means) further performs image processing for horizontally reversing and displaying the image of the unaffected side. In this way, the image of the unaffected side and the image of the affected side are displayed in the same orientation, so that the user can confirm the cross-sectional structure of the subject without discomfort after the image is reversed.

Next, in addition to the technical ideas described in the claims, technical ideas grasped by the above-described embodiments are listed below.

(1) In any one of claims 1 to 6, when the luminance difference between the past image and the current image for each pixel exceeds a predetermined threshold, the displacement between the past image and the current image is detected. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, comprising an informing means for informing.

(2) An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the image display means performs processing for displaying the past image and the current image side by side.

(3) In any one of claims 1 to 6, the image display means further has a function of displaying the past image and the current image side by side, and horizontally reversing the image of the current image. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, characterized in that image processing is performed such that the image of the past image is horizontally reversed and displayed while the image of the past image is displayed without being displayed.

(4) An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the subject is a living tissue.

(5) The ultrasonic wave according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the past image storage means also stores setting information related to image processing conditions in the storage means in association with the past image. diagnostic imaging equipment.

1 Biological tissue as a subject 2 Past image 3 Current image 8 Setting information 10 Display screen 11 Ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus 21 Transmission/reception control means, image processing means, past image storage means, past image selection means , image display means, setting information resetting means and controller 43 as a processor... saved image display memory F1 as storage means... focus point

Claims (5)

A transmission/reception control means for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves to/from a subject is provided, and based on reflected wave signals obtained by transmitting/receiving the ultrasonic waves, the inside of the subject is imaged, and a past image obtained in the past and the present image are obtained. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus that displays a current image obtained by imaging side by side on a display screen,
image processing means for generating image data based on the reflected wave signal;
The generated image data is stored as the past image in a storage means, and the setting information related to the ultrasonic transmission/reception conditions when the past image was acquired is stored in the storage means in association with the past image. a storage means;
past image selection means for selecting one past image from a plurality of past images stored in the storage means in response to an instruction from a user;
image display means for displaying the selected past image on the display screen;
setting information resetting means for calling the setting information associated with the selected past image and resetting the called setting information;
The image processing means is
The image data to be the current image can be generated based on the reflected wave signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves under the conditions based on the reset setting information,
performing a coloring display process for coloring and displaying each pixel of the current image in a chromatic color according to the luminance difference between the past image and the current image for each pixel;
In the color display process, among the red, green, and blue components included in the chromatic color, the luminance value of the red component, which is a warm color component, is changed to a value different from that of the green component and blue component, which are cold color components. By performing the processing for each pixel of the current image, when the luminance value of the current image becomes greater than the luminance value of the past image, the current image is colored in a warm chromatic color and displayed. displaying a state of positional deviation between the past image and the current image by displaying a cold chromatic color when the luminance value becomes smaller than the luminance value of the past image;
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, wherein the past image and the current image can be aligned by an operation of shifting the past image or the current image to reduce a colored portion. 2. The past image storage means according to claim 1, wherein said past image storing means stores a plurality of said setting information including depth of observation, reception gain, dynamic range, focus point, frequency and transmission power in association with said past image. of ultrasound imaging equipment. The image display means additionally displays a plurality of the setting information including observation depth, reception gain, dynamic range, focus point, frequency and transmission power in the vicinity of the past image and the current image. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: to the processor,
an image processing step of generating image data based on reflected wave signals obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject;
The generated image data is stored in a storage means as a past image obtained by imaging in the past, and setting information related to ultrasonic wave transmission/reception conditions when the past image was acquired is associated with the past image. a past image storage step for storing in a storage means;
a past image selection step of selecting one past image from among a plurality of past images stored in the storage means, triggered by a user's instruction;
a past image display step of displaying the selected past image on a display screen;
a setting information resetting step of calling the setting information associated with the selected past image and resetting the called setting information;
a current image processing step of generating the image data to be the current image obtained by imaging this time, based on the reflected wave signal obtained by transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave under the conditions based on the reset setting information;
a current image display step of displaying the current image side by side with the past image on the display screen;
and a coloring step of coloring and displaying each pixel of the current image in a chromatic color according to the luminance difference between the past image and the current image for each pixel after the current image display step. and
In the coloring step,
In order to be able to align the past image and the current image by shifting the past image or the current image to reduce the colored portion ,
A process of changing the luminance value of the red component, which is a warm color component, to a value different from that of the green component and blue component, which are cold color components, among the red, green and blue components included in the chromatic color, is performed on the current image. By doing this for each pixel, when the luminance value of the current image is greater than the luminance value of the past image, the luminance value of the current image is displayed in a warm chromatic color, and the luminance value of the current image is the luminance value of the past image. Ultrasonic image display characterized by displaying the state of positional deviation between the past image and the current image by displaying it in a cold chromatic color when the luminance value becomes smaller than the luminance value of program. an image processing step of generating image data based on reflected wave signals obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject;
The generated image data is stored in a storage means as a past image obtained by imaging in the past, and setting information related to ultrasonic wave transmission/reception conditions when the past image was acquired is associated with the past image. a past image storage step for storing in a storage means;
a past image selection step of selecting one past image from among a plurality of past images stored in the storage means, triggered by a user's instruction;
a past image display step of displaying the selected past image on a display screen;
a setting information resetting step of calling the setting information associated with the selected past image and resetting the called setting information;
a current image processing step of generating the image data to be the current image obtained by imaging this time, based on the reflected wave signal obtained by transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave under the conditions based on the reset setting information;
a current image display step of displaying the current image side by side with the past image on the display screen;
After the current image display step, a coloring step of coloring each pixel of the current image in a chromatic color according to the luminance difference between the past image and the current image for each pixel,
In the coloring step,
In order to align the past image and the current image by shifting the past image or the current image to reduce the colored portion ,
A process of changing the luminance value of the red component, which is a warm color component, to a value different from that of the green component and blue component, which are cold color components, of the red, green, and blue components included in the chromatic color of the current image. By doing this for each pixel, when the luminance value of the current image is greater than the luminance value of the past image, the luminance value of the current image is displayed in a warm chromatic color, and the luminance value of the current image is the luminance value of the past image. Ultrasonic image display characterized by displaying the state of positional deviation between the past image and the current image by displaying it in a cold chromatic color when the luminance value is smaller than the luminance value of Method.

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