JPH02172453A - Ultrasonic diagnosing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable automatic movement of blood flow data sampling region by a method wherein count values, counted by a count means, at least at boundary parts on both side in the blood flow data sampling region are fed to a comparing deciding part to decide the moving direction of the blood flow data sampling region. CONSTITUTION:Count values Nl, Nm, and Nr of blood flow data at a left boundary part Ll, a central part Lm, and a right boundary part Lr in a blood flow data sampling region are latched to latch parts 28a-28c, respectively, of a blood flow region steer rig part 24. In a comparing deciding part 30, MO is set as a threshold M, and the count values Nl and Nr at the boundary parts on both sides are compared with each other. When the count value Nr of the right boundary part is higher, a difference between the two count values is compared with the threshold M, it is decided whether a significant difference is present, the count value Nm at the central part is compared with a threshold Mm, and when the count value Nm is lower than the threshold Mm, it is decided that leftward movement is needed, and in the reverse case, it is decided that rightward movement is needed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays a blood flow image superimposed on a portion of a tomographic image.

(B) Conventional technology Conventional ultrasonic diagnostic equipment has been designed to display the entire tomographic image by aligning the tomographic data acquisition area for displaying tomographic images with the blood flow data acquisition area for displaying blood flow images. Some devices display blood flow images superimposed over a region. However, in order to obtain blood flow images, it is necessary to emit an ultrasound beam in the same direction multiple times to the blood flow data collection area, collect blood flow data, and change the radiation direction in a time-sharing manner. This requires more time than it would take to obtain the data necessary for displaying a tomographic image. Therefore, when the display area of the blood flow image is large, the frame rate decreases, making it difficult to display the blood flow image in real time.

Therefore, in the conventional technology, blood flow images can be obtained in real time without reducing the frame rate by limiting the blood flow data collection area B to be smaller than the tomographic data collection area A, as shown in FIG. A device is provided for displaying.

In this way, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that ensures real-time performance of blood flow images, the blood flow data acquisition area B is set smaller than the tomographic data acquisition area A, so the image shown in FIG.
), even if you want to observe the state of blood flow in the heart, only a portion of it may be displayed. In such a case, it is necessary to newly set a blood flow data collection area B and readjust it so that most of the heart is included in this area B, as shown in Figure (b). Become.

Conventionally, the blood flow data collection area B was divided from (a) to (b) in Fig. 5.
), a switch for changing the blood flow data collection area is provided, and the radiation angle of the ultrasound beam is set by operating this switch. That is, assuming that the blood flow data collection area Bh is composed of ultrasonic beams for <k lines, initially, the ultrasound beam numbers of the blood flow data collection area B are i to i as shown in FIG. In the case of i+, in order to change the blood flow data collection area B as shown in FIG.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, when moving the blood flow data collection area, it is time-consuming and inconvenient to operate a switch to change the scanning line number of the ultrasound beam each time. There is a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to make the display area of blood flow images as large as possible without having to move the blood flow data collection area by operating a switch as in the conventional case. To provide an easy-to-use ultrasonic diagnostic device by automatically moving a blood flow data collection area.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following configuration.

That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention includes a blood flow region steering section that moves the blood flow data collection region so that the proportion of blood flow data that occupies the blood flow data collection region is increased; The steering unit includes a counting means for counting the number of dots of blood flow data included in one line of the ultrasound beam collected within the blood flow data collection region, and a count means for counting the number of dots of blood flow data included in one line of the ultrasound beam collected within the blood flow data collection region, and and a comparison/determination section that determines the movement direction of the blood flow data collection area based on each count value at at least the left and right boundaries of the area and outputs movement direction instruction data.

(E) Effect In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the above configuration, in the blood flow region steering section, the counting means is configured to count the number of ultrasonic beams collected within the blood flow data collection region. Count the number of blood flow data dots included in the line. Then, each count value at least at the left and right boundaries within the blood flow data collection area counted by this counting means is sent to the comparison and determination unit, so that the comparison and determination unit calculates the blood flow data collection area based on each count value. The moving direction is determined and the result is output as moving direction instruction data. The ultrasonic beam number is changed based on this movement direction instruction data.

Therefore, the blood flow data collection area is automatically moved so that the display area of this blood flow image is as large as possible.

(f) Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, l indicates the entire ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, 2 is a transducer, and 4 is a transmitting/receiving unit that outputs an ultrasonic beam drive signal to the transducer 2 and receives an ultrasonic echo signal output from the transducer 2. It is. Further, 6 is a tomographic processing unit that amplifies and detects the echo signal obtained based on the ultrasound beam that scans the tomographic data collection area in sectors, and 8 is an A/D converter that digitizes the output of the tomographic processing unit. .

10 is a blood flow processing unit that extracts a Doppler signal by orthogonally detecting the echo signal obtained based on the ultrasonic beam emitted to the blood flow data collection area; 12 is a blood flow processing unit that digitizes the output of the blood flow processing unit 10; The A/D converter 14 is a calculation unit that performs calculations based on the A/D converted Doppler signal to obtain blood flow data. 16 is a synthesis unit that synthesizes and outputs tomographic data and blood flow data; 18 is a digital scan converter that stores the data synthesized by the synthesis unit as image data and reads it out in synchronization with TV scanning; and 20 is a CRT display. , 22 is a CPU that controls the operation of each section mentioned above, and these configurations are the same as in the embodiment.

A feature of the present invention is that it includes a blood flow region steering section 24 that moves the blood flow data collection region so that the proportion of blood flow data that occupies the blood flow data collection region is increased. This blood flow region steering section 24
As shown in the figure, a counter 26 serves as a counting means for counting the number of blood flow data dots included in one line of an ultrasound beam collected within a blood flow data collection area, and a blood flow counted by this counter 26 is used. Latch parts 28a to 28C latch each count value at the left and right boundaries and the center part of the flow data collection area.Latch parts 28a to 28C1 determine the maximum value of each data within one heartbeat based on the data latched by each latch part 28a to 28c. , and determines the movement direction of the blood flow data collection area based on this maximum value, and outputs movement direction instruction data.

Next, a movement control operation of the blood flow data collection area in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the above configuration will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the blood flow data collection area B7! ! It is assumed that the ultrasound beam is composed of ultrasonic beams for <k lines, and that the beam numbers of the ultrasound waves that make up the blood flow data collection area B are initially set to 1 to i+k.

The tomographic data obtained in the tomographic data collection area A and the blood flow data obtained in the blood flow data collection area B are combined in the synthesis unit 16, and the output thereof is sent to the blood flow area steering wheel along with the digital scan converter t8. The information is also sent to the section 24 at the same time. In that case, the output of the synthesizing unit 24 includes synthetic data of tomographic data and blood flow data, a transfer lock CLK for synchronizing when transferring the synthetic data to the digital scan converter 18, and Each includes a clear signal CLR that becomes low level each time the sound wave beam is transferred to the digital scan converter 18. Furthermore, among the above-mentioned composite data, a sign bit G indicating that the tomographic data is achromatic is added in advance, and a sign bit C indicating that the blood flow data is chromatic is added in advance.

Then, the above clear signal CL is sent to the counter 26.
R is applied to the clear terminal, sign bit C/G is applied to the enable terminal, and transfer lock CLK is applied to the clock terminal. Therefore, the counter 26 receives the clear signal C
Transfer lock CLK is counted only when chromatic sign bit C exists while Lr1 is at high level. In other words, the number of dots of blood flow data included in one line of the ultrasound beam is counted. Then, this count value is determined by each latch section 28a.
~28c. On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
A latch signal is output to a to 28c. For this reason,
Each latch part 28a to 28c has a blood flow data collection area B.
The left boundary Ll, the center Lm, and the right boundary L
Count value of each blood flow data at r N1%N plow, Nr
are each latched. And latch parts 28a-2
Each count value latched at 8c is sent to the comparison/determination section 30.

The comparison and determination unit 30 calculates each of these count values Nl.

Based on Nm, Nr (maximum value within - heartbeat) and threshold values M0, Ml, M+a given in advance by the CPU 22, the moving direction of the blood flow data collection area B is determined according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Then, the result is output as moving direction instruction data F' (=0, 1.2). Here, the threshold values of the above symbols M0 and M are the left and right boundaries L1. L
This provides a criterion for determining whether or not the count value N1 s N r of r has a significant difference.
Once the area B has moved, move M so that the area B does not move frequently. <M.

is set to Further, the threshold value Mm provides a criterion for determining whether or not the count value Nm in the center has a significant difference.

Next, based on the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of 0 will be further explained.

First, set Mo as the threshold value M (Step ■)
, Next, the count values Nl and Nr of the left and right boundaries are compared (step ■). If the count value Nr at the right boundary is larger (Nl<Nr), then compare the difference between both count values (=Nr - Nl) with the threshold value M to determine whether there is a significant difference. Determine (step ■). Nr- without significant difference
If Nl<M), it is determined that no movement is necessary and the flag F=
Set the threshold value M to 0 (step ■), then set the threshold value M
Set M to M (step ■) and return to step ■. If there is a significant difference in step (2) (Nr-Nl>M), the central count value Nm is further compared with the threshold value Ms (step (2)). If the count value Nm is smaller than the threshold value Mm (Nm<Mm), it is determined that movement to the left is necessary and the flag F=1 is set (
Step ■). In the opposite case (No+>Mm), it is determined that movement to the right is necessary and the flag F=2 is set (step ■).

Furthermore, in step ■, the count value N at the left border
If 1 is larger (Nl>Nr), the difference between both count values (=N1-Nr) is compared with the threshold value M, and it is determined whether there is a significant difference (step 2).

: If there is no difference in rT (Nl-Nr<M), determine that no movement is necessary and set the flag F=0 (Step @l)
, Subsequently, the threshold value M is set to Ml (step ■), and the process returns to step ■. If there is a significant difference in step (2) (Nl-Nr>M), the central count value Nm is further compared with the threshold value M+a (step @). If the count value Nl11 is smaller than the threshold value Mm (Nm<Mm), it is determined that movement to the left is necessary and the flag F=1 is set (step [phase]). In the opposite case (Nm>Mm), it is determined that movement to the right is necessary, and the flag F'=2 is set (step ■). Then, it is determined whether the entire area has been moved (step ■),
If the entire area has been moved, it is determined that no movement is necessary and the flag F is set to 0 (step 2), and then the process proceeds to step 2. Furthermore, if the entire area has not been moved in step ■, the process returns to step ■.

Then, the value of each flag F (=0, !, 2) is transferred to the CPU 22 as movement direction instruction data.

Based on this movement direction instruction data, the CPU 22 changes the ultrasound beam number. That is, if F=■, each beam number for the line in blood flow data collection area B is decreased by one, and if P=2, each beam number is increased by one,
If F'=0, there is no change in the beam number. therefore,
By repeating the routine shown in Figure 4, the ultrasound beam number initially set to i=i+k becomes
It is changed to j−j+k. That is, the blood flow data collection area B is automatically moved so that the display area of the blood flow image is as large as possible.

(G) Effects According to the present invention, blood flow data is automatically collected so that the display area of the blood flow image is as large as possible, without having to move the blood flow data collection area by operating a switch as in the conventional method. The collection area is moved, making it easier to use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of the blood flow region steering section of the device, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the blood flow data collection region. , FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the discrimination operation of the comparison and discrimination section, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram when a tomographic image and a blood flow image are displayed simultaneously. ! ... Ultrasonic diagnostic device, 24... Blood flow region steering section, 2G... Counting means (counter), 30.
... Comparison and discrimination section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In an ultrasonic diagnostic device that secures a blood flow data collection area in a part of the tomographic data collection area and displays a tomographic image obtained by emitting an ultrasound beam within each area and a blood flow image in an overlapping manner. , a blood flow region steering section that moves the blood flow data collection region so that the proportion of blood flow data that occupies within the blood flow data collection region is increased; a counting means for counting the number of dots of blood flow data included in one line of an ultrasound beam collected within the area; An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a comparison and determination section that determines the movement direction of the blood flow data collection area based on the count value and outputs movement direction instruction data.