JPH06245936A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To recover a display of an ordinary tomographic image erased by a display of a blood flow image up to the present, and to satisfactorily display both of the blood flow image ad the tomographic image, in the ultrasonic diag nostic device. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with a tomographic image priority circuit 10 for inputting a blood flow image and a tomographic image formed by a blood flow image display circuit system 3 and a tomographic image display circuit system 4 and discriminating whether a luminance level of the tomographic image exceeds a certain prescribed threshold or not in a arbitrary picture element and executing control so that the tomographic image is displayed preferentially against the blood flow image in the picture element, when its level exceeds its threshold, in a pre-stage of an image display device 6. In such a way, as for the whole of an ultrasonic image displayed on a screen of the image display device 6, both of the blood flow image and the tomographic image can be displayed satisfactorily.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention obtains a tomographic image of a diagnostic region of a subject by using ultrasonic waves and obtains a blood flow image of the diagnostic region by utilizing the Doppler effect of the ultrasonic waves. The present invention relates to a three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and in particular, an ultrasonic wave that can restore the display of a normal tomographic image, which has been erased by the display of a blood flow image in the past, and can display both the blood flow image and the tomographic image in good condition. Regarding diagnostic equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this type is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a probe 1 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from the subject.
And an ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving unit 2 that drives the probe 1 to generate an ultrasonic wave at each predetermined repetition cycle and processes a received reflected echo signal, and a receiving unit processed by the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving unit 2. A signal that has undergone the Doppler shift caused by the blood flow in the subject is extracted from the signal, this Doppler signal is digitized, and this digital Doppler signal is calculated to obtain blood flow velocity information and this blood flow velocity information is stored. Blood flow image display circuit system 3 which is formed as a three-dimensional blood flow image, and the received signal processed by the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception unit 2 is detected, and the detected signal is digitized, and this digital signal is used as a tomographic image of the diagnostic region. Blood flow for selecting a blood flow image or a tomographic image in an arbitrary pixel by inputting the tomographic image display circuit system 4 to be formed and the images formed by the blood flow image display circuit system 3 and the tomographic image display circuit system 4. Image tomographic image selection The circuit 5, the image display apparatus for displaying two-dimensional blood flow image and tomographic image data of the output image on the screen to analog conversion from the blood flow image tomogram selection circuit 5 6
It was made up of and. By the operation of the blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit 5, if there is no blood flow image information in any pixel of the input image data, a tomographic image is output as it is, and if there is blood flow image information, the blood flow image is present. Was selected, and the blood flow image and the tomographic image were superimposed and displayed on the screen of the image display device 6.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, when the tomographic image tomographic image selecting circuit 5 has a tomographic image and a tomographic image superposed in an arbitrary pixel. Since the blood flow image is preferentially selected in the image display, the tomographic image is difficult to see in the image displayed on the screen of the image display device 6, and the blood flow image may be erased. . For example, when a heart is examined as a diagnosis site, an image Ia including the heart walls 7a and 7b and valves 8a and 8b is displayed as shown in FIG. As shown in the image Ib of 6 (b), if the blood flow 9 flows in between the valves 8a and 8b, the blood flow image is given priority over the tomographic image in the pixel region of the blood flow image showing the blood flow 9. Will be selected and displayed.
The images of the valves 8a and 8b were sometimes erased. Therefore, the valves 8a and 8b that respond to the pulsation of the heart and the flow of blood flow
In some cases, it was not possible to confirm the movement of the, and a good diagnostic image could not be obtained.

Therefore, the present invention addresses such a problem, restores the display of a normal tomographic image which was conventionally erased by the display of a blood flow image, and improves both the blood flow image and the tomographic image. It is an object to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can display.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject, and an ultrasonic wave driven by the probe. Is generated for each predetermined repetition cycle and an ultrasonic wave transmission / reception unit that processes the received reflected echo signal, and receives the Doppler shift caused by the blood flow in the subject from the reception signal processed by this ultrasonic wave transmission / reception unit. And a blood flow image display circuit system for extracting this signal, digitizing this Doppler signal, calculating this digital Doppler signal to obtain blood flow velocity information, and forming this blood flow velocity information as a two-dimensional blood flow image. A tomographic image display circuit system for detecting a received signal processed by the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving section, digitizing the detected signal and forming the digital signal as a tomographic image of a diagnostic region, and the blood flow image display circuit And a blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit that inputs an image formed by the tomographic image display circuit system and selects a blood flow image or a tomographic image in an arbitrary pixel, and is output from this blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having an image display device for two-dimensionally displaying a blood flow image and a tomographic image on a screen by converting image data into analog data, the blood flow image display circuit system and the tomographic image display circuit system are formed. By inputting the blood flow image and the tomographic image, it is determined whether the brightness level of the tomographic image exceeds a predetermined threshold value in any pixel. A tomographic image prioritizing circuit is provided to control so as to prioritize and display the flow image.

[0006]

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus constructed as described above, for example, a blood flow image display circuit system and a blood flow image formed by the tomographic image display circuit system are formed by the tomographic image priority circuit provided in the preceding stage of the image display apparatus. Also, by inputting the tomographic image, it is determined whether the brightness level of the tomographic image exceeds a predetermined threshold value in any pixel, and if it exceeds the threshold value, the tomographic image is converted into a blood flow image at the pixel. Operates to display with priority. Accordingly, both the blood flow image and the tomographic image can be favorably displayed as the entire ultrasonic image displayed on the screen of the image display device.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus obtains a tomographic image of a diagnostic region of a subject using ultrasonic waves, obtains a blood flow image of the diagnostic region using the Doppler effect of ultrasonic waves, and displays them in two dimensions. As shown in the figure, the probe 1 and the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 2
A blood flow image display circuit system 3, a tomographic image display circuit system 4, a blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit 5, and an image display device 6, and a tomographic image priority circuit 10. .

The probe 1 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves toward a diagnostic site in the subject, and actually outputs ultrasonic waves and receives reflected waves from the diagnostic site inside. A vibrator is provided. The ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving unit 2 drives the probe 1 to generate an ultrasonic wave at a predetermined repetition cycle and processes a signal of a reflected echo received, and transmits the ultrasonic wave to the probe 1. A wave transmission control circuit 1 which sends a pulse and controls the transmission of ultrasonic waves toward a diagnostic region.
1 and a receiving and amplifying phasing circuit 12 that amplifies a signal of a reflected echo reflected from a diagnostic site in the subject and received by the probe 1 to align the phases to perform phasing.

The blood flow image display circuit system 3 obtains velocity information of the blood flow in the subject from the reception signal processed by the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception unit 2 to form a blood flow image. From the demodulation circuit 13 that demodulates the received signal output from the received wave amplification and phasing circuit 12 in the unit 2 and extracts only the component that has undergone the Doppler shift caused by the blood flow in the subject. An A / D converter 14 that inputs and digitizes the output Doppler signal, and a blood that has received the Doppler shift due to the movement of red blood cells by inputting the digital Doppler signal output from the A / D converter 14. Blood flow velocity calculation circuit 15 for calculating blood flow characteristics such as blood flow velocity and velocity dispersion and reflection intensity, and blood flow velocity information output from this blood flow velocity calculation circuit 15 are input to be two-dimensional. To create a blood flow image of Blood flow image display circuit such as a frame memory 16
It consists of and.

The tomographic image display circuit system 4 forms a tomographic image of a diagnostic region in the subject from the received signals processed by the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving unit 2, and the received wave amplification in the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving unit 2 is performed. A detection circuit 17 that detects the received signal output from the phase rectifying circuit 12 to obtain luminance information of a tomographic image, and an A / D that inputs and digitizes the signal of the tomographic image luminance information output from the detection circuit 17. It comprises a converter 18 and a tomographic image display circuit 19 such as a frame memory for inputting digital tomographic image luminance information output from the A / D converter 18 to form a two-dimensional tomographic image.

The blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit 5 inputs the blood flow image and the tomographic image formed by the blood flow image display circuit system 3 and the tomographic image display circuit system 4 to input blood in any pixel. A flow image or a tomographic image is selected. The presence or absence of blood flow image data is determined for each pixel in the image to be displayed. If there is no blood flow image data, the tomographic image data is output as it is. If there is, the blood flow image data is selected and output.

Further, the image display device 6 converts the image data output from the blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit 5 into an analog signal and two-dimensionally displays the blood flow image and the tomographic image on the screen. A D / A converter 20 for inputting the image data output from the image tomographic image selection circuit 5 and converting it into an analog signal
And a television monitor 21 which inputs an analog signal from the D / A converter 20 and displays a blood flow image and a tomographic image.

Here, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a tomographic image priority circuit 10 is provided after the blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit 5 and before the image display device 6. . The tomographic image priority circuit 10 receives the image data including the blood flow image and the tomographic image output from the blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit 5 and determines a predetermined level of brightness of the tomographic image in any pixel. Whether or not the threshold value is exceeded is determined, and when the threshold value is exceeded, control is performed so that the tomographic image is displayed with priority given to the blood flow image in the pixel, and as shown in FIG. And a tomographic image priority switch 23.

That is, the comparator 22 inputs the tomographic image formed by the tomographic image display circuit 19 and a predetermined threshold value set by a control circuit (not shown), compares the two, and compares the two. If the data value of the image is larger than the threshold value, for example, "1" is output, and if it is smaller, "0" is output. The tomographic image priority switch 23 inputs the tomographic image data from the tomographic image display circuit 19 to the contact point a, and the tomographic image is preferentially selected from the blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit 5. Input image data to contact b,
In addition, the signal of "1" or "0" output from the comparator 22 is input to the drive unit of the changeover switch 24 as the changeover signal S ₁ . Then, the switching signal S ₁
Is when but "1", the changeover switch 24 takes in image data from the tomographic image display circuit 19 turned on to the contact a side, when the switching signal S ₁ is "0", the changeover switch 24
Turns on to the contact point b side and operates so as to capture the image data from the blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit 5.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as described above will be described. First, in FIG. 1, ultrasonic waves are transmitted into the subject by the operations of the probe 1 and the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving unit 2, and a signal of a reflection echo from the diagnostic region is received. Now, for example, if a heart is examined as a diagnosis site, the operation of the tomographic image display circuit system 4 causes
As shown in (a), an image Ia (tomographic image) including the heart walls 7a, 7b and valves 8a, 8b is obtained, and as shown in FIG. 6 (b) by the operation of the blood flow image display circuit system 3. It is assumed that the blood flow 9 flows from between the valves 8a and 8b at a certain pulsation timing, and a blood flow image showing the blood flow is obtained. In this case, the image Ia including only the tomographic image is input to the blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit 5 and the tomographic image priority circuit 10 as shown in FIG. The blood flow image from the blood flow image display circuit system 3 is
As shown in FIG. 1, the blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit 5 is input, and in this circuit, is combined with the tomographic image (Ia), and as shown in FIG. In the region, the blood flow image is selected prior to the tomographic image, and the valve 8a,
An image Ib (tomographic image + blood flow image) in which the portion 8b disappears is obtained. Then, this image Ib is input to the tomographic image priority circuit 10 in the next stage.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the image Ia output from the tomographic image display circuit 19 in the tomographic image display circuit system 4 is described.
Is input to one input terminal of the comparator 22 in the tomographic image priority circuit 10 and is also input to the contact a of the tomographic image priority switch 23. Further, a certain threshold value set by a control circuit (not shown) is input to the other input terminal of the comparator 22. Further, the image Ib output from the blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit 5 is input to the contact point b of the tomographic image priority switching unit 23 in the tomographic image priority circuit 10. Then, in the comparator 22, the image Ia input from the tomographic image display circuit 19 is input.
For each pixel, the switching signal S ₁ containing "1" is output when the data value of the image Ia is larger than this threshold value, and the switching signal S When the data value of the image Ia is small, the switching signal S ₁ containing "0" is output.

Then, by inputting this switching signal S ₁ ,
The changeover switch 24 of the tomographic image priority changer 23 is turned on to the contact a side when the changeover signal S ₁ is "1",
When it is "0", it is turned on to the contact b side. As a result, the image Ia including only the tomographic image shown in FIG.
An image I obtained by combining the tomographic image and the blood flow image shown in FIG.
In the state where b is input to the contact b, the switching signal S ₁ from the comparator 22 changes for each pixel in the image to be displayed, and the data of the image Ia or Ib is transferred via the switching switch 24. It is output to the D / A converter 20 in the subsequent stage.

In this case, when the pixel data is only the portion of the heart walls 7a, 7b, etc., the changeover switch 24 is turned on to the contact a side, and the data of that portion of the image Ia is output, and the pixel data is blood. When only the blood flow image of the portion of the flow 9 is present, the changeover switch 24 is turned on to the contact b side and the image I is displayed.
The data for that part of b is output. And FIG.
As shown in (b), the blood flow 9 flows from between the valves 8a and 8b, and in the portion where the blood flow image and the images of the valves 8a and 8b overlap, the brightness levels of the valves 8a and 8b in the image Ia are predetermined. Since it is larger than the threshold value of, the changeover signal S ₁ becomes "1" and the changeover switch 24 is turned on to the contact a side.
The data of the image Ib is not input. Therefore, in this portion, the blood flow image showing the blood flow 9 disappears and the valves 8a and 8b are removed.
Is displayed. That is, as shown in FIG. 6C, an image Ic in which both the blood flow image and the images of the valves 8a and 8b can be seen.
Data is formed.

In this way, the tomographic image priority circuit 10 is
After that, the image data formed in (1) is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 20, and the analog image signal is input to the television monitor 21 and, as shown in FIG.
An image Ic is displayed in which both the blood flow image and the tomographic image look good.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the tomographic image priority circuit 10 is
In the front stage of the blood flow image display circuit 16 in the blood flow image display circuit system 3 and in the front stage of the tomographic image display circuit 19 of the tomographic image display circuit system 4, respectively in the subsequent stage and the A / D conversion. It is inserted in the latter stage of the container 18. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the internal configuration thereof comprises a comparator 22 and a blood flow image formation switching device 25. The image data from the A / D converter 18 is input to one input terminal of the comparator 22, and a predetermined threshold value set by a control circuit (not shown) is input to the other input terminal. Then, the two are compared. Further, the blood flow image formation switching device 25 inputs the blood flow velocity information from the blood flow velocity calculation circuit 15 to the contact point b, and the fixed “0” data is input to the contact point a. is adapted to input to the driving unit of the change-over switch 24 a signal of "1" or "0" is output as the switching signal S ₂ from the vessel 22.

The operation of the tomographic image priority circuit 10 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but in the second embodiment, the blood flow image display is performed. Before the blood flow image is formed by the circuit system 3 and before the tomographic image is formed by the tomographic image display circuit system 4, when the data forming the tomographic image is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the blood flow is increased. It gives priority over speed information. That is, when the changeover signal S ₂ is "1", the changeover switch 24 is turned on to the contact a side to take in "0" data and blood flow velocity information is not input, and the changeover signal S ₂ is "0". ", The changeover switch 24 is turned on to the contact b side and the blood flow velocity calculation circuit 1
It operates so as to capture the blood flow velocity information from 5. At this time, the data output from the A / D converter 18 and forming the tomographic image is directly input to the tomographic image display circuit 19 via another path, as shown in FIG.

With such a configuration, according to the second embodiment, the image data output from the A / D converter 18 and forming a tomographic image is larger than a predetermined threshold value, and the comparator 22 outputs "1". When the changeover signal S ₂ having the content is output, the changeover switch 24 is turned on to the contact a side and the blood flow information is cut off, and the tomographic image display circuit 19 displays only the tomographic image as shown in FIG. 6A. Ia is formed. If the image data forming the tomographic image is smaller than or equal to the above threshold value, the comparator 22 outputs the changeover signal S ₂ containing "0", and the changeover switch 24 is on the contact b side. When turned on, blood flow information is sent to the blood flow image display circuit 16 in the next stage.
As a result, the blood flow image display circuit 16 causes the FIG.
Only the blood flow image showing the blood flow 9 in which the portions of the valves 8a and 8b indicated by broken lines in FIG.

After that, in FIG. 3, the image data output from the blood flow image display circuit 16 and the tomographic image display circuit 19 are input to the blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit 5 and combined, and the combined image is obtained. The data is then converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 20, and this analog image signal is input to the television monitor 21 and, as shown in FIG. 6C, both the blood flow image and the tomographic image are obtained. An image Ic that looks good is displayed.

[0024]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above,
For example, a tomographic image priority circuit provided in the preceding stage of the image display device inputs a blood flow image and a tomographic image formed by the blood flow image display circuit system and the tomographic image display circuit system, and displays the tomographic image in an arbitrary pixel. It is determined whether or not the brightness level exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and when the brightness level exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the tomographic image can be displayed with priority on the blood flow image at the pixel. Accordingly, both the blood flow image and the tomographic image can be favorably displayed as the entire ultrasonic image displayed on the screen of the image display device. Therefore, for example, when a heart is inspected, it is possible to confirm the pulsation of the heart and the movement of the valve or the like according to the flow of blood flow, and it is possible to obtain an image of high diagnostic value.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a tomographic image priority circuit in the first embodiment,

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a tomographic image priority circuit in the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus,

FIG. 6 is a view showing a display example of a tomographic image and a blood flow image when a heart is examined in the present invention and the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Probe, 2 ... Ultrasonic wave transmission / reception part, 3 ... Blood flow image display circuit system, 4 ... Tomographic image display circuit system, 5 ... Blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit, 6 ... Image display device, 10 ... Tomographic image Priority circuit, 22 ... Comparator, 23 ... Tomographic image priority switching device, 2
4 ... Changeover switch, 25 ... Blood flow image formation changeover device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A probe which transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a subject, and an ultrasonic wave which drives the probe to generate ultrasonic waves at a predetermined repetition cycle and processes a signal of a reflected echo received. A signal that has undergone the Doppler shift caused by the blood flow in the subject is extracted from the transmission / reception unit and the reception signal processed by this ultrasonic transmission / reception unit, this Doppler signal is digitized, and this digital Doppler signal is calculated to calculate the blood flow. A blood flow image display circuit system that obtains the blood flow velocity information and forms this blood flow velocity information as a two-dimensional blood flow image, and the received signal processed by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit is detected, and the signal after this detection is detected. A tomographic image display circuit system which digitizes and forms this digital signal as a tomographic image of a diagnostic region, and an image formed by the blood flow image display circuit system and the tomographic image display circuit system are input to input blood flow in an arbitrary pixel. Statue or A blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit for selecting a tomographic image, and an image display device for two-dimensionally displaying the blood flow image and the tomographic image on the screen by converting the image data output from the blood flow image tomographic image selection circuit into an analog signal. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the above-mentioned, the blood flow image and the tomographic image formed by the blood flow image display circuit system and the tomographic image display circuit system are input, and a predetermined brightness level of the tomographic image exists in any pixel. It is characterized in that a tomographic image priority circuit is provided for controlling whether or not the threshold value is exceeded, and if the threshold value is exceeded, the tomographic image is displayed with priority given to the blood flow image at the pixel concerned. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment.