JPH06292670A - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To exactly diagnose the disease of a vital tissue by displaying a B mode image, blood stream image and TC image (tissue condition image) as one image, two images and further three images by performing medically meaningful synthesization. CONSTITUTION:B-mode image information is generated by performing logarithm- detection from a received signal, which is received by a transducer 1 to receive an ultrasonic wave reflected on a reagent, by a detection part 4 and a B-mode image signal is generated from this information by a DSC-B (scan converter B) 5. On the other hand, blood flow information is calculated from the received signal by a CFI (blood flow image) analysis part 6, and a blood stream image signal is generated from this information by a DSC-CF 17. Further, the attenuation coefficient or the like of the reagent organization is calculated from the received signal by a TC analysis part 9, and a TC image signal is generated from this attenuation coefficient or the like by a DSC-TC 10. Then, based on the respective generated image signals, three images are simultaneously displayed on a screen by a display control part 8 or two or three images are synthesized and displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic pulse to a subject, receiving a signal reflected and returned, and generating and displaying a plurality of images.

[0002] Ultrasonic waves are transmitted into a subject, and echo signals from a diagnostic region are used to generate a B-mode image, a blood flow image (CFI; Color Flow Image), and a TC image (tissue characteristic image, Tissue Charactivization) of the subject. ) Is desired to be displayed so that it can be easily diagnosed.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is shown in FIG.
With such a configuration, the B-mode image and the blood flow image are superimposed and displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. A brief description will be given below.

FIG. 7A shows a block diagram of a conventional device. In FIG. 7A, the transducer 21 is
It transmits an ultrasonic pulse or receives an ultrasonic wave returned by reflection.

The transmission circuit 22 supplies an ultrasonic pulse signal to the transducer 21. The beam generator 23 is for extracting a signal in a designated direction from the received signal.

The detector 24 detects the received signal (for example, logarithmic detection). DSC B25 is
It is a scan converter for generating a B-mode image. The CFI analysis unit 26 is for generating blood flow information.

DSC The CFI 27 is a scan converter for generating a blood flow image. The display control unit 28
The output from the scan converter (here, the B-mode image and the blood flow image) is combined and displayed on the display 31.

The display 31 displays a B-mode image and a blood flow image. The control unit 32 integrally controls the whole. Next, the operation will be briefly described.

(1) The transmission circuit 22 supplies a pulse signal to the transducer 21, transmits an ultrasonic pulse into the subject, and receives the reflected and returned signal. The beam generator 23 extracts a signal in the designated direction from the received signal.

(2) The detection unit 4 performs a logarithmic detection of the received signal on the DSC Input to B25, and enter B mode image (B d
ata) is generated. (3) The blood flow information generated by the CFI analysis unit 26 from the received signal is DSC. Input to CFI27, blood flow image (CFI
data) is generated.

(4) The display control unit 28 synthesizes the B-mode image and the blood flow image and displays them on the display 31. For example, as shown in (b) of FIG. 7, the blood flow image is displayed superimposed on the B mode image.

FIG. 7B shows a display example. This display example is a combination of the B-mode image and the blood flow image.

[0013]

As described above, conventionally, the B-mode image and the blood flow image are combined and displayed on the screen. In addition, recently, properties (characteristics) of tissues in a specimen, that is, TC parameters (such as ultrasonic attenuation coefficient in a specimen) are displayed, and the properties of tissues in a living body are observed and used for diagnosis.

As described above, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7B, the B-mode image and the blood flow image are combined and displayed, or the B-mode image is displayed.
The mode image and the TC image were combined and displayed. However, the three images have not been displayed in an easy-to-understand manner at the same time, and there is a problem that it is difficult to diagnose the relationship between the tissue property and other B-mode images or blood flow images.

The present invention solves these problems by
The purpose of the present invention is to make it easy to diagnose the B-mode image, the blood flow image, and the TC image and display them on the screen at the same time so that the diagnosis can be easily performed.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the detection unit 4 is for performing logarithmic detection or the like on the received signal to generate B-mode image information.

DSC B (scan converter B) 5
Is for generating a B-mode image. CFI analysis unit 6
Is for calculating blood flow information from the received signal.

DSC CFI (scan converter CF
I) 7 is for generating a blood flow image. TC analysis unit 9
Is for calculating the tissue property information of the tissue in the subject from the received signal.

DSC TC (scan converter TC)
10 is for generating a TC image. Display control unit 8
Is to synthesize the B-mode image, the blood flow image, and the TC image and display them on the display 11.

[0020]

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the detection section 4 generates B-mode image information by logarithmically detecting the received signal, and the DSC image information is generated from the B-mode image information. B5 generates a B-mode image signal, CFI analysis unit 6 calculates blood flow information from the received signal, and DSC is calculated from this blood flow information. The CFI 7 generates a blood flow image signal, the TC analysis unit calculates the attenuation coefficient of the tissue in the subject from the received signal, and the DSC is calculated from the attenuation coefficient. TC10
Generate a TC image, and these generated B-mode image signals,
Based on the blood flow image signal and the TC image signal, the display control unit 8 displays three on the screen at the same time, combines two, displays each in combination, or displays three in combination. .

At this time, the first image and the B-mode image are combined into the B-mode image in the remaining region by combining the blood-flow image in the region where the B-mode image is below the predetermined level (or the blood flow image is above the predetermined level). The second image obtained by combining the image and the TC image is displayed side by side on the screen.

Further, the blood flow image is combined in a region where the B-mode image is below a predetermined level (or the blood flow image is above a predetermined level), and the B-mode image and the TC image are combined in the other region and the result is displayed on the screen. I am trying to display it.

In addition, for B-mode images, blood flow images, and T
A scan converter is provided for each C image, and each of them is displayed on the display 11 based on the output signals (B mode image signal, blood flow image signal, TC image signal) from this scan converter.

The B-mode image, the blood flow image, and the TC image are converted into RGB signals based on a look-up table in which different color tone values are set, and then displayed on the display 11. ing.

Therefore, the B-mode image, the blood flow image, and the TC
It is possible to observe three images at the same time by making it easy to diagnose the three persons in the image and combining them on the screen and displaying them simultaneously.
The diagnosis can be made more accurately.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the construction and operation of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. Figure 1
In the above, the transducer 1 is an array-type transducer, which transmits an ultrasonic pulse to the subject and receives the reflected and returned ultrasonic wave.

The transmitting circuit 2 supplies an ultrasonic pulse signal to the transducer 1 to transmit an ultrasonic pulse. The beam generating unit 3 extracts a signal in a designated direction from the reception signal received by the transducer 1.

The detector 4 is a unit for logarithmically detecting the received signal to generate a B-mode signal. The DSC B5 is a digital scan converter, which converts the B mode signal to B
A mode image is generated.

The CFI analysis unit 6 calculates blood flow information from the received signal. DSC The CFI 7 is a digital scan converter that generates a blood flow image from blood flow information.

The TC analysis unit 9 calculates the tissue property information of the tissue in the subject from the received signal. The tissue property information includes the attenuation coefficient of tissue in the subject, scattering intensity, sound velocity intensity, and the like.

DSC The TC 10 is a digital scan converter and generates a TC image (tissue texture image) from the tissue texture information. The display controller 8 combines the B-mode image signal, the blood flow image signal and the TC image signal and displays them on the display 11. As a synthesizing method, an image obtained by synthesizing three images, an image obtained by synthesizing two images, and the like are displayed (described later with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6).

The display 11 displays an image or the like. The control unit 12 controls the entire system. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. This shows a detailed configuration diagram of the display control unit 8 in FIG.

In FIG. 2, BAR-SELs 8-1A to 8-1C are selectors for switching the color bar data or gray scale data and the input image B mode image, blood flow image, TC image. Is.
Color bar data or gray scale data is output in a section where the color bar / gray scale signal of FIG. B mode image, blood flow image,
Either signal of the TC image is output.

LUT-Bs 8-2A to 8-2C are look-up tables, which are preliminarily set by inputting signals of B-mode images, blood flow images, or TC images (or color bar data, gray scale data). The RGB value corresponding to the calculated value is output. By setting a value in this LUT, it is possible to display a B-mode image, a blood flow image, a TC image, etc. of a color and density that the user likes. Usually, it is composed of a ROM, and is loaded with a value set by the user.

SEL-Bs 8-3A to 8-3C are selectors for switching arbitrary ones when displaying various images on one screen. When the image of (f) of FIG. 3 described later is displayed, for example, in the section where the CFI display permission signal of (e) is L, only SEL-CFI8-3B is turned on to output a blood flow image, and another SEL is displayed. -B8-3
A, SEL-TC8-3C is turned off and nothing is output. As a result, only the blood flow image is displayed in this section (described later with reference to FIG. 3).

The comparator 8-4 compares the threshold value (threshold level) with the sizes of the B-mode image and the blood flow image. For example, the comparator 8-4 compares the amplitude of the B-mode image shown in FIG. 3D with the threshold level, and if they are larger, the SEL-CFI 8-3.
Turn on B to display only the blood flow image.

The selection signal generator 8-5 is provided with a comparator 8
-4 corresponding SEL-B8- based on the comparison signal from
3A to SEL-TC8-3C corresponding one is turned on (one, two or three is turned on.
Is to be).

ADDER8-6 is an adder, and is S
The outputs of EL-B8-3A to SEL-TC8-3C are added (added for each RGB). DAC8-7
Is a DA converter that converts a digital signal into an analog signal and displays an image on the display 11.

Next, the operation of the configuration of FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described in detail with reference to the signal timing of FIG. Here, each symbol represents the following. / HD in (a) is a horizontal synchronization signal for displaying on the screen of the display 11.

The image display permission signal (b) is a signal for designating the range in which the B mode image, the blood flow image and the TC image are displayed on the screen of the display 11. In the section of L, the image is displayed on the screen as shown in (f).

The color bar / gray scale signal (c) is a signal for designating a range for displaying the color bar data or the gray scale data on the screen. L
In the section of, the color bar data or gray scale data is displayed on the screen as shown in (f).

The B-mode image of (d) is a B-mode image displayed on the screen. Here, when the B-mode image exceeds a predetermined threshold level, the CFI of (e) is displayed.
The display permission signal is set to L.

The CFI display permission signal of (e) is a signal for displaying a CFI image (blood flow image) on the screen as shown in (f) in the section of L. The image of (f) is an image of one scanning line segment displayed on the screen.

The image (f) is a display example of the single mode shown in FIG. In the figure, the following images are displayed in order from the left side. In the color bar / gray scale area, the color bar or gray scale is displayed in the section L of (c).

The background color is displayed in the background color area. In the B + TC area, an image in which (b) is L and (e) is not L and a composite of the B-mode image and the TC image is displayed.

A CFI image (blood flow image) is displayed in the CFI area when (e) is in the section L. Next, the operation of the configurations of FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described in detail.

(1) The transmission circuit 2 supplies the ultrasonic pulse signal to the transducer 1, transmits the ultrasonic pulse to the tissue in the subject, and receives the reflected and returned signal. (2) The detection unit 4 logarithmically detects the received signal to generate B mode information, and the signal processing unit 41 and DSC B5 by B
Generate a mode image signal.

(3) Based on the received signal, the CFI analysis unit 6
Calculate blood flow velocity information in DSC Blood by CFI7
A flow image signal (CFI image signal) is generated. (4) The TC analysis unit 9 determines the attenuation factor of the tissue based on the received signal.
Calculate the information indicating the organizational properties such as the number and TC1
When 0, a TC image signal (tissue property image signal) is generated.

(5) According to the signal timing of FIG. 3, the display controller 8 displays the image shown in (f) on the display 11 with the configuration of FIG. 2 in the single mode to display the image of (a) in FIG. To get Here, since there is a high possibility that a blood flow image exists when the image display permission signal of (b) is L and the amplitude of the B mode image of (d) is below the threshold level, this ( e) CFI of L section
CFI image (blood flow image) is displayed in the area, and the other B + T
An image in which the B-mode image and the TC image are combined is displayed in the C area. In addition, in the section where the color bar / gray scale signal is L, the color bar or gray scale is shown in FIG.
Display at both ends as shown in. As a result,
An image as shown in (a) is displayed on the screen.

As described above, the ultrasonic pulse is transmitted to the tissue in the subject, and the B-mode image,
A blood flow image and a TC image are respectively generated, these three images are combined and displayed on one screen, and a reference color bar and gray scale are displayed at both ends. As a result, on the screen where the B-mode image and the TC image are combined and displayed,
Since there is a high possibility that a blood flow image exists in the dark part of the B mode image, the blood flow image is displayed in that part, and the medically meaningful B mode image and TC image (representing the tissue characteristics) are displayed. It has become possible to comprehensively judge the appearance of lesions inside living tissue on a single screen by displaying a blood flow image while synthesizing (images).

FIG. 4 shows a display example of the present invention. this is,
This is an example of combining and displaying three B-mode images, TC images, and blood flow images. FIG. 4A shows a display example in the single mode. In this single mode, B mode image, TC image,
This is a mode in which three blood flow images are combined into one image and displayed, and is displayed in accordance with the signal timing of FIG. 3 described above.

The B mode image + TC image portion is a portion where the B mode image and the TC image are combined and displayed. The B-mode image is displayed in a color tone (usually black and white) corresponding to the B-mode gray scale. The TC image is displayed in a color tone corresponding to the TC color bar.

The part of the blood flow image is a dark part where the amplitude of the B-mode image is below the threshold level, and the blood flow is displayed in a part where there is a high possibility that blood flow exists. The CFI image (blood flow image) is displayed in a color tone corresponding to the CFI color bar, and is normally displayed in red when the blood flow is approaching and in blue when the blood flow is approaching.

As described above, the B-mode image, the TC image and the blood flow image are combined on one screen in a medically meaningful manner and displayed as shown in FIG. 4 (a). Thus, it becomes easy to comprehensively and totally diagnose the lesion of the tissue in the living body.

FIG. 4B shows a display example in the dual mode. In this dual mode, a B-mode image and a blood flow image (CFI image) are displayed as one image, and a B-mode image and a TC image are displayed as one image in parallel on the screen.

The B + CFI image on the left side is a single image by combining the B mode image and the blood flow image. Since there is a high possibility that blood flow exists in a portion where the amplitude of the B-mode image is below the threshold level, the blood flow image is displayed in that portion.

The B + TC image on the right side is a single image by combining the B mode image and the TC image. As described above, B-mode image and blood flow image, B-mode image and TC
By combining the images medically into one image and displaying them in parallel as shown in FIG. 4 (b), it is easy to comprehensively and comprehensively diagnose the lesions in the tissues in the living body. Become.

FIG. 5 shows another signal timing explanatory diagram (single mode) of the present invention. This is a modification of the B-mode image signal of (d) in the signal timing explanatory diagram of FIG. 3 to the blood flow image signal of (d) ′ of FIG. 5, and the level of the blood flow image signal is the threshold. The blood flow image is displayed exclusively in the B-mode image when the level is higher than the level. Accordingly, when the B-mode image and the blood flow image are combined into one image, when the amplitude of the blood flow image exceeds the threshold level, the blood flow image is exclusively displayed. Since the other points are the same as those in FIG. 3,
The description is omitted.

When the level of the blood flow image signal of (d) 'exceeds the threshold level, the CFI display permission signal of (e) is set to L, and the blood flow image is displayed in the CFI area. This makes it possible to display the image shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 6 shows another signal timing explanatory diagram (dual mode) of the present invention. This is because the B-mode image signal of (d) in the signal timing explanatory diagram of FIG. 3 is changed to the blood flow image signal of (d) ′ of FIG.
This is a case where the FI image (blood flow image) is combined and displayed on the left side, and the B mode image and the TC image are combined and displayed on the right side (see (b) of FIG. 4).

In FIG. 6, as shown in the image (f), the B-mode image and the blood flow image are combined and displayed on the left half, and the B-mode image and the TC image are combined and displayed on the right half. To do. In the left half, the blood flow image is displayed when the level of the blood flow image (d) 'in the B mode image exceeds the threshold level.

On the right half, the B mode image and the TC image are combined and displayed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, B + CFI is displayed on the left half and B + TC is displayed on the right half on the screen. In addition, CF on each side is used as a reference for each density and color.
The I color bar, B-mode gray scale, and TC color bar are displayed as shown.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The B-mode image, the blood flow image, and the TC image are medically displayed because they are combined and displayed on the screen at the same time so that they can be easily diagnosed. Meaningful composition can be performed and displayed as one image, two images, and even three images. As a result, it has become possible to accurately diagnose the lesion of the in vivo tissue.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a signal timing explanatory diagram (single mode) of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a display example of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is another signal timing explanatory diagram (single mode) of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is another signal timing explanatory diagram (dual mode) of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Transducer 2: Transmission circuit 3: Beam generation unit 4: Detection unit 5, 7, 10: DSC (scan converter) 6: CFI analysis unit 8: Display control unit 9: TC analysis unit 11: Display 12: Control unit 8 -1A to 8-1C, 8-3A to 8-3C: SEL
(Selector) 8-2A to 8-2C: LUT (look-up table) 8-4: Comparator 8-5: Selection signal generator 8-6: ADDER (adder) 8-7: DAC (DA converter)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits an ultrasonic pulse to a subject, receives the signal reflected and returned, and generates and displays a plurality of images. The received signal is detected and generated. B mode image, T generated by calculating the property information of the tissue in the subject from the received signal
C image (tissue property image) and three blood flow images generated by calculating blood flow information from the received signal are simultaneously displayed on the screen, respectively, two are combined and displayed, or three are combined. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is characterized in that it is configured to be displayed. 2. A first image in which the blood flow image is synthesized in a region where the B-mode image is below a predetermined level (or a blood flow image is above a predetermined value) to form a B-mode image in the remaining region, and a B-mode image. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second image obtained by combining the image and the TC image is displayed side by side on the screen. 3. A blood flow image is combined in a region where the B-mode image is below a predetermined level (or a blood flow image is above a predetermined value), and a B-mode image and a TC image are combined in a region other than that, and on the screen The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is configured to be displayed. 4. The B-mode image, the blood flow image, and the TC.
It is characterized in that a scan converter is provided for each image, and each is displayed on a display based on an output signal (B-mode image signal, blood flow image signal, TC image signal) from this scan converter. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The B-mode image, the blood flow image, and the TC image are converted into RGB signals based on a look-up table in which different color tone values are set, and then displayed on a display. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is configured.