JPH07155328A - Three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly and precisely judge whether or not obtained three- dimensional echo data is suitable for ultrasonic diagnosis without being affected by body action, etc., by designating a longitudinal section position before echo data is fetched by three-dimensional scanning, and forming plural longitudinal section images at a designated longitudinal section position after the three- dimensional scanning. CONSTITUTION:A tomographic image stored in an image data memory device is displayed as a tomographic image 21 on a monitor via an arithmetic processor, and also, a marker 22 is displayed on a sound ray in a direction of (y). Then, the ROI (interested area) 23 of lesional behavior, etc., is set so as to be located at a position on the marker 22 by rotating an image by a track ball. Such operation is performed before the data is fetched by the three- dimensional scanning. Plural continuous tomographic images 21 are fetched in the image data memory device by the three-dimensional scanning, and the longitudinal section images 24 are displayed by arranging sequentially by interpolating sound ray data on the marker 22 on those tomographic images 21. In this way, it is possible to display the longitudinal section image immediately after the three-dimensional scanning at high speed with an easy operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus among ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, and displays an ultrasonic tomographic image in a living body using echo data obtained by three-dimensional scanning. The patient is then ultrasonically diagnosed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to perform ultrasonic diagnosis by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a living body to perform three-dimensional scanning and displaying an ultrasonic tomographic image in the living body using echo data of the obtained three-dimensional region. Various devices have been proposed so far. For example, there is a three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (Japanese Patent Application No. 5-194873) that captures three-dimensional echo data by capturing a plurality of two-dimensional images.

[0003]

However, among the above-mentioned conventional examples, Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 5-194873 takes a long time to collect data, so that it is easily affected by body movement and the like, and a good image for diagnosis is obtained. It is necessary to judge whether or not it has been done. In particular, in a vertical cross-sectional image perpendicular to a continuous two-dimensional image, since the data over the continuous two-dimensional image is included, body movement or the like has a great influence on the image quality. Furthermore, if a method of obtaining a longitudinal image (a cross-sectional image perpendicular to the two-dimensional image plane) by specifying the longitudinal position after taking in the existing three-dimensional data is used, the operation is complicated and time-consuming, and the examination time is prolonged and the patient is prolonged. There is a problem that puts a lot of strain on people. As a method for solving this problem, there has been proposed a method of simultaneously displaying a transverse image and a longitudinal image on a display device by a simple operation (JP-A-5-15538). However, even if this method is used, the region of interest for diagnosis may deviate from the longitudinal image due to the patient's body movement, etc., and it may not be possible to determine whether a good image for diagnosis has been obtained. There is a problem called.

The present invention is proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is determined whether the three-dimensional echo data obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body and performing three-dimensional scanning is suitable for ultrasonic diagnosis. It is an object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can quickly determine whether or not the body movement is affected.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention performs three-dimensional scanning by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a living body, and uses the echo data of the obtained three-dimensional region to perform the raw data In a three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying an ultrasonic tomographic image of the inside of the body, display means for displaying the ultrasonic tomographic image and individual longitudinal images obtained from this ultrasonic tomographic image, and the display means Positioning means for marking the ultrasonic tomographic image to specify the longitudinal section position and longitudinal image forming means for forming a longitudinal image according to the longitudinal section position specified by the position specifying means are provided, and three-dimensional scanning is performed. The vertical cross-section position was specified before the echo data acquisition by, and a plurality of vertical cross-sectional images were formed and displayed at the specified vertical cross-section position after the three-dimensional scanning and / or the specified vertical cross-section position in the vicinity thereof. The dimension ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0006]

With the above-described structure, after marking on the ultrasonic tomographic image and designating the longitudinal section position, a continuous tomographic image is obtained by three-dimensional scanning and designated immediately after the three-dimensional scanning. Since it is possible to form multiple longitudinal images at the longitudinal cross-section position and its vicinity, whether the obtained three-dimensional echo data is suitable for ultrasonic diagnosis can be determined quickly and appropriately without being affected by the patient's body movement. It becomes possible to judge.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the apparatus,
2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a region of interest (hereinafter abbreviated as ROI) of a tomographic image is aligned on a marker, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a plurality of continuous tomographic images and a longitudinal image of a marker position, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a modification of the vertical section, and FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the ultrasonic probe.

As shown in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic wave observation section 1 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and displaying a real-time echo image (ultrasonic tomographic image), and the ultrasonic wave observation section 1. An image processing unit 2 that performs image processing for displaying a three-dimensional image based on the echo data obtained in step 3 is provided. Further, the ultrasonic observation unit 1 is connected to an ultrasonic probe 3 having an ultrasonic transducer (transducer) that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, and a drive unit 4 that drives the ultrasonic probe 3.

The ultrasonic observation section 1 includes a transmission / reception section 5 for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from the drive section 4, and a frame memory 6 for storing echo data taken in by the transmission / reception section 5.
And a digital scan converter (DSC) 7 for converting the sound ray (echo) data for each scan stored in the frame memory 6 into image data of a desired television system.
And a D / A converter 8 for converting the digital image signal output from the DSC 7 into an analog signal, and the D / A
A monitor 9 for inputting an output image signal of the converter 8 to display an echo image in real time and a system controller 10 for controlling the drive unit 4, the transmission / reception unit 5, and the frame memory 6 are provided.

When performing ultrasonic observation, the ultrasonic probe 3 is inserted into the body cavity and the system controller 1
Based on the control of 0, the transmitting / receiving unit 5 and the driving unit 4 drive the ultrasonic probe 3 in the linear radial direction to transmit / receive ultrasonic waves in the living body so that echo data of a three-dimensional region in the body cavity can be captured. It has become. The echo data thus obtained is stored in the frame memory 6, and is displayed as a real-time echo image (ultrasound observation image) on the monitor 9 via the DSC 7 and the D / A converter 8. At the same time, it is sent from the front stage of the DSC 7 to the image processing unit 2 in the form of sound ray data for a plurality of continuous two-dimensional image (body cavity tomographic image) data as a digital signal. At this time, incidental data such as the image size of the two-dimensional image data and the distance between the images are also sent to the image processing unit 2 at the same time.

Next, the image processing unit 2 stores a CPU 11 for controlling image processing and the like, a main memory 12 for storing data of each image processing result, image data from the ultrasonic observation unit 1, and the like. An image data storage device 13 used as a three-dimensional data storage means for storing, and various types of DSC processing for changing sound ray data into desired television data, surface extraction processing, shading processing, surface synthesis processing, projection conversion processing, and the like. Arithmetic processor 14 for performing arithmetic processing at high speed
An external storage device 15 for storing information such as a processing program and backup data, an operating terminal 16 such as a keyboard, and a trackball 17 used as a cross-sectional position designating means for inputting instructions such as setting an image display area. Frame buffer 18 for temporarily storing data after image processing
And a D / A converter 19 for converting the digital image signal output from the frame buffer 18 into an analog signal,
A monitor 20 is provided for inputting an output image signal of the D / A converter 19 and displaying a three-dimensional image after image processing. Further, each unit of the image processing unit 2 is connected via a data transfer bus so that image data and the like can be delivered.

Then, the image data and the incidental data sent to the image processing unit 2 are written in the image data storage device 13 in the order of being fetched as a plurality of continuous two-dimensional images. Based on the image data and the incidental data stored in the image data storage device 13, the arithmetic processing processor 14 performs image arithmetic processing such as DSC processing, surface extraction processing, shading processing, surface synthesis processing, and projection conversion processing. . Further, the image data of the calculation result is sent to the frame buffer 18 and temporarily stored therein, and sent to the monitor 20 via the D / A converter 19 to display a three-dimensional ultrasonic observation image based on the echo data.

The vertical section position designation and vertical image display will be described in more detail below. As shown in FIG. 2A, the tomographic image stored in the image data storage device 13 is displayed on the monitor via the arithmetic processing processor 14. Display (tomographic image 21)
In addition, the marker 22 is displayed on the sound ray in the y direction. Further, the ROI (region of interest) 23 such as a lesion is positioned on the marker 22 by rotating the image with the trackball 17 (FIG. 2B). These operations are performed before data acquisition by three-dimensional scanning. Since the data of the tomographic image 21 is processed in the form of sound ray data, the image rotation operation can be easily performed only by changing the sound ray reading position during DSC processing.

Next, a method of displaying a vertical cross-sectional image by a plurality of tomographic images captured by three-dimensional scanning after marking the tomographic image and designating the longitudinal section position as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of continuous tomographic images 21 are obtained by the three-dimensional scanning and the image data storage device 13
The sound ray data on the marker 22 on the tomographic image 21 is interpolated and sequentially arranged to display the longitudinal image 24.

As described above, the vertical image 24 can be displayed at high speed immediately after the three-dimensional scanning by a simple operation. If the ROI 23 is not displayed on the longitudinal image 24 due to a body motion or the like, as shown in FIG. 4A, the sound lines a, b, c on the same line as the marker 22 and at ± θ ° (θ is a preset angle). By sequentially displaying the longitudinal image (FIG. 4B) corresponding to the position of the ROI2 on the longitudinal image display position of the monitor, the ROI2
A vertical image including 3 can be displayed. The arrow in FIG. 4B indicates the time change of the display image. In this case, the sound ray a, corresponding to the longitudinal image to be displayed (FIG. 4B),
The position of the marker 22 is changed and displayed at the positions of b and c. The displayed time interval is trackball 1
It can be adjusted with 7 mag.

As described above, in the first embodiment, a plurality of longitudinal images are sequentially displayed on the same portion of the monitor immediately after the three-dimensional scanning, so that the three-dimensional data is appropriate quickly and easily. You can judge whether or not. Further, as compared with the case where the image is divided and displayed on the monitor, there is an effect that the image can be displayed larger and the operator can easily observe the image.
By the way, if the ROI is not located on the longitudinal image, the first
In the embodiment, the marker is fixed and the tomographic image is rotated, but the marker may be rotated to fix the image. Further, although three longitudinal images are sequentially displayed, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that any number of longitudinal images may be displayed as necessary.

When obtaining echo data in the body cavity,
The ultrasonic probe 3 (FIG. 1) is driven to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to and from the living body, but the ultrasonic probe 3 used here is limited to the one in which the ultrasonic transducer is provided only on one side in the rotational direction. However, as shown in FIG. 5, two ultrasonic transducers 25a and 25b are joined to each other via the back sides of the acoustic radiation surfaces, and are configured to rotate in the arrow direction as the flexible shaft 26 rotates. You may use the thing. Then, by delaying the signal from one ultrasonic transducer by the counter-rotation period and adding it with the signal from the other ultrasonic transducer and averaging, the S / N ratio of the obtained image is increased. You will be able to improve.

Further, when constructing a three-dimensional image, if the pixel values corresponding to each of a plurality of adjacent tomographic images that have been taken in are added and operated so as to be averaged, a three-dimensional image obtained is obtained. The S / N ratio can be improved.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the marker 22 is on the same line and ± θ ° (θ
Indicates a vertical cross-section image including the ROI 23 by sequentially displaying the vertical cross-section images (FIG. 4B) corresponding to the positions of the sound rays a, b, and c of the preset angle) at the vertical cross-section image display position of the monitor. However, in the second embodiment, a plurality of vertical images are simultaneously displayed on different parts of the monitor.
Other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment. As described above, in this embodiment, a plurality of vertical images are simultaneously displayed on different parts of the monitor. Therefore, as compared with the case of sequentially displaying on the same part of the monitor as in the first embodiment,
It has an effect of excellent image listing.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the required vertical section position is specified before the data is captured by the three-dimensional scanning, the desired vertical section and the specified vertical section position are immediately obtained after the three-dimensional scanning. Since it is possible to display a plurality of longitudinal images at nearby cross-sectional positions, there is no fear that the region of interest will not be displayed due to body movement of the patient. In addition, the quality of the three-dimensional data can be quickly judged by a simple operation, and the examination time can be shortened, so that the burden on the patient can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a price device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a region of interest of a tomographic image is also aligned on a marker.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a plurality of continuous tomographic images and a longitudinal image at a marker position.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the vertical section.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic probe of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ultrasonic Observation Unit 2 Image Processing Unit 3 Ultrasonic Probe 4 Driving Unit 5 Transmitting / Receiving Unit 6 Frame Memory 7 DSC 8 D / A Converter 9 Monitor 10 System Controller 11 CPU 12 Main Storage Device 13 Image Data Storage Device 14 Arithmetic Processor 15 External storage device 16 Operating terminal 17 Trackball 18 Frame buffer 19 D / A converter 20 Monitor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a living body to perform three-dimensional scanning and displaying an ultrasonic tomographic image in the living body using echo data of the obtained three-dimensional region. In, a display means for displaying the ultrasonic tomographic image and individual longitudinal cross-sectional images obtained from the ultrasonic tomographic image, and marking the ultrasonic tomographic image displayed by the display means to specify a longitudinal cross-sectional position Positioning means and longitudinal image forming means for forming a longitudinal image according to the longitudinal section position designated by the position designating means are provided, and the longitudinal section position is designated before capturing echo data by three-dimensional scanning, A three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized in that a plurality of longitudinal images are formed and displayed at a specified longitudinal section position after original scanning and / or a specified longitudinal section position in the vicinity thereof.