JPH07178091A - Ultrasonic angiography and ultrasonic bloodstream diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To diagnose lesion part such as a liver where a plurality of blood vessels are running complicatedly by displaying image of an interested blood vessel in such a way as capable of distinguishing from other blood vessels. CONSTITUTION:An ultrasonic probe is moved in the direction approx. perpendicular to the surface to be scanned, and B-mode data or CFM data of the Nth frame is acquired bit by bit from the first frame at certain position intervals, and a B-mode image or CFM image is displayed on the basis of th data acquired. On the image displayed, the user specifies the interested blood vessel and its display mode. Then, a vessel search/display mode change part 6 searches the region corresponding to the specified interested vessel with the Nth frame from the first and changes the display mode in the sought region into the mode as specified by the user. The result is displayed on a CRT 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic angiography apparatus and an ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus.
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic angiography and an ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying an image of a blood vessel of interest in a display mode that can be distinguished from other blood vessels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 21, three blood vessels p,
Assume a site where q and r are close to each other (for example, an artery, a vein, and a liver where a portal vein is close to each other). This part is shown in Figure 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic probe is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scan plane while the first frame F is moved at predetermined positions.
The scan is sequentially performed from 1 to the fifth frame F5. If B mode data is acquired by this scan, each frame F1
The B-mode images of F5 to F5 are like B1 to B5 shown in FIG. p1 to p5 are blood vessels p, q1 to q5 are blood vessels q, and r1 to r5 are blood vessels r. If the B-mode images B1 to B5 are subjected to a projection process that gives priority to the B-mode data of the blood vessel region, a B-mode projection image PB as shown in FIG. 24 is obtained. On the other hand, CF in the scan
If M data is acquired, CFM of each frame F1 to F5
The image becomes like E1 to E5 shown in FIG. p1
p5 is the blood flow of the blood vessel p, q1 to q5 are the blood flow of the blood vessel q, and r1 to r5 are the blood flow of the blood vessel r. Blood vessels p, q
The blood flows of are blood flows in the same direction and have the same display color.
The blood flow of the blood vessel r is the blood flow in different directions, and the blood vessels p, q
The display color is different from that of blood flow. Further, if there is a place where the blood flow direction and the ultrasonic beam are orthogonal to each other, or if the blood flow is stopped due to the pulsation of the blood flow, the scan is r
It may become colorless like 2 and r4. CF
Projection processing that prioritizes M data is performed on the CFM images E1 to E1.
If applied to E5, the CFM projection image PE as shown in FIG.
Is obtained.

[0003]

The B-mode images B1 to B5 shown in FIG. 23 and the B-mode projection image PB shown in FIG.
Since the three blood vessels p, q, and r have the same display mode, there is a problem that the three blood vessels cannot be clearly distinguished. On the other hand, C in FIG.
The FM images E1 to E5 and the CFM projection image PE of FIG.
Then, there is a problem that the blood vessels p and q having the same blood flow direction cannot be clearly distinguished. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic angiography and an ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying an image of a blood vessel of interest in a display mode in which it can be distinguished from other blood vessels.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a desired blood vessel region is designated on an ultrasonic image in which a plurality of blood vessels are displayed, and the display mode of the desired blood vessel region is changed to another mode. Provided is an ultrasonic angiography, which is characterized in that an image is displayed by changing to a display mode that can be distinguished from a blood vessel region.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the ultrasonic probe is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scan plane, or the scan plane is electronically moved while the ultrasonic probe is moved at a predetermined position.
A data acquisition step of sequentially acquiring B-mode data or CFM data of the Nth {N ≧ 2} frame from the frame, and displaying the B-mode image or CFM image or projection image based on the acquired B-mode data or CFM data The above-mentioned operator specifies a partial area in the interested blood vessel, and the inter-frame interested blood vessel searching step in which the blood vessel area connected to the specified partial area is searched in the first frame to the Nth frame. And an image display step of displaying an image by changing the display mode of the blood vessel region obtained by the search to a display mode that can be distinguished from other blood vessel regions.

According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a blood vessel designating means of interest for designating a desired blood vessel region on an ultrasonic image in which a plurality of blood vessels are displayed, and a display mode of the desired blood vessel region in another blood vessel. An ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus is provided, which is provided with image display means for displaying an image by changing to a display mode that can be distinguished from a region.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides an ultrasonic probe and a first ultrasonic probe for every predetermined position while moving the ultrasonic probe in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scan plane or electronically moving the scan plane. Data acquisition means for sequentially acquiring B mode data or CFM data of the Nth {N ≧ 2} frame from the frame, and a B mode image or CFM image or projection image based on the acquired B mode data or CFM data is displayed and the image is displayed. An operator has a vessel of interest designating means for designating a partial area in a vessel of interest, and an inter-frame vessel of interest searching means for searching a vessel area connected to the designated partial area in the first frame to the Nth frame. ,
There is provided an ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus, comprising: an image display unit that changes a display mode of a blood vessel region obtained by a search to a display mode that can be distinguished from other blood vessel regions and displays an image.

According to a fifth aspect, the present invention provides an ultrasonic probe and a first ultrasonic probe for every predetermined position while moving the ultrasonic probe in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scan plane or electronically moving the scan plane. Data acquisition means for sequentially acquiring B-mode data or CFM data of the Nth {N ≧ 2} frame from a frame, and one of a blood vessel that pulsates or a blood vessel that does not pulsate based on the acquired B-mode data or CFM data, or both of them. A blood vessel extraction unit for extracting a partial region, a blood vessel region inter-frame searching unit for searching a blood vessel region connected to the extracted partial region in the first frame to the Nth frame, and a display mode of the blood vessel region obtained by the search. And an image display means for displaying an image by changing the display mode to a display mode that can be distinguished from other blood vessel regions. To provide.

[0009]

In the ultrasonic angiography according to the first aspect and the ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus according to the third aspect,
When the operator designates a desired blood vessel region from a plurality of blood vessels displayed on the ultrasonic image, the display mode of the designated blood vessel region is changed to a display mode that can be distinguished from other blood vessel regions and image display is performed. To do. As a result, only the blood vessel of interest designated by the operator can be easily distinguished from other blood vessels on the image.

In the ultrasonic angiography according to the second aspect and the ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the ultrasonic probe is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scan plane or the scan plane is electronically changed. While moving, the B-mode data or CFM data of the first frame to the N-th frame is sequentially acquired for each predetermined position, and the B-mode image or CFM image or projection image is displayed based on the acquired B-mode data or CFM data. Next, the operator designates a partial region of the blood vessel of interest on the displayed image.
Then, the blood vessel region connected to the specified partial region is first
The display mode of the obtained blood vessel region is changed to a display mode that can be discriminated from other blood vessel regions, and an image is displayed. As a result, only the blood vessel of interest designated by the operator can be easily distinguished from other blood vessels on the image.

In the ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the ultrasonic probe is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scan plane, or the scan plane is moved electronically from the first frame for each predetermined position. The B-mode data or CFM data of the Nth frame is sequentially acquired, and based on the acquired B-mode data or CFM data, a pulsating blood vessel, a non-pulsating blood vessel, or a partial area of both of them is extracted. Next, the blood vessel region connected to the extracted partial region is searched for in all the frames from the first to the Nth, and the display mode of the obtained blood vessel region is changed to a display mode that can be distinguished from other blood vessel regions. Display an image. As a result, pulsating blood vessels and non-pulsating blood vessels can be easily identified on the image.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. The ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus 100 includes an ultrasonic probe 1, a beam former 2, a B-mode processing unit 3, and a color flow processing unit 4.
A projection processing unit 5, a blood vessel search and display mode change processing unit 6, a designation operation unit 7, a DSC 8, and a CRT 9 are provided.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus 100. In Step V1, the ultrasonic probe 1 is manually or mechanically moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scan plane, or the scan plane is electronically moved by a two-dimensional array, and as shown in FIG. Each time, the beam former 2 continuously scans from the first frame F1 to the fifth frame F5 (when N = 5). In FIG. 3, p, q, and r are blood vessels. Then, the B-mode processing unit 3 acquires the B-mode data, and the B-mode data is acquired by the projection processing unit 5 and the DSC.
Send to 8. It is preferable to increase the S / N ratio by preprocessing such as smoothing processing and frame averaging processing. DSC8 generates B-mode image, CRT
9 displays a B-mode image. The B-mode images of the frames F1 to F5 are as shown in B1 to B5 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 4, p1 to p5 are blood vessels p, and q1 to q5
Is a blood vessel q, and r1 to r5 are blood vessels r.

In step V2, the operator designates the designated operation unit 7
Use to specify the viewing direction. In step V3, the projection processing unit 5 performs projection processing on the B-mode data that gives priority to the B-mode data of the blood vessel region, and generates projection data projected along the observation direction. Then, the projection data is sent to the DSC 8. DSC8 produces a projection image,
The CRT 9 displays the projected image. The projection image when the observation direction is substantially perpendicular to the scan plane is P shown in FIG.
It becomes like B. In addition, in FIG. 5, p, q, and r are blood vessels.

At step V4, B-mode images B1 to B
5 or the operator identifies the blood vessel of interest on the projection image PB,
The designation operation unit 7 is used to designate a point that is easy to understand in the blood vessel of interest as a starting point. For example, as shown in FIG.
The starting point Q is designated in the blood vessel of interest on the projection image PB. In addition, a display mode is specified so that the interested blood vessel can be distinguished from other blood vessels. For example, if the blood vessel of interest is the arterial system, the display color is designated to be "red". If the default display mode is determined, the display mode can be omitted.

In step V5, the blood vessel search and display mode change processing unit 6 searches for a blood vessel region connected to the designated start point in the first frame F1 to the fifth frame F5,
The display mode of the blood vessel region obtained by the search is changed to the designated display mode. 7 and 8 are flowcharts of operations related to the blood vessel search and display mode change processing unit 6. In step S1, the operator designates the number of round trips M using the designation operation unit 7. M is an arbitrary natural number. In step S2, whether or not the start point Q1 is in the blood vessel region is sequentially examined from the B-mode image of the frame in the observation direction front side, and the number k of the frame in which the start point Q1 is in the blood vessel region is obtained. For example, the starting point Q in FIG. 6 is the B-mode image B1 of the foremost first frame F1 as shown in FIG. 9 when the observation direction is a direction substantially perpendicular to the scan plane.
Since k is in the blood vessel region q1, k = 1 is obtained. In step S3, a round-trip counter m = 0 is initialized.

At step S4, as shown in FIG.
In the k-th frame, the inside of the blood vessel region including the start point Q is filled with the mark value. The mark value is a special value that does not exist as B mode data. For this filling, a known closed area filling algorithm can be used. It should be noted that the area that has already become the mark value is skipped without overlapping and filling.

In step S5, it is checked whether k = N. If not k = N, proceed to step S6, where k = N
Then, the process proceeds to step S10. In step S6, k = k
Set to +1. In step S7, the k-th frame is scanned within the range of coordinates in the blood vessel region of interest of the (k-1) th frame that was filled in immediately before, and a point (this is referred to as a connection point) in the blood vessel region is searched for. This means that the connectivity of blood vessels is searched between frames, provided that areas of the same blood vessel overlap in adjacent frames and areas of different blood vessels do not overlap in adjacent frames. The above conditions can be satisfied depending on the thickness of the frame (slice), the frame interval, and the part to be scanned. It should be noted that the area that has already become the mark value is regarded as a blood vessel area. At step S8, as shown in FIG.
If 2 is found, the process proceeds to step S9. If no connecting point is found, the process proceeds to step S10. In step S9,
The connection point is set as the starting point, and the process returns to step S4. As a result, the connectivity of the blood vessels of interest is checked in ascending order, and the blood vessel region of interest is filled with the mark value. The ascending paging is performed until the filling of the Nth frame is completed or the connection point is not detected in the middle. FIG. 12 shows the second frame F2 after painting.
The B-mode image B2 of FIG.

In step S10, it is checked whether k = 1. If not k = 1, proceed to step 11 and k =
If 1, go to step S16. In step S11, k
= K-1. In step S12, the k-th frame is scanned in the range of the coordinates in the blood vessel region of interest of the (k + 1) th frame that was filled in immediately before, and a connection point in the blood vessel region is searched for. If the connection point is found in step S13, the process proceeds to step S14. If no connection point is found, step S
Proceed to 16. In step S14, the connection point is used as the starting point. In step S15, the blood vessel region of interest in the kth frame is filled with the mark value. Then, the step S10
Return to. As a result, the connectivity of the blood vessels of interest is checked in descending order, and the blood vessel region of interest is filled with the mark value. The descending-order paging is performed until the filling of the first frame is completed or the connection point is not detected in the middle.

In step S16, the round-trip counter m
= M + 1. In step S17, it is checked whether m = M. If the round-trip counter m has not reached the round-trip number M, steps S5 to S16 are repeatedly executed. When the round trip counter m reaches the round trip number M, the process proceeds to step S18. As shown in (a) of FIG. 13, for example, when the start point Q is specified at one end of the branch of the blood vessel of interest that is branched in the middle, the branch β is also filled in one round trip (M = 1). However, as shown in FIG. 13B, when the start point Q is specified in the middle of one of the branches of the blood vessel of interest that is branched in the middle, the branch must be two round trips (M = 2). Beta cannot be filled. Normally, it is safe to set M = 3. If the start point Q shown in (a) of FIG. 14 or the start point Q shown in (b) of FIG. 14 is designated, the blood vessel of interest can be filled with one round trip (M = 1). That is, if a starting point is designated in a thick root blood vessel and a peripheral blood vessel branching from the starting point is specified, the number of round trips M
Is preferable because it can be specified small.

In step S18, each B-mode image B1
The display mode of the area filled with the mark values of B5 to B5 is changed to the display mode specified by the operator. Then, each of the B-mode images B1 to B5 whose display mode has been changed is passed to the projection processing unit 5.

Returning to FIG. 2, in step V6, the projection processing section 5 causes the B-mode images B1 to B whose display modes have been changed.
The projection data of 5 is projected along the observation direction is generated. Then, the projection data is sent to the DSC 8. DS
C8 produces a projected image and CRT9 displays the projected image. The projection image when the observation direction is substantially perpendicular to the scan plane is as shown in PC in FIG. 15, and the blood vessel q of interest can be clearly distinguished from the other blood vessels p and r.

In step V7, the operator is requested to instruct whether to change the observation direction. If the operator instructs to change the observation direction, the process returns to step V2.
If the operator gives an instruction not to change the observation direction, the operation is ended. According to the three-dimensional ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus 100 described above, the blood vessel of interest designated by the operator can be easily distinguished from other blood vessels on the image.

Although the number of blood vessels of interest is one in the above embodiment, a plurality of different blood vessels of interest and their display modes may be designated at the same time. For example, three blood vessels p, q, r and their display modes (the display color of the arterial system is "red", the display color of the venous system is "blue", and the display color of the portal vein system is "yellow"). 16 at the same time, as shown in FIG. 16, a projection image PD capable of easily identifying the three blood vessels p, q, r is obtained.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case of acquiring the B mode data has been described, but the same applies to the case of acquiring the CFM data. FIG. 17 shows C of each frame F1 to F5.
The FM images E1 to E5 are shown. FIG. 18 shows the CFM projection image PE. FIG. 19 shows the designation of the starting point on the CFM projection image PE. FIG. 20 shows the CFM projection image PF after changing the display mode of the blood vessel q. In the CFM projection image PF, the designated blood vessel is displayed in a designated color with saturation or brightness modulation according to, for example, the absolute value of the flow velocity or the power value (blood flow amount) or the calculated value thereof (in this case, , No flow direction information is required). As a result, the blood vessel q can be clearly distinguished from the blood vessels p and r, and the speed of the flow can also be distinguished. In addition, CFM
In the case of data, when a colorless portion is mixed in the middle of the blood vessel of interest, the search for the connectivity of the blood vessels of interest between frames does not go well, so this must be taken into consideration during diagnosis.
For this reason, it is preferable to display the B-mode projection image in a superimposed manner.

In the above embodiment, the case where the operator designates the blood vessel of interest has been described. However, B mode data or C
Detecting pulsation of blood flow from FM data, thereby discriminating between pulsating blood vessel and non-pulsating blood vessel, and starting in a partial region of pulsating blood vessel or a partial region of non-pulsating blood vessel or both of them You may make it set a point automatically. In this case, pulsating blood vessels and non-pulsating blood vessels can be clearly identified on the screen.

As yet another embodiment, instead of changing the color, a black and white pattern is used to change the display mode. Further, instead of acquiring N independent frames by scanning, N independent frames are generated from data obtained by a zigzag scan.

[0028]

According to the ultrasonic angiography and ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, it becomes possible to display an image of a blood vessel of interest in a display mode in which it can be distinguished from other blood vessels. Therefore, it is particularly useful for diagnosing a site such as a liver in which a plurality of blood vessels are complicated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of blood vessels and frame groups.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a B-mode image.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a B-mode projection image.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of designation of a start point on a B-mode projection image.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of blood vessel search and display mode change processing.

8 is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a process of obtaining a frame having a start point designated by an operator.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of filling a blood vessel region including a start point.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of detection of a start point by inter-frame connectivity search.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of filling a blood vessel region including a detected starting point.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of reciprocating ascending paging and descending paging.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a reduction in the number of round trips depending on a place where a start point is designated.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary diagram of a B-mode projection image after changing the display mode of the blood vessel of interest.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary diagram of a B-mode projection image after changing the display mode of three blood vessels of interest.

FIG. 17 is an exemplary view of a CFM image.

FIG. 18 is a view showing an example of a CFM projection image.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of designation of a start point.

FIG. 20 is an exemplary diagram of a CFM projection image after changing the display mode of a blood vessel of interest.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of three adjacent blood vessels.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of three adjacent blood vessels and a frame group.

FIG. 23 is a view showing an example of a B-mode image.

FIG. 24 is a view showing an example of a B-mode projection image.

FIG. 25 is an exemplary diagram of a CFM image.

FIG. 26 is a view showing an example of a CFM projection image.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus 1 Ultrasonic probe 3 B mode processing unit 4 Color flow processing unit 5 Projection processing unit 6 Blood vessel search and display mode change processing unit 7 Designated operation unit 8 DSC 9 CRT

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image display in which a desired blood vessel region is designated on an ultrasonic image in which a plurality of blood vessels are displayed, and the display mode of the desired blood vessel region is changed to a display mode that can be distinguished from other blood vessel regions. Ultrasonic angiography characterized by: 2. The ultrasonic probe is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scan plane, or the scan plane is electronically moved while the first frame to the Nth frame {N ≧ 2} at predetermined positions.
A data acquisition step of sequentially acquiring B-mode data or CFM data of a frame, and a B-mode image or CFM based on the acquired B-mode data or CFM data
An interested blood vessel specifying step in which an image or a projected image is displayed and an operator specifies a partial region in the interested blood vessel on the image,
An inter-frame blood vessel search step of searching a blood vessel area connected to a designated partial area in the first frame to the Nth frame, and a display mode of the blood vessel area obtained by the search so as to be distinguishable from other blood vessel areas. And an image display step of displaying an image by changing the mode. 3. An interested blood vessel designating unit for designating a desired blood vessel region on an ultrasonic image in which a plurality of blood vessels are displayed, and a display form capable of distinguishing the display form of the desired blood vessel region from other blood vessel regions. An ultrasonic blood flow diagnostic apparatus comprising: an image display unit that changes and displays an image. 4. An ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic probe is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to a scan plane, or while the scan plane is being moved electronically, a predetermined number of frames from the first frame to the Nth (N ≧ 2). } Data acquisition means for sequentially acquiring B-mode data or CFM data of frames, and a B-mode image or CFM image or projection image based on the acquired B-mode data or CFM data is displayed, and the operator is in a blood vessel of interest on the image. Blood vessel area specifying means for specifying a partial area of the blood vessel, an inter-frame blood vessel area searching means for searching a blood vessel area connected to the specified partial area in the first frame to the Nth frame, and a blood vessel area obtained by the search. And an image display means for displaying an image by changing the display mode of the display mode to a display mode that can be distinguished from other blood vessel regions. apparatus. 5. An ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic probe is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scan plane, or while the scan plane is being moved electronically, at every predetermined position from a first frame to an N {N ≧ 2. } Data acquisition means for sequentially acquiring B-mode data or CFM data of frames, and extraction of blood vessels of interest based on the acquired B-mode data or CFM data to extract pulsating blood vessels or non-pulsating blood vessels or partial regions of both of them Means, an interframe interest blood vessel search means for searching the extracted blood vessel area in the first frame to the Nth frame, and a display mode of the blood vessel area obtained by the search can be distinguished from other blood vessel areas. And an image display unit for displaying an image by changing the display mode to a different display mode.