JPH07194597A - Ultrasonic diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic system on which influence such as a noise becomes hard to be exerted by simple image calculating processing and by which contours of a desired examinee area can be extracted without requiring complicated operation. CONSTITUTION:An ultrasonic wave transmitted from an ultrasonic wave observing part 1 is transmitted to and received by an examinee, and when an ultrasonic wave image in the examinee is displayed according to obtained sound ray data, an image processing part 2 searches a picture element value of the ultrasonic wave image along a received sound ray, and when a picture element whose searched picture element value is not less than a threshold value continues by not less than the prescribed number, prescribed threshold value processing, that is, extraction of a contour position is performed on the picture element on the received sound ray.

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, and more particularly to an ultrasonic image obtained from a subject so as to extract a contour of a desired subject region by performing threshold processing. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique for extracting the surface of a display target object for displaying a three-dimensional image is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-279156 and Japanese Patent Application No. 5-194873. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-205041 discloses a technique of performing threshold processing in order to obtain the length and diameter of an object to be diagnosed in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0003]

However, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-205041, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-205041 performs only a simple threshold value process in which sound ray data is compared with a threshold value and the processing is determined depending on whether or not the sound ray data exceeds the threshold value. If the pixel value (signal intensity) of the area to be displayed is low or if there is a lot of noise in the area, there arises a problem that a desired contour line or tomographic image cannot be obtained. Therefore, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-279156,
Although the processing is performed using two threshold values, increasing the number of threshold values does not essentially solve the above problem, and conversely causes a problem of increasing the threshold setting time. On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application No. 5-194873 discloses a method of selecting a region by the area of a low signal intensity portion in order to extract the inner cavity of the body cavity lumen and the wall surface thereof. When it is large, it is difficult to divide and select a region, which is not reliable, and a new problem arises that the processing requires a large amount of calculation time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and by a simple image calculation process, it is less likely to be affected by noise or the like, and a desired object region can be obtained without requiring a complicated operation. It is an object to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of extracting a contour.

[0005]

To this end, the present invention provides an ultrasonic wave for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an object and displaying an ultrasonic image in the object based on the obtained sound ray data. In the diagnostic device, when the pixel value search means for searching the pixel value of the ultrasonic image along the received sound ray and the number of pixels whose searched pixel value is equal to or more than a threshold value are consecutive for a predetermined number or more, on the received sound ray. And a threshold value processing means for performing a predetermined threshold value process on the pixel.

[0006]

According to the present invention, when the pixel value search means searches the pixel value of the ultrasonic image along the received sound ray, if the number of pixels for which the searched pixel value is the threshold value or more continues for a predetermined number or more, the threshold value is set. Since the processing means performs a predetermined threshold value process on the pixels on the received sound ray (for example, the contour of the subject region in the ultrasonic image is extracted by the pixels satisfying the above conditions), the subject region The contour can be extracted.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an ultrasonic observation unit 1 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves and displays a real-time echo image (tomographic image), and sound ray data (echo data) obtained by the ultrasonic observation unit 1. And an image processing unit 2 that performs image processing for three-dimensional image display based on the above. Ultrasonic observation unit 1 of this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
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 are connected to.

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

When performing ultrasonic observation, this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus inserts the ultrasonic probe 3 into a body cavity and, under the control of the system controller 10, transmits / receives the ultrasonic probe 3 by the transmitting / receiving section 5 and the driving section 4. By driving in the linear / radial direction and transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves into / from the living body, echo data of a three-dimensional region in the body cavity is acquired. The obtained echo data is stored in the frame memory 6, then transmitted to the monitor 9 via the DSC 7 and the D / A converter 8 and displayed as a real-time echo image (ultrasound observation image). At the same time, it is transmitted 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 is also transmitted to the image processing unit 2 at the same time.

The image processing unit 2 three-dimensionally stores a CPU 11 for controlling image processing and the like, a main memory 12 for storing data of image processing results, image data and the like from the ultrasonic observation unit 1. An image data storage device 13 as a three-dimensional data storage means for storing, DSC processing for changing sound ray data into desired television data, surface extraction processing, shading processing, surface synthesis processing, projection conversion processing, contour position calculation. An arithmetic processing processor 14 for performing each arithmetic processing such as processing at high speed, an external storage device 15 for storing information such as a processing program and backup data, an operation terminal 16 such as a keyboard, an image display area setting, A trackball 17 as a sectional position setting means for inputting an input such as a threshold value setting, a frame buffer 18 for temporarily storing data after image processing, and a frame buffer 18. A digital buffer 19 for converting the digital image signal output from the buffer 18 into an analog signal; and a monitor 20 for receiving the output image signal from the D / A converter 19 and displaying a three-dimensional image after image processing. It consists of Each component of the image processing unit 2 is connected via a data transfer bus 21 so that image data and the like can be transferred.

In the image processing unit 2, the transmitted image data and incidental data are stored in the image data storage device 13.
It is written as a plurality of continuous two-dimensional images in the order in which they are captured. Based on the image data and the incidental data stored in the image data storage device 13, an image of the DSC processing, the surface extraction processing, the shading processing, the surface synthesis processing, the projection conversion processing, the contour position calculation processing, etc. by the arithmetic processing processor 14 Arithmetic processing is performed. The image data obtained as a result of this arithmetic processing is transmitted to the frame buffer 18 and temporarily stored therein, and then transmitted to the monitor 20 via the D / A converter 19 to generate a three-dimensional ultrasonic observation image based on the echo data. Is displayed.

Next, the threshold value processing of this embodiment will be described in comparison with the conventional example with reference to FIGS. Figure 2
FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating one sound ray data on an original image (hereinafter, referred to as an original image), and FIG. 2 and FIG.
In (b) and (c), the vertical axis is the pixel value of the original image,
The horizontal axis is the pixel position on the sound ray (hereinafter referred to as the x axis). In FIG. 2A, the end points of the sound ray from the transducer side to the end point of the multiple echo are not displayed as the outside of the processing, and the origin of the axis (horizontal axis) on the sound ray is the end of the multiple echo. There is a point to do.

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating one sound ray data on the original image which has been subjected to the threshold processing of the conventional example. In the conventional example, the pixel value of the pixel below the threshold SK1 on the original image is set to 0, and the pixel value above the threshold SK1 is left as it is to obtain the processed image (sound ray). However, in this method, the noise P1 having a pixel value equal to or greater than the threshold value SK in FIG. 2A remains as Q1 as it is, and the point P4 having a pixel value equal to or less than the threshold value SK on the lumen wall in FIG. 2A. , P5
Is 0 as shown by Q4 and Q5 in FIG.
Will be.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2C, which is a diagram illustrating one sound ray data on the original image subjected to the threshold processing according to this embodiment, the origin of the sound ray on the transducer side. Start a pixel search of the original image from 0 along the x-axis,
When two or more points equal to or greater than the threshold value SK are first consecutive like points P2 and P3 in FIG. 2A, the first point P2 in the search direction is set to the contour position (contour) as shown in FIG. 2C. point)
R2. Then, the region from the origin 0 on the transducer side of the sound ray to the contour position (R2) is regarded as water in the lumen, and the pixel value between them is set to 0. Further, the pixel values of all points in the search direction (to the right in the drawing) after the contour position (R2) are all unchanged. Therefore, the threshold value SK of FIG.
The following points P4 and P5 maintain their original values as R4 and R5 even after the above processing, and the isolated point noise P1 is eliminated to become the point R1 having a pixel value of 0.

As a result of the above processing, the data corresponding to the water in the body cavity from the origin 0 on the transducer side of the sound ray to the contour position is erased, and the data after the contour position is saved regardless of the threshold value. The isolated point noise data before the position is erased, and desired threshold value processing and contour position extraction can be performed.

In this embodiment, when the threshold value processing is performed, the pixel value of the pixel equal to or less than the threshold value is set to 0. However, the processing may be performed such that the pixel is not displayed even if the value is set to another value. Further, although all the pixel values after the contour position are left as they are, they may be set to 1 and used for so-called mask processing. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the first point in the search direction when the pixel value of two consecutive points is greater than or equal to the threshold value is the contour position, but the number of consecutive points may be three or more. Instead of being the first point, it may be any other suitable point.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining contour position extraction in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 exemplifies sound ray data (A, B, ..., Z) when the lumen wall 1 has a protrusion 2 such as a fold on the stomach wall. The second embodiment is a partial modification of the first embodiment described above, and a description of the same parts as those of the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the pre-processing executed before the threshold processing in the second embodiment. First, in step 501 of FIG. 4, the processing of the first embodiment is performed, that is, the contour position is extracted for all sound rays (this step 50
The contour position extracted in 1 is referred to as a first contour position.) In step 502, the contour position with the adjacent sound ray is compared for all sound rays, and in step 503, the absolute value Δx1 of the difference between the contour positions is calculated. Then, this Δx1 is compared with a preset predetermined value d1 (d1 = 5 pixels in the present embodiment), and a combination of sound rays with a difference Δx1 of the first contour positions of d1 or more (one for two) is used. Group) to be searched again.

As an example of the sound ray to be re-searched, sound rays A and B in the case of FIG. 3 correspond, and the difference Δx1 between the sound rays A and B is as shown in FIG. become. FIG. 6 is a graph showing each data of the sound ray data A and B in FIG. 3 and the up-slope contour positions A1, B1 on the graph.
B3 and the downstream contour position B2, the first threshold value SK1, and
A second threshold SK2 is shown. Here, in the combination of the above sound rays, the one with the larger first contour position (the value of x is larger) is called the reference sound ray, and the one with the smaller first contour position is called the reprocessed sound ray. A sound ray located on the opposite side of the reference sound ray from the reprocessed sound ray is also called a reprocessed sound ray until the end condition described below is reached.

Next, the sound ray processing of this embodiment, which is performed after the pre-processing of FIG. 4 is completed, will be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be described as an example. FIG. 5 shows a method of sequentially processing each sound ray in the direction from the reference sound ray to the re-processed sound ray.
In, since the reference sound ray is A and the reprocessed sound ray is B,
The process shown in FIG. 5 starts with the sound ray B and proceeds sequentially to the sound ray C,
It corresponds to the process such as D, ... Until the end condition is reached. In the following processing, the sound ray search is all performed in the positive direction of the x-axis as in the first embodiment, and the point (pixel) having the pixel value equal to or greater than the first threshold value SK1 is When two or more points are first consecutive, the first of the two consecutive points is referred to as an upstream contour position, and the consecutive 2 when two or more points (pixels) having a pixel value of the second threshold value SK2 or less are first consecutive. The first point of the points is called the downward contour position. Further, in the processing of FIG. 5, the difference obtained by subtracting the position of the search pixel of the reprocessed sound ray from the first contour position of the reference sound ray is defined as Δx2, and the Δx defined and searched (researched) as described above is defined.
2 is always compared with the predetermined value d2, and the same sound ray re-search is continued only when the condition of Δx2> d2 is satisfied, and when the above condition is not satisfied, the next sound ray processing or termination processing is performed.
In this embodiment, d2 = -10 pixels.

In step 601 of FIG. 5, the first sound ray B
The sound ray re-search is started from the contour position B1 of. In step 602, a downlink contour position is searched to detect a downlink contour position B2 that satisfies Δx2> d2. In step 603, the number of contour positions is updated as post-processing after detecting the downlink contour position B2. The number of positions is 2. In step 604, an upward contour position is searched to detect B3 that satisfies the above definition of the upward contour position, and step 60
In 5, the number of contour positions is updated as a post-process after detecting the upstream contour position B3. In this case, the number of contour positions is set to 3.
Then, the process is returned to step 601 and thereafter, and the sound ray is searched again for the second time.

In this re-search, if the condition of Δx2> d2 is satisfied, the above process is repeated. If the condition of Δx2> d2 is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step 606 and thereafter to process the next sound ray. In step 606, it is determined whether the number of contour positions is 2 or more. If it is 2 or more, the process proceeds to step 607, and if it is less than 2, the process ends. In step 607, the first contour position of the reference sound ray used for calculating Δx2 (or the last contour position of the previous processing sound ray) is replaced with the last contour position of the (current) processing sound ray. After that, the process is returned to step 601 and thereafter, and the process proceeds to the process of the next sound ray.

In the case of the present embodiment, in the sound ray B, Δx2 <d2 in the processing of the second step 602, and the number of contour positions ≧ 2 in the step 606 of the preceding step (first time), so that A1 in step 607. After substituting B3 for B3, the processing of the next sound ray C is performed. Hereafter,
The sound rays C, D, E, and F are processed, and the sound ray F has only one contour position. Therefore, the processing ends at that point.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the second ascending contour positions B3 to E3 corresponding to the first ascending contour positions B1 to F1 and the first descending contour positions B2 to E2 are obtained. Between B1 and F1, between B2 and E2, and between B3 and E, respectively.
By connecting between 3 in order, the contour of the protrusion 2 and
The contour of the lumen wall 1 located behind the projection 2 can be extracted. In addition, the pixel value of the pixel between the origin and the first upstream contour position and between the downstream contour position and the next upstream contour position is regarded as a threshold value or less and is replaced with 0, whereby the water signal and the isolated point noise are detected. Is erased.

As a result of the above processing, even for an object to be diagnosed having a complicated shape such as a projection such as a fold of the stomach wall or a large suspended matter on the lumen wall, the up contour position and the next down contour position are detected. The data between are stored regardless of the threshold. Also, by performing threshold processing as a water signal from the downward contour position to the next upward contour position, noise in the form of isolated points is eliminated, and desired threshold processing and contour position extraction are possible.

In the above embodiment, the predetermined values d1 = 5 pixels and d2 = -10 pixels were used, but other values may be used, which are optimal depending on the size of the pixel, the sound ray density and the subject. You may change so that it becomes a value.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the overall construction of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment includes a general-purpose ultrasonic observation apparatus 51, a CRT 52 for displaying an ultrasonic image, and a normal ultrasonic probe 5.
3 or 3D ultrasonic wave dedicated probe 54, normal (two-dimensional) ultrasonic probe 53 or control unit 55 for driving and controlling the 3D ultrasonic wave dedicated probe 54, and the image output of the general-purpose ultrasonic observation device 51 is taken in 3 A 3D building unit 56 for building a 3D image is connected, and the 3D building unit 56 further includes a CRT 57 for displaying a 3D built image and a keyboard 6 for command input.
6 and 6 are connected. The general-purpose ultrasonic observation device 51 is provided with a DC power supply 59 for a motor 58 (see FIG. 8) installed in the normal ultrasonic probe 53 or the probe 54 dedicated to three-dimensional ultrasonic waves. In addition, the normal ultrasonic probe 5
3 is connected only to the two-dimensional dedicated connector 55a of the control unit 55, but the three-dimensional ultrasonic probe 54 is a two-dimensional dedicated connector 55a and a three-dimensional dedicated connector 5.
It is connected to both 5b.

Further, a control circuit 60 shown in FIG. 8 is provided in the general-purpose ultrasonic observation apparatus 51, and a DC power supply 59 is turned on / off according to an ON / OFF state of the freeze switch 61 according to a command from the control circuit 60. The relay 62 for performing the DC power supply 5
9 is connected in series and the power source is usually an ultrasonic probe 53.
Alternatively, it is output to the probe 54 for exclusive use of three-dimensional ultrasonic waves. The DC power source 5 transmits the power source of the general-purpose ultrasonic observation device 51 to the normal ultrasonic probe 53 or the probe for exclusive use of three-dimensional ultrasonic waves, and the resistors 63 and the input side of the photocoupler 64 are connected in parallel. The output side of the photocoupler 64 is connected to the three-dimensional construction unit 56 via the freeze control circuit 65. A freeze switch 67 is provided in the normal ultrasonic probe 53 or the probe for exclusive use of three-dimensional ultrasonic waves, and is connected to the general-purpose ultrasonic observation device 51 via the control unit 55.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the control unit 55 is not operated, the normal ultrasonic probe 53 or the dedicated probe for three-dimensional ultrasonic wave 54 is directly connected to the general-purpose ultrasonic observation device 51. At this time, by rotating the motor 58 using the DC power supply 59 in the general-purpose ultrasonic observation device 51, an ultrasonic image is created by the general-purpose ultrasonic observation device 51 and displayed on the CRT 52. At that time, the freeze control can be performed with either the freeze switch 61 or the freeze switch 67. Freeze switch 6
The ON / OFF states of 1 and 67 are input to the control circuit 60 to control the relay 62. In this case, the freeze switches 61 and 67 simply perform the ON / OFF operation and do not restrain the actual freeze ON / OFF state. The freeze switch is performed by the user while watching the image displayed on the CRT 52. Either one of 61 and 67 can be controlled to change to a desired state.

However, when displaying a three-dimensional image using the three-dimensional construction unit 56, the ultrasonic probe 53 is usually used.
Alternatively, if the three-dimensional ultrasonic wave dedicated probe 54 is frozen, it is necessary to cancel the freeze. For this reason, the control unit 55 includes the general-purpose ultrasonic observation device 51 and the normal ultrasonic probe 53 or the probe 5 for exclusive use of three-dimensional ultrasonic waves.
4, it is necessary to connect to the DC power source 59 of the general-purpose ultrasonic observation apparatus 51 and detect the output state of the DC power source 59 of the general-purpose ultrasonic observation apparatus 51. , To the photocoupler 64.

Here, when the freeze is released and the ultrasonic image can be taken in, that is, when the relay 62 is ON, the output side of the photocoupler 64 is turned ON and the motor 58 for the freeze control circuit 65 is turned ON. The information indicating that is being driven is input. On the other hand, when the relay 62 is OFF, the motor 8 is not driven with respect to the control circuit 65, and therefore the freeze needs to be released when the tertiary image is captured. At this time, when a three-dimensional image capturing start command is input from the keyboard 66 to the three-dimensional building unit 56, the control circuit 65 is controlled via the three-dimensional building unit 56, and the freeze is released at all times.

By the way, in the past, when the two-dimensional probe and the three-dimensional probe were exchanged for use, the respective control units were exchanged, but in the third embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 53 or the three-dimensional probe is usually used. Ultrasonic probe 54
And the general-purpose ultrasonic observation device 51 between the control unit 55
Since the above is provided, each diagnosis can be performed only by replacing the normal ultrasonic probe 53 and the three-dimensional ultrasonic probe 54 without replacing the control unit, and the operability is improved. Further, the control of the probe 54 dedicated to the three-dimensional ultrasonic wave is facilitated.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the overall construction of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those of the third embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment is provided with the single-plate transducers 68, 69 in the normal ultrasonic probe 53 or the probe for exclusive use of three-dimensional ultrasonic waves,
The single plate vibrators 68 and 69 are rotationally controlled by a motor (not shown), the encoder 70 detects the position, and the position detection information is input to the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit 71 in the general-purpose ultrasonic observation device 51. The ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit 71 is connected to the transducer transmission / reception drive circuits 72a to 72d in the control unit 55.

A selection circuit (selection switch) 73 for the transducer transmission / reception drive circuits 72a to 72d is provided in the control unit 55, and the normal ultrasonic probe 5 is associated with the selection circuit 73.
The selection circuit 7 is provided in the probe 54 for exclusive use of three-dimensional or three-dimensional
4 is provided to connect the selection circuits 73 and 74 to the selection control circuit 75 provided in the control unit 55. Selection control circuit 75
In addition, the frequency selection switch 76 of the normal ultrasonic probe 53 or the probe for exclusive use of the three-dimensional ultrasonic wave 54 is connected to input a signal indicating the state thereof, and a control signal of the three-dimensional construction unit 56 is input to select control. Circuit 75
The output signal of is input to the frequency control circuit 77 in the general-purpose ultrasonic observation apparatus 51. The frequency control circuit 77 outputs a correction signal to the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit 71.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The normal ultrasonic probe 5 is input by the keyboard 16 via the frequency control circuit 77 or the three-dimensional building unit 56.
Single plate transducer 6 of the probe 54 for exclusive use of three-dimensional or three-dimensional ultrasonic waves
8 and 69 are switched, the selection control circuit 75 switches the selection circuits 74 and 73, and any one of the transducer transmission / reception drive circuits 72a to 72d is operated so as to realize the optimum drive state and reception state according to the frequency. It is selected and connected to the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit 71. The ultrasonic wave transmission / reception circuit 71 transmits / receives ultrasonic waves in synchronization with the signal from the encoder 70. Further, the selection control circuit 75 outputs a frequency code to the frequency control circuit 77, and the CRT 52
The frequency code is displayed and the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver circuit 71 is instructed to perform correction according to the frequency.

In this fourth embodiment, the same effect as the third embodiment can be obtained.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to extract the contour of a desired object region without a complicated scan being required by a simple image calculation process, which is unlikely to be affected by noise. The effect that becomes possible is obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

2A to 2C are diagrams for explaining the threshold value processing of the first embodiment in comparison with a conventional example.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining contour position extraction in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a pre-process executed before the threshold process in the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of sound ray processing performed after the pre-processing of FIG. 4 is finished in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining re-searching of sound rays in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the inside of each device of the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[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 Digital Scan Converter (DSC) 8 D / A Converter 9 Monitor 10 System Controller 11 CPU 12 Main Storage Device 13 Image Data Storage Device 14 arithmetic processing processor 15 external storage device 16 operating terminal 17 trackball 18 frame buffer 19 D / A converter 20 monitor 21 transfer bus

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 7, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 6

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 6]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Figure 8

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 8]

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject and displaying an ultrasonic image in the subject based on the obtained sound ray data, wherein the pixel value of the ultrasonic image is received. Pixel value search means for searching along the wave line, and threshold value processing means for performing a predetermined threshold value process on the pixel on the received sound line when the number of pixels whose searched pixel value is equal to or greater than the threshold value continues for a predetermined number or more. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: