JPH0810260A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To measure displacement with high accuracy by reducing a computed variable by calculating the displacement of a tissue in a direction along a scanning line based on an autocorrelation coefficient in a frequency direction for the product of one of one-dimensional Fourier transformed signals and the complex conjugate of the other signal at received signal parts segmented from two received signals provided at different time. CONSTITUTION:Data segmenting means 15 and 16 segment the received signal parts from two received signals, which are provided at two kinds of time of transmission timing, along the scanning line. The respective segmented received signal parts are inputted to Fourier transforming means 20 and 21, and Fourier transformed signals are inputted to a complex multiplying means 23. Besides, the complex conjugate is calculated by a complex conjugate arithmetic means 22, and complex multiplication is performed by the complex multiplying means 23. Then, the complex conjugate product is inputted to a complex autocorrelation arithmetic means 41, the complex auto-correlation of the complex conjugate product in the frequency direction is calculated, and the complex autocorrelation coefficient is calculated. Then, a phase arithmetic means 42 calculates a phase and a multiplying means 43 calculates the displacement in a depth direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention transmits ultrasonic waves into a subject, receives the ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, obtains a received signal, and displays an image inside the subject based on the received signal. Regarding the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs, in detail, the displacement of the tissue in the subject using ultrasonic waves, velocity, strain, by estimating the strain rate etc. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of providing information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic wave is transmitted to a subject, particularly a human body, the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject is received to obtain a received signal, and a tomographic image based on the received signal is displayed to display the tomographic image of the human body. 2. Description of the Related Art Ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses that are useful for diagnosing diseases such as internal organs have been conventionally used. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus receives ultrasonic waves reflected by the blood flow in the body and receives the velocity of blood flow,
Some are configured so that blood flow information such as dispersion and power can be obtained. Further, in recent years, for example, to aid in the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease such as angina and myocardial infarction, or to detect hard cancer tissue in the tissue, the movement and hardness of the myocardium and other tissues are analyzed. It is suggested to observe. The movement and hardness of this tissue can be known by observing the vibration propagation properties when externally vibrating the living body and the movement of organs caused by the internal heartbeat using ultrasonic waves. .

Further, in recent years, not only the movement (velocity) of tissue is detected, but also the velocity is differentiated with respect to, for example, the depth direction in the subject to obtain a velocity gradient, which relates to the degree of expansion and contraction of tissue. It has also been proposed to obtain a quantity (hardness) (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-43381). Conventionally,
The Doppler method is known as one of the methods for detecting the movement of blood or tissue in a subject (for example, "basic examination of tissue displacement velocity tomography using the pulse Doppler method", Japanese Society of Ultrasonics) Pp. 689-690 Yoichi Araki, Shinichi Yagi, S. Nakayama, October 1989). This pulsed Doppler method uses the fact that the ultrasonic waves reflected by tissues in the subject undergo frequency modulation due to the Doppler effect, and as a result, the phase of the received signal changes over time Is a method of detecting the movement of the. Although the pulse Doppler method requires a relatively small amount of calculation, a certain type frequency is assumed as the frequency of the ultrasonic wave, although the ultrasonic wave actually used has a fairly wide band. Therefore, the movement of the tissue is not always detected accurately.

On the other hand, a cross-correlation method is known as a method capable of detecting the motion of a tissue or the like relatively accurately (for example, "a minute displacement measurement of a nonuniform tissue using a spatial correlation function of an analytic signal"). ] Proceedings of the Japanese Society of Ultrasonics Medicine 3rd
59-360, Shinichi Yagi, S. Nakayama, May 1989). FIG. 20 is a block diagram of the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that uses cross-correlation to detect the movement of tissues and the like in a subject. Since a general method for obtaining a tomographic image with an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is already widely known, only blocks related to detection of movement of tissue or the like in a subject will be shown and described here.

From the transmission system 11 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10, voltage pulses are transmitted to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (not shown) forming the probe 12 at predetermined timings, and in response to this, voltage pulses are transmitted. Ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the probe 12 toward the inside of the subject (not shown). The ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject are received by a plurality of ultrasonic transducers forming the probe 12 and transmitted to the reception system 13. In the reception system 13, the reception signals obtained by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers are subjected to phasing processing and are added to each other (hereinafter referred to as “phasing addition”), whereby one line extending in the subject is obtained. Received signals that carry information within the subject along the scan lines are generated. The phasing-added received signal is stored in the memory 14. By repeating the above cycle, received signals carrying information along a plurality of scanning lines in a two-dimensional tomographic plane spreading in the subject are obtained, and these received signals are stored in the memory 14.

Here, a method of transmitting an ultrasonic beam along a scanning line extending into the subject by applying voltage pulses at predetermined timings to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers forming the probe 12, The ultrasonic waves reflected and returned in the subject are received by a plurality of ultrasonic transducers to obtain a plurality of received signals, and the plurality of received signals are phased and added to cause the inside of the subject along the scanning line. A technique for obtaining a received signal carrying information is a widely known general technique, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. Further, instead of applying a voltage pulse at each predetermined timing to each ultrasonic transducer so that an ultrasonic beam along one scanning line is formed, ultrasonic waves are transmitted in a considerable amount within the subject. It is also known that ultrasonic waves are transmitted so as to spread over a wide area, and a plurality of received signals carrying information along a plurality of scanning lines can be simultaneously obtained by phasing addition processing of the received signals. Further, ultrasonic transducers are two-dimensionally arranged on the probe 12, and ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received by the ultrasonic transducers that are two-dimensionally arranged, so that a plurality of three-dimensionally extending in the subject is obtained. It is also known that a received signal carrying information along a scan line can be obtained sequentially for each scan line or simultaneously for multiple scan lines.

Returning to FIG. 20, description will be continued here for the case of obtaining a reception signal for a two-dimensional tomographic plane. After repeating transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves for a plurality of scanning lines (scan numbers # 1, # 2, ..., #N) and storing the reception signals at two time points for the same tomographic plane in the memory 14, Is read out from the memory and input to the respective data cutting means 15 and 16, and each part of each received signal is cut out.

FIG. 21 shows the timing of ultrasonic wave transmission / reception,
It is a conceptual diagram which shows the mode of clipping of a received signal. Scan numbers # 1 and # sequentially in synchronization with each transmission timing pulse
2, ..., #N, # 1, # 2, ..., #N ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received along each scanning line, and the first scanning number # 1, #
Received signals obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves along the scanning lines 2, ..., #N form a tomographic image (referred to as “frame 1”) for one frame, and the next scanning numbers # 1, #
Received signals obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves along the scanning lines 2, ..., #N form a tomographic image for the next one frame (referred to as “frame 2”).

In each frame, the vertical direction shown corresponds to a depth direction t along a scanning line extending into the subject, and the horizontal direction shown corresponds to a scanning direction x in which a plurality of scanning lines are arranged. Since the ultrasonic waves transmitted to the inside of the subject travel inside the subject while being reflected by each tissue inside the subject, the ultrasonic waves reflected in a deeper region within the subject are received at a later timing. Therefore, the depth direction t directly corresponds to the time axis direction t starting from the transmission timing of each ultrasonic pulse, and hereinafter, the depth direction and the time direction may not be particularly distinguished.

As described above, frame 1 and frame 2
When the received signals are obtained, the received signals are input to the data cutting means 15 and 16, respectively, as described above, and received in each part of each frame (the area surrounded by the thick frame shown in FIG. 21). The signal is cut out. The cut-out reception signals are input to the cross-correlation calculating means 17, and the two-dimensional cross-correlation calculation is performed between the cut-out reception signals. The calculation result is input to the peak detecting means 18.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a two-dimensional cross-correlation calculation result. Numerical data corresponding to each pixel is obtained as a result of the two-dimensional cross-correlation calculation, but the peak detection unit 18 detects the position of the pixel having the peak value of those numerical values ('9' in the case illustrated in FIG. 22). Depending on where the pixel is located, the time when frame 1 is obtained (for example, represented by the time of the transmission timing pulse 1 in FIG. 21) and the time when frame 2 is obtained (for example, the transmission timing in FIG. 21) Displacement of the tissue in the subject corresponding to the cutout region (d represented by the time of pulse 2) (d
t, dx) is detected. The displacement of each tissue in the subject can be detected by sequentially changing the cutout region. Further, by dividing this displacement by the time between the time when the frame 1 is obtained and the time when the frame 2 is obtained, the speed of tissue movement can be obtained, and by spatially differentiating this speed, or , The strain velocity can be obtained by dividing the spatial derivative of the displacement by the above time.

The displacement (dt, dx) thus obtained is displayed on the display means 1 such as a CRT display.
9 is displayed. Although the cross-correlation method described above is relatively simple in the calculation of the cross-correlation itself, it requires a large amount of calculation and, although the cross-correlation method can be used to calculate the tissue displacement relatively accurately, In order to increase the accuracy in determining the peak position of the correlation function, it is necessary to perform a complicated calculation such as accurately interpolating between pixels, which is a bottleneck of device implementation and is not practically used. I haven't arrived.

In order to solve the above problems, a method has been considered in which the amount of calculation is relatively small and the displacement of the tissue or the like is detected relatively accurately (see Japanese Patent Application No. 6-49215). Hereinafter, this method will be described separately for one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional cases. (Detection of one-dimensional displacement) 2 separated by a predetermined time interval T
Transmit and receive ultrasonic waves along the same scan line at each time
The two received signals obtained by this are p1 (t), p2
(T), these two received signals p1 (t), p2
The signal of a predetermined section [t ₀ −tw / 2, t ₀ + tw / 2] along the scanning line in the subject cut out from (t) is pw1.
(T) and pw2 (t). Further, it is assumed that the tissue in the cut out predetermined section is displaced by dt in the depth direction between the two respective times. At this time, pw2 (t) = pw1 (t + dt) (1) holds.

The Fourier transform of pw2 (t) is converted to Pw2
When the Fourier transform of (f) and pw1 (t) is Pw1 (f) and the Fourier transform of the above equation (1) is performed, Pw2 (f) = Pw1 (f) exp (j2πfdt) (2) I understand. From this, the product (complex conjugate product) M (f) obtained by multiplying Pw2 (f) by the complex conjugate Pw1 (f) ^* of Pw1 (f) is M (f) = Pw1 (f) ^* Pw2 (f) = | Pw1 (f) | ² exp (j2πfdt) (3), it can be seen that the displacement dt is the gradient of the phase of M (f) in the frequency direction divided by 2π.

That is, when the phase of the complex conjugate product M (f) calculated according to the above equation (3) is θ (f), then θ (f) = 2πfdt (4), so the displacement dt is dt = (1 / 2π) · (θ (f) / f) (5)

Equation (4) represents a straight line passing through the origin of f = 0 in the frequency space, and M at frequency f = 0.
Since the phase θ (f) of (f) is θ (0) = 0, the displacement dt can be calculated simply by dividing the phase θ (f0) for the type frequency f0 by 2π. Ie

[0017]

[Equation 1]

However,

[0019]

[Equation 2]

It may be calculated as follows. Where imag
(...) and real (...) represent the imaginary part and the real part of the complex number in parentheses, respectively. Since the displacement dt represented by equation (5) is a function of the frequency f, by obtaining the average displacement of the plurality of frequency points f _i for each displacement dt (f _i), improve the detection accuracy of the displacement Can be made. To find the average displacement,
For example, the displacement, that is, the slope of the phase of M (f) in the frequency direction can be obtained based on the following equation (8) that employs the least squares method.

[0021]

(Equation 3)

However,

[0023]

[Equation 4]

Here, M _i is an abbreviated description of M (f _i ) corresponding to each frequency point f _i . Further, when the calculation based on the following equation based on the weighted least squares method is executed with the amplitude A _{i of} M _i as a weight, further improvement in accuracy can be expected.

[0025]

(Equation 5)

However,

[0027]

(Equation 6)

[0028] In obtaining an average displacement using the mean square method, the weighted mean square method, or another method, an operation limited to the band of effective frequency components included in pw1 (t) and pw2 (t), that is, , P
If only signals within the frequency band of w1 (f) and Pw2 (f) having a power equal to or higher than a predetermined power are used for the calculation,
More accurate displacement with good S / N is required. (Detection of two-dimensional displacement) 2 separated by a predetermined time interval T
Bears information along the same fault plane obtained at each time 2
Let the two received signals be p1 (t, x) and p2 (t, x),
These two received signals p1 (t, x) and p2 (t, x)
A predetermined area [t ₀ -tw
/ 2, t ₀ + tw / 2], [x ₀ -xw / 2, x ₀ + x
w / 2] signals to pw1 (t, x) and pw2, respectively.
Let (t, x). In addition, the tissue in the cut-out predetermined area between these two times is (dt, dx) in the tomographic plane.
It is assumed that it is displaced. At this time, pw2 (t, x) = pw1 (t + dt, x + dx) (13) holds.

The Fourier transform of pw2 (t, x) is converted into Pw2
The Fourier transform of (f, X) and pw1 (t, x) is Pw1.
Letting (f, X) be the Fourier transform of the above equation (13), it can be seen that Pw2 (f, X) = Pw1 (f, X) exp (j2π (fdt + Xdx)) (14) .

From this, the complex conjugate P of Pw1 (f, X) is obtained.
The complex conjugate product M (f, X) obtained by multiplying Pw2 (f, X) by w1 (f, X) ^* is M (f, X) = Pw1 (f, X) ^* Pw2 (f, X) = | Pw1 (F, X) | ² exp (j2π (fdt + Xdx)) (15), the displacement dt is the gradient of the phase of M (f, X) in the frequency f direction divided by 2π, and dx is M (F, X)
It can be seen that the inclination of the phase in the spatial frequency X direction is divided by 2π.

In the simplest case, an appropriate frequency f0 and spatial frequency X0 are selected, and the displacement (dt, dx) is

[0032]

(Equation 7)

[0033]

(Equation 8)

It may be calculated as follows. Alternatively, accuracy can be improved by performing calculation based on the following equation based on the least squares method.

[0035]

[Equation 9]

[0036]

[Equation 10]

Further, the accuracy can be further improved based on the following formula based on the weighted least squares method.

[0038]

[Equation 11]

[0039]

(Equation 12)

It suffices to obtain (Detection of three-dimensional displacement) A three-dimensional Fourier transform operation is performed, and in the simplest case, an appropriate frequency f0 and spatial frequency X0,
Select Y0 and set the displacement (dt, dx, dy)

[0041]

(Equation 13)

[0042]

[Equation 14]

[0043]

(Equation 15)

It suffices to obtain Alternatively, the accuracy can be improved by performing calculation based on the following formula based on the least squares method.

[0045]

[Equation 16]

[0046]

[Equation 17]

[0047]

(Equation 18)

Further, the accuracy can be further improved based on the following formula based on the weighted least squares method.

[0049]

[Formula 19]

[0050]

(Equation 20)

[0051]

[Equation 21]

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for detecting a two-dimensional movement of a tissue or the like in a subject based on the above concept. Each scan number for each transmission timing #
Transmission and reception are sequentially performed along the scanning lines 1, # 2, ..., #N, whereby two two-dimensional images of frame 1 and frame 2 are obtained. The data cutting means 15 and 16 cut out the predetermined areas of the frames 1 and 2 while sliding them.

The received signal portions cut out by the respective data cutting means 15, 16 are respectively Fourier transforming means 20, 2
1 and are respectively Fourier-transformed, thereby generating a two-dimensional Fourier-transformed signal. The Fourier transform signal obtained by the Fourier transform means 20 is directly input to the complex multiplication means 23. The Fourier transform signal obtained by the Fourier transform unit 21 is input to the complex conjugate calculation unit 22 to calculate its complex conjugate, and then the complex multiplication unit 2
Input to 3. The complex multiplication means 23 performs complex multiplication of the Fourier transform signals (or their complex conjugates) in the regions corresponding to frame 1 and frame 2 to obtain the complex conjugate product M (f). This corresponds to the calculation of the above formula (15). In the phase calculation means 24, the complex conjugate product M
The two-dimensional phase θ (f0, X0) of (f) is obtained.

Here, the frequency f0 is the center frequency of the ultrasonic waves and corresponds to the depth direction of the subject. The spatial frequency X0 is a representative frequency in the scanning direction (direction in which the scanning lines # 1, # 2, ..., #N are arranged). This phase M (f0, X0)
Each frequency f component in the X direction is multiplied by the multiplication means 2
5, 26 and the series of the multiplying means 30, 31 and are input to (1 / f0). (1 / 2π) and (1 /
X0) · (1 / 2π) is calculated, and the two-dimensional displacement (dt, dx) in the fault plane is obtained. This is (1
This corresponds to the calculation of equations (6) and (17). This two-dimensional displacement (dt, dx) is input to the display means 19 and displayed.

[0055]

According to the method of obtaining the displacement of the tissue in the subject based on the above idea, the displacement dt is the phase θ (f) as can be seen from the above equation (5).
Therefore, if the phase exceeds the range of −π to + π, the displacement dt cannot be correctly calculated, which is a problem of so-called aliasing.

In the above-mentioned document (Japanese Patent Application No. 6-49215), a tentative solution method for this problem is proposed, and the upper limit of the frequency range for obtaining the inclination of the phase in the frequency direction is kept low, or the above-mentioned method is used. The effect of aliasing can be reduced by repeatedly performing the method of subtracting the phase corresponding to the mechanically estimated displacement in (1) and estimating the displacement again. However, the former measure, which keeps the upper limit of the frequency range low, has a problem that the effective frequency band of the system cannot be fully utilized, and the latter measure, which repeatedly estimates displacement and subtracts the phase, The calculation needs to be repeated many times in order to obtain one displacement, and the amount of calculation eventually becomes enormous, which may impair real-time performance.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention requires a relatively small amount of calculation, is not affected by aliasing, and fully utilizes the band of the system to measure displacement and the like with high accuracy. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of doing the above.

[0058]

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object transmits an ultrasonic wave into a subject and receives an ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject to obtain a reception signal, In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays an image of the inside of a subject based on the received signal, (1) bears information within the subject along the same scanning line extending into the subject while repeating transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves a plurality of times. Transmitting / receiving means for obtaining a plurality of received signals (2) Carrying information within a predetermined section along the scanning line cut out from each of the two receiving signals carrying information along the same scanning line obtained at two different times Based on the autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction of the product of one of the one-dimensional Fourier transform signals of each received signal portion and the complex conjugate of the other of the one-dimensional Fourier transform signals, between the two times, Of the organization within the above specified section Computation means for obtaining displacement in the direction along the scanning line and / or amount calculated from the displacement (3) Display means for displaying the displacement and / or the amount calculated from the displacement .

The second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits ultrasonic waves into a subject, receives the ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject, obtains a received signal, and displays an image inside the subject based on the received signal. Transmitting and receiving means for obtaining a plurality of received signals carrying information in the subject along the same tomographic plane spreading in the subject while repeating transmission and reception of sound waves (5) The same tomographic slice obtained at two different times One of each two-dimensional Fourier transform signal of each received signal portion carrying information within a predetermined area in the tomographic plane, which is cut out from each of two received signals carrying information along the plane, and two of them
Based on the autocorrelation coefficient in each frequency direction of the product of the two-dimensional Fourier transform signal and the other complex conjugate, the displacement and / or the displacement of the tissue in the predetermined area in the tomographic plane between the two times.
Alternatively, a calculating means for obtaining an amount calculated from the displacement thereof (6) A display means for displaying the displacement and / or the amount calculated from the displacement is provided.

Further, the third ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits ultrasonic waves into a subject, receives the ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject, obtains received signals, and displays an image of the inside of the subject based on the received signals. Transmitting and receiving means for obtaining a plurality of received signals carrying information of three-dimensional points in the subject while repeating transmission and reception of sound waves (8) Three-dimensional in-subject obtained at two different times One of the three-dimensional Fourier transform signals of the respective received signal portions carrying the information in the predetermined three-dimensional area in the subject, which are cut out from the respective two received signals carrying the information of each point,
Based on the autocorrelation coefficient in each frequency direction of the product of the respective three-dimensional Fourier transform signals with the other complex conjugate, the three-dimensional displacement of tissue in the three-dimensional area and / Alternatively, a calculating means for obtaining an amount calculated from the displacement (9) is provided with a display means for displaying the displacement and / or the amount calculated from the displacement.

The fourth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention transmits ultrasonic waves into the subject, receives the ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, obtains received signals, and based on these received signals (10) A transmitting / receiving unit for obtaining a plurality of received signals carrying information in the subject along the same scanning line extending in the subject while repeating transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves a plurality of times. (11) Each one-dimensional of each reception signal portion carrying information within a predetermined section along the scanning line cut out from each of the two reception signals carrying information along the same scanning line obtained at two different times. Based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction of the complex autocorrelation function in the frequency direction of the product of one of the Fourier transform signals and the complex conjugate of the other of the respective one-dimensional Fourier transform signals, between the above two times. Of the above Computation means for obtaining the displacement of the tissue in the section along the scanning line and / or the amount calculated from the displacement (12) The display means for displaying the displacement and / or the amount calculated from the displacement It is characterized by

The fifth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention transmits ultrasonic waves into the subject, receives the ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject, obtains received signals, and based on the received signals (13) Transmitting / receiving means for obtaining a plurality of received signals carrying information in the subject along the same tomographic plane spreading in the subject while repeating ultrasonic transmission / reception a plurality of times. (14) Each two-dimensional of each received signal portion carrying information within a predetermined area in the above-mentioned tomographic plane, which is cut out from each of two received signals carrying information along the same tomographic plane obtained at two different times. Based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient in each frequency direction of the complex autocorrelation function in each frequency direction of the product of one of the Fourier transform signals and the complex conjugate of the other of the two-dimensional Fourier transform signals, the above two times Between, above Computation means for obtaining the displacement of the tissue in the fixed area in the tomographic plane and / or the amount calculated from the displacement (15) The display means for displaying the displacement and / or the amount calculated from the displacement Is characterized by.

The sixth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention transmits ultrasonic waves into the subject, receives the ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject, obtains received signals, and then receives the received signals from the inside of the subject. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying the image of (16), transmitting / receiving means for obtaining a plurality of reception signals that carry information of three-dimensional points in the subject while repeating transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves a plurality of times (17) Each received signal portion carrying information within a predetermined three-dimensional area in the subject, which is cut out from each of the two received signals bearing three-dimensional information about each point in the subject obtained at two different times. Based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient in each frequency direction of the complex autocorrelation function in each frequency direction of the product of one of the three-dimensional Fourier transform signals and the complex conjugate of the other of the respective three-dimensional Fourier transform signals, Above three-dimensional area between two times Calculating means for obtaining the three-dimensional displacement of the tissue and / or the amount calculated from the displacement (18) Display means for displaying the displacement and / or the amount calculated from the displacement .

Here, in the above-mentioned first to sixth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, the calculating means is spatially and / or temporally smoothed, and one or more complex self-phase relationships in each frequency direction. It is preferable that the number is calculated and the displacement and / or the amount calculated from the displacement is calculated based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient. Further, in the first to sixth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, the amount calculated from the displacement includes
For example, the velocity obtained by dividing the displacement by the time interval of two times, the spatial slope of the displacement, the spatial slope of the velocity, and the spatial slope of the displacement are divided by the time interval. 1 selected from the group consisting of
One or more are included.

In any of the first to sixth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, the display means displays the displacement and / or the absolute value of the amount calculated from the displacement by allocating it to brightness or color. Alternatively, or in addition to this, the display means changes the direction of the displacement and / or the vector of the amount calculated from the displacement to a color corresponding to the direction, an arrow, a line segment, and It is preferable to display using at least one selected from the group consisting of streamlines.

Further, the seventh ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits ultrasonic waves into a subject, receives ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject, obtains received signals, and displays an image of the inside of the subject based on the received signals. Transmitting and receiving means for obtaining a plurality of received signals carrying information in the subject along the same scanning line extending in the subject while repeating transmission and reception of sound waves a plurality of times (20) Same scan obtained at two different times One of the one-dimensional Fourier transform signals of each received signal portion carrying information within a predetermined section along the scanning line, which is cut out from each of the two received signals carrying information along the line, and one of these one-dimensional Fourier transform signals. The complex autocorrelation coefficient of the product in the frequency direction of the other complex conjugate in the direction along the scan line, or the complex autocorrelation function of the product in the frequency direction of the complex autocorrelation function in the frequency direction. phase The spatial inclination of the displacement of the tissue in the direction along the scan line in the predetermined section between the two times and / or the space thereof based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient of the coefficient in the direction along the scan line. Calculation means for obtaining an amount calculated from the inclination (21) A display means for displaying the spatial inclination and / or the amount calculated from the spatial inclination is provided.

The eighth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention transmits ultrasonic waves into the subject, receives the ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject, obtains received signals, and based on these received signals (22) Transmitting and receiving means for obtaining a plurality of received signals carrying information in the subject along the same tomographic plane spreading in the subject while repeating transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves a plurality of times. (23) Each two-dimensional of each received signal portion carrying information within a predetermined area in the above-mentioned tomographic plane, which is cut out from each of two received signals carrying information along the same tomographic plane obtained at two different times. A complex autocorrelation coefficient in each of the different directions in the tomographic plane of the complex autocorrelation coefficient in each frequency direction of the product of one of the Fourier transform signals and the complex conjugate of the other of the two-dimensional Fourier transform signals, Alternatively, the product Based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient of each frequency direction of the complex autocorrelation function of each frequency direction, in each of the directions different from each other in the tomographic plane, the predetermined value between the two times. Calculation means for obtaining the spatial inclination of the displacement in the tomographic plane of the tissue in the area and / or the amount calculated from the spatial inclination (24) A display displaying the spatial inclination and / or the amount calculated from the spatial inclination And means.

The ninth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention transmits ultrasonic waves into the subject, receives the ultrasonic waves reflected in the subject, obtains received signals, and then uses the received signals (25) Transmitting / receiving means for obtaining a plurality of received signals carrying information of three-dimensional points in the subject while repeating ultrasonic transmission / reception a plurality of times (26) Each received signal portion carrying information within a predetermined three-dimensional area in the subject, which is cut out from each of the two received signals bearing three-dimensional information about each point in the subject obtained at two different times. A complex autocorrelation coefficient in each direction in space, of the complex autocorrelation coefficient in each frequency direction of the product of one of the three-dimensional Fourier transform signals and the other complex conjugate of each of the three-dimensional Fourier transform signals, Or in each frequency direction of the above product Elementary autocorrelation function, the complex autocorrelation coefficients of each frequency direction, based on the different complex autocorrelation coefficients in each direction in space, between the two times,
Displacement of tissue in the three-dimensional area Three-dimensional spatial inclination and /
Alternatively, an arithmetic means for obtaining an amount calculated from the inclination during the period (27) A display means for displaying the spatial inclination and / or the amount calculated from the spatial inclination.

The tenth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention transmits ultrasonic waves to the inside of the subject, receives the ultrasonic waves reflected inside the subject, obtains received signals, and based on these received signals (28) Transmitting / receiving means for obtaining a plurality of received signals carrying information in the subject along the same scanning line extending in the subject while repeating transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves a plurality of times. (29) Each one-dimensional of each received signal portion carrying information within a predetermined section along the scanning line, which is cut out from each of the two received signals carrying information along the same scanning line obtained at two different times. The complex autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction of the product of one of the Fourier transform signals and the complex conjugate of the other of the one-dimensional Fourier transform signals, the complex autocorrelation function in the direction along the scan line, Along the direction Autocorrelation coefficient, or complex autocorrelation function in the frequency direction of the product, complex autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction, complex autocorrelation function in the direction along the scan line, complex in the direction along the scan line A calculation means for obtaining the spatial inclination of the displacement of the tissue in the predetermined section along the scanning line between the two times and / or the amount calculated from the spatial inclination based on the autocorrelation coefficient. 30) A display means for displaying the spatial inclination and / or the amount calculated from the spatial inclination.

The eleventh ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention transmits ultrasonic waves to the inside of the subject, receives the ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, obtains received signals, and based on these received signals (31) Transmitting / receiving means for obtaining a plurality of received signals carrying information in the subject along the same tomographic plane spreading in the subject while repeating ultrasonic transmission / reception a plurality of times. (32) Each two-dimensional of each received signal portion carrying information within a predetermined area in the tomographic plane cut out from each of two received signals carrying information along the same tomographic plane obtained at two different times Of the complex autocorrelation coefficient in each frequency direction of the product of one of the Fourier transform signals and the complex conjugate of the other of the respective two-dimensional Fourier transform signals, of the complex autocorrelation function in each of the different directions in the tomographic plane, Each of those directions Complex autocorrelation coefficient, or complex autocorrelation function of each frequency direction of the product, complex autocorrelation coefficient of each frequency direction, each of the complex autocorrelation function of each different direction in the slice plane Based on the directional complex autocorrelation coefficient,
Calculating means for determining the spatial inclination of the displacement of the tissue in the predetermined area in the predetermined area between the two times and / or the amount calculated from the spatial inclination (33) The spatial inclination and / or its space It is characterized by further comprising display means for displaying the amount calculated from the inclination.

The twelfth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention transmits ultrasonic waves to the inside of the subject, receives the ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, obtains received signals, and based on these received signals In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying the image of (34), transmitting / receiving means for obtaining a plurality of reception signals carrying information of each three-dimensional point in the subject while repeating transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves a plurality of times (35) Each received signal portion carrying information within a predetermined three-dimensional area in the subject, which is cut out from each of the two received signals bearing three-dimensional information about each point in the subject obtained at two different times. Of the complex autocorrelation coefficient in each frequency direction of the product of one of the Fourier transform signals and the complex conjugate of the other of each Fourier transform signal Complex autocorrelation coefficient, or , Of the complex autocorrelation function of each frequency direction of the above product, of the complex autocorrelation coefficient of each frequency direction, of the complex autocorrelation function of each spatially different direction, based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient of each direction And (3) calculating means for obtaining a three-dimensional spatial inclination of the displacement of the tissue in the three-dimensional area and / or an amount calculated from the spatial inclination between the two times (36) the spatial inclination and / or the spatial inclination It is characterized by further comprising display means for displaying the amount calculated from the spatial inclination.

Here, in the seventh to twelfth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, the arithmetic means is one of a plurality of spatially and / or temporally smoothed complex self in each direction. It is preferable that the correlation coefficient is obtained, and the spatial inclination and / or the amount calculated from the spatial inclination is obtained based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient. Also, the above first to first
In the sixth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the amount calculated from the spatial inclination includes, for example, the spatial inclination of velocity obtained by dividing the spatial inclination by the time interval of the two times. .

In any of the seventh to twelfth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, the display means assigns the spatial inclination and / or the absolute value of the amount calculated from the spatial inclination to luminance or color. Instead of or in addition to this, the display means displays the direction of the spatial inclination and / or the vector of the amount calculated from the spatial inclination in a color corresponding to the direction, with an arrow. ,
It is preferable to display using at least one selected from the group consisting of line segments and streamlines.

In any of the first to twelfth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses of the present invention, it is preferable to provide clutter removing means for separating and extracting blood flow information from clutter information.

[0075]

First, the principle of the present invention will be described. However, the description of the same parts as those of the conventional method described above will be omitted. (Detection of One-Dimensional Displacement—Part 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram in which the complex conjugate product M (f) obtained by the above-mentioned equation (3) is displayed as a vector.

The phase θ (f) of the complex conjugate product calculated according to the equation (3) is shown in the equation (4), and is represented by a straight line passing through the origin when the frequency f is used as a variable. this,
When displayed as a vector as shown in FIG. 1, it is represented as a vector that overlaps with the real part axis at the origin and spirally rotates according to the change of the frequency f. The rotation amount of this vector corresponds to the displacement.

Conventional Proposal (Japanese Patent Application No. 6-49215, mentioned above)
(See Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.), the phase of the complex conjugate product M (f) ((4)
Equation (5) is used to obtain the displacement dt, so that the phase θ (f) included in Equation (5) is −π.
Only ~ + π can be expressed, and aliasing occurs. On the other hand, in the first ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the complex autocorrelation coefficient P in the frequency direction of the complex conjugate product M (f), that is,

[0078]

[Equation 22]

Is calculated. However, n represents an integer, and n = 1 is typically adopted. Also, * represents a complex conjugate. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the complex autocorrelation coefficient P shown in Expression (32). When the complex autocorrelation coefficient P shown in equation (32) is obtained, the displacement is as shown in FIG.
It appears as an angle with the real part axis of the vector shown in FIG. In this case, unless the integer n in the equation (32) is set to an abnormally large value, the phase difference between the phase of the complex conjugate product M (f) and the phase of the complex conjugate product M (f + nΔf) is −π to + π.
2 is not exceeded, and therefore the angle, that is, the displacement shown in FIG. 2 can be accurately obtained without causing the problem of aliasing. That is, here, the displacement dt is

[0080]

(Equation 23)

It is calculated based on However, ∠ represents the angle,

[0082]

[Equation 24]

Is as follows. (Detection of Two-Dimensional Displacement—Part 1) A second ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is a two-dimensional extension of the concept of the first ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus described above. Using the complex conjugate product M (f, x) of the two-dimensional displacements dt and dx in the fault plane,

[0084]

(Equation 25)

[0085]

(Equation 26)

It is obtained by (Detection of Three-Dimensional Displacement—Part 1) A third ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is a three-dimensional extension of the concept of the first ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Using the complex conjugate product M (f, X, Y) obtained by the three-dimensional calculation, the three-dimensional displacements dt, dx, dy in the subject are respectively

[0087]

[Equation 27]

[0088]

[Equation 28]

[0089]

[Equation 29]

(Detection of One-Dimensional Displacement—Part 2) The fourth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is a complex self-phase in the frequency direction of the complex autocorrelation function of the complex conjugate product M (f) in the frequency direction. The displacement is calculated based on the number of relations. The complex autocorrelation function N (i) in the frequency direction of the complex conjugate product M (f) is

[0091]

[Equation 30]

It is represented by Here, the coefficient i corresponds to the distance in the frequency direction between the complex conjugate product M (f) and the complex conjugate product M (f + iΔf), and iΔf has a frequency dimension, and if Δf is constant, this complex self Correlation function N
(I) is also a function having the frequency iΔf as a variable. FIG.
Is the complex autocorrelation function N (i) obtained by the above equation (39).
It is a schematic diagram which vector-displayed.

This i is referred to as "lag" here. When the equation (40) is calculated for various lags i, a complex autocorrelation function having a vector defined for each lag i is obtained as shown in FIG. Therefore, by obtaining the complex autocorrelation coefficient P in the direction of the lag i (direction of the frequency iΔf) of the complex autocorrelation function N (i), a highly accurate displacement dt considering various lags i can be obtained. . That is,
The complex autocorrelation coefficient P is

[0094]

[Equation 31]

The displacement dt obtained as

[0096]

[Equation 32]

It is calculated by (Detection of Two-Dimensional Displacement—Part 2) A fifth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is a two-dimensional extension of the concept of the fourth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus described above.
The two-dimensional displacements dt and dx are respectively

[0098]

[Expression 33]

[0099]

(Equation 34)

It is calculated by (Detection of Three-Dimensional Displacement—Part 2) A sixth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is a three-dimensional extension of the concept of the above-mentioned fourth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
The three-dimensional displacements dt, dx, dy are respectively

[0101]

[Equation 35]

[0102]

[Equation 36]

[0103]

(37)

It is calculated by The spatial inclinations of the displacements dt, dx, and dy obtained as described above are known as distortions and are extremely useful information. However, as described below, the complex conjugate products M (f) (or M (f , X), M
Of the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction of (f, X, Y),
Based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the spatial direction, it is possible to obtain the spatial inclination with high accuracy and without causing the problem of aliasing due to the abrupt change of the displacement. (Detection of Spatial Tilt of One-Dimensional Displacement—Part 1) The seventh ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention adopts the above concept to obtain the spatial tilt of one-dimensional displacement along the scanning line. is there.

The complex conjugate product M (f) shown in the above equation (3) at each depth t _i along the scanning line is represented by M _i (f), and the complex conjugate product M shown in the above equation (32). When the complex autocorrelation coefficient P in the frequency direction of (f) is represented by P (i),
Equation (32) is

[0106]

(38)

It is represented by This complex autocorrelation coefficient P
The complex autocorrelation coefficient Q in the depth direction of (i) is

[0108]

[Formula 39]

It is represented by The spatial inclination dt ′ of the displacement dt in the depth direction is

[0110]

(Equation 40)

However, Δt represents the interval between two calculation points adjacent to each other in the depth direction. Is calculated based on. However,

[0112]

[Formula 41]

It is (Detection of Two-Dimensional Spatial Inclination—Part 1) The eighth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is a two-dimensional extension of the concept of the seventh ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The spatial inclinations dt ′ and dx ′ of the displacement in the direction of the depth t and in the direction orthogonal to the depth direction are respectively

[0114]

(Equation 42)

[0115]

[Equation 43]

It is calculated based on The method of adding subscripts and their meanings are the same as the above-described arithmetic expressions for obtaining the spatial inclination of the one-dimensional displacement. (Detection of Spatial Displacement of Three-Dimensional Displacement—Part 1) A ninth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is a three-dimensional extension of the concept of the seventh ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The spatial inclinations dt ', dx', and dy 'of various displacements are

[0117]

[Equation 44]

[0118]

[Equation 45]

[0119]

[Equation 46]

It is calculated based on In addition, the seventh to ninth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses of the present invention calculate the spatial inclination of the displacement as follows, of the complex autocorrelation function of the complex conjugate product in the frequency direction of the complex autocorrelation function of the frequency direction, It may be obtained from the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the spatial direction. (Here, only the case of 3 dimensions is described)

[0121]

[Equation 47]

Further, the spatial inclination of displacement is calculated from the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the spatial direction of the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction of the complex conjugate product as follows. It may be what you want. (Detection of Spatial Slope of One-Dimensional Displacement—Part 3) In the tenth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, as described above, the spatial slope of displacement is calculated by calculating the complex autocorrelation coefficient of the complex conjugate product in the frequency direction. Is obtained from the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the spatial direction of the complex autocorrelation function in the spatial direction. That is,
The spatial inclination dt ′ of the displacement in the scanning line direction (depth direction) is

[0123]

[Equation 48]

I represents the position in the depth direction, and Δt represents the distance between the position i and the position i + 1. Further, j represents a lag in the depth direction. (Detection of Two-Dimensional Spatial Tilt of Displacement—Part 3) An eleventh ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention uses the spatial tilt of the displacement in the tenth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as a frequency of a complex conjugate product. This is a two-dimensional extension of the concept of obtaining the complex autocorrelation coefficient of a direction from the complex autocorrelation function of a direction of a complex autocorrelation function of a spatial direction. That is, the spatial inclinations dt 'and dx' of the two-dimensional displacement in the fault plane are
Respectively,

[0125]

[Equation 49]

[0126]

[Equation 50]

(Detection of Spatial Slope of Three-Dimensional Displacement—Part 3) A twelfth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention uses the complex conjugate of the spatial gradient of the displacement in the tenth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. This is a three-dimensional extension of the concept of the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction of the product, the complex autocorrelation function in the spatial direction, and the complex autocorrelation coefficient in that direction. That is, the spatial inclinations dt ′, dx ′, d of the three-dimensional displacement
y'is

[0128]

(Equation 51)

[0129]

[Equation 52]

[0130]

[Equation 53]

It is calculated by The tenth aspect of the present invention
The twelfth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus calculates the spatial inclination of displacement as follows by calculating the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction of the complex autocorrelation function of the complex conjugate in the frequency direction and the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the spatial direction. The autocorrelation function may be obtained based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the spatial direction. (Here, only the case of 3 dimensions is described)

[0132]

[Equation 54]

In the case of obtaining the spatial inclination of displacement by the various methods described above, the displacement direction and the spatial inclination direction of the displacement are aligned in the various methods described above. The displacement direction and the spatial inclination direction may be different from each other, for example, the inclination is obtained, and the displacement direction is appropriately selected according to the desired spatial inclination direction of the desired displacement direction. The present invention detects the displacement and the spatial inclination of the displacement by the calculation based on the above-mentioned principle, and the displacement measurement and the strain measurement, which have been considered difficult to realize in the past, can be easily and accurately performed in real time. Therefore, the distribution of displacement, velocity, strain, and strain velocity can be obtained and displayed.

In displaying the displacement or the like, if the absolute value of the displacement or the like is assigned to the brightness or the color and displayed, the distribution of the magnitude of the displacement or the like can be easily and clearly observed, and the direction of the vector of the displacement or the like can be changed. When the color, arrow, line segment, or streamline corresponding to is displayed, the distribution of the displacement direction is displayed in an easy-to-understand form.

[0135]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. 20 to 23, the same elements as those of the conventional example described with reference to FIGS. 20 to 23 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of FIGS. 20 to 23. A duplicate description will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of its operation. In the data cut-out means 15 and 16, from the two reception signals along the scan line # 1 obtained at the time of transmission timing 1 and the time of transmission timing 2 shown in FIG.
Each received signal portion carrying information in a predetermined section along 1 is cut out while sliding the predetermined section little by little. The received signal portions that are cut out by sliding little by little in this way are named BIN1, BIN2, ....

In this way, each data cutting means 15, 1
6, the received signal portions BIN1, BIN2, ... Of the received signals cut out by the respective 6 are the Fourier transform means 20,
It is input to 21 and Fourier-transformed, respectively. The Fourier transform signal obtained by the Fourier transform means 20 is directly
It is input to the complex multiplication means 23. The Fourier transform signal obtained by the Fourier transform unit 21 is input to the complex conjugate calculation unit 22 to calculate its complex conjugate, and then input to the complex multiplication unit 23. In the complex multiplication means 23,
The received signal portions corresponding to each other of the two received signals obtained at the time of transmission timing 1 and the time of transmission timing 2 cut out by the two data cutting means 15 and 16, that is, between BIN1 and BIN2 ,. Complex multiplication of the Fourier transform signal (or its complex conjugate) is performed. As a result, each complex conjugate product M (f) of BIN1, BIN2, ... Is obtained. This is equation (3) above.
Is equivalent to the calculation of.

The complex conjugate product M (f) calculated by the complex multiplication means 23 is input to the complex autocorrelation calculation means 41.
The complex autocorrelation calculation means 23 performs the complex autocorrelation calculation in the direction of the frequency f of the input complex conjugate product M (f) to obtain the complex autocorrelation coefficient P. This calculation corresponds to the calculation of the above-mentioned expression (32). The complex autocorrelation coefficient P is input to the phase calculation means 42 to obtain its phase ∠P, and the multiplication means 43 multiplies the coefficient 1 / (2πnΔf), thereby calculating the displacement dt in the depth direction. To be done.
This calculation corresponds to the above-mentioned expression (33).

The displacement dt thus calculated is sent to the display means 44, and the display means 44 displays the displacement. The display mode will be described later. Although the scan line # 1 has been described above, the same applies to each scan line after # 2. FIG. 6 is a configuration block diagram of a second embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the invention.

The difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is that two complex autocorrelation calculating means 411 and 412 are provided. The complex autocorrelation calculation means 411 obtains the complex autocorrelation function in the frequency direction of the input complex conjugate product M (f), and the complex autocorrelation calculation means 412 calculates the frequency direction (lag direction) of the complex autocorrelation function. The complex autocorrelation coefficient of is calculated. This is based on Equation (40) and (4
This corresponds to the calculation of the equation 1). In the phase calculating means 42 and the multiplying means 43, the calculation corresponding to the above-mentioned expression (42) is performed.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the operation sequence of the embodiment shown in FIG. In the operation sequence shown in FIG. 8, each scanning number # 1, # 2, and each scanning timing
.., #N are sequentially transmitted and received along the scanning lines, whereby two two-dimensional images of frame 1 and frame 2 are obtained. The data cutting means 15 and 16 cut out the predetermined areas of the frames 1 and 2 while sliding them. The Fourier transforming means 20, 21, the complex conjugating means 22, and the complex multiplying means 23 perform a two-dimensional calculation on the two frequency axes f, X, and the complex autocorrelation calculating means 41a, 41b respectively calculate the frequency f, Complex autocorrelation coefficient for each X

[0142]

[Equation 55]

[0143]

[Equation 56]

Is calculated, and the phase calculating means 42a, 42b
Then, the phases of the respective complex autocorrelation coefficients are obtained, and the respective coefficients 1 / (2πnΔf), 1 / are calculated by the multiplication means 43a and 43b.
(2πnΔX) is multiplied, whereby each displacement dt, d
x is required. This corresponds to the calculation of the equations (35) and (36). Incidentally, the complex autocorrelation calculation means 41 of FIG.
a and 41b, a complex autocorrelation function in each frequency f, X direction is obtained, and each frequency f, X of each complex autocorrelation function is obtained.
A complex autocorrelation coefficient in the direction (each lag direction) may be obtained. This corresponds to a two-dimensional extension of the one-dimensional embodiment of FIG. At that time, in this embodiment, the displacement d based on the above equations (43) and (44) is used.
Calculation of t and dx is performed.

FIG. 9 is another operation sequence diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG. Here, ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the probe 12 so as to spread over a fairly wide range within the subject, and the receiving side obtains received signals along a plurality of scanning lines # 1 to #N by one transmission. The integer addition is performed as follows. In the operation sequence shown in FIG. 8, each scanning line is obtained at sequentially shifted times even in one frame, but in the operation sequence shown in FIG. 9, frames carrying information at the same time can be obtained.

FIG. 10 shows a fourth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.
11 is a configuration block diagram of the embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of the embodiment shown in FIG. The probe 12 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 10 is provided with ultrasonic transducers (not shown) arranged two-dimensionally, and two-dimensionally in the x direction and the y direction at each transmission timing. Received signals along a large number of scanning lines # 1,1 to # N, N arranged in a regular manner are obtained, and this is repeated, so that two three-dimensional frames 1 and 2 carrying three-dimensional information in the subject are obtained. can get. In the data cutout means 15 and 16, the three-dimensional areas in the three-dimensional frames 1 and 2 are cut out while being sequentially slid. In the Fourier transforming means 20, 21, the complex conjugating means 22, and the complex multiplying means 23, three-dimensional calculation is performed on the three frequency axes f, X, Y, and the complex conjugate product M (f, X, Y) is obtained. Desired.

This complex conjugate product M (f, X, Y) is input to each complex autocorrelation calculating means 41a, 41b, 41c, and each frequency f, X, of the complex conjugate product M (f, X, Y) is inputted. Y
The complex autocorrelation coefficient of the direction is obtained, and each phase calculating means 4
2a, 42b, and 42c determine their respective phases, and each multiplication means 43a, 43b, and 43c calculates each coefficient 1 / (2πn).
Δf), 1 / (2πnΔX), and 1 / (2πnΔY) are multiplied to obtain the three-dimensional displacements dt, dx, dy. This corresponds to the calculation of the expressions (37) to (39).

The complex autocorrelation calculation means 41 shown in FIG.
a, 41b, 41c obtain complex autocorrelation functions in the respective frequencies f, X, Y directions, and calculate complex autocorrelation coefficients in the respective frequencies f, X, Y directions (each lag direction) of the respective complex autocorrelation functions. It may be what you want. This corresponds to a three-dimensional extension of the embodiment of FIG. At that time, in this embodiment, the displacement d based on the above equations (45) to (47) is used.
Calculation of t, dx, dy will be performed.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another operation sequence of the embodiment shown in FIG. This is a three-dimensional extension of the operation sequence shown in FIG. 9 in the embodiment of FIG. 7, and a three-dimensional frame carrying information at the same time can be obtained. FIG. 13 is a configuration block diagram of a fifth embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the invention. In each of the following embodiments, in order to avoid complexity, only a one-dimensional example is shown and described, but the same applies to the two-dimensional and three-dimensional cases.

This embodiment is provided with two complex autocorrelation means 413 and 414, and the complex autocorrelation calculation means 413 obtains the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction for each depth t _i. . This is (4)
It corresponds to the equation (8). In the complex autocorrelation calculation means 414,
A complex autocorrelation coefficient in the depth direction of the complex autocorrelation coefficient P (i) in the frequency direction obtained by the complex autocorrelation calculation means 413 is obtained. This corresponds to the above-mentioned formula (49).
The phase calculation means 42 obtains the phase, and the multiplication means 4
In 3, the coefficient 1 / (2πnΔfjΔt) is multiplied to obtain the spatial inclination dt ′ of the displacement in the depth direction (see the equation (50)).

FIG. 14 is a sixth ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention.
It is a block diagram of a configuration of an embodiment. In this embodiment, three complex autocorrelation calculating means 418, 419, 420 are provided, and each complex autocorrelation means 418, 419, 420 is provided.
Then, the complex autocorrelation function in the frequency direction, the complex autocorrelation coefficient of the complex autocorrelation function in the frequency direction (lag direction), and the complex autocorrelation coefficient of the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the depth direction are Desired. As a result, also in this embodiment, the spatial inclination dt 'of the displacement in the depth direction can be obtained (see the equation (57), which is an arithmetic expression for a three-dimensional case).

FIG. 15 is a seventh ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention.
It is a block diagram of a configuration of an embodiment. Also in this embodiment, three complex autocorrelation calculation means 415, 416, 417 are provided, and each complex autocorrelation calculation means 415, 416, 416.
In 417, the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction, the complex autocorrelation function in the depth direction of the complex autocorrelation coefficient, and the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the depth direction (lag direction) of the complex autocorrelation function, respectively. Is required. As a result, in this embodiment, the spatial inclination dt 'of the displacement in the depth direction is obtained based on the equation (58).

FIG. 16 shows an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram of a configuration of an embodiment. In this embodiment, there are four complex autocorrelation calculation means 421, 422, 423, 424.
Are provided, and each complex autocorrelation calculation means 421, 4
22, 423, and 424, the complex autocorrelation function in the frequency direction, the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction (lag direction) of the complex autocorrelation function, and the complex autocorrelation coefficient are considered to be functions in the depth direction, respectively. Of the complex autocorrelation function of the complex autocorrelation coefficient of
The complex autocorrelation coefficient in the depth direction (lag direction) is obtained. As a result, also in this embodiment, the spatial inclination dt ′ of the displacement in the depth direction can be obtained (see the equation (64) which is the arithmetic expression for the three-dimensional case).

Each of the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 16 can be expanded in two dimensions and three dimensions, but since the expansion is obvious from the above description, here Then, illustration and description of an example expanded to two dimensions and three dimensions will be omitted. 17 to 19 are diagrams showing each display mode of the displacement displayed on the display means 44.

FIG. 17 is a display example in which the absolute value of displacement is associated with color or luminance. For example, a hard tissue such as a tumor appears on the screen as a region with small displacement. FIG.
8 and 19 are diagrams showing the displacement direction (vector) in the display of the absolute value of the displacement shown in FIG. 17, respectively, by streamlines or arrows. With such a display, both the magnitude (absolute value) of the displacement and the displacement direction (vector) can be easily observed.

Although the displacement is displayed here, it is not limited to the displacement, and the spatial inclination of the displacement or the displacement or an amount calculated from the spatial inclination, for example, the velocity (displacement / T) described above, The strain rate or the like may be detected and displayed.

[0157]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The displacement, the spatial inclination of the displacement, and the like can be accurately obtained with a small amount of calculation and without causing aliasing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a complex conjugate product as a vector display.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a complex autocorrelation coefficient of a complex conjugate product.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram in which a complex autocorrelation function of a complex conjugate product is displayed as a vector.

FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of a first embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the invention.

5 is an operation explanatory diagram of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a configuration block diagram of a second embodiment of the first ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration block diagram of a third embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the invention.

8 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of the embodiment shown in FIG.

9 is a diagram showing another operation sequence of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a configuration block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the invention.

11 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of the embodiment shown in FIG.

12 is a diagram showing another operation sequence of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a configuration block diagram of a fifth embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a configuration block diagram of a sixth embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 15 is a configuration block diagram of a seventh embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a configuration block diagram of an eighth embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a display mode of displacement displayed on display means.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a display mode of displacement displayed on display means.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a display mode of displacement displayed on display means.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that detects movements of tissues and the like in a subject using cross-correlation.

FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagram showing the timing of ultrasonic wave transmission / reception and the manner of cutting out a received signal.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a two-dimensional cross-correlation calculation result.

FIG. 23 is a configuration block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that detects a two-dimensional movement of a tissue or the like in a subject.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Ultrasonic Diagnostic Device 11 Transmitting System 12 Probe 13 Receiving System 14 Memory 15, 16 Data Slicing Means 19 Displaying Means 20, 21 Fourier Transforming Means 22 Complex Conjugate Calculating Means 23 Complex Multiplying Means 41, 41a, 41b, 41c, 411, 412 and 41
3,414,415,416,417,418,41
9, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424 complex autocorrelation calculation means 42 phase calculation means 43 multiplication means 44 display means

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into a subject, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject to obtain a reception signal, and displaying an image inside the subject based on the reception signal. , Transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves a plurality of times while obtaining a plurality of reception signals carrying information in the subject along the same scanning line extending in the subject, and a transmitting and receiving means which is obtained at two different times. One of the one-dimensional Fourier transform signals of each received signal portion carrying information within a predetermined section along the scan line, which is cut out from each of the two received signals carrying information along the scan line, and each one-dimensional Fourier transform signal On the basis of the autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction of the product of the other complex conjugate of and the displacement in the direction along the scan line of the tissue in the predetermined section between the two times and / or the displacement. Operator to find the amount to be stored When ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising a display means for displaying the amount calculated from the displacement and / or displacement. 2. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into a subject, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject to obtain a reception signal, and displaying an image inside the subject based on the reception signal. , Transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves a plurality of times to obtain a plurality of received signals carrying information in the subject along the same tomographic plane spreading in the subject, and the same transmitting and receiving means obtained at two different times. One of the two-dimensional Fourier transform signals of the respective received signal portions carrying the information within the predetermined area in the tomographic plane, which are cut out from the two received signals bearing the information along the tomographic plane, and the respective two-dimensional Fourier transform signals Is calculated from the displacement in the tomographic plane of the tissue in the predetermined area and / or the displacement between the two times based on the autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction of the product of the other complex conjugate of Calculation means for determining the amount An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays the displacement and / or the amount calculated from the displacement. 3. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into a subject, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject to obtain a reception signal, and displaying an image inside the subject based on the reception signal. , Transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves a plurality of times to obtain a plurality of received signals carrying three-dimensional information of each point within the subject, and three-dimensional inside the subject obtained at two different times One of the three-dimensional Fourier transform signals of the respective reception signal portions carrying the information in the predetermined three-dimensional area in the subject, which are cut out from the respective two reception signals carrying the information of each specific point, and the respective three
Based on the autocorrelation coefficient of each frequency direction of the product of the two-dimensional Fourier transform signal with the other complex conjugate, the three-dimensional displacement of the tissue in the three-dimensional area and / or the displacement between the two time points. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a calculation unit that obtains an amount calculated from the above; and a display unit that displays the displacement and / or the amount calculated from the displacement. 4. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into a subject, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject to obtain a received signal, and displaying an image inside the subject based on the received signal. , Transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves a plurality of times while obtaining a plurality of reception signals carrying information in the subject along the same scanning line extending in the subject, and a transmitting and receiving means which is obtained at two different times. One of the one-dimensional Fourier transform signals of each received signal portion carrying information within a predetermined section along the scan line, which is cut out from each of the two received signals carrying information along the scan line, and each one-dimensional Fourier transform signal Of the complex autocorrelation function in the frequency direction of the product of the other complex conjugate of the following, along the scan line of the tissue in the predetermined section between the two times. Directional displacement and / or Calculating means for determining the amount to be calculated from the displacement, the displacement and / or ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising a display means for displaying the amount calculated from the displacement. 5. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into a subject, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject to obtain a reception signal, and displaying an image inside the subject based on the reception signal. , Transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves a plurality of times to obtain a plurality of received signals carrying information in the subject along the same tomographic plane spreading in the subject, and the same transmitting and receiving means obtained at two different times. One of the two-dimensional Fourier transform signals of the respective received signal portions carrying the information within the predetermined area in the tomographic plane, which are cut out from the two received signals bearing the information along the tomographic plane, and the respective two-dimensional Fourier transform signals Based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient of each frequency direction of the complex autocorrelation function of each frequency direction of the product with the other complex conjugate of the cross section plane of the tissue in the predetermined area between the two times. And / or the displacement within Calculating means for determining the amount to be al calculated, the displacement and / or ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising a display means for displaying the amount calculated from the displacement. 6. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into a subject, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject to obtain a reception signal, and displaying an image inside the subject based on the reception signal. , Transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves a plurality of times to obtain a plurality of received signals carrying three-dimensional information of each point within the subject, and three-dimensional inside the subject obtained at two different times One of the three-dimensional Fourier transform signals of the respective reception signal portions carrying the information in the predetermined three-dimensional area in the subject, which are cut out from the respective two reception signals carrying the information of each specific point, and the respective three
Tissue in the cubic area between the two times based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient in each frequency direction of the complex autocorrelation function in each frequency direction of the product of the two-dimensional Fourier transform signal with the other complex conjugate Ultrasonic wave, comprising: a three-dimensional displacement and / or a calculation unit that obtains an amount calculated from the displacement; and a display unit that displays the displacement and / or the amount calculated from the displacement. Diagnostic device. 7. The calculation means obtains a complex autocorrelation coefficient in one or more frequency directions, which is spatially and / or temporally smoothed, and the complex autocorrelation coefficient is calculated based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a displacement and / or an amount calculated from the displacement is obtained. 8. A velocity calculated by dividing the displacement by the time interval of the two times, a spatial slope of the displacement, a spatial slope of the velocity, and The ultrasonic wave according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the ultrasonic wave is one or more selected from the group consisting of an amount obtained by dividing the spatial inclination of the displacement by the time interval. Diagnostic device. 9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the displacement and / or the absolute value of the amount calculated from the displacement by allocating it to brightness or color. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to item 1. 10. The display means selects a direction of the displacement and / or a vector of an amount calculated from the displacement from a group consisting of a color, an arrow, a line segment, and a streamline according to the direction. 10. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is displayed by using at least one of the above. 11. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into a subject, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject to obtain a reception signal, and displaying an image inside the subject based on the reception signal. , Transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves a plurality of times while obtaining a plurality of reception signals carrying information in the subject along the same scanning line extending in the subject, and a transmitting and receiving means which is obtained at two different times. One of the one-dimensional Fourier transform signals of each received signal portion carrying information within a predetermined section along the scan line, which is cut out from each of the two received signals carrying information along the scan line, and each one-dimensional Fourier transform signal Of the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction of the product of the other complex conjugate of, or the complex autocorrelation coefficient of the product in the frequency direction, or the complex autocorrelation function of the product in the frequency direction Autocorrelation coefficient , Based on a complex autocorrelation coefficient in the direction along the scan line, from the spatial inclination of displacement of the tissue in the predetermined section in the direction along the scan line and / or the spatial inclination between the two times. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a calculation unit that obtains a calculated amount; and a display unit that displays the spatial inclination and / or the amount calculated from the spatial inclination. 12. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into a subject, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject to obtain a reception signal, and displaying an image inside the subject based on the reception signal. , Transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves a plurality of times to obtain a plurality of received signals carrying information in the subject along the same tomographic plane spreading in the subject, and the same transmitting and receiving means obtained at two different times. One of the two-dimensional Fourier transform signals of the respective received signal portions carrying the information within the predetermined area in the tomographic plane, which are cut out from the two received signals bearing the information along the tomographic plane, and the respective two-dimensional Fourier transform signals Of the complex autocorrelation coefficient in each frequency direction of the product with the other complex conjugate of, the complex autocorrelation coefficient in each different direction in the tomographic plane, or of the complex autocorrelation function of each frequency direction of the product , In each frequency direction Spatial inclination of displacement in the tomographic plane of the tissue in the predetermined area between the two times based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient of the elementary autocorrelation coefficient in each different direction in the tomographic plane. And / or an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a calculation unit that obtains an amount calculated from the spatial inclination; and a display unit that displays the spatial inclination and / or an amount calculated from the spatial inclination. 13. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into a subject, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject to obtain a reception signal, and displaying an image inside the subject based on the reception signal. , Transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves a plurality of times to obtain a plurality of received signals carrying three-dimensional information of each point within the subject, and three-dimensional inside the subject obtained at two different times One of the three-dimensional Fourier transform signals of the respective reception signal portions carrying the information in the predetermined three-dimensional area in the subject, which are cut out from the respective two reception signals carrying the information of each specific point, and the respective three
The complex autocorrelation coefficient in each frequency direction of the complex autocorrelation coefficient in each frequency direction of the product of the two-dimensional Fourier transform signal with the other complex conjugate, or the complex autocorrelation function of the product in each frequency direction Of the complex autocorrelation coefficient of each frequency direction based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient of each direction different from each other in space, the three-dimensional displacement of the tissue in the three-dimensional area between the two time points. An ultrasonic wave, comprising: a calculation means for obtaining a specific spatial inclination and / or an amount calculated from the spatial inclination; and a display means for displaying the spatial inclination and / or an amount calculated from the spatial inclination. Diagnostic device. 14. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into a subject, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject to obtain a reception signal, and displaying an image inside the subject based on the reception signal. , Transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves a plurality of times while obtaining a plurality of reception signals carrying information in the subject along the same scanning line extending in the subject, and a transmitting and receiving means which is obtained at two different times. One of the one-dimensional Fourier transform signals of each received signal portion carrying information within a predetermined section along the scan line, which is cut out from each of the two received signals carrying information along the scan line, and each one-dimensional Fourier transform signal The complex autocorrelation coefficient in the frequency direction of the product of the other complex conjugate of, the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the direction along the scan line, the complex autocorrelation coefficient in the direction along the scan line,
Alternatively, of the complex autocorrelation function of the product in the frequency direction,
Based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient of the direction along the scan line of the complex autocorrelation coefficient of the frequency direction, the predetermined section between the two times based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient of the direction along the scan line. Computing means for obtaining a spatial inclination of the tissue in the direction along the scanning line and / or an amount calculated from the spatial inclination, and a display for displaying the spatial inclination and / or an amount calculated from the spatial inclination An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising means. 15. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into a subject, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject to obtain a reception signal, and displaying an image inside the subject based on the reception signal. , Transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves a plurality of times to obtain a plurality of received signals carrying information in the subject along the same tomographic plane spreading in the subject, and the same transmitting and receiving means obtained at two different times. One of the two-dimensional Fourier transform signals of the respective received signal portions carrying the information within the predetermined area in the tomographic plane, which are cut out from the two received signals bearing the information along the tomographic plane, and the respective two-dimensional Fourier transform signals Of the complex autocorrelation coefficient in each frequency direction of the product with the other complex conjugate of, the complex autocorrelation coefficient of each direction of the complex autocorrelation function of each different direction in the tomographic plane,
Alternatively, the complex autocorrelation function of each direction of the complex autocorrelation function of each frequency direction of the product, the complex autocorrelation function of each frequency direction of the complex autocorrelation function of each direction different from each other in the tomographic plane, Calculating means for obtaining the spatial inclination of the tissue in the predetermined area and / or the amount calculated from the spatial inclination between the two times based on the number; And / or a display unit that displays an amount calculated from the spatial inclination. 16. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into a subject, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected in the subject to obtain a reception signal, and displaying an image inside the subject based on the reception signal. , Transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves a plurality of times to obtain a plurality of received signals carrying three-dimensional information of each point within the subject, and three-dimensional inside the subject obtained at two different times One of the respective Fourier transform signals of the respective received signal portions carrying the information in the predetermined three-dimensional area in the subject, which are cut out from the respective two received signals carrying the information of each specific point, and the other of the Fourier transformed signals Of the complex autocorrelation coefficient in each frequency direction of the product with the complex conjugate of, the complex autocorrelation coefficient of each direction in the spatially different mutually different directions, or each frequency direction of the product Frequency of the complex autocorrelation function of Based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient of each direction of the complex autocorrelation function of each of the complex autocorrelation coefficients of each of the spatial directions of the tissue in the three-dimensional area between the two times. A three-dimensional spatial inclination of the displacement and / or an arithmetic means for obtaining an amount calculated from the spatial inclination; and a display means for displaying the spatial inclination and / or an amount calculated from the spatial inclination. Characteristic ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. 17. The calculation means obtains a spatially and / or temporally smoothed complex autocorrelation coefficient in each of one or more spatial directions, and based on the complex autocorrelation coefficient. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus obtains the spatial inclination and / or an amount calculated from the spatial inclination. 18. The amount calculated from the spatial inclination is a spatial inclination of velocity obtained by dividing the spatial inclination by the time interval of the two times. 18. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 17. 19. The display means displays the space inclination and / or
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that an absolute value of an amount calculated from the spatial inclination is assigned to brightness or color and displayed. 20. The display means comprises the space tilt and / or
Or, the direction of the vector of the quantity calculated from the spatial inclination is
The display is performed by using at least one selected from the group consisting of a color corresponding to a direction, an arrow, a line segment, and a streamline. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus described.