JPH11326A - Ultrasonic image diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it easier to view an area of concern and a measurement by preventing the area of concern from overlapping with the measurement, without requiring a complex operation. SOLUTION: This ultrasonic image diagnostic device displays an ultrasonic image of a subject, and displays a measurement in the area of concern of the displayed ultrasonic image at the same time that the ultrasonic image is displayed. In this case, the device includes an image display position control circuit 19 which controls setting of the display position of the ultrasonic image or measurement so that the area of concern in the ultrasonic image does not overlap with the measurement, and the device displays the ultrasonic image or measurement according to the control of setting by the image display position control circuit 19.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus which displays an ultrasonic image on a screen and displays a measurement value obtained by measuring a region of interest of the ultrasonic image on the ultrasonic image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves are performed to display an ultrasonic image of a subject. In this case, first, when an ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the ultrasonic probe to the inside of the subject, a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave from the inside of the subject is received by the ultrasonic probe. The reflected wave is converted into an electric signal, and the signal processing circuit performs a process for forming an ultrasonic image. Thereafter, the received signal is sent to a display circuit, and a final ultrasonic image is displayed.

Further, in a recent ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic image is displayed on a screen, and a part of interest in the ultrasonic image, for example, a size or area of a fetus is measured. The measured values are displayed superimposed on the ultrasonic image. For example, as shown in FIG.
Measured value of PD, fetal head circumference HC, abdominal circumference AC etc. 5
5 is superimposed on the ultrasonic image 51 and displayed.

However, as shown in FIG. 5, a region of interest 53 in an ultrasonic image 51 and a measured value 5 are displayed on a limited screen.
When 5 is superimposed and displayed, both the region of interest 53 and the measured value 55 are difficult to see.

For this reason, an image switch for turning on / off the ultrasonic image and a measurement switch for turning on / off the measured value are provided to prevent the region of interest 53 and the measured value 55 from overlapping and becoming difficult to see. In this case, set the image switch to O
When N, the measurement switch is turned off to display an ultrasonic image, and when the image switch is turned off, the measurement value is displayed by turning on the measurement switch.

[0006]

However, although the ultrasonic image can be turned off or the measurement value can be turned off, this method is not a fundamental solution, but requires an extra operation of turning the ultrasonic image on or off. Was needed.

[0007] In addition, an ultrasonic image can be panned at an arbitrary position.
There is a function of (moving) or ZOOMing and storing the position of the ultrasonic image for each ultrasonic probe. However,
Since the purpose of storing an arbitrary image display position is for image diagnosis, the unit that can be stored is also for each ultrasonic probe, and depending on the diagnosis site and the ultrasonic probe, the region of interest and the measurement value may overlap. There was sometimes.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus capable of making it easy to see a region of interest and a measured value without overlapping a region of interest and a measured value without complicated operation. As an issue.

[0009]

The present invention has the following arrangement to solve the above-mentioned problems. The invention according to claim 1 displays an ultrasonic image of a subject obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave to and from a subject, and measures a measured value in a region of interest of the displayed ultrasonic image by an ultrasonic image. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus for displaying simultaneously, the display area control means for setting and controlling the display position of the ultrasonic image or the measurement value so that the region of interest of the ultrasonic image does not overlap with the measurement value. The ultrasonic image or the measured value is displayed based on setting control of the display position control means.

According to the present invention, the display position control means sets and controls the display position of the ultrasonic image or the measured value so that the region of interest of the ultrasonic image does not overlap the measured value. Since the ultrasonic image or the measured value is displayed based on the setting control, the region of interest and the measured value do not overlap, so that the region of interest and the measured value can be easily viewed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the display position control means sets a display position such that the region of interest of the ultrasonic image does not overlap with the measurement value for each subject, for each diagnostic site, or for a measurement function. A storage unit for storing the ultrasonic image or the measured value at a position stored in the storage unit.

According to the present invention, the display position such that the region of interest of the ultrasonic image does not overlap the measured value is stored for each subject, for each diagnostic site, or for each measurement function. Alternatively, even if the measurement function is changed, the region of interest and the measurement value do not overlap.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG.
The ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes an ultrasonic probe 11, a transmission / reception circuit 12, an image memory circuit 13, a display control unit 14, a display circuit 15, an image display position setting circuit 16, image display position memories 17a to 17c, diagnosis Part buttons 18a to 18
c, image display position control circuit 19, measurement control circuit 20, measurement value memory 21, measurement value display control circuit 22, control circuit 2
3.

The ultrasonic probe 11 transmits an ultrasonic wave into a subject (not shown) and receives an ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject. The transmission / reception circuit 12 controls transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves of the ultrasonic probe 11. The image memory circuit 13 converts the signal received by the transmission / reception circuit 12 into ultrasonic image data and stores it.

The display control section 14 controls the display circuit 15 to display the ultrasonic image data stored in the image memory circuit 13. The image display position setting circuit 16 sets the display position of the ultrasonic image based on the ultrasonic image data from the display control unit 14.

The image display position setting circuit 16 sets the display position of the ultrasonic image in advance so that the region of interest of the ultrasonic image does not overlap with the measured value for each diagnostic region of the subject, and sets the display position. It is stored in the image display position memories 17a to 17c. At this time, the image display position setting circuit 16 can adjust the display position of the ultrasonic image while watching the real-time image by controlling the image display position control circuit 19.

Each of the image display position memories 17a to 17c stores a display position of an ultrasonic image for each diagnostic part set by the image display position setting circuit 16. The image display position memory 17a stores the display position of the ultrasonic image of the abdomen, the image display position memory 17b stores the display position of the ultrasonic image of the body surface, and the image display position memory 17c stores the position of the heart. The display position of the ultrasonic image is stored. Diagnosis site button 18
a to 18c are provided corresponding to diagnostic sites such as the abdomen, body surface, and heart, and specify the diagnostic sites.

The image display position control circuit 19 controls the display circuit 15 using the display position data stored in the image display position memories 17a to 17c. The measurement control circuit 20
It performs various measurements of the region of interest in the ultrasonic image, for example, measures the circle size and area of the region of interest, and outputs a measurement execution signal to the image display position control circuit 19 when performing various measurements. . Image display position control circuit 19
When the measurement control circuit 20 performs various measurements, the measurement control circuit 20 receives a measurement execution signal from the measurement control circuit 20 and displays the measurement execution signal on the screen at the display position of the ultrasonic image stored in the image display position memories 17a to 17c. The displayed ultrasonic image is panned and displayed.

The measurement value memory 21 temporarily stores the measurement values measured by the measurement control circuit 20. The measurement value display control circuit 22 superimposes and displays the measurement value data stored in the measurement value memory 21 on the ultrasonic image. The control circuit 23 includes an image display position setting circuit 16, image display position memories 17a to 17
c, It controls the image display position control circuit 19, the measurement control circuit 20, the measurement value memory 21, and the measurement value display control circuit 22.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus thus configured will be described with reference to the drawings. First, when the transmission / reception circuit 12 gives a predetermined delay time to each channel and drives the ultrasonic probe 11 to transmit, ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 11 into the subject.

Then, the reflected wave inside the subject, for example, reflected from an organ is received by the ultrasonic probe 11.
The received reflected wave is converted into an electric signal by the transmission / reception circuit 12, and after a predetermined process for forming an ultrasonic image is performed, the ultrasonic image data is stored in the image memory circuit 13. Further, the display controller 14 controls the image memory circuit 13
And reads the ultrasound image data from the display circuit 15 and displays the ultrasound image on the display circuit 15.

Next, the setting of the display position of the ultrasonic image will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the image display position setting circuit 16 sets the display position of the ultrasonic image based on the ultrasonic image data from the display control unit 14 so that the region of interest of the ultrasonic image and the measurement value do not overlap each other for each diagnosis site. It is set (step S11).

Then, it is determined whether or not the display position is to be stored (step S13). When the display position is to be stored, it is determined where the diagnosis site is (step S1).
5). When the diagnosis site is determined, the display position is stored in the image display position memory for each diagnosis site (step S1).
7).

Here, the display position of the ultrasonic image is set so that the region of interest of the ultrasonic image of the abdomen does not overlap with the measured value, and the display position of the abdomen is stored in the image display position memory 17a. Similarly, the display position of the ultrasound image is set so that the region of interest of the ultrasound image of the body surface does not overlap with the measurement value, and the display position of the body surface is stored in the image display position memory 17b. Set the display position of the ultrasound image so that the region of interest and the measurement value of the ultrasound image of the heart do not overlap,
The display position of the heart is stored in the image display position memory 17c.

Further, it is determined whether or not to reset the display position (step S19). If the display position is to be reset, the process returns to step S11. If the display position is not to be reset, the process returns to step S11. The display position setting process ends.

If the display position is not stored in the image display position memory in step S13, the process proceeds to step S13.
Steps S15 and S17 are skipped, and the process proceeds to step S19.

Next, the display of the region of interest and the measured value of the ultrasonic image on the screen will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, it is determined whether the measurement of the measurement control circuit 20 has been performed (step S31).

The measurement control circuit 20 outputs a measurement execution signal to the image display position control circuit 19 when the measurement of the circle size, the area and the like of the region of interest of the ultrasonic image displayed on the screen is executed.

Next, it is determined whether or not to change the display position (step S33). When changing the display position, for example, the diagnosis part button 18a is pressed, and the abdomen is selected.

The image display position control circuit 19 receives the measurement execution signal from the measurement control circuit 20, and reads the display position of the ultrasonic image of the abdomen stored in the image display position memory 17a (step S35). Further, the image display position control circuit 19 PAN-displays the ultrasonic image displayed on the screen at the display position (step S3).
7).

When the measurement control circuit 20 measures the circle size and area of the region of interest of the ultrasonic image displayed on the screen, the measurement value is stored in the measurement value memory 21.
The measurement value data temporarily stored in the measurement value memory 21 is superimposed and displayed on the ultrasonic image by the measurement value display control circuit 22.

That is, as shown in FIG.
Is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen, and when the measurement is performed, the region of interest 53A is displayed as a PAN at a preset display position so as not to overlap the measured value 55. And the measurement value 55 do not overlap, and the region of interest 53A and the measurement value 55 are easy to see.

Further, according to the embodiment, the ultrasonic image is moved to the display position in which the ultrasonic image is stored in advance in conjunction with the execution of the measurement. An extra operation such as ON / OFF of the measured value is not required, and the operation is simplified.

Further, the display position is divided for each diagnostic part such as the abdomen, body surface, heart, etc., and the image display position memory 17 is displayed.
a to 17c, and the image display position memories 17a to 17c
Since the ultrasonic image is moved in conjunction with the diagnostic part of the measurement by referring to the display position from 17c, it is necessary to change the display position each time even when measuring the diagnostic part having a different depth from the body surface to the region of interest. Disappears.

In FIG. 3, when the measurement is not executed in step S31, and when the display position is not changed in step S33, the value of the default position is read from the image display position memories 17a to 17c and the ultrasonic image is set in the default position. To be displayed.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, since the physique differs for each patient, the depth from the body surface to the region of interest differs for each patient. Therefore, the display position may be stored for each patient ID. Furthermore, since the region of interest may be different for each measurement function, the display position may be stored for each measurement function.

Further, in the embodiment, the image display position memories 17a to 17c are provided for each diagnosis part.
The display position of each diagnostic site may be stored in one image display position memory. In this case, an identification code may be added to identify each diagnostic site.

In the embodiment, the ultrasonic image is moved as an example at the time of measuring the region of interest. However, for example, instead of moving the ultrasonic image, the measured value may be moved.

[0039]

According to the present invention, the display position of the ultrasonic image or the measured value is set and controlled so that the region of interest of the ultrasonic image does not overlap with the measured value, so that the region of interest and the measured value overlap. Since this does not occur, the region of interest and the measured value can be easily viewed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating setting of a display position of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating control of a display position when measurement is performed by the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a region of interest on the screen of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment shifted to a position that does not overlap a measured value.

FIG. 5 is a diagram in which a measurement value is superimposed and displayed on a region of interest on a screen of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Ultrasonic probe 12 Transmission / reception circuit 13 Image memory circuit 14 Display control part 15 Display circuit 16 Image display position setting circuit 17a-17c Image display position memory 18a-18c Diagnosis site button 19 Image display position control circuit 20 Measurement control circuit 21 Measurement value memory 22 Measurement value display control circuit 23 Control circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic image of a subject obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the subject is displayed, and a measurement value in a region of interest of the displayed ultrasonic image is simultaneously displayed with the ultrasonic image. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus for displaying, comprising: a display position control unit configured to set and control a display position of an ultrasonic image or the measurement value so that a region of interest of the ultrasonic image does not overlap with the measurement value; An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus for displaying the ultrasonic image or the measured value based on setting control of a display position control unit. 2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the display position control unit stores a display position such that a region of interest of the ultrasonic image does not overlap with the measurement value for each subject, for each diagnosis site, or for each measurement function. The ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: displaying the ultrasonic image or the measured value at a position stored in the storage unit.