KR102617894B1 - Ultrasound imaging apparatus and method for generating ultrasound image - Google Patents

Abstract

Based on an echo signal reflected from the object, a first image representing the tissue of the object and a second image representing a contrast agent injected into the object are generated, and the first image is used to An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and an ultrasound image generation method for generating a third image from which at least a portion of tissue has been removed and displaying the generated third image are disclosed.

Description

Ultrasound diagnostic device and method for generating ultrasound images {ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING ULTRASOUND IMAGE}

This disclosure relates to an ultrasound imaging diagnostic device and a method for generating an ultrasound image. More specifically, it relates to a method and device for generating an ultrasound image with at least a portion of tissue removed.

An ultrasound diagnostic device irradiates an ultrasound signal generated from a transducer of a probe to an object, receives information on the echo signal reflected from the object, and transmits it to an area inside the object (for example, soft tissue or blood flow). Obtain at least one video of In particular, ultrasonic diagnostic devices are used for medical purposes such as observing the interior of an object, detecting foreign substances, and measuring injuries. Compared to diagnostic devices using Therefore, ultrasound diagnostic devices are widely used along with other imaging diagnostic devices, including computed tomography (CT) devices, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, and the like.

Among the imaging methods using an ultrasound system, there is a Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) method in which images are taken by injecting a contrast agent into an object. A test method using a contrast agent ultrasound image can quantitatively determine whether an object, such as a tumor, is malignant or benign by observing the trend of the image signal value of the object over time after administering a contrast agent to the object.

The purpose of an ultrasound diagnosis device and an ultrasound image generation method according to an embodiment is to generate a contrast image in which at least a portion of tissue has been removed.

The purpose of an ultrasound diagnosis device and an ultrasound image generation method according to an embodiment is to generate a contrast image with improved contrast of blood vessels and tissues.

As a technical means for achieving the above-described technical problem, a first aspect of the present disclosure is an ultrasonic imaging device, which includes a first image representing the tissue of the object based on an echo signal reflected from the object and the object. an image processor configured to generate a second image representing a contrast agent injected into the body, and to generate a third image in which at least a portion of the tissue is removed from the second image using the first image; and to display the generated third image. An ultrasonic imaging device including a display unit configured to do so can be provided.

Additionally, an ultrasound diagnosis device may be provided in which the portion has a brightness greater than a predetermined threshold value in the first image.

Additionally, an ultrasound diagnosis device may be provided in which the part appears commonly in the first image and the second image.

Additionally, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus may be provided in which at least one of the first image and the second image is corrected so that the portion has the same brightness value in the first image and the second image.

In addition, by performing image subtraction of subtracting the first image from the second image, the third image is generated by removing the portion of the second image. An ultrasound diagnosis device can be provided. .

Additionally, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus can be provided in which the third image is corrected so that the brightness of the third image approaches the brightness of the second image.

Additionally, an ultrasound diagnosis device may be provided in which a part that does not appear in the first image but appears in the second image is emphasized in the third image.

In addition, the part is a first part, and the image processing unit is further configured to use the first image to generate a fourth image in which the second part including the first part is removed from the second image, and the display The unit may provide an ultrasound diagnosis device further configured to display the generated fourth image.

Additionally, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus may be provided in which at least one of the third image and the fourth image is corrected so that the image parameters of the third image and the fourth image are equalized.

Additionally, an ultrasound diagnosis device may be provided in which the third image and the fourth image are displayed alternately based on a user input.

In addition, a second aspect of the present disclosure is a method for generating an ultrasound image, which includes a first image representing the tissue of the object based on an echo signal reflected from the object and a second image representing a contrast agent injected into the object. A method comprising generating two images, generating a third image using the first image with at least a portion of the tissue removed from the second image, and displaying the generated third image. can be provided.

Additionally, a method may be provided in which the portion has a brightness greater than a predetermined threshold value in the first image.

Additionally, a method may be provided in which the part appears commonly in the first image and the second image.

Additionally, a method may be provided in which at least one of the first image and the second image is corrected so that the portion has the same brightness value in the first image and the second image.

In addition, a method can be provided in which the third image is generated by removing the portion of the second image by performing image subtraction of the first image from the second image.

Additionally, a method may be provided in which the third image is corrected so that the brightness of the third image approaches the brightness of the second image.

Additionally, a method can be provided in which parts that do not appear in the first image but appear in the second image are emphasized in the third image.

In addition, the part is a first part, and the image processing unit is further configured to use the first image to generate a fourth image in which a second part including the first part is removed from the third image, and the display The unit may provide a method, further configured to display the generated fourth image.

Additionally, a method may be provided in which at least one of the third image and the fourth image is corrected so that the image parameters of the third image and the fourth image are equalized.

Additionally, the third aspect of the present disclosure can provide a computer-readable medium capable of executing the method of the second aspect on a computer.

Various embodiments according to the present disclosure can be easily understood through combination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, where reference numerals refer to structural elements.
1 is a block diagram of an ultrasound diagnosis device according to an embodiment.
Figure 2 is a block diagram of a wireless probe according to one embodiment.
Figure 3 is a block diagram of an ultrasound diagnosis device, according to an embodiment.
4A is example diagrams of a first image, a second image, and a third image, according to one embodiment.
FIG. 4B is example diagrams of a third image and a fourth image, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example UI for displaying a plurality of contrast medium ultrasound images, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a method of generating a third image, according to an embodiment.
Figure 7 shows second and third images for each part, according to one embodiment.
8 shows a first image, a second image, and a third image in a normal case, according to one embodiment.
Figure 9 shows a first image, a second image, and a third image in a case of mild renal artery stenosis, according to one embodiment.
Figure 10 is a flowchart of a method for generating a third image, according to an embodiment.

The terms used in this specification are general terms that are currently widely used as much as possible while considering the functions in various embodiments according to the present disclosure, but this may vary depending on the intention or precedent of a person skilled in the art, the emergence of new technology, etc. It may vary. In addition, in certain cases, there are terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in this case, the meaning will be described in detail in the description of the relevant invention. Therefore, the terms used in this specification should not be defined simply as the names of terms, but should be defined based on the meaning of the term and the content throughout this specification.

When it is said that a part "includes" a certain element throughout the specification, this means that, unless specifically stated to the contrary, it does not exclude other elements but may further include other elements. Additionally, terms such as “unit” and “module” used in the specification refer to a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which may be implemented as hardware or software, or as a combination of hardware and software.

Throughout the specification, “ultrasonic image” refers to an image of an object obtained using ultrasound. Additionally, the object may include a human or an animal, or a part of a human or animal. For example, the object may include at least one of organs such as the liver, heart, uterus, brain, breast, abdomen, and blood vessels. Additionally, the object may be a phantom, and a phantom may refer to a material that is very close to the density and effective atomic number of a living organism and is very close to the volume of a living organism. For example, the phantom may be a spherical phantom with characteristics similar to the human body.

Additionally, throughout the specification, the “user” may be a medical professional, such as a doctor, nurse, clinical pathologist, or medical imaging expert, and may be a technician who repairs a medical device, but is not limited thereto.

Additionally, in this specification, expressions such as “first,” “second,” or “1-1” are exemplary terms used to refer to different components, objects, images, pixels, or patches. Accordingly, expressions such as “first,” “second,” or “1-1” do not indicate the order or priority between components.

Hereinafter, various embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 is a block diagram of an ultrasound diagnosis device according to an embodiment.

The ultrasound diagnosis device 1000 according to one embodiment includes a probe 20, an ultrasound transceiver 1100, an image processor 1200, a communication unit 1300, a display unit 1400, a memory 1500, and an input device 1600. ), and a control unit 1700, and the various components described above may be connected to each other through a bus 1800.

The ultrasound diagnosis device 1000 can be implemented not only in a cart type but also in a portable form. Examples of portable ultrasound diagnostic devices include, but are not limited to, fax viewers (PACS, Picture Archiving and Communication System viewer), smart phones, laptop computers, PDAs, and tablet PCs.

The probe 20 transmits an ultrasonic signal to the object 10 according to a driving signal applied from the ultrasound transceiver 1100 and receives an echo signal reflected from the object 10. The probe 20 includes a plurality of transducers, and the plurality of transducers vibrate according to transmitted electrical signals and generate ultrasonic waves, which are acoustic energy. Additionally, the probe 20 may be connected to the main body of the ultrasound diagnosis device 1000 by wire or wirelessly, and the ultrasound diagnosis device 1000 may include a plurality of probes 20 depending on the implementation type.

The transmitting unit 1110 supplies a driving signal to the probe 20 and includes a pulse generating unit 1112, a transmitting delay unit 1114, and a pulser 1116. The pulse generator 1112 generates pulses to form transmission ultrasonic waves according to a predetermined pulse repetition frequency (PRF, Pulse Repetition Frequency), and the transmission delay unit 1114 determines the transmission directionality. A delay time is applied to the pulse. Each pulse to which the delay time is applied corresponds to a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators included in the probe 20, respectively. The pulser 1116 applies a driving signal (or driving pulse) to the probe 20 with timing corresponding to each pulse to which a delay time is applied.

The receiving unit 1120 generates ultrasonic data by processing the echo signal received from the probe 20, and includes an amplifier 1122, an analog digital converter (ADC) 1124, a reception delay unit 1126, and It may include a summation unit 1128. The amplifier 1122 amplifies the echo signal for each channel, and the ADC 1124 converts the amplified echo signal into analog-digital. The reception delay unit 1126 applies a delay time for determining reception directionality to the digitally converted echo signal, and the summing unit 1128 sums the echo signals processed by the reception delay unit 1166. Generate ultrasound data. Meanwhile, the receiver 1120 may not include the amplifier 1122 depending on its implementation type. That is, if the sensitivity of the probe 20 is improved or the number of processing bits of the ADC 1124 is improved, the amplifier 1122 may be omitted.

The image processor 1200 generates an ultrasound image through a scan conversion process on the ultrasound data generated by the ultrasound transceiver 1100. Meanwhile, ultrasound images are not only gray scale images obtained by scanning an object in A mode (amplitude mode), B mode (brightness mode), and M mode (motion mode), but also use the Doppler effect. It may be a Doppler image that represents a moving object. The Doppler image may be a blood flow Doppler image (also called a color Doppler image) showing blood flow, a tissue Doppler image showing tissue movement, or a spectral Doppler image showing the moving speed of the object as a waveform.

The B-mode processing unit 1212 included in the data processing unit 1210 extracts and processes B-mode components from ultrasound data. The image generator 1220 may generate an ultrasound image in which signal intensity is expressed as brightness based on the B-mode component extracted by the B-mode processor 1212.

Likewise, the Doppler processing unit 1214 included in the data processing unit 1210 extracts Doppler components from ultrasound data, and the image generator 1220 expresses the movement of the object in color or waveform based on the extracted Doppler components. Doppler images can be generated.

The image generator 1220 according to one embodiment can generate a 3D ultrasound image through a volume rendering process for volume data, and can generate an elastic image that images the degree of deformation of the object 10 according to pressure. It may be possible. Furthermore, the image generator 1220 may express various additional information in text or graphics on the ultrasound image. Meanwhile, the generated ultrasound image may be stored in the memory 1500.

The display unit 1400 displays and outputs the generated ultrasound image. The display unit 1400 can display and output not only ultrasound images but also various information processed by the ultrasound diagnosis device 1000 on the screen through a graphical user interface (GUI). Meanwhile, the ultrasound diagnosis device 1000 may include two or more display units 1400 depending on the implementation type.

The communication unit 1300 is connected to the network 30 by wire or wirelessly and communicates with external devices or servers. The communication unit 1300 can exchange data with a hospital server connected through a medical imaging information system (PACS) or with other medical devices within the hospital. Additionally, the communication unit 1300 can communicate data according to the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standard.

The communication unit 1300 can transmit and receive data related to the diagnosis of the object 10, such as ultrasound images, ultrasound data, and Doppler data, through the network 30, and can transmit and receive data related to the diagnosis of the object 10, such as CT devices, MRI devices, and X-ray devices. Medical images captured by the device can also be transmitted and received. Furthermore, the communication unit 1300 may receive information about the patient's diagnosis history or treatment schedule from the server and use it to diagnose the object 10. Furthermore, the communication unit 1300 may perform data communication not only with servers or medical devices within the hospital, but also with portable terminals of doctors or patients.

The communication unit 1300 is connected to the network 30 by wire or wirelessly and can exchange data with the server 32, the medical device 34, or the portable terminal 36. The communication unit 1300 may include one or more components that enable communication with an external device, and may include, for example, a short-range communication module 1310, a wired communication module 1320, and a mobile communication module 1330. You can.

The short-range communication module 1310 refers to a module for short-distance communication within a predetermined distance. Short-distance communication technologies according to one embodiment include wireless LAN, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi Direct (WFD), ultra wideband (UWB), and infrared communication (IrDA, infrared). Data Association), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), NFC (Near Field Communication), etc., but are not limited to these.

The wired communication module 1320 refers to a module for communication using electrical signals or optical signals, and wired communication technologies according to one embodiment include twisted pair cable, coaxial cable, optical fiber cable, and ethernet. There may be cables, etc.

The mobile communication module 1330 transmits and receives wireless signals with at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. Here, the wireless signal may be a voice call signal, a video call signal, or various types of data resulting from the transmission and reception of text/multimedia messages.

The memory 1500 stores various information processed by the ultrasound diagnosis device 1000. For example, the memory 1500 may store medical data related to the diagnosis of an object, such as input/output ultrasound data and ultrasound images, and may also store algorithms or programs performed within the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 1000.

The memory 1500 can be implemented with various types of storage media, such as flash memory, hard disk, and EEPROM. Additionally, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 1000 may operate a web storage or cloud server that performs a storage function of the memory 1500 on the web.

The input device 1600 refers to a means for receiving data for controlling the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 1000 from the user. Examples of the input device 1600 may include, but are not limited to, hardware components such as a keypad, mouse, touchpad, touch screen, trackball, jog switch, etc., and may include an electrocardiogram measurement module, a respiration measurement module, a voice recognition sensor, and a gesture. It may further include various input means such as a recognition sensor, a fingerprint recognition sensor, an iris recognition sensor, a depth sensor, and a distance sensor.

The control unit 1700 generally controls the operation of the ultrasound diagnosis device 1000. That is, the control unit 1700 includes the probe 20 shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic transceiver 1100, the image processor 1200, the communication unit 1300, the display unit 1400, the memory 1500, and the input device ( 1600) can control the operation of the liver.

Some or all of the probe 20, the ultrasonic transceiver 1100, the image processor 1200, the communication unit 1300, the display unit 1400, the memory 1500, the input device 1600, and the control unit 1700 are software. It may be operated by a module, but is not limited to this, and some of the above-described configurations may be operated by hardware. Additionally, at least some of the ultrasonic transceiver unit 1100, image processor 1200, and communication unit 1300 may be included in the control unit 1600, but are not limited to this implementation form.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a wireless probe according to one embodiment.

The wireless probe 2000 includes a plurality of transducers as described in FIG. 1, and may include some or all of the components of the ultrasonic transceiver 100 of FIG. 1 depending on the implementation type.

The wireless probe 2000 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 includes a transmitter 2100, a transducer 2200, and a receiver 2300, and each configuration has been described in 1, so detailed description is omitted. do. Meanwhile, the wireless probe 2000 may optionally include a reception delay unit 2330 and a summation unit 2340 depending on its implementation type.

The wireless probe 2000 can transmit an ultrasound signal to the object 10, receive an echo signal, generate ultrasound data, and wirelessly transmit it to the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 1000 of FIG. 1.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of an ultrasound diagnosis device, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 1000 according to one embodiment may include an image processing unit 1200 and a display unit 1400. However, not all of the illustrated components are essential components. The ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus 1000 may be implemented with more components than those shown in FIG. 3, and the ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus 1000 may be implemented with fewer components than the components shown in FIG. 3. there is.

The image processing unit 1200 may process ultrasound image data according to the image display mode. The image processing unit 1200 can obtain B-mode image data (Brightness Mode Data) by performing processing such as amplification, logarithmic compression, and envelope detection on the echo signal reflected from the object, and generates microbubbles. Contrast Enhanced Mode data can be obtained by injecting an ultrasound contrast agent into a subject by intravenous injection.

The image processing unit 110 can use the strong nonlinear effect of the ultrasound contrast agent in the contrast agent ultrasound mode. The nonlinear effect is that the reflected wave from the microbubbles is greatly distorted compared to the incident wave, and when the waveform is distorted, harmonic components are generated. Using the above characteristics, the image processing unit 1200 suppresses the fundamental wave by imaging a second harmonic twice that of the irradiated wave, and can use a contrast harmonic imaging method that further emphasizes the contrast agent. . In the contrast harmonic imaging method, since the reflected wave from the bubble contains more second harmonics than the reflected wave from the biological tissue, an image in which the reflected wave from the contrast agent is emphasized can be obtained.

The image processor 1200 may generate a first image representing the tissue of the object based on the echo signal reflected from the object. Here, the first image may be a B-mode ultrasound image.

The image processor 1200 may generate a second image representing the contrast agent injected into the object based on the echo signal reflected from the object. Here, the second image may be a contrast medium ultrasound image. The second image may be generated based on the echo signal reflected from the contrast agent injected into the object.

While the second image is being generated, the signal reflected due to the movement of the object's tissue and the signal reflected from the contrast medium may interfere with each other, and the contrast of blood vessels in the second image may be reduced due to signal interference. there is.

In order to reduce the influence of the signal reflected due to the movement of the object's tissue, a method of suppressing the intensity of the signal itself during signal processing may be used. However, this method may be insufficiently effective for inhibition.

Accordingly, the image processor 1200 according to one embodiment may use the first image to generate a third image in which at least part of the tissue is removed from the second image. Here, the third image, like the second image, may be a contrast medium ultrasound image. A method of removing at least part of the tissue from the second image using the first image is described in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

By removing at least a portion of the tissue from the third image, the contrast of blood vessels in the third image may be improved compared to the second image.

The display unit 1400 can display two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional ultrasound images. Additionally, the display unit 1400 may display the first image and the second image together, or may display the first image and the third image together. For example, the display unit 1400 may display a B-mode ultrasound image and a contrast agent ultrasound image together, or may display a B-mode ultrasound image and an enhanced contrast agent ultrasound image together.

4A is example diagrams of a first image, a second image, and a third image, according to one embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4A, tissues 411 and 421 may appear in the first image 410 and the second image 420, respectively. The tissues 411 and 421 may be expressed brighter than other areas in the first image 410 and the second image 420. Here, the first image 410 may be a B-mode ultrasound image, and the second image 420 may be a contrast agent ultrasound image.

The image processor 1200 may use the first image 410 to generate a third image 430a in which at least a portion of the tissue in the second image 420 is removed. Here, the third image 430a, like the second image 420, may be a contrast medium ultrasound image.

In one embodiment, the image processor 1200 creates the third image 430a by removing a part of the tissue that appears commonly in the first image 410 and the second image 420 from the second image 420. can be created. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the image processor 1200 removes the tissue 421 that appears commonly in the first image 410 and the second image 420 from the second image 420, A third image 430a can be generated.

As shown in FIG. 4A, in the generated third image 430a, a portion 431a corresponding to the tissue 421 of the second image 420 can be significantly suppressed.

According to one embodiment, in order to remove a part that appears commonly in the first image 410 and the second image 420 from the second image 420, the image processor 1200 Image subtraction may be performed by subtracting the first image 410. As a result of performing image subtraction by subtracting the first image 410 from the second image 420, the third image 430a may be generated. The generated third image 430a may be less affected by the structure of the first image 410 than the second image 420. By removing parts common to the first image 410 and the second image 420 from the third image 430a, the contrast of blood vessels in the third image 430a is improved compared to the second image 420. It can be.

According to one embodiment, a part that does not appear in the first image 410 but appears in the second image 420 may be emphasized in the third image 430a. For example, blood vessels revealed by contrast agent may be highlighted in the third image 430a.

FIG. 4B is example diagrams of a third image and a fourth image, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B , the image processor 1200 may use the first image 410 to generate a fourth image 430b in which at least a portion of the tissue in the second image 420 is removed. Here, the sizes of the parts removed from the third image 430a and the fourth image 430b may be different. For example, as shown in 431a and 431b of FIG. 4B, the size of the portion removed from the third image 430a may be smaller than the size of the portion removed from the fourth image 430b. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4B, the part removed from the fourth image 430b may be spread more widely than the part removed from the third image 430a. The third image 430a and the fourth image 430b, like the second image 420, may be contrast medium ultrasound images.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example UI for displaying a plurality of contrast medium ultrasound images, according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the display unit 1400 may display a plurality of contrast medium ultrasound images 530 alternately based on user input. Here, in the plurality of contrast medium ultrasound images 530, the degree of removal using the B-mode ultrasound image 510 may be different . For example, from the contrast medium ultrasound image 530a, in which the overlapping part with the B-mode ultrasound image 510 was not removed, to the contrast medium ultrasound image 530d , in which the most overlapping part with the B-mode ultrasound image 510 was removed. They may be displayed alternately through the display unit 1400. At this time, the smallest weight is applied to the contrast medium ultrasound image 530a from which the overlapping part with the B-mode ultrasound image 510 has not been removed , and the contrast medium ultrasound image from which the most overlapping part with the B-mode ultrasound image 510 has been removed. The greatest weight may be applied to (530d).

Here, user input may be received by the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 1000 through the input device 1400. For example, when a user input in the direction of increasing the “ FlowMax Index” is received by the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 1000 through the input device 1400, the display unit 1400 displays an image that overlaps the B-mode ultrasound image 510. Displays a contrast medium ultrasound image with more of the area removed , and displays the " FlowMax When a user input in the direction of decreasing the "Index" is received by the ultrasound diagnosis device 1000, the display unit 1400 displays a contrast agent ultrasound image in which the portion overlapping with the B-mode ultrasound image 510 is less removed or not removed. can do.

In FIG. 5 , the input device 1400 is shown as a touch screen, but the input device 1400 is not limited thereto and may be implemented as a jog switch.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a method of generating a third image, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the image processor 1200 may extract a region of interest (ROI) from the first image 610 . The region of interest may be extracted based on preset criteria. For example, in the first image 610, an area with brightness greater than a predetermined threshold may be extracted as an area of interest.

A white mask 612 may be detected by extracting areas with brightness above a predetermined threshold from the first image 610.

In one embodiment, at least one of the first image 610 and the second image 620 is corrected so that the average brightness of the area of the white mask 612 in the first image 610 and the second image 620 is the same. It can be. For example, the first image 614 may be normalized, so that the average brightness of the area of the white mask 612 in the second image 620 and the normalized first image 614 may be the same. Since at least one of the first image 610 and the second image 620 has been normalized so that the brightness average of the area of the white mask 612 is the same, the first image 614 is subtracted from the second image 620. When image subtraction is performed, a third image 630 can be generated by removing the area of the white mask 612 from the second image 620.

According to one embodiment, the area of the white mask 612 is removed from the second image 620, thereby removing tissues other than blood vessels from the second image 620, thereby generating the third image 630. . Accordingly, the blood vessel contrast of the third image 630 may be improved compared to other ultrasound contrast agent images, including the second image 620.

In one embodiment, the image parameters of the third image 630 may be adjusted to offset the decrease in B-mode signal and saturation of the contrast agent signal due to contrast agent injection. For example, the brightness of the third image 630 may be adjusted. At this time, the brightness of the third image 630 may be adjusted based on the threshold, minimum, maximum, etc.

For example, the third image 630 may be corrected so that the brightness of the third image 630 approaches the brightness of the second image 620. As shown in FIG. 6 , the brightness of the corrected third image 632 approaches the brightness of the second image 620 and may become darker than the brightness of the third image 630 .

By adjusting the brightness of the third image 630, speckle of the third image 630 and flickering caused by areas removed from the second image 620 can be removed. For example, when a plurality of contrast medium ultrasound images 530 are displayed as shown in FIG. 5, if the brightness of the plurality of contrast medium ultrasound images 530 is different from each other, speckle and changes in the areas to be removed may occur due to the different brightness. Flickering may occur due to this. However, according to one embodiment, by adjusting the brightness of the plurality of contrast medium ultrasound images 530, speckles and flicker can be suppressed in the plurality of contrast medium ultrasound images 530.

Figure 7 shows second and third images for each part, according to one embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, according to one embodiment, a second image 720a and a third image 730a for the aorta, a second image 720b and a third image 730b for the kidney, and a second image 730b for the gallbladder. An image 720c and a third image 730c, and a second image 720d and a third image 730d of the liver may be generated.

Referring to the third image 730a for the aorta, the third image 730a has improved discrimination between blood vessels and tissues compared to the second image 720a. Specifically, tissues that appear bright in the second image 720a are expressed darkly in the third image 730a, thereby improving the ability to distinguish between blood vessels and tissues in the third image 730a. Additionally, as shown within the oval with a white border in the third image 730a, the aorta, which is difficult to identify in the second image 720a, appears clearly in the third image 730a.

Referring to the third image 730b for the kidney, the third image 730b has improved discrimination between blood vessels and tissues compared to the second image 720b. Specifically, as shown in the oval with a white border in the third image 730b, the shape of the kidney is clearly expressed, so that the kidney and other parts can be easily distinguished, and blood vessels within the kidney are also displayed in the second image 720b. ) appears clearly compared to .

Referring to the third image 730c of the gallbladder, the third image 730c has improved discrimination between blood vessels and tissues compared to the second image 720c. Specifically, as shown in the oval with a white border in the third image 730c, polyps may appear, and the boundaries of organs appear more clearly than in the second image 720c.

Referring to the third image 730d of the liver, the third image 730d has improved discrimination between blood vessels and tissues compared to the second image 720d. Specifically, as shown within the oval with a white border in the third image 730d, the boundary of the metastatic cancer appears more clearly than in the second image 720d.

8 shows a first image, a second image, and a third image in a normal case, according to one embodiment. Figure 9 shows a first image, a second image, and a third image in a case of mild renal artery stenosis, according to one embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , first images 810, 910, second images 820, 920, third images 830a, 930a, and Fourth images 830b and 930b may be generated. In the fourth image (830b, 930b) with improved vascular contrast, the sections of the renal artery and aorta appear more clearly than in the other contrast medium ultrasound images (810, 920, 830a, 930a).

Figure 10 is a flowchart of a method for generating a third image, according to an embodiment.

In step S1000, the image processing unit of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus generates a first image and a second image based on the echo signal reflected from the object.

The first image may mainly represent the tissue of the object, and the second image may mainly represent the contrast agent injected into the object. Here, the first image may be a B-mode ultrasound image, and the second image may be a contrast medium ultrasound image.

In step S1010, the image processing unit of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus uses the first image to generate a third image in which at least a portion of the tissue in the second image is removed.

In one embodiment, a third image may be generated by removing a portion common to the first image and the second image from the second image by the image processing unit.

In one embodiment, image subtraction, which subtracts the first image from the second image, may be performed by an image processing unit to remove a portion that appears commonly in the first image and the second image from the second image.

According to one embodiment, a part that does not appear in the first image but appears in the second image may be emphasized in the third image. For example, blood vessels revealed by contrast agent may be highlighted in the third image.

In one embodiment, a region of interest (ROI) may be extracted from the first image by the image processor. The region of interest may be extracted based on preset criteria. For example, an area with brightness above a predetermined threshold in the first image may be extracted as an area of interest.

A white mask may be detected by extracting areas with brightness above a predetermined threshold from the first image.

In one embodiment, at least one of the first image and the second image may be corrected by the image processor so that the average brightness of the white mask area in the first image and the second image is the same.

In one embodiment, the image parameters of the third image may be adjusted to offset the decrease in B-mode signal and saturation of the contrast agent signal due to contrast agent injection. For example, the brightness of the third image may be adjusted. At this time, the brightness of the third image may be adjusted based on the threshold, minimum, maximum, etc.

In step S1020, the display unit of the ultrasound diagnosis device displays the third image generated in step S1010.

The third image may be displayed side by side with the first image. Additionally, as described above in FIG. 5, the third image is a contrast medium ultrasound image and may be displayed alternately with other contrast medium ultrasound images.

Some embodiments may also be implemented in the form of a recording medium containing instructions executable by a computer, such as program modules executed by a computer. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer and includes both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media. Additionally, computer-readable media may include both computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Communication media typically includes computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave, or other transmission mechanism, and includes any information delivery medium.

Those skilled in the art related to the embodiments of the present invention will understand that the above-described material may be implemented in a modified form without departing from its essential characteristics. Therefore, the disclosed methods should be considered from an illustrative rather than a restrictive perspective. The scope of the present invention is indicated in the claims, not the detailed description of the invention, and all differences within the equivalent scope should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims (20)

An ultrasonic diagnostic device, comprising:
Based on an echo signal reflected from the object, a first image representing the tissue of the object and a second image representing a contrast agent injected into the object are generated, and the first image is used to an image processing unit configured to generate a third image in which at least a portion of the tissue has been removed; and
A display unit configured to display the generated third image,
The part is the first part,
The image processing unit is further configured to use the first image to generate a fourth image in which a second portion including the first portion is removed from the second image,
The display unit is further configured to display at least one of the generated third image and the fourth image. According to claim 1,
The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, wherein the portion has a brightness greater than a predetermined threshold value in the first image. According to claim 1,
The portion appears commonly in the first image and the second image. According to clause 3,
At least one of the first image and the second image is corrected so that the portion has the same brightness value in the first image and the second image. According to clause 4,
By performing at least one of image subtraction, which subtracts the first image from the second image, and adjusting the weight of the overlapping portion between the first image and the second image, An ultrasound diagnosis device in which the third image with a portion removed is generated. According to clause 5,
An ultrasound diagnosis device in which the third image is corrected so that the brightness of the third image approaches the brightness of the second image. According to claim 1,
An ultrasound diagnosis device, wherein parts that do not appear in the first image but appear in the second image are emphasized in the third image. delete According to claim 1,
An ultrasound diagnosis device in which at least one of the third image and the fourth image is corrected so that image parameters of the third image and the fourth image are equalized. According to claim 1,
The third image and the fourth image are displayed alternately based on user input. As a method for generating an ultrasound image,
Based on an echo signal reflected from the object, a first image representing the tissue of the object and a second image representing a contrast agent injected into the object are generated, and the first image is used to generate the first image representing the tissue of the object. generating a third image in which at least a portion of the tissue is removed; and
A step of displaying the generated third image,
The part is the first part,
further configured to generate a fourth image in which a second portion including the first portion is removed from the third image using the first image;
The method is further configured to display at least one of the generated third image and the fourth image. According to claim 11,
The method wherein the portion has a brightness greater than a predetermined threshold in the first image. According to claim 11,
The method wherein the part appears commonly in the first image and the second image. According to claim 13,
A method wherein at least one of the first image and the second image is corrected so that the portion has the same brightness value in the first image and the second image. According to claim 14,
By performing at least one of image subtraction of the first image from the second image and adjusting the weight of the overlapping portion between the first image and the second image, the portion of the second image is A method in which the removed third image is generated. According to claim 15,
The method wherein the third image is corrected so that the brightness of the third image approaches the brightness of the second image. According to claim 11,
A method wherein a part that does not appear in the first image but appears in the second image is emphasized in the third image. delete According to claim 11,
A method wherein at least one of the third image and the fourth image is corrected so that image parameters of the third image and the fourth image are normalized. delete

Images