KR20110059923A - Ultrasound system and method for measuring size of target object - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An ultrasound system and a method thereof are provided to make it possible to easily measure a size of a target object by detecting the size and the profile of the object with respect to an ultrasonic image. CONSTITUTION: A user input part(110) receives user input information. A storage(120) stores a mapping table providing a plurality of measurement item information corresponding to a plurality of applications. An ultrasonic wave data acquisition part(130) transmitting an ultrasound signal to a target object and receive the ultrasonic echo signal reflected from the target object. A processor(140) forms an ultrasonic image by using a plurality of ultrasonic data. The processor detects the size and the profile of the target object with respect to the ultrasound image based on the input information.

Description

ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING SIZE OF TARGET OBJECT}

The present invention relates to an ultrasound system, and more particularly, to an ultrasound system and method for easily measuring the size of an object.

Ultrasound systems have non-invasive and non-destructive properties and are widely used in the medical field for obtaining information inside an object. Ultrasound systems are very important in the medical field because they can provide a doctor with a high-resolution image of the inside of a subject in real time without the need for a surgical operation in which the subject is directly incised and observed.

The ultrasound system transmits an ultrasound signal to the object and receives an ultrasound signal (ie, an ultrasound echo signal) reflected from the object to form a two-dimensional or three-dimensional ultrasound image. Meanwhile, the ultrasound system provides measurement information by measuring the size (eg, distance, perimeter, area, volume, etc.) of an object in an ultrasound image.

Conventionally, any one measurement item group is selected from a plurality of measurement item groups of a corresponding application, any one measurement item is selected from a plurality of measurement items for the selected measurement item group, and the size of the object is displayed on an ultrasound image. A series of procedures for setting the measurement area for measurement must be performed to measure the size of the object. As a result, when the application is changed or the ultrasound image is newly formed, there is a problem in that the above-described series of processes must be repeated.

The present invention provides an ultrasound system capable of easily measuring the size of an object without performing a series of processes of selecting a measurement item group, selecting a measurement item, and setting a measurement area for measuring the size of the object in the ultrasound image; Provide a method.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasound system comprising: a user input unit operable to receive input information of a user; A storage unit which stores a mapping table for providing a plurality of measurement item information corresponding to each of the plurality of applications; An ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit an ultrasound signal to an object and receive an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object to obtain a plurality of ultrasound data for the object; And an ultrasound image connected to the user input unit, the storage unit, and the ultrasound data acquisition unit to form an ultrasound image using the plurality of ultrasound data, and to define the size and contour of the object with respect to the ultrasound image based on the input information. And a processor operative to extract the input information, the detected size, and at least one measurement item information corresponding to the detected contour from the storage to form a measurement item candidate group.

In addition, the method for measuring the size of an object according to the present invention, a) providing a storage unit for storing a mapping table for providing a plurality of measurement item information corresponding to each of a plurality of applications; b) receiving user input information; c) transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object and receiving an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object to obtain a plurality of ultrasound data for the object; d) forming an ultrasound image using the plurality of ultrasound data; e) detecting the size and contour of the object with respect to the ultrasound image based on the input information; And f) extracting at least one measurement item information corresponding to the input information, the detected size, and the detected contour from the storage to form a measurement item candidate group.

In addition, according to the present invention, a computer-readable recording medium for storing a program for performing a method for measuring the size of an object, the method comprising: a) mapping for providing a plurality of measurement item information corresponding to each of a plurality of applications; Providing a storage unit for storing a table; b) receiving user input information; c) transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object and receiving an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object to obtain a plurality of ultrasound data for the object; d) forming an ultrasound image using the plurality of ultrasound data; e) detecting the size and contour of the object with respect to the ultrasound image based on the input information; And f) extracting at least one measurement item information corresponding to the input information, the detected size, and the detected contour from the storage to form a measurement item candidate group.

The present invention can easily measure the size of an object without performing a series of processes of selecting a measurement item group, selecting a measurement item, and setting a measurement area for measuring the size of the object in the ultrasound image.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described an embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasound system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasound system 100 may include a user input unit 110, a storage unit 120, an ultrasound data acquisition unit 130, a processor 140, and a display unit 150.

Receives input information of the user of the user input unit 110. In the present embodiment, the input information includes first input information for selecting a diagnosis portion (ie, application) of the object and second input information for setting a caliper for measuring the size of the object. The input information may include third input information for selecting any one measurement item from the measurement item candidate group, and the measurement item and the measurement item candidate group will be described below The user input unit 110 may include a control panel. ), A mouse, a keyboard, and the like.

The storage unit 120 stores a mapping table that provides a plurality of measurement item information corresponding to each of the plurality of applications. In the present embodiment, the measurement item information includes a plurality of measurement item groups, a plurality of measurement items corresponding to each of the plurality of measurement item groups, and a measurement sample value corresponding to each of the plurality of measurement items. As an example, the measurement item information may include a measurement group, a measurement item, and a measurement sample value as shown in Table 1.

application Measurement item information Obstetrics Metric group Measurement items Measurement sample value Fetal Biometry
(fetal biometry) measurement


GS (gestational sac
dimension) 10 Crown-rump length (CRL) 15 Bipariental diameter 11 … … Fetal tofu
(fetal cranium) measurement Outer ocular diameter (OOD) 21 Inter ocular diameter (IOD) 16 Nuclear translucency (NT) 19 … … … … … Cardiac






2D mode Ao / LA (aortal / left atrium) 40 LV (left ventricle) mass 28 Simpson 99 … … Color doppler mode

AoV (Aortic valve)
regurgitation 39 MV (mitral valve)
regurgitation 65 … … … … … … … … …

In addition, the measurement item information may include contour sample information corresponding to each of the plurality of measurement items. Here, the contour sample information may include at least one of two-dimensional contour sample information and three-dimensional contour sample information. In addition, the storage unit 120 stores information about the object (hereinafter, referred to as object information). Here, the object information may include the age, date of birth, gender, date and time of diagnosis, diagnosis subject, measurement value, and the like.

The ultrasound data acquisition unit 130 transmits an ultrasound signal to the object and receives ultrasound signals (that is, ultrasound echo signals) reflected from the object to obtain ultrasound data. The ultrasound data acquisition unit 130 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic data acquisition unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasonic data acquiring unit 130 may include a transmission signal forming unit 131, an ultrasonic probe 132 including a plurality of transducer elements (not shown), a beam former 133, and an ultrasonic data forming unit 134. ).

The transmission signal forming unit 131 forms a transmission signal in consideration of the position and focus point of the conversion element. The transmission signal forming unit 131 sequentially and repeatedly forms the transmission signal to form a transmission signal for obtaining each of the frames _Pi (1 ≦ _i ≦ N) as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the frame _Pi (1 ≦ _i ≦ N) is described as being obtained in the form of a fan, but is not limited thereto.

When the transmission signal is provided from the transmission signal forming unit 131, the ultrasound probe 132 converts the transmission signal into an ultrasound signal and transmits the ultrasound signal to the object, and receives the ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object to form a reception signal. The received signal is an analog signal. The ultrasonic probe 132 sequentially and repeatedly transmits and receives an ultrasonic signal according to transmission signals sequentially provided from the transmission signal forming unit 131 to form a plurality of reception signals. The ultrasonic probe 132 may include a three-dimensional mechanical probe, a two-dimensional array probe, or the like.

When the received signal is provided from the ultrasonic probe 132, the beam former 133 converts the received signal into analog and digital to form a digital signal. In addition, the beam former 133 receives and focuses the digital signal in consideration of the position and the focusing point of the conversion element to form a reception focus signal. The beam former 133 sequentially and repeatedly performs analog to digital conversion and reception focusing according to the reception signals sequentially provided from the ultrasonic probe 132 to form a plurality of reception focusing signals.

When the reception focus signal is provided from the beamformer 133, the ultrasound data forming unit 134 forms the ultrasound data using the reception focus signal. The ultrasonic data forming unit 134 forms ultrasonic data corresponding to each of the frames _Pi (1 ≦ _i ≦ N) using ultrasonic data sequentially provided from the beam former 133.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the processor 140 forms an ultrasound image by using the ultrasound data provided from the ultrasound data acquirer 130, and a caliper on the ultrasound image based on input information provided from the user input unit 110. Set the measurement item based on the measurement item information corresponding to the set caliper. The processor 140 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4.

4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a processor according to an embodiment of the present invention. The processor 140 includes a volume data forming unit 141, an image forming unit 142, a measuring unit 143, a contour detector 144, and a measurement processing unit 145.

When the plurality of ultrasound data are provided from the ultrasound data acquisition unit 130, the volume data forming unit 141 forms the volume data 210 using the plurality of ultrasound data as illustrated in FIG. 6. The volume data 210 includes a plurality of voxels composed of a plurality of frames _Pi (1 ≦ _i ≦ N) and having a brightness value. In Fig. 5, reference numerals 221 to 223 denote A cross sections, B cross sections and C cross sections which are perpendicular to each other. In addition, in FIG. 5, the axial direction represents the traveling direction of the ultrasonic signal based on the conversion element of the ultrasound probe 132, and the lateral direction represents the moving direction of the scanline. The (elevation) direction is a depth direction of the 3D ultrasound image, and represents a scanning direction of the frame (that is, a moving direction of the scanning surface).

The image forming unit 142 forms an ultrasound image by using the volume data provided from the volume data forming unit 141. In the present embodiment, the ultrasound image includes at least one of a 2D ultrasound image and a 3D ultrasound image corresponding to each of the A cross section 221, the B cross section 222, and the C cross section 223. The ultrasound image formed by the image forming unit 142 is displayed on the display unit 150, so that the user may set a caliper on the ultrasound image through the user input unit 110.

When the ultrasound image is provided from the image forming unit 142, the measurement unit 143 sets a caliper on the ultrasound image based on the input information provided from the user input unit 110. Here, the caliper is for measuring the size (eg, length, circumference, area, volume, etc.) of the object. In addition, the measuring unit 143 measures the size of the object based on the caliper set in the ultrasound image to form measurement information.

When the ultrasound image is provided from the image forming unit 142, the contour detector 144 detects the contour of the object by performing contour detection on the ultrasound image. Contours may be detected using contour detection masks such as Sobel masks, Prewitt masks, Robert masks, Canny masks, and the like. Also, the contour can be detected from the difference of eigen values using a structure tensor.

The measurement processor 145 inquires the storage 120 and inputs the input information (ie, the first input information) provided from the user input unit 110, the measurement information provided from the measurement unit 143, and the contour detector 144. At least one measurement item information is extracted based on the detected contour. The measurement processor 145 forms the measurement item candidate group by listing the extracted measurement item information in the order similar to the input information, the measurement information, and the outline. In addition, the measurement processor 145 may set a measurement item by selecting a measurement item (ie, a measurement item) corresponding to input information (ie, third input information) provided from the user input unit 110. In addition, the measurement processor 145 may accumulate and store the set measurement item and the measurement information in the object information stored in the storage 120.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the display unit 150 displays an ultrasound image formed by the processor 140. In addition, the display unit 150 displays the measurement item candidate group formed by the processor 140.

While the invention has been described and illustrated by way of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ultrasonic data acquisition unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an exemplary view showing a scanning direction of a frame.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a processor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an exemplary view showing an example of volume data.

Claims (14)

As an ultrasonic system, A user input unit operable to receive input information of a user; A storage unit which stores a mapping table for providing a plurality of measurement item information corresponding to each of the plurality of applications; An ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit an ultrasound signal to an object and receive an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object to obtain a plurality of ultrasound data for the object; And Connected to the user input unit, the storage unit and the ultrasound data acquisition unit, to form an ultrasound image using the plurality of ultrasound data, and detect the size and contour of the object with respect to the ultrasound image based on the input information And extracting, from the storage unit, at least one measurement item information corresponding to the input information, the detected size, and the detected contour to form a measurement item candidate group. Ultrasound system comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein the input information, First input information for selecting one application from the plurality of applications; And Second input information for setting a caliper for measuring the size of the object in the ultrasound image Ultrasound system comprising a. The measurement item information of claim 2, wherein the measurement item information includes a plurality of measurement item groups, a plurality of measurement items corresponding to each of the plurality of measurement item groups, and measurement sample values and contour sample information corresponding to each of the plurality of measurement items. Including ultrasonic system. The processor of claim 3, wherein the processor comprises: A volume data forming unit operable to form volume data using the plurality of ultrasonic data; An image forming unit operable to form the ultrasound image using the volume data; A measuring unit configured to set the caliper on the ultrasound image based on the second input information, and measure measurement of the size of the object based on the set caliper to form measurement information; A contour detector configured to detect contours of the object by performing contour detection on the ultrasound image; And Query the storage to extract at least one measurement item information corresponding to the first input information, the measurement information, and the detected contour, and form the measurement item candidate group using the extracted measurement item information; Measurement processing unit Ultrasound system comprising a. The ultrasound system of claim 4, wherein the measurement processor is configured to form the measurement item candidate group by arranging the extracted measurement item information in an order similar to the first input information, the measurement information, and the detected contour. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the user input unit is further configured to further receive third input information for selecting one piece of measurement item information from the measurement item candidate group. The ultrasound system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to set a measurement item based on measurement item information corresponding to the third input information. A method of measuring the size of an object, a) providing a storage unit for storing a mapping table for providing a plurality of measurement item information corresponding to each of the plurality of applications; b) receiving user input information; c) transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object and receiving an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object to obtain a plurality of ultrasound data for the object; d) forming an ultrasound image using the plurality of ultrasound data; e) detecting the size and contour of the object with respect to the ultrasound image based on the input information; And f) extracting at least one measurement item information corresponding to the input information, the detected size, and the detected contour from the storage unit to form a measurement item candidate group; How to include. The method of claim 8, wherein the input information, First input information for selecting one application from the plurality of applications; And Second input information for setting a caliper for measuring the size of the object in the ultrasound image How to include. The method of claim 9, wherein the measurement item information includes a plurality of measurement item groups, a plurality of measurement items corresponding to each of the plurality of measurement item groups, and measurement sample values and contour sample information corresponding to each of the plurality of measurement items. How to include. The method of claim 10, wherein step e) Setting the caliper on the ultrasound image based on the second input information; Measuring the size of the object based on the set caliper to form measurement information; And Detecting contour of the object by performing contour detection on the ultrasound image How to include. The method of claim 11, wherein step f) Querying the storage to extract at least one measurement item information corresponding to the first input information, the measurement information, and the detected contour; And Forming the measurement item candidate group by arranging the extracted measurement item information in a similar order to the first input information, the measurement information, and the detected contour; How to include. The method of claim 8, g) receiving third input information for selecting any one measurement item information from the measurement item candidate group; And h) setting a measurement item based on measurement item information corresponding to the third input information; How to include. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for performing a method of measuring a size of an object, the method comprising: a) providing a storage unit for storing a mapping table for providing a plurality of measurement item information corresponding to each of the plurality of applications; b) receiving user input information; c) transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object and receiving an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object to obtain a plurality of ultrasound data for the object; d) forming an ultrasound image using the plurality of ultrasound data; e) detecting the size and contour of the object with respect to the ultrasound image based on the input information; And f) extracting at least one measurement item information corresponding to the input information, the detected size, and the detected contour from the storage unit to form a measurement item candidate group; A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for performing a method comprising a.

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