KR20110095211A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus is provided to automatically display a marker even though an interest area is not designated, thereby reducing a burden of an operator. CONSTITUTION: An ultrasonic probe(2) obtains an eco signal by ultrasonic scan. A transceiving unit(3) operates the ultrasonic probe by a control signal outputted from a controller(8). A display unit(6) displays an ultrasonic image or a medical image. A manipulation unit(7) includes a button, a keyboard, and a pointing device. A memory unit(9) memorizes 3D medical image data.

Description

Ultrasonic diagnostic device {ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying an ultrasound image and a medical image obtained by an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) device, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, or the like.

Patent document 1 discloses an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying an X-ray CT image, an MRI image, and the like having the same cross section as an ultrasound image. In this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an X-ray CT image, an MRI image, and the like of a cross section corresponding to an acquisition position of an echo signal specified by detecting the position and inclination of an ultrasonic probe that scans an ultrasonic wave and based on these detection information, It is displayed simultaneously with the real-time ultrasonic image.

(Prior art document)

Patent Document 1: Patent No. 3871747

By the way, in the case where a real-time ultrasound image is displayed and an X-ray CT image or an MRI image of the same cross-section as that of the ultrasound image is displayed, the lesion image or the like is clearly visible in one image, but the other image is not. Sometimes it doesn't look clear. Therefore, in the other image which is not clearly seen, it is calculated | required to be able to identify a lesion part easily.

The first aspect of the present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and includes an ultrasonic probe for scanning an ultrasonic wave on a living tissue to obtain an echo signal, a probe detector for detecting a position and an inclination of the ultrasonic probe, A medical image created according to the three-dimensional medical image data obtained in advance, while displaying an ultrasound image created on the basis of the acquired echo signal and specified based on the position and inclination of the ultrasonic probe detected by the probe detection unit. The display image control unit which displays the medical image of the cross section corresponding to the cross section of the ultrasonic image to be displayed on the display unit, and the operator designates an instruction to designate a region of interest in any one of the ultrasonic image or the medical image displayed on the display unit. An operation unit to input, and the operation unit And a display setting section for displaying a marker indicating a region of interest on either the ultrasound image or the medical image based on the input, and also displaying the marker at a corresponding position of the other image. It is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an ultrasonic probe for scanning an living body tissue to obtain an echo signal, a probe detector for detecting a position and an inclination of the ultrasonic probe, and an echo signal obtained from the ultrasonic probe are created. A medical image created on the basis of the three-dimensional medical image data obtained in advance while displaying an ultrasonic image on a display unit, the medical image being formed on a cross section of the ultrasonic image specified based on the position and inclination of the ultrasonic probe detected by the probe detection unit. A display image control unit for displaying a medical image of a corresponding cross section on the display unit, an operation unit for inputting an instruction to designate a region of interest in two dimensions in any one of the ultrasound image or the medical image displayed on the display unit; , For a plurality of cross sections by the operation unit A three-dimensional shape derivation unit for obtaining a three-dimensional shape of the region of interest based on a two-dimensional region of interest, and a two-dimensional region of interest for a predetermined section based on the three-dimensional shape of the region of interest; And a display setting unit for displaying a marker indicating a region of interest in the dimension on the ultrasound image and the medical image for the predetermined cross section.

In a third aspect of the invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the three-dimensional shape derivation unit obtains coordinates of the region of interest in the coordinate system of the image in which the region of interest is designated by the operation unit to obtain the three-dimensional shape of the region of interest. It is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the three-dimensional shape derivation unit performs interpolation using coordinates of a two-dimensional region of interest specified for a plurality of cross sections to obtain a three-dimensional shape of the region of interest. It is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

In the fifth aspect of the invention, in the invention of any one of the third or fourth aspect of the invention, the display setting unit is scanned by the ultrasonic probe among the coordinates of the region of interest obtained from the three-dimensional shape derivation unit. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is characterized by specifying the coordinates present in a predetermined cross-section to specify the two-dimensional region of interest and display the marker.

In a sixth aspect of the invention, the invention of any one of the first to fifth aspects of the invention, wherein the three-dimensional medical image data is X-ray CT image data, MRI image data, or information on the position and inclination of the ultrasonic probe. Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized in that the three-dimensional ultrasound data obtained with.

7th viewpoint invention is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned invention of any one of 1st-6th viewpoint invention including the measuring part which measures the ROI shown by the said marker.

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the region of interest is set to either the ultrasound image or the medical image and the marker is displayed, the marker is also displayed at a corresponding position of the other image. Even if the part is seen in one image but not in the other image, the lesion part and the like can be easily specified.

In addition, according to the second aspect of the invention, a marker indicating a two-dimensional region of interest for a predetermined cross section is based on the three-dimensional shape of the region of interest obtained by the three-dimensional shape derivation unit for the ultrasound image and the medical image. Since it is displayed, even if a lesion part etc. are seen in one image, but not in the other image, a lesion part etc. can be specified easily, for example. In addition, after the three-dimensional shape of the ROI is obtained, the marker is automatically displayed even if the ROI is not specified. Therefore, since it is not necessary to designate a region of interest every time the displayed cross section is changed, the burden on the operator can be reduced.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the display control part of the first embodiment.
3 is a flowchart in the case where alignment between the coordinate system of the ultrasound image and the coordinate system of the medical image is performed.
4 is a diagram illustrating a display unit on which an ultrasound image is displayed.
5 is a view showing a display unit on which an ultrasound image and a medical image are displayed.
6 is a flowchart after the alignment is completed.
7 is a diagram illustrating a display unit in which markers are displayed on an ultrasound image and a medical image.
8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a marker.
9 is a diagram illustrating another example of a marker.
10 is a diagram illustrating another example of a marker.
It is explanatory drawing at the time of designating a region of interest in a medical image.
12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first modification of the first embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display unit in which a marker is displayed on a medical image in the first modification of the first embodiment. FIG.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display unit in which a marker is displayed on not only a medical image but also an ultrasound image in the first modification of the first embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a display control unit in a second modification of the first embodiment. FIG.
Fig. 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the display control section of the second embodiment.
17 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment.
18 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a plurality of cross sections of an object for designating a region of interest.
It is a conceptual diagram which shows two orthogonal cross sections.
It is a figure which shows the display part in which the ultrasonic image and the medical image of one cross section among two cross sections shown in FIG. 19 are displayed.
It is a figure which shows the display part in which the ultrasonic image and the medical image of the other cross section among two cross sections shown in FIG. 19 are displayed.
Fig. 22 is a flowchart showing the operation in the modification of the second embodiment.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the Example of this invention is described.

(First embodiment)

First, the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an ultrasonic probe 2, a transceiver 3, an echo processor 4, a display control unit 5, a display unit 6, an operation unit 7, and a control unit 8. , A storage unit 9, a magnetic generation unit 10, and a magnetic sensor 11.

The ultrasonic probe 2 scans ultrasonic waves to obtain an echo signal. This ultrasonic probe 2 is an example of the Example of the ultrasonic probe in this invention. Moreover, the said magnetic sensor 11 which consists of a magnetic detection coil is provided in this ultrasonic probe 2. The magnetic sensor 11 detects the magnet generated from the magnetic generator 10 formed of the magnetic generator coil. The detection signal of the magnetic sensor 11 is input to the display control section 5. The detection signal of the magnetic sensor 11 may be input to the display control unit 5 via a cable (not shown), or may be input to the display control unit 5 wirelessly. The magnetic generator 10 and the magnetic sensor 11 are examples of embodiments of the probe detector according to the present invention.

The transmitter / receiver 3 drives the ultrasonic probe 2 under a predetermined transmission condition, and scans the scan surface in a sequential order with an ultrasonic beam. The transceiver 3 drives the ultrasonic probe 2 by a control signal from the controller 8.

Further, the transceiver 3 performs signal processing such as normal addition processing on the echo signal obtained by the ultrasonic probe 2, and outputs echo data after the signal processing to the echo processing unit 4.

The echo processing section 4 performs predetermined processing such as logarithmic compression processing, envelope detection processing, etc. on the echo data output from the transmission / reception section 3, and outputs the obtained data to the display control section 5. .

The display control part 5 has the display image control part 51 and the display setting part 52, as shown in FIG. The display image control unit 51 is an embodiment of the display image control unit in the present invention. Specifically, the display image control unit 51 is configured to include a scan converter and the like, and the ultrasonic wave displayed on the display unit 6 receives data on which the predetermined processing is performed by the echo processing unit 4. Scanning is converted into image data. And the display part 6 displays the two-dimensional ultrasonic image based on this ultrasonic image data. The ultrasonic image is, for example, a B mode image.

In addition, the display image control unit 51, based on the detection signal of the magnetic sensor 11, the position of the ultrasonic probe 2 in the coordinate system of the three-dimensional space with the magnetic generating unit 10 as the origin. Calculate The display image control unit 51 also calculates the inclination of the ultrasonic probe 2 based on the detection signal of the magnetic sensor 12. The position and inclination information of the ultrasonic probe 2 shall be referred to as "probe information".

In addition, the display image control unit 51 is configured to calculate the positional information I in the three-dimensional space of the acquisition region of the echo signal by the ultrasonic probe 2 based on the probe information. The calculated positional information I is stored in the storage unit 9 constituted of a memory such as a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), or a hard disk drive (HDD).

In addition, the display image control unit 51 is based on three-dimensional medical image data obtained by another image diagnosis apparatus such as X-ray CT image data or MRI image data stored in advance in the storage unit 9 as described later. A two-dimensional medical image is displayed on the display unit 6. That is, the X-ray image displayed on the display unit 6 is an X-ray CT image or an MRI image. The display image control part 51 displays the medical image of the cross section (same cross section) corresponding to the scanning surface of the said ultrasonic probe 2 on the said display part 6 based on the said positional information I. FIG. Details will be described later. The display image control unit 51 is an example of an embodiment of the display image control unit in the present invention.

The display setting unit 52 displays a marker M (see FIG. 7, etc.) indicating a region of interest on either the ultrasound image or the medical image based on the input of the operation unit 7. At the same time, the marker M is also displayed at the corresponding position of the other image. As described later, the display setting unit 52 converts the coordinate designated as the region of interest in one image to the coordinates of the other image, and displays the marker M on the other image. The display setting unit 52 is an example of an embodiment of the display setting unit in the present invention.

The display unit 6 is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT), or the like, and displays the ultrasonic image, the medical image, and the like.

The operation unit 7 includes a button, a rotary knob, a keyboard, and a pointing device (not shown) for the operator to input an instruction or information. By operation of this operation unit 7, an instruction for designating a region of interest is input, for example, as described later. This operation part 7 is an example of the Example of the operation part in this invention.

The control unit 8 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which reads the control program stored in the storage unit 9 and executes the functions in the respective units of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1.

The storage unit 9 is configured by, for example, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like. In addition to the control program, the storage unit 9 may store data before the scan conversion by the echo processing unit 4 and before the scan conversion by the scan converter. The data before scan conversion by the scan converter is called raw data. The row data may be stored in the storage unit 9, or the ultrasound image data after scanning conversion by the scan converter may be stored.

Incidentally, the row data and the ultrasonic image data are also stored in the memory in the display image control unit 51.

The storage unit 9 also stores three-dimensional medical image data (volume data) obtained by another image diagnosis apparatus such as X-ray CT image data or MRI image data. The X-ray CT image data and the MRI image data are examples of embodiments of three-dimensional medical image data in the present invention.

Hereinafter, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of the present example will be described. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1, an ultrasound image and a medical image of the same section are displayed on the display unit 6 together. In order to display the ultrasonic image and medical image of the same cross section on the said display part 6, the alignment of the coordinate system of an ultrasonic image and the coordinate system of a medical image is performed first. Incidentally, in this example, since the positional information (coordinate) of the acquisition area of the echo signal is the positional information (coordinate) in the coordinate system having the magnetic generating unit 10 as the origin, the coordinate system of the ultrasonic image Ga is It is a coordinate system which makes the magnetic generating part 10 origin. However, it is not limited to the coordinate system which makes the magnetic generating part 10 the origin in this way.

Specifically, the flow at the time of performing the said alignment is demonstrated based on FIG. First, in step S1, the ultrasonic probe 2 scans an ultrasonic wave to a subject to obtain an echo signal. And the said display image control part 51 displays the real-time ultrasonic image Ga on the said display part 6, as shown in FIG. During the scan by the ultrasonic probe 2, the detection signal of the magnetic sensor 11 is input to the display image control unit 51. This display image control part 51 calculates the coordinate of the acquisition area of the said echo signal in the coordinate system which made the said magnetic generating part 10 the origin based on the detection signal input from the said magnetic sensor 11.

Next, in step S2, as shown in FIG. 5, the display image control unit 51 displays the medical image Gb based on the medical image data stored in the storage unit 9 on the display unit 6. The display image control unit 5 displays the medical image Gb on the display unit 6 in alignment with the ultrasonic image Ga.

Next, in step S3, the operator performs alignment between the coordinate system of the ultrasonic image Ga and the coordinate system of the medical image Gb. Specifically, the operator operates the operation unit 7 while comparing the ultrasonic image Ga displayed on the display unit 6 with the medical image Gb to display the medical image Gb having the same cross section as the ultrasonic image Ga. Whether it is the same cross section, an operator judges with reference to the characteristic site | part, for example. In addition, here, the scanning surface by the said ultrasonic probe 2 shall be parallel to the slice surface of the medical image Gb.

When the ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb of the same cross section are displayed, an operator designates arbitrary points of the ultrasonic image Ga on the said display part 6 using the track ball etc. of the said operation part 7. Moreover, the operator designates the point considered to be the same position as the point designated by the said ultrasonic image Ga also in the said medical image Gb. Here, medical image data, such as an X-ray CT image and an MRI image, has positional information. Therefore, as mentioned above, when the point considered to be the same position in the said ultrasonic image Ga and the said medical image Gb is specified, the corresponding position of the coordinate system of these ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb is specified, and the coordinate of both coordinate systems is specified. Conversion is possible.

Incidentally, the designation of arbitrary points in the ultrasonic image Ga may be performed when the ultrasonic image Ga is displayed in the step S1. In this case, the medical image Gb of the same cross section as the cross section of the ultrasonic image Ga in which the arbitrary point is designated in step S1 is displayed in said step S3, and the same point is specified in this medical image Gb.

When the above alignment is completed, the medical image of the same section as the current scan surface is automatically displayed. The flow after the alignment is completed will be described based on FIG. 6. First, in step S10, when the echo signal is acquired by performing the scan by the ultrasonic probe 2, the display image control unit 51 displays the real-time ultrasonic image Ga on the scan surface. Further, the display image control unit 51 calculates the coordinates of the acquisition area of the echo signal in the coordinate system using the magnetic generator 10 as the origin based on the detection signal from the magnetic sensor 11. The coordinates are converted into coordinates of medical image data, and the medical image Gb having the same cross section as the scan surface (section of the ultrasonic image Ga) is displayed. The ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb are arranged on the display portion 6 and displayed.

Next, in step S11, in an image of either the ultrasonic image Ga or the medical image Gb, an operator inputs an instruction to designate a region of interest by the operation unit 7, as shown in FIG. The marker M is displayed on the ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb.

The region of interest is, for example, a lesion such as a stalk, and the operator displays the marker M by surrounding the lesion in accordance with the contour of the lesion. The operator designates the region of interest in the image in which the lesion part is clearly displayed, among the ultrasonic image Ga or the medical image Gb.

In this example, it is assumed that the region of interest is specified in the medical image Gb. The method of designation of the region of interest and the specific examples of the marker M will be described. However, the following description is an example and is not limited to this. For example, as said marker M, the ellipse X which has two cursors C1 and C2 as the long axis as shown in FIG. 8, and the circle Y which has said cursor C1 and C2 as diameter as shown in FIG. The ellipse X operates the operation unit 7 to first display the cursors C1 and C2 on the medical image Gb to fix the position thereof, and then rotate the rotary knob of the operation unit 7 to perform these cursors C1, It is set by changing two curves L1 and L2 connecting C2 to a desired shape. In addition, the said circle Y is set by changing the shape of the ellipse X in the said medical image Gb like the setting of the ellipse X, and making it a complete circle.

The marker M may be set by moving the cursor C so that the outline of the lesion is overlaid on the medical image Gb by using the trackball of the operation unit 7. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the trajectory T of the cursor C becomes the marker M. As shown in FIG.

Incidentally, the instruction input on the operation unit 7 for displaying the ellipse X, the circle Y, and the trajectory T of the cursor C is an instruction input for designating the region of interest.

As described above, when the operator operates the manipulation unit 7 to designate the region of interest in the medical image Gb, the display setting unit 52 displays the marker M also at the corresponding position of the ultrasonic image Ga. Specifically, the display setting unit 52 coordinate-converts coordinates designated by the instruction input of the operation unit 7 in the medical image Gb to a coordinate system of the ultrasonic image Ga, and the marker is displayed on the ultrasonic image Ga. Display M.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the cursor C is moved in the medical image Gb, the trajectory of the cursor C is displayed on the medical image Gb as the marker M and at the corresponding position of the ultrasonic image Ga as well. M is displayed. The display position of the marker M in the ultrasonic image Ga is a position corresponding to the display position of the marker M in the medical image Gb. The display setting unit 52 transforms the coordinates of the trajectory of the cursor C in the coordinate system of the medical image Gb into a coordinate system of the ultrasonic image Ga, and displays the marker M on the ultrasonic image Ga.

According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of the present example described above, the marker M indicating the region of interest is also displayed on the ultrasonic image Ga together with the medical image Gb by specifying the region of interest in the medical image Gb in which the lesion is clearly shown. Therefore, the lesion part can also be easily specified also in the said ultrasonic image Ga.

In addition, when the cross section of ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb do not correspond, for example, the magnitude | size and shape of the lesion part in both images differ. Therefore, by observing the lesion part shown in the said ultrasonic image Ga and the said medical image Gb with the said marker M as a label, it can be confirmed whether the cross section of these ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb is not shift | deviated.

Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described. First, the first modification will be described. In this first modification, the operation differs from the above embodiment. Referring to FIG. 12, the operation of this example will be described. First, in step S20, the display image control unit 51 displays the medical image Gb on the display unit 6. In step S21, the operator designates the region of interest in the medical image Gb to display the marker M, as shown in FIG.

Next, in step S22, in the state where the ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb are displayed, the alignment between the coordinate system of the ultrasonic image Ga and the coordinate system of the medical image Gb is performed in the same manner as in step S3 of the embodiment. At this time, the ultrasonic probe 2 is scanned by the ultrasonic probe 2 on the same cross section as that of the medical image Gb on which the marker M is displayed, and the ultrasonic image Ga is displayed to perform alignment. After the alignment is completed, in step S23, the display setting unit 52 displays the marker M at a position corresponding to the display position of the medical image Gb in the ultrasonic image Ga, as shown in FIG. .

Next, a second modification will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, the display control part 5 of this example has the measurement part 53 other than the said display image control part 51 and the said display setting part 52. This measurement part 53 performs various measurements with respect to the area | region specified by the said marker M. As shown in FIG. For example, the measurement unit 53 calculates the area of the area enclosed by the marker M. FIG. In addition, although the calculation value computed by the said measurement part 53 is not shown in particular, it is displayed on the said display part 6.

(Second embodiment)

Next, a second embodiment will be described. Although the basic structure of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of this example is the structure shown in FIG. 1 similarly to 1st Embodiment, the structure of the said display control part 5 is a structure shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the structure different from 1st Example is demonstrated, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same structure, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

As shown in FIG. 16, the display control unit 5 has a three-dimensional shape derivation unit 54 in addition to the display image control unit 51 and the display setting unit 52. As will be described later, the three-dimensional shape derivation unit 54 includes three images of the region of interest based on the two-dimensional region of interest specified for the plurality of cross sections in either the image of the ultrasonic image Ga or the medical image Gb. It is supposed to find the dimensional shape.

The operation of this second embodiment will be described. In this example, first, processing similar to steps S1 to S3 of the first embodiment is performed to align the coordinate system of the ultrasonic image Ga with the coordinate system of the medical image Gb, and then the processing of each step in the flowchart shown in FIG. 17. Is done. Specifically, first, in step S30, although not particularly shown here, in the image of any one of the two-dimensional ultrasound image Ga or the medical image Gb displayed on the display unit 6, the operator operates the operation unit 7. The marker M is displayed by inputting an instruction specifying a two-dimensional region of interest. In this step S30, the operator designates the region of interest for the plurality of cross sections P1, P2, ..., PN, as shown in FIG.

Here, in the display section 6, as in the first embodiment, images of both the ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb are displayed, and if the region of interest is designated in either image, the image is displayed on both images. The marker M may be displayed. In addition, when the image of both the said ultrasonic image Ga and the said medical image Gb is displayed, and the area | region of interest is specified in either image, the said marker M may be displayed only in any one image.

Moreover, only one image which designates a region of interest among the ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb may be displayed on the display unit 6, and the marker M may be displayed on this one image.

Next, in step S31, the three-dimensional shape derivation unit 54 obtains the three-dimensional shape of this region of interest based on the two-dimensional region of interest specified for the plurality of cross sections in step S30. Here, "to obtain a three-dimensional shape" means calculating the coordinates of a region of interest consisting of a three-dimensional shape, which coordinates designation of a two-dimensional region of interest among the ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb. The coordinate in the coordinate system of the performed image is referred to.

As the coordinates of the region of interest, the three-dimensional shape derivation unit 54 obtains the coordinates of the contour of the region of interest specified in the respective cross sections P1 to PN and the coordinates of arbitrary points in the region of interest. Coordinates of the contour of the region of interest are coordinates inputted and instructed by the operation unit 7. In addition, the three-dimensional shape derivation unit 54 obtains coordinates of an arbitrary point among regions surrounded by the instructed input coordinates.

Similarly, as the coordinates of the region of interest, the three-dimensional shape derivation unit 54 relates to sections other than the sections P1 to PN that have designated two-dimensional regions of interest, respectively. The coordinates of the region of interest are obtained by performing interpolation processing using the coordinates obtained for. As a result, the coordinates of the region of interest having a three-dimensional shape are obtained. The acquired coordinates of the region of interest are stored in the memory or the storage unit 9, not shown.

Next, in step S32, the marker M is automatically displayed on the ultrasound image Ga and the medical image Gb. Specifically, the display setting unit 52 displays the marker M on the real-time ultrasound image Ga for a predetermined section (scan surface), and simultaneously displays the marker M on the medical image Gb for the predetermined section. do. The display setting unit 52 specifies a two-dimensional region of interest for the predetermined cross-section based on the three-dimensional shape of the region of interest, and assigns the marker M representing the region of interest to the ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb. Mark on.

The display of the said marker M is demonstrated concretely. The display setting unit 52 first specifies the coordinates of the region of interest present in the predetermined cross section among the coordinates of the region of interest obtained in the step S31. As a result, a two-dimensional region of interest for the predetermined cross section is specified. Incidentally, with respect to the predetermined cross section, the coordinates of the predetermined cross section in the coordinate system of the ultrasonic image Ga are obtained based on the probe information, and the coordinates in the coordinate system of the ultrasonic image Ga are coordinate-converted to provide the medical image Gb. The coordinates of the predetermined cross section in the coordinate system of are obtained.

In more detail, the display setting part 52 is a predetermined cross section in each of the coordinate system of the said ultrasonic image Ga, and the coordinate system of the said medical image Gb. To specify a two-dimensional region of interest. Specifically, when the coordinate of the region of interest obtained in the step S31 is the coordinate system of the medical image Gb, the display setting unit 52 first of all sets the interest in the predetermined cross section in the coordinate system of the medical image Gb. Specifies the coordinates of the area. In addition, the display setting unit 52 coordinate-converts the coordinates of the region of interest in the coordinate system of the medical image Gb to the coordinate system of the ultrasonic image Ga, thereby existing in the predetermined cross section in the coordinate system of the ultrasonic image Gb. The coordinates of the region of interest are specified. On the other hand, when the coordinates of the region of interest obtained in the step S31 are the coordinate systems of the ultrasonic image Ga, the display setting unit 52 first of all the region of interest existing in the predetermined section in the coordinate system of the ultrasonic image Ga. Specify the coordinates. In addition, the display setting unit 52 coordinate-converts the coordinates of the region of interest in the coordinate system of the ultrasound image Ga to the coordinate system of the medical image Gb, thereby existing in the predetermined cross section in the coordinate system of the medical image Gb. The coordinates of the region of interest are specified.

When the coordinates of the region of interest present in the predetermined cross section are specified as described above, the display setting unit 52 displays the marker M on the ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb. The display setting unit 52 displays the marker M on the outline portion of the ROI specified as described above.

Here, when the scanning surface by the said ultrasonic probe 2 changes, the said display image control part 51 displays the medical image Gb of the same surface as the new scanning surface, and the said display setting part 52 is a new scan. The marker M along the surface is displayed on the ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the case where a scan is performed about the cross section P and the scan is performed about the cross section P 'orthogonal to this cross section P is demonstrated as an example. When scanning with respect to the cross section P, the marker M as shown in FIG. 20 shall be displayed on the ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb. Then, when scanning is performed about end surface P ', the shape of the marker M displayed on the ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb changes, and the marker M' is displayed. The display setting unit 52 specifies the two-dimensional region of interest for a new cross section based on the three-dimensional region of interest and displays the marker M '.

Incidentally, when scanning a cross section that is not parallel to the slice plane of the medical image data, the display image control unit 51 is for medical use on the same plane as the scan plane based on the coordinates of the calculated area of the echo signal. An image Gb is created and displayed. That is, the display image control unit 51 calculates the coordinates of the acquisition area of the echo signal in the coordinate system of the ultrasonic image Ga, coordinates the calculated coordinates into the coordinate system of the medical image data, and has the same cross section as that of the scan surface. Medical image data is created based on the three-dimensional medical image data stored in the storage unit 9, and the medical image Gb is displayed.

According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of the present example described above, after the three-dimensional shape of the region of interest is obtained in step S31, in addition to obtaining the same effect as in the first embodiment, the marker is automatically designated without specifying the region of interest. Since M is displayed, it is not necessary to designate a region of interest every time the displayed cross section is changed, so that the burden on the operator can be reduced.

Next, the modification of 2nd Example is demonstrated based on FIG. In FIG. 22, in step S40, in any one of the ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb, an operator inputs an instruction for designating a two-dimensional region of interest by the operation unit 7 to display the marker. Display M. Also in this step S40, like the step S30 of the said embodiment, the area | region of interest is specified with respect to multiple cross section P1, P2, ..., PN.

In step S41, a three-dimensional shape of the ROI is obtained in the same manner as in step S31, and the coordinates are stored. Next, in step S42, in the state where the ultrasound image Ga and the medical image Gb are displayed, the alignment between the coordinate system of the ultrasound image Ga and the coordinate system of the medical image Gb is performed in the same manner as the steps S3 and S22 of the first embodiment. .

In step S43, the marker M is displayed on the ultrasonic image Ga and the medical image Gb similarly to the above-described step S32.

In addition, also in this 2nd Example, like the 2nd modified example of 1st Example, you may include the measuring part which calculates the area etc. of the area | region enclosed by the marker M, and the like.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by the said Example, it is not limited to this, Of course, this invention can change variously in the range which does not change the meaning. For example, the storage unit 9 may store three-dimensional row data or ultrasonic image data acquired together with the probe information by the ultrasonic probe 2. The raw data and the ultrasonic image data are stored in the storage unit 9 together with the position information I calculated based on the probe information or the probe information. The image based on the raw data and the ultrasonic image data may be displayed as the medical image Gb. In this case, the coordinate system of the said medical image Gb is a coordinate system which makes the magnetic generating part 10 origin, and is the same coordinate system as the coordinate system of the said ultrasonic image Ga (real-time image). Therefore, even if the alignment between the coordinate system of the ultrasound image Ga and the coordinate system of the medical image Gb is not performed in the steps S3, S22, and S42, the display image control unit 51 performs real-time ultrasonic waves based on the probe information. It is possible to display the medical image Gb of the same cross section as the image Ga. The raw data and the ultrasonic image data are examples of embodiments of the three-dimensional medical image data and the three-dimensional ultrasonic data in the present invention.

1: ultrasonic diagnostic device
2: ultrasonic probe
6: display unit
7: control panel
10: magnetic generator
11: magnetic sensor
51: display image control unit
52: display setting section
53: measuring unit
54: three-dimensional shape derivation unit
M: Marker
Ga: Ultrasound Burn
Gb: medical burn

Claims (10)

An ultrasonic probe that scans the living tissue with ultrasonic waves to obtain an echo signal;
A probe detector for detecting a position and an inclination of the ultrasonic probe;
A medical image created based on three-dimensional medical image data acquired in advance while displaying an ultrasound image created based on an echo signal obtained by the ultrasound probe, and the position of the ultrasound probe detected by the probe detector; A display image controller for displaying a medical image of a cross section corresponding to a cross section of the ultrasonic image specified based on the inclination, on the display unit;
An operation unit for inputting an instruction to designate a region of interest by an operator in any one of the ultrasonic image and the medical image displayed on the display unit;
On the basis of an input of the operation unit, a display setting unit for displaying a marker indicating a region of interest on either the ultrasound image or the medical image, and also displaying the marker at a corresponding position of the other image. Characterized by
Ultrasound diagnostic device.
An ultrasonic probe that scans the living tissue with ultrasonic waves to obtain an echo signal;
A probe detector for detecting a position and an inclination of the ultrasonic probe;
A medical image created based on three-dimensional medical image data acquired in advance while displaying an ultrasound image created based on an echo signal obtained by the ultrasound probe, and the position of the ultrasound probe detected by the probe detector; A display image controller for displaying a medical image of a cross section corresponding to a cross section of the ultrasonic image specified based on the inclination, on the display unit;
An operation unit for inputting an instruction to designate a region of interest in a two-dimensional region in any one of the ultrasonic image and the medical image displayed on the display unit;
A three-dimensional shape derivation unit for obtaining a three-dimensional shape of the region of interest based on the two-dimensional region of interest specified for the plurality of cross sections by the operation unit;
A display setting for specifying a two-dimensional region of interest for a predetermined section based on the three-dimensional shape of the region of interest, and displaying a marker representing the two-dimensional region of interest on the ultrasound image and the medical image for the predetermined section; Characterized in that it comprises a wealth
Ultrasound diagnostic device.
The method of claim 2,
The three-dimensional shape derivation unit obtains the three-dimensional shape of the region of interest by obtaining coordinates of the region of interest in the coordinate system of the image in which the region of interest is designated by the operation unit.
Ultrasound diagnostic device.
The method of claim 3, wherein
The three-dimensional shape deriving unit performs interpolation using coordinates of a two-dimensional region of interest specified for a plurality of cross sections to obtain a three-dimensional shape of the region of interest.
Ultrasound diagnostic device.
The method according to claim 3 or 4,
The display setting unit identifies the marker by specifying the two-dimensional region of interest by specifying coordinates present in a predetermined cross section scanned by the ultrasonic probe among the coordinates of the region of interest obtained by the three-dimensional shape derivation unit. Characterized in that
Ultrasound diagnostic device.
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The three-dimensional medical image data is X-ray CT image data, MRI image data, or three-dimensional ultrasound data obtained with the information of the position and inclination of the ultrasonic probe.
Ultrasound diagnostic device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
And a measuring unit for measuring the ROI indicated by the marker.
Ultrasound diagnostic device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
In displaying the medical image of the cross section corresponding to the cross section of the ultrasonic image on the display unit, the operator performs alignment of the coordinate system of the ultrasonic image with the coordinate system of the medical image using the operation unit.
Ultrasound diagnostic device.
The method of claim 8,
The alignment between the coordinate system of the ultrasound image and the coordinate system of the medical image is performed by an operator designating a position corresponding to the same position in the displayed ultrasound image and the medical image using the operation unit.
Ultrasound diagnostic device.
The method of claim 9,
The marker is displayed on the displayed medical image.
Ultrasound diagnostic device.

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