KR20120045695A - Ultrasound system and method for storing ultrasound images - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An ultrasound system and an ultrasound method for storing an ultrasound image are provided to improve the convenience of an operator by extracting and storing the ultrasound image corresponding to a preset condition among a plurality of ultrasound images. CONSTITUTION: A medical tool(110) is inserted into an object with a lesion. An ultrasound data obtaining unit(120) obtains a plurality of ultrasound data. A processor(140) extracts an ultrasound image corresponding to a preset condition. A storage unit(130) stores an extracted image. A display unit(150) displays a plurality of ultrasound images.

Description

ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING ULTRASOUND IMAGES

The present invention relates to an ultrasound system, and more particularly, to an ultrasound system and method for automatically storing an ultrasound image during an interventional procedure.

As medical technology develops, a small portion of the object is not punctured, but a medical needle, such as an ablator or biopsy, is inserted into the lesion site while viewing the image to perform treatment or examination. The technique to perform is used. This technique uses images obtained from computerized tomography (CT) during the procedure to observe the inside of the subject and reach the medical tool directly at the site where the examination is desired or at the lesion at which the treatment is desired, so that the diagnosis or procedure is performed. It is called "treatment method" or "intermediate method".

This interventional procedure generally does not require a generalized machi, less physical burden on the subject (eg, patient), less pain or pain, and a shorter hospital stay compared to surgical treatment that requires incision. As a result, the return to daily life is accelerated, which is a great benefit in terms of medical cost and effectiveness.

CT is difficult to obtain images in real time, especially in the case of interventional procedures using CT, there is a risk of exposure to radiation for a long time in the operator and patient mode. Recently, an image can be obtained in real time and an interventional procedure is performed using ultrasonic equipment that is almost harmless to the human body.

Conventionally, when an interventional procedure is performed by an operator alone using ultrasound equipment, the operator holds an ultrasound probe for obtaining an ultrasound image in one hand and a medical instrument (for example, a biopsy needle) in the other hand. Therefore, one hand must be used to store a desired ultrasound image, and therefore, the ultrasound image can not only be shaken but also has a long interventional time.

The present invention provides an ultrasound system and method for automatically storing an ultrasound image corresponding to a predetermined condition during an interventional procedure.

An ultrasound system according to the present invention includes a medical tool inserted into a subject including a lesion to treat the lesion; An ultrasound data acquisition unit operable to transmit an ultrasound signal to the object before the medical tool is inserted into the object, to receive the ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object, and to obtain a plurality of ultrasound data corresponding to a plurality of frames ; Forming a plurality of ultrasound images by using the plurality of ultrasound data, analyzing the plurality of ultrasound images, grouping the plurality of ultrasound images into a plurality of groups, and ultrasonic waves corresponding to a preset condition in each of the plurality of groups. A processor operative to extract an image; And a storage unit for storing the extracted image.

In addition, according to the present invention, a method for storing an ultrasound image includes: a) transmitting an ultrasound signal to the object before the medical tool is inserted into the object, receiving an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object, and receiving a plurality of frames corresponding to a plurality of frames. Obtaining ultrasound data; b) forming a plurality of ultrasound images using the plurality of ultrasound data; c) analyzing the plurality of ultrasound images and grouping the plurality of ultrasound images into a plurality of groups; d) extracting an ultrasound image corresponding to a preset condition from each of the plurality of groups; And e) storing the extracted image in a storage unit.

A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for performing a method for storing an ultrasound image, according to the present invention, the method comprising: a) a plurality of frames with respect to the object before the medical instrument is inserted into the object; Acquiring a plurality of corresponding ultrasound data; b) forming a plurality of ultrasound images using the plurality of ultrasound data; c) analyzing the plurality of ultrasound images and grouping the plurality of ultrasound images into a plurality of groups; d) extracting an ultrasound image corresponding to a preset condition from each of the plurality of groups; And e) storing the extracted image in a storage unit.

The present invention can extract and automatically store an ultrasound image corresponding to a predetermined condition from a plurality of ultrasound images during the interventional procedure, thereby improving the convenience of the operator.

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 frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of storing an ultrasound image in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is an exemplary view showing an example of grouping ultrasound images according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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 ultrasonic system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the ultrasound system 100 includes a medical tool 110, an ultrasound data acquirer 120, a processor 130, a storage 140, and a display 150.

The medical instrument 110 is inserted into the subject to operate on a lesion present in the subject. In the present embodiment, the medical instrument 110 includes a thermotherapy needle, a cryotherapy needle, and the like. However, the medical instrument 110 is not necessarily limited thereto.

The ultrasound data acquisition unit 120 transmits an ultrasound signal to the object and receives ultrasound signals (that is, ultrasound echo signals) reflected from the object to obtain ultrasound data.

2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic data acquisition unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the ultrasound data acquisition unit 120 includes an ultrasound probe 210, a transmission signal forming unit 220, a beam former 230, and an ultrasound data forming unit 240.

The ultrasonic probe 210 includes a plurality of transducer elements (not shown) that operate to mutually convert an electrical signal and an ultrasonic signal. The ultrasound probe 210 transmits an ultrasound signal to the object and receives an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object to form a received signal. The received signal is an analog signal. The ultrasonic probe 210 includes a convex probe, a linear probe, and the like. However, the ultrasonic probe 210 is not necessarily limited thereto.

The transmission signal forming unit 220 controls the transmission of the ultrasonic signal. In addition, the transmission signal forming unit 220 forms a transmission signal for obtaining a frame in consideration of the conversion element and the focal point. The frame includes a B mode (brightness mode) image. However, the frame is not necessarily limited thereto. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the transmission signal forming unit 220 is configured to obtain each of a plurality of frames F _i (1 ≦ _i ≦ N) before the medical instrument 110 is inserted into the object. Transmission signals are sequentially formed in predetermined time units. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 310 denotes a lesion, reference numeral 110 denotes a medical instrument inserted into the object, and reference numeral 330 denotes a region from which the lesion 310 is removed. Therefore, when the transmission signal is provided from the transmission signal forming unit 220, the ultrasound probe 210 converts the transmission signal into an ultrasound signal, transmits the ultrasound signal to the object, and receives the ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object to form a reception signal.

The beam former 230 forms a digital signal by analog-to-digital converting the received signals sequentially provided from the ultrasonic probe 210. In addition, the beam former 230 focuses the digital signal in consideration of the conversion element and the focal point to form the reception focus signal.

The ultrasonic data forming unit 240 forms ultrasonic data corresponding to each of the plurality of frames F _i (1 ≦ _i ≦ N) by using the reception focus signals sequentially provided from the beam former 230. The ultrasound data includes radio frequency (RF) data. However, the ultrasonic data is not necessarily limited thereto. In addition, the ultrasound data forming unit 240 may perform various signal processing (for example, gain adjustment, etc.) necessary for forming the ultrasound data on the reception focus signal.

The storage unit 130 stores the plurality of ultrasound data obtained by the ultrasound data acquisition unit 120. In addition, the storage 130 temporarily stores a plurality of ultrasound images corresponding to the plurality of ultrasound data. In addition, the storage 130 stores ultrasound images corresponding to preset conditions in the plurality of ultrasound images. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 130 may include a first storage unit (not shown) for temporarily storing a plurality of ultrasound images corresponding to the plurality of ultrasound data and an ultrasound image corresponding to a preset condition in the plurality of ultrasound images. It includes a second storage unit (not shown) for storing the. In addition, the storage unit 130 includes a third storage unit (not shown) for storing a plurality of ultrasound data.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the processor 140 is connected to the ultrasound data acquirer 120 and the storage 130. The processor 140 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphic processing unit (GPU), and the like. However, the processor 140 is not necessarily limited thereto.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of automatically storing an ultrasound image according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the processor 140 uses the plurality of ultrasound data provided from the ultrasound data acquirer 120, as illustrated in FIG. 5, to display a plurality of frames F _i (1 ≦ _i ≦ N), That is, a plurality of ultrasound images UI _i (1 ≦ _i ≦ N) are formed (S402). The ultrasound image UI _i (1 ≦ _i ≦ N) is stored in the storage 130 (particularly, the first storage).

The processor 140 analyzes each of the plurality of ultrasound images (S404), and groups the plurality of ultrasound images into a plurality of groups based on the analysis result (S406). In the present embodiment, the processor 140 performs edge detection processing on each of the plurality of ultrasound images, so that the boundary of the lesion 310 or the lesion 310 and the medical tool (see FIG. 5) are respectively shown in FIG. 5. Detect the boundary of 110). Lesion 310 and medical instrument 110 are darker than normal tissue. Thus, the boundary of lesion 310 and medical instrument 110 can be detected using various known methods. As an example, the boundary may be detected using an edge mask such as a Sobel mask, a Prewitt mask, a Robert mask, a Canny mask, or the like. The boundary can also be detected from the difference in eigen values using a structure tensor. The processor 140 may display the ultrasound images UI ₁ to UI _{i -1} until the medical instrument 110 is inserted into the object in the plurality of ultrasound images using the detected boundary, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Grouped into a group G ₁ and a second group of ultrasound images (UI _i to UI _{i + k + m} ) after the medical instrument 110 is inserted into the object and before the lesion 310 is removed by the procedure (G ₂ ), and the ultrasound images (UI _{i + k + m + 1} to UI _N ) after the lesion 310 is removed by the procedure are grouped into the third group (G ₃ ).

The processor 140 compares ultrasound images corresponding to each of the plurality of groups (S406), and extracts ultrasound images corresponding to preset conditions from each of the plurality of groups (S408).

In this embodiment, the maximum from the processor 140 includes a first group (G ₁₎ of the ultrasound image (UI UI ₁ to _{i -1)} and, the ultrasound image (UI UI ₁ to _{i -1)} compared to the corresponding An ultrasound image (eg, UI _{i -1} ) including a lesion 310 having a sharpness of is extracted. The maximum sharpness can be detected using various known methods and thus will not be described in detail in this embodiment. The processor 140 compares the ultrasound images UI _i to UI _{i + k + m} corresponding to the second group G ₂ , and compares the ultrasound tools UI _i to UI _{i + k + m} with medical instruments. An ultrasound image (eg, UI _{i + k + m} ) where the boundary of 110 and the boundary of lesion 310 meet is extracted. The processor 140 compares the ultrasound images UI _{i + k + m + 1} to UI _N corresponding to the third group G ₃ , and compares the ultrasound images UI _{i + k + m + 1} to UI _N. ), An ultrasound image (eg, UI _N ) including the lesion removal site 330 having the maximum sharpness is extracted.

The processor 140 controls the storage of the ultrasound image extracted from each of the plurality of groups (S410). Therefore, the storage unit 130 (particularly, the second storage unit) stores the ultrasound image extracted by the processor 140.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the display unit 150 displays a plurality of ultrasound images formed by the processor 140. In addition, the display unit 150 displays the ultrasound image extracted 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.

100: ultrasound system 110: medical tools
120: ultrasonic data acquisition unit 130: storage unit
140: processor 150: display unit
210: ultrasonic probe 220: transmission signal forming unit
230: beam former 240: ultrasonic data forming unit
F ₁ to F _N : frame UI ₁ to UI _N : ultrasound image

Claims (11)

As an ultrasound system,
A medical tool inserted into a subject including a lesion to treat the lesion;
An ultrasound data acquisition unit operable to transmit an ultrasound signal to the object before the medical tool is inserted into the object, to receive the ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object, and to obtain a plurality of ultrasound data corresponding to a plurality of frames ;
Forming a plurality of ultrasound images by using the plurality of ultrasound data, analyzing the plurality of ultrasound images, grouping the plurality of ultrasound images into a plurality of groups, and ultrasonic waves corresponding to a preset condition in each of the plurality of groups. A processor operative to extract an image; And
Storage unit for storing the extracted image
. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor,
A boundary detection process is performed on each of the plurality of ultrasound images to detect the boundary of the lesion or the boundary of the lesion and the medical tool in each of the plurality of ultrasound images,
And to group the plurality of ultrasound images into the plurality of groups based on the detected boundary. The method of claim 2, wherein the processor,
Based on the detected boundary, grouping ultrasound images in the plurality of ultrasound images until the medical instrument is inserted into the object, into a first group,
Based on the detected boundary, the ultrasound images are grouped into a second group after the medical instrument is inserted into the object from the plurality of ultrasound images until the lesion is removed;
Based on the detected boundary, operative to group ultrasound images after the lesion is removed from the plurality of ultrasound images into a third group. The processor of claim 3, wherein the processor comprises:
Comparing ultrasound images of the first group to extract an ultrasound image including a lesion having a maximum sharpness,
Comparing ultrasound images of the second group and extracting ultrasound images where the boundary of the medical tool meets the boundary of the lesion,
And comparing the third group of ultrasound images to extract an ultrasound image including a lesion removal site having a maximum sharpness. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the storage unit further stores the plurality of ultrasound images. As a method of storing an ultrasound image,
a) transmitting an ultrasound signal to the object before the medical instrument is inserted into the object, and receiving the ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object to obtain a plurality of ultrasound data corresponding to a plurality of frames;
b) forming a plurality of ultrasound images using the plurality of ultrasound data;
c) analyzing the plurality of ultrasound images and grouping the plurality of ultrasound images into a plurality of groups;
d) extracting an ultrasound image corresponding to a preset condition from each of the plurality of groups; And
e) storing the extracted image in a storage unit;
Ultrasonic image storage method comprising a. The method of claim 6, wherein step c)
c1) performing a boundary detection process on each of the plurality of ultrasound images to detect a boundary of the lesion or a boundary of the lesion and a medical tool on each of the plurality of ultrasound images; And
c2) grouping the plurality of ultrasound images into the plurality of groups based on the detected boundary;
Ultrasonic image storage method comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein the step c2),
Grouping ultrasound images into a first group until the medical instrument is inserted into the object in the plurality of ultrasound images based on the detected boundary;
Grouping ultrasound images into a second group based on the detected boundary from the plurality of ultrasound images after the medical instrument is inserted into the object and before the lesion is removed; And
Grouping ultrasound images after the lesion is removed from the plurality of ultrasound images into a third group based on the detected boundary
Ultrasonic image storage method comprising a. The method of claim 8, wherein step d)
Comparing ultrasound images of the first group to extract an ultrasound image including lesions having a maximum sharpness;
Comparing ultrasound images of the second group and extracting ultrasound images where the boundary of the medical tool meets the boundary of the lesion; And
Comparing ultrasound images of the third group and extracting an ultrasound image including a lesion removal site having a maximum clarity;
Ultrasonic image storage method comprising a. The method of claim 6, wherein after performing step b),
Storing the plurality of ultrasound images
Ultrasonic image storage method further comprising. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for performing a method of storing an ultrasound image, the method comprising:
a) acquiring a plurality of ultrasound data corresponding to a plurality of frames with respect to the object before the medical instrument is inserted into the object;
b) forming a plurality of ultrasound images using the plurality of ultrasound data;
c) analyzing the plurality of ultrasound images and grouping the plurality of ultrasound images into a plurality of groups;
d) extracting an ultrasound image corresponding to a preset condition from each of the plurality of groups; And
e) storing the extracted image in a storage unit;
Computer-readable recording medium comprising a.

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