KR20170053103A - Ultrasound imaging apparatus and method for generating ultrasound image - Google Patents

Abstract

An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and a method for generating an ultrasound image are disclosed. The ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus generates a first image representing the texture of an object and a second image representing a contrast agent applied to the object based on an echo signal reflected from the object, generates a third image in which at least a part of the tissue is removed from the second image using the first image, and displays the generated third image. So, contrast images with enhanced contrast of blood vessels and tissues can be generated.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and a method for generating ultrasound images,

The present disclosure relates to an ultrasound imaging apparatus and a method for generating an ultrasound image. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for generating an ultrasound image in which at least a portion of a tissue has been removed.

The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus irradiates an ultrasound signal generated from a transducer of a probe to a target object, receives information of an echo signal reflected from the target object, and transmits the echo signal to a site (e.g., soft tissue or blood stream) To obtain at least one image. In particular, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used for medical purposes such as observation of an object, foreign object detection, and injury measurement. Such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is more stable than a diagnostic apparatus using X-ray, has an advantage that it can display images in real time, and is safe because there is no radiation exposure. Accordingly, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is widely used with other imaging apparatuses including a computed tomography (CT) apparatus, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, and the like.

Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) is a method of injecting a contrast agent into an object in an imaging method using an ultrasound system. Contrast agent The ultrasound method can quantitatively determine the malignant or benign nature of a target, for example, a tumor by observing the tendency of the image signal value of the target over time after administering the contrast agent to the target.

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasound image generating method according to an embodiment of the present invention aim to generate a contrast image in which at least a part of a tissue is removed.

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasound image generating method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention aim to generate a contrast image with improved contrast between blood vessels and tissues.

As a technical means for achieving the above technical object, a first aspect of the present disclosure is an ultrasound imaging apparatus, comprising: a first image representing an organization of the object based on an echo signal reflected from the object; An image processing unit configured to generate a second image representing a contrast agent input to the first image and generate a third image in which at least a portion of the tissue is removed from the second image using the first image, And a display unit configured to display the ultrasound image.

In addition, the part may provide an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus having a brightness greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value in the first image.

In addition, the part may be common to the first image and the second image.

In addition, at least one of the first image and the second image is corrected such that the first image and the second image have a brightness of the same value in the first image and the second image.

The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus may further include an image subtraction unit that subtracts the first image from the second image to generate the third image from which the part is removed from the second image .

In addition, the third image is corrected such that the brightness of the third image is close to the brightness of the second image.

In addition, the portion of the second image not highlighted in the first image may be emphasized in the third image.

The image processor may further be configured to generate a fourth image from the second image, the second image including the first portion being removed using the first image, The apparatus may further comprise an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus configured to display the generated fourth image.

Also, at least one of the third image and the fourth image is corrected such that the image parameters of the third image and the fourth image are leveled.

In addition, the third image and the fourth image may be alternately displayed based on user input.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for generating an ultrasound image, the method comprising: generating a first image representing the texture of the object based on an echo signal reflected from the object, 2 image, generating a third image in which at least a portion of the tissue has been removed from the second image using the first image, and displaying the generated third image .

Also, the part may have a brightness of a predetermined threshold value or more in the first image.

Also, the part may be common to the first image and the second image.

Also, at least one of the first image and the second image is corrected so that the part has the same value of brightness in the first image and the second image.

The method may further include the step of subtracting the first image from the second image to generate the third image from which the part of the second image is removed.

Also, the third image may be corrected so that the brightness of the third image is close to the brightness of the second image.

The method may further include the step of displaying the portion of the second image that is not displayed on the first image and emphasized on the third image.

The image processor may further be configured to generate a fourth image from the third image, the second image including the first portion being removed using the first image, wherein the portion is a first portion, And wherein the second image is further configured to display the generated fourth image.

Also, at least one of the third image and the fourth image may be corrected such that image parameters of the third image and the fourth image are leveled.

The third aspect of the present disclosure can also provide a computer readable medium capable of executing the method of the second aspect in a computer.

Various embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure can be readily understood by a combination of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein reference numerals refer to structural elements.
1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram of a wireless probe according to one embodiment.
3 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment.
Figure 4a is a first image, the second image in accordance with an embodiment, and are an exemplary illustration of a third image.
FIG. 4B is exemplary illustrations of a third image and a fourth image, according to one embodiment.
5 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary UI for displaying a plurality of contrast agent ultrasound images, according to one embodiment.
6 is a diagram for explaining a method of generating a third image according to an embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a second image and a third image for each region according to an embodiment.
8 is a first image, a second image, and a third image in a normal case according to an embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a first image, a second image, and a third image in a case of a slight renal artery stenosis according to an embodiment.
10 is a flow diagram of a method for generating a third image, in accordance with one embodiment.

Although the terminology used herein should be interpreted taking into account the functionality in various embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure, it is to be understood and appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, It can be different. Also, in certain cases, there may be a term selected arbitrarily by the applicant, in which case the meaning thereof will be described in detail in the description of the corresponding invention. Accordingly, the terms used in the present specification should be defined based on the meaning of the term, not on the name of a simple term, and on the contents throughout the specification.

When an element is referred to as "including" an element throughout the specification, it is to be understood that the element may include other elements, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Also, the terms "part ","? Module ", etc. in the specification mean a unit for processing at least one function or operation, which may be implemented by hardware or software or by a combination of hardware and software.

The term "ultrasound image " in the entire specification refers to an image of an object obtained using ultrasound. In addition, the subject may comprise a person or an animal, or a part of a person or an animal. For example, the subject may comprise at least one of the following: liver, heart, uterus, brain, breast, organs such as the abdomen, and blood vessels. Also, the object may be a phantom, and the phantom may refer to a material that is very close to the density and the effective atomic number of the organism and very close to the volume of the organism. For example, the phantom may be a spherical phantom having characteristics similar to the human body.

Also, throughout the specification, the term "user" may be a medical professional such as a doctor, a nurse, a clinical pathologist, a medical imaging specialist, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

Also, in this specification, expressions such as "first "," second ", or " 1-1 "are exemplary terms for designating different components, objects, images, pixels or patches. Therefore, the expressions such as " first, "" second," or " 1-1 "

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 ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000 according to one embodiment includes a probe 20, an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 1100, an image processing unit 1200, a communication unit 1300, a display unit 1400, a memory 1500, an input device 1600 ), And a control unit 1700, and the various configurations described above may be connected to each other via a bus 1800.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000 can be implemented not only as a cart type but also as a portable type. Examples of portable ultrasound diagnostic devices include, but are not limited to, a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System Viewer), a smartphone, a laptop computer, a PDA, a tablet PC, and the like.

The probe 20 transmits an ultrasonic signal to the object 10 in response to a driving signal applied from the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving unit 1100 and receives an echo signal reflected from the object 10. The probe 20 includes a plurality of transducers, and the plurality of transducers generate ultrasonic waves that are vibrated according to an electrical signal to be transmitted and are acoustical energy. The probe 20 may be connected to the main body of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000 in a wired or wireless manner. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000 may include a plurality of probes 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The transmission unit 1110 supplies a driving signal to the probe 20 and includes a pulse generation unit 1112, a transmission delay unit 1114, and a pulsar 1116. The pulse generator 1112 generates a pulse for forming a transmission ultrasonic wave according to a predetermined pulse repetition frequency (PRF), and the transmission delay unit 1114 determines a transmission directionality And applies the delay time to the pulse. Each of the pulses 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 a driving pulse) to the probe 20 at a timing corresponding to each pulse to which the delay time is applied.

The receiving unit 1120 processes the echo signal received from the probe 20 to generate ultrasonic data and includes an amplifier 1122, an ADC (Analog Digital Converter) 1124, a receiving delay unit 1126, And a summing unit 1128. [ The amplifier 1122 amplifies the echo signal for each channel, and the ADC 1124 converts the amplified echo signal analog-to-digital. The reception delay unit 1126 applies the delay time for determining the reception directionality to the digitally converted echo signal and the summation unit 1128 sums the echo signals processed by the reception delay unit 1166 And generates ultrasonic data. Meanwhile, the receiving unit 1120 may not include the amplifier 1122 according to the embodiment. That is, when the sensitivity of the probe 20 is improved or the processing bit number of the ADC 1124 is improved, the amplifier 1122 may be omitted.

The image processing unit 1200 generates an ultrasound image through a scan conversion process on the ultrasound data generated by the ultrasound transmitting / receiving unit 1100. On the other hand, the ultrasound image has a Doppler effect as well as an image of a gray scale obtained by scanning an object in an A mode (amplitude mode), a B mode (brightness mode) and an M mode And may be a Doppler image expressing a moving object by using it. The Doppler image may be a blood flow Doppler image (also referred to as a color Doppler image) representing blood flow, a tissue Doppler image representing tissue movement, or a spectral Doppler image representing a moving velocity of a subject by a waveform.

The B mode processing unit 1212 included in the data processing unit 1210 extracts and processes the B mode component from the ultrasonic data. The image generating unit 1220 can generate an ultrasound image in which the intensity of the signal is expressed by the brightness based on the B mode component extracted by the B mode processing unit 1212. [

Similarly, the Doppler processing unit 1214 included in the data processing unit 1210 extracts a Doppler component from the ultrasound data, and the image generating unit 1220 expresses the motion of the target object in color or waveform based on the extracted Doppler component Doppler images can be generated.

The image generating unit 1220 may generate a 3-dimensional ultrasound image through a volume rendering process on volume data, and may generate an elastic image that imaged the degree of deformation of the object 10 according to the pressure It is possible. Further, the image generating unit 1220 may display various kinds of additional information on the ultrasound image in text and graphics. 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 may display various information processed by the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000 on the screen through a GUI (Graphical User Interface) as well as the ultrasound image. Meanwhile, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000 may include two or more display units 1400 according to an embodiment.

The communication unit 1300 is connected to the network 30 by wire or wireless, and communicates with an external device or a server. The communication unit 1300 can exchange data with other medical devices in a hospital server or a hospital connected through a medical image information system (PACS). In addition, the communication unit 1300 can communicate data according to the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standard.

The communication unit 1300 can transmit and receive data related to diagnosis of a target object such as an ultrasound image, ultrasound data, and Doppler data of the target body 10 via the network 30, Medical images taken by the device can also be transmitted and received. Further, the communication unit 1300 may receive information on the diagnosis history of the patient, the treatment schedule, and the like from the server and may use the diagnosis information for diagnosis of the target body 10. Further, the communication unit 1300 may perform data communication with not only a server or a medical device in a hospital, but also a doctor or a portable terminal of a patient.

The communication unit 1300 may be connected to the network 30 by wire or wireless and may 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 local communication module 1310, a wired communication module 1320, and a mobile communication module 1330 .

The short-range communication module 1310 refers to a module for short-range communication within a predetermined distance. The local area communication technology according to an exemplary embodiment may include a wireless LAN, a Wi-Fi, a Bluetooth, a ZigBee, a WFD, an ultra wideband (UWB) Data Association, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near Field Communication (NFC), and the like.

The wired communication module 1320 refers to a module for communication using an electrical signal or an optical signal. In the wired communication technology according to an embodiment, a twisted pair cable, a coaxial cable, an optical fiber cable, an ethernet, Cable and so on.

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

The memory 1500 stores various pieces of information to be processed in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000. For example, the memory 1500 may store medical data related to diagnosis of a target object such as input / output ultrasound data and ultrasound images, and may store an algorithm or a program executed in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000.

The memory 1500 may be implemented by various types of storage media such as a flash memory, a hard disk, and an EEPROM. In addition, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000 may operate a web storage or a cloud server that performs a storage function of the memory 1500 on the web.

The input device 1600 means a means for receiving data for controlling the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000 from a user. Examples of the input device 1600 may include a hardware configuration such as a keypad, a mouse, a touchpad, a touch screen, a trackball, a jog switch, etc., but the present invention is not limited thereto. And 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 controller 1700 controls the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000 as a whole. That is, the control unit 1700 includes the probe 20, the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 1100, the image processing unit 1200, the communication unit 1300, the display unit 1400, the memory 1500, and the input device 1600) can be controlled.

Some or all of the probe 20, the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 1100, the image processing unit 1200, the communication unit 1300, the display unit 1400, the memory 1500, the input device 1600, But is not limited thereto, and some of the above-described configurations may be operated by hardware. At least some of the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 1100, the image processing unit 1200, and the communication unit 1300 may be included in the control unit 1600, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

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

The wireless probe 2000 includes a plurality of transducers as described with reference to FIG. 1, and may include some or all of the components of the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving unit 100 of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment.

The wireless probe 2000 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 includes a transmitting unit 2100, a transducer 2200, and a receiving unit 2300, and their configurations have been described in 1, do. Meanwhile, the wireless probe 2000 may selectively include a reception delay unit 2330 and a summation unit 2340 according to the implementation.

The wireless probe 2000 may transmit an ultrasonic signal to a target object 10, receive an echo signal, generate ultrasonic data, and wirelessly transmit the generated ultrasonic data to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000 of FIG.

3 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1000 may include an image processing unit 1200 and a display unit 1400). However, not all illustrated components are required. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000 may be implemented by more components than the components shown in FIG. 3 and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000 may be implemented by fewer components than the components shown in FIG. 3 have.

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

In the contrast agent ultrasound mode, the image processing unit 110 can utilize a strong nonlinear effect of the ultrasound contrast agent. In the nonlinear effect, the reflected wave from the microbubbles is greatly distorted as compared with the incident wave, and when the waveform is distorted, a harmonic component is generated. The image processing unit 1200 can use the above feature to use a Contrast Harmonic Imaging method in which the fundamental wave is suppressed and the contrast agent is emphasized by imaging the second harmonic of twice the irradiation wave . In the contrast harmonic imaging method, since the reflected wave from the bubble contains more secondary harmonic than the reflected wave from the living tissue, an image in which the reflected wave from the contrast agent is emphasized can be obtained.

The image processing unit 1200 can generate a first image indicating the structure 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 processing unit 1200 can generate a second image indicating the contrast agent applied to the object based on the echo signal reflected from the object. Here, the second image may be a contrast agent ultrasound image. And the second image can be generated based on the echo signal reflected from the contrast agent applied to the object.

During the generation of the second image, the signal reflected by the movement of the target tissue and the signal reflected from the contrast agent may interfere with each other, and the degree of contrast of the blood vessel in the second image may be reduced due to interference of signals have.

A method of suppressing the intensity of the signal itself during the signal processing process may be used in order to reduce the influence of the signal reflected by the tissue of the object. However, such a method may have insufficient effect of inhibition.

Accordingly, the image processing unit 1200 according to an exemplary embodiment may generate a third image in which at least a portion of the tissue is removed from the second image using the first image. Here, the third image may be a contrast agent ultrasound image as in the second image. A method of removing at least a portion of a tissue from a second image using a first image is described in Figures 4A and 4B.

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

The display unit 1400 may display two-dimensional and / or three-dimensional ultrasound images. Also, 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 the B mode ultrasound image and the contrast agent ultrasound image together, or may display the B mode ultrasound image and the enhanced contrast ultrasound image together.

Figure 4a is a first image, the second image in accordance with an embodiment, and are an exemplary illustration of a third image.

Referring to FIG. 4A, tissues 411 and 421 may appear in the first image 410 and the second image 420, respectively. The textures 411 and 421 may be displayed brighter than the other regions 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 processing unit 1200 may generate a third image 430a in which at least a part of the tissue is removed from the second image 420 using the first image 410. [ Here, the third image 430a may be a contrast agent ultrasound image as in the second image 420. [

In one embodiment, the image processing unit 1200 removes a portion of the tissue common to the first image 410 and the second image 420 from the second image 420, thereby generating a third image 430a Can be generated. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the image processing unit 1200 removes a tissue 421 common to the first image 410 and the second image 420 from the second image 420, The third image 430a can be generated.

The portion 431a corresponding to the texture 421 of the second image 420 in the generated third image 430a can be remarkably suppressed as shown in FIG.

According to an embodiment, in order to remove a portion common to the first image 410 and the second image 420 from the second image 420, the image processing unit 1200 may remove the second image 420 from the second image 420 It is possible to perform image subtraction to subtract the first image 410. As a result of performing image subtraction to subtract the first image 410 from the second image 420, a third image 430a may be generated. The generated third image 430a may be less influenced by the organization of the first image 410 than the second image 420. [ A portion common to the first image 410 and the second image 420 is removed from the third image 430a so that the contrast of the blood vessel is improved compared to the second image 420 .

According to an exemplary embodiment, a portion of the second image 420 that is not displayed on the first image 410 may be emphasized on the third image 430a. For example, blood vessels exhibited by the contrast agent may be emphasized in the third image 430a.

FIG. 4B is exemplary illustrations of a third image and a fourth image, according to one embodiment.

4A and 4B, the image processing unit 1200 may generate a fourth image 430b in which at least a portion of the tissue is removed from the second image 420 using the first image 410. FIG. Here, sizes of portions removed from the third image 430a and the fourth image 430b may be different from each other. 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. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the portion removed from the fourth image 430b may be more widely spread than the portion removed from the third image 430a. The third image 430a and the fourth image 430b may be a contrast agent ultrasound image as in the second image 420. [

5 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary UI for displaying a plurality of contrast agent ultrasound images, according to one embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the display unit 1400 can alternately display a plurality of contrast agent ultrasound images 530 based on user input. Here, in the plurality of contrast agent ultrasound images 530, the degree of removal using the B mode ultrasound image 510 may be different . For example, from the contrast agent ultrasound image 530a in which the portion overlapping the B mode ultrasound image 510 is not removed, to the contrast ultrasound image 530d in which the portion overlapping with the B mode ultrasound image 510 is most removed And may be alternately displayed through the display unit 1400. [ At this time, the smallest weight is applied to the contrast- enhanced ultrasound image 530a in which the portion overlapping the B-mode ultrasound image 510 is not removed , and the contrast- enhanced ultrasound image 510, The largest weight can be applied to the weight 530d.

Here, the user input may be received by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000 through the input device 1400. [ For example, the user input in the direction of increasing the "FlowMax Index" through the input device 1400 when received at the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000, a display portion 1400 overlapped with B-mode ultrasound image (510) A contrast agent ultrasound image in which a portion is more removed , and " FlowMax When the user input in the direction of reducing the & quot; Index " is received by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1000, the display unit 1400 displays the contrast ultrasound image, which is overlapped with the B mode ultrasound image 510, can do.

Although the input device 1400 is shown as being a touch screen in FIG. 5, the input device 1400 may be implemented as a jog switch.

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

Referring to FIG. 6, the image processing unit 1200 may extract a region of interest (ROI) from the first image 610. The region of interest can be extracted based on a predetermined criterion. For example, in the first image 610, a region having a brightness of a predetermined threshold value or more may be extracted as a region of interest.

The white mask 612 can be detected by extracting regions having a brightness greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value in the first image 610.

In one embodiment, at least one of the first image 610 and the second image 620 may be corrected (corrected) so that the brightness average of the areas of the white mask 612 in the first image 610 and the second image 620 is equal . For example, the first image 614 may be normalized such that the brightness average of the areas 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 is normalized so that the brightness average of the area of the white mask 612 is equal to the first image 620 and the first image 614 is subtracted from the second image 620 When image subtraction is performed, a third image 630 in which the area of the white mask 612 is removed from the second image 620 can be generated.

According to one embodiment, the region of the white mask 612 is removed from the second image 620, so that tissues other than blood vessels are removed from the second image 620, and a third image 630 can be generated . Accordingly, the contrast of the blood vessel of the third image 630 may be improved compared with other images of the ultrasound contrast agent including the second image 620.

In one embodiment, the image parameters of the third image 630 may be adjusted to offset the reduction of the B-mode signal and contrast of the contrast agent signal due to contrast 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 a threshold value, a minimum value, a maximum value, and the like.

For example, the third image 630 may be corrected such that the brightness of the third image 630 is close to the brightness of the second image 620. As shown in FIG. 6, the brightness of the corrected third image 632 is closer to the brightness of the second image 620, and may be darker than the brightness of the third image 630.

The brightness of the third image 630 is adjusted so that the speckle of the third image 630 and the flickering due to the regions removed from the second image 620 can be eliminated. For example, when a plurality of contrast agent ultrasound images 530 are displayed as shown in FIG. 5, if brightness of the plurality of contrast agent ultrasound images 530 is different from each other, speckle due to different brightness and change May result in flickering. However, according to one embodiment, the brightness of the plurality of contrast agent ultrasound images 530 is adjusted, so that spots and flicker in the plurality of contrast agent ultrasound images 530 can be suppressed.

FIG. 7 is a second image and a third image for each region according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, a second image 720a and a third image 730a for the aorta, a second image 720b and a third image 730b for extension, a second image 730b for the aorta, A second image 720d, and a third image 730d may be generated between the image 720c and the third image 730c.

Referring to the third image 730a of the aorta, the third image 730a has improved discrimination power between blood vessels and tissues as compared with the second image 720a. Specifically, the tissue that appears bright in the second image 720a is darkened in the third image 730a, thereby improving the discrimination power between the blood vessel and the tissue in the third image 730a. Also, as shown in the oval of the white frame in the third image 730a, the aorta that is difficult to identify in the second image 720a appears clearly in the third image 730a.

Referring to the third image 730b with respect to the elongation, the third image 730b improves the discrimination power between the blood vessel and the tissue as compared with the second image 720b. Specifically, as shown in the ellipse of the white frame 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 the blood vessels in the kidney are also displayed in the second image 720b ).

Referring to the third image 730c of the gallbladder, the third image 730c has improved discrimination power between blood vessels and tissues as compared with the second image 720c. Specifically, as shown in the oval of the white frame in the third image 730c, a polyp may appear, and the boundary of the organ may appear more clearly than the second image 720c.

Referring to the third image 730d of the liver, the third image 730d has improved discrimination power between blood vessels and tissues as compared with the second image 720d. Specifically, as shown in the oval of the white frame in the third image 730d, the boundary of the transition arm appears more clearly than the second image 720d.

Figure 8 is a first image, a second image, and a third image in a normal case, according to one embodiment. FIG. 9 is a first image, a second image, and a third image in a case of a slight renal artery stenosis according to an embodiment.

8 and 9, the first image 810 and 910, the second images 820 and 920, the third images 830a and 930a, and the third images 830a and 930a are generated by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment. Fourth images 830b and 930b may be generated. In the fourth images 830b and 930b in which the contrast of blood vessels is improved, the kidney artery and the aorta section are more clearly visible than contrast agent ultrasound images 810, 920, 830a and 930a.

10 is a flow diagram of a method for generating a third image, in accordance with one embodiment.

In step S1000, the image processing unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus generates the first image and the 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 to the object. Here, the first image may be a B mode ultrasound image, and the second image may be a contrast agent ultrasound image.

In step S1010, the image processing unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus generates a third image in which at least a part of the tissue is removed from the second image using the first image.

In an exemplary embodiment, a portion commonly represented by the first image and the second image may be removed from the second image by the image processing unit, thereby generating a third image.

In one embodiment, an image subtraction may be performed to subtract a first image from a second image by an image processor to remove a portion common to the first image and the second image from the second image.

According to an embodiment, a portion of the second image that does not appear in the first image may be emphasized in the third image. For example, blood vessels exhibited by the contrast agent can be emphasized in the third image.

In one embodiment, a region of interest (ROI) may be extracted from the first image by the image processing unit. The region of interest can be extracted based on a predetermined criterion. For example, an area having a brightness greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value in the first image may be extracted as a region of interest.

By extracting regions having a brightness greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value in the first image, a white mask can be detected.

In one embodiment, at least one of the first image and the second image may be corrected by the image processing unit so that the brightness average of the regions of the white mask in the first image and the second image becomes equal.

In one embodiment, the image parameters of the third image may be adjusted to offset the reduction of the B mode signal and the contrast of the contrast agent signal due to contrast injection. For example, the brightness of the third image can be adjusted. At this time, the brightness of the third image can be adjusted based on the threshold value, the minimum value, the maximum value, and the like.

In step S1020, the display unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus displays the third image generated in step S1010.

The third image may be displayed side by side with the first image. In addition, as described above with reference to FIG. 5, the third image may be alternately displayed as contrast agent ultrasound images with other contrast agent ultrasound images.

Some embodiments may also be implemented in the form of a recording medium including instructions executable by a computer, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. In addition, the computer-readable medium may include both computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, 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 any information delivery media, including computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave, or other transport mechanism.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the disclosed methods should be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (20)

As an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus,
Generating a first image representing a texture of the object and a second image representing a contrast agent applied to the object based on an echo signal reflected from the object, An image processing unit configured to generate a third image from which at least a part of the tissue has been removed; And
And a display unit configured to display the generated third image. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the part has a brightness equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value in the first image. The method according to claim 1,
And the part is common to the first image and the second image. The method of claim 3,
Wherein at least one of the first image and the second image is corrected so that the part has the same value of brightness in the first image and the second image. 5. The method of claim 4,
Performing at least one of image subtraction for subtracting the first image from the second image and adjustment of a weight for a portion overlapping the first image and the second image, And the third image is partially generated. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the third image is corrected such that the brightness of the third image is close to the brightness of the second image. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the portion of the second image not highlighted in the first image is highlighted in the third image. The method according to claim 1,
Said portion being a first portion,
Wherein the image processing unit is further configured to generate a fourth image from the second image using the first image, wherein a second part including the first part is removed,
Wherein the display unit is further configured to display the generated fourth image. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein at least one of the third image and the fourth image is corrected such that image parameters of the third image and the fourth image are leveled. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the third image and the fourth image are alternately displayed based on a user input. A method for generating an ultrasound image,
Generating a first image representing a texture of the object and a second image representing a contrast agent applied to the object based on an echo signal reflected from the object, Generating a third image from which at least a portion of the tissue has been removed; And
And displaying the generated third image. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the portion has a brightness greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value in the first image. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the portion is common to the first image and the second image. 14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein at least one of the first image and the second image is corrected such that the portion has the same value of brightness in the first image and the second image. 15. The method of claim 14,
Performing at least one of image subtraction of the first image from the second image and adjustment of a weight of a portion overlapping the first image and the second image, And the removed third image is generated. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the third image is corrected such that the brightness of the third image is close to the brightness of the second image. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein portions of the second image that are not present in the first image are highlighted in the third image. 12. The method of claim 11,
Said portion being a first portion,
Wherein the image processor is further configured to generate a fourth image from the third image, the second image including the first portion being removed using the first image,
Wherein the display unit is further configured to display the generated fourth image. 19. The method of claim 18,
Wherein at least one of the third image and the fourth image is corrected such that image parameters of the third image and the fourth image are leveled. A computer readable medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to execute the method of any one of claims 11 to 19.

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