KR20180034974A - Method and ultrasound system for setting region of interest at contrast ultrasound image - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for setting an interest region by using time intensity curves (TIC) in a contrast ultrasound image, and an ultrasound system therefor. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasound system forms a contrast ultrasound image of an object, divides the contrast ultrasound image into a plurality of regions, calculates the TIC representing intensity values according to time in each of the plurality of regions, recognizes lesion regions based on at least one parameter value of the TIC among the plurality of regions, and sets the lesion regions as at least one interest region.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasound system,

The present disclosure relates to a method of setting an area of interest in a contrasted ultrasound image and to an ultrasound system.

Ultrasound systems have non-invasive and non-destructive properties and are widely used in the medical field to obtain information inside objects. Without the need for surgical intervention to directly observe an object, the ultrasound system is very important in the medical field because it can provide high-resolution images inside the object in real time to the physician.

The ultrasound system transmits an ultrasound signal to a target object, receives an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the target object, and performs signal processing on the received ultrasound echo signal to form ultrasound data. In addition, the ultrasound system performs scan conversion or rendering processing on the ultrasound data to form an ultrasound image.

In order to obtain more accurate information on the region of interest (ROI) of the object, a contrast agent may be administered to the object prior to imaging the ultrasound image of the object. After forming the contrasted ultrasound image, the user can set a region of interest on the contrasted ultrasound image in order to obtain detailed data on a specific region suspected of being lesion or the like.

The user of the ultrasound system, after confirming the image of the ultrasound image displayed on the ultrasound system, sets the region of interest in the region suspected of lesion or the like in the contrast ultrasound image or adjusts the size of the region of interest, Data can be acquired. However, the accuracy of setting the region of interest on the contrasted ultrasound image can vary depending on the user's experience or capability.

The present disclosure provides a method and an ultrasound system that can improve the accuracy of the region of interest setting on the contrasted ultrasound image.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of setting a region of interest in a contrast-enhanced ultrasound image, comprising: forming a contrast-enhanced ultrasound image of the target; Dividing the contrast ultrasound image into a plurality of regions; Calculating intensity values in each of the plurality of regions; Recognizing lesion regions based on at least one parameter value of the intensity values, among the plurality of regions; And setting the lesion areas to at least one region of interest.

Also in the method of setting a region of interest according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the intensity values are changed by an increase or a decrease in the contrast agent used in forming the contrast ultrasound image.

In addition, in the method of setting a region of interest according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of recognizing the lesion regions may include, among the plurality of regions, a region where at least one parameter value of the intensity values has a value larger than a threshold value Or areas having a small value as the lesion areas.

In addition, in the method of setting a region of interest according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the parameter value of the intensity values includes a base intensity in each of the plurality of regions, a maximum intensity value in each of the plurality of regions peak intensity, a time to peak intensity (TTP) from the reference intensity value to the maximum intensity value, a slope between the reference intensity value and the maximum intensity value, And a beta parameter indicating an inverse value of a time required to rise to a predetermined level with respect to the maximum intensity value.

In addition, in the ROI setting method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of dividing into the plurality of regions includes dividing the contrast ultrasound image into a plurality of regions of pixel units.

The method of setting a region of interest according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include receiving identification information of the object, and the step of recognizing the lesion regions may include: And recognizing the lesion areas using a parameter value of the values.

Also, in the method of setting a region of interest according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the identification information of the object may be information indicating that the object is any one of a tissue having movement in the human body, a tissue having no movement, to be.

In addition, in the method of setting a region of interest according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of setting the region of interest includes: setting the lesion regions as at least one temporal region of interest; Receiving an acknowledgment or modification request for the at least one temporary region of interest; And setting the at least one temporary interest area as the interest area according to the confirmation request or changing the at least one temporary interest area according to the modification request to set the area of interest as the interest area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasound system including: an ultrasound system configured to form an ultrasound image of a target object, to divide the ultrasound image into a plurality of regions, to calculate intensity values in the plurality of regions, Recognizing lesion regions based on at least one parameter value of the intensity values from a plurality of regions, and setting the lesion regions as at least one region of interest; And a storage unit for storing the contrast ultrasound image, information on at least one parameter value of the intensity values.

Also in the ultrasound system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the intensity values are varied over time by an increase or a decrease in the contrast agent used to form the contrast ultrasound image.

In addition, in the ultrasound system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the processing unit may be configured such that at least one parameter value of the intensity values among the plurality of areas has a value larger than a threshold value or an area having a small value And recognizes the lesion areas.

Further, in the ultrasound system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the parameter value of the intensity values may include a base intensity in each of the plurality of regions, a peak intensity in each of the plurality of regions ), A time to peak intensity (TTP) from the reference intensity value to the maximum intensity value, a slope between the reference intensity value and the maximum intensity value, And a beta parameter indicating an inverse value of a time required to rise to a predetermined level with respect to the intensity value.

In addition, in the ultrasonic system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the processing unit divides the contrast ultrasound image into a plurality of regions in units of pixels.

Also, in the ultrasound system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the processing unit may receive the identification information of the target object, and may use the parameter values of the intensity values according to the received identification information of the target object, .

Also, in the ultrasonic system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the identification information of the object is information indicating that the object is any one of a tissue in which a human body moves, a tissue that does not move, or a tissue including a blood vessel.

In addition, in the ultrasound system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the processing unit sets and displays the lesion areas as at least one temporary ROI, receives a confirmation or correction request for the at least one temporary ROI, Sets the at least one temporary interest area as the interest area according to the confirmation request or changes the at least one temporary interest area according to the modification request to set the interest area as the interest area.

According to the present disclosure, a region of interest in a contrasted ultrasound image can be accurately and quickly set without being affected by the experience or capability of the ultrasound system user. This makes it possible to provide quick and accurate diagnostic data for the area of interest.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an ultrasound system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing a state in which a contrast ultrasound image according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is divided into a plurality of regions.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a TIC of a specific region of a contrast ultrasound image according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 4 illustrates an example of a region of interest set based on recognized lesion regions on a contrasted ultrasound image in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
5 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure of a method for setting an area of interest in a contrasted ultrasound image in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 6 is an exemplary view of a TIC according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. The term "part " used in the present embodiment means hardware components such as software, field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). However, "part" is not limited to software and hardware. "Part" may be configured to reside on an addressable storage medium, and may be configured to play back one or more processors. Thus, by way of example, and not limitation, "part, " as used herein, is intended to be broadly interpreted as referring to components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, Firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. The functions provided within the component and the "part " may be combined into a smaller number of components and" parts " or further separated into additional components and "parts ".

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions will not be described in detail if they obscure the subject matter of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an ultrasound system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

1, the ultrasound system 100 may include an ultrasound probe 110, a processing unit 120, a storage unit 130, an input unit 140, and a display 150.

The ultrasound probe 110 transmits ultrasound signals to a target object and receives ultrasound signals (or echo signals) reflected from the target object and provides the ultrasound signals to the ultrasound system 100 so that clinical information such as space information and anatomical shape of the target object And is a sensor used for obtaining. In the present disclosure, an "ultrasonic probe" may be used interchangeably with an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic probe, etc., and may include, for example, a convex probe, a linear probe, , But is not limited thereto.

For example, the ultrasonic probe 110 includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements (not shown) that operate to convert an electric signal and an ultrasonic signal into each other, and generates an electric signal Quot;) to the target object in response to the ultrasound signal. The subject may be a living body to which the contrast agent has been administered (e.g., a part or organ of the human body, including blood vessels, heart, liver, etc.), and the body may be a normal tissue and a lesion Blood, etc.).

Contrast agents administered to a subject include microparticles containing a gas, such as microbubbles, and can migrate along the blood vessel. The fine particles contained in the contrast agent may undergo external vibration or pressure (for example, an ultrasonic signal) to relax or shrink, and may burst when subjected to a pressure higher than a threshold value. When fine particles are popped, the fine particles and the surrounding area can form an echo signal with stronger intensity than other normal tissues. Therefore, in the ultrasound image of the object, since the region including the contrast agent can be displayed relatively bright compared to the region not including the contrast agent, the contrast enhancement effect of the specific region of the target body administered with the contrast agent can be obtained .

Further, the ultrasonic probe 110 may convert the received echo signal into an electrical signal (hereinafter referred to as "received signal") when receiving an echo signal reflected from a target object on which the ultrasonic signal is received. In one embodiment, the ultrasound probe 110 may output a plurality of ultrasound signals in response to a plurality of transmission signals transmitted from the processing unit 120. In addition, the ultrasonic probe 110 may receive a plurality of echo signals reflected from a target object to form a plurality of received signals with respect to the plurality of ultrasonic signals transmitted to the object.

The processing unit 120 controls the transmission of the ultrasonic signals by the ultrasonic probe 110 by transmitting a plurality of transmission signals to the ultrasonic probe 110 and transmits a plurality of reception signals provided from the ultrasonic probe 110 to the analog- To form a digital signal, and performs reception beamforming on the digital signal to form a plurality of reception focusing signals. The processing unit 120 performs various signal processing (for example, low pass filtering, gain adjustment, scan conversion, and the like) on a plurality of reception focusing signals, The ultrasound data corresponding to the contrasted ultrasound image is formed. That is, the processing unit 120 forms a contrasted ultrasound image of the target object based on a plurality of received signals received from the ultrasound probe 110.

In one embodiment, the contrast ultrasound image may include information as to how the sharpening enhancement effect of the contrast agent changes with time in the object. That is, the contrast ultrasound image may include information on intensity values in each of the pixels over time. Further, the processing unit 120 can divide the formed ultrasound image into a plurality of regions.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing a state in which a contrast ultrasound image according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is divided into a plurality of regions. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the processing unit 120 may divide the contrast ultrasound image CEUS into a plurality of grids GR. Here, each of the unit cells GR may include at least one pixel of the contrast ultrasound image CEUS. Although FIG. 2 shows an example in which a contrast ultrasound image (CEUS) is divided into a plurality of lattice regions, the shape of the plurality of regions in the contrast ultrasound image (CEUS) is not limited thereto. For example, the contrast ultrasound image may be divided into a plurality of regions in the form of a circle, not a square grid, or other polygons.

In addition, the processing unit 120 can calculate intensity values in each of a plurality of areas. Here, the intensity values in each of the plurality of regions may have a value that is varied by an increase or a decrease in the contrast agent used in the formation of the contrast ultrasound image. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a time intensity curve (TIC) showing intensity values that change with time in a specific region in a contrast-enhanced ultrasound image according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the TIC 310 represents the time at which the contrasted ultrasonic image HA is taken on the horizontal axis (for example, the x axis in the rectangular coordinate system), and the vertical axis (e.g., the y axis in the rectangular coordinate system) (In dB) for a specific region in the contrast ultrasound image (CEUS). In one embodiment, the processing unit 120 may calculate the TIC 310 by extracting intensity values over time for each of the plurality of regions and displaying the extracted intensity values on a rectangular coordinate system.

The processing unit 120 may also recognize lesion regions in the contrasted ultrasound image based on at least one parameter value of the TIC calculated for a plurality of regions of the contrasted ultrasound image. In one embodiment, the processing unit 120 may compare the threshold value with at least one parameter value of the TIC for a plurality of regions so that at least one parameter value of the TIC is greater than a threshold value or threshold value Smaller regions can be recognized as lesion regions. Herein, the at least one parameter value of the TIC for each of the plurality of regions includes at least one of a base intensity in the corresponding region, a peak intensity in the corresponding region, a maximum intensity value A time to peak intensity (TTP), a slope between the reference intensity value and the maximum intensity value, or a beta value indicating a reciprocal of the time required to rise from the reference intensity value to a predetermined level (beta) parameter.

In addition, the processing unit 120 may set the lesion areas recognized by the above-described method to at least one region of interest. Figure 4 illustrates an example of a region of interest set based on recognized lesion regions on a contrasted ultrasound image in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the processing unit 120 may determine the outermost regions (or the outermost regions of the lesion regions) of the regions LR recognized as lesion regions among the plurality of regions PR included in the contrast ultrasound image CEUS Outline pixels) may be connected to at least one closed curve to form at least one ROI. In another embodiment, the processing unit 120 may be configured to determine that only lesion areas LR that can be connected by a closed curve, if all of the regions LR, LR-E recognized as lesion areas are not connected by at least one closed curve The lesion regions LR-E may not be set as the region of interest.

In one embodiment, the processing unit 120 may recognize lesion regions using different TIC parameter values according to the identification information of the received object. Herein, the identification information of the object is, for example, any one of the tissues including a moving body (for example, a heart), a motionless tissue (for example, liver) And < / RTI > In one embodiment, when receiving the selection for the moving organization as the identification information of the object, the processing unit 120 determines whether the slope between the reference intensity value and the maximum intensity value among the parameter values of the TIC, the maximum intensity value, The lesion areas can be recognized using parameters. In addition, when receiving the selection for the motionless organization as the identification information of the object, the processing unit 120 determines whether the TTP, the slope between the reference intensity value and the maximum intensity value among the parameter values of the TIC, The lesion regions can be recognized using the time required to rise to a predetermined level with respect to the value. Further, when the processing unit 120 receives the selection for the tissue including the blood vessel as the identification information of the object, the processing unit 120 can recognize the lesion areas using TTP among the TIC parameter values.

In one embodiment, the processing unit 120 may set lesion regions to at least one temporary region of interest to display on the display 150 and receive a confirmation or correction request for at least one temporal region of interest. In addition, the processing unit 120 may set at least one temporary interest region as a region of interest in response to the received confirmation request, or may change the position and size of the at least one temporary region of interest according to the received correction request. As an example, the processing unit 120 may connect the lesion regions to a closed curve among a plurality of regions included in the contrast ultrasound image, and set the at least one temporary region of interest. In another embodiment, when the regions recognized as lesion regions are not connected by a closed curve, the processing unit 120 may connect only the lesion regions connectable with the closed curve to set the region as a temporary region of interest.

The storage unit 130 may store information about intensity values according to time in respective pixels of the contrast ultrasound image and the contrast ultrasound image of the object formed in the processing unit 120. [ In addition, the storage unit 130 may store information on the TIC calculated in each of a plurality of regions of the contrast ultrasound image, and information on at least one parameter value of the TIC. In one embodiment, the storage unit 130 may include a hard disk, a non-volatile memory, a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc-read only memory It is not limited.

The input unit 140 may receive user input information. The input information may include at least one of the identification information (for example, identification information for selecting any one of a tissue in a human body, a tissue having no movement, a tissue including a blood vessel, or the like) And information about a confirmation or correction request for the temporary interest area of the user. Here, the confirmation request for the temporary interest area may be information received from the user to confirm that the temporary interest area set based on the lesioned areas has been correctly set. In addition, the modification request for the temporary region of interest may be information received from the user to modify the location and size of the temporary region of interest set based on the lesion regions. In one embodiment, input 140 may include, but is not limited to, a control panel, a track ball, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, .

The display 150 may display a temporary region of interest and a region of interest displayed in a contrasted ultrasound image of the object formed in the processing unit 120 and / or a contrasted ultrasound image. In addition, the display 150 may display input information received from the input unit 140. Display 150 may include, but is not limited to, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display, an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode)

5 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure of a method for setting an area of interest in a contrasted ultrasound image in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Although process steps, method steps, or algorithms in this flowchart are shown in a sequential order, such processes, methods, and algorithms may be configured to operate in any suitable order. In other words, any sequence or order of steps described in this disclosure does not imply that the steps must be performed in that order. Also, although some of the steps of the flowchart are described or shown as occurring asynchronously, these steps may be performed concurrently. In addition, an illustration of a process by way of illustration in the drawings does not imply that the illustrated process excludes other variations and modifications thereto, and that any of the illustrated processes or steps thereof may be implemented by one or more of the inventions , And does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred.

As shown in Fig. 5, in step S510, a contrast ultrasound image is formed. For example, referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the ultrasound system 100 forms a contrasted ultrasound image of a target object based on a plurality of received signals received from the ultrasound probe 110. Here, the contrast ultrasound image may include information as to how the sharpening enhancement effect by the contrast agent changes with time in the object. That is, the contrast ultrasound image may include information on intensity values with time in each pixel of the contrast ultrasound image.

Further, in step S520, the contrast ultrasound image is divided into a plurality of regions. For example, referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the ultrasound system 100 may divide a formed ultrasound image into a plurality of regions. In one embodiment, the ultrasound system 100 may divide a contrasted ultrasound image into a grid shape, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein each unit cell segmented in the contrasted ultrasound image has one or more identical Pixels.

Further, in step S530, intensity values are calculated in each of a plurality of areas. For example, referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the ultrasound system 100 extracts intensity values over time for each of a plurality of regions of a contrast ultrasound image, displays the extracted intensity values in a rectangular coordinate system TIC can be calculated. Here, TIC can be expressed by a graph in which a horizontal axis (x-axis in a rectangular coordinate system) represents a time variable, and a vertical axis (y-axis in a rectangular coordinate system, for example) represents an intensity variable. 6 is an exemplary view showing a TIC calculated according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; As shown in FIG. 6, TIC (TIC1, TIC2, TIC3) calculated by different colors for three different regions among a plurality of regions included in the contrast ultrasound image can be displayed. In one embodiment, TIC1 has a value with a maximum intensity value and a slope smaller than the maximum intensity value and slope of TIC2 or TIC3, and TTP has a large value as compared with TTP of TIC2 or TIC3. For example, if the subject is a human organ, the TIC of a normal liver tissue that does not contain a lesion tissue can be displayed like TIC1, and a lesion tissue such as cancer induces a large amount of blood in a short time, It can be displayed as TIC2 or TIC3 which shows rapid change. If a predetermined threshold value is set to TTP among at least one parameter value of the TIC, the TIC (TIC2, TIC3) of the region including the lesion tissue and the TIC (TIC1) of the region not including the lesion tissue can be discriminated and recognized have. 6, the first vertical line VL1 represents a point corresponding to a reference intensity value of a specific TIC (TIC3), and the second vertical line VL2 represents a point corresponding to a maximum intensity value of a specific TIC (TIC3) Point.

Further, in step S540, based on the at least one parameter value of the TIC, the lesion areas are recognized among the plurality of areas. For example, referring to Figures 1-3, the ultrasound system 100 compares a threshold value with at least one parameter value of a TIC for a plurality of regions so that at least one parameter value of the TIC is greater than a threshold Regions having a value larger than the value or regions having a smaller value can be recognized as lesion regions. Herein, the at least one parameter value of the TIC for each of the plurality of regions may be a reference intensity value in the corresponding region, a maximum intensity value in the corresponding region, a time required to rise from a reference intensity value to a maximum intensity value, A slope between a value and a maximum intensity value, or a beta parameter having an inverse value of a time required to rise from a reference intensity value to a predetermined level with respect to a maximum intensity value.

Also, in step S550, lesion areas are set to at least one region of interest. For example, referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the ultrasound system 100 may include at least one of a plurality of regions included in a contrasted ultrasound image, It can be set as one region of interest. In addition, when the regions recognized as lesion regions are not connected by a closed curve, the ultrasound system 100 may connect only the regions capable of forming a closed curve to set different interest regions.

Although the method has been described through particular embodiments, the method may also be implemented as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. A computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording apparatuses in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device, and the like, and may be implemented in the form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission over the Internet) . In addition, the computer-readable recording medium may be distributed over network-connected computer systems so that computer readable codes can be stored and executed in a distributed manner. And, functional programs, codes, and code segments for implementing the above embodiments can be easily inferred by programmers in the technical field to which this disclosure belongs.

While specific embodiments have been described, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure. The novel methods and apparatus of the present disclosure can be implemented in various other forms, and it is possible to variously omit, substitute, and alter the embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. It is intended that the appended claims and their equivalents be interpreted as embracing all such forms and modifications as fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

100: Ultrasonic system 110: Ultrasonic transducer
120: processing unit 130:
140: Input unit 150: Display

Claims (16)

A method of setting a region of interest in a contrast ultrasound image,
Forming a contrast ultrasound image of the object;
Dividing the contrast ultrasound image into a plurality of regions;
Calculating intensity values in each of the plurality of regions;
Recognizing lesion regions based on at least one parameter value of the intensity values, among the plurality of regions; And
And setting the lesion regions to at least one region of interest. The method according to claim 1,
The intensity values,
Wherein the contrast is changed over time by an increase or decrease of the contrast agent used in forming the contrast ultrasound image. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein recognizing the lesion areas comprises:
Recognizing, as the lesion areas, areas having at least one parameter value of the intensity values greater than the threshold value or areas having a smaller value among the plurality of areas, Way. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the parameter values of the intensity values comprise:
(TTP) time to rise from the reference intensity value to the maximum intensity value, a reference intensity value in each of the plurality of regions, a peak intensity in each of the plurality of regions, a slope between the reference intensity value and the maximum intensity value or a beta parameter indicative of an inverse value of a time required to rise from the reference intensity value to a predetermined level with respect to the maximum intensity value, A method of setting a region of interest. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the dividing into the plurality of regions comprises:
And dividing the contrasted ultrasound image into a plurality of regions on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising receiving identification information of the object,
Wherein recognizing the lesion areas comprises:
And recognizing the lesion areas using the parameter value of the TIC according to the received identification information of the object. The method according to claim 6,
The identification information of the target object may include:
Wherein the information indicating that the object is any one of a moving tissue in a human body, a tissue having no motion, or a tissue including a blood vessel. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein setting the region of interest comprises:
Setting and displaying the lesion areas as at least one temporary region of interest;
Receiving an acknowledgment or modification request for the at least one temporary region of interest; And
Setting the at least one temporary interest area as the interest area according to the confirmation request or changing the at least one temporary interest area according to the modification request to set the area of interest as the interest area . As an ultrasound system,
The method comprising: forming a contrasted ultrasound image of a subject, dividing the contrasted ultrasound image into a plurality of regions, calculating intensity values in each of the plurality of regions, and determining at least one of the intensity values A processor for recognizing lesion areas based on the value of the variable and setting the lesion areas as at least one area of interest; And
And a storage for storing the contrasted ultrasound image, information about at least one parameter value of the intensity values. 10. The method of claim 9,
The intensity values,
Wherein the contrast is changed over time by an increase or decrease of the contrast agent used to form the contrast ultrasound image. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein,
And recognizes, as the lesion areas, areas having at least one parameter value of the intensity values greater than a threshold value or areas having a smaller value among the plurality of areas. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the parameter values of the intensity values comprise:
(TTP) time to rise from the reference intensity value to the maximum intensity value, a reference intensity value in each of the plurality of regions, a peak intensity in each of the plurality of regions, peak intensity), a slope between the reference intensity value and the maximum intensity value, or a beta parameter indicating an inverse value of a time required to rise from the reference intensity value to a predetermined level with respect to the maximum intensity value, Including, Ultrasonic System. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein,
And divides the contrast ultrasound image into a plurality of regions in units of pixels. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein,
And receives the identification information of the target object and recognizes the lesion areas using the parameter value of the TIC according to the received identification information of the target object. 15. The method of claim 14,
The identification information of the target object may include:
Wherein the information is information indicating that the target is any one of a moving tissue in a human body, a tissue having no motion, or a tissue including a blood vessel. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein,
Wherein the at least one temporal region of interest is configured to display the at least one temporal region of interest as at least one temporal region of interest and receive a request for confirmation or correction of the at least one temporal region of interest, Or changes the at least one temporary region of interest according to the modification request to set the region of interest.

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