WO2010001444A1 - Ultrasonograph and its program - Google Patents

Ultrasonograph and its program Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010001444A1
WO2010001444A1 PCT/JP2008/001791 JP2008001791W WO2010001444A1 WO 2010001444 A1 WO2010001444 A1 WO 2010001444A1 JP 2008001791 W JP2008001791 W JP 2008001791W WO 2010001444 A1 WO2010001444 A1 WO 2010001444A1
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ultrasonic
storage
image
processing request
image data
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PCT/JP2008/001791
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French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
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八久保敬弘
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株式会社島津製作所
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Priority to PCT/JP2008/001791 priority Critical patent/WO2010001444A1/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
    • G01S15/88—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • G01S15/89—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications for mapping or imaging
    • G01S15/8906—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a program thereof.
  • An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for medical use transmits ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic probe brought into contact with the body surface of a subject into the body, and also reflects ultrasonic signals reflected at respective parts having different acoustic impedances in the body ( This is a device that receives an echo signal) and generates an ultrasound image showing information in the body based on the signal, and is used for various diagnoses because of its high safety.
  • a tomographic image representing a predetermined cross section inside the body can be generated by scanning an ultrasonic beam, and such ultrasonic scanning and image generation are repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle.
  • the tomographic image can be displayed as a real-time moving image on the monitor. Further, the ultrasonic scanning can be stopped and a still image (freeze image) can be displayed according to an instruction from the operator.
  • the image obtained as described above is recorded on a predetermined medium as necessary and used for various diagnoses.
  • a means for recording such an image it has been common to print a still image with a video printer or record a moving image on a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder).
  • VCR Video Cassette Recorder
  • an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of saving a moving image as digital data in a recording medium such as a hard disk or a DVD has been widely used (for example, see Patent Document 1).
  • an ultrasonic image as digital data as described above has the advantage that it is easy to store, search, view, etc. the image.
  • an ultrasonic image is stored, it is converted into a general-purpose image data format such as BMP, JPEG, or TIFF, so that the stored ultrasonic image can be transferred to a doctor's terminal or the like for viewing. .
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of improving workability when an ultrasonic image is stored as digital data, and a program therefor. Is to provide.
  • An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for acquiring and imaging information inside a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves with an ultrasonic probe.
  • image generating means for generating ultrasonic image data from echo signals acquired by the ultrasonic probe;
  • a storage processing request generation means for receiving a storage instruction for an ultrasonic image from an operator and generating a storage processing request in response to the storage instruction;
  • a queue for associating the storage processing request and the ultrasound image data to be stored in a queue, and retrieving the storage processing request and the ultrasound image data registered in the queue in the order of registration and sending them to an image storage unit to be described later Inning means,
  • Image storage means for storing the ultrasonic image data in a predetermined recording medium in accordance with the storage processing request.
  • an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus program for solving the above problems includes an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves using an ultrasonic probe, and an echo obtained by transmitting / receiving the ultrasonic waves.
  • a computer having an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including image generation means for generating ultrasonic image data from a signal; a) a storage processing request generation means for receiving a storage instruction for an ultrasonic image from an operator and generating a storage processing request in response to the storage instruction; b) A queue for associating the storage processing request and the ultrasound image data to be stored in a queue, and taking out the storage processing request and the ultrasound image data registered in the queue in the order of registration and sending them to an image storage unit to be described later Inning means, c) It is characterized by functioning as image storage means for storing the ultrasonic image data in a predetermined recording medium in accordance with the storage processing request.
  • a plurality of storage processing requests and ultrasonic image data to be stored are stored in a queue, and automatically upon completion of the previous storage processing. Can execute the following storage process. Therefore, it is not necessary for the operator to instruct the next image storage after waiting for one storage process to be completed as in the prior art, and it is possible to instruct to store a plurality of images efficiently. As a result, it is possible to improve the workability when storing as.
  • the block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on one Example of this invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment.
  • the ultrasonic probe 11 is pressed against the body of a subject (not shown), and transmits ultrasonic waves into the body of the subject under the control of the transmission / reception unit 12 and reflects reflected waves from the body. Received waves are converted into electrical signals (hereinafter referred to as echo signals).
  • the echo signal is phased and added by the transmission / reception unit 12 and then input to the signal processing unit 13, where an ultrasonic image signal is formed by performing predetermined arithmetic processing there.
  • the acquired ultrasonic image signal is converted into digital data by an A / D converter (not shown) and then sent to a digital scan converter (DSC in the figure) 14, where it is displayed in a format that can be displayed on the screen of the monitor 16. After the conversion, it is stored in the display memory 15.
  • the ultrasound image data stored in the display memory 15 is read from the display memory 15 in synchronization with the synchronization signal of the monitor 16 and output to the monitor 16.
  • an ultrasonic image representing information in the body of the subject is displayed on the monitor 16.
  • This ultrasonic image is updated according to the period of ultrasonic scanning by the ultrasonic probe 11 and is visually recognized as a moving image.
  • the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image storage unit 17 including an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk device (HDD in the drawing) 18 and a DVD device (DVD in the drawing) 19.
  • An ultrasonic image captured by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be stored in the image storage unit 17 in accordance with an instruction from the operator.
  • each unit is controlled by the control unit 20, and further, an instruction from the operator is input to the control unit 20 via the operation unit 25 including a keyboard, various operation buttons, a trackball, and the like.
  • the control unit 20 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a main memory, and the like, and a part of the main memory is assigned as a queue 24 for storing a storage processing request and image data, which will be described later.
  • the queue 24 is a storage area for temporarily storing a storage processing request and image data in a first-in first-out data structure.
  • the control unit 20 has functions as a processing request receiving unit 21, a queue management unit 22, and a storage processing unit 23, which will be described later.
  • the queue 24 may be provided physically independent of the main memory.
  • the queue management unit 22 corresponds to the queuing unit in the present invention
  • the storage processing unit 23 and the image storage unit 17 are the image storage unit in the present invention
  • the processing request reception unit 21 is the storage in the present invention. This corresponds to processing request generation means. These functions can be realized by causing the CPU to execute a predetermined program.
  • the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is characterized by an operation when an ultrasonic image is stored in the image storage unit 17 in accordance with an instruction from the operator.
  • the operator gives an instruction to freeze the image by operating the operation unit 25 at an appropriate timing while referring to the ultrasonic moving image displayed on the monitor 16 during execution of ultrasonic scanning.
  • the ultrasonic scanning is stopped and the ultrasonic image is displayed as a still image on the screen of the monitor 16.
  • the operator confirms the ultrasonic image on the monitor 16 and instructs the storage of the image by performing a predetermined operation with the operation unit 25.
  • the operator operates the operation unit 25 after performing the above freeze operation. Images for a plurality of frames immediately before freezing can be sequentially called from the cine memory to the display memory 15 and displayed on the monitor 16, and an appropriate one can be selected and instructed to be stored in the image storage unit 17.
  • the storage processing request includes information necessary for storage processing such as a storage destination of image data and a file format for storing the image data, as well as imaging conditions (scanning mode, imaging region, image of the ultrasound image to be stored). ) And patient information (patient name, sex, age, etc.) can be included. These supplementary information may be input from the operation unit 25 by the operator when instructing the image storage, and is registered in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in advance by a predetermined means before starting imaging. Also good.
  • FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the queue management unit 22.
  • the queue management unit 22 receives a storage processing request from the processing request reception unit 21 (Yes in step S21)
  • the queue management unit 22 first checks whether or not the queue 24 is empty (step S22). If there is no space in the queue 24 (No in step S22), that fact is displayed on the screen of the monitor 16 (step S28), and if there is space in the queue 24 (Yes in step S22), An indicator indicating that processing is in progress is displayed on the monitor 16 (step S23). The indicator is sequentially updated according to the progress of the queue registration process.
  • the queue management unit 22 acquires the image data in the display memory 15 (step S24) and registers it in the queue 24 in association with the storage processing request received from the processing request reception unit 21 (step S25).
  • the queue management unit 22 deletes the above-mentioned indicator from the screen of the monitor 16 (step S26), and requests the storage processing unit 23 to start the storage processing. (Step S27).
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the storage processing unit 23.
  • the storage processing unit 23 receives a storage processing start request from the queue management unit 22 (Yes in step S31)
  • the storage processing unit 23 is registered first among the storage processing requests (and corresponding image data) registered in the queue 24.
  • the image data is converted into the image data format specified by the storage processing request (for example, a general-purpose file format such as BMP format, JPEG format, TIFF format, or DICOM format).
  • a general-purpose file format such as BMP format, JPEG format, TIFF format, or DICOM format.
  • the storage processing unit 23 designates the converted image data from the auxiliary storage device provided in the image storage unit 17 as designated by the storage processing request (in this embodiment, the hard disk device 18 or the DVD device). 19). At this time, the above-mentioned supplementary information can be stored in the image storage unit 17 in association with the image data.
  • Step S35 the storage processing unit 23 deletes the image data and the storage processing request that have been stored from the queue 24 (step S35), and if another storage processing request and image data are stored in the queue 24 (Yes in step S36).
  • Step S32 to S36 are repeatedly executed until the processing returns to step S32 and all the storage processing requests registered in the queue 24 are processed (that is, until No in step S36).
  • the images registered in the queue 24 are stored in the image storage unit 17 in the registered order.
  • the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus retrieves image data to be stored from the display memory 15, temporarily registers it in the queue 24 together with the storage processing request, and extracts and processes the image data one by one from the queue 24. be able to. For this reason, even when the storage process is being executed, the operator can release the freeze and restart the imaging of the ultrasonic image, or can instruct the next image storage.
  • the next storage processing can be automatically executed as soon as the previous storage processing is completed, one storage processing can be performed as in the prior art. It is not necessary for the operator to instruct the next image storage after waiting for the completion, and it is possible to instruct a plurality of image storage efficiently.
  • the image data to be stored may be an image captured in any mode such as a B (Brightness) mode image, a Doppler image, or an M (Motion) mode image, and further a heart connected to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
  • the image may include an electrocardiogram waveform acquired by an electrometer, a patient ID and name, characters and graphics such as an imaging date and time, an imaging region, and the like.
  • the present invention is applied to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for medical use.
  • the present invention is an ultrasonic diagnosis used for non-destructive inspection such as defect detection of industrial products and buildings. It is obvious that the present invention can be applied to various devices such as devices that acquire internal information of an object using transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves.

Abstract

An ultrasonograph for acquiring information inside a subject for imaging, by transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves by an ultrasonic probe (11). It is equipped with image generating means (12-14) for generating ultrasonic image data from echo signals acquired by the ultrasonic probe (11), a storage processing request issuing means (21) for accepting a storage instruction of the ultrasonic image from an operator and issuing a storage processing request in response to the storage instruction, a queuing means (22) for registering the storage processing request and the ultrasonic image data to be stored in correlation in a queue (24) and also retrieving the storage processing request and the ultrasonic image data registered in the queue (24) in the registered order for sending to image storage means (23,17) mentioned below, and the image storage means (23,17) for storing the ultrasonic image data in a predetermined recording medium according to the storage processing request. Thus, operability in successively storing a plurality of ultrasonic images when storing them can be improved.

Description

超音波診断装置及びそのプログラムUltrasonic diagnostic apparatus and program thereof
　本発明は、超音波診断装置及びそのプログラムに関する。 The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a program thereof.
　医療用の超音波診断装置は、被検者の体表に当接させた超音波プローブから超音波を体内に送信すると共に、体内の音響インピーダンスの相違する各部位で反射された超音波信号（エコー信号）を受信し、その信号を基に体内の情報を示す超音波画像を生成する装置であり、その高い安全性から種々の診断に利用されている。 An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for medical use transmits ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic probe brought into contact with the body surface of a subject into the body, and also reflects ultrasonic signals reflected at respective parts having different acoustic impedances in the body ( This is a device that receives an echo signal) and generates an ultrasound image showing information in the body based on the signal, and is used for various diagnoses because of its high safety.
　こうした超音波診断装置では、例えば、超音波ビームを走査することで体内の所定の断面を表す断層画像を生成することができ、こうした超音波走査と画像生成を所定の周期で繰り返し実行することで、断層画像をモニタ上にリアルタイムの動画像として表示することができる。また、操作者の指示に応じて、上記超音波走査を停止させ、静止画像（フリーズ画像）を表示させることもできる。 In such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, for example, a tomographic image representing a predetermined cross section inside the body can be generated by scanning an ultrasonic beam, and such ultrasonic scanning and image generation are repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle. The tomographic image can be displayed as a real-time moving image on the monitor. Further, the ultrasonic scanning can be stopped and a still image (freeze image) can be displayed according to an instruction from the operator.
　上記のようにして得られた画像は必要に応じて所定の媒体に記録されて各種診断に供される。こうした画像記録のための手段としては、従来、静止画像をビデオプリンタで印刷したり、動画像をＶＣＲ（Video Cassette Recorder) に記録したりするのが一般的であったが、近年では、静止画や動画をデジタルデータとしてハードディスクやＤＶＤ等の記録媒体に保存する機能を備えた超音波診断装置も広く用いられるようになっている（例えば、特許文献１を参照）。 The image obtained as described above is recorded on a predetermined medium as necessary and used for various diagnoses. Conventionally, as a means for recording such an image, it has been common to print a still image with a video printer or record a moving image on a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder). In addition, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of saving a moving image as digital data in a recording medium such as a hard disk or a DVD has been widely used (for example, see Patent Document 1).
特開2005-278741号公報JP 2005-278741 A
　上記のように超音波画像をデジタルデータで記録することにより、画像の保管や検索、閲覧等が容易になるという利点がある。また、超音波画像を保存する際にＢＭＰ、ＪＰＥＧ、ＴＩＦＦ等の汎用的な画像データ形式に変換することで、保存した超音波画像を医師の端末等に転送して閲覧することも可能となる。 Recording an ultrasonic image as digital data as described above has the advantage that it is easy to store, search, view, etc. the image. In addition, when an ultrasonic image is stored, it is converted into a general-purpose image data format such as BMP, JPEG, or TIFF, so that the stored ultrasonic image can be transferred to a doctor's terminal or the like for viewing. .
　しかしながら、近年の超音波診断装置の高性能化によって超音波画像の撮像精度が向上し、これに伴って画像データのデータ量が膨大となっている。そのため、撮像によって得られた超音波画像をハードディスク等に保存しようとする際に、操作者が画像の保存を指示してから保存処理が完了するまでに長時間を要する場合がある。 However, the recent improvement in the performance of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses has improved the imaging accuracy of ultrasonic images, and the amount of image data has become enormous. For this reason, when an ultrasonic image obtained by imaging is to be stored in a hard disk or the like, it may take a long time until the storage process is completed after the operator instructs the image to be stored.
　更に、実行中の保存処理が完了してからでないと操作者が次の画像保存を指示することができないため、複数の画像を連続して保存しようとする場合に作業効率が低下するという問題があった。 Furthermore, since the operator cannot instruct the next image storage until the storage process being executed is completed, there is a problem that the work efficiency is reduced when a plurality of images are stored continuously. there were.
　本発明は上記課題に鑑みてなされたものであり、その目的とするところは、超音波画像をデジタルデータとして保存する際の作業性を向上することのできる超音波診断装置、及びそのためのプログラムを提供することである。 The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of improving workability when an ultrasonic image is stored as digital data, and a program therefor. Is to provide.
　上記課題を解決するために成された本発明に係る超音波診断装置は、超音波プローブによる超音波の送受により被検体内部の情報を取得して画像化する超音波診断装置において、
　a)前記超音波プローブによって取得されたエコー信号から超音波画像データを生成する画像生成手段と、
　b)操作者からの超音波画像の保存指示を受け付け、該保存指示に応じて保存処理要求を発生する保存処理要求発生手段と、
　c)前記保存処理要求及び保存対象の超音波画像データを関連づけてキューに登録すると共に、前記キューに登録された保存処理要求及び超音波画像データを登録順に取り出して後述の画像保存手段に送るキューイング手段と、
　d)前記保存処理要求に従って前記超音波画像データを所定の記録媒体に保存する画像保存手段とを有することを特徴としている。 An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention made to solve the above problems is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for acquiring and imaging information inside a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves with an ultrasonic probe.
a) image generating means for generating ultrasonic image data from echo signals acquired by the ultrasonic probe;
b) a storage processing request generation means for receiving a storage instruction for an ultrasonic image from an operator and generating a storage processing request in response to the storage instruction;
c) A queue for associating the storage processing request and the ultrasound image data to be stored in a queue, and retrieving the storage processing request and the ultrasound image data registered in the queue in the order of registration and sending them to an image storage unit to be described later Inning means,
d) Image storage means for storing the ultrasonic image data in a predetermined recording medium in accordance with the storage processing request.
　また、上記課題を解決するために成された本発明に係る超音波診断装置用プログラムは、超音波プローブによる超音波の送受を行う超音波送受手段と、前記超音波の送受によって得られたエコー信号から超音波画像データを生成する画像生成手段とを備えた超音波診断装置が有するコンピュータを、
　a)操作者からの超音波画像の保存指示を受け付け、該保存指示に応じて保存処理要求を発生する保存処理要求発生手段と、
　b)前記保存処理要求及び保存対象の超音波画像データを関連づけてキューに登録すると共に、前記キューに登録された保存処理要求及び超音波画像データを登録順に取り出して後述の画像保存手段に送るキューイング手段と、
　c)前記保存処理要求に従って前記超音波画像データを所定の記録媒体に保存する画像保存手段として機能させることを特徴としている。 In addition, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus program according to the present invention for solving the above problems includes an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves using an ultrasonic probe, and an echo obtained by transmitting / receiving the ultrasonic waves. A computer having an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including image generation means for generating ultrasonic image data from a signal;
a) a storage processing request generation means for receiving a storage instruction for an ultrasonic image from an operator and generating a storage processing request in response to the storage instruction;
b) A queue for associating the storage processing request and the ultrasound image data to be stored in a queue, and taking out the storage processing request and the ultrasound image data registered in the queue in the order of registration and sending them to an image storage unit to be described later Inning means,
c) It is characterized by functioning as image storage means for storing the ultrasonic image data in a predetermined recording medium in accordance with the storage processing request.
　上記構成を有する本発明の超音波診断装置又はそのプログラムによれば、複数の保存処理要求及びその保存対象である超音波画像データをキューに貯めておき、前の保存処理が終了次第、自動的に次の保存処理を実行させることができる。そのため、従来のように一つの保存処理が終了するのを待って操作者が次の画像保存を指示する必要がなく、効率よく複数の画像保存を指示することができ、超音波画像をデジタルデータとして保存する際の作業性を向上することができる。 According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus or the program of the present invention having the above-described configuration, a plurality of storage processing requests and ultrasonic image data to be stored are stored in a queue, and automatically upon completion of the previous storage processing. Can execute the following storage process. Therefore, it is not necessary for the operator to instruct the next image storage after waiting for one storage process to be completed as in the prior art, and it is possible to instruct to store a plurality of images efficiently. As a result, it is possible to improve the workability when storing as.
本発明の一実施例に係る超音波診断装置の要部構成を示すブロック図。The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on one Example of this invention. 同実施例の超音波診断装置におけるキュー管理部の動作を示すフローチャート。The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the queue management part in the ultrasonic diagnosing device of the Example. 同実施例の超音波診断装置における保存処理部の動作を示すフローチャート。The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the preservation | save process part in the ultrasonic diagnosing device of the Example.
符号の説明Explanation of symbols
１１…超音波プローブ
１２…送受信部
１３…信号処理部
１４…デジタルスキャンコンバータ
１５…表示メモリ
１６…モニタ
１７…画像保存部
１８…ハードディスク装置
１９…ＤＶＤ装置
２０…制御部
２１…処理要求受付部
２２…キュー管理部
２３…保存処理部
２４…キュー
２５…操作部 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Ultrasonic probe 12 ... Transmission / reception part 13 ... Signal processing part 14 ... Digital scan converter 15 ... Display memory 16 ... Monitor 17 ... Image storage part 18 ... Hard disk apparatus 19 ... DVD apparatus 20 ... Control part 21 ... Processing request reception part 22 ... Queue management unit 23 ... Save processing unit 24 ... Queue 25 ... Operation unit
　以下、本発明に係る超音波診断装置の一実施例について図面を参照しながら説明する。図１は、本実施例に係る超音波診断装置の要部構成を示すブロック図である。 Hereinafter, an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment.
　超音波プローブ１１は被検者（図示しない）の身体に押し当てられ、送受信部１２の制御の下に、その被検者の体内に超音波を送波すると共に、該体内からの反射波を受波して電気信号（以下これをエコー信号と呼ぶ）に変換する。前記エコー信号は送受信部１２にて整相加算された後、信号処理部１３へと入力され、そこで所定の演算処理が行われることによって超音波画像信号が構成される。取得された超音波画像信号は図示しないＡ／Ｄ変換器によってデジタルデータに変換された上でデジタルスキャンコンバータ（図中ではＤＳＣ）１４に送出され、そこでモニタ１６の画面上に表示可能な形式に変換された後、表示メモリ１５に格納される。 The ultrasonic probe 11 is pressed against the body of a subject (not shown), and transmits ultrasonic waves into the body of the subject under the control of the transmission / reception unit 12 and reflects reflected waves from the body. Received waves are converted into electrical signals (hereinafter referred to as echo signals). The echo signal is phased and added by the transmission / reception unit 12 and then input to the signal processing unit 13, where an ultrasonic image signal is formed by performing predetermined arithmetic processing there. The acquired ultrasonic image signal is converted into digital data by an A / D converter (not shown) and then sent to a digital scan converter (DSC in the figure) 14, where it is displayed in a format that can be displayed on the screen of the monitor 16. After the conversion, it is stored in the display memory 15.
　表示メモリ１５に格納された超音波画像データは、モニタ１６の同期信号に同期して表示メモリ１５から読み出され、モニタ１６に出力される。これにより、モニタ１６上には被検者体内の情報を表す超音波画像が表示される。この超音波画像は超音波プローブ１１による超音波走査の周期に従って更新され、動画として視認される。 The ultrasound image data stored in the display memory 15 is read from the display memory 15 in synchronization with the synchronization signal of the monitor 16 and output to the monitor 16. As a result, an ultrasonic image representing information in the body of the subject is displayed on the monitor 16. This ultrasonic image is updated according to the period of ultrasonic scanning by the ultrasonic probe 11 and is visually recognized as a moving image.
　また、本実施例の超音波診断装置は、ハードディスク装置（図中ではＨＤＤ）１８やＤＶＤ装置（図中ではＤＶＤ）１９等の補助記憶装置から構成される画像保存部１７を有しており、超音波診断装置によって撮像された超音波画像を、操作者の指示に応じて画像保存部１７に保存することもできる。 The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an image storage unit 17 including an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk device (HDD in the drawing) 18 and a DVD device (DVD in the drawing) 19. An ultrasonic image captured by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be stored in the image storage unit 17 in accordance with an instruction from the operator.
　上記各部の動作は制御部２０によって制御され、さらに制御部２０に対してはキーボードや各種操作ボタン、トラックボールなどを備えた操作部２５を介して操作者の指示が入力される。 The operation of each unit is controlled by the control unit 20, and further, an instruction from the operator is input to the control unit 20 via the operation unit 25 including a keyboard, various operation buttons, a trackball, and the like.
　制御部２０は、中央処理装置（ＣＰＵ）やメインメモリ等を含み、メインメモリの一部の領域は後述する保存処理要求及び画像データを格納するためのキュー２４として割り当てられている。ここでキュー２４は、保存処理要求や画像データを先入れ先出し式のデータ構造で一時的に保持する記憶領域である。また、制御部２０は後述する処理要求受付部２１、キュー管理部２２、保存処理部２３としての機能を有している。なお、キュー２４は上記のようにメインメモリの一部の領域を割り当てるほか、メインメモリとは物理的に独立して設けてもよい。 The control unit 20 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a main memory, and the like, and a part of the main memory is assigned as a queue 24 for storing a storage processing request and image data, which will be described later. Here, the queue 24 is a storage area for temporarily storing a storage processing request and image data in a first-in first-out data structure. Further, the control unit 20 has functions as a processing request receiving unit 21, a queue management unit 22, and a storage processing unit 23, which will be described later. In addition to allocating a part of the main memory as described above, the queue 24 may be provided physically independent of the main memory.
　なお、本実施例では、キュー管理部２２が本発明におけるキューイング手段に相当し、保存処理部２３及び画像保存部１７が本発明における画像保存手段に、処理要求受付部２１が本発明における保存処理要求発生手段に相当する。これらの機能はＣＰＵに所定のプログラムを実行させることによって実現することができる。 In this embodiment, the queue management unit 22 corresponds to the queuing unit in the present invention, the storage processing unit 23 and the image storage unit 17 are the image storage unit in the present invention, and the processing request reception unit 21 is the storage in the present invention. This corresponds to processing request generation means. These functions can be realized by causing the CPU to execute a predetermined program.
　本実施例に係る超音波診断装置は、操作者の指示に応じて超音波画像を画像保存部１７に保存する際の動作に特徴を有している。以下、この点について図２及び図３のフローチャートを参照しつつ説明する。 The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment is characterized by an operation when an ultrasonic image is stored in the image storage unit 17 in accordance with an instruction from the operator. Hereinafter, this point will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
　まず、操作者が超音波走査の実行中にモニタ１６に表示される超音波動画像を参照しながら適当なタイミングで操作部２５を操作することによって画像のフリーズを指示する。これにより、超音波走査が停止し、モニタ１６の画面上には超音波画像が静止画として表示される。 First, the operator gives an instruction to freeze the image by operating the operation unit 25 at an appropriate timing while referring to the ultrasonic moving image displayed on the monitor 16 during execution of ultrasonic scanning. As a result, the ultrasonic scanning is stopped and the ultrasonic image is displayed as a still image on the screen of the monitor 16.
　操作者は前記超音波画像をモニタ１６上で確認し、操作部２５で所定の操作を行うことにより、該画像の保存を指示する。なお、直前に撮像された複数フレーム分の画像を自動的に記憶するシネメモリを備えた超音波診断装置であれば、上記のフリーズ操作を行った後、操作者が操作部２５を操作することにより、フリーズ直前の複数フレーム分の画像を該シネメモリから表示メモリ１５へ順次呼び出してモニタ１６に表示させ、その中から適当なものを選択して画像保存部１７への保存を指示することもできる。 The operator confirms the ultrasonic image on the monitor 16 and instructs the storage of the image by performing a predetermined operation with the operation unit 25. In addition, in the case of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a cine memory that automatically stores images of a plurality of frames taken immediately before, the operator operates the operation unit 25 after performing the above freeze operation. Images for a plurality of frames immediately before freezing can be sequentially called from the cine memory to the display memory 15 and displayed on the monitor 16, and an appropriate one can be selected and instructed to be stored in the image storage unit 17.
　操作者が操作部２５から画像の保存を指示すると、操作部２５からの操作信号が処理要求受付部２１によって受け付けられ、処理要求受付部２１からキュー管理部２２へ保存処理要求が渡される。該保存処理要求には、画像データの保存先や画像データを保存する際のファイルフォーマットといった保存処理に必要な情報の他、保存対象である超音波画像の撮像条件（走査モードや撮像部位、画像のスケール等）や患者情報（患者氏名や性別、年齢等）などの付帯情報を含ませることができる。なお、これらの付帯情報は、上記画像保存を指示する際に操作者が操作部２５から入力するようにしてもよく、撮像開始前に予め所定の手段によって超音波診断装置に登録しておいてもよい。 When the operator instructs to save an image from the operation unit 25, an operation signal from the operation unit 25 is received by the processing request reception unit 21, and a storage processing request is passed from the processing request reception unit 21 to the queue management unit 22. The storage processing request includes information necessary for storage processing such as a storage destination of image data and a file format for storing the image data, as well as imaging conditions (scanning mode, imaging region, image of the ultrasound image to be stored). ) And patient information (patient name, sex, age, etc.) can be included. These supplementary information may be input from the operation unit 25 by the operator when instructing the image storage, and is registered in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in advance by a predetermined means before starting imaging. Also good.
　図２はキュー管理部２２の動作を示すフローチャートである。キュー管理部２２は処理要求受付部２１から保存処理要求を受け取ると（ステップＳ２１でＹｅｓ）、まず、キュー２４に空きがあるか否かを検査する（ステップＳ２２）。キュー２４に空きがなかった場合（ステップＳ２２でＮｏ）には、モニタ１６の画面上にその旨を表示させ（ステップＳ２８）、キュー２４に空きがあった場合（ステップＳ２２でＹｅｓ）には、モニタ１６上に処理中であることを示すインジケータを表示させる（ステップＳ２３）。なお、該インジケータは、キュー登録処理の進行状況に応じて順次更新される。 FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the queue management unit 22. When the queue management unit 22 receives a storage processing request from the processing request reception unit 21 (Yes in step S21), the queue management unit 22 first checks whether or not the queue 24 is empty (step S22). If there is no space in the queue 24 (No in step S22), that fact is displayed on the screen of the monitor 16 (step S28), and if there is space in the queue 24 (Yes in step S22), An indicator indicating that processing is in progress is displayed on the monitor 16 (step S23). The indicator is sequentially updated according to the progress of the queue registration process.
　続いて、キュー管理部２２は、表示メモリ１５中の画像データを取得し（ステップＳ２４）、処理要求受付部２１から受け取った保存処理要求と関連づけてキュー２４に登録する（ステップＳ２５）。保存処理要求及び画像データのキュー２４への登録が完了したら、キュー管理部２２は上述のインジケータをモニタ１６の画面上から消去し（ステップＳ２６）、保存処理部２３へ保存処理の開始を依頼する（ステップＳ２７）。 Subsequently, the queue management unit 22 acquires the image data in the display memory 15 (step S24) and registers it in the queue 24 in association with the storage processing request received from the processing request reception unit 21 (step S25). When the storage processing request and registration of the image data in the queue 24 are completed, the queue management unit 22 deletes the above-mentioned indicator from the screen of the monitor 16 (step S26), and requests the storage processing unit 23 to start the storage processing. (Step S27).
　図３は保存処理部２３の動作を示すフローチャートである。保存処理部２３はキュー管理部２２から保存処理の開始依頼を受けると（ステップＳ３１でＹｅｓ）、キュー２４に登録されている保存処理要求（及びそれに対応する画像データ）のうち、最も先に登録されたものを取り出し（ステップＳ３２）、該画像データを該保存処理要求によって指定された画像データ形式（例えば、ＢＭＰ形式、ＪＰＥＧ形式、ＴＩＦＦ形式等の汎用的なファイル形式やＤＩＣＯＭ形式など）に変換する（ステップＳ３３）。 FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the storage processing unit 23. When the storage processing unit 23 receives a storage processing start request from the queue management unit 22 (Yes in step S31), the storage processing unit 23 is registered first among the storage processing requests (and corresponding image data) registered in the queue 24. (Step S32), and the image data is converted into the image data format specified by the storage processing request (for example, a general-purpose file format such as BMP format, JPEG format, TIFF format, or DICOM format). (Step S33).
　続いて、保存処理部２３は前記変換後の画像データを、画像保存部１７に設けられた補助記憶装置のうち、前記保存処理要求によって指定されたもの（本実施例ではハードディスク装置１８又はＤＶＤ装置１９）に格納する。なお、このとき上述の付帯情報を該画像データに関連付けて画像保存部１７に保存することもできる。 Subsequently, the storage processing unit 23 designates the converted image data from the auxiliary storage device provided in the image storage unit 17 as designated by the storage processing request (in this embodiment, the hard disk device 18 or the DVD device). 19). At this time, the above-mentioned supplementary information can be stored in the image storage unit 17 in association with the image data.
　その後、保存処理部２３は保存が終了した画像データ及び保存処理要求をキュー２４から削除し（ステップＳ３５）、キュー２４に他の保存処理要求及び画像データが格納されている場合（ステップＳ３６でＹｅｓ）には、ステップＳ３２に戻ってキュー２４に登録された保存処理要求を全て処理するまで（即ちステップＳ３６でＮｏとなるまで）ステップＳ３２～Ｓ３６を繰り返し実行する。以上により、キュー２４に登録された画像は登録された順に画像保存部１７に保存される。 Thereafter, the storage processing unit 23 deletes the image data and the storage processing request that have been stored from the queue 24 (step S35), and if another storage processing request and image data are stored in the queue 24 (Yes in step S36). Step S32 to S36 are repeatedly executed until the processing returns to step S32 and all the storage processing requests registered in the queue 24 are processed (that is, until No in step S36). As described above, the images registered in the queue 24 are stored in the image storage unit 17 in the registered order.
　以上のように、本実施例に係る超音波診断装置は、保存対象となる画像データを表示メモリ１５から取り出して保存処理要求と共に一旦キュー２４に登録し、キュー２４から１つずつ取り出して処理することができる。このため、操作者は保存処理の実行中であっても、フリーズを解除して超音波画像の撮像を再開したり、次の画像保存を指示したりすることができる。また、複数の保存処理要求及び画像データをキュー２４に貯めておき、前の保存処理が終了次第、自動的に次の保存処理を実行させることができるため、従来のように一つの保存処理が終了するのを待って操作者が次の画像保存を指示する必要がなく、効率よく複数の画像保存を指示することができる。 As described above, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment retrieves image data to be stored from the display memory 15, temporarily registers it in the queue 24 together with the storage processing request, and extracts and processes the image data one by one from the queue 24. be able to. For this reason, even when the storage process is being executed, the operator can release the freeze and restart the imaging of the ultrasonic image, or can instruct the next image storage. In addition, since a plurality of storage processing requests and image data are stored in the queue 24 and the next storage processing can be automatically executed as soon as the previous storage processing is completed, one storage processing can be performed as in the prior art. It is not necessary for the operator to instruct the next image storage after waiting for the completion, and it is possible to instruct a plurality of image storage efficiently.
　以上、本発明を実施するための最良の形態について実施例を用いて説明を行ったが、本発明は上記実施例に限定されるものではなく、本発明の趣旨の範囲で適宜変更が許容されるものである。 The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and modifications can be appropriately made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. Is.
　例えば、保存対象とする画像データは、Ｂ（Brightness）モード画像やドプラ画像、Ｍ（Motion）モード画像などいかなるモードで撮像された画像であってもよく、更に超音波診断装置に接続された心電計によって取得される心電波形や、患者のＩＤや氏名、撮像日時や撮像部位等の文字やグラフィックを画像中に含んでいてもよい。 For example, the image data to be stored may be an image captured in any mode such as a B (Brightness) mode image, a Doppler image, or an M (Motion) mode image, and further a heart connected to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The image may include an electrocardiogram waveform acquired by an electrometer, a patient ID and name, characters and graphics such as an imaging date and time, an imaging region, and the like.
　また、上記実施例においては、本発明を医療用の超音波診断装置に適用するものとしたが、本発明は、工業製品や建造物等の欠陥検出等の非破壊検査に用いられる超音波診断装置など、超音波の送受信を利用して対象の内部情報を取得する種々の装置に適用できることは明らかである。 In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for medical use. However, the present invention is an ultrasonic diagnosis used for non-destructive inspection such as defect detection of industrial products and buildings. It is obvious that the present invention can be applied to various devices such as devices that acquire internal information of an object using transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves.

Claims (2)

  1. 　超音波プローブによる超音波の送受により被検体内部の情報を取得して画像化する超音波診断装置において、
    　a)前記超音波プローブによって取得されたエコー信号から超音波画像データを生成する画像生成手段と、
    　b)操作者からの超音波画像の保存指示を受け付け、該保存指示に応じて保存処理要求を発生する保存処理要求発生手段と、
    　c)前記保存処理要求及び保存対象の超音波画像データを関連づけてキューに登録すると共に、前記キューに登録された保存処理要求及び超音波画像データを登録順に取り出して後述の画像保存手段に送るキューイング手段と、
    　d)前記保存処理要求に従って前記超音波画像データを所定の記録媒体に保存する画像保存手段と、
    　を有することを特徴とする超音波診断装置。     In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that acquires and images information inside a subject by sending and receiving ultrasound with an ultrasound probe,
    a) image generating means for generating ultrasonic image data from echo signals acquired by the ultrasonic probe;
    b) a storage processing request generation means for receiving a storage instruction for an ultrasonic image from an operator and generating a storage processing request in response to the storage instruction;
    c) A queue for associating the storage processing request and the ultrasound image data to be stored in a queue, and retrieving the storage processing request and the ultrasound image data registered in the queue in the order of registration and sending them to an image storage unit to be described later Inning means,
    d) image storage means for storing the ultrasonic image data in a predetermined recording medium in accordance with the storage processing request;
    An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:
  2. 　超音波プローブによる超音波の送受を行う超音波送受手段と、前記超音波の送受によって得られたエコー信号から超音波画像データを生成する画像生成手段とを備えた超音波診断装置が有するコンピュータを、
    　a)操作者からの超音波画像の保存指示を受け付け、該保存指示に応じて保存処理要求を発生する保存処理要求発生手段と、
    　b)前記保存処理要求及び保存対象の超音波画像データを関連づけてキューに登録すると共に、前記キューに登録された保存処理要求及び超音波画像データを登録順に取り出して後述の画像保存手段に送るキューイング手段と、
    　c)前記保存処理要求に従って前記超音波画像データを所定の記録媒体に保存する画像保存手段と、
    　として機能させることを特徴とするプログラム。     A computer having an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves using an ultrasonic probe; and an image generation unit that generates ultrasonic image data from an echo signal obtained by the transmission / reception of the ultrasonic waves. ,
    a) a storage process request generating means for receiving an instruction to store an ultrasonic image from an operator and generating a storage process request in response to the storage instruction;
    b) A queue for storing the storage processing request and the ultrasound image data to be stored in a queue in association with each other, and extracting the storage processing request and the ultrasound image data registered in the queue in the order of registration and sending them to an image storage unit to be described later Inning means,
    c) image storage means for storing the ultrasonic image data in a predetermined recording medium in accordance with the storage processing request;
    A program characterized by functioning as
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