WO2015096353A1 - 压力弹性成像位移检测方法、装置和超声成像设备 - Google Patents

压力弹性成像位移检测方法、装置和超声成像设备 Download PDF

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WO2015096353A1
WO2015096353A1 PCT/CN2014/077327 CN2014077327W WO2015096353A1 WO 2015096353 A1 WO2015096353 A1 WO 2015096353A1 CN 2014077327 W CN2014077327 W CN 2014077327W WO 2015096353 A1 WO2015096353 A1 WO 2015096353A1
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point
node
target
image data
row
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French (fr)
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袁宇辰
樊睿
李双双
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Shenzhen Mindray Bio Medical Electronics Co Ltd
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Shenzhen Mindray Bio Medical Electronics Co Ltd
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/48Diagnostic techniques
    • A61B8/485Diagnostic techniques involving measuring strain or elastic properties
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/52Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/5207Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/52Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/5215Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves involving processing of medical diagnostic data
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO 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
    • G01S7/00Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/52Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00
    • G01S7/52017Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00 particularly adapted to short-range imaging
    • G01S7/52023Details of receivers
    • G01S7/52036Details of receivers using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation
    • G01S7/52042Details of receivers using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation determining elastic properties of the propagation medium or of the reflective target
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06TIMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T7/00Image analysis
    • G06T7/0002Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection
    • G06T7/0012Biomedical image inspection
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06TIMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T7/00Image analysis
    • G06T7/30Determination of transform parameters for the alignment of images, i.e. image registration
    • G06T7/32Determination of transform parameters for the alignment of images, i.e. image registration using correlation-based methods
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06TIMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T2207/00Indexing scheme for image analysis or image enhancement
    • G06T2207/10Image acquisition modality
    • G06T2207/10132Ultrasound image
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06TIMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T2207/00Indexing scheme for image analysis or image enhancement
    • G06T2207/20Special algorithmic details
    • G06T2207/20021Dividing image into blocks, subimages or windows
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06TIMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T2207/00Indexing scheme for image analysis or image enhancement
    • G06T2207/20Special algorithmic details
    • G06T2207/20072Graph-based image processing
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06TIMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T2207/00Indexing scheme for image analysis or image enhancement
    • G06T2207/30Subject of image; Context of image processing
    • G06T2207/30004Biomedical image processing

Definitions

  • the present application relates to a medical device, and in particular to a pressure elastic imaging displacement detecting method and apparatus therefor and an ultrasonic imaging apparatus. Background technique
  • Medical ultrasound elastography mainly refers to a series of imaging and signal processing techniques for the purpose of showing differences in tissue elasticity.
  • several major classifications include pressure elastography, Acoustic Radiation Force Imaging (ARFI), and Shear Wave Elastography (SWE).
  • ARFI Acoustic Radiation Force Imaging
  • SWE Shear Wave Elastography
  • pressure elastography has the longest development time and the most mature technology.
  • Pressure-elastic imaging is an important aid to the detection of B-mode sonograms in cancer detection, especially in benign malignant breast cancer, and is rapidly applied to clinical practice.
  • Pressure elastography mainly applies pressure to the target tissue through a hand-held ultrasonic probe to obtain ultrasonic echo information of two frames before and after the target tissue is compressed, and then calculates the displacement of the corresponding position before and after compression by a specific algorithm. That is, the spatial change information of the target tissue at two different time points, and the axial gradient of the displacement is obtained, thereby obtaining the strain value of each point in the target tissue region. Under the same external force compression, the strain is larger, indicating The softer the tissue, the smaller the strain, the harder the tissue.
  • the strain values at various points in the target tissue area are displayed in the form of images, which can directly reflect the soft and hard differences or elastic differences between different tissues.
  • the existing GPZE algorithm uses a progressive guidance calculation method when calculating a frame of elastic images. Since the guidance position is too fixed, when a calculation error occurs at a certain point on the previous line, a bad point is caused by the guidance. The presence of the error causes the error to continue to the point position of each subsequent line, which appears as a vertical linear error on the image. Summary of the invention
  • the present application provides a pressure elastic imaging displacement detecting method and device thereof, and an ultrasonic imaging device Explain the book, reducing the chance of the conduction point passing down the error.
  • the present application provides a pressure elastic imaging displacement detecting method, including:
  • a node of the first row in the target image data is used as a target point, and corresponding matching points are respectively found in the matched image data;
  • N is an integer from 2 to n in turn, and n is the number of rows divided by one frame image, including:
  • the present application provides a displacement detecting device for pressure elastic imaging, comprising:
  • An image obtaining module configured to acquire two frames of image data, respectively, as target image data before compression and compressed image data after matching
  • a first matching module configured to use a node of the first row in the target image data as a target point, and respectively find a corresponding matching point in the matched image data
  • a searching module configured to find a node with the highest matching degree as a row initial guiding point in the matching result of each node in the N-1th row, where N is a current row that needs to find a matching point, and N is a sequence from 2 to n. Integer, n is the number of lines divided by one frame of image;
  • a second matching module configured to find, according to the initial starting point of the row, a matching point of each node of the Nth row in the matched image data
  • the displacement calculation module is configured to calculate a displacement result of each node of the first row according to the target point of the first row and the matching point thereof, and calculate a displacement result of each node of the Nth row according to each node of the Nth row and the matching point thereof.
  • an ultrasound imaging apparatus including:
  • a signal processor configured to process ultrasonic echoes to generate ultrasound image data
  • the image processor is configured to process the ultrasonic image data and generate an elastic image, and the image processor comprises: the displacement detecting device and the elastic image generating device that generates the elastic image based on the displacement result of each node detected by the displacement detecting device.
  • the utility model has the beneficial effects that the guiding method is improved, and the existing fixed guiding mode is changed to the node with the highest matching degree as the guiding point, thereby reducing the probability of the guiding point downward conduction error and improving the reliability of the guiding. , avoids the cumulative effect of calculation errors.
  • FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a displacement detecting device according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a second matching module according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of dividing an image data block according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart of searching for matching points of each node according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a policy for determining a search area according to an embodiment of the present application. detailed description
  • FIG. 1 shows the structure of an ultrasonic imaging device, including a probe 1, a signal processor 2, an image processor 3, and a display 4. among them:
  • the probe 1 is used to transmit ultrasonic waves to the scanning target and receive ultrasonic echoes.
  • the ultrasonic generating circuit 11 generates waveform data, and the array element of the probe 1 is turned on by the transmitting channel 12, and the ultrasonic wave is transmitted to the detected tissue, and the ultrasonic wave is reflected and absorbed by the tissue to form an ultrasonic echo, and the probe 1 receives the ultrasonic echo, and passes through the receiving channel 13 Output to signal processor 2.
  • the signal processor 2 is for processing ultrasonic echoes to generate ultrasound image data.
  • the signal processor 2 firstly obtains a radio frequency (RF) signal through the beam synthesizing link of the ultrasonic echo received by the receiving channel 13; and then quadrature demodulates to obtain a quadrature demodulated baseband signal.
  • RF radio frequency
  • the RF signal can be upgraded, the sampling rate of the RF signal is increased, and then the downsampling is performed after the quadrature demodulation.
  • the displacement detection accuracy can be increased by upsampling, and the upsampling rate is preset by the system.
  • the processed ultrasonic image data is output to the image processor.
  • the image processor 3 is used to process the ultrasound image data and generate an elasticity image.
  • the image processor 3 includes a displacement detecting device and an elastic image generating device, and the displacement detecting device processes the ultrasonic image data output by the signal processor 2 to obtain a displacement result of each node, and then the elastic image generating device detects each node detected by the displacement detecting device. The displacement result produces an elastic image.
  • the display 4 is for displaying an elasticity image generated by the image processor 3.
  • the improvement point of the present application is the displacement detecting device in the image processor 3, as shown in FIG. 2, the structure of the displacement detecting device includes an image acquiring module 301, a first matching module 302, a searching module 303, and a second matching module 304. And displacement calculation module 305.
  • the image acquisition module 301 is configured to acquire two frames of image data as the target image data before compression and the matched image data after compression; the first matching module 302 is configured to use the node of the first row in the target image data as a target point.
  • the searching module 303 is configured to find the node with the highest matching degree as the initial starting point of the row in the matching result of each node of the ⁇ N-1 row, where N is a search matching
  • the current line of points, N is an integer from 2 to n in turn, n is the number of lines divided by one frame image
  • the second matching module 304 is used to find each node of the Nth line based on the initial starting point of the line in the matched image data.
  • the displacement calculating module 305 is configured to calculate a displacement result of each node of the first row according to the target point of the first row and the matching point thereof, and calculate each node of the Nth row according to each node of the Nth row and the matching point thereof Displacement results.
  • the displacement calculation module 305 includes a cross-correlation phase calculation unit and a displacement calculation unit, and a cross-correlation phase calculation unit, configured to calculate a cross-correlation phase of the node based on the ultrasonic RF complex signal of the node and its matching point;
  • the displacement calculation unit is configured to calculate a final displacement result of the node based on the cross-correlation phase.
  • the second matching module 304 is configured as shown in FIG. 3, and includes a first target point determining unit 341, a first offset acquiring unit 342, a first search area determining unit 343, and a first searching unit 344.
  • the first target point determining unit 341 is configured to determine a first target point of the Nth row in the target image data based on the node with the highest matching degree in the N-1th row; the first offset acquiring unit 342 is configured to acquire the initial guiding point Displacement offset; the first search region determining unit 343 is configured to use the displacement offset of the row initial guiding point as the initial offset of the first target point of the Nth row, and in the matched image data, the Nth row The position after the initial offset of the target point is the core search position, and the search area is determined based on the core search position; the first search unit 344 is configured to search for the Nth line and the first target in the target image data in the search area.
  • the second target point determining unit 345 is configured to, after finding the matching point of the first target point of the Nth row, sequentially use the nodes on both sides of the first target point of the Nth row as the target point;
  • the guiding point determining unit 346 is configured to select a node with the highest matching degree as a guiding point among the nodes around the target point that have calculated the displacement offset;
  • the second offset acquiring unit 347 is configured to acquire the bit of the guiding point.
  • the second search area determining unit 348 is configured to use the displacement offset of the guiding point as the initial offset of the target point, and in the matched image data, after shifting the initial offset by the position of the target point
  • the location is a core search location, and the search region is determined based on the core search location; the second search unit 349 is configured to match the target points in the target image data in the search region, and obtain a match of the Nth target point in the target image data. point.
  • This embodiment also discloses a displacement detecting method in pressure elastic imaging, which is applicable to the above
  • the invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging device, in particular a displacement detecting device in the image processor 3.
  • the idea of this method is as follows: In the displacement detection section, based on the two frames of image data before and after compression, the displacement phase result is calculated by the guided phase zero estimation (GPZE) algorithm, and the node with the highest matching degree is taken as the initial guidance point.
  • GPZE guided phase zero estimation
  • the GPZE algorithm can be found in the Chinese patent "A Method, Apparatus and System for Displacement Detection in Elastic Imaging" of the application No. 201110159110.9.
  • the GPZE algorithm mainly detects the phase of the cross-correlation function between two frames before and after compression by guiding the search thinking, and derives the correspondence between the phase and the longitudinal displacement, and calculates the longitudinal direction between the two frames.
  • the amount of displacement ensures the quality of the displacement estimate while greatly reducing the amount of calculation.
  • the range of displacement detection has been expanded.
  • the GPZE algorithm is not only suitable for small displacement situations, but also for large displacement situations.
  • ⁇ 3 ⁇ 4 is the signal center frequency, which is the initial phase of the signal, 2; is the signal period, corresponding to the center frequency.
  • ⁇ and x Represents the longitudinal and lateral offset between two frames of target data when calculating the cross-correlation function
  • is the cross-correlation function between the envelope signals of the two frames of data.
  • the description only needs to find the sum of the envelope cross-correlation function 3 ⁇ 4( «., ), that is, find the longitudinal and lateral offset between the two frames of envelope data, and use the vertical and horizontal offsets to find the compression.
  • the target point in the target image is the matching point in the compressed image, thereby calculating the cross-correlation phase according to the target point and the matching point, and further calculating the final displacement result.
  • Step 410 Acquire image data
  • the displacement detection of the present embodiment is calculated based on the obtained data.
  • the obtained two frames of image data are respectively used as target image data before compression and matched image data after compression.
  • & is the target image data before compression
  • & is the matched image data after compression
  • I U ⁇ Q U and / £ and (3 ⁇ 4 are the signal parameters of the target image data and the matched image data, respectively.
  • the calculation of the displacement result of each frame requires the use of two frames of I/Q baseband signal data, and the resulting displacement result refers to the spatial relative displacement between the two frames of signals.
  • the two frames of baseband signal data may be two consecutive frames of data, and may be two frames of data with a certain frame interval.
  • the number of frame intervals is preset by the system or determined according to the user's selection. By using two frames of data at a certain interval, the amount of displacement between the two frames of data used for calculation can be effectively adjusted, so that the quality of the strain image finally obtained is better.
  • Step 420 Find matching points of each node of the target image data.
  • the node of the first row in the target image data obtained in step 410 is used as the target point, and the corresponding matching point is found in the matched image data respectively; for the nodes of other rows in the target image data, the node with the highest matching degree of each row in the above row As the initial guiding point, the matching points of the respective nodes of the row in the matched image data are found based on the initial guiding point.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of image data gridding in the embodiment of the present application, which is divided into n rows, and black dots (ie, grid nodes) are positions where displacement estimation is possible, and black lines in the figure indicate baseband signal data.
  • the meshing is based on the location of the data sample points in the target image frame in the two-frame signal.
  • the matching point of the target image data node in the matched image data is the node most relevant to the node, and the node most relevant to the node can be calculated in the compressed image by the correlation algorithm, and the matching is used as the target point. point.
  • Step 430 Calculating the cross-correlation phase
  • phase of the node and the matching point can be calculated.
  • the phase calculation uses I and Q data.
  • (, /) indicates the relative coordinates or position of the data node
  • the same ( ) indicates the same relative position in the two frames of data
  • (0, 0) indicates the point in the lower left corner of the core data in the target image
  • ( 0, 0) also indicates the point in the lower left corner of the core data in the matched image.
  • the calculation method is related to the final displacement estimation result of the previous row of nodes, assuming that the final longitudinal displacement result of the previous row of nodes is ⁇ , Bay' h
  • Step 440 Calculate the displacement result
  • 7 is the signal period, which corresponds to the angular frequency of the signal center.
  • the above displacement results are expressed in units of sampling time, and can also be expressed in units of physical lengths, which are one-to-one correspondence.
  • step 420 when searching for matching points of each node in the target image in the matched image, a method of finding matching points of each node of the row in the matched image data based on the initial guiding point is used, please refer to the figure. 6, including the following steps:
  • Step 421 Find the matching point of the first line of the target point
  • the node of the first row in the target image data is used as the target point, and the corresponding matching point is found in the matched image data respectively.
  • each frame image is divided into m columns and n rows of meshes, each cell is a node, Block matching is used when matching target points.
  • the matching point is the node most relevant to the target point, and the displacement offset of the target point and the matching point, that is, the position coordinate variation of the target point and the matching point, can also be obtained.
  • step 430 is performed on the one hand, and the cross-correlation phase is calculated according to the target point and the matching point.
  • the following steps are performed to find the nodes of the second row and the subsequent rows in the target image data. Match point.
  • Step 422. Determine the initial boot point of the line in the Nth line
  • the method of guiding points is used to find the matching points of the target points, assuming that the matching points of the nodes in the Nth row are found, N is an integer from 2 to n in turn, and n is the number of rows divided by one frame image. .
  • each node in the N-1th row has found a matching point, so first find the node with the highest matching degree as the initial guiding point of the row of the Nth row in the matching result of each node of the N-1th row, based on the row.
  • the initial boot point finds the matching point of each node of the Nth row in the matched image data.
  • the node's quality factor (QF) can be used to judge the matching degree of the node. The higher the quality factor, the higher the matching degree.
  • the quality factor can be calculated by using statistical correlation coefficients for S u and S c , or by Sum- Absolute Difference ( SAD ). Sum difference sum (Sum -Square Difference, SS is calculated as:
  • the quality factor QF is between [0, 1]. In actual use, it can be quantified according to the habit to a different range of values. For example, multiply by 100 and round up, so that the quality factor becomes between 0 and 100. Integer.
  • the matching degree of the node may be judged using other methods, for example, the average strain size or the spatial position of the node is used to judge the matching degree of the node.
  • the specification uses the node with the highest matching degree in the N-1th row as the initial guiding point, thereby determining the first target point of the Nth row in the target image data.
  • the so-called first target point refers to the node that searches for the matching point in the matched image data as the target point among all the nodes in the Nth row.
  • Step 423 Determine the first target point of the Nth line
  • the point close to the initial guiding point is usually selected as the first target point in the Nth row.
  • the node in the same row as the initial guiding point in the Nth row is selected as the first target point, because adjacent points in the same column are most likely to affect each other, for example, the coordinates of the initial guiding point are ( ⁇ _ 1, ⁇ ) , the first target point can be selected (i, :c).
  • the selection of the first target point may also be a node adjacent to the initial boot point in the Nth row, but the disadvantage of this method is that when the initial boot point is in the first column or the last column, the Nth row may not be possible.
  • Select the first target point For example, if the node of the previous column of the initial guidance point is selected as the first target point, when the initial guidance point is in the first column, the first target point cannot be selected in the Nth row; if the initial guidance point is selected The node of the latter column is used as the first target point. When the initial guidance point is at the last column, the target point cannot be selected in the Nth row.
  • Step 424 Determine the search area of the first target point
  • the guiding idea of the present application is to determine the search area of the first target point of the row according to the displacement offset of the node with the highest matching degree of the previous row. Therefore, you should first obtain the displacement offset of the initial guide point of the line.
  • the longitudinal offset and the lateral offset of the initial guiding point of the row are respectively acquired.
  • only the longitudinal offset of the initial guiding point may be acquired.
  • the coordinates of the first target point are set to (t, x, and the longitudinal and lateral offsets of the initial guiding point are w and x, respectively, and the initial offset of the first target point is set to and X. (Portrait and landscape), that is, the core search position of the matching point of the first target point in the matched image data is (i + u 0 , x + x 0 ).
  • the search area can be determined.
  • a piece of data near or around is taken out for calculation.
  • the core search position of the first target point in the matched image frame data is (t + u 0 , x + x 0 ), and the size of the block data is preset by the system, for example, in the core search.
  • the search area of the first target point in the matched image frame data can be determined by the vertical interval and the horizontal interval, wherein the slave interval is [+ w. ⁇ + + ⁇ ] , the horizontal interval is [ ⁇ + ⁇ . — , ⁇ + ⁇ ;. + J 2 ] , the mouth map ⁇ the area enclosed by the black line.
  • the embodiment further discloses a determining scheme of the search area: wherein the horizontal interval is the same as the above solution, and for the vertical direction, the search range is no longer set, that is, in the core search.
  • the search area of the first target point in the matched image frame data is: The vertical interval is [i + w. , r + w. + W 3], lateral interval [X + _ JC + x 0 + x 2].
  • Step 425 Find the matching point of the first target point
  • the point where the most relevant correlation is searched in the search area is the matching point, and based on the idea of block-matching, the position with the greatest correlation with the first target point is searched in the matched image data.
  • the most relevant basis for the search can be based on the SAD method, the NCC method, and the like.
  • the smallest position of the SAD or the largest position of the NCC is the position with the greatest correlation. Other similar criteria can also be used.
  • steps 430 and 440 can be performed to calculate the cross-correlation phase and displacement results.
  • Step 426 Find the boot point of the other node in the Nth row
  • the nodes on both sides of the first target point in the Nth row are sequentially used as the target point, and the matching point of the target point is found in the matched image data.
  • specific methods for finding matching points in the matched image data include:
  • the node with the highest matching degree is selected as the guiding point among the nodes around the selected target point for which the displacement offset has been calculated.
  • the target point refers to other nodes close to the target point, which may be the nodes of the previous row, or the nodes of the row, for example, the points on the left side of the first target point are matched as the target points, and then the right point of the target point Find the node with the highest matching degree as the boot point in the nodes on the side, upper, and upper right.
  • the conditions that the node selected as the guiding point should satisfy are:
  • the displacement offset has been calculated.
  • the priority may also be set, such as setting a matching threshold.
  • the node When the matching degree of a certain node does not meet the requirement, even if the node is closest to the target point, the node may be directly abandoned, and the selection is away. A node with a farther target point but a higher matching degree serves as a guiding point.
  • Step 427 Determine the search area of the other target points in the Nth line, and perform matching.
  • the displacement offset of the guiding point is obtained, and the displacement offset of the guiding point is taken as the initial offset of the target point.
  • the position after the initial offset is shifted by the position of the target point is the core search position
  • the search area is determined based on the core search position
  • the target points in the target image data are matched in the search area, and obtained
  • the matching point of the Nth target point in the target image data is obtained.
  • steps 430 and 440 can be performed to calculate the cross-correlation phase and displacement results.
  • Step 428 Determine whether all nodes in the Nth row are matched, and if yes, execute step 429, otherwise proceed to step 426. Instruction step 429. When the displacement results of all the nodes in the Nth row are calculated, it is necessary to judge whether the Nth row is the last row, and if so, the end; otherwise, the calculation of the next row is performed.
  • the fixed guiding point may be prevented from being erroneous. The error is continued to subsequent nodes, reducing the cumulative effect of computational errors.
  • the displacement result data is graded along the longitudinal direction to obtain the strain result, that is, the strain value.
  • the resulting strain results can be corrected for errors, such as detecting abnormal jump points or obvious error points for correction; or spatially smoothing them to improve image display; or Map with different grayscale or color maps to enhance image contrast. Other operations that increase image quality can also be performed.
  • strain results of the desired area are output and displayed as strain images, which can reflect the difference in tissue elasticity of the region.
  • the QF value of each node of the entire frame can also be obtained.
  • the user can be provided with quality information when the final image is displayed.
  • the entire frame QF can be drawn into an image, and the quality score of each node can be clearly understood.
  • the average value of the entire frame QF can be calculated, which is convenient. Understand the advantages and disadvantages of an elastic image as a whole.

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Abstract

一种弹性成像中的位移检测方法、适用于该方法的压力弹性成像中的位移检测装置以及一种超声成像设备。该方法在对目标图像数据中的节点进行位移检测时,以上一行中匹配度最高的节点作为该行节点的引导点,根据引导点的偏移量来确定节点的初始偏移量,在基于引导点确定的范围内搜索匹配点,从而减少了计算错误的累积效应。

Description

说 明 书 压力弹性成像位移检测方法、 装置和超声成像设备 技术领域
本申请涉及一种医疗设备, 具体涉及一种压力弹性成像位移检测方法及其 装置和一种超声成像设备。 背景技术
医用超声弹性成像主要指以显示组织弹性差异为目的的一系列成像和信号 处理技术。 目前已有的几大分类包括压力弹性成像、声辐射力弹性成像( Acoustic Radiation Force Imaging, ARFI )、 剪切波弹生成像 ( Shear Wave Elastography, SWE ) 等。 其中压力弹性成像发展的时间最长, 技术也最为成熟。 压力弹性成 像作为癌症检测, 尤其是乳腺癌良性恶性判别中, 对 B模式声像图检测的重要 辅助手段, 快速应用于临床。
压力弹性成像主要是通过手持超声探头对目标组织施加压力(pressure ), 获 取目标组织被压缩前后两帧超声回波信息, 再通过特定的算法计算出压縮前后 对应位置发生的位移( displacement ), 即为目标组织在两个不同时刻空间位置变 化信息, 通过对位移求轴向 (axial )梯度, 进而得到目标组织区域各点的应变 值(strain ), 在相同外力压缩下, 应变越大, 表示组织越软, 应变越小, 则表示 组织越硬。 根据目标组织区域各点的应变值以图像形式表现出来, 可直观反映 不同组织间的软硬差别或弹性差别。
在上述处理过程中, 位移检测是否准确、 计算是否快速, 共同影响着最终 应变图像的对比度噪声比 (contrast-noise-ratio, CNR), 图像的实时性、 临床帧率 等。 申请号为 201110159110.9的中国专利 《一种弹性成像中的位移检测方法、 装置及系统》提出了引导零相位估计( Guided Phase Zero Estimation, GPZE )算 法, 这种 GPZE位移检测算法, 一方面使用最优的缺省位移结果来引导下一行 位移计算, 减少了搜索量; 另一方面使用相位估计的方法来计算位移, 对原始 数据采样率要求不高, 大大降低了计算量。 但是 GPZE算法仍有以下不足之处: 现有 GPZE算法在计算一帧弹性图像时, 采用逐行引导计算方式, 由于引 导位置过于固定, 当上一行某点出现计算错误导致坏点时, 由于引导的存在, 会导致错误延续至之后的每一行的该点位置, 在图像上表现为纵向的线状误差。 发明内容
本申请提供一种压力弹性成像位移检测方法及其装置和一种超声成像设 说 明 书 备, 减少引导点向下传导误差的几率。
根据本申请的第一方面, 本申请提供一种压力弹性成像位移检测方法, 包 括:
获取两帧图像数据, 分别作为压缩前的目标图像数据和压缩后的被匹配图 像数据;
将目标图像数据中第一行的节点作为目标点, 分别在被匹配图像数据中找 到对应的匹配点;
根据第一行的目标点及其匹配点计算第一行各节点的位移结果;
计算目标图像数据中第 N行各节点的位移结果, 其中 N为依次从 2到 n的 整数, n为一帧图像划分的行数, 包括:
在第 N-1 行的各节点的匹配结果中查找出匹配度最高的节点作为行初始引 导点;
基于行初始引导点查找第 N行的各节点在被匹配图像数据中的匹配点; 根据第 N行的各节点及其匹配点计算第 N行各节点的位移结果。
根据本申请的第二方面, 本申请提供一种压力弹性成像中位移检测装置, 包括:
图像获取模块, 用于获取两帧图像数据, 分别作为压缩前的目标图像数据 和压缩后的被匹配图像数据;
第一匹配模块, 用于将目标图像数据中第一行的节点作为目标点, 分别在 被匹配图像数据中找到对应的匹配点;
查找模块, 用于在第 N-1 行的各节点的匹配结果中查找出匹配度最高的节 点作为行初始引导点, 其中 N为需要查找匹配点的当前行, N为依次从 2到 n的 整数, n为一帧图像划分的行数;
第二匹配模块, 用于基于行初始引导点查找第 N行的各节点在被匹配图像 数据中的匹配点;
位移计算模块, 用于根据第一行的目标点及其匹配点计算第一行各节点的 位移结果, 并根据第 N行的各节点及其匹配点计算第 N行各节点的位移结果。
根据本申请的第三方面, 本申请提供一种超声成像设备,包括:
探头, 用于向扫查目标发射超声波并接收超声回波;
信号处理器, 用于对超声回波进行处理, 生成超声图像数据;
图像处理器, 用于对超声图像数据进行处理, 并生成弹性图像, 图像处理 器包括: 上述的位移检测装置和基于位移检测装置检测的各节点的位移结果生 成弹性图像的弹性图像生成装置。 说 明 书 本申请的有益效果是: 改进了引导方式, 将现有固定的引导方式, 改为由 匹配度最高的节点作为引导点, 从而减少引导点向下传导误差的几率, 提高了 引导的可靠性, 避免了计算错误的累积效应。 附图说明
图 1为本申请实施例超声成像设备结构图;
图 2为本申请实施例位移检测装置结构图;
图 3为本申请实施例第二匹配模块结构图;
图 4为本申请实施例各节点位移检测流程图;
图 5为本申请实施例图像数据块划分示意图;
图 6为本申请实施例查找各节点的匹配点的流程图;
图 7为本申请实施例确定搜索区域的一种策略示意图。 具体实施方式
下面通过具体实施方式结合附图对本发明作进一步详细说明。
医用弹性成像主要指以显示组织弹性差异为目的的一系列成像和信号处理 技术。以医用超声成像技术为例,请参考图 1 , 图 1所示为超声成像设备的结构, 包括探头 1、 信号处理器 2、 图像处理器 3和显示器 4。 其中:
探头 1用于向扫查目标发射超声波并接收超声回波。 超声波发生电路 11产 生波形数据, 通过发射通道 12接通探头 1的阵元, 向被探测组织发射超声波, 超声波经组织反射和吸收后形成超声回波, 探头 1 接收超声回波, 通过接收通 道 13输出至信号处理器 2。
信号处理器 2用于对超声回波进行处理, 生成超声图像数据。信号处理器 2 首先将接收通道 13 接收到的超声回波通过波束合成环节得到射频 (radio frequency, RF )信号; 再经过正交解调后得到正交解调的基带信号。 在处理过 程中, 还可以在波束合成后, 对射频信号进行升釆样, 增加 RF信号的釆样率, 然后在正交解调后再经过降采样。 通过升采样可以增加位移检测精度, 升采样 率由系统预先设定。 处理后的超声图像数据输出到图像处理器。
图像处理器 3 用于对超声图像数据进行处理, 并生成弹性图像。 图像处理 器 3 包括位移检测装置和弹性图像生成装置, 位移检测装置对信号处理器 2输 出的超声图像数据进行处理得到各节点的位移结果, 而后弹性图像生成装置基 于位移检测装置检测的各节点的位移结果生成弹性图像。
显示器 4用于显示图像处理器 3生成的弹性图像。 说 明 书 本申请的改进点为图像处理器 3 中的位移检测装置, 如图 2所示为位移检 测装置的结构, 包括图像获取模块 301、 第一匹配模块 302、 查找模块 303、 第 二匹配模块 304和位移计算模块 305。图像获取模块 301用于获取两帧图像数据, 分别作为压缩前的目标图像数据和压缩后的被匹配图像数据; 第一匹配模块 302 用于将目标图像数据中第一行的节点作为目标点, 分别在被匹配图像数据中找 到对应的匹配点; 查找模块 303用于在笫 N-1行的各节点的匹配结果中查找出 匹配度最高的节点作为行初始引导点, 其中 N为需要查找匹配点的当前行, N 为依次从 2到 n的整数, n为一帧图像划分的行数; 第二匹配模块 304用于基于 行初始引导点查找第 N行的各节点在被匹配图像数据中的匹配点; 位移计算模 块 305 用于根据第一行的目标点及其匹配点计算第一行各节点的位移结果, 并 根据第 N行的各节点及其匹配点计算第 N行各节点的位移结果。 在一种具体实 例中, 位移计算模块 305 包括互相关相位计算单元和位移计算单元, 互相关相 位计算单元, 用于基于该节点及其匹配点的超声射频复信号计算该节点的互相 关相位; 位移计算单元用于基于互相关相位计算该节点的最终位移结果。
在一具体实施例中, 第二匹配模块 304结构如图 3所示, 包括第一目标点 确定单元 341、 第一偏移量获取单元 342、 第一搜索区域确定单元 343、 第一搜 索单元 344、 第二目标点确定单元 345、 引导点确定单元 346、 第二偏移量获取 单元 347、 第二搜索区域确定单元 348和第二搜索单元 349。 第一目标点确定单 元 341用于基于第 N-1行中匹配度最高的节点确定目标图像数据中第 N行的第 一目标点; 第一偏移量获取单元 342 用于获取初始引导点的位移偏移量; 第一 搜索区域确定单元 343用于将行初始引导点的位移偏移量作为第 N行第一目标 点的初始偏移量, 在被匹配图像数据中, 以第 N行第一目标点的位置偏移初始 偏移量后的位置为核心搜索位置, 基于核心搜索位置确定搜索区域; 第一搜索 单元 344用于在搜索区域内搜索目标图像数据中的第 N行第一目标点的匹配点; 第二目标点确定单元 345用于在找到第 N行第一目标点的匹配点后, 依次以第 N行第一目标点同行两侧的节点为目标点; 引导点确定单元 346用于在目标点 周围的已经计算出位移偏移量的节点中选择匹配度最高的节点作为引导点; 第 二偏移量获取单元 347 用于获取引导点的位移偏移量; 第二搜索区域确定单元 348 用于将引导点的位移偏移量作为目标点的初始偏移量, 在被匹配图像数据 中, 以目标点的位置偏移初始偏移量后的位置为核心搜索位置, 基于核心搜索 位置确定搜索区域; 第二搜索单元 349 用于在搜索区域内对目标图像数据中目 标点进行匹配, 并得到目标图像数据中的第 N行目标点的匹配点。
本实施例还公开了一种压力弹性成像中位移检测方法,该方法适用于上述 说 明 书 超声成像设备, 尤其是图像处理器 3 中的位移检测装置。 该方法的思路是: 在 位移检测环节,基于压缩前后两帧图像数据,利用引导零相位估计( guided phase zero estimation, GPZE )算法计算位移结果时, 将匹配度最高的节点作为初始引 导点。 GPZE算法可参见申请号为 201110159110.9的中国专利《一种弹性成像中 的位移检测方法、 装置及系统》。
GPZE 算法主要通过引导搜索的思维来更准确快速的检测出压缩前后两帧 信号间的互相关函数的相位, 并推导该相位与纵向位移量之间的对应关系, 计 算得到两帧信号间的纵向位移量, 在大大降低了计算量的同时保证了位移估计 的质量。此外,位移检测的范围也得以拓展, GPZE算法不仅适用于小位移情况, 也适用于大位移的情况。
假设压缩前的目标图像和压缩后的被匹配图像信号分别表示为:
Figure imgf000007_0001
其中, ί¾是信号中心频率, 为信号初始相位, 2;为信号周期, 与中心频率 相对应。 为压缩导致的空间横向偏移量, 为压缩所导致的纵向偏移量。 Uy 总是可表示为 =7 + «2:/2的形式, 其中 n为整数, T总是分布于 -7;/2~7;/2范围 内。
经过正交解调以后成为基带信号, 基带信号的复数形式可表示为:
Figure imgf000007_0002
或者,
Figure imgf000007_0003
Sc =Ic +iQc
于是, 基带信号之间的互相关函数表示为: xo)dt
Figure imgf000007_0004
t0-At
= ( _ +/0,x- / +x0 - - ^ 2-
V
Figure imgf000007_0005
其中, ^和 x。代表计算互相关函数时的两帧目标数据之间的纵向与横向偏移 量, ^是两帧数据的包络信号之间的互相关函数。 说 明 书 只要找到令包络互相关函数 ¾(«。, )最大时的 和 , 即找到两帧包络数据 之间的纵向、 横向偏移量, 利用纵向和横向偏移量即可查找到压缩前的目标图 像中的目标点在压缩后图像中的匹配点, 从而根据目标点和匹配点计算出互相 关相位, 并进一步计算出最终位移结果。
各节点位移检测流程如图 4所示, 包括以下步骤:
步骤 410. 获取图像数据
本实施例的位移检测基于获得的数据进行计算。 获得的两帧图像数据, 分 别作为压缩前的目标图像数据和压缩后的被匹配图像数据。
具体地, 获取一对 I/Q基带信号帧数据:
Figure imgf000008_0001
其中, &为压缩前的目标图像数据, &为压缩后的被匹配图像数据; IU ^QU 以及/ £和(¾分别为目标图像数据和被匹配图像数据的信号参数。
每一帧位移结果的计算需要利用两帧 I/Q基带信号数据,所得位移结果是指 两帧信号之间的空间相对位移。 上述两帧基带信号数据, 可以是连续两帧数据, 可以是有一定帧间隔的两帧数据, 帧间隔数量由系统预先设定, 或根据用户的 选择确定。 使用一定间隔的两帧数据, 可以有效调整用于计算的两帧数据间的 位移量大小, 使得最终获得的应变图像质量更好。
步骤 420. 找到目标图像数据各节点的匹配点
将步骤 410 获得的目标图像数据中第一行的节点作为目标点, 分别在被匹 配图像数据中找到对应的匹配点; 对于目标图像数据中其它各行的节点, 以上 一行各节点匹配度最高的节点作为初始引导点, 而后基于初始引导点找到本行 各节点在被匹配图像数据中的匹配点。
本领域技术人员应该清楚, 即便经过降采样, 基带信号的采样率仍然较高, 而位移一般较小, 相邻采样点之间的位移差别非常微小。 为了使得减少计算量, 预先划分好位移检测估计点 (节点) 的位置, 譬如, 可以将图像等间隔划分若 干连续且不重叠的块, 以块为节点来进行匹配及位移检测, 可以有效避免或减 少冗余计算量。 如图 5 所示为本申请实施例中的图像数据网格化示意图, 共划 分 n行, 黑点 (即网格节点处) 即为可能进行位移估计的位置, 图中黑线表示 基带信号数据或包络数据, 网格划分以两帧信号中目标图像帧中的数据采样点 位置为基准。
纵向, 从最浅深度的数据开始, 每隔一定数量的数据釆样点 (或者每隔一 定深度)后取点, 该点所在位置需要进行位移估计的节点或目标点, 该纵向间 说 明 书 隔数量由系统预先设定。
横向, 从探头中心扫描数据线开始, 每隔一定数量的采样线 (或者每隔一 定宽度)后取点, 该点所在位置需要进行位移估计的节点或目标点, 该横向间 隔数量由系统预先设定。
划分网格之后, 获取应变图像所需的计算量将会大大减少, 特别是当横向 和纵向间隔很大的时候。 但是间隔太大对成像质量有一定的影响, 会影响位移 估计结果以及最终图像的空间分辨力。
目标图像数据节点在被匹配图像数据中的匹配点为与该节点最相关的节 点, 可通过相关性算法在压缩后图像中计算出与该节点最相关的节点, 并将其 作为目标点的匹配点。
步骤 430. 计算互相关相位
在找到目标图像数据中节点的匹配点后, 即可计算该节点与匹配点的互相 关相位。 相位计算使用 I、 Q数据。
将目标图像和被 得相位为: φ =
Figure imgf000009_0001
其中, (,/)表示数据节点的相对坐标或位置, 同一 ( )在两帧数据中表示的 相对位置相同, 例如假设 (0, 0 )在目标图像中表示核数据左下角的点, 那么 ( 0, 0 )在被匹配图像中也表示核数据左下角的点。
上式中, 《的计算方法与上一行节点的最终位移估计结果有关, 假设上一行 节点的最终纵向位移结果为 ^, 贝' h
U
n - round( ~―) 其中, round表示四舍五入取整(也可以釆用向上取整或向下取整的方式)。 此外, 由于 arctan函数计算的结果范围在- 〜 之间, 还需要根据其上式
2 2
(-i)- y { m" ((m ( ' j)中分子分母的正负情况将结果校正到 - Γ〜 Γ范围 中去。 按三角函数的相位分布规律, 上述分子的符号与 sin 对应, 分母的符号 与 cos 对应。
步骤 440. 计算位移结果
经过上述计算后, 当前节点 (或位移估计点) 的位移结果为:
u' y ^ ηΤα / 2 +φ/ ωα
其中, 7为信号周期, 与信号中心角频率 相对应。 《Γε / 2项的引入, 补偿 说 明 书 了相位计算的混叠性, 从而使得本算法既适用于小位移的情况, 也适用于大位 移的情况。
上述位移结果均以采样时间为单位的方式来表示, 也可以换算成物理长度 单位来表示, 二者是一一对应的。
本实施例中, 在步骤 420 中, 在被匹配图像中查找目标图像中各节点的匹 配点时采用基于初始引导点找到本行各节点在被匹配图像数据中的匹配点的方 法, 请参考图 6 , 包括以下步骤:
步骤 421. 查找第一行目标点的匹配点
将目标图像数据中第一行的节点作为目标点, 分别在被匹配图像数据中找 到对应的匹配点当每帧图像被划分为 m列 n行的网格时 , 每一格为一个节点 , 在对目标点进行匹配时采用块匹配。。 匹配点为与目标点最相关的节点, 同时也 可获得目标点和匹配点的位移偏移量, 即目标点和匹配点的位置坐标变化量。
第一行目标点的匹配点确定后,一方面执行步骤 430 , 根据目标点和匹配点 计算互相关相位, 另一方面执行以下步骤, 查找目标图像数据中第二行及其后 面各行的各节点的匹配点。
步骤 422. 确定第 N行的行初始引导点
从第二行开始,在查找目标点的匹配点时采用引导点的方法,假设查找第 N 行各节点的匹配点, N为依次从 2到 n的整数, n为一帧图像划分的行数。此时, 第 N-1行中各节点已经找到匹配点, 因此首先在第 N-1行的各节点的匹配结果 中查找出匹配度最高的节点作为第 N行的行初始引导点, 基于行初始引导点查 找第 N行的各节点在被匹配图像数据中的匹配点。 在一种具体实例中, 可釆用 节点的质量因子 (QF ) 来评判该节点的匹配度, 质量因子越高, 匹配度越高。
在一具体实施例中, 质量因子可以通过对 Su和 Sc使用统计学的相关系数来 计算得出, 也可以采用绝对差求和(Sum- Absolute Difference , SAD ). 平方差求 和(Sum-Square Difference , SS 选的计算方式为:
Figure imgf000010_0001
其中 = - , 表示复数取共轭。 质量因子 QF的取值在 [0, 1]之间, 实际使 用时可以根据习惯量化到一个其他数值范围来进行判断, 例如乘以 100并取整, 使得质量因子变为 0-100之间的整数。
在其他的具体实例中, 也可采用其他的方式来评判该节点的匹配度, 例如 釆用平均应变大小或节点空间位置的方式来评判该节点的匹配度。 说 明 书 将第 N-1 行中匹配度最高的节点作为初始引导点, 从而确定目标图像数据 中第 N行的第一目标点。 所称第一目标点是指在第 N行所有节点中, 第一个用 以作为目标点在被匹配图像数据中搜索匹配点的节点。
步骤 423. 确定第 N行的第一目标点
在确定第 N-1行中匹配度最高的节点作为初始引导点后, 通常在第 N行中 选取与初始引导点靠近的点作为第一目标点。 优选的方式为, 选取第 N行中与 初始引导点同列的节点作为第一目标点, 因同列的相邻点最容易相互影响, 如 殳设初始引导点的坐标为(ί _ 1,χ) , 则第一目标点可选择 (i,:c)。 第一目标点的选 择也可以是在第 N行中与初始引导点相邻列的节点, 但这种方式的弊端是, 初 始引导点在首列或者末列时, 有可能导致第 N行无法选择第一目标点: 譬如, 若选择初始引导点的前一列的节点作为第一目标点, 当初始引导点位于首列时, 在第 N行便无法选择第一目标点; 若选择初始引导点的后一列的节点作为第一 目标点, 当初始引导点位于末列时, 在第 N行便无法选择笫一目标点。
步骤 424. 确定第一目标点的搜索区域
本申请的引导思路是, 根据上一行匹配度最高的节点的位移偏移量为引导 来确定本行第一目标点的搜索区域。 因此, 应先获取行初始引导点的位移偏移 量。 在本实施例中, 分别获取行初始引导点的纵向偏移量和横向偏移量, 在其 它实施例中, 也可以只获取初始引导点的纵向偏移量。 支设第一目标点的坐标 为(t,x、, 初始引导点的纵向和横向的偏移量分别为 w。和 x。, 则设定第一目标点 的初始偏移量为 和 X。 (纵向和横向), 即第一目标点在被匹配图像数据中的匹 配点的核心搜索位置为(i + u0,x + x0)。
在确定第一目标点初始位移偏移量得到第一目标点的核心搜索位置后, 便 可以确定搜索区域。 在被匹配图像帧数据中, 以该核心搜索位置为中心 (或者 为基准), 取出附近或周围一块数据进行计算。
如图 Ί 所示, 假设第一目标点在被匹配图像帧数据中的核心搜索位置为 (t + u0,x + x0) , 该块数据的大小由系统预先设定, 譬如在核心搜索位置的横向向 左设定 ^, 向右设定 x2 ; 纵向向上设定 , 向下设定 。 设定之后, 第一目标 点在被匹配图像帧数据中的搜索区域即可由纵向区间和横向区间来确定, 其中, 从向区间为 [ + w。― + +^] , 横向区间为 [χ + χ。— , Χ + Λ;。 + J 2] , 口图 Ί 黑 色线所框的区域。
根据临床经验, 目标组织越深, 其弹性系数越小, 即更柔软, 表现出来的 纵向位移偏移量会更大。 因此本实施例还公开了一种搜索区域的确定方案: 其 中横向区间同上述方案, 而对于纵向, 向上不再设定搜索范围, 即在核心搜索 说 明 书 位置的横向向左设定 ^ , 向右设定 x2 ; 纵向向下设定 w3。 设定之后, 第一目标 点在被匹配图像帧数据中的搜索区域为: 纵向区间为 [i + w。,r + w。+ w3] , 横向区 间为 [X + _ JC + x0 + x2]。
搜索区域设定越小, 计算量越小。
步骤 425. 查找第一目标点的匹配点
在搜索区域搜索出相关性最大的点即为匹配点,以块匹配( block-matching ) 的思路为基础, 在被匹配图像数据中搜索与第一目标点相关性最大的位置。 搜 索中相关性最大的判别依据可以采用 SAD法、 NCC法等。 SAD最小的位置或 者 NCC最大的位置即为相关性最大的位置。 也可以釆用其他类似的判别依据。
找到第一目标点的匹配点之后即可进行步骤 430和 440,计算互相关相位和 位移结果。
步骤 426. 查找第 N行其它节点的引导点
在找到第 N行的第一目标点的匹配点之后, 依次以第 N行第一目标点同行 两侧的节点为目标点, 在被匹配图像数据中查找目标点的匹配点。 对于选定的 目标点, 在被匹配图像数据中查找其匹配点的具体方法包括:
在选定的目标点周围的已经计算出位移偏移量的节点中选择匹配度最高的 节点作为引导点。 目标点周围是指靠近目标点的其它节点, 可以是上一行的节 点, 也可以是本行的节点, 例如依次以第一目标点左侧的点为目标点进行匹配, 则在目标点的右侧、 上方、 右上方的节点中查找匹配度最高的节点作为引导点。 被选择作为引导点的节点应该满足的条件是: 已经计算出位移偏移量。 在其它 实施例中, 也可以设置优先级, 如设定匹配度阈值, 当某一节点的匹配度达不 到要求时, 即使该节点离目标点最近, 也可以直接放弃该节点, 而选择离目标 点更远的但是匹配度高的节点作为引导点。
步骤 427. 确定第 N行其他目标点的搜索区域, 进行匹配
在确定引导点之后, 获取引导点的位移偏移量, 并将引导点的位移偏移量 作为目标点的初始偏移量。 在被匹配图像数据中, 以目标点的位置偏移初始偏 移量后的位置为核心搜索位置, 基于核心搜索位置确定搜索区域, 在搜索区域 内对目标图像数据中目标点进行匹配, 并得到目标图像数据中的第 N行目标点 的匹配点。 具体方法可参照上述方案, 在此不再赘述。
找到选定节点的匹配点之后即可进行步骤 430和 440,计算互相关相位和位 移结果。
步骤 428. 判断是否第 N行所有节点都匹配完, 如果是, 则执行步骤 429, 否则继续执行步骤 426。 说 明 书 步骤 429. 当第 N行所有节点的位移结果都计算完毕时, 需要判断第 N行 是否为最后一行, 如果是, 则结束; 否则进行下一行的计算。
本实施例中, 在对第二行及其后面行的节点进行位移检测时, 由于每次匹 配都选择与该节点附近的匹配度最高的点作为引导点, 因此可避免固定的引导 点发生错误时将错误延续到后续的节点上, 减少了计算错误的累积效应。
得到目标图像数据中所有节点 (或位移估计点) 处的位移结果后, 对位移 结果数据沿着纵向求梯度, 即可得到应变结果, 即应变值。
在应变后处理中, 可以对所得的应变结果进行一定的错误校正, 比如检测 其中的异常跳变点或者明显错误点进行校正; 还可以对其进行空间平滑, 以改 善图像显示效果; 或者对其使用不同的灰阶或彩色图谱进行映射, 以增强图像 对比度。 还可以进行其他增加图像质量的操作。
最终, 将所需区域的应变结果进行输出显示成为应变图像, 即可反映该区 域组织弹性差异。
整帧位移数据都算完后,还可以一并得到整帧各个节点的 QF值。 通过这些 QF信息, 可以在最终图像显示时为用户提供质量信息, 一是可以把整帧 QF绘 制成图像, 清楚了解到每个节点的质量分数, 二是可以计算整帧 QF的平均值, 便于从整体上了解一幅弹性图像的优劣。
本领域技术人员可以理解 , 上述实施方式中各种方法的全部或部分步骤可 以通过程序来指令相关硬件完成, 该程序可以存储于一计算机可读存储介质中, 存储介质可以包括: 只读存储器、 随机存储器、 磁盘或光盘等。 以上内容是结合具体的实施方式对本发明所作的进一步详细说明, 不能认 定本发明的具体实施只局限于这些说明。 对于本发明所属技术领域的普通技术 人员来说, 在不脱离本发明构思的前提下, 还可以做出若千简单推演或替换。

Claims

权 利 要 求 书
1. 一种压力弹性成像中位移检测方法,其特征在于包括:
获取两帧图像数据, 分别作为压缩前的目标图像数据和压缩后的被匹配图 像数据;
将目标图像数据中第一行的节点作为目标点, 分别在被匹配图像数据中找 到对应的匹配点;
根据第一行的目标点及其匹配点计算第一行各节点的位移结果;
计算目标图像数据中第 N行各节点的位移结果, 其中 N为依次从 2到 n的 整数, n为一帧图像划分的行数, 包括:
在第 N-1 行的各节点的匹配结果中查找出匹配度最高的节点作为行初始引 导点;
基于行初始引导点查找第 N行的各节点在被匹配图像数据中的匹配点; 根据第 N行的各节点及其匹配点计算第 N行各节点的位移结果。
2. 如权利要求 1所述的方法, 其特征在于, 每帧图像被划分为 m列 n行 的网格, 每一格为一个节点 , 在对目标点进行匹配时采用块匹配。
3. 如权利要求 1所述的方法, 其特征在于, 所述图像数据为接收的超声 回波数据经处理后的超声图像数据
4. 如权利要求 1 -3中任一项所述的方法, 其特征在于, 所述匹配点为与 目标点最相关的节点。
5. 如权利要求 4所述的方法, 其特征在于, 采用节点的质量因子评判该 节点的匹配度, 质量因子越高, 匹配度越高。
6. 如权利要求 5所述的方法, 其特征在于, 节点的质量因子为该节点与 其匹配点的相关系数。
7. 如权利要求 4所述的方法,其特征在于,各节点位移结果的计算包括: 基于该节点及其匹配点的超声射频复信号计算该节点的互相关相位, 基于互相 关相位计算该节点的最终位移结果。
8. 如权利要求 1 -7中任一项所述的方法, 其特征在于, 基于行初始引导 点查找第 N行的各节点在被匹配图像数据中的匹配点包括:
基于第 N-1行中匹配度最高的节点确定目标图像数据中第 N行的第一目标 点;
获取初始引导点的位移偏移量;
将行初始引导点的位移偏移量作为第 N行第一目标点的初始偏移量; 在被匹配图像数据中, 以第 N行第一目标点的位置偏移初始偏移量后的位 权 利 要 求 书 置为核心搜索位置, 基于核心搜索位置确定搜索区域, 在搜索区域内对目标图 像数据中的第 N行第一目标点进行匹配, 并得到目标图像数据中的第 N行第一 目标点的匹配点;
计算完第 N行第一目标点后, 依次以第 N行第一目标点同行两侧的节点为 目标点, 在被匹配图像数据中查找目标点的匹配点。
9. 如权利要求 8所述的方法,其特征在于,第 N行第一目标点为与第 N-1 行的匹配度最高的节点靠近的节点。
10. 如权利要求 9所述的方法,其特征在于,第 N行第一目标点为与第 N-1 行的匹配度最高的节点同列的节点。
11. 如权利要求 8所述的方法,其特征在于,依次以两侧的节点为目标点, 在被匹配图像数据中查找目标点的匹配点的步骤包括:
在目标点周围的已经计算出位移偏移量的节点中选择匹配度最高的节点作 为引导点;
获取引导点的位移偏移量;
将引导点的位移偏移量作为目标点的初始偏移量;
在被匹配图像数据中, 以目标点的位置偏移初始偏移量后的位置为核心搜 索位置, 基于核心搜索位置确定搜索区域, 在搜索区域内对目标图像数据中目 标点进行匹配, 并得到目标图像数据中的第 N行目标点的匹配点。
12. 如权利要求 8所述的方法, 其特征在于, 搜索区域为从核心搜索位置 到核心搜索位置纵向向下偏移设定值后形成的区域, 或者搜索区域为以核心搜 索位置为中心向周边偏移设定值后形成的区域。
13. 一种压力弹性成像中位移检测装置,其特征在于包括:
图像获取模块, 用于获取两帧图像数据, 分别作为压缩前的目标图像数据 和压缩后的被匹配图像数据;
第一匹配模块, 用于将目标图像数据中第一行的节点作为目标点, 分别在 被匹配图像数据中找到对应的匹配点;
查找模块, 用于在第 N-1 行的各节点的匹配结果中查找出匹配度最高的节 点作为行初始引导点, 其中 N为需要查找匹配点的当前行, N为依次从 1到 n的 整数, n为一帧图像划分的行数;
第二匹配模块, 用于基于行初始引导点查找第 N行的各节点在被匹配图像 数据中的匹配点;
位移计算模块, 用于根据第一行的目标点及其匹配点计算第一行各节点的 位移结果, 并根据第 N行的各节点及其匹配点计算第 N行各节点的位移结果。 权 利 要 求 书
14. 如权利要求 1 3 所述的装置, 其特征在于, 所述图像数据为接收的超 声回波数据经处理后的超声图像数据。
15. 如权利要求 1 3 所述的装置, 其特征在于, 采用节点的质量因子评判 该节点的匹配度, 质量因子越高, 匹配度越高。
16. 如权利要求 1 3-15中任一项所述的装置, 其特征在于, 所述匹配点为 与目标点最相关的节点。
17. 如权利要求 16所述的装置, 其特征在于, 位移计算模块计算包括: 互相关相位计算单元, 用于基于该节点及其匹配点的超声射频复信号计算 该节点的互相关相位;
位移计算单元, 用于基于互相关相位计算该节点的最终位移结果。
18. 如权利要求 1 3-17中任一项所述的装置, 其特征在于, 第二匹配模块 包括:
第一目标点确定单元(341 ), 用于基于第 N-1 行中匹配度最高的节点确定 目标图像数据中第 N行的第一目标点;
第一偏移量获取单元( 342 ), 用于获取初始引导点的位移偏移量; 第一搜索区域确定单元 ( 343 ), 用于将行初始引导点的位移偏移量作为第 N 行第一目标点的初始偏移量, 在被匹配图像数据中, 以第 N行第一目标点的位 置偏移初始偏移量后的位置为核心搜索位置,基于核心搜索位置确定搜索区域; 第一搜索单元( 344 ), 用于在搜索区域内搜索目标图像数据中的第 N行第 一目标点的匹配点;
第二目标点确定单元( 345 ), 用于在计算完第 N行第一目标点后, 依次以 第 N行第一目标点同行两侧的节点为目标点;
引导点确定单元 ( 346 ), 用于在目标点周围的已经计算出位移偏移量的节 点中选择匹配度最高的节点作为引导点;
第二偏移量获取单元( 347 ), 用于获取引导点的位移偏移量;
第二搜索区域确定单元 ( 348 ), 用于将引导点的位移偏移量作为目标点的 初始偏移量, 在被匹配图像数据中, 以目标点的位置偏移初始偏移量后的位置 为核心搜索位置, 基于核心搜索位置确定搜索区域;
第二搜索单元 ( 349 ), 用于在搜索区域内对目标图像数据中目标点进行匹 配, 并得到目标图像数据中的第 N行目标点的匹配点。
19. 如权利要求 18所述的装置, 其特征在于, 第 N行第一目标点为与第 N-1行的匹配度最高的节点靠近的节点。
20. 如权利要求 19所述的装置, 其特征在于, 第 N行第一目标点为与第 权 利 要 求 书
N-1行的匹配度最高的节点同列的节点。
21. 如权利要求 18 所述的装置, 其特征在于, 搜索区域为从核心搜索位 置到核心搜索位置纵向向下偏移设定值后形成的区域, 或者搜索区域为以核心 搜索位置为中心向周边偏移设定值后形成的区域。
22. 一种超声成像设备,其特征在于包括:
探头, 用于向扫查目标发射超声波并接收超声回波;
信号处理器, 用于对超声回波进行处理, 生成超声图像数据;
图像处理器, 用于对超声图像数据进行处理, 并生成弹性图像, 所述图像 处理器包括:
如权利要求 13-21中任一项所述的位移检测装置;
基于位移检测装置检测的各节点的位移结果生成弹性图像的弹性图像生成 装置。
PCT/CN2014/077327 2013-12-25 2014-05-13 压力弹性成像位移检测方法、装置和超声成像设备 Ceased WO2015096353A1 (zh)

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