JP2001353150A - Ultrasonic image display method and ultrasonic diagnostic instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display short axis crossing images in uniform picture quality, and in a high rate even when a shadowing agent is applied. SOLUTION: An ultrasonic probe 1 is abutted so as to be almost along the long axis of the heart H, scanning is performed on radial plural scanning surfaces P, data equivalent to the cross section of depth d are extracted from the ultrasonic probe 1 and cross section image data are generated. On the basis of the cross section image data, the short axis crossing images are displayed. Thus, the short axis crossing images of uniform image quality are displayed. Even in the case of using a contrast medium, the display rate of the short axis crossing images can be raised.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic image display method and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly, to an ultrasonic image display method and an ultrasonic diagnostic method capable of displaying a short-axis cross-sectional image with uniform image quality. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic image display method and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of increasing a display rate of a short-axis cross-sectional image even when an apparatus and a contrast agent are used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when it is desired to obtain a short-axis cross-sectional image of the heart,
Short axis scanning was being performed. That is, a B-mode image or a Doppler image is obtained by applying a sound ray beam to the heart from a direction substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the heart.

[0003]

However, in the short-axis cross-sectional image obtained by the short-axis scanning, the upper part is closer to the ultrasonic probe, and the lower part is closer to the ultrasonic probe. Become. However, there is a problem that the image quality is nonuniform between the upper part and the lower part of the short-axis cross-sectional image because the sensitivity is lower in a part far from the part close to the ultrasonic probe. Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic image display method and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying a short-axis cross-sectional image with uniform image quality.

On the other hand, when a contrast agent (bubbles) is used,
Since the contrast agent on the scanning surface disappears due to the sound pressure of the sound ray beam, it is necessary to wait for the next scanning until the scanning surface is filled with the contrast agent, and the display rate of the short-axis cross-sectional image becomes low. there were. A second object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic image display method and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can increase the display rate of a short-axis cross-sectional image even when a contrast agent is used.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an ultrasonic probe is used to scan one after another on a plurality of scanning planes arranged in a radial pattern, and the scanning is performed substantially from the ultrasonic probe. There is provided an ultrasonic image display method characterized by acquiring data corresponding to equidistant cross sections, generating cross-sectional image data, and displaying an ultrasonic image based on the cross-sectional image data. In the ultrasonic image display method according to the first aspect, a sound ray beam is applied to the heart from a direction substantially along the long axis of the heart, and the scanning plane position is axially rotated to form a plurality of radially arranged scanning planes one after another. , A short-axis cross-sectional image can be displayed.
Since the distance from the ultrasonic probe corresponding to each part of the short-axis cross-sectional image is substantially equal in any part, the sensitivity is also substantially uniform. Therefore, a short-axis cross-sectional image with uniform image quality can be displayed. If the frame rate of the scanning plane is increased by lowering the sound ray density and the number of scanning planes per rotation for one section image data is reduced, an ultrasonic image can be displayed at a high frame rate. This allows
The real-time property can be improved, and even when the movement of the shooting target is fast, the shooting target can be accurately observed.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides the ultrasonic image display method according to the first aspect, wherein the scanning plane position is axially rotated to sequentially scan a plurality of scanning planes arranged radially, An ultrasonic image display method is provided, wherein when the position is rotated by one slice image data, the scan surface position is axially rotated so that the scan surface position becomes different from the immediately preceding one slice image data rotation. In the ultrasonic image display method according to the second aspect, the ultrasonic image is updated every time the scan plane position is rotated by one cross-sectional image data, so that a plurality of scan plane positions corresponding to a certain ultrasonic image and the next scan plane position are updated. Since the plurality of scan plane positions corresponding to the ultrasonic image are different, there is no need to wait for the update of the ultrasonic image until the contrast agent is filled.
Therefore, even when a contrast agent is used, the display rate of the short-axis cross-sectional image can be increased. Note that the rotation by one slice image data means a rotation by which one slice image data can be generated.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides the ultrasonic image display method according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the ultrasonic image fills a space between adjacent scanning planes by interpolation and generates a cross-sectional image data. There is provided an ultrasonic image display method characterized in that it is an interpolation in which the above suddenly changing part is emphasized and an image in which the suddenly changing part is emphasized. In the ultrasonic image display method according to the third aspect, the space between adjacent scan planes is filled by interpolation.
An ultrasonic image can be displayed in a manner that gives a natural impression. In addition, since the sudden change is emphasized, the heart wall can be clearly observed in the short-axis tomographic image.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides the ultrasonic image display method according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the ultrasonic image is a radar in which suddenly changing parts on tomographic image data are connected by a straight line. An ultrasonic image display method characterized by being a chart format image is provided. In the ultrasonic image display method according to the fourth aspect, since suddenly changing parts on each scanning plane are extracted and the suddenly changing parts on adjacent scanning planes are simply connected with a straight line, the processing load is reduced, and the ultrasonic image is displayed. The display rate can be easily increased, whereby the real-time property can be improved, and even when the movement of the shooting target is fast, the shooting target can be accurately observed.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides the ultrasonic image display method according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the ultrasonic image has an abruptly changing portion away from a central portion on tomographic image data. An ultrasonic image display method is provided, which is a change direction identification image that can identify whether the subject is approaching or approaching. In the ultrasonic image display method according to the fifth aspect, for example, a suddenly changing part that is moving away from the center on the cross-sectional image data is displayed in red on the ultrasonic image, and a suddenly changing part that is approaching the center on the cross-sectional image data is displayed. Is displayed in blue on the ultrasonic image, so that the movement of the heart wall or the like can be clearly recognized.

In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides an ultrasonic probe, scanning means for scanning a plurality of scanning planes arranged radially using the ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic probe. Cross-sectional image data generating means for obtaining data corresponding to a cross section substantially equidistant from the child to generate cross-sectional image data; and ultrasonic image display means for displaying an ultrasonic image based on the cross-sectional image data. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the ultrasonic image display method according to the first aspect can be suitably implemented.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the scanning means sequentially scans a plurality of scanning planes in a radial arrangement by rotating a scanning plane position. When the scan plane position is rotated by one cross-sectional image data, the scan plane position is axially rotated so that the scan plane position is different from that of the immediately preceding one cross-sectional image data. I do. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the ultrasonic image display method according to the second aspect can be suitably implemented.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the sixth or seventh aspect, the ultrasonic image is obtained by interpolating a space between adjacent scanning planes and performing interpolation on cross-sectional image data. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized in that the image is an interpolation image in which the suddenly changing part is emphasized and the suddenly changing part is emphasized image. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the ultrasonic image display method according to the third aspect can be suitably implemented.

According to a ninth aspect, the present invention is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the sixth or seventh aspect, wherein the ultrasonic image is a radar chart in which suddenly changing parts on tomographic image data are connected by straight lines. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by being a formal image is provided. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the ninth aspect, the ultrasonic image display method according to the fourth aspect can be suitably implemented.

According to a tenth aspect, the present invention provides the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the sixth or seventh aspect, wherein the ultrasonic image has an abruptly changing portion away from a center on tomographic image data. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by being a change direction identification image that can identify whether the subject is approaching or approaching. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the tenth aspect,
The ultrasonic image display method according to the fifth aspect can be suitably performed.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by this. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 includes an ultrasonic probe 1 that can electronically rotate a scanning plane, a transmitting / receiving unit 2, a scanning plane rotation control unit 3 that controls a rotation angle θ of the scanning plane P, A section depth setting unit 4 for setting a depth d of the section for displaying an image from the ultrasonic probe 1, and a section of the depth d from data obtained on a plurality of scanning planes having a radial arrangement. A cross-sectional image data generating unit 5 for generating corresponding cross-sectional image data; an interpolation / abrupt changing unit for filling adjacent scanning planes by interpolation and emphasizing suddenly changing parts on the cross-sectional image data and generating a suddenly changing part emphasized image G1 Radar chart format image G in which the emphasized image generation unit 6 and the suddenly changing part on the tomographic image data are connected by a straight line.
2, and a change direction identification image generation unit 8 that generates a change direction identification image G3 that can identify whether the suddenly changing part is moving away or approaching the center on the tomographic image data. And each of the images G
DSC for converting 1, G2 and G3 into ultrasonic images for display
(Digital Scan Convertor) 9 and a display device 10 for displaying an ultrasonic image.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing tomographic image data generation processing by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 of FIG. In step ST <b> 1, the operator sets the section depth d using the section depth setting unit 4. In step ST2, a contrast agent is injected into the subject. In step ST3, the ultrasonic probe 1 is applied to the subject. To obtain a short-axis cross-sectional image, the ultrasonic probe 1 is applied to the body surface on the apex side of the heart T of the subject H as shown in FIG. That is, the central sound line L of the scanning plane P
The ultrasonic probe 1 is applied to the body surface of the subject H in such a direction that c is substantially along the long axis Ax of the heart T.

In step ST4, the scanning plane number i is initialized to "0".

In step ST5, the rotation angle θ of the scanning plane
Is set to i × 180 ° / n. n is the number of scanning planes required to generate the cross-sectional image data. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed here that n = 4. When i = 0, θ = 0 °. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The data of the sampling point S at the depth d at (0) is obtained. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the scanning plane P (0) is viewed from the side. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the scanning plane P (0) is viewed from above.

In step ST6, the scanning plane number i is incremented by "1". In step ST7,
It is determined whether or not the scanning plane number i = n. If i = n, the process returns to step ST5. If i = n, the process proceeds to step ST8. When i = 1, the process returns to step ST5, and FIG.
As shown in (1), data of a sampling point S having a depth d on a scanning plane P (1) at θ = 45 ° (= 1 × 180 ° / 4) is acquired. When i = 2, the process returns to step ST5, and the scanning plane P (2) of θ = 90 ° (= 2 × 180 ° / 4) is obtained.
At the sampling point S at the depth d. When i = 3, the process returns to step ST5, and as shown in FIG. 6, data of the sampling point S at the depth d on the scanning plane P (3) of θ = 135 ° (= 3 × 180 ° / 4). To get. When i = 4, the process proceeds to step ST8.

In step ST8, the scanning planes P (0) to P (3)
One cross-sectional image data is generated from the data acquired in step (1). FIG. 7 shows an example of the cross-sectional image generated here.

In step ST9, the scanning plane number i is initialized to "0".

In step ST10, scanning is performed with the rotation angle θ of the scanning surface being i × 180 ° / n + 180 ° / 2n. When i = 0, θ = 22.5 °. Therefore, the data of the sampling point S at the depth d on the scanning plane P (0) at θ = 22.5 ° shown in FIG. 8 is obtained.

In step ST11, the scanning plane number i is incremented by "1". In step ST12, it is determined whether or not the scanning plane number i = n. If i = n, the process returns to step ST10.
Proceed to T13. When i = 1, the process returns to step ST10 to acquire data of the sampling point S at the depth d on the scanning plane P (1) at θ = 67.5 ° shown in FIG. i = 2
Also returns to step ST10, and θ =
The data of the sampling point S at the depth d on the scanning plane P (2) of 112.5 ° is acquired. When i = 3, the process returns to step ST10 to acquire data of the sampling point S at the depth d on the scanning plane P (3) at θ = 157.5 ° shown in FIG. When i = 4, the process proceeds to step ST13.

In step ST13, the scanning planes P (0) to P (0)
One section image data is generated from the data acquired in (3). FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional image generated here. In step ST14, if the scanning is continued, the process returns to step ST4, and if it is completed, the process ends.

As can be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8, the scanning plane position corresponding to a certain tomographic image data is different from the scanning plane position corresponding to the next tomographic image data. For this reason, it is not necessary to wait for the time when the contrast agent is filled before acquiring the next tomographic image data after acquiring one tomographic image data. Therefore, even when a contrast agent is used, the generation rate of tomographic image data can be increased.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an ultrasonic image display process by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 of FIG. This ultrasonic image display processing is started every time tomographic image data is newly generated. In step ST21, it is checked what the operator has selected as the display format of the ultrasonic image.
2, the process proceeds to step ST23 if "Radar chart format image", and to step S if "change direction identification image".
Proceed to T24.

In step ST22, as shown in FIG. 10, an ultrasonic image in which the space between adjacent scanning planes is filled by interpolation and an abruptly changing portion on the cross-sectional image data is emphasized is generated.
In the cross-sectional image data shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the suddenly changing portion is the wall surface of the heart, and thus the wall surface of the heart is a short-axis cross-sectional image that looks natural. Then, the process proceeds to step ST25.

In step ST23, as shown in FIG. 11, an ultrasonic image is generated by connecting suddenly changing parts on the tomographic image data with straight lines. In the cross-sectional image data shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, since the suddenly changing portion is the wall surface of the heart, the image is obtained by approximating the wall surface of the heart with a polygonal line. Then, the process proceeds to step ST25.

In step ST24, as shown in FIG. 12, an ultrasonic image capable of identifying whether the suddenly changing part is moving away from or approaching the center on the tomographic image data is generated. In the cross-sectional image data shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, since the suddenly changing portion is the wall surface of the heart, an image in which the heart is in the diastolic or systolic phase can be clearly recognized. Then, step ST25
Proceed to.

In step ST25, the ultrasonic images G1,
One of G2 and G3 is displayed. Then, the process ends.

According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 described above, the following effects can be obtained. (1) Since any part of the displayed ultrasonic images G1 to G3 corresponds to a substantially equal distance (depth d) from the ultrasonic probe 1, the image quality is uniform even in that part. (2) Since the scanning surface of a certain tomographic image data is different from the scanning surface of the next tomographic image data, even if the contrast agent on the scanning surface of a certain tomographic image data disappears, the next tomographic image data is not affected. Can be obtained. Therefore, even when a contrast agent is used, the display rate of an ultrasonic image can be increased.
Since the number of sampling points increases as a whole,
There is also an effect of increasing the resolution.

The configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 may be changed as follows. (1) The ultrasonic probe 1 may be of a type that can mechanically rotate a scanning surface (for example, a type that rotates a vibrator). (2) The ultrasonic probe 1 may be an ultrasonic endoscope probe. In this case, it becomes possible to appropriately photograph the digestive tract and the wall surface of an organ (eg, stomach) adjacent thereto. (3) In order to improve the real-time property, the frame rate is increased by lowering the sound ray density on each scanning plane, and the number of scanning planes that can generate one-section image data is reduced. The generation rate may be increased. (4) In the above-described embodiment, the skipped tomographic image data is on the same scanning plane, but may be returned on the same scanning plane by two or more.

[0033]

According to the ultrasonic image display method and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) Since any part of the ultrasonic image corresponds to a substantially equal distance from the ultrasonic probe, the image quality can be made uniform.
Therefore, a short-axis cross-sectional image with uniform image quality can be displayed. (2) The next tomographic image data can be acquired without being affected by the disappearance of the contrast agent on the scanning plane of a certain tomographic image data. Therefore, even when the contrast agent is used, the display rate of the ultrasonic image can be increased. You can do it. Therefore, the display rate of the short-axis cross-sectional image using the contrast agent can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing tomographic image data generation processing by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an ultrasonic probe is applied to a subject so as to obtain a short-axis cross-sectional image.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a scanning surface and sampling points when the rotation angle θ of the scanning surface is 0 °.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a scanning plane and sampling points when the rotation angle θ of the scanning plane is 45 °.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a scanning plane and sampling points when the scanning plane rotation angle θ = 135 °.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a positional relationship between a cross-sectional image and a scanning plane.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating another positional relationship between a cross-sectional image and a scanning plane.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an ultrasonic image display process by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of an interpolated and suddenly changing portion emphasized image.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a radar chart format image.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a change direction identification image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 ultrasonic probe 2 transmission / reception section 3 scan plane rotation control section 4 section depth setting section 5 section image data generation section 6 interpolation / rapid change section enhancement image generation section 7 radar chart format image generation section 8 change Direction identification image generator 9 DSC 10 Display device d Depth of cross section G1 Interpolation and suddenly changing portion emphasized image G2 Radar chart format image G3 Changing direction identification image P Scan plane θ Scan plane rotation angle

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 4C301 BB13 CC06 DD07 EE07 EE20 JB06 JC03 KK40 LL20

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic probe is used to sequentially scan a plurality of scanning planes arranged radially to obtain data corresponding to a cross section substantially equidistant from the ultrasonic probe, and obtain a cross-sectional image. An ultrasonic image display method, comprising: generating data and displaying an ultrasonic image based on the cross-sectional image data. 2. The ultrasonic image display method according to claim 1, wherein the scanning plane position is axially rotated, and scanning is sequentially performed on a plurality of scanning planes having a radial arrangement, and the scanning plane position is rotated by one section data. An ultrasonic image display method, wherein the scanning plane position is axially rotated so that the scanning plane position is different from that of the immediately preceding one-section data. 3. The ultrasonic image display method according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic image is obtained by interpolating between adjacent scanning planes by interpolation and emphasizing abruptly changing portions on cross-sectional image data. An ultrasonic image display method, characterized in that the image is a suddenly changed portion emphasized image. 4. The ultrasonic image display method according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic image is a radar chart format image in which suddenly changing parts on tomographic image data are connected by a straight line. Ultrasound image display method. 5. The ultrasonic image display method according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic image can identify whether a suddenly changing portion is moving away from or closer to a center on tomographic image data. An ultrasonic image display method, which is a change direction identification image. 6. An ultrasonic probe, scanning means for scanning on a plurality of scanning planes arranged radially using the ultrasonic probe, and a cross section substantially equidistant from the ultrasonic probe. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a cross-sectional image data generating unit that obtains corresponding data to generate cross-sectional image data; and an ultrasonic image display unit that displays an ultrasonic image based on the cross-sectional image data. . 7. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the scanning unit sequentially rotates the scanning plane position on a plurality of radially arranged scanning planes by rotating the scanning plane position.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized in that, when rotated by the cross-sectional image data, the scan plane position is axially rotated so that the scan plane position is different from that of the immediately preceding cross-sectional image data. 8. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the ultrasonic image is obtained by interpolating between adjacent scanning planes by interpolation and emphasizing abruptly changing portions on cross-sectional image data. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by being a part-weighted image. 9. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the ultrasonic image is a radar chart format image in which suddenly changing parts on tomographic image data are connected by a straight line. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment. 10. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the ultrasonic image has a change that can identify whether a suddenly changing part is approaching or away from a central part on tomographic image data. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, which is a direction identification image.