JP5199534B2 - Ultrasonic image reproduction method and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic image reproduction method and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and in particular, a method for reproducing an image in which a non-B mode image is superimposed on a B mode image, and an ultrasonic that performs such image reproduction. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a B-mode image and a non-B-mode image of a subject are photographed by ultrasonic waves, and a composite image of these two types of images is displayed. The non-B-mode image is, for example, a color Doppler image, and an ultrasonic echo (echo) Doppler signal is used for imaging. A color Doppler image is captured for a region of interest (ROI) set within the range of B-mode imaging, and is displayed superimposed on the B-mode image (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-038491 (5th page, FIG. 1-2)

  When a composite image stored by recording or the like is reproduced, the position and range of the non-B mode image on the B mode image are fixed as the ROI set at the time of shooting. For this reason, when the ROI setting at the time of photographing is large, it is possible that the portion that is not necessary when viewed later is reflected.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to realize an image reproducing method and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which a non-B mode image is appropriately superimposed on a B mode image.

  In one aspect of the invention for solving the above-described problems, a storage value of data obtained by B-mode imaging and data obtained by non-B-mode imaging in an ROI set within the range of B-mode imaging. The display range of the non-B mode image in the reproduced image can be adjusted within the ROI when reproducing the image in which the non-B mode image is superimposed on the B mode image based on the stored value of This is an ultrasonic image reproduction method.

  In another aspect of the invention for solving the above-described problem, a first imaging unit that performs B-mode imaging, and a second imaging that performs non-B-mode imaging for an ROI set within the range of B-mode imaging. A B-mode image based on the data stored in the storage unit, the storage unit storing the data obtained by the first imaging unit and the data obtained by the second imaging unit, and the data stored in the storage unit, respectively. Reproducing means for reproducing an image on which a non-B mode image is superimposed, and adjusting means for adjusting the display range of the non-B mode image in the image reproduced by the reproducing means within the ROI. This is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

It is preferable that the data is sound ray data because the degree of freedom of image reproduction is large.
The data is preferably image data from the viewpoint of easy image reproduction.
The non-B mode is preferably a color Doppler mode from the viewpoint of obtaining a composite image of a B mode image and a color Doppler image.

The non-B mode is preferably a power Doppler mode from the viewpoint of obtaining a composite image of a B mode image and a power Doppler image.
The non-B mode is preferably a contrast mode from the viewpoint of obtaining a composite image of a B mode image and a contrast image.

  According to the invention in each aspect described above, based on the storage value of data obtained by B-mode imaging and the storage value of data obtained by non-B-mode imaging in an ROI set within the range of B-mode imaging. Thus, when reproducing an image in which a non-B mode image is superimposed on a B mode image, the display range of the non-B mode image in the reproduced image can be adjusted within the ROI. Appropriately superimposed images can be reproduced.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the best mode for carrying out the invention. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. This apparatus is an example of the best mode for carrying out the invention. An example of the best mode for carrying out the invention relating to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is shown by the configuration of this apparatus. An example of the best mode for carrying out the invention relating to the ultrasonic image reproducing method is shown by the operation of this apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this apparatus has an ultrasonic probe 2 (probe). The ultrasonic probe 2 has an array of ultrasonic transducers. The individual ultrasonic transducers in the array are composed of a piezoelectric material such as PZT (titanium (Ti) zirconate (Zr) acid lead) ceramics. The ultrasonic probe 2 is used in contact with the subject 4 by the operator.

  The ultrasonic probe 2 is connected to the transmission / reception unit 6. The transmission / reception unit 6 sends a drive signal to the ultrasonic probe 2 to transmit ultrasonic waves. The transmission / reception unit 6 also receives an echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe 2.

  Transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves is performed while scanning an imaging range with sound rays. The sound ray is composed of an ultrasonic beam. The sound ray scanning is performed by sector scan, convex scan, linear scan, or the like.

  The transmission / reception unit 6 is connected to a B-mode processing unit 8, a harmonic processing unit 10 and a Doppler processing unit 12. The echo reception signal for each sound ray output from the transmission / reception unit 6 is input to the B-mode processing unit 8, the harmonic processing unit 10, and the Doppler processing unit 12.

  The B mode processing unit 8 forms a B mode image. The B-mode processing unit 8 obtains a signal representing the intensity of the echo at each reflection point on the sound ray, and forms a B-mode image using the instantaneous amplitude of this signal as a luminance value. A portion including the ultrasonic probe 2, the transmission / reception unit 6, and the B-mode processing unit 8 is an example of a first imaging unit in the present invention.

  The harmonic processing unit 10 forms a harmonic image. The harmonic processing unit 10 obtains a signal representing the intensity of the harmonic echo at each reflection point on the sound ray, and forms a harmonic image using the instantaneous amplitude of this signal as a luminance value. The harmonic echo is obtained when a contrast medium is injected into the subject 4 and imaged. Therefore, the harmonic image is a contrast image. A portion including the ultrasonic probe 2, the transmission / reception unit 6, and the harmonic processing unit 10 is an example of a second imaging unit in the present invention.

  The Doppler processing unit 12 forms a Doppler image. The Doppler processing unit 12 performs MTI (Moving Target Indication) processing on the I and Q signals obtained by quadrature detection of the echo reception signal to obtain a complex Doppler signal of the echo, and performs a Doppler image for each sound ray by a predetermined calculation related to the complex Doppler signal. Form. A portion including the ultrasonic probe 2, the transmission / reception unit 6, and the Doppler processing unit 12 is an example of a second imaging unit in the present invention.

  The Doppler image is formed as a color Doppler image or a power Doppler image. The color Doppler image represents the flow velocity distribution. The power Doppler image represents the power distribution of the Doppler signal.

  The B mode processing unit 8, the harmonic processing unit 10, and the Doppler processing unit 12 are connected to the image processing unit 14. The image processing unit 14 generates an image for display based on the image data respectively input from the B mode processing unit 8, the harmonic processing unit 10, and the Doppler processing unit 12.

  The B-mode image is generated as a luminance image having no hue. The contrast image is generated as a luminance image having no hue or a monochrome luminance image. Both the color Doppler image and the power Doppler image are generated as color images. In the color Doppler image, the magnitude of the speed is represented by the luminance of the color, and the direction of the speed is represented by the hue. The power Doppler image represents the magnitude of power by the luminance of the color.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing unit 14 includes an input data memory 142, a digital scan converter 144, an image memory 146, and a processor connected by a bus 140. 148 and an external memory 150.

  The B-mode image, contrast image, and Doppler image input for each sound ray from the B-mode processing unit 8, the harmonic processing unit 10, and the Doppler processing unit 12 are stored in the input data memory 142, respectively. In this document, data stored in the input data memory 142 is referred to as sound ray data. The sound ray data is scan-converted by the digital scan converter 144 and stored in the image memory 146. In this document, data stored in the image memory 146 is referred to as image data.

  The sound ray data or image data is also stored in the external memory 150. The sound ray data or image data stored in the external memory 150 is used to reproduce an image. The external memory 150 may store both sound ray data and image data. As the external memory 150, for example, an HD (hard disk) device or the like is used.

  The processor 148 performs processing of sound ray data and image data, reading / writing of the input data memory 142, the image memory 146, and the external memory 150, control of the digital scan converter 144, and the like as the center of the image processing unit 14.

  A display unit 16 is connected to the image processing unit 14. The display unit 16 receives an image signal from the image memory 146 of the image processing unit 14 and displays an image based on the image signal. The display unit 16 includes a graphic display capable of displaying a color image.

  A control unit 18 is connected to the transmission / reception unit 6, B-mode processing unit 8, harmonic processing unit 10, Doppler processing unit 12, image processing unit 14, and display unit 16. The control unit 18 gives control signals to these units to control their operation. Also, various notification signals are input from each part to be controlled.

  Under the control of the control unit 18, the B mode imaging operation, the contrast mode imaging operation, and the Doppler mode imaging operation are executed. The contrast mode imaging is imaging performed by injecting a contrast medium into the subject 4. The Doppler mode includes a color Doppler mode and a power Doppler mode.

  An operation unit 20 is connected to the control unit 18. The operation unit 20 is operated by an operator and inputs various commands and information to the control unit 18. The operation unit 20 is configured as an operation panel including a keyboard, a pointing device, and other operation tools, for example.

  Shooting by this apparatus is performed in the mode selected by the operator. The imaging modes that can be selected are the B mode, the contrast mode, the color Doppler mode, and the power Doppler mode. In this document, the contrast mode, color Doppler mode, and power Doppler mode are collectively referred to as non-B mode. The contrast mode is an imaging mode performed by injecting a contrast agent into the subject 4.

  Non-B mode shooting is performed for an ROI preset by the operator. In that case, in order to obtain a background image, B-mode shooting is also used. Then, the non-B mode image is displayed superimposed on the B mode image. In the display image, the non-B mode image is an upper layer, and the B mode image is a lower layer. The lower layer can be seen through the transparent part of the upper layer. As a result, an image obtained by superimposing the non-B mode image on the B mode image is obtained.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of an image photographed in the color Doppler mode. As shown in FIG. 3, the color Doppler image for the ROI partitioned by white lines is displayed superimposed on the B-mode image as the background image. The color Doppler image is the upper layer, and the B-mode image is the lower layer. The actual color Doppler image is a color image, but here it is shown as a colorless color image.

  Such an image is obtained as a real time moving image as the shooting progresses. Further, a still image can be obtained by performing a freeze operation at an appropriate timing.

  The captured moving image and still image are stored in the external memory 150 for each layer. Saving to the external memory 150 is performed in the form of sound ray data or image data. In addition, you may make it preserve | save in both the format of sound ray data and image data. The external memory 150 is an example of a storage unit in the present invention.

  Since the sound ray data is saved in a state close to the raw data, the degree of freedom of image processing during reproduction is great. On the other hand, when saved in the image data format, it is easy to reproduce the image.

  The image is reproduced by the image processing unit 14 based on the data stored in the external memory 150. The image processing unit 14 is an example of a reproducing unit in the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the reproduction unit displays the same image as that at the time of shooting. The display image is a moving image or a still image.

  The reproduced image is used for various purposes such as re-diagnosis and presentation. At that time, depending on the purpose of image use, the ROI set at the time of shooting may not always be appropriate. That is, there may be a case where an unnecessary part, a less important part, or a noise part is included in the ROI in view of the purpose of using the image.

  In this apparatus, the operator can adjust the ROI of the reproduced image in accordance with the purpose of using the image. The adjustment of the ROI is performed by the operation of the control unit 18 based on the operation of the operation unit 20. The part consisting of the operation unit 20 and the control unit 18 is an example of the adjusting means in the present invention.

  The ROI is adjusted using a pointing device or the like. That is, for example, the size of the ROI can be changed by dragging the corner of the graphic representing the ROI with a pointing device or the like. However, the change is within the range of ROI at the time of shooting.

  Further, the position of the ROI can be changed by dragging the side of the graphic representing the ROI with a pointing device or the like. However, the position is changed within the range of the ROI at the time of shooting.

  Thereby, the size and position of the display range of the color Doppler image in the reproduced image can be freely adjusted within the range of the ROI at the time of shooting. FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C show examples of the ROI adjusted in this way. As shown in FIG. 5, a B-mode image as a background image is displayed in a portion that is no longer in the display range of the color Doppler image due to the change. This also has the effect of making the background image easier to see.

  The above is an example of reproduction of a color Doppler image, but the same applies to reproduction of other non-B mode images, that is, power Doppler images, contrast images, and the like. Moreover, although the example in which the reproduced image is a 2D image is shown, the same applies to a 3D image.

  FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of the operation of this apparatus when performing the reproduction as described above. As shown in FIG. 6, in step 601, photographing and storage are performed. The shooting is non-B mode shooting accompanied by shooting of the B mode processing unit as a background image.

  In step 603, reproduction is performed, and in step 605, it is determined whether or not the ROI is appropriate. When it is determined to be appropriate, the ROI is fixed as it is. However, when it is determined that the ROI is not appropriate, ROI adjustment is performed at step 607. As a result, the ROI is confirmed, and in step 609, reproduction with the confirmed ROI is performed.

1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as an example of the best mode for carrying out the present invention. It is a block diagram of an image processing part. It is a figure which shows an example of a display image with the photograph of a halftone. It is a figure which shows an example of a display image with the photograph of a halftone. It is a figure which shows an example of a display image with the photograph of a halftone. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of an example of the best form for implementing this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2: Ultrasonic probe 4: Subject 6: Transmission / reception unit 8: B-mode processing unit 10: Harmonic processing unit 12: Doppler processing unit 14: Image processing unit 16: Display unit 18: Control unit 20: Operation unit 142: Input data Memory 144: Scan converter 146: Image memory 148: Processor 150: External memory

Claims (12)

A second value for performing non-B-mode imaging in the stored value of the data obtained by performing processing for forming the B-mode image by the first imaging means for performing B-mode imaging and the ROI set within the range of the B-mode imaging. based by the photographing means to the storage value of the data obtained by performing a process of forming a non-B-mode image, the image non-B-mode image is superimposed on the B-mode image, B-mode imaging and non-B-mode imaging To play after
The display range of the non-B mode image in the playback image can be adjusted within the ROI.
And an ultrasonic image reproducing method. The data is sound ray data.
The ultrasonic image reproduction method according to claim 1. The data is image data.
The ultrasonic image reproduction method according to claim 1. The non-B mode is a color Doppler mode.
The ultrasonic image reproduction method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The non-B mode is a power Doppler mode.
The ultrasonic image reproduction method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The non-B mode is a contrast mode.
The ultrasonic image reproduction method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein First imaging means for performing B-mode imaging;
A second imaging means for performing non-B mode imaging for an ROI set within the range of B mode imaging;
Storage means for storing data obtained by performing processing for forming a B-mode image by the first photographing means and data obtained by performing processing for forming a non-B-mode image by the second photographing means, respectively. When,
Reproduction means for reproducing an image obtained by superimposing a non-B mode image on a B mode image based on data stored in the storage means after B mode shooting and non-B mode shooting ;
Adjusting means for adjusting the display range of the non-B mode image in the image reproduced by the reproducing means within the ROI;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: The data is sound ray data.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7. The data is image data.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7. The non-B mode is a color Doppler mode.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein The non-B mode is a power Doppler mode.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein The non-B mode is a contrast mode.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein