JPH05212033A - Ultrasonic diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] The present invention relates to a method of displaying velocity information in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with a Doppler mechanism, which utilizes the Doppler effect and visualizes the movement (blood flow dynamics) inside the subject. It is easy to understand the speed of the area. [Composition] Color flow map (CMF) display and CF
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays M scale, the velocity information of the region of interest detects the velocity region in the CFM scale that is less than or equal to the velocity indicated by the CFM scale, and in the CFM scale display, in a predetermined hue, or The change in speed of the region of interest is displayed in brightness within the detected speed region of the CFM scale, or the CF change is displayed near the CFM scale display.
The information converted into the displacement information corresponding to the scale of the M scale display is displayed in another scale, for example, a bar graph in real time. Further, a peak hold display is provided for the speed display.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for irradiating a subject with ultrasonic waves and visualizing the inside of the subject by the reflected signal thereof, and particularly to the subject utilizing the Doppler effect. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with a Doppler function that visualizes internal movement (blood flow dynamics, etc.).

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a B-mode function for visualizing the internal structure of a subject and a Doppler function for visualizing information on movement such as blood flow. The B mode function is
The subject is scanned with an ultrasonic beam that is narrowed down and the reflected signal thereof is brightness-modulated to obtain a B-mode tomographic image, which is normally displayed as a monochrome image with gradation on a monitor.

On the other hand, the Doppler function utilizes the principle that a reflected signal from a moving reflecting / scattering body such as blood flow is frequency-shifted by the Doppler effect, and the shift amount is analyzed to visualize the dynamic state.

The Doppler function includes a pulse Doppler (PW
D) and a function called color flow mapping (CFM). The pulse Doppler (PWD) is
Focusing on the dynamics of an arbitrary point (sample volume) in the B-mode tomographic image, the frequency shift is obtained as a spectrum by a frequency analysis method such as fast Fourier transform (FFT), and further, it is imaged as a temporal change of the spectrum. Turn into. While it is easy to recognize the flow velocity of the region of interest (region of interest) and its change over time, for example, when grasping the blood flow dynamics in the entire heart chamber, sequentially move the sample volume and observe thoroughly. This requires a great deal of diagnostic time.

The color flow map (CFM) improves on this point and obtains a wide range of motion (average flow velocity) in the B-mode tomographic image by a method called autocorrelation method.
Overlay on mode image. At this time, it is possible to distinguish from a monochrome B-mode tomographic image by displaying in color.

Therefore, it is possible to grasp the whole image of the movement, and it is possible to easily find an abnormal part such as valvular regurgitation or stenosis in the heart chamber. On the other hand, since the flow velocity value is expressed by the hue and brightness of the color, it is difficult to understand the flow velocity value only by looking at the image.

Usually, a scale (referred to as a color bar or the like) showing the relationship between the hue / brightness and the flow velocity is also described. However, in order to know the flow velocity of a region of interest, the hue / brightness of the region is Efforts to scale are needed, which is problematic in terms of streamlining diagnostics.

Therefore, the above is improved and the color flow
In addition to the ease of grasping the overall image of the map (CFM), a display method that facilitates the recognition of flow velocity values is required.

[0009]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In the figure, 1 is an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and the beam former 2
The transmission signal from the device is converted into an ultrasonic wave, and the reflected wave from the subject is converted into an electric signal.

Reference numeral 2 is the beam former section for converging the ultrasonic beam in the scanning direction designated by the control section 11. Reference numeral 3 is for digitizing the received signal from each scanning direction and writing it into the display memory. Is a B-mode digital scan converter (B-mode DSC) unit for In the digital scan converter (DSC) section, when a subject is scanned in a fan shape with a beam-shaped ultrasonic signal, an echo signal of the ultrasonic wave that comes in time series,
The signal is converted into a digital signal, and the digital signal is stored in the bitmap memory in the form of the scanned fan.

A color flow map (4) for demodulating the received signal from the beam former section 2 into a Doppler signal by a mixer and detecting an average flow velocity, dispersion, flow direction by an autocorrelation method (4) CFM) analysis unit, 5
Is a color for writing the output of the color flow map (CFM) analysis unit 4 in the display memory in the same manner as the B mode digital scan converter (B mode DSC) unit 3.・ Digital scan converter for flow map (CFM) (DSC for CFM)
It is a department.

Reference numeral 6 is a pulse for demodulating the received signal from the beam former section 2 by a mixer, frequency-analyzing the Doppler signal at the sample volume position (region of interest) instructed by the control section 11 and obtaining a spectrum.・ Doppler (PWD) analysis part, 7 is the pulse Doppler (PW)
D) A scroll memory unit that displays the spectrum obtained by the analysis unit 6 as a temporal change.

Reference numeral 8 indicates the display color of the color flow map (CFM) when the output of the color flow map (CFM) analysis unit 4 is displayed in an overlapping manner on the B-mode tomographic image, and It is a color flow map (CFM) scale display means showing the relationship with the kinetic velocity of the sample.

Reference numeral 9 denotes the B-mode digital scan converter (B-mode DSC) unit 3, color flow map (CFM) digital scan converter (CFM DSC) unit 5, and scroll. A video processing unit that processes the memory output of the memory unit 7 and creates a display signal to the display monitor 10, where 10 is the B-mode tomographic image, color flow map (CFM) image, pulse Doppler (PWD) ) A display monitor that displays images.

Reference numeral 11 is a control unit for controlling the entire apparatus such as scanning / display by user operation, 12 is a keyboard for user operation, and 13 is a B-mode tomographic image such as setting of a sample volume. It is a setting means used to specify a part (region of interest).

In the above-mentioned conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the B-mode tomographic image, the color flow map (CFM) image, the pulse Doppler image, and the pulse Doppler image are operated by the user operating the operation keyboard 12.
(PWD) The image was selectively displayed. For example, color
Flow map (CFM) image alone on display monitor 10,
B-mode tomographic image and pulse Doppler (PWD) image display monitor
10 Split display on top.

As described above, the color flow map (CFM) image is obtained by demodulating the received signal from the beam former section 2 into a Doppler signal by a mixer, and averaging the flow velocity, dispersion and flow by the autocorrelation method. Is detected, the detected speed information is converted into color information, and the color information is superimposed and displayed on the B-mode tomographic image.

[0018]

At this time, the relationship between the speed information and the color information (hue, brightness) is displayed as a color flow map (CFM) scale. Since the average flow velocity is displayed after being converted into the hue and brightness of the color, it is easy to grasp the overall movement in the B-mode tomographic image of the subject, but the hue and brightness of each part of the subject Therefore, it is necessary to check the color flow map (CFM) scale display against the color flow map (CFM) scale, which requires a great deal of time, and there is a problem that the diagnostic efficiency is poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks.
Provided is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying a flow map (CFM) image, which can easily correspond to speed information of a region of interest and color flow map (CFM) scale display. The purpose is that.

[0020]

1 and 2 are views showing an embodiment of the present invention. The above problems can be solved by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as follows.

(1) An ultrasonic transducer 1 for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam into the subject, a beam former 2 for converging the ultrasonic beam in an arbitrary direction through the transducer 1, and a reflection from the subject Digital scan converter that processes signals and stores them in display memory
3, the results of the color flow map (CMF) analysis unit 4 that analyzes the received signal and detects the speed of movement inside the subject, and the results of the above color flow map (CMF) analysis unit 4 in the display memory To digital scan converter
5, and a video processing unit 9 for displaying the memory contents of the digital scan converters 3 and 5 on a monitor,
Color flow map (CMF) scale display means 8 for displaying a scale signal showing the correspondence with the speed inside the subject which is the output of the digital scan converter 5
And a setting means 13 for designating an arbitrary part of the subject, which is a part (region of interest) displaying a color flow map (CMF) designated by the setting part 13. The speed information of the color flow map (CMF) is displayed in the corresponding speed region in the scale display, or in the speed region scale display showing the speed below it, in highlight display, or in another hue or brightness. Mechanism 20
To be provided.

(2) In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the color flow map (C
MF) Displacement information corresponding to the speed information of the displayed part (region of interest) in the speed area of the color flow map (CMF) scale designated by the setting means 13 in a one-to-one correspondence, or 1 to n
A mechanism 30 for converting the displacement information into correspondingly enlarged displacement information and displaying it near the color flow map (CMF) scale is provided.

(3) In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the color flow map (C
(MF) Velocity information of the displayed part (region of interest) is converted into displacement information corresponding to the above color flow map (CMF) scale and displayed near the color flow map (CMF) scale. Or a corresponding speed region in the color flow map (CMF) scale display, or a scale display of a speed region showing a speed lower than that, highlighted, or displayed in another hue or brightness. At this time, a mechanism (peak hold display mechanism) 40 for displaying the speed of the set portion in a persistent manner is provided.

[0024]

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention displays the velocity information of the region of interest in the color flow map (CMF) scale or around the color flow map (CMF) scale to obtain the velocity information. This is to make it easy to grasp.

Specifically, of the speed information output from the color flow map (hereinafter referred to as CFM) analysis unit 4, the speed information of the region (region of interest) designated by the setting means 13 is converted into the above-mentioned CFM. The output of the scale generator 8 is compared, and the output of the CFM scale generator 8 is equal to or different from the output of the CFM scale generator 8 for the following speed information. , The CFM scale display is overlaid on the CFM scale generator 8
By displaying the output of the CFM scale generator 8 for a large scale part of the output, the speed change of the region of interest can be displayed in association with the CFM scale. It is a thing.

Further, the comparison output of the above speed information is used as the CF
What is converted into displacement information corresponding to the M scale is the C
In the vicinity of the FM scale display, a display means different from the CFM scale display, for example, a bar graph display or a luminance dot display is displayed.

Further, the velocity information of the part (region of interest) designated by the setting means 13 is added to the persistence control section, that is,
A peak hold control unit 40 is provided to hold the peak value of the speed information of the region of interest for a predetermined time, and to overlap it with another hue or brightness display in the CFM scale, or The CFM scale display is overlaid on another display.

By doing so, the CFM function makes it easy to grasp the speed value of the region of interest designated by the setting means, which changes moment by moment, while grasping the overall image of the dynamic state of the subject. Further, by performing the peak hold display of the speed change, it is possible to easily grasp the instantaneous maximum speed of the region of interest, and it is possible to significantly shorten the diagnosis time for the subject.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 described above are views showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present invention, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which displays a color flow map (CMF) and a CFM scale, the velocity information of the region of interest is displayed in a predetermined hue or brightness during the CFM scale display. Now, display it in the speed range below the speed indicated by the CFM scale, or
In the vicinity of the CFM scale display, the displacement information corresponding to the scale of the CFM scale display is displayed on another scale, for example, a bar graph in real time. Further, means for performing peak hold display in displaying the speed 20,
30,40 are the means necessary to carry out the present invention.
The same reference numerals denote the same objects throughout the drawings.

The configuration and operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 with reference to FIG. 1) In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, an ultrasonic transducer 1 for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam to and from an object, and an ultrasonic transducer 1
A beam former 2 for converging an ultrasonic beam in an arbitrary direction, a digital scan converter 3 for processing a reflection signal from a subject and storing it in a display memory,
A CFM analysis unit 4 that analyzes the received signal to detect the speed of movement inside the subject, a digital scan converter 5 that stores the analysis result of the CFM analysis unit 4 in a display memory, and the digital scan converter Video processing unit 9 for displaying the memory contents of converters 3, 5 on the monitor, and digital scan converter 5 for storing the analysis result of CFM analysis unit 4 in the display memory. When displaying information, it has a CFM scale display means 8 for displaying a scale signal showing correspondence with the speed information and a setting means 13 for designating an arbitrary region (region of interest) of the subject.

In such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the velocity information of the part (region of interest) in the CFM display designated by the setting means 13 indicates the corresponding velocity region in the CFM scale display or a velocity lower than that. The scale display of the speed region is highlighted or displayed in another hue or brightness so that the speed of the set portion (region of interest) can be easily compared with the CFM scale.

FIGS. 1 (a1) and 1 (a2) show an embodiment for performing the above display. In this embodiment, FIG. 1 (a1)
The circuit group surrounded by the dotted line indicates means for displaying the speed information of the region of interest in the CFM scale display with a hue or brightness different from that of the CFM scale.

First, in the data selector 21, the analysis result (CFM analysis result) of the part (region of interest) designated by the setting means 13 is selected and held, and the contents of the selected and held data selector 21 are selected. Contents of the CFM scale generator 8 (The dynamic velocity of the sample is red (R), green (G), blue
(Scale information of speed expressed in (B)) is compared with the comparator 22, and the same speed or a speed lower than the output of the data selector 21 is detected, and the multiplexer (MUX) 23
Allows for different hues instead of the traditional CFM scale,
Alternatively, another hue or brightness indicated by the brightness generator 24 is output.

As a result, the speed at which the set portion (region of interest) set by the setting means 13 changes every moment is CF.
In the M scale, it is displayed as a hue different from the display color of the scale of the corresponding speed region on the CFM scale, or as a change in brightness. This display state is shown in FIG. 1 (a2). In the CFM scale display, in a portion lower than the speed of the region of interest, a change in speed of the region of interest is shown with a hue or brightness different from that of the CFM scale display (shown by diagonal lines).

Therefore, the velocity of the region of interest of the subject displayed on the B-mode tomographic image can be directly recognized. FIG. 2 (b) shows another display example of the present invention. In this figure, another scale generator 30
The other display means is provided.

First, the data selector 21 selects and holds the analysis result (CFM analysis result) of the part designated by the setting means 13, and the comparator 22 selects the selected result.
Contents of retained data selector 21 and contents of CFM scale generator 8 (kinetic velocity of sample is red (R), green
(G), blue (B) speed scale information) is compared by the comparator 22, and the same speed or data selector
Detect speeds lower than 21.

The detected speed information can be easily associated with the CFM scale around (near) the CFM scale display which is displayed by the output information of the CFM scale generator 8 (see FIG. 3). As can be done, the velocity information of the region of interest is converted into displacement information corresponding to the CFM scale,
It is displayed on another scale, for example, a bar graph display or a dot by brightness.

Alternatively, C designated by the above-mentioned setting means 13
For the display speed corresponding to the FM scale, for example, near the peak speed, the display scale may be enlarged and displayed. This state is shown in FIG. 2 (d). As shown in the figure, for example, in the form of a bar graph, the speed change of the region of interest is displayed near the CFM scale display. By taking such a display method,
It becomes possible to recognize detailed changes in the peak velocity of the region of interest.

FIG. 2 (c) shows another display example of the present invention. In this figure, the persistence controller 40
Provides another such display example. The display example shown in FIGS. 1 (a1) and 2 (b), that is, during CFM scale display, or CF
The setting means 1 is provided on another scale near the M scale display.
In displaying the speed of the set part (region of interest) by 3, the speed of the set part (region of interest) is displayed in persistence, that is, peak hold display.

In order to realize this, a persistence controller 40 is inserted between the data selector 21 and the comparator 22 shown in FIG. 1 (a) as shown in the figure. it can. A display example in this case is shown in FIG.
2), the peak hold display in Fig. 2 (d) is shown. By performing such display, it is possible to easily grasp the instantaneous maximum speed of the region of interest.

As described above, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays the color flow map (CMF) and the CFM scale, the velocity information of the region of interest is indicated by the CFM scale. CFM below speed
A velocity region in the scale is detected, and a velocity change of the region of interest is displayed within the velocity region of the detected CFM scale with a predetermined hue or brightness during the CFM scale display, or, In the vicinity of the CFM scale display, the displacement information corresponding to the scale of the CFM scale display is displayed on another scale, for example, a bar graph in real time. Further, it is characterized in that a peak hold display is carried out for the speed display.

[0043]

As described in detail above, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is a ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs color flow map (CMF) display and CFM scale display. Detects a velocity region in which the velocity is less than or equal to the velocity indicated by the CFM scale, and changes the velocity of the region of interest with a predetermined hue or brightness while the CFM scale is being displayed. Or in the vicinity of the CFM scale display, the displacement information converted to the scale of the CFM scale display is displayed in another scale, for example, a bar graph in real time. Further, since the peak hold display is performed in the speed display, the speed at which the region of interest designated by the setting means changes momentarily while grasping the whole dynamics image by the conventional CFM function. CFM
By showing the corresponding portion on the scale with another hue or brightness, or by displaying it on another scale, it becomes easy to understand the velocity value of the region of interest. Also, by performing the persistence display (peak hold display), it becomes easy to grasp the maximum speed, and there is an effect that the diagnosis efficiency is remarkably improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention (No. 1).

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention (part 2).

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Ultrasonic transducer 2 Beam former 3 Digital scan converter for B mode (DSC section for B mode) 4 Color flow map analysis section (CFM analysis section) 5 Digital scan converter for color flow map ( CSC DSC unit) 6 Pulse Doppler analysis unit (PWD analysis unit) 7 Scroll memory unit 8 Color flow map scale generation unit (CFM)
Scale generation section) 9 Video processing section 10 Display monitor 11 Control section 12 Operation keyboard 13 Setting means 21 Data selector 22 Comparator 23 Multiplexer (MUX) 24 Different hue or brightness generation section 30 Different scale generation means 40 Persistence Control unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic transducer (1) for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam to and from a subject, and a beam former (2) for converging the ultrasonic beam in an arbitrary direction through the transducer (1), Processing the reflected signal from the subject,
A digital scan converter (3) for storing in the display memory, a color flow map (CMF) analyzer (4) for analyzing the received signal and detecting the speed of movement inside the subject,
The result of the color flow map (CMF) analysis section (4) is stored in the display memory as a digital scan
The converter (5), the video processing unit (9) for displaying the memory contents of the digital scan converters (3), (5) on the monitor, and the output of the digital scan converter (5) are displayed. In addition, a color flow map (CMF) scale display means (8) for displaying a scale signal showing the correspondence with the velocity inside the subject, and a setting means for designating an arbitrary part (region of interest) of the subject (13) is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having, wherein the color flow map (CMF) specified by the setting means (13) is used to display velocity information of a region (region of interest) being displayed. Map (CMF) It is equipped with a mechanism (20) for displaying the highlight of the scale display of the corresponding speed region in the scale display or the speed region showing the speed below it, or another hue and brightness. Characteristic ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein a color flow map (CMF) designated by the setting means (13) is provided.
The speed information of the displayed part (region of interest) is set to the above setting means.
Color flow map (CMF) specified in (13) Converted into displacement information with a one-to-one correspondence in the velocity area of the scale, or displacement information expanded to a one-to-n correspondence, and the color flow map ( CMF) An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a mechanism (30) for displaying near the scale. 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein a color flow map (CMF) designated by the setting means (13).
The speed information of the displayed part (region of interest) is
When converted into displacement information corresponding to the flow map (CMF) scale and displayed near the color flow map (CMF) scale, or when the color flow map (CMF) is displayed.
MF) The speed of the set part (region of interest) when the corresponding speed region in the scale display or the scale display of the speed region showing the speed below it is highlighted or displayed with another hue or brightness. Persistent display mechanism (4
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: (0).