JPH05305089A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the quality of an image by avoiding the effect of the movement of a subject at the time of a ultrasonic scan. CONSTITUTION:The echo data collected by a ultrasonic scan are stored in a three-dimensional echo data memory 3, the body face position at each scan is obtained by a body face position detecting circuit 4, and the movement of an organism is detected by an organism movement detecting HPF 6 based on the body face position information. The address of the correction subject data is generated by a correction writing address generating circuit 8 based on the movement quantity, and the correction subject data are read out from the memory 3 via an address controller 9 and stored in a correction writing buffer memory 10 for data correction. The corrected data are again stored in the memory 3. When the three-dimensional image or optional tomographic image is reconstituted and displayed based on the corrected data, a clear image not affected by the movement of the organism can be displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional image or an arbitrary tomographic image based on collected ultrasonic echo data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ultrasonic echo data collected by ultrasonic scanning is stored in a three-dimensional echo data memory,
Ultrasonic diagnosis in which echo data is read out from the three-dimensional echo data memory as necessary, a three-dimensional image or an arbitrary tomographic image is reconstructed as described above, and is displayed on a monitor to serve as diagnostic information. The device is known.
FIG. 4 shows a method of collecting echo data to be stored in such a three-dimensional echo data memory, and shows an example of performing a mammary gland examination by a water immersion method, for example. In this case, the mammary gland, which is the affected area 15, is configured so that ultrasonic scanning is performed by the ultrasonic probe 1 placed in the water 17 while being pressed by the water bag 16 in order to prevent movement due to heartbeat, respiration, and the like. Has been done.

In this way, suppressing the movement of the subject during the ultrasonic scan is an essential requirement for obtaining a display image with excellent image quality. That is, when an ultrasonic scan is performed without preventing the movement of the subject due to heartbeat, respiration, etc., if the three-dimensional image or any tomographic image is reconstructed based on the echo data collected by this, the movement of the subject Even if the amount is small, it is unavoidable that the image is distorted or blurred due to this influence.

[0004]

However, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, since it is impossible to completely prevent the movement of the subject during the ultrasonic scanning, there is a problem that the deterioration of the image quality cannot be avoided. For example, in the case of performing ultrasonic scanning by the water immersion method as shown in FIG. 4, even if a water bag is used, the axillary portion is not sufficiently pressed, so that the influence of the movement of the subject cannot be completely prevented. ..

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which avoids this influence even when the movement of the subject is not completely prevented. It is a thing.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional image or an arbitrary tomographic image based on collected ultrasonic echo data. Three-dimensional echo data storage means for storing echo data, and ultrasonic echo data in the three-dimensional echo data storage means by detecting a movement of a living body by using echo signals from a body surface or a similar planar reflection source. And a means for reconstructing and displaying a three-dimensional image or an arbitrary tomographic image on the basis of the corrected ultrasonic echo data.

[0007]

After the collected ultrasonic echo data is stored in the three-dimensional echo data storage means, the movement of the living body is detected by utilizing the echo signal obtained from the body surface or a planar reflection source similar to it. Then, based on the detected movement of the living body, the echo data already stored is retrieved from the three-dimensional echo data storage means and corrected. Then, using the corrected echo data, a three-dimensional image or an arbitrary tomographic image is reconstructed and displayed. As a result, even if the movement of the subject is not completely prevented, since this movement is corrected, the influence of the movement can be avoided.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam to and from an object to collect ultrasonic echo data. It is composed of, for example, a phased array probe for electronic scanning or a probe for mechanical scanning. Reference numeral 2 denotes a transmission / reception circuit for performing transmission control and reception control of the ultrasonic probe 1, and particularly receives echo data collected by the ultrasonic probe 1 and stores it in a three-dimensional echo data memory described later. In addition, scan conditions during ultrasonic scanning, such as the spatial interval between scan lines and the information acquisition time interval between scan lines, are stored in a separate memory and are used for optimum filtering processing when body surface detection is performed as described below. Used.

A three-dimensional echo data memory 3 is composed of a plurality of two-dimensional memories such as a well-known semiconductor memory arranged in the sectional movement direction Z. This this 3
In the three-dimensional echo data memory 3, as shown in FIG. 3, X, Y, Z
Echo data is stored over the three-dimensional direction.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a body surface position detecting circuit, and the transmitting / receiving circuit 2
Is provided in the output section of the device, all the echo data is stored in the three-dimensional echo data memory 3, and then each data is analyzed to determine the position of the body surface (distance from the ultrasonic probe 1) at each scan position. In search of body position memory 5
To store.

Reference numeral 6 is a high-pass filter (HP) for detecting a body motion.
In F), the movement of the living body is detected based on the body surface position information from the body surface position memory 5. This is detected by performing a high-pass filtering process in the direction in which the movement of the body surface is detected, in order to remove the effect of the curve originally possessed by the body surface. The direction in which the movement of the body surface is detected is set to a direction in which the movement of the body surface position due to the movement of the subject is prominent, and is set to, for example, N directions orthogonal to the scanning direction M as shown in FIG. To be done. The amount of movement of the living body thus detected is stored in the living body movement memory 7.

Reference numeral 8 is a correction write address generating circuit, which generates a correction write address based on the amount of movement stored in the biological motion memory 7 and outputs it to the address controller 9 via the address controller 9.
The address of the echo data to be corrected is specified in the three-dimensional echo data memory 3.

An address controller 9 reads the corresponding echo data from the three-dimensional echo data memory 3 based on the address generated by the correction write address generation circuit 8 and temporarily stores it in the correction write buffer memory 10. The echo data thus stored is corrected and written by the correction write address generation circuit 8.

With respect to the data in the ultrasonic raster direction (direction from the body surface to the pectoralis major muscle) at the time of correction writing, it is assumed that the data moves by the same amount as the movement of the body surface, and the data for one raster has the same amount. Is corrected. This is considered to be correct when riding on the chest like the mammary gland (when lying on the back) and moving in conjunction with the chest wall. The corrected and written data is again stored in the corresponding address of the three-dimensional echo data memory 3 under the control of the address controller 9.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a TV display memory for storing a reconstructed three-dimensional image or an arbitrary tomographic image based on the corrected echo data stored in the three-dimensional echo data memory 3. Each of these images is stored in the monitor 12, which is a CRT display or the like. A system controller 13 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and controls the entire control operation. Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

Echo data from the subject collected by the ultrasonic probe 1 is sequentially stored in the three-dimensional echo data memory 3 by the transmitting / receiving circuit 2. When the storage of all echo data is completed, the body surface position detection circuit 4 analyzes the echo data under the control of the system controller 13, and the body surface position at each scan position is obtained to determine the body surface position. It is stored in the memory 5.

Next, based on this body surface position information, the movement of the living body is detected by the living body movement detecting high-pass filter (HPF) 6 and stored in the living body movement memory 7. Then, a correction write address generation circuit 8 generates a correction write address based on the amount of movement of the living body, and after the address of the echo data to be corrected is specified, the address controller 9 reads the echo data at that address. It is temporarily stored in the correction writing buffer memory 10.

Next, the echo data stored in the write buffer memory 10 is corrected and written by the correction write address generation circuit 8, and thereafter the three-dimensional echo is again controlled under the control of the address controller 9. It is stored in the data memory 3.

In this way, the corrected and written data is reconstructed into a three-dimensional image or an arbitrary tomographic image under the control of the system controller 13 as required, and is reconstructed into a T image.
It is stored in the V display memory 11. Subsequently, each of these images is displayed on the monitor 12 for diagnosis.

According to the present embodiment as described above, after all the echo data collected by the ultrasonic probe 1 is stored in the three-dimensional echo data memory 3, the motion of the living body is detected and this motion amount is calculated. Based on this, a correction writing address is generated, the echo data to be corrected is read out, and correction writing is performed.

Therefore, if a three-dimensional image or an arbitrary tomographic image is reconstructed based on the corrected and written echo data after this, even if the movement of the subject is not completely prevented during the ultrasonic scan, this movement amount will be Since it is corrected, it is not affected by the movement. Therefore, since the image is not distorted or blurred, the image quality can be improved and the diagnosis efficiency can be improved.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the subject moves during ultrasonic scanning, this movement is corrected, and a three-dimensional image or an arbitrary tomographic image is reconstructed based on the corrected echo data. Since it is configured and displayed, it is possible to display a clear image that is not affected by the movement of the living body.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the principle of detecting the movement of the body surface of the subject by the apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an echo data storage order in a three-dimensional image echo data memory used in the apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of ultrasonic scanning by a water immersion method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ultrasonic probe 3 Three-dimensional echo data memory 4 Body surface position detection circuit 5 Body surface position memory 6 Body motion detection HPF (high pass filter) 7 Body motion memory 8 Corrected write address generation circuit 9 Address controller 10 Corrected write buffer memory 13 System controller

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional image or an arbitrary tomographic image based on collected ultrasonic echo data, a three-dimensional echo data storage means for storing the collected ultrasonic echo data, and a body surface. Alternatively, a means for correcting the ultrasonic echo data in the three-dimensional echo data storage means by detecting the movement of a living body using an echo signal from a planar reflection source similar to the above, and the corrected ultrasonic echo data An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a means for reconstructing and displaying a three-dimensional image or an arbitrary tomographic image on the basis thereof.