JPH01254151A - Ultrasonic diagnosing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simultaneously display and compare the histograms of plural specified areas in an ultrasono-tomographic image by selecting plural specified areas of interest and displaying them with a designated display system. CONSTITUTION:By using a specified area selecting means 11, the plural specified areas, in which the interest is taken, are select and the display system of the selected respective specified areas is designated. The designated display form is inputted to a display means 14. A specified area information extracting means 12 extracts the image information of the plural specified areas to be selected by the specified area selecting means 11 out of the ultrasono-tomographic image information. A histogram calculating means 13 calculates the histogram in the respective specified areas on the basis of the extracted image information in the plural specified areas. The display means 14 displays the inputted histogram of the respective specified areas in the designated display system together with the ultrasono-tomographic image.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that displays a histogram of the distribution of information existing in a specific region of interest in an ultrasound tomogram, The purpose of this is to simultaneously display histograms for a specific region so that each histogram can be compared instantly. Specific area selection means for selecting a plurality of specific areas from a sonic tomographic image and specifying a display method thereof; and a specific area information extraction means for extracting image information of the plurality of specific areas selected from an ultrasound tomographic image. and a histogram calculation means for calculating a histogram for each specific region based on the extracted image information, and a display means for displaying the input histogram for each specific region in a specified display method together with the ultrasonic tomographic image. Configure.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that displays a histogram of the distribution of information present in a specific region of interest in an ultrasound tomographic image.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, ultrasound diagnostic equipment has been able to represent the distribution of information present in a specific area of diagnostic interest in an ultrasound tomogram as a histogram, as shown in Figure 4, and display it together with the ultrasound tomogram. It is being done.

In FIG. 4, CT is an ultrasound tomographic image displayed on the display screen, SA is a specific related area, and HG is a histogram of echo information from the specific area SA.

The histogram HG is, as shown, an ultrasound tomographic image CT
It is displayed overlappingly or on a specific area.

This histogram HG is useful for diagnosing the fiber properties of the specific area SA. Therefore, by displaying the histogram HG of the echo information of the specific area SA together with the ultrasonic tomographic image thereof, a more accurate diagnosis can be made.

If two specific areas of interest SA and SAb exist in one ultrasound diagnostic image CT, a histogram (HG
, and display it together with the ultrasonic tomographic image as shown in FIG. 4 to perform necessary information collection or diagnosis, and then select the specific area SA.

A histogram (indicated by HG b) is obtained for each image and displayed together with the ultrasonic tomographic image, as shown in FIG. 4, to collect necessary information or make a diagnosis. Generally, when there are a plurality of specific regions of interest, the histogram is obtained for one specific region every - time and displayed together with the ultrasonic tomographic image as shown in FIG. 4, which is repeated.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In conventional ultrasound diagnostic equipment, even if there are multiple specific regions of interest in an ultrasound tomogram, a histogram for one specific region is displayed on the display screen together with the ultrasound tomogram. It had become.

In diagnosis, it is useful to compare the tissue properties of multiple specific areas within the same ultrasound tomogram;
In conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, histograms of each specific region are recorded and played back simultaneously, or they are photographed and compared. For this reason, there is a problem that operations and processing for comparison become complicated, and that the histograms of a plurality of specific areas cannot be compared immediately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an improved ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can simultaneously display histograms for a plurality of specific regions of interest in an ultrasonic tomographic image and instantly compare the histograms.

[Means to solve the problem]

The means adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems are as follows:
This will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a specific area selection means, which selects a plurality of specific areas from an ultrasonic tomographic image and designates a display method for each selected specific area.

Reference numeral 12 denotes specific region information extraction means, which performs a process of extracting image information of a plurality of specific regions selected by the specific region selection means (11) from the ultrasonic tomographic image information.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a histogram calculation means that calculates a histogram for each specific area based on the extracted image information of the plurality of specific areas.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a display means that displays the input histogram for each specific region together with the ultrasonic diagnostic image in a designated display method.

The display method specified by the specific area selection means 11 is input to the display means 14 via the specific area information extraction means 12 or the histogram calculation means 13, or directly.

The display method relates to the display format and/or the display area.

Display formats for the histogram include a bar graph display, a display using an envelope of a bar graph, and a display in which the type of envelope curve is changed depending on each specific area. Further, the display area of the histogram includes a display area that is located in a specific direction with respect to a corresponding specific area, a display area that is not fixed to a specific area, and is variable, and the like. Note that if there is a display format or display area that is predetermined as the configuration of the device, the display format other than that is designated as the display format.

[For production]

The operation of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

The operator uses the specific area selection means 11 to select a plurality of specific areas of interest from the ultrasonic tomographic image and to specify a display method for each of the selected specific areas.

In FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B), CT is an ultrasonic tomographic image, and SA and SAb are selected specific areas (generally, there are a plurality of areas).

The designated display form is input to the display means 14 via the specific region information extraction means 12 or the histogram calculation means 13, or directly.

The specific region information extraction means 12 extracts a plurality of specific regions S selected from the ultrasound tomographic image information by the specific region selection means 11.
Extract image information of A and SAb.

The histogram calculation means 13 calculates a histogram in each specific area based on the plurality of extracted specific areas SA and the image information of SA.

The display means 14 displays each input specific area SA.

and S A b histograms are displayed together with the ultrasonic tomographic image using the specified display method.

As described above, histograms for a plurality of selected specific regions in the same ultrasound tomographic image can be displayed simultaneously on the same display screen. This makes it possible to easily and immediately compare histograms for multiple specific regions of interest within the same ultrasound tomogram.

There are various display formats for displaying the histogram for each specific area, but if the envelope line of the bar graph is used as shown in FIGS. 2(A) to (D), the histogram for each specific area It becomes easier to compare characteristics and find differences between them.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2(A) to (D), by changing the type of display format of the histogram for each specific area, even when the histograms overlap, it is easy to draw the histogram corresponding to each specific area. and can be found without error.

Figures 2 (A) to (D) show examples in which one histogram is displayed as a solid envelope line, and the other histogram is displayed as a dotted envelope line, but other line types may be used. Can be used. Furthermore, in the case of color display, the display format can be changed by changing the color of each histogram.

There are various ways to select the display area of the histogram for each specific area, but if the histogram for each specific area is displayed in a display area in a specific direction, it becomes easier to compare the characteristics of each histogram. Figure 2 (A) is
Each histogram (H
2 (B) is an example in which the images (indicated by G and HG) are displayed in the display area located below the corresponding specific area.
This is an example in which the display area is displayed on the right side of the corresponding specific area.

Furthermore, if the display area of the histogram for each specific area is made variable as shown in FIG. This can prevent the information from becoming difficult to understand.

[Example] An example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 has already been explained.

(A) Configuration of Embodiment In FIG. 3, the specific area selection means 11, specific area information extraction means 12, histogram calculation means 13, and display means 14 are as described in FIG.

The specific area selection means 11 is composed of a keyboard, a trackball, etc., and selects a specific area and a display method (display format, display area).

In the specific region information extraction means 12, 121 is an image memory in which one screen worth of image information (ultrasound tomographic image information) is stored.

A control circuit 122 performs control to extract image information of a plurality of specific regions selected by the specific region information extraction means 12 from the ultrasound tomographic image information stored in the image memory 121. Note that the control circuit 122 also controls the operation of each means and circuit as a control circuit for the entire system.

15 is a pulse generation circuit which receives a clock signal from the control circuit 122 and generates ultrasonic pulses.

16 is a transmission amplifier circuit, which converts the input ultrasonic pulse into
Amplify to a predetermined transmission level.

17 is a transmission/reception switching circuit which is controlled by a clock signal from the control circuit 122 and transmits ultrasonic pulses for transmission to the probe 20.
and supplies the ultrasonic echo pulses input from the probe 20 to the receiving amplifier circuit 18.

The probe 20 projects ultrasonic pulses onto the object to be diagnosed 21 and detects the ultrasonic echo pulses.

The reception amplification circuit 18 amplifies the received ultrasonic echo pulse and outputs it as image information of an ultrasonic tomographic image.

Reference numeral 19 denotes an A/D conversion circuit that converts the input ultrasonic echo pulse into multi-gradation (for example, 256 gradation) digital image information.

(B) Operation of the embodiment The operation of the embodiment is explained with reference to FIG.
A and SAb will be explained as an example.

The pulse generation circuit 15 receives a clock from the control circuit 122 and generates ultrasonic pulses. This ultrasonic pulse is amplified to a predetermined level by the transmission/reception switching circuit 16 and then sent to the probe 20 through the transmission/reception switching circuit 17 .

The ultrasonic probe 20 projects ultrasonic pulses inputted to obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image onto a subject 21 to be diagnosed, detects the ultrasonic echo pulses, passes through a transmission/reception switching circuit 17, and transmits the ultrasound pulses to a reception amplifier circuit 18. send to

The receiving amplifier circuit 18 amplifies this ultrasonic echo pulse and sends it to the A/D conversion circuit 19 as image information of an ultrasonic tomographic image.

The A/D conversion circuit 19 converts the input image information into 256-gradation digital image information and stores it in the image memory 121.

The display means 14 takes out the image information stored in the image memory 121, that is, the ultrasonic tomographic image information, and displays the image information as shown in FIG.
It is displayed on the display screen as shown in A) to (C).

When the operator observes the displayed ultrasonic tomographic image and finds a specific area of interest (referred to as SA and SA),
By operating the specific area selection means 11, first select the specific area SA.
, and the display format and display area of the histogram HG are selected and inputted to the control circuit 122. It is now assumed that the display form of the histogram HG is selected to be a solid envelope, and the display area is selected to be a display area located in the downward direction (see FIG. 2(A)).

The control unit 122 retrieves image information corresponding to the specific area SA from the image memory 121 based on the data of the input specific area SA, and uses the histogram calculation unit together with the display method information input from the specific area selection unit 11. 1
Send to 3.

The histogram calculation means 13 calculates the input specific area SA.
, specific area SA based on the image information of .

A histogram HG for the image is calculated and sent to the display means 14 together with its display method information.

The display means 14 displays the input histogram HG of the specific area SA in accordance with the specified display method as shown in FIG.
), it is displayed in a display area that is a solid envelope and is located below the specific area SA.

When the calculation and display of the histogram HG for the specific area SA is completed, the operator selects the specific area SA and its display method. In the case of the histogram HG for the specific area SAb, the display form is set to a dotted envelope, and the display area is set to the display area in the downward direction, as in the case of the histogram HG.

Above, we have described an example in which the specific areas are two locations, SA and SA, but three or more locations (generally n locations).
The histogram for each specific area is calculated in the same way,
can be displayed.

The display area of each histogram can be set in the areas shown in FIGS. 2(A) to 2(C), and can also be set in the left direction or upper direction.

Further, as described above, the display format of each histogram may be such that the line type is changed for each histogram, and in the case of color display, the color may be changed.

If there is a predefined display method for each histogram, there is no need to input it from the specific area selection means 11. For example, if the display area of each histogram is determined in the display means 14, it is not necessary to specify the display area, and only the display format is specified as the display method.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Histograms for a plurality of set specific regions in the same ultrasound tomogram can be displayed simultaneously on the same display screen.

(2) Due to (1) above, it is possible to easily and immediately compare histograms for a plurality of specific regions of interest within the same ultrasound tomographic image.

(3) By setting the display form of each histogram as the envelope of the bar graph of each histogram, it becomes easy to compare the characteristics of each histogram, and it is possible to easily find out the differences between them.

(4) By changing the display form for each histogram, the histogram corresponding to each specific area can be found easily and without error.

(5) By making the display area of each histogram variable, it is possible to prevent the histograms for each specific area from overlapping and becoming difficult to understand.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the basic configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a histogram display method for a specific area in the present invention and an embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional histogram display method for a specific region of an ultrasound tomographic image. 1 and 3, 11... Specific area selection means, 12... Specific area information extraction means, 121... Image memory, 122... Control circuit, 13... Histogram calculation means, 14... Display means, 15... Pulse generation circuit, 16... Transmission amplifier circuit, 17... Transmission/reception switching circuit, 18... Receiving amplifier circuit, 19... A/D conversion circuit , 20... Probe, 21... Target to be diagnosed. Basic configuration of the present invention Fig. 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that displays a histogram of the distribution of information existing in a specific region in an ultrasound tomogram, the method includes: (A) selecting a plurality of specific regions from an ultrasound tomogram; ,
(B) Specific area selection means (11) for specifying the display method of each selected specific area; (B) Specific area selection means (11) from among the ultrasound tomographic image information;
(C) calculating a histogram for each specific region based on the extracted image information of the plurality of specific regions; Ultrasonic diagnosis characterized by comprising: a histogram calculation means (13); and (D) a display means (14) for displaying the input histogram for each specific region together with the ultrasound tomographic image in a specified display method. Device. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display form of the histogram for each specific area displayed on the display means (14) is an envelope of a bar graph of the histogram. 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display form of the histogram for each specific area displayed on the display means (14) is changed for each histogram. 4. The diagnostic device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the histogram display area for each specific area is variable.