JPH02268749A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce operation quantity by applying operation to the original image using the spacial filter adapted to a unidimensional region in a longitudinal or lateral direction and performing operation to the image of an operation result using the spatial filter adapted to the unidimensional region in the direction crossing said unidimensional region. CONSTITUTION:An ultrasonic blood flow imaging apparatus 1 is equipped with a probe 2, a transmitting-receiving part 3, a B/M mode processing part 4, a DSC 5, an orthogonality detection part 7, a Doppler spectrum processing part 8, an MTI filter 9, an operation part 10, a smoothing part 11 and a comparing part 12 and the smoothing part 11 consists of a sound ray smoothing part 11s and a second ray smoothing part 11d and the sound ray smoothing part 11s performs the operation to the observation point on one sound ray using the spatial filter [betab] adapted to a 3X1 unidimensional region to calculate an intermediate smoothed data value Qjk. The sound ray smoothing part 11d performs the operation to an intermediate smoothed data value of the same depth of each sound ray using the spatial filter [gammac] adapted to a 1X3 unidimensional region to calculate a smoothed data value Rjk and operation quantity is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an image processing device that performs calculations such as image smoothing, and is particularly useful for ultrasonic diagnostic imaging devices.

[Prior Art] FIG. 5 shows an example of an ultrasonic blood flow imaging device incorporating a conventional image processing device.

In this ultrasonic blood flow imaging device 51, the probe 2
and sound rays (Sl, S2.S shown in FIG. 6) in the transmitting and receiving unit 3.
3), an ultrasonic echo signal is obtained, passed through the B/M mode processing section 4 and the DSC 5, and converted into a two-dimensional image, which is then displayed on the color display section 6 in 87M mode. Further, a blood flow Doppler signal is obtained by the orthogonal detection section 7, and a Doppler spectrum is displayed through the Doppler spectrum processing section 8.

In addition, the MTI filter 9 removes the fixed signal component, and the calculation unit 10 calculates the flow velocity value 1 variance value and power at each observation point,
Smoothing is performed by a spatial filter in a smoothing unit 61, and the comparison unit 12
extracts only the area above a predetermined threshold Th, and performs DSC5
After that, a blood flow velocity tomographic image and the like are displayed on the color display section 6.

Here, to illustrate the calculations performed by the smoothing section 61, the sixth
Original data value P1 for the 3x3 two-dimensional area of the original image shown in the figure. ~Pjm, the smoothed data value R1 of the smoothed image shown in FIG. 7! is calculated by Above [α
□] matrix is a spatial filter for a 3×3 two-dimensional area.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The above smoothing unit 61 uses a spatial filter for a 3×3 two-dimensional area, and requires nine multiplications and eight additions to obtain one smoothed data value.

Generally, when performing image processing such as smoothing and sharpening using a spatial filter for a two-dimensional area of (2m+1) x (2m+1), in order to obtain one smoothed data value,
(2m+1)" multiplications and 4m(m+1) additions are required.

In other words, with conventional image processing devices that use spatial filters, increasing the size of the spatial filter or widening the image area requires an extremely large amount of calculations, which increases the burden on hardware and software and increases processing time. There is a point.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device that can reduce the amount of calculations.

[Means for Solving the Problems] An image processing device of the present invention is an image processing device that performs image smoothing based on a spatial filter [αlk] for a two-dimensional region. a first calculation means for performing calculations on the original image using a spatial filter [βb] for , and a first calculation means for performing calculations on the original image using a spatial filter [γ, The configuration is characterized in that it includes a second calculation means for performing calculations on the image of the calculation result.

[Operation] The first calculation means calculates the spatial filter [β-] in the vertical direction, and then the second calculation means calculates the spatial filter [β-] in the horizontal direction.
γc], the result is a two-dimensional spatial filter [
αlk]. In other words, the spatial filter [βb] and the spatial filter [γc] are (2m+1
), then (2
The same result as when image processing is performed using a spatial filter for a two-dimensional area of m-1-1) x (2m+1) can be obtained.

By the way, when image processing is performed using a spatial filter for a one-dimensional area of (2m+1), it takes (2m+1) multiplications and 42m additions to obtain one smoothed data value. Therefore, when doing this twice, 2 (
2m+1) multiplications and 4m additions are required.

This is a smaller amount of calculation than the conventional calculation amount (described earlier).

Therefore, the burden on hardware and software is reduced, and processing time can also be shortened.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to Examples shown in the drawings. Note that this invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 1 shows an ultrasonic blood flow imaging apparatus 1 incorporating a smoothing section 11, which is an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In this ultrasonic blood flow imaging apparatus 1, a probe 2. Transmitting/receiving section 3. B/M mode processing section 4゜DSC5, color display section 6. Quadrature detection section 7. Doppler spectrum processing section 8. MTI filter9. Arithmetic unit 10 and comparison unit 12
are the same components as the device 51 shown in FIG.
They bear the same reference numbers.

The smooth part 11 includes a sound ray smooth part 11s and a sound ray open smooth part li.
It consists of d.

The acoustic ray smoothing unit 11s calculates an intermediate smoothed data value QIk by using a spatial filter [βb] for a 3×1 one-dimensional area to perform calculations on observation points on one acoustic ray.

To illustrate this calculation, each sound ray S1, S2 shown in FIG.
．． Original data value on S3 pH~P81+ P II~P
*** When there is P 18~psa, the intermediate smoothed data value Q as shown in FIG.

Q1! + Q10・ teeth, It is calculated by

The sound ray open smoothing unit lid performs calculations on the intermediate smoothed data value of the same depth of each sound ray using the spatial filter [γc] for the one-dimensional region of IX3, and calculates the smoothed data value R. , k.

To illustrate this calculation, each sound ray S1, S2 shown in FIG.
．． Intermediate smoothed data value of S3 at the same depth Q□+ Q**
+ Q□, the smoothed data value R■ shown in Figure 4
is calculated as .

βb・γ, ;α, 1. βb・γ1=α28. ..., then the conventional spatial filter [α+
The same result is obtained using hl. That is, the same smoothed image can be obtained.

The calculations required to obtain R□ appear to be 12 multiplications and 8 additions, but calculations of smoothed data values other than R0 also require intermediate smoothed data values Q, 1°Q□, Q3. Considering that , is used, it is actually 6 multiplications and 4 additions. That is, the amount of calculation is reduced compared to the conventional nine multiplications and eight additions (described above).

Note that the original data value P is obtained sequentially for each sound ray, so as described above, firstly, the intermediate smoothed data value is calculated from the original data value on the sound ray, and secondly, the intermediate smoothed data value between the sound rays is calculated from the original data value on the sound ray. From the viewpoint of processing timing, it is preferable to have a configuration in which the smoothed data value is calculated from the smoothed data value. However, conversely, first, intermediate smoothed data values are calculated from the original data values between sound rays,
Second, the effect of reducing the amount of calculation can be obtained even if the smoothed data value is calculated from the intermediate smoothed data value on the sound ray.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the image processing device of the present invention, it is possible to perform the same image processing as when using the same spatial filter as in the past with a smaller amount of calculation than in the past.

Therefore, the burden on hardware and software is reduced, and processing time is also shortened, making high-speed processing possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of main parts of an ultrasonic blood flow imaging device incorporating an image processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a conceptual diagram of an example of original data values on a sound ray, FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of an example of intermediate smoothed data values on a sound ray, FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of an example of smoothed data values on a sound ray, and FIG. A block diagram of essential parts of an example of an ultrasonic blood flow imaging device incorporating a conventional image processing device, FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating original data values on a sound ray, and FIG. 7 is an example of smoothed data values on a sound ray. It is a conceptual diagram. (Explanation of symbols) 1... Ultrasonic blood flow imaging device 2...
... Probe 10 ... Calculation section 11 ... Smoothing section 11s ... Sound ray smoothing section lid ... Sound ray open smoothing section pH~P mouth ... Original data value Q+I- Qs*...Intermediate smoothed data value Rs I=
Rs s...Smoothed data value. Applicant Yokogawa Medical System Co., Ltd. Figure l D! Figure l l

Claims (1)

[Claims] Spatial filter [α_j_k] for one- and two-dimensional regions
In an image processing device that performs image smoothing etc. based on the spatial filter [
β_b] is used to perform calculations on the original image, and a spatial filter [γ_c] for a one-dimensional area in a direction intersecting the one-dimensional area is used to calculate the image of the calculation result of the first calculation means. An image processing device comprising: a second calculation means for performing calculations on the image processing device.