JPH10137242A - Ultrasonic diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically plot the direction of a probe mark inside a body mark displayed together with an ultrasonic tomographic image. SOLUTION: This system is provided with means 14 and 15 for successively time-sequentially measuring the directional displacement of an ultrasonic probe 1 abutted on the surface of a reagent 10 at prescribed time intervals and judging the direction of the ultrasonic probe 1 by successively calculating the direction of the ultrasonic probe 1 and by sending the direction data of the ultrasonic probe 1 from these direction judging means to a graphic part 5, the direction of the probe mark in the body mark displayed together with the ultrasonic tomographic image is automatically plotted on a display device 7. Thus, the entire body mark can be easily displayed in a short time. Besides, since the direction of the probe mark is not inputted while manually operating a console based on the sense of an operator as conventional, the probe mark can be exactly 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 which obtains and displays an ultrasonic tomographic image of a diagnostic part of a subject using ultrasonic waves, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which displays an ultrasonic tomographic image together with an ultrasonic tomographic image. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of automatically drawing the direction of a probe mark.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this type is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, an ultrasonic probe 1 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an object 10 and an ultrasonic wave for driving the ultrasonic probe 1 to transmit ultrasonic waves and to process received reflected echo signals Using the transmission / reception unit 2 and the reflected echo signal from the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2, tomographic image data in the subject 10 including the moving tissue is repeatedly obtained at a predetermined cycle, and the tomographic image data is scan-converted and output. A digital scan converter (hereinafter abbreviated as “DSC”) 3, a cine memory 4 as an image recording unit for recording an ultrasonic tomographic image from the DSC 3, and a probe for displaying the position of a probe mark in an image A graphic unit 5 for creating a body mark including a mark, and an image display unit for displaying the ultrasonic tomographic image from the DSC 3 and the body mark from the graphic unit 5 in combination. 6 and display 7, consisting a control unit 8 for controlling the above components. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 9 denotes a console for inputting various operation commands.

In such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, as shown in FIG. 5, a search is made on a screen of a display device 7 to confirm the positions and directions of the subject 10 and the ultrasonic probe 1 under examination. The body mark 12 including the touch mark 11 is displayed together with the ultrasonic tomographic image 13. Displaying the body mark 12 including the probe mark 11 together with the ultrasonic tomographic image 13 is necessary for observing the collected ultrasonic tomographic image 13 later with the object 10 and the ultrasonic probe 1. This is an important function for diagnosis because the positional relationship between the two can be understood. Then, in order to input and display the probe mark 11, the operator manually inputs the track mark, the volume knob and the function keys on the console 9 shown in FIG. 5, the body mark 12 including the probe mark 11 was created and displayed.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the probe mark 11
The operator operates the console 9 while looking at the position and direction of the ultrasonic probe 1 abutting on the body surface of the subject 10 as shown in FIG. Because it was
The direction of the probe mark 11 in the body mark 12 cannot be automatically drawn. Therefore, the body mark 12
It took time to display the whole of. In addition, since the input was made by manually operating the console 9 with the sense of the operator, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the super-unit actually contacted the body surface of the subject 10. The position and direction of the ultrasonic probe 1 may be displaced from the probe mark 11 displayed on the body mark 12, and the direction of the probe mark 11 on the body mark 12 may be incorrect. there were. Therefore, even if the positional relationship between the subject 10 and the ultrasonic probe 1 is displayed, if it is incorrect information, it is not useful for diagnosis. In addition, the body mark 1
There is no means for recording the information of No. 2 under the temporal synchronization in relation to the ultrasonic tomographic image 13.

Accordingly, the present invention addresses such a problem and provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of automatically drawing the direction of a probe mark in a body mark displayed together with an ultrasonic tomographic image. The purpose is to:

[0006]

To achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject; and an ultrasonic probe for driving the ultrasonic probe. An ultrasonic transmitting and receiving unit that transmits ultrasonic waves and processes the received reflected echo signals, and tomographic image data in a subject including a moving tissue using the reflected echo signals from the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving units at a predetermined period. A digital scan converter that repeatedly obtains and scan-converts and outputs the tomographic image data, an image recording unit that records an ultrasonic tomographic image from the digital scan converter, and an image display unit that displays the position of the probe mark. A graphic part for creating a body mark including a probe mark, an ultrasonic tomographic image from the digital scan converter, and a body mark from the graphic part In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having an image display unit for combining and displaying, and a control unit for controlling each of the above-described components, a directional displacement of an ultrasonic probe abutting on the surface of the subject is determined by a predetermined amount. A means is provided for determining the direction of the ultrasonic probe by sequentially measuring the time series at time intervals and sequentially calculating the direction of the ultrasonic probe, and determining the direction of the ultrasonic probe from this direction determining means. By sending the direction data to the graphic unit, the direction of the probe mark in the body mark displayed on the image display unit is automatically drawn.

[0007] Also, the direction data of the ultrasonic probe from the direction determining means of the ultrasonic probe is input, and is synchronized with the ultrasonic tomographic image recorded in the image recording unit in time. A probe position information storage means for storing is provided, and by sending the stored direction data to the image recording unit, the probe mark in the body mark displayed on the image display unit is compared with the ultrasonic tomographic image and time. You may make it reproduce | regenerate, achieving a target synchronization.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus obtains and displays an ultrasonic tomographic image of a diagnostic site of a subject using ultrasonic waves,
As shown in FIG. 1, an ultrasonic probe 1, an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving unit 2, a DSC 3, a cine memory 4, and a graphic unit 5
, A synthesizing unit 6, a display device 7, a control unit 8, and a console 9
And a signal generator 14 and a direction determining unit 15.

The ultrasonic probe 1 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a subject by mechanically or electronically performing beam scanning. Although not shown, the ultrasonic probe 1 generates ultrasonic waves. A vibrator that is a source and receives a reflected echo from inside the subject is built in. The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 drives the ultrasonic probe 1 to transmit ultrasonic waves and to process the received reflected echo signals. Although not shown, the transmission / reception unit includes a transmission pulsar and a transmission delay. A circuit, a transmission amplification circuit, a reception delay circuit including a reception delay circuit, and an adder, a TGC circuit, a detection circuit, and the like are built in. The ultrasonic probe 1 and the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 form a control unit 8 described later.
The ultrasonic beam from the ultrasonic probe 1 is scanned along a predetermined tomographic plane in the body of the subject 10 by the control signal from the The tomographic image data is sequentially obtained in time series at time intervals.

The DSC 3 repeatedly obtains tomographic image data in a subject including a moving tissue at a predetermined period by using the reflected echo signal from the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving unit 2 and scan-converts and outputs the tomographic image data. The scan conversion is performed by capturing the tomographic image data obtained by the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 in synchronization with the transmission / reception of the ultrasonic waves and reading out the data asynchronously with the reception of the ultrasonic waves. Although not shown, the DSC 3 includes an A / D converter that converts a reflected echo signal from the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 2 into a digital signal, and converts the digital signal output from the A / D converter into an ultrasonic beam. Two line memories that repeat writing and reading for each scanning line, a frame memory for writing image data output from the line memory in correspondence with the scanning line position or direction of each ultrasonic beam, and a frame memory for writing the image data. An address generator for generating an address when the image data is written. These components are controlled by a control unit 8 described later.

The cine memory 4 serves as an image recording unit for recording the ultrasonic tomographic image from the DSC 3, and is composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory. In addition, the graphic unit 5
The body mark 12 including the probe mark 11 is created for displaying the position of the probe mark 11 as an image as shown in FIG. 1. The track ball, the volume knob, the function keys, and the Is used to convert the position of the probe mark 11 input into data for graphic display.

The synthesizing unit 6 synthesizes the ultrasonic tomographic image from the DSC 3 and the body mark including the probe mark from the graphic unit 5, and converts the data into the same image data. ing. The display device 7 displays an image of the ultrasonic tomographic image and the body mark combined by the combining unit 6, and includes, for example, a display memory, a D / A converter, a CRT monitor, and the like.
The combining unit 6 and the display device 7 form an image display unit.

The control unit 8 controls the operation of each of the above-mentioned components, and comprises, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The console 9 is for inputting various operation commands to the control unit 8 and includes a keyboard, a plurality of function keys, a pointing device such as a trackball, and a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel.
An operator initializes the direction data of the ultrasonic probe 1 and selects a body mark.

Here, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a signal generator 14 and a direction judging unit 15 are connected to the graphic unit 5. The signal generator 14 measures the displacement of the ultrasonic probe 1 in the direction. The signal generator 14 is composed of, for example, a gyro sensor, and is attached to a part of the ultrasonic probe 1. Data is sequentially acquired in a time series at predetermined time intervals. Also,
The direction determining unit 15 sequentially calculates the direction of the ultrasonic probe 1 in a time-series manner at predetermined time intervals based on the direction data of the ultrasonic probe 1 measured by the signal generator 14. . Then, the signal generator 14 and the direction determination unit 1
5, the direction displacement of the ultrasonic probe 1 abutting on the surface of the subject 10 is sequentially measured at predetermined time intervals in a time series, and the direction of the ultrasonic probe 1 is sequentially calculated. It constitutes means for determining the direction of the acoustic probe 1.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the subject 10 is positioned at a predetermined initial position on a top plate (not shown). Then, the ultrasonic probe 1 is placed at a predetermined origin position,
The direction is also directed to a predetermined initial direction. In such a state, by pressing a function key on the console 9 shown in FIG. 1, the direction data of the ultrasonic probe 1 when the function key obtained by the signal generator 14 is pressed is set as an origin, Initialization is performed to an initial setting position determined by the direction determination unit 15.

Next, by pressing a function key on the console 9, the body mark displayed on the display device 7 is arbitrarily selected. For example, suppose that a body mark 12 as shown in the lower part of FIG. 2A is displayed, and a probe mark corresponding to the initial setting position of the ultrasonic probe 1 determined by the direction determination unit 15 is set. 11 is displayed in the initial state. At this time, the relationship between the predetermined initial direction of the ultrasonic probe 1 and the initial setting position of the ultrasonic probe 1 determined by the direction determination unit 15 is a one-to-one correspondence. I have.

Next, after the direction data of the ultrasonic probe 1 is initialized as described above, in order to actually obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image of a diagnostic site of the subject 10, as shown in FIG. Then, the ultrasonic probe 1 is brought into contact with the body surface of the subject 10,
Ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received from the ultrasonic probe 1. At this time,
The direction of the contact position is calculated by the signal generator 14 and the direction determination unit 15 shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with the position where the ultrasonic probe 1 is brought into contact. Then, the calculated direction data of the ultrasonic probe 1 and the position data of the ultrasonic probe 1 input by the console 9 are used as a probe mark for graphic display by the graphic unit 5. While being converted into data, the graphic unit 5
A body mark 12 including a probe mark 11 set at a position and a direction as shown in the lower part of FIG. 2B is created.

The body mark 12 including the probe mark 11 created in this way is output from the graphic unit 5 and sent to the synthesizing unit 6 shown in FIG. 1, and the ultrasonic tomographic image output from the DSC 3 and the These are combined with the same image data.
Then, the synthesized image data is sent to a display memory or a moving image display memory in the display device 7. The contents of the display memory or the moving image display memory are always stored in the display device 7.
, Is converted to an analog video signal, and is displayed on a CRT monitor in the display device 7 as shown in FIG. In this case, the body mark 12
The direction of the probe mark 11 in the inside can be automatically drawn.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a probe position information storage memory 16 is provided between the direction determination unit 15 and the cine memory 4.
Is provided. This probe position information storage memory 1
Numeral 6 is a probe position information storage for inputting direction data of the ultrasonic probe 1 from the direction determination unit 15 and storing the input direction data in an ultrasonic tomographic image recorded in the cine memory 4 under time synchronization. It is a means. Then, by sending the stored direction data of the ultrasonic probe 1 to the cine memory 4, the probe mark 11 in the body mark 12 displayed on the display device 7 as shown in FIG. The reproduction is performed while synchronizing with the tomographic image 13 in time. In this case, when the ultrasonic tomographic image of the subject 10 is reproduced and diagnosed after the examination, the subject 10 and the ultrasonic probe 1 are used.
Is quantitatively understood.

[0020]

The present invention has been configured as described above.
The direction displacement of the ultrasonic probe abutted on the surface of the subject is sequentially measured at predetermined time intervals in chronological order, and the direction of the ultrasonic probe is sequentially calculated to change the direction of the ultrasonic probe. A determination unit is provided, and by sending the direction data of the ultrasonic probe from the direction determination unit to the graphic unit, the direction of the probe mark in the body mark displayed together with the ultrasonic tomographic image on the image display unit Can be automatically drawn. Therefore, it is possible to easily and quickly display the entire body mark. Further, since the operator does not manually operate the console with the sense of the operator and input the direction of the probe mark, the probe mark can be displayed accurately.

Also, the direction data of the ultrasonic probe from the direction determining means of the ultrasonic probe is inputted and stored in an ultrasonic tomographic image recorded in the image recording section under time synchronization. In the apparatus provided with the probe position information storage means, by sending the stored directional data to the image recording unit, the probe mark in the body mark displayed on the image display unit is converted to an ultrasonic tomographic image. It can be played back with time synchronization. Therefore, when the ultrasonic tomographic image of the subject is reproduced and diagnosed after the examination, the positional relationship between the subject and the ultrasound probe can be quantitatively understood, and the diagnosis is facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of drawing a probe mark on a body mark in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display state of an ultrasonic tomographic image and a body mark on a display device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the position and direction of an ultrasonic probe actually in contact with the body surface of a subject and a probe mark displayed on a body mark are shifted in a conventional example. is there.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Ultrasonic probe 2 ... Ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 3 ... DSC 4 ... Cine memory 5 ... Graphic unit 6 ... Synthesizing unit 7 ... Display device 8 ... Control unit 9 ... Operation console 10 ... Subject 11 ... Probe mark 12 Body mark 13 Ultrasonic tomographic image 14 Signal generator 15 Direction determination unit 16 Probe position information storage memory

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an object, and an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving unit for driving the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves and to process received reflected echo signals. A digital scan converter that repeatedly obtains tomographic image data in a subject including a moving tissue using a reflected echo signal from the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit at a predetermined cycle, and scan-converts and outputs the tomographic image data; and An image recording unit that records an ultrasonic tomographic image from a digital scan converter, a graphic unit that creates a body mark including a probe mark to display the position of the probe mark in an image, An image display unit that synthesizes and displays the body mark from the ultrasonic tomographic image and the graphic unit, and a control unit that controls the above-described components. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the direction displacement of the ultrasonic probe abutting on the surface of the subject is sequentially measured at predetermined time intervals in time series, and the direction of the ultrasonic probe is sequentially calculated. A means for determining the direction of the ultrasonic probe is provided, and by sending the direction data of the ultrasonic probe from the direction determining means to the graphic unit, a search in the body mark displayed on the image display unit is performed. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the direction of a tentacle mark is automatically drawn. 2. An ultrasonic probe direction data from the ultrasonic probe direction determination means is inputted, and the ultrasonic probe direction data is synchronized with an ultrasonic tomographic image recorded in the image recording section. A probe position information storage means for storing is provided, and by sending the stored direction data to the image recording unit, the probe mark in the body mark displayed on the image display unit is compared with the ultrasonic tomographic image and time. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein reproduction is performed while maintaining synchronization.