JPH1033532A - Ultrasound diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Problem] To speed up diagnosis and improve diagnosis accuracy. Kind Code: A1 A data control unit or a frame memory unit associates various measurement calculation data calculated by a measurement calculation unit with image data of an arbitrary ultrasonic image on which the measurement is performed by a write control unit. To memorize.
Then, the reading control unit 16 retrieves various measurement calculation data and image data stored in the data storage unit and the image storage unit in association with each other in accordance with the association at the time of storage, thereby obtaining measurement calculation data and image data. Recognition in association with image data is facilitated.

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 having a function of calculating various measurement operation data based on an arbitrary ultrasonic image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, FIG.
There are the following. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 50 performs processing such as phasing addition processing on an ultrasonic echo signal transmitted and received via an ultrasonic probe (not shown) by a signal processing circuit 51, and then performs an A / D conversion unit. At 52, the signal is converted into a digital signal and stored in the image memory 53. The ultrasound image data stored in the image memory 53 is converted into a video signal by the video signal generation unit 54, and then sent to the display monitor 55 for display.

[0003] The image data stored in the image memory 53 can be selectively stored.
That is, the operator selects and operates an arbitrary ultrasonic image considered necessary by using an input device such as the keyboard 57 while viewing the display monitor 55. Then, the image data of the selected ultrasonic image is transferred from the image memory 53 to the frame memory 56 for each frame and stored. The frame-based image data stored in the frame memory 56 is
The video signal is read out by the video signal generation unit 54 in response to an output operation performed by an operator through an input device such as a keyboard 57, and is then converted into a video signal and then sent to the display monitor 55 for display. Alternatively, the data is output to an external storage device (such as a video printer) not shown.

Further, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 50, an image size, an image area, an image peripheral length, a Doppler flow velocity parameter (flow velocity, velocity time integration value, etc.) of a fetus image or the like are obtained from an ultrasonic image displayed on the display monitor 55. Various measurement calculations, such as, can be performed and stored. That is, the operator performs a position designation operation or the like on the ultrasonic image display on the display monitor 55 using an input device such as the keyboard 57 or the trackball 58. Then, based on the position designation operation or the like, the measurement calculation unit 59 calculates the image size, image area, image perimeter, Doppler flow velocity parameters (flow velocity, velocity-time integral value, etc.), or uses these values. The calculation is executed, and the measurement calculation data is transferred to the data memory 60 and stored.

The measurement calculation data stored in the data memory 60 is read out to the character memory 61 in response to an output operation performed by an operator via an input device such as a keyboard 57, and is converted into display data. Are output to the video signal generation unit 54. Then, the measurement calculation data is converted into a video signal by the video signal generation unit 54 and then sent to the display monitor 55 for display or output to an external storage device (video printer or the like) not shown. Reference numeral 62 in the figure denotes an input interface unit that connects the keyboard 57 and the trackball 58 to the measurement calculation unit 59 and the like.

[0006]

However, the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 50 configured as described above has the following problems. That is, since the measurement calculation data stored in the data memory 60 is merely numerical data having no specific image of the diagnosis site, it may be difficult to make a quick diagnosis only by referring to the measurement calculation data. is there. In such a case, the measurement calculation data and
If the image data subjected to the measurement operation is collated with each other, the image recognition of the diagnostic site by the diagnostician is enhanced, and a quick diagnosis is possible, and the diagnostic accuracy is also improved.

For these reasons, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of calculating various measurement operation data on the basis of an ultrasonic image is conventionally provided with the measurement operation data and the image obtained by executing the measurement operation. There has been a demand for easy collation operations with data.

However, the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 50
In this case, the measurement calculation data stored in the data memory 60 and the image data stored in the frame memory 56 are not associated with each other, and the storage operations are respectively performed under completely separate write control. Therefore, it has not been easy to collate the measurement calculation data with the image data on which the measurement calculation has been performed. If it is desired to perform such a collation operation, the measurement calculation data is output to an external storage device such as an external video printer every time the measurement calculation process is performed, and the output content is not displayed or displayed on the external storage device. Printed out (printed). However, in this case, it is necessary for the user to output to the storage device every time the measurement calculation is executed, and it has been impossible to make a quick diagnosis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to improve the accuracy of diagnosis by accelerating diagnosis by enabling image data and measurement calculation data to be easily associated with each other and stored and recognized.

[0010]

The present invention has solved the above-mentioned problems by the following means.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, based on an arbitrary ultrasonic image selected from a plurality of consecutively formed ultrasonic images, image size data, Doppler flow rate data, and the like of the image data are obtained. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a measurement operation unit for calculating various measurement operation data, a data storage unit storing the various measurement operation data, and an image storing image data of the selected arbitrary ultrasonic image It is characterized by having a storage unit, and a writing control unit that stores the various measurement operation data and the image data of the arbitrary ultrasonic image in the data storage unit or the image storage unit in association with each other.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first aspect, various measurement operation data and image data stored in the data storage unit and the image storage unit are associated with each other at the time of storage. According to the present invention, a read control unit is further provided for extracting the data in association with each other.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 includes a signal processing circuit 2 that performs processing such as phasing addition processing on an ultrasonic echo signal received via an ultrasonic probe (not shown), and an ultrasonic processing apparatus that performs phasing addition processing. An A / D converter 3 for A / D converting the sound image data, an image memory 4 for storing the A / D converted ultrasonic image data,
A video signal generator 5 for converting the ultrasound image data stored in the image memory 4 into a video signal, a display monitor 6 for displaying the ultrasound image data converted into a video signal, and an image stored in the image memory 4 A frame memory 7 for extracting and storing arbitrary image data from the data.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 includes a keyboard 8
Input device such as an input device and a trackball 9, an input interface unit 10 for connecting the input device to a control system inside the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1, and an image size and image based on an ultrasonic image displayed on the display monitor 6. A measurement calculation unit 11 for calculating an area, an image perimeter, a Doppler flow velocity parameter (flow velocity, speed-time integral value, etc.), a data memory 12 for storing measurement calculation data, and a measurement calculation data stored in the data memory 12 are displayed. And a character memory 13 for converting the data into data for use.

Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 includes an image data transfer control unit 14 which is a feature of the present invention. The image data transfer control unit 14 has a write control unit 14 and a read control unit 15. Write control unit 14
Controls the operation of writing the measurement operation data calculated by the measurement operation unit 11 to the data memory 12 and the operation of transferring the image data stored in the image memory 4 to the frame memory 7. The read control unit 15 controls the operation of reading the image data written in the frame memory 7 to the video signal generation unit 5 and the operation of reading the measurement calculation data stored in the data memory 12.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus will be described. An ultrasonic echo signal transmitted / received via an ultrasonic probe (not shown) is processed by a signal processing circuit 2 such as a phasing addition process, and then converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter 3 for image memory. 4 is stored. Then, the image data D stored in the image memory 4 is converted into a video signal by the video signal generation unit 5 and then sent to the display monitor 6 for display.

From the ultrasonic image displayed on the display monitor 6, various measurements such as an image size of a fetus image and the like, an image area, an image perimeter, a Doppler flow velocity parameter (flow velocity, velocity time integral value, and the like), and these values were used. When the calculation is performed and stored, the following is performed. That is, the operator performs a position designation operation or the like on the ultrasonic image display on the display monitor 6 using an input device such as the keyboard 8 or the trackball 9. Then, based on the position designation operation or the like, the measurement calculation unit 11 calculates the image dimensions, the image area, the image perimeter, the Doppler flow velocity parameters (flow velocity, velocity-time integration, etc.), or a calculation formula combining these values. An operation is performed.

When the calculation is completed, a trigger signal T for notifying the completion of the calculation is sent from the measurement calculation unit 11 to the write control unit 15.
Is output to Upon receiving the trigger signal T, the writing control unit 15 converts the measurement calculation data C 1 to _n and the data e 1 to _n that associate the image calculation data C 1 _{to n} with the image data D 1 _{to n} . create. The command F1 _{1 to n} for commanding adding the association data e _{1 to n} created in the measurement operation data C _{1 to n} and the image data D _{1 to n,}
F2 1 to _Fn are output to the calculation operation unit 11 and the image memory 4. The association data e 1 to _n are added, for example, _to the header portion of each of the data C 1 to _n and D 1 to _n .

The measurement operation section 11 receiving the commands _{F11- n} adds the associated data e1- _n to the measurement operation data C1- _n , and adds new measurement operation data (C ₊ e) 1- _n . Then, the measurement calculation data (C ₊ e) 1 to _n are transferred to the data memory 12 and stored. On the other hand, in the image memory 4 receiving the commands F2 1 _{to n} , the association data e 1 to _n are added to the image data D _{1 to n} to create new image data (D ₊ e) 1 to _n. The image data (D ₊ e) 1 to _n are transferred to the frame memory 7 and stored.

The measurement calculation data (C ₊ e) 1 to _n and the image data (D ₊ e) 1 to _n stored in association with each other are associated with each other as follows. Is read. That is, an operation for selecting desired measurement calculation data (C ₊ e) 1 to _n or image data (D ₊ e) 1 to _n is performed by an input device such as the keyboard 8.
Then, the selection operation signals G 1 _to G are input to the read control unit 16. The read control unit 16 to which the control operation signals G 1 to _n have been input includes the data memory 12 and the frame memory 7.
, And outputs read command signals H1 to _Hn .

In the data memory 7 which has received the read command signals H 1 to _Hn , the stored measurement operation data (C ₊ e) ₁ to
From among (C + e) _n , measurement operation data (C ₊ e) 1 to _n designated to be read out are selected, and the character memory 13 is selected.
Output to On the other hand, in the frame memory 7 which has received the read command signals H1- _n , the stored image data (D
_{+ E) 1 ~ (D +} e) measurement computation data specified read out of _n (D ₊ e) Select the _{1 to n,} and outputs the video signal generator 5.

Such measurement calculation data (C ₊ e) 1 _{to n}
The selection operation of the image data (D ₊ e) 1 _{to n} is performed by associating the data (C ₊ e) 1 to _n and (D ₊ e) 1 to _n with the associated data e.
_{Since 1 to n} are added, it can be performed quickly and accurately.

The measurement operation data (C ₊ e) 1 to _n output to the character memory 13 are used as display data (C
₊ e) After being converted into 1 to _n ', it is output to the video signal generator 5. The video signal generation unit 5 combines the input display data (C ₊ e) 1 to _n ′ with the image data (D ₊ e) 1 to _n, and outputs the synthesized data to the display monitor 6 for display. .
Display data (C ₊ e) 1 to _n 'and image data (D ₊ e)
_{1 to n} are combined so as to be displayed in one image frame in association with each other (for example, in a report format). Measurement operation data (C ₊ e) thus synthesized and displayed
_{Since 1 to n} and the image data (D ₊ e) 1 to _n are associated with each other and displayed integrally in one frame image, quick information recognition becomes possible, and the diagnosis can be performed accordingly. And the diagnostic accuracy is improved.

In the above-described embodiment, only the image data (D ₊ e) 1 to _{n of} one frame of the ultrasonic image on which the measurement operation is performed is stored in the frame memory 7. Depending on the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, image data (D + e) of continuous plural frames of ultrasonic images
_Some include a frame memory 7 'having a function of storing _{X to X + m,} and can store and reproduce a moving ultrasonic image. In such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the present invention can be implemented as follows.

That is, the continuous image data (D + e) _{X to X + m} stored in the frame memory 7 'is called and displayed on the display monitor 6, and from the moving image-like image display,
An image for one arbitrary frame is selected to freeze the display image. Then, a position designation operation or the like is performed on the displayed still image by using an input device such as the keyboard 8 or the trackball 9. Based on the position designation operation or the like, the image calculation, the image size, the image area, The image perimeter and Doppler flow velocity parameters (flow velocity, velocity time integral value, etc.) are calculated.

When the calculation is completed, a trigger signal T indicating the completion of the calculation is sent from the measurement calculation unit 11 to the write control unit 15.
Is output to The write control unit 15 has received the trigger signal T, to create a measurement computation data C _Y, the data e _Y associating the image data D _Y subjected to create this measurement computation data C _Y one another. Then, instructions F1 _Y and F2 _Y for instructing to add the created association data e _Y to the measurement operation data C _Y and the image data D _Y are sent to the calculation operation unit 1.
1 and the frame memory 7 '.

In the measurement calculation unit 11 receiving the command F1 _Y ,
Create a measurement operation data added data e _Y associated with the measurement computation data C _Y (C ₊ e) _Y is stored is transferred to the data memory 12. On the other hand, 'in, and generates image data D image data by adding the data e _Y associated with the _Y (D ₊ e) _Y frame memory 7' frame memory 7 has received the instruction F2 _Y is transferred to another area of Store. In this variation,
It is the distinctive feature that stores and forwards to create image data (D ₊ e) _Y obtained by adding data e _Y associated with the image data D _Y to a different area of the frame memory 7 '.

In this way, the measurement calculation data C _Y and the image data D _Y are stored in association with each other. The operation of reading out these stored data once is the same as that described in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 described above. The description is omitted because it is similar.

In the above-described modification, the image data D
Image data obtained by adding data e _Y associated with the _Y (D ₊ e) _Y
Data 'is configured so as to store and transfer to another area of this addition, the frame memory 7' frame memory 7 created were synthesized data e _Y associated with address A _Y of the image data D _Y in the (A ₊ e) _Y may be stored in the frame memory 7 'or the like.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, the measurement calculation data and the image data on which the measurement calculation is performed are stored in association with each other.
It is now possible to call and use the image data in association with the image data on which the calculation has been performed. Therefore, it is easy to recognize the measurement calculation data and the image data in association with each other, and accordingly, the diagnosis is speeded up and the diagnosis accuracy is improved.

Further, by displaying a list of measurement results and recognized images side by side in a report format, an image measured and executed by outputting a report can be recorded together with the measurement results, and the reliability of the diagnosis is accordingly increased. Leads to improvement.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 7 Frame memory 11 Measurement operation unit 12 Data memory 15 Write control unit 16 Read control unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A measurement for calculating various measurement calculation data such as image size data and Doppler flow velocity data based on an arbitrary ultrasonic image selected from a plurality of continuously formed ultrasonic images. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a calculation unit, a data storage unit that stores the various measurement calculation data, an image storage unit that stores image data of the selected arbitrary ultrasound image, and the various measurement calculation data An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, comprising: a data storage unit or a write control unit that stores image data of the arbitrary ultrasound image in the data storage unit or the image storage unit in association with each other. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the various measurement calculation data and the image data stored in the data storage unit and the image storage unit are associated with each other according to an association at the time of storage. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, further comprising: a readout control unit for extracting and associating.