JPH11267121A - Method and device for ultrasonic photographing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily discriminate the form of a photographed image by a method wherein for a photographing wherein both forms of tomography and orthography are performed based on echoes which are obtained by transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject on a display screen for an image, symbolic figures for the photographing forms are displayed. SOLUTION: When a photographing is performed by bringing an ultrasonic probe 2 into contact with a subject 4, a transmitting/receiving part 6 performs a linear scanning regarding a three-dimensional region, and receives an echo signal. The echo signal is input in a data processing part 10, and cross sectional images regarding respective two-dimensional regions in the three-dimensional region, i.e., tomographic images (B mode images) are generated. Or, echo data for an address corresponding with a designated depth, is extracted, and an orthographic image (C mode image) is generated, and the images are respectively stored in an image memory. Then, an image selected from these images is displayed, and in this case, at one part of a screen, a B mode mark or a C mode mark is simultaneously displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus, and more particularly, to an ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus for performing tomography and orthography.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is possible to generate an image of a two-dimensional area (cross section) swept by an ultrasonic beam, that is, a tomographic image, by sweeping the inside of a subject with an ultrasonic beam and using the echo. Done. B mode for tomography images
(mode) Called an image.

Further, a two-dimensional area swept by an ultrasonic beam is sequentially moved to sweep a three-dimensional area, and a range gate (r
An image of a cross section perpendicular to the ultrasonic beam, that is, an orthographic image is generated from echoes from a desired depth extracted by an ange gate. An orthographic image is called a C-mode image.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an ultrasonic imaging apparatus capable of performing both tomography and orthography, when a captured image is displayed, both images are cross-sectional images. There is a problem that it is difficult to identify at a glance whether the image is a (B mode image) or an orthographic image (C mode image).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize an ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus which can easily distinguish a tomographic image from an orthographic image.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems (1) According to a first aspect of the present invention, an ultrasonic wave is transmitted to a subject to perform imaging in both tomography and orthography based on an echo. An ultrasonic imaging method, wherein a graphic symbolizing an imaging style is displayed on a display screen of a captured image.

(2) A second invention for solving the above problems is an ultrasonic imaging apparatus which transmits an ultrasonic wave to a subject and performs both tomographic and orthographic imaging based on an echo. And a display unit for displaying a graphic symbolizing the imaging style on a display screen of a captured image.

In the first or second aspect of the present invention, the figure symbolizing the imaging mode is a pattern of an ultrasonic probe and an imaging section, which makes it easy to intuitively understand the imaging mode. preferable.

In this case, it is preferable that the figure symbolizing the imaging style is further designed to include the relationship with the subject, since the intuitive understanding of the imaging style is easy. (Operation) In the present invention, a figure symbolizing the imaging mode is displayed on the display screen of the captured image, thereby facilitating the discrimination between the tomographic image and the orthographic image.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a block (bloc) of an ultrasonic imaging apparatus.
k) Show the figure. This device is an example of an embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the present apparatus shows an example of an embodiment relating to the apparatus of the present invention. An example of an embodiment of the method of the present invention is shown by the operation of the present apparatus.

The configuration of the present apparatus will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the present apparatus has an ultrasonic probe (probe) 2. The ultrasonic probe 2 is in contact with the subject 4 and is used for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic probe 2 includes an ultrasonic transducer 530 as shown in FIG.
Are provided.

The two-dimensional array 532 is, for example, 128 × 12
A matrix (mat) of eight ultrasonic transducers 530
rix). The direction of one side of the matrix is x, and the direction of the other side is y. Each ultrasonic transducer 530 is made of a piezoelectric material such as PZT (lead zirconate (Zr) titanate (Ti)) ceramics.

The ultrasonic probe 2 is connected to a transmitting / receiving unit 6. The transmitting / receiving unit 6 supplies a drive signal to the ultrasonic probe 2 to transmit ultrasonic waves into the subject 4. The transmission / reception unit 6 also receives an echo from the subject 4 that the ultrasonic probe 2 has received.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the transmission / reception section 6. In the figure, a transmission timing (timing) generating circuit 602
Is configured to periodically generate a transmission timing signal and input the transmission timing signal to a transmission beamformer (beamformer) 604.

The transmission beamformer 604 performs transmission beamforming based on the transmission timing signal.
ming) signal, that is, a plurality of drive signals for driving a plurality of ultrasonic transducers in the array of ultrasonic transducers with a time difference, and a transmission / reception switching circuit 606.
Is entered.

The transmission / reception switching circuit 606 inputs a plurality of drive signals to a selector 608. The selector 608 selects a plurality of ultrasonic transducers forming a transmission aperture from an array of ultrasonic transducers, and applies a plurality of drive signals to them.

The plurality of ultrasonic transducers respectively generate a plurality of ultrasonic waves having a phase difference corresponding to a time difference between a plurality of drive signals. An ultrasonic beam is formed by wavefront synthesis of those ultrasonic waves. The transmission direction of the ultrasonic beam is determined by the transmission aperture selected by the selector 608.

The transmission of the ultrasonic beam is repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals by the transmission timing signal generated by the transmission timing generation circuit 602. The transmission direction of the ultrasonic beam is sequentially changed by switching the transmission aperture by the selector 608. Thereby, the subject 4
Is scanned by a sound ray formed by the ultrasonic beam. That is, the inside of the subject 4 is scanned in a sound ray sequence.

The selector 608 selects a plurality of ultrasonic transducers forming a receiving aperture from the array of ultrasonic transducers, and sends a plurality of echo signals received by the ultrasonic transducers to the transmission / reception switching circuit 606. To be entered.

The transmission / reception switching circuit 606 inputs a plurality of echo signals to the reception beamformer 610. The receive beamformer 610 adds a time difference to the plurality of echo signals to adjust the phase, and then adds them to form a receive beamforming, that is, an echo receive signal on the receive sound ray. . Selector 6
By 08, the sound ray of the received wave is also scanned according to the transmitted wave.

The transmission timing generation circuit 602 to the reception beam former 610 are controlled by a control unit 18 described later. For example, scanning as shown in FIG. 4 is performed by the ultrasonic probe 2 and the transmission / reception unit 6. That is, as shown in FIG.
When the sound ray 202 emitted from 0 to the z direction moves on the straight line 204, the rectangular two-dimensional area 206 is scanned in the x direction (x scan), and a so-called linear scan (linea) is performed.
r scan) is performed.

The x-scan is performed by sequentially moving the aperture of the transmitted / received wave in the x-direction of the two-dimensional array 532. Meanwhile, in the y direction of the two-dimensional array 532, the aperture of the transmitted / received wave is kept constant. Each time the scanning of one two-dimensional area 206 is completed, the same x-scan is repeated by moving the aperture of the transmitted / received wave by one step in the y-direction. As a result, the two-dimensional area 206 moves sequentially in the y direction, and scanning of the three-dimensional area is performed.

The transmission / reception unit 6 is connected to the data processing unit 10 and inputs the echo reception signal for each sound ray to the data processing unit 10 as a digital signal. As shown in FIG. 5, the data processing unit 10 includes a data processor (processor) 550 and an echo memory (echo memory).
552, a data memory 554 and an image memory 556. Data processor 550, echo memory 552, data memory 554, and image memory 556
Are connected by a bus 558. The digital data input from the transmitting / receiving unit 6 is stored in the echo memory 5.
52. Thus, the echo memory 552
Stores echo data for each sound ray.

The data processor 550 includes an echo memory 552, a data memory 554, and an image memory 55.
6 performs predetermined data processing. By this data processing, a B-mode image and a C-mode image are obtained based on the echo data stored in the echo memory 552.
A mode image is generated. The generation of these images will be described later.

A display unit 16 is connected to the data processing unit 10. Display information is input to the display unit 16 from the data processing unit 10. The display unit 16 displays a visible image based on the display. Data processing unit 10 and display unit 16
Is an example of an embodiment of the display means in the present invention. The information for display includes B-mode image data and C-mode image data. Also included are a B-mode mark (mode mark) displayed together with the B-mode image, and image data related to the B-mode mark displayed together with the C-mode image. The B-mode mark and the C-mode mark are an example of the embodiment of the graphic symbolizing the imaging style in the present invention.

The transmission / reception unit 6, data processing unit 10 and display unit 16 are connected to a control unit 18. Control unit 1
Numeral 8 gives a control signal to each of these parts to control the operation. Further, the control unit 18 is configured to receive various notification signals from the controlled units.

An operation unit 20 is connected to the control unit 18. The operation unit 20 is operated by the operator, and the control unit 18
The user inputs desired commands and information. The operation unit 20 includes, for example, an operation panel provided with a keyboard and other operation tools.

The operation of the apparatus will be described. The operator touches the ultrasonic probe 2 at a desired position on the subject 4 and operates the operation unit 20 to perform imaging. Imaging is performed under the control of the control unit 18.

The transmission / reception unit 6 performs a linear scan on a three-dimensional area in the order of sound rays and receives echo signals on each sound ray. The echo signal on each sound ray is stored in the echo memory 552 of the data processing unit 10 as digital data. The data processor 550 generates a tomographic image, that is, a tomographic image (B-mode image) for each of the two-dimensional regions 206 in the three-dimensional region based on the echo data stored in the echo memory 552, and the image memory 556. To memorize.

From these images, the operator selects a B-mode image of a desired cross section and displays it on the display unit 16. Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG.
0 is displayed. At this time, the B mode mark 162 is simultaneously displayed on a part of the screen. The B-mode mark 162 is, for example, a pattern of an ultrasonic probe and a scan surface by the ultrasonic probe. Therefore, the observer of the display image can intuitively understand that the image displayed on the screen is the B-mode image based on the mark.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a mark (object mark) 164 in which the object is designed may be displayed in combination with the B-mode mark 162.
Thereby, the relationship between the subject and the scan plane can be shown. The subject mark 164 is changed according to the scan direction of the subject, for example, as shown in FIG. Also,
According to the scanning direction, the direction of the subject mark 164 is
7 and 8, respectively.

The B-mode mark and the subject mark are not limited to those shown in the figure, and may be those which appropriately design an ultrasonic probe, an imaging section, and a subject. Alternatively, the character "B mode" may be displayed in a special color, or may be displayed in a blinking manner.

When the operator wants to see the C-mode image at a desired depth position as a result of observing the B-mode image 160,
The depth is set by operating the operation unit 20, and the display of the C-mode image is commanded. In accordance with this command, the data processor 550 executes the range gate processing to execute the echo memory 55 processing.
The echo data at the address corresponding to the depth designated in Step 2, ie, the distance in the z direction, is extracted for each sound ray, and a C-mode image is generated from the echo data.

The C mode image is displayed on the display unit 16 as shown in FIG. 9, for example. That is, the display unit 1
The C mode image 170 is displayed on the screen 6 and the C mode mark 172 is displayed at the same time. The C-mode mark 172 is a stylized image of an ultrasonic probe and an imaging cross section facing the ultrasonic probe. Therefore, the observer of the display image can intuitively recognize that the image displayed on the screen is a C-mode image based on the mark.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, a mark (object mark) 174 in which the object is designed may be displayed in combination with the C-mode mark 172. Thereby, the relationship between the subject and the scan plane can be shown. The subject mark 174 is changed according to the scan direction of the subject, for example, as shown in FIG.
In addition, depending on the scanning direction, the direction of the subject mark 174 is opposite to that shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, respectively.
Alternatively, it is oblique.

The C-mode mark and the subject mark are not limited to those shown in the figure, and may be those in which the ultrasonic probe, the imaging section, and the subject are appropriately designed. Alternatively, the character "C mode" may be displayed in a special color different from the case of the B mode, or may be displayed in a blinking manner.

The above is an example in which B-mode imaging and C-mode imaging are performed by linear scanning. By forming the two-dimensional array 532 along a spherical surface projecting in the ultrasonic wave transmission direction, a convex scan is performed.
an) can perform B-mode imaging and C-mode imaging.

That is, when a sound ray scan similar to the linear scan is performed by such a two-dimensional array, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the radiation point 200 of the sound ray 202 moves on the circular arc 204. X, y in FIG.
Become the θ and φ directions, respectively, and the convex scan of the three-dimensional area can be performed. Then, by processing the echo data obtained by such scanning in the same manner as described above, a B-mode image and a C-mode image can be obtained, respectively.

Further, B-mode imaging and C-mode imaging can be performed by sector scan. In the case of a sector scan, the surface of the two-dimensional array 532 may be a flat surface. Such a two-dimensional array 532
, A sector scan is performed by the following operation of the transmission / reception unit 6.

The transmission beamformer 604 generates a transmission beamforming signal, that is, a plurality of drive signals for driving a plurality of ultrasonic transducers in an array of ultrasonic transducers with a time difference based on the transmission timing signal. , Is input to the transmission / reception switching circuit 606.

The transmission / reception switching circuit 606 inputs a plurality of drive signals to the selector 608. The selector 608 selects a plurality of ultrasonic transducers forming a transmission aperture from the array of the ultrasonic transducers, and applies a plurality of drive signals to them. The transmission aperture may involve all the ultrasonic transducers 530 of the two-dimensional array 532.

The plurality of ultrasonic transducers respectively generate a plurality of ultrasonic waves having a phase difference corresponding to the time difference between the plurality of drive signals. An ultrasonic beam is formed by wavefront synthesis of those ultrasonic waves. The transmitting direction of the ultrasonic beam is determined by the traveling direction of the combined wavefront.

The transmission of the ultrasonic beam is repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals by a transmission timing signal generated by the transmission timing generation circuit 602. The transmission direction of the ultrasonic beam is sequentially changed by switching the time difference between the plurality of drive signals. Thereby, the inside of the subject 4
Scanning is performed by sound rays formed by the ultrasonic beam. That is, the inside of the subject 4 is scanned in a sound ray sequence.

The selector 608 selects a plurality of ultrasonic transducers forming a receiving aperture from an array of ultrasonic transducers, and transmits a plurality of echo signals received by the ultrasonic transducers to the transmission / reception switching circuit 6.
Enter 06.

The transmission / reception switching circuit 606 inputs a plurality of echo signals to the reception beamformer 610. The receiving beamformer 610 gives a time difference to the plurality of echo signals to adjust the phases, and then adds them to form beam reception, that is, an echo reception signal on the reception sound ray. By switching the time difference given to the plurality of echo signals, the received sound ray is also scanned in accordance with the transmission.

By such an operation, for example, scanning as shown in FIG. 13 is performed. That is, as shown in the figure, a sound ray 202 emitted from the radiation point 200 in the z direction scans the fan-shaped two-dimensional area 206 in the θ direction, and a sector scan is performed.

The scanning in the θ direction is performed by, for example, a two-dimensional array 53.
2 by sequentially switching the beam forming in the x direction. Meanwhile, the two-dimensional array 532
The beamforming in the y-direction at is kept constant. Each time the scanning of one two-dimensional area 206 is completed, y
The same θ scan is repeated while changing the beam forming in the direction one step at a time. Thereby, the two-dimensional area 206
Move sequentially in the φ direction, and a three-dimensional area is scanned. By processing the echo data obtained by such scanning in the same manner as described above, a B-mode image and a C-mode image can be obtained.

In the sector scan, a one-dimensional array is used in place of a two-dimensional array, the θ scan is performed by an electronic sector scan by beamforming, and the φ scan is a mechanical sector scan (m
(echanical sector scan). This is preferable in that the scanning device for three-dimensional scanning is simplified.

[0050]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an ultrasonic imaging method and an apparatus which can easily distinguish a tomographic image from an orthographic image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a device according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic transducer array of an ultrasonic probe in an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a transmission / reception unit in the device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of sound ray scanning performed by the apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a data processing unit in the device according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a display image on a display unit in the device according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a display image on a display unit in the device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a display image on a display unit in the device according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a display image on a display unit in the device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a display image on a display unit in the apparatus according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a display image on a display unit in the device according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram of sound ray scanning performed by the apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram of sound ray scanning by an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 ultrasonic probe 4 subject 6 transmitting / receiving unit 10 data processing unit 16 display unit 18 control unit 20 operation unit 530 ultrasonic transducer 532 two-dimensional array 602 transmission timing generation circuit 604 transmission beam former 606 transmission / reception switching circuit 608 selector 610 reception Wave beamformer 550 Data processor 552 Echo memory 554 Data memory 556 Image memory 162 B mode mark 164 Subject mark 172 C mode mark 174 Subject mark

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic imaging method for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject and performing both tomographic and orthographic imaging based on an echo, wherein the imaging screen symbolizes the imaging style on a display screen of the captured image. An ultrasonic imaging method characterized by displaying a figure. 2. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject and performing imaging in both tomography and orthography based on an echo, wherein the imaging screen symbolizes the imaging style on a display screen of the captured image. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising: display means for displaying a graphic.