JP2001170057A - Ultrasonograph - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide another image using echo data obtained along with a three-dimensional display in a device displaying an ultrasonic three-dimensional image. SOLUTION: Three-dimensional scan is repeatedly performed in a three- dimensional zone, a three-dimensional image is formed along with the scan, and a tomographic image is formed based on the echo data obtained by its one before (n)th three-dimensional scanning during execution of the (n+1)th three-dimensional scan and simultaneously displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses capable of displaying three-dimensional images have been put to practical use. In the first conventional apparatus, all echo data captured in a three-dimensional area is temporarily stored in a three-dimensional memory, and a three-dimensional image is formed by reading out and reconstructing the echo data from the memory. In the second conventional apparatus, echo data captured in a three-dimensional area is sequentially processed in real time in the order of time, and at the time of final echo data capture, a completed three-dimensional image is displayed (for example, JP 1
0-33538).

According to the former, although the degree of freedom of the viewpoint for forming a three-dimensional image is large, a great deal of processing power and processing time are required for image reconstruction. According to the latter, there is no degree of freedom in viewpoint, but there is an advantage that a three-dimensional image can be formed in real time in conjunction with a three-dimensional scan. Incidentally, in the apparatus according to the second conventional technique, for example, a three-dimensional scan of ultrasonic waves is periodically and repeatedly executed using an ultrasonic probe for acquiring three-dimensional data. In such an ultrasonic probe, an array transducer forming a scanning plane is moved and scanned in a direction orthogonal to the scanning plane by scanning with an ultrasonic beam.

In this conventional apparatus, a three-dimensional image is completed at the time of completion of the n-th three-dimensional scan and is simultaneously displayed, and the image display is maintained during the execution of the (n + 1) th three-dimensional scan. This is repeated. That is, even in the real-time processing, the image display itself is switched every one cycle of the three-dimensional scan (for example, every two seconds).

[0005] A plurality of scan planes are sequentially formed with the three-dimensional scan, and a tomographic image corresponding to each scan plane is displayed in real time separately from the three-dimensional image display.

[0006]

However, in any case, in the case of the above-described image display method, the echo data captured by the specific three-dimensional scan is displayed on a three-dimensional image (and in some cases, a real-time tomographic image). display)
And will not be used anymore while the display of the three-dimensional image is maintained.

[0007] In diagnosing a disease, a three-dimensional image provides spatial information that cannot be recognized or is difficult to recognize with a mere tomographic image, but is combined with other image information in order to further enhance the use of the information. It is hoped that it will be provided. In particular, it is required that the echo data acquired in the past be used separately for image display by effectively utilizing the period in which the display of the three-dimensional image is maintained. In addition, the above problem,
The point of reusing the acquired information can also be pointed out in the case of the first conventional apparatus.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional display and other images using already acquired echo data, thereby providing a better diagnosis of a disease. The goal is to be able to do it accurately.

It is another object of the present invention to perform dynamic tomographic image display together with static three-dimensional image display so that the properties of an affected part can be grasped more appropriately.

[0010]

(1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a transmitting / receiving means for repeatedly performing a three-dimensional ultrasonic scan on a three-dimensional region in a living body; A first image forming means for forming a first image based on the echo data from the means, and a second image forming means based on the echo data obtained by the nth three-dimensional scan during execution of the (n + 1) th three-dimensional scan. And a second image forming means for forming the image.

According to the above arrangement, the second image can be formed by reusing data used in forming the first image, and the amount of information for image display can be increased.

Preferably, the first image is a three-dimensional image. Preferably, the second image is a tomographic image, and a plurality of tomographic images are sequentially displayed during the execution of the (n + 1) th three-dimensional scan. Preferably, the second image is a reconstructed three-dimensional image.

(2) In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a three-dimensional scan for sequentially forming a scanning surface formed by scanning an ultrasonic beam while moving a beam scanning position is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle. Transmitting and receiving means, a three-dimensional image forming means for sequentially executing data calculations in real time with the capture of echo data by the transmitting and receiving means to form a three-dimensional image, and the completion of the n-th three-dimensional scan Display maintenance means for continuously displaying the completed three-dimensional image during execution of the (n + 1) th three-dimensional scan; a three-dimensional memory for storing echo data from the transmission / reception means for each three-dimensional scan; During the execution of the third three-dimensional scan, the echo data obtained by the n-th three-dimensional scan is read from the three-dimensional memory, and based on the echo data. Characterized in that it comprises a, a reconstruction means for displaying to form a reconstructed image are.

According to the above configuration, while displaying a three-dimensional image formed in the previous scan, a reconstructed image is constructed using data captured in the previous scan, and the reconstructed image is displayed together. Is possible.

Preferably, the apparatus includes means for forming and displaying a tomographic image in real time for each scanning plane based on the echo data from the wave transmitting / receiving means. Preferably, the reconstruction means forms and displays a plurality of tomographic images. Preferably, the apparatus further includes input means for inputting a condition for forming the plurality of tomographic images. Desirably, the input unit is a unit that specifies an imaging reference position in a three-dimensional region in a living body,
The reconstruction means forms a plurality of tomographic images based on the imaging reference position.

Preferably, the input means is a means for designating a display range of a tomographic image in a three-dimensional region in a living body, and the reconstructing means forms a plurality of tomographic images in the display range. Preferably, the reconstruction unit sets a display period of each tomographic image based on a period of one cycle of the three-dimensional scan and a size of the display range.

(3) In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a three-dimensional scan for sequentially forming a scanning surface formed by scanning an ultrasonic beam while moving a beam scanning position is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle. Transmitting and receiving means, a three-dimensional image forming means for sequentially executing data calculations to form a three-dimensional image in accordance with the capture of echo data by the transmitting and receiving means, and completion by completion of an n-th three-dimensional scan Display maintaining means for continuously displaying the obtained three-dimensional image during execution of the (n + 1) th three-dimensional scan; a three-dimensional memory for storing echo data from the transmitting / receiving means for each three-dimensional scan; During the execution of the three-dimensional scan, the echo data obtained by the n-th three-dimensional scan is read from the three-dimensional memory, and a plurality of It includes a plurality of reconstruction means for displaying the configuration image formed by the, and wherein the three-dimensional image with a plurality of reconstructed images are displayed together.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration.

The three-dimensional probe 10 is a means for forming a three-dimensional data acquisition area by three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning. In the present embodiment, the three-dimensional probe 10
It is composed of an array transducer that forms a scanning surface by electronic scanning, and a scanning mechanism that performs parallel scanning or swing scanning of the array transducer. Electronic scanning methods include electronic linear scanning and electronic sector scanning.

The transmission / reception unit 14 is a means for supplying a transmission signal to the three-dimensional probe 10 and executing a phasing addition process on a reception signal from the three-dimensional probe 10. The scanning control unit 12 is a unit that controls electronic scanning and mechanical scanning in the three-dimensional probe 10.

The received signal output from the transmitting / receiving unit 14 is output to the image synthesizing unit 18. The image synthesizing unit 18 is configured by a digital scan converter (DSC), for example, and has a function of synthesizing various images. When the received signal output from the transmission / reception unit 14 is output to the image synthesis unit 18, a so-called B-mode image (tomographic image) is formed in the image synthesis unit 18 in real time.

On the other hand, a reception signal output from the transmission / reception unit 14 is input to the first image processing unit 16. The first image processing unit is a means for executing a volume rendering method described in, for example, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-33538, and thereby forming a three-dimensional image.
In the present embodiment, a three-dimensional image is formed by sequentially processing the time-series data for each ultrasonic beam output from the transmission / reception unit 14 in real time. It is not possible to arbitrarily set a viewpoint due to such system restrictions. The composed three-dimensional image is output to the image synthesizing unit 18. The reception signal output from the transmission / reception unit 14 is input to the 3D memory 20 and stored as echo data in the memory. The 3D memory 20 has a memory space corresponding to a three-dimensional data acquisition space.

The second image processing section 22 is means for reconstructing one or more arbitrary ultrasonic images based on the echo data stored in the 3D memory 20. In that case, the conditions for the reconstruction are input via the input unit 24. One or a plurality of reconstructed images are sent to the image synthesizing unit 18.
Is output to

The image synthesizing section 18 appropriately synthesizes the above-mentioned various images, forms a single synthesized image by appropriately arranging them on the screen, and outputs it to the display section 26.

Therefore, considering the timing of each image, the image synthesizing unit 18 constructs a B-mode image in real time together with the three-dimensional scan, and delays the B-mode image by one period of the three-dimensional scan. An original image is constructed. Similarly, the image reconstructed by the second image processing unit 22 with a delay of one cycle is output from the image synthesizing unit 1.
8 has been sent. Then, the composite image is displayed on the display unit 26 as described above.

FIG. 2 shows a display example on the display unit 26. Note that the display example shown in FIG. 2 is merely an example, and the combination, layout, and the like can be appropriately selected.

In the screen 100, a real-time B-mode image (B image) 102 is displayed. That is, one B image is formed for each electronic scan of the ultrasonic beam. In the vicinity, the three-dimensional image (V) formed by the first image processing unit 16 is delayed by one cycle of the three-dimensional scan.
ol image) 104 is displayed. Such a B image 10
Although the two-dimensional image 104 and the two-dimensional image 104 are displayed side by side in the related art, another image can be synthesized and displayed in the present embodiment. Specifically, for example, as indicated by reference numeral 106, a schematic three-dimensional data capturing area is displayed, and one or a plurality of cutting plane positions 108 to 114 are designated on the area. Then, a B-mode image corresponding to each of the cut surfaces is displayed.

Specifically, the first image 116 is a tomographic image corresponding to the cutting position 110, and the second image 118 is a tomographic image corresponding to the cutting position 112.

The third image 120 is a tomographic image corresponding to the cutting position 114. Each of these images may be fixedly displayed within one cycle of the three-dimensional scan, as described later in detail, or may be sequentially displayed over a predetermined range.

The reproduced B image indicated by reference numeral 124 is obtained by delaying the real-time B image 102 by one period of the three-dimensional scan. The tomographic image indicated by reference numeral 126 is a B-mode image at an arbitrary angle at the cutting position indicated by reference numeral.

That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment is characterized by reconstructing echo data that has already been captured, and providing useful information for diagnosing a disease in combination with the display of three-dimensional images. Things.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the image display timing. Here, (A) shows the electronic scanning timing of the ultrasonic beam. For example, several tens of B-mode images are formed per three-dimensional scan, and are displayed in real time on the screen. (B) shows a three-dimensional image processing period in the first image processing unit 16, and as described above, in the present embodiment, a data operation is sequentially performed on a data sequence captured in real time. At the completion of one three-dimensional scan, one three-dimensional image is synthesized. Then, such a three-dimensional image is continuously displayed during the period of the next three-dimensional scan as shown in FIG. Incidentally, in FIG. 3, # 1, # 2,... Indicate three-dimensional scan numbers for convenience.

(D) shows a switching display of a B-mode image delayed by one three-dimensional scan. That is, the display timing of the B-mode image shown in (D) corresponds to the display timing of the B-mode image shown in (A) delayed by one three-dimensional scan.

(E) shows the timing of displaying a B-mode image in an arbitrary range and an arbitrary angle. Such an arbitrary B-mode image is maintained during one cycle of the three-dimensional scan in this example.

Further, (F) and (G) show an arbitrary number of B
An example in which mode images are continuously switched and displayed over a predetermined range is shown.

As described above, by reconstructing a tomographic image or a three-dimensional image from multiple directions using echo data once captured, display is delayed by one cycle of a three-dimensional scan, but is useful in disease diagnosis. Images can be provided.

Therefore, there is an advantage that an image can be formed from a desired angle by setting an arbitrary viewpoint while performing real-time display.

FIG. 4 shows an example of setting a display range of a tomographic image. A predetermined range 30 is set for the three-dimensional data acquisition space 100 using the input unit 24, and a plurality of tomographic images are displayed in the range within the one-dimensional three-dimensional scan period evenly. In this case, if the number of tomographic images is fixed, the display rate becomes equal, while if the frame rate is fixed, the number of tomographic images is adjusted appropriately. Note that an imaging reference position may be specified in the three-dimensional area, and the display range may be determined based on the position.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing in that case. In S101, the reproduction condition is set using the input unit 24. Here, if a continuous display range of tomographic images is set, a display period per one is calculated from the range and the number of tomographic images in S102. Then, in S103, each tomographic image within the set display range is switched and displayed according to the set display rate. If the end instruction is determined in S104, this process ends.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show other display examples. FIG. 6 shows an example of constructing a tomographic image or a three-dimensional image from five directions and displaying them at the same time. FIG. 7 shows an example in which a tomographic image or a three-dimensional image is constructed from eight directions and displayed simultaneously. As described above, these display examples are merely examples, and other display examples can be adopted.

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment, a three-dimensional image is constructed based on real-time processing,
Since multi-section display and the like can be performed, image information useful for disease diagnosis can be provided.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Along with the three-dimensional display, it is possible to provide other images using already acquired echo data. Also,
According to the present invention, there is an advantage that both static image display and dynamic image display can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image display example.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the timing of image display.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a setting example of a display range of a tomographic image.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of tomographic image display processing.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of image display.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of image display.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 3D probe, 12 scanning control unit, 14 transmitting / receiving unit, 16 first image processing unit, 18 image synthesizing unit, 20
3D memory, 22 second image processing unit, 24 input units.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 4C301 AA01 BB01 BB02 BB13 BB22 BB28 BB34 BB35 CC02 EE10 EE20 GB02 GB03 JC14 KK13 KK17 LL04 LL05 5B057 AA07 BA05 CA13 CB13 CE08 CH11 DA16 DB03 5B07 AA02 BA05 CA05

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A transmitting and receiving means for repeatedly performing three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning on a three-dimensional region in a living body, and a first image forming means for forming a first image based on echo data from the transmitting and receiving means And during the execution of the (n + 1) th three-dimensional scan, the second based on the echo data obtained by the nth three-dimensional scan.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a second image forming unit that forms an image. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first image is a three-dimensional image. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second image is a tomographic image, and a plurality of tomographic images are sequentially displayed during execution of the (n + 1) th three-dimensional scan. Ultrasound diagnostic device. 4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second image is a reconstructed three-dimensional image. 5. A transmitting and receiving means for repeatedly executing a three-dimensional scan for sequentially forming a scanning surface formed by scanning an ultrasonic beam while moving a beam scanning position at a predetermined cycle, and an echo at said transmitting and receiving means. A three-dimensional image forming means for sequentially executing a data operation in real time with data acquisition to form a three-dimensional image; and a three-dimensional image completed by completing the n-th three-dimensional scan, the (n + 1) th three-dimensional scan Display maintaining means for continuously displaying during execution of the three-dimensional scan; a three-dimensional memory for storing echo data from the transmitting and receiving means for each three-dimensional scan; and performing the (n + 1) th three-dimensional scan during the three-dimensional scan. Reconstruction for reading echo data obtained by the n-th three-dimensional scan from the memory, forming a reconstructed image based on the echo data, and displaying the reconstructed image. Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising a means. 6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for forming and displaying a tomographic image in real time for each scanning plane based on echo data from said wave transmitting / receiving means. apparatus. 7. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said reconstructing means forms and displays a plurality of tomographic images. 8. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an input unit for inputting a condition for forming the plurality of tomographic images. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the input unit is a unit that specifies an imaging reference position in a three-dimensional region in a living body, and the reconstructing unit is configured to determine a plurality of imaging reference positions based on the imaging reference position. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for forming a tomographic image. 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the input unit is a unit that specifies a display range of a tomographic image in a three-dimensional region in a living body, and the reconstructing unit is a plurality of tomographic images in the display range. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by forming: 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said reconstruction means sets a display period of each tomographic image based on a period of one cycle of said three-dimensional scan and a size of said display range. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. 12. A transmitting and receiving means for repeatedly executing a three-dimensional scan for sequentially forming a scanning surface formed by scanning an ultrasonic beam while moving a beam scanning position at a predetermined cycle, and an echo at said transmitting and receiving means. A three-dimensional image forming means for sequentially executing data calculations in real time with data acquisition to form a three-dimensional image; and a three-dimensional image completed by completing the n-th three-dimensional scan, to form an (n + 1) th three-dimensional image Display maintaining means for continuously displaying during the execution of scanning; a three-dimensional memory for storing echo data from the transmitting and receiving means for each three-dimensional scan; and The echo data obtained by the n-th three-dimensional scan is read from the original memory, and a plurality of reconstructed images are formed based on the echo data and displayed. A plurality of the reconstruction means, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein a plurality of reconstructed images are displayed together with the three-dimensional image.